China ramps up consumption push as policy priorities set through 2030 Xinhua) 09:23, March 07, 2026 *At the ongoing "two sessions" in Beijing, the strategic importance of domestic demand has been underscored in both the government work report and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). *Boosting consumption hinges fundamentally on boosting confidence, and China is doubling down on policy support to unleash consumer potential. *Beyond young urban consumers, who are the major drivers of new forms of spending, China is also unlocking the consumption potential of rural and elderly population groups. *Technological innovation is emerging as a powerful engine for consumption expansion and upgrading. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Getting people to spend more has emerged as a major economic task for China in 2026 and beyond, aligning with the country's broader shift toward a consumption-driven growth model. At the ongoing "two sessions" in Beijing, the strategic importance of domestic demand has been underscored in both the government work report and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Amid a complex and challenging international environment, the work report stressed the need to remain committed to expanding domestic demand, pledging a range of measures to stimulate consumption -- a pivotal pillar of domestic demand. This focus is further reinforced in the draft outline, which states that China aims to "achieve a notable increase in household consumption as a share of gross domestic product, making domestic demand a more prominent economic driver" during the five-year period. A boy eats tanghulu, a traditional Chinese snack consisting of sugar-coated haws or fruits, at a tanghulu-themed fair in Jiaozhou, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 18, 2026. (Photo by Wang Zhaomai/Xinhua) The foundations are already solid. Last year, China's total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 50 trillion yuan (about 7 trillion U.S. dollars) for the first time, with consumption contributing 52 percent to economic growth, up 5 percentage points from the previous year. China's consumer market -- the world's second-largest -- is undergoing a profound shift from scale expansion to quality upgrading, with diverse measures being rolled out to unlock its immense potential. POLICY EMPOWERMENT Boosting consumption hinges fundamentally on boosting confidence, and China is doubling down on policy support to unleash consumer potential. The government work report places "building a robust domestic market" first among the major tasks for 2026. It also lists a series of concrete measures, including the allocation of 250 billion yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds to support consumer goods trade-in programs, the establishment of a 100-billion-yuan fiscal-financial coordination fund to facilitate domestic demand expansion, and the broadening of loan interest subsidies coverage for consumers and service entities. These policies build on the remarkable achievements of the trade-in program, which generated combined sales of 3.92 trillion yuan in 2024 and 2025, benefiting consumers on 494 million occasions, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. National legislator Liu Hui, who is a technician at Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd. in east China's Jiangxi Province, has observed the tangible benefits of China's pro-consumption policies in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. People view new energy vehicles at a shopping mall in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) "Several of my neighbors and relatives last year took advantage of the trade-in subsidies to swap their old cars for NEVs," he said. "And a young technician in our factory saved nearly 20,000 yuan on an NEV purchase by using the trade-in subsidy and the government's interest subsidy on consumer loans." "Such policies not only spur investment but also boost consumption," he said. Beyond short-term stimuli, China is also focusing on long-term empowerment to transform consumption from a policy-driven target into a natural choice for people. According to the government work report, the country will implement an income growth plan for urban and rural residents, rolling out a range of practical measures to boost the earnings of low-income groups, increase property incomes, and refine the remuneration and social security systems. NEW CONSUMPTION As incomes rise and the economy shifts toward quality growth, consumption is expanding from goods to experiences and from function to emotion, fueling the rise of new types such as spending on the debut economy, the pet economy, China-chic products and immersive experiences. Tourists have fun at sunset at the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) This trend is highlighted in the draft outline, which pledges to "unleash the potential of service consumption" and "promote the expansion and upgrading of goods consumption." Additionally, the government work report pledges to upgrade services to the benefit of consumers, develop a number of new, high-profile consumption scenarios, and move faster to nurture new areas of consumption growth. Zhang Xiaowen, a national legislator from northeast China's Liaoning Province and chairperson of Dongbei Piano Instruments Co., Ltd., is tapping into this trend by integrating piano manufacturing with music education and cultural tourism. "As consumption upgrades and music education becomes more widespread, consumers are demanding higher-quality, more personalized pianos, which requires us to adjust our product mix and develop series tailored to different groups," she said. The company is also building a "piano culture hub" that combines production, education and travel, creating immersive experiences that resonate with young people and cultural consumers. Beyond young urban consumers, who are the major drivers of new forms of spending, China is also unlocking the consumption potential of rural and elderly population groups. Elderly residents play games at a senior care center in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Han) According to the draft outline, efforts will be made to improve the quality and efficiency of county-level commercial activities, strengthen rural express delivery services, enrich the supply of age-friendly products and senior care services, and cultivate leading enterprises and renowned brands in the silver economy. Wu Fenggang, a national political advisor and economist at Jiangxi Institute of Socialism, noted that elderly consumers are "shifting from basic needs to quality, smart and service-based products," creating new opportunities for the silver economy in a graying China. TECH AS A CATALYST As the draft outline promises to "lead new supply with new demand and create new demand with new supply," technological innovation is emerging as a powerful engine for consumption expansion and upgrading. With "achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology to develop new quality productive forces" highlighted in the development blueprint, technology is now reshaping consumption across multiple sectors. According to the document, China will further integrate AI with consumption upgrading. It plans to develop AI-native applications for productivity and companionship, advance next-generation intelligent terminals including AI-powered smartphones, computers and intelligent robots, and expand new scenarios for intelligent service consumption. People visit a MINISO LAND store in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) At the "future factory" of Wensli Group Co., Ltd. in east China's tech hub of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, rows of smart printing machines stand at the ready. When consumers design personalized silk scarves through the company's AIGC model, plain white fabric can be transformed into an exquisite printed scarf in as little as half an hour. "We are exploring the application of AI in production," said Tu Hongyan, a national legislator and chairperson of the company. "Today's consumers, especially young people, crave quality, personalization and emotional value, and we will continue to innovate and optimize supply to meet the needs." National legislator and tech expert Zhou Di believes innovation in the supply of high-quality consumption options is the key to enhancing people's intrinsic motivation to spend. He said that the integration of technology with consumption in areas like smart homes, health monitoring and age-friendly products should be promoted further. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan) German chemical giant BASF has made the right decision to deepen its commitment to China, as the country becomes increasingly important for research, development and green transformation, the company's chief executive officer (CEO) has said. #GLOBALink BBVA Banco Frances (NYSE:BBAR Get Free Report) and Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, dividends, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares BBVA Banco Frances and Banco Bradescos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get BBVA Banco Frances alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BBVA Banco Frances 3.70% 6.55% 0.97% Banco Bradesco 9.85% 13.78% 1.11% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for BBVA Banco Frances and Banco Bradesco, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BBVA Banco Frances 0 3 2 2 2.86 Banco Bradesco 0 0 1 0 3.00 Dividends BBVA Banco Frances currently has a consensus target price of $17.67, indicating a potential upside of 27.65%. Given BBVA Banco Frances higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe BBVA Banco Frances is more favorable than Banco Bradesco. BBVA Banco Frances pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Banco Bradesco pays an annual dividend of $0.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. BBVA Banco Frances pays out 44.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Banco Bradesco pays out 5.1% 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. Risk & Volatility BBVA Banco Frances has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Banco Bradesco has a beta of 0.58, indicating that its stock price is 42% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings This table compares BBVA Banco Frances and Banco Bradescos gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BBVA Banco Frances $4.96 billion 0.57 $396.45 million $0.95 14.57 Banco Bradesco $41.79 billion N/A $4.24 billion $0.39 8.38 Banco Bradesco has higher revenue and earnings than BBVA Banco Frances. Banco Bradesco is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than BBVA Banco Frances, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. About BBVA Banco Frances (Get Free Report) Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. provides various banking products and services to individuals and companies in Argentina. The company provides retail banking products and services, such as checking and savings accounts, time deposits, credit cards financing, consumer and pledge loans, mortgages, insurance, and investment products to individuals; and small and medium-sized companies products and services, including financing products, factoring, checking accounts, time deposits, transactional and payroll services, insurance, and investment products to private-sector companies. It also provides corporate and investment banking products and services, such as global transaction services; global markets solutions comprising risk management and securities brokerage; long-term financing products, including project finance and syndicated loans; and corporate finance services comprising mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets advisory services to corporations and multinational companies. The company was formerly known as BBVA Banco Frances S.A. and changed its name to Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. in July 2019. Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. was incorporated in 1886 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. About Banco Bradesco (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Banco Bradesco S.A. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Osasco, Brazil. Receive News & Ratings for BBVA Banco Frances Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BBVA Banco Frances and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shopify Inc. (TSE:SHOP Get Free Report)s share price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$190.45 and traded as low as C$166.67. Shopify shares last traded at C$176.75, with a volume of 1,923,518 shares traded. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, ATB Cormark Capital Markets raised shares of Shopify from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and set a C$250.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$209.67. Get Shopify alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on SHOP Shopify Trading Down 4.1% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a quick ratio of 5.74 and a current ratio of 5.92. The stock has a market cap of C$230.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 188.06, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$188.40 and a 200-day moving average price of C$206.39. Shopify (TSE:SHOP Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported C$0.78 EPS for the quarter. Shopify had a return on equity of 10.12% and a net margin of 10.70%.The business had revenue of C$4.88 billion for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts expect that Shopify Inc. will post 1.9256156 EPS for the current year. About Shopify (Get Free Report) Shopify is the leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, scale, market, and run a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for speed, customization, reliability, and security, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers online, in store, and everywhere in between. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as BarkBox, Vuori, BevMo, Carrier, JB Hi-Fi, Meta, ButcherBox, SKIMS, Supreme, and many more. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Shopify Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shopify and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Skillsoft Corp. (NYSE:SKIL Get Free Report) shares traded up 2% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $4.41 and last traded at $4.18. 74,003 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 59% from the average session volume of 179,531 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.10. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (e+) rating on shares of Skillsoft in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Skillsoft from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Skillsoft from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, December 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Reduce. Get Skillsoft alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Skillsoft Skillsoft Trading Up 1.1% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.97, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The business has a fifty day moving average of $7.42 and a 200-day moving average of $10.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.12 and a beta of 1.82. Skillsoft (NYSE:SKIL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 10th. The company reported $1.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.39. Skillsoft had a negative net margin of 26.02% and a positive return on equity of 40.31%. The company had revenue of $129.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $131.60 million. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Skillsoft Corp. will post -11.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Skillsoft A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of Skillsoft by 330.0% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,750 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 1,343 shares during the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of Skillsoft by 20.5% in the 1st quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 9,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $180,000 after purchasing an additional 1,593 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in Skillsoft by 122.9% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 150,254 shares of the companys stock worth $2,891,000 after purchasing an additional 82,860 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in Skillsoft during the 1st quarter worth about $296,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Skillsoft by 286.0% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 40,374 shares of the companys stock valued at $774,000 after buying an additional 29,914 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.00% of the companys stock. About Skillsoft (Get Free Report) Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL) is a leading provider of corporate digital learning solutions designed to help organizations develop skills and drive performance. The company offers a range of cloud-based learning platforms and content libraries that cover technical training, leadership development, compliance, and productivity applications. Skillsofts flagship platform, Percipio, delivers micro-learning modules, video tutorials, books and audiobooks, hands-on labs and simulations, and practice assessments within a unified interface that can be accessed on desktop or mobile devices. Skillsofts content spans IT certification preparation, software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, project management, and a variety of professional skills such as communication, management and sales. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Skillsoft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skillsoft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Titan International, Inc. (NYSE:TWI Get Free Report) major shareholder Aipct Holdings Llc sold 3,041,288 shares of Titan International stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.95, for a total transaction of $27,219,527.60. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 8,880,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $79,480,278.10. The trade was a 25.51% 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 hyperlink. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Titan International Trading Down 2.4% Shares of TWI stock traded down $0.21 on Friday, hitting $8.68. 986,531 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 594,684. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 2.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $555.69 million, a PE ratio of -8.68 and a beta of 1.47. The firms 50-day moving average price is $9.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.56. Titan International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $5.93 and a twelve month high of $11.70. Get Titan International alerts: Titan International (NYSE:TWI Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The industrial products company reported ($0.27) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.26) by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $410.44 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $396.86 million. Titan International had a negative return on equity of 2.82% and a negative net margin of 3.47%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Titan International, Inc. will post 0.03 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Titan International Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in TWI. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Titan International in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new stake in Titan International in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Titan International during the third quarter worth $32,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in Titan International by 22,000.0% during the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 4,199 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 4,180 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in Titan International during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. 80.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TWI. Weiss Ratings restated a sell (e+) rating on shares of Titan International in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Titan International from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, DA Davidson set a $13.00 price target on Titan International in a research report on Tuesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy 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 $11.67. Get Our Latest Report on Titan International About Titan International (Get Free Report) Titan International, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of wheels, tires and undercarriage systems designed for off-highway vehicles. The company serves a diverse range of markets including agricultural, construction, earthmoving and consumer segments. Titans product portfolio encompasses a variety of tire sizes and tread designs, steel and cast centers, wheels, tracks and complete wheelandtire assemblies tailored to meet the needs of tractors, combines, skid steers, loaders, haul trucks and other specialized equipment. In addition to original equipment manufacturing, Titan provides extensive aftermarket support through its network of distributors and sales offices. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Titan International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Titan International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:DCH Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage presently has a $8.00 price objective on the auto parts companys stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts target price would suggest a potential upside of 43.63% from the stocks previous close. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Weiss Ratings cut shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d) rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $12.00 to $10.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $8.50 to $10.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $7.00 target price on American Axle & Manufacturing in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.12. Get American Axle & Manufacturing alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on DCH American Axle & Manufacturing Stock Down 4.6% American Axle & Manufacturing stock opened at $5.57 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 2.95, a quick ratio of 2.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.31. The stock has a market cap of $1.31 billion, a P/E ratio of -30.94, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.61. American Axle & Manufacturing has a 52 week low of $3.00 and a 52 week high of $9.25. American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:DCH Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The auto parts company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion during the quarter. American Axle & Manufacturing had a positive return on equity of 10.00% and a negative net margin of 0.34%.The companys revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.06) earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that American Axle & Manufacturing will post 0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Axle & Manufacturing Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in American Axle & Manufacturing by 98.9% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 60,425 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $246,000 after purchasing an additional 30,046 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 2.8% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 452,658 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $1,842,000 after purchasing an additional 12,477 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 77.9% during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,550,521 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $6,311,000 after purchasing an additional 679,042 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 24.4% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,490,388 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $6,066,000 after purchasing an additional 291,908 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 567,790 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $2,311,000 after purchasing an additional 16,674 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.41% of the companys stock. Trending Headlines about American Axle & Manufacturing Here are the key news stories impacting American Axle & Manufacturing this week: Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank upgraded DCH from hold to buy and set an $8.00 price target (42.6% above the current price), which can attract buyers and provide near-term upside support. Deutsche Bank Upgrade Deutsche Bank upgraded DCH from hold to buy and set an $8.00 price target (42.6% above the current price), which can attract buyers and provide near-term upside support. Positive Sentiment: Recent quarterly results showed an earnings beat (Q4 EPS of $0.07 vs. consensus ($0.02)) and slight year-over-year revenue growth, giving fundamental backing to the upgrade and reducing downside risk from operations. DCH Earnings Summary Recent quarterly results showed an earnings beat (Q4 EPS of $0.07 vs. consensus ($0.02)) and slight year-over-year revenue growth, giving fundamental backing to the upgrade and reducing downside risk from operations. Neutral Sentiment: Multiple short-form head-to-head competitor comparison pieces were published (AmericanBankingNews ran several March 56 articles). These are largely aggregative comparisons rather than proprietary catalysts, so they increase newsflow but are unlikely to materially change fundamentals on their own. AmericanBankingNews Head-to-Head Multiple short-form head-to-head competitor comparison pieces were published (AmericanBankingNews ran several March 56 articles). These are largely aggregative comparisons rather than proprietary catalysts, so they increase newsflow but are unlikely to materially change fundamentals on their own. Negative Sentiment: Technical and balance-sheet/market-pressure factors may be weighing on the stock: DCH sits below its 50day moving average (~$8.23), average trading volume is higher than todays volume (suggesting weaker conviction), and the company carries significant leverage (debt/equity ~3.61), which can limit upside and increase downside risk in a weak auto-cycle. DCH Price & Metrics American Axle & Manufacturing Company Profile (Get Free Report) American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc (NYSE: AXL) is a global designer, engineer and manufacturer of driveline and drivetrain systems and components for light vehicles, commercial trucks and off-highway applications. The companys core product portfolio includes axles, driveshafts, half-shafts, drive module assemblies and differential gears, as well as advanced metallic and composite structures for electric and hybrid vehicles. AAMs capabilities also encompass system testing, rapid prototyping and precision machining to support both high-volume production and low-volume, specialty vehicle applications. Founded in 1994 following the divestiture of the Detroit Axle Division of General Motors, American Axle & Manufacturing completed its initial public offering in 1998. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Axle & Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Axle & Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB Get Free Report) and Vince (NYSE:VNCE Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, risk, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership. Volatility and Risk Kontoor Brands has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its stock price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vince has a beta of 0.64, suggesting that its stock price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Kontoor Brands alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Kontoor Brands and Vince, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kontoor Brands 1 3 5 1 2.60 Vince 1 0 1 1 2.67 Earnings and Valuation Kontoor Brands presently has a consensus target price of $91.00, indicating a potential upside of 18.85%. Vince has a consensus target price of $4.50, indicating a potential upside of 67.91%. Given Vinces stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Vince is more favorable than Kontoor Brands. This table compares Kontoor Brands and Vinces gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kontoor Brands $3.15 billion 1.34 $245.80 million $4.05 18.91 Vince $296.25 million 0.12 -$19.05 million ($1.47) -1.82 Kontoor Brands has higher revenue and earnings than Vince. Vince is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Kontoor Brands, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Kontoor Brands and Vinces net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kontoor Brands 7.22% 62.02% 12.73% Vince -5.75% 11.37% 2.26% Insider and Institutional Ownership 93.1% of Kontoor Brands shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 16.1% of Vince shares are held by institutional investors. 1.7% of Kontoor Brands shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 61.0% of Vince shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Kontoor Brands beats Vince on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Kontoor Brands (Get Free Report) Kontoor Brands, Inc., a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. The company operates through two segments: Wrangler and Lee. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brand name. The company sells its products primarily through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores, and online. It operates in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Kontoor Brands, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. About Vince (Get Free Report) Vince Holding Corp. provides luxury apparel and accessories in the United States and internationally. It operates through Vince Wholesale, Vince Direct-to-Consumer segments. The company offers a range of men's and women's products, such as cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, leather and suede products, and jackets, dresses, skirts, pants, t-shirts, footwear, outerwear, and accessories, as well as woven shirts, core and fashion pants, and blazers under the Vince brand. It sells its products directly to consumers through its branded specialty retail stores and outlet stores, as well as through its vince.com e-commerce platform and subscription business through Vince Unfold, vinceunfold.com; and to department stores and specialty stores. The company was formerly known as Apparel Holding Corp. and changed its name to Vince Holding Corp. in November 2013. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Kontoor Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kontoor Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Atico Mining Co. (OTCMKTS:ATCMF Get Free Report)s share price traded down 3.2% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $0.2317 and last traded at $0.2317. 10,991 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 94% from the average session volume of 177,509 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.2393. Atico Mining Stock Up 12.6% The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $0.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $0.17. Get Atico Mining alerts: Atico Mining Company Profile (Get Free Report) Atico Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS: ATCMF) is a Canadianbased mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing copper and coppersilver assets in Peru. The companys principal activities include the acquisition, exploration, and operation of basemetal properties, with an emphasis on nearterm production potential. Atico has leveraged a strategy of selective asset purchases and disciplined project management to move resourcestage deposits toward commercial extraction. Aticos core portfolio is concentrated in the Marcona mineral district of southern Peru, where it holds interests in several coppersilver projects. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Atico Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atico Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Avolta AG (OTCMKTS:DFRYF Get Free Report) was down 7.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $57.22 and last traded at $57.22. Approximately 100 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 63% from the average daily volume of 271 shares. The stock had previously closed at $61.72. Avolta Price Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $59.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.28. Avolta Company Profile (Get Free Report) Avolta AG operates as a travel retailer. The company's retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Zurich Duty-Free or Stockholm Duty-Free, Autogrill, and HMSHost brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores. It offers perfumes and cosmetics, food and confectionery, wines and spirits, watches and jewelry, fashion and leather, tobacco goods, souvenirs, electronics, soft drinks, packaged food, travel accessories, personal items, sunglasses, destination, and other products, as well as newspapers, magazines, and books. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Avolta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avolta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup, and Bank of America are the three Bank stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Bank stocks are shares of publicly traded banking institutions (commercial, investment, and thrift banks) that give investors an ownership stake in those firms and a claim on their earnings and assets. Their performance is driven by factors such as net interest margins, loan credit quality, regulatory capital rules and economic cycles, often providing dividends but also being sensitive to interest-rate changes and credit conditions. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Bank stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate. Citigroup (C) Citigroup Inc., a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions. Read Our Latest Research Report on C Bank of America (BAC) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. Read Our Latest Research Report on BAC Featured Articles Guardian Capital LP cut its holdings in shares of Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ Free Report) (TSE:CCO) by 46.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 224,519 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 198,367 shares during the quarter. Guardian Capital LP owned about 0.05% of Cameco worth $18,847,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Consulate Inc. purchased a new stake in Cameco in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. boosted its stake in Cameco by 110.3% during the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 347 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the period. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cameco during the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Tobam increased its position in shares of Cameco by 389.1% during the third quarter. Tobam now owns 450 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 358 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Cameco in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 70.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Cameco alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on CCJ shares. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and issued a $131.00 price objective on shares of Cameco in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Cameco from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Cameco from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Glj Research restated a buy rating and set a $171.20 price target (up from $100.00) on shares of Cameco in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on Cameco in a research note on Monday, November 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold 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 $143.03. Cameco Price Performance Cameco stock opened at $109.77 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $47.81 billion, a PE ratio of 113.16 and a beta of 0.98. Cameco Corporation has a 52-week low of $35.00 and a 52-week high of $135.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The companys 50 day moving average is $114.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $96.18. Cameco (NYSE:CCJ Get Free Report) (TSE:CCO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The basic materials company reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.07. Cameco had a net margin of 17.00% and a return on equity of 9.35%. The business had revenue of $874.57 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $782.13 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.36 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Cameco Corporation will post 1.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. Cameco Profile (Free Report) Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) is a leading producer of uranium and a supplier to the global nuclear power industry. Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the company is engaged in the exploration, mining, milling and sale of uranium concentrate, commonly known as yellowcake, which is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. Cameco also participates in services and activities that support the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including processing and marketing of uranium to utilities under longterm and spot contracts. The companys operations have historically centered in Canada and the United States, where it operates and develops uranium mining and processing properties. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CCJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ Free Report) (TSE:CCO). Receive News & Ratings for Cameco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cameco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MANILA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and another injured after a truck transporting cattle overturned along a roadside in the northern Philippine city of Baguio, police said Saturday. Police said the crash occurred on Friday afternoon after the truck's driver lost control when the brakes failed. The truck first hit another vehicle, then swerved, and eventually overturned along the roadside in the mountain city. Police said the truck driver and a helper died in the accident, while another helper sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Four of the five cattle being transported to a slaughterhouse were also killed in the crash, police added. Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBD Get Free Report) and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and risk. Volatility & Risk Banco Bradesco has a beta of 0.53, suggesting that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Profitability This table compares Banco Bradesco and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Bradesco 10.19% 13.78% 1.11% Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft 10.02% 7.49% 0.43% Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Bradesco 0 0 4 0 3.00 Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft 1 5 4 1 2.45 Earnings & Valuation This is a summary of current recommendations for Banco Bradesco and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, as reported by MarketBeat.com. This table compares Banco Bradesco and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Bradesco $41.79 billion N/A $4.24 billion $0.39 9.44 Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft $68.84 billion N/A $7.84 billion $3.43 9.12 Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has higher revenue and earnings than Banco Bradesco. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Banco Bradesco, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership 27.9% of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Banco Bradesco shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. About Banco Bradesco (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Banco Bradesco S.A. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Osasco, Brazil. About Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Get Free Report) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, a stock corporation, provides corporate and investment banking, and asset management products and services to private individuals, corporate entities, and institutional clients in Germany, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through Corporate Bank, Investment Bank, Private Bank, and Asset Management segments. The Corporate Bank segment offers cash management, trade finance and lending, trust and agency, and securities services, as well as risk management solutions. The Investment Bank segment provides debt origination, merger and acquisitions, foreign exchange, and equity advisory and origination platform services. The Private Bank segment offers payment and account services, and credit and deposit products, as well as investment advice products, such as environmental, social, and governance products. This segment also provides banking, wealth management, other financial, and postal and parcel services; and supports in planning, managing and investing wealth, financing personal and business interests, and servicing institutional and corporate needs. The Asset Management segment offers investment solutions, such as alternative investments, which include real estate, infrastructure, liquid real assets, and sustainable investments; and various other services, including insurance and pension solutions, asset liability management, portfolio management solutions, and asset allocation advisory to individuals and institutions. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Voyager Technologies (NYSE:VOYG Get Free Report) and YSS (NYSE:YSS Get Free Report) are both manufacturing companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, valuation and risk. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Voyager Technologies and YSSs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Voyager Technologies alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Voyager Technologies $144.18 million 9.99 -$62.07 million ($3.16) -8.48 YSS $357.46 million 7.61 N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations YSS has higher revenue and earnings than Voyager Technologies. This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Voyager Technologies and YSS, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Voyager Technologies 1 2 6 0 2.56 YSS 0 3 8 0 2.73 Voyager Technologies currently has a consensus price target of $44.88, indicating a potential upside of 67.51%. YSS has a consensus price target of $39.00, indicating a potential upside of 82.07%. Given YSSs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe YSS is more favorable than Voyager Technologies. Profitability This table compares Voyager Technologies and YSSs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Voyager Technologies -53.06% -37.90% -12.64% YSS N/A N/A N/A Summary YSS beats Voyager Technologies on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Voyager Technologies (Get Free Report) We are an innovation-driven defense technology and space solutions company. Our company was purpose-built to address issues at the forefront of defense, national security and space industries and we have organized our business to reflect this goal. We strive to solve complex challenges to fortify national security, protect critical assets and unlock new frontiers for human progress and economic development. We are committed to developing and delivering an array of transformative, mission-critical solutions to customers enabled by our advanced technology, analytics and space infrastructure capabilities. Our solutions include communications and intelligence collection systems, defense systems, advanced space technology, in-space infrastructure and space mission services. Our business consists of diversified solutions across three business segments: Defense & National Security, Space Solutions and Starlab Space Stations. Since 2019, we have accomplished significant achievements in each of these segments, including the successful deployment of first-of-its-kind missile defense maneuvering capabilities, the development of groundbreaking space technology and the selection by NASA to develop a replacement for the ISS. We operate a flexible business model that allows us to serve both as a prime contractor, providing fulsome and integrated solutions directly to customers, as well as a merchant supplier, or subcontractor, providing critical technologies to support several commercial and government programs across the space and national security sectors. Our key partners and customers include Palantir, NASA, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Air Force and Sierra Space. Our ability to serve in both prime and merchant supplier capacities with these customers and partners allows us to selectively participate in a wide range of programs in whichever capacity is more attractive to us. Prime contractor roles allow us to lead the entirety of a program, managing the supply chain, technology integration and end customer relationship. Merchant Supplier roles are an opportunity for us to supply our differentiated technologies to a broader range of programs and support multiple prime competitors, on attractive terms. Our ability to serve in both capacities allows us to selectively participate in a wide range of programs in whichever capacity is best suited to our solution, financial contribution and probability of win. Our growth strategy includes organic and inorganic expansion, leveraging our existing technologies and pairing out our software capabilities with our hardware, leading to the development of new solutions to meet customer needs. Since 2019, we have executed and successfully vertically and horizontally integrated seven acquisitions, and have grown our revenue to $144.2 million in 2024 and $34.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. In addition, we received cash proceeds of $3.0 million in 2022, $62.0 million in 2023, $62.2 million in 2024 and $20.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025 (with $70.3 million of eligible proceeds remaining as of March 31, 2025) from our $217.5 million development grant with NASA to design Starlab, the commercial space station replacement for the ISS which is set to be decommissioned in 2030. We intend to operate Starlab through Starlab JV, a Voyager-led and majority-owned global joint venture, with international equity partners that include Airbus, Mitsubishi, MDA Space and Palantir. Our growth and increased size and scale are the result of investment and focus on our key technology offerings, as well as our ability to attract, cultivate and integrate accretive acquisitions. Additionally, the threat environment is driving investment in solutions that cross multiple domains, such as missile defense programs that require interoperability among space-, air- and ground-based systems. Our position and technology heritage across multiple domains and systems positions us well to support this trend towards increasing convergence. Our business consists of diversified solutions across three business segments: Defense & National Security, which provides innovative mission-critical solutions to protect dynamic and contested domains. We pioneer communications technologies, guidance, navigation and controls, signals intelligence and defense systems. Space Solutions, which delivers space infrastructure, advanced space technology, science systems and mission services that power commercial, academic and government missions from low-Earth orbit to deep space. Starlab Space Stations, which is a commercial space station planned to succeed the ISS and provide continued permanent human presence in space. It is operated through our U.S.-led global joint venture with Airbus, Mitsubishi, MDA Space and Palantir, among others. We operate in markets that have tailwinds supporting investment from both commercial and government clients worldwide. From a Defense & National Security perspective, we believe our solutions serve a total addressable market of $163 billion. Our serviceable addressable market is $11 billion. Our Space Solutions & Starlab Space Stations segments serve a total addressable market of $16 billion, of which we serve $1 billion. There are significant opportunities both in the U.S. as well as for allied international economics and governments. Our business thrives through collaboration and synergies across our various business segments. Our ability to share technology, identify cross-selling opportunities and realize cost savings through improved organizational efficiency drives our growth and financial performance. For example, we are developing artificial intelligence powered edge computing units to operate across Earth and space, layered with Palantirs operating system and our end-to-end intelligence analytics platform, to deliver real-time intelligence capabilities for defense and national security applications and for space exploration. Starlabs technical design and business case benefit tremendously from our broader organization, aiding in our continued development of the project. We are distinctively positioned as a leader in space science and commercialization and we intend to bring the extensive business development, mission design, management and customer service experience of our Space Solutions segment to support the development and operations of our Starlab Space Stations segment. We maintain long-term relationships with many of the industrys largest and most important blue-chip customers, across both government agencies and commercial entities. Since our founding and through March 31, 2025, we have been awarded approximately $800 million in contracts and SAAs. Our largest customer is NASA, which represented 25.6% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 19.7% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Our close relationship with government customers highlights the public-private partnership model that has been a significant driver of growth in the national security and space industries and commercialization opportunities. For example, we attached the Bishop Airlock to the ISS in 2020, demonstrating the viability of the public-private partnership model for the development of critical commercial space infrastructure and paving the way for our partnership with NASA on Starlab. We expect this partnership model to continue to provide us with a significant opportunity to participate in critical national security and space technology development in the future. For example, in 2023, in addition to the $800 million in contracts and SAAs discussed above, we were awarded a $900 million ceiling IDIQ contract by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centers Architecture and Integration Directorate to deliver a cost-effective intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system. We believe we are well-positioned to benefit from this funding mechanism given our close relationships with government customers and our track record as a reliable technology and solutions provider. Although we see our relationship with the U.S. government as a positive, we do rely on this relationship for a substantial portion of our business. Changes to the U.S. governments priorities and spending, or delays or reductions in spending, could have a material adverse effect on us. We benefit from business segments that serve varied end markets as well as meaningful customer diversity. We believe that our revenue diversification provides significant resiliency and positions us well to capitalize on new business opportunities across markets and customers. We also receive meaningful cash proceeds from our development grants for research and development, providing further diversity for financing our initiatives. Development grants allow us to receive sizeable funding from our customers to develop what we believe are next-generation technologies without having significant cash constraints due to our size. We also work hand-in-hand with our customers to create solutions addressing directly their needs. In December 2021, our subsidiary Nanoracks was awarded a SAA, which was subsequently transferred to us, and which we subsequently transferred to Starlab JV, under Phase I of NASAs CDFF program as part of the agencys effort to foster a commercial space station to succeed the ISS. Through this SAA, we were initially awarded $160 million in development grantsthe largest CDFF award from NASAto pursue the design and development of Starlab through 2026. In 2023, Northrop Grumman, another CDFF SAA recipient, withdrew its space station program and joined our effort as a strategic supply chain partner to Starlab. Subsequently, we were awarded an additional $58 million in development grants under our CDFF SAA, bringing our total grant to $217.5 million. As we achieve certain program milestones, cash proceeds are paid to us from the $217.5 million total grant, including $3.0 million paid in 2022, $62.0 million paid in 2023, $62.2 million paid in 2024, and $20.0 million paid in the three months ended March 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2025, we have $70.3 million of our development grant remaining. On January 13, 2025, we achieved the first milestone by successfully completing the preliminary design review in collaboration with NASA, an important step toward full-scale production. The next milestone is detailed design and hardware development, leading to a Critical Design Review to confirm Starlabs readiness. The U.S. government continues to support investment in these technologies. For example, NASAs fiscal year 2026 budget request includes approximately $2.1 billion for commercial LEO development through 2030. Based on our previous success receiving grants, we believe we are well-positioned to win future development grants and contracts from NASA and other space agencies to aid in funding the development of Starlab. Additionally, in 2025, we received an award of $15 million by the Texas Space Commission as part of their Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund grant program to help support Starlab and grow its ecosystem of suppliers and customers across Texas. We are supported by a highly skilled workforce operating across our facility footprint. We believe our footprint is well-aligned with our markets, enabling close collaboration with government and commercial customers, reliable manufacturing operations and access to the required testing environment for our technologies. In addition to our footprint, our Starlab Space Stations segment benefits from access to the existing facilities and operations of our equity and strategic partners, lowering direct capital expenditure needs for Starlab development. These equity and strategic partners are also helping develop and deliver technologies, solutions and hardware for Starlab. Our principal executive offices are located in Denver, Colorado. About YSS (Get Free Report) York Space Systems is a leading, U.S.-based, space and defense prime(1) providing a comprehensive suite of mission-critical solutions for national security, government and commercial customers. York is one of the only space and defense primes with proprietary hardware and software capabilities designed to address customers complex mission requirements across the critical elements of the entire space ecosystem throughout the mission lifecycle. York is the number one provider to the U.S. Department of Defenses (DoD) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) by number of spacecraft operating in-orbit, by number of contracts, and by variety of contract types as of September 2025. York is a partner of choice for our customers, with differentiated performance versus traditional primes based on price, speed to deployment, and sophistication of capabilities. We produce our satellites at approximately half the cost of our competitors and have been the first to deliver and launch satellites for the PWSA. York is the first and only company to demonstrate Link-16(2) connectivity from space, highlighting our unique and innovative capabilities. York is purpose built to address evolving national security space challenges and to adapt to the ongoing shift in the U.S. governments mission needs and procurement process. We believe we are positioned to capture an outsized share of growth in our core markets. York provides customers a vertically integrated, full technology stack of solutions including design, production, integration, and operation of spacecraft with turnkey offerings to manage spacecraft and constellations throughout their entire mission lifecycle. York has significant space heritage, having flown 74 missions, created 17 products with flight heritage, and logged over four million on-orbit hours. Yorks position as a prime enables us to monetize the entire space vertical from launch to mission operations, from spacecraft to payloads, and from edge computing to data transfer. York was founded in 2012 by our CEO, Dirk Wallinger, to create an innovative space technology mission prime, with a goal of meeting the evolving national security threats from space by providing mission-critical spacecraft at scale, faster, and at lower cost. We believe that Yorks proven production and delivery capabilities place it among a very limited number of companies who have the capability to deliver the required solutions for the Golden Dome based on its current timeline. We provide our customers with the ability to quickly and effectively field responsive space-based technologies. Our proprietary hardware, software and mission operations solutions are designed to address the United States national security priorities: missile defense (crucial to the Golden Dome), counter-space capabilities, and space domain awareness. Increasing geopolitical tensions are driving near-peer adversaries to invest heavily in military space capabilities to gain advantage in orbitthe next domain in global conflict. In todays threat environment, rapidly deployable satellites are critical to providing denied benefit in space, maintaining space superiority and countering these emerging threats. This paradigm shift in global warfighting is driving significant growth in defense spending, with the global satellite market projected to grow by approximately $320 billion to over $600 billion from 2023 to 2032 at approximately an 8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), up from approximately $280 billion in 2022 according to Allied Market Research. This growth is supported by the Golden Dome, the space intelligence community and the DoDs PWSA program. We have invested in our infrastructure and expanded our production capabilities with a goal of meeting this evolving threat while growing our backlog to approximately $642 million and 107 spacecraft as of September 30, 2025. We believe we distinguish ourselves from other space mission primes by offering a fully integrated portfolio of proprietary spacecraft, software and services. Our versatile spacecraft are built on a modular platform, allowing us to move quickly from design and development to deployment to meet our customers needs for their rapid response missions. In addition, we provide software throughout the space layer, bolstered by our 2023 acquisition of Emergent Space Technologies (Emergent), including flight control and edge computing, and we recently added more than 45 ground antennas in connection with our acquisition of ATLAS Space Operations (the ATLAS Acquisition). Our capabilities include a differentiated suite of spacecraft solutions with proven, common technologies. We offer the S-CLASS, LX-CLASS, and M-CLASSspacecraft, which are high-quality, low-cost satellite platforms that are proven and scalable to a wide array of space market needs. Our spacecraft are supported by proprietary satellite software enabling versatile integration of a variety of payloads for customers and supply chain commonalities across platforms. The various spacecraft classes are designed and engineered to address a broad cross section of the spacecraft market while maximizing payload accommodation. The LX-CLASS is double the mass of the S-CLASS and leverages the S-CLASS design, sharing more than 90% of its technology with the S-CLASS, to offer a specialized platform with enhanced capabilities. Similarly, the M-CLASS utilizes the previous satellite platform designs, sharing approximately 75% of its hardware and 95% of its software with the S-CLASS and LX-CLASS, while greatly enhancing scale and power for spacecraft mass up to 2,000 kg and 8kW+ peak power consumption. Our proven suite of platforms provide solutions from 100 to 2,000 kgs and enables us to serve a large total addressable market. Yorks spacecraft architecture framework results in significant commonality across platforms and software, allowing for scalable solutions at lower cost. Yorks three different platforms share approximately 75% of the same hardware and 95% of the software leading to significant cost reductions throughout the value chain while maximizing product quality. This approach also reduces Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) cost associated with platform development while reducing failure risks inherent to a unique design. Key in-house hardware components include Command and Data Handling (C&DH), flight computers, Attitude Control Systems (ACS), Electrical Power Systems (EPS) and production testing. These components complement our spacecraft production while our software-enabled services underpin autonomous, resilient operations and support key defense technologies. While the standardized spacecraft architecture framework provides scalable building blocks for rapid constellation deployment, Yorks proprietary software supports key elements of operational success from mission planning to ongoing mission operations. Autonomous constellation planning and hands-off operations are essential for managing the increasing quantity of spacecraft deployed in orbit. Technologies include the Multi-Mission Operations Center (M-MOC), a secure, autonomous, command structure that manages multiple York spacecraft, and Bastion, Yorks mission-ready ground software solution, which allows operators to manage entire fleets from a single ground architecture across more than 45 antennas throughout the world. York hardware and software solutions are vertically integrated across the technology stack. Our model allows us to capture recurring revenue driven by ongoing satellite-based software and services as well as hardware replacement cycles. Once spacecraft are fielded, York provides continuous operational support, downlink antenna usage, and proprietary software solutions, including on-spacecraft upgrades during the full orbital lifespan. Contracts have historically provided a fixed cost for software maintenance with upgrade options available for purchase. The expected replacement cycle for the current portfolio of space vehicles is approximately five to six years. Yorks full lifecycle solution and ongoing operational support distinguishes York from its competitors, positioning us to act as prime for the replacement and potential expansion of competitors aging constellations. As a result, we expect our recurring revenue to increase as the installed base of spacecraft in orbit grows, creating a highly visible revenue model, accelerating growth and increasing margins. Our cutting-edge facilities and manufacturing footprint are purpose-built to support the rapid development and production of our spacecraft. Following the opening of our 60,000 square foot Potomac facility in August 2023, we have quadrupled production capability and believe we will be able to meet demand to manufacture and test over 1,000 satellites annually, supporting our position as a leader in rapid, high volume spacecraft delivery. with the ability to reliably deliver spacecraft faster and more affordably than traditional primes. (1) A primary contractor (prime) that leads major defense programs and deals directly with the Department of Defense. (2) A real-time, military tactical data link network used by the U.S. government and NATO. Midco II was formed on September 4, 2025 to hold the business assets of York Space Systems. Our principal executive offices are located in Greenwood Village, CO. Receive News & Ratings for Voyager Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Voyager Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Credit Agricole SA (OTCMKTS:CRARY Get Free Report)s share price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $10.51 and traded as low as $9.75. Credit Agricole shares last traded at $9.84, with a volume of 295,315 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have recently weighed in on CRARY. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Credit Agricole from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Credit Agricole from a moderate sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. Oddo Bhf raised Credit Agricole from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Credit Agricole in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Credit Agricole from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Credit Agricole alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Credit Agricole Credit Agricole Stock Down 1.1% The stock has a fifty day moving average of $10.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.90. The stock has a market cap of $58.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.18 and a beta of 0.62. Credit Agricole (OTCMKTS:CRARY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.27 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $8.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.98 billion. Credit Agricole had a return on equity of 37.56% and a net margin of 24.65%. Credit Agricole Company Profile (Get Free Report) Credit Agricole (OTCMKTS:CRARY) is a major French banking group that provides a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. Headquartered in France, the group combines a large domestic retail banking franchise with international wholesale banking, asset management, insurance and specialized financial services. Its operations are organized through a network of regional cooperative banks together with a centrally managed listed entity that coordinates group strategy and capital markets activities. The companys core businesses include retail and commercial banking products such as current accounts, savings, mortgages, consumer loans and payment services delivered through its regional bank network and retail subsidiaries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Credit Agricole Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Agricole and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EDP Energias de Portugal, S.A. (OTCMKTS:ELCPF Get Free Report)s stock price rose 5.7% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $5.03 and last traded at $5.03. Approximately 498 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 2,000 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.7575. EDP Energias de Portugal Stock Performance The companys 50-day simple moving average is $4.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $4.54. Get EDP - Energias de Portugal alerts: EDP Energias de Portugal Company Profile (Get Free Report) EDP Energias de Portugal (OTCMKTS: ELCPF) is a leading European energy company headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal. The firm is engaged in the generation, distribution and supply of electricity and natural gas, operating both conventional power plants and an extensive portfolio of renewable assets. Through its renewables arm, EDP Renovaveis, the company develops, constructs and manages wind, solar and hydroelectric projects across multiple continents. Founded in 1976 following the consolidation of several state-owned utilities, EDP underwent a phased privatization beginning in 1997 and has since expanded its footprint beyond the Iberian Peninsula. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for EDP - Energias de Portugal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EDP - Energias de Portugal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Finnair Oyj (OTCMKTS:FNNNF Get Free Report) shares traded down 3% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $3.50 and last traded at $3.50. 1,500 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 59% from the average session volume of 3,650 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.61. Finnair Oyj Price Performance The businesss 50 day moving average price is $3.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.56. Get Finnair Oyj alerts: About Finnair Oyj (Get Free Report) Finnair Oyj is the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland, providing scheduled passenger and air cargo services. Headquartered in Vantaa, the company operates from its primary hub at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Through its core business segmentsPassenger, Cargo and Ancillary ServicesFinnair delivers a range of offerings including short and longhaul flights, charter operations and holiday packages under the Finnair Holidays brand. The airline holds a strategic position in Europe as a gateway to Asia, leveraging its Nordic location for efficient polar routes. The airlines network extends across Europe, Asia and North America, serving over 120 destinations in more than 35 countries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Finnair Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Finnair Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guardian Capital LP boosted its position in Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF Free Report) (TSE:SLF) by 44.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 452,127 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 138,548 shares during the quarter. Guardian Capital LP owned 0.08% of Sun Life Financial worth $27,156,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sun Life Financial by 184.1% in the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 588 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 381 shares in the last quarter. Tobam bought a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at $44,000. Addison Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sun Life Financial by 48.8% during the 2nd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 704 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Sun Life Financial by 38.6% during the 3rd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 801 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MAI Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Sun Life Financial by 121.8% during the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 896 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 492 shares during the last quarter. 52.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Sun Life Financial alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades SLF has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Evercore reissued an outperform rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Sun Life Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 28th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a research report on Friday, February 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $86.50. Sun Life Financial Stock Down 0.9% NYSE SLF opened at $64.90 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $35.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.75 and a beta of 0.87. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a twelve month low of $52.44 and a twelve month high of $69.67. The businesss fifty day moving average is $64.25 and its 200 day moving average is $61.36. Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF Get Free Report) (TSE:SLF) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The financial services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $973.53 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $973.53 million. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 17.76% and a net margin of 8.48%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.68 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 5.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sun Life Financial Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.92 per share. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. Sun Life Financials payout ratio is 61.36%. Sun Life Financial Profile (Free Report) Sun Life Financial Inc, founded in 1865 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, is an international financial services organization that provides a range of insurance, wealth management and asset management solutions. The company serves individual and institutional clients, offering products designed to protect against life and health risks, help clients save for retirement, and manage investments on behalf of customers and third parties. Core business activities include life and health insurance, group benefits for employers, retirement and pension products, and wealth management services such as mutual funds and segregated fund solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sun Life Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Life Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guardian Capital LP raised its stake in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 14.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 110,436 shares of the fast-food giants stock after acquiring an additional 14,028 shares during the period. McDonalds comprises about 1.1% of Guardian Capital LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Guardian Capital LPs holdings in McDonalds were worth $33,560,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. boosted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 142.9% in the 2nd quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of McDonalds during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in McDonalds by 162.5% during the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in McDonalds in the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in McDonalds in the second quarter valued at about $29,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get McDonald's alerts: Insider Activity at McDonalds In other news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares in the company, valued at $763,567.39. The trade was a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $330.43, for a total value of $110,033.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 8,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,885,645.19. This represents a 3.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 71,517 shares of company stock valued at $23,655,503 over the last quarter. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Key Stories Impacting McDonalds Positive Sentiment: Tigress Financial raised its price target on MCD to $385 and kept a buy rating, implying roughly 17% upside from the current price a direct bullish signal from an analyst that can drive buying interest. Street Insider: PT Raised Tigress Financial raised its price target on MCD to $385 and kept a buy rating, implying roughly 17% upside from the current price a direct bullish signal from an analyst that can drive buying interest. Positive Sentiment: Capgemini extended its technology partnership with McDonalds for five years to modernize restaurants and accelerate digital features supports efficiency, digital sales growth and execution of the Accelerating the Arches strategy. Capgemini partnership Capgemini extended its technology partnership with McDonalds for five years to modernize restaurants and accelerate digital features supports efficiency, digital sales growth and execution of the Accelerating the Arches strategy. Positive Sentiment: Strategic expansion plan: analyst coverage (Zacks) highlights MCDs target of ~50,000 restaurants by 2027 with 2,600 openings planned for 2026 accelerates unit-driven revenue potential and global footprint growth. Zacks: 50K restaurant target Strategic expansion plan: analyst coverage (Zacks) highlights MCDs target of ~50,000 restaurants by 2027 with 2,600 openings planned for 2026 accelerates unit-driven revenue potential and global footprint growth. Positive Sentiment: Brand & merchandising lift: Crocs x Happy Meal collaboration and revived Happy Meal partnerships drive PR and collectible demand that can boost traffic and AUVs in limited windows. Crocs Happy Meal collab Brand & merchandising lift: Crocs x Happy Meal collaboration and revived Happy Meal partnerships drive PR and collectible demand that can boost traffic and AUVs in limited windows. Neutral Sentiment: Local development: planning for a third McDonalds in Collierville, TN incremental local growth but immaterial to companywide fundamentals. Collierville restaurant plan Local development: planning for a third McDonalds in Collierville, TN incremental local growth but immaterial to companywide fundamentals. Neutral Sentiment: Dividend narratives continue to feature MCD among reliable payers supports longerterm investor interest but is not an immediate price catalyst. Dividend stocks article Dividend narratives continue to feature MCD among reliable payers supports longerterm investor interest but is not an immediate price catalyst. Negative Sentiment: Product/PR risk from Big Arch launch the nationwide rollout and a viral 13second CEO tastetest video produced heavy attention but mixed consumer reviews and social backlash; competitors (Burger King, Wendys) have publicly trolled the clip. That creates shortterm reputational noise and raises the risk that the premium product may not sustain lift if consumer reception or value perception proves weak. Big Arch coverage McDonalds Trading Up 0.2% Here are the key news stories impacting McDonalds this week: Shares of MCD stock opened at $328.22 on Friday. McDonalds Corporation has a 1 year low of $283.47 and a 1 year high of $341.75. The firms 50 day moving average is $318.21 and its 200-day moving average is $311.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $233.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.47, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.51. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonalds had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The business had revenue of $7.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.83 earnings per share. McDonaldss revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. McDonalds Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.26%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently weighed in on MCD. Oppenheimer raised shares of McDonalds from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $355.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. BTIG Research boosted their target price on McDonalds from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on McDonalds from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $320.00 price target on shares of McDonalds in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Guggenheim cut their price objective on McDonalds from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, McDonalds currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $339.69. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on MCD About McDonalds (Free Report) McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafe coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonalds serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships. Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brands national and international expansion. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hanover Foods Co. (OTC:HNFSA Get Free Report)s share price was up 15.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $52.00 and last traded at $52.00. Approximately 100 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 91% from the average daily volume of 1,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.00. Hanover Foods Price Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is $49.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.78. Hanover Foods Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hanover Foods Corporation engages in processing, packaging, and selling fresh canned and frozen products. It offers baked beans, beans, canned blends and vegetables, frozen blends and vegetables, kosher, pork and beans, soft pretzels, steam in bag products, and tomatoes, as well as soups, salads, and broths. The company was founded in 1924 and is based in Hanover, Pennsylvania. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hanover Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hanover Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UnitedHealth Group, Johnson & Johnson, Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, McKesson, Medline, and Novartis are the seven Healthcare stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Healthcare stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary businesses involve delivering medical goods and servicessuch as pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, medical device makers, hospitals and clinics, health insurers, and other healthcare service providers. Investors use them for exposure to steady demand, aging demographics and innovation-driven growth, while accepting industry-specific risks from regulation, clinical trial outcomes and reimbursement changes. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Healthcare stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: UnitedHealth Group (UNH) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension. Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) Intuitive Surgical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally. The company offers the da Vinci Surgical System that enables complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach; and Ion endoluminal system, which extends its commercial offerings beyond surgery into diagnostic procedures enabling minimally invasive biopsies in the lung. Read Our Latest Research Report on ISRG Medtronic (MDT) Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. Read Our Latest Research Report on MDT McKesson (MCK) McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products. Read Our Latest Research Report on MCK Medline (MDLN) Our mission is to make healthcare run better by delivering improved clinical, financial, and operational outcomes. We are the largest provider of medical-surgical (med-surg) products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care, based on total net sales of med-surg products. We deliver mission-critical products used daily across the full range of care settings, from hospitals and surgery centers to physician offices and post-acute facilities. Read Our Latest Research Report on MDLN Novartis (NVS) Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology. Read Our Latest Research Report on NVS See Also Linamar (TSE:LNR) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results that executives described as a record year of record earnings despite soft conditions across its industrial end markets and elevated global volatility tied to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. Get alerts: Quarterly results highlighted by mobility strength Executive Chair Linda Hasenfratz said fourth-quarter sales were CAD 2.5 billion, up 5.9% year over year, driven by strength in the companys larger mobility segment, partially offset by weaker industrial markets. Mobility sales rose 13% in the quarter, while industrial sales fell 13%, reflecting declines in both agriculture and access equipment. Normalized net earnings in the quarter were, orof sales, upfrom the prior year. Normalized EPS was, up. Hasenfratz said results were most impacted by launches and strong production sales on the mobility side, along with a partial contribution from the Aludyne acquisition, offset by weak industrial markets. Cash flow in the quarter was CFO Dale Schneider said mobility sales increased CAD 223.6 million, or 12.9%, to CAD 2.0 billion, citing contributions from Linamar Structures acquisitions, favorable foreign exchange versus last year, program launches, and higher volumes on programs where the company has substantial content. Those tailwinds were partly offset by lower production on ending programs and reduced volumes on certain EV programs due to softer volume demand. Mobilitys normalized operating earnings rose 47.3% year over year to CAD 132.1 million. Schneider noted executive management bonuses were reinstated in Q4 2025, while no bonuses were awarded in Q4 2024 due to impairment losses in that period. Industrial markets soft, but Skyjack and share gains stood out Industrial segment sales decreased 13.2%, or CAD 84.0 million, to CAD 553.1 million in Q4, driven by softer demand in access equipment and agriculture, partially offset by favorable FX and market share gains, particularly in scissor lifts globally. Normalized industrial operating earnings in the quarter declined CAD 23.5 million, or 25.7%, to CAD 67.9 million. Schneider said the quarter also included a moderate tariff impact on certain industrial products. CEO Jim Jarrell emphasized Skyjacks operational performance in a weak access market, saying the business grew Q4 unit volumes by 15.9% in a global market that was down 1.5%. For the full year, Skyjack unit volumes rose 12.1% versus a global market decline of 19%, which management attributed to market share gainsespecially in scissor lifts globally and booms in Europe. Jarrell also said Skyjack was recognized by United as Supplier of the Year and that the company launched its SJ28 all-electric telescopic boom targeted for China and Southeast Asia. In agriculture, Jarrell said 2025 was challenging globally, citing trade issues in North America, elevated dealer inventories and tighter credit, and the delayed rollout of a federal stimulus package that was announced late in 2025 and is expected to begin flowing in early spring 2026. He said Linamars ag divisions (MacDon, Sulky, and Bourgault) tracked largely in line with the North American market, down 27%, while reporting market share improvements in several segments. Full-year 2025: record earnings and nearly CAD 1 billion of free cash flow For the full year, Hasenfratz reported sales of CAD 10.2 billion, described as moderately softer than 2024 due to industrial segment declines. Despite that, Linamar delivered record earnings of CAD 622.1 million, or 6.1% of sales, and EPS of CAD 10.36, up 5.6%. She also said the company generated almost CAD 1 billion of free cash flow in 2025. Management highlighted mobility segment earnings growth of 47% in the quarter and 34% for the year. Hasenfratz said Linamars programmable and flexible equipment base has enabled it to reallocate equipment from under-capacity programs to new launches, contributing to capital spending discipline. She said 2025 CapEx was down 24% despite a significant backlog of launches. On leverage, Hasenfratz said net debt to EBITDA was 0.77 in 2025, below the companys stated target of under 1.5x, even with investments including the Aludyne acquisition. Schneider added that net debt to EBITDA was 0.8x at quarter-end, improved from 1.0x a year earlier. Linamar ended Q4 with CAD 911.1 million in cash and CAD 2.1 billion of liquidity, according to Schneider. Tariffs, onshoring opportunities, and acquisitions Hasenfratz said Linamars tariff exposure remains manageable, with Section 232 metal derivative tariffs described as the only area of reasonable impact, largely affecting industrial businesses. She said newly established Section 122 and Section 306 tariffs to replace the IEEPA tariff deemed illegal had little to no impact on Linamar. She attributed the limited impact to the companys strategy of producing in the same continent as customers, USMCA compliance for products shipped from Canada and Mexico into the U.S., and the fact that in automotive, customers are generally the importer of record. At the same time, Hasenfratz said she is concerned about the broader cost burden tariffs place on automaker customers and the potential impact on vehicle pricing and demand. She also said the environment is prompting customers to look at onshoring parts and systems sourced from Asia or Europe, driving a significant list of opportunities and wins for Linamars North American plants. Jarrell referenced a Make Canada, Mexico, and America Great Again sales initiative and said the company secured $1.5 billion in new mobility business wins. Management also discussed acquisition activity and pipeline. Hasenfratz and Jarrell pointed to stress in the supply baseparticularly in the U.S. and Europeas a source of acquisition opportunities, with Jarrell calling out Europe as a notable area of distress. Executives said integration of Aludyne has gone well. In Q&A, management said Aludyne is going to plan and probably a little bit better than planned, citing increased quoting and new business opportunities tied to structural casting and the benefit of having U.S. facilities. Capital allocation and 2026 outlook Schneider said Linamars normal course issuer bid (NCIB) launched in Q3 2025 expires on Nov. 16 and authorizes the purchase and cancellation of 3.9 million shares. To date under the program, the company has repurchased about 462,000 shares for nearly CAD 39 million. Schneider said total cash returned to shareholders since November 2024 is nearly CAD 139 million, representing about 2.2 million shares purchased and cancelled. Management reiterated a capital allocation approach prioritizing a strong balance sheet, investing in growth, and returning excess cash to shareholders. For 2026, Schneider said guidance is unchanged from the prior call, though the company is not providing full-year segment-level guidance due to volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. For Q1, Linamar expects: Mobility: double-digit sales growth and double-digit normalized operating earnings growth, with margin expansion continuing into its normal range. double-digit sales growth and double-digit normalized operating earnings growth, with margin expansion continuing into its normal range. Industrial: lower year-over-year sales and normalized operating earnings, driven by double-digit declines in ag and access end markets, with margins expected to be within the normal range. For the full year, management expects growth in normalized earnings and margins supported by mobility launches and full-year contributions from Aludynes North American operations and the Leipzig casting facility, even as global vehicle production is forecast to decline 0.4% in 2026, with North America down roughly 2.2%. In industrial markets, Schneider said agricultural equipment volumes are expected to be down mid-single digits globally, with a more pronounced double-digit decline in North America, though the rate of decline is expected to moderate with stabilization in the second half versus 2025. Access equipment markets are expected to be relatively stable, with modest global declines partially offset by low single-digit growth in North America and Europe. Jarrell also flagged longer-term diversification initiatives, describing defense, robotics, and power/energy as emerging platforms. He said the companys approach in these areas is primarily organic, including partnershipssuch as a strategic partnership with Regen Resource Recovery to commercialize battery-grade graphiterather than acquisition-led expansion. About Linamar (TSE:LNR) Linamar Corp is a diversified global manufacturing company of highly engineered products. The Companys Industrial segment operates the Skyjack and MacDon brands, It manufactures products for the Aerial Work Platform and Agricultural industries, respectively. The Mobility segment features vertically integrated operations to combine expertise in light metal casting, forging, machining and assembly of components and systems for electric and traditional vehicle applications. In addition, McLaren Engineering and eLIN Product Solutions Group provide design, development, and testing services for the Mobility segment. Read More BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The average life expectancy of the Chinese reached 79.25 years in 2025, an increase of 1.32 years from 2020, Lei Haichao, head of China's National Health Commission, said on Saturday at a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual session of the top legislature. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Free Report) had its price target lifted by Argus from $530.00 to $735.00 in a research note released on Friday,MarketScreener reports. They currently have a buy rating on the aerospace companys stock. LMT has been the subject of several other reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Lockheed Martin from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and set a $660.00 target price on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. BNP Paribas Exane upped their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $570.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $675.00 price target on Lockheed Martin in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Lockheed Martin currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $618.95. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on LMT Lockheed Martin Stock Performance Shares of LMT stock traded up $17.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $672.02. The stock had a trading volume of 1,881,701 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,517,431. Lockheed Martin has a 1-year low of $410.11 and a 1-year high of $692.00. The firm has a market cap of $154.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.27, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.05. The businesss fifty day moving average is $600.07 and its 200-day moving average is $517.62. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The aerospace company reported $5.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.53). The firm had revenue of $20.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.84 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 108.53% and a net margin of 6.69%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $7.67 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current year. Lockheed Martin Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $3.45 dividend. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is currently 64.22%. Institutional Trading of Lockheed Martin Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,995 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,941,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 973 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $451,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. raised its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 17.3% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 1,460 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $676,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the period. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC boosted its position in Lockheed Martin by 6.4% during the second quarter. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC now owns 2,127 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $985,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. boosted its position in Lockheed Martin by 8.1% during the second quarter. Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. now owns 4,252 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,969,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the companys stock. Trending Headlines about Lockheed Martin Here are the key news stories impacting Lockheed Martin this week: About Lockheed Martin (Get 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $161.6667. A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on shares of M/I Homes in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. They issued a market outperform rating and a $165.00 price target for the company. Citigroup reiterated a market outperform rating on shares of M/I Homes in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Zacks Research cut M/I Homes from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of M/I Homes in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Oppenheimer set a $165.00 price target on M/I Homes in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Get M/I Homes alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on M/I Homes Insiders Place Their Bets Hedge Funds Weigh In On M/I Homes In other M/I Homes news, CEO Robert H. Schottenstein sold 14,974 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.80, for a total transaction of $2,198,183.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 348,513 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,161,708.40. This represents a 4.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CFO Phillip G. Creek sold 8,616 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.80, for a total transaction of $1,264,828.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 45,815 shares in the company, valued at $6,725,642. This trade represents a 15.83% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . In the last three months, insiders sold 49,213 shares of company stock valued at $7,115,268. 3.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new stake in M/I Homes during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of M/I Homes in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of M/I Homes by 73.1% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 206 shares of the construction companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of M/I Homes by 90.6% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 284 shares of the construction companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new stake in shares of M/I Homes during the third quarter worth $38,000. 95.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. M/I Homes Price Performance NYSE:MHO traded down $2.53 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $135.84. 259,178 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 243,986. The company has a quick ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 8.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a market cap of $3.50 billion, a PE ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 1.77. M/I Homes has a 12 month low of $100.22 and a 12 month high of $158.92. The company has a fifty day moving average of $137.66 and a 200 day moving average of $137.64. M/I Homes (NYSE:MHO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The construction company reported $3.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.88 by $0.03. M/I Homes had a net margin of 9.12% and a return on equity of 14.50%. The company had revenue of $1.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.71 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that M/I Homes will post 18.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. M/I Homes announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, November 12th that permits the company to repurchase $250.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the construction company to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. About M/I Homes (Get Free Report) M/I Homes, Inc is a publicly traded residential homebuilder founded in 1976 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company designs, markets and constructs single-family homes and townhome communities across the United States, offering a range of floor plans with customizable design options. Its product portfolio includes starter homes, move-up homes and luxury models, as well as multi-family residences in urban and suburban infill locations. In addition to its core homebuilding operations, M/I Homes provides mortgage, title and closing services through its in-house affiliate M/I Financial Services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for M/I Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M/I Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Makita Corp. (OTCMKTS:MKTAY Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $32.69 and traded as high as $36.02. Makita shares last traded at $35.73, with a volume of 23,271 shares. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Makita from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Makita from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Reduce. Get Makita alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on MKTAY Makita Trading Down 1.0% The businesss 50 day moving average price is $34.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.68. The stock has a market cap of $9.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.71 and a beta of 0.53. Makita (OTCMKTS:MKTAY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.03. Makita had a net margin of 9.96% and a return on equity of 7.85%. The company had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Makita Corp. will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current year. Makita Company Profile (Get Free Report) Makita Corporation (OTCMKTS:MKTAY) is a global manufacturer of professional and consumer power tools headquartered in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company, it incorporated as Makita Electric Works, Ltd. in 1958 and has since expanded its product portfolio to serve both industrial and residential markets. The companys core business activities encompass the design, production and distribution of power tools, outdoor power equipment and accessories. Makitas product lineup includes cordless and corded electric drills, drivers, saws, grinders, sanders and rotary hammers, as well as pneumatic and gasoline-powered machinery. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Makita Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Makita and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC grew its holdings in The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR Free Report) by 36.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 107,245 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 28,435 shares during the period. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLCs holdings in Kroger were worth $7,229,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. WESPAC Advisors LLC grew its position in Kroger by 1.2% in the third quarter. WESPAC Advisors LLC now owns 13,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $916,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. WPG Advisers LLC increased its stake in Kroger by 16.8% in the 3rd quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 1,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in Kroger by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 3,648 shares of the companys stock worth $262,000 after buying an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas boosted its stake in shares of Kroger by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 18,846 shares of the companys stock worth $1,270,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Perigon Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Kroger by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,869 shares of the companys stock worth $665,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.93% of the companys stock. Get Kroger alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently issued reports on KR shares. Wolfe Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $75.00 target price on shares of Kroger in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and set a $70.00 price target (down from $74.00) on shares of Kroger in a research report on Friday, December 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Kroger from $73.00 to $71.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 5th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Kroger in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Monday, December 29th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Kroger has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $74.38. Key Kroger News Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat on profit and margins: Kroger reported adjusted EPS above estimates, delivered grossmargin expansion and 20% ecommerce growth; management also rolled out FY26 adjusted EPS guidance above consensus and approved further buybacks a clear catalyst for earnings pershare growth. PR Newswire Q4 results beat on profit and margins: Kroger reported adjusted EPS above estimates, delivered grossmargin expansion and 20% ecommerce growth; management also rolled out FY26 adjusted EPS guidance above consensus and approved further buybacks a clear catalyst for earnings pershare growth. Positive Sentiment: Large, sustained capital returns: Management completed accelerated repurchases in 2025 and the board approved an additional $2B repurchase authorization on top of a $7.5B program; analysts and commentators say buybacks plus a growing dividend underpin longterm pershare upside. MarketBeat Large, sustained capital returns: Management completed accelerated repurchases in 2025 and the board approved an additional $2B repurchase authorization on top of a $7.5B program; analysts and commentators say buybacks plus a growing dividend underpin longterm pershare upside. Positive Sentiment: Street support and upgrades: Several shops have reiterated/raised ratings and price targets (e.g., Roth MKM reaffirmed buy with a $78 PT; Telsey lifted its target), reinforcing positive sentiment into the print. Benzinga Street support and upgrades: Several shops have reiterated/raised ratings and price targets (e.g., Roth MKM reaffirmed buy with a $78 PT; Telsey lifted its target), reinforcing positive sentiment into the print. Positive Sentiment: Unusual bullish options flow: Call buying spiked (large singleday activity), suggesting some traders are positioning for additional upside or eventdriven moves. Unusual bullish options flow: Call buying spiked (large singleday activity), suggesting some traders are positioning for additional upside or eventdriven moves. Neutral Sentiment: New CEOs playbook: Greg Foran is pushing lower prices, sharper promotions, AI and ecommerce improvements to accelerate sales a credible strategic pivot but execution and timing remain uncertain. FoodBusinessNews New CEOs playbook: Greg Foran is pushing lower prices, sharper promotions, AI and ecommerce improvements to accelerate sales a credible strategic pivot but execution and timing remain uncertain. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst consensus is broadly constructive (moderate buy), but median price targets leave limited nearterm upside absent stronger topline revisions. AmericanBankingNews Analyst consensus is broadly constructive (moderate buy), but median price targets leave limited nearterm upside absent stronger topline revisions. Negative Sentiment: Revenue and sales outlook are muted: Q4 revenue slightly missed estimates and management offered modest identicalsales guidance for 2026 (12% exfuel), tempering a rally based solely on EPS strength. Retail Insight Network Revenue and sales outlook are muted: Q4 revenue slightly missed estimates and management offered modest identicalsales guidance for 2026 (12% exfuel), tempering a rally based solely on EPS strength. Negative Sentiment: Product recalls: Krogerbranded and partner rice/frozen products were included in a glassfragment recall, creating shortterm inventory, sales and reputational headwinds in affected markets. MSN Product recalls: Krogerbranded and partner rice/frozen products were included in a glassfragment recall, creating shortterm inventory, sales and reputational headwinds in affected markets. Negative Sentiment: Labor and legal exposure: Classaction suits over ecommerce worker classification and heightened union friction (Teamsters commentary) add regulatory/legal risk and potential costs. GroceryDive Labor and legal exposure: Classaction suits over ecommerce worker classification and heightened union friction (Teamsters commentary) add regulatory/legal risk and potential costs. Negative Sentiment: Dividend sustainability question: Commentary flagged a high payout ratio on a GAAP basis (dividend > GAAP net income), which could worry income investors despite strong cash flow and buybacks. 24/7 Wall St. Kroger Trading Up 3.8% Shares of NYSE:KR opened at $74.31 on Friday. The Kroger Co. has a 52-week low of $58.60 and a 52-week high of $74.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.66, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.80. The company has a market capitalization of $47.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $65.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $65.92. Kroger (NYSE:KR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.08. Kroger had a return on equity of 41.08% and a net margin of 0.69%.The firm had revenue of $34.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.14 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Kroger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.100-5.300 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current year. Kroger Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. Krogers payout ratio is 129.63%. About Kroger (Free Report) The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) is one of the largest supermarket operators in the United States, offering a wide range of retail grocery and related services. Founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger, the company operates a portfolio of supermarket and multi-department store banners and provides customers with fresh foods, packaged groceries, deli and bakery items, meat and seafood, produce, and prepared foods. Krogers stores commonly include pharmacy services and fuel centers, positioning the company as a broad-based neighborhood retail destination for everyday needs. In addition to traditional in-store retailing, Kroger manufactures and distributes a variety of private-label brands and operates its own food production and supply-chain facilities. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Kroger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kroger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pitcairn Co. decreased its holdings in Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) by 29.7% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 7,324 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,098 shares during the quarter. Pitcairn Co.s holdings in Capital One Financial were worth $1,557,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in Capital One Financial by 9.6% during the third quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 32,006 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,804,000 after buying an additional 2,812 shares in the last quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Capital One Financial by 4.7% in the third quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,571 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $547,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC raised its stake in shares of Capital One Financial by 68.6% in the 3rd quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 3,281 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $702,000 after acquiring an additional 1,335 shares during the period. MKP Capital Management L.L.C. purchased a new position in shares of Capital One Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $79,718,000. Finally, Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,282 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $910,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. 89.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Capital One Financial alerts: Key Headlines Impacting Capital One Financial Here are the key news stories impacting Capital One Financial this week: Positive Sentiment: Wall Street remains broadly constructive: multiple recent buy/overweight ratings and a median price target materially above current levels support longerterm upside expectations. Read More. Wall Street remains broadly constructive: multiple recent buy/overweight ratings and a median price target materially above current levels support longerterm upside expectations. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Celebrity investor commentary (Jim Cramer) urged holders to stick with Capital One, which can help stabilize sentiment among retail investors. Read More. Celebrity investor commentary (Jim Cramer) urged holders to stick with Capital One, which can help stabilize sentiment among retail investors. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Strategic positioning: management completed the Discover integration and is pursuing the Brex acquisition/partnerships that shift COF toward corporate spend and payments these are longerterm drivers but may take time to translate into predictable EPS. Read More. Strategic positioning: management completed the Discover integration and is pursuing the Brex acquisition/partnerships that shift COF toward corporate spend and payments these are longerterm drivers but may take time to translate into predictable EPS. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Product / distribution tieups continue (example: Capital One prequalification available at a Texas truck dealer) small operational wins that help originations but are unlikely to move the stock materially on their own. Read More. Product / distribution tieups continue (example: Capital One prequalification available at a Texas truck dealer) small operational wins that help originations but are unlikely to move the stock materially on their own. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Sector risk: renewed concerns about the privatecredit market and spillover/liquidity risks have triggered a financials selloff Capital One, as a consumer lender with sizable card and auto exposures, is trading like a higherbeta play and is vulnerable to widening credit stress. Read More. Sector risk: renewed concerns about the privatecredit market and spillover/liquidity risks have triggered a financials selloff Capital One, as a consumer lender with sizable card and auto exposures, is trading like a higherbeta play and is vulnerable to widening credit stress. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Layoffs at former Discover HQ: filings and local reports show roughly 1,100+ employees being cut in the Riverwoods/Chicago area as Capital One integrates Discover a risk to local sentiment and a signal of integration disruption, though it also reduces costs. Read More. Layoffs at former Discover HQ: filings and local reports show roughly 1,100+ employees being cut in the Riverwoods/Chicago area as Capital One integrates Discover a risk to local sentiment and a signal of integration disruption, though it also reduces costs. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: public filings and tracking services show extensive insider sales by multiple senior executives in recent months, which can weigh on investor confidence even if sales are for diversification or tax reasons. Read More. Capital One Financial Stock Down 3.5% Shares of NYSE:COF opened at $187.51 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $116.62 billion, a PE ratio of 63.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $221.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of $222.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Capital One Financial Corporation has a 12-month low of $143.22 and a 12-month high of $259.64. Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $3.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.14 by ($0.28). Capital One Financial had a net margin of 3.54% and a return on equity of 10.68%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 53.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.67 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 EPS for the current fiscal year. Capital One Financial Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, February 19th were paid a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 19th. Capital One Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 108.11%. Insider Transactions at Capital One Financial In other Capital One Financial news, insider Neal Blinde sold 38,135 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.51, for a total transaction of $7,265,098.85. Following the sale, the insider owned 33,551 shares in the company, valued at $6,391,801.01. This represents a 53.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, General Counsel Matthew W. Cooper sold 2,000 shares of Capital One Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $500,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel owned 92,486 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,121,500. The trade was a 2.12% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 67,933 shares of company stock valued at $14,363,897 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.26% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently weighed in on COF shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Capital One Financial in a research report on Monday, December 29th. TD Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Capital One Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Capital One Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of Capital One Financial in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Wolfe Research dropped their target price on Capital One Financial from $294.00 to $280.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $274.70. Read Our Latest Research Report on COF Capital One Financial Profile (Free Report) Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) is a diversified bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The companys core businesses include credit card lending, consumer and commercial banking, and auto finance. Capital One issues a wide range of credit card products for consumers and small businesses, and it operates deposit and digital banking services aimed at retail customers and small to midsize enterprises. Products and services include credit and charge cards, checking and savings accounts (including the online-focused Capital One 360 platform), auto loans, and commercial lending solutions. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Capital One Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capital One Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pitcairn Co. decreased its holdings in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 23.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 11,655 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 3,524 shares during the quarter. Pitcairn Co.s holdings in Chevron were worth $1,810,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new stake in Chevron in the third quarter valued at about $34,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its position in Chevron by 86.1% in the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 255 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Chevron during the third quarter worth about $41,000. Barnes Dennig Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in 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 valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA boosted its holdings in Chevron by 106.7% during 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.42% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Chevron from $178.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on Chevron from $170.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Chevron from $174.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Chevron from $188.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Chevron from $180.00 to $174.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and four 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 a consensus target price of $178.95. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Andrew Benjamin Walz sold 22,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.53, for a total transaction of $3,918,966.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $117,568.98. This represents a 97.09% 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. Also, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 320,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total transaction of $52,270,893.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 14,450 shares in the company, valued at $2,355,205.50. This trade represents a 95.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,052,197 shares of company stock valued at $187,128,404. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. Chevron Stock Up 0.1% NYSE CVX opened at $190.01 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $173.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $160.73. Chevron Corporation has a one year low of $132.04 and a one year high of $192.41. The firm has a market cap of $379.14 billion, a PE ratio of 28.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.08. Chevron had a return on equity of 7.89% and a net margin of 6.51%.The company had revenue of $45.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.06 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Chevron Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be given a $1.78 dividend. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This is a boost from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is 106.91%. Trending Headlines about Chevron Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week: Positive Sentiment: U.S. launches $20B tanker reinsurance program, supporting crude above $90 and reducing shipping-risk premium higher crude prices improve Chevrons upstream margins and cash flow. Read More. U.S. launches $20B tanker reinsurance program, supporting crude above $90 and reducing shipping-risk premium higher crude prices improve Chevrons upstream margins and cash flow. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Analysts and institutions are increasingly bullish: several firms have raised price targets (one recent note pushes target toward $210), reflecting confidence in Chevrons cash returns and dividend profile this supports buy-side interest. Read More. Analysts and institutions are increasingly bullish: several firms have raised price targets (one recent note pushes target toward $210), reflecting confidence in Chevrons cash returns and dividend profile this supports buy-side interest. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Dividend raise and income story remain supportive Chevron recently increased its quarterly payout, reinforcing its appeal to income-focused investors amid higher commodity prices. Read More. Dividend raise and income story remain supportive Chevron recently increased its quarterly payout, reinforcing its appeal to income-focused investors amid higher commodity prices. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst landscape: while some firms lift targets, others trim fair-value estimates consensus remains split (buys, holds, sells), which can limit sustained momentum despite positive headlines. Read More. Mixed analyst landscape: while some firms lift targets, others trim fair-value estimates consensus remains split (buys, holds, sells), which can limit sustained momentum despite positive headlines. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Significant insider selling: CEO Michael Wirth and other senior execs disclosed multimilliondollar stock sales in early March this often prompts nearterm caution and profittaking. Read More. Significant insider selling: CEO Michael Wirth and other senior execs disclosed multimilliondollar stock sales in early March this often prompts nearterm caution and profittaking. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Operational disruption: Chevron has suspended certain production (e.g., Leviathan-related outages / force majeure reports) tied to regional hostilities potential near-term volume losses and uncertainty for specific assets. Read More. Operational disruption: Chevron has suspended certain production (e.g., Leviathan-related outages / force majeure reports) tied to regional hostilities potential near-term volume losses and uncertainty for specific assets. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Broader geopolitical volatility (Strait of Hormuz attacks and halted tanker traffic) raises supplyandpolicy risk that can cause sharp swing trading and higher insurance/shipment costs a doubleedged sword for oil majors. Read More. 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TeamViewer SE (OTCMKTS:TMVWY Get Free Report) shares rose 0.4% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $2.64 and last traded at $2.61. Approximately 300 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 4,203 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.60. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating on shares of TeamViewer in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get TeamViewer alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on TMVWY TeamViewer Stock Performance About TeamViewer The company has a fifty day moving average price of $3.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.84. (Get Free Report) TeamViewer AG operates a global remote connectivity platform that enables secure access, support, control and collaboration across devices and locations. Its cloud-based software solutions allow businesses and individuals to remotely troubleshoot IT issues, manage devices, conduct online meetings and share files in real time. The platforms modular architecture supports integrations with leading IT service management tools and provides an open API for custom workflows, making it a versatile choice for digital service delivery. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, TeamViewer has expanded its footprint to serve customers in more than 180 countries. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for TeamViewer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TeamViewer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Thai Oil Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:TOIPY Get Free Report) dropped 8.4% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $15.57 and last traded at $15.57. Approximately 11,400 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 178% from the average daily volume of 4,100 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.00. Thai Oil Public Stock Performance The companys 50 day moving average is $13.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.21. Get Thai Oil Public alerts: About Thai Oil Public (Get Free Report) Thai Oil Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS: TOIPY) is Thailands largest integrated oil refining and petrochemical company. Operating the Sriracha complex in Rayong Province, the firm processes crude oil into a broad slate of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and base oils. Its petrochemical operations produce key feedstockssuch as olefins and aromaticsthat serve the plastics, packaging and consumer goods industries. In addition to refining and petrochemicals, Thai Oil maintains power generation and utility services to support its operations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Thai Oil Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thai Oil Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Free Report) had its target price increased by equities researchers at The Goldman Sachs Group from $40.00 to $44.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the oilfield services companys stock. The Goldman Sachs Groups price objective would indicate a potential upside of 28.99% from the companys current price. A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on HAL. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of Halliburton from $31.00 to $39.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus set a $36.00 price target on Halliburton in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Zephirin Group lowered Halliburton from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the company from $30.00 to $28.00 in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Citigroup lifted their target price on Halliburton from $33.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on Halliburton from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.38. Get Halliburton alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on HAL Halliburton Stock Down 0.1% Shares of HAL traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $34.11. 18,528,634 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,594,022. The company has a market capitalization of $28.57 billion, a PE ratio of 22.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The business has a 50 day moving average of $33.30 and a 200 day moving average of $27.95. Halliburton has a 1-year low of $18.72 and a 1-year high of $37.03. Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The oilfield services company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.14. Halliburton had a net margin of 5.78% and a return on equity of 19.77%. The company had revenue of $5.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.39 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.73 EPS. Halliburtons revenue for the quarter was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Halliburton will post 2.64 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other Halliburton news, EVP Van H. Beckwith sold 54,348 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.96, for a total value of $1,900,006.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 344,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,044,943.60. The trade was a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Lawrence J. Pope sold 100,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.25, for a total value of $3,225,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 419,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,538,550. This represents a 19.24% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 328,148 shares of company stock valued at $11,199,000 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.56% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Halliburton Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Halliburton during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Nvest Wealth Strategies Inc. acquired a new position in Halliburton in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Kelleher Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in Halliburton in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Halliburton in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Zions Bancorporation National Association UT raised its stake in shares of Halliburton by 196.4% during the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 981 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 650 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.23% of the companys stock. Halliburton Company Profile (Get Free Report) Halliburton is one of the worlds largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, offering a broad portfolio that supports the lifecycle of oil and gas reservoirs from exploration and drilling through production and abandonment. Founded in 1919 by Erle P. Halliburton as an oil-well cementing company, the firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has developed into an integrated oilfield services company serving upstream operators globally. The companys activities encompass drilling and evaluation, well construction and completion, production enhancement and well intervention. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Halliburton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Halliburton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TravelSky Technology Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TSYHY Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 9,898 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 172% from the previous sessions volume of 3,638 shares.The stock last traded at $12.84 and had previously closed at $13.4025. TravelSky Technology Trading Up 5.6% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 3.03 and a quick ratio of 3.02. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $13.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $13.72. Get TravelSky Technology alerts: About TravelSky Technology (Get Free Report) TravelSky Technology Limited is a leading provider of information technology solutions for the air travel industry in the Peoples Republic of China. Established in 2001 through an asset reorganization of aviation IT operations previously overseen by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the company has developed a comprehensive platform for airline reservation, distribution and related services. TravelSkys technology underpins the vast majority of domestic air ticketing in China and supports a growing number of international carriers and travel agencies. The companys core offerings include a passenger service system (PSS) that manages reservation and ticketing processes, as well as an electronic distribution network that connects airlines with travel agents, corporate accounts and online channels. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for TravelSky Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TravelSky Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press briefing on the draft Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) in Beijing, capital of China, on March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Over one third of China's major development targets for the 2026-2030 period will focus on resolving the pressing difficulties and problems that concern the people most, an official told a press conference Saturday. To tangibly improve the educational and health standards of the people, the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan sets targets to increase the average years of education for the working-age population, the average life expectancy, and the number of medical staff per 1,000 people, said Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). China will strive to increase the share of nursing beds in elderly care institutions and provide more high-quality nursing services to address the needs of seniors with functional disabilities and dementia, she said. Liu Dechun, an NDRC official in charge of social development, said at the press conference that the draft outline urged efforts to improve the childcare services and increase the rate of kindergarten enrollment of infants under the age of three by six percentage points. To foster a more birth-friendly society, work will be done to expand the coverage of maternity insurance and fully implement parental leave, Liu said. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE Free Report) by 15.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,697,642 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 224,218 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 4.17% of Cadre worth $61,981,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Huntington National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Cadre by 48.4% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 960 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of Cadre by 585.9% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 974 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 832 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Cadre by 43.1% in the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,395 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue acquired a new stake in Cadre in the 3rd quarter valued at $74,000. Finally, Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. increased its stake in Cadre by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 2,908 shares of the companys stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.95% of the companys stock. Get Cadre alerts: Cadre Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CDRE opened at $43.57 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.64, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market cap of $1.77 billion, a PE ratio of 38.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.34. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $42.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.97. Cadre Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $27.07 and a 1-year high of $48.76. Cadre Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 30th. This is an increase from Cadres previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Cadres payout ratio is 35.71%. Several research firms have weighed in on CDRE. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Cadre in a report on Monday, December 29th. Roth Mkm boosted their target price on shares of Cadre from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Cadre from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. CJS Securities raised shares of Cadre to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Cadre from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $43.00. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Cadre About Cadre (Free Report) Cadre (NYSE:CDRE) is a technologydriven real estate investment platform that offers accredited and institutional investors direct access to institutionalgrade commercial properties. Established in 2014, Cadre leverages a data-centric approach to identify, underwrite and manage investments in multifamily, office, retail and industrial assets across major U.S. markets. The firms platform is designed to streamline the investment process, from deal sourcing and due diligence to ongoing asset management and reporting. Through its online marketplace, Cadre provides a curated selection of equity and preferred equity offerings, allowing investors to participate in individual properties or diversify across a managed portfolio. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CDRE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cadre Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cadre and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO) reported fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 results that management said exceeded guidance on both the top and bottom line, with momentum extending into early fiscal 2026. On the companys earnings call for the period ended Jan. 31, 2026, Chief Executive Officer Hillary Super said the retailer returned to growth mode in 2025, with full-year comparable sales up 5% and fourth-quarter comparable sales up 8%. Get alerts: Q4 growth driven by broad-based demand and higher regular-price selling Chief Financial and Operating Officer Scott Sekella said fourth-quarter net sales rose 8% year-over-year to $2.27 billion, up 9% excluding a one-time gift card breakage benefit recorded in the prior-year quarter. Comparable sales increased 8% for the second consecutive quarter, supported by higher traffic and average order value, reduced promotions, and more regular-price selling. Average unit retails (AURs) increased 6% in the quarter, and were up 7% excluding panties, according to Sekella. Super highlighted improved execution during the holiday and Valentines Day periods compared with the prior year. She said the company amplified the fashion show to sustain traffic through November and Black Friday, maintained a cadence of newness in Decemberparticularly in bras and sleepand made targeted inventory investments. Sleep significantly outperformed expectations and became a key growth engine in the quarter, she added. For Valentines Day, Super said the company shortened the semiannual sale, set the assortment earlier to extend the selling window, and supported launches with marketing that included a campaign featuring Hailey Bieber. Management said the Valentines collections at both Victorias Secret and PINK outperformed expectations and delivered double-digit sales growth, with store traffic during Valentines week increasing significantly year-over-year and outperforming the mall. Strategic pillars: bras, PINK reset, and steady beauty growth Super framed fiscal 2025 as early progress under the companys Path to Potential strategy, which she described as built on four pillars: supercharging bra authority, recommitting to PINK, fueling beauty growth, and evolving brand projection and go-to-market. Bra authority: Super said bras were put back at the center of the Victorias Secret brand, helping restore the bra category to growth for the first time in four years. She said the Victorias Secret bra business grew mid-single digits in Q4, alongside reduced promotions that contributed to a mid-single-digit increase in bra AUR. She also cited a halo effect into other categories, including panties and sleep. Super said VS panties accelerated in Q4 with increased AURs and delivered the brands best performance in panties since 2021. Super said bras were put back at the center of the Victorias Secret brand, helping restore the bra category to growth for the first time in four years. She said the Victorias Secret bra business grew mid-single digits in Q4, alongside reduced promotions that contributed to a mid-single-digit increase in bra AUR. She also cited a halo effect into other categories, including panties and sleep. Super said VS panties accelerated in Q4 with increased AURs and delivered the brands best performance in panties since 2021. PINK: Super said the company reset PINKs positioning as a digitally native lifestyle brand for 18- to 24-year-olds, resulting in what management called PINKs strongest growth year in a decade. In Q4, PINK grew high single digits, with apparel penetration and renewed bra momentum. Super and Sekella emphasized pulling back on promotions, with Super citing double-digit AUR expansion, including strength in PINK apparel. The company pointed to viral demand tied to K-pop group TWICE, including two sellouts of the Wear Everywhere bra and what Super called PINKs most viewed campaign ever, generating more than 79 million social views. Super said PINK app downloads increased 50% in the quarter, accelerating further after Valentines Day. Super said the company reset PINKs positioning as a digitally native lifestyle brand for 18- to 24-year-olds, resulting in what management called PINKs strongest growth year in a decade. In Q4, PINK grew high single digits, with apparel penetration and renewed bra momentum. Super and Sekella emphasized pulling back on promotions, with Super citing double-digit AUR expansion, including strength in PINK apparel. The company pointed to viral demand tied to K-pop group TWICE, including two sellouts of the Wear Everywhere bra and what Super called PINKs most viewed campaign ever, generating more than 79 million social views. Super said PINK app downloads increased 50% in the quarter, accelerating further after Valentines Day. Beauty: Super said fragrance remains a key differentiator, calling scent the brands secret weapon. Management said beauty grew low single digits in Q4 and delivered another year of growth in fiscal 2025, led by fine fragrance and supported by mist. Super described Bombshell as Americas number one fragrance and said the company is investing in its beauty team and innovation pipeline, with an expectation to accelerate growth in 2027 and beyond. International results and digital engagement International was a standout in Q4, with Sekella reporting sales growth of 43% to $276 million, led by outstanding performance in China, primarily in digital. Adjusting for a shift in the reporting of European digital sales, international sales grew 27%, Sekella said. Super also cited the importance of social commerce and live streaming in China and said a more coordinated global approach to product and storytelling helped performance. For fiscal 2026, Super said the company expects to deliver double-digit international growth through expansion in existing markets, entering new markets, and leveraging digital and social commerce. Management also emphasized growth in digital engagement and brand marketing. Super said Q4 app downloads rose 25% and that the companys apps now drive approximately one-third of digital sales. She also pointed to the release of a behind-the-scenes fashion show documentary, which management said generated more than 36 million social views, and said Valentines Day campaigns drove more than 10.5 billion impressions, about three times last years level. Margins, cash flow, and portfolio actions Sekella said fiscal 2025 net sales rose 6% to $6.553 billion excluding the prior-year gift card breakage benefit. Adjusted operating income increased 16% to $403 million and adjusted EPS increased 22% to $3.00, despite $85 million in net tariff pressure during the year. In Q4, adjusted gross margin rate was 39.4%, compared with 39.7% a year ago, or about 38.9% excluding the prior-year gift card breakage benefit. Sekella said the company expanded adjusted gross margin rate by 50 basis points excluding the gift card benefit, despite about $60 million, or 250 basis points, of net tariff pressure in the quarter. Drivers included leverage on buying and occupancy, reduced promotions, and increased regular-price selling. Adjusted operating income was $316 million, above the companys guidance range of $265 million to $290 million. Adjusted EPS was $2.77, above guidance of $2.20 to $2.45. On the balance sheet, Sekella said cash ended Q4 at $518 million, up $291 million from last year, and the company generated $312 million in free cash flow for the year, including a $69 million litigation settlement benefit. Excluding that, adjusted free cash flow was $244 million. The company repaid all outstanding borrowings under its $750 million ABL credit facility during the quarter, Sekella said. Management also addressed portfolio actions involving DailyLook and Adore Me. Sekella said the company initiated a strategic review of DailyLook as a non-core asset. For Adore Me, Sekella said the company discontinued the intimates-based subscription offering, converted it to a loyalty program, and exited the Adore Me distribution center in Mexico, transitioning fulfillment to the U.S. The company recorded a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $120 million related to long-lived assets and a $36 million charge for inventory reserves and restructuring, which were excluded from adjusted results. Fiscal 2026 outlook: sales growth expected, tariff mitigation underway For fiscal 2026, the company guided net sales of $6.85 billion to $6.95 billion, representing growth of about 5% to 6% versus fiscal 2025. Operating income is expected to be $430 million to $460 million, implying operating margin expansion of roughly 20 to 50 basis points despite incremental tariff headwinds, Sekella said. EPS is expected to be $3.20 to $3.45. The guidance is based on tariff assumptions consistent with rates in place prior to recent developments, Sekella said, adding that the company did not include the impact of potential tariff changes. For 2026, Sekella said the company assumes incremental gross tariff costs of about $160 million and expects to mitigate most of that, resulting in an incremental net tariff impact of about $40 million. Mitigation efforts include vendor cost optimization, sourcing diversification, freight mix changes, and strategic pricing actions, including more targeted promotions and selective price adjustments where the company sees market value gaps. For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company forecast net sales of $1.49 billion to $1.525 billion, up from $1.353 billion a year earlier, representing expected growth of 10% to 13%. Operating income is expected to be $32 million to $42 million and EPS is expected to be $0.20 to $0.30. Sekella said tariffs are expected to have the greatest impact in the first half, with Q1 seeing the largest impact because Q1 of last year was not affected by tariffs. In Q&A, Super said customer file growth is being led by new customer acquisition, with an uptick in younger customers, and described the transformation as early to mid innings, with the Victorias Secret brand further along than PINK and beauty viewed as more long-term due to innovation and regulatory timelines. Management also said it is monitoring Middle East disruptions, citing some franchise store closures but limited direct exposure due to the royalty-based structure, and said it has no meaningful sourcing exposure in the region. About Victorias Secret & Co. (NYSE:VSCO) 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. Read More Guardian Capital LP lifted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report) by 4.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,897 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 574 shares during the period. Guardian Capital LPs holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $12,290,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Accredited Investors Inc. acquired a new position in W.W. Grainger in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 136.4% in the 2nd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 26 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Tobam lifted its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 3,900.0% in the 2nd quarter. Tobam now owns 40 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming boosted its position in W.W. Grainger by 650.0% during the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 45 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.70% of the companys stock. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, VP Krantz Nancy L. Berardinelli sold 195 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,023.93, for a total value of $199,666.35. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 3,174 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,249,953.82. This represents a 5.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 6.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently commented on GWW. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on W.W. Grainger in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. They set a market perform rating and a $975.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on W.W. Grainger from $1,100.00 to $1,165.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of W.W. Grainger from $963.00 to $975.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,250.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $1,071.38. Check Out Our Latest Report on W.W. Grainger W.W. Grainger Stock Performance Shares of GWW stock opened at $1,112.28 on Friday. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 12-month low of $893.99 and a 12-month high of $1,218.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 2.83 and a quick ratio of 1.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $1,093.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,017.83. W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $9.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $9.46 by ($0.01). W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 9.51% and a return on equity of 47.46%. The business had revenue of $4.43 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $9.71 EPS. The firms revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. W.W. Grainger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 42.250-44.750 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 EPS for the current year. W.W. Grainger Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Monday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $2.26 per share. This represents a $9.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 9th. W.W. Graingers payout ratio is currently 25.54%. W.W. Grainger Company Profile (Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc (NYSE: GWW) is an industrial supply distributor founded in 1927 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company supplies maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services to businesses, institutions and government customers. Over its long history Grainger has developed a broad product assortment and a national distribution network that supports operations across a range of end markets, including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, transportation and public sector organizations. Graingers product portfolio spans core categories such as electrical and lighting, safety and personal protective equipment, material handling, motors and power transmission, plumbing and HVAC, fasteners and adhesives, hand and power tools, and janitorial and facility supplies. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cantor Fitzgerald restated their neutral rating on shares of Zealand Pharma A/S (OTCMKTS:ZLDPF Free Report) in a research report report published on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. ZLDPF has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Zealand Pharma A/S in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. BTIG Research raised shares of Zealand Pharma A/S to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Zealand Pharma A/S alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on ZLDPF Zealand Pharma A/S Price Performance Zealand Pharma A/S stock traded down $17.72 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $39.95. The stock had a trading volume of 83,428 shares, compared to its average volume of 822. Zealand Pharma A/S has a 1-year low of $35.93 and a 1-year high of $101.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.75. The stocks fifty day moving average is $64.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $70.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 14.10 and a quick ratio of 14.10. Zealand Pharma A/S (OTCMKTS:ZLDPF Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported ($0.81) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.34) by $0.53. The business had revenue of $10.79 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.69 million. Zealand Pharma A/S had a return on equity of 49.76% and a net margin of 70.06%. As a group, analysts predict that Zealand Pharma A/S will post -2.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Trending Headlines about Zealand Pharma A/S Here are the key news stories impacting Zealand Pharma A/S this week: Zealand Pharma A/S Company Profile (Get Free Report) Zealand Pharma A/S is a Denmarkbased biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, design and development of peptidebased therapeutics. Utilizing proprietary peptide engineering platforms, the company focuses on metabolic and endocrine disorders, including diabetes and rare gastrointestinal diseases. Zealand employs a rational design approach to optimize stability, selectivity and dosing profiles of its candidates, aiming to improve patient outcomes where current treatment options are limited. Among the most advanced assets in Zealands pipeline is dasiglucagon, a stable glucagon analog designed for the emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Zealand Pharma A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zealand Pharma A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- For the world's second-largest economy, a new blueprint for development through 2030 is taking shape, with the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan submitted to China's top legislature for examination at its ongoing annual session. The period covered by the 15th Five-Year Plan is widely seen as pivotal, as China enters the final decade of its push to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035. Beyond that milestone, the country aims to become a great modern socialist country in all respects by mid-century. As it advances toward modernization, China places strong emphasis on ensuring that economic growth delivers broader and more balanced gains across society -- a principle embodied in the draft plan's call to make solid progress toward realizing common prosperity for all. The pursuit of common prosperity -- addressing uneven and insufficient development, expanding the middle-income group, and improving access to essential public services for 1.4 billion people -- is presented as a defining feature of Chinese modernization, distinguishing it from Western development models. Common prosperity also represents socialist China's response to the pressures that have fueled widening income gaps and strained social security systems in many advanced capitalist economies. The approach reflects the long-standing people-centered philosophy of the governing Communist Party of China (CPC), which places human well-being -- rather than the maximization of capital returns -- at the heart of modernization, said Yin Jun, deputy director of the modernization research center at Peking University. To reinforce this philosophy, the CPC in February launched a five-month education campaign on fostering a correct view of governance performance, urging Party members and officials to focus on serving the public interest and improving people's livelihoods while rejecting short-termism and showmanship. Under such a governance philosophy, projects without immediate financial returns can still move ahead if they improve people's lives. In central China, a suspension bridge linking two remote villages across a canyon was built to give residents easier access to the outside world. Today, its dramatic scenery attracts tourists, bringing new income to local villagers. Such examples illustrate how China's pursuit of common prosperity seeks to ensure that the gains of development reach all. The draft calls for the basic completion of a more connected high-speed rail network featuring eight vertical and eight horizontal main routes, along with the national expressway system in the new five-year cycle. That would better connect developed and less-developed regions, smoothing the flow of resources and helping spread the gains of growth more evenly. Contrary to Western portrayals of it as egalitarianism or redistribution that weakens market incentives, the approach aims to expand the economic "pie" while improving distribution. Since the launch of reform and opening up in the late 1970s, China has advanced this vision by allowing some regions and groups to prosper first, encouraging them to lift others along the way. Over time, this approach has enabled the country to maintain its position as the world's second-largest economy, cultivate the largest middle-income group globally, and steadily improve living standards. The draft outlines a clearer path for China to carry forward the momentum in the new planning cycle, with narrowing regional and urban-rural disparities remaining high on the agenda. Achieving common prosperity in a country as vast and diverse as China presents formidable challenges, said Yin. Rural areas -- home to roughly 450 million people -- represent the most pressing front. The draft devotes a section to accelerating agricultural and rural modernization and advancing all-around rural revitalization. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), following the milestone achievement of eliminating absolute poverty in 2021, tangible progress has been made in consolidating those gains and advancing rural revitalization, with rural incomes growing faster than those in urban areas. Guo Qingli, a national lawmaker from Liaoning Province and a vegetable farmer, has witnessed the changes firsthand. "Smart temperature-controlled greenhouses and faster cold-chain logistics now deliver our vegetables fresh nationwide, nearly doubling farmers' incomes over the past five years," she said. Building on that progress, the draft proposes expanding industry- and employment-based support to foster stronger self-sustaining growth, while upgrading rural infrastructure and increasing farmers' incomes. China has also emphasized shifting more investment toward human capital alongside traditional spending on physical infrastructure. By prioritizing investment in people and ensuring material inputs serve human development, China aims to convert its demographic dividend into a talent dividend and unleash the internal driving force behind common prosperity, noted Zhang Rong, a national lawmaker from Fujian Province and Party chief of Xiamen University. Employment is central to the common prosperity strategy, serving as the anchor of growth, income distribution and social mobility. In 2025, China created 12.67 million new urban jobs, and the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent, reflecting overall stability in the labor market. The draft places "high-quality and sufficient employment" at the forefront of livelihood improvement, highlighting not only job creation but also vocational training systems that support skill development across age groups. Efforts to shape a more "oval-shaped" income distribution will accompany these policies. Market mechanisms will continue to reward work, skills and innovation, while redistribution through taxation, social security and transfer payments will be strengthened. Public services feature prominently in the draft plan. Education, healthcare and elderly care are treated as essential public goods. In contrast to systems where such services are heavily marketized, China seeks to maintain a stronger public role, aiming to share development gains more broadly, Zhang said. From 2021 to 2025, over 70 percent of China's general public budget was devoted to improving livelihoods. The draft plan for the coming years highlights 20 key indicators for economic and social development, seven of which focus on employment, income, education, healthcare, elderly and childcare services, and life expectancy, reflecting a shift from basic provision toward higher-quality welfare. It also outlines major projects designed to address pressing public needs across these areas. Public services will reach deeper into communities, extend further into rural areas, and prioritize remote regions and disadvantaged groups, the draft says. Social safety nets will offer stronger protection for vulnerable populations, including children and people with disabilities. Decades of efforts to advance common prosperity have yielded gains in inclusive development. China now operates the world's largest education system, healthcare network, and social security framework, alongside an extensive urban housing support system. Yet demographic shifts, industrial transformation, and rising public expectations require continuous policy adaptation. "Once China achieves common prosperity, rising incomes and a larger middle-income group are expected to create a vast consumer market, providing sustained momentum for the world economy," said Li Kai, an economics professor at Xiamen University. KIGALI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- African experts have convened in the Rwandan capital Kigali for the Technical Committee (TC 53) meeting on the standardization of textiles, textile products, and accessories. The forum, which ran from Tuesday to Friday, focused on finalizing agreements and establishing key standards and labeling systems for the textile sector, with the aim of strengthening trade and supporting economic growth within the continent's textile industry. Hermogene Nsengimana, secretary general of the African Organisation for Standardization (ARSO), highlighted that Africa still faces a significant gap in developing common quality standards. He added that currently, only about 25 percent of the standards required for all products in the African common market have been established. Nsengimana said that ARSO has set a target to significantly reduce this gap within the next four to five years in order to improve product competitiveness and facilitate smoother trade across the continent. The meeting, organized by the ARSO, also focused on finalizing discussions on 26 African standards related to textiles, clothing, and textile-made equipment. The gathering brought together experts from 16 countries to develop common continental quality standards for clothing, textile equipment, and related products. The harmonized standards are designed to remove barriers that complicate the movement of goods across borders, thereby facilitating faster and more efficient trade across the continent. By aligning quality requirements, African countries aim to maximize the opportunities offered by AfCFTA and create a more competitive and integrated market, according to the meeting organizers. DCF Advisers LLC increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 25.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,300 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,675 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 2.0% of DCF Advisers LLCs holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding. DCF Advisers LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $6,333,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% during the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance NYSE LLY opened at $990.58 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $934.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.16, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.40. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $623.78 and a 12-month high of $1,133.95. The businesss 50 day moving average is $1,045.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $939.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.85 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.66% and a return on equity of 102.94%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $5.32 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. Research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year. 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 issued a dividend of $1.73 per share. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is presently 30.15%. Analyst Ratings Changes LLY has been the subject of several research reports. Argus upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $930.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. National Bank Financial set a $1,286.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and issued a $1,285.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday. Wolfe Research increased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating and set a $1,300.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,229.59. Check Out Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company Key Eli Lilly and Company News Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co purchased a new position in shares of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 27,464 shares of the closed-end funds stock, valued at approximately $635,000. Get Franklin Resources alerts: A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in BEN. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Franklin Resources by 26.2% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 148,049 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,850,000 after acquiring an additional 30,763 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in Franklin Resources by 169.3% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 7,909 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $152,000 after purchasing an additional 4,972 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP boosted its stake in Franklin Resources by 41.1% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 26,189 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $504,000 after purchasing an additional 7,634 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its stake in Franklin Resources by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 43,876 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $1,046,000 after purchasing an additional 1,749 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. increased its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 80.2% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,777 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 1,236 shares during the period. 47.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently commented on BEN. Evercore boosted their price objective on Franklin Resources from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Barclays raised their target price on Franklin Resources from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Franklin Resources from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. TD Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Franklin Resources in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Franklin Resources in a report on Monday, December 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Franklin Resources has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $25.89. Franklin Resources Stock Down 2.5% Franklin Resources stock opened at $26.26 on Friday. Franklin Resources, Inc. has a 1-year low of $16.25 and a 1-year high of $28.32. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $26.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $24.43. The company has a market capitalization of $13.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The closed-end fund reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $1.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.23 billion. Franklin Resources had a net margin of 6.97% and a return on equity of 9.58%. Franklin Resourcess revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.59 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Franklin Resources, Inc. will post 2.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Franklin Resources Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.0%. Franklin Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 122.22%. Franklin Resources Company Profile (Free Report) Franklin Resources, Inc, doing business as Franklin Templeton, is a global investment management organization that offers a wide range of asset management solutions to institutional and individual investors. The firms core focus is on delivering active portfolio management across equities, fixed income, multi-asset strategies and alternative investments. Franklin Templetons product lineup includes mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, separately managed accounts and sub-advisory services designed to meet varying risk-return objectives and income needs. Founded in 1947 by Rupert H. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BEN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Franklin Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franklin Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co purchased a new position in shares of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE:FAF Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 10,802 shares of the insurance providers stock, valued at approximately $694,000. Get First American Financial alerts: Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FAF. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its holdings in First American Financial by 2,887.5% in the 3rd quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 478 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of First American Financial during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in shares of First American Financial during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. First Horizon Corp acquired a new stake in shares of First American Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Tripletail Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of First American Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. 89.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on FAF. Barclays upped their price objective on First American Financial from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Truist Financial raised their target price on First American Financial from $76.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of First American Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Stephens raised shares of First American Financial from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $70.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of First American Financial in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $78.50. Insider Buying and Selling In other First American Financial news, Director Parker S. Kennedy acquired 44,841 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $67.85 per share, with a total value of $3,042,461.85. Following the purchase, the director owned 251,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,067,803.20. The trade was a 21.69% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock. First American Financial Price Performance NYSE FAF opened at $67.71 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $64.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $64.10. The company has a market capitalization of $6.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.27, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.25. First American Financial Corporation has a 1-year low of $53.09 and a 1-year high of $71.47. First American Financial (NYSE:FAF Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The insurance provider reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.50. The company had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. First American Financial had a return on equity of 11.92% and a net margin of 8.34%.During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.35 earnings per share. First American Financials quarterly revenue was up 21.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that First American Financial Corporation will post 5.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. First American Financial Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th will be given a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. First American Financials payout ratio is currently 36.61%. About First American Financial (Free Report) First American Financial Corporation is a leading provider of title insurance, settlement services and diversified real estate-related data and analytics. Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, the company serves customers throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Its business is built on the underwriting capabilities of its title insurance operations combined with comprehensive closing and escrow services for homebuyers, sellers, mortgage lenders and real estate professionals. The companys title insurance segment issues policies that protect property owners and mortgage lenders against defects in titles, liens or encumbrances that can arise during real property transactions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First American Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First American Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC grew its holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report) by 291.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,190 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,120 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLCs holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries were worth $1,278,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Huntington Ingalls Industries alerts: Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of HII. Korea Investment CORP acquired a new stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,604,000. Primoris Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries during the third quarter worth approximately $2,260,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 51.2% during the 3rd quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 24,746 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $7,125,000 after acquiring an additional 8,384 shares during the period. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 76.7% during the 3rd quarter. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 8,120 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,338,000 after acquiring an additional 3,525 shares during the period. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 31.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 12,560 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,502,000 after acquiring an additional 2,990 shares in the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently weighed in on HII. Bank of America upgraded Huntington Ingalls Industries from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $300.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Huntington Ingalls Industries from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $450.00 to $465.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, January 31st. Finally, Melius Research raised shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $384.13. Huntington Ingalls Industries Stock Up 2.2% Shares of NYSE HII opened at $430.37 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $408.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $336.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.06. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a 1 year low of $177.42 and a 1 year high of $460.00. The firm has a market cap of $16.89 billion, a PE ratio of 28.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.32. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The aerospace company reported $4.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.72 by $0.32. The firm had revenue of $3.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.09 billion. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a net margin of 4.85% and a return on equity of 12.28%. The companys revenue was up 15.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.15 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 13.99 EPS for the current year. Huntington Ingalls Industries Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio is presently 35.91%. Insider Transactions at Huntington Ingalls Industries In related news, EVP Eric D. Chewning sold 1,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $433.44, for a total transaction of $736,848.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 1,949 shares of the companys stock, valued at $844,774.56. This trade represents a 46.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.72% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About Huntington Ingalls Industries (Free Report) Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a leading provider of professional services to the U.S. government. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII designs, constructs and maintains nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines and other complex vessels for the U.S. Navy. The companys products include nuclear aircraft carriers, Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines, as well as amphibious assault ships, destroyers and cutters. Established in 2011 as a spin-off from Northrop Grummans shipbuilding operations, HII traces its heritage to two historic builders: Newport News Shipbuilding, founded in the 19th century, and Ingalls Shipbuilding, founded in 1938. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huntington Ingalls Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC raised its stake in Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW Free Report) by 66.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,170 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 869 shares during the period. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLCs holdings in Curtiss-Wright were worth $1,230,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Get Curtiss-Wright alerts: A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Curtiss-Wright by 0.3% during the third quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 791,531 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $429,754,000 after buying an additional 2,153 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of Curtiss-Wright by 31.5% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 728,745 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $395,665,000 after acquiring an additional 174,592 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Curtiss-Wright during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $241,537,000. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Curtiss-Wright by 15.9% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 394,204 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $214,029,000 after acquiring an additional 54,197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Curtiss-Wright by 45.8% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 388,493 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $189,468,000 after acquiring an additional 122,048 shares during the last quarter. 82.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have issued reports on CW shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $748.00 price target on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Curtiss-Wright from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $760.00 target price on shares of Curtiss-Wright in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Curtiss-Wright from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Curtiss-Wright currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $663.17. Insider Activity at Curtiss-Wright In other Curtiss-Wright news, CEO Lynn M. Bamford sold 9,327 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $626.45, for a total value of $5,842,899.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 46,192 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,936,978.40. This represents a 16.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Robert F. Freda sold 418 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $626.95, for a total transaction of $262,065.10. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 5,187 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,251,989.65. The trade was a 7.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 17,269 shares of company stock valued at $10,797,098 in the last quarter. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Curtiss-Wright Stock Up 0.4% Shares of CW stock opened at $681.58 on Friday. Curtiss-Wright Corporation has a twelve month low of $266.88 and a twelve month high of $730.12. The stock has a market cap of $25.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 52.96, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.91. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $650.99 and a 200 day moving average of $577.56. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The aerospace company reported $3.79 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.66 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $946.98 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $890.14 million. Curtiss-Wright had a return on equity of 19.28% and a net margin of 13.84%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.27 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Curtiss-Wright Corporation will post 12.32 EPS for the current year. Curtiss-Wright Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 26th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. Curtiss-Wrights dividend payout ratio is 7.46%. About Curtiss-Wright (Free Report) Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) is a diversified, global engineering company that designs, manufactures and services highly engineered products and integrated systems for the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Its offerings span a range of electromechanical, motion control and flow control technologies, including flight control and actuation systems, sensors and avionics components, pumps and valves, power conversion and heat exchangers, and platform integration solutions for marine and ground systems. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Curtiss-Wright Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Curtiss-Wright and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co lessened its holdings in shares of Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL Free Report) by 53.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,746 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 13,355 shares during the period. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Cos holdings in Rollins were worth $690,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Get Rollins alerts: Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Rollins in the third quarter valued at approximately $378,000. Aviso Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Rollins by 39.7% during the 3rd quarter. Aviso Financial Inc. now owns 21,998 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,292,000 after purchasing an additional 6,252 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Rollins by 23.8% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 11,141 shares of the business services providers stock worth $654,000 after purchasing an additional 2,139 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its holdings in shares of Rollins by 12.2% in the 3rd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 52,859 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,105,000 after purchasing an additional 5,736 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its position in Rollins by 30.1% during the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 94,678 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $5,561,000 after purchasing an additional 21,886 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.79% of the companys stock. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Rollins news, insider Elizabeth B. Chandler sold 14,201 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.36, for a total transaction of $842,971.36. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 55,977 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,322,794.72. The trade was a 20.24% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Chairman Gary W. Rollins sold 10,355 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.83, for a total transaction of $650,604.65. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman directly owned 5,312,114 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $333,760,122.62. This represents a 0.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 73,351 shares of company stock valued at $4,554,785. Corporate insiders own 4.47% of the companys stock. Rollins Stock Up 0.3% Shares of Rollins stock opened at $58.34 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $61.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $59.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a market capitalization of $28.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.52, a PEG ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.80. Rollins, Inc. has a 1-year low of $49.73 and a 1-year high of $66.14. Rollins (NYSE:ROL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The business services provider reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.27 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $912.91 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $925.08 million. Rollins had a return on equity of 38.16% and a net margin of 14.00%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.22 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Rollins, Inc. will post 1.09 EPS for the current year. Rollins Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be issued a $0.1825 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 25th. This represents a $0.73 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Rollinss dividend payout ratio is presently 66.97%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $67.00 price objective on Rollins and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Barclays upgraded Rollins from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the company from $60.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Morgan Stanley set a $70.00 price target on shares of Rollins in a report on Friday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $56.00 price target on shares of Rollins and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Rollins in a report on Monday, December 29th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.08. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rollins About Rollins (Free Report) Rollins, Inc (NYSE: ROL) is a provider of pest and termite control services operating through a network of subsidiaries and franchises. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company offers a broad range of pest management solutions for both residential and commercial customers, positioning itself as a specialist in protecting property and public health from pests and vectors. Its service offerings include general pest control, termite inspection and treatment, bed bug remediation, mosquito and vector control, wildlife exclusion, and related specialty services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ROL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rollins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rollins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note issued on Saturday. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on LLY. Truist Financial restated a buy rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. National Bank Financial set a $1,286.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, December 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an outperform rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $1,313.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,229.59. View Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $990.58 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $934.47 billion, a PE ratio of 43.16, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $1,045.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $939.25. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $623.78 and a twelve month high of $1,133.95. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $19.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 102.94% and a net margin of 31.66%.Eli Lilly and Companys revenue was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.32 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Eli Lilly and Company A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of LLY. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 189.6% in the third quarter. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,408 shares of the companys stock worth $13,283,000 after purchasing an additional 11,396 shares during the last quarter. Rede Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $487,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 25.8% during the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 8,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,859,000 after buying an additional 1,843 shares during the period. Cidel Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 26.5% in the 3rd quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 26,726 shares of the companys stock worth $20,392,000 after buying an additional 5,591 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oak Family Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the third quarter worth $1,979,000. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Trending Headlines about Eli Lilly and Company Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Get Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Derry City and Strabane District Council has partnered with Derry Well Woman to mark Endometriosis Awareness Month and show support for those living with the condition. To mark the occasion, Council offices in Derry and Strabane, along with the Tinnies building in Strabane, will be illuminated in yellow on Tuesday, March 24 as a visible show of solidarity. Recent research from Endometriosis UK indicates that more than 1.5 million people in the UK are affected by endometriosis however 54% of people report that they do not know what endometriosis is. Endometriosis is a chronic, often debilitating condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, commonly affecting organs within the pelvic cavity such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and bowel. The condition can cause severe pain and may significantly impact a persons education, career, relationships, mental health and overall quality of life. Common symptoms include chronic pelvic pain, severe period pain, painful bowel movements and fertility difficulties. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairi McHugh said, Endometriosis affects a significant number of women and young girls across our community. It is vital that we use Endometriosis Awareness Month to increase understanding of this condition, recognise the symptoms and stand in solidarity with those living with its daily challenges. By raising awareness, we can encourage people to talk about it more openly and encourage earlier diagnosis and support. READ NEXT: Derry sets new Irish Padel record with historic 10,000 CUPRA IPT Argento Cup Tracey Harrison of Derry Well Women added, We are delighted that Council has partnered with us to highlight Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting an estimated 176 million women worldwide, yet it remains under-recognised and under-discussed. The condition can begin from a girls first period and continue through to menopause. By using its platform to raise awareness, Council is helping to ensure that more people understand the symptoms and know when to seek support. Derry Well Women hosts an Endometriosis Support Group every month for those living with the condition. The monthly support group takes place on the last Tuesday of the month from 7pm until 9pm in the centre at 17 Queen Street, Derry. The group is a safe, welcoming space for anyone affected to share experiences and coping strategies as well as symptom management and support. Derry Well Woman and the Endometriosis support group members will be attending an event on 23rd March in Stormont to further highlight and lobby for improved care and treatment for women affected by Endo throughout NI. Councils support for Endometriosis Awareness Month follows a Notice of Motion passed at a recent Full Council meeting. Anyone who believes they may be experiencing symptoms of endometriosis is encouraged to contact their GP, who can provide advice and refer to a gynaecologist for further investigation if required. For more information and support, visit: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/. WELLINGTON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft departed from Auckland on Saturday for the Middle East to assist New Zealand citizens stranded amid ongoing conflicts in the region, according to the country's Defence Force. Defence Minister Judith Collins said the government's immediate priority was supporting New Zealanders in the Middle East, who continue to be advised to shelter in place or take any safe and practical opportunities to leave. Consular staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are being deployed alongside two C-130J Hercules aircraft so they can respond quickly when conditions allow, Collins said. One of the aircraft left Auckland on Saturday, while another, already in Asia, is being redirected to support the operation, she said. Around 3,000 New Zealanders are currently registered with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as living in the Middle East. A new community-focused support network, the North West Liver & Transplant Hub, has officially launched to provide a dedicated space for patients and families navigating the complexities of liver disease and transplantation. The initiative was established to address the profound sense of isolation often felt by those in the North West throughout the transplant journey. Moving away from traditional clinical settings, the Hub prioritises peer connection, shared experience, and the vital "local banter" that sustains individuals through challenging medical seasons. By providing a private and secure environment, the Hub allows members to speak freely, exchange practical advice, and find a community that understands the unique realities of living with chronic liver conditions. A spokesperson for the North West Liver & Transplant Hub stated: "The transplant journey can be incredibly lonely. This Hub is about ensuring that no one in our community has to face that road alone. Its a place for real talk and the kind of local connection that makes a massive difference to mental health." READ NEXT: Hard-hitting TV campaigns to target younger drivers across Derry and beyond The Hub is open to patients, those on the waiting list, transplant recipients, and their families across the North West. You can connect with the Hub: on Facebook: Search for "North West Liver & Transplant Hub" and click 'Join'; and on WhatsApp/Phone: Call or message the local hub directly on 028 71 770078 to be added to the private circle. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Childrens Books Ireland today launched the next phase of its nationwide book-gifting programme, aimed at inspiring a love of reading and increasing book ownership among children in Ireland. This years launch event took place at Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Kilsaran National School, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth. Over 3,500 children across 91 schools in Ireland will receive a free book from the giving programme. Donegal resident and former Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Kilsaran National School student, Meg Grehan, the author of this years book The Brightest Star, joined the titles illustrator, Nene Lonergan, to present students with a copy and a live reading of her book. Since 2021, Childrens Books Ireland has donated more than 23,500 books to schoolchildren nationwide through funding from Enterprise Mobilitys ROAD Forward initiative. The book-gifting programme helps enhance literacy skills in primary age students by giving more children better access to reading. Elaina Ryan, CEO of Childrens Books Ireland, said: Becoming a key partner of Enterprise Mobilitys ROAD Forward initiative has boosted our reach into communities where we are needed most. We share a commitment to giving children a passion for reading through a varied selection of current, accessible and imaginative stories. By introducing young readers to a wide range of Irish authors and illustrators, we hope these books will inspire, entertain and spark a love of reading that begins with a great book and lasts a lifetime. Brendan Grieve, Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility, Ireland, said: Childrens Books Ireland do a fantastic job of supporting child literacy in communities across Ireland, helping them develop positive, healthy and life-long relationships with reading. Providing more children with the opportunity to read for enjoyment through better access to a range of stories, topics and authors is a fundamental part of this work and Im proud that the Enterprise Mobility ROAD Forward initiative is supporting this important work. Read Next: Council notes 'recent increase' in tenancy terminations in Louth amid rental changes Launched in 2020, the ROAD Forward initiative supports organisations that advance social equity in communities across North America and Europe. By 2030, nearly $165 million will have been granted to local nonprofits and key partners addressing social equity gaps in three key areas: early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation. To date, over 1,150 organisations have received ROAD Forward grants. As Enterprise Mobilitys key partner in Ireland, Childrens Books Ireland will receive 240,000 in funding in the period to 2030, following the extension of Enterprise Mobilitys global ROAD Forward initiative last year. Monks from the Cistercian community are set to move to Louth, after voting to make Mellifont Abbey their permanent home. The decision was confirmed by Dom Rufus Pound, superior of the community currently based at Mount Saint Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, Tipperary following a formal vote of the Conventual Chapter. The move marks a significant development for Louth, with the monastic site at Mellifont Abbey, long associated with the Cistercian tradition in Ireland, now chosen as the long-term base for the community formed from the former abbeys of Mount Melleray, Mount Saint Joseph and Mellifont. In a statement, Dom Rufus Pound said the community had spent the past year in Roscrea reflecting on its future before deciding to relocate to the Louth abbey. In January 2025, the Community of Our Lady of Silence, comprising the members of the former Cistercian Abbeys of Mount Melleray, Mount Saint Joseph, and Mellifont, made the decision to come together for an interim period at Mount Saint Joseph Abbey, Roscrea. This arrangement afforded us the necessary space and time to reflect carefully on our long-term future and to engage in a prayerful process of discernment regarding a permanent home for the Community. Last week, following a formal vote of the Conventual Chapter, the monastic community decided to relocate to Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth, as our long-term home. We understand that this decision will bring great disappointment locally. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the wider community for its steadfast support, friendship, and generosity over many generations. The strong bonds formed here are enduring and deeply valued. We anticipate that the transition will take place over at least the next eighteen months, allowing a proper opportunity to mark our departure and to say farewell in an appropriate and respectful manner. A special word of appreciation is due to our wonderful staff at the Abbey, whose dedication, professionalism, and loyalty have supported our life and work in countless ways. For their generous commitment over so many years, we are profoundly grateful. We will now enter into diligent and respectful discussions with them, with the aim of supporting and guiding all through this period of transition. We are committed to ensuring that appropriate provisions are made and that everyone is treated with fairness, dignity, and care. While we will no longer reside on the grounds we have shared for so long with Cistercian College, our bond remains strong and enduring. We will continue in our role as Patrons and remain fully committed to the future of the College, to its mission, and to the ethos and values that have shaped generations of students. We have every confidence in the Board of Management and in the leadership of College President, Colm Maloney, and his team. Under their stewardship, the College will act as custodian of our shared heritage and will carry forward the legacy entrusted to it, ensuring that the values intrinsic to our Cistercian tradition continue to flourish in the years ahead. Read Next: Endometriosis awareness event to take place at Downtown Hub in Dundalk We were particularly encouraged by the decision to transition to a co-educational model and remain immensely proud of the Colleges legacy and its past pupils, whose contributions to both the monastic and wider community are beyond measure. Their loyalty, service, and faithfulness remain a source of encouragement to us all. We recognise that our departure will offer new opportunities for the College to expand and grow, and we look forward to remaining partners in its continued development long into the future. We ask the whole community of Roscrea to keep us in prayer as we take this significant step on our journey. Please be assured that you all remain close to our hearts and in our prayer. Difficult decisions require deep trust in God, and, with that trust, we move forward in faith, confident that the Lord has guided us on this path and will continue to do so in the years ahead. With gratitude for the past and hope for what lies ahead, we entrust ourselves, the College, and the whole wider community of Roscrea to Gods faithful blessing and loving care. A Transition Year (TY) student from Louth is a Solicitor of the Future after successfully completing the Law Society of Irelands innovative legal education programme. Caly Flanagan, St Louis Secondary School, was one of 40 TY students that attended the popular week-long Solicitors of the Future programme at the Law Society in Dublin from 17-20 February 2026. Delivered by leading legal experts, the immersive, activitybased programme featured practitionerled workshops, guest speakers, courtroom exercises, and a dedicated careers seminar. In total, students from ten counties participated. Places on this years programme were allocated by lottery, with 20% reserved for students attending socioeconomically disadvantaged schools. It is designed for anyone interested in exploring a career in law. Speaking about the programme, Law Society President, Rosemarie Loftus, said: This initiative encourages students to consider a career in law while providing a real insight into the work of practising solicitors. Read also: Special Regeneration Areas to be identified in Dundalk and Drogheda "It is carefully designed to offer a holistic understanding of what a legal career involves, and the many different paths it can take. From hearing insights from human rights practitioners to newly qualified solicitors, and visits to the Criminal Courts, students now have a real sense of what its like to work in the legal world, and the rewarding career path of a solicitor. The programme also highlighted the practical supports available to aspiring solicitors, including financial grants via the Law Societys Access Scholarship. It doesnt matter where you come from or what your background is - a career in law is open to everyone. By taking part in the Law Societys Solicitors of the Future programme, students learn how the law affects everyday life, building awareness of justice, legal processes, constitutional principles, and the rule of law. This is useful for everyone, not just future lawyers. Solicitors of the Future is one of the Law Societys many Public Legal Education programmes, part of its strategic drive to widen early access to legal education. Learn more about the Law Societys Public Legal Education programmes here. H2O Heroes, an award-winning environmental education programme led by Dr Caroline Gilleran Stephens at Dundalk Institute of Technology, has received significant national funding of just under 300k through the Research Ireland Discover Programme. The hands-on initiative engages children, families, teachers and communities across counties Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Tipperary, using local rivers, lakes and green spaces as outdoor laboratories to explore water quality, biodiversity and climate action. By combining curriculum-aligned workshops, inclusive summer camps, Family STEM Nights, and community events, H2O Heroes aims to spark curiosity, build science confidence, and promote sustainability, while providing pathways for young people to volunteer, earn awards, and develop lifelong environmental stewardship. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton TD, have today announced almost 6 million in funding nationally to support 32 projects designed to engage the public in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through the Research Ireland Discover Programme. Dr Gilleran Stephens said: H 2 O Heroes was designed to spark curiosity through hands-on STEM learning to build science confidence and promote sustainability by inviting children, families, teachers and communities to explore water quality, biodiversity and climate action under the unifying message, We all live in a catchment. It is fantastic to receive this funding and recognition through the Research Ireland Discover Programme, allowing us to widen the impact of H 2 O Heroes and continuing to support our communities in this area. The Research Ireland Discover Programme is a national initiative to widen participation in STEM. This years projects will engage with people of all ages, from early childhood through to adulthood, through creative, community-embedded and inclusive approaches to STEM engagement. Announcing the awards, Minister Lawless said: STEM is one of the most powerful forces driving Irelands creativity, resilience and future prosperity. The projects announced today will widen access to STEM by bringing wonder, curiosity and real opportunities for learning into peoples everyday lives. This investment isnt just about supporting programmes its about sparking imaginations. "It brings conversations about research and innovation directly into our communities and helps nurture a new generation of explorers, problem solvers and innovators who will shape Irelands future.Welcoming the announcement and her departments funding of six projects, Minister Naughton commented: Read Next: Louth duo take top honour for innovative non-alcoholic beer Todays funding is about opening doors for our children and young people. By supporting STEM projects both inside and outside the classroom, we are helping children and young people across Ireland to discover that science, technology, engineering and maths are not abstract subjects, but real career paths that they can step into. This investment will ensure more children and young people can see themselves in STEM, build their confidence, and will empower them to pursue it as part of their future.Dr Diarmuid OBrien, CEO of Research Ireland, added: The projects funded today highlight the creativity and ambition of Irelands STEM engagement community, and their commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists. They are also playing a vital role in helping people of all ages feel informed and connected to the role of STEM research in society. "Research Irelands strategy, launched earlier this week, is built on the three pillars of Talent, Economy and Society. We are proud to support these partners as they deliver programmes to democratise access to STEM across the country, and help support talent for our future economy and society. Louths thriving food and hospitality scene was in the spotlight at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final 2026, held on Tuesday, March 3rd, at the Killashee Hotel in Kildare. The evening celebrated the countys outstanding restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hospitality professionals, with Louth winners taking top honours across a wide range of categories. More than 1100 guests attended to recognise the achievements of restaurants, cafes and hospitality businesses operating across Leinster. Now in its 17th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards attracted over 150,000 public nominations, submitted via The Irish Times, the official media partner. Once all regional finals conclude, both Regional and All Ireland winners will be revealed at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday, May 18th at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. County winners from Leinster are now invited to secure tickets for the national ceremony. Addressing attendees, Sean Collender, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said: As Ireland places a renewed focus on culinary tourism, nights like this take on even greater importance. Our restaurants are not only central to local communities and employment, they are a key part of the experience visitors travel here for. The Irish Restaurant Awards shine a light on the quality, creativity and standards that underpin Irelands growing food reputation at home and abroad. These awards are about more than recognition. They reinforce the link between hospitality businesses and Irelands wider tourism offering. By celebrating excellence at county and regional level, we strengthen the foundations of a food culture that attracts visitors, supports producers and sustains jobs right across the country. I want to congratulate every nominee and winner whose work contributes to that story. Read Next: Major upgrade for Dundalks Long Walk as resurfacing and footpath repairs confirmed The Louth winners were as follows: Best Restaurant Square Restaurant Best Chef Mark Gormley, The Clermont Best Restaurant Manager Wayne Fitzpatrick, No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Scholars Townhouse Hotel Employee Excellence Kate Traynor, Carlingford Brewing Company Best Use of Social Media Mo Chara Best Casual Dining Kingfisher Bistro Best World Cuisine Sitar Indian Restaurant & Takeaway Best Gastro Pub Blue Anchor Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine The Spotted Dog Best Newcomer East Pub of the Year The Vinegar Man Best Wine Experience DVine Bistro & Tapas Bar Best Customer Service Carrickdale Hotel and Spa Best Cafe Strandfield Best Sustainable Practices Forge Field Farm Coffee Shop Innovator of the Year King of Kefir Local Food Hero Kian Louet-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code MOGADISHU, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has pledged its full commitment to liberating Somalia from al-Shabaab's insurgency. AUSSOM Force Commander Sam Kavuma, who spoke during a field visit to assess the combat readiness of frontline troops following the successful liberation of the strategic towns of Mubarak and Durasalaam in Somalia, said the allied forces are united in their efforts to flush out al-Shabaab terrorists in the country. "Through sweat, struggle, and sacrifice, we stand united to eliminate al-Shabaab and secure a future for our brothers and sisters in Somalia," Kavuma said in a statement on Friday evening after the field visit. He called on the Ugandan contingent serving under AUSSOM and the Somali National Armed Forces to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, morale, and discipline in fulfilling the mission's mandate. "AUSSOM, in partnership with the Somali government and other stakeholders, will provide essential relief support to the liberated communities," he added. The joint operation conducted on Monday with international partners resulted in the full capture and securing of two strategic locations that had long served as strongholds and safe havens for al-Shabaab terrorists. Owiny Akena, Battle Group 44 commander and operation commander, said Mubarak and Durasalaam remain under the full control of the joint forces. Cork City Hall recently hosted almost 500 young people for the annual faith-based Maranatha concert. This years event featured post-primary school students from parishes across the Catholic diocese of Cork and Ross. Some 23 schools came together for the celebration, transforming the historic venue into a showcase of talent and conviction. Maranatha blends music, faith and fun, creating a space for young people to celebrate their identity and build lasting connections and friendships. Bishop Fintan Gavin addressed the hundreds gathered from across the diocese and reflected on the deeper purpose of Maranath. This morning you began with a simple question: Who here wants to be happy, he said. And every hand went up. Deep down, every human heart longs for happiness. Before you succeed or fail, before anyone comments on you or follows you, you are the beloved son or daughter of God. Five teenagers from Durrus in West Cork deleted social media apps from their phone for a week as part of a fascinating social experiment. Sean OBrien, Abbie Arundel, Daniel OSullivan, Michaela Nicholas, and Mary Ellis, members of their local Foroige youth club, deleted the social media apps covered by Australias proposed under-16s ban: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Reddit, X, YouTube, Kik, and Twitch. The teens appeared on an RTEs Prime Time programme on Wednesday night, where they said they use social media to feel connected to their friends. However, they recognised that the apps can be addictive due to features encouraging people to use them more. Mary said she caved and redownloaded Snapchat on day three of the experiment, prior to attending a Foroige ball, to see who was going. Video diaries In video diaries they kept during the week, Daniel said he was missing texting my friends. Meanwhile, Sean said he probably felt a bit disconnected to my friends at times. Prior to starting the experiment, Prime Time took note of each teenagers screen time data. It then compared this data to their screen times once they had redownloaded the apps. Michaela cut her screen time from six hours and five minutes to two hours and five minutes, a reduction of four hours. Sean went from two hours and 27 minutes to just 48 minutes. Abbie reduced her usage from three hours and 12 minutes to one hour and seven minutes. Daniel dropped from two hours and 53 minutes to one hour and 25 minutes, but said he spent more time gaming. Mary saw a smaller, but still significant, fall from four hours and 46 minutes to three hours and 11 minutes. Social media ban The volunteers admitted that they could understand why parents or governments might consider a social media ban. Abbie said it would help ensure kids dont have access to videos or stuff thats not for them and not age-appropriate, while Mary said a ban would be a good idea for people under 12. Michaela said the ban would be almost impossible to enforce. They will get around it, though, because theres NordVPN or just lie about their age, she said. Sean said that if there was face verification or something, theyd get their older sibling to do it for them. Daniel added: I dont think itll ever work. People will always find ways to get around. You can change your age quite easily. The Mayor of County Cork has launched a scathing attack on persistent government underfunding for road maintenance in her county, describing it as disgraceful. Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley said in her capacity as mayor she travels all over the country and many roads in other counties are in a very good state of repair compared to Co Cork, which has the longest roads network in the country at 12,000kms. Some roads damaged in the East Cork region by Storm Babet in October 2023 still havent reopened while others damaged then are in a rapidly deteriorating state, and havent received government funding to repair them. Deteriorating Meanwhile, road surfaces in the county are deteriorating faster than expected due to incessant rain since the start of the year. Ms Linehan-Foley said Co Cork has for years been given some of the lowest per kilometre grants for road maintenance by successive governments and this must stop. Senior council officials have estimated it would take 800m-1bn to bring the countys road network up to an acceptable standard. We need our senior TDs in the region to step up and fight for more money, Ms Linehan-Foley told a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District Council. She then praised local council engineers and their outdoor workers for doing loaves and fishes miracles with the inadequate finance theyre getting. Storm damage Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty was informed by officials they still havent received severe weather funding from the government for Storm Babet damage done to some roads in the region. Officials informed him that they still dont know if theyll get government grant-aid for Storm Babet-damaged roads, which were not in initial allocations, and the cash-strapped council cant do much to repair them. Council engineers said heavy rainfall this year has impacted their ability to repair roads. Councillors attending the meeting inundated officials with requests for help with road repairs theyd received from constituents all over the region. Mr Hegarty was told he could bring in a deputation from the Ladysbridge area to next months meeting to outline appalling road conditions in their area. Ms Linehan-Foley said the road is crumbling at Cork Hill, Youghal, which is a major transport artery in the town. She was informed the council may not have the finance to do this in 2026 and it could be next year before it can addressed. We will be lucky if we still have a road there in 2027, she retorted. Baite is a new Irish-language film set in the 1970s in a rural community that is shaken following the discovery of a body. Directed by Ruan Magan and written by Sheena Lambert, based on her novel, the film stars Moe Dunford as Detective Sergeant Frank Ryan, who is sent from Dublin to investigate the circumstances of the death. While the film examines the aftermath of the bodys discovery, it centres on Peggy (Eleanor OBrien), a young pub owner fighting to keep her family pub in the West of Ireland. Dunford, who is from Waterford and lived for several years in Cork, says he was drawn to the scripts exploration of change. I love that it was set in the 1970s, a changing time in Ireland, he said. I liked how Frank, whos trying to get away from the more modernised Ireland, slowly becomes interested in being part of the small town community. I love the family dynamics of Peggy running the pub. There was such richness about a changing Ireland, set against the backdrop of Peggy and her struggle to keep her family pub and her place in life. Despite not being a Gaeilgeoir, Dunford was keen to meet the films director, Ruan Magan, and take on the challenge of the role. I got an offer to meet Ruan, and I was very excited, but then I was told that its in Gaeilge and my Irish wasnt up to scratch, said Dunford. We met anyway. I got to read a bit of the script, and from the parts I could make out, I really enjoyed that it was set in a rural town with a sense of community and of trying to uncover the truth. Magan is a renowned Gaeilgeoir, but Dunford said the director was keen to mix actors with varying levels of Irish and to support them regardless of their ability. There were actors from all over Ireland, with varying degrees of fluency and different dialects: Connemara, Waterford, Dingle, Cork (the film also stars Corks Denis Conway), Dublin. This made it easier to join the cast, rather than if all the actors had been fluent. Dunford reached out to his secondary school Irish teacher to help him reconnect with the language. I love that Frank is described as having just passed his Irish exam to get into the Gardai. I didnt want to play him that way, but it helped take the pressure off, so I brushed up with the help of my old Irish teacher. It was great to feel the challenge. Im Irish, its already there, and Ive always wanted to do an Irish language movie. For Dunford, whose career has ranged from The Vikings to The Dry and his break-out role in St Patricks Day, it was also an opportunity to connect with stories set outside of Dublin. I always wanted to work in the West, he said. Ive been wanting to make more rural stories; stories set outside of Dublin city centre. I have nothing against Dublin; I live here now, and I love the city, but theres a certain reality and Irishness you dont get in Dublin-centric stories, which you find on the outskirts. It meant a lot to tell stories in our language and about a changing Ireland, and I thought Baite was a really good one to do. Like the main character, Peggy, Dunford understands pub life firsthand. Although he was born and educated in Waterford, he spent several formative years in Cork after his family bought a pub in Ladysbridge. Although I still went to school in Dungarvan, I grew up in a pub my mum and dad bought in Ladysbridge, he said. There were lots of elements of pub life in the film that I understood, like Peggy holding down the pub, the local in the corner who is the staffs favourite, and the small gestures and salutes between the staff and the customers. The music and the singing, even the children being hoisted up onto the bar by their father while he was drinking, and everyone watching the match. I have those memories of growing up, and the script captured that element of community and Irishness, which is very important. In the film, as the truth about the body stirs old emotions in the village, it is up to Peggy to hold the community together through her loyalty to her customers. Dunford says growing up in a pub gives you a real sense of what it is to be part of a community. You get a great sense of things inside a pub. You meet interesting characters. I watched Eleanor as Peggy and saw how comfortable she was behind the bar. If there was anything wrong with the pub, you could see it in how she picked up the cloth or pulled a pint. Theres something very Irish and effortless about how shes the matriarch of the place, holding down the fort. I found that really impressive and truly representative of Irish rural life. The film is Magans feature directorial debut, although he has made several successful documentaries. Dunford says he easily adapted to the demands of narrative work. His background in Irish history and his love of nature really added to his sense of the era and community. When we started shooting, there was a full moon, and on the last day, there was an aurora borealis. It made it extra special. Ruan loved the feeling of setting and place, and that theres something unearthed about Peggy and Frank. Theres a connection, a chance for them to help each other find themselves or start again. I loved Ruans understanding of the character Frank and Sheenas writing. Baite opened in cinemas on March 6, cert: 12a OpenAI's robotics hardware lead is out. Caitlin Kalinowski, who oversaw hardware within the robotics division of OpenAI, posted on X that she was resigning from her role, while criticizing the company's haste in partnering with the Department of Defense without investigating proper guardrails. OpenAI told Engadget that there are no plans to replace Kalinowski. Kalinowski, who previously worked at Meta before leaving to join OpenAI in late 2024, wrote on X that "surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got." Responding to another post, the former OpenAI exec explained that "the announcement was rushed without the guardrails defined," adding that it was a "governance concern first and foremost." OpenAI confirmed Kalinowski's resignation and said in a statement to Engadget that the company understands people have "strong views" about these issues and will continue to engage in discussions with relevant parties. The company also explained in the statement that it doesn't support the issues that Kalinowski brought up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We believe our agreement with the Pentagon creates a workable path for responsible national security uses of AI while making clear our red lines: no domestic surveillance and no autonomous weapons," the OpenAI statement read. Kalinowski's resignation may be the most high-profile fallout from OpenAI's decision to sign a deal with the Department of Defense. The decision came just after Anthropic refused to comply with lifting certain AI guardrails around mass surveillance and developing fully autonomous weapons. However, even OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, said that he would amend the deal with the Department of Defense to prohibit spying on Americans. Correction, March 8 2026, 10:30AM ET: This story has been updated to correct Kalinowski's role at OpenAI to "robotics hardware lead" instead of "head of robotics." When NASA crashed a spacecraft into the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in 2022, it altered both Dimorphos' orbit around its parent asteroid, Didymos, and the two objects' orbit around the sun, according to new research. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) said in a press release that this "marks the first time a human-made object has measurably altered the path of a celestial body around the Sun." It's a promising result as scientists work to find a feasible method of defending Earth from hazardous space objects. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission was designed to demonstrate one possible way of deflecting such an object, targeting the non-threatening moonlet Dimorphos, which is about 560 feet wide. NASA quickly declared it a success after its initial analysis showed the planned collision shortened Dimorphos' orbit around Didymos, the larger of the two objects in the binary asteroid system. In a follow-up study published in 2024, a team at NASA's JPL reported that Dimorphos' orbital period had been trimmed by about 33 minutes, as its path was nudged roughly 120 feet closer to Didymos than before. The latest study now indicates that the whole binary system was affected, not just Dimorphos. Didymos and Dimorphos have a 770-day orbital period around the sun, which lead author Rahil Makadia said has been changed by "about 11.7 microns per second, or 1.7 inches per hour." That might not sound like much, but according to Makadia, Over time, such a small change in an asteroids motion can make the difference between a hazardous object hitting or missing our planet. JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it had carried out a new wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, including the main military university of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran. In a statement, the IDF said more than 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets, operating with intelligence guidance, carried out the strikes in Tehran and other areas across central Iran. The statement added that the targeted Imam Hossein University was allegedly used for training IRGC officers. The university had also been used as an emergency asset and, more recently, as an IRGC assembly compound, and it contained multiple military assets used by the IRGC, said the IDF. The statement said additional targets included a storage facility of Iran's missile unit that housed military bunkers and launch infrastructure, as well as an underground complex used to store ballistic missiles, where hundreds of operatives were reportedly active. The underground site allegedly included military bunkers and command centers from which senior officials were operating, it said. Following in the footsteps of Australia, Indonesia will be the latest country to limit social media usage for children under 16. Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's communication and digital affairs minister, announced that a new government regulation will require "high-risk" platforms to delete any accounts from Indonesia that are under 16, starting on March 28. Hafid said in the announcement that the implementation would be done in stages, starting with major platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox and Bigo Live, a live-streaming platform based in Singapore. The minister added that all platforms will have to fulfill compliance obligations from the Indonesian government, but didn't specify what they were. In response to the ban, a Meta spokesperson told The New York Times that the company hasn't received an official regulation from the country yet and was awaiting details. While Australia was the first country to implement such a sweeping ban on social media, many other countries are currently in the process of doing the same. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced last month that the country is also ready to ban social media for users under 16, while Malaysia's cabinet approved a similar ban that will reportedly go into effect sometime this year. Amazon MGM's upcoming sci-fi film "Project Hail Mary" will run 156 minutes and, according to its directors, was shot without a single green or blue screen shot in the entire movie. Co-director Christopher Miller revealed that the studio's big-budget adaptation of Andy Weir's novel was filmed entirely on physical sets, including a full build of the spaceship interior and a large section of the exterior. He explained that every shot relied on practical environments rather than traditional greenscreen stages, an unusual approach for a modern space-set production of this scale, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film, directed by Phil Lord and Miller and starring Ryan Gosling as astronaut Ryland Grace, has an officially confirmed runtime of 156 minutes, just over two and a half hours. Classification boards and studio representatives have reiterated that this is the final cut length after earlier conflicting listings suggested a longer version. Lord and Miller said the production team built the spacecraft interior as a continuous set so that cinematographer Greig Fraser could move the camera freely and capture performances in a more spontaneous way. They added that Rocky, the alien character central to the story, was present on set as a physical creation for actors to interact with, before digital artists refined the character in post-production, Bleeding Cool reported. In Andy Weir's book, the story begins with Ryland Grace waking up alone on a spacecraft, surrounded by two dead crewmates and with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As his memories return, he learns that he has been sent on a one-way mission to investigate Astrophage, a star-eating microorganism that is draining energy from the Sun and threatening to plunge Earth into an ice age. Grace discovers that the Tau Ceti star system is mysteriously unaffected and travels there to uncover a solution that could save humanity from extinction. In Tau Ceti, he encounters Rocky, an engineer from an alien civilization whose own star is also under assault, and the two form an unlikely partnership built around problem-solving and survival. Working together, they identify Taumoeba, a microbe that preys on Astrophage, offering a possible cure for both their systems. In the novel's climax, Grace must choose between returning to Earth with the data or turning back to save Rocky's world, ultimately sacrificing his chance to go home so that both planets can live, as per The Bibliolife. A former girlfriend of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has spoken publicly about their early relationship, claiming the dynamic she experienced decades ago reflected patterns that later became central to the sex-trafficking allegations surrounding him. Patricia Schmidt, who dated Epstein in the mid-1980s, recently described the relationship and her later reflections on it during a televised interview. According to reporting by Radar Online, Schmidt now believes Epstein attempted to use her as leverage with wealthy friends and business associates. Schmidt said she first encountered Epstein in 1985 while working as an office assistant at the investment firm Bear Stearns. She recounted her initial meeting, detailing how her boss had tasked her with delivering documents to Epstein's New York apartment. Schmidt said, "I was sent over there because my boss had asked me to deliver some papers, I went over there and did exactly that." She added context about the circumstances surrounding the introduction. "I think it was clearly my boss doing him a favor," Schmidt recalls. The encounter soon evolved into a year-long romantic relationship. Reflecting on Epstein's personality at the time, Schmidt described the impression he made on her during the early stages of their relationship. She recalled, "He seemed to be kind of the center of the universe. He was so confident, and he was so attractive, and he was so incredibly smart." Schmidt explained that at the beginning of the relationship she did not perceive any hidden motives behind Epstein's actions, saying, "Nothing about it was transactional." However, after revisiting personal diaries she kept at the time, Schmidt said she began to interpret certain interactions differently. In her reflection, she described how Epstein frequently asked her to meet his associates socially. She explained, "He would ask me to meet clients, friends of his, go to lunch or go to dinner." According to Schmidt, those invitations raised concerns about Epstein's intentions. When asked directly whether she believed Epstein was trying to offer her to other men, she shared her conclusion. She said, "I have to think absolutely yes," per AOL. Schmidt clarified that she never participated in such encounters but believes the intention was present. "I never did. I wasn't interested in any of these men, but oh yes, I think it was very much his intent to make that trade," she added. Schmidt now believes the pattern she experienced reflected behavior that later emerged in allegations involving other women, including accuser Virginia Giuffre, who claimed Epstein trafficked her to influential figures. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges but died in custody before trial. His longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Blustery with snow showers. High 18F. Winds NNW at 25 to 40 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low around 0F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph, becoming WSW and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Nepal's rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah grinned and flashed a V-for-victory sign on Saturday as Election Commission officials confirmed he had beaten veteran leader KP Sharma Oli in their parliamentary constituency. The 35-year-old's party is also seemingly headed for a landslide victory nationally. His win over the 74-year-old Marxist leader -- and his rise from the capital's mayor to potential prime minister -- is one of the most dramatic results in recent Nepali politics. The first-time parliamentary lawmaker toured the streets of his new constituency on Saturday evening, wearing his signature dark sunglasses and waving from the sunroof of a car in a victory parade through cheering crowds who chanted "Balen" -- as he is better known. Shah, who did not make a speech, won more than three times the votes than four-time prime minister. The high-stakes election on Thursday came six months after deadly protests toppled the government led by Oli, with at least 77 people killed. The September 2025 youth-led demonstrations, under a loose Gen Z banner, began over a brief social media ban but quickly tapped into broader grievances over corruption and a struggling economy. Oli congratulated Balen on social media platform X later on Saturday, conceding defeat. "Congratulations! Wish you a smooth and successful five-year tenure," Oli said. Nationwide, Shah's centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on track to win a majority in the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, according to early trends issued by the Election Commission, although counting still has far to go. "This is heading to a landslide victory -- this reflects the frustration that has been building up," said political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta. "It is actually the people's revolt against the established political parties," he said. "The people understand that the new do not really have strong agendas, but it is a punishment to the parties for their decades-long poor governance." - 'A day will come' - Shah leveraged his music fame and strong social media following to become Kathmandu's first independent mayor in 2022. Rojan Bhattarai, 22, a student in Jhapa, said Shah was "a performer". "I was 99.99 percent sure he will win, but the majority is shocking. That shows how much the people were upset with the previous government," Bhattarai told AFP. "He has inspired us all." There were 76 declared results by Saturday evening. RSP took 61, Nepali Congress won nine, and Oli's Marxist party was trailing with three. Former Maoist guerrilla commander Pushpa Kamal Dahal's party has one. Trends showed Shah's RSP was also leading in 61 of the remaining 89 constituencies in the direct elections. It had secured comfortably more than half of the ballots counted so far in the proportional representation vote, which determines a further 110 seats through party lists. Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said RSP has "taken the lead in many places", but that full results were still days away. "According to our plan, it will take at least a week to count the proportional votes, after which the election will go through the official process," he said. He said the count was "going smoothly" across the Himalayan nation, from snowbound mountain regions to the hot plains bordering India. Nepali Congress, the largest party in the past coalition government, also saw its new leader, Gagan Thapa, trailing in his constituency. "This is even a bigger upset than we expected -- it underscores the level of public disenchantment with the old parties for under-performance, as well as anger over the events of September," said Kunda Dixit, publisher of the weekly Nepali Times. The burnt-out ruins of Oli's home in Jhapa -- torched during the unrest, like hundreds of other buildings, including parliament -- served as a reminder of last year's deadly violence. Dharmakala Gautam, 74, who watched the house burn, said she was tired of promises that never materialised. "When the Maoists came to rule, we hoped for change -- but not much happened," she said. "I will keep some hope this time too." ash-pm-pjm/pbt The risk of Newcastle disease entering poultry in Great Britain has been raised from low to medium as outbreaks continue to spread across Europe, Defra has warned. The UK has remained free of Newcastle disease in commercial poultry for several years. The warning, outlined in a new Defra report, follows Germany confirming its first outbreak of the disease in nearly two decades, alongside a growing number of cases in Poland and elsewhere in Europe. Germany reported the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 20 February at a domestic poultry farm in Brandenburg, less than one kilometre from the Polish border. According to WOAH, it is the countrys first confirmed case since September 2008 and the first recorded in Brandenburg since 1996. A second outbreak was confirmed days later at another poultry farm in Bavaria, northwest of Munich, around 500km from the first case. Newcastle disease is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe illness and high mortality in poultry. The first German outbreak was detected after signs of illness appeared on 19 February in a turkey fattening flock in Neissemunde, Brandenburg. Around 1,000 six-week-old turkeys died before testing at the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute confirmed the presence of the virus. Between 18,000 and 23,000 birds were believed to be present on the premises at the time of the outbreak. Control measures were quickly introduced, including culling infected birds and restricting movements in the surrounding area. Authorities established protection and surveillance zones around the farm, alongside movement restrictions and enhanced biosecurity measures. Although vaccination against Newcastle disease is compulsory for chickens and turkeys in Germany, officials said the affected flock was at an age when booster vaccinations are typically administered, which can leave birds temporarily more vulnerable to infection. Authorities have launched investigations into how the virus reached the farms. Early analysis indicates the viral strain involved is closely related to variants currently circulating in Poland. Poland remains the European country most heavily affected by Newcastle disease. Since late January, a further 17 outbreaks have been reported in commercial poultry farms, with cases spread widely across the centre and west of the country. Outbreaks since the start of 2026 have affected as many as 1.8 million birds. Polish authorities have introduced awareness campaigns, strengthened testing capacity and tightened vaccination and movement controls to limit the spread of the disease. Cases have also been reported in non-commercial flocks and other bird species across Europe. Recent reports show outbreaks in non-commercial poultry holdings in Poland and Spain, along with cases in non-poultry birds in Poland, Czechia, Lithuania and Slovakia. Some incidents in the Czech Republic involved wild birds, including Eurasian collared-doves. Defra said Great Britain already applies disease safeguard measures which restrict imports of live poultry and poultry products from affected areas under regionalisation rules. However, the department warned that uncertainties remain about the factors driving the increase in outbreaks across eastern Europe and the recent detections in Germany. Many cases have occurred in broiler farms, where vaccination may not always be applied consistently due to the rapid turnover and short lifespan of birds. Monitoring in Poland has also found protective antibody levels in some broiler and turkey flocks were lower than expected. Earlier cases in Spain had raised concerns about potential spread through migratory bird routes along the East Atlantic Flyway. However, no new cases have been reported in commercial poultry farms there since January. Millions of migratory birds are expected to travel north through Europe in the coming months, which could increase the risk of disease spread. Defra said the risk of introduction of Newcastle disease into poultry in Great Britain is considered to be raised from low to medium. Import controls reduce the likelihood of the virus entering through legal trade. However, officials said it could still be introduced through illegal movements of birds or products, contaminated equipment or contact with infected wild birds. Feral pigeons are also considered a potential carrier, as pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 is endemic in pigeon populations across Britain and Europe. However, the role of wild birds in spreading the virus remains poorly understood. Defra is urging poultry keepers to maintain strict biosecurity and consider vaccination where appropriate. Vaccines against Newcastle disease are commercially available in the UK and are widely used across much of the commercial poultry sector. Officials said the situation across Europe will continue to be monitored closely. After a grand pre-wedding reception, Allu Sirish tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Nayanika Reddy in Hyderabad on Friday evening. The star-studded affair saw some of the top personalities from cinema, business and politics gracing the ceremony. Allu Aravind and Nirmala played perfect hosts while Allu Arjun and Sneha ensured that all the guests were made comfortable. Allus extended family Megastar Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Varun Tej and Sai Durgha Tej, Vaishnav Tej and Ram Charan attended the event. Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan came with wife Anna Lezhneva, and the couple was one of the star attractions of the evening. Nara Lokesh, Minister of IT and HRD in the Government of Andhra Pradesh also attended the wedding of Allu Sirish and Nayanika. Superstar Suriya, Raashii Khanna, director Lokesh Kanagaraj and Kalyanram were among other film personalities who attended the wedding. Pictures and videos from the wedding ceremony are going viral on social media as fans are sharing them extensively. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The following are the schedules for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Sunday. In the morning, NPC deputies will hold group meetings to review the draft environmental code. In the afternoon, they will hold group meetings to review the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress and the draft law on national development planning. In the morning, CPPCC National Committee members will hold group meetings to discuss the draft environmental code, the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and the draft law on national development planning. In the afternoon, they will hold the third plenary meeting. At 10 a.m., Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will hold a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations. Madison, Wisconsin--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2026) - Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm announced today that it has been selected for a Tier 2 ranking in Commercial Litigation for the metro area of Madison, Wisconsin, region by the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms, a respected recognition program that evaluates law firms based on professional excellence, client feedback, and peer review. The Best Law Firms rankings are determined through a rigorous evaluation process that includes client and professional reference surveys, feedback from industry leaders, and assessments from fellow attorneys. The methodology evaluates firms on factors such as experience, responsiveness, understanding of client needs, cost-effectiveness, and overall quality of legal service. This multi-faceted approach ensures that recognized firms demonstrate consistent excellence across all aspects of their practice. Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm Honored with 2025 Best Law Firms Tier 2 Recognition in Commercial Litigation To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/286609_figure1.jpg "We are honored to receive this recognition from Best Law Firms," said Will Pemberton, founder of Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm. "This award reflects our team's commitment to fighting for the rights of injured individuals and families throughout Wisconsin. We built this firm on the belief that insurance companies should not be allowed to minimize or deny legitimate claims, and every day, we work to hold them accountable. This recognition validates the hard work and dedication of our entire team." Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm has built a reputation for handling complex legal matters across Wisconsin. With offices in Madison, Baraboo, and Eau Claire, the firm represents clients in a range of personal injury matters, including motor vehicle accidents, truck and motorcycle accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, premises liability matters, catastrophic injury cases, and wrongful death claims. The firm's client-centered approach, referred to internally as "The Pemberton Promise," emphasizes individualized attention and thorough legal representation for clients navigating the aftermath of serious injuries. This philosophy has contributed to the firm's standing within both the legal community and the regions it serves. Will Pemberton, the firm's founder and CEO, brings extensive experience in personal injury litigation. His professional recognitions include selection to the National Trial Lawyers' Top 100 Trial Lawyers list and inclusion by Super Lawyers for 10 consecutive years, placing him among the top five percent of attorneys nationwide. The firm's legal team includes attorneys with experience in complex personal injury and commercial litigation matters. The Best Law Firms recognition program, published annually, assists individuals and organizations in identifying law firms that demonstrate sustained excellence within their practice areas. Firms are evaluated on legal capability, client service, ethical standards, and professional reputation. A Tier 2 designation in Commercial Litigation reflects consistent performance and positive feedback from both clients and professional peers. Additional information about Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm and its professional background is available on their website. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286609 Source: GetFeatured Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2026) - NEWFOUNDLAND DISCOVERY CORP. (CSE: NEWD) (OTC Pink: NEWDF) (FSE: M4K0) ("Newfoundland Discovery" or "the Company") announces that the Company has entered into debt settlement agreements with certain creditors (the "Creditors") to settle CAD$414,000 in debt (the "Debt Settlement"). Pursuant to the Debt Settlement, the Company shall issue units (the "Units") at a price of $0.09 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one transferable share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of CDN$0.12 per Share for a period of four (4) years from the date of issuance. All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement are subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Debt Settlement remains subject to CSE approval. The securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement have will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. 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 the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Newfoundland Discovery Corp. Newfoundland Discovery Corp. (CSE: NEWD) (OTC Pink: NEWDF) is a Canadian junior mining exploration Company, with a primary focus on the exploration and development of mineral assets in active Canadian mining districts. Our portfolio of projects includes lithium prospects in the Hearst, Ontario district, a portfolio of precious and base metal projects in Newfoundland, and a strategic early-mover foothold on projects in the Detour Lake Gold Mine district of Ontario. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, NEWFOUNDLAND DISCOVERY CORP. "Jeremy Prinsen" President, CEO & Director Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286613 Source: Newfoundland Discovery Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2026) - Eureka Lithium Corp. (CSE: ERKA) (OTCQB: UREKF) (FSE: S58) ("Eureka Lithium" or "Eureka" or the "Company") announces that it has allowed to lapse approximately 1094 mineral claims comprising the Raglan West project, approximately 550 mineral claims comprising the Raglan South project and approximately 1601 mineral claims comprising the New Leaf project (collectively making up the "Nunavik Projects"). Accordingly, at this time, the Company retains approximately 158 claims ("Remaining Claims") relating to the Nunavik projects. The Company notes that the cost of renewing the lapsed mineral claims would have been approximately $680,570. The Company further notes that it is actively considering whether or not to renew the Remaining Claims, at a cost of $26,544. The Company recently acquired (please see news release dated January 28 and February 26, 2026) a 100% interest in the Cabin Lake Silver-Gold-Zinc-Lead Project located in the Omineca Mining District of British Columbia and a 100% interest in the Tyee Titanium-Vanadium Project, located within th Havre-St-Pierre region of Quebec. Cautionary Statement Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes statements respecting the Stairway Claims and Remaining Claims and the Company's intentions with respect to its mineral properties. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286615 Source: Eureka Lithium Corp. OCALA, Fla., March 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIM ImmunoTech Inc. (NYSE American: AIM) - AIM ImmunoTech Inc. ("AIM" or the "Company"), an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of its lead product, Ampligen (rintatolimod), for the treatment of late-stage pancreatic cancer - a lethal and unmet global health problem - announced today the closing of its previously announced rights offering (the "Rights Offering"). The Rights Offering resulted in total subscriptions of approximately $1.8 million. Each right entitled the holder to purchase one unit ("Unit"), at a subscription price of $1,000 per Unit, consisting of one share of the Company's Series G Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), and 2,000 Class G Common Stock Purchase Warrants to purchase the Company's Common Stock (the "Warrants"). Maxim Group LLC acted as dealer-manager for the Rights Offering. The Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-292085) was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 10, 2026, as modified by the prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026. The prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the Rights Offering has been filed with the SEC as a part of the registration statement and is available on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other 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. About AIM ImmunoTech AIM ImmunoTech Inc. is an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of its lead product, Ampligen (rintatolimod), for the treatment of late-stage pancreatic cancer, a lethal and unmet global health problem. Ampligen is a dsRNA and highly selective TLR3 agonist immuno-modulator that has shown broad-spectrum activity in clinical trials. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements included in this press release may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among other things, for those statements, the Company claims the protection of safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements set forth in the press release speak only as of the date of the press release. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. The Company is in various stages of seeking to determine whether Ampligen will be effective in the treatment of multiple types of viral diseases, cancers, and immune-deficiency disorders and disclosures in the Company's reports filed with the SEC on its website and in its press releases set forth its current and anticipated future activities. These activities are subject to change for a number of reasons. Significant additional testing and trials will be required to determine whether Ampligen will be effective in the treatment of these conditions. Results obtained in animal models do not necessarily predict results in humans. Human clinical trials will be necessary to prove whether or not Ampligen will be efficacious in humans. No assurance can be given as to whether current or planned clinical trials will be successful or yield favorable data and the trials are subject to many factors including lack of regulatory approval(s), lack of study drug, or a change in priorities at the institutions sponsoring other trials. Even if these clinical trials are initiated, the Company cannot assure that the clinical studies will be successful or yield any useful data or require additional funding. Among the studies are clinical trials that provide only preliminary data with a small number of subjects, and no assurance can be given that the findings in these studies will prove true or that the study or studies will yield favorable results. No assurance can be given that future studies will not result in findings that are different from those reported in the studies referenced in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, on the Company's website and in its press releases. Operating in foreign countries carries with it a number of risks, including potential difficulties in enforcing intellectual property rights. The Company cannot assure that its potential foreign operations will not be adversely affected by these risks. Please review the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the registration statement. Its filings are available at www.aimimmuno.com. The information found on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference herein and is included for reference purposes only. EQS Newswire / 07/03/2026 / 15:15 CET/CEST BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 March 2026 - CGTN published an article on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. Reviewing the work of the CPPCC National Committee in 2025 in areas like its consultative and deliberative work and assisting in the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the article highlights the CPPCC's role as a dedicated consultative body through which people's democracy is practiced. Committed to addressing the difficulties regarding people's livelihood through the rule of law, Pi Jianlong, a lawyer and a national political advisor, has spent years going deep into factories, workshops, law firms and juvenile probation and rehabilitation centers, making sure that his proposals, grounded in rigorous field research, are precise, practical and responsive to real needs. Noting the predicament faced by food delivery riders, including the lack of contracts, social security and basic protection, he proposed targeted suggestions such as innovating social security models and strengthening platform responsibilities. In 2025, platforms such as JD.com and Meituan successively introduced social security plans, providing full social insurance coverage for full-time riders and accident and medical insurance for part-time riders. Awarded for his outstanding performance in 2025 by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee recently, Pi exemplifies the commitment of thousands of CPPCC members to serving the people through high-quality duty fulfillment, underscoring the CPPCC's role as a major vehicle through which people's democracy is practiced. On Wednesday afternoon, China's top political advisory body, the CPPCC National Committee, kicked off its annual session in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping, together with other leaders, attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. 99.9% proposals handled Acting as a dedicated consultative body, the CPPCC has pooled extensive consensus and strength to support the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and a solid start to the 15th Five-Year Plan over the past year, injecting strong vitality into the practice of whole-process people's democracy - a key concept put forward by Xi himself to advance China's political landscape. Over the years, China has made all-around progress in improving the institutions, standards and procedures of socialist democracy and advanced socialist consultative democracy by way of extensive participation. According to a work report delivered at the opening meeting, in 2025, the CPPCC National Committee received 5,992 proposals from its members, of which 5,061 were accepted for processing. The response rate for the accepted proposals stood at 99.9%. The CPPCC National Committee members carried out 6,778 activities to serve the people, along with 11,115 outreach activities engaging people from relevant sectors. These efforts benefited more than 4 million people. By innovating consultative and deliberative methods, improving consultative democracy institutions, and fostering a culture of consultation, the CPPCC has further strengthened its role in promoting democracy and offering policy advice while building consensus. Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee held 98 consultative and deliberative events, ranging from promoting the country's green and low-carbon transition for the 15th Five-Year Plan and developing the silver economy to improving and innovating social governance. These efforts demonstrate that consultative democracy is grounded in reality and responsive to public needs, pooling support, consensus, wisdom and strength to advance Chinese modernization. Securing a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan Supporting the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan serves as a key task of the CPPCC in 2025, representing a vivid practice of whole-process people's democracy. From May 20 to June 20 last year, China launched an online public consultation to gather opinions for its next five-year plan. The initiative drew over 3.11 million valid submissions, yielding more than 1,500 constructive suggestions across 27 topics. A summary of these findings was submitted to the Party leadership, ensuring that the people's voices were heard at the highest level. By September, a total of 2,112 suggestions had been collected from various regions, departments and sectors, resulting in 218 revisions to the document. To contribute to the 15th Five-Year Plan, the CPPCC, over the past year, held a special standing committee meeting and carried out 54 special studies, yielding a series of high-quality outcomes. Meanwhile, it launched a special research column, publishing 55 issues to provide evidence-based references for policy-making. This broad-based participation highlights that national development strategies are rooted in public will, gathering strong momentum for Chinese modernization. According to the work report, in 2026, the CPPCC will conduct in-depth research and thorough consultations on major tasks and strategic measures of the 15th Five-Year Plan and carry out cross-committee, cross-sector and cross-disciplinary studies, aiming to put forward forward-looking, targeted and operable policy suggestions, according to the report. Focusing on key issues in areas such as economic development, technological innovation, reform and opening up, social development, and people's livelihood, the CPPCC will truthfully reflect public opinions based on facts and implement the CPPCC National Committee's democratic oversight work plan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. For more information, please click: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-04/How-China-builds-consensus-boosts-growth-via-consultative-democracy-1LeSOfZLbk4/p.html Hashtag: CGTN The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. News Source: CGTN 07/03/2026 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 Hong Kong, Hong Kong--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - Tier Call, a company focused on helping local service businesses grow through phone- based customer acquisition, is expanding its service designed to help electricians and other home service companies receive more incoming calls from customers searching on Google Maps. Tier Call To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8111/286519_1673e184447c1bdc_001full.jpg As more consumers rely on Google Maps to find nearby services, the way customers connect with local businesses has shifted dramatically. Instead of browsing multiple websites, many people now simply search for a service on Google Maps and call a business directly from the results. For service providers such as electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and restoration companies, these calls often represent immediate job opportunities. TierCall.com focuses on capturing those moments when customers are actively searching for local services. By generating incoming calls from Google Maps searches and directing them to participating service companies, Tier Call helps businesses connect with customers who are ready to speak with a provider right away. "Phone calls are still the most important driver of new jobs for many home service companies," said a spokesperson, Arnold Smith, for Tier Call. "When someone searches for an electrician on Google Maps, they usually need help quickly. Our goal is to help those businesses receive more of those calls and connect with customers when the need is immediate." For electricians and other home service professionals, timing is critical. Many service requests involve urgent problems such as electrical failures, heating issues, plumbing leaks, or water damage. Customers searching for these services are often looking for a company they can call immediately rather than submitting a form or waiting for a response. Tier Call's service focuses specifically on this behavior by generating inbound calls and connecting them with businesses that are prepared to answer and serve the customer. The process allows service providers to speak directly with customers at the moment they are searching for help. The growth of mobile devices has accelerated the importance of map-based searches. Consumers increasingly use Google Maps as their primary tool for discovering local businesses, particularly in the home services sector. With a few taps, a user can find nearby providers, view reviews, and place a phone call directly from the search results. Tier Call helps service businesses take advantage of this shift by delivering customer calls generated from Google Maps searches. For electricians and contractors, this can help fill schedules, keep crews working, and create more consistent business opportunities. Many home service companies depend heavily on phone calls as their main channel for booking jobs. Unlike some industries that rely on online purchases or form submissions, electricians and other service professionals often close new business through direct phone conversations with customers. The company works with a variety of home service industries, including electrical services, HVAC repair, plumbing, water damage restoration, appliance repair, and other residential and commercial service providers. By focusing on these sectors, Tier Call helps ensure that businesses receive calls from customers who are actively searching for the types of services they offer. As demand for local services continues to grow through map-based searches, Tier Call plans to expand its operations to support more businesses and service areas. About Tier Call TierCall.com is a company that helps local service businesses receive incoming customer calls from Google Maps searches. By delivering customers who are actively searching for services such as electricians, HVAC repair, plumbing, and restoration, Tier Call helps businesses connect with real clients and grow through direct phone conversations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286519 Source: GRW A Netflix spokesperson said the streamer is proud to have helped launch the brand and looks forward to seeing Meghan grow it on her own The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been making headlines ever since she and her husband Prince Harry stepped away from their Royal titles. The Suits star is in the news again and it has to do something with her lifestyle brand. Now, Netflix is stepping away from Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand As Ever after backing it during its launch year. And there is a reason behind it. The brand launched in 2025 alongside her Netflix series _With Love, Meghan_, featuring products like teas, jams, honey, and baking mixes. Netflix says the partnership was always meant to be temporary and that the company is now ready to operate independently. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Netflix Spokesperson Issues Statement A Netflix spokesperson said the streamer is proud to have helped launch the brand and looks forward to seeing Meghan grow it on her own. Representatives for the Sussexes say the company experienced rapid growth in its first year and is now ready for its next chapter. The Visit to Jordan Prince Harry and Meghan Markle undertook a high-profile public visit to Jordan, just days after Prince Andrews arrest in connection with allegations linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files. Contrary to early speculation, the trip was neither secretive nor low-key, but involved official meetings, diplomatic engagements, and humanitarian outreach, drawing international attention. Public Engagements and Official Meetings in Jordan During their visit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were formally welcomed by British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall, who praised their presence and support for ongoing humanitarian efforts. The couple is scheduled to meet Jordanian leaders and senior health officials, and also visit World Health Organization (WHO) teams working on frontline health and mental health programmes in the region. Ambassador Hall said their support and acknowledgment of the work being carried out by the Jordanian government, the United Nations and WHO was enormously appreciated, underscoring the official and public nature of the visit. Games View All Actor-politician Vijay addressed fans amid his divorce proceedings with wife Sangeetha Sornalingam, saying he knows many supporters are hurt but asked them not to worry. Tamil superstar and politician Vijay has finally addressed the swirling speculation around his personal life, speaking publicly after reports of divorce proceedings with his wife Sangeetha Sornalingam surfaced. In a message directed at fans and supporters, Vijay acknowledged the emotional impact the news has had on many of them and urged them not to feel distressed over his personal struggles. Vijay addresses adultery allegations At an event organised to celebrate International Womens Day in Mamallapuram on behalf of his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay addressed the ongoing controversies around the end of his speech. Addressing the audience, he said, Recently, there have been many controversies. I can see that many of you are supporting me and are hurt by them. Seeing that hurts me as well. I will take care of it. Lets concentrate only on peoples issues. Those matters are not worth it, so please dont hurt yourselves over them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #ThalapathyVijay: "There are many controversies going on recently, I can see many of you are supporting & got hurt with that. by seeing that myself is getting hurt. I will take care of that. Let's concentrate only on people issues. Those issues are not worth at all, so don't hurt pic.twitter.com/IPBnppJIXU AmuthaBharathi (@CinemaWithAB) March 7, 2026 In his speech, Vijay outlined several schemes and plans for women. In a hall packed with supporters, the actor delivered a nearly 24-minute speech in which he promised Rs 2,500 per month for women, six LPG cylinders per year, eight grams of gold for marriage, free bus travel across Tamil Nadu, and a gold ring for newborn babies. Divorce proceedings come to public focus The statement comes days after Sangeetha filed a petition seeking the dissolution of their marriage at the Chengalpattu District Court in Tamil Nadu. The couple, who married in 1999, have been together for more than two decades and have two children. Games View All Court documents show that she has also sought interim relief allowing her to continue living in their matrimonial home in Chennai while the divorce case is pending. The matter has drawn significant attention given Vijays status as one of Tamil cinemas biggest stars and his recent entry into politics. Allegations and speculation around the case Reports surrounding the case have included allegations of infidelity and emotional distress, which have fuelled intense media coverage and social-media speculation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The controversy has grown further after Vijay was recently seen attending a public event alongside actress Trisha Krishnan, sparking renewed online discussion about their relationship. However, neither Vijay nor Trisha has publicly commented on those rumours. The actor-politician is currently preparing for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections through his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, making the developments in his personal life particularly high-profile. Actresses are ditching glamour and are embracing the many shades of cinema, from national choices, thrillers, slice-of-life pieces, horror, mystery and many more Hindi cinema is no longer a male-dominated space, because our headstrong ladies are leading from the front. Actresses are ditching glamour and are embracing the many shades of cinema, from national choices, thrillers, slice-of-life pieces, horror, mystery and many more! And what better than the occasion of Womens Day to celebrate the female forces of Indian cinema! Deepika Padukone - Piku Deepika Padukone played the titular protagonist in Piku. As a strong-willed woman balancing her professional commitments and caring for her hypochondriac father, Deepika not only explored the complex but emotional relationship with her father but also laid emphasis on an independent daughters challenging journey. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alia Bhatt - Raazi In Raazi, Alia Bhatt stepped into the shoes of a young Indian spy married into a Pakistani military family. As Sehmat, Alia brought a fine balance of vulnerability and strength towards serving her country. The actress did not rely on loud patriotism; instead, she stood out for depicting patriotism through emotional sacrifice. Triptii Dimri - Bulbbul & Qala Triptii Dimri attached new meaning to the heroine of today by making fine choices like Bulbbul and Qala, landmark projects in her filmography. In Bulbbul, she played the titular character, supernaturally helping women in her village fight injustice. In Qala, she depicted the contrasting feelings between success and the conflicts of the past. Yami Gautam - HAQ In 2025, Yami Gautam shouldered HAQ, a film that follows a womans legal battle for maintenance rights after being abandoned and divorced by her husband via triple talaq. As a protagonist, Yami shows Shazias personal struggles and how it evolves into a national debate on faith and womens rights. Games View All Fatima Sana Shaikh - Dhak Dhak Fatima Sana Shaikh, known for her off-beat screen choices, surprised audiences by ditching the glam with Dhak Dhak and portraying a headstrong woman who embarks on a road trip of a lifetime to the highest mountain pass in the world in Ladakh. With this, Fatima added a striking tangent to her filmography and earned applause for pulling off a bold, female-centric narrative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pratibha Ranta - Laapataa Ladies & Accused Laapataa Ladies, Pratibha Rantas finest creation so far! The actress brought resilience and strength in showcasing a small-town woman willing to walk the path of ambition and not let marriage bind her. Pratibha is also basking in the success of her latest OTT release, Accused, wherein she steps into the shoes of a lesbian and navigates the dynamics of a queer relationship. Aditi Rao Hydari Bhoomi In Bhoomi, Aditi Rao Hydari portrayed a young woman who refuses to remain silent after facing a life-altering crime. Rather than being defined by her trauma, her character stands up against the injustice done to her and chooses to fight her own battle with courage and determination. Aditi brought both vulnerability and strength to the role, highlighting a survivors resilience and the powerful spirit of a woman who refuses to bow down in the face of wrongdoing. Kriti Sanon - Do Patti STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kriti Sanon anchored a bold narrative with Do Patti, a thriller mystery that revolves around themes of patriarchy, domestic abuse and generational trauma. As a successful actress who continues her quest to explore, Kriti Sanon served a must-watch with Do Patti and delivered a performance that continues to be one of her finest. Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, is set to be Nepals next prime minister as his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has swept the polls. Indias ties with Kathmandu have seen ups and downs in recent years. Will the youth leader help bring them back on track? Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), looks on as he queues to vote during the general election in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 5, 2026. Reuters Nepal is poised to get a new prime minister in 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is all set to form the next government in the Himalayan nation after securing a sweeping victory in the crucial general election on Saturday, decimating the established parties. Popularly known as Balen", the 35-year-old PM candidate of the RSP defeated four-time former prime minister K P Sharma Oli, the chair of Nepals legacy party the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) by a huge margin of about 50,000 votes in the Jhapa-5 constituency. This was Nepals first election since the youth-led protests in September toppled the elected government of Oli. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nepal is an important neighbour of India. What will the victory of Balendra Shah mean for New Delhi? We explain. India-Nepal ties Indias relations with Nepal have traditionally been warm and friendly. The two countries share a 1,800 km open border. India remains the largest trade and investment partner for the landlocked country. Under its Neighbourhood First policy, New Delhi has provided assistance to Kathmandu in various sectors, including development and defence. More from Explainers Nepal to vote in high-stakes election after deadly Gen Z-led protests toppled govt India has been a longstanding partner during Nepals times of need, such as emergencies and crises. The two countries also enjoy a deep-rooted people-to-people and cultural relationship. However, the ties have hit a rough patch in recent years. New Delhi has watched Chinas growing influence on Nepal with unease. The border issue has also flared up between the two neighbours. The dispute over Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura along the India-Nepal border strained relations. In 2020, Nepal released a revised political map that included these territories, which are part of Indias Uttarakhand state. Last August, New Delhi strongly denounced Kathmandus objection to the resumption of border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass. India dubbed Nepals territorial claims to the Lipulekh Pass as unjustified and untenable. Balendra Shah, right, former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, joins Rabi Lamichhane, left, the partys president, during an election campaign rally in Lalitpur, Nepal, February 28, 2026. File Photo/AP In November, Nepals new Rs 100 currency note vexed India. The note featured a new national map including territories that belong to India. In its response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had called the move a unilateral act that does not change the ground reality. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Nepal, some perceive India as adopting a big-brother attitude, as per Hindustan Times (HT). They accuse New Delhi of interfering in Nepals internal affairs. The ties frayed in 2015 when Nepal accused India of enforcing about a four-and-a-half month blockade on a major transit route between the two countries to support the demands of Madhesis, people of Indian origin in Nepals Terai region. The blockade had nearly crippled the Himalayan nations economy. India, however, rejected Nepals claims, with the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saying that the obstructions were by the Nepalese population on the Nepalese side. Will Balen be good news for India? The expected victory of Balendra Shahs RSP comes at the cost of the decimation of the old guard of Nepali politics. For New Delhi, it is a major shift to engage with a youth leader than the established Olis Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) or Pushpa Kamal Dahals CPN (Maoist Centre). Balen focused on transparency and Nepal First" rhetoric to woo electors. India will have to adjust to such a leader for whom foreign policy is technical negotiation with the aim to maximise Nepals sovereign interests, according to News18. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The former rapper is reportedly considered anti-India among his supporters. In 2023, he exhibited a Greater Nepal map in his office that included certain Indian territories, which he said was a symbolic reply to Indias Akhand Bharat mural in its new Parliament building. Speaking on the issue, Balen told Dainik Bhaskar, I never said anything for which I should apologise. India called its parliamentary map a cultural one, so we put up a historical map of Greater Nepal. No one should object. That year, he called for a ban on Indian movies in Nepal after saying a Bollywood film described the Hindu goddess Sita as Indias daughter. He contested the claim by highlighting traditions that put her birthplace in present-day Nepal or near the Nepal-Bihar border. In 2025, a late-night Facebook post by Balen that took aim at the United States, India and China spurred a massive controversy. The later deleted post had read: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD F**k America F**k India F**k China F**k UML F**k Congress F**k RSP F**k RPP F**k Maobaadi Go to hell, you guys all combined can do nothing." With Balen expected to be at the helm, India will have to ensure that his Nepal First" policy does not unwittingly lead to a China First" reality, as per News18. The RSP leader, however, may not favour either India or China. Last month, he removed the China-linked Damak Industrial Park project from his election manifesto. Unlike his predecessors, who were often boxed into pro-India" or pro-China" labels, Balen belongs to a generation that wants to pitch the two giants against each other for Nepals benefit. India will be hoping a stable government in Kathmandu would offer an opportunity to reset ties and rebuild diplomatic momentum with Nepal, reported HT. New Delhi will, however, have to be prepared for a Nepal less inclined to cautious diplomacy" and more prone to vocal sovereignty". This may lead to bumps in the short term, but could help resolve long-standing issues, working along with a leader who has the mandate to make big decisions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At the ongoing "two sessions," China's annual sessions of its top legislature and political advisory body, held in Beijing, capital of China, Xinhua correspondent Fu Tian invited ambassadors to China to share their views on the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting 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 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting 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 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Explosions continued to haunt the skies of Tehran as the Israel-US war with Iran entered its second week, Saturday (March 7). Bombings were also heard in Jerusalem after air raid sirens warned of an incoming Iranian missile attack. As the war in West Asia completes a week, how has the violence unfolded in the region? An airplane flies as 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 6, 2026. Reuters West Asia remains on the edge as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its second week on Saturday (March 7). Blasts continue to rock Tehran, while Iran has retaliated by firing missiles at Israel. The conflict that has spilt across West Asia and even beyond does not seem to be ending anytime soon. United States President Donald Trump has ruled out a deal with Tehran except for unconditional surrender. There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! Trump wrote in his Truth Social post. 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the war in Iran completes a week, where do the countries stand? We take a look. . Iran Tehran has been facing relentless bombing by Israel-US since February 28, when the joint aerial strikes by the two countries killed Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. Explosions were heard and smoke billowed over western Tehran early Saturday as Israel launched a new wave of attacks on Iran, reported Associated Press (AP). The US and Israel have been pounding Iran, targeting military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The Israeli military has claimed to have destroyed 80 per cent of Irans air-defence systems in the first week of the war and disabled over 60 per cent of its missile launchers. According to Israel, 50 of its warplanes had hit a bunker used by Irans leadership beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of Supreme Leader Khamenei. Mehrabad airport in Tehran was struck early on Saturday, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Blasts were also reported around the Iranian city of Kermanshah, which hosts multiple missile bases. At least 1,332 people have been killed in Iran since the US and Israel waged a war against Iran last Saturday, Irans UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said, citing the Iranian Red Crescent Society. More than 160 were earlier killed by a strike on an elementary school in Minab, some 1,100 kilometres southeast of Tehran, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since the war began, the streets of Tehran, which house one crore people, have gone eerily quiet, with shops shut and many people fleeing the capital, reported ABC. The capital is almost dead. Most shops and shopping centres are closed and the drug stores and bakeries that are open work only a few hours during the day. Cash is also very scarce. ATMs do not have cash, Saman, a resident of eastern Tehran, was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Washington Post reported that Russia is providing Iran with locations of US warships and aircraft in West Asia after Tehrans ability to find American forces was degraded. Israel Israel has intensified aerial attacks against Iran and Lebanon as Tehran continues to target the Jewish country. On Saturday, an explosion was heard in Jerusalem after air raid sirens warned of an incoming Iranian missile attack, reported AFP. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Iran launched a round of missiles toward Israel early today, adding that its air defences were operating to intercept the threat. Eleven people have been killed in Israel, including nine in Beit Shemesh, as Tehran continues retaliatory attacks to avenge Khameneis killing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US State Department has approved the sale of $151.8 million worth of munitions to Israel on Friday. Israel has killed 217 people and wounded 798 in Lebanon, the countrys health ministry said Friday. An estimated 95,000 people have been displaced. Israel had reportedly launched air strikes on several towns in southern Lebanon, local media reported on early Friday. It claims it struck only Hezbollah-linked targets. Israeli strikes pounded the capital Beirut yesterday after Israeli authorities ordered an unprecedented evacuation of the citys entire southern suburbs. People displaced by Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, Beiruts southern suburbs, gather with their belongings along the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon, March 6, 2026. AP The Israeli bombing in Lebanon was the heaviest since a ceasefire in 2024 ended the last war between Israel and Hezbollah. US The US investigation has revealed its forces were likely responsible for a strike on the Iranian girls school in Minab that killed dozens of children on the first day of the war, two American officials told Reuters. During the first week of the US Operation Epic Fury, it has hit more than 3,000 targets and damaged or destroyed over 43 Iranian ships, according to US Central Command. A US submarine torpedoed the Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, just 44 nautical miles off (81km) southern Sri Lanka, as it was returning home from naval drills hosted by India, bringing the war close to Indias doorsteps. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned in a television interview that the biggest bombing campaign of the war was still to come. The US explanation for the war in Iran has shifted, raising fears of an extended conflict in West Asia. Six American soldiers were killed at an operations centre at a civilian port in Kuwait, more than 16 kilometres from the main Army base. Iran has been targeting Gulf states hosting US military installations. West Asia The US-Israeli war in Iran has plunged West Asia into chaos and violence. Tehran has continued its attacks on Gulf nations hosting US troops. Explosions were reported in Dubai and Manama on Saturday. The Saudi defence ministry said it had blocked repeated missile strikes at an air base housing US military personnel and drone attacks at a major oil field. At least two drone attacks this week have targeted Saudi Arabias Ras Tanura refinery. In Manama, Bahrains capital, a warning siren sounded today, AFP reported. Bahrains interior ministry urged citizens and residents to stay calm and head to the nearest safe place. Dubai authorities earlier reported a minor incident that resulted from the fall of debris following an interception. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Oman, Qatar, Syria and Bahrain have also reported attacks. Oil prices up, markets in shock Oil prices have touched their highest levels in years after the effective shutdown of the critical shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil prices have soared as fears mount about oil supply disruption during the war in West Asia. The international benchmark oil contract, Brent North Sea crude, jumped to $92.69 per barrel on Friday, up 8.5 per cent for the day and nearly 30 per cent for the week. This comes as tankers transporting oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been halted through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of global oil shipments normally pass. The market is shifting from pricing pure geopolitical risk to grappling with tangible operational disruption, as refinery shutdowns and export constraints begin to impair crude processing and regional supply flows, JPMorgan analysts said in a report on Friday, as per Reuters. Trumps demand for Irans surrender, which further complicated any possibility of ending the war soon, sent European and US stock indexes tumbling on Friday. Indias Sensex and the Nifty lost about 2.9 per cent each this week, the steepest weekly fall for the Nifty since February 28, and for the Sensex since December 20, 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Global air travel has also been impacted as the war in West Asia has led to many airlines grounding flights to and from the region. With inputs from agencies India remains a net security provider in the Indian Ocean but must also consider the regions ground realities, Jaishankar said while responding to questions on the sinking of an Iranian vessel near Sri Lanka. India IS a net security provider in the Indian Ocean. But we also have to take into account the (prevalent) ground or the water situation, thats how Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded in his first comments on the sinking of an Iranian ship off Sri Lankan waters by an American submarine. On the docking of another Iranian vessel in Kochi, the minister said, We got a message from the Iranian side wanting to come to our port. This was on the 28th. We gave the permission. They docked in Kochi in a few days. The sailors on the ship are young cadets who have disembarked and are at a nearby facility. When these ships came here the situation was totally different. They were coming in a fleet review. Then they got caught on the wrong side of events. It was a humane thing to do. The other ship was heading to Sri Lanka. They unfortunately didnt make it. We took a decision based on humanity and we think its the right thing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At a panel on the Future of the Indian Ocean, attended by a packed audience reflecting the topicality of the conversation, moderator Palki Sharma asked the minister his reaction to the ship that was returning after taking part in a maritime exercise hosted by India getting torpedoed in waters adjacent to Sri Lanka in an ocean named after India and in a region that India considers its backyard and what it means for Indias position as the net security provider in the region. Theres a lot of social media debate going on about this, quipped Jaishankar in his tart reply, adding, Social media by its very nature is a forum for sharp, angular, sometimes extreme expression of views. But we also have to understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades. Its not something that happened last week or last month. Foreign forces have occupied Djibouti since the first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period. So the Indian Ocean is not limited only to the countries of the Indian Ocean, said the minister. Expanding on the reply later, he added, India has a particular salience when it comes to the Indian Ocean and therefore a particular responsibility and a particular contribution. Its not just because we are big and central. We also have the ability to bring countries to the table because we have good relations with them. Perhaps they trust us more. The fact that the fusion centre in Gurugram (IOR Information Fusion Centre) has so many people, so many countries, so many representatives willing to work together says something about the Indian Ocean and says something about us. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These institutions we are building IORA, BIMSTEC, Colombo Security Council, etc are the building blocks for a larger composite picture. Beyond that, it is also the bilaterals Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. With their navies and their coast guards, we have a long history of working together. And not just them. If you look at the exercises of the Indian Ocean or the Indo-Pacific, you see the Indian Navy pretty much in every one of them. One part is the presence, the other is working together. So we actually, practically help. We help in countering the flow of drugs, deal with fishing issues, HADR situations and oil spills. Yes, we are a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, but that cannot obviate or overwrite the realities of the region. It is a region where countries other than those of the region are present in a maritime form, said the minister. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His comments, however, indicated the discomfort in the Indian government over the unsavoury incident and came on the back of remarks made by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on the panel, who repeatedly referred to UNCLOS and international laws when asked to comment on the issue. Jaishankar also evoked UNCLOS, underlined Indias position on it, and stressed that New Delhi has in the past abided by the laws even when the rulings went against it. It was clear that that was as far as he would go in referring to the American submarines combat operation. Jaishankar also pointed out that attacks on merchant ships put the lives of Indian nationals in danger because many of these tankers and merchant ships that traverse international waters for commerce are manned by Indians. When we look today at what is going on (referring to Irans attacks on merchant vessels and tankers), we should also give a lot of weight to the fact that these are our people involved out there. Weve had fatalities in the last few days. Indian nationals have died in two tankers that were attacked. A lot of our approach to the crisis is driven by the fact that we have a community of 910 million people residing in the Gulf. Their well-being is a factor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the last two years, when the Houthis were busy attacking shipping, we deployed our navy in the northern Arabian Sea in coordination with the Americans. Sam Dalrymples narrative history on the shattering of South Asia, in which individuals, their actions, and their circumstances take center stage, is fresh and readable Shattered Lands explores how the borders and political realities of South Asia were shaped by the collapse of empires and the upheavals surrounding Partition and decolonization. Pexels The traditional narrative of South Asian independence usually emphasises a single, cataclysmic event: the 1947 partition of India. In Shattered Lands, Sam Dalrymple challenges this focus, arguing that the modern map of Asia was actually forged through five partitions. He spans the period from 1931 to 1971 to reveal how a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia was dismantled into several separate nations. The steps in this dismantling are the carving out of Burma; the separation of the Arabian Peninsula from India; the integration of the princely states; the Great Partition; and the creation of Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It all begins, of course, with the British. A century ago, the Raj was an imperial entity that bound together not just India, but also the territories we know today as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Shattered Lands highlights how deeply integrated many of these regions were. For instance, Aden was the Indian Empires westernmost bastion, the largest city in the Arabian Peninsula, and like the rest of Indian Arabia it was governed as part of Bombay Province. This historical accident of geography meant that, had the separations not occurred, most of the Arabian Peninsula except for Saudi Arabia might have become part of India or Pakistan after independence. Dalrymple spends much time on the first largely forgotten partition, the 1937 separation of Burma. He notes that this move was driven by both the ethnic Bamars desire for independence and a Hindu nationalist vision of the boundaries of the ancient Hindu holy land Bharat. Burma vs Bharatvarsha He points out that even Mahatma Gandhi supported this separation, arguing that Burma was not what we call Bharatvarsha, that is, not a part of ancient Indias Hindu geography. With this conflating of India and Bharat, the independence movement took on a particular Hindu flavour, Dalrymple suggests, which became an important trigger for the creation of Pakistan. This administrative divorce later set the stage for the 1942 Long March, a harrowing exodus where roughly 600,000 Indian civilians fled Burma during the Japanese invasion. Upwards of 80,000 people died in what was, at the time, the largest mass migration ever recorded. Despite its scale, Dalrymple observes that this crisis remains largely absent from national imaginations; there is no memorial for the dead in India, Burma or Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Terming the integration of princely India a partition may raise some eyebrows, but the young historians point is to highlight that the end of the Raj wasnt just one split between India and Pakistan, but the shattering of a multi-layered imperial structure into centralised modern states. This approach also acknowledges the loss of local autonomy and the violence that integration required. Besides, as he puts it, much of the shape of modern India, Pakistan and Burma was actually determined by the decisions of the Indian princes. The book explores how the ghosts of these partitions continued to stalk the land: for example, he writes, the fate of Junagadh laid the groundwork for the Kashmir dispute, the annexation of Hyderabad and the ongoing insurgency in Baluchistan. Later, the Naga independence movement sought to undo the partition of India and Burma that had split their communities across new borders. Last, but not least: The Bangladesh independence The final partition, the independence of Bangladesh, completes the shattering. Dalrymples account of the 1971 conflict also highlights the tragic absurdity of these shifting borders. He quotes the Chakma Raja, Tridiv Roy, to illustrate the instability of citizenship: Someone who is Bangladeshi today was a Pakistani before December 1971, and before August 1947 he or she was an Indian citizen. A man and his place of birth may undergo transformations of their nationality and citizenship without his being consulted, international borders being changed any number of times. He is just a bit of flotsam in the whirlwind of politics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Much has been written about each of these events earlier. However, Dalrymples narrative history, in which individuals, their actions, and their circumstances take centre stage, is fresh and readable. For a start, he uses a comparative approach to illuminate shared characteristics. Among them, the arbitrary nature of lines drawn on the map, the eruptions of communal violence, and the massive movements of people. In addition, the book is peppered with extracts from interviews, memoirs, and diaries, such as those of figures like the Urdu satirist Fikr Taunsvi, which give events a lived immediacy. Today, the region that once shared a single imperial banner is one of the most fortified, fenced and land-mined areas on the planet. A far cry from the interconnected empire of a century ago, and a sobering reminder that the borders we take for granted are recent, often arbitrary, and frequently violent constructions. Balen Shah appears to be achieving what no Nepali leader has in three decadessecuring a two-thirds majority. The real challenge now is delivering on promises and shedding Nepals basket case image in South Asia From street protests to the ballot box, Nepals Gen Z wave has propelled Balen Shah to the centre of power. File image On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Nepal, a country of 29.63 million people, held a parliamentary election barely three years after the previous national vote. The election was necessitated by the unprecedented, short but disruptive and impactful political upheaval led by Gen Z, which culminated in the worst unrest in decades and resulted in the premature resignation of the Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, on September 9, 2025. The elections were held under the government headed by the interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, widely praised for her integrity, who had promised that national elections would be held within six months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Eligible Voters The voting age in Nepal is 18 years, and nearly 19 million people (9.66 million men, 9.24 million women, and 200 in other categories) were registered to vote in the election, according to the Election Commission. The number of registered voters in the current election was one million more than in the previous parliamentary election in November 2022, as the youth-led uprising sparked greater interest in politics. Seats on Offer Voting was held for the 275 seats in the House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha), the powerful lower chamber of the Nepalese Parliament established under the 2015 Constitution. One-third of the seats were reserved for women. The 275 members of the House of Representatives were to be elected for a five-year term through a mixed electoral system in which 165 candidates were elected by the direct First-Past-the-Post system, while the remaining 110 were elected through proportional representation. Under the proportional representation system, political parties nominate lawmakers based on the share of votes each receives. Parties in the Fray A total of 67 parties were in the fray in the Nepal elections. Essentially, however, the election was a direct contest between the Old Guard and the Young Turks. The Old Guard At one end of the spectrum were the legacy parties dominated by: Nepali Congress (NC) led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Gagan Thapa, the oldest party in Nepal Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) CPN-UML, led by KP Sharma Oli, who was ousted in the aftermath of the September 2025 Gen Z-led protest STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) Ever since Nepal became a republic in 2008, one or another coalition comprising these parties has governed the country, producing 14 prime ministers, none of whom completed their full terms. The Young Turk At the other end of the spectrum was the newly formed reformist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), with Rabi Lamichhane (party founder) and Balendra Balen Shah (Kathmandu mayor) as key leaders. The party surged after the Gen-Z protests against corruption and political elites, becoming a major challenger to traditional parties. In between, apart from the above parties, many others participated in the elections, a few prominent among them being: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Peoples Socialist Party (PSP-Nepal), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), Janamat Party. Candidates on the Ballot Altogether, 6,541 candidates vied for election on the ballot, with the following composition: Direct election: total number of candidates 3,406 (male 3,017, female 388, others 1) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Proportional election: total number of candidates 3,135 (male 1,363, female 1,772) In the 275-member Pratinidhi Sabha, 60 per cent of the candidates were to be elected directly (Ballot I) and 40 per cent through the proportional system (Ballot II). Key Issues The key issues in Nepals 2026 elections revolved around corruption, youth unemployment, governance failures, and economic stagnation, fuelled by the 2025 Gen Z protests. All parties, both traditional warhorses and the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party, promised reforms, job creation, and welfare. The key issues and promises of the parties are recapitulated below. Major Issues Corruption and elite nepotism: Public outrage over asset hoarding by officials since 1990 and protest-era mismanagement. Youth joblessness and brain drain: Over 20 per cent unemployment drove migration; demands emerged for incentives and social security. Poor governance: Coalition instability, flaws in federalism, and social media bans symbolised the disconnect. Party Promises Sensing the mood of the restive youth, all key political parties put forward ambitious agendas and promises in the election. First, Nepali Congress (Gagan Thapa): The Nepali Congress outlined a 10-point agenda in its 2026 manifesto, emphasising governance reform, economic growth, and citizen dignity under the slogan Transformed Congress, Transformed Nation. Key promises included governance reforms, anti-corruption measures, private sector-led economic growth, job creation, agricultural modernisation, universal healthcare, affordable education, unemployment insurance, maternity leave, and the elimination of discrimination. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Second, CPN-UML (KP Sharma Oli): CPN-UML, under KP Sharma Oli, released its 2026 manifesto titled Desh Pahila (Country First), prioritising governance reforms, economic growth, and national sovereignty. The party promised institutional rebuilding after the 2025 protests, double-digit economic growth, one million youth jobs, and expanded access to education, healthcare, housing, and social justice. Third, the Nepali Communist Party (Prachanda): The Nepali Communist Party (NCP), led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, outlined ambitious socialist-oriented promises centred on economic self-reliance, anti-corruption measures, and social justice. These included safeguarding national sovereignty, expanding health insurance to the entire population, eliminating discrimination, boosting agriculture and industry, generating employment, and pursuing balanced diplomacy. Fourth, the Rastriya Swatantra Party The Rastriya Swatantra Partys Commitment Paper 2082 or Citizen Contract outlined 100 policy pillars focusing on governance reform, digital transformation, and youth-centred economic growth. The programme included digitising public services, investigating illicit wealth accumulation since 1990, merit-based bureaucracy, economic modernisation, expansion of the IT sector, universal healthcare and education, and major infrastructure development. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As can be seen from the above, all four key political formations promised sweeping reforms and socio-economic transformation, including addressing the concerns of the restive youth in a country where the median age is just 25. I will soon elaborate on which partys electoral promises resonated with the electorate and why. Before that, a peek at how the traditional legacy parties of Nepal fared in the election. The Waterloo The 2026 elections have proved to be a Waterloo for all the main parties and leaders of Nepal. KP Sharma Oli, the former prime minister and CPN-UML chairman, is the most prominent leader who lost his seat in Jhapa-5 to Balendra Shah (Balen) of the Rastriya Swatantra Party by over 10,000 votes. The sole exception was former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, widely known as Prachanda, who was elected to Nepals House of Representatives from Rukum East1, defeating his closest rival, Lilamani Gautam of the CPN-UML, by a margin of 6,778 votes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD All three traditional ruling parties were decisively defeated at the hustings, with the Nepali Congress already publicly conceding defeat. Other traditional giants, including the two communist parties headed respectively by KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, performed even worse. The following figures show how comprehensive the rout of the traditional Nepalese parties has been in the 2026 elections: Nepali Congress (17 including 11 leads), CPN-UML (11 including 9 leads), and Nepal Communist Party (9 including seven leads). And the Winner Is The party that has won a landslide victory in the direct elections is the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the clear favourite among the youth, a party that did not even exist three years ago. The undisputed figure of the election is a 35-year-old political newcomer, a former rapper turned civil engineer, who entered politics only in May 2022 when he contested the local elections as an independent candidate and won the position of Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He served from May 30, 2022, to January 18, 2026, before resigning, joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and emerging as a leading candidate for the prime ministers post in the 2026 general election. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Number Theory In the direct election for 165 seats of the Pratinidhi Sabha, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has taken an unassailable lead and is heading towards a historic two-thirds majority, a feat no political party in Nepal has achieved in recent decades. In direct election seats the party is winning at 120 seats (41 wins and 79 leads), and according to the Election Commission, it has secured 32,091, or 57.2 per cent, of votes in the proportionate voting segment. What a Contrast Parliamentary elections in two neighbouring countries of IndiaBangladesh and Nepalwere held within a month of each other. Elections in both countries were necessitated by youth-led agitation, and in both elections more than 60 per cent of voters cast their ballots. But what a contrast in the results. Dawn of a New Era Although all political parties pledged to amplify the voices of younger voters, promising to tackle corruption and improve governance, it was the bold new agenda of the Balen Shah-led party that resonated most strongly with the electorate and may herald the dawn of a new era in the Himalayan republic. Balen Shah appears to be achieving what no Nepali leader has in three decadessecuring a two-thirds majority. But that was the easy part. The real challenge now lies in fulfilling the electoral promises and removing Nepals long-standing reputation as the basket case of South Asia. (The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India-based impact consultant. He is President of Advisory Services at BARSYL. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect Firstposts position.) The remark by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Raisina Dialogue should be read for what it was: a rare moment of diplomatic candour. Washington wants Bharat as a partner against China, but it does not want another China Christopher Landaus remark at the Raisina Dialogue reflected Washingtons strategic outlook: the US does not want to repeat with India the 'mistake' it believes it made with China. (Moneycontrol) At the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on March 5, 2026, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said something unusually blunt for a diplomat. He observed, India should understand that we are not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago. Elaborating further, Landau added, We are going to let you be able to develop all these markets, and then the next thing we know, you are beating us in a lot of commercial things. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Stripped of diplomatic niceties, the message was stark: the United States believes it created a rival in China, and it has no intention of repeating that mistake with Bharat. More from Opinion How Trumps contradictions on Iran may open a Pandoras box in West Asia For Bharatiya policymakers, this statement should not merely be noted but deeply analysed and dissected. Because buried in it is the uncomfortable truth about global power politics: no superpower willingly paves the way for its successor, however good their relations may be. The China Lesson That Haunts America For decades, Western policymakers convinced themselves that Chinas rise would be a manageable one. The Chinese leadership under Deng Xiaoping reassured the world with the peaceful rise of China. All that the Chinese were doing was, to use Dengs expression, hide our capabilities and bide our time. And hide them they did. For nearly three decades, Beijing quietly absorbed Western technology, capital and manufacturing capacity. By the time the strategic implications became obvious, particularly after the assertive leadership of Xi Jinping, China had already become the worlds second-largest economy and a formidable technological rival. From Washingtons perspective, the conclusion is simple: China was allowed to grow too powerful inside the very system the West built. American policymakers now see Bharat through the lens of that experience. The Japan Precedent If theres any doubt about the lengths the US can go to restrain a rising power, history offers a precedent. In the 1980s, Japan seemed unstoppable, with its automobiles, electronics and manufacturing sectors dominating global markets. The American newspapers and magazines were full of stories predicting the rise of Japan and the decline of American industries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US, in response, came up with an accord signed in 1985 at New Yorks Plaza Hotel. The agreement forced the Japanese yen to appreciate sharply, making their exports dramatically more expensive. The shock contributed to Japans asset bubble collapse and ushered in decades of economic stagnation. The aftermath contributed to Japans prolonged economic stagnation, often referred to as its lost decades. Japans rise had been slowed not by war or sanctions, but by financial engineering and friendly diplomacy. Its Complicated! Bharats relationship with the United States has never been simple. Journalist Seema Sirohi captures this presciently in her book Friends with Benefits, describing it as a relationship marked by a thousand heartbreaks and a hundred reunions. Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra goes even further in War Time: The World in Danger, as he writes: American foreign policy can swing from being indulgent to complete indifference, depending on what suits its interests at a particular moment. Dogra offers an image that captures the asymmetry perfectly: Consorting with America means walking on broken glass; you never know when a carelessly placed shard will hurt. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD America views Bharat largely through the Chinese prism: it wants Bharat to rise as a counterweight to China. But then, as Landau said, a strong Bharat solves one problem for the West but creates another. Bharats rise generates unease in parts of the Western strategic establishment. Former intelligence chief Vikram Sood has this tension in his mind when he observes in Great Power Games: It is not always the man with the gun who is an enemy; it could be the man who wears a smile and carries gifts. Arguing that a strong, self-reliant Bharat challenges entrenched Western power structures, Sood writes: Indias self-reliant nationalism is not good news in the corridors of power in the West. Two self-reliant, independent economic, military and nuclear giants in Asia is a horror story, especially for the Western corporate world, which really runs the show. Echoing Landau, Sood reiterates, The mistakes of the past, where the US helped China to grow to a stage where it now threatens the US, must not become a model in the case of India. The US will continue its doublespeak on India-Pakistan relations, using its strong economic and military relations with Pakistan to make sure India continues to look over its shoulder, while exerting pressure on India to open its trade gates and abandon military purchases from Russia in favour of American products. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Era of India: From Impoverished Colony to the Worlds Third-Largest Economy by Minhaz Merchant (left) and Great Power Games: From Western Decline to Eastern Ascent by Vikram Sood (right) An Indispensable Counterweight Yet, there is a limit to which Delhi can be pushed and cornered. As author Minhaz Merchant argues in Era of India, the United States cannot afford to alienate Bharat altogether, especially amidst the shifting global balance of power to the East. By 2030, he writes, For the first time in 300 years, no European country will be among the worlds three largest economies. Bharats importance lies not just in its economic potential but also in its strategic geography. In this evolving order, Bharat becomes indispensable for American strategy, particularly in balancing Chinas influence across the Indo-Pacific. Merchant observes, As the trade and technology war between the US and China recasts global alliances, India is the only emerging major power with the economic and military potential to form a long-term strategic partnership with the US-led West, while keeping open trade links with China. Its not just Indias ancient civilisational longevity fully matching Chinas nor its emerging status in the late 2020s as the worlds third-largest economy that will give it a place in the new power troika. It is Americas need to keep India onside as a counter to China in the sweeping arc from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Strait. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the emerging global chessboard, Bharat is both a partner and potential rival. It has to be engaged with and also cornered often simultaneously. The Real Battle Is at Home However, with the Chinese economy slowing down, the Americans think they have more leverage in dealing with Bharat. The slowing down of the Chinese economy keeps the US in the race, or at least that is how a section of Washington believes, thus allowing American policymakers some leeway in handling Bharat. This is where the next two decades become significant, but focusing only on geopolitics misses the larger picture. Bharats future will ultimately be determined not in Washington or Beijing, but in New Delhi. Merchant says that Indias demographic dividend is expected to last till around 2050, advising Bharatiya policymakers to make the most of this quarter century-long sweet spot, both economically and socially, to bring the house in order. This is a narrow window. Bharat immediately needs institutional 2E reforms in economy and education. This will decide if we will go the superpower way or the Japan-like lose-the-way. The country will need a larger political consensus on stopping the dole and quota politics beyond a point. One can understand the need of both in a country where a larger number of people are still poor, but a red line has to be drawn: revdis and quotas cant be allowed to derail the India story. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Merchant concludes with a stark warning: To win the battle of the 21st century, India must implement foundational reforms in its education system and modernise values embedded in both family and faith. Without those reforms, geopolitics will not matter much. The Hard Truth Christopher Landaus remark at the Raisina Dialogue should be read for what it was: a rare moment of candour in diplomacy. The US wants Bharat as a partner against China, but it does not want another China. For Bharat, the lesson is simple but straightforward: no superpower will willingly pave the way for a future competitor. If Bharat is to become one of the defining powers of the 21st century, it will have to achieve that largely through its own capabilities rather than global goodwill. There are no free lunches. More so in global power politics. (The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The prospect of strife in Iran in which groups are pitted against one another and forces emerge which weaken central authority, will have grave consequences for the region. This may not immediately trouble either the US or Israel but can disrupt the flow of events in the Arabian Peninsula President Donald Trump told the news portal Axios on March 5 that Ayatollah Ali Khameneis son Mojtaba, who is himself an Islamic theologian, is not acceptable to him as the next Supreme Leader of Iran. Mojtaba is widely considered to be a contender for the highest office of the Islamic Republic, but, as I write these lines, Ayatollah Khameneis successor has not been decided. Trump also told Axios that he must have a say in who will be the former Supreme Leaders successor. He went on to say that he wants the Venezuela example to be followed, where he had agreed to Delcy Rodriguez leading the country after President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, were extricated by the US to New York. Rodriguez was Maduros vice-president. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Irans revolutionary Shia theology and the entire apparatus which supports the present governance structure will make it very difficult for Trump to impose his will on Iran and decide who will be the next leader of Iran. The US and Britain had engineered the deposition of the government of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953 and had put back Shah Reza Pahlavi in power, but it is impossible to believe that the Mossadegh example can be followed now. However, does Trumps desire to name the leader of Iran mean that he is willing to accept Irans current governance system, which is the Vilayat-e-Faqih, established in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni, the leader of Irans Islamic Revolution? If Trump means what he has said about choosing the next Iranian leader, it would constitute a departure from the past when it was not regime change that the US and Israel had sought in Iran but system change. (Regime change is when a government changes but the governance structure continues. A system change takes place when the governance structure changes along with a regime change.) The decapitation of the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the airstrike on his combined residence and office compound on February 28, constituted a regime change but not that of the governing system of Iran. Has the Trump administration realised that they have to live with the clerical order in Iran? Is it that they want a reformed clerical system which accepts the four conditions that they have now declared for Iran? These conditions are: abandon any desire to have nuclear weapons and to demonstrate this, do not enrich uranium at all; give up all ballistic missile capability; accept degraded and limited conventional armed forces, including in the marine domain; and abandon all connections with Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other similar groups hitherto supported by Iran. Iran has always declared that it does not wish to make nuclear weapons. It had demonstrated its commitment not to make nuclear weapons at least for a length of time in the Iran Nuclear Deal of 2015, which went into operation in 2016. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition to the US, China, Russia, France, Britain, Germany and the European Union became parties to the deal. Under it Iran agreed to the severe curtailment of its nuclear enrichment. However, Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran. He indicated that he wanted regime change in Iran. Last year the US and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. Indeed, Trump implied after that Irans nuclear enrichment programme had been obliterated. Trump is making contradictory noises on Iran. While his desire to appoint the new leader of the country goes in the direction of wanting the countrys territorial integrity to remain and also live with its current governance structure, his telephone calls with the Kurdish leaders go in another direction. This suspicion is bolstered by reports that the Trump administration wants the Kurds to open a front against Tehran in order to pressure the regime. This is highly dangerous for not only the Iranian system but also has the potential to affect the countrys stability and possibly its territorial integrity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The core of Iran consists of the Persian Shia people, who constitute about fifty per cent of the population. Persian language and culture as well as the Shia mazhab have deeply influenced the rest of the population who are in greater or lesser measure integrated with the core. Of these ethnic minorities, the Azeri Shias, who are around 17 million in the countrys population of 91 million, are almost fully integrated; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was an Azeri, as is current President Masoud Pezeshkian. However, the Kurds, Arabs and the Baloch minorities have distinct identities. These groups are Iranian but also part of larger transnational conglomerations which shape their identities and aspirations. Thus, the Kurds are an ethnic group that is found in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, apart from Iran. Over the centuries the Kurds have naturally been influenced by their circumstances in different countries of which they are a part. However, they have retained a sense of Kurdishness. This has led to their assertion of seeking an autonomous space in all these countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this quest the Turkish Kurds have resorted to a long, drawn-out insurgency against the central authority of the country. In Iraq the Kurds enjoy significant political autonomy, which has been constitutionally mandated since 2005. In Syria the current government is not willing to grant autonomy to Kurdish areas. Now, in this context, if the Iranian Kurds, who number around 9 million, which is around 10 per cent of the total population of Iran, are encouraged to rebel against Tehran, then fissiparous forces may be set in motion with dangerous consequences. If such forces are released in one part of the country, then the Iranian Baloch who live in areas bordering Pakistan and who have been suppressed by both countries will be emboldened to take action against Tehran too. In addition to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Baloch are also found in Afghanistan. None of these countries want a Baloch state to come into being, but the Baloch in one country are allowed, when one country has inimical relations with another, space to carry out militant activities as part of the larger relationship. Thus, the Iranian Baloch may find support if not from the authorities, then from fellow ethnic groups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Arabs have a degree of contradictions with the centre in Tehran. They too may seek to assert themselves if Tehran weakens. The prospect of strife in Iran in which groups are pitted against one another and forces emerge which weaken central authority will have grave consequences for the region. This may not immediately trouble either the US or Israel but can disrupt the flow of events in the Arabian Peninsula. That in turn will have major consequences for countries which are dependent on the Arab Gulf States for energy flows, trade, investments and remittances. These negativities will be greatly exacerbated if strife in Iran reaches a level where people begin to move as refugees. This scenario has to be avoided, and it would be timely for India to call for the preservation of Irans stability and territorial integrity. (The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israels military carried out an airborne operation that dropped troops into a town in eastern Lebanon overnight, residents and Lebanese state media said on Saturday, as heavy Israeli strikes on the area left more than a dozen people dead. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts southern suburbs on March 6, 2026.- AFP Israels military conducted an airborne operation in eastern Lebanon overnight, deploying troops near a town in the Bekaa Valley, according to residents and Lebanese state media on Saturday. The incident coincided with intense Israeli airstrikes across the area that reportedly killed more than a dozen people. Lebanon has been drawn further into the widening West Asia conflict since Monday, when the Iran-backed Hezbollah group launched rockets and drones toward Israel. In response, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon as well as areas close to the capital, Beirut. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Residents and Lebanese state media reported that Israeli helicopters dropped soldiers near the town of Nabi Chit in eastern Lebanons Bekaa Valley during the night. As the troops advanced on foot, residents and Hezbollah fighters opened fire on them. The reports said the Israeli forces later withdrew from the area by helicopter while Israeli aircraft carried out heavy strikes on Nabi Chit and nearby towns. Israels military did not immediately comment on the operation when contacted by Reuters. Lebanons health ministry said that Israeli attacks in the Nabi Chit area over the past 24 hours had killed at least 16 people. A ministry spokesperson told Reuters the figure included casualties from strikes on Friday as well as those from the intense overnight bombardment, warning that the death toll could increase. According to two security sources, three Lebanese army personnel were among those killed in the attacks. Overall, Israeli strikes have resulted in more than 200 deaths across Lebanon. Evacuation orders issued in several areas have forced roughly 300,000 people to flee their homes, though only about one-third of them have been able to find refuge in government-run shelters. A night of hell Shawki al-Masri, who lives in a town adjacent to Nabi Chit, described the overnight bombing as a night of hell. We heard the helicopters over our house all night they were so low we thought they would land on us, he told Reuters. People in the town woke up and started shooting at them, then the warplanes started bombing. It was a very violent night and only calmed down when the sun came up, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement overnight, Hezbollah said it had fired on Israeli troops who had been dropped near Nabi Chit by four Israeli helicopters. The group said the Israeli troops withdrew. While Israeli forces are carrying out ground operations in southern Lebanon, pushing deeper into a strip of border villages, airborne operations are rare. In a 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli naval forces kidnapped a man from a Lebanese coastal town. The United Nations on Saturday warned that the conflict was set to get even worse, and that talks between Israel and Lebanon must be pursued with urgency to end hostilities. Its Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said in a statement that it was clear that ongoing military actions will not deliver a lasting win to anyone. Rather, they will only deepen instability and inflict further suffering, she said. With inputs from agencies The BTC pipeline travels via Georgia and Turkey and sends oil to Europe, and also accounts for roughly a third of Israeli oil imports. Any damage to its infrastructure could drive global energy prices even higher as the war in the Middle East enters its second week Azerbaijan said it had prevented several acts of terrorist sabotage planned by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including a plot to attack a major oil pipeline running through the South Caucasus to Turkey. The targets included the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan, an Ashkenazi synagogue, and a leader an ancient Jewish community in Azerbaijan called the Mountain Jews, according to a State Security Service statement cited by the Azertag state news agency late on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The BTC pipeline travels via Georgia and Turkey and sends oil to Europe, and also accounts for roughly a third of Israeli oil imports. Any damage to its infrastructure could drive global energy prices even higher as the war in the Middle East enters its second week. The Azerbaijani statement came just a day after Baku vowed to retaliate for what it said was an incursion of four Iranian drones into its Nakhchivan exclave, which injured four people and damaged airport infrastructure. Iran flatly denied it sent the drones into Azerbaijan. Baku said an investigation found two Iranian citizens and an Azerbaijani national had colluded to bring over seven kilograms of the C-4 explosive into Azerbaijan on the instructions of the IRGC. Authorities have issued international arrest warrants for four people. On Friday Azerbaijan ordered the evacuation of its diplomats from Iran, citing safety concerns, amid already tense relations between the two countries over Bakus ties to Israel and Turkey. The US and Israeli strikes on Iran have raised concerns among Democrats and others about diminishing American stockpiles of certain weapons, illustrating a longstanding production problem that some experts say could present challenges if another conflict emerges. The ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran has intensified concerns among lawmakers and defence analysts about the strain on American weapons stockpiles, highlighting longstanding production challenges that could pose difficulties if another major conflict erupts. The administration of US President Donald Trump has insisted that American forces currently possess sufficient weapons to sustain the war effort, which has entered its second week. Trump said on social media that several defence companies had agreed to rapidly expand production of key munitions, claiming some contractors would increase output fourfold, though he did not specify which weapons systems were involved. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite those assurances, questions about the availability of advanced weaponry have grown as the campaign against Iran intensifies. Several Democratic lawmakers argue the president has initiated what they describe as a war of choice, while experts point out that certain missile defence systems are already under heavy pressure. Among the most in-demand systems are the Patriot missile system and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. These interceptors are widely used by the United States and its allies, including Ukraine and Israel, to counter missile threats. Im not particularly worried about us actually running out during this conflict, said Ryan Brobst, a scholar focused on US defence strategy at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies. Its about deterring China and Russia the day after this conflict is over. The US is using both systems to take down Iranian missiles fired in retaliation for the American and Israeli attacks, but U.S. officials have said they are struggling to stop waves of drones launched by the Islamic Republic and that they are bringing in an American anti-drone system proven to work against Russian drones in Ukraine. The system known as Merops also is cheaper than firing a missile that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars at a drone that costs less than $50,000. Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesman, said in a statement that the US military has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the Presidents choosing and on any timeline. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin posted on X late Friday that it had agreed to quadruple critical munitions production and began this work months ago. Trump and Lockheed did not offer a timetable of when the production increases would reach their target. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have questioned the long-term impact to the U.S. and its allies. Weve been told again and again and again one reason that we cant provide interceptors for the Patriot system or other munitions for Ukraine is that theyre in short supply, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told CNN on Thursday. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., told reporters that American supplies are dwindling after the military fought the Houthi rebels in Yemen and engaged in more recent conflicts under the Republican administration. The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee did not specify what type of munitions he was referring to. Our munitions are low. Thats public knowledge, Warner said. It will require additional funding, funding where we have other domestic needs as well. Supplies of defence interceptors are the most taxed, said Brobst, who is deputy director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The THAAD system is designed for defeating medium-range ballistic missiles, while the Patriot system is for taking down short-range ballistic missiles and crewed aircraft. About 25% of the entire THAAD stockpile was estimated to be used defending Israel from Irans ballistic missiles in the 12-day war with Iran last summer, Brobst said. These were already in very high demand and we had not procured enough before the conflict, Brobst said. And now weve probably used, between the two of them, probably several hundred more. The exact number of US THAAD and Patriot systems is classified, with administration officials and Democratic lawmakers declining to offer details. Demand for interceptors is likely falling as the US and its allies take out Irans weapons capabilities, Brobst said. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters this week that the number of ballistic missiles fired by Iran was down by 86% from the wars first day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other munitions in demand include cruise missiles and precision-guided missiles, known as standoff weapons, Brobst said. Their stockpiles are likely healthier, and their use probably peaked at the beginning of the war as U.S. forces hit Irans early-warning systems, air defences and other targets. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said as much that American forces used more standoff munitions at the start, but no longer need to. He told reporters Wednesday that they would be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000-pound GPS- and laser-guided, precision gravity bombs. The US has a healthy supply of those types of weapons, which are cheaper but require aircraft to fly closer to their targets, Brobst said. But the US military is moving to bolster its anti-drone capabilities in the region with the Merops system that flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, using artificial intelligence to navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Brobst said the problem of not having enough advanced munitions, particularly interceptors, was around well before the war in Iran, though this has definitely not made it get any better by using up these munitions. Successive administrations over multiple decades did not procure sufficient quantities of these interceptors, and when that happens, companies dont have an incentive to expand their production capacity, Brobst said, adding that it takes significant time to ramp up production. The administration in recent months has promised to boost defence spending and to speed up production, while calling on the Pentagon to call out defence contractors that underperform and insufficiently invest in building manufacturing. Katherine Thompson, a former deputy senior adviser at the Pentagon during this Trump administration, said then-President Joe Biden had diminished some of the stockpile of interceptors by sending them to Ukraine. It was a short-term win for the Biden administration but a long-term strategic problem for the United States as a whole, said Thompson, who left her Pentagon position in October and is now a senior fellow in defence and foreign policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. I would hope that the Trump administration doesnt make that same mistake here. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Riki Ellison, chairman of the Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance, said the US military could shift interceptors from one part of the world to another or get them from allies if needed. He also noted the Pentagon effort to get defence contractors to boost production. Were moving in that direction, Ellison said. Thats not going to be ready next week or anything, but its moving. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump says Cuba is in its last moments of life, predicting major political change while addressing Latin American leaders in Florida. US President Donald Trump speaks during the "Shield of the Americas" Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, March 7, 2026.- AFP US President Donald Trump on Saturday told several Latin American allies that Cuba is in its last moments of life and a great change is coming to the communist-ruled nation. Ill take care of Cuba, Trump told a dozen leaders at a Latin Americas summit in Florida that did not include officials from Havana. They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy, they have a bad regime thats been bad for a long time, the US president said, adding, Cubas in its last moments of life. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Thursday, at the White House, President Trump suggested that the return of American Cubans to their homeland is only a question of time, signalling that Cuba may be the next focus of his administration following the ongoing conflict with Iran. The US pressure campaign has pushed Cuba to the brink, with President Trump and Republican lawmakers predicting the imminent collapse of the communist regime. A widespread blackout across much of western Cuba on Wednesday highlighted the deepening energy crisis, worsened by a US fuel blockade that has restricted oil imports and worsened shortages. According to The Hill, citing analysts, Cubas remaining fuel reserves could be exhausted by midtolate March, potentially bringing the islands economy to a halt. Trump has tasked Rubio with leading talks with Cuban officials and has even floated the idea of a friendly takeover of the island. Cuban leaders are reportedly weighing options to ensure their survival, including possible economic reforms, cooperation on regional priorities, and scaling back ties with countries opposed by the US. The United States and Cuba have had tense relations since 1959 when Fidel Castro took over the country and set up the one-party system. He also nationalised US interests in the country that would be worth around $11 billion today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies SYDNEY, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Five people were rescued on Friday night and patients have been evacuated from a hospital amid major flooding in the Australian state of Queensland and the neighboring Northern Territory (NT). Flood warnings were in place for rivers and catchments across most of Queensland as of Saturday morning due to heavy rainfall from a slow-moving tropical storm that made landfall on the state's northeast coast on Friday afternoon local time. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the tropical low was moving west across central Queensland on Saturday and is forecast to bring heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that five people were rescued from floodwaters in central Queensland overnight, including three people who were found clinging to a tree in fast-moving waters after escaping a stranded vehicle. In the NT, a major flood warning has been issued for the small town of Katherine, 270 km southeast of Darwin, due to a separate tropical storm. The BoM said that rapid rises in river levels were occurring along the Katherine River on Saturday morning. It said the river has surpassed major flood levels in central Katherine and is expected to continue rising through Saturday. The 21 patients who were at the Katherine Hospital, including 20 pregnant women, were evacuated on Friday to other hospitals in case the town is cut off by floodwaters. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro flew into the town on Friday night and said it was critical that people heed emergency warnings. Its been eight months since Air Indias Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people. As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues its probe, senior aviation attorney Mike Andrews of the US law firm Beasley Allen, representing the families of over 100 crash victims, pushes back against the pilot error narrative in an exclusive interview with Firstposts Shiksha Dev Senior aviation attorney Mike Andrews of the US law firm Beasley Allen representing AI171 crash victims' families have firmly rejected the pilot error theory, seeking transparency over speculation. Firstpost At 32 seconds, it was one of the shortest flights in history. Its take-off marked a turning point in the aviation industry worldwide, and, since then, what was once considered routine has never quite felt the same as every take-off now carries the weight of June 12, 2025. The focus remains on the Air India 171 787 Dreamliner crash, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indias history, and the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Eight months ago, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad for Londons Gatwick Airport. And, 32 seconds after take-off, the airplane crashed and everyone on board except one died. The families of the Air India crash victims, including the captain, the cabin crew, passengers and those in the building on which the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash-landed, have been demanding justice. They seek a transparent probe that finds out the truth, without shielding reputations and passing blame. Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the mishap. The final report is pending, while its preliminary report generated more questions than answers. A passenger aircraft flies over a damaged building, at the crash site of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane (not pictured), that crashed during takeoff from a nearby airport, in Ahmedabad, India, July 12, 2025. File image/Reuters Senior aviation attorney Mike Andrews of the US law firm Beasley Allen is representing the case of families of over 100 victims of the London-bound plane. More than 100 families have engaged with the Beasley Allen law firm. The firm has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in the United States on behalf of victims families, and is conducting an investigation for filing a lawsuit. In an interview with Firstpost, Andrews expressed his concern that there is a hasty rush to pin blame on the dead pilots. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He asserted that concerns persist over the Boeing 787 Dreamliners long-standing fuel switch issue. Andrews demanded a thorough, transparent investigation focusing on all technical aspects of the plane, calling it the need of the hour. Lawyer seeks transparency over speculation Calling speculation in the tragedy of this magnitude improper, Andrews emphasised that the probe should prioritise full transparency, not insinuations. Andrews said, The preliminary report did appear to point the finger at the pilots, and thats very concerning. We have said from day one that speculation is improper. Adding, We need to have more information. There needs to be a thorough, transparent investigation, so that the families can have the answers that they deserve. Andrews also pointed to the contradictory reports surrounding the investigation and its status, which, he said, make it difficult for families to fathom the current status of the crash probe in India. On a daily-basis we hear conflicting reports about the process. At times, we hear that the report is nearing completion. Other times we hear responses that say no, this is very active and ongoing Andrews said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rush to blame pilots Andrews asserted the focus on how rushing to blame pilots undermines the integrity of the probe process, diverting attention away from possible cascading technical failures. Highly de-contextualised snippets of pilots conversation in the preliminary report, such as why did you cut off?, I did not were presented in a way that appeared to assign blame to the pilot, he said. Late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (Left) and First Officer Clive Kunder (Right). Image courtesy: X Andrews, who also represented Boeing 737 Max Ethiopian Airlines crash victims in 2019, noted that the most striking similarity between the Ethiopian and AI171 crash was the immediate tendency to blame the pilots rather than waiting for a thorough probe to determine whether there were potential electrical failures. The most stark and immediate comparison between those two crashes is the immediate rush to blame the pilots instead of waiting for a thorough and sifting investigation to determine what technical problems there may be, the lawyer told Firstpost. Whats the controversy around Boeing 787 Dreamliner fuel switches? The two words that dominated the headlines since the release of the preliminary report were fuel switches. The media maelstrom covering the crash headlined fuel switches multiple times. It, however, remains unclear whether the fuel was actually cut off or something else happened to them. Andrews referred to the FAAs 2018 airworthiness bulletin, which flagged the possibility of potential, inadvertent disengagement of the locking mechanism on Boeing fuel control switches across multiple models, including the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2018, Boeing and the FAA were aware of problems with these fuel switches. Based on an airworthiness bulletin that was issued by the FAA and Boeing that the switch design initially had problems, he asserted, it did have issues with remaining in the run position and could inadvertently transition to cut off. That tells us that they were aware of a problem years before this crash." Each switch has two settings: RUN to supply fuel and CUTOFF to stop it. When set to CUTOFF, the engine shuts down. Image courtesy: @viper202020/X As for the other possible system failure, Andrews said, a malfunction in the Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation (TCMA) could also have contributed to the devastating Dreamliner crash. The TCMA is a decision-making system that determines whether the aircraft is on the ground or in the air. Then there is the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), which is more like the engines brain, responsible for controlling how much power the engines produce. At the same time, it helps manage speed and performance. The TCMA, which detects the aircrafts condition, informs the FADEC, and the FADEC adjusts engine behaviour accordingly. If the TCMA system senses that the aircraft is on the ground, it automatically reduces engine power or throttles back without pilot input. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The computer system can read erroneous data or can have a malfunction in something thats known as the TCMA, which can make it appear as if those fuel switches have transitioned when in fact they have not, Andrews explained. AAIB-NTSB meet: AAIB is not convinced by the pilot error problem Indias AAIB made a trip to Washington in December last year to meet NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) officials. The meeting was convened to review aspects of the crash investigation. Andrews said the meeting went beyond the pilot error narrative to factors that may be unrelated to the pilots fault. If the pilot intent or the pilot error narrative is correct, then why are they still searching for answers by going through the data? That leads us to believe they are unsure and not convinced that it is a pilot problem, he said. Attorney meets victims families in Ahmedabad When asked about his multiple trips to Ahmedabad and with families of crash victims, Andrews said, Its very important. Each of these families has a personal connection and loss to this crash. And we treat each family individually with the respect and magnitude of their loss. Its important to sit down with them face-to-face because we were meeting with families who wanted to talk to us." Senior aviation attorney Mike Andrews of the US law firm Beasley Allen meets the victims families of the Air India 171 crash. Image: Arranged Its important for us to go to the crash site so we can get a clear, firsthand sense of what families experienced there. We have additional trips planned to India in the future. We want to sit down and talk with families, as we are continually trying to update them on the process, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the families wait for a closure, they also wait for the final crash probe report to know what exactly led to the loss of 260 lives. Iran-Israel War Live Update: The war entered Day 7 with tensions in West Asia intensifying as Iran launched fresh missile attacks on Israel and US bases, many of which were intercepted by Israeli defences. Israeli forces also carried out strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, where at least eight people were reported killed. A fireball ascends from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beiruts southern suburbs on March 6, 2026. (AFP) Donald Trump said on Friday that only Tehrans "unconditional surrender" would end the escalating war in West Asia, as crude oil prices surged amid fears of global supply disruptions. As Israel intensified its air strikes on Lebanon and announced "broad-scale" strikes on Tehran, the United States military said it had hit more than 3,000 targets during the first week of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The widening conflict has drawn in countries beyond the region, disrupted global energy and transport sectors, and created turmoil in areas around the Persian Gulf that are typically considered stable. Israel said on Saturday that it carried out "broad-scale" strikes on targets in Tehran, after Iranian state television reported an explosion in the western part of the city. In a statement, the Israeli military said, "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a broad-scale wave of strikes" against government targets in the Iranian capital. The military said earlier it had detected a new round of missile launches from Iran heading toward Israel. Several explosions were later heard in Tel Aviv following the launches. Israels emergency service Magen David Adom said it had received no reports of casualties after the barrage. The military issued a statement saying people were free to leave their shelters "in all areas of the country." Stay with us for all the latest updates. Live Updates Pezeshkian also used the stage to apologise to Irans neighbours for the attacks that are targeted against US military bases. He also said that the countrys leadership will not launch attacks on other West Asian countries unless strikes originate from those nations Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a visit to the shrine of the leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, in Tehran, Iran, on January 31, 2026. (Photo: Iran's Presidential website/WANA/Handout via Reuters) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday reasserted that the country will not surrender to the US and Israel, as the West Asian conflict entered its second week. Irans enemies must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves, Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV. Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on February 28, killing the Islamic Republics supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a regional conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I apologise to our neighbours Pezeshkian also used the stage to apologise to Irans neighbours for the attacks that are targeted against US military bases. He also said that the countrys leadership will not launch attacks on other West Asian countries unless strikes originate from those nations. I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran, he said. The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries, he added. Arab leaders to meet on Sunday The foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Iranian attacks on several of the groups members, the blocs assistant secretary-general told AFP. The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Hossam Zaki said. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit had earlier condemned the Iranian attacks, saying they are fully reprehensible and not only a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also an assault on the principles of good neighbourliness. The US-Iran war officially marked a week on Saturday with fresh strikes across West Asia. Iran launched missiles towards Israel, with Tel Aviv saying that its military is responding to the barrage. Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Dubai and Bahrains capital, Manama. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place, Bahrains interior ministry posted on X. Irans army has said its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the UAE and Kuwait, as the regional war raged into its second week. The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks, the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for the recent attacks carried out during the ongoing regional conflict, saying Tehran has no intention of invading other nations and will halt strikes on neighbouring states unless Iran is attacked from their territory. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a visit to the shrine of the leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, in Tehran, Iran, on January 31, 2026. (Photo: Iran's Presidential website/WANA/Handout via Reuters) Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologised to neighbouring countries for recent attacks carried out amid the escalating regional conflict, saying Tehran has no intention of invading other nations. In a televised address, Pezeshkian said Iran would stop targeting neighbouring countries unless attacks were launched against the Islamic Republic from their territory. The temporary leadership council announced yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighbouring countries and no missile launches unless attacks originate from those countries against Iran, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Iranian president also expressed regret over the recent strikes in the region. I apologise to the neighbouring countries. We have no intention of invading other countries, Pezeshkian said. Iran signals halt to attacks on neighbours Pezeshkians remarks indicate Tehrans attempt to reassure countries in the region that it does not intend to widen the conflict. The Iranian president said the decision to halt attacks on neighbouring states had been approved by the countrys temporary leadership council. However, he warned that Iran would respond if attacks were launched from the territory of neighbouring countries. Rejects US demand for unconditional surrender Pezeshkian also dismissed reports that the United States had demanded Iran accept an unconditional surrender in the ongoing confrontation. They will take their dreams of us surrendering unconditionally to the grave, he said, signalling Tehrans defiant stance despite the growing regional tensions. Iranian authorities have maintained that their recent strikes are retaliatory measures against what they describe as aggression by Washington and Tel Aviv. Regional tensions escalate after Khameneis killing The conflict escalated sharply after the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has been launching missile strikes across the region for about a week following his death. Several Gulf locations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, were reportedly hit in the attacks, with videos circulating online showing large-scale destruction. US-Israel strikes inside Iran The United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes across Iran on February 28 after stalled nuclear talks and claims that Tehran had resumed nuclear activities. The strikes, named Operation Epic Fury, targeted multiple Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint US-Israel strike on Tehran while he was inside his compound. His daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were also killed in the attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khameneis wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, later died after succumbing to injuries sustained during the strikes. The 2026 Raisina Dialogue laid bare a stunning turnaround in Indo-US relations, as the initial optimism surrounding a second Trump term has rapidly dissolved into futile angst. The Indian establishment might be careful in its public pronouncements on the Trump administration (regardless of what they might think behind closed doors) and even the strategic affairs community might be walking on eggshells given the centrality of the United States in Indias foreign policy calculus, but the street naturally suffers from no such compunctions. In an event such as the Raisina Dialogue, where the audience also gets a say, the unpopularity of the Trump administration in this part of the world really comes to the fore. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is a stunning turnaround. India was one of the rare countries that had a positive outlook and an expectation of further strengthening of the bilateral relationship in Trumps second stint. The US president has torpedoed all that goodwill and sank all that hope in a matter of months. One of Fridays morning panels at the Raisina Dialogue had the Iranian deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, saying President Trump is asking for the change in leadership of Iran, he cannot appoint even the mayor of New York to a round of applause from the audience. It wasnt so much applauding the minister as perhaps a kind of futile angst against an American president whose America First policies have strained Indias economic and strategic interests, squeezed Indias foreign policy choices and now with an unnecessary war in Iran, endangered Indian nationals residing in West Asia, put at risk Indias energy security, deep supply chain linkages and commercial interests in the region. On Friday night, on several occasions during her remarks at a conversation on Transatlantic Drift and a Rising China, Carla Sands of the America First Policy Institute faced volleys of laughter and ironic applause from the packed audience that seemed to disagree with her positions. The Europeans and the Canadian on the panel didnt push back too hard despite Sands aggressive defence of Trumps savaging of the transatlantic relationship, but the audience at large evidently got under the skin of the MAGA policy wonk, who at one point of time blurted laugh as much as you want while justifying Trumps approach to foreign policy. If there is a coherent approach, that is. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sands claimed United States loves our allies when moderator Palki Sharma wanted to know where does the Trump administration put Americas Gulf and Arab allies in the democratic vs non-democratic framework, and went on to utter, the National Security Strategy of November 2025 was really a love letter to Europe. The audience cracked in laughter and a flustered Sands said, you can laugh if you want, but the administration was begging Europe, please save yourselves. Former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, a co-panellist, was asked didnt Canada get a similar love letter from Trump? Harper was more circumspect, but admitted that the challenges in the Canada-US relationship have increased manifold. To the extent Sands reflects the Trump-era foreign policy, this regime in the White House seems uniquely reluctant or unable to listen to anyone, except its core MAGA base, if that. Towards the end of the discussion, after Sands had given a breathless justification on why Iran needs to be bombed out of existence because it is the biggest sponsor of terrorism on earth, one wanted to ask, is that why Asim Munir was called for luncheon at the White House? Itd be pointless though. Forget it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One week into the US-Israeli war against Iran that has plunged the West Asia into turmoil, President Donald Trump faces a growing list of risks and challenges that raise questions about whether he will be able to translate military successes into a clear geopolitical win. Demonstrators hold flags of Israel, U.S. and pre-Iranian Revolution "Lion and Sun" flag during a protest against Iran's ruling establishment, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Naples, Italy, March 6, 2026. - Reuters One week into the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, President Donald Trump finds himself at a critical crossroads, balancing undeniable tactical successes with a rapidly destabilising regional picture. While the joint operation has delivered devastating blows including the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the systematic dismantling of Iranian naval and ballistic assets, the initial hope for a swift, Venezuela-style victory has been replaced by the reality of a widening conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As Hezbollah intensifies hostilities and global oil markets react to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the administrations Operation Epic Fury faces increasing scrutiny over its lack of a defined endgame. Analysts warn the conflict risks prolongation like Iraq or A Afghanistan, with Irans proxies like Hezbollah reigniting fronts in Lebanon and threats to the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global oil flows. Strategic uncertainty and mixed messaging White House aims for a four-to-five-week campaign, but experts like those at CFR highlight the challenges of air power alone achieving lasting regime shift amid economic fallout and domestic political pressures ahead of midterms. Trumps high-stakes gamble, contrasting swift past operations like Venezuela, now tests his aversion to quagmires, with mixed MAGA support and calls for unconditional surrender highlighting a difficult path to geopolitical victory. Iran is a messy and potentially protracted military campaign, said Laura Blumenfeld of the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington. Trump is risking the global economy, regional stability and his own Republican Partys performance in the US midterm elections. Trump, who came to office promising to keep the US out of stupid military interventions, is now pursuing what many experts see as an open-ended war of choice unprompted by any imminent threat to the US from Iran, despite claims to the contrary by the president and his aides. In doing so, analysts say he has struggled to articulate a detailed set of objectives or a clear endgame for Operation Epic Fury, the biggest US military operation since the 2003 Iraq invasion, offering shifting rationales for the war and definitions of what would constitute victory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD White House spokesperson Anna Kelly rejected that assessment, saying Trump has clearly outlined his goals to destroy Irans ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, if the war drags on, American casualties mount and the economic costs of interrupted Gulf oil flows multiply, Trumps biggest foreign policy gamble could also hurt his Republican Party politically. MAGA support holding, for now Despite criticism from some Trump supporters opposed to military interventions, members of his Make America Great Again movement have largely backed him on Iran so far. But any softening of their support could imperil Republicans control of Congress in the November midterm elections, given opinion polls showing opposition to the war among the broader electorate, including a crucial bloc of independent voters. The American people are not interested in repeating the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan, said Brian Darling, a Republican strategist. The MAGA base is split between those who relied on no-new-war promises and ones who are loyal to Trumps judgment. High on the list of analysts concerns is the mixed messaging from Trump and his aides on whether he is seeking regime change in Tehran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the outset of the conflict, he suggested that overthrowing Irans rulers was a goal, at least by fomenting internal rebellion. Two days later, he stopped short of mentioning that as a priority. But then on Thursday, Trump told Reuters he would play a role in picking Irans next leader and encouraged Iranian Kurdish rebels to launch attacks. That was followed by his demand in a social media post on Friday for Irans unconditional surrender. Across the region, the dangers have escalated with Irans retaliatory strikes on Israel and other neighbours as it seeks to sow chaos and raise the costs for Israel, the US and its allies. Showing that Iran may still be able to activate proxy groups, Lebanons Hezbollah militia has renewed hostilities with Israel, expanding the war to another country. American casualties have been low so far, with six service members killed, and Trump has largely shrugged off the prospects for more to come while declining to completely rule out deployment of U.S. ground troops. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Asked whether Americans should worry about Iran-inspired attacks at home, Trump said in a Time magazine interview published on Friday: I guess Like I said, some people will die. But Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy U.S. national intelligence officer for the West Asia, said: Nothing is likely to hasten an early end to the war more than American casualties Thats what Iran is counting on. Venezuela miscalculation? Many analysts believe Trump, who has shown an increasing appetite for military action in his second term, miscalculated that the Iran campaign would unfold like the Venezuela operation earlier this year. US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, opening the way for Trump to coerce more compliant former loyalists into giving him considerable sway over the countrys vast oil reserves without any extended U.S. military action needed. By contrast, Iran has proved a much tougher, better-armed foe with an entrenched clerical and security establishment. Even the joint U.S.-Israeli decapitation strike that killed Khamenei and some other senior leaders has failed so far to prevent Iran from mounting a military response and has raised questions whether they could be replaced by even more hardline figures. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Looming over the conflict, however, is whether Iran could slide into chaos and break apart if its current rulers fall, further destabilizing the Middle East. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, a non-profit research institute considered hawkish on Iran, praised Trumps overall war strategy but said the president needs to make clear publicly that he does not want to see the country disintegrate. Oil chokepoint For now, however, one of the most pressing concerns is Irans threat to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint through which a fifth of the worlds oil passes. Tanker traffic has halted, which could have grave economic consequences if it lasts. Though Trump has publicly dismissed any concern about already-rising U.S. gas prices, he and his aides have scrambled for ways to mitigate the wars impact on energy supplies as voters tell pollsters that the cost of living is their top concern. Its an economic pain point on the US economy that it seems was not fully anticipated, said Josh Lipsky at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. One former US military official close to the US administration said the widening of the wars economic impact had caught Trumps team by surprise in part because those with knowledge of oil markets were not consulted ahead of the attack on Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The White Houses Kelly said, The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed but did not specifically address concerns about preparations for a war. Trump made his decision to press ahead with the strikes despite warnings from some senior aides that the escalation could be difficult to contain, according to two White House officials and a Republican close to the administration. Some traditional US allies were caught off guard. Its a decision-making circle of one, said one Western diplomat. The wars duration is a major unknown likely to determine the extent of its repercussions. With the price tag of the Iran campaign mounting by the day, Trump has said that the operation could last four or five weeks or whatever it takes but has offered little explanation of what he envisions will follow. Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and formerly commanded the U.S. Army in Europe, commended the US military for its tactics in Iran. But he told Reuters: From a political, strategic and diplomatic standpoint, it seems not to have been thought all the way through. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also has a lot riding on helping oil-producing Gulf Arab states weather the Iran crisis given they have long hosted U.S. bases and have made pledges of massive new US investments to him. While Gulf allies appear to have fallen in line to support the campaign, especially after Tehran targeted them with missile and drone strikes, not everyone in the region is onboard with Trumps war. In an open letter to Trump published on Thursday, UAE billionaire Khalaf Al Habtor, a frequent visitor to Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, asked: Who gave you the right to turn our region into a battlefield? With inputs from agencies Jaishankar said that no one can decide about Indias rise, pushing back at remarks by US official Christopher Landau, who said Washington would not repeat the mistakes it made with China in its economic engagement with India. EAM Jaishankar and President Stubb declare the end of Western hegemony, identifying the Global South as the new architect of a multipolar world. Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Saturday said that no one can decide about Indias rise, in a blunt pushback to remarks made by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during the Raisina Dialogue 2026 on Thursday. In a panel moderated by Palki Sharma, managing editor of Firstpost, at the Dialogue on Saturday, without naming Landau directly, Jaishankar responded to comments in which the US official said Washington would not repeat the mistakes it made with China in its economic engagement with India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The panel which discussed cooperation among countries in the Indian Ocean region saw Jaishankar stressing that the trajectory of Indias growth would be determined by its own strengths. When we speak today about the rise of countriesthe rise of countries is determined by the countries. The rise of India will be determined by India, Jaishankar said. It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others, he added, in what appeared to be a reference to Landaus remarks during a conversation on India-US relations earlier in the summit. Landau had said the United States would not repeat the mistakes it made with China two decades ago while expanding economic engagement. India should understand that were not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago in terms of saying, Oh, were going to let you be able to develop all these markets, and then the next thing we know, youre beating us in a lot of commercial things, Landau had stated. He added that the US government must ensure that any economic engagement remains fair to its own citizens. Were going to make sure that whatever we do, its fair to our people, because ultimately we have to be accountable to our own people just as the government of India has to be accountable to its people, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Landau also expressed optimism about a proposed trade agreement between the US and India, saying the negotiations were nearing completion and could unlock significant economic opportunities. We are excited about the trade deal that is almost at the finish line now, and I think that can be the basis for unlocking almost limitless potential. We are very excited about focusing on India and these economic and commercial opportunities, he said. Describing past economic engagement with Beijing as a mistake, Landau reiterated that Washington would approach trade ties with India more cautiously while ensuring that any agreement remains balanced and beneficial for the American public. The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was held from March 5, 2026 to March 7, 2026 in New Delhi. Firstpost has partnered with the Raisina Dialogue to bring exclusive conversations with global leaders to you. The Raisina Dialogue is Indias flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with Indias Ministry of External Affairs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement released on Friday, the Kremlin said that Putin once again expressed condolences over the death of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, calling for an immediate cessation of fighting amid rising tensions in West Asia. In a statement released on Friday, the Kremlin said that Putin once again expressed condolences over the death of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family. Russias principled position on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the abandonment of forceful solutions to problems around Iran and throughout the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of political and diplomatic resolution was reaffirmed, the statement said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The statement added that Putin stays in regular contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Meanwhile, Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Russias solidarity with the Iranian people defending the sovereignty and independence of their homeland. He also provided the Russian leader with a detailed update on developments amid the ongoing escalation in the region. Cynical murder Putin condemned the killing of 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. Last weekend, the Kremlin published a letter that Putin sent to 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. Lavrov-Araghchi call Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss 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. Nepals rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah grinned and flashed a V for victory sign on Saturday as Election Commission officials confirmed he had defeated veteran leader KP Sharma Oli in their parliamentary constituency. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) election candidate Balendra Shah (C) arrives at the counting centre to collect a certificate after his victory in parliamentary elections at Damak in Jhapa district on March 7, 2026.- AP Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) on Saturday secured a decisive victory over four-time prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli in Nepals general elections, putting him on course to form the next government and delivering a major blow to the countrys traditional political parties. The 35-year-old politicians party also appears headed for a sweeping national victory in Nepals first parliamentary elections since last years youth-led protests demanding generational change and an end to corruption. Shahs win over the 74-year-old Marxist leader marks one of the most striking political upsets in recent Nepali history and signals a dramatic shift in the countrys political landscape. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Shah, popularly known as Balen, celebrated his victory by touring the streets of his constituency on Saturday evening. Wearing his trademark dark sunglasses, he waved to supporters from the sunroof of a car as crowds chanted his nickname during a victory procession. According to the Election Commission of Nepal, Shah secured 68,348 votes, far ahead of Oli, who received 18,734. The RSP, founded in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane, has emerged as the dominant force in the elections. By Saturday evening, the party had won 62 of the 78 seats for which results had been declared and was leading in dozens more constituencies across the country. It also swept all 10 constituencies in the Kathmandu District, underscoring its strong support in the capital. RSPs seats include a clean sweep in all 10 constituencies of Kathmandu district even as it is leading in 60 seats across the country, the EC data showed. Legacy parties were far behind in convincing voters for whom the major issues included fighting corruption and an end to nepotism apart from a generational change in political leadership of the Himalayan nation. The Nepali Congress (NC) won nine and was leading in nine seats; the CPN-(UML) won just three seats and is leading in nine; the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) won two seats and is leading in five, the Shrama Shakti Party (SSP) was leading in three seats, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) won one seat, the EC data showed. Among the winners is one independent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives. The counting of votes started late Thursday night and as of 5 pm Saturday, counting was in progress in 162 constituencies, the Election Commission said. The election was being closely watched by India, which is hoping for a stable government in the politically fragile Himalayan nation to take forward the developmental partnership between the two sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the people and government of Nepal for the successful conduct of elections. It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly. This historic milestone is a proud moment in Nepals democratic journey, Modi said in a post on X. Modi also said that as a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people of Nepal and its new government to scale new heights of shared peace, progress and prosperity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The RSP, which projected Balendra Shah Balen as its prime ministerial candidate and had organised its first election campaign in Janakpur in Madhesh, is heading towards a clean sweep of the province. Balen, as he is popularly known, projected himself as the son of Madhesh during the campaign, with the party launching the campaign with Ab ki bar Balendra Sarkar (This time there will be Balendras government) tagline. Of the total 32 seats in eight districts of Madhesh province, the RSP has won seven and is leading in 23 other constituencies, the EC said. The party is also making a clean sweep in the Kathmandu Valley winning all 10 seats of Kathmandu district and two in Bhaktapur and one in Lalitpur district. The party is also leading in the remaining two seats of the Kathmandu Valley with a huge margin, possibly as a result of a massive road show led by Balen in all 15 constituencies on the last day of the election campaign. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Balen, who was the Kathmandu mayor till recently, secured 52,069 votes in Jhapa-5 constituency against four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair K P Sharma Oli in the latters stronghold. Oli has received just 14,031 votes so far, the EC data showed. The 35-year-old engineer-turned-rapper-turned-politician is expected to be the next prime minister of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of rejection of established parties. Nepal has had 14 governments in the last 18 years. RSP chairman Lamichhane won with a huge margin from Chitwan-2 constituency, marking his third consecutive victory with 54,402 votes against his nearest rival NCs Mina Kumari Kharel, who received 14,564 votes. According to the Election Commission, former prime minister and NCP leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda won from Rukum Purba district by securing 10,240 votes against his rival Lilamani Gautam of CPN-(UML), who got 3,462 votes. RPPs Gyanendra Shahi won from the Jumla constituency of Karnali province by defeating his closest rival Naresh Bhandari of the NCP and became the only candidate of the pro-monarchist RPP to have secured a seat in the House of Representatives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, the RSP is also leading in proportional voting system with the party bagging 1,26,503 votes followed by Nepali Congress with 38,343. The CPN (UML) has received 28,721, the RPP 10,962, Nepali Communist Party 10,794 and Shrama Shakti Party 6,474 votes till now. Out of a total of 275 members of the Parliament, 165 are being elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 through a proportionate method. Around 3,400 candidates were vying for 165 seats under direct voting, and 3,135 candidates for 110 seats through proportionate voting. The Gen Z youth, through their two-day intensified protests on September 8 and 9 last year, ousted Prime Minister Oli of the CPN-(UML), who was heading a coalition government with the backing of Nepali Congress that enjoyed nearly two-thirds majority support. After Olis ouster, Balen was a popular choice to lead the interim government, he declined to lead the interim administration, saying he would prefer to contest the parliamentary election for a full term. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In January, he joined the RSP and was soon declared the partys prime ministerial candidate. The major issues raised by Gen Z before and during the election campaign were anti-corruption, good governance, an end to nepotism, generational change in political leadership, etc. With inputs from agencies Russia is providing Tehran with information that could help its forces locate American warships, radar or other communication systems. However, there is no indication of whether Moscow is providing direct Iranian missile or drone strikes People run as smoke rises following an explosion, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran. Reuters Russia is reportedly providing intelligence to Iran regarding the location of US forces in West Asia. The development comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday. According to a report by NBC, Russia is providing Tehran with information that could help its forces locate American warships, radar or other communication systems. However, there is no indication of whether Moscow is providing direct Iranian missile or drone strikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Nicole Grajewski, an expert on RussiaIran cooperation and an assistant professor at the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po in Paris, Iran has only a limited number of military satellites. However, Russia can rely on its much larger satellite network and other intelligence sources to provide Tehran with faster and more precise information about US forces, along with more accurate assessments of damage resulting from Iranian aerial strikes. What a stupid question Trump, on the other hand, has dismissed the report of Russia assisting Iran as stupid. He said, Thats an easy problem compared to what were doing here. What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time. The president reiterated that the US is doing very well in launching its strikes in Iran. Somebody said, how would you score it from zero to 10? I said, Id give it a 12 to a 15. Their army is gone. Their Navy is gone. Their communications are gone. Their leaders are gone. Two sets of their leaders are gone. Theyre down to their third set. Their Air Force is wiped out entirely. Think of it, he said. Images show that Iran has been targeting US military radar, satellite dishes and communication infrastructure at American bases across the Gulf, indicating that the country has specific intelligence about the locations of US assets. Theyre supporting us Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said his government is receiving political and other assistance from Iran and China, without elaborating much on the matter. They are supporting us politically and otherwise," he said, adding that he is not going to give the details of our cooperation with other countries right in the middle of the war. ISLAMABAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed 15 terrorists in two intelligence-based operations in the southwest Balochistan province, the military said on Saturday. The operations were carried out on Thursday in Harnai and Washuk districts following intelligence reports about militant presence, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said in a statement. Twelve militants linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed during an operation in Harnai, while three militants belonging to the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army were killed in Washuk after an exchange of fire. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered, and search operations are continuing in the area, the statement said. In an exclusive conversation with Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, Benedikt Franke, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Munich Security Conference said one person who can end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is Russian President Vladimir Putin. In recent years, Europe has faced a range of challenges that have jeopardised its security. From the prolongation of the Russia-Ukraine war to US President Donald Trumps frequent warnings about annexing Greenland, Europeans must consider their own strategic autonomy. In an exclusive conversation with Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, Benedikt Franke, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Munich Security Conference, Germany, laid out the security challenges Ukraine is currently facing and insisted that the one person who can end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is Russian President Vladimir Putin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While he admitted that transatlantic ties have taken a hit this year, he made it clear that they are not dead. Franke also maintained that Europes exclusion from the Ukraine peace deal discussion by US President Donald Trumps administration is not Americas fault, but Europes. How the Munich Security Conference was different this time While speaking to Firstpost, Franke said this years Munich Security Conference was different from last years, where US Vice President JD Vances provocative speech against Europe dominated the event. So last year, everything was about one speech, about the speech by JD Vance. This year, there wasnt one speech that dominated everything. It was a much broader debate about the state of the global order and about potential remedies, he said. What was striking this year was that no one agreed on anything. Weve seen some who said the global order is dead. We saw some, particularly from the Global South, who said the global order isnt yet dead enough. Its still unfair to us. Its tilted. And then there were those, mostly from our American friends, who said the global order is getting better by the day thanks to Donald J. Trump. So we had these three schools of thought that were very diverse and hence very different from us, he continued. Only one person can end the Ukraine war When asked about the prospects of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Franke noted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had just flown to Washington. He emphasised that the key points of talks between Merz and Trump would include the fact that Ukraine cannot cede any more territory than it has already lost. The demands by Russia are so unreasonable that it is relatively clear that they are an excuse for continuing the war, that they are not really interested in ending the war, he said. I just want to repeat the point that there is one person in this world who could end the war against Ukraine, and that is President Putin. I hope that Trump is slowly but surely coming around to that point of view, too, Franke told Firstpost. On transatlantic ties Transatlantic ties took a major hit with the return of Trump to the White House. There have been instances when Europe felt ambushed, for instance, not being included in the Alaska Summit. When asked about his take on the matter, Franke noted three things. First, yes, it is true that the transatlantic relationship has taken a bit of a beating lately. But its certainly not dead. This alliance is not falling apart. Point number two is that you have to distinguish between Europeans not being at the table and the Americans doing things that Europeans dont like, he said. So, us not being at the table is not the Americans fault. It is our fault. We havent made clear why we should be at the table. We are not yet offering enough, or at least were not good enough at communicating to the Americans our value added. But things like Greenland, those are things that Europeans are massively concerned about and that, in a way, have freaked us into a cohesion that we havent had for a long time, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Greenland question Trump has reignited his ambition to take over Greenland ever since he returned to the White House. The American administration has often threatened to annex the Arctic island, which is a self-governing, autonomous territory of Denmark. However, Trumps plan garnered backlash from both Denmark and Greenland, with former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen stating at the Raisina Dialogue that annexation of Greenland would end Nato". Franke agreed with the sentiment and maintained that the Europeans have drawn a red line over the matter. I hope the president has understood that Europeans have drawn a red line. This is not American territory, and it will not be American territory. But everyone in the alliance is open to addressing American concerns on Arctic security and military access to the high north. Everyone is open to the Americans building more bases on Greenland, he told Firstpost. Everyone is open to the Americans, you know, playing a stronger, for that purpose, more profitable role in the exploitation of natural resources in Greenland. But I dont think anyone is open to the Americans owning Greenland, he explained. How Europe is looking at the conflict in Iran The US and Israels conflict with Iran has spilt over into Nato, with member-state Turkey being targeted by Tehran last week. When asked how Europe and Nato are looking at the ongoing tension, the Munich Security Conference CEO maintained that Nato isnt responding beyond the operational military support within the command structures. I dont see Europe doing much in this conflict. He emphasised that with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) out of the window, there is no alternative. It is pertinent to note that the deal in question was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (USA, UK, France, Russia, China, plus Germany). It lifted economic sanctions on the West Asian nation in exchange for limitations on Irans nuclear programme. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We are naked on the diplomatic front. If you look at the Iran conflict, there are some who I think credibly say this is yet another example of there not being a Europe in foreign policy, Franke told Firstpost. Weve seen very different responses. The German Chancellor is flying to Washington, you know, on a positive note. The Spanish Prime Minister said Americans cant use the bases. The British Prime Minister is sort of changing his mind occasionally. There wasnt a European response to Iran. And Im afraid, I dont think there will be one for a while. However, Franke expressed hope that once the tensions simmer down, Europe will be a constructive player and will actually offer diplomatic facilitation services, financial support and a recovery plan. Because that is something were good at, he averred. Iran is trying to find a way out The European political scientist and diplomat admitted that many people are wondering what the hell is Iran doing?, pointing out how Tehran attacked almost all its neighbours and even potential allies. I think the Iranian regime is trying to find a way out of this conundrum. They have really ruined their standing in their own region. By blaming, you know, some rogue commanders, I think that is one way of dealing with that, Franke said. Im flabbergasted at how unstrategic the Iranians have dealt with this situation, he remarked. Russia is testing Europe every day Since last year, Russia has conducted numerous incursions in several European nations. Be it frequent sabotage operations by the Russian shadow fleets or Russian drones infiltrating the airspace of Eastern European nations, Moscows conduct amid the Ukraine war has compelled Nato and Europe to solidify their military infrastructure. Sharing his take on the matter, Franke admitted that Russia is testing Europe every day, insisting that Europe is getting better at responding. However, he acknowledged that the continent has been far too slow in dealing with the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Europe is getting better at responding, but far too slow. Sometimes I wish we were better at catching Russia off guard once. They keep catching us off guard, and we need to get better at catching them off guard, he said. The outliers The EU and Nato often face challenges from the outliers in the group. Ever since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, countries like Hungary and Slovakia have opposed blocking energy supplies from Russia, to the point of going against the bloc to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. When asked how Nato maintains solidarity in such a situation, Franke maintained an optimistic stance. See, unity doesnt mean that everyone needs to think and say the same thing at all times. I know that it is very attractive for journalists to look at Hungary and the Czech Republic, but Europe is alive and well. And yes, we can deal with Viktor Orban having a different opinion ever so often, he said. This diversity of views is making us stronger. Yes, it is making the whole process slower and more cumbersome and sometimes more frustrating than it needs to be. But its not making it worse, Franke concluded. The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was held from 5 March 2026 to 7 March 2026 in New Delhi. Firstpost has partnered with the Raisina Dialogue to bring exclusive conversations with global leaders to you. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Raisina Dialogue is Indias flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with Indias Ministry of External Affairs. Donald Trump threatens to intensify bombing of Iran as Tehran vows defiance amid escalating US-Israel strikes, regional missile attacks and rising civilian casualties, with fears growing over a widening West Asia conflict. US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that bombing of Iran could intensify further, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared his country would never surrender despite a fresh wave of US and Israeli airstrikes that set part of Tehrans airport on fire. Israel said it had carried out some of the most extensive attacks since the aerial campaign began a week earlier. The strikes targeted a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage site. Images taken before dawn showed flames and thick smoke rising from Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, one of the capitals two main airports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today Iran will be hit very hard! Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform. Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. Iranian President Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone in a speech broadcast on state TV in which he appeared to address Trumps demand on Friday for unconditional surrender. Irans enemies must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves, Pezeshkian replied. Iran also hit back on Saturday, demonstrating that it retains the ability to launch missiles and drones despite the relentless targeting of its military infrastructure over the last seven days. There were air raid alerts and explosions heard above Jerusalem as well as Gulf cities Dubai, Manama and near Riyadh where Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base housing US military personnel. The UAE said it had intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones on Saturday, but video footage showed one projectile crashing into Dubai airport, the worlds busiest for international traffic in usual circumstances. An explosion took place next to an airport building and parked planes close to a passing train, mobile phone footage authenticated by AFP showed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jordan also accused Iran of targeting vital installations inside the country with 119 missiles and drones over the last week, according to military spokesman Mustafa Hayari. Pezeshkian issued an apology to his Gulf neighbours, which host major US military bases, saying that they would only be targeted if their territories were used as launch sites for attacks. Irans Revolutionary Guards also said they had fired at the oil tanker Prima in the Gulf as it attempted to cross the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global shipping that Iran has effectively closed. Rising human toll The war entered its second week after joint US-Israeli airstrikes last Saturday killed Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering a widening regional confrontation. Fighting has since expanded beyond Iran to include Lebanon and has affected countries such as Cyprus, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Clashes have also extended to waters near Sri Lanka, where US forces reportedly sank an Iranian warship. Inside Iran, infrastructure and residential areas have suffered growing damage, and residents of Tehran say anxiety is rising as security forces increase their presence in the city. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I dont think anyone who hasnt experienced war can truly understand it, a 26-year-old teacher told AFP anonymously. When the bombs fall, you never know where they will land. Irans health ministry said on Friday that at least 926 civilians had been killed and about 6,000 injured since the conflict began, although those figures could not be independently verified. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded airstrikes in Lebanon, repeatedly hitting and ordering evacuations in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area strongly influenced by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon would face severe consequences if Hezbollah was not disarmed. Lebanons health ministry reported that Israeli strikes have killed at least 217 people over the past week. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned that the country could soon face a humanitarian crisis. Global repercussions The conflicts impact is also being felt worldwide. Global stock markets have fallen while oil prices have surged amid fears of prolonged instability and disruption to energy supplies. Trump has rejected renewed diplomatic talks with Tehran and reiterated that the only acceptable outcome would be Irans unconditional surrender. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also suggested the United States could help rebuild Irans economy if a new leader acceptable to Washington replaces Khamenei. Irans ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, rejected that notion, saying the countrys leadership would be chosen according to its constitution and the will of its people without outside interference. Although Iran has launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, its allies China and Russia have largely stayed out of the conflict despite their ties with Tehran. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an immediate ceasefire during a phone conversation with Pezeshkian, according to the Kremlin. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was not concerned by reports that Russia might be providing Iran with intelligence about US troop movements. The conflict has already claimed the lives of six American service members. Trump is expected to attend a transfer ceremony for their remains at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. With inputs from agencies STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Blasts were heard in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on Sunday as Iran continued to press its attacks across the Gulf region. Dubai and the wider Gulf are facing escalating security and economic fallout as the U.S.-Israel war on Iran spills directly onto their soil, triggering missile and drone strikes, aviation disruption and sharp energy jitters. Over the past week, Iranian projectiles and drone debris have hit high-profile sites in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi airport, Dubais Palm Jumeirah development, and the Burj Al Arab hotel, while debris sparked a fire at the US consulate in Dubai. Dubai International Airport, one of the worlds busiest hubs, was briefly shut after a large Iranian missile-and-drone barrage across the Gulf. Simultaneous attacks were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, with Qatar saying Iran fired around a dozen missiles, several of which were intercepted while others fell into territorial waters or uninhabited areas. Saudi Arabia reported thwarting a drone aimed at Riyadhs diplomatic quarter and Kuwaits military said it responded to a wave of hostile drones entering its airspace. Stay with us for all the latest updates. UAE intercepts most of the missiles and drones fired by Iran The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems were intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran on Sunday. The system that is being sent, known as Merops, flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, using artificial intelligence to navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed The US has decided to send the anti-drone system that worked successfully against Russian drones in Ukraine to West Asia to bolster Americas defence against Iranian forces. While the US has used Patriot and THAAD missile systems to take down Iranian missiles successfully, there are limited effective anti-drone defences now in West Asia, an official told the Associated Press. Another official told the news agency that so far, Washingtons response to Irans Shahed drones has been disappointing, particularly because the drones fired by Iran are a much more basic version of the same drone that Russia is continuously refining and updating in its war in Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What drone system will the US send? The system that is being sent, known as Merops, flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, using artificial intelligence to navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed. Drones are hard to pinpoint on radar systems calibrated for spotting high-speed missiles and can be mistaken for birds or planes. The Merops system is designed to spot them and take them down. Crucially, the system is also cheaper than firing a missile that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars at a drone that costs less than $50,000. Merops was deployed in NATO nations Poland and Romania in November after Russian attack drones repeatedly entered NATO airspace. The US defence official says America has learned lessons from the deployment of the system and others like it in Ukraine. Zelenskyy sends drone experts to West Asia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the US and its West Asian allies have reached out to Kyiv for expertise in countering Irans Shahed drones. Zelenskyy said that various countries, including the US, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, have sought Ukraines help to defend themselves against Iranian drones, the president said, adding that he has spoken to the leaders of these countries in recent days. Zelenskyy, however, said that assistance will only be provided if it does not weaken Ukraines own defences and if the US and its allies help Kyiv in its diplomatic efforts to stop the Russian war. Turkey is weighing the deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Northern Cyprus after a drone strike hit a British base on the island, raising security concerns amid escalating regional tensions involving Iran and Hezbollah. Turkey is considering deploying F-16 fighter jets to Northern Cyprus as a security measure following a drone strike on the Mediterranean island earlier this week, a defence ministry source said Saturday. The potential deployment comes amid heightened tensions after the island was caught in the fallout from regional hostilities linked to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The Turkish source said phased planning was underway to ensure the security of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a breakaway territory recognised only by Turkey. Among the options under consideration is the deployment of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft to the island. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The move follows a drone strike earlier this week that hit a British military base on Cyprus, an island nation that currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union. Cypriot authorities believe the Iranian-made drone was likely launched by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah from Lebanon rather than directly from Iran. With inputs from agencies Chinas President Xi Jinping on Saturday said political loyalty in the military must be ensured and called for resolutely pushing forward the fight against corruption as a military purge widened. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday stressed the need for unwavering political loyalty within the countrys armed forces and called for intensifying the crackdown on corruption as a sweeping purge in the military continues to expand. Speaking during a plenary session involving delegates from the Peoples Liberation Army and the Peoples Armed Police Force, Xi emphasised that the armed forces must remain firmly aligned with the ruling Chinese Communist Party. His remarks were reported by the state-run Xinhua News Agency as China holds its annual two sessions gatherings of the nations top legislative and advisory bodies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Xi said strict political discipline was essential within the military, declaring that there should be no room for individuals who show disloyalty to the Communist Party. His comments come amid an ongoing anti-corruption drive that has been underway for more than a decade and has increasingly targeted senior figures in the armed forces. An anti-corruption campaign launched by Xi shows no sign of letting up after more than a decade. The military has been targeted in recent years, including the removal of its top general last month, as Xi seeks to reform and modernize the armed forces. Analysts say the campaign is also a way for Xi, who is in his 14th year in power, to remove potential rivals and ensure absolute loyalty among his subordinates. The National Peoples Congress last week dismissed nine military officers, including two under the Central Military Commission, the militarys highest body, as well as others from the army, the navy, the air force and the rocket force. Three generals were this week removed from Chinas top political advisory body. There must be no hiding place for corrupt individuals, Xi was cited by Xinhua as saying on Saturday. The fight against corruption must be resolutely pushed forward. Chinese leaders this week also pledged a 7% defence budget growth for this year to about 1.9 trillion yuan ($270 billion), slightly lower than the about 7.2% annual increase over the last three years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Gal-EXPO to hold shareholders' meeting on March 30 Gal-EXPO PJSC will hold a remote general meeting of shareholders on March 30, 2026, through the Ukrainian depository system. The agenda includes the approval of annual reports, review of management reports, distribution of profits or coverage of losses, as well as organizational issues. Gal-EXPO PJSC is an exhibition and fair company in Lviv that operates in the market of organizing exhibitions and business events. Irpinmash to hold remote meeting on March 20 PrJSC Irpinmash will hold a remote general meeting of shareholders on March 20, 2026, through the Ukrainian depository system. The agenda includes, in particular, the approval of annual results and financial statements, consideration of management reports, decisions on the distribution of profits or coverage of losses, as well as organizational issues. Irpinmash PJSC is a machine-building enterprise in the Kyiv region. Foreigners including Iranians are seen to have entered Turkiye from Iran at the Kapikoy border gate in Van province, Turkiye, on March, 4, 2026. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) by Burak Akinci ANKARA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- In early spring, the streets of Van, a border city in eastern Turkiye, usually buzz with Persian accents. Iranian families stroll past shop windows, couples linger in lakeside cafes, and tour boats drift across the sparkling waters of Lake Van, the country's largest lake and the Middle East's second-largest. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of Iranians have made their way to Van annually for short holidays, shopping sprees, and seasonal getaways, with early spring marking the peak season. To cater to Iranian visitors, Persian-language signs now line the city's main streets. Retailers adjust prices and product selections to match Iranian tastes, while hotels, restaurants, and transport services have expanded rapidly to keep up with growing demand. "Tourism and border trade are of vital importance for Van," Necdet Takva, president of the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua, noting that the latest figures show the number of Iranian visitors to the city has surpassed 800,000 in a single year. But in the past few days, a tense quiet has settled over the border city. On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched sudden strikes on Iran, prompting widespread Iranian retaliation across the region. As the regional conflict intensifies, Van, a city whose economic recovery has long depended on cross-border tourism, is increasingly bearing the brunt of its fallout. These days, Iranian visitors are barely seen on the streets of Van. "We were expecting one million Iranian tourists for 2026," Takva noted. "But under the current circumstances, this will not materialize." Van shares a 285-km border with Iran, forming part of the roughly 530-km frontier between the two countries. "There may not be limitations on tariff-based trade in goods, but daily border trade has been seriously affected," Takva said. "Commerce and tourism revenues are expected to drop by hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars," according to the business leader. The timing of the conflict has left Van's tourism sector even more on edge. Nowruz, the Persian New Year holiday starting in March, is usually a peak season when hotels are booked to the rafters, as Iranian visitors flock to the city to ring in the New Year abroad. This year, however, reservations are thinning. "In normal years, we would be preparing for near full occupancy during Nowruz," Oktay Aksoy, general manager of the five-star Elite World Van Hotel, said. "This year, we see a sudden stop in arrivals. Guests are postponing their plans." Iranian visitors typically stay several nights and spend across a wide range of sectors, from hotels and restaurants to clothing and electronics stores. Even a short-term disruption, Aksoy noted, sends ripples through the wider urban economy. "If uncertainty continues, it will affect not only this season but also future investment decisions," the hotelier pointed out. Over the past decade, local investors have expanded their businesses in Van, assuming stable bilateral relations and relatively smooth border crossings between Turkiye and Iran. That assumption is now being put to the test, particularly after Turkiye's Ministry of National Defense claimed on Wednesday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO air and missile defense systems over the eastern Mediterranean. Although Iran denied launching any missile at Turkiye, the incident has nonetheless stirred unease in Ankara. Local business leaders say they are closely monitoring diplomatic developments and hope de-escalation efforts will restore predictability before the summer season. "If the war drags on," Takva warned, "every tourist and trade opportunity that Van has worked so hard to build will be at risk." For now, shopkeepers wait, hotel managers revise their forecasts, and the boats on Lake Van continue their slow circuits, carrying fewer passengers than usual as uncertainty looms over Turkiye's eastern frontier. Foreigners including Iranians are seen to have entered Turkiye from Iran at the Kapikoy border gate in Van province, Turkiye, on March, 4, 2026. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) NICOSIA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Cypriots staged a peaceful protest in central Nicosia on Saturday, calling for the removal of two British military bases and urging the government to keep the island out of the widening Middle East conflict. According to the Cyprus Mail, demonstrators marched from the Pasydy union building to the Presidential Palace, carrying banners reading "Cyprus is not your launchpad" and "British Bases Out," and demanding the abolition of the UK's sovereign base areas. The protest followed a March 1 drone strike that hit the British Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri. The attack caused minor damage and no casualties but alarmed nearby residents and led to temporary school closures. The drone was believed to have been launched from Lebanon, raising concerns about Cyprus' exposure to regional tensions. President Nikos Christodoulides said in an interview with local media on Thursday that the British government's handling of the issue had caused "annoyance," noting that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had not clearly stated before the incident that the bases would not be used for aggressive actions. Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told Sky News that Cyprus "is not a target" of the military actions and that the incidents involved the British military bases, stressing that the UK has responsibilities regarding its installations on the island. Following the strike, Britain strengthened defenses at the bases, deploying anti-drone helicopters and planning to send additional naval forces to the Eastern Mediterranean. London has said the bases will not be used for strikes against Iran. Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960, when the United Kingdom retained sovereignty over two base areas, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which together cover about 352 square kilometers, roughly 3 percent of the island's territory. CAIRO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Tensions across the Middle East escalated further on Saturday as a new wave of strikes and threats between the United States, Israel and Iran rattled the region, claiming more lives, triggering mass displacements, and disrupting vital oil supplies. Here's a quick overview of the latest developments and their impact on the countries involved and those caught in the conflict: The United States -- U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that "today" Iran will be hit very hard. -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rebuffed concerns that Russia is supporting Iran, saying "no one's putting us in danger." -- U.S. military's Central Command said it has struck more than 3,000 targets in Iran and destroyed 43 Iranian warships since Feb. 28. Israel -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live broadcast statement that Israel will continue its attack against Iran with "full force." He also demanded that the Lebanese government enforce the ceasefire agreement and disarm Hezbollah. -- The Israeli military said that it had begun "a broad-scale wave of strikes" on Iranian government infrastructure in Tehran. It also said it had struck two main ballistic missile production sites in the Iranian areas of Parchin and Shahrud over the past week, and it had conducted 3,400 strikes on Iran since the war began. Iran -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran has decided not to attack or fire missiles at targets in neighboring countries from now on unless it is targeted from those countries. -- An Iranian military spokesperson said that "enemy ships" entering the Gulf will "end up at the bottom" of the waterway. -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the U.S. attack on a water desalination plant on Iran's southern Qeshm Island, calling it "a blatant and desperate crime." -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said that it launched missile strikes on the U.S. military base in Bahrain's Juffair and on a refinery in Israel's Haifa. -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Iran's exercise of its inherent right to legitimate self-defense will continue until the aggression ceases, or until the UN Security Council fulfills its duty under Article 39 of the UN Charter by identifying and naming the aggressors and determining the responsibilities arising from their aggression. Iraq -- An Interior Ministry source told Xinhua that the U.S. embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad was targeted by rockets, triggering its defense systems, with no immediate reports of casualties or losses. -- The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced a 72-hour extension of the closure of the country's airspace amid ongoing regional tensions. Kuwait -- Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Kuwait's major national oil company, announced a precautionary cut in crude oil production and refining, saying the adjustment is "strictly precautionary" and that the company "remains fully prepared to restore production levels once conditions allow." Bahrain -- Bahrain announced that 86 missiles and 148 drones targeting the kingdom have been intercepted and destroyed since the start of the attacks from Iran. The United Arab Emirates -- The UAE's Defense Ministry said that its air defense systems intercepted ballistic missiles and drones from Iran. -- The UAE's Defense Ministry said that three foreign nationals of Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh have been killed and 112 residents of multiple nationalities have suffered minor injuries in the country amid the recent escalating regional tensions. -- Debris from an aerial interception killed an Asian driver in Dubai's Al Barsha area Saturday night. -- Dubai-based carrier Emirates said it has resumed flight operations at Dubai International Airport after a temporary suspension earlier in the day due to safety concerns. Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Aramco announced that crude oil shipments are being temporarily redirected to Yanbu Port to enhance safety and the continuity of supplies, according to Al Ekhbariya TV. Lebanon -- Lebanon's authorities said that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured. -- Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed said that the number of displaced people registered through Lebanon's government relief platform has reached about 454,000 as Israel continues to attack several areas of the country. -- Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV channel reported that about 100 rockets and drones were launched from Lebanon toward Israel, while Israeli tanks advanced toward a southern Lebanese border town. Cyprus -- Hundreds of Cypriots staged a peaceful protest in central Nicosia, calling for the removal of two British military bases and urging the government to keep the island out of the widening Middle East conflict. Turkiye -- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned against the spread of war in the Middle East, saying recent incidents targeting Turkiye and Azerbaijan have once again highlighted the scale of risks facing the region. He emphasized that diplomacy remains the only path to lasting peace. Egypt -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty renewed Egypt's calls for halting the ongoing "dangerous military escalation" in the region, stressing "the importance of all parties exercising maximum restraint, de-escalating tensions, prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy, and fully adhering to the principles of international law and the UN Charter." 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. Infographic with a map of Lebanon showing the areas bombed by Israel since March 2, 2026, with non-exhaustive data from the Institute for the Study of War and AEI's Critical Threats Project as of March 6 at 2100 GMT, and from Lebanese authorities as of March 7 at 1300 GMT, plus Israeli evacuation order zone south of the Litani River and villages where Israeli troops are present TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian military spokesperson said Saturday that "enemy ships" entering the Gulf will "end up at the bottom" of the waterway, according to multiple media reports. Meanwhile, in a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Saturday that it has hit a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker as a U.S. asset in the middle of the Gulf. The IRGC identified the tanker as "Louise P," saying it was hit with a drone around Saturday noon, the statement said. It added the IRGC has earlier announced that all Israeli and U.S. assets in the West Asia region would be considered as legitimate targets for the Iranian armed forces. Earlier in the day, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that the IRGC hit an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning. The report said the "violating" oil tanker, sailing under the commercial name "Prima," was struck by a drone after it failed to pay attention to frequent warnings issued by the IRGC's Navy about the prohibition of movement across the Strait of Hormuz due to security reasons. The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. State Security Service exposes IRGC terror plans in Azerbaijan Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 06.03.2026 [23:59] Baku, March 6, AZERTAC As a result of complex counterintelligence measures, the State Security Service (SSS) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has prevented acts of terrorist sabotage and the collection of intelligence information planned by the IRGC, a special service body of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Azerbaijan. AZERTAC reports that strategic facilities were targeted with the aim of creating panic in society and damaging the country's international reputation. These included the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan, one of the leaders of the Mountain Jewish religious community, and the Ashkenazi Synagogue. Three explosive devices were brought into the country's territory, but their transfer to another person was prevented after they were neutralized. Operational-search measures were organized to identify strategic facilities and targets of interest to Iranian special services in the country, as well as individuals cooperating with them. It was established that citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rustamzadeh Behnam Sahibali and Zankiyan Yaser Rahim, acting in advance in collusion, established criminal contact with Guliyev Tarkhan Tarlan oglu to smuggle explosive devices into the country's territory. On the instructions of Iranian citizen Zankiyan Yaser Rahim, an unidentified container was located near Shikh settlement in the Sabail district. Upon inspection of the container, 7 kilograms and 730 grams of C-4 explosive substance intended for detonating objects and concrete structures, among other items, were discovered inside. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BAGHDAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- One member of the Iraqi paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) was killed and three others wounded on Saturday in unidentified airstrikes in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, the Iraqi military said. A statement by the Iraqi Joint Operations Command's Security Media Cell (SMC) said that the strikes occurred at approximately 6:10 p.m. local time (1510 GMT). One of the attacks struck the headquarters of the PMF's 40th Brigade, and another targeted the PMF's 33rd Regiment, resulting in casualties and material losses. During the past days, several PMF members were killed in attacks, which the group attributed to U.S.-Israeli bombs. In a separate statement, the SMC said an unidentified drone was intercepted near Erbil International Airport at about 7:45 p.m. local time. The drone crashed onto a plastics warehouse, causing a fire, it said, adding that civil defense teams extinguished the fire, causing no casualties and only material damage. The strikes occurred amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East. PNP tightens counter-intelligence vs. foreign-backed spies Philippine News Agency By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan March 6, 2026, 2:38 pm Updated on March 6, 2026, 6:44 pm MANILA -- In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that all government institutions are secured and resistant to foreign manipulation, the Philippine National Police stepped up counter-intelligence measures across all units. In a statement on Friday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the move came as a direct response to emerging national security threats involving local assets. "We are taking proactive steps to ensure that all the information that includes efforts and plans relating to peace and order and national security are protected. We have been doing our best to insulate the PNP from any form of foreign interference or recruitment," Nartatez said. "The recent admission of Filipino nationals involved in foreign-directed espionage is a wake-up call for us to be extra careful and to sustain the efforts in instilling professionalism in the organization that is anchored on patriotism and loyalty to our country and its people," he added. On March 5, three Filipinos detained for alleged Chinese-linked espionage confessed to obtaining sensitive information, the National Security Council (NSC) reported. Two of the detainees worked at the Department of National Defense and Philippine Navy, while one had close access to a Philippine Coast Guard officer. Nartatez said that while the local espionage network has been neutralized, the police organization must remain proactive and vigilant. He said the PNP is coordinating closely with the NSC and other intelligence agencies for better information sharing, even as the organization established a confidential reporting mechanism for its members. Nartatez also backed the position of the NSC and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks that protect national security amid the continuously evolving threat, especially with the rapid evolution in digital technology. Lifestyle check For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said there is still no need to subject its personnel to "loyalty or lifestyle checks" following the arrest of the three Filipinos in the Chinese-linked espionage. "At this time, there is no directive for additional loyalty or lifestyle checks specifically related to the recent espionage case," it said in a message to reporters. Likewise, the AFP said it has already established security vetting, monitoring, and counterintelligence measures to safeguard the integrity of its personnel and protect sensitive information. "These existing safeguards form part of the broader government effort that recently uncovered and disrupted espionage and foreign-directed malign activities operating within the country through coordinated action among authorities. The individuals involved are cooperating with investigators, and the matter is being addressed through lawful processes," it added. For national security reasons, the AFP said it will not be giving operational details regarding the case. "What can be emphasized is that modern espionage increasingly involves technological and cyber components, underscoring the need to continuously strengthen safeguards and update the legal framework to protect national security and institutions," the AFP said. (with reports from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Suspected stateless cargo vessel seized in the Baltic Sea - investigation is ongoing Swedish Cost Guard 6 March 2026 21:05 The Swedish Coast Guard took control of a cargo vessel just before 4 pm in the Baltic Sea in Swedish sea territory outside the city of Trelleborg. The vessel is sailing under false flag. A preliminary investigation regarding lack of seaworthiness is ongoing. The Swedish Coast Guard's overall assessment, supported by national and international legislation, is that the vessel m/v Caffa, under false Guinean flag, is stateless. Hence, the principle of innocent passage does not apply. The vessel is suspected to lack seaworthiness due to the fact that there is no flag state that can account for sea safety. Together with Swedish Police, coast guard officers has taken control of the vessel, with the objective to conduct the investigation, that is collecting information about the crew, the ship and the conditions onboard. The Swedish authorities boarding was well prepared and has been carried out according to plan. The operation is ongoing at sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contracts Contracts for March 6, 2026 ARMY M. A. Mortenson Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, was awarded a $610,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Department of Agriculture's Domestic New World Screwworm Sterile Insect Production Facility at Moore Airbase in Edinburg, Texas. Bids were solicited online, with two received. Work will be performed in Edinburg, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2028. Fiscal 2026 Department of Agriculture funds in the amount of $610,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, is the contracting activity (W9126G-26-C-A011). New Dominion Construction LLC,* Dumfries, Virginia (W5168W-26-D-A010); Howard W. Pence Inc., Elizabethtown, Kentucky (W5168W-26-D-A011); Fiber Business Solutions Group Inc., Norristown, Pennsylvania (W5168W-26-D-A012); and Emmaty Inc., Milford, Massachusetts (W5168W-26-D-A013), will compete for each order of a $165,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction services at Fort Lee, Virginia. Bids were solicited online, with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 25, 2031. The Installation Readiness Center, Fort Lee, Virginia, is the contracting activity. HDR-Dewberry SAS CW JV, Tampa, Florida (W912HN-26-D-A007); GHD Inc., Phoenix, Arizona (W912HN-26-D-A006); AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California (W912HN-26-D-A008); and Arcadis U.S. Inc., Highlands Ranch, Colorado (W912HN-26--DA009), will compete for each order of a $45,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for general design architect-engineering services supporting civil works and non-military construction projects within the South Atlantic Division and Savannah District. Bids were solicited online, with 12 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2031. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is the contracting activity. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded a $174,070,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H9224126DE003) with cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursement, and firm-fixed-price contract line item numbers for the modernization, production, sustainment, and contractor logistics support of Post Deployment Software Support VI systems used on Army Special Operations aviation aircraft. The work will primarily be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be complete by March 2031, with an optional six-month extension to September 2031. U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 5, 2026) AIR FORCE BlackSky Geospatial Solutions LLC, Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $99,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract for research and development. This contract provides for the development of a low-cost, precision, large aperture optical imaging system testbed using a segmented primary mirror, precision laser metrology and mirror positioning, and large format focal plane arrays. Work will be performed at Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by March 6, 2032. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 research and development funds in the amount of $2,100,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory Center for Rapid Innovation, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA2385-26-D-B001/FA2385-26-F-B002). Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $53,115,962 modification (P00028) to previously awarded FA8682-19-C-0008 for the facilitation of Phase IV B: tooling and test equipment for increased Long Range Anti-Ship Missile production. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $462,948,418 from $409,832,456. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and it is expected to be completed by Nov. 29, 2028. Fiscal 2025 Navy production funds in the amount of $ 53,115,962 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. NAVY Anglicotech LLC, Arlington, Virginia; CANA LLC, Haymarket, Virginia; IT Partners Inc., Herndon, Virginia; KSA Integration LLC, Stafford, Virginia; SteerBridge Strategies LLC, Vienna, Virginia; Targeted Approach LLC, Manassas, Virginia; and Unico Government Solutions LLC, Oxon Hill, Maryland, are awarded multiple award contracts with a combined estimated value of $96,000,000. This hybrid firm-fixed-price and cost, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is to provide professional services support to the Marine Corps Logistics Plans, Policies, and Strategic Mobility Division and its subordinate elements. Work will be performed at government facilities, primarily in the National Capital Region, and at contractor facilities, with an expected completion date of March 8, 2031. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $35,000 ($5,000 per awardee) are obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. All other funding will be made available as task orders are awarded. This contract was competitively procured via SAM.gov with19 proposals received. Marine Corps Installations Command Headquarters, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Global PCCI, Irvine, California, is awarded a $50,000,000 cost-plus-award-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00024-19-D-4323) for the emergency ship salvage material system. This modification increases the contract ordering ceiling from $366,800,000 to $416,800,000. Work will be performed in Irvine, California, and other locations worldwide, and is expected to be completed by November 2026. No funding will be obligated at the time of award; all funding will be made available at the task or delivery order level as contracting actions occur. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Sykesville, Maryland, is awarded a $12,689,872 modification (P00010) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N6833523C0248). This modification increases the contract ceiling to support additional tasking within scope in support of finalizing the development of the Advanced Recovery Control (ARC) phase III upgrade efforts. These efforts include the construction of ARC prototype systems, requirements and design verification, environmental testing, and engineering and test support for validation in support of the advancement in the Navy's aircraft recovery operations. Work will be performed in Sykesville, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in December 2027. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,151,250 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Warfare Command Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4426825/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Delbert D. Black Departs Israel Following Port Visit U.S. Central Command News | Feb. 5, 2026 By NAVCENT Public Affairs U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet MANAMA, Bahrain (Feb. 1, 2026) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) departed Eilat, Israel, following a scheduled port visit, Feb. 1. This port visit demonstrates U.S. and Israel's strong maritime partnership and shared commitment to advancing security and prosperity in the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. "Delbert D. Black's port visit emphasizes our long-standing partnership with Israel," said Cmdr. Ezra T. Hatch, commanding officer of Delbert D. Black. "Opportunities like this strengthen relationships and provide a great opportunity for our Sailors to engage in the local community." During the visit, crewmembers from Delbert D. Black provided a tour of the ship for senior staff from U.S. Embassy Jerusalem and Israeli Navy, and Delbert D. Black leadership also attended an office call with the commander of Eilat Naval Base. Commissioned Sept. 26, 2020, Delbert D. Black is named in honor of the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) a legendary enlisted leader who served from 1941 to 1971, through WWII and Vietnam, and established the MCPON role. The multi-mission guided-missile destroyer is capable of air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, naval surface fire support and surface warfare. The U.S. Navy continues to deliver sea control and power projection, and remains committed to regional maritime security, freedom of navigation, our partners and forward presence. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet is the maritime component of CENTCOM, whose area of responsibility encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 21 countries, includes three critical chokepoints at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the southern tip of Yemen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Enhances Readiness Above and Below the Waves During Dynamic Manta Exercise in the Mediterranean Sea NATO Allied Maritime Command Mar 5 2026 Northwood, United Kingdom -- NATO's largest anti-submarine warfare exercise (ASW), Dynamic Manta 2026, successfully concluded after an intense period of multinational training in the central Mediterranean Sea. This year, the exercise brought together air, surface, and submarine forces from across the Alliance, enhancing NATO's ability to detect, track, and counter submarine threats in one of the world's most strategic waterways. The annual exercise, led by NATO by Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), saw the participation of ships, submarines, aircraft, and personnel from numerous Allied nations, underscoring the Alliance's commitment to collective defence. During the exercise, participating navies operated in a highly realistic environment, conducting ASW operations, maritime patrol missions, and coordinated surface manoeuvres. Each setting tested NATO's interoperability, refining the Alliance's ability to operate jointly at sea. The exercises included tactical communication and manoeuvre operations, with submarines alternating between hunting and evasion, closely coordinating with surface and air units. United States Navy Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander of NATO Submarines, emphasized the importance of the exercise. "Dynamic Manta 2026 demonstrated the strength of NATO's maritime forces and our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the undersea domain. Anti-submarine warfare involves a range of assets, including maritime patrol aircraft, ships with sonar, and submarines. Thanks to exercises like this, NATO has developed a highly advanced capability to neutralize submerged threats." The exercise included NATO's Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), which played a crucial role. Italian Navy Rear Admiral Cristian Nardone, Commander of SNMG2 said "The Mediterranean is a key strategic basin for NATO. Interoperability among Allied navies is essential, and Dynamic Manta is vital for maintaining operational readiness and testing technologies, tactics, procedures and communications," said Nardone. "All the Allies involved in the exercise have shown commitment, dedication and the will to stand together to ensure collective defence." The participation of seven surface ships, 12 aircraft, and more than 1,600 sailors from 11 NATO nations (Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States) strengthened collective defence by enhancing cooperation between naval and air forces. The exercise also improved competence and interoperability across the Alliance, ensuring forces are better prepared to respond to evolving maritime security challenges. NATO Allied Maritime Command, the central command for NATO's maritime forces, coordinated the exercise, reinforcing its role as the Alliance's key hub for maritime operations. The Commander MARCOM serves as NATO's principal maritime advisor and, during this edition of Exercise Dynamic Manta 2026, the MARCOM staff played a critical role in coordinating joint manoeuvres among Allied forces. Overall, Dynamic Manta 2026 demonstrated NATO's high level of operational readiness and highlighted the importance of cooperation among Allied navies to safeguard maritime security and maintain stability in strategically important waters. Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SETAF-AF spearheads civil-military engagement in Benin By Maj. Joe Legros March 6, 2026 VICENZA, Italy -- A U.S. Army civil affairs team assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) recently completed a civil-military engagement in Cotonou, Benin, conducting a weeklong assessment of humanitarian assistance projects and strengthening relationships with U.S. Embassy personnel, partner forces and local communities. The mission, led by Bravo Company, Civil Affairs Battalion, marked the unit's initial civil affairs engagement in the country. The visit served both an immediate operational need and a long-term strategic purpose. "The purpose of this mission was to assess seven OHDACA [Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civil Aid] projects in order to evaluate the overall country program, fulfilling a request from the U.S. Military Group in Benin," said U.S. Army Maj. Kevin Klenk, civil-military operations chief for Bravo Co. The visit laid the foundation for further engagements with the U.S. Embassy, the partner force and the Beninois people. "The assessments are crucial to ensure Benin achieved their intended goals," said U.S. Army Capt. Gerald Pascal, CA Team Benin's team chief. "The seven projects we assessed were all successful, from the five classrooms we observed, to much needed COVID-19 supplies, as well as APORA [African Partner Outbreak Response Alliance] training which brought together countries from all over Africa." The team saw clear evidence that the partnership was thriving. "Benin and U.S. flags were posted at all locations, and the Beninois people the team met with were uniformly appreciative of the projects and the U.S.-Benin relationship," added Pascal. Just as important, the children, school faculty and staff were all benefiting from the newly constructed classrooms and facilities, such as latrines. "Smiles were abundant!" said Pascal. "We enjoyed speaking with the children about the classrooms, getting firsthand knowledge from the students that use them daily. The team would engage in conversations with the students studying English and would emphasize the importance of staying in school to build a foundation for their future." U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Forrest Dyer, CA Team Benin's team sergeant, indicated there were also secondary benefits to the construction. "The teachers and administrators reported increases in school attendance following the projects," said Dyer. "Everyone - the students, teachers, staff and administration - was grateful for the improvements to their school." Additionally, the mission left a positive impression on the members of the civil affairs team involved, reaffirming their commitment to this military field. "Seeing the huge community impact reminds me why I made the switch to civil affairs," said Dyer. "This makes what we do worth the sacrifices of leaving our homes and families. There's not only the long-lasting impact, but the amount of gratitude and appreciation from the community is inspiring and renewing." Klenk also credited close cooperation with the embassy's U.S. Military Group in Benin, which oversees the OHDACA program in the country, as a key factor in the mission's success. "The U.S. Military Group was amazing. They coordinated the schedule and logistics for this mission, provided an orientation brief, facilitated our engagements and provided us with interpreters to set us up for success," said Klenk. "We're exploring further opportunities that mutually support the U.S. Embassy, SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command objectives in the strategic West Africa region." The mission was funded by U.S. Africa Command's J56, the Strategic Resilience and Stability Division. It coincides with expansion of a bilateral security cooperation between Benin and neighboring Nigeria, to counter violent extremist organizations operating along their shared border. Senior military leaders from both countries met in Cotonou on Feb. 27 to advance a cross-border security framework that may include coordinated patrols, intelligence sharing and joint operations, according to reports from Radio France Internationale. The discussions reflect growing concern over attacks in northeastern Benin and northwestern Nigeria necessitating an integrated regional response. As Benin works with regional partners to strengthen security, U.S. civil affairs engagements help reinforce stability by supporting essential services, building community trust and enhancing the capacity of local institutions. The team's assessments of school construction projects and medical readiness highlight the role of humanitarian assistance in addressing underlying conditions that extremist groups often exploit. "Our team's work reflects the broader mission of SETAF-AF civil affairs forces," said Klenk. "To build enduring partnerships, support U.S. diplomatic efforts and enhance multinational readiness in regions facing complex security challenges. About SETAF-AF U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Celebration of Enduring Friendship and Competitive Spirit By Michelle Thum March 6, 2026 Ramstein Air Base, Germany -- In a powerful display of the enduring alliance between Germany and the United States, approximately 400 U.S. service members gathered to test their military skills and physical prowess in the 2026 German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge competition. The demanding five-day event, held from February 23-27 as a highlight of the German American Friendship Day festivities, concluded with around 220 participants earning the coveted badge. The competition was more than just a test of individual skill; it was a symbol of the deep partnership forged over decades between the two nations. Co-hosted by U.S. Army Public Health Command Europe and the U.S. Air Force's 86th Airlift Wing, the event brought together U.S. Army Soldiers, U.S. Airmen and German Bundeswehr soldiers in a spirit of camaraderie. Master Sergeant Benjamin Angel, the Senior German Officer of the German element at NATO's Allied Air Command, reflected on the event's remarkable growth. "Initially, it was a small event between Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and one of the Bundeswehr troops stationed at Ramstein," Angel said. "We started out with a handful of people and this year more than 300 people stepped up to earn the coveted badge. It is great seeing everyone together and being an ambassador for their country." This sentiment was echoed by event planners, who emphasized the competition's role in fostering friendship and improving interoperability. "What makes this event special is that participants aren't competing against each other; they are competing against themselves," said 1st Sgt. Dana Cavazos from Veterinary Readiness Activity, Rheinland Pfalz. "Watching them push past what they thought were their limits while everyone cheers them on is an incredible sight." The Six Pillars of Proficiency To earn the GAFPB, candidates had to prove their competence in a series of grueling events designed to test their comprehensive military readiness: First Aid: Candidates were required to have completed a Combat Lifesaver Training (CLS) Level 1 course or an equivalent. NBC Test: Participants had to demonstrate their ability to quickly and properly do a full set of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protective gear. Basic Fitness Test: A three-part test completed within 90 minutes, including a minimum five-second flexed-arm hang, a 1000-meter sprint and a chin-up test. Marksmanship: Proficiency was tested with a German weapon, requiring soldiers to meet the standards of the Schutzenschnur qualification through various shooting exercises. Foot March: A timed endurance test carrying a rucksack weighing at least 15 kg (33 lbs). Distances varied for each badge level. Swimming: A challenging 100-meter swim in full military uniform, immediately followed by the task of removing the outer uniform while treading water. Showcasing Excellence and Determination The competition showcased the outstanding readiness of both U.S. and German troops. Among the standout performers were Sgt. Brody Kufahl, veterinary technician from the Veterinary Readiness Activity, Rheinland Pfalz, who earned the title of fastest swimmer with a remarkable time of 2:02 min and Sgt. 1st Class Marissa Henson, Food Inspection Noncommissioned officer in charge at Veterinary Readiness Activity, Rheinland Pfalz, who was the top overall female performer. The event also highlighted stories of personal determination. Air Force Master Sgt. Deborah Townsend decided to compete on a whim after seeing a poster for a swim class. "I signed up for the GAFPB the day before registration and made it onto the waitlist," she explained. "Based on luck, I was able to get a spot. I've come across the opportunity to earn the GAFPB only a few times in my career, but when I came across it in Germany, I had to try. It's extra special earning it here." Ultimately, the annual competition serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment to security that has defined the transatlantic alliance for decades. The demanding standards of the GAFPB ensure that those who earn it represent the peak of military preparedness, embodying the shared strength and dedication of the Allied Nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bahrain, UK, U.S. Holds Virtual C-SIPA Defence Working Group Meeting U.S. Central Command Press Release | March 6, 2026 USCENTCOM TAMPA, Fla. -- On March 5, representatives from the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Kingdom, and United States held a virtual meeting for the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) - Defence Working Group. The meeting included HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom; and Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. Leaders discussed the current regional security environment and the Iranian regime's deliberate aggression and attacks on innocent civilians across the Middle East. They also expressed the importance of working together to ensure peace and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Georgia: Statement by High Representative/Vice President Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Kos on Georgia's legislative amendments on foreign funding and political activity European External Action Service (EEAS) 06.03.2026 Georgia The adoption of the legislative package on foreign funding and political activity by the Georgian Parliament on 4 March is part of a systematic effort of the Georgian authorities to restrict the country's democratic and civic space. The new legislation establishes an extensive system of state control over political activity in the country. It introduces potential criminal liability for individuals or entities receiving support from foreign sources. Its vague provisions create profound legal uncertainty and major risks of arbitrary and selective enforcement. By adopting this legislative package, the Georgian authorities further disregard their international human rights obligations, their commitments taken in the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and move further away from the objective of EU membership enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia. This in addition to the actions already taken by Georgian authorities, leading to the unjust detention of politicians, journalists and activists that must be released immediately. Georgian authorities' actions have consequences. Today, for instance, in response to Georgia's deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights under its visa-free regime, the Commission is suspending visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic, service or official passports under the revised Visa Suspension Mechanism. In this context, it is important to recall the depth and substance of the cooperation that has developed between the European Union and Georgia over the years. The EU and its Member States have consistently shown their commitment to Georgia's prosperity and stability, offering reliable support during critical moments, including through its monitoring mission EUMM since 2008. The EU stood by Georgia and its population side during times of economic crisis, providing financial support. Following Russian restrictions affecting Georgian exports, the EU expanded trade opportunities for Georgian producers. Unlike Georgian holders of diplomatic, service or official passports, citizens of Georgia can travel to the EU visa-free. Young people from Georgia are welcomed in the EU through hundreds of scholarships. The EU's support for Georgia's security, territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders is unwavering. We opened the door for Georgia to join the EU family by granting it candidate status in 2023. The EU will continue to reaffirm its readiness to support the Georgian people on their European path. The Georgian authorities put this longstanding partnership at very serious risk and are regrettably moving Georgia further away from the EU path, a goal enjoying the support of the vast majority of Georgian people. At this point in time, we note with deep regret that Georgia is a candidate country in name only. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commission suspends visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic, service or official passports under the revised Visa Suspension Mechanism European External Action Service (EEAS) 06.03.2026 Brussels Press and information team of the Delegation to GEORGIA Today, the European Commission is suspending visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports. They are now required to be in possession of a visa when entering the Schengen area for official purposes. It is the first time that the new reinforced visa suspension mechanism is applied. This decision follows the approval by Member States. The visa suspension mechanism is activated in response to Georgia's deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments taken under its visa-free regime in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights. Visa liberalisation aims to foster people-to-people contacts and promote shared values, including respect for human rights and democratic principles. The actions of the Georgian authorities since October 2024, including crackdown on protesters, opposition politicians, and independent media, have negatively impacted the situation in Georgia and resulted in breaches of several fundamental rights and international legal standards. Georgia has also refused to align with the EU visa policy, which is an essential condition of maintaining visa-free travel. The Commission considers that the actions of Georgian authorities undermine the principles on which visa liberalisation is based. In addition, the Commission adopted today guidelines for Member States' consulate authorities and border guards, to support Member States in an effective implementation of the decision to suspend visa-free travel. The guidelines recommend heightened scrutiny of all Georgian nationals crossing the EU's external borders: representatives of Georgian authorities have to use their diplomatic or service passport when travelling to the EU for official and diplomatic purposes. Not doing so, may result in the issuance of an entry ban. Member States should also ensure that all Georgian nationals are checked against national and European databases, such as the Visa Information System, Schengen Information System, and other public databases. The Entry/Exit System, which is being gradually rolled out in the EU since October last year, provides for an additional layer of security screening. In addition, when holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports apply for a Schengen visa, Member States are encouraged to carry out a thorough screening, conducting an interview and requesting supporting documents from these applicants. Member States should refuse visas in case of any doubts about the reliability of the information provided by the applicants. Next steps The temporary suspension will enter into force today and will last 12 months, until 6 March 2027. If the governance and rule of law issues are not addressed by the Georgian authorities, the Commission can extend the suspension for a period of up to 24 months. The Commission can also decide to extend the measure to all Georgian citizens. During this time, it is up to the Georgian authorities to redress the situation. The Commission strongly encourages Georgian authorities to engage constructively in this process. The Guidelines will be presented to the Member States in the Council of the EU on 27 March ('Visa Working Party'). The Commission will monitor their implementation closely, together with the Member States. Background This decision follows the suspension of the EU-Georgia Visa Facilitation Agreement proposed by the Commission in December 2024 and adopted by the Council in January 2025, already enforced by 19 EU Member States. Today's decision under the revised visa suspension mechanism reimposes the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service and official passports at EU level (for stays of up to 90 days in any 180 day period), while ensuring that bilateral visa exemptions for these groups are no longer possible. The suspension takes the form of a Commission Implementing Regulation and received a positive opinion from Member States in February 2026, as per the comitology procedure. The revised visa suspension mechanism, which entered into force in December 2025, provides the EU with stronger, faster tools to respond to abuses of visa-free travel, security risks, and fundamental rights backsliding. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live broadcast statement on Saturday that Israel's attack on Iran will continue with "full force and uncompromising momentum." Israel has a well-prepared plan with many surprises to undermine "Iranian regime" and "enable change," Netanyahu said. Addressing the Iranian people, he said, "The moment of truth is approaching. We do not seek to divide Iran, but to liberate it and live with it in peace." He condemned the United Nations for "condemning us without reason in our just war against Iran's murderous proxies in Gaza and doing nothing about the massacre in Iran." He also demanded that the Lebanese government enforce the ceasefire agreement and disarm Hezbollah. "If you do not do this, Hezbollah's aggression will have disastrous consequences for Lebanon," he warned. 'Intl community should work together to promote peace, stop war': Chinese FM on tensions between US and Spain Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 06, 2026 04:31 PM "The international community should work together to promote peace, stop the war, and safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Friday, when asked how China views the tension between the US and Spain as US President Donald Trump reportedly claimed that Spain is a "loser" and accused the country of hostility toward NATO over its stance on defense spending and its refusal to allow its bases to be used for launching military operations against Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICC Appeals Chamber confirms Decision on the review of Mr Duterte's detention International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI) Press Release: 6 March 2026 Today, 6 March 2026, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") issued a judgment rejecting the appeal of Mr Duterte against the "Decision on the review of Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte's detention", issued on 26 January 2026, pursuant to article 60(3) of the Rome Statute. In the decision, Pre-Trial Chamber I assessed the health condition of Mr Duterte as part of its assessment regarding the risk factors under article 58(1)(b) of the Statute identified in its initial decision on interim release. The PreTrial Chamber found, inter alia, that there were no new or changed circumstances requiring the modification of its prior ruling on the existence of the risks under article 58(1)(b) of the Statute, and remanded Mr Duterte in detention. The Defence raised one ground of appeal. The Defence submitted that the Pre-Trial Chamber erred in fact and in law, and abused its discretion, when it disregarded a report concerning the health condition of Mr Duterte submitted by the Defence on the basis that it had emanated from a party to the proceedings, and that the alleged errors materially affected the decision of PreTrial Chamber I. Having rejected or dismissed all of the Defence's arguments, the Appeals Chamber today confirmed Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision. The Appeals Chamber noted, inter alia, that the Defence's report does not include any new information concerning Mr Duterte's health condition since the two medical practitioners selected by the Defence did not conduct any new examination of Mr Duterte, and that while reports provided by experts with upto-date and reliable medical information may assist the Pre-Trial Chamber in its assessment of Mr Duterte's health condition, the assessment of the risk factors under article 58(1)(b) of the Statute, including the impact of Mr Duterte's health condition on these risks, is a legal determination to be made by the Pre-Trial Chamber that does not require any assistance of medical practitioners. Public Redacted Judgment on the appeal against Pre Trial Chamber I's "Decision on the review of Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte's detention" Background: Mr Duterte is suspected of the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder, pursuant to article 7(1)(a) of the Statute, allegedly committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the "war on drugs" campaign. Following a request of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, the warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I as "Secret" on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as "Public" on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the ICC. The initial appearance of Mr Duterte took place on 14 March 2025. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 23 to 27 February 2026. The Appeals Chamber in this appeal is composed of Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Largest Allied Airpower C-A2AD collaboration to date for Eastern Sentry, from Baltics to Romania NATO Allied Air Command Mar 6 2026 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- NATO distributed the largest presence of Airpower thus far this year for two back-to-back Allied Air Command (AIRCOM)-led Flexible Deterrent Option (FDO) training missions across NATO's Joint Operation Areas (JOAs), from the Baltics to Romania, March 4-5, 2026. On March 4, Allied aircraft conducted multi-domain Counter Anti-Access/Area Denial (C-A2AD) training near Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Air Base, Romania. Then on March 5, Allied Aircraft exercised a find, fix, track, and target (F2T2) exercise near and around the Baltics. The two separate yet related missions were delivered as FDO missions, focused on deterrence-oriented, carefully tailored, and scalable activity intended to signal Allied resolve and unity. These two FDO missions were executed under NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA), Eastern Sentry. The aim of Eastern Sentry is to increase multi-domain air defences along the Eastern Flank, demonstrating Eastern Sentry's agile and adaptive nature. Eastern Sentry is also a model for the future of NATO's Air Defence posture: Rather than focusing solely on static deployments or patrol rotations, Eastern Sentry operates as a dynamic eVA that can reconfigure itself according to the threat. Its distributed posture allows forces to move fluidly across the eastern flank -- from the Baltic States and Poland to the Black Sea region -- maintaining constant situational awareness and decision superiority. The March 4 training mission brought together French Mirage 2000D fighters, German Eurofighter Typhoons, Spanish F/A-18 Hornets, and Romanian F-16 fighters. The German detachment, specifically, is currently operating out of MK Air Base in support of NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission. The Spanish also recently deployed to MK Air Base, primarily to exercise the execution of NATO's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept. "While this mission is highly complex in both planning and execution, it is just the right scenario to train in a multi-domain environment," said German Eurofighter pilot and operations officer, Major "Flash", deployed at the German detachment at MK Air Base, Romania. "All air and ground based assets in this exercise simulate a realistic threat, enabling participants to train and solidify their ability to defend NATO Air Space and deter potential opponents." Enabling aircraft also included a French Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and a Spanish A400M Tanker. Romanian land assets also significantly contributed to the training, providing air operations high-fidelity training in a complex environment. The whole training mission was controlled by NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Torrejon, Spain, integrating these airborne and surface-based elements to sharpen procedures and speed decision-making in a complex air and missile defence environment. The multifaceted mission successfully trained joint efforts in gaining air superiority in a simulated hostile area and the destruction of notional enemy air defences (DEAD). The next day, Allied aircraft and assets from 8 NATO Allies converged north, from Romania up to Finland, for the F2T2 training, in which air, land, cyber, and space assets succinctly coordinated with one another to successfully terminate a target. At the core of the multi-domain F2T2 mission is a commitment to improving Allied operations and cohesion. The March 5th mission saw French Mirage 2000D fighters and Finnish F/A-18 Hornets operating together. The fighters were refuelled by A330 MRTT tankers from France and the Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU). The Polish, Estonian, and Finnish Control and Combat Reporting Centres (CRCs) provided ground-based command and control (C2), cross-domain coordination; and communicated notional targets. The mission also integrated surface-based air and missile defence (SBAMD) contributions from Estonia, the UK, and the U.S., enabling a combined air-and-ground defensive training environment. Lastly, the Canadian Joint Operations Command (JOC) also provided integral Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and operational expertise for the FDO. Controlling the northern JOA, NATO's CAOC in Uedem, Germany, controlled this mission as the key Command and Control (C2) node to monitor the airspace. These two FDOs, in two separate JOAs, were tailored to increase interoperability; refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs); and improve multi-domain integration across participating Allied units. Designed for eVA Eastern Sentry, the missions strengthened NATO's enduring air and missile defence posture, including the Alliance's continuous approach to safeguarding Allied airspace. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turk says Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict piles 'misery on misery', pleads for dialogue Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 06 March 2026 GENEVA -- UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk implored the Pakistan military and Afghan de facto security forces to end immediately their fighting, and to prioritise helping the millions who depend on aid and whose lives have been tormented by violence and misery for so long. Since the intensification of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan last week, 56 Afghan civilians, including 24 children and six women, have been killed. A further 129 people, including 41 children and 31 women, have been injured. Up to 66,000 people have been displaced in Afghanistan as a result of the latest fighting, according to the UN. In Pakistan, shelling and other fire has also forced people to flee their homes, and at least two schools have reportedly been struck, and over 100 have been closed. "Civilians on both sides of the border are now having to flee from airstrikes, heavy artillery fire, mortar shelling and gunfire," Turk said. "I plead with all parties to bring an end to the conflict, and to prioritise helping those experiencing extreme hardship." The High Commissioner called on all parties to take effective measures to ensure the protection of civilians, in line with their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. He urged the parties to undertake prompt, thorough, independent, investigations into alleged violations of international law, and to make public the results. He also insisted that those responsible for violations be held to account, in accordance with international standards. In 2025, the United Nations attributed 87 civilian deaths and 518 injuries in Afghanistan to Pakistani military forces, the highest number of civilian casualties attributed to cross-border attacks in a single year since the UN started recording such killings in 2009. Since the start of this year, 69 civilians have been killed and 141 injured in Afghanistan. Over 2 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since Pakistan started to implement the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan in September 2023. Almost another 2 million Afghans are believed to remain in Pakistan, where many face hardship and constant fear of arrest and deportation. "As a result of the violence, humanitarian assistance is unable to reach many of those desperately in need. This is piling misery on misery," Turk said. Nearly 22 million people - close to half of Afghanistan's population - require humanitarian assistance, including over 11.6 million children. The airstrikes on Afghanistan come after a series of deadly incidents in Pakistan this year, including an assault on a checkpoint in Bajaur, suicide bombings of a Shi'a mosque in Islamabad and at a wedding ceremony in Dera Ismail Khan, and other attacks allegedly committed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups. "The cycle of retaliation and violence only deepens the suffering of the wider population," Turk said. "I urge both Afghanistan and Pakistan to de-escalate and address the security issues they each face through dialogue, negotiation and mutual cooperation." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DFA sees Middle East conflict lasting up to 8 weeks Philippine News Agency By Wilnard Bacelonia March 6, 2026, 1:44 pm MANILA -- The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could last four to eight weeks based on initial reports received by Philippine diplomatic posts, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official told senators Friday. During a Senate Committee on Migrant Workers hearing, DFA Assistant Secretary Germinia Usudan said the fighting may be longer than previous clashes and could have implications for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Philippine economy. "We hope it will end soon but based on the situation, I think it will be a protracted war and this is an unconventional war," Usudan said. She said the government is closely monitoring possible effects on about 2.4 million Filipinos working in the Middle East, as well as potential disruptions in global oil supply and commodity prices. "Ang nakikita po natin effect dito ay first, 'yung OFW po ... kasi (One of the possible effects is on OFWs because) we have about 2.4 million Filipinos in the region," she said. Usudan added that developments in key oil routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20 percent of global oil supply passes, could affect fuel prices and the cost of goods due to higher transport and delivery expenses. Meanwhile, Department of National Defense Assistant Secretary for Strategy and Policy Jeffrey Hechanova said the timeline of the conflict remains uncertain due to the rapidly evolving situation. "Due to the fluidity of the situation ... mahirap talagang magbigay ng legitimate timeline because may action and counteraction po kasi bawat countries (it is difficult to give a legitimate timeline because each country's actions are met with counteractions)," Hechanova said. He said government agencies continue to monitor developments while preparing response protocols, as lawmakers noted that a prolonged conflict could affect Filipino workers in the region and have broader economic implications for the country. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US to offer services in illegal West Bank settlements as Israel pushes for annexation Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 7:04 PM The US embassy in Israeli-occupied territories has announced that it will begin providing routine consular services for American citizens in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank. In a statement released on Friday, the embassy said that the services, which include passport issuance, will be provided at multiple locations. The consular staff will visit the settlement of Efrat on Friday, with follow-up visits planned over the next two months to other sites, the embassy added. Israeli authorities welcomed the US decision. The developments come days after controversial remarks by US Ambassador to the Israeli-occupied territories Mike Huckabee, in which he suggested that Israel could claim all of West Asia. The remarks have already sparked widespread Arab and international criticism. Observers maintain that expanding US consular services to settlements marks a departure from previous administrations, which had openly opposed settlement activity and labeled it illegal under international law. UN Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016 states that settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territories "has no legal validity" and constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law. The resolution calls for a halt to all settlement activities. Most of the international community regards the West Bank as occupied and views settlements as a major obstacle to Palestinian statehood. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Smotrich's son wounded as Hezbollah rockets, drones pound Israeli positions Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 5:00 PM The son of Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich was among several soldiers wounded during military activity near the Lebanese border on Friday, as Hezbollah intensified a wave of coordinated operations against Israeli positions across the southern front. Israeli Army Radio reported that Smotrich's son was injured alongside other soldiers during clashes near the Lebanese frontier. The incident came amid a sweeping series of operations by Hezbollah fighters targeting Israeli occupation positions, troop concentrations and vehicles along the Lebanese-Palestinian border throughout the day. Later on Friday, the Resistance launched a volley of rockets toward the Zarit barracks in response to continued Israeli strikes on Lebanese towns and cities, including Beirut's southern suburb, according to Al-Mayadeen. Israeli media said at least eight soldiers were wounded, some critically, when an anti-tank missile struck an infantry unit near the border. Several casualties were evacuated to Nahariya Hospital as helicopters were deployed for rescue operations. Sirens also sounded in the Krayot area north of Haifa amid fears of a drone infiltration. Earlier in the morning, Hezbollah fighters launched a rocket barrage targeting the settlement of Sa'sa', while kamikaze drones struck the newly established Blat site in southern Lebanon, with the Resistance confirming direct hits. At dawn, coordinated attacks using rockets and artillery shells struck Israeli army positions and troop gatherings in Metula, Manara, Marj, Givat HaEgel and the Yiftah barracks. Additional strikes targeted Israeli positions and troop concentrations in Wadi al-Asafir and Talat al-Hamamis near al-Khiam, as well as the Kfar Kila gate and the Ruwaysat al-Alam position in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba. Resistance fighters also hit a column of Israeli military vehicles advancing toward al-Khiam, forcing the convoy to retreat after what Hezbollah described as direct hits. Amid the escalation, Hezbollah issued a warning to settlers in northern occupied Palestine to evacuate areas within five kilometres of the border, saying Israel's continued attacks on Lebanese civilians and infrastructure would not go unanswered. Concurrent with this aggression against Iran, the Israeli regime launched attacks against several areas in Lebanon, prompting Hezbollah's swift response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gold Bars, $80 Million Cash, Arrests, Orban's Election: Hungarian-Ukrainian Bad Blood Boils Over By Mike Eckel March 06, 2026 When they were stopped in central Budapest this week, the two vans were carrying more than $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold bars, along with seven Ukrainian citizens, who were en route from Austria to their home country. Hungarian police raised the alarm, detained the vehicles, arrested their occupants, and even released a theatrical arrest video accompanied by an action-film soundtrack. Ukraine was apoplectic. And the words started flying. "We demand immediate answers from Kyiv regarding large cash shipments passing through Hungary that raise serious questions about a possible link to the Ukrainian war mafia," Foreign Ministry Peter Szijjarto said in a social media post. "We are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Andriy Sybiha said. "This is state terrorism and racketeering," said Sybiha. The seven Ukrainians "are employees of state-owned Oschadbank, who were operating two bank cars transiting between Austria and Ukraine and carrying cash as part of regular services between state banks," he wrote on X. On its own, the incident would be remarkable. But it's happening at a time when Hungary's pugnacious prime minister, Viktor Orban, is in the fight of his political career, with polls showing him far behind his political rivals in next month's national elections. An Orban loss would be a tectonic shock for Europe. Orban and his ruling Fidesz party appear to have settled on one central theme for their campaigning: vilify Ukraine. High political drama in Eastern Europe. Here's what you need to know. Zakarpattya, Budapest and Points In Between Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have always been prickly at best. Some of the bad blood dates back decades: competing claims over swaths of territory that used to be called either Galicia or Transcarpathia, depending on the era. When European maps were redrawn in the rubble of World War II, Ukraine -- then part of the Soviet Union -- ended up with a chunk of territory where a sizable chunk of ethnic Hungarians live. Today around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Ukraine's western Zakarpattya region, bordering Hungary. Over the past decade -- since the 2015 migration crisis in particular -- Orban has frequently embraced nationalist tropes about what it means to be Hungarian. He's also frequently complained that ethnic Hungarians living other countries -- Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania -- suffer discrimination or worse; and he has embraced those communities as a key voting constituency. It's caused friction inside Ukraine, where security services have suggested that the Orban funding of ethnic Hungarian communities has a sinister purpose. Over the four years of all-out war since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Orban has routinely voiced sympathies for Russia's position and President Vladimir Putin - and cast aspersions at Ukraine's. He's also butted heads with the European Union, which has sent billions of euros in loans and grants to Ukraine, and imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia. On the eve of the invasion anniversary, Orban infuriated EU members - and Kyiv -- when he blocked the newest package of sanctions on Russia, and a 90 billion-euro loan to keep Ukraine's battered economy from sinking. Orban "managed to create a climate of hostility towards the victim of aggression, and...now is trying to exploit that in the general election," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in the wake of the vote. The Druzhba Pipeline Prior to February 2022, Russia was a major supplier of oil to Europe. It was a major source of revenue for Moscow and European Union banned the import of Russian oil via pipelines to try to squeeze off that revenue stream. But Hungary and Slovakia secured exemptions to those sanctions for oil transported via the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukraine, much to Kyiv's chagrin. On January 27, a section of the pipeline was damaged. Kyiv blamed a Russian drone. Both Budapest and Bratislava accuse Ukraine of dragging its feet with repairs, while Ukraine said it needs more time to complete the work. Negotiations to send a European inspection team have also faltered. "Honestly speaking, I would prefer not restore it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters on March 5. "But since the EU loan for Ukraine for 90 billion euros will be blocked without the restoration of the oil pipeline, the restoration...is possible in a month and a half." For Orban, cheap Russian energy has powered the Hungarian economy, and brought prosperity to -- and support from -- voters. But the economy has stagnated in recent years, stoking grumbling. That's given the opposition, led by Peter Magyar, an opening. Recent opinion polls show Magyar's political bloc, Tisza, leading Orban by nearly 10 percentage points. Orban and Fidesz have embraced more traditional retail electioneering: like trumpeting subsidized energy bills for pensioners, or tax breaks for other constituencies. They've also brandished Zelenskyy - along prominent EU officials - as villains aiming to undermine Hungary's sovereignty - as well as drag Hungarians into the war in Ukraine. One AI-generated video by Fidesz that circulated this week invoked World War II-imagery. "For now, this is only a nightmare, but Brussels is preparing to make it a reality," the caption reads. What About The Vans With The Money? In the video released by Hungary's tax authorities, Hungarian officers are shown wielding rifles as they handcuff a group of men wearing jackets with Ukrainian lettering on them and force them lying down to the ground. The video pans to the van's interiors stacked high with wrapped packages. Like Szijjarto, Hungarian officials portrayed the string as a blow against Ukrainian war mongering. One of the Ukrainians was identified as a former military intelligence officer. All seven individuals will be expelled, said Zoltan Kovacs, a government spokesperson. In Kyiv, Oschadbank -- the state savings bank and one of Ukraine's largest financial institutions -- issued a statement saying the vehicles were on authorized assignment to transport money and gold from the Austrian bank Raiffeisen. "The transportation of funds and valuables was carried out...in accordance with an international agreement with Raiffeisen Bank. The cargo was registered in accordance with international transportation rules and current European customs procedures," the bank said. "Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the transportation of foreign currency and bank metals has been carried out exclusively by land. Such [transports] are carried out by Oschadbank's collection vehicles every week," it added. Ukrainian officials reacted angrily; the Foreign Ministry called on Ukrainians not to travel to the country. "Hungary taking seven Ukrainians hostage in a method reminiscent of 1990s era Moscow would be a bit surprising if it hadn't come just a few days after the Orban entourage's visit to the Kremlin," Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a post to social media. That was a dig at Szijjarto who traveled to Moscow this week, and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit included the announcement by Putin that he was freeing two Ukrainian-Hungarian men who had captured and held as prisoners-of-war by Russia. Putin claimed the two men had been "forcibly conscripted" by Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said they complained directly to the European Union about Hungary's detention of the money-transport vans. The Foreign Ministry said on March 6 it had summoned the Acting Charge d'Affaires of the Hungarian Embassy in Ukraine "to provide explanations regarding the circumstances and legal grounds for the detention of employees of the state-owned Oschadbank," who were "transporting funds and valuables as part of regular transportation between state-owned banks." In Brussels, EU officials avoided reporters' questions on the incident. One EU official told RFE/RL: "We are dealing with it behind closed doors, yes." "At the moment there is a lot of escalating rhetoric and inflammatory rhetoric. We believe that such rhetoric from all sides is neither helpful nor conducive to achieving the common goals we all have here," EU spokesman Olof Gill told RFE/RL. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/cash-arrests-orban- hungary-ukraine-bad-blood/33697746.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SOUTHCOM Commander Stresses Importance of Partnership to Combat Cartels News | March 6, 2026 By U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), joined Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during the first-ever Americas Counter Cartel Conference March 5 at SOUTHCOM headquarters in Doral, Florida, March 5, to engage with top defense and security leaders from the Western Hemisphere. The conference, hosted by Secretary Hegseth, brought together defense and security ministers from 17 nations to achieve shared security objectives to counter Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs) in the region. Hegseth, along with representatives from the participating nations, signed a joint security declaration committing to expand cooperation against narco-terrorist networks and other shared threats. "America is prepared to take on these threats and go on the offense alone, if necessary. However, it is our preference and it is the goal of this conference that in the interests of this [hemisphere], we all do it together; with you, with our neighbors and with our allies who are eager and willing and capable to do this," Secretary Hegseth told attendees during opening remarks at the conference. White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Stephen Miller told attendees that "a criminal justice solution" was insufficient in combating narco-terrorists. "These organizations can only be defeated with military power," Mr. Miller said. "The cartels that operate in this hemisphere are the ISIS and the Al-Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere and should be treated just as brutally and just as ruthlessly as we treat those organizations." "We are not going to cede an inch of territory in this hemisphere to our enemies or adversaries," Mr. Miller said. During his opening remarks, Gen. Donovan shared the United States' vision for a multilateral coalition to address shared threats. He emphasized the importance of leveraging long-standing partnerships built on trust, shared culture, history, and economic aspirations. "As allies and partners, we must take aggressive action together, sharing the burden through cooperation," Gen. Donovan said. "Our mutual security is at stake." "The time is now." Gen. Donovan said that SOUTHCOM's efforts are guided by the strategic vision of "Peace Through Strength" set forth in both the U.S. National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. "These documents give our military a clear mandate in the Western Hemisphere: to defend the U.S. homeland and increase burden-sharing with our allies and partners to do so. We are your premier partner to work with -- by, with, and through your nations to achieve shared objectives," Gen. Donovan said. The general also outlined SOUTHCOM top priorities: countering DTOs and expanding regional partnerships to counter shared threats. "Narco-traffickers and drug cartels engage in campaigns of terror, violence, and corruption to enrich themselves and expand their insidious influence," Gen. Donovan said. "They are poisoning and killing the citizens of all our nations. These sophisticated networks flood our streets with fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs that kill at a higher rate than any conventional war. This is the single gravest threat to security in our region and across our hemisphere." Gen. Donovan pointed to the successes of Operations Southern Spear and Absolute Resolve as evidence of the United States' commitment to security in the Western Hemisphere. "When necessary, we will not hesitate to act," Gen. Donovan said. "Through these efforts, the United States is combating narco-terrorism and drug trafficking - and, most importantly, restoring deterrence. The Western Hemisphere is our neighborhood and the narco-terrorists who seek to export drugs and death to our shores and your shores will be dismantled and defeated," he said. Gen. Donovan concluded by calling for unity among partner nations to confront these shared challenges. "Today marks the next step towards moving out to deter and defeat those who threaten the security, stability, and prosperity of the United States and this hemisphere," Gen. Donovan said. "We all face these threats and the most effective way to counter and eradicate them is by standing together." USSOUTHCOM is one of the nation's six geographically focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as security cooperation with defense and public-security forces in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK reaffirms commitment to peace, protection and development in the DRC Press release UK Minister for Africa Jenny Chapman visited the DRC, pledging 13m for peace, aid, and support for survivors of sexual violence, while boosting clean energy, business finance, and sustainable growth. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington Published 6 March 2026 UK commits more than 13 million for lifesaving assistance, protection services, and support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence Minister for Development and Africa Jenny Chapman hears first hand from those delivering frontline services including UN peacekeepers, aid workers, midwives and women peacebuilders. New UK-backed investments to drive sustainable economic growth, including expanding finance for small businesses and support for clean energy projects Visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jenny Chapman, Minister for Africa and International Development reaffirms the UK's commitment to peace, humanitarian action, tackling conflictrelated sexual violence, and strengthening the foundations for sustainable growth and stability. During visits to the capital Kinshasa and Beni in eastern DRC, a part of the country with a long history of instability and conflict, the minister met President Felix Tshisekedi and Vice Foreign Minister Ayenganagato Noella Ayenganagato, as well as UN peacekeepers, health and humanitarian partners, women peacebuilders and civil society organisations working on the frontlines of the conflict. During the visit the UK announced 7.3 million in extra humanitarian support to communities affected by escalating conflict in eastern DRC and the wider region. This includes 3 million for much needed urgent help such as clean water, hygiene and protection services for families forced to flee in DRC; 2 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross providing emergency healthcare, including trauma surgery and specialist support for survivors of sexual and genderbased violence in DRC; and 2.3 million for the World Food Programme providing emergency food and nutrition assistance for up to 132,000 refugees in Burundi who have fled violence. In eastern DRC, Jenny Chapman met UN peacekeepers serving with MONUSCO, women peacebuilders, and humanitarian organisations delivering UKfunded assistance. She visited a hospital and a centre in Beni that provide specialist care for survivors of sexual violence, which will receive a funding increase from previous years through an additional 6 million to UNFPA for sexual and reproductive health services and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. She also visited a nearby centre supporting survivors, where she saw first-hand the impact of ongoing UK-funded emergency healthcare, protection and psychosocial services. Jenny Chapman, Minister for Africa and International Development, said: "Years of conflict in the DRC have left countless survivors of sexual violence in need of specialised, dedicated support. In responding to such immense need, Congolese professionals have developed world leading expertise in holistic care." "The specialist centre in Beni, and the very fact it is needed, was desperately sad, but what they are doing there is also hugely inspiring. Seeing the bravery and resilience of the survivors and the professionalism and compassion of those working with them was inspiring. "The situation remains urgent for communities in eastern DRC - it's vital that the international community stays engaged. "The UK is stepping up support to save lives, protect civilians and back women and communities working for peace on the ground. At the same time, we are using our aid investment and expertise to grow economic opportunities and resilience - investing in clean energy, jobs and growth that are the cornerstones of stability. The visit reaffirmed the UK's support for regional peace efforts and UN peacekeeping, including MONUSCO's role in protecting civilians. This year the DRC takes on chairmanship of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict this year which works to uphold international humanitarian law, humanitarian access and accountability for abuses. The UK serves as vice-chair. During her visit the UK also formally launched the UK-DRC Chamber of Commerce, strengthening commercial ties and supporting British and Congolese businesses to trade and invest together. The UK also announced a $25 million (18.7m) British International Investment loan to Rawbank, the DRC's largest commercial bank, expanding access to finance for small and mediumsized enterprises and non-mining corporates, and supporting jobs and inclusive economic growth. In addition, Jenny Chapman confirmed new UKbacked investments in clean energy and agriculture, including support for capital investment in the Sustainable Energy for Africa Fund, in partnership with the African Development Bank, to support the Moyi Power, which will help deliver reliable and cleaner electricity to up to 700,000 people in northern DRC, and funding to improve access to finance for climatesmart agribusinesses. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BEIRUT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of displaced people registered through Lebanon's government relief platform has reached about 454,000, Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed said on Saturday, as Israel continues to attack several areas of the country. According to the National News Agency, Sayed said 112,525 internally displaced people from 26,163 families are currently staying in 514 official shelter centers nationwide. She made the remarks while inspecting emergency preparations, including converting a Beirut stadium into a shelter for registered families, set to open later Saturday. In a separate statement on Saturday, Lebanon's Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said the country received 15 ambulances donated by Iraq. Nasreddine said the ambulances will be allocated to government hospitals in affected areas to help evacuate displaced patients and assist the wounded. Meanwhile, cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah continued. Hezbollah said it launched a swarm of attack drones targeting Israel's Haifa oil refinery, describing the operation as retaliation for Israeli attacks on dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including Beirut's southern suburbs. The group also said it carried out two drone strikes targeting gatherings of Israeli soldiers near the Lebanese border town of Khiam. Israeli attacks also continued Saturday night, striking several areas in southern and eastern Lebanon as well as Beirut's southern suburbs. Earlier in the day, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said the death toll from Israeli attacks since Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured. PM call with E4 leaders: 6 March 2026 Press release The Prime Minister spoke to the leaders of France, Germany and Italy this morning about the situation in the Middle East. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 6 March 2026 The Prime Minister spoke to the leaders of France, Germany and Italy this morning about the situation in the Middle East. The leaders began by condemning Iran's egregious attacks and the Prime Minister updated on the defensive measures taken by the UK in recent days to protect and reinforce partners in the region. Ongoing intensive diplomacy and close military coordination would be vital in the coming hours and days, the leaders agreed. They also agreed on the need to coordinate closely on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated their concern about the situation in Lebanon. The leaders welcomed the word leading drone interception expertise President Zelenskyy had offered to partners in the region and underlined the importance of ensuring support to Ukraine continued at scale. The Prime Minister updated on UK efforts to support the departure of British nationals wanting to leave the Middle East through commercial and charter flights. They agreed to stay in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman Badr Albusaidi Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 06 March 2026 06:52 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Building on our meeting in Munich, I was pleased to continue our dialogue with Badr Albusaidi. I conveyed Ukraine's full solidarity with the Sultanate and condemned Iran's attacks against it and other Gulf and Arab states. The scenes of ballistic missiles and "Shahed" drones targeting cities across the Gulf region recall what Ukrainians endure every day in our cities. Ukraine has gained battlefield-tested solutions to counter Russia's large-scale attacks, including those with Iranian-made drones, and is ready to share its experience with our partners, as well as to contribute to security across the Middle East. We also discussed advancing our bilateral relations and further contacts at various levels. I am particularly grateful to my colleague for his readiness to cooperate in providing assistance to Ukrainian citizens in the region." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 6 March 2026 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Guest Good afternoon. In a short while, I will be joined by Tom Fletcher, who you all know is our Emergency Relief Coordinator. He will be here to speak to you on the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. He will be here for just a brief amount of time, so I'm warning you now. ** International Women's Day On Sunday... What is Sunday? International Women's Day. Of course, Ms. Schwinghammer, early happy birthday to the creator of Benno. Besides the parties that will be held in Germany, we will mark International Women's Day here under the theme "Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls". Despite progress, women worldwide still hold just 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men, and discriminatory laws continue to shape every aspect of women's lives. In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General stresses that by fighting discriminatory laws and practices, and defending the progress already achieved, we can ensure the dignity, opportunity and freedom all women deserve. The seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place next week from 9 to 19 March here at Headquarters, obviously. Key events include an opening session in the General Assembly Hall, where the Secretary-General will deliver remarks. We will share those remarks either today or over the weekend. There will be numerous side events organized by Governments, various UN entities and, of course, civil society. One event I want to highlight, organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will take place on Monday at 4:45 p.m. in Conference Room 2. You are all invited to join [Special Representative] Pramila Patten and the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law for the launch of a Global Network on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence prosecutions. This is aimed at strengthening justice and accountability for survivors. This is an issue that is affecting women and girls in conflicts around the world. There is also an ongoing photo exhibition in the UN lobby, highlighting justice and accountability efforts for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. ** Senior Personnel Appointment Senior personnel announcement to share with you: The Secretary-General is appointing Monica Kathina Juma of Kenya as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as well as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV). She succeeds Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service to UNODC and the United Nations. The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to John Brandolino, Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs at UNODC, who will continue to serve as Acting Executive Director of UNODC until Ms. Juma assumes her position. She is currently serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kenya and Secretary to Kenya's National Security Council, a post she has held since 2022. She is a strategic senior leader with a depth of expertise, experience and knowledge spanning public policy making, execution and academia across critical areas of security, diplomacy and governance. Previously, she held the role of Cabinet Secretary in Strategic Ministries of Kenya, specifically the Ministry of Energy (2021-2022) ** Middle East Turning to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, I have a statement from the Secretary-General, which we will share with you in writing momentarily. All the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region. These attacks pose a grave a risk to the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people. The situation could spiral beyond anyone's control, the Secretary-General says. He adds that it is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations, as the stakes could not be higher. ** Lebanon Speaking of high stakes, in Lebanon, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that widespread displacement orders are placing already affected civilians under increasing strain. Ongoing airstrikes across the country are killing and injuring dozens of people. Across the country, more than 100,000 people are now sheltering in collective centres. Many more people are on the move. Health services in affected areas remain disrupted. We have received reports that hospitals in South Beirut were forced to suspend operations and evacuate patients on 5 March and remain non-operational today. Humanitarian partners, working closely with national and local authorities, are scaling up assistance in shelters and host communities. Since 2 March, they have distributed more than 120,000 meals. In the south, our peacekeepers continue to observe strikes towards Israel by Hizbullah and Israeli airstrikes and shelling into Lebanon. Peacekeepers have also observed Israel Defense Forces ground incursions across the Blue Line into Lebanese territory. That is in addition to those recorded earlier in the week. I can tell you that our UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers remain in place and in position in the application of their mandate. And in Syria, over 30,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into that country over the past week. That is what Syrian authorities are telling us. UN teams are present at border crossings, monitoring movements and coordinating with the Syrian Government and other partners to provide assistance where appropriate. We remind all parties that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, in accordance with international humanitarian law. We urge all involved to avail of diplomatic channels and avoid further escalation and return to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. ** Iran Turning to Iran, our colleagues at UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) tell us they are deeply concerned about the deadly impact the ongoing military escalation in that country, the impact it is having on children. Approximately 180 children have reportedly been killed and many more injured. Among the casualties are 168 girls killed when a strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, in southern Iran. The strike took place while classes were still in session on 28 February. UNICEF reported yesterday that at least 20 schools have been damaged. It says that schools are protected under international humanitarian law and must be places of safety. Health facilities have also been impacted. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 13 attacks impacting healthcare sites as of yesterday. And our colleagues at the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which is the largest UN agency operating in Iran, tell us that according to their information, initial estimates say that 100,000 people leaving Tehran in the first two days of the crisis have now been surpassed. UNHCR adds that the country is home to 1.65 million people forced to flee, mostly from Afghanistan, and an overwhelming number are seeking help and support. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our humanitarian colleagues warn that civilians including aid workers and civilian infrastructure continue to be exposed to airstrikes, shelling and shooting, resulting in reported casualties and damage. As we have said many times, under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected. As of yesterday, the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing into Gaza remained operational, allowing the delivery of approved humanitarian supplies. All other crossings, including Rafah, remain closed. Medical evacuations, the return of residents from abroad and the rotation of humanitarian staff remain suspended due to that closure. Inside Gaza, our partners are continuing to provide health services. They are prioritizing emergency care, maternal and neonatal services, management of communicable disease and trauma care. They are also closely managing fuel consumption and adjusting operations where needed. Yesterday, an oil tanker from our colleagues at UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) was hit on its way to collect urgently needed fuel for distribution inside Gaza. No one was injured. Jorge Moreira da Silva, the Head of UNOPS, called for a full investigation into this latest incident. He said that fuel must be allowed into Gaza consistently, its delivery facilitated safely and without interruption to keep humanitarian operations going. In the West Bank, increased closure of Israeli checkpoints and road gates since the regional escalation began continues to restrict Palestinian's access to services and workplaces. Emergency services and humanitarian work are also impacted. Meanwhile, operations and violence by Israeli settlers and Israeli security forces is continuing. The is resulting in casualties, damage and forced displacement. Yesterday, eight Palestinian families, some 45 people, were forced to leave their community, Shakara, in the Nablus governorate. This followed a series of attacks, threats, trespassing, and intimidation by Israeli settlers from a newly established illegal outpost. Israeli forces had declared the area a "closed military zone". In response to this development, our partners have started providing mental health and psychosocial support, legal advice, shelter provisions, as well as livelihood and cash assistance. Palestinians in the West Bank must be protected, and perpetrators must be held to account. ** Afghanistan/Pakistan Turning to the ongoing violence on the Afghan-Pakistan border. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) continues to verify and record incidents of civilian casualties inside Afghanistan as a result of cross-border armed clashes between Pakistan and the Afghanistan's de facto authorities. From late evening 26 February to yesterday, 5 March, the UN Mission verified and recorded a total of 185 civilian casualties in Afghanistan, with 56 civilians killed and a further 129 injured due to indirect fire and aerial attacks. 55 per cent of the recorded civilian casualties in this period were women and children. The Mission reiterated its call to all parties to implement protocols to prevent civilian casualties and meet their obligations under international law. Today, UNHCR said that some 115,000 people have been internally displaced in Afghanistan and some 3,000 in Pakistan. Today, the UN refugee agency said that some 115,000 people internally have been displaced in Afghanistan and some 3,000 in Pakistan amid active conflict along the border. The situation in Afghanistan is already fragile, and any further large-scale returns of Afghan refugees will put immense pressure on basic services and host communities. UNHCR is delivering critical humanitarian assistance, including distribution of relief items and shelter support. For his part, our colleague Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, implored the Pakistan military and Afghan de facto security forces to end immediately their fighting and to prioritize helping the millions who depend on aid and whose lives have been tormented by violence and misery for so long. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo Turning to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our colleagues at MONUSCO, the peacekeeping mission there, continues to support the Government's efforts to disarm and reintegrate former combatants. Since January of last year, in the north-eastern province of Ituri, the Mission, working in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has supported the disarmament, demobilization and community reintegration of almost 1,400 combatants from the Zaire armed group. The Mission also reports that between 2023 and 2025, more than 18,000 people, including ex-combatants, women, and community members, have benefited from reintegration and recovery projects inside the DRC. These initiatives are part of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program, which is a Congolese national programme, which the peacekeeping mission and UN agencies continue to support as one of its priority mandated tasks. ** Jamaica Quick update from our colleague Alexander De Croo, the Administrator of UNDP [United Nations Development Programme], who is wrapping up a two-day visit to Jamaica. Mr. De Croo met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister responsible for Water, Environment and Climate Resilience to discuss Hurricane Melissa's severe impact on communities, livelihoods and the wider economy. Yesterday, Mr. De Croo visited communities in western Jamaica, where he met local residents who are rebuilding their livelihoods together with UNDP following the devastation of the hurricane. The UN Development Programme reaffirmed its commitment to recovery, including over $30 million in grant financing under development to support resilient livelihoods, ecosystems, and access to recovery finance. ** Food Price Index The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today released a new update, which showed that global food prices rose in February for the first time in five months. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 125.3 points, up 0.9 per cent from January, though still 1 per cent below its level a year ago. In a separate report released today, FAO estimates that 41 countries worldwide require external assistance for food, most of them in Africa, largely due to conflict and insecurity, as well as weather-related shocks in some cases. ** Financial Contribution We have a quiz for you today, because we now have 77 Member States fully paid up. This country has the lowest population density of any sovereign nation in the world. [...] Mongolia. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : All right, come on Gabriel. [...] Question : Steph, the Secretary-General in his statement said that the situation in the Middle East could spiral beyond anyone's control. How could it get any more out of control than it is right now? Spokesman : I mean, it doesn't take much imagination to see how this situation could get even worse, whether it's threatening the unity of certain Member States, the continuing suffering of civilians, and also the deteriorating situation around the Strait of Hormuz, the impact that will have globally. We're already seeing a spike in oil prices and the impact that will have, given our continued addiction to fossil fuels. I mean, I talked about, you know, the FAO food price. The report FAO put out talking about how so many countries need assistance with food due to all sorts of reasons. One can only imagine the effect the spike in energy prices will have on transport, food production, on fertilizers. I mean, sadly, the situation could get much worse. Question : And a follow-up on Iran. As far as we know, the biggest mass casualty event of this war so far was in the first day, when more than 150 children were killed in that school in Manab. The US is not claiming responsibility yet. Israel isn't. Does the UN have the capability to get there, to get eyes on the ground or not? Spokesman : At this point, we do not. But that does not mean that there shouldn't be any sort of investigation right now. We've seen some very interesting media coverage in the last 24 hours on that. Edie? Question : For the follow-up on the Secretary-General's statement, President [Donald] Trump said this morning that Iran must surrender. The Secretary-General's called for negotiations. What is he going to do to promote negotiations when one of the key players in this war wants one of the parties to surrender? Spokesman : We will continue, the Secretary-General will continue through his contacts to push for a return to serious negotiations. I mean, as I mentioned to Gabriel, the situation is horrific but could easily get worse. The only way to settle this is through negotiations. Question : A second question. UNOPS put out a statement this morning saying that an empty tanker that was heading to pick up fuel for Gaza was hit. It didn't say; it gave very, very few details. Can you please find out exactly, where this took place? It said the tanker was damaged. What's happened to the tanker? Spokesman : Yeah, I'll find out. I mean, I think, I just mentioned it in my opening remarks. What we do know is that no one was hurt, but we'll try to get some more granularity for you. [He later said the vessel was hit in Gaza on its way for loading at the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing.] Question : Thank you. Spokesman : Namo? Question : Thank you, Stephane. Just one follow-up on Edie's question. How realistic is the prospect of a return to the negotiating table that the Secretary- General is pushing for, given the fact that... given Trump's maximalist demand for unconditional surrender and the death of Iran's Supreme Leader? Spokesman : We're not in the prediction market here. For us, we have a goal, and I think the Secretary-General stated that goal. He's spoken to a number of Member States who also share that goal, and we will continue to push in that direction. Question : One last question: Iran has threatened to bomb Iraqi Kurdistan's facilities, if Iranian Kurdish armed groups cross the border into Iran. What is the Secretary General's message for Iran, when they openly threaten? [cross-talk] Spokesman : We do not want to see more use of force. We do not want to see more threats of the use of force. It is critical that this conflict does not extend even further into new areas and bringing in new countries into this conflict. And we've seen increased military action. We've also seen increased rhetoric, both of which run counter to what we would like to see. Before we bring it to Alex and then ask, something I forgot to read out. Question : Thanks, Steph. Quick follow-up on Iran. Could you please clarify how many UN members are there in Iran? Spokesman : Yes. In fact, I can. The staffing for Iran is about 458 personnel, [...] of which I think 27 internationals and about 430 nationals. Question : And quick follow-up on Gabriel's question. Is it possible for them just to go and check to that school that was hit, or is it unsafe? Spokesman : Our ability to move around in what is an active conflict zone is severely limited. Question : Got it. Thank you. Spokesman : Okay. Let me read what I should have read, what I was just given to read, and that is also on the ongoing conflict, but as it relates to Azerbaijan: The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan addressed a letter to the Secretary-General yesterday, in which he described a drone attack in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The letter is being circulated to the General Assembly and the Security Council at Azerbaijan's request. We also take note that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iran and Azerbaijan discussed the incident yesterday. We remain deeply concerned by this incident, particularly the injuries to civilians and the damage to civilian infrastructure. The Secretary-General wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. I'm going to go get Tom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNHCR responds to rising displacement in Middle East emergency UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Briefing notes This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR Director of Emergency and Programme Support and Cross-Regional Refugee Response Coordinator for the Middle East Emergency, Ayaki Ito - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. 6 March 2026 GENEVA -- The significant military escalation in the Middle East has claimed civilian lives, damaged and destroyed vital infrastructure and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, requiring an immediate response across the region. Even prior to the recent escalation, nearly 25 million people in the affected countries were refugees, internally displaced, or refugees who recently returned home to very difficult conditions. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will coordinate the refugee response on behalf of the United Nations and the broader humanitarian community, in support of national governments. Efforts are underway to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in affected countries across the region, and to maintain critical services for existing refugee populations. It is imperative that all civilians who need to move or cross borders to seek safety are given safe passage. We remain concerned for the well-being of civilians and displaced populations in all countries impacted by recent attacks, including Azerbaijan, the Gulf countries, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In Iran, where UNHCR is the largest UN agency, we remain deeply worried for the safety of civilians and refugees. Initial estimates from the authorities of 100,000 people leaving Tehran in the first two days of the crisis have now been surpassed. The country is home to 1.65 million people forced to flee, mostly from Afghanistan, and an overwhelming number are seeking help and support. Amid ongoing strikes and communications outages, it is a perilous environment for civilians and humanitarians, but UNHCR remains on the ground. Our reception centres and helplines remain open, and we are receiving over 250 calls per day from refugees. In Lebanon, more than 96,000 people who were forced to flee their homes are sheltering in over 440 collective sites, the Lebanese Government reports. Families are leaving with limited belongings and seeking safer areas, including parts of Mount Lebanon, Beirut, northern districts, and parts of the Bekaa. Testimony from people on the move shows intense fear and anxiety, especially in view of the latest unprecedented Israeli evacuation orders to Lebanese residents. Over just four days in Lebanon, UNHCR delivered over 65,000 relief items to 22,000 displaced people in government shelters, including mattresses, blankets, jerry cans, solar lamps and sleeping mats. At least 33,600 Syrians and some 3,000 Lebanese have crossed into Syria, according to Syrian authorities. They include Syrian refugees in Lebanon who had already decided to go home, as well as others who have fled the ongoing conflict. UNHCR teams are at the Syrian border with authorities and partners to support new arrivals with essential relief, and we are ready to respond inside the country with prepositioned supplies and communitybased support. Meanwhile, we are also concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which remains tense amid active conflict along the border, with reports of internal displacement in both countries: an estimated 115,000 in Afghanistan and some 3,000 in Pakistan. The situation in Afghanistan is already fragile. Any further large-scale returns of Afghan refugees will put immense pressure on basic services and host communities. More support is needed. UNHCR is mobilizing in response to these complex displacement movements and protection needs. We are delivering critical humanitarian assistance, including distribution of relief items and shelter support, and we have the infrastructure to quickly provide emergency financial assistance as needed. Significant funding gaps persist across all UNHCR's operations in the affected countries, and we appeal to donors to provide further urgently needed support. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On day seven of Middle East war, no let-up in suffering 6 March 2026 - The escalating war in the Middle East has heightened growing concerns about further civilian suffering and displacement in the region and far beyond, UN agencies said on Friday. Seven days since Israeli and US bombing in Iran prompted ongoing counter-strikes across the Middle East, humanitarians confirmed massive upheaval in Lebanon, with hundreds of shelters now full, as whole suburbs of Beirut have emptied. "Israel's military ground incursions into southern Lebanon, blanket displacement orders for the population in Beirut's southern suburbs, the Bekka region and the full area to the south of the Latani River, and its continued airstrikes on different parts of the country are bringing more misery, more suffering to an already weary civilian population," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR. Israeli strikes intensify in Lebanon From the UN migration agency, IOM, Chief of Mission Lebanon Mathieu Luciano described the dramatic deterioration in the country on Thursday evening as the Israeli army carried out "multiple air strikes on the southern suburb of Beirut overnight". He added that many collective shelters are at full capacity, especially in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, "so, people are just redirected to other shelters, especially in the north, in Al Qaa, in safe places in the Bekka as well." The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has declared the escalating crisis a major humanitarian emergency requiring an immediate regional response. UNHCR Director for Emergencies Ayaki Ito told journalists in Geneva that the conflict is triggering significant population movements across the region and into Southwest Asia. Nearly 25 million people in the affected areas are already refugees, internally displaced or recent returnees, placing additional strain on fragile host countries. Hormuz bottleneck The major commercial shipping crisis caused by the war which has practically halted all vessel movement in the Strait of Hormuz south of Iran is already impacting UN agencies and partners seeking to dispatch lifesaving relief to Gaza and Sudan, among other emergencies. The narrow channel carries nearly one-fifth of global oil along with large volumes of commercial goods. "All traffic via sea has significantly slowed down," said Anne Schaefer, IOM Deputy Director for humanitarian response and recovery. "This is the case in Port Sudan, but also in other ports of the continent." Gaza aid constricted For Gaza, shelter items, tarps, tents and lamps "are all stuck in different stages, unable to now arrive", she said, before warning of "a significant deterioration of the supply chain very, very quickly". The impact on relief missions to Sudan is also of particular concern as the humanitarian situation "is deteriorating very, very quickly", the IOM official continued. "And of course, the rainy season is just around the corner, coming up, so, if we do not get the supplies in the next six weeks to eight weeks, it's going to be very, very difficult to reach populations, especially in Darfur." Echoing those concerns, the UN health agency's Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, confirmed that much-needed supplies are not transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. But she noted that flights were now resuming from Dubai, which is a major logistics hub for the entire humanitarian system. Emergency healthcare stymied "We have more than 50 emergency supply requests across 25 countries that have been affected by that current pause," Dr. Balkhy noted, including Lebanon, Yemen and Somalia. Back in Geneva, OHCHR's Ms. Shamdasani highlighted the plight of people in Afghanistan, where a reported 66,000 people have been displaced there as a result of the latest fighting with Pakistan. "In Pakistan as well, shelling and other fire has forced people to flee their homes and civilians on both sides of this border are now having to flee from airstrikes, heavy artillery fire, mortar shelling and gunfire," she said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Relief Chief warns of 'moment of grave peril' as humanitarian crises escalate in Middle East UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Remarks at the Daily Press Briefing at UN Headquarters by Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator New York, 6 March 2026 Very good to see you again, although, albeit in a very tough moment for our humanitarian work. I do think this is a moment of grave peril right now. We're seeing these crises escalate rapidly with consequences that are out of control for those instigating the conflict, and we're seeing increasing linkages between these different humanitarian crises - none of them good. We're seeing staggering amounts of money, reportedly $ 1 billion a day, funding this war, spent on destruction, while politicians continue to boast about cutting aid budgets for those in greatest need. And we're seeing an increasingly deadly alliance of technology and killing with impunity. We're seeing a sustained attack against the systems and laws meant to restrain us from our worst instincts and from reckless warfare. So too many warning lights are flashing on the dashboard right now. And as the Secretary-General has said, and as you'll have heard from Steph [Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General], what we need is de-escalation, an immediate cessation of hostilities, genuine dialogue and negotiations, in line with the Charter of the United Nations. We need calmer heads to prevail. Actions, of course, have consequences, and once again, civilians are facing those consequences across the Middle East. Homes, hospitals and schools are being hit. Across the region, UNHCR are reporting hundreds of thousands of people displaced. UNICEF are reporting that over 190 children have been killed since the escalation, including over 180 in Iran, seven in Lebanon, three in Israel, and one in Kuwait. So once again, civilians must be protected - full stop. We are fully mobilized in response, across the humanitarian community. I'm in close contact with our teams in Iran and throughout the wider region, and we're distributing life-saving help, including food, medicine and shelter. Yesterday, I spoke to the Permanent Representative of Iran. I reaffirmed the UN's readiness to help civilians needing humanitarian support. Authorities there are reporting more than 1,000 deaths and damage to over 100 civilian sites. UNHCR and IOM [International Organization for Migration] are reporting to us that around 100,000 people have been internally displaced in the last week. In Lebanon, cause for growing concern: more than 100 people have been killed, hundreds more injured. Around 100,000 people are seeking refuge in hundreds of shelters. Even before the escalation, WFP were reporting that 874,000 people in Lebanon are lacking food. So we and our partners are, of course, scaling up our operations, and we're looking at how we can actually mobilize further funding for Lebanon - watch this space on that. We've distributed tens of thousands of hot meals, mattresses and blankets, among other supplies, and of course, clean drinking water. In Gaza, as you know, Israel initially shut all crossings and brought many humanitarian movements to a halt a week ago, so aid stocks could not be replenished at the rate necessary. Shortages worsened, prices surged, and while Karem Abu Salem/Karem Shalom has reopened, other crossings, including Rafah, remain closed for now. Medical evacuations suspended. We've been able to bring in less than a million liters of fuel this week - and I've just come from a meeting with my colleague, the head of UNOPS [UN Office for Project Services] on this issue - well below the more than 2 million liters of fuel that we need as a bare minimum to keep services running. As you know, key NGO partners remain restricted, facing unacceptable restrictions on their work, and strikes on residential areas have continued despite the ceasefire. Finally in Afghanistan, dozens have been killed in fighting on the Pakistan border, many of them women and children, and civilian infrastructure has been damaged, including a hospital at the IOM transit center and facilities at the Torkham returnee reception center. Displacement, already huge, is rising fast. More than 16,000 families have fled their homes, adding to millions already displaced across Afghanistan, and border closures have left more than 168 containers stranded, while flight suspensions and security restrictions are making it harder for us to reach people in need. Beyond the impact on those country crises, I also fear three knock-on effects of this war. Firstly, war doesn't stay neatly within borders or on desktop military plans. It tears through markets, supply chains, food prices. And when that happens, it's the most vulnerable people who are hit first and hardest. And so, when maritime corridors, such as the Straits of Hormuz, are disrupted, food prices will rise. health systems will be squeezed, and basic commodities, including our humanitarian supplies, will become much harder to access. So, we're pre-positioning supplies, we're identifying alternative supply routes, and we're preparing rapid funding options, including from the Central Emergency Response Fund. A second-knock on effect: there will be even less attention for crises from DRC to Sudan to South Sudan, where I was last month, to Ukraine and beyond. We sometimes hear that these conflicts have been ended. Let me repeat that they have not. A third knock-on impact: the last week is part of a pattern of attrition against international law and humanitarian principles. As conflicts spread, the international system pulls further apart and more resources flow towards weapons, rather than the funding, the political will, the diplomatic energy needed for saving lives. Humanitarian action is always harder in times of war, but this is, of course, when it is most needed. So, I want to end by recognizing the humanitarians who continue to head towards danger to support civilians caught up in this escalation. They must be protected. The humanitarian movement will once again meet this moment. We'll continue to serve those who need us. Thank you. Q: On behalf of the United Nations Correspondents Association, it's Valeria Robecco from ANSA newswire. So is the UN preparing for an even broader regional emergency on the humanitarian point of view? If the escalation continues, what are the possible next steps, and is the escalation with Iran diverting attention and resources away from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza? Thank you so much. Under-Secretary-General: Thanks, Valeria, yes to all of those. So, we are preparing, but also mobilizing, for an increase in humanitarian needs across the whole region. Every day that this continues, we see many, many more people displaced, often into areas of existing high need. I mentioned Afghanistan, for example. So we're fully mobilized across the region and making sure we've got the staff and teams in place and the plans in place to deal with a hugely increased humanitarian caseload. And, as I said, attention now and money and time and energy is shifting into different ways to continue this war, rather than into existing humanitarian needs, and now the new humanitarian needs created by the war. There is a risk, you're right, that attention does shift away from Gaza and OPT. We will try to, we will sustain our operations there, of course. We'll try and retain that engagement that's necessary. But I also worry about other crises. I mentioned Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, which also need, DRC, which also need that sustained engagement, and which are slipping too far down the list. So the warning lights are really flashing right now. Q: Thank you very much, Mr. Fletcher. Could you tell us what exactly the UN has been able to do in Iran given the pummeling that it's been taking in airstrikes by both Israel and the United States? Under-Secretary-General: So, we're watching this very carefully, and this was the reason that I had the call with the Permanent Representative of Iran yesterday to try and get a clearer sense of the needs. I'm talking to the IFRC, of course - International Federation of Red Crescent - who have a good sense of the rising needs inside Iran. I mentioned the numbers who are internally displaced. We're not seeing huge movement across the borders at this stage, but we have a significant UNHCR team on the ground that's monitoring that very closely. I talked to [UNHCR High Commissioner] Barham Salih yesterday, who's doing extraordinary work to make sure that we get a full response to them. At the moment, the Iranian Government are not asking us for humanitarian support beyond that, but I underlined, as I do to all of the Governments of the region, that we're on standby for anyone who needs that help, and so we will keep monitoring the level of needs and we'll be ready to act whenever needed. Q: I wonder what your department, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, could do with a billion a day. Under-Secretary-General: Thank you, Sherwin. That is, well, it's a billion-dollar question, and I can tell you, we would save millions of lives with a billion dollars. We're trying this year, as you'll have heard me say, to save 87 million lives with $23 billion, so you can do the maths on how many we could save every day with that billion dollars. And it breaks my heart that this is being spent on this conflict, rather than dealing with the existing huge humanitarian caseload. We've lost our bearings somehow in the world, and that this ingenuity and creativity that humans have is being spent on developing more and more sophisticated ways of killing each other, rather than solving a very, very solvable problem here, which is saving those 87 million lives, as the starting point. So, thank you for the question. Q: Thank you very much, Biesan Abu-Kwaik with Al Jazeera Arabic. Can you just elaborate a little bit more about what you're doing in Lebanon? Because, as you had mentioned, Lebanon has been under a lot of strain over the past couple of years, and people are being re-displaced in an ongoing cycle. So, if you could just give us a bigger picture, or more focused picture on what's going on there. Under-Secretary-General: So I'm really worried about the situation in Lebanon, a country that continues to be buffeted by other people's wars, and we're dealing with, of course, high numbers of already displaced people. We're seeing a number of Syrians crossing the border back into Syria. We're also seeing a number of Lebanese citizens crossing into Syria as well, and massive displacement from the south and, of course, from the southern suburbs, from the Dahiyeh, southern suburbs of Beirut as well, amid further warnings of Israeli strikes, many of them incredibly threatening and bellicose in the way they're describing what they plan to do to those areas. I was speaking this morning to our Humanitarian Coordinator [for Lebanon, Imran Riza], who is putting together an assessment of the new needs as a result of this phase of the conflict. It's a very underfunded response plan, humanitarian response plan, we have there, but he's working with the authorities, with the Minister for Social Affairs and others. He's in very close touch with the Member States inside Lebanon as well, to identify these new, existing needs. A lot of it is about helping those who can't get to the shelters. A lot of it is actually about providing support to those inside the shelters. But ultimately, all this is sticking plaster. All this is responding to unnecessary levels of needs, when actually what we need, as the [Secretary-General] has said, is that de-escalation and calm. And so I'll stay in very close contact with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, with the Lebanese Government and with our team on the ground to make sure we have the resources and that they have the support they need to scale up. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Completes COMPTUEX US Navy 06 March 2026 From USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The Sailors, ships, squadrons and staffs of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) successfully completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) March 5, 2026. The exercise brings together all elements of a carrier strike group to operate as a cohesive, multi-domain fighting force under realistic conditions through simulated scenarios, live, virtual, and constructive training and the full integration of squadrons and surface platforms, resulting in CSG 4 deployment certification recommendations for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. "COMPTUEX is the certification event for the strike group to let us know we are ready for major combat operations around the world," said Rear Adm. Alexis Walker, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. "It brings the entire strike group team together and enables us to operate as we would when we're forward deployed." Over several weeks, units were tested in air, surface, subsurface and cyber warfare areas across all domains in increasingly complex scenarios designed to stress command and control, logistical endurance and combat integration. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, composed of nine squadrons and approximately 2,400 Sailors and naval aviators, played a central role in the exercise. "Carrier Wing 7, the 'Freedom Fighters', remain credible, relevant and lethal," said Capt. Martin Fentress Jr., commander, CVW-7. "Through each training evolution, we demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges and sustain combat power." Fentress noted the difficulty of integrating personnel and aircraft from across multiple locations. "One of the biggest challenges is the tyranny of distance," Fentress said. "Bringing thousands of Sailors in nine squadrons from across the nation together - focused on one mission - is a real hurdle. But the work required to overcome that tension builds the camaraderie we need and will help sustain us through deployment." The GHWBCSG repeatedly demonstrated the accurate and rapid launch and recovery of its air assets. Over the course of 28 days, Carrier Air Wing 7 flew 1,586 sorties, tallying up a robust 693 arrested landings during the day and 682 at night. The culmination of such speed and endurance is an offensive capability unique to the United States that enables a level of warfighting strength that is not lost on Fentress. "To put it simply, the Carrier Airwing is the business end," said Fentress. "We are the 'strike' in Carrier Strike Group 10. We provide the combat power projection that no one else can. We are the reason that presidents for generations have asked - when there's an issue or problem over the horizon - 'Where are my carriers?'" For Capt. Robert Bibeau, commanding officer, USS George H.W. Bush, the completion of COMPTUEX reflects a crew prepared to answer the nation's call. "This ship exists for one purpose: to project decisive combat power wherever our nation requires it," Bibeau said. "Our Sailors have trained to the highest standards, and they have shown the flexibility and the adaptability that's necessary to be successful in our mission." As a career F/A-18 pilot, Bibeau emphasized the importance of readiness in the face of danger. "We know our fellow service members are operating in harm's way right now," he said. "Our job is to ensure that when they need us - whether for air superiority, strike, electronic warfare, or presence - we are ready to deliver immediately and without hesitation." Throughout COMPTUEX, the strike group also operated alongside allied forces, reinforcing interoperability with NATO allies and enhancing combined maritime capabilities. "Almost every deployment we operate with our NATO allies," Fentress said. "Interoperability is a constant wherever we go." Fentress expressed confidence the Airwing is ready to get underway should the need arise. "Carrier Airwing 7 stands ready today to deploy if called upon," said Fentress. "We have demonstrated through each of the training evolutions that not only are we trained mentally to overcome any issue, but that we also have the stamina physically and that our machines are ready." More broadly, Rear Adm. Walker expressed confidence in the strike group's readiness. "I believe the members of the George H.W. Bush are ready to deploy today," Walker said. "I've been very pleased with the way we've come together." Capt. Bibeau echoed that confidence, invoking the ship's motto. "'Freedom at Work' is more than a motto," he said. "It represents disciplined Sailors executing complex missions under pressure, day and night. It represents a mindset that we are ready to serve our nation and support our allies around the world." Capt. Bibeau expressed his satisfaction that the GHWBSG has reached the milestone of deployment readiness and reflected on what that means. "History does not remember those who hoped they were ready - it remembers those who actually were. This crew has earned its certification through discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering teamwork. I have no doubt in the coming months we will be tested and I have every confidence our efforts will result in a successful mission and a safe return home." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's MND expresses strong dissatisfaction, firm opposition to Australian side's distortion of facts over its provocative actions in Yellow Sea and East China Sea Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 07, 2026 11:39 AM China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the Australian side's distorting remarks regarding the provocative actions of Australian naval forces in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, urging the Australian side to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and security concerns, immediately stop spreading disinformation. Responding to a media query on claim from the Australian Department of Defence that on Wednesday, when Australia was undertaking a routine patrol in the Yellow Sea as part of the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions, a Chinese military aircraft conducted an unsafe approach to the Australian shipborne aircraft, Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, firmly rejected the claim. Jiang said that the Australian side's relevant remarks are nothing but a complete distortion of the facts and a reversal of right and wrong, to which China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. Jiang added that recently, the Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba, under the pretext of enforcing UN Security Council resolutions, has repeatedly deployed its shipborne helicopters to conduct close-in reconnaissance against China and engage in persistent provocations in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, seriously endangering China's national security. "In response to the Australian side's infringing and harassing actions, the Chinese military promptly took measures to deliver a resolute and forceful response. The relevant operations were justified, reasonable, professional, and standardized, and fully in line with international law and international practice," Jiang stressed. Jiang emphasized that UN Security Council resolutions have never authorized any country to deploy military forces or conduct surveillance activities in the sea and airspace under another country's jurisdiction under the guise of monitoring violations of those resolutions. And China will never tolerate, and will resolutely counter, any actions that harm China's national sovereignty and security in the name of enforcing resolutions. Jiang said we urged the Australian side to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and security concerns, immediately stop spreading disinformation, strictly restrain the actions of its naval and air forces, refrain from any reckless provocative behavior, and avoid doing anything that undermines regional peace and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICC rejects Duterte appeal for interim release Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora March 7, 2026, 5:14 am MANILA -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber has rejected the appeal of former president Rodrigo Duterte's camp seeking his interim release from detention. The appellate court upheld the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I's Jan. 26 decision to continue holding the ex-president at the ICC Detention Center in the Netherlands due to flight risk concerns. "The Appeals judges unanimously confirm the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I, which had remanded Mr. Duterte in detention," ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet said on Friday night. "The Appeals Chamber rejected or dismissed all of the Defense's arguments and rejected the Defense's ground of appeal in its entirety." The defense earlier raised one ground of appeal and made a case that the Pre-Trial Chamber I "erred in fact and in law, and abused its discretion" when it disregarded a report concerning Duterte's health condition that it previously submitted on the basis that it came from a party to the proceedings. The Appeals Chamber argued that the defense's report does not include any new information concerning Duterte's health condition, as the two medical practitioners it selected did not conduct any new examination of Mr. Duterte. It also noted that the assessment of the risk factors, including the impact of Duterte's health condition on these risks, "is a legal determination to be made by the Pre-Trial Chamber" and does not require any assistance from medical practitioners. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 06 March 2026 - Day 1472 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, since the beginning of this day, there have been 135 combat clashes. 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 54 air strikes, dropped 175 controlled air bombs, used 3565 kamikaze drones and executed 2506 shells on settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions today, the Russian opponent attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders twice. The Russian enemy carried out 90 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including three - with the application of RSZV. In the South Slobozhansky direction, Russian occupiers four times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the direction of the settlements of Zybine, Vilcha and Shevyakivka. In the Kupyansky directions, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attacks towards Pi .any, Petropavlivka, Kurilivka and Novoplatonivka, another confrontation is ongoing. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled seven Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Tverdohlibove, Deryilove, Kolodyazi and towards settlements Stepove, Stavki, Drobisheve, Lyman. One battle is going on. In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried to advance eight times in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka, Riznikivka and in the area of Zakitnogo. One battle is going on. In the kramators komu direction, the Russian enemy twice attacked in the areas of orihovo-vasilivki and predtecinogo. One fight is still going on. In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 20 times in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinovka, Pleshiyivka, Yablunivka, Ivanopilya, Illinivka, Berestok, Rusin Yar, Sofiyivka and in the direction of Novopavlivka. Russian forces committed 22 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements Shahove, Zatishok, Chervony Liman, Rodinske, Grishine, Kotline, Udacne, Muravka, Molodetske, Novopidgorodne and towards the settlements of Novooleksandrivka, Bilitske. Three clashes are still going. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction 49 Russian invaders eliminated and 19 injured. Destroyed one car unit and special equipment unit, one control point, three artillery systems damaged, two car transport units, two special equipment units, one BPLA control point and six Russian hideouts. Destroyed or suppressed 131 BPLA of different types. In the direction of Oleksandrivsky, the Russian enemy stepped three times in the areas of Verbovoye and Ternovoye. The opponent's air strikes were caused by Pokrovsky, Kolomijci, Pysantsi and Oleksandrivka. In the direction of Gulyaipil, there were 19 clashes in the areas of Mirny, Gulyaipol and in the direction of Zaliznyny, Krynychnny, Olenokostyantinivka and Varvarivka. Defense forces are holding down the pressure, 18 attacks have already been carried out. TheRussian enemy launched air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Verhnya Tersa, Gulyaipilske, Girke, Charming, Vozdvizhivka, Rizdvyanka, Rivne, Lyubitske. In the Orihivs komu direction, there were four combat with the Russian enemy in the areas of Stepnogirsk and Plavniv. One fight is going on. The settlements of Komysuvakha and Veselyanka suffered air strikes of the Russian opponent. In the Pridniprovsky direction Ukrainian units repelled one Russian attack towards the Antonivsky Bridge. Olgivka suffered a Russian air strike. In other directions, no significant changes in the environment have been recorded at this time. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 28 February to 6 March 2026, in response to terrorist attacks launched by Ukraine against civilian objects on the territory of the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out seven group strikes, which hit power industry facilities that support the work of the Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, transport, airfield and port infrastructure used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, railway formations with weapons and military hardware, ammunition depots, production facilities, storage and preparation for launch sites of long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries. During the week, as a result of the decisive actions of the Sever Group of Forces units, control has been established over the settlements of Neskuchnoye, Krugloye (Kharkov region), and Bobylevka (Sumy region). Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, two motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, one air assault brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, four territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades. In total, the enemy lost more than 1,500 troops, nine tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, 124 motor vehicles, nine field artillery guns, seven electronic warfare stations, and 56 ammunition, POL, and materiel depots in the Sever Group's area of responsibility. Over the past week, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated the settlements of Drobyshevo and Yarovaya, and on 5 March took control over Sosnovoye in the Donetsk People's Republic. Five mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades have been hit. The enemy losses in this direction amounted to more than 1,280 troops, 24 armoured fighting vehicles, 139 motor vehicles, 21 field artillery guns, five electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 23 ammunition depots. As a result of active offensive actions, units of the Yuzhnaya Group of Force liberated Reznikovka in the Donetsk People's Republic. They also hit formations of six mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigades, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades. Over the past week, in the area of responsibility of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces, the AFU troops have lost more than 1,035 troops, two tanks, and 27 armoured fighting vehicles, including six Western-made ones. Moreover, 102 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, 11 electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 41 ammunition, fuel, and materiel depots were eliminated. The Tsentr Group's units advanced to the depths of the enemy's defence. The Group's units inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, two jaeger brigades, one airmobile brigade, one air defence brigade, three assault regiments of the AFU, two marine brigades, and four national guard brigades. In total, in this direction the enemy lost over 2,425 troops, five tanks, 52 armoured fighting vehicles, 83 motor vehicles, 14 field artillery guns, nine electronic warfare stations, eight ammunition and fuel depots. Over the past week, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have continued to develop an offensive and liberated Gorkoye in Zaporozhye region. Formations of three mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, two assault brigades, four assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade were defeated. The AFU losses in the Vostok Group's area of responsibility amounted to more than 2,185 servicemen, 26 armoured fighting vehicles, 53 motor vehicles, and seven artillery guns. Three electronic warfare stations and five ammunition and materiel depots were neutralised. As a result of coordinated actions, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces liberated Veselyanka in Zaporozhye region. Russian troops delivered strikes at units of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade. In total, the enemy lost up to 375 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 87 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, 18 electronic warfare stations, and 20 ammunition and materiel depots. Over the past week, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have eliminated seven MLRS systems, including one U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launcher and three Czech-made Vampire MLRS vehicles. Air defence systems shot down 62 guided aerial bombs, 22 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, two Neptune long-range guided missiles, one Flamingo long-range cruise missile, and 2,154 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. The Black Sea Fleet destroyed eight AFU uncrewed surface vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost: 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 119,960 unmanned aerial vehicles, 651 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,060 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,681 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,654 field artillery guns and mortars, and 55,999 units of support military vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has departed for a working visit to Istanbul, Turkiye. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the visit will include Bayramovs participation and speech at the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States. During the visit, Minister Bayramov is also expected to hold a number of high-level bilateral meetings. It should be noted that The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is a principal, decision-making body comprising foreign ministers from member states (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan) and observers. It directs political dialogue, enhances regional cooperation, and prepares for summits, with a recent focus on strengthening economic and strategic ties. LIMA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 31 people were injured in an explosion at a nightclub in northern Peru's La Libertad region early Saturday. The explosion, which occurred inside the "Dali" nightclub in the Victor Larco Herrera district of Trujillo, is being investigated by authorities as a possible criminal attack. Local health official Gerardo Florian said the injured, including three minors, were evacuated to hospitals for medical treatment. Local media noted that the venue was targeted in a tear gas bomb attack weeks ago during Valentine's Day celebrations. Coast Guard Cutter Munro crew returns home after 119-day, multi-mission patrol; more than 20,000 pounds of cocaine seized United States Coast Guard Press Release | March 6, 2026 ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) returned to their home port in Alameda, on Sunday, following a historic 119-day multi-mission deployment spanning more than 26,000 miles from the Eastern Pacific Ocean to the Northern Atlantic. Munro departed Alameda on November 3, 2025, to conduct training workups and participate in the Department of War's exercise Resolute Hunter offshore of San Diego, before sailing into the Eastern Pacific to execute a counternarcotics patrol in support of the U.S. Coast Guard's Operation Pacific Viper. Munro was diverted to the Atlantic Ocean in support of the Department of War's Operation Southern Spear. While supporting U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South and Coast Guard Southwest District, Munro detected and identified a heavily laden go-fast vessel transiting along a known smuggling route in the Eastern Pacific. With the help of its two cutter pursuit boats, Scan Eagle short-range unmanned aerial system, and an embarked MH-65 aircraft from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), Munro successfully found, tracked and interdicted the vessel using warning shots and disabling fire from the HITRON aircraft. Munro subsequently detained six suspected narco-terrorists and seized 22,052 pounds of cocaine valued at over $250 million - the single largest maritime drug seizure in 18 years, and the largest ever in HITRON's history. This interdiction continued the Coast Guard's historic counter-drug operations through Operation Pacific Viper, including the seizure of over 200,000 pounds of cocaine along maritime smuggling routes from South and Central America since early August. After transiting through the Panama Canal, Munro took station in the Caribbean Sea, ready to conduct new tasking in support of Operation Southern Spear. Munro located and identified the dark fleet Motor Tanker Bella 1, a U.S. sanctioned vessel determined to be without nationality and subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Munro's crew continuously pursued the non-compliant vessel across the North Atlantic Ocean for 18-days and over 4,900-miles. The pursuit culminated with the boarding of Bella 1, where Munro worked in tandem with Department of War assets to seize control of the 333-meter crude oil carrier for further transfer to the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Homeland Security for disposition. "The service, our nation and our families can be extremely proud of Munro," said Capt. Jim O'Mara, Munro's commanding officer. "This crew rose to every new challenge thrown at them with professionalism and persistence, and they achieved historic results. This was a one-of-a-kind deployment for us, but it is also just one part of a much broader campaign and U.S. national strategy." "We could not have done this without support from partners, allies, and our families," said O'Mara. "Our families had to adapt to each new twist, just like all military families do across the Armed Forces. It is tough on them. But when they hold strong at home that keeps us motivated and focused on our mission. Now, we reunite with our loved ones, proud of what we accomplished and already preparing for the next mission." Commissioned in 2017, Munro is one of four U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class National Security Cutters homeported in Alameda, California. The cutter is named in honor of Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro - the only Coast Guardsman awarded the Medal of Honor - for his heroic actions on September 27th, 1942, when he gallantly sacrificed himself in the defense, rescue, and evacuation of 500 stranded U.S. Marines from Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on unsafe and unprofessional interaction with People's Liberation Army-Navy Issued by Defence Media 6 March 2026 The Australian Government has expressed its concerns to the Chinese Government following an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) helicopter. On 4 March 2026, HMAS Toowoomba was in international waters in the Yellow Sea undertaking routine activities as part of Operation Argos, Australia's contribution to the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. During these activities, an Australian Defence Force (ADF) MH-60R helicopter launched from HMAS Toowoomba was intercepted by a PLA-N helicopter. The PLA-N helicopter matched the ADF helicopter's altitude before closing in to an unsafe distance. The PLA-N helicopter moved slightly ahead, increased speed and then rolled towards the ADF helicopter, which required evasive action to maintain safe flight. This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to our aircraft and its personnel. HMAS Toowoomba and its embarked helicopter acted in accordance with international law at all times. While there were no injuries sustained by ADF personnel or damage caused to the MH-60R helicopter, the safety and wellbeing of our ADF personnel continues to be our utmost priority. Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner. For decades, the ADF has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region, and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus: The sixth meeting of the Consultative Group with democratic forces and civil society held in Brussels European External Action Service (EEAS) 06.03.2026 Brussels EEAS Press Team On 6 March, the Consultative Group between the European Union and Belarusian democratic forces and civil society organisations held their 6th meeting, in Brussels. The EU reaffirmed its strong support for the people of Belarus and their aspirations for a democratic, independent and sovereign Belarus. In the margins of the Consultative Group meeting, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Marta Kos met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of Belarus's democratic forces, Pavel Latushka, Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava. They reiterated the EU's unwavering support for Belarus's democratic future. During the meeting, participants discussed recent developments in Belarus, including its cooperation with and dependence on Russia, as well as the regime's role in supporting Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. They reflected on their shared goals of a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus as part of a peaceful and prosperous Europe. The EU reiterated its dual-track approach: maintaining pressure on the regime, including through targeted restrictive measures, while continuing to support the people of Belarus. The Consultative Group also addressed the ongoing human rights situation in the country, including the continued detention of nearly 1,150 political prisoners. Participants stressed the necessity of their immediate and unconditional release, as well as the need to ensure accountability for those responsible for systemic repression. They discussed recent releases of political prisoners and the challenges linked to their legal status and reintegration into society. The EU will continue to provide relocation, legal, medical and psychological support to victims of repression, including political prisoners and their families, through the Victims Facility. Participants took stock of concrete measures to foster democratic resilience, including in the context of the EU Democracy Shield, and through enhanced support to civil society, Belarusian independent media, CivicTech initiatives, youth mobility and access to education in the EU. Since the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections, the EU has mobilised 200 million to support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. The EU remains committed to supporting Belarusian independent media and civil society, and to pursuing justice for victims of oppression and accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations. The meeting brought together representatives of the EEAS, the European Commission and the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney speaks with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney March 5, 2026 Canberra, Australia Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah Il of Jordan. The leaders condemned the Iranian regime's missile and drone attacks on civilians across the Middle East. Prime Minister Carney expressed Canada's solidarity with Jordan in the face of these unprovoked attacks, and commended His Majesty on his defensive efforts. The Prime Minister conveyed his gratitude to His Majesty for his protection of the thousands of Canadians who live in Jordan and discussed ongoing efforts to assist Canadians to leave the region. They discussed opportunities for de-escalation and how to halt the expansion of the conflict. The leaders agreed that 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address His Majesty's Canadian Ship Yellowknife concludes sail on Operation CARIBBE National Defence News release March 6, 2026 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Yellowknife concluded its deployment on Operation CARIBBE, where it conducted detection and monitoring activities, and provided support to lawful operations against illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea. From January to March 2026, the crew of HMCS Yellowknife conducted sustained patrols in international waters, maintaining a persistent presence in key trafficking corridors. Working closely with the embarked United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), the ship contributed to multinational efforts to detect and track suspicious maritime activity and uphold international law in coordination with regional partners. Operation CARIBBE reflects Canada's longstanding commitment to supporting hemispheric security and countering transnational criminal networks. These collective efforts help reduce the flow of illicit narcotics toward North America and support safer communities across the region, including here in Canada. Quotes "His Majesty's Canadian Ship Yellowknife's deployment on Operation CARIBBE demonstrates Canada's sustained commitment to upholding international law and contributing to regional security in the Caribbean Sea. Maintaining a lawful and persistent presence at sea plays a critical role in deterring illicit trafficking and supporting our partners' efforts to counter transnational criminal networks. I commend the ship's company for their professionalism and dedication throughout this mission, which strengthens both our international partnerships and the safety of our communities." Commodore Jacob French, Acting Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic "The professionalism and interoperability of His Majesty's Canadian Ship Yellowknife crew and our embarked United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment is a testament to our enduring partnership with the Royal Canadian Navy. It takes a network to defeat a network, and that is why our collaboration is vital for disrupting the flow of illicit narcotics from reaching either of our nations." Vice Admiral Nathan Moore, Commander United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area "The sailors of His Majesty's Canadian Ship Yellowknife worked tirelessly throughout our deployment on Operation CARIBBE, maintaining vigilance during extended patrols and supporting our United States Coast Guard partners in their law enforcement role. Our presence forms part of a broader, longstanding multinational effort that deters traffickers and strengthens the maritime security framework of the region. I am extremely proud of the professionalism, teamwork, and steadfast commitment demonstrated by every member of the crew." Lieutenant-Commander Jeff Smith, Commanding Officer of HMCS Yellowknife Quick facts The CAF have contributed to Operation CARIBBE since 2006 and continue that contribution in 2026 as part of efforts to support the United States' Operation MARTILLO to disrupt illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Operation CARIBBE is solely focused on counternarcotics efforts and is conducted under the authority of established agreements with the USCG, which retains full law enforcement authority during interdictions. In 2025, CAF ships contributed to two successful Operation CARIBBE serials. HMCS Harry DeWolf supported the seizure of more than 750 kg of cocaine, and HMCS William Hall supported the seizure of more than 1,500 kg of cocaine, contributing to a total of more than 2,200 kg of illicit narcotics interdicted that year. Since 2006, the CAF has contributed to the disruption or seizure of more than 123 metric tonnes of cocaine. A 2010 Memorandum of Understanding between Canada and the United States allows USCG LEDETs to operate from CAF ships, enabling lawful interdiction operations under United States legal authority while enhancing interoperability and supporting regional maritime security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint statement on Canada-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney March 6, 2026 Tokyo, Japan We, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Japan, meet today to deepen the close and enduring partnership between our two countries. We recognise that bilateral relations between Canada and Japan are underpinned by shared values and principles such as respect for democracy and the rule of law, strong political and economic ties, and rich people-to-people and cultural links. We emphasise the importance of further strengthening these ties, focusing notably on our shared commitment to the fundamental values of multilateralism centred on the United Nations (UN), a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law, support for rules-based trade, and the expansion of our trade and investment partnership, including through the Japan-Canada Chambers Council, a Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan, as well as a Keidanren return visit to Canada. We welcome the deepening of our defence and security cooperation in recent months, through the entry into force of the Security of Information Agreement and the signing of the defence Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement. We also welcome the signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which will contribute to further strengthening cooperation in the field of criminal justice. We also celebrate our track record of collaboration in various international forums, including the G7. The international community stands at a turning point in history. Amidst a changing regional security environment, we renew our commitment to working together to address key challenges and pursue shared strategic interests. We underscore the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, or to take any other action contrary to international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. We reiterate that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award is final and legally binding on the parties to the dispute. We encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through constructive dialogue. We are deeply concerned that North Korea has reiterated its intent to expand its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We share serious concerns over North Korea's malicious cyber activities, including cryptocurrency thefts, and its increasing military cooperation with Russia, and underscore the need to address these challenges together. We urge North Korea to resolve the abductions issue immediately. We remain in close communication about the situation in the Middle East. We are committed to a just, lasting and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution. With regard to Ukraine, we reaffirm the inviolable principle of sovereignty, and are determined to achieve a just and lasting peace. Canada-Japan bilateral relations shape and are shaped by the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. To protect our joint interests, we must adapt our relationship in the face of new challenges and opportunities. In this context, we announce the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reiterate our shared determination to bring sustained energy, ambition, and depth to the relationship through enhanced interactions at all levels, including through regular mutual visits between leaders and ministers. With a view to giving practical application to our elevated partnership, we also establish a new Canada-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Roadmap, which will provide concrete direction for our future cooperation, on a renewed set of shared priorities, namely: Enhanced Security and Defence Cooperation; Economic Security, Supply Chains, and Technological Resilience; Trade and Investment; Energy Security and Food Security; Arctic, Environment and Climate Cooperation; and PeopletoPeople, Academic, and Cultural Exchanges. As part of this renewed cooperation, we are determined to build upon the framework provided by the Canada-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, Security of Information Agreement, and defence Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement. In this spirit, we will explore further opportunities to enable increasingly complex engagement between our respective forces. Additionally, we will seek to further strengthen our multilayered security partnership by addressing the growing threats in cyberspace. To this end, we instruct our respective officials to establish a bilateral Cyber Policy Dialogue to facilitate discussions amongst relevant ministries and agencies of both countries. Recognising the importance of accelerating cooperation amidst an international economic environment that is rapidly changing, Canada and Japan are uniquely positioned to grow prosperity for our citizens by leveraging our respective economic strengths in strategic sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, and food security. Our ability to build upon these opportunities and deepen our successful commercial relations is based on a partnership anchored in mutual trust and respect. To ensure our future success, we also commit to strengthening our economic security coordination and economic resilience, while acknowledging the imperative of ongoing collaboration in the face of technological innovation, evolving security challenges, growing pressures on supply chains, and challenges to maritime governance. To this end, we instruct our respective officials to launch a new bilateral Economic Security Dialogue, with a first meeting to be held this calendar year. Leveraging the significant progress achieved under the Shared Canada-Japan priorities announced in 2021 and the subsequent Canada-Japan Action Plan for contributing to a free and open IndoPacific region in 2022, we believe the new Comprehensive Strategic Roadmap will serve as an effective guide for ongoing collaboration, enhancing our joint resilience in the face of new challenges and opportunities. We direct our foreign ministers to coordinate across our respective ministries and agencies, and to oversee work under the Roadmap going forward. As we approach the centennial of bilateral relations in 2028, we will continue to work closely toward this historic milestone and a new chapter in our enduring relationship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on March 6, 2026 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 06, 2026 18:14 China News Service: The international community closely follows China's NPC and CPPCC Sessions, especially the target for GDP growth this year. Some say China's downward revision of the target is partially owing to the turmoil in the Middle East, the possible impact on energy supply and uncertainties in China-U.S. relations. What's your comment? Mao Ning: When delivering the report on the work of the government yesterday, Premier Li Qiang took stock of what China has achieved during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Gross domestic product (GDP) has taken a new leap with an annual growth of nearly RMB10 trillion. GDP increased by over RMB35 trillion for five years, equivalent to the GDP size of a medium-sized economy. These remarkable achievements have been made in a grave and complex landscape, where external shocks and challenges were intertwined with domestic difficulties and tough policy choices. This says a lot about the great resilience and vigor of China's economy. Looking forward, as Premier Li Qiang pointed out, we're clearly-eyed about the difficulties and challenges we face. Yet, the conditions underpinning China's long-term growth and underlying trend remain unchanged. More and more, China is demonstrating the strengths of its system and the strengths it has as a big country. As long as we fully tap our strengths and respond to challenges in the right way, we will surely open up even more promising prospects for China's development. We will fully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, move faster to foster a new pattern of development, and promote high-quality development. China will promote higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output. We will further expand high-standard opening up, stick to mutually beneficial cooperation, steadily advance institutional opening-up, and engage at a higher level in the global economy so that more people worldwide will benefit from China's development. The strategic focus, policy outcomes, vitality of development, and capacity for governance demonstrated in China's economic growth will provide much needed stability and certainty to a turbulent world. Bloomberg: Russia and China are supporting Iran "politically and otherwise." This is according to the Iranian foreign minister. Could you tell us what kind of support that China is providing, politically or otherwise, to Iran? Is there any military or dual use support? Mao Ning: China opposes the U.S. and Israel launching military strikes against Iran in violation of international law. We support Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity and in upholding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests. China always advocates resolving issues through political and diplomatic means. We call for an immediate stop to the military actions to prevent the conflict from spreading and spilling over and avoid further escalation of the situation. Reuters: China is in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Tehran intensifies. Diplomatic sources told Reuters. Is the Foreign Ministry able to confirm this? 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. CCTV: Airspace closures in some Middle East countries due to the current situation have caused massive travel disruptions, including among Chinese passengers. What steps has the Chinese government taken to provide assistance? Mao Ning: We attach high importance to Chinese passengers being stranded in Middle East countries. Since the strikes began, our Ministry has immediately activated emergency response mechanism, and instructed relevant diplomatic missions to engage with their host countries and do everything they can to provide assistance to stranded Chinese compatriots. The Foreign Ministry also urgently worked with the Civil Aviation Administration and other competent authorities for the early resumption of flights by airlines while ensuring safety. With the joint effort of various parties, positive progress has been made. On the night of March 4, nearly 300 Chinese nationals safely arrived in Guangzhou from Dubai via foreign flight. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines are gradually resuming round-trip flights to countries including the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia starting from March 5. We once again caution that the current situation in the Middle East remains complex and severe with high uncertainties. We remind Chinese nationals to avoid traveling to countries and regions affected by the military conflict and those who are already there to closely follow relevant information and depart promptly while flights are available. If any help is needed, please contact Chinese embassies and consulates or dial consular protection hotline 12308. Reuters: Australia's defense force says there has been an unsafe interaction with the Chinese helicopter in the Yellow Sea. Australia says its helicopter was confronted by a Chinese helicopter and they had to take evasive actions for their safety. Is the Australian account correct? Is the Chinese Foreign Ministry able to provide more information on what happened and did the Chinese military put the Australian military at risk? Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with that and would refer you to competent authorities. Ukrinform News Agency: Yesterday, Iran carried out a drone attack on an international airport in Azerbaijan, a country that was in no way involved in the U.S. and Israeli strikes. This is an escalation of the conflict beyond the Middle East region. How does the Foreign Ministry comment on this? Mao Ning: We are deeply concerned about the continued tense situation in the Middle East. The pressing priority now is to stop the military operations at once, prevent spillover of the conflict, and avoid further escalation. EFE: U.S. President Donald Trump has called Spain a "loser" and accused it of being hostile to NATO because of its position on defense spending and its refusal to allow the use of Spanish bases for operations against Iran. What is China's view of the current tensions between the two countries? Mao Ning: The U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran violate international law. The international community needs to jointly work for peace and cessation of the fighting and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East. Dragon TV: Elections for members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament were held in Nepal on March 5. Nepal's Election Committee held a press conference last night, announcing that the voting concluded smoothly and peacefully, and estimated turnout reached around 60 percent. What is China's comment? Mao Ning: China congratulates Nepal on concluding the voting for the House of Representatives elections steadily and as scheduled. We are glad to see Nepal advance its political agenda smoothly. As a traditionally friendly neighbor, China values its relations with Nepal. The two countries have given each other support in their effort to safeguard independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. China stands ready to work with Nepal to continue advancing the strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity. Ukrinform News Agency: Since the Iranian crisis started, Chinese officials made many statements that attacks on Iran are a violation of international law, that attacks on civilians are a red line. However, over the past four years when Ukrainian civilians suffered from the war, the Chinese side is silent and doesn't expresses simple human sympathy. So, my question is: can the Foreign Ministry explain such selectivity? Mao Ning: What you said is not true. It is China's consistent position to resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, not resort to the use of force arbitrarily, and protect civilians in military conflicts. On the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping laid out four points about what should be done. Most recently, he further outlined a three-point proposition. China released a position document on this issue as well. All of them fully reflect China's position, which you may refer to. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump claims Cuba will "fall pretty soon" People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:28, March 07, 2026 WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Friday that Cuba is going to "fall pretty soon," but his administration will focus on the ongoing war with Iran "right now." "They want to make a deal, and so I'm going to put Marco (Rubio) over there and we'll see how that works out," Trump said, referring to the U.S. secretary of state, in a phone interview with CNN. "We're really focused on this one right now. We've got plenty of time, but Cuba's ready -- after 50 years," he added. On Thursday, Trump said that it's only a "question of time before" people go back to Cuba. Cuba has been facing a severe economic and energy crisis since the United States forcibly seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3 and heavily disrupted Cuba's oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico. The United States and Israel have intensified their joint military attacks on Iran launched on Feb. 28, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada - Conversation between the Minister and his Canadian counterpart, Ms Anita Anand (5 mars 2026) France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke today to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Anita Anand. The ministers took stock of the escalation under way in the Middle East. They agreed to go on coordinating closely, in particular to guarantee the protection of their nationals in the region. The Minister emphasized the special situation of Lebanon and France's strong wish for infrastructure and civilians to be protected and Lebanon's territorial integrity respected. They also discussed the G7's priorities under the French presidency this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netherlands: the Minister's meeting with his Dutch counterpart, Mr Tom Berendsen (5 March 2026) France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres M. Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with his counterpart from the Netherlands, Mr Tom Berendsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Paris on Thursday 5 March 2026. On the sidelines of their participation in meeting of European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers today, the ministers signalled their concern over developments in the Middle East and the risk of destabilization in the region. They agreed to continue coordinating with a view to protecting their nationals, their interests and those of their partners. Coming a few days after the new government in The Hague took office, the visit testifies to the vitality of the relationship between France and the Netherlands and to the opportunities for cooperation existing in the fields of the economy, advanced technology, energy and defence. Border cooperation on the island of Saint-Martin - including the forthcoming signature of an agreement on the right of hot pursuit at sea, which will improve the fight against drug trafficking - was also discussed. The visit also confirmed the two countries' commitment to work for a more competitive, sovereign and resilient European Union, particularly as far as digital technology and supply chains are concerned. It provided an opportunity to note similar views about EU enlargement. The ministers reaffirmed their long-term support for Ukraine, particularly in the Coalition of the Willing, in the face of the war of aggression being waged by Russia, and their determination to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BEIRUT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- About 100 rockets and drones were launched from Lebanon toward Israel over the course of Saturday, while Israeli tanks advanced toward a southern Lebanese border town, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV channel reported, as cross-border hostilities intensified amid ongoing Israeli attacks on several areas across Lebanon. The Islamic Resistance, the armed wing of Hezbollah, said the projectiles were fired from Lebanese territory toward Israeli targets during the day. Israeli media reported that rockets continued to be launched from Lebanon toward northern Israeli settlements, with sirens sounding in Kiryat Shmona and Margaliot. Hezbollah said in separate statements that its fighters targeted radar systems of the Iron Dome air defense system at the Kiryat Eliezer site, described as the main air defense base in the city of Haifa, at 8:00 p.m. local time with a salvo of what it called "precision rockets." In another statement, the group said it also targeted the Stella Maris base, a strategic facility used for maritime monitoring and surveillance along Israel's northern coast, with a similar rocket barrage at the same time. The group also renewed its warning to residents of Nahariyya and Kiryat Shmona, urging them to evacuate. Meanwhile, Al-Manar TV reported that several Israeli Merkava tanks advanced from the Israeli settlement of Avivim toward the southern Lebanese town of Aitaroun. According to Al-Manar, the advancing Israeli force was met with a volley of rockets, while heavy machine-gun fire was heard in the Al-Zuqaq neighborhood on the outskirts of the town. Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel early Monday for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024, prompting the government to announce a ban on its security and military activities, limiting it to political work and obligating it to hand over its weapons. Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out intense airstrikes on multiple Lebanese areas and border ground incursions, accompanied by warnings for residents to evacuate areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. Azerbaijan - Iranian drone strike against Nakhchivan international airport (5 March 2026) France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres France condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian drone strike that targeted Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan this morning. France wishes the four people injured in the attack a speedy recovery. It expresses its wholehearted solidarity with Azerbaijan in the face of this unjustifiable attack, which is a flagrant violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and of international law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Spokesperson Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs In response to a media query regarding the measures taken to facilitate the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran and to support our citizens elsewhere in the region, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tahir Andrabi, stated the following: In light of the evolving regional situation, the Government of Pakistan has taken proactive measures to facilitate the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran and to support our citizens who are stranded at various locations abroad. The Crisis Management Unit (CMU) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is operating round the clock to monitor developments and extend the necessary assistance to Pakistani nationals. On the instructions of the Prime Minister, Special Facilitation Desks have been established at Pakistan's Missions abroad to assist stranded Pakistani nationals with visa facilitation, logistics, and travel arrangements. Missions have also launched dedicated applications, registration portals, and helplines to enable timely outreach and assistance. Pakistan's Missions are in close coordination with host governments to ensure the necessary consular facilitation for the Pakistani Diaspora. With the partial resumption of air connectivity, stranded Pakistanis have begun returning to their respective destinations through commercial flights. The Government of Pakistan remains fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of overseas Pakistanis and ensuring their safe and timely return. Emergency contact details of the Ministry and Pakistan's Missions are already available on the websites and were conveyed through the Ministry's Press Release dated 1 March 2026, which is available on the Ministry's website: https://mofa.gov.pk/press- releases/official-advisory-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-and-the-persian-gulf Islamabad March 05, 2026 62/2026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats issues statement on Iran's UAV attacks on Nakhchivan Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 06.03.2026 [19:06] Baku, March 6, AZERTAC The Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats of the Milli Majlis has issued a statement regarding UAV attacks on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. AZERTAC presents the statement: "On March 5, 2026, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was attacked from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with explosive warheads. One of the UAVs damaged the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another fell near a school building in Shakarabad village of Babek district. It was established that four civilians were injured in the attacks. We consider the targeting of the Airport, which is the only international air gateway of the Autonomous Republic, and civilian infrastructure as a violation of the norms and principles of international law, and an act of aggression and terrorism against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. The Commission also considers this treacherous act, carried out by Iran and combining military, political, and informational components, as a hybrid attack operation. At the same time, the dissemination of an information campaign supporting Iran's activities and spreading manipulative ideas has been observed in Azerbaijan's social media segments. There is no doubt that these attacks were carried out with the aim of creating confusion and fear among our citizens, undermining trust in relevant public institutions, and damaging Azerbaijan's regional position and international reputation. The Azerbaijani side reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures within the framework of international law. The Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats calls on Azerbaijani citizens and its compatriots living abroad to believe in the strength of the state and official information." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt rejects attacks targeting Gulf states, Jordan, Iraq, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 06.03.2026 [12:39] Baku, March 6, AZERTAC Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, held a phone call with Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to discuss relations between Egypt and the European Union as well as recent regional developments, the Egypt News Agency (MENA) reported. The two sides discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU and ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in investment and trade, including facilitating Egyptian exports to European markets and expanding cooperation with the private sector. They also exchanged views on the escalating situation in the region and stressed the importance of reducing tensions and pursuing diplomatic and political solutions. Abdelatty said Egypt rejects attacks targeting Gulf states, Jordan, Iraq, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan and warned of serious consequences if the conflict expands. Both sides agreed to continue coordination within the framework of the Egypt-EU strategic partnership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses drone attack on Nakhchivan, calls Iran for good neighborliness Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 06.03.2026 [11:18] Ankara, March 6, AZERTAC President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shared his thoughts on the drone attack against Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. During an iftar ceremony with artisans and entrepreneurs in Ankara, The Turkish President highlighted his telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in which he condemned Iran's drone attack on Nakhchivan. Regarding Wednesday's incident when a missile fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO defense units, Erdogan said Ankara showed its "sensitivity," and issued the "necessary warnings" to prevent a similar incident from reoccurring. "We emphasized the importance of recognizing Turkiye's friendship and its value," the president said. Stressing Turkiye's diplomatic efforts regarding the crisis in the region, he said, "we will continue our multi-dimensional diplomacy with the aim of preventing further bloodshed in our region and ensuring that no more innocent people are torn from life." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaints Against $15M in Funds Allegedly Linked to Iranian Oil Shipping Network Friday, March 6, 2026 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs The Department of Justice filed two civil forfeiture complaints today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against more than $15.3 million allegedly used to fund an illicit Iranian oil distribution network.According to the complaints, the funds are subject to forfeiture because they afford a person a source of influence over the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRGC Quds Force (IRGC-QF), and are intended to promote ongoing violations of U.S. sanctions imposed under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). The IRGC and the IRGC-QF are designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The complaints allege that Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Shamkhani) has operated a network consisting of companies and individuals (the Shamkhani Network) engaged in selling and shipping Iranian oil and other commodities in violation of U.S. sanctions and obfuscating the source of the oil and role of Iranian persons and entities in the transactions. According to the complaints, the funds in question were being used to operate multiple distribution companies in the Shamkhani Network. According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which sanctioned Shamkhani on July 30, 2025, Shamkhani is "the son of Ali Shamkhani, a top political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran." Ali Shamkhani is the former head of Iran's National Defense Council, according to the complaints. In sanctioning Shamkhani, OFAC stated that the Shamkhani Network "comprises a vast fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies some posing as legitimate financial services firms that launder billions in profits from global sales of Iranian and Russian crude oil and other petroleum products, most often to buyers in China." OFAC further stated that "[t]he network employs significant measures to disguise its operations and obfuscate its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and Russia." "Under President Trump's leadership, we have ZERO tolerance for foreign actors using the U.S. financial system to prop up our nation's enemies," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This defendant was allegedly supporting the IRGC with millions of dollars in violation of U.S. sanctions he will now pay a heavy price." "Today's civil forfeiture complaints illustrate the Criminal Division's steadfast mission to prevent Iranian-backed shadow companies from using the U.S. financial system to support terrorist organizations, in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran," said Assistant Attorney General Tysen A. Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Shamkhani and the Shamkhani Network allegedly attempted to clandestinely use U.S. financial institutions to enrich themselves by evading sanctions on Iran and benefit Iran's terrorist networks. The Department of Justice will use all of the tools at our disposal to prevent the U.S. banking system from being used in any manner to support Iran and its terrorist operations." "Shamkhani runs a vast network of shell companies used to evade U.S. sanctions and launder funds for the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. "Today's forfeiture actions reflect the National Security Division's commitment to dismantling the illicit financial networks that have helped to enable Iran to oppress its own people at home and sow instability abroad, including through funding terrorism worldwide." "We will continue to aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime that has sowed instability and violence in the Middle East," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. "Working with our partners, we will dismantle the Iranian regime's ability to fund its illicit activities by seizing and forfeiting any funds that the regime launders through the U.S. financial system." "Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani and his network allegedly violated U.S. sanctions by running an illegal scheme to sell millions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil, and today's forfeiture complaints seek to seize funds that would otherwise enrich Shamkhani and benefit international terrorist organizations," said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. "The FBI will not sit back and watch as criminal actors threaten the integrity of our financial systems and jeopardize U.S. national and economic security. With our partners at home and abroad, we will continue following the money and hold accountable all who attempt to undermine international sanctions and fund terrorists." "By working alongside our law enforcement partners, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is fulfilling its mission to investigate and dismantle illicit financial networks that attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions and support foreign terrorist organizations," said Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of the HSI Washington, D.C. Field Office. "The Shamkhani Network's efforts to launder millions of dollars through front companies underscore the importance of our work to protect the integrity of the financial system and prevent funds from reaching dangerous criminals. I commend our HSI Washington, D.C. special agents for their hard work and dedication to this effort." "IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) remains steadfast in pursuing those who exploit the financial system to support terrorist organizations," said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office. "We will follow the money, wherever it leads, to protect national security. Today's filing demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system." According to the complaint filed in case 26-cv-802, $12,973,529 of the seized funds were intended for use by Wellbred Capital Pte, Ltd. (Wellbred) and its subsidiary Wellbred Trading DMCC (Wellbred Trading), two companies that were acquired and operated by Shamkhani and his associates to maintain a "brand" that was not publicly perceived to be affiliated with Shamkhani or Iran. As alleged in the complaint, despite this public-facing image, Wellbred and Wellbred Trading were actually operated by Shamkhani and his close associates, not the nominal leadership of those companies, for the benefit of the Shamkhani Network and Iran. Shamkhani maintained organizational charts and diagrams showing Wellbred's place in the Shamkhani Network: Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00802, paragraph 63 Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00802, paragraph 63 Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00802, paragraph 67 Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00802, paragraph 67 According to complaint 1:26-cv-00807, $2,400,000 of the seized funds were intended for use by Sea Lead Shipping Pte, Ltd. (Sea Lead) and its affiliate entity, Sea Lead Shipping Agency India PV (Sea Lead India). As alleged in the complaint, Sea Lead and Sea Lead India were intended to provide shipping services to the Shamkhani Network. The complaint alleges that, as with Wellbred, Shamkhani maintained organizational charts showing Sea Lead's place in the Shamkhani Network: Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00807, paragraph 66 Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00807, paragraph 66 The FBI Minneapolis Field Office; HSI Washington D.C. Field Office; and IRS-CI Global Illicit Finance Team (GIFT) are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney Peter M. Nothstein and Trial Attorneys Mark H. Goldberg, Katlin K. O'Brien and Jonathan C. Lowry of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section (MNF); Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Barry for the District of Columbia; and Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Controls Section (CES) are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government. Components: Office of the Attorney General Criminal Division Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - District of Columbia Press Release Number: 26-222 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Intelligence Agent Convicted of Terrorism and Murder for Hire in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate U.S. Politicians and Government Officials Friday, March 6, 2026 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Today, a federal jury convicted Asif Merchant, also known as "Asif Raza Merchant," of murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Merchant was a trained operative of the Iranian government's global terrorist force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Merchant admitted at trial that the IRGC sent him to the United States to arrange for political assassinations and steal documents, but law enforcement foiled the plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant arrived in the United States in April of 2024, met with purported hitmen in Junewho were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers in New Yorkand was placed under arrest before leaving the country in July of 2024. Merchant faces up to life in prison. "This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "The Department of Justice will remain ever-vigilant to protect Americans, prosecute terrorists, and halt acts of terrorism before they happen." "Merchant tried to hire someone to kill a politician or a U.S. government official, but the FBI and our partners stopped that deadly plot," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "This was not the first attempt by Iran to harm our citizens on U.S. soil; the other efforts also failed. Let this verdict serve as a reminder that the FBI is committed to detecting such threats and preventing acts of violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who tries to interfere with our democratic system." "Merchant, a trained Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operative, entered the United States intending to commit acts of terror, and ultimately, to facilitate the assassination of U.S. government officials, including President Trump," said Assistant Attorney General for National security John A. Eisenberg. "Merchant's plot struck at the heart of our democracy and our commitment to the rule of law. NSD remains committed to defending our Nation from the pernicious threat of terrorism." "Iran's terrorist regime sent Asif Merchant here to sow mayhem and murder," stated United States Attorney Nocella for the Eastern District of New York. "Thanks to the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, his scheme ended in failure. Today, with Merchant's conviction, that failure is complete. This Office will always remain vigilant in our mission to protect the United States from foreign terrorist adversaries. " As set forth in trial exhibits and testimony, including the defendant's own testimony, Merchant began working for the IRGC in Pakistan in late 2022 or early 2023, when he received training in tradecraft, including countersurveillance. Later in 2023, he was sent to the United States to look for potential IRGC recruits who could stay behind in the United States. Merchant testified that he knew that the IRGC was a designated terrorist organization. Throughout this period, Merchant repeatedly traveled to Iran to meet with his IRGC handler. Merchant testified that in 2024, he was sent back to the United States with a new mission: to recruit "Mafia" members to steal documents, stage a protest, and arrange the murder of one of three specific U.S. government officials and politicians. To that end, Merchant contacted an acquaintance in New York who he thought could help him with his scheme. That person, Nadeem Ali, instead reported Merchant's conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source. In early June, Merchant met Ali in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told Ali that he had an ongoing opportunity for him and then made a "finger gun" motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be "targeted here," in the United States. Merchant instructed Ali to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions. Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target's home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official. At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed Ali on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked Ali to explain how the target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told Ali that there would be "security [] all around" the person. Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with Ali from overseas using code words. Ali asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified "party" back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to "finalize" the plan and leave the United States. Merchant would later testify that the "party" was his IRGC handler. In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies and for them to kill a "political person." Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill after Merchant had departed the United States. Throughout this period, Merchant performed internet searches for the locations of political rallies and sent reports back to his IRGC handler regarding security protocols at rallies. Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, "now we're bonded," to which Merchant responded "yes." The UC then stated "Now we know we're going forward. We're doing this," to which Merchant responded "Yes, absolutely." Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On that day, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. The FBI's Field Offices in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and Albany for partnered in the investigation of this case. The New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted with the investigation. The case is being handled by the Office's National Security & Cybercrime Section for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Nina Gupta and Gilbert Rein for the Eastern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Deputy Chief Paul Casey and Trial Attorney Jessica Joyce of the Department of Justice's Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division. Topics: Counterterrorism National Security Components: Office of the Attorney General National Security Division (NSD) USAO - New York, Eastern Press Release Number: 26-225 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HE GCCSG Discusses Regional Developments with the Moroccan Foreign Minister and Morocco's Condemnation of Treacherous Iranian Attacks on GCC States General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council Mar 06, 2026 General Secretariat - Riyadh His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), discussed with His Excellency Mr Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad of the Kingdom of Morocco, during a telephone call held today, Friday, March 6, 2026, the unprecedented developments in the region. Their discussions focused particularly on the brutal Iranian attacks targeting the GCC states and the dangerous implications these actions hold for regional and global security and stability. During the call, His Excellency the Moroccan Minister underlined the Kingdom of Morocco's strongest condemnation of these brutal Iranian attacks. He expressed his country's full solidarity and its stance alongside the GCC states in confronting everything that threatens their security, stability, and sovereignty. For his part, His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi expressed his appreciation and gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco, for the Kingdom's steadfast and supportive position toward the GCC states, which enhances their security and preserves their sovereignty. His Excellency emphasised that GCC-Moroccan relations represent an advanced model of strategic partnership and cooperation based on deep-rooted historical and brotherly ties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM responds to question on what support China provides to Iran and whether it involves military support Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 06, 2026 04:01 PM China opposes the military strikes against Iran by the US and Israel in violation of international law, and supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity, and in defending its legitimate rights and interests, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. She made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked what kind of support China has provided to Iran politically or otherwise and whether it involves military or other forms of support as the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that Russia and China support Iran politically and otherwise. China always advocates resolving issues through political and diplomatic means, calls for an immediate end to military actions, prevents the spread and spillover of the conflict, and avoids further escalation of the situation, the spokesperson added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM responds to reports that China is in talks with Iran over safe passage for crude oil, Qatari LNG vessels through Strait of Hormuz Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 06, 2026 03:57 PM When asked to comment on reports that China is in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters are vital international routes for trade in goods and energy. Maintaining security and stability in this region serves the common interests of the international community, Mao added. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, avoid further escalation of tensions, prevent regional turbulence and avoid greater impacts on global economic development, the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it attacked a refinery in Israel's Haifa on Saturday night in retaliation for a U.S.-Israeli strike on its own energy infrastructure. In a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said the Haifa refinery was hit by Kheibarshekan missiles in response to the attack. Meanwhile, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said energy infrastructure in the country came under the U.S.-Israeli attacks Saturday night. A number of oil depots in the provinces of Tehran and Alborz were hit by missiles and caught fire, the company said, adding that firefighting teams are containing the fire. Tehran came under a new wave of heavy attacks Saturday night, with huge explosions heard in different parts of the Iranian capital. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing the country's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as many others, including some of the leader's family members, high-ranking military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. Commenting on the attacks, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said on Saturday the United States and Israel aim to disintegrate and divide the country. He called on U.S. President Donald Trump to accept that he has made a mistake and been deceived by Israel. "The Americans left a scar on the hearts of our people. We will not let go of them," Larijani said. In an interview with the Independent Arabia, which was published on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said he and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud are in constant contact with each other. He added that Saudi officials have assured Iran that they are fully committed to not letting their territory, airspace or waters be used against Iran. Telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian March 6, 2026 22:30 During the telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian Vladimir Putin has once again expressed his heartfelt condolences on the assassination of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei along with his family members and the country's military and political leadership, as well as the numerous civilian casualties resulting from the United States and Israel's armed aggression against Iran. Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution. In this regard, the President of Russia noted that he was in constant contact with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's solidarity with the Iranian people as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country. He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict. It was agreed that contact will be maintained with the Iranian side via various channels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN experts strongly condemn deadly missile strike on girls' school in Iran, call for independent investigation Press releases Special Procedures 06 March 2026 GENEVA -- UN experts* today expressed profound shock and grief after a girls' primary school in Minab, in Iran's Hormozgan province, was struck during the United States of America's and Israeli military attacks on 28 February 2026, reportedly killing at least 165 schoolgirls and injuring many others. "A strike on a school represents a grave assault on children, on education, and on the future of an entire community," the experts said. "There is no excuse for killing girls in a classroom." According to reports, a missile struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school during school hours. The victims were mainly girls aged between 7 and 12, and large parts of the school building were destroyed while classes were underway. This attack occurred amid escalating hostilities in the region. Schools are civilian objects and children are expressly protected under international humanitarian law, the experts underlined. Directing attacks against civilian objects, including schools, unless they become military objectives, is prohibited under treaty and customary international humanitarian law, and indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited. Intentional attacks on educational buildings that are not military objectives are war crimes listed in the Rome Statute under article 8. "An attack on a functioning school during class hours raises the most serious concerns under international law and must be urgently, independently, and effectively investigated, with accountability for any violations," the experts said. "Civilians must never be treated as collateral." They stressed that girls still face gendered and intersecting barriers to education in different contexts, including insecurity, discrimination, poverty, and restrictions on safe access to learning. "The reported destruction of a school and the killing of girls in a classroom is among the most flagrant examples of how conflict can steal girls' futures in an instant, extinguishing not only young lives, but also the hopes, agency, and opportunities education makes possible," the experts said. They noted that the reported attack unfolds against a backdrop of entrenched, systematic gender-based discrimination in Iran that has profoundly affected women's and girls' right to life and their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, from marriage, divorce and inheritance to access to justice. Women continue to be executed under the qisas system for homicide, often after killing partners in the context of domestic violence, sexual abuse and child marriage. Meanwhile, discriminatory laws shield male perpetrators of femicide from standard penalties, by allowing claims of so-called "honour", a woman's perceived disobedience, or her attempt to leave a marriage to serve as justification. During the nationwide protests that began in December 2025, over 200 children, including girls, were reportedly killed by security forces, many others remain arbitrarily detained, including children, and are reportedly facing the death penalty. "Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and the survivors who now face unimaginable trauma," the experts said. "The killing of children can never be justified." The experts reiterated their call for an immediate end to hostilities and urged all parties to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect civilians, especially women and girls, guarantee accountability through an independent and impartial investigation, and provide effective redress for victims. "During armed conflict, education must be prioritised as much as other lifesaving responses, as it provides protection, resilience and social cohesion," the experts said. *The experts: 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 Mai Sato , Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran , Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education 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 organisation, 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/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Navy fires missile towards USS Abraham Lincoln after promise of revenge Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 11:42 PM Iran's Navy has launched a coast-to-sea missile towards the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) aircraft carrier following a pledge by the Army to avenge those martyred during an American strike against an Iranian naval frigate. "A powerful missile system belonging to the Navy fired a coast-to-sea missile towards the USS Abraham Lincoln a few minutes ago," reports carried by various Iranian outlets said, citing the Army's Public Relations Office. The development followed an earlier attack on the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dena by the United States Navy. In a statement released on Thursday, the Army said the vessel was struck nearly 2,000 miles away from the battlefield, while on a training mission. According to the statement, cadets on board the ship had been participating in the multinational Milan 2026 naval exercise in India and were returning when the attack occurred. It denounced the strike as "cowardly," saying it resulted in the martyrdom of young students returning from the peace exercise, and showed that global arrogance abides by none of the international rules. "The martyrdom of those dear young men will only strengthen the resolve of the great Iranian nation and the fighters of Islam to avenge the pure blood of their comrades," the statement said. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned the strike in a message posted on X, reminding that the frigate "was struck in international waters without warning." "Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set." The missile launch reported on Friday also came after earlier confrontations involving the same US aircraft carrier. A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest operational command unit, previously said the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy had targeted the carrier in the Sea of Oman using domestically produced drones. According to the spokesperson, the carrier was intercepted about 340 kilometers from Iran's maritime borders after moving into the area as part of a US military buildup. "The carrier group has since retreated more than 1,000 kilometers away from the region," the official said, adding that the US presence had failed to achieve its objective of intimidation. The United States deployed the carrier to regional waters before launching its latest bout of unprovoked aggression together with the Israeli regime against the Iranian soil. Iranian Armed Forces have responded decisively, with the IRGC deploying hundreds of ballistic missiles and attack drones against regional American outposts as well as numerous sensitive and strategic targets throughout the occupied territories. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'We will crush you': Iran Armed Forces warn Iraqi Kurdistan against cooperation with US, Israel Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 9:29 PM The spokesman for the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces issues a stark warning to the senior authorities in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq against cooperating with the United States and the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic. Speaking during a televised interview on Friday, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi cautioned the officials that any cooperation with Washington or Tel Aviv would bear severe consequences. "If you cooperate with the United States and the Zionist regime, we will crush you; you will be trampled under our feet and will never enjoy security again," he said. The spokesman also warned against allowing terrorist groups to use the region's territory as a corridor. "If the leaders of Iraq's northern region open a corridor for these [terrorist] groups, we will strike all the infrastructure and facilities of this region; we will show no mercy to our enemies." 'US military grappling with serious hardware depletion' The official also noted that the United States was facing a severe shortage of weaponry, despite deploying the full scale of its military might to the West Asia region to try to target the Islamic Republic. "They have tested all their weapons. They have even brought out weapons that had been stored away for a third world war, yet they are still facing shortages." He added that, given the current weakened state of the American military, Washington could face difficulties if it became involved in another conflict. "If the United States were to enter another conflict with other countries tomorrow, it would face serious difficulties. That is because they have brought all their capabilities into the battlefield so that they would not be disgraced. Yet fortunately they have already been disgraced, and they will suffer even greater disgrace." '14 US outposts hit during counterstrikes' According to Shekarchi, Iranian counterattacks have targeted more than a dozen American military installations across the region. "So far, 14 American military bases have been struck by Iran. [This is while,] they spent billions of dollars to establish dominance over the West Asia region and implemented advanced technologies and capabilities in those bases." As a case in point, the spokesman cited an incident that had occurred earlier in the day at the US base in Bahrain, saying details of the reprisal that targeted the facility would shortly be reported across the media. 'Targeted sites lie in ruins; may take years to recover' The sheer intensity of the Iranian retaliation had prompted the US to constantly need to evacuate dead and wounded Americans from the targeted outposts, the spokesman said, adding American facilities in the Persian Gulf kingdom had suffered a specially high number of casualties. The damage inflicted on US bases would take years to repair, he underscored. "The current condition of these bases is such that many of them cannot be rebuilt for at least the next five years. Many of them have been turned into ruins. All of the investments the United States made over more than 50 years have been destroyed." 'US facing two options: Defeat, surrender' He argued that the situation leaves Washington with limited options in the conflict. "For this reason, the United States has absolutely no option, but defeat and surrender in the war it has started," the official said, adding, "What has happened to the United States over the past few days is unprecedented in the entire history of America." "The US military is a demoralized and exhausted force." Warning to regional countries In light of the current state of affairs, Shekarchi said, regional countries should reconsider hosting US military bases. "Countries in the region must understand that US bases bring them insecurity rather than security." This is while, despite posing "a serious threat to the United States and Israel," the Islamic Republic poses no threat to the regional countries. "So far, we have caused absolutely no damage to the nations of the region and have not targeted the sovereignty of any country." 'Reprisal to intensify every day' He went on to caution that the Islamic Republic was poised to intensify its retaliation against American and Israeli targets. "Our attacks against the United States and the Zionist regime will intensify every day," the spokesman said, and underlined, "We will unveil more surprises for the United States and the Zionist regime." 'Iran faces no constraints in striking Zionist regime' "We place no limitations on striking the Zionist regime," the official stated. "We will certainly employ our more advanced weapons and will bring good news to our nation," Shekarchi said, noting that no degree of censorship has been capable of hiding the true extent of the human and material losses that have been suffered by the enemies. Position on the Strait of Hormuz The spokesman, meanwhile, said Iran had not blocked maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, except for the traffic featuring vessels affiliated to Washington or Tel Aviv. The vessels, he stressed, "will certainly be struck." The remarks came less than a week after the US and the regime started their new bout of unprovoked aggression against the Iranian soil. The atrocities have prompted decisive and unrelenting retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) against numerous strategic and sensitive American and Israeli targets. Codenamed Operation True Promise 4, the strikes have hit targets lying deep inside the cities of Tel Aviv and the holy occupied city of al-Quds, besides hitting such American interests as the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and a US destroyer sailing in the Indian Ocean, hundreds of kilometers away from the Iranian shore. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes, awaits US escort of oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz: IRGC spox Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 8:51 PM Iran strongly welcomes the escorting of oil tankers and the claimed presence of US forces to ensure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini made the remarks on Thursday, responding to recent statements by the US president and the White House spokesperson. "Iran strongly welcomes the escorting of oil tankers and the claimed presence of US forces to facilitate passage through the Strait of Hormuz," he remarked. "In fact, we are awaiting their arrival." Brigadier General Naeini further said Iran recommends that before taking such a decision, Americans recall the incident in 1987 when the American supertanker Bridgeton struck a mine and caught fire, as well as tankers that have been targeted recently. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary to help restore the flow of oil exports amid heightened regional tensions sparked by the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran. He even offered political risk insurance for oil and gas tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to help ease rapidly surging energy prices amid the war against Iran. "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," Trump wrote in a social media post. "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." With hundreds of vessels currently stranded in the Persian Gulf, analysts wonder whether the US has sufficient naval assets in the region to ensure their safe passage at a time when the Iranian Navy has asserted its complete dominance in the regional waters. Iran has not yet closed the strategic waterway lying between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, but has targeted some oil tankers affiliated with the US and the Israeli regime. The US and the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Saturday, which led to the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and some top-ranking military commanders. The aggression came in the middle of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington mediated by the Omani government and was widely condemned. In response, Iranian armed forces have carried out multiple waves of retaliatory operations against the Israeli military sites deep inside the occupied territories as well as US military bases across the region using advanced missiles and drones. According to media reports, US oil prices have jumped 28 percent this week to top $86 a barrel following Iranian retaliatory strikes on oil tankers affiliated with the US and the Israeli regime that have brought ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill. The narrow waterway serves as the only maritime passage in and out of the Persian Gulf. According to energy consulting firm Kpler, more than 14 million barrels of crude passed through it daily in 2025, accounting for roughly one-third of all oil exported by ship worldwide. Earlier on Thursday, in a TV interview, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, affirmed that Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iranian naval forces will not prevent any ship from passing through the strategic waterway, but those affiliated with the US and the Israeli regime "will definitely be struck." IRGC on Monday said two Iranian drones hit a US-allied Athens Nova fuel tanker, setting it ablaze in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israeli aggression. The Trump administration has refused to comment on when the Strait of Hormuz will be safe for commercial shipping again, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt giving vague answers to questions from reporters on Wednesday. "I don't want to commit to a timeline, but certainly it's something that is being calculated actively by both the Department of War and the Department of Energy," she said. Tensions at sea have further escalated after the US Navy attacked an Iranian warship in international waters near Sri Lanka on Thursday, in a cowardly act of terrorism. The frigate Dena was en route to Iran after taking part in a naval exercise in India on the invitation of the Indian government when the incident occurred. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's president hails Kurds, urges action against separatists Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 8:38 AM Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised the people of western Kordestan Province for supporting the country in the current critical juncture amid the illegal US-Israeli aggression, urging action against separatist militants. In an X post on Friday, Pezeshkian expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in the criminal strikes launched by the US and Israeli regime on the country. He further noted the Kordestan governor and the Armed Forces protecting the country's sovereignty are required to decisively counter separatist movements. The US and Israel began their brutal act of aggression against Iran on Saturday morning by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in violation of the country's sovereignty. So far, at least 1,230 Iranian people have been people killed in the terrorist air raids. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the unlawful military assault by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US assets in regional countries. After suffering heavy blows, Washington has declared support for armed separatists to attack Iran. Also on Friday, Iran's Parliament spokesman Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf took to X to warn the US and the separatists. "The US wants to gamble all its assets for defending the criminal Israeli regime. Anyone who is sane does not enter this deathtrap," he wrote. "If insignificant separatist go to the lengths and put their foot wrong, they will once again be sent to the history's dustbin." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-Israeli barbaric aggression targets civilians, including children: Health ministry Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 6:00 PM Iran's Health Ministry spokesman has called on the international community to take action against the barbaric US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, stating that they are targeting civilians, including children and healthcare workers. Hossein Kermanpour said that, as of Friday noon, 13 percent of those injured in the aggression are women. He noted that more than 2,000 of the injured are currently receiving treatment at hospitals, where over 625 surgeries have been performed for the wounded so far. According to the statement, the youngest victim is a four-month-old baby girl who was injured in Pol-e Dokhtar, while the oldest is a 94-year-old woman from Saqqez. The total number of the injured included 552 under 18 and 54 under 5, the spokesman said. Most injuries, Kermanpour said, include head trauma, severe burns, amputations and fractures. Meanwhile, he added that those killed by the strikes included 198 women. The youngest person who lost their life was an eight-month-old baby from Robat Karim, while the oldest person was an 88-year-old person from Tehran. Among the deaths, 200 were under 18 and six were under five. The spokesman noted that the war has taken a heavy toll on the healthcare system, saying that eight healthcare workers were killed and 30 others were injured. The aggression has so far affected and damaged 11 hospitals, eight emergency medical bases and 12 ambulances, he added. Among the targeted health care sites is an emergency medical base in Zibashahr, near Shiraz. The missile attack on the facility killed three emergency medical technicians, who were providing life-saving assistance to civilians, and completely destroyed the emergency response facility. The spokesman stressed that attacks on medical personnel and facilities "undermine the protection of healthcare and raise serious humanitarian concerns." Noting that the aggression has been targeting civilians, including children, and healthcare facilities, Kermanpour called on the international community to break its silence on these crimes. The US and Israel started the latest round of aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country. The Saturday attacks led to the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The aggression was launched as Tehran and Washington had held three rounds of indirect negotiations in the Omani capital of Muscat and the Swiss city of Geneva and planned to open technical talks in Vienna, Austria. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases in regional countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian missiles, drones dominate skies over the occupied territories: Military spox Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 5:42 PM Iranian missiles and drones are dominating the skies over the occupied territories as the war escalates, according to the spokesperson for Iran's armed forces. In a video message on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Israel's missile system power has been decreased significantly after the Iranian Armed Forces succeeded in targeting the radar systems of Israel's missile shield. He added that the Iranian Armed Forces have maintained their preparedness to continue heavier attacks on the "child-killing" Israeli regime and the criminal United States and will carry out more acts of aggression against enemies based on pre-determined plans. "While targeting all the interests and resources of the US and Zionist regime (Israel), the Islamic Republic of Iran will make its utmost efforts to preserve security in the Strait of Hormuz and prevent any damage to the regional countries," Zolfaghari emphasized. The spokesman noted that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy targeted the US MQ9 drone base and smoke is rising from it. His remarks came at a time of heightened tensions, following unprovoked US and Israeli aggression against Iran, which started on February 28, some eight months after they carried out military aggressions on the country. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching waves of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases in regional countries. Zolfaghari also warned that the Iranian Armed Forces will strongly hit any base being used by the US and Israel to act against the Islamic Republic or carry out military activities. He said the Iranian Armed Forces are in full intelligence command and closely monitoring all moves along the country's borders. He also cautioned officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan region that any move or cooperation to deploy the enemy forces along Iran's border will be responded to powerfully. The commander reiterated Iran's commitment to respect the national sovereignty of the countries in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC shatters US-Israeli propaganda with new operations to punish aggressors Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 5:29 PM The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has decisively shattered the US and Israeli propaganda of weakened Iran's defensive capabilities by effectively launching the new wave of Operation True Promise 4 to confront the barbaric US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic. In a statement on Friday, the IRGC's Public Relations Department stated that the latest wave commenced on Friday afternoon under the sacred code name "Ya Hossein ibn Ali (AS)", invoking the spirit of resistance and justice. "The flawless execution of these launches from the unbreakable chain of IRGC missile bases, now on the seventh day of this imposed war, has decisively shattered the arrogant propaganda of global oppression claiming Iran's defensive capabilities are weakening or that missile and drone operations are faltering," the IRGC emphasized The operation unleashed a devastating barrage of advanced Khorramshahr-4, Kheibar, and Fattah missiles, striking deep into the heart of the occupied territories and targeting the criminal positions of the American terrorists and the Zionist regime. From the Persian Gulf to Tel Aviv, this wave delivered precise and overwhelming strikes with drones and missiles in retaliation for the heinous child-killing crimes committed against Iran's innocent children, most notably the martyrdom of 171 girl students at the Shajareh Tayyibah school in Minab, a horrific massacre perpetrated from US bases in the region. The IRGC highlighted the deployment of the ultra-heavy Khorramshahr-4 missile, one of Iran's most formidable weapons, directed squarely at the wicked enemies who have dared to spill Iranian blood. Key targets included American and Israeli regime bases across the Persian Gulf, military centers in Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, and installations in Haifa, all hammered by Iran's new-generation precision missiles. The barrage achieved complete success in obliterating radar systems, air traffic control facilities, satellite stations, and fuel supply depots at the Al Udeid Air Base, the notorious lair of American terrorists in the region. In a major blow, precision strikes and drone swarms on the Al Dhafra Air Base, from which the cowardly attack on the Shajareh Tayyibah school was launched, destroyed its advanced early warning radar and other critical infrastructure. Since the criminal US-Zionist regimes launched their unprovoked coordinated assaults on February 28, bombing Iranian cities, schools, hospitals, and civilian sites, more than 1,300 martyrs have been claimed across the nation. In recent days, millions of grieving yet defiant Iranian mourners have held funerals in Tehran and cities nationwide for the hundreds of innocent victims, their resolve only strengthened by these sacrifices. Senior Iranian officials have condemned these deliberate attacks on civilian and cultural sites as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and undeniable war crimes by the aggressor regimes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Don't tie your security to Trump's lies', Qalibaf tells US allies after carrier retreat Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 3:26 PM Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has warned US allies against relying on Washington's "lies" as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has immediately left the battle scene and retreated after being hit by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The IRGC Navy on Thursday successfully targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier using advanced domestically-produced drones, forcing the strike group into a rapid retreat near Iranian territorial waters. The vessel had moved into the area, part of the US military buildup against Iran, with the intent to monitor and control the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing war. In a post on a social network platform on Friday, Qalibaf said the US created a "fuss" about USS Abraham Lincoln to exert pressure on Iran but the vessel left the battle scene and withdrew in the first confrontation with Iranian missiles and drones. "A vessel which was supposed to defend security and stability of the US allies cannot even defend itself in the face of some drones and escapes!" the top Iranian parliamentarian added. "It is essential for America's allies and the media to investigate this matter so that they do not tie their own security and that of American soldiers to the lies of [US President Donald] Trump and [Israeli regime's prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu," he added. The retreat of the Lincoln strike group comes at a time of heightened tensions, following unprovoked US and Israeli aggression against Iran, which started on February 28. The attack on the US carrier came in the wake of the US attack on Frigate Dena of the Iranian Army in the waters near Sri Lanka while on its way back from India. More than 120 Iranian sailors were on board the ship at the time of the cowardly attack, which has been widely condemned in Iran and outside. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ACCRA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ghanaian government has lodged a formal protest with the United Nations, urging an immediate and impartial probe into the circumstances leading to a missile strike that hit the Ghanaian battalion serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a statement disclosed on Saturday. In the statement, the government described the attack as a grave violation of international law that could amount to a war crime, which "affronts the protection afforded to the United Nations peacekeeping personnel." "Ghana strongly condemned this attack and further demanded the identification and accountability of those responsible," the release revealed. "Ghana further urged the United Nations to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of members of the Ghanaian contingent serving under UNIFIL as well as all personnel under the mission, who at great personal risk make daily sacrifices in the service of humanity," it added. The release assured members of the Ghanaian contingent that the government would spare no effort in pursuing justice on their behalf and ensure that their security is improved. Two Ghanaian soldiers serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon were critically injured on Friday after missiles struck their base amid ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Iran's response to mediation efforts is 'clear': President Pezeshkian Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 2:10 PM Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has affirmed that several countries have initiated mediation efforts to halt the brutal, imposed war waged against the Islamic Republic by the United States and the Israeli regime. In a post on the social media platform X on Friday, President Pezeshkian said, "Some countries have begun mediation efforts and our response to them is clear." He stressed that these efforts must target the true aggressors, the US and Israel, who launched this unprovoked aggression. He reiterated Iran's unwavering commitment to "lasting" peace in the region, declaring, "Yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity, sovereignty, and the rights of our great people." The president emphasized that any genuine mediation must confront those who underestimated the resilience of the Iranian nation and deliberately ignited this war through their criminal attacks. The US and the Israeli regime unleashed a new wave of savage aerial aggression against Iran on February 28, barely eight months after their previous unprovoked assaults on the country. These barbaric strikes resulted in the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khameneia profound loss for the Islamic Ummah and a heinous crime against humanity. In response, the Iranian government declared 40 days of national public mourning and seven days of official holidays to honor the Supreme Leader's martyrdom and rally the nation in unity and resolve. These latest aggressions came even as Tehran and Washington had engaged in three rounds of indirect negotiations in the Omani capital of Muscat and the Swiss city of Geneva, with plans underway for technical talks in Vienna, Austriademonstrating Iran's consistent pursuit of diplomacy despite relentless hostility. Unyielding in the face of this aggression, Iran has launched powerful and precise retaliatory barrages of missiles and drones targeting military sites in the Israeli-occupied territories and US bases across the region, exercising its legitimate right to self-defense and sending a clear message that the Iranian nation will never submit to bullying or occupation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Army drone barrage strike US bases in Kuwait, satellite images reveal extensive damage Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 1:31 PM The Iranian Army has announced a large-scale strike on US military bases in Kuwait, with satellite imagery indicating precise hits on key facilities inside the American-run Arifjan base. Iran's Army Ground Force launched a heavy wave of loitering drones against US military positions in Kuwait over the past hours, according to a statement released by the force on Friday. The statement said various types of "destructive drones" targeted American bases in the Persian Gulf state in what appeared to be one of the most extensive operations against US military infrastructure since the start of the war. Local media in Kuwait reported the sound of air raid sirens followed by repeated explosions, suggesting that several strikes landed across areas hosting American forces. This is not the first time that the US bases have been hit. Indications of the previous operations' impact emerged from the latest satellite imagery, which shows accurate strikes by Iranian missiles and drones inside the US-run Arifjan base in Kuwait. The images indicate that several facilities within the compound were destroyed, particularly buildings believed to be linked to communications and operational coordination. The apparent precision of the strikes underscores the reach and targeting capability of Iran's expanding drone arsenal. The latest operation comes amid Iran's retaliatory operations in response to the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against the country on February 28. The strikes resulted in the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and more than 1,300 civilians, including women, children and senior military commanders. Tehran responded swiftly, launching successive waves of missile and drone strikes against Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military installations across the region, including bases in Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that the war was imposed on the country and that its military response constitutes a legitimate act of self-defense. They have also emphasized that Iran harbors no hostility toward neighboring states, maintaining that its strikes are directed solely at American military assets stationed on their soil. At the same time, Iranian authorities have warned regional governments to remain vigilant against possible false-flag operations orchestrated by Israel or the United States, which they say could be used to drag Arab states into the conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Op. True Promise 4: Iran launches 22nd wave with new generation missiles Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 11:55 AM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched the 22nd wave of Operation True Promise 4 with a barrage of Khorramshahr 4, Khaibar and Fattah missiles targeting the "heart of the occupied territories," with a senior official revealing that Iran has so far used mostly decade-old missiles and is preparing new advanced weapons for a prolonged war. The IRGC's Public Relations department said the operation began Friday afternoon under the code name "Ya Hossein ibn Ali (AS)," according to Tasnim news agency. This wave targeted American and Zionist regime positions from the Persian Gulf to Tel Aviv with the launch of Khaibar, Khorramshahr-4, and Fattah missiles, in retaliation for the child-killing perpetrators who murdered Iran's children at the Minab school, said the statement. It added that one of the launched missiles was ultra-heavy "Khorramshahr-4" missile, carrying a 2-ton warhead and traveling at a speed exceeding Mach 14, which has been directed at the targets of the wicked enemies of the Iranian nation. American and Zionist regime bases in the Persian Gulf countries, Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, and military centers in Haifa were struck by new-generation missiles, it added. "The complete success in launching these missiles from the sustained chain of IRGC missile bases on the seventh day of the war nullified the absurd claim by the propaganda machine of the global arrogance about the weakening of defense capabilities and the reduced rate of missile and drone launches," it added. A senior IRGC official told Fars news agency that missiles used over the past seven days were predominantly from production years 2012 through 2014. "Given our forecasts for a prolonged war, until now the missiles used in this round of attacks are mainly related to the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, and Iran has not used its new generation of missiles except in rare cases," the official said. The official described the defense industry's production cycle as continuously active, with design and assembly lines operating simultaneously to produce various missile systems. "It is expected that in the coming days, a new style of attacks will be on the agenda, utilizing advanced and less-used long-range missiles," the official added. IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini said Friday that Iran is prepared for a prolonged war until the aggressor is punished. "The enemy should expect painful blows in every wave of operations," Naeini said. He emphasized that Iranian innovations and new weapons are on the way and have not yet been widely deployed in comparison to what is available. The United States and Israel launched a fresh round of aerial aggression against Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country. Iran has retaliated with barrages of missile and drone attacks on Israeli-occupied territories and US bases in regional countries. The Khorramshahr 4, Khaibar and Fattah missiles mentioned in the IRGC's statement represent some of Iran's more recent systems, with the Fattah being unveiled in 2023 as a hypersonic missile capable of maneuvering during flight to evade defenses. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's retaliation based on its 'inherent right to legitimate self-defense': FM Araghchi Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 10:38 AM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Iran will deliver a "decisive" response to any aggressive act relying on the country's defense power and national solidarity. Araghchi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, on Friday, the seventh day of the illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran. He highlighted some of the US-Israeli crimes in the past few days, including the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as well as attacks on schools, hospitals, mosques, diplomatic police, and the centers providing service to citizens, saying they all violate the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law. "Relying on its defensive capabilities and the support of the Iranian nation, the Islamic Republic defends the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity within the framework of the its inherent right to legitimate self-defense and will respond decisively to any aggressive act," he emphasized. Rudriguez, for his part, strongly condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, stressing the need for respecting national sovereignty of the world's countries and honoring the UN Charter and international law. The US and Israel began their brutal act of aggression against Iran on Saturday morning by assassinating Ayatollah Khamenei in flagrant breach of the country's sovereignty. So far, at least 1,332 Iranian people have been killed in the terrorist air raids, according to the Red Crescent Society. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the unlawful military assault by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US assets in regional countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Says US Looking At Potential Candidates To Lead Iran By RFE/RL March 06, 2026 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the United States is looking at potential candidates to lead Iran after President Donald Trump pushed Tehran to cease its resistance. "I know there are a number of people that our intelligence agencies and the United States government are looking at, but I won't go any further than that," Leavitt told reporters at the White House on March 6, as the conflict was about to enter its second week. The comments came after Trump said the US wants to be involved in choosing Iran's next leader following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on February 28. Trump ruled out Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei -- a hardliner who has been considered a favorite to succeed his father -- as a successor. As Washington has been pushing Iranian leaders to renounce Tehran's development of nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Trump suggested that the only acceptable outcome would be "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" and "the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE leader(s)." "What the President means is that when he, as Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America, and the goals of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realized, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not," Leavitt said. "Frankly, they don't have a lot of people to say that for them," she added, saying the Untied States and Israel killed at least 50 leaders of the Iranian regime since the beginning of its military campaign a week ago. In a fact sheet published later on March 6, the US military said it has struck over 3,000 Iranian targets, including Tehran's command-and-control centers, air defense systems, missile sites, ships, and submarines. Now, Washington expects its achievable objectives in Iran to be completed in four to six weeks, Leavitt said, adding that the United States is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-united-states- trump-white-house/33697848.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Officials Confirm Russia Providing Targeting Intelligence To Iran In Middle East War By Alex Raufoglu March 06, 2026 WASHINGTON -- US officials on March 6 told RFE/RL that Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack US troops and military assets in the Middle East, confirming a Washington Post report that suggested Moscow is playing a substantial if indirect part in the widening regional conflict. The alleged cooperation comes at a very delicate time for US-Russian relations, with the nuclear-armed rivals at odds over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and Washington's efforts to end that war running up against the Kremlin's refusal, so far, to make concessions on territory and other issues. The Post report, which cited three officials familiar with the intelligence, says Moscow has provided Tehran with the locations of US military assets -- including warships and aircraft -- since the conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. One told the newspaper it appeared to be "a pretty comprehensive effort" by Moscow. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not provide further details to RFE/RL about the scope or mechanisms of the intelligence sharing. Russia and Iran have long-standing military, political, and diplomatic ties. Iran has supplied Russia with large numbers of Shahed drones used to strike Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, though Russia now uses the technology to make drones on its own soil, for the most part. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Russian officials have publicly called for an end to the war, describing it as an "unprovoked act of armed aggression" against Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian on March 6 and reiterated Moscow's call for an "immediate end to he military action," the the Kremlin said. White House Dismisses Impact US intelligence agencies have declined to comment publicly on the reports. But the White House rejected the notion that Russian assistance has had a major effect. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement that "the Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed." "Their ballistic missile retaliation is decreasing every day, their navy is being wiped out, their production capacity is being demolished, and proxies are hardly putting up a fight," she said. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also dismissed the impact of Moscow's reported intelligence support. "It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran, because we are completely decimating them," Leavitt said, adding that Iran's navy had been rendered "combat ineffective." She also said Iranian ballistic missile retaliatory strikes had dropped by roughly 90 percent and insisted the US was continuing to meet its military objectives. Leavitt added that Washington was "well on our way" to taking control of Iranian airspace and said Iran would reach "unconditional surrender" when the president determines that the country no longer poses a threat to the United States and the objectives of "Operation Epic Fury" have been achieved. In a social media post earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that there "will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" Lawmakers React Despite the White House's words, the reports have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers in Washington. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said the alleged Russian involvement underscores a growing threat posed by Moscow. "Make no mistake: Russia is targeting Americans in the Middle East, Ukraine and around the world," she said in a statement. "Instead of taking action, the president is relaxing sanctions on Russia and refusing to support Ukraine. It's unacceptable and invites further aggression against Americans." Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska, a vocal supporter of Ukraine, echoed the criticism. "Russia and Iran are closely aligned.... It should not surprise us that Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to help Iran kill American and Israeli service members," he told RFE/RL on March 6. "It should surprise us that the Trump Administration seems to be oblivious to this." Bacon asserted that Moscow's broader strategic goal is to weaken the United States. "In response, we should send long range precision weapons, air defenses and upgraded F-16s to Ukraine," he said. "We should also put tough sanctions on Russia's economy. This should have been done a year ago." Moscow's Role Analysts say intelligence sharing may be the most practical form of support Moscow can currently provide Tehran. Glen Howard, president of the Saratoga Foundation and a longtime Russia strategist, told RFE/RL that Russia's own military losses in Ukraine limit its ability to send major weapons systems to Iran. "Because of heavy equipment losses in the Ukraine war, Moscow currently faces its own hardware shortages and cannot fill the void Iran needs by transferring radar or aircraft," Howard said. "That means the most immediate and valuable asset Moscow can offer Iran right now is the sharing of timely, actionable intelligence." Howard added that Russia could also help sustain Iran's drone campaign through a production facility in the Tatarstan region. The Iranian-designed Shahed drones manufactured at the Alabuga facility -- known in Russia as Geran-2 -- are currently being produced at a rate of roughly 3,000 per month, he said, far exceeding Iran's own domestic production capacity of between 200 and 500 drones monthly. As Iranian missile and drone inventories decline under sustained strikes, Howard said Russia could potentially help fill the gap. Howard also pointed to a supply corridor running through the Volga River and across the Caspian Sea, which he said provides a relatively secure route for shipments between the two countries. Unlike air transport, which can be intercepted, the Caspian route functions as an "interior supply line" largely shielded from US or allied interdiction, allowing Russia to move drones, missile components, and electronics to Iran. Russian intelligence support and logistical links across the Caspian could become "indispensable to the survival of the Iranian regime" as the conflict drags on. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-iran--intel-targeting- us-israel-war/33697849.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Holds Call With Iranian President Pezeshkian Sputnik News 20260306 Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and once again expressed condolences over the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of his family, other officials, and civilians during US-Israel aggression against Iran, the Kremlin said. Putin reaffirmed Russia's position calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to political and diplomatic settlement of issues surrounding Iran and the wider Middle East. Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its solidarity with the Iranian people defending their sovereignty, the Kremlin added, noting that contacts between Moscow and Tehran will continue. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Intends to Fight US, Israel to 'Last Soldier,' Having No Other Choice - Diplomat Sputnik News 20260306 NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - Iran intends to fight the US and Israel to the last bullet and the last soldier, as it has no other choice, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday. Iran's priority is to offer maximum resistance to the aggressor, Khatibzadeh said. "We are under attack, under invasion by the Americans and Israelis, and they are trying to impose maximum damage on Iran. As we speak, my fellow citizens are under constant carpet-bombing, which is carried out by the Americans and Israelis. Tehran is under constant attack, and we have no option but to resist to the last bullet that we have and to the last soldier that we have," Khatibzadeh told the ANI news agency. The Iranian diplomat described the conflict as a necessary struggle against external atrocities. The deputy minister also emphasized the crisis in international law today. "This is a very heroic ... battle for us, and we have to stop the aggressor and their atrocities in Iran ... Now international law is under attack, as well as Iran. Unfortunately, the principles of international law have been attacked, and we have to stand together against these atrocities," Khatibzadeh said. US actions threaten global diplomatic norms, he added. "The Americans have assassinated the head of another state. If it is the new norm, then nobody, no country on earth can actually have normal diplomatic relations with other countries," Khatibzadeh said. On February 28, 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. The strikes against Iran occurred despite Oman-brokered talks between Washington and Tehran on the Iranian nuclear issue in Geneva. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was a cynical violation of international law. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the US-Israeli operation and called for an immediate deescalation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Affirms Ongoing Dialogue With Iranian Leadership to Continue Sputnik News 20260306 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is in dialogue with Iran's leadership and plans to sustain this communication, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday "We are in dialogue with the Iranian side and representatives of its leadership, and we will certainly continue this dialogue," Peskov told reporters. The Kremlin spokesman also noted that Moscow is witnessing heightened demand for Russian energy resources amid the conflict in and around Iran. "We are seeing an increase in demand, a significant increase in demand for Russian energy resources and energy resources due to the war in Iran," Peskov told reporters. Russia remains a reliable supplier of both oil and gas, both piped and liquefied, the official said, adding that Moscow is capable of guaranteeing continuity of all contracted hydrocarbon supplies. Moscow will not divulge any quantitative data on oil purchases by India and China because there are too many detractors, Peskov said. On Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the United States had temporarily allowed India to purchase oil from Russia stored on tankers at sea. "No, of course, we are not going to provide any quantitative data for obvious reasons. There are too many detractors," Peskov told reporters when asked about the volume of purchases from India. India and China, like Russia, are countries that are guided by national interests, the official said, adding that Russia continues to interact with these countries, including in the energy sector. On Russia's Special Military Operation Russian forces are making headway in the special military operation zone, the momentum is evident, and Ukraine finds itself in an uncomfortable position, Peskov said. "We are moving forward, and the dynamics are well understood and well known to all professionals," Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin. In the current situation, Ukraine "feels uncomfortable," the spokesman added. "The situation for them [Ukraine] is deteriorating day by day. That is why there is such nervousness bordering on hysteria. I think the situation will continue to deteriorate," Peskov said. Ukraine is well aware of the steps needed for successful settlement negotiations, the spokesman stressed. Geneva hosted negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine from February 17-18. The Russian delegation was led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who described the discussions as "tough but businesslike." Medinsky announced that a new meeting would be held in the near future. Other Statements Finland's deployment of nuclear weapons will pose a threat to Russia, and Moscow will take appropriate measures in response, Peskov vowed. On Thursday, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said that the Nordic nation's government has proposed allowing the import and storage of nuclear weapons in the country, if it is related to national defense, but in other cases it will continue to be prohibited. "The fact is that by deploying nuclear weapons on its soil, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we will take appropriate measures," Peskov told reporters. By seeking to scrap the ban on nuclear weapons deployments, Helsinki is rendering Finland vulnerable and raising tensions in Europe, the official added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HE GCCSG Condemns in the Strongest Terms the Treacherous Iranian Aggression Targeting Buildings in the Kingdom of Bahrain Housing Personnel from the Qatari Amiri Naval Forces General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council Mar 07, 2026 General Secretariat - Riyadh His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned in the strongest possible terms the treacherous Iranian aggression that targeted buildings in the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain. These facilities house personnel from the Qatari Amiri Naval Forces participating in the Unified Naval Operations Centre, which operates under the GCC Unified Military Command. His Excellency emphasised that targeting facilities housing naval personnel from GCC states who are part of the Unified Naval Operations Centre is an unacceptable hostile act. He pointed out that such actions contradict all international laws and norms and once again reveal Iran's escalatory approach toward the GCC states. Moreover, His Excellency stressed that the GCC states stand as one rank in the face of any threat targeting their security or the safety of their forces and vital facilities. He affirmed the Council's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Qatar, supporting all measures they take to protect their security and sovereignty. Finally, His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi reiterated that the security of the GCC states is indivisible and that any attack on a member state or its joint forces is considered an attack on all. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An aerial drone photo taken on March 5, 2026 shows people participating in the Moshoeshoe Walk 2026 in Menkhoaneng, Lesotho. The Moshoeshoe Walk 2026, a 116-km trek from Thursday to Saturday, retraces the historic route taken more than two centuries ago by King Moshoeshoe I, the founding father of the Basotho nation, which became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966 after gaining independence from the United Kingdom.(Xinhua/Chen Wei) by Xinhua writer Hang Zebo, Bai Ge MASERU, March 7 (Xinhua) -- As the first light of dawn broke over the peaks of northern Lesotho, the quiet village of Menkhoaneng sprang to life with songs and dance. Under swirling mountain mist, thousands of participants gathered to embark on a journey steeped in the country's history. The Moshoeshoe Walk 2026, a 116-km trek from Thursday to Saturday, retraces the historic route taken more than two centuries ago by King Moshoeshoe I, the founding father of the Basotho nation, which became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966 after gaining independence from the United Kingdom. Since its inception in 2007, the annual event held every March has grown into one of Lesotho's most influential cultural traditions, bringing together young and old to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. More than 200 years ago, at a time when much of southern Africa was mired in violent conflict and displacement, King Moshoeshoe I chose a path that would shape the identity of the Basotho people. Rather than conquering neighboring groups, he welcomed displaced communities, forged alliances through dialogue and marriage, and granted land to integrate people from different backgrounds. "We need to know where we come from so that we can understand who we are and where we are going," said 56-year-old Lesotho hiker Lekhooa Ramokhoro, noting that the trek connects participants to the country's past. Hikers from countries, including Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, travel from across the region to take part in the event, learning not only about Lesotho's nationhood but also engaging in a broader platform for regional cultural exchange. As a landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and home to about 2.3 million people, Lesotho is the only country in the world whose entire territory lies above 1,000 meters in elevation. Mokhehle Molobye, a participant from South Africa, said the walk carries a message that resonates beyond borders. "King Moshoeshoe I represents a spirit that unites people," Molobye said, noting that the event helps revive and preserve the legacy of the founding king even after many years. Representatives of the local Chinese community and members of the 19th Chinese medical team to Lesotho also participated in the event, providing medical support along the route to ensure the safety of hikers. "The event not only serves as a sporting activity but also helps participants better understand Lesotho's history and culture," said Yin Hao, an employee of Sinohydro Bureau 11 Co., Ltd. The experience allows Chinese companies operating in the country to integrate more closely into local communities and contribute to local development, Yin added. "While providing medical support, we are also sharing friendship and strengthening the bond between the people of China and Lesotho," said Wu Hui, head of the 19th Chinese medical team to Lesotho. Motlatsi Maqelepo, Lesotho's minister of tourism, sports, arts, and culture, welcomed participants from different countries to the event and highlighted its significance for cultural exchange. "It means a lot for bilateral relations between Lesotho and China," Maqelepo said. US-Israel war against Iran enters Day 7 amid thick smoke in Tehran and fears of another Middle East quagmire for Washington Global Times Asymmetric warfare makes it difficult for US to achieve a quick and decisive victory: expert By Wang Qi and Liu Xin Published: Mar 07, 2026 12:11 AM With thick smoke and explosions engulfing Tehran, the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran has entered its one-week mark. Meanwhile, in Washington, concerns are mounting over whether the US is being dragged into another Middle East quagmire and the enormous military expenditures involved. In the past week, barrages of missiles, waves of airstrikes, AI-assisted precision targeting, and killing of the top leadership have fallen far short of US-Israel's goal of "regime change" in Tehran. Instead, the campaign has ignited an even fiercer spirit of resistance within Iran. In addition, the ever-widening spillover of the conflict is gravely disrupting regional security and constitutes a serious threat to the global economy, maritime passage security, and energy security. Tit-for-tat exchanges Day seven began with midnight strikes. Massive explosions rocked several sites in Tehran overnight, including residential neighborhoods and areas near Tehran University, according to Al Jazeera. The network also reported that Hezbollah positions in Lebanon have become targets, as Israeli forces intensified strikes there. Israel's military says its air force hit six Iranian missile launchers overnight, and also destroyed three advanced Iranian defense systems in recent strikes. Following days of warfare, both the US and Israeli sides have indicated that Iran's military capabilities have been significantly weakened. According to Al Jazeera, US President Donald Trump said Iran is being "demolished... ahead of schedule and at levels people have never seen before," claiming the country now has "no air force, no air defense." Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, stated on Thursday (local time) that over the past 72 hours, US bomber forces had struck nearly 200 targets in Iran. Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, warned on Friday that the US-Israeli campaign against Iran was entering "the next phase" and would "further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities", according to Al Jazeera. Yet Tehran continues to project defiance, vowing to persist in the fight. In a statement, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Friday that they have launched a wave of drones and missiles at targets in Tel Aviv on Friday. The Iranian army reported that its forces have also launched drone attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Iraq, as well as various Israeli targets. It also struck a US oil tanker in the northern Gulf with missiles, per Xinhua. Top Iranian official Ali Larijani said on Thursday that his country is prepared to confront a possible invasion from the US, pledging to capture and kill US troops if they enter the country. In a statement, Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the IRGC, affirmed that Iran is fully prepared for a "prolonged war" and is set to introduce advanced weaponry that has not yet been used in the conflict. Despite Iran's clear military inferiority, its adoption of asymmetric warfare tactics has made it difficult for the US to achieve a quick and decisive victory, Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times on Friday. According to the expert, Iran has concealed its surviving forces in underground missile bases located in the mountainous regions of its southwest, thereby evading US and Israeli strikes. At the same time, it has launched counterattacks using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones. Moreover, by rallying its allies within the "Axis of Resistance", Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes against US military bases and Israeli targets. Iran has launched over 500 ballistic and cruise missiles and over 2,000 drones since the start of the war, an Iranian military source told the Iranian Fars news agency. Despite multiple rounds of intense strikes, the US and Israel have failed to compel Iran to submit, with Tehran's counteroffensives displaying resilience, Zhang noted. "The US and Israel have not succeeded in fully crippling Iran's command-and-control architecture or its intelligence networks," he added. At least 1,332 people in Iran have been killed by the US-Israeli attacks since February 28, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. Despite the ferocity of the strikes, assessments shared with The Washington Post by European and Arab officials on Thursday indicate no significant defections within regime ranks or widespread popular uprising. On Friday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an X post that "Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity & sovereignty. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict." Surging doubt and cost Although US House lawmakers narrowly rejected (212-219) an effort on Thursday to halt the war with Iran, public support for the conflict remains low. Some are questioning whether the intervention truly upholds the "America First" principle that propelled President Trump to victory in the election, with growing fears that it risks dragging the US into yet another protracted and costly Middle East quagmire. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed only 27 percent of respondents supporting the US-Israeli attacks, with 43 percent disapproving. Politico reported, citing an obtained notification, that US Central Command is requesting that the Pentagon deploy additional military intelligence officers to its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to support operations against Iran "for at least 100 days but likely through September", far beyond President Trump's initial four-week timeline. A Thursday Bloomberg report quoted a source as saying that some Pentagon officials are questioning the US strategy amid concerns over depleting limited stocks of key munitions and uncertainty regarding the operation's ultimate goals. The Wall Street Journal noted signs of escalating funding needs for the military operation. In a Thursday report, citing sources, the paper said Pentagon officials are preparing plans to replenish US munitions expended in the past week's fighting. Lawmakers in Congress and defense industry officials anticipate a forthcoming funding request from the Pentagon to cover war-related costs. An analysis by Washington-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) underlined the colossal cost of the war: it is estimated to have cost Washington $3.7 billion so far in its first 100 hours alone, or nearly $900 million a day, Al Jazeera reported on Friday. Based on an analysis by Elaine McCusker, a senior Pentagon budget official during the first Trump administration, the first four days of strikes against Iran are estimated to have cost nearly $11 billion. The report said the Trump administration might decide to ask for a supplemental appropriation to cover the war, but "any funding action will become a focal point for opposition to the war." According to Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, after one week of warfare, the conflict has entered a critical stalemate phase. However, without launching a ground invasion, it is extremely difficult for US and Israel to achieve their objective of toppling the Iranian regime. "Whether the US becomes mired in a quagmire depends on American strategic decision-making and the degree of damage inflicted on the US by Iran's counterattacks," said Liu, "judging from White House Middle East policy and Trump's personal style, there is a risk of getting bogged down, but it may not be particularly high." It is possible that, once it becomes clear regime change in Iran is unattainable and the cost becomes extremely unaffordable, the US will seek to end the conflict and declare "victory", said the expert. As the US-Israeli war against Iran enters its seventh day, US deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino released a video clip on X showing Christian pastors gathered in the Oval Office with their hands laying on the US leader to pray for Trump and the US armed forces. When asked about US strategy and objectives, Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security and former adviser to Senator John McCain, told Bloomberg: the risk is that "if you don't know what you're fighting for, then among other things you don't know when you've attained itand you don't know when to stop." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump says he seeks U.S.-friendly new Iranian leader People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:29, March 07, 2026 WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the White House is seeking a new Iranian leader who can "treat the United States and Israel well" and he is not concerned whether the Middle Eastern country becomes a democracy. Asked in a phone call with CNN whether Iran needs to be a democracy, Trump said: "No, I'm saying there has to be a leader that's going to be fair and just." Trump also said he is open to having a religious leader in Iran. "Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East -- they're all our partners," he said of a new Iranian leadership that the U.S. seeks. The U.S. and Israel launched joint massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Trump said Thursday he wants a say in picking Iran's next supreme leader, a claim criticized by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh as a "colonial approach." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran launches new wave of attacks on Israel People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:18, March 07, 2026 TEHRAN/BEIRUT, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran has launched a new wave of attacks on Israel, using ballistic missiles, including its latest super-heavy Khorramshahr-4, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) was quoted as saying on Friday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. "The 22nd wave of Operation True Promise 4 has begun, using a large number of Khorramshahr 4," the IRGC said, noting the missiles were fired "directly into the heart of the occupied territories." Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike targeted on Friday noon a residential building in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon on Friday, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency. The report said the strike hit the floor just below the top level of the Maqassed building located near Al-Siddiq Mosque in the city. Ambulances rushed to the scene following the attack, while the extent of casualties or damage was not immediately clear. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns U.S. for targeting naval vessel in int'l waters People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:15, March 07, 2026 TEHRAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has condemned the United States for targeting Iran's IRIS Dena frigate without any warning in international waters 2,000 km off the Iranian coasts. The minister made the remarks during phone calls with his Indian and Sri Lankan counterparts over the ongoing U.S. and Israeli "aggression" against Iran, according to a Foriegn Ministry statement on Friday. During the two separate phone calls, Araghchi discussed with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath the latest regional developments in the wake of attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, according to the statement. Araghchi elaborated on the "crimes" committed by Israel and the United States in their military "aggression" against Iran over the past days, calling on all governments and the United Nations to decisively condemn the "criminal" actions, the statement said. Araghchi also thanked efforts by Sri Lanka to rescue the Iranian sailors on board the IRIS Dena frigate. On Saturday morning, the United States and Israeli launched joint airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region. On Wednesday, the U.S. military sank Iran's IRIS Dena frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka in international waters, killing over 80 of its 130 crew members. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance group vows to avenge US assassination of anti-terror commander Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2026 7:23 PM Iraq's Nujaba resistance group has vowed to avenge the assassination of a resistance commander in a terrorist US strike. In a statement on Friday, Nujaba offered its deepest condolences over the assassination of Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah Commander Abu Hassan al-Furaiji in a "treacherous and cowardly" American attack in Babylon. The movement stressed that the killing of al-Furaiji, who played an important role in purging the country of terrorists, constitutes "a clear violation of Iraq's sovereignty" and "a deliberate insult to the country's official military institution, namely the Popular Mobilization Forces (al-Hashd al-Sha'abi)", which operates under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The statement stressed that al-Furaiji's killing will "undoubtedly not go unanswered or unpunished." "The fragile language of diplomacy is no longer effective against an enemy that understands nothing but the language of force and gunpowder," the movement said, warning that violating Iraq's airspace to assassinate Iraqi leaders "will open the gates of hell" upon the US. The statement noted that this "foolish" act will only double the resistance movements' determination to purge the Iraqi territories of the occupiers. The hands of the fighters "are on the trigger," awaiting the decisive moment for a corresponding revenge and for forcing the occupier to leave the Iraqi land, the statement said. This comes as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that it had carried out 27 drone and missile operations against enemy positions in Iraq and the region over the past 24 hours. The resistance also reported drone strikes against a significant target in Jordan and said it had previously struck several bases belonging to American forces inside Iraq. In a strongly worded statement, the Islamic Resistance warned that any participation in the American-Israeli aggression against the region would make participants legitimate targets for its forces. "The criminal Zionist-American enemy continues to mobilize its allies against the free people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the region, and in doing so, begs some European countries to participate in this unjust war," the statement said. "Anyone from these countries who participates in this battle will be considered an enemy of the people and our sanctities, and their forces and interests in Iraq and the region will be targeted as punishment for participating in this aggression." Since the criminal US-Zionist regimes launched their unprovoked coordinated assaults on February 28, bombing Iranian cities, schools, hospitals, and civilian sites, more than 1,300 martyrs have been claimed across the nation. In a firm and legitimate act of self-defense, Iran responded decisively by launching precise missiles and drones at military targets inside the occupied territories and at American bases throughout West Asia and the Persian Gulf region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Israel Foreign Ministers' Telephone Meeting Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan March 6, 2026 On March 6, commencing at 6:00 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone meeting with H.E. Mr. Gideon SA'AR, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel. The overview of the talk is as follows: At the outset, Minister MOTEGI clearly reiterated Japan's position as stated in the Foreign Minister's statement on March 1, 2026 and also explained his meetings with regional countries. He then conveyed Japan's grave concern that the exchange of attacks continues and the regional situation is deteriorating, and stated that he strongly hopes early de-escalation of the situation. Furthermore, Minister Motegi requested to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the region and to provide support for their departure. . In response, Minister Sa'ar explained Israel's position, and stated that Israel would cooperate in securing the safety and support departure of Japanese nationals. Both ministers concurred on continuing close communication between Japan and Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister McGuinty introduced Canada's Defense Industrial Strategy, which was announced for the first time in Canada last month, referring to the signing of the Agreement between Japan and Canada concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology in January this year. The two ministers concurred on accelerating coordination to promote cooperation between their defense industries. Japan-Canada Summit Meeting Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan March 6, 2026 On March 6, commencing at 7:15 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, who is on an Official Working Visit to Japan. Following the meeting, the two leaders took part in the signing ceremony of the Japan-Canada Joint Statement, gave a joint press announcement, and attended a working dinner for 75 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows: 1. Overview The two leaders concurred on elevating Japan-Canada relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", in light of the expanding cooperative relationship between Japan and Canada across all fields, such as security, economy including economic security, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Prior to the working dinner, the two leaders signed the Japan-Canada Joint Statement. This joint statement is the first summit document between the two countries to comprehensively determine the strategic direction for both Japan and Canada to pursue. Furthermore, the two leaders concurred on further expanding the wide range of people-to-people exchanges between Japan and Canada, looking ahead to the milestone of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada in 2028, as well as the future relationship between the two countries. 2. Japan-Canada Relations Prime Minister TAKAICHI mentioned the importance of Canada as a partner that shares fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law and as a reliable like-minded partner who plays a vital role in promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), amid the rapid changes in the international situations, including an increasingly severe security environment, rapid advancements in cutting-edge technologies, and intensifying technological competition. On the security front, the two leaders concurred on further strengthening and developing Japan-Canada security cooperation, including the further expansion of joint exercises, taking into account the development of legal infrastracure such as the Agreement on the Security of Information and the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology They also concurred on establishing a Cyber Policy Dialogue to promote cooperation in new domains such as cyber. The two leaders concurred on further strengthening information sharing in peacetime and mutual cooperation in times of crises, taking into account the Memorandum of Cooperation on Assisting Japanese and Canadian Nationals Abroad that was recently signed. The two leaders welcomed the recent signing of three memoranda on maritime cooperation in response to the deepening of the collaboration between the two countries in areas contributing to maritime security, such as measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. On the economic front, Prime Minister TAKAICHI welcomed the concrete progress in the energy sector, including the start of the production of LNG Canada for Asia and the commencement of the construction of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in Ontario. The two leaders also concurred on newly establishing an Economic Security Dialogue and on promoting initiatives on battery supply chains, as well as advanced technology and innovation fields such as AI and quantum technology. The two leaders concurred on strengthening cooperation in enhancing supply chain resilience, including cooperation on critical minerals, amid growing international concerns over export restrictions on critical minerals and other resources. 3. Regional and International Affairs The two leaders confirmed their continued cooperation toward the realization of FOIP. The two leaders exchanged views on the current situation in the Indo-Pacific, such as their policies toward China, and confirmed that Japan and Canada will continue to work closely together in addressing various issues of the international community. Prime Minister TAKAICHI stated that Japan condemns Iran's actions, given that Iranian attacks have extended to diplomatic facilities as well as civilian facilities in neighboring countries and that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in damage including in surrounding waters. Prime Minister Carney in turn explained Canada's position and efforts on the matter. The two leaders concurred on closely working together toward the early settlement of the situation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin The President held a working meeting with Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin. March 6, 2026 13:20 The Kremlin, Moscow Gleb Nikitin started his 2025 performance report by focusing on the region's participation in national projects. It invested 55.3 billion rubles in fulfilling the key objectives, with the total exceeding 290 billion rubles over the past six years. The region has also worked hard to upgrade its healthcare system by carrying out renovations and repairs at over 300 medical facilities. In addition, construction of five pre-school institutions is underway, and 20 schools and two vocational colleges benefited from major repairs. The region has ranked within the Government's top five list in terms of carrying out national projects. The Governor elaborated on two projects by mentioning the effort to upgrade the tram network, since Nizhny Novgorod produces equipment for this initiative in cooperation with Belarus, as well as the project titled Youth and Children. The latter is designed to create a world-class campus for accommodating 5,600 students and enabling as many as 8,000 students to be enrolled there. Turning to the overall economic performance, the Governor pointed out that the regional economy grew by 1.1 percent, which placed the region slightly above the national average in 2025. Investment increased compared to 2024 and reached 743 billion rubles, with private investment accounting for 90 percent of this figure. The continuing growth in household income and the fact that both unemployment and poverty figures remained low and stable were among the most positive trends. The Governor identified tourism as one of the region's priorities. Work is underway to develop a rich event programme, create new routes and expand tourism infrastructure. According to travel agencies, the region currently receives around 5 million visitors a year, who spend over 80 billion rubles locally, serving as a major source of revenue for small and medium-sized businesses. Considering this growth pattern, the region intends to use federal support to build 16 hotels with over 2,300 rooms by 2030. The fact that ten communities in the region are now part of the Golden Ring tourist route will create additional momentum. This route includes cities across the northeastern part of Ancient Rus with their unique monuments of history, culture and folk art. Gleb Nikitin also spoke about the special military operation and working with its participants, specifically helping those who return from the battlefield to start their own businesses, among other things. He said that the business infrastructure and incubators have been adjusted to this task. The Governor also addressed another essential issue: the training of professionals. Sixteen clusters have already been established within the Professionalitet federal project, and another three clusters will be created in 2026. The establishment of the Nizhpoligraf federal technology park is underway. Thanks to these efforts, more children are opting for natural sciences and technology, which are necessary for the economy. Nearly 3,000 children are studying at the four Quantorium technology parks established in the region under the Education national project. Demography was another item on the agenda. The birth rate has grown in the region, partly due to a series of demographic measures launched last year. In particular, the Basis programme includes the payment of at least 1 million rubles in family capital for the birth of every child, the preservation of pregnancy, a gift for newborns, and initiatives to encourage healthy living. About 20,000 families have benefited from this programme. Thanks to the work of the Institute for Demographic Development, which employs 30 specialists, including psychologists, lawyers and social workers, the number of elective abortions has decreased by 13.5 percent. The Governor pointed out that alcohol consumption decreased by 14.6 percent in 2025 without serious restrictions. The President noted that it remained high compared to other regions. Gleb Nikitin confirmed that it had been higher than average, but the national average went down by 5 percent in 2025, while the figure for the Nizhny Novgorod Region decreased by 14.6 percent. Replying to the President's question about a large number of drunk driving accidents (nearly 6,000 people injured and 347 dead), the Governor said that the number of traffic-related deaths decreased by 12 in January 2026 year on year, which points to a positive trend. Gleb Nikitin added that every person counts in the areas where the demographic potential is decreasing. The President concluded that this work has been properly organised, and that the initiatives on which the Governor previously reported are being implemented. He congratulated him on the results. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting on improving the efficiency of military hardware usage during the special military operation The President held a meeting in the Kremlin to assess the experience and improve the efficiency of military hardware usage during the special military operation. March 6, 2026 17:45 The Kremlin, Moscow The meeting was attended by representatives of the Government, the Security Council, the Ministry of Defence, the General Staff, commanders of military districts, as well as senior executives of defence industry enterprises. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A firefighter tries to put out a huge fire engulfing shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A resident is seen on the rooftop as a huge fire engulfs rows of shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Firefighters and residents try to put out a huge fire engulfing shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A resident throws a bucket of water to put out a huge fire engulfing shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A resident pours water as he tries to put out fire engulfing shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A firefighter is seen on a rooftop as he tries to put out a huge fire engulfing shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A huge fire is seen engulfing rows of shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A resident rescues his pet cats as he evacuates during a huge fire at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) No Red Carpets While Missiles Fall. The Danger of Normalizing Aggression. Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Published: 06.03.2026. Baiba Braze, Foreign Minister of Latvia We're entering the fifth year of Russia's full-scale, unprovoked war against Ukraine. The war has grown more technologically sophisticated and lethal. Russian missiles and drones strike Ukrainian cities every night. Russia is weaponizing the coldest winter of the decade. Yet Russia's war is failing. The Kremlin has not achieved its battlefield objectives. Contrary to its propaganda, its economy is collapsing, losses are immense, and advances remain minimal. According to the CSIS[1], Russian forces have suffered more than 1.2 million casualties since February 2022 - more than any major power in conflict since World War II. In the major offensives, Russian troops advance just 15-70 metres per day. Beyond the battlefield, a quieter process is unfolding: Russia's gradual return to normal international life. This is the Kremlin's strategy. Through culture, sports, diplomacy, and business, Moscow is testing how much legitimacy and access it can regain without altering its war aims. The framing is carefully calibrated: humanitarian, apolitical, "neutral." The steps are incremental. But the objective is strategic: to re-enter global life as though this war were a temporary disruption. The International Olympic Committee's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics under their national flags and anthems - the first time in over a decade - is emblematic. It restores Russia's international presence while the war continues. A stark example of how "neutrality" is applied unevenly: even where Russia remains officially banned, its athletes compete as "neutrals." Meanwhile, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for wearing a helmet honouring Ukrainians killed in the war. This is double standard. Not is Russia merely Ukraine's problem. It is a global security threat. It recruits foreign nationals from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, eastern Europe, Central Asia and Latin America - often through misleading or coercive means. It's "shadow fleet" endangers maritime security and the environment. Its hybrid warfare - cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage and the instrumentalisation of migration - is escalating the global security situation. Its partnerships with authoritarian regimes facilitate transfers of weapons and dual-use technologies. Its manipulation of energy exports, disruption of food supply chains and sanctions-evasion networks extend its aggression far beyond Ukraine. Peace can only be achieved through strength. This requires three forms of discipline: First, isolate Russia and Belarus. Trade that finances aggression must end. Dependence on Russian energy must end. No return to business as usual not with Russia, not with its enablers. No red carpets while missiles fall. Neutrality under fire is not neutrality. It is indulgence. Aggressor states seek legitimacy as urgently as territory. The Baltic states know this from history. Second, intensify pressure. Sanctions are working and must be strengthened. Action against Russia's shadow fleet shows that evasion can be constrained through maritime oversight, insurance controls and targeted designations. Loopholes must be closed. Circumvention via third countries must be addressed decisively. Revenue from oil and other natural resources must be further restricted. Visa and travel policies should reflect accountability. Targeted tariffs can reinforce the leverage against Russia. Pressure must be systematic, not episodic. Third, do not give Russia through negotiations what it cannot win on the battlefield. Ignore Kremlin Butcher's bluff. Accountability is not optional. Frozen Russian assets must be handled in line with international law, while ensuring that Russia bears the cost of its aggression. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are not bargaining chips. Every vote, every sanctions package, every enforcement action signals whether these principles still stand. Today, on 24 February 2026, at the emergency special session of the UN General Assembly, member states will vote on a resolution supporting a lasting peace in Ukraine. No country desires peace more than Ukraine. But peace cannot be built on accommodation of aggression. This vote will be about fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is only one path to lasting peace. Russia must end its aggression, withdraw forces from Ukraine's sovereign territory and respect internationally recognized borders. Only then can normal relations resume. Until that moment, there can be no return to normal. No red carpets while missiles fall. [1] Russia's Grinding War in Ukraine NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi 6 March 2026 17:43 305-06-03-2026 On March 6, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi. The parties exchanged views on the situation in the region, including the negative destabilising consequences of aggression against Iran. They discussed prospects for reducing military-political tensions in Afghan-Pakistani relations. The Russian Foreign Minister emphasised the need for settling the differences between Kabul and Islamabad by political and diplomatic means. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Possibility of 'Nuclear Five' Contacts at Expert Level Being Discussed - MFA Sputnik News 20260306 On February 28, the US and Israel carried out a series of strikes on targets inside Iran, including in Tehran, with reports of destruction and civilian casualties. Iranian state television confirmed the death of Khamenei. Iran responded with missile strikes on Israeli territory and on US military facilities in the Middle East. The possibility of holding contacts of the five states with nuclear weapons at the expert level is being discussed, but there is no agreement yet, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik. "We are currently discussing the possibility of holding contacts in the 'nuclear five' format, but there are no agreements on this either," Ryabkov said, adding that the meeting is expected to be at the "expert, working" level. Russia hopes that the war against Iran will not undermine the principles of nuclear arms nonproliferation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. "I really hope that the current war against Iran will not undermine the foundations of the principles of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons," Lavrov said during an embassy roundtable discussion. The resumption and maintenance of military contacts between Russia and the United States will be useful and will help ensure greater predictability in relations between the two countries, Ryabkov told Sputnik. In early February, the European Command of the US armed forces announced that the United States and Russia had agreed to restore a high-level military dialogue, an agreement on this was reached at talks in Abu Dhabi. "In the context of a hyper-unstable and very dangerous geopolitical situation, especially given the sharp escalation in the Middle East, we consider it important to find diplomatic ways and methods to solve the problems that are only multiplying. This is an imperative. Accordingly, maintaining working contacts, especially in the military sphere, will contribute not only to finding effective responses to the challenges of our time, but also to a useful exchange of views between interested parties," Ryabkov said. Moscow hopes that "this will ultimately help establish greater predictability in our relations with the United States," the deputy foreign minister added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRH the Crown Prince, British Prime Minister Discuss Regional Security; Starmer Affirms Support for Saudi Arabia Saudi Press Agency Friday 17/09/1447 Jeddah, March 07, 2026, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a phone call today from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region and their repercussions on regional and international security. The British prime minister affirmed his country's support for the Kingdom in the face of the Iranian attacks targeting Saudi territory, expressing backing for all measures that contribute to preserving the Kingdom's sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity. -- SPA 01:56 Local Time 22:56 GMT 0004 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRH the Crown Prince, Cypriot President Discuss Regional Security in Phone Call Saudi Press Agency Friday 17/09/1447 Jeddah, March 07, 2026, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a phone call today from Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region and their repercussions on security and stability. During the call, the two leaders emphasized their rejection of any actions that could undermine the region's security and stability. -- SPA 02:35 Local Time 23:35 GMT 0005 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria: UN Commission of Inquiry completes Syria mission in midst of regional clashes, encouraging respect for human rights Press releases Independent investigation 06 March 2026 DAMASCUS/GENEVA -- The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic visited Syria this week, ahead of its briefing to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 13 March. During their visit, Commissioners Monia Ammar and Fionnuala Ni Aolain met with senior government officials, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Information, and the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, as well as with a broad range of civil society actors and victims and the diplomatic community to hear about the situation in the country. "Recognizing the complexity of the Syrian transition, we appreciated the Government's positive engagement and our open discussions on the Commission's work and recommendations, to ensure accountability for grave violations of the past and to address violations that have occurred recently," said Ammar. "Implementing the recommendations of the Commission's report on the violence on the coast on transparency, accountability, security sector reform, and engagement with impacted communities is key to upholding the rule of law, the rights of victims and building trust." In meetings with National Commissions, the Commissioners stressed the vital role of these bodies in fulfilling Syrians' expectations, particularly related to respecting fundamental human rights, accountability and justice efforts, and offered its support. "It is vital to address the systematic violations of human rights committed during the Assad era," stressed Ni Aolain. "There can be no impunity for the mass atrocities committed during the conflict and building a legal system capable of fairly addressing the past, while also tackling more recent violations, is essential for a rights-respecting future." Taking note of some of the barriers and fears expressed by civil society in this transitional moment, the Commissioners underscored the importance of creating conditions that enable civil society to thrive. "It was truly heartening to see so many civil society organizations now operating in Syria, including those returning from exile," said Ammar. "Syrian civil society has been the main driver of innovation to address human rights and accountability during the previous conflict, and they can play a vital role also in fostering reconciliation and rebuilding trust when they are embraced and can operate without restriction." The spike in regional violence following the Israeli and United States attack on Iran has also impacted Syria, including through falling debris from intercepted rockets that has killed and injured civilians. The Commissioners expressed their profound concerns about direct Israeli activity in southern Syria, stretching attention and State resources from addressing the myriad challenges within Syria. The Commissioners' meetings with the diplomatic community in Damascus focused on support to the fragile transition. "The end of the Assad era brought immense hope for a better future," said Ni Aolain. "Now more than a year into the transition, it is incumbent on the government to ensure that the new Syria will be defined by the equal protection of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights for all. In this regard, we call on the international community to match commitments with funding and investment in reconstruction and in vital sectors such as education, law enforcement and the judiciary," Lastly, the Commission of Inquiry confirms that its annual report and its special report on the violence in Suwayda will be published later this month. ENDS Background: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council through resolution S-17/1. The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission's mandate since then, most recently until 31 March 2026. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Koo says KMT defense budget bill could derail U.S. arms procurement ROC Central News Agency 03/06/2026 08:49 PM Taipei, March 6 (CNA) Defense Minister Wellington Koo () warned Friday that a special defense budget bill unveiled by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) a day earlier could derail the procurement of five weapons systems approved by Washington for sale to Taiwan. The KMT proposal sets a budget cap of NT$380 billion (US$11.9 billion) and would fund eight U.S. weapons systems announced for sale to Taiwan on Dec. 17. Speaking to reporters before attending a legislative meeting, Koo said the budget ceiling in the KMT bill does not account for potential new arms sale packages that may be approved for Taiwan in the future. Koo also said the bill requires five of the eight U.S. systems to be fully delivered by Dec. 31, 2028. Those systems include High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Javelin missiles, Altius-700M and Altius-600 drones, TOW missiles and M109A7 self-propelled howitzers. According to Koo, the requirement could prove problematic because it would be impossible for the United States to meet the deadline in the KMT bill, leaving the Ministry of National Defense unable to carry out the procurement. "This, in effect, shuts out those five initiatives," Koo said. In contrast, special defense budget bills proposed by the Cabinet and the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party both set a later deadline of Dec. 31, 2033, for completing the arms procurement. However, Koo's remarks did not address the fact that deliveries of some weapons Taiwan ordered from the U.S. have already fallen significantly behind schedule. For example, the 66 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets approved for sale to Taiwan in 2019 -- funded through a separate special budget -- were originally scheduled to be delivered in full by the end of this year. However, Taiwan has not received any of the aircraft due to production line issues. Koo added that the Cabinet's version of the special defense bill was formulated after two years of research and is recognized by the U.S. government and Congress. The proposal integrates domestic production, foreign military sales, commercial procurement and commissioned manufacturing into a comprehensive defense plan, he said. If key items are removed, Taiwan's joint combat capabilities would be significantly weakened, Koo said. (By Matt Yu and Sean Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Competing bills to fund U.S. weapons purchase advance to committee ROC Central News Agency 03/06/2026 04:09 PM Taipei, March 6 (CNA) Three competing special budget bills proposed by the Cabinet and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) advanced to committee Friday after months of legislative deadlock over plans to acquire U.S. weapons approved for sale to Taiwan. Lawmakers across party lines unanimously agreed on Friday to a motion to send the bills to the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and the Finance Committee for review in line with an agreement reached during cross-caucus talks on Feb. 24. The Cabinet proposed a special budget plan (funding that is outside the general budget) of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.4 billion) in November 2025 to fund domestic weapons systems and American arms packages that have been approved for sale or could be approved in the future. That covers the eight U.S. weapons systems costing US$11.1 billion announced by Washington on Dec. 17, undisclosed U.S. items that have yet to be formally notified to Congress, and domestically manufactured weapons, notably drones and the T-Dome air defense system. The Cabinet and the U.S. government have pressured the opposition parties to pass the NT$1.25 trillion special budget plan, but the opposition parties have issued proposals of their own. The main opposition KMT proposed a bill with a spending cap of NT$380 billion -- raised from the originally proposed figure of NT$350 billion after final adjustments on Thursday -- that would only fund the eight weapons sales from the U.S. They are the high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), Javelin missiles, Altius-700M and Altius-600 drones, TOW missiles, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, C5ISR systems, Harpoon missile follow-on support, and helicopter parts, with a combined cost of US$11.1 billion. The TPP's bill set a ceiling of NT$400 billion but would fund only five of the systems, while reserving NT$88.1 billion for potential new foreign military sales. Meanwhile, a motion sponsored by the TPP caucus authorizing Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense to sign letters of acceptance (LOA) issued by the United States for three of the weapons by the March 15 deadline also advanced to a second reading. The ministry said last month that it had received LOAs for M109A7 self-propelled howitzers (US$4.03 billion), Javelin anti-armor missiles (US$375 million), and TOW missiles (US$353 million). In a statement, the TPP caucus said it submitted the motion to avoid delays in acquiring the systems. (By Sean Lin and Chen Chun-hua) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Legislature advances part of central government budget ROC Central News Agency 03/06/2026 06:24 PM Taipei, March 6 (CNA) A small fraction of the government's fiscal 2026 budget, part of which covers funding for the TPass commuter initiative, cleared a second reading in the Legislature on Friday. The vote, to approve NT$71.8 billion (US$2.27 billion), or 2.4 percent of the total budget, was passed 54-29 with votes from the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party and covered 38 items from the broader NT$3.03 trillion budget proposed by the government. It included NT$7.52 billion in funding through 2029 for the TPass program, which currently supports subsidized fares for over 1 million commuters who use different forms of public transportation in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei and Taoyuan. It also released NT$3.19 billion (US$101 million) for maternity subsidies under labor, civil servant and public school teacher insurance programs. The motion also approved NT$352 million (US$11 million) in funding for an expressway connecting Kaohsiung and Pingtung County and NT$1.85 billion in funding for an initiative focused on flood prevention and control. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee () said Friday it is regrettable that despite it already being March, the government's fiscal 2026 budget has not yet been submitted for review. She cited Article 7 of the Legislative Yuan Exercise of Official Powers Act, which states any budget is subject to three readings, adding that there is no precedent for the current motion. Lee urged the Legislature to deliberate the budget soon, warning that further delays could affect national development and public welfare. The KMT caucus and TPP caucus called for closed-door negotiations on Jan. 22 on the motion, but lawmakers could not reach a consensus. After a month of stalled negotiations, the Legislature voted on the motion on Friday, passing it 54-29 with 83 lawmakers in attendance. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () said the measure will release funds for time-sensitive priorities and programs affecting essential public welfare. Under the Budget Act, if the Legislature blocks the budget, it can approve individual programs other than new capital outlays and initiatives based on either the original allocation or the previous year's actual expenditures. (By Wang Cheng-chung, Lai Yu-chen and Lee Chieh-yu) Enditem/ls/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2026.03.07 Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Mar. 6 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 7 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties entered Taiwan's southeastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1150307_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1150307_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KABUL, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Ongoing military confrontations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have triggered significant internal displacement, with an estimated 118,000 people forced from their homes amid the recent escalation in hostilities, according to recent reports from a UN refugee agency. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that around 115,000 individuals have been displaced on the Afghan side of the border, while about 3,000 have fled their residences in neighboring Pakistan. The displacement figures underscore the deepening humanitarian toll of the cross-border violence. In a parallel development, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan issued a statement expressing profound apprehension over the ongoing clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces. The mission urged both parties to immediately cease hostilities, adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, and take all necessary measures to prevent further civilian casualties. PM call with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman: 6 March 2026 Press release The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia this evening, following the Iranian regime's strikes on the Kingdom and its partners. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 6 March 2026 The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia this evening, following the Iranian regime's strikes on the Kingdom and its partners. Additional British fighter jets, helicopters and a destroyer were being sent to the region, and the UK stood ready to support the defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should it be needed, the Prime Minister said. The leaders also discussed stepping up intelligence cooperation to support defensive operations and protect civilians. Turning to energy resilience, the Crown Prince outlined the steps the Kingdom had taken to boost global oil supply and support market stability. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch over the coming days and weeks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with Prime Minister Jetten of the Netherlands: 5 March 2026 Press release The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten yesterday. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 6 March 2026 The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten yesterday. He congratulated him on his appointment, and both leaders agreed they were looking forward to working together closely. They condemned Iran's reckless ongoing attacks in the Middle East and agreed that European partners must continue to coordinate closely to provide defensive support to allies in the region. The Prime Minister set out he was focused on sending additional military capabilities to the region in the coming days and would continue to respond to requests for support from regional partners. They agreed to stay in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with King of Bahrain: 5 March 2026 Press release The Prime Minister spoke to the King of Bahrain yesterday. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Published 6 March 2026 The Prime Minister spoke to the King of Bahrain yesterday. The Prime Minister briefed him on the announcement he made yesterday - setting out that the UK will send four additional Typhoon jets to Qatar to provide further defensive support to regional allies under attack from Iran. The Prime Minister also offered further defensive air cover from these jets for Bahrain, to bolster their security and protect their people. His Majesty welcomed the confirmation, and they agreed operational teams would work together on plans in the coming days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU unveils new 1.5 billion investment boost to drive Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernisation European External Action Service (EEAS) 06.03.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE 5 March 2026 Today, a new package of eight programmes helping Ukraine tackle the country's most urgent economic and social challenges was endorsed by the sixth Steering Board of the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF). These programmes, worth EUR 1.5 billion and aimed at unlocking EUR 3.4 billion of new investments, will bring support to vital sectors, like energy, education, connectivity, agriculture, and small business, as well as fund the construction of shelters in education facilities. For the first time, the UIF will also allocate resources to dual-use technologies and strategic industries. This follows the European Commission's commitment announced at the EU-Ukraine Investment Conference last November. A unified European effort Chaired by the European Commission, the sixth Steering Board of the Ukraine Investment Framework brought together today EU Member States, observers from the European Parliament, the Government and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Government of Norway, and key European and international financial institutions. The new programmes announced will be implemented by financing institutions - some that are already working with the Commission in Ukraine (EBRD, IBRD, KfW, IFC), and new partners (Finnvera, BPIFrance, CDP) - which shows the relevance of UIF in attracting new partners. To date, the UIF has already allocated EUR 8.4 billion, representing 90% of its total capacity. These allocations are expected to mobilise EUR 25.2 billion in investments in Ukraine. Background The UIF is part of the EUR 50 billion EU's Ukraine Facility designed to attract public and private investments for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is endowed with financial instruments totalling EUR 9.5 billion. The aim of the Ukraine Investment Framework is to directly contribute and to mobilise investments for recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Russian Defence Ministry 06 March 2026 07:15 300 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. 300 AFU POWs were returned as a result of the exchange. At present, Russian servicemen and civilians are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance. All released servicemen will be taken to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry. During the return of Russian servicemen from captivity, humanitarian mediation efforts were provided by the United Arab Emirates and the USA. Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Attacks on Russian Nuclear Sites Amount to Nuclear Blackmail - Russian MFA Sputnik News 20260306 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian attacks on Russian nuclear facilities represent a conspiracy between Kiev, the West, and NATO to manipulate the nuclear issue both politically and on the ground, amounting to nuclear blackmail, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik. "There was no doubt that the Ukrainian regime viewed the strikes on the nuclear power plant, particularly the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, as a form of nuclear blackmail," Zakharova said. Moscow has seen neither condemnation nor blocking of Ukraine's strikes on the relevant targets from the European Union and NATO, the spokeswoman added. "There were no other options or possibilities than to recognize that this was a conspiracy between Westerners, NATO members, and the Ukrainian regime to manipulate the nuclear issue for both political and practical purposes. That is, to create threats not only to our country, but to all of Eurasia, and, in essence, to the entire world," Zakharova also said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelensky's Agents Using Hungary as Cash Pipeline to Ukraine - Szijjarto Sputnik News 20260306 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungary is demanding answers from Ukraine over the movement of cash across its territory, while simultaneously launching its own investigation, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Friday. Earlier in the day, Hungary's national tax and customs office said it had detained seven Ukrainian citizens on suspicion of money laundering, including a former general of the Ukrainian special services responsible for transporting $40 million, 35 million euros and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. "We demand an explanation of why Ukrainians have been transporting such a large amount of cash through Hungary in recent months. What are they using this money for, whose money is it?.. We demand immediate answers and explanations from the Ukrainian side on these serious issues," Hungarian FM Szijjarto said, as quoted by the MTI news agency. Since January 2026 a total of $900 million, 420 million euros and 146 kilograms of gold has been transported through Hungary to Ukraine, Szijjarto added. "These cash transfers are accompanied by people with clear ties to the Ukrainian special services," the Hungarian top diplomat said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Brings Home 300 Soldiers in Equal POW Swap with Ukraine - Defense Ministry Sputnik News 20260306 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia brought home 300 of its soldiers from Ukrainian captivity while transferring 300 Ukrainian prisoners of war in exchange, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. "On March 6 of this year, 300 Russian servicepeople were returned from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, 300 Ukrainian armed forces prisoners of war were transferred," the ministry said in a statement. The Russian military personnel are currently in Belarus, they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance. Then they will all be taken to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Defense Ministry, the statement added. The United Arab Emirates and the United States provided humanitarian mediation efforts to return the Russian servicepeople from captivity, the ministry added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Liberate Sosnovoye Settlement in Donetsk People's Republic Sputnik News 20260306 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Zapad battlegroup liberated the settlement of Sosnovoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Units of the Zapad battlegroup... on March 5 established control over the village of Sosnovoye in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said in a statement. The liberation of the settlement of Sosnovoye in the Donetsk region facilitates the Russian army's further advance towards the city of Svyatogorsk, a critical defensive point for capturing the city of Slavyansk - the center of the largest Kiev-controlled agglomeration in Donbass. Ukraine lost over 2,425 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup over the past week over the past week This is in addition to over 2,185 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by Russia's Vostok battlegroup , over 1,500 by the Sever battlegroup , over 1,280 by the Zapad battlegroup , over 1,035 by the Yug battlegroup , and up to 375 by the Dnepr battlegroup , over 1,500 by the , over 1,280 by the , over 1,035 by the , and up to 375 by the The Russian armed forces destroyed a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, the Russian military has carried out seven group retaliatory strikes on energy facilities serving Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises, as well as on Ukrainian armed forces infrastructure Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 300 Ukrainian service members and two Ukrainian civilians freed from russian captivity Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 6 March, 2026, 1:08 PM EET Today, the second phase of the prisoner exchange took place under the agreements reached during the negotiations in Geneva. Three hundred Ukrainian service members and two Ukrainian civilians have returned home from russian captivity. Among those returning to Ukraine are personnel of the Ground Forces, the Air Assault Forces, the Navy, the Territorial Defence Forces, the Air Force, and the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as service members of the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and the State Special Transport Service of Ukraine. Those released include soldiers, sergeants, and officers. The youngest is 26, and the oldest is 60. These warriors took part in combat operations in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson sectors and also defended Mariupol. After returning home, the released service members will be taken to medical centers for the necessary medical examinations, treatment, and further rehabilitation. They will receive all necessary assistance, as well as the payments provided for by the state, and help in restoring their documents. The Ministry of Defence expresses its gratitude to the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates for their important mediation and assistance in the prisoner exchange. We also thank all partners and organizations who contributed to this process and helped bring Ukrainians home. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MOSCOW, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Western and Central Europe countries are facing an energy collapse resulting from the crisis in the Middle East and the disruption of energy supply chains, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. "It seems to me that the most relevant issue now is not even the situation around Ukraine, but the collapse that is engulfing the countries of Western and Central Europe in connection with the crisis in the Middle East. Energy prices have skyrocketed -- both gas and oil," Zakharova said in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency Friday. Zakharova pointed out that the European Union's (EU) self-imposed ban on Russian energy imports naturally leads to the question of alternative fuel sources for the EU. Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the possibility of Russia's complete withdrawal from the European natural gas market. The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has led to an almost complete cessation of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global supplies of crude oil and natural gas. Nevertheless, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen told Bloomberg on Thursday that the EU does not currently consider the situation on the energy market to be a full-fledged crisis. However, he added that if the crisis in the Middle East drags on, the EU may ask member countries to reduce their energy consumption. Volodymyr Zelenskyy Received a Briefing from the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade Commander and Presented Warriors with Awards President of Ukraine 6 March 2026 - 17:46 At the main command post of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which is defending Kostiantynivka on Pleshchiivka and Ivanopillia directions, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi met with the unit's warriors. Brigade Commander Colonel Ruslan Tkachuk gave the Head of State a detailed briefing on the operational situation within the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade's area of responsibility. The President thanked the warriors for their service and for defending Ukraine, awarding the fighters who distinguished themselves during missions with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, "For Courage," and the Medal "For Saved Life." "I have the honor of awarding you. Today, we are in this direction, and the whole world is now speaking about Ukraine and the East, about our Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It is very difficult to defend our state in this sector. I am grateful to you for holding the line so firmly. Keep going. We will help in every way we can," the President emphasized. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also discussed with battalion commanders additional funding for drone procurement. According to the commanders, this will allow them to increase the number of hits on the enemy. The conversation also covered the electronic points system, the use of artillery in drone warfare, and the brigade's needs. The Head of State noted that all issues raised will be addressed promptly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President Met with the Warriors of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine President of Ukraine 6 March 2026 - 18:49 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi met with the warriors of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine at their command post. The brigade's fighters took part in eliminating the Dobropillia breakthrough and are currently defending this direction from the enemy, including Rodynske, Bilytske, and Shakhove, while also organizing the defense of Dobropillia. The Head of State received briefings from the commander of the 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, Denys Prokopenko (Redis), and the commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade, Bohdan Hrishenkov (Puhach). According to them, the enemy offensive in this sector has been significantly slowed, and the front line has been stabilized. The commanders also reported on cooperation with the Unmanned Systems Forces and discussed with the President the brigade's funding needs for the drone program, including attack drones and ground robotic systems. Separately, the discussion with unit representatives addressed prevention of AWOL occurrences, evacuation from frontline areas, and restoration of logistical routes. The Head of State noted that all proposals raised by the servicemembers will be considered and acted upon. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the warriors for defending Ukraine, awarded them the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, "For Courage," and of Danylo Halytskyi, and presented the shoulder boards of a brigadier general to Denys Prokopenko. "Thank you for defending our state since the first days of the occupation of Crimea and part of our east - Donbas. I am deeply grateful for your courage throughout all the years of this full-scale war. Thank you that we have people like you in Ukraine, and Ukraine exists because of you, and that is why it is alive and holding on," Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President Held a Meeting on the Security Situation in the Donetsk Region President of Ukraine 6 March 2026 - 19:33 At the command post of the 81st Separate Airmobile Slobozhanska Brigade, which is defending Slovyansk from the north - from the Yampil and Siversk directions - President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a briefing from the brigade commander on the operational situation, awarded warriors, and held a security meeting. The meeting was attended by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa, heads of security and defense agencies, and government representatives (online). Vadym Filashkin noted that nearly 200,000 people live in Ukrainian-controlled areas of the Donetsk region and reported on the beginning of preparations for the next heating season in the region. Together with Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration - Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba and Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, the participants outlined tasks for the protection of priority critical infrastructure facilities and road repairs on evacuation routes in Donetsk. The Head of State also received a briefing from the Commander of the Operation Task Force "East," Dmytro Bratishko, on the operational situation in Donetsk and measures for the defense of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. Head of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Oleksandr Nadtochiy, reported on counter-sabotage activities in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK reveals military maintenance facilities in Ukraine for first time Press release The UK has revealed for the first time its maintenance, repair and overhaul systems (MRO) facilities in Ukraine, with four operational and a fifth planned. From: Ministry of Defence and Luke Pollard MP Published 7 March 2026 The UK has revealed for the first time its maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Ukraine. UK Defence Minister meets staff getting battle-damaged fighting vehicles back to the frontline faster. Largest ever UK-led international trade mission with a record 35 British firms. Operated under MOD contracts by UK companies with British and Ukrainian workforces, these facilities repair armoured vehicles and equipment - including UK-gifted CVR-T armoured vehicles, Husky support vehicles, L119 light guns and former Soviet-era kit, returning them to Ukrainian forces faster. It includes all AS-90 artillery systems donated by the UK, and our collaboration with Swedish partners means we are also able to support the Swedish Archer artillery systems. The UK has been working since Russia's illegal full-scale invasion in 2022 to establish engineering sites in Ukraine, operated under MOD contracts by UK companies with a skilled UK and Ukrainian workforce. Locating these facilities in Ukraine ensures that armoured vehicles and equipment are repaired quickly and returned to Ukrainian forces faster, bolstering Ukraine's Armed Forces - providing highly-skilled, well-paid jobs for Ukrainians. British engineers are on the ground in Ukraine, working side-by-side with Ukrainian counterparts to service and repair military vehicles. Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, visited one of the sites in Ukraine this week, speaking with those working around the clock to help keep Ukraine in the fight. Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said: While the world's attention is focussed on conflict across the Middle East, the UK is standing firmer with our friends in Ukraine. Visits to Ukraine have always been deeply poignant for me - the UK will never waver in our support for Ukraine and we are clear that Ukraine's security is Britain's security. From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine. Our pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine's defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin's brutal attacks, and British firms are boosting long term industrial production in Ukraine and partnering with Ukrainian companies to benefit both our nations. As part of his visit, Defence Minister Pollard led the seventh Trade Mission to Ukraine, the largest in the series, with five international partners, over 80 delegates and 55 companies - including a record 35 British firms. The trade mission was run by ADS Group, the trade association for the UK's aerospace, defence, security, and space industries. This highlights the UK's continued support for Ukraine as the Minister met with Ukrainian counterparts as well as UK and international partners' defence industry leaders in Kyiv. The UK and Ukraine signed an agreement for the latest project under Programme Lyra, the unique UK/Ukraine technology exchange agreed by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy in June 2025. An agreement was also signed that will see the UK and Ukraine collaborating on sophisticated UK electronic warfare technology, combining it with Ukrainian platforms to improve Ukraine's military capability. The trade mission marks the UK's move to a permanent presence to support UK industry in Ukraine. It was the largest mission of the series, with the UK welcoming five international partners including Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, over 80 delegates and 55 companies. This number included a record 35 UK companies from primes to SMEs, offering a range of innovative solutions. Discussions at the Trade Mission around inward investment and mobilising private capital will further strengthen our ability to support Ukraine. The trade missions have successfully deepened ties between British companies and their Ukrainian counterparts, securing contracts and helping build lasting sovereign production in Ukraine. That success has been underpinned by significant growth which will be supported by a new British Business Centre opening in Kyiv. Since Russia's illegal full-scale invasion in February 2022, the UK has committed over 21.8 billion for Ukraine, making the UK one of Ukraine's largest bilateral donors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address by Xinhua Writers Zheng Bofei, Yu Aicen LONDON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Anti-war protesters marched through central London on Saturday, denouncing U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran and urging the British government not to be drawn deeper into the conflict. Drums, chants and Palestinian and Iranian flags filled the streets as demonstrators walked from Millbank to the U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms. Organizers said between 20,000 and 30,000 people joined the rally, while the Metropolitan Police estimated the turnout at more than 5,000. The protest was organized by anti-war groups, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Stop the War Coalition, with support from pro-Palestine groups. Sophie Bolt, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, described the bombing of Iran as an "unprovoked illegal attack" and said organizers aimed to "put the maximum pressure on the British government to stop supporting this illegal war." "We're all horrified at what Israel and the U.S. have done," said Bolt. "Yet again, we are seeing an unprovoked illegal attack on Iran. Absolutely catastrophic," She told Xinhua. She said the protest had been organized at short notice but still attracted "thousands and thousands of people," drawing not only anti-war activists but also supporters of the Palestine solidarity movement and trade unions. John Rees, national officer of the Stop the War Coalition, criticized the British government's stance, saying Prime Minister Keir Starmer was "squirming by allowing the bases to be used, but saying he doesn't want to be part of offensive operations." "Those two things are mutually contradictory," he said. Among the protesters was Lela, an Iranian woman who has lived in London for 30 years. She said she felt "anxious and sad," but was encouraged to see large crowds supporting her country. "Iranian people are educated people, they're free people, they can make decisions for themselves," she said. "They don't need any foreign government to make decisions for them." Carla, an Italian resident in London, said she joined the march because "we need to fight for peace, all together," adding that protesters feared being "dragged into a new world war." Another participant, Tim Newton, said he attended for "morality," describing the war as "completely illegal" and criticizing what he called the British government's "wavering" position. As the march crossed the Thames toward the U.S. Embassy, protesters continued chanting outside the heavily guarded complex, warning that ordinary people should not once again bear the cost of war. Dozens of protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline project caused fireworks briefly during a gubernatorial debate in downtown Bismarck Monday with a coordinated outburst expressing opposition to the multi-billion dollar project.Following candidates responses to a debate question inside the Belle Mehus Auditorium, protest organizer Joye Braun walked down one of the aisles toward the stage, beginning a tirade against the pipeline project and oil and gas development in general.Republican Party candidate Doug Burgum, state Rep. Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, and Marty Riske of the Libertarian Party looked on from their podiums as the disruption unfolded over several minutes.We will never allow this pipeline through! Braun shouted, prompting dozens of fellow protesters to rise in unison and begin chanting water is life, and heckling the candidates.You have to listen to the people, Braun said, while North Dakota Newspaper Association officials sponsoring the debate tried to calm things down. You need to stop fracking because its poisoning our water.Nearly one-third of the crowd of about 175 people walked out and continued their demonstration outside, which could still be heard for some time from inside the venue as the debate resumed. The protesters were among a group of more than 100 that gathered to demonstrate outside the venue as the doors opened. Drivers trust FIA as Iran crisis clouds F1 calendar Formula 1 drivers say they trust the sport's leadership to make the right call as the escalating Iran crisis casts doubt over the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. George Russell, Bahrain test 2026 Mercedes With the two April rounds potentially under threat, George Russell said the situation is largely out of the drivers' hands. Ultimately, I think all of us trust in F1 and the FIA to make the right decision, said the Mercedes driver, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. "It's going to be changing daily, I'm sure, and we're still four or five weeks away, so I don't think anyone is really pressing those questions because there's still a long time between now and then. And of course it's kind of outside of our hands. So yeah, trusting the guys at the top to make the right decision. And if we don't, I'm sure there are Plan Bs in place, but we're not asking and we trust they're on it. Fellow GPDA director Carlos Sainz expressed a similar view. I think Formula 1 and the FIA are much better informed about what's going on thanks to their contacts in the Middle East and the rest of the world, he said. "Therefore, I think we are, so to speak, at the mercy of what the sport's leadership decides to do, and I'm quite sure they will make the right decision when the time comes. Being still so far away from that race, I don't think it's worth wasting too much energy thinking about what's going to happen. Former Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko, who retired at the end of last season, was more sceptical, telling Austrian broadcaster ORF that without a ceasefire, both races are in serious jeopardy. He also dismissed the Red Bull Ring as a short-notice replacement. That would devalue the summer Grand Prix, Marko said. "But there are plenty of racetracks in the world that want to host a Grand Prix. However, from a logistical and preparation standpoint, it will be difficult to replace Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on the same dates in such a short time. The crisis has already made its presence felt in Melbourne, with naming rights sponsor Qatar Airways cancelling all corporate hospitality at Albert Park out of respect for passengers stranded in the Middle East. Due to the ongoing closure of Qatari airspace and the temporary suspension of Qatar Airways' flight operations, the airline has postponed its scheduled media and partner events in Melbourne this weekend, a spokesperson said. Behind the scenes, Formula 1 is understood to be giving itself another 10 days before deciding the fate of the two Gulf rounds. A decision must come immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix, as freight logistics - complicated further by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to sea shipping - cannot wait much longer. Should both races be cancelled, the 2026 calendar is more likely to shrink from 24 to 22 events than see replacement venues added, leaving a five-week gap between Suzuka and Miami. Imola, Portimao and a Japan double-header have all been mentioned as contingency options, but the financial case is difficult - stand-in venues would pay far less than the Gulf hosts, making cancellation cheaper for the teams than racing. In all considerations, the safety of all involved takes precedence, a Formula 1 spokesperson said. (GMM) Schumacher warns of TV mistakes as F1 complexity soars Ralf Schumacher has warned that even Formula 1's television experts will struggle to keep up with the complexity of the 2026 regulations, admitting mistakes on air are inevitable in the opening races. Alex Albon, Bahrain test 2026 Dawn Chua, Formula Press The Sky Deutschland pundit and former F1 driver said broadcasters have attended a special commentary workshop where new on-screen graphics - designed to help viewers track battery deployment in real time - were previewed. We've already had a commentary workshop where we were shown new on-screen graphics, Schumacher told Swiss newspaper Blick. I hope we get as much information as possible - who has how much battery power left and who doesn't, so we can better explain why someone has overtaken. But he was under no illusions about the scale of the challenge. I'm afraid we'll all make a mistake or two in the first few races because the complexity of the new cars is truly enormous. Even the teams are saying they're still struggling to make sense of the flood of data. On Audi's debut season with the rebranded Sauber outfit, Schumacher was cautiously positive. My first impression of Audi isn't as bad as some other experts have said, he said. It's a mammoth task to buy a midfield team, restructure everything, and also build their own engine. Audi has overcome the first hurdle - bringing stability. He warned, however, that corporate involvement in F1 operations is a recipe for trouble - a situation he witnessed himself back in his Toyota days. The corporation must stay out of the operational side. That can take four or five years. You can't make ad-hoc decisions in any boardroom. The way it works at Mercedes is the right way - Toto Wolff is simply the boss. Period, said Ralf. Schumacher also raised eyebrows by suggesting Wolff's recent partial sale of his Mercedes shares may signal something about F1's longer-term trajectory. I expect Formula 1 to remain extremely popular, but that a certain stagnation will set in, he said. One indication of this, in my opinion, is that Toto Wolff sold part of his team shares. Toto usually knows what he's doing. On his nephew Mick Schumacher's switch to IndyCar, he remains blunt. With all due respect, for me, motorsport in the USA, with its oval races, raises the question of risk versus benefit. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that an oval race with an average speed of 360kmh is more dangerous than Formula 1. He added that Flavio Briatore had told him he advised Fernando Alonso to stay away from oval racing after two Indy 500 appearances. I still can't quite grasp Mick's decision, he said. But he's old enough to know what he's doing. (GMM) Trump wants to pick Iran's new leader - will a hostile regime under fire agree? Next article: Trump wants to pick Iran's new leader - will a hostile regime under fire agree? Featured Armed robots take to the battlefield in Ukraine war BBC International News Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:24 5 minutes read Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has developed into a high-tech conflict. Swarms of spy and killer drones have set the skies of Ukraine abuzz, and uncrewed boats have crippled the Russian navy in the Black Sea. Now, Ukraine has embarked on a massive programme to deploy armed robots on the ground. Uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), or ground robot systems as they are known in Ukrainian military parlance, have already proven their worth. There have been reports of UGVs successfully repelling Russian attacks and even taking enemy soldiers prisoner. Ukrainian and Russian killer robots are even said to have clashed without humans being present at the site of the battle. "Robot wars are already happening," says Oleksandr Afanasiev from the Ukrainian army's K2 brigade. He commands its UGV battalion - the world's first, he says. One way in which the brigade has been using these robots is by mounting Kalashnikov machine guns on top. "They open fire on a battlefield where an infantryman would be afraid to turn up. But a UGV is happy to risk its existence," Maj Afanasiev says. His battalion has also been using explosive-laden, battery-powered kamikaze UGVs to blow up enemy positions and hideouts. Unlike aerial drones that buzz overhead, they make no sound to warn the enemy of an impending strike. The deputy commander of the 33rd Detached Mechanised Brigade's tank battalion, who goes by the callsign Afghan, claims that one Ukrainian UGV armed with a machine gun ambushed a Russian personnel carrier, while a robot defended a Ukrainian position for weeks. Afghan admits there are limits to the killer robots' autonomy on the battlefield, and says many of them are self-imposed, because of ethics and international humanitarian law. "Modern UGVs are part-autonomous. They can move on their own, they can observe and detect the enemy. But still, the decision to open fire is made by a human, their operator," Afghan says. "Robots can misidentify the wrong person or attack a civilian. That's why the final decision must be made by an operator." Which means that in most cases on the battlefield armed UGVs are remote-controlled by operators over the internet from a safe distance. Ukraine's lethal UGVs can be armed with grenade launchers as well as machine guns, and can also be deployed to plant landmines or barbed wire. But the vast majority of its uncrewed vehicles are still used for their original purpose of delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded. The role of armed UGVs will soon grow exponentially, according to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and now ambassador to the UK. Speaking at the London think-tank Chatham House about the future of warfare, he described how strike UGVs would be used not just on their own, but as part of large, AI-powered swarms of drones. "In the near future we'll see dozens and even hundreds of smarter and cheaper drones attack from various directions and heights, from the air, ground and sea at the same time," he said. Necessity is a key factor driving innovation in this field. Drones in the air have made it infinitely more dangerous for humans to be present on the battleground, expanding Ukraine's so-called "kill zone" to 20-25km (12-15 miles) from the line of contact. Infantry is not replaceable but "it needs to be supported by UGVs", says Maj Afanasiev: "Ukraine can afford to lose robots, but it simply cannot afford to lose battle-ready soldiers." The Ukrainian army has been facing severe manpower shortages, and recruiting new soldiers behind fallen ones is proving increasingly more difficult. Russia has also been developing combat UGVs, such as the Kuryer. According to Russian media reports, it can be equipped with a flame-thrower, a heavy machine gun normally found on tanks, and it can run autonomously for five hours. The Russian army has also been using Lyagushka ("Frog") kamikaze vehicles to blow up Ukrainian positions. Clashes between Russian and Ukrainian killer robots on the battlefields of Ukraine are a matter of time given their increasing numbers and capabilities, says Yuriy Poritsky, CEO of Ukrainian UGV manufacturer Devdroid which produced hundreds of "strike droids" for the military last year. "Sooner or later, we'll end up in a situation where our strike UGV will come up against their strike UGV on the battlefield. Robot wars may sound like science fiction, but there's nothing sci-fi about the battlefield. It's our reality," he says. His company is now working on a system that would enable its ground drones to return should communications with the operator be lost. Further ahead in the future, it wants its machines to be programmed to travel autonomously to a location, carry out its task - such as watching out for advancing enemy soldiers and engaging them if necessary - and then return to base after a certain time. Another Ukrainian manufacturer of UGVs, Tencore, produced more than 2,000 UGVs for the Ukrainian army in 2025. Its director, Maksym Vasylchenko, expects demand to jump to around 40,000 units in 2026, at least 10-15% of them armed with weapons. "Strike drones [UGVs] will become indispensable, there's no question about it," he says. Further ahead, Vasylchenko believes robots will engage in combat in human form: "It won't be science fiction anymore." Next article: Lebanese President accuses Israel of being behind attack on UNIFIL which injured 3 Ghanaian peacekeepers Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say Previous article: Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say Featured Being naked is not beauty Nigerias First Lady urges parents to teach daughters modesty GraphicOnline International News Mar - 07 - 2026 , 14:01 2 minutes read Nigerias First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has called on parents and women across the country to instil the values of modesty and good character in young girls, while also encouraging mentorship for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Mrs Tinubu made the appeal during an interfaith gathering in Abuja where Muslim and Christian women came together for a joint Iftar and Lent break-fast event aimed at promoting unity and reflection during the religious season. Speaking at the event, the First Lady urged women to take a more active role in guiding younger girls, particularly those who may lack support or opportunities. I challenge you to have a mentee with you, so that not somebody youll have been mentoring all the time, but just pour into the life of a young girl from an indigent background, she said in remarks captured in a video that has since circulated widely online. You know, help them, even if it is to give a scholarship, encourage them, and teach them. Teach them good virtue. Teach them how to be good women. Mrs Tinubu said mentorship could play a crucial role in shaping the lives of young girls, stressing that experienced women had a responsibility to help guide the next generation through moral support, education and practical assistance. She also used the occasion to raise concerns about the way some young women present themselves in public, urging parents and guardians to encourage modest dressing and self-respect. Teach them how to dress well. Because we see that our young people, you know, theyve really taken it, I dont read social media, so it doesnt bother me. I will take it again. Teach them how to cover up, and you know, being naked is not beauty, she said. You know, we dont know why they are doing that, but beauty comes from within. You know, and our men, God will also help them and open their eyes. I know social media will go on. Her comments come amid increasing public debate in Nigeria over concerns about what some observers describe as a growing trend of revealing dressing among young women. Mrs Tinubu said families and community leaders had a responsibility to promote values that emphasise dignity, self-respect and positive role models for young people, particularly girls who may be navigating social pressures in an increasingly digital world. The First Lady also emphasised the importance of compassion and practical support for girls from poorer backgrounds, noting that small acts such as mentorship, scholarships and encouragement could make a lasting difference in their lives. Insensibilities of an Insensible War: Why Africa Cannot Be Silent on USIsraelIran Escalation Next article: Insensibilities of an Insensible War: Why Africa Cannot Be Silent on USIsraelIran Escalation Featured Lebanese President accuses Israel of being behind attack on UNIFIL which injured 3 Ghanaian peacekeepers GraphicOnline International News Mar - 07 - 2026 , 10:24 3 minutes read Three Ghanaian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been injured after their base in southern Lebanon was struck during an escalation of hostilities involving Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. The incident occurred in the town of Qawzah in the Bint Jbeil district on Friday evening amid heavy exchanges of fire in the region. According to UNIFIL, three peacekeepers were wounded inside their base during the attack, with one of the injured personnel transferred to a hospital in Beirut for treatment. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of being responsible for the strike, describing it as part of a broader pattern of attacks on Lebanese territory. In a statement, Aoun condemned what he described as Israeli attacks on Lebanon, saying they had even reached the point of a direct assault on UNIFIL. The Ghanaian military also confirmed the incident, stating that the Ghanaian battalion headquarters attached to the UN mission came under missile fire. According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the base was hit by two missiles during the confrontation. Two soldiers are critically injured, while one other has been traumatised, the military said in a statement, adding that the Officers Mess facility at the camp was destroyed by fire after it was struck during the attack. The peacekeeping mission said the incident took place while intense fighting was underway in the area. Amidst heavy firing this evening, three peacekeepers were injured inside their base in Qawzah in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the strike would be investigated. It is unacceptable that peacekeepers performing (UN) Security Council-mandated tasks are targeted, the mission added. However, Ghana and UNIFIL were silent on the source of the attack. The attack comes as tensions continue to rise across the region following an expansion of the conflict that has drawn Lebanon further into the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack on the UN mission, describing it as unacceptable and stressing the importance of the peacekeeping force in maintaining stability along the volatile frontier. France is working with its partners to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region, Macron said in a post on X after speaking with leaders in Lebanon and Syria. He also emphasised the importance of respecting the sovereignty of countries in the region and reaffirmed Frances continued participation in the peacekeeping mission, which includes about 700 French troops. UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978 to monitor hostilities and act as a buffer between Israeli forces and Lebanese armed groups. Its mandate was strengthened after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah under a resolution of the United Nations Security Council. More than 10,000 peacekeepers currently serve under the mission, assisting the Lebanese army in extending state authority in southern Lebanon and helping to maintain the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The latest attack highlights the growing risks faced by peacekeeping forces as the conflict intensifies, with UN officials warning that the security situation along the border remains highly volatile. WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran, NBC News reported on Friday, citing multiple sources, including two U.S. officials. Trump has discussed the idea of deploying ground troops with aides and Republican officials outside the White House, focusing on a small contingent of troops for specific strategic missions rather than a large-scale invasion, said the report, citing the U.S. officials, a former U.S. official and a person with knowledge of the discussions. However, no decision has been made, it added. Next article: Four arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service Trump wants to pick Iran's new leader - will a hostile regime under fire agree? Previous article: Trump wants to pick Iran's new leader - will a hostile regime under fire agree? Featured Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' from Iran as Putin speaks with Iran's president BBC International News Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:15 5 minutes read US President Donald Trump has demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" as the American and Israeli military continued to launch strikes. Trump said the US and allies would make Iran "economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before" after it picked "acceptable" new leadership. With the war close to entering a second week, it remains unclear who will lead Iran after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a week ago, or on what terms the US would end its offensive against Tehran, which has triggered region-wide retaliatory strikes. Speaking on Friday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the administration expected military operations to last four to six weeks. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: "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!)." Trump's latest intervention suggested he was not interested in a negotiated settlement to the war, though he stopped short of calling for regime change. Since the beginning of the conflict, Trump has avoided the term "regime change", a sign he may be wary of drawing parallels between the attack on Iran and past US wars in the Middle East that he criticised before entering politics. Other senior administration officials have made that argument on Trump's behalf in recent days, saying the president will not let the US get drawn into a protracted, open-ended conflict like in Iraq and Afghanistan. Asked about the duration of the offensive, Leavitt told reporters: "We expect [the war] to last about 4 to 6 weeks, and we are well on our way to achieving those objectives, annihilating Iran's navy." She also said Trump did not want Iran to be led by "a radical terrorist or a regime that chants death to America". The White House press secretary told reporters: "[Trump] wants to take an interest in and pursuing who the next leader of the Iranian country is going to be. And that has yet to be seen, the president is discussing it." Smoke rises after an airstrike in central Tehran on Friday Earlier this week, Trump told US outlet Axios he expected to play a role in the selection of Iran's next leader. Responding to reports that Khamenei's son Mojtaba - a conservative close to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military wing - could be installed as leader, Trump said that would be "unacceptable". Trump has likened the situation in Iran to the US raid on Venezuela earlier this year, in which he removed the country's leader from power and publicly backed a successor. In January, the president ordered troops to seize Nicolas Maduro in a surprise operation, with the administration throwing its support behind his deputy, Delcy Rodriguez. The two countries restored diplomatic relations on Thursday. Elsewhere, three sources, including a senior American official with direct knowledge, told the BBC's US news partner CBS News that Russia had provided intelligence on American positions to Iran. Officials said the targeting information included the locations of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East. Asked about the report, Leavitt said it was "not making a difference". Russia has long been an ally of Iran. Tehran has provided Moscow with thousands of Shahed drones to be used by Russian troops during the last four years since President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Throughout that time, the US has provided Ukraine with weapons as well as crucially intelligence that has helped Ukrainian troops attack Russians. Putin's office said on Friday he has spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone, expressing his condolences for the deaths of Iran's supreme leader, other government officials and civilians around the country in the US-Israeli strikes. The Kremlin said Putin had reiterated Russia's stance that the hostilities must end immediately, and that a diplomatic resolution must be found. Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's support and provided a detailed report of Iran's developments, the statement said, adding that both Iran and Russia agreed to maintain communications with each other. On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia remained in dialogue with Iran's leadership, but he declined to say whether the two countries were continuing military co-operation. Asked about the claim of Russia helping Iran, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes programme that Trump is "well aware of who's talking to who". As the war enters its second week it has expanded across the Middle East after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel, which prompted the Israeli government to launch strikes against Lebanon on Monday. On Friday large explosions were seen in Lebanon's capital Beirut. Prior to the strikes the Israeli military ordered hundreds of thousands of people to leave the south of the city. Hezbollah has also warned Israelis living within 5km (three miles) of the Lebanese border to leave their homes. As part of Iran's retaliation against the US-Israel attacks, drone and missile strikes have also been reported in countries hosting US bases including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE and Kuwait - and US-allied Oman and Saudi Arabia. Elsewhere, a British military base in Cyprus was struck by a drone on Sunday, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. Featured Trump wants to pick Iran's new leader - will a hostile regime under fire agree? BBC International News Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:18 5 minutes read The US president who likes to keep the world guessing about his endgame in Iran is now telling the world what he wants. In a war widely described as his "war of choice", Donald Trump says he also wants to choose who will rule Iran now that its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and dozens of others clerics and commanders, have been assassinated. That seems unthinkable for a clerical regime rooted in deep distrust of America - among its most ideological elements there is burning hostility towards the country they labelled long ago as the "great Satan". Whether Iran's embattled leadership would be mindful of choosing a top cleric willing to work in a different way with Washington is not clear. There has long been division between factions known as reformers and pragmatists, and the hardliners who call themselves Principlists in their defence of their revolution. But they are united on one goal: the survival of the system which keeps them in power. One week into this existential battle, the hardliners still seem to be holding sway. In his latest remarks, the US president then made it clear that he would only choose "a GREAT AND ACCEPTABLE leader" after Iran's "unconditional surrender". There is no sign of that either. Trump's latest musings seem to underline that his current goal is not regime change, but a change in the regime although he is known to veer in his views from one day to the next. It is a stance which will let down Iranians who dared to hope that the end of the top cleric would pave the way for the end of his Islamic Republic. "I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy (Rodriguez) in Venezuela," Trump told the Axios news website and Reuters in telephone interviews. He has repeatedly referenced the US's military action in Caracas on 3 January as the "perfect scenario" for Iran. His forces extracted its leader Nicolas Maduro, suffered no casualties and caused no chaos. Delcy Rodriguez, who took over the top job, is now working with the US administration. Iran's theocracy - with its multiple layers of political, religious, and security institutions, honed and hardened through decades of external threats and internal discontent - is not that kind of system. A foreign plot to put a preferred leader in charge more than a century ago is still seared in Iranian memory. In the 1953 coup, America's CIA intelligence agency and Britain's MI6 conspired with Iranians to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. The man they put in place, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was later toppled in the 1979 revolution, an event shaped by suspicion of Washington, as well as London. Trump also seems to have made up his mind about who he does not want to be in charge. "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me," he said of 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, a hardliner now being widely tipped as the front-runner to succeed his father. The retort from Tehran was predictable. The president's comments reflected "the depth of the enemy's malicious objectives in this battle", according to the conservative Mehr News Agency, which carried a rebuke from members of the interim Leadership Council now in charge until a new leader is announced. "The great Iranian nation will never allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs and its right to determine its own destiny," it declared in the fiery war of words now amplifying this grievous confrontation on the ground. Iran's own process of picking its own leader is secretive in the quietest of times. In the din of the deafening blasts of American and Israeli bombs, there are conflicting reports. Reports have swirled in the media that the younger Khamenei has already been anointed by the Assembly of Experts, a grouping of some 88 senior clerics tasked with this responsibility. The buildings in Tehran and Qom where they were meant to meet were bombed this week but they are reported to be meeting virtually. Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East policy, said: "I'm not sure if it has already happened because yesterday there was news that the interim Leadership Council announced they had the authority over announcing war and peace, which means they are waiting for the succession to be finalised." Khalaji, the author of a biography of the late Ayatollah Khamenei, told the BBC about the late leader's second and most prominent son Mojtaba: "Khamenei is an enigmatic person but we know he represents the most hardline faction of the regime's security apparatus, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards." He added that Khamenei "also needs the acceptance of the clerical establishment" but says he does not have it. It was reported a few years ago that the supreme leader had ruled Mojtaba Khamenei out of the succession to avoid the hereditary rule of the ousted monarchy. There has also been a growing assumption that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be Iran's last truly supreme leader with the legitimacy and authority to be the ultimate decision-maker. It is the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), created in 1979 to protect and preserve the Islamic Republic, which now dominates all its levers of power, from security to the economy. There are reports that the Assembly of Experts could chose a council of leaders rather than one person to preside in this perilous time. Other names are reported to be in the running, including Hassan Khomeini, the most prominent grandson of Iran's revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Regarded as a relative moderate in the clerical establishment, he had taken on a more public role as tensions built in the run-up to war. There has also been mention of the senior jurist Alireza Arafi, who now holds one of the three positions on the interim Leadership Council - but his life spent mainly in Islamic seminaries is not being seen as the right CV for this job. It is not even clear that the successor will be announced, since Israel has made it clear that whoever emerges will also be an "unequivocal target". The only person speaking often and openly about this highly sensitive choice is Trump, who has remarked: "Most of the people we had in mind are dead." Featured Resolutions Ghana needs: Dignifying indigenous Ghanaian languages Dinah Serwaa Amankwah Life Mar - 07 - 2026 , 14:14 5 minutes read Another International Mother Language Day has been celebrated with well-intended messages purported to spur indigenous societies to honour their respective worldview through their indigenous languages. Undoubtedly, a nations sense of dignity can be measured by the value it places on its indigenous language. Bangladesh remains a constant monument of dignity through its unshakeable resolution to uphold its language. Dignifying Bangladeshi nationals for asserting their dignity through their own tongue simultaneously heaps coals of shame on other nationals who betray their individual and collective identities by shunning their mother tongue. Ghana leads that pathetic crusade of monolingualism even as UNESCO diligently advocates multilingualism for diverse purposes of education, indigenous heritage, cultural identity, linguistic diversity, and social cohesion, to mention five. Paradoxically, many who deny the mother language in Ghana claim pride in culture through food and clothing. Culture is not just about food and culture; culture is a way of life. That was how the late Professor de-Graft Hansen, a devoted scholar, introduced my University of Cape Coast (UCC) undergraduate class to Classics. In that first lecture, I gained the knowledge that culture is the totality of a peoples life. That life or worldview is primarily articulated and projected through the indigenous tongue. The ancient history of Greece and Rome forcefully underscores the relevance of language in a civilisation. Rome conquered Greece, but Greek conquered Latin, and the Greek culture glowed formidably alongside its conqueror. To wit, Greek somewhat dimmed the valiantness of the ancient Roman World Power in some socio-cultural aspects. Earlier in ancient history, King Nebuchadnezzar had used similar tactics to submerge able Jewish youth slaves in the Babylonian culture. The youth were immersed in vigorous training in the language, art, religion, and administration of Babylon. They were required to eat Babylonian food, sometimes, already sacrificed to the Babylonian god Bel. Indeed, territorial usurpation is never complete until the mentality of the conquered is encapsulated. Young minds are crucial in strategising cultural subjugation. That is the reason UNESCO is stressing youth voices in multilingual education in the 2026 Mother Language celebration. The youth are sustainable agents for education and culture. Whereas conquering societies subjugate other cultures, the Global Body advocates multiculturalism for social cohesion, human dignity, and multilingualism for inclusion, tolerance and respect for others. no voices should be missing from the history of our humanity. That is UNESCOs poignant message for the world as we celebrate Mother Language in 2026. For this writer, the cruel sadness stems from the fact that an international body projects indigenous languages for human reasons, while a cross-section of the indigenous robustly deny their mother tongue and cling, not so competently, to a dominant language. The ultimate sadness lies in the reality that the comprehension skill, thinking processes, and sense of humanity to mention three are warped in such parochial ones. Ghanaians eye serious problems, sidestep honest, contemplative analyses for pragmatic solutions, and loudly pray to God for help. Preferring indolence to diligence. Yet, this same God has given us a powerful brain which empowers humans to even the most daunting tasks/obstacles. And it all begins with communication conceiving ideas and articulating them in intelligible language and all can pursue that to the most effective levels in all lifes endeavours. In the Ghanaian university classroom, one gets alarmed at the display of porous intelligence by a large cross-section of students, which porosity emanates from poor language skills. The language of instruction eludes such learners, rendering assimilation of information almost impossible. In the context of TVET, such learners can only lend a mediocre hand to industry. Competency becomes scarce amid glittering certifications. Yet, the Communication Skills course is consistently undermined by administrators, faculty and students, a sad indicator of the sunken level of our educational system. UNESCO advocates multilingualism for effective learning and competence for a very basic reason. When the mother tongue is used at home, and the language policy of teaching the child in the language s/he understands the language used at home, i.e. the mother tongue is upheld, the child understands the basics in the formative classroom for progressive learning. The contents of the basics include a dominant language. In the upper primary, where the language of instruction is a dominant tongue, the child transfers the linguistic principles grasped in the mother tongue to the dominant language to aid the learning processes. Undermining the basic linguistic principles is contributing to poor teaching/learning outcomes in the country, research continues to alert us, but we heed not. Our negligence is costing us diligent, competent, innovative human capital for the 21st Century. Our linguistic dubiousness is displayed daily on our airwaves. TV stations translate Mexican and Indian telenovelas for broad patronage. The same people who do not speak Twi with their children at home patronise telenovelas in Twi. I saw a translated Indian serial at a restaurant once. The following day at a hospital, the same serial was aired in English. The Twi serial I had seen the previous day was a joke in content. That has become the sad story of this country: Largely, poor handlers of language, mediocre or non-performance in diverse endeavours, thus swallowing our own stories in the global cultural heritage. Usually, we do not listen, so we remain clueless about serious issues, but who knows? We just might be motivated by UNESCOs message of telling our own stories to be loyal to our indigenous Ghanaian Languages. Speak our mother tongue! The writer is a Senior Lecturer, Language and Communication Skills, Takoradi Technical University. Takoradi. Featured Ghana demands UN investigation into attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Mar - 07 - 2026 , 10:08 2 minutes read The government of Ghana has lodged a formal protest with the United Nations following a missile attack on the Ghanaian Battalion serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon on the evening of March 6. The attack left two Ghanaian soldiers in critical condition and destroyed part of the battalions headquarters after two missiles struck the facility during an exchange of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah. The protest, lodged by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on behalf of the government, was addressed to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, demanding an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack. In a statement issued on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana) condemned the attack on the peacekeeping contingent and called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable. In the March 6, 2026 protest addressed to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, the Government of Ghana has called for a full, immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on personnel deployed in the service of international peace and security. Ghana strongly condemns this attack and has further demanded that those responsible be identified and held accountable, as the attack constitutes a grave violation of international law, amounts to war crime and affronts the protections afforded to United Nations peacekeeping personnel. Safety concerns raised The government has also urged the United Nations to take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety and security of members of the Ghanaian contingent serving with UNIFIL, as well as other peacekeepers operating under the mission. It noted that the troops serving under the UN mission continue to make significant sacrifices in the pursuit of international peace and security. The statement further assured the injured soldiers and the entire Ghanaian contingent that the government would pursue justice on their behalf. The Government of Ghana assures our gallant soldiers that no effort shall be spared in pursuing justice and guaranteeing enhanced protection. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their loved ones. Commitment to UN peacekeeping The Ministry also reaffirmed Ghanas longstanding commitment to global peacekeeping operations under the United Nations, emphasising that the safety of peacekeepers must remain a top priority in international efforts to maintain peace and stability. It added that the ministry would continue to monitor developments closely and remain engaged with relevant UN authorities regarding the incident. Ghana demands UN investigation into attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon Next article: Ghana demands UN investigation into attack on its peacekeepers in Lebanon Featured 69th Independence Anniversary: President outlines NewGhana vision Kester Aburam Korankye Mar - 07 - 2026 , 12:37 5 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a national vision for Ghana's future, calling on citizens to commit to a year of transformative action as the nation counts down to its 70th Independence Anniversary. "A vision of a Ghana where no child will go to bed hungry. A Ghana where education is accessible and empowering. A Ghana where health care is affordable and accessible," President Mahama declared, painting a picture of the "new Ghana" he envisions. Delivering his address at the 69th Independence Day celebration in Accra yesterday on the theme: "Building Prosperity, Inspiring Hope", the President looked beyond the current milestone to outline a comprehensive blueprint for the country's 70th anniversary. President Mahama emphasised that the upcoming 70th anniversary was not just a date to be marked on the calendar, but a deadline for tangible progress. He urged citizens to use the coming year to reaffirm a collective mission, including building a nation with world-class infrastructure, digital connectivity from Aflao to Hamile, and an economy that produced what it consumed. "We have stumbled and often felt disappointed in ourselves, but we have never given up," President Mahama said, acknowledging the nation's challenges while celebrating the resilient spirit of Ghanaians. "Today, we celebrate how far we have come, and when we leave here tomorrow, we must commit ourselves to how far we will go," he added. Projections The President said he had assented to the 24-hour Economy Authority Bill, now law, which would boost productivity and create thousands of new jobs across the manufacturing, logistics, and security sectors. He also provided an update on the establishment of the Women's Development Bank, currently in its final stages under the leadership of the Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, aimed at providing accessible financing to women-led enterprises. The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr Honourable Terrance Drew, whom President Mahama welcomed as a symbol of the "historic reconnection between Ghana and our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean". Reaffirming Ghana's leadership on the global stage, the President announced that later this month, the country would submit a motion to the United Nations to declare slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the "gravest crime against humanity", a move he described as seeking "the justice and restitution that is long overdue". "As we approach the milestone of Ghana's 70th anniversary next year, let us reaffirm our national vision," he told the gathering. "This vision is within reach, but it requires our collective efforts," he insisted. Charge for the future President Mahama took time to honour the legacy of Ghana's founding fathers and all leaders who had shaped the nation since independence 69 years ago. He paid tribute to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the countless unsung heroes of the independence struggle, acknowledging that "every administration, regardless of its political inclination, has played its part in building the nation we all proudly call Ghana". He commended the maturity of Ghana's democracy, indicating that the nation had learned "to compete without destroying, to disagree without hatred, and to transfer power peacefully". The President, however, also issued a stern warning against corruption, describing it as a cancer that eroded the nation's foundation. "Every cedi that is stolen from the public purse represents a classroom that is robbed of textbooks. It represents a hospital that will go without medicines," President Mahama said. "Under my leadership, we're not just fighting corruption with words alone. We're strengthening institutions, protecting anti-corruption agencies from political interference, and ensuring that no individual, regardless of their status or party, is above the law," he added. He called for a national culture of integrity and discipline, urging citizens to move beyond slogans and to demonstrate patriotism through everyday actions such as protecting public property and treating others with respect. "We must place country above party, above tribe, and above personal interest. Ghana is bigger than any one of us," he said. Message to the youth Recognising the frustrations and potential of Ghana's young population, the President delivered a direct and encouraging message. He acknowledged their challenges, but emphasised the unprecedented opportunities available to young people in the digital age. "In your hands, a smartphone transforms into a classroom, a business platform, a creative studio, and a gateway to the global economy," he said, highlighting government investments in digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship programmes, and education reform to bridge the gap between school and the world of work. President Mahama added that "the future belongs to those who prepare for it". He congratulated outstanding students who received awards and won national competitions, describing them as "the promise of Ghana's future". Concluding his address on a note of unity and hope, President Mahama called on every citizen to embrace the national mission. "Wherever you are, whatever you do, do your part with excellence. Do it for Ghana, do it for Africa, and do it for the generations yet unborn," he urged. "May God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong. Long live Ghana and long live African unity," he said to an ovation. We will redesign curricula to respond to changes VC, Christian Service University Previous article: We will redesign curricula to respond to changes VC, Christian Service University Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings appointed Chief Patron of Gathering of Royals Daily Graphic Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read The Member of Parliament for Klortey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has officially taken up the mantle as the Chief Patron for Agrihouse Foundations Gathering of the Royals. The Gathering of the Royals, for the past eight years, has remained the leading platform for in-depth dialogue and action-oriented discussions among queenmothers, traditional leaders and policymakers, who are spearheading growth and development in the agricultural value chain within their respective regions. The initiative annually brings together over 800 women farmers, queenmothers in agriculture and other agribusiness champions to delve deep into finding common solutions pertaining to burning issues influencing womens advancement in agribusiness and in the development of sustainable farmers within their respective communities. Delegation As Chief Patron, the role carries deep symbolic weight, as Dr Zanetor steps into the influential space previously occupied by her mother, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, to continue a legacy of empowering traditional female leaders in the agricultural value chain. The MP accepted the mantle after a call on her by the Agrihouse Foundation team, six prominent queenmothers, and some selected Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue Boot Camp (AGSTUD) beneficiaries. Well-being of women Speaking to the delegation, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings expressed gratitude for being requested to take up the mantle as the Chief Patron, highlighting the impactful role of women within the agricultural value chain. She emphasised that womens well-being and advancement were at the centre and heart of the former First Lady, for which she worked tirelessly and achieved measurable impact, which to date has laid the foundation for women in Ghana. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings vowed to support the initiative to ensure more women succeed in the agricultural sector, stating that she was humbled to carry the torch, pledging her commitment to work with Agrihouse Foundation and the queenmothers to reach more women and increase its impact. Mentorship Boot Camp She further revealed her commitment to continue as the patron for the AGSTUD initiative, a position shes held over the past eight years. AGSTUD is an intentional initiative that has established over 7,200 students, agri-youth, and beginner agribusinesses who have passed through the boot camp in various cycles within the agribusiness value chain. The initiative supports beneficiary bootcampers with all necessary resources, including knowledge, skills, funds and mentorship to start their own businesses and connecting them to agribusiness companies for employment. Commendation For her part, the Executive Director of Agrihouse, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, thanked Dr Agyeman-Rawlings for accepting the mantle of legacy. The queenmothers also thanked her for stepping up to carry the mantle. Next article: Tension brews at Nankese over destruction of cocoa farms by cattles Israel calls for Ghanas support in Iran operation Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, has called on the government to join the international community to support the campaign for a strategic change in Iran's administration. We also call on the Government of Ghana to join its voice. Ghana has a very important voice, especially since last year in Africa. In the international community, Ghana is an important member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that is dealing with Iran day in and day out. Ghana is an important player at the ECOWAS and AU, he said. Addressing a press conference at the Embassy in Accra last Wednesday, the Ambassador said a change in the administration in Iran would bring an end to instability, a goal shared by all well-wishers of the world, including Ghana. End of operation Mr Gilad expressed uncertainty about when the recent operation, which commenced last Saturday, February 28, in Iran, would end, stating that it could be a matter of weeks. The Ambassador said he hoped the second round of joint US-Israel attack would be the last for peace to reign in the Middle East. The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with the two nations engaged in a conflict has already claimed hundreds of lives. Justification Mr Gilad justified the joint Israel-US strikes on Iran, indicating that Iran had the intention of developing nuclear arsenals to strike the US and Israel. He affirmed that the strike and the elimination of the Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, were intended to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and create the conditions for the Iranian people to control their destiny. He also accused Iran of using its axis in the region such as the Hamas in the Gaza strips, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Assad Regime in Syria and Houthis in Yemen, to attack Israel over the years. The operations, code-named Rising Lion and Roaring, according to him, struck the heart of the Iranian regime and jeopardised Irans grip on the region. Casualties While the war in the Middle East has seen six Americans killed in action, he said Israel also paid the price for the war with some missiles hitting Israel and killing a number of civilians. As of March 4, 180 missiles hit Israel, and over 120 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), like a big drone, hit 10 impact sites in Israel. We suffered casualties, as 11 Israelis were killed and 120 were injured. We paid a price, he said. He lauded his countrys stamina and resilience, adding that the civilian population of Israel understood that an end must be put to the challenge and threat they faced from Iran once and for all. Meanwhile, Iran paid the heaviest price with the elimination of its Supreme Leader and top security chief, including the Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour, and the Supreme Leaders Advisor for Security Affairs and Secretary of the Defence Council, Ali Shamkhani. Others who were also killed in this campaign were the Chief of Military Bureau of the Supreme Leader, Mohammad Shirazi; the Head of Intelligence of Khatem Alanbieh Command, Saleh Asadi; the Chairman of the SPND, Hossein Jabal Amelion, and the Former Chairman of the SPND, Reza Mozaffari-Nia. Tension brews at Nankese over destruction of cocoa farms by cattles Haruna Yussif Wunpini Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:57 4 minutes read Tension is brewing within the Nankese enclave of the Suhum Municipality in the Eastern Region as herdsmen and their cattle have been destroying cocoa and food crop farms in the area. At one point, some of the farmers met the herdsmen and their cattle heading to a cocoa farm at Abisim Dawa, one of the affected communities, and the verbal exchanges between the two groups nearly led to a fight. The cattle, numbering about 500, have been moving in groups of approximately 50 within each farming community in the enclave. Such a situation prompted timely intervention by the Suhum Police Commander, DSP Samuel Korang, and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Lydia Sarah Ohenewaa, which prevented what would have been a bloodbath. However, such a situation is making farmers, especially women, afraid to go to their farms because the herdsmen are normally heavily armed. Communities The area, comprising about 16 communities, including Nankese, the main town, Abisim Dawa, Adidiso, Adarkwa, Adjanor, Amanprobi, Ntunkum, Kpose, and Adjartey, is mainly a cocoa-growing area, and some farmers also cultivate foodstuffs such as cassava, maize, plantain, cocoyam, and a variety of yams popularly called Cocoa Ase Bayera. Some of the destroyed cassava farms The herdsmen and their cattle came to the area five years ago and the destruction of cocoa crops and foodstuffs has been the bone of contention between the herdsmen and the farmers. Emergency meeting At an emergency meeting at Nankese last Saturday, attended by representatives of the farmers as well as some of the Odikros (heads of the communities), they said they could no longer wait for the cattle to continue causing havoc to cocoa and foodstuff crops. Some of the cattle on their way to the farms The convener of the meeting, who is also the Spokesperson, Moro Afetsi Wonnimnti, told the Daily Graphic that he did not understand why herdsmen and their cattle should be allowed to be in a predominantly cocoa-growing area. He stated that the cattle had been feeding on the cocoa pots and on food crops, particularly maize. Life in danger Mr Wonnimnti alleged that some of the local chiefs and the police had not been helpful in dealing with the situation, and that, due to the role he was playing, his life had been in danger. He explained that some farmers who had contact with the herdsmen had warned him about the potential danger and that he had been frequently relocating his abode to avoid being killed. According to the convener, the cattle had so far destroyed about 150 acres of both cocoa and food crop farms within the 16 farming communities. "The animals have been destroying our cocoa and food crops and anytime we approach them, they pull out knives on us. "We like strangers, but not their cattle as such. If the herdsmen can stay peaceful with us without their animals, we will appreciate it," Mr Wonnimnti stated. Farmers concerns The Odikro of Abisim Dawa, Baffour Djangba, said that together with the other colleagues, they would continue to demand the removal of the cattle from the communities. Baffour Djangba, who indicated that the cattle had also been destroying his cocoa and food crops, was hopeful that the herdsmen would move their cattle by the deadline. The Ankobeahene of Ntunkum, Kwaku Larbi, who is also the General Secretary of the Nankese Traditional Council, was deeply worried and indicated that "enough is enough for the herdsmen and their cattle to continue destroying the source of the livelihood of the farmers. Another farmer from Abisim Dawa, who is a retired public servant, Abraham Kofoya Tetteh, said the cattle continue to feed on the cocoa pods on his farm. He said when he complained to one of the herdsmen, popularly known in the area as Odente, he initially decided to pay for the cost of the destruction, but later on refused to do so. Mr Tetteh stated that he had,therefore, decided to pursue the issue at the Koforidua High Court as soon as possible. A female farmer from Nankese, Ama Boafoa, told the Daily Graphic that the cattle had, for the past three years, been destroying her yam farm, her only source of income to support her aged grandmother and the entire family. Ms Boafoa, who is also an orphan, indicated that she had to be accompanied by able-bodied men to her farm due to fear of the herdsmen and their cattle. Mary Adubea, a plantain farmer from Amanprobi, said that when the cattle destroyed her farm, she reported the incident to the police, who did not act on it. She, however, accused some of the landowners of allowing the cattle on their lands. Some of the herdsmen, when contacted on the issue, decline to speak. See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Sunday, March 8 Next article: See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Sunday, March 8 Featured Tragedy on campus: UCC student dies in crash minutes before exam GraphicOnline Mar - 07 - 2026 , 17:26 2 minutes read The University of Cape Coast is mourning the loss of a second-year student who succumbed to injuries sustained in a tragic road accident on Thursday afternoon, just as he was preparing to sit for a scheduled examination. Kweku Mensah, a Level 200 student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, was involved in a collision with an Ayalolo bus along the stretch between the Amissah-Arthur Language Centre and the Sandwich Lecture Theatre at approximately 3:00 pm. The March 5, 2026, fatality has sent shockwaves through the academic community, with the university administration confirming the incident in an official statement released Friday. Preliminary accounts gathered by authorities suggest the young man was en route to Oguaa Hall to retrieve his identification carda document essential for him to gain entry into his examination hall. He was navigating the campus thoroughfare on a motorcycle when the crash occurred. The impact left him with critical injuries, prompting an immediate emergency response. Bystanders and first responders rushed Mensah to the University of Cape Coast Hospital, where medical teams made frantic attempts to revive him. Despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The campus police unit, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, has since launched a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. Officials have confirmed that the student's body has been deposited at the UCC Morgue, where it will remain pending post-mortem examinations and other necessary protocols. His family has been notified and is being supported by the university as they grapple with the sudden and devastating loss. In a statement, the Acting Director of the Directorate of Public Affairs, Dr Kwabena Antwi-Konadu, conveyed the institution's profound grief. "The University extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and urges the University community to remain calm as investigations continue," the statement read. The incident has reignited conversations around road safety on the campus, particularly concerning the coexistence of private motorcycles, public transport vehicles, and pedestrian traffic during peak academic periods. Authorities have assured the public that further updates will be disseminated as investigative findings become available. 2 Ghanaian soldiers fighting for life following direct hit on UN compound in Lebanon Next article: 2 Ghanaian soldiers fighting for life following direct hit on UN compound in Lebanon Featured US court hears how Ghanaian scammer made over $10m posing as fake romantic partner GraphicOnline Mar - 07 - 2026 , 09:40 3 minutes read A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in a United States court to his role in an international online fraud scheme that defrauded victims of more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises. Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as Van, entered the guilty plea before Judge Arun Subramanian at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. The 40-year-old admitted to participating in a large-scale cybercrime operation that targeted individuals and businesses across the United States, using fake online identities to deceive victims into sending money. Announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the scheme exploited the emotional vulnerability of victims seeking companionship online. Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams, Clayton said. Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft. Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit. According to prosecutors, the fraud network was largely operated from Ghana and relied on fabricated romantic relationships to lure victims into transferring money. Members of the group allegedly posed as potential romantic partners, gradually building trust with victims before requesting financial assistance under false pretences. Investigators say many of those targeted were elderly men and women who believed they were communicating with genuine romantic partners online. Once victims were persuaded to send money, the funds were channelled through a network of accounts before being laundered to West Africa. Authorities say the organisation also carried out business email compromise schemes, tricking companies into wiring funds to accounts controlled by the syndicate. In total, the criminal enterprise is believed to have stolen and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims across the United States. Prosecutors say Van Yeboah personally conducted several of the romance scams by communicating directly with victims while posing as fictitious romantic partners. He is being held responsible for stealing more than $10 million through those fraudulent interactions. Under the plea agreement, Van Yeboah admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison under U.S. law. He has also agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture amounting to $10,149,429.17, representing the proceeds of the crimes attributed to him. Judge Subramanian is expected to sentence him on June 3, 2026. The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from authorities in Ghana and the United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. Prosecutors from the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorneys Office are handling the case. On March 7, Turkmenistans Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov held a phone conversation with Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, the ministers discussed the situation arising from drone attacks carried out by the Iran against the territory of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. During the call, Bayramov provided detailed information about the drone attacks, stressing that the strike against Azerbaijans territory constitutes a violation of international law and its fundamental principles, and contributes to rising tensions in the region. He also noted that Azerbaijan has demanded an explanation from Iran regarding the attack within a short period of time. For his part, Turkmenistans foreign minister expressed concern over the current situation. The two ministers also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. People visit the Natural Products Expo West in Orange County, California, the United States, on March 4, 2026. Running from March 3 to 6, the expo has attracted over 200 Chinese companies to showcase various products. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua) People visit the Natural Products Expo West in Orange County, California, the United States, on March 4, 2026. Running from March 3 to 6, the expo has attracted over 200 Chinese companies to showcase various products. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua) People chat at a Chinese exhibitor's booth during the Natural Products Expo West in Orange County, California, the United States, on March 4, 2026. Running from March 3 to 6, the expo has attracted over 200 Chinese companies to showcase various products. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua) People taste drinks at a Chinese exhibitor's booth during the Natural Products Expo West in Orange County, California, the United States, on March 4, 2026. Running from March 3 to 6, the expo has attracted over 200 Chinese companies to showcase various products. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua) The legal battle of a Cabras Marine employee accused of groping a 25-year-old female co-worker and offering to pay her for oral sex remains unresolved, with Superior Court Judge Alberto Tolentino setting a hearing for July 10 as attorneys continue negotiations. George Ronny Torres Aldan, who appeared in Tolentinos courtroom Friday afternoon, is facing charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct as a misdemeanor and harassment as a petty misdemeanor. According to court documents, at 5:24 p.m. on March 2, 2025, Port Police responded to a harassment complaint at Cabras Marine in Piti. Officers met with a 25-year-old who reported being harassed by Aldan. She told authorities that Aldan approached her while she was inside a security booth, allegedly offering money for sex and oral sex. Aldan then opened the window screen and allegedly groped her vagina. The encounter put her in a state of fear. He later claimed he was just joking and only touched her shoulder, asking if he could apologize to her. The Friday afternoon hearing focused on ongoing discussions between Aldans defense and the government, asking if a resolution is still on the table. Mr. Aldan, we vacated a trial back in September because we were hopeful that maybe some resolution short of trial was possible, Tolentino said. He then asked whether there had been any developments to which defense attorney Renita Maratita Taimanao-Munoz, there on behalf of attorney Earl Anthony V. Espiritu, explained that negotiations were ongoing. Well, Your Honor, if I may, Attorney Espiritu had sent over a counteroffer to Attorney [Christine] Tenorio, she said, We do have an appointment set up for Mr. Aldan on March 16 at 10 a.m. to discuss with attorney Espiritu for any responses that the government sends over our way, as well as an update on the case. Tolentino acknowledged that negotiations are still ongoing, setting a 2 p.m. July 10 hearing which will serve as a checkpoint for both parties, giving the court an opportunity to evaluate whether a resolution has been reached. Hopefully theres going to be something before then, that we can take care of the case, if thats possible, he said. Dennis Sakamoto, 64, from Mongmong, was one of dozens of DFS Guam employees who attended a job fair at DFS Galleria in Tumon on Friday, and he felt overwhelmed by the number of businesses willing to hire the soon-to-be-displaced workers for seasonal, part-time, and full-time roles. Sakamoto currently works as a logistics warehouse supervisor for DFS Guam. He has been with the company off and on for the past 37 years, witnessing the many changes in DFS and Guams tourism market and economy. Organized by the Guam Department of Labor and DFS Guam management, the job fair included 30 employers from retail, sales, marketing, construction manufacturing, transportation, and food industries. Businesses present included Jamaican Grill, Dusit Thani Guam Resort, Crowne Plaza Resort Guam, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, LSG Sky Chefs, Guam Plaza Resort, Guam Department of Education, Docomo Pacific, Guam Pak Express, Tommy Hilfiger, Pacific Pest Control, and more. This is awesome. I never expected there to be so many employers...its overwhelming. I didnt realize there were that many job openings out there, Sakamoto said. Sakamoto and other DFS employees told the Pacific Daily News theyve all had an interesting journey with the company and that there was never a dull moment throughout any of their tenures. The biggest changes have been to the industrys customer base, how visitors perceive Guam as a vacation or shopping destination, and what activities they take part in. Shopping has always been defined as an experience and adventure, so the change in that desire is what weve had to adapt to. That brought a lot of questions...but unless youre a student of international travel and tourism, you wouldnt know the customer mindset of where they go, what to do, Sakamoto said. Sakamoto said he has seen changes come and go in management, branding, and perception, but the best part of business like this is it opens your mind [and] its been an adventure I will carry with me forever. According to DFS Galleria general manager Gina Artero and DFS human resources director Catherine Galsim, over 100 employees remain with the company and are committed to seeing it through to the end in the stores final month of operation. The longstanding luxury shopping outlet icon of the Tumon Strip will close its doors for good on March 31. Artero added that they have retained about 99% of their workforce since announcing the stores closure in November 2025, only losing a couple of employees who moved on to newer jobs. Galsim and Artero said the average tenure of an employee is 15 to 20 years, and there are several current employees who have been with the company for over 35 to 40 years. They shared every confidence in their staff to succeed wherever they end up. They are very experienced and skilled in every area from sales to service, languages, so its a good bank to pull from, Artero said. Fridays job fair was intended to ensure a smooth transition for all outgoing employees as they look for new roles or consider their options for down the road. Artero and other management staff will still be around until May to take care of final closing details. We have obligations to our brands to manage their spaces to full closure, and we are preparing for final liquidation. Weve already sold out many of the categories [already], but a lot will be returned to the vendors, Artero said. This is time for anyone who wants products to come to DFS because these will no longer be available soon. Artero and Galsim were unaware of what would become of the Tumon building once DFS departs. The general manager hopes the recovery of the industry will come more rapidly to find Guams market appealing once again and eventually welcome a new premier retailer into the building. Artero has worked for DFS for over 24 years, serving as the general manager since 2022 and previously as the assistant general manager from 2013. I was the first local manager in nearly 20 years. The last time there was a Guam-based general manager was 2002, Artero said. Diana Sepulia, 51, from Yigo, worked at DFS for 23 years, currently as a sales floor associate for the beauty area. Sepulia said news of the closure left a big impact, one that a lot of the employees are still emotional from, but the job fair was proof that DFS was unlike other companies. Its hard for [us] to find opportunities, especially with the economy today. Giving us this opportunity, not all companies will do that. Until the very last time, theyre still helping, because everyone has a debt to pay at the end of the day, Sepulia said. That legacy of commitment is something DFS will leave behind in the community, according to Maria Anna Crame, beauty department sales supervisor. Crame, who worked at DFS for 14 years, said T Galleria has always been about loyalty and providing unforgettable service to our clients and customers. That will continue to live on. The story doesnt stop because DFS is leaving. It will live on in our hearts as we go on this next part of our journey. We will carry on that legacy because of that strong foundation they built to ensure we could excel in different fields, Crame said. Barry Hernandez, Guam DOL management analyst, said the department partnered with DFS Guam to organize not only the job fair but weeks of workshops beforehand. He said GDOL spent time helping employees build resumes, refresh their interview skills, and increase their employability. Those efforts shined in the onsite interviews and informational discussions between businesses and employees. Cream of the crop M80 Systems president Jessica Leon Guerrero told PDN the job fair was a great opportunity to speak with employees she knew could be loyal, work in fast-paced environments, and achieve synergy with coworkers. She said it was refreshing to speak with people already experienced in relevant areas instead of potential recruits in need of training. I was talking with a lot of senior management, and they speak highly of these people. They kept them on for a reason. Theyre the cream of the crop, people they can rely on, Leon Guerrero said. On the other end, Sky Chefs Chris Mayoyo, human resources manager, and Fred Aladad, HR officer, said they tried to prepare interested employees for a culture shock when transitioning into roles outside of retail or marketing. I have that journey. I came from a restaurant to retail to catering to manufacturing. Ive been through all the channels, served in different industries, so I understand very well the cultural shock of work environments, Mayoyo said. Mayoyo and Jessie Quichocho, GDOE personnel specialist, were among a handful of vendors who spoke with employees about potential career changes, such as manufacturing, education, hygiene, transportation, or quality assurance. Quichocho said GDOE was surprised to discover employees who had backgrounds in teaching, having initially intended to offer alternate positions mindful of the skills related to tourism and marketing. Were always looking for teachers, but we like to consider every position a priority. Recruitment is a revolving door, so were always opening the door if they want to get a foot back in, Quichocho said. Mayoyo said some of the outgoing employees might need to develop a different mindset for future opportunities, something different from luxury retail. A lot of them lived their whole lives here [so] the conversation is very different for them on a daily basis. Its going to be thin because they might not have the experience, but they all seem willing to learn, Mayoyo said. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Northrup Grumman (NYSE: NOC), the U.S.-based aerospace and defense company, and Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), the freight railroad company, are two of the top dividend stocks investors should consider loading up on right now. Both of these industrial stocks have strong tailwinds that could help them deliver outsized growth while they continue to increase their dividends. 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. The case for Northrup Grumman Northrup Grumman's shares have risen by around 33% so far this year. A lot of that has been driven by the conflicts in the Middle East, which will likely result in even greater defense spending. Looking past short-term spikes, here are three reasons to consider this stock as a long-term holding. At its current share price, the stock's dividend yield of 1.4% is only slightly above the S&P 500's average, but Northrup Grumman has a strong commitment to dividend growth. It has increased its payouts for 22 consecutive years, including an 11% increase in 2025. The defense company is in a good position to continue paying and raising its dividend. It reported $41.9 billion in revenue in 2025, up 2.2%, and earnings per share (EPS) of $29.14, up 2.6%. Over the past decade, the company's annual revenues have grown by more than 71%, and annual EPS is up by more than 138%. During that time, the stock has delivered a total return of around 360%. As of the end of 2025, Northrup's backlog was up 5% year over year to a record $95.7 billion. That means the company has plenty of long-term contracts that will drive revenue for years, regardless of short-term economic fluctuations. Moreover, many of the company's government contracts are for high-priority items that are unlikely to be cut, including the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is just now beginning to ramp up to full production, and the replacement of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile fleet. The company is also the lead partner for the Space Development Agency, with contracts for 150 satellites for communications and missile tracking. Northrup is using technology to make its fighter planes and weapons systems more effective, making them more valuable and widening its competitive moat. One example is that many of the B-21 stealth bomber's systems can be updated merely with software patches, rather than requiring costly hardware refits. Haiti - Security : 10 million euros for the construction of 5 anti-gang operational bases On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the Haitian National Police (PNH) hosted a working meeting at its headquarters with a joint delegation from the European Union (EU) and the Organization of American States (OAS). This meeting was dedicated to the official presentation of the Forward Operational Base (FOB) project, a major initiative to strengthen the operational capabilities of law enforcement in the West Department. Fully funded by the EU with an estimated budget of 10 million, this ambitious program includes the rehabilitation and construction of five forward operating bases, along with several forward operating combat posts. The PNH, as the lead agency on the ground, will be responsible for identifying the strategic locations for these infrastructures, based on security requirements and recaptured territories. Work will begin this March and is expected to last 18 months. Note that this project takes a decidedly integrated approach. This is not just about building infrastructure, but about creating hubs of operational efficiency. These bases will house officers of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and members of the Gang Repression Force (FRG). They will be equipped with a complete logistics chain, including supplies, mobile maintenance, centralized kitchens, and crucial medical and operational support with trauma centers for the immediate treatment of the wounded in the field. This project will allow for a more decentralized and responsive deployment of the units involved, guaranteeing a continuous and deterrent state presence throughout the metropolitan area. Consolidating territories recently liberated from gang control is the priority objective of this strategic partnership. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : Who is Vijonet Demero, the new Minister of National Education ? Vijonet Demero, the new Minister of National Education, was sworn into office on March 4th, 2026, by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, who declared, "[...] You are taking the reins of a strategic sector at the heart of national priorities. Haitian schools must be spaces of knowledge, discipline, equity, and hope. They must train competent and responsible citizens deeply committed to republican values," adding that he was counting on Dr. Demeros dynamism and ability to move things forward quickly and in the right direction. In his address, Dr. Vijonet Demero stated, "The time has come for leadership, innovation, and change. My vision is clear : to transform Haitian schools so that they are not only places for the transmission of knowledge, but also engines of social and economic mobility," then outlining the 15 key areas he intends to address, including : Educational Governance and Administration, Multilingualism, Vocational Training and Digital Innovation, International Cooperation and University Partnerships, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Digital Technology in the Organization of State Examinations, Partnerships Between Schools, Families, and the Educational Community, Civic Engagement and Respect for National Symbols, and Teacher Recruitment Policy. Who is Vijonet Demero ? Professor Vijonet Demero is a renowned educator and leadership specialist in Haiti, with over thirty years of experience in teaching and training leaders. His career is marked by a steadfast commitment to the development of education and intellectual training in Haiti. With a strong background in education, he holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of the Virgin Islands and has dedicated most of his professional life to teaching, research, and writing scholarly and educational works. His academic work focuses particularly on training leaders capable of transforming Haitian society through education. A professor for over three decades in the Haitian education system, he teaches at the University Institute for Executive Training (INUFOCAD) and at the State University of Haiti, notably in the Faculty of Ethnology, where he contributes to the university education of numerous students. In addition to his academic responsibilities, he is also a member of CONASTI (National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation), where he contributes to strategic thinking on the country's scientific and technological development. Known for his intellectual rigor, educational vision, and commitment to national progress, Professor Vijonet Demero is emerging as the ideal person to contribute to the restructuring of the Haitian education system. His academic experience, his profound knowledge of the country's educational realities, and his unwavering dedication to youth development make him a credible candidate to assume the responsibilities of Minister of National Education, with a view to reforming and modernizing the Haitian education system. His career demonstrates a strong conviction : Haiti's renewal necessarily requires a serious and structured reform of education, based on competence, vision, and leadership. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diplomacy : Official ceremony to greet the new Haitian Chancellor Raina Forbin, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46982-haiti-flash-full-list-of-government-reshuffle.html), received greetings from the diplomatic corps accredited to Haiti, as well as from representatives of international organizations and the consular corps. This formal ceremony provided an opportunity for the heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international institutions to pay their respects to the new Minister, in accordance with diplomatic protocol surrounding the assumption of office by a head of diplomacy. In her address, Minister Raina Forbin expressed her gratitude to the members of the diplomatic and consular corps for their presence and their unwavering commitment to Haiti. She reaffirmed the importance the government places on dialogue, mutual respect, and strengthening cooperation with all its international partners. She also reiterated the government's main priorities, including restoring security, organizing credible elections, reviving the national economy, and responding to the humanitarian crisis. She emphasized that Haitian diplomacy will remain fully mobilized to support these efforts and strengthen cooperation mechanisms with the international community. Furthermore, Minister Forbin expressed Haiti's gratitude to partners committed to supporting national institutions, particularly initiatives aimed at bolstering security forces and stabilizing the country. In conclusion, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to successfully leading the ongoing transition, while calling for continued active international solidarity to support Haiti on its path to security, institutional stability, and sustainable development. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46982-haiti-flash-full-list-of-government-reshuffle.html HL/ HaitiLibre The agreement sets out plans to evaluate the export and distribution of selected Fazer chocolate products produced in Finland. The companies will also assess the creation of a long term partnership in India that would involve local production, marketing and nationwide distribution of premium chocolate based on Fazer recipes and quality standards. Finnish food group Fazer has signed a memorandum of understanding with Reliance Consumer Products Limited to examine a partnership that would introduce Finnish chocolate products to the Indian market. The move coincides with a Finnish state visit to India aimed at strengthening trade and economic ties between the two countries. Reliance Consumer Products Limited forms part of Reliance Industries, one of Indias largest corporations. The company controls a distribution network that reaches more than one million retail outlets and over 18,000 stores across the country. Christoph Vitzthum, president and chief executive of Fazer, said the partnership would open access to a large consumer market. This partnership would be a great opportunity for Fazer to offer our unique products to the fast growing Indian market, he said. With RCPL handling commercialisation and distribution in India we could establish a premium position in the chocolate market and a foundation for a broader nationwide rollout. India has a population of about 1.5 billion people and its confectionery sector continues to expand as incomes rise and organised retail grows across major cities. Fazer expects the cooperation with Reliance to help accelerate the companys international expansion strategy. The Finnish company already operates across the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as Poland and China. Its products are exported to more than forty markets worldwide. T. Krishnakumar, director of Reliance Consumer Products Limited, said the cooperation would combine global brands with local distribution. Partnering with Fazer is a strategic step towards introducing one of the worlds finest chocolates to Indian consumers, he said. By combining Fazers brands and manufacturing excellence with RCPLs production capabilities and distribution network we are well positioned to bring these products to consumers across India. The planned partnership would give Fazer immediate access to one of the largest consumer markets in the world while relying on a domestic partner with experience in the Indian fast moving consumer goods sector. The announcement comes during a broader push to strengthen economic cooperation between Finland and India. Alexander Stubb, president of Finland, travelled to India this week on a state visit that includes meetings with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The discussions between the leaders address global political developments, trade cooperation between Europe and India, and the expansion of commercial links between the two countries. The Finnish presidents programme also includes a visit to Mumbai where he will speak at the University of Mumbai and attend a Finland India Business Dialogue focused on industry, infrastructure and skills development. A Finnish business delegation accompanied the visit, including representatives from technology, energy and manufacturing firms such as Nokia, Wartsila, Metso and KONE as well as food group Fazer. The Finnish government has identified India as a key partner for future trade growth. During a visit earlier this year Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Finland aims to double trade with India in the coming years. HT Considering that most companies don't even stay in business for 20 years, finding stocks worth holding onto for good isn't always easy. Thankfully, some seem to have the qualities that will enable them to perform well for a very long time. Two such companies in the healthcare sector are Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Medtronic (NYSE: MDT). In addition to having robust underlying businesses, both have terrific dividend programs. 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 Here's more on these two healthcare leaders. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a leading drugmaker with a vast portfolio of products across several therapeutic areas, although the company has historically had a strong presence in oncology. Last year, 10 of the drugmaker's products each generated over $1 billion in sales. Some of these are medicines that have lost patent protection and are seeing sales decline, but the company has a growth portfolio of newer therapies that should replace older ones. It will face more patent cliffs by the end of the decade, including those for Eliquis, an anticoagulant, and Opdivo, a cancer medicine. These are its two best-selling drugs. However, Bristol Myers Squibb is prepared: A newer, subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo that is easier and faster to administer will help it keep that franchise going for longer. And newer products will have a far greater impact once Eliquis loses patent exclusivity. That's how the company has historically overcome obstacles, and we can expect it to continue doing so while still delivering consistent revenue and earnings. Lastly, Bristol Myers Squibb is an attractive dividend stock with a juicy forward yield of 4%. It has increased its dividend payout by 65.8% over the past decade. While the stock may be somewhat "boring," shareholders can quietly earn solid returns over the long run, especially if they opt to reinvest the dividend. 2. Medtronic Medtronic is a medical device leader. Its portfolio of products spans several areas, including some where it has made important breakthroughs or is the market leader. Its current lineup features a portfolio in pulsed field ablation (PFA), a relatively new and innovative method that it helped pioneer for treating certain heart problems. The company routinely launches newer products while delivering reliable -- albeit rarely phenomenal -- revenue and earnings growth. One of Medtronic's latest launches should become a significant long-term growth driver. Last year, it earned clearance for the Hugo system, a robotic-assisted surgery device, in urologic procedures. Considering that the RAS market is underpenetrated and that Medtronic will seek new indications for this device, there is a significant opportunity ahead. A total of 4,039 housing transactions took place across Finland in February. The figure marks a decline of 9.4 per cent from the same month in 2025. The data includes both new and existing homes reported to the KVKL price monitoring service. Finlands housing market recorded fewer transactions in February 2026, yet price indicators in large cities showed signs of recovery after a prolonged decline. Data from the Finnish Association of Real Estate Agencies points to weak consumer confidence while wage growth and lower property values improved affordability for buyers. Sales of existing homes reached 3,961 units, down 8.2 per cent from the previous year. Transactions involving newly built homes fell at a sharper pace. Only 78 new homes sold during the month, a drop of 46.9 per cent compared with February 2025. Tuomas Viljamaa, chief executive of the Finnish Association of Real Estate Agencies, said demand for new housing remained weak. Consumer purchases of new developments were quiet and sales volumes almost halved compared with a year earlier, he said. Viljamaa noted that the market still performed better than during the downturn seen earlier in the decade. Transaction volumes in February 2026 remained higher than in February 2023 and February 2024, he said. Rising electricity costs and higher unemployment rates have influenced household spending decisions across Finland. Many households continue to increase savings as a precaution, a trend reflected in Bank of Finland data showing growth in consumer deposits. Despite the decline in transactions, several indicators point to a potential shift in the market during 2026. Purchasing power has strengthened over the past year as wages increased while property prices fell from earlier peaks. Viljamaa said the relationship between wages and housing prices now favours buyers. Wages are rising and housing prices have fallen. From a buyers perspective the situation is the most attractive seen in decades, he said. Price data from the KVKL index shows early growth in apartment values in large cities. Average square metre prices for existing apartments increased by 1.7 per cent in the Helsinki metropolitan area compared with January. Prices in other large cities rose by 1.5 per cent over the same period. Prices in Turku rose by 2.2 per cent and in Tampere by 0.7 per cent during the month. Oulu recorded a decline of 6.2 per cent. Compared with February last year, prices remain lower across most major cities. Apartment prices in the Helsinki metropolitan area stand 3.0 per cent below the level recorded twelve months earlier. In other large cities the annual decline reached 4.9 per cent. Supply remains high across the country. A large stock of homes remains on the market, giving buyers a wide range of options. Viljamaa linked the slower adjustment in supply to the continued construction of state supported rental housing. The number of housing units per household has also shifted. Finland saw several years in which both household size and apartment size declined. Recent policy changes altered that pattern. Students returned from the general housing allowance system to a separate student housing benefit scheme. The change reduced demand for studio apartments and increased the average household size. Population growth also influences the housing structure. Immigration has accounted for much of Finlands population increase in recent years. Policy changes that eased entry for international students and family reunification also expanded the average household size. Viljamaa said this trend slows the decline in housing supply because larger households occupy more living space. The effect appears most clearly in large cities where small apartments dominate the market. In those areas small units recorded the largest price and rent declines during the downturn. HT United States and Israeli forces launched new waves of air attacks across Iran on Saturday as the conflict entered its second week. Explosions were reported across Tehran while Israeli military officials said more than 80 fighter jets had struck infrastructure overnight. The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensified on its eighth day as air strikes continued across Iran and retaliatory missile strikes spread across the Middle East. Washington demanded Irans unconditional surrender while Tehran vowed to continue resistance and retaliatory attacks against US and Israeli military targets in the region. The campaign began on 28 February with an unprovoked and unannounced coordinated attack on Iranian military and civilian targets. Since then, US Central Command reported more than 3,000 targets struck across Iran and dozens of naval vessels destroyed. Casualties have mounted rapidly. Iranian authorities report that at least 1,332 people have been killed in the strikes. Civilian areas, including homes, hospitals, and schools, have also been damaged. The first day of the attacks saw the tragic strike of the United States on a girls school, which killed over 140 primary school girls. Another US/Israeli attack on a school has killed at least 18 children and injured many others. US President Donald Trump said the campaign would continue until Iran surrendered. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: There will be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the operation could last four to six weeks. She said the goal was to destroy Irans military capability and prevent further attacks against Israel and US interests. Iran rejected the demand for surrender. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would defend its sovereignty and continue strikes against what he described as sources of aggression. We stand and resist to the end to defend our country, Pezeshkian said in remarks posted online. He added that Iranian forces were targeting US bases and installations in the region rather than neighbouring countries. Pezeshkian also issued an apology to Gulf states after missile and drone strikes hit several countries hosting US military facilities. Pezeshkian said Iran would no longer attack neighbouring states unless attacks against Iran originated from their territory. Soon after, however, a missile originating from Bahrain hit a desalination plant in Iran, and retaliatory attacks continued across the region. Iranian missiles and drones targeted military installations in several Gulf states, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Authorities in Qatar reported intercepting most of ten drones launched towards the country. Saudi air defences also destroyed several drones heading towards oil facilities near Riyadh. Jordan said Iranian forces had launched 119 missiles and drones towards installations inside its territory during the first week of the conflict. Military officials said most of the projectiles had been intercepted. Air travel across the Gulf region faced heavy disruption. Dubai International Airport briefly suspended operations after explosions were reported near the airport before partial service resumed later in the day. In eastern Lebanon, Israeli forces carried out an operation near the town of Nabi Chit, which resulted in dozens of casualties after intense air raids. Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli troops during the operation. Israel said the raid aimed to locate information about missing pilot Ron Arad, who disappeared during a mission over Lebanon in 1986. Hezbollah responded with rocket attacks against northern Israel and issued evacuation warnings for residents near the border. Lebanese authorities reported more than 200 people killed since the start of the fighting. Inside Israel, repeated missile attacks from Iran have triggered air raid sirens across major cities, including Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Israeli air defence systems intercepted some of the incoming projectiles, but many missiles landed, and explosions were reported during several waves of strikes. Israel has strictly forbidden posting of footage of impacts and destruction caused by Iranian retaliation. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Pezeshkian and expressed condolences for those killed in the attacks and urged a diplomatic solution. The Kremlin has condemned the attacks on Iran and the murder of its leader and his family. US officials said Russia may be sharing intelligence on American military positions with Iran. Washington did not confirm details but said the situation was under review. European countries have begun deploying military assets to the region to support allies and protect shipping routes. Britain pledged fighter jets, helicopters, and a naval destroyer to defend Saudi Arabia if required. Spain has not allowed US bases in the country to be used for attacking Iran and has been the only European country which has clearly condemned the war started by the US and Israel. Meanwhile, protests against the war have taken place in several countries. In London, thousands marched through central streets calling for an end to US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Humanitarian agencies warn the fighting is creating a growing regional crisis. The United Nations estimates that at least 330,000 people have been displaced across the Middle East since the conflict began. Military officials in Washington say the scale of the operation is already significant. Analysts estimate the first 100 hours of the campaign cost about $3.7bn, according to research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The war is costing US taxpayers an estimated $860 million per day. The The US has officially admitted only 6 casualties, but Iranian, Russian, and Chinese sources say at least 560 American forces have been killed and many more injured. HT Retiring on $3,500 per month sounds impossible in Americas priciest states. Hawaii requires over $2.2 million in savings for a comfortable 25-year retirement. Massachusetts and California each need around $1.6 million. But living on $42,000 annually isnt completely out of reach if you make strategic choices. The key is avoiding major metro areas and finding lower-cost pockets within expensive states. California: Hemet California requires $1.76 million for a 25-year retirement. Lucky for retirees, inland cities make $3,500 monthly budgets achievable. Hemet in Riverside County is a fabulous option. One-bedroom apartments rent for $1,170 to $1,406 monthly [X]. The citys cost of living sits 22% lower than the rest of California [X]. Hemet has built a reputation as a retirement destination with numerous 55+ communities. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, but its also a nice place to live. The city earned Tree City USA designation and provides access to Diamond Valley Lake, museums and the Ramona Bowl Amphitheater. Palm Springs is just 40 miles away and Temecula wine country is 30 miles distant. Massachusetts: Holyoke Holyoke in western Massachusetts is picturesque, has plenty of activities and is actually affordable on a retirement budget. One-bedroom apartments rent for $1,222 to $1,503 monthly [X]. So, an example of a Holyoke budget: rent $1,222 + utilities $150 + food $350 + healthcare $400 + transportation $200 + other $1,178 = $3,500 total. This leaves over $1,100 monthly for discretionary spending and unexpected expenses. New York: Albany Smaller upstate cities have much lower costs than New York City. Albany maintains average rent of $1,250 to $1,601 for one-bedroom apartments [X, X]. An Albany budget: rent $1,250 + utilities $180 + food $400 + healthcare $350 + transportation $250 + other $1,070 = $3,500 total. Plus, its a central and beautiful place to live, with Washington Park, Empire State Plaza and connections via MACS Transit to major employers. Hawaii: Hilo Hawaii demands the highest retirement savings nationwide at $2.2 million. Hilo on the Big Island is Hawaiis most affordable urban living but requires accepting serious trade-offs. Studios rent for around $1,281 and one-bedrooms run $1,267 to $1,450 monthly [X]. A tight Hilo budget: rent $1,267 + utilities $250 + food $600 + healthcare $350 + transportation $400 + other $633 = $3,500 total. The compromises are not without mentioning. Namely, the rain! Hilo receives 127 to 147 inches of rain annually, making it the rainiest city in the United States [X]. Gaxos.ai (GXAI) shares ripped higher on March 5 after the artificial intelligence (AI) drone firm said it has secured a new military contract from the U.S. Navy. This licensing deal involving Gaxos.ai affiliate America First Defense centers on its Detachable Drone Hijacker, which taps on cyber-operations to neutralize hostile drones. More News from Barchart Despite an explosive rally on Thursday, GXAI stock remains down more than 5% versus its year-to-date high. www.barchart.com What the Navy Contract Really Means for GXAI Stock The U.S. Navy agreement is especially constructive for GXAI shares in the context of the escalating Iran war. With Tehran deploying hundreds of suicide drones and sealing the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon is prioritizing non-kinetic electronic warfare to protect maritime assets. Gaxos.ais cyber-based approach, which hijacks and redirects hostile UAVs rather than simply jamming them, offers a surgical solution to Iranian drone swarms currently targeting U.S. warships. This shift from gaming to high-stakes defense tech positions GXAI as a prime beneficiary of the $850 billion emergency defense spending cycle in 2026. Why Gaxos Shares Remain Unattractive To Own Gaxos.ai, nonetheless, remains super risky to own in 2026, as its penny stock status invites extreme manipulation and unusually higher volatility. Before todays surge, GXAI was hovering around $1 only, signaling a significant threat of eventual delisting. Additionally, the companys financials remain fragile. It ended last year with a $3.78 million loss on less than $1 million in total revenue. Gaxos.ai has recently tapped on equity offering to raise over $7 million, highlighting a continued risk of shareholder dilution as well. Finally, GXAIs relative strength index (14-day) sits at 67 currently, indicating upward momentum is now approaching exhaustion. GXAI Does Not Receive Coverage From Wall Street Firms Investors should also note that Wall Street remains uninterested in covering this three-employee firm pivoting between gaming and defense, with a persistent threat of a reverse split or delisting. This absence of Wall Street coverage means retail investors lack independent, institutional-grade research that evaluates Gaxos.ais future prospects. Achieved 137% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 driven by broad adoption of SiCore silicon anode batteries across unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) customers. Successfully transitioned from legacy SiMax Generation One products to the higher-margin SiCore platform, which now represents the vast majority of the revenue mix. Improved gross margins from -76% in 2024 to 11% for full-year 2025 by leveraging a favorable product mix and scaling through contract manufacturing partners. Executed a strategic exit from the Colorado facility, settling $110,000,000 in long-term obligations for $20,000,000 to focus on a capital-light manufacturing model. Secured a $14,800,000 Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract to accelerate production of NDAA-compliant cells, positioning the company ahead of the 2028 federal sourcing mandates. Expanded the customer base to over 550 logos, utilizing the Fremont pilot line to secure early-stage design wins before transitioning high-volume production to partners. A major theme on the call was evolving U.S. defense sourcing rules. Stepien said the updated NDAA, revised in December 2025, requires that batteries used in Department of Defense UAVs meet two key sourcing requirements: final battery assembly must be performed by a non-foreign entity of concern, and functional cell components must not be sourced from or produced by a foreign entity of concern. Stepien noted the deadline for new DoD acquisition programs is January 1, 2028. Stepien also said Amprius received a Best of Innovation award at CES in early January for a silicon anode lithium-ion battery delivering 520 Wh/kg. He contrasted that figure with conventional graphite-based lithium-ion cells, calling the companys cells lighter, longer, and stronger. CEO Tom Stepien said 2025 was a landmark year, pointing to broad adoption of the companys second-generation SiCore silicon anode batteries across unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) customers. Stepien highlighted Nokia Drone Networks as a recent win, describing Nokias drone-in-a-box system and emphasizing that Amprius balanced cells provide both burst power for takeoff and sustained energy for longer missions. Amprius Technologies (NYSE:AMPX) executives highlighted record revenue, expanding adoption of its second-generation silicon anode battery platform, and progress toward National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sourcing compliance during the companys fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call. Balance sheet and oneoffs: the company ended the period with $90.5 million cash and no debt , but recorded a $22.5 million onetime charge and will pay a $20 million Colorado lease settlement that reduce nearterm cash, while adjusted results (excluding oneoffs) show nearbreakeven operating performance. Financial momentum: Q4 revenue was $25.2 million (up 18% sequentially and >2.3x YoY) and fullyear 2025 revenue was $73 million , gross margin improved to 24% in Q4, and management guides to at least $125 million of revenue and at least $4 million of adjusted positive EBITDA for 2026. Amprius reported broad adoption of its secondgeneration SiCore siliconanode batteries with headline wins like Nokia Drone Networks, expanded its Defense Innovation Unit contract to $14.8 million , and says its NDAA sourcing scorecard is now 11 out of 11 with multiple NDAAcompliant manufacturing partners. Story Continues BigBear.ai Stock Is Down Big, But Smart Money Is Quietly Buying 5 Stocks to Buy in February: Last Years Winners Arent Done Yet Against that backdrop, Stepien discussed Amprius Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract, which he said was increased to a total of $14.8 million. He said the DIU work supports prototyping and acceleration of NDAA-compliant SiCore pouch cells for military unmanned autonomous systems, with milestones tied to supply chain diversification, pilot line expansion in Fremont, California, and selection of NDAA-compliant contract manufacturing partners. Stepien said the company is ahead of schedule on NDAA compliance and has expanded its Amprius Korea Battery Alliance to three contract manufacturing partners. He added that one South Korean contract manufacturing partner has been delivering cells to customers since September 2025. He also pointed to a newly announced U.S.-based partner, Nanotech Energy, located in Northern California. Archer Aviation Stock TanksThe Real Story Is What Wall Street Overlooked Stepien said Amprius scorecard for component sourcing is now 11 out of 11, with internal SiCore componentsincluding anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator, and additional elementssourced from primary and secondary suppliers in NDAA-compliant countries. Q4 and full-year financial results show sharp margin improvement CFO Ricardo Rodriguez reported fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of $25.2 million, up 18% sequentially and more than 2.3x higher than the year-ago quarter. For full-year 2025, revenue totaled $73 million, which Rodriguez said was in line with expectations and just over three times 2024 levels. Gross margin improved materially. Rodriguez said Q4 cost of goods sold was $19.3 million, and gross margin reached 24%, up from 15% in Q3. For the full year, gross margin was 11%, a step change improvement from -76% in 2024, which he attributed to growth in SiCore revenue globally. He also noted the lower-margin SiMaxx line mix fell to below 6% of revenues in Q4. Rodriguez said operating expenses in Q4 were $8.9 million, excluding a one-time charge of $22.5 million tied to the decision not to develop a facility in Colorado and the decommissioning of some equipment in Fremont. Including the one-time charge, the company posted a Q4 operating loss of $25.4 million, versus $4.7 million in the prior quarter. Excluding the one-time charge, he said Q4 operating loss would have been $2.9 million. Rodriguez reported a GAAP net loss of $24.3 million, or ($0.18) per share, based on 132.1 million weighted average shares outstanding, and said that excluding the one-time charge, the loss would have been $1.9 million, or ($0.01) per share. Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 was $1.8 million, compared with ($1.4 million) in Q3. Balance sheet actions: ATM termination and Colorado exit On capital and liquidity, Rodriguez said the company ended the period with $90.5 million in cash and no debt. He also detailed financing activity during the quarter, including $23.1 million from financing activities, consisting of $19.6 million from issuance of common stock under the at-the-market (ATM) program and $3.5 million from warrants and option exercises. He noted the company terminated its ATM offering program on January 12. Rodriguez also discussed the companys exit from Colorado, stating that Amprius settled a lease and related expense obligation of over $110 million for $20 million. He said the settlement would reduce the companys Q1 cash position by that amount and result in a reduction of $13.4 million in right-of-use assets and a $33.2 million reduction in near-term liabilities on the balance sheet. 2026 outlook: revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA profitability target Looking ahead, Rodriguez provided a financial framework for 2026. He said that with what we know today, the company believes it can deliver at least $125 million of revenue in 2026, which he said would enable the companys first full year of adjusted positive EBITDA of at least $4 million. He added that this baseline profitability would translate into a net loss of $8 million for the year, or ($0.06) per share, assuming 134.5 million shares. Rodriguez said 2026 capital expenditures are expected to be less than $10 million, reflecting a decision to invest in supply chain diversification and expand Fremont manufacturing capacity to include electrode manufacturing. He said the DIU contract funding is expected to cover most of the companys capital investment over the next several quarters. Stepien closed by emphasizing execution priorities for 2026: advancing next-generation silicon anode performance, meeting country-of-origin expectations, broadening the product portfolio, and converting customer engagements into formal qualifications and deployments. He also said the company ended 2025 with more than 550 customers and had transitioned legacy SiMaxx generation one customers to the generation two SiCore platform. About Amprius Technologies (NYSE:AMPX) Amprius Technologies, Inc (NYSE: AMPX) is a U.S.-based developer of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries that leverage silicon anode technology to deliver performance levels beyond conventional graphite-based cells. The company's batteries are designed to offer industry-leading gravimetric energy density, enabling longer run times and reduced weight for portable power applications. Amprius blends advanced materials science and scalable manufacturing processes to commercialize next-generation battery solutions. At the core of Amprius' product portfolio are cylindrical and prismatic cells that employ a proprietary silicon nanowire anode, which supports high charge/discharge rates while maintaining cycle life. The article "Amprius Technologies Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. By Marcela Ayres BRASILIA, March 5 (Reuters) - Evidence that two senior regulators at Brazil's central bank secretly advised embattled banker Daniel Vorcaro has sent shockwaves through the capital Brasilia, threatening to drag the institution deeper into a snowballing scandal. The revelations add to a widening blast radius surrounding Vorcaro, owner of the liquidated Banco Master, whose downfall has exposed a network of influence and conflicts of interest shaking trust in some of Brazil's most powerful institutions. Vorcaro was arrested on Wednesday in the latest phase of an ongoing criminal investigation, accused of bribing the two central bank officials - in addition to plotting to attack and intimidate several people he perceived as acting against his interests with an associate he called "Sicario," named after the hit men employed by Mexican cartels. Among his targets were former employees, domestic workers and journalists. For months, Brazilians have watched as the probe - first focused on fraud in Master's loan portfolio - grew to implicate public pension funds, a state-owned bank and high-ranking officials with ties to Vorcaro. Unusual interventions by a federal audit court and the Supreme Court questioning the lender's shutdown - despite neither body having banking supervisory authority - failed to derail the investigation but added to questions about the banker's outsized influence. Amid all that, the central bank's decision in November to close Banco Master had reinforced views of the regulator as a bastion of hard-nosed public servants steeled against Brazil's politics. Federal police shattered those impressions on Wednesday, alleging that Vorcaro likely bribed former central bank director Paulo Sergio Neves de Souza and Belline Santana, ex-head of the banking supervision department, for tips and advice, according to cellphone messages obtained through court-authorized access to communications records. Reuters could not immediately reach Souza or Santana or identify their lawyers. The central bank declined to comment on the implications for its reputation or regulatory decisions involving the officials. In a public statement, the central bank said the federal police probe was key to clarifying the facts and any violations would receive the appropriate sanctions under the law. 'HORRIFYING' A person with direct knowledge of the recent investigations said the conduct uncovered was "absolutely unacceptable, absurd and horrifying," even if the central bank's decision-making structure ultimately led the regulator to the right outcome. MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, March 06, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ARCO) ("Arcos Dorados" or the "Company"), Latin Americas largest restaurant chain and the worlds largest independent McDonalds franchisee, today announced that on March 6, 2026, its Board of Directors set the date for the Company's Annual Shareholders Meeting ("AGM"). The AGM will be held on April 10, 2026, in Montevideo, Uruguay, at 2:00 p.m. (local time), for all shareholders of record as of March 16, 2026. Follow us on: LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube About Arcos Dorados Arcos Dorados is the worlds largest independent McDonalds franchisee, operating the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and sub-franchise McDonalds restaurants in 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories. Arcos Dorados and its sub-franchisees together operate more than 2,500 restaurants and have more than 100,000 employees (as of 12/31/2025). The Company is committed to the development of the communities in which it operates by providing young people their first formal job opportunities and utilizing its Recipe for the Future to achieve a positive environmental impact. Arcos Dorados is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ARCO). To learn more about the Company, please visit the Investors section of our website: https://ir.arcosdorados.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260306034270/en/ Contacts For more information, please contact: Investor Relations Contact Daniel Schleiniger VP of Investor Relations Arcos Dorados daniel.schleiniger@mcd.com.uy Media Contact David Grinberg VP of Corporate Communications Arcos Dorados david.grinberg@mcd.com.uy The ongoing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving unprecedented demand for computing power, and hyperscalers are spending heavily to meet it. These projects are massive in scale and complex, requiring significant power and advanced cooling solutions, which align with Fluor's (NYSE: FLR) expertise in executing megaprojects. The company also has a foot in the door on next-generation small modular nuclear reactors through its work with NuScale Power. Here's what investors need to know about Fluor and the long-term investment opportunity. 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. Fluor's data center and nuclear energy opportunities Last year, Fluor completed the engineering, procurement, and construction management for two co-location data centers in India and is also working on another project in Europe. The company is looking to translate this success into North America by targeting tier-one tech clients (hyperscalers) that are spending massively. In addition, Fluor is positioned across the nuclear industry, which is experiencing a resurgence driven by the need for clean, reliable baseload power to support the grid. The company was an early investor in NuScale Power, accumulating a stake in the small modular reactor company in 2011. Fluor is the only engineering and construction firm with experience in working with NuScale and is currently undertaking front-end engineering and design for the RoPower project in Romania. This project recently received the green light from shareholders of Romanian nuclear operator Nuclearelectrica (a joint owner of RoPower), who have approved the Final Investment Decision, on the condition that it would test one of NuScale's reactors first and move on to the remaining five units if the trial is successful. On top of that, Fluor is part of a joint venture with BWX Technologies called PanTeXas Deterrence, which was awarded the management and operations contract for the Pantex Plant, a U.S. nuclear weapons facility. The joint venture serves as a contractor responsible for the assembly, disassembly, and life-extension programs for the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile to ensure its safety and reliability. The contract is valued up to $30 billion, but because Fluor has a non-controlling interest in the joint venture, it is accounted for as an equity method investment and doesn't appear in the company's backlog, making it a "hidden" source of revenue that provides recurring cash flow over the life of the contract. Donald Trump, President of the United States, has warned that a very heavy blow could soon be delivered to Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that further military actions against Iran were being seriously considered, AzerNEWS reports. According to the U.S. leader, Irans bad behavior could lead to the complete destruction of areas that had not yet been targeted, as well as potential casualties among groups linked to Tehran. Trump also claimed that Iran had apologized to its Middle Eastern neighbors and pledged to stop attacks against them. Irans apology came only because of the relentless attacks by the United States and Israel, he said. The U.S. president further argued that Iran had long sought to dominate the region. For the first time in thousands of years, Iran is losing to the surrounding Middle Eastern countries, Trump wrote, adding that the country is no longer the dominant power in the region and could remain weakened for decades unless it surrenders or collapses. Tax season is upon us. Although its no ones favorite task, every taxpayer must complete this chore by tax day. In order to get a head start on my own tax filing, I asked ChatGPT what documents I need for tax season in the United States heres what it said. Discover Next: Heres the Minimum Income You Need To File Taxes in 2026 by Age Trending Now: 5 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week) Personal Information The artificial intelligence (AI) tool gave me a list of documents to gather, starting with my personal information and household details. It suggested that I gather: Social Security numbers for me, my spouse and dependents Dates of birth for dependents Prior-year tax return Check Out: 5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Tax Bill Like a Millionaire, According to Robert Kiyosaki Income Documents For many, the point of filing taxes is to pay taxes on income. With that, it makes sense that youll need to gather a range of income documents. ChatGPT suggested that I start with finding my W-2, which details my wages and taxes withheld at my day job. But the chatbot went on to suggest that I pull together a range of other income documents, including: Each of the forms above reports one kind of income or another to the IRS. Its likely that you wont need to gather every single document from the list above. But you probably will need to pull together at least a few of these forms. For example, if you did contract or freelance work during the year, you might need a 1099-NEC. Or if you have a high-yield savings account that paid you interest, youll need to get a 1099-INT from your bank. If you received unemployment income, you might need a 1099-G. Self-Employment Income and Expenses If you earned income without a 1099 attached, youll still need to report that income to the IRS. Its easiest to report self-employment income if youve tracked it carefully throughout the year. But if you didnt keep track, you might need to comb through your bank statements to add up how much your self-employed venture pulled in. As a self-employed individual or business owner, you can also write off qualified business expenses. Some potential expenses to write off include your internet bill, home office supplies, vehicle mileage and home improvements related to your office space. Deduction Details If you qualify for a tax deduction, ChatGPT said youll need to gather even more documentation. A few of the documents it suggested were: In recent years, the company has been positioning itself as a technology powerhouse, investing heavily in AI, autonomous driving, robotics, and robotaxi services. In essence, the company is attempting to shed its identity as merely a car manufacturer and reemerge as a dominant force in physical AI, robotics, and energy infrastructure. That shift is also reshaping the narrative surrounding Tesla. Founded in 2003, Tesla has grown from a niche EV startup into one of the most closely watched companies in the global market. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Tesla has built a reputation for disrupting the automotive industry with its lineup of EVs, battery technologies, and energy solutions. But Teslas story is no longer just about electric cars. According to analyst Alexander Perry, Teslas ability to scale its technology efficiently could allow it to dominate the emerging robotaxi market. The analyst noted that autonomous vehicles could spark the next major transformation in transportation, positioning Tesla as a key catalyst in what he calls the Auto 2.0 era, offering consumers safer travel, time savings, and more accessible transportation. So, with that bullish outlook in mind, should investors scoop up TSLA stock now? As a result, many investors are beginning to value the company less as an EV manufacturer and more as a potential leader in the next wave of AI-powered mobility. And that shifting narrative is exactly why Bank of America has once again turned bullish on Tesla. The investment firm recently reinstated coverage of the stock with a Buy rating and a $460 price target, describing Tesla as the current leader in consumer autonomy. Tesla (TSLA) certainly remains one of the most debated stocks on Wall Street, with investors frequently split over the companys future value. While Tesla built its reputation as a pioneer in electric vehicles (EVs), CEO Elon Musk has increasingly been pitching a much bigger vision to investors. In Musks view, Tesla is evolving beyond a traditional automaker into an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology company focused on robotaxis, autonomy, and robotics. Story Continues In fact, the conversation is no longer centered solely on delivery targets for the Model 3 or Model Y. Instead, attention has moved toward the impending volume production of the Cybercab, the operational integration of the Optimus humanoid robot, and a rapidly expanding energy storage business that is beginning to rival the automotive segment in terms of margin profile. With a market capitalization now hovering around $1.52 trillion, Tesla remains a key member of the Magnificent Seven group of technology giants. Still, the company has faced headwinds in early 2026, including a decline in annual revenue, intensifying competition in the EV market, and growing investor caution around Teslas evolving identity as it pivots its business focus. So far in 2026, shares of Tesla are down about 11.34%, trailing the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) which has slipped only slightly over the same period. However, the longer-term picture still looks far more impressive. Over the past year, Tesla stock has surged 51.35%, comfortably outpacing the broader markets 17.73% gain during the same stretch. www.barchart.com Inside Teslas Q4 Earnings Report Teslas fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter earnings report, released in late January 2026, revealed an interesting story of a slowing car manufacturer and a surging energy and AI giant. For the quarter, total revenue slipped 3% year-over-year (YOY) to $24.90 billion, while adjusted EPS fell 17% annually to $0.50. It marked the third revenue decline in three quarters, and notably, full-year 2025 sales fell for the first time in Teslas history. Even so, the results still managed to beat Wall Street expectations, which had called for $24.78 billion in revenue and $0.45 in earnings per share. The weakness largely stemmed from a cooling automotive market. Teslas auto sales have slowed in recent quarters as competition intensifies across global markets, particularly from Chinese EV makers. During the quarter, automotive revenue dropped 11% to $17.7 billion, while total vehicle deliveries declined 16% to 418,227 units. Yet other parts of the business are moving in the opposite direction. Teslas energy generation and storage segment surged 25% YOY to $3.84 billion, up from $3.06 billion a year earlier. Meanwhile, the services and other segment grew 18% to $3.37 billion, compared with $2.85 billion last year. Even more striking, Tesla posted its highest gross margin in two years at 20.1%, up from 16.3% a year ago, highlighting improved operational efficiency despite challenges in its core automotive business. With the EV segment under pressure, Musk has been steering the conversation toward Teslas next growth engines. During the earnings call, CFO Vaibhav Taneja said investors should expect roughly $20 billion in capital expenditures this year, aimed at building new factories and expanding investments in Optimus and artificial intelligence computing resources. In addition, Tesla plans to continue evolving and expanding its product lineup with a focus on cost efficiency, scale, and future monetization opportunities through AI software. According to the company, Cybercab, Tesla Semi, and Megapack 3 remain on track for volume production starting in 2026, while first-generation production lines for Optimus are currently being installed in preparation for eventual mass production. How Are Analysts Viewing Tesla Stock? On Mar. 4, shares of TSLA jumped nearly 3.4% after Bank of America took a bullish stance on the company again. Much of BofAs bullish view on Tesla hinges on the companys rapidly scaling robotaxi ambitions. Teslas robotaxis already operate in San Francisco and Austin, Texas, with plans to expand to seven additional markets in the first half of the year. Analyst Alexander Perry noted that Teslas camera-only autonomous approach is technically more complex but significantly cheaper, allowing the company to scale profitably while gaining a cost advantage over traditional rideshare players. Meanwhile, Teslas Optimus humanoid robot segment alone is estimated to be worth over $30 billion. While Bank of America may be firmly bullish, the broader view on Wall Street remains sharply divided when it comes to Tesla. The stock currently carries a consensus Hold rating, reflecting the ongoing tug-of-war between Teslas long-term growth story and near-term uncertainties. Among the 43 analysts covering the stock, 15 rate it a Strong Buy, two recommend a Moderate Buy, and 17 prefer to stay on the sidelines with a Hold. On the other end of the spectrum, nine analysts maintain a Strong Sell rating, highlighting just how polarizing the EV giant remains among market watchers. TSLA shares are trading only slightly below the average price target of $408.36, suggesting 2.4% upside based on the Streets consensus view. However, the most optimistic forecasts paint a far more bullish picture. The Street-high price target of $600 implies that the stock could surge as much as 50.45% from current levels, should Teslas ambitious bets on AI, robotaxis, and robotics begin to pay off. www.barchart.com www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherji 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 Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) is one of the best Canadian value stocks to buy. On February 25, Bank of Montreal reported a strong start to 2026 with record performance across its core segments. For FQ1, the bank achieved an adjusted EPS of $3.48, which is a 15% increase year-over-year, while net income rose 11% to $2.6 billion. This was fueled by record revenue across all business lines, most notably a 16% increase in wealth management earnings and a 10% rise in Canadian commercial banking revenue. Strategically, the bank is nearing the completion of its US optimization efforts, which involved a $6 billion reduction in balance sheet loans over the past four quarters. While this transition and the associated $202 million in severance charges have impacted short-term growth metrics, management remains confident in achieving a 15% return on equity target. The US segment is already showing signs of progress with a 150 basis point year-over-year improvement in return on equity, and the bank is shifting its focus toward driving future growth through talent acquisition and deeper client relationships in the American market. However, Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) is monitoring the Canadian housing market, which remains soft, alongside higher delinquency rates in certain consumer segments. Bank of Montreal (BMO) Achieves Record Q1 Results Driven by Strong Revenue Across All Business Lines Image by MayoFi from Pixabay Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company operates through Canadian P&C, US P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. While we acknowledge the potential of BMO 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Best Canadian Stocks to Buy Under $20. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. With aviation one of the most expensive industries in which one can break into with a new company, smaller airlines periodically end up going bankrupt or in some cases shutting down before they can take off. The Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) given out by the aviation regulatory agency in a given country requires the airline to prove that it has the necessary aircraft, staff and financial resources to not just launch but stay operational in the coming future. Airlines that have recently lost their AOCs due to its financial situation include Swedish carrier H-Bird, Austrian charter airline Mali Air and the SmartLynx company behind several regional airlines in Europe. Ecojet calls off all flights after entering voluntary liquidation Launched with big plans of becoming the world's first zero-emission regional airline by British green investor Dale Vince, Edinburgh-based Ecojet Airlines has now shut down all operations after entering voluntary liquidation, or the British equivalent of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, in January 2026. A last-ditch attempt to raise 20 million from new investors have ultimately failed to pan out. The initial plan unveiled by Vince and former pilot Brent Smith in 2023 had been to purchase old Twin Otter and ATR 72 aircraft and then convert their kerosene engines for hydrogen-electric ones developed by aircraft maker ZeroAvia. Related: Another regional airline files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidates The pitch to investors also promised an initial route between Edinburgh and Southampton and an eventual expansion to cities within the UK, mainland Europe and eventually an ambitious network of long-haul flights. But the initial funds invested by Vince personally ran out due to the complexity around converting engines and using a propulsion system that is only in the very early stages of being tested across the industry. Dale Vince envisioned Ecojet as a zero-emission airline running flights between cities including Edinburgh and Southampton.Image source: Shutterstock Image source: Shutterstock Filing asks that "Ecojet Airlines Limited be wound up by the court and joint interim liquidators appointed" In January 2025, Ecojet laid off almost all of the staff hired to develop the airline and grounded the flight plans for any future flights indefinitely. With the liquidation process now underway, the final axe has slammed on the project as a petition submitted to Edinburgh Sheriff Court asked "the court that Ecojet Airlines Limited be wound up by the court and joint interim liquidators appointed." Airlines that filed for bankruptcy in the last 12 months: OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Berkshire Hathaway is buying back shares for the first time in nearly two years, and new CEO Greg Abel said he has no immediate plans to sell off Kraft Heinz shares now that the packaged food giant has shelved its plan to split the company into two. Abel appeared on CNBC Thursday less than a week after releasing his first letter to shareholders after taking over the top job at Berkshire from legendary investor Warren Buffett in January. Berkshire also took the unusual step of filing a formal notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had begun repurchasing its shares Wednesday for the first time since May 2024. When Kraft first announced its plan to split the company in two last fall, Abel and Buffett expressed concerns about that because of the costs involved and the current struggles for some of the brands. So Abel said he agreed with new Kraft CEO Steve Cahillane's decision to pause the split. For Steve to come in and say were pausing it, theres opportunities within Kraft Heinz to fix things and get the business back on track and then hell evaluate things. We thought that was absolutely the right approach, Abel said. Berkshire has long been Kraft's biggest shareholder with 325 million shares ever since Buffett and the Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital orchestrated the merger of Kraft and Heinz in 2015 because they already owned Heinz and believed in the power of their brands. Over the years since Buffett had made comments about how Kraft's competitive moat around its brands wasnt as strong as he thought and Berkshire likely overpaid for the investment. Berkshire even took a $3.76 billion write-down on its Kraft-Heinz stake last summer. But until January there had been no hint that Berkshire might sell off its Kraft shares. Abel also told CNBC that he felt it was important for Berkshire to let shareholders know that its approach to buybacks hasn't changed. The Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate will continue to use some of its $373.3 billion cash to repurchase shares whenever Abel and Buffett conclude that the stock is worth more than what it is selling for. It's Class A shares gained more than 2% to sell for $745,451.75 apiece Thursday. Abel also disclosed Thursday that this week he used all $15.3 million of his take-home pay for 2026 to buy Berkshire stock, and he told CNBC that he plans to continue doing that as long as he remains CEO so that his interests will be aligned with shareholders. As CEO, I absolutely obviously believe in Berkshire with with the transition from Warren. And I inherited a company that has an incredible foundation. I believe in its you know, future, the opportunities that exist there, Abel said. Key takeaways Our picks for the best brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions in California include Chase Bank, Patelco Credit Union and Golden 1 Credit Union. If youre comfortable banking fully online, check out the consistently excellent rates at Ally Bank. Check out bank reviews, read the fine print and compare annual percentage yields to choose the best bank for you. California is a large state, and so is your list of banking options in the Golden State. Truth is, theres no one best bank the best option is the one that fits your specific needs. But weve done the research to give you some strong options. Whether youre looking for easy access to a branch, highly-rated customer service or the best yields, heres our list for the best banks and credit unions in California. Our picks for best banks and credit unions in California Best bank for customer satisfaction Chase Bank Read more In our Bankrate review Why Chase won Chase Bank took first place in J.D. Powers 2025 Retail Banking Satisfaction Survey for California, far outpacing second place finisher U.S. Bank. This survey weighs factors such as complaint resolution, account options, digital access and trust. Chase also makes it easy to access banking services, with over 800 branches scattered throughout the state, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Chase also has branches in every state (and Washington, D.C.) except Hawaii and Alaska, making it appealing for frequent domestic travellers. Chases products Chase bank offers certificates of deposit (CDs), checking and savings accounts. Its Total Checking account stands out with no minimum deposit and multiple ways to move money, including its highly rated mobile banking app, Zelle and more than 15,000 ATMs. It also has a handy overdraft policy that allows you to overdraft up to $50 with no fee. Read more: Bankrates best checking accounts But, like most of Chases accounts, it comes with a monthly fee. And most of Chases savings accounts and CDs offer seriously low annual percentage yields (APYs). There are a couple of solid CD options for customers with a linked Chase checking account, but other banks offer consistently higher yields across terms. Pros and cons Pros Large branch and ATM network Well-respected and versatile mobile app Cons $3-$5 fee for non-Chase ATMs Low yields for CDs and savings accounts Monthly fees charged for most accounts (though they are waivable) Patelco Credit Union Review Best credit union Patelco Credit Union Read more in our Bankrate review In the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, the financial press has reflexively focused on oil. Tanker traffic, Brent crude, and the risk of triple-digit prices dominate the discussion. But oil is not the only commodity posing a serious long-term risk. Another deep vulnerability runs through natural gasand from there into nitrogen fertilizer. If commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were significantly restricted, the impact would extend beyond fuel markets. It would reach directly into global food production. More from Yahoo Scout What makes Gulf region fertilizer exports strategically vulnerable? How would Strait of Hormuz disruption affect fertilizer supply? Why is nitrogen fertilizer critical for global food production? How do fertilizer disruptions impact global agricultural systems? Thats because the Gulf region is not just a major energy exporter. It is one of the worlds most important suppliers of nitrogen fertilizerthe foundation of modern agricultural yields. The Energy Behind the Food System Nitrogen fertilizer begins with natural gas. Through the Haber-Bosch process, methane is converted into ammonia, which is then upgraded into urea and other nitrogen products. In practical terms, nitrogen fertilizer is natural gas transformed into plant food. Roughly half of global food production depends on synthetic nitrogen. Without it, crop yields would decline sharply. Globally, about 180 million metric tons of nitrogen fertilizers are consumed each year (measured in nutrient terms). Of that, roughly 55 to 60 million metric tons of urea move through international seaborne trade annually. The Middle East accounts for approximately 40% to 50% of that traded volume. And nearly all of those exports must transit the Strait of Hormuz. Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths In other words, close to one-quarter of globally traded nitrogen fertilizerand a meaningful share of total global nitrogen productionmoves through that single maritime chokepoint that is now threatened by war. Oil may be the artery of the global economy. Nitrogen fertilizer is central to the global food chain. A Highly Concentrated Export Base The scale of production clustered behind Hormuz is significant: Qatar exports roughly 5.5 to 6 million metric tons of urea and ammonia annually from its QAFCO complex. Iran exports around 5 million metric tons of urea per year, representing roughly 10% of global trade. Saudi Arabia contributes approximately 4 to 5 million metric tons annually through SABIC and related producers. Oman and the UAE add several million metric tons combined. Collectively, more than 15 million metric tons of annual export capacity sits inside the Gulf. If you broaden the lens to include ammonia and related nitrogen products, the exposure rises further. International performance reached double-digit organic growth following a structural reorganization and the appointment of a new leadership team focused on untapped market potential. Profitability expansion of 490 basis points in Q4 resulted from a combination of high-margin product mix, operational efficiencies, and the divestiture of the lower-margin Advanced Rehabilitation business. Restorative Therapies achieved its highest organic growth in seven years, which management credits to disciplined execution and the clinical impact of the Exagen product line. Pain Treatments growth was primarily driven by volume increases in Duralane, benefiting from a market shift toward single-injection viscosupplementation and successful account wins. The 10% organic revenue growth in Q4 was attributed to sharpened commercial execution and the successful realization of a planned second-half acceleration. Management characterizes the company as having completed a three-year transformation, shifting from foundational stabilization to an 'exciting new phase' focused on building a $1 billion medtech leader. The company plans to allocate $13 million in incremental investment toward four key drivers: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS), Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Ultrasonics, and International expansion. Management expects PNS and PRP to contribute a minimum of 200 basis points to total growth in 2026, with further acceleration anticipated in 2027. The 2026 guidance assumes a 'back-heavy' cadence, with Q1 growth expected to be the lowest due to one fewer selling day and a rebalancing of distributor inventory following a strong Q4. Strategic focus for Ultrasonics will shift toward the spine market, utilizing aggressive marketing and medical education to establish the technology as a standard of care. In Brief: China's rise as a dominant force in global travel is driven by strong internal growth and increasing international travel from its citizens, significantly impacting the worldwide hospitality sector. China Emerges as a Global Travel Powerhouse, Fueled by Domestic Growth and Outbound Momentum - Image Credit Unsplash Chinas travel market is expanding rapidly, with both domestic and outbound trips projected to rise significantly by 2029, driven by youth demand, premium experiences, and digital engagement, according to a GlobalData report. Chinas Expanding Travel Market China continues to strengthen its position as a major source of global travelers, according to a recent report by GlobalData. The countrys travel market is characterized by strong growth in both domestic and outbound segments. Domestic trips are expected to reach 4.08 billion by 2029, while outbound departures are projected at 176.65 million for the same year. This dual growth is increasing Chinas influence over global travel flows, destination strategies, and tourism spending patterns. Leisure and Family Travel Dominate The GlobalData report, China Source Tourism Insight by Domestic and Outbound Tourism, highlights that leisure is the primary reason for travel among Chinese tourists. In 2025, leisure trips are expected to account for 70.83% of outbound travel. Families represent the largest traveler group, making up 53.27% of outbound trips, followed by group travelers at 24.41%. This indicates a strong preference for travel experiences that cater to family and group needs. Youth and Premium Segments Drive Demand Travelers aged 1524 are the most active, representing the highest volume of both domestic and international trips. This trend suggests that younger consumers are a key driver of long-term travel demand, seeking immersive and lifestyle-oriented experiences. The report notes significant opportunities for destinations and operators to attract high-spending travelers, especially among affluent individuals, families, and groups. Premium offerings such as VIP airport services, private guides, luxury hotels, and exclusive experiences are increasingly in demand. Factors Influencing Destination Choices Chinese travelers are motivated by experiences rather than just cost. According to GlobalDatas Q3 2024 Consumer Survey, 31% of Chinese respondents consider food and drink options when choosing a destination. Recommendations from friends and family influence 15%, while affordability is a key factor for 10%. This is lower than the global average, where 26% cite affordability as a primary concern. The findings suggest that Chinese tourists prioritize unique experiences over budget considerations. Digital Engagement and Social Media Chinas travel market is highly digitalized, with social media and mobile platforms playing a significant role. Suppliers can reach Chinese travelers through personalized, mobile-led engagement throughout the travel journey. The report recommends that providers offer segmented products tailored to different traveler types, including families, couples, seniors, and Gen Z. Key support features include Chinese-language content, 24/7 messaging-based customer service, and seamless booking processes. Acceptance of Chinese digital payments and integration with global payment platforms are also important for attracting and retaining Chinese tourists. Regional Trends and Market Outlook Asia-Pacific remains the main destination for outbound Chinese travelers, with Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, and Japan expected to see strong growth through 2029. Europe is also regaining popularity as a long-haul destination, with France and Germany forecast to experience steady growth due to their luxury retail and cultural tourism offerings. Domestic tourism remains the dominant segment, accounting for 95.6% of all trips in 2025. Domestic travel expenditure is projected to reach $678.04 billion by 2029, reflecting the ongoing strength of internal demand alongside outbound expansion. Market Evolution and Strategic Recommendations The Chinese travel market is evolving, with growing emphasis on digital engagement, segmented offerings, and experience-led travel. The report notes increased sensitivity to sustainability and geopolitical factors. For destinations and travel suppliers, the recommended strategies include investing in digital capabilities, tailoring products to specific traveler segments, and building integrated retail and experience ecosystems. Strengthening operational resilience is also advised to capitalize on Chinas continued travel momentum. In Brief: ITB Berlin 2026 marked its 60th anniversary with nearly 97,000 attendees, 5,601 exhibitors from 166 countries, and major discussions on resilience, sustainability, and industry adaptation amid geopolitical uncertainty. ITB Berlin 2026 Marks 60th Anniversary With 97,000 Attendees and Major Industry Initiatives - Image Credit ITB Berlin ITB Berlin 2026, held March 3-5, celebrated its 60th anniversary by bringing together nearly 97,000 attendees and 5,601 exhibitors from 166 countries. Despite limited flight availability due to the conflict in the Middle East, visitor numbers were nearly equal to the previous year. The event continued to serve as a key platform for international cooperation and business networking in the travel industry. During the three trade visitor days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and established business relations. Event data showed that 96 percent of visitors reported high-quality meetings and expressed intentions to return for future editions. Direct business remained a central feature, with deals and purchasing decisions at the event totaling 47 billion euros. This figure reflects transactions concluded during the trade show, underscoring ITB Berlins role as a platform for market decisions and business agreements. The ITB Berlin Convention drew over 24,000 visitors and featured more than 400 speakers across 200 sessions and 17 theme tracks. Topics included artificial intelligence, sustainable growth, new market structures, resilience, and corporate responsibility. Sessions addressed the impact of geopolitical tensions, climate risks, and economic uncertainty on the travel industry. Key themes included resilience, crisis preparedness, data-driven early warning systems, and the influence of artificial intelligence on travel experiences and booking systems. Discussions also covered the widening gap between premium and mass markets, overtourism, destination management, and the importance of trust in traveler communication. Tourisms role in stabilization and reconstruction during crises was highlighted, with Ukraine cited as an example. The industrys shift toward data-driven decision-making and technological innovation was emphasized as a response to ongoing global challenges. A strategic cooperation agreement was signed between Messe Berlin and Green Destinations Good Travel Community to strengthen sustainability, responsible tourism, and long-term destination development. The Good Travel Institute will manage operational aspects and provide advisory support to destinations worldwide. The cooperation focuses on integrating sustainability principles into ITB Berlin programs and initiatives, sharing knowledge, and supporting credible, market-relevant strategies. The agreement is non-exclusive and does not involve certification. The Leadership Exchange, organized by Phocuswright and ITB Berlin, brought together international industry leaders to discuss long-term strategic decisions for the travel sector. Topics included trust in the industry by 2046, value creation in an AI-driven environment, the status of travel as a right or privilege, and industry consolidation or fragmentation. Participants worked in groups to examine opportunities, risks, and priorities for the coming years. A summary of the discussions will be published at the end of March. Angola served as the official host country for ITB Berlin 2026, presenting its natural attractions, culture, and traditions under the slogan The Rhythm of Life. Angolas program emphasized sustainable development, local community engagement, and international networking. The event also functioned as a political and media forum, with 110 representatives from politics and international organizations and approximately 3,000 media outlets and bloggers in attendance. Discussions focused on tourisms role during geopolitical uncertainty and its future direction. The UN Ministers' Summit took place on March 2 at CityCube Berlin, where around 20 tourism ministers discussed sustainable growth, governance, skills development, and social responsibility. The closed-door meeting included industry decision-makers and highlighted tourisms broader impact, including cultural exchange, international dialogue, and stability. During ITB Berlin 2026, it was announced that the Maldives will be the official host country for ITB Berlin 2027. The event will showcase attractions such as resorts, diving, water sports, wellness, and cultural experiences, with a focus on marine ecosystem protection and community involvement. The next ITB Berlin will take place from March 16 to 18, 2027, following a one-time date change to accommodate Eid al-Fitr and facilitate participation by Muslim exhibitors and visitors. Attention in the industry now turns to ITB China, scheduled for May 26-28, 2026, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre, where international suppliers will connect with Chinese buyers. ITB Berlin 2026 maintained its position as a central platform for the global travel industry, enabling business transactions, strategic discussions, and international cooperation. The event addressed key challenges facing the sector, including geopolitical tensions, sustainability, and technological change, and set the stage for future industry developments and partnerships. Bloomberg A prolonged Iran war is a risk to the bank-stock powered rallies in Japan and Europe as investors abandon these markets in favor of exposure to oil and the US dollar, Bank of Americas Michael Hartnett said. Investors are likely to shift to assets that are beneficiaries of extended conflict, at the expense of oil importers with minimal energy equity exposure, such as Korea, Japan and Europe, the strategist said. US technology and global defense are among sectors that could gain during this rotation. Most Read from Bloomberg Its a scenario that has already started playing out since the US and Israel launched their attacks against Iran and as the conflict has spread. European stocks are on course for their worst weekly drop since last Aprils tariff turmoil and the same is true of Japans Nikkei 225 index. Volatile trading in Korean equities saw the Kospi index notch both a record decline and the biggest gain since 2008. The war has entered a seventh day, with investors focused on the near-total halt to energy shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Hartnett said further escalation of the conflict could include an all-in effort from America to secure oil supply to power US AI supremacy. The outbreak of war threatens to upend a long-standing call by Hartnett to favor assets outside the US. The strategist has maintained a preference for international equities since late 2024, a recommendation that proved prescient as the S&P 500s 15% gain over that period trailed an advance of 33% in the MSCI ACWI ex-US Index. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2026 Bloomberg L.P. Local radio has struggled mightily in recent years as fans have moved to podcasts and streaming services. Radio also took a major hit during the Covid pandemic, according to Michael Bergner from the Media Brokerage firm Bergner & Company. If radio was a $15 billion business before COVID, we may be back to $9 billion now. Youre not going back to $15 billion, he told Radio Ink. iHeartMedia Chairman Bob Pittman shared his take on the industry's issues. Nielsen came out with a study of [radio s] return on investment [which shows] a 6-to-1 ROI [for every dollar invested in radio], which by most estimates is much greater than television or digital, he told CNBCs Squawk on the Street. Whats happened in radio is that it has done a very poor job of monetizing what they have. Now, another radio giant, Cumulus Media, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Cumulus Media shares its Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan Cumulus Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern Texas Bankruptcy court on March 5, according to documents filed on Pacer Monitor. It's a pre-packaged bankruptcy designed to eliminate the company's debt. "Cumulus Media Inc. has entered into a comprehensive restructuring support agreement with a group of its lenders to eliminate approximately $600 million of debt, substantially deleveraging its balance sheet and enhancing its ability to execute on strategic priorities. The Company will continue operating in the ordinary course throughout the process, with no impact to employees, partners, or listeners," it shared in a press release. More Bankruptcy: If that goes as planned, it would leave the company in a stronger position. "Prepackaged bankruptcy, commonly referred to as a 'pre-pack,' is a streamlined approach under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code where the terms of reorganization are agreed upon by creditors and the debtor before the bankruptcy filing. This process minimizes the uncertainty, time, and costs typically associated with traditional Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings," Accounting Terms Lexicon shared. Some national advertising has moved to podcasts, websites, and streaming. The local ad market continues to be stronger than the national side of the spot ad business for broadcast stations, with major brands and ad agencies shifting budgets to streaming, mobile and social media platforms, S&P Global Analyst Principal Research Analyst Justin Nielson wrote, according to Radio World. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice China has resumed military flights near Taiwans airspace after an unexplained week-long hiatus, the self-governed islands government said. At least two Chinese warplanes entered Taiwans Air Defence Identification Zone in the early hours of Saturday, the defence ministry said in a statement. For months, China launched hundreds of flights around the island as part of what was seen as an intimidation tactic until the number suddenly fell to dozens in the past month. The ADIZ is a sensitive space around the island that extends beyond Chinas airspace and Beijing routinely sends its forces into it. In January last year, the Chinese military conducted 248 flights followed by 362 in February. The number of flights reduced drastically this year, with 166 flights in January and 161 in February. The flights came to a sudden halt on 27 February, according to Taiwanese officials monitoring the activities of Chinas air and naval forces around the island. This is the lowest number of Chinese sorties since Taiwanese president William Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024. Taiwans Ministry of National Defence reported no PLA incursions for 13 out of 28 days in February, despite such incursions occurring almost every day in recent years, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said. The unusual decline in ADIZ incursions since the start of 2026 is still consistent with a typical seasonal decline in the PLAs ADIZ incursions each winter since 2023, however. The incursions, it added, may increase in the spring. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and seeks to reunite it with the mainland, by force if necessary. Beijing has for decades forced its trade partners to sign up to some form of the One China policy, which recognises its claim to Taiwan and accepts that the administration in Beijing is the only legal Chinese government. The reason for the week-long absence of Chinese military flights around Taiwan remains unclear but the lack of activity coincides with the US-Israeli war against Iran, an ally of China. The US and Israel started striking Iran last week, kicking off a major conflict in the Middle East. The hiatus also comes just weeks before US president Donald Trump is expected to visit China for a high-level meeting with his counterpart Xi Jinping. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The first journalist to interview Ian Huntley after the murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman has spoken out about what led him to report the killer to police. Brian Farmer worked for the Press Association in East Anglia at the time of the two 10-year-olds disappearance on 4 August 2002. He told BBC News that he interviewed 28-year-old Huntley, a caretaker at a nearby secondary school, after police issued a list of the childrens last sightings. He also interviewed Huntleys partner Maxine Carr, then 25, who was a teaching assistant in the girls class at St Andrews Primary School in Soham, Cambridgeshire, I knew where the caretakers house was, and its quite nearby, and also he seemed to be the last man to see them, Mr Farmer told BBC News on Saturday, after Huntley died following an attack at the high-security prison HMP Frankland. Though, its always possible that the last man to see missing children or missing women is the culprit. So for those two reasons, I went to knock on the door. open image in gallery Press Association journalist Brian Farmer leaves the Old Bailey Criminal Court in central London, after giving evidence in the trial of Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr ( PA Archive ) Mr Farmer said that it struck him that Carr and Huntley took a bit of persuading to agree to talk to him. The journalist, who now works for the BBC, said Huntley had painted a picture of himself washing his Alsatian, Sadie, on a Sunday evening after being on a muddy walk, but had claimed Holly and Jessica had asked about their teaching assistant. It wasnt what theyd said that I thought was strange. It was what they hadnt said, Mr Farmer said of the interview on 8 August 2002. They didnt seem to have mentioned the dog, and I couldnt really believe that there would be two 10year-old girls anywhere on Earth who would be wandering about carefree on a summers day, who come across a man washing the dog with soap and water, who wouldnt see the dog. There were no: How cute is that dog or oohs and aahs. Nothing like that. I simply didnt believe what he was saying. It simply didnt seem possible. open image in gallery Holly Wells (left) and her best friend, Jessica Chapman ( PA Media ) Mr Farmers concern grew when, after asking Carr if the girls had been taught about stranger danger in school, or how they might react if a man opened a door and asked them to come in, Huntley jumped in to answer the question, despite apparently not knowing the girls. He said: To my astonishment, really, Ian Huntley answered the question, and he said that Holly would probably go quietly, but Jessica would put up a fight. I didnt show it at the time, but I couldnt understand how he could know that. He was the caretaker at a secondary school, a school they didnt go to. Their parents might know how theyd react. Maybe a teacher could speculate on how theyd react. But how could the caretaker at another school possibly know how theyd react? I came to the conclusion fairly quickly that I didnt think he was telling the truth. open image in gallery Police officers seal off the home of caretaker Ian Huntley and his partner Maxine Carr in Soham ( PA Wire ) In his report from the time, Mr Farmer wrote of Huntley weeping when he spoke of the girls disappearance. It seems they have just disappeared off the face of the earth, the murderer told Mr Farmer. How can two girls go missing in broad daylight, then nothing? No sighting. No nothing. It beggars belief. After interviewing the couple, Mr Farmer filed a story before calling his elder brother, a retired senior detective. My brother Derek told me that I should contact the police and he agreed that what Huntley had said was very strange and maybe even grounds for arrest if hed been there himself, Mr Farmer said. So, with his advice, I contacted Cambridgeshire Police and told them why I thought what Huntley had said was strange and not true. The pair were arrested on 17 August 2002. Mr Farmer was called to give evidence at Huntley and Carrs Old Bailey trial in 2003. Huntley denied murdering the two 10-year-olds, but was convicted after the trial. Carr gave Huntley a false alibi and was jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice. She is now living under a new identity. The former school caretakers life sentence recommended he serve at least 40 years for the Soham murders, meaning he would not have been eligible for parole until the 2040s. Mr Farmer added: Ive been thinking today about the parents, not about me or about my experiences. It simply can never go away for them, and this must be a day thats just beyond belief for them, isnt it, that they have to go through it again. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a woman in London six years ago. Police say it is a rare prosecution of alleged domestic abuse linked to suicide. Gillian Morand died in Bexley, in south-east London, in March 2020. The Metropolitan Police said that an inquest concluded that the 36-year-old had taken her own life. Following her death, allegations that Ms Morand had previously suffered domestic abuse came to light and Scotland Yard launched a probe. Seyhan Assaf, 45, of Berwick Crescent, Sidcup, south-east London, has now been charged with manslaughter and coercive or controlling behaviour. open image in gallery Assaf will appear at Bromley Magistrates Court ( PA Archive ) It is alleged that Ms Morand was abused over a significant period and that it contributed to her death, the force said. Detective Chief Inspector Dan Whitten said: This is a complex investigation with very few charges of this nature authorised across the country. He asked for anyone who was in contact with Ms Morand in the decade before her death to contact the force. Assaf will appear at Bromley Magistrates Court on Saturday. 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 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 in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ian Huntley, the notorious Soham murderer and one of Britains most reviled killers, has died following a vicious prison attack. The former school caretakers horrific murder of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman shocked the nation in 2002, prompting widespread questions about how a man with a history of sexual allegations could have been employed in a school. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders after a jury dismissed his fake story about Holly falling into his bath and drowning. Huntley, who resided with Maxine Carr a teaching assistant at Holly and Jessicas primary school lured the best friends into his home in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The girls, dressed in Manchester United shirts, had left a family barbecue on 4 August to buy sweets, encountering Huntley by chance while Carr was away for the weekend. open image in gallery Candles are lit in remembrance of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman inside St Andrews Church on 18 August 2002, in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England ( Getty Images ) For reasons known only to him, Huntley murdered the girls before dumping their bodies in a ditch 10 miles away. They were not found for 13 days. Their disappearance sparked a search involving hundreds of police officers. The nations media descended on Soham, and it was not long before Huntley drew suspicions about his agitated demeanour. Reporter Brian Farmer, who worked for the Press Association in East Anglia at the time, interviewed Huntley and was so concerned afterwards that he went to the police. Mr Farmer, who initially hoped to speak to Carr, was surprised when Huntley began to tell him how he imagined the girls would react to a stranger approaching them, despite not knowing them or working in their school. open image in gallery Ian Huntley sitting in his car outside his house ( PA Wire ) The reporter later recalled: The main thing that struck me when he answered the question was, well, how can he possibly know how they would react? Huntley was also reluctant to be photographed, which implied that he did not want to be recognised. Indeed, in subsequent TV interviews, someone from the Grimsby area, where he grew up, recognised Huntley and told police about him facing a number of accusations of rape in the late 1990s. During his trial at the Old Bailey, Huntley tried to convince the jury that Holly had suffered a nosebleed and that she drowned in the bath, and he killed Jessica as he tried to silence her screams. open image in gallery The litter bin in which burnt remains of the Manchester United shirts belonging to the two murdered 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, were found, along with traces of Huntleys hair, in the school grounds where Ian Huntley worked in Soham, England ( Getty Images ) They did not believe him and he was convicted of two counts of murder. The trial heard that Huntley had cut the clothes from the bodies of Holly and Jessica and tried to burn them in a bin in a hangar at the school where he worked. Mr Justice Moses told Huntley: Ian Kevin Huntley, on the 4th of August 2002, you enticed two 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, into your house. They were happy, intelligent and loyal. They were much-loved by their families and all who knew them. You murdered them both. You are the one person who knows how you murdered them, you are the one person who knows why. You destroyed the evidence, which showed no mercy and no regret. open image in gallery A woman and her child pass a poster with pictures of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in the village of Sohams high street on 8 August 2002 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The girls bodies had been found by a gamekeeper in a ditch near RAF Lakenheath. Carr gave Huntley a false alibi and was jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice. She is now living under a new identity. After the trial, Jessicas father, Leslie Chapman, said: I think he was a time bomb waiting to go off, and both our girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope the next time I see him, it will be like we saw our daughters and it will be in a coffin. Hollys older brother Oliver, who was 12 years old when she disappeared, told Radio Times in 2012 that he dreamt of seeing her grown up. He told the magazine: I wish I could see her now, see what shed have looked like. Referring to their parents, Kevin and Nicola Wells, he added: We do chat about her quite regularly, which I think is a very nice thing. Its strange being three of us when there used to be a fourth. The case prompted an inquiry into how Huntley slipped through police vetting procedures. The report from the inquiry revealed a deeply shocking catalogue of errors across all organisations that had contact with Huntley before he murdered Holly and Jessica. One of the key recommendations from the inquiry was a Police National Database to ensure suspects could not hide across county borders. This was then launched in 2011, combining intelligence from police forces across England and Wales. Huntley was a marked man in prison, surviving repeated attempts on his life, and was kept under close protection along with other notorious killers. In 2010, robber Damien Fowkes slashed him with a home-made weapon, causing a severe, gaping cut to the left side of his neck with a 7in (18cm) wound, which required 21 stitches. Reports in the media since he was jailed said Huntley was known as a loner, arrogant and a moaner, and that he tried to keep close relationships with guards. In a leaked conversation, Huntley reportedly said: Every prison you go in is very, very dangerous, theres no safe place in prison. As he clung to life, his only daughter, Samantha Bryan, told The Sun on Sunday: Theres a special place in hell waiting for him. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Determined, demanding accountability and not afraid of saying it how it is, few people encapsulate the idea of give to gain more than Margaret Aspinall. Ms Aspinalls son James, aged 18, was among the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed by the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. She has devoted the 37 years since to campaigning tirelessly not only for the truth, but for a change in the law, so that nobody has to endure what she has. The campaign for justice has been met with hurdle after hurdle as it has tried to undo a cover-up, which continues to hurt an entire city. Those from Merseyside who attended the 1989 FA Cup semi-final were smeared by police and parts of the media as being drunk and ticketless, blamed for the disaster that unfolded. Initial inquests in 1991 reached a verdict of accidental death but were quashed in 2012, following the findings of an independent panel and campaigning from the families. open image in gallery Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall has been named on The Independent s Influence List for International Womens Day 2026 ( Sane Seven/The Independent ) New inquests found in 2016 that those who died following the match in Sheffield were unlawfully killed, exonerating the Liverpool fans, while pointing out that errors and omissions from the police contributed to the causes. South Yorkshire Polices match commander, David Duckenfield, was accused of manslaughter by gross negligence, but found not guilty after a 2019 retrial. Still, no police officer has been held accountable. For the fourth year running, The Independent is publishing its influence list on International Womens Day and its theme of give to gain recognises the sacrifices made by these women, as well as the impact they have on the world around them. Ms Aspinall is among that list after a year that saw the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, brought to parliament in a landmark moment in September 2025. That same month, she introduced the prime minister at the Labour Party conference in her home city, giving a speech in which she called for the law to be implemented in full. A key pledge of Sir Keir Starmers Labour government, through a duty of candour, the law will force public officials and contractors to tell the truth in the aftermath of disasters, and is designed to prevent future cover-ups. The bills progress through parliament has since been met with delays, most recently due to security services concerns over national security, much to Ms Aspinall and her fellow campaigners frustration. But she will not stop and is not afraid to tell the prime minister what is expected of him. I think weve got about 90 per cent of it [done], maybe 95 per cent, she told The Independent. But, as I told Keir Starmer straight to his face, I dont want half measures. I want it in all of its entirety. Everybody should be held to account, no matter who they are, what they are. They are no different from anybody else. So we are determined that we're making a law, so that can never, ever happen again in the future of this nation. Ms Aspinalls speech at Labours conference warned the party against complacency. The fight for the Hillsborough Law had not yet been won. open image in gallery Ms Aspinall with Sir Keir Starmer at the 2025 Labour Party conference ( PA ) As such, she said it was a tough decision to introduce Sir Keir in Liverpool, but was reassured by his promises to her that Labour would deliver the law. She had been asked to prepare a script for approval, but in all her years of public speaking, that is not something Ms Aspinall has ever done. I just feel if you do a script, youre being false, she said. Im hoping I was true to myself and true to the 97, and true to the supporters who were there that day who went through so much, and thats all I was caring and thinking about at the time. The theme of give to gain chimes with Ms Aspinall, who underlines the importance of selflessness to a campaign like hers. The Hillsborough families work is intensely personal, but it wont be them who gain from it. The law of averages, something like that could happen again, we only had to look at Grenfell, and you only have to look at the Manchester arena bombing, Ms Aspinall explained. The Hillsborough Law Now campaign group is made up of many mothers, sisters and daughters who lost loved ones in 1989, and Ms Aspinall is proud to stand among strong women. Taking praise for her efforts does not come naturally, however. open image in gallery Ms Aspinall and Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, outside Anfield Stadium at the Hillsborough memorial ( PA ) About featuring on The Independents Influence List, she said: Im not really one. There are so many women out there behind the scenes that we all should be praising. Not only the Hillsborough families, but you look at some of the Grenfell families who are fighting and campaigning, Bloody Sunday, the way theyve campaigned for all of these years, the Post Office scandal. It makes me so proud to see all these women, these strong, strong women. But what Im proud of more than anything is, if the 97 have died for anything, theyve died changing things. Ms Aspinall, who was the long-serving chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, had to sacrifice time with her children as she helped spearhead the fight. I couldnt have done it without my husband helping me with the family, the children, and the home, she said. What kept me going, obviously, was the love of my child, but also, when you looked at the families, the love that they had for their children and their husbands, their fathers, or no matter who they were. They all suffered but it always takes a woman to try and change things for the good. The 79-year-old added: I said to Keir Starmer, I want this done before I die. My voice is not my voice; its my sons voice. It's what hed want, its what the other 96 would want. Im proud of that. Read The Independents influence list for International Womens Day 2026 here. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thousands of protesters marched through London on Saturday calling for an end to the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Between 5,000 and 6,000 people turned out for the Hands Off Iran march, the Metropolitan Police said, with demonstrators chanting: Stop the bombing now, now, now. It came as US president Donald Trump said Iran is being beaten to hell and warned that the country will be hit hard today. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said demands for an unconditional surrender were a dream that they should take to their grave. However, he apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries in an apparent attempt to calm regional anger at Iranian attacks on the Gulf. open image in gallery Action groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends of Al-Aqsa led the march to the US embassy in Vauxhall ( Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire ) Action groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends of Al-Aqsa led the march to the US embassy in Vauxhall on Saturday afternoon. The Met, which deployed officers to escort the demonstration, previously announced they had imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm. Dozens of police vans were deployed around Millbank, with many officers patrolling the road. Speaking to protesters in central London, ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana said we will not be ignored again as she called for an end to strikes on Iran. Recalling the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, she told the crowd: "Back then, we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We were told that war would bring peace and democracy. "We were told that the war would protect Iraqis and protect the world, but the truth was very different." Speaking outside the US embassy, the Your Party MP for Coventry South added: "The children of Baghdad deserve to grow up. And 23 years ago, when we marched against the Iraq war, we were ignored. "We will not be ignored again, because history proved them right, and today, we raise our voices for peace, for justice and for a world where governments learn the lessons of the past." open image in gallery Your Party MP Zarah Sultana speaks at the demonstration at the US Embassy in London ( Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire ) Protesters marched from Millbank, near Westminster, to outside the US embassy in Vauxhall. Some demonstrators spoke through a microphone on a stage set up outside the embassy, shouting: "Donald Trump terrorist"; "Stop bombing Iran"; and: "Keir Starmer, shame on you". The crowd could be heard chanting: "From Iran to Palestine, bombing children is a crime." They carried placards reading Stop Trumps Wars and Stop the war on Iran, as well as Iranian and Palestinian flags. Some were also holding portraits of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strike of the war last Saturday. In a statement read out to the protesters, former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn warned: Do not drag Britain into another illegal war. He said: "In 2003, hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq, and we were ignored, but we are here today to say loudly and clearly: do not drag Britain into another illegal war." He added: "Forever war is not a game. It has real like human consequences, and US and Israel must be held accountable for their prize." open image in gallery Anti-war activists hold signs, images of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iranian flags as they gather outside the US embassy ( Reuters ) Several groups of people holding Israeli flags were standing on the side of Millbank during the protest. Many protesters could be heard shouting shame on you and murderers to the people holding Israeli flags. A few people holding the flags said to those marching: Youre wrong, and youre in denial. One protester demonstrating in central London said: The public arent for the war. Asked about why he attended the protest in Millbank, Martin Perry, 58 and from Northampton, said: Because the acts against Iran are against international law, and its just a pattern of events, decisions taken by America and Israel, that are destroying international law. He added: Im here today to signal to Keir Starmer that the public arent for the war against Iran, and dont want our forces going into, being involved in an illegal war. open image in gallery Demonstrators hold flags and placards as they attend a Stop the War Coalition march in London ( AP ) Daniela Costa, a 30-year-old Brazilian student living in London, said: Im from Brazil. I just came here to show solidarity, both to Iran and Palestine, but also to Cuba and Venezuela. I just feel that we cant just live as if its just business as usual at this moment. I expect that this protest will show the UK government that they dont have popular support to participate in the war in any way, such as providing weapons or providing their bases to, like military bases to the US. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "The Hands Off Iran protest has reached the United States Embassy, where we are seeing some protesters disperse. "A woman in her 60s has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a placard. They later added there had been three further arrests, including one for possession of an offensive weapon and another for racially aggravated public order offences in relation to a chant. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to an incident which occurred on Friday in Maida Vale. The organisers of the demonstration said a march "against the far right" will take place on 28 March in central London. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Weight-loss jabs alone are not enough to solve the UKs worsening obesity crisis, the governments chief medical adviser has said. Professor Chris Whitty critiqued reliance on GLP-1 drugs and instead suggested curbing junk food advertising and making food healthier. Englands chief medical officer told a Medical Journalists Association lecture on Thursday evening that just relying on the drugs seems to me the wrong answer to tackling obesity. This contrasts with comments from health secretary Wes Streeting last week, who praised weight-loss drugs as a real game changer for those who need them. An estimated 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland have used drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy to help lose weight between early 2024 and early 2025, according to a study by UCL. open image in gallery Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, critiqued reliance on the GLP-1 drugs ( PA ) Mr Whitty said: Does anyone here believe that the correct answer is to allow obesity to rise because of pretty aggressive marketing of obesogenic foods to children and then stick them on GLP-1 agonists at the age of 18? I think it is shocking if that is where we end up. Mr Whitty acknowledged GLP-1s transformational for people who need them, but highlighted that if you stop taking them, the weight comes back on again. He also cited that a small number of people have had very bad reactions to them and a large number of people have unpleasant side effects. Weight-loss jabs can lead to digestive problems, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach pain for one in 10 people, according to the British Heart Foundation. The jabs are also linked to a higher risk of developing an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which impacts one in 100 people who take the drug. open image in gallery Weight-loss jabs can lead to digestive problems, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach pain for one in 10 people ( Alamy/PA ) As weight regain is common once coming off the drugs, Mr Whitty explained this could also lead to some people in older age having less muscle mass and more fat than before they started taking the drugs. He concluded: If its a high proportion of the population, particularly in areas of deprivation rather than areas of affluence, I think that is a societal failure. Just relying on the drugs seems to me the wrong answer. The UK has one of the worst obesity rates in Europe, a global report by the World Obesity Federation has found, as it predicts 220 million children globally will be obese by 2040 if no drastic action is taken. Mr Whitty highlighted his concerns and described obesity as a major health challenge going in the wrong direction. He pointed to the widening gap in childhood obesity rates between deprived and affluent areas, noting that in the most deprived communities, around 30 per cent of 10-year-olds are already overweight or obese. That is setting them up to fail over a lifetime, he said. He added France is a country which has successfully held obesity rates mostly stable since 1990, and argued the difference lies in the food environment and the way types of food are marketed to children. Instead of relying on weight-loss jabs, the chief medical adviser encouraged food firms to put less sugar and fat in their products. He also accused food industries of using very strong lobbyists to persuade the media to deter ministers from taking bold action and painting any beneficial policies as nanny state even if voters want action taken. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The government is expected to unveil plans for an "anti-Muslim hostility tsar" as part of its social cohesion strategy. A leaked draft suggests a "special representative" will "champion efforts across the UK to tackle hostility and hatred directed at Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim". Under the proposals, 800 million over 10 years would be allocated to 40 areas where social cohesion is "under pressure". The 47-page document also warns antisemitism has become "normalised in many corners of society" from schools and universities to workplaces and the NHS. The draft was leaked to the Spectator magazine, which reported that ministers will unveil the finalised plans in a cross-Government drive next week. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: We do not comment on leaks. Last month, a 55-year-old was charged with possession of an offensive weapon after reports of a man armed with an axe entering Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers ( Richard McCarthy/PA ) A new definition of Islamophobia is also expected to be set out as part of guidance on anti-Muslim hatred. Critics have argued that a new definition could act as a backdoor blasphemy law and limit free speech. Shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly said the proposal for an anti-Muslim hostility tsar risked having a chilling effect. He accused Labour of pandering to sectarianism after losing the previously rock-solid seat of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester to the Greens in a parliamentary by-election last month. The Tory frontbencher said: The Conservatives stand against such divisive tactics. As Kemi Badenoch said this week, identity politics is a dead end and our country is headed down a dark road if it fails on sectional interests rather than shared values and freedoms. Anti-Muslim hatred is real. But we should tackle it with the existing laws we have for that exact purpose, without undermining free expression. Last week, a 55-year-old was charged with possession of an offensive weapon after reports of a man armed with an axe entering Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers. Nobody was injured during the incident. A report last year from The Independent revealed that almost half of Muslim women (45 per cent) feel unsafe on public transport, compared to just 8 per cent of women nationally. More than one in three (34 per cent) of Muslim women said they have experienced Islamophobic or racist abuse whilst travelling, the survey of 1,155 people in November 2025 found. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Kemi Badenoch will accuse Labour of "playing student politics" while "the rest of the world rearms," renewing her criticism of the UK Governments Iran war response. She will suggest Sir Keir Starmer is being "held hostage" by his party and "too scared of upsetting certain sections of Labours target voters" to act in the national interest. Mrs Badenoch has called for the government to authorise RAF strikes on Irans missile launch sites, a possibility Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested on Friday. In a speech on Saturday, she will say allies feel they can no longer rely on us after the extraordinary criticism unleashed by US President Donald Trump in recent days over Britains refusal to allow initial US strikes on Iran from UK bases. open image in gallery Badenoch says Starmer is being "held hostage" by his party ( House of Commons ) Sir Keir has defended his decision not to permit America to use British bases in the opening assault against the Tehran regime, suggesting it could have been unlawful and lacked a viable, thought-through plan. He granted permission on Sunday for the US to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to strike defensively against Iranian missile sites as the conflict spirals. In her speech, Mrs Badenoch is expected to say: I never thought I would see the day when Britains allies felt that they could not rely on us. The government has been criticised for failing to have enough military assets in the Middle East region after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone. Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 warship is not expected to sail until next week. Mrs Badenoch will say Sir Keir is still sitting on the fence over what Britains role in the war should be, adding: We are in this war whether Keir Stamer likes it or not. Its time to act. She is expected to link the issue to domestic politics, claiming that Labours loss to the Greens in the previously rock-solid parliamentary seat of Gorton and Denton last month had spooked the party. They watched the Greens campaigning on sectarian voting lines, a tactic Labour used for many years turned against them, Mrs Badenoch will say. open image in gallery The government has been criticised for failing to have enough military assets in the Middle East region after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone ( Jordan Pettitt/PA ) Now Starmer is too scared of upsetting certain sections of Labours target voters to act in our national interest. She is expected to add: Hes not even strong enough to win a contest with his own backbenchers. He is a political hostage. Held at the behest of a load of half-rate left-wing MPs, none of whom grasp the seriousness of the world that Britain is now in. While the rest of the world rearms, they are playing student politics. It comes after a row erupted over Mrs Badenochs suggestion that the UK military had been just hanging around and not taking the necessary action in the Middle East. Asked whether she supported firing on Iranian missile bases, she told BBC Breakfast on Friday: What else are our jets doing, just hanging around there? They need to be able to see who is attacking us and stop them from firing at British soldiers or even British people in hotels. Defence Secretary John Healey said the remark insults the men and women of our armed forces and that she should apologise. Recent polling suggests that the most common view among the British public is that the UKs stance in the conflict should be purely defensive. Almost half 46 per cent of people in a survey by YouGov between Wednesday and Thursday said this position came closest to their view of what orders the UK military should be given. However, most 52 per cent also believe that Sir Keir is handling the UKs relationship with Mr Trump badly, the data suggests, and 47 per cent feel the same about his management of Britains response to the war. Responding to Mrs Badenochs words, armed forces minister Al Carns said political point-scoring off the back of a serious security situation was deeply irresponsible. This situation is above politics and requires calm collective decision-making not hyperbole and soundbites, he said. British troops are doing an amazing job and no one should be questioning their commitment or competency. Serious times require serious politics, not political point-scoring on the back of our Armed Forces, civil service or MoD personnel who are doing an amazing job. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of being too scared to intervene in Iran after beingspooked by last weeks by-election loss. Sir Keir Starmer suffered a humiliating by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton to the Green Party last week, sparking concerns among Labour MPs that they could face further crushing losses at the hands of the left. Speaking at the Conservative Partys spring conference in Harrogate on Saturday, Mrs Badenoch suggested the result had influenced the prime ministers response to the unfolding war in the Middle East. Accusing the government of sitting on the fence after being spooked by the Greens, she said: Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate. Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War, nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on. open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch suggested the by-election result had influenced the prime ministers response to the unfolding war in the Middle East ( PA ) Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally, even now our prime minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. Accusing Labour of playing student politics while the rest of the world rearms, she said Sir Keir is not even strong enough to win a contest with his own backbenchers. He is a political hostage, she said. Held at the behest of a load of half-rate left-wing MPs, none of whom grasp the seriousness of the world that Britain is now in. The UK has been criticised for failing to have air defence measures in place to sufficiently protect RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone. The prime minister was forced to reject criticism from opponents and allies that Britain had not acted fast enough when fighting began, amid concerns that air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week. On Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer announced that an additional four British Typhoon fighter jets are being deployed to Qatar to strengthen defensive operations in the region, but said that he stands by his decision not to join the initial strikes on Tehran over the weekend. open image in gallery Starmer faced a humiliating by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton to the Green Party last week ( Getty ) Responding to Mrs Badenochs words, armed forces minister Al Carns said political point-scoring off the back of a serious security situation was deeply irresponsible. This situation is above politics and requires calm collective decision-making not hyperbole and soundbites, he said. British troops are doing an amazing job and no one should be questioning their commitment or competency. Serious times require serious politics, not political point-scoring on the back of our Armed Forces, civil service or MoD personnel who are doing an amazing job. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has allowed defensive US strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases (PA) ( PA Wire ) The Middle East war entered its eighth day on Saturday as an American bomber landed in Britain amid US warnings of a surge in strikes on Iran. The 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening after Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base within the next few days. Meanwhile, a second government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport at 12.30am on Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue. The Titan Airways flight departed from Muscat International Airport at 5.30pm before a short layover in Cairo, Egypt. The latest arrivals join around 6,500 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. The administration of Donald Trump is reportedly refusing to issue refunds for tariffs paid by companies before the duties were ruled illegal, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Financial Times. In February, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that Trump did not have the authority to impose certain tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, the question of whether businesses would be reimbursed for previously paid tariffs has remained unresolved. Sources familiar with the situation said companies have been submitting documentation to U.S. Customs and Border Protection requesting refunds for the duties they paid. The agency, however, has reportedly rejected those submissions. Lawyers representing several firms have advised companies to pursue legal action alongside their refund requests. Logistics giant FedEx has become the first major business to file a lawsuit against the administration over the issue. Track your investments for FREE with Simply Wall St, the portfolio command center trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Brown-Forman (NYSE:BF.B) plans to end its U.S. partnership with Pabst Brewing for flavored malt beverages. The company intends to bring management of its U.S. ready to drink portfolio, including Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails, fully in-house. The transition is described as amicable and will shift both supply and commercial responsibilities to Brown-Forman. For you as an investor, this move sits at the intersection of branded spirits and the fast growing ready to drink segment, an area many global alcohol companies are prioritizing. Brown-Forman, best known for Jack Daniel's and other spirits labels, is now tightening control over how its flavored malt and RTD offerings are developed, supplied, and sold in the U.S. That matters in a category where branding, placement, and speed to shelf can be just as important as the underlying recipe. Bringing RTD portfolio management in-house gives Brown-Forman a clearer line of sight across brand strategy, marketing, and distribution, instead of working through a partner. As the company integrates supply and commercial operations around RTDs, you may want to watch how its presence and shelf space in this segment evolve over time, as well as how it balances RTDs with its core spirits portfolio. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Brown-Forman by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Brown-Forman. NYSE:BF.B Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 We've flagged 1 risk for Brown-Forman. See which could impact your investment. Quick Assessment Price vs Analyst Target : At US$25.26, the share price sits about 13% below the US$29.11 analyst target. Simply Wall St Valuation : Shares are flagged as trading 33.1% below estimated fair value. Recent Momentum: The 30 day return is about 13.8% lower, which points to recent weakness. There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Brown-Forman. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Brown-Forman's fair value. Key Considerations Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Twenty-three bereaved parents have urged MPs to back a ban on social media for under-16s, saying that mothers and fathers "cannot regulate billion-dollar technology companies from their kitchen tables". MPs are set to debate the Lords-backed ban on Monday. Peers have proposed a default block on under-16s accessing regulated user-to-user services, effective within 12 months of the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill becoming law. However, the government suggests replacing this with a wide-ranging, flexible power. Its proposal would allow ministers to prevent or restrict childrens access to "specified internet services", potentially including bans, curfews, or daily time limits on platforms. A consultation was launched this week to decide the precise action. We are writing not as campaigners or politicians, but as bereaved parents, the group of parents said in a statement. Our children should be here. They should be at school, at home, arguing with their siblings, planning their futures. open image in gallery Peers have proposed a default block on under-16s accessing regulated user-to-user services ( Yui Mok/PA ) Instead, we are left trying to understand how platforms designed and engineered by some of the most powerful companies in the world were allowed to reach into their bedrooms and shape their lives without meaningful protection. The group added: Online safety has already been debated at length. The harms have been examined extensively and the evidence continues to grow. Families are living with the consequences every day. The Bill has cleared both Houses of Parliament. But both the Commons, where the government has a majority, and the Lords, where it does not, must agree on a final draft before it can become law. The parents, led by Ellen Roome, warned tech firms have extraordinary resources and access. They added: Every additional delay gives them more opportunity to dilute or weaken reforms behind closed doors. Meanwhile, children remain exposed to products we already know can cause harm. Ms Roome, from Gloucestershire, believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died while attempting an online challenge in 2022. Also among the signatories were: Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers; George Nicolaou, the father of 15-year-old Christoforos; and Hollie Dance, the mother of 12-year-old Archie Battersbee. Lord Nash, who steered the default ban through the upper House, has previously said the governments proposal amounted to a blank cheque. open image in gallery Esther Ghey is among the signatories ( PA Archive ) The Conservative peer told the Press Association: The governments amendment confirms that they remain firmly on the fence on how best to protect children. In fact, it is patently clear that raising the age limit to 16 for harmful social media platforms is far from their preferred option. MPs must choose on Monday whether to act now and raise the age limit for harmful social media to 16, or vote for the governments amendment, which is in effect a blank cheque, committing only to further delay while their consultation runs its course. That consultation is simply yet another opportunity for big tech to mobilise their lobbyists and water down any prospective measures before they reach the statute book. Victoria Collins, the Liberal Democrat technology spokeswoman, told PA: It is vital that we have a reset moment for children while setting guidelines to keep safe spaces for children to connect with friends, family and learn online. First and foremost, however, we need action, which is why the Lib Dems have continuously pushed for banning addictive algorithms for under 16s, a doomscroll cap and voting to put children before big tech. Ms Collins said her party had proposed banning harmful social media for under-16s, based on a film-style age rating. She described her proposal as a harms-based approach to embed future-proof principles for tackling a broad range of online harms from AI to gaming. Launching the consultation, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall vowed to create a digital world that gives young people the childhood they deserve and prepares them for the future. A petition on the UK Parliament website titled do not ban social media for under-16s has gathered more than 61,000 signatures. I think the government shouldnt ban social media for under-16s, the petition reads. This is because for many young people social media is how they communicate with their friends. Some people view social media as a lifeline, a community, a supportive network. Responding earlier this week, a government spokesperson wrote the short, sharp consultation of three months would allow ministers to hear all perspectives, build consensus where we can, and then act decisively. The spokesperson also said: There will be no delay and government will explain our next steps by the summer. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to emulate Donald Trump after posting a dramatic TikTok edit showing Britains military response to the war in the Middle East. The prime minister posted a video showing British Wildcat helicopters and military jets in action, accompanied by the song Money for Nothing by Dire Straits. The edit has been mocked by social media users and MPs alike, who have accused the prime minister of trying to copy the White House, which has recently come under fire for its own TikTok clips related to the war. Al Pinkerton, a Liberal Democrat MP, compared the post indicated Sir Keir has been sucked into the orbit of Trumps deranged confusion of blockbuster with international conflict. Trumps illegal war in the Middle East is not a movie for promotion despite what [the presidents] press channels may imply, he told The Guardian. The Green Party told the paper the post has echoes of videos coming out of the White House glorifying war. open image in gallery The prime minister posted a video showing British Wildcat helicopters and military jets in action, accompanied by the song Money for Nothing by Dire Straits ( @keirstarmer/TikTok ) TikTok users also chimed in, with one commenting: Not the UK Government [trying to] do a White House style TikTok. The UK has been criticised for failing to have air defence measures in place to sufficiently protect RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone earlier this week. The prime minister was forced to reject criticism from opponents and allies that Britain had not acted fast enough when fighting began, amid concerns that air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week. On Thursday, Sir Keir announced that an additional four British Typhoon fighter jets are being deployed to Qatar to strengthen defensive operations in the region, but said that he stands by his decision not to join the initial strikes on Tehran over the weekend. Part of Sir Keirs address from earlier this week features in the clip, as the prime minister can be heard saying: Our number one priority is protecting our people. However, his voice voice is largely drowned out by the Dire Straits soundtrack, a choice which has been ridiculed by critics. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has allowed defensive US strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases (PA) ( PA Wire ) Asked whether Sir Keir approved his TikTok audios before they were posted, his official spokesperson said he wouldnt get into internal processes and said: The PMs position on defence spending has been set out very clearly. The Middle East war entered its eighth day on Saturday as an American bomber landed in Britain amid US warnings of a surge in strikes on Iran. The 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening after Sir Keir granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base within the next few days. Meanwhile, a second Government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport at 12.30am on Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue. The Titan Airways flight departed from Muscat International Airport at 5.30pm before a short layover in Cairo, Egypt. The latest arrivals join around 6,500 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Pakistani business owner has been convicted in the US for attempting to hire hitmen to assassinate an American politician, in a case that highlighted alleged Iran-backed plotting on US soil. Asif Merchant admitted in a US court that he sought to initiate the assassination during the 2024 presidential campaign. However, American investigators swiftly disrupted the plot before it could proceed, amidst ongoing conflict in the Middle East. A jury in Brooklyn found Merchant guilty on terrorism and murder-for-hire charges after only a couple of hours of deliberation. The verdict followed a week-long trial that included testimony from Merchant himself. He now faces a potential life sentence. Merchant told the jury he was carrying out instructions from a contact in the Islamic Republics powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. According to Merchant, the handler never specified a target but broached names including then-candidate Donald Trump, then-President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who was also in the race for a time. open image in gallery Merchant told the jury he was carrying out instructions from a contact in the Islamic Republics powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. In this image provided by Sepahnews of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard shows troops standing at attention during the guard's drill in the Persian Gulf ( Sepahnews ) The Iranian government has denied trying to kill U.S. officials. The nascent plot fell apart after Merchant showed an acquaintance what he had in mind by using objects on a napkin to depict a shooting at a rally. He asked the man to help him hire assassins. Instead, he was introduced to undercover FBI agents who were secretly recording him, as had the acquaintance. Merchant told the supposed hit men he needed services that could include killing some political person and paid them $5,000 in cash in a parked car in Manhattan. This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement released after the conviction. Merchant's attorney, Avraham Moskowitz, didnt immediately reply to a message seeking comment. Merchant, 47, worked for Pakistani banks for decades before going into clothing and other businesses. He has two families, in Pakistan and Iran, and he sometimes visited the U.S. for his garment business. Merchant testified that he met a Revolutionary Guard intelligence operative about three years ago. The contact gave him countersurveillance training and assignments including the assassination scheme, Merchant said. He maintained that he had to do his handler's bidding to protect loved ones in Iran. The defendant said he reluctantly went through the motions but thought he'd be arrested and explain his situation to authorities before anyone was killed. open image in gallery Asif Merchant ( Justice Department via AP, File ) I was going along with it," he said, speaking in Urdu through a court interpreter. Prosecutors emphasized that Merchant admitted taking steps to enact the plan on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. considers a foreign terrorist organization, and he didn't proactively go to authorities. Instead, he was packing for a flight to Pakistan when he was arrested on July 12, 2024, a day before an unrelated attempt on Trumps life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials said it appeared the Butler gunman acted alone but that they had been tracking a threat on Trumps life from Iran, a claim that the Islamic Republic called unsubstantiated and malicious. When Merchant subsequently spoke to FBI agents to explore the possibility of a cooperation agreement, he didn't say he had acted out of fear for his family. Prosecutors argued that he didn't back up a defense of acting under duress. Merchant sought to persuade jurors he simply didn't think the agents would believe him because they seemed to think that I am some type of super-spy," which he said he was absolutely not. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice At least six people have been killed after tornadoes tore through Michigan and Oklahoma and as storms continue to rattle the Central United States. The National Weather Service office in Northern Indiana warned of a large and extremely dangerous tornado that struck parts of southwestern Michigan Friday, USA TODAY reported. The Branch County Sheriffs Office said three people were killed and 12 more were injured, including three who were taken to the hospital, when the tornado hit the Union Lake area. A video posted to Facebook by a Michigan resident showed what appears to be a massive tornado ripping through homes off Union Lake. open image in gallery At least six people have been killed after a deadly tornado tore through Michigan and as storms continue to rattle the Central U.S. ( MLive ) Oh my god, the local said. It is lifting houses holy s***. Cass County officials reported one death and several injuries from the storm. Cass County Emergency Manager Manny DeLaRosa said homes and barns were majorly damaged or destroyed. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in an X post Friday night that she was activating the states emergency operations center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan. open image in gallery Michigan Governor Grechen Whitmer said Friday night that she was activating the states emergency operations center ( MLive ) open image in gallery Three people were killed in Branch County and another in Cass County as a tornado struck parts of southwestern Michigan Friday ( MLive ) Michigan State Police said significant wind damage, possible tornadoes, and injuries were reported in Branch, Cass and Saint Joseph counties. Thursday night, a mother and her teenage daughter were found dead in their car in Major County, Oklahoma, after it was hit by a tornado, according to reports. OklahomaGovernor Kevin Stitt shared his condolences, writing on Facebook, I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms. open image in gallery Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt shared his condolences after a mother and daughter died when a tornado hit their car in Oklahoma Thursday night ( Getty ) Severe weather was reported in parts of the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley over the past 48 hours or so, The Weather Channel reported. Tornado watches remained in effect in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. Extreme thunderstorms are expected to reach from southern Texas to western Tennessee and northwestern Alabama on Saturday, according to AccuWeather. AccuWeather warns that severe weather could continue across parts of the Central U.S. through next week. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A powerful wave of severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes is sweeping across the nation's heartland, claiming two lives in Oklahoma as millions brace for intensifying weather conditions. A mother and her teenage daughter were found dead in their vehicle in Fairview, Oklahoma, on Thursday night, in what authorities believe was a tornado-related crash. Sarah Stewart, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, stated the crash "appears to be tornado related." Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt expressed his condolences, saying, "I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms." The tragic incident unfolded as thunderstorms ripped across Oklahoma prairies, with one particularly intense storm near Fairview captured on video. A first responder's dashcam footage showed flashes of lightning illuminating a giant funnel cloud that appeared to reach the ground. The severe weather threat is expected to intensify significantly on Friday, with more than 7 million Americans facing the highest risk of powerful storms. This high-risk area includes major metropolitan centers such as Kansas City, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Omaha, Nebraska, according to the national Storm Prediction Center. An additional 25 million people are at a slightly lesser risk in a zone encompassing Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Storms were already forming Friday afternoon from North Texas to Michigan, where a tornado warning was issued southwest of Kalamazoo, though no immediate reports of tornadoes on the ground were made. The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, is sending a damage survey crew to determine if Thursday nights storms were confirmed tornadoes, with meteorologist Ryan Bunker stating, "As of right now, were still investigating that." open image in gallery Thursday nights storm is being investigated to determine if it was a series of tornadoes Severe, scattered thunderstorms are anticipated Friday afternoon and evening, stretching from the Plains states to the Ozarks and Midwest. The National Weather Service warned that "The greatest potential for a few strong tornadoes and very large hail should exist across eastern portions of Oklahoma/Kansas/Nebraska into western Arkansas/Missouri and southern Iowa." Meteorologists with AccuWeather attribute the general setup for these strong storms to a clash between warm air streaming north from the Gulf Coast and cooler Canadian air behind cold fronts. open image in gallery More than 7 million Americans are facing the highest risk of powerful storms ( Fairview Emergency Management ) Melissa Mayes, deputy director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, noted, "This is probably our first real event this season where people are really starting to pay attention getting into the spring storm season." As the spring storm season begins, experts advise simple safety steps, including having a weather radio and a designated shelter plan. Meanwhile, other parts of the country are experiencing vastly different weather patterns. The Northeast was under winter weather advisories on Friday, with rain, snow, and slush creating hazardous morning commutes from Pennsylvania to Maine. Several vehicle slide-offs were reported on the Maine Turnpike, and schools in states like New Hampshire and Maine canceled or delayed classes. While conditions eased in some areas by midmorning, advisories remained in effect for Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In Ohio, flood warnings were issued for the southern region. Conversely, the southern U.S. is bracing for unusually warm temperatures this weekend, with federal forecasters predicting "Temperatures will be 20-30 degrees above average, with 80s reaching as far north as parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic." They added that "Daily records could become widespread." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Bill Maher attempted to hit top Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff with a gotcha moment while discussing Donald Trumps military operations in Iran. This statement from the administration, Maher said. The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest. Thats too vague for you? Totally vague, the California Senator replied, before Maher revealed that the quote had actually been taken from a 2011 release by Barack Obamas administration over military operations in Libya. In response to Mahers setup, Schiff replied that though Obama had also authorized the military action without congressional approval, he and other lawmakers had pushed back on the decision, and that the operations had been halted. It comes as U.S. military operations continue to escalate, with Trump boasting that Iran was being beaten to hell" and warning the country will be hit hard today in a message on Truth Social Saturday. The president has reportedly expressed serious interest in deploying a limited force of U.S. troops on the ground to fight Iran. open image in gallery Bill Maher attempted to hit top Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff with a gotcha moment while discussing Donald Trumps military ( Real Time With Bill Maher ) Both Democrats and Republicans have pushed back against the decision to begin the bombardment campaign, named Operation Epic Fury, which has been underway for just over a week and has killed more than 1,200 Iranians, according to the Iranian government. It has also killed six U.S. service members. Likewise, Obamas decision to bypass Congress in 2011 was heavily criticized, and by June that year, the House passed a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region and demanding an explanation for the decision. I and many others pushed back on that argument, Schiff recalled of the time. Ultimately, [Obama] did not go forward with going after Assad, even though Assad was gassing his own people, because he thought he might lose the vote in Congress. But I respect the fact that was important to him, and the fact that he did not have the support of Congress meant that we weren't going to go forward. open image in gallery In response to Mahers set up, California Senator Schiff replied that though Obama had also authorized the military action without congressional approval, he and other lawmakers had pushed back on the decision and that the operations had been halted ( Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images ) However, a bill to limit Trump's war powers, forcing him to seek congressional approval to continue military action, was voted down in the House by 212 to 219. The resolution also failed in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also denied that the U.S. is at war with Iran, saying the military action is "limited in its scope." Despite this, in his Saturday Truth Social post, Trump threatened to escalate the conflict further. Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East, the president wrote. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries. They have said, Thank you President Trump. I have said, Youre welcome! Iran is no longer the Bully of the Middle East, they are, instead, THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST, and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse! Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A U.S. judge who earlier ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a student that it deported to Honduras now says that her case must be dismissed. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman at Massachusetts Babson College, came to the U.S. from Honduras when she was 8. A final order of removal was entered when she was 11 a fact of which she said she was unaware. In November, Lopez Belloza was detained by immigration authorities at Logan International Airport in Boston while traveling to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Texas. She was deported to Honduras soon after. On February 27, the freshman declined to board a flight arranged by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to bring her back to the United States after the administration said it would try to deport her again if she returned. Her lawyers had urged Boston-based U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns to let Lopez Belloza continue the lawsuit she filed after being detained. open image in gallery Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was detained while traveling to visit her family in Austin for Thanksgiving But the judge said Friday the sad truth is that her decision not to board the plane means her case must be dismissed. Stearns reaffirmed his earlier conclusion that he did not have jurisdiction to hear the case concerning her detention because by the time it was filed on November 21, she had been flown by immigration authorities to Texas. His sole remaining basis for jurisdiction would have been to enforce an order issued by another judge just minutes after Lopez Belloza's case was filed barring her from being deported or transferred out of Massachusetts for 72 hours. Lopez Belloza was flown from Texas to Honduras the next day despite that judicial order. A U.S. government lawyer later apologized to Stearns for a "mistake" made by a ICE officer who failed to properly alert others in the agency about the existence of the judicial order. open image in gallery People protest against the planned project of converting a warehouse into an ICE detention center in Roxbury, New Jersey ( AFP via Getty Images ) Stearns on February 13 ordered the administration to rectify the error by facilitating her return to the United States. The administration last week said it would do so by having Lopez Belloza board the ICE flight from Honduras to Texas. But the administration also said ICE planned to move to deport her again upon arrival and had the authority to detain her. Lopez Belloza said the "nightmare" situation caused her to decline to board the flight and remain in Honduras. "The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this court's only remaining basis for jurisdiction," Stearns wrote. Stearns said had she boarded the plane, the judicial order barring her swift deportation would have remained in effect, giving her "ample opportunity" to file a new case in Texas to challenge her detention. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice IHOP has denied that it invited a far-right Republican candidate to campaign at its restaurants after he was banned from all Waffle House locations in Florida. James Fishback, who is seeking to replace Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, shared an image that appeared to be a direct message from the chains official corporate account, inviting him to join. Hey, wanna come over? the alleged message read. However, a spokesperson denied that the message was authentic and that the company had any ties to Fishback or his campaign. Since our founding, IHOP and its franchisees have been committed to providing warm and welcoming dining experiences for all guests. We are not working with James Fishback or his campaign in any capacity, the spokesperson said in a statement. Additionally, we have confirmed that the image circulating on social media is not authentic. The Independent has contacted IHOP for comment. open image in gallery IHOP has denied it invited a far-right Republican candidate to campaign at its restaurants after he was banned from all Waffle House locations in the state of Florida ( Getty Images ) Fishback announced he had been banned from Waffle House locations earlier this week, having previously planned to visit every store in Florida to meet voters where they are. He announced the plan during an interview with MAGA stalwart and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. This morning, Waffle House abruptly revoked our permission and criminally trespassed us from all of their Florida locations, Fishback wrote in a statement on March 3. I am disappointed in Waffle House's decision, especially since they had given us explicit permission to visit their restaurants just 3 weeks ago. I want to thank the Waffle House staff who greeted me and our supporters with warmth, kindness, and awesome food. In response to a request for comment fromThe Independent, Fishback sent a picture of himself inside an IHOP with a group of supporters, writing: The IHOP staff at the Miami Beach location were stellar. My supporters and I were grateful they had us. We look forward to our next IHOP stop in Tampa. open image in gallery James Fishback has claimed IHOP invited him to their restaurant after he announced he had been banned from all Waffle Houses in the state ( James Fishback/ X ) The MAGA newcomer has been heavily criticized for his controversial stances, including pushes for the banning of immigrant visa programs and preventing students from abroad from enrolling at colleges in Florida. He has also previously claimed that the only systemic racism that exists in the U.S. is against white Christian men and proposed burning down abortion clinics. In January, Fishback faced backlash for referring to his rival for state Governor, Byron Donalds, as Byrone in social media posts and claims that his opponent was seeking to turn Florida into a ghetto. His undisguised racist comments describing a Black candidates vision as Section 8 ghetto and referring to Byron Donalds as Byrone and a slave are deliberate, offensive, and beneath this state, Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly said at the time, adding that other candidates should denounce, deplatform, and dismiss Fishback. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Just days after calling Donald Trump the greatest president of my lifetime, actor and outspoken MAGA supporter James Woods says he is leaving the Republican Party and registering as an independent, citing frustration with GOP leadership in Congress. The Ghosts of Mississippi actor announced the decision Thursday in an X post criticizing congressional Republicans for blocking an effort to investigate Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, arguing some GOP lawmakers arent doing enough to hold the opposition accountable. I am done with the Republican Party, Woods, 78, wrote on X. Between this and Thunes refusal to pass the SAVE Act, Im done with these uniparty traitors. Im changing my party affiliation to Independent. No wonder President Trump is fighting an uphill battle every day, he added. Woods included a video of South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace in his post, who also criticized members of her own party Thursday after a proposed motion seeking records related to Omar failed to advance in the House. James Woods announced he is leaving the Republican Party for independent status, criticizing GOP lawmakers for blocking an effort to investigate Rep. Ilhan Omar ( Getty Images ) The post, from the X account @WallStreetApes, argued that members of her own party were protecting Omar and called the situation evidence of a uniparty. Mace argued that Republicans should be willing to pursue investigations they often campaign on, particularly allegations involving immigration issues tied to Omar that have circulated in conservative media for years. Omar has denied those allegations, and previous inquiries have found no conclusive evidence supporting them. The disagreement reflects a bigger divide in the Republican Party over just how far they should go in investigating their political opponents. Some lawmakers worry that launching investigations without strong evidence could backfire or distract from other priorities in Congress. But others, especially in the partys more conservative wing, argue GOP leaders are being too cautious and should take a tougher stance against Democrats. Woods, a former Hollywood A-lister, has become well known in recent years for his conservative politics. Last week, the Oscar-nominated actor posted a photo of Trump and his cabinet posing for a picture in the Oval Office, writing on X, Greatest President and greatest Cabinet, certainly in my lifetime. His announcement also comes at a time when independent voters continue to play a major role in American elections. The 2024 election showed that independent voters have become one of the biggest groups in American politics. Exit polls from CNN found that 34 percent of voters identified as independents, putting them just behind Republicans and slightly ahead of Democrats, making independents the second-largest voting group in the 2024 election. Those voters were nearly evenly split between the two main candidates, with 46 percent supporting Donald Trump and 49 percent backing Kamala Harris. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A memorial plaque honoring the police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6 was quietly installed in the early hours of Saturday, almost three years after Congress first ordered its installation. The large bronze plaque, to honor the women and men who saved the lives of those inside the building during the violent insurrection, was put up at around 4 a.m., according to The Washington Post, which was the first outlet to report the news. It was bolted to a granite wall near an entrance on the west front of the Capitol staff with the Architect of the Capitol close to the site of where the demonstrators had swarmed the building while lawmakers cowered inside almost five years previously. No media agencies were present and there was no official announcement about the installation. On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on January 6, 2021, the plaque says. Their heroism will never be forgotten. open image in gallery A memorial plaque honoring the police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6 was quietly put up overnight Saturday, almost three years after its installation was ordered ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) More than 140 police officers were injured on January 6, after a mob of Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to block his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden. Five police officers involved died in the following weeks. Congress passed a law in 2022 that set out instructions for the honorific plaque listing the names of officers who responded to the violence that occurred and gave a one-year deadline for installation, which went unmet. The delay prompted Democrats to install replicas of it outside their offices and to call on GOP leadership to either erect it or explain why it was missing. open image in gallery The large bronze plaque, to honor the women and men who saved the lives of those inside the building during the violent insurrection was put up at around 4 a.m. Saturday morning, according to The Washington Post ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) open image in gallery It was bolted to a granite wall near an entrance on the west front of the Capitol staff with the Architect of the Capitol close to the site of where the demonstrators had swarmed the building while lawmakers cowered inside almost five years previously ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) However, anger was expressed on both sides of the aisle, with GOP Senator Thom Tillis leading recent pushes to ensure the plaque was put up, raising the issue on January 6 this year to mark the fifth anniversary of the insurrection. We owe them eternal gratitude, and this nation is stronger because of them, he said of the officers who were overwhelmed by thousands of Donald Trumps supporters and eventually pushed them out of the building. The lengthy delay prompted two police officers who were on duty on the day to file a civil lawsuit to compel Congress to follow its own law and install the mandated memorial. Harry Dunn, a former officer of the United States Capitol Police, and Daniel Hodges, who serves in the Metropolitan Police Department, said the plaque was also meant to ensure that the history of this attack on the Capitoland on democracyis not forgotten. open image in gallery More than 140 police officers were injured on January 6, after a mob of Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to block his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden. Five police officers involved in defending the Capitol died in the following weeks ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) In a statement shared with Reuters last summer, a lawyer for Dunn and Hodges said Congress's refusal to install the plaque was an attempt to rewrite history. So many politicians' careers now depend on ignoring the fact that Donald Trump tried to overthrow democracy. The lawsuit also stated that in the aftermath of the attack, Trump has spread disinformation and conspiracy theories that have been adopted by his Republican allies in Congress. Dunn told The Post Saturday that he was glad the plaque had finally been installed but that he was still unsure why the process had been so prolonged and difficult. I never thought honoring police officers would be this controversial, he said. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) is one of the best Canadian value stocks to buy. On February 26, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reported FQ1 2026 financial results, posting adjusted net income of CAD 2.7 billion, which is a 23% increase year-over-year. This was driven by a 15% rise in total revenue to CAD 8.4 billion, supported by significant margin expansion and an 18% jump in non-interest income. Growth was broad-based across all business segments, with the Capital Markets division seeing a 42% rise in net income and the Canadian Personal & Business Banking unit benefiting from a 34-basis-point year-over-year improvement in net interest margins. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) attributed the margin strength to a favorable business mix and higher deposit levels, though it cautioned that a slight seasonal pullback is possible in Q2. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) Delivers Record Q1 Earnings on Margin Expansion and Revenue Growth Photo by Kaleidico on Unsplash On the credit front, performance remained stable and within expectations despite some localized pressure. Provisions for credit losses totaled CAD 568 million, and while the gross impaired loan ratio ticked up slightly to 64 basis points, new impairments in the business sector actually declined. Management noted some modest increases in credit card delinquencies and write-offs due to the current economic climate, but remains confident in the banks full-year guidance, highlighting that the mortgage portfolio remains healthy with strong loan-to-value ratios. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM) is a diversified financial institution that provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the US, and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of CM 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Best Canadian Stocks to Buy Under $20. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Days after Donald Trump publicly humiliated Kristi Noem by firing her as Homeland Security secretary, she appeared alongside the president at a summit in Miami, Florida, where she repeatedly praised his leadership. The event at Trumps National Doral Golf Club was dubbed the Shield of the Americas summit and saw the president encourage gathered leaders from Latin American nations to take military action against drug trafficking cartels and transnational gangs that he says pose an unacceptable threat to the hemispheres national security. Noem was in attendance in her new role as special envoy to the initiative. She was fired Thursday from the top job at DHS, making her the first Cabinet official to be outside in Trumps second term. Also present at the Miami event was Corey Lewandowski, Noems adviser at the department, who has also left his role. The pair have been dogged by allegations of an inappropriate relationship. At a congressional hearing earlier this week, Noem refused to answer directly when she was asked about the alleged affair by a lawmaker. Lewandowski posted a picture of Trump and other world leaders to his X account. In her first remarks in her newly-formed role, Noem repeatedly expressed her gratitude and admiration for Trump. open image in gallery Ex-DHS chief Kristi Noem appeared alongside President Donald Trump in her new role as special envoy to Shield of the Americas - two days after he publicly humiliated the former governor by firing her as Homeland Security secretary ( AFP via Getty Images ) open image in gallery In her first remarks in her newly-formed role, Noem repeatedly expressed her gratitude and admiration for Trump. ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) First of all, I offer thanks to our president who had the vision to bring all of you as world leaders here, Noem said. She also thanked Trump for giving me the honor and the opportunity to serve as a special envoy to this region. This is intended to be a group that works together to make sure that were each defending our own sovereignty, were each defending our own security and economic prosperity, she continued. This Shield of [the] Americas will be a powerful example to the rest of the world about whats possible. Noem went on to list her accomplishments at DHS from securing the southern border to deporting or removing more than three million people migrants from the U.S. adding that she now hopes to use that experience to help other nations strengthen their own borders. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seated alongside Noem, also addressed the audience, stating that the former South Dakota governor would be deeply involved in the Shield of the Americas. You will see a lot of her, Rubio said. She'll be very involved with each of you at a personal level. open image in gallery Corey Lewandowski, pictured at an event in 2024, was also present in Miami Saturday. He and Noem have been dogged by allegations of an inappropriate relationship. ( Andrew Harnik/Getty Images ) Earlier in the day, Trump delivered a speech to the leaders, and issued a fresh warning to Cuba. The president said he is looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba, adding that the Caribbean nation is in its last moments of life. Trump also signed a proclamation affirming his commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations and cartels that operate in the Western Hemisphere at the event. Seventeen nations endorsed the effort through a joint security declaration signed on Thursday. Noems appointment as special envoy follows a turbulent 13-month tenure at DHS marked by a string of controversies. She drew pushback over her handling of Trumps immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which led to the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whom she described as domestic terrorists. She has refused to walk back or apologize for the comments. open image in gallery President Donald Trump with fellow leaders in a group photograph at the start of the "Shield of the Americas" Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida ( AFP via Getty Images ) Noem also raised eyebrows with her purchase of multiple luxury jets, a $220 million ad campaign, gutting FEMA, and her rumored affair with Lewandowski. The final nail in the coffin appears to have been Noems congressional testimony this past week, during which Democrats and Republicans alike voiced sharp criticism of her management and judgment. At one point, Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, embarked on a lengthy tirade against Noem, comparing her missteps to her shocking anecdote about killing her own puppy. One day after her second hearing, Trump fired off a 233-word Truth Social post, stating that Noem was out at DHS and that he was nominating Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her. open image in gallery Earlier this week, Noem testified on Capitol Hill, during which he was repeatedly grilled by both Democrats and Republicans over her apparent leadership failures ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery In one controversial DHS ad, Noem was pictured on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore. Break our laws, well punish you, she says ( DHS/Tia Dufour ) An administration official told NBC News that the president axed Noem due to a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures, including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff, and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE. Kristis drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administrations extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force, the official added. Before she was fired, Noem vigorously defended her performance while fielding questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, maintaining she was faithfully executing Trumps agenda and operating by the book. When asked by a Democratic representative whether she was having an affair with Lewandowski, she responded: I am shocked we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage today at this committee. She also insisted that the controversial $220 million DHS ad campaign had been launched with the presidents approval a claim Trump has denied. In a recently resurfaced interview from February 2025, Noem provides further details on the costly ad blitz, which featured her riding on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore, claiming it was Trumps idea. Noem said the president told her: I want you to do those [ads] for the border. I want you to do those everywhere, not just in the United States, but I want them around the world. And I said well sir, do you want to be in those ads? Noem said. He said nope, nope. I want you to do them. Since her departure from DHS, Noem has not publicly pushed back against the administration. But, an unnamed official told The Daily Caller that she felt thrown under the bus. With reporting from the Associated Press Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice After Kristi Noems ousting, Republicans in Congress are turning their attention to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who will be compelled to answer questions about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to a new report. On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Bondi, with five Republicans crossing the aisle to join Democrats in favor. Many more GOP members appear open to punishing her for delaying the release of the Epstein files, according to Politico. I just think its time to get some answers, Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, said. Shes in the batters box. Its not clear when the nations top prosecutor will testify. But her appearance before the committee will take on more significance after President Donald Trump fired Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary on Thursday, following her testimony on Capitol Hill earlier this week. By dismissing Noem dogged by controversy over her management of Trump's immigration crackdown, luxury jet spending and a costly ad blitz Trump showed he's open to jettisoning Cabinet members who lose GOP support. open image in gallery After Kristi Noem's firing, Republicans are turning their attention to Pam Bondi, who has been compelled to testify before the House Oversight Committee about the Epstein probe ( AFP via Getty Images ) So far, top administration officials have rallied behind Bondi. Bondi has worked tirelessly to successfully implement the Presidents law and order agenda, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Politico. The President has full faith in the Attorney General. A Justice Department representative added that lawmakers critical of Bondi refuse to accept the truth. However, a number of Republicans on Capitol Hill have expressed significant reservations. Im not impressed with Bondi on the Epstein files, and Ill make that abundantly clear when I depose her whenever that day comes, Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, said. Shes lost a lot of support among the base [and] up here as well. Speaking anonymously, a GOP senator said that Bondis judgment is not good on Epstein and that it certainly hasnt helped us. Bondi has endured months of intensifying backlash over her handling of the Epstein files, a cache of documents that has dominated headlines and captivated public attention like few other controversies. In February, Bondi told Fox News that the Epstein files were sitting on her desk. However, in July, the DOJ withheld additional Epstein-related material, issuing a memo denying any proof of a client list and deeming evidence insufficient to charge third parties. Bondis decision ultimately led Congress to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the DOJ to release all of its material on Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died while awaiting trial in 2019. While millions of files have since been released, the department failed to meet the statutory deadline for publishing all of them. And numerous published documents are heavily redacted. This week, under mounting pressure, the DOJ released another batch of files, including FBI interviews with a woman who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her as a minor. The president has long denied wrongdoing associated with Epstein, and the White House has labeled the womans accusation as baseless. open image in gallery Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, questioned Bondi about redactions in the Epstein files during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in February ( AFP via Getty Images ) Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said that he is aware of 20 Republicans who may be open to a contempt filing if she doesnt release more filesI do believe shes in trouble. However, one GOP lawmaker stressed that most party members are not keen on axing Bondi. There are several members of that committee that are perhaps seeking higher office, Rep. Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican, told Politico. I dont know if intentions are always pure. While Republican sentiment appears mixed, the vast majority of Democrats in Congress have telegraphed strong opposition to Bondi. On Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that the attorney general has got to go, adding he would approach her with the same intensity that has now led to the termination of Kristi Noem. The world is watching as Pam Bondi continues to aid this White House cover-up, Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, said on Friday. We look forward to having her testify under oath before the Oversight Committee as soon as possible. The Independent has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice During his second term, President Donald Trump has authorized military action in a string of countries, including Iran, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. Now, hes hinted that Cuba could be next, declaring that the Caribbean island nation is in its last moments of life. Trump delivered his stark warning during a Saturday speech in Florida, where leaders from several Latin American nations were gathered at his Doral resort. There, he unveiled a new coalition called The Shield of the Americas, aimed at bolstering security across the Western Hemisphere. Kristi Noem has been tapped as a special envoy for the initiative, following her dismissal as Homeland Security secretary. Upon taking the podium, the president said he is looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba. He described the nation as at the end of the line and experiencing its last moments of life. The country, which has been under communist rule since the 1959 Cuban revolution, has no money, no oil, and a bad philosophy, he continued. open image in gallery On Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Cuba, saying the Latin American nation is 'at the end of the line' and experiencing its 'last moments of life' ( Getty Images ) While his administration is currently focused on Iran, Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take one hour off and finish up a deal on Cuba, adding, Thatll be an easy one. Since returning to office, Trump has taken an aggressive posture towards Cuba. Hes slapped steep tariffs on the island nation and threatened to impose duties on goods from countries that export oil to Cuba. Hes also urged the communist state to make a deal or face unspecified repercussions. The countrys president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has frequently criticized the Trump administrations hostile rhetoric. Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation. No one tells us what to do, he wrote on X in January, adding that his government was ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood. During the Saturday summit, Trump also signed a proclamation affirming his commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations and cartels that operate in the Western Hemisphere. Seventeen nations endorsed the effort through a joint security declaration signed on Thursday. We need your help, Trump said to the leaders of Latin American nations. You have to just tell us where they are. open image in gallery Trump signed a proclamation at the 'Shield of the Americas' summit in Florida on Saturday. He described the document as 'a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks' in in the Western Hemisphere ( AFP via Getty Images ) The new initiative comes as the Trump administration has demonstrated its willingness to take kinetic action across the hemisphere and beyond. Earlier this week, U.S. forces undertook strikes in Ecuador aimed at combating drug cartels. In late February, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of Iranians and at least six U.S. service members. Trump has said the campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, could continue for weeks if not longer. And, in January, U.S. special forces swooped into Venezuela, captured then-President Nicolas Maduro and extradited him to New York to stand trial on drug charges. Democrats and some Republicans have slammed the recent military actions as illegal, reckless, and a direct betrayal of Trump's campaign pledge to be the candidate of peace who would end forever wars. The White House has rebutted criticism by saying Trump is protecting Americans by taking decisive action against imminent threats. Recent polls show that at least some of the administrations overseas actions are unpopular. Just one in four Americans supports Trumps strikes on Iran, according to a Reuters survey conducted earlier this month. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump and the First Lady attended a solemn ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday, joining grieving families for the dignified transfer of six US soldiers killed in the Middle East. The dignified transfer, a poignant ritual marking the return of US service members killed in action, is considered one of the most sombre duties for any commander-in-chief. Mr Trump himself previously described witnessing such transfers as "the toughest thing I have to do" as president during his first term. It's a very sad day, Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was glad we paid our respects. He said the relatives of the deceased are great people, great parents, wives, family and said that the "parents were so proud. Speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his journey to Delaware, Mr Trump paid tribute to the fallen, stating they were heroes "coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home." He characterized the situation as "a very sad situation" and vowed to keep American war deaths "to a minimum." open image in gallery White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, US President Donald Trump, special envoy Steve Witkoff, First Lady Melania Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance attend a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware ( AFP via Getty Images ) Vice President JD Vance and his spouse were also present, alongside Mr Trump and his wife. A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote on social media on Friday of "an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied." Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, were also among those paying their respects. Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida. Those killed in action were Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. As is protocol, Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about a half hour. open image in gallery From left, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn., Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Fla., and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb ( Sgt. Brent Newton/U.S. Army via AP ) The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. They died just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle to take them to the mortuary facility at the base. There, the service members are prepared for their final resting place. Amors husband, Joey Amor, said earlier this week that she had been scheduled to return home to him and their two children within days. You dont go to Kuwait thinking somethings going to happen, and for her to be one of the first it hurts, Joey Amor said. open image in gallery Trump, speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his trip to Delaware, said the fallen service members were heroes 'coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home' ( AP ) OBrien had served in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years, according to his LinkedIn account, and his aunt said in a post on Facebook that OBrien was the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid youd ever know. He is so missed already. Marzans sister described him in a Facebook post as a strong leader and loving husband, father and brother. My baby brother, you are loved and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart, Elizabeth Marzan wrote. Coady was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, his father, Andrew Coady, told The Associated Press. He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier, Coady said. He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone. open image in gallery During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle to take them to the mortuary facility at the Delaware base ( AP ) Khork's family described him as the life of the party who was known for his infectious spirit and generous heart and who had wanted to serve in the military since childhood. That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was, according to a statement from his mother, Donna Burhans, his father, James Khork, and his stepmother, Stacey Khork. Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local churchs gym. Tietjens cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate unimaginable loss. Trump most recently traveled to Dover in December to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in an ambush attack in the Syrian desert. He attended dignified transfers several times during his first term, including for a Navy SEAL killed during a raid in Yemen, for two Army officers whose helicopter crashed in Afghanistan and for two Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump blasted a Fox News reporter on Friday for asking what the president said was a stupid question about recent reporting suggesting Russia is helping Iran target the U.S. in the ongoing conflict. When correspondent Peter Doocy asked the president about the report during an unrelated White House event, Trump grew visibly annoyed. Thats an easy problem compared to what were doing here, the president said. Can I be honest. Its just I have a lot of respect for you, youve always been very nice to me what a stupid question that is to be asking at this time. Were talking about something else. Later Friday, MS NOW anchor Chris Hayes defended Doocys question, using a mocking tone to highlight Trumps apparent irritation about being asked about the war during a White House event on college sports. Youre asking me about war? Hayes said. About our American service members being targeted by an adversary at a time like this when I am trying to solve the transfer portal? Trump officials have either downplayed or refused to comment on the reporting from the Washington Post, which quoted unnamed officials saying the Russians were engaging in a comprehensive effort to help Iran locate U.S. assets including warships and aircraft. open image in gallery President Trump on Friday brushed off what he said was a stupid question about whether Russia is helping Iran target the U.S. in the ongoing war ( AFP via Getty Images ) We dont comment on intelligence reports that are leaked to the press, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News earlier on Friday. Whether or not this happened, frankly, it does not really matter because President Trump and the United States military are absolutely decimating the rogue Iranian terrorist regime. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces are tracking everything when it comes to intelligence threats surrounding the conflict with Iran. Our commanders are aware of everything, he told 60 Minutes. We have the best intelligence in the world. Were aware of who is talking to who, why theyre talking to em, how accurate that information might be. When pressed if that means President Trump will bring up the alleged aid with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hegseth praised the Trumps diplomatic skills. President Trump, as people have seen, has a unique relationship with a lot of world leaders, where he can get things done that other presidents, certainly Joe Biden, never could have, Hegseth said. open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says U.S. commanders are aware of everything surrounding the intelligence going to aid the Iranian war effort ( AP ) The reported Russian aid is the latest sign of how the war with Iran is widening. In addition to U.S. strikes in Iran and international waters, Iran has retaliated with attacks in Israel and on U.S. interests around the Middle East, including a strike at a base in Kuwait that killed six American troops. The president has suggested that retaliatory strikes are possible on U.S. soil, too. We think about it all the time, he told TIME. We plan for it. But yeah, you know, we expect some things. Like I said, some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The NYPDs Bomb Squad confirmed that the devices thrown in the direction of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis home were both viable IEDs. The incident is now under investigation by both the NYPD and the FBI. In total, two devices were thrown during the protests on Saturday afternoon on Manhattans swanky Upper East Side. On Sunday, police spokesperson Jessica Tisch said that the preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death, Tisch added. The mayor released a statement, slamming the anti-Islam protest led by provocateur Jake Lang. open image in gallery On Sunday, police spokesperson Jessica Tisch said that the preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb ( AFP/Getty ) Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city's values and the unity that defines who we are, the newly elected Democrat said in part. The mayor was inside the residence at the time, the police department said earlier on Saturday. The Crusade Against Islamification gathering held outside Gracie Mansion today by Jake Lang, a vile white supremacist, was despicable and Islamophobic, mayoral press secretary Joe Calvello told The Independent in a statement. Thankfully, the Mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly. open image in gallery View of an unexploded homemade explosive device thrown by a left-wing activist towards police during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged "Islamification" and to ask for a "stop of public Muslim prayer" in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence ( AFP/Getty ) open image in gallery Left-wing activists stand off with New York Police Department officers on Saturday ( Getty ) Lang organized the Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City demonstration and was joined by as many as 20 others, according to local reports. A counter protest, Run the Nazis out of New York City's Stand Against Hate Group, was also organized in response. That group attracted at least five times as many activists. Both protests began aroudn 11 am at East End Avenue and East 87th Street in Manhattan. Authorities believe that both of the devices were thrown by members of the counter-protest. The suspects have been named as Emir Balat, 18, and Irbahim Nikk, 19. The ignited device sent a cloud of smoke into the air, authorities allege. Both suspects are from Pennsylvania. Video from the scene shows a man shouting Allahu Akbar before throwing what Tish described as a a jar wrapped in tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse. One device was made of a sports drink bottle with explosive material inside a glass jar filled with fragmentation with a fireworks fuse, a law enforcement source told CBS New York. A person associated with Langs protest was also arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, assault and unlawful possession of a noxious matter after allegedly macing counterprotesters, police said. Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trumps sweeping act of clemency for Jan. 6 defendants last year. He recently announced that he is running for U.S. Senate in Florida. open image in gallery Earlier this year, Lang organized a rally in Minneapolis in support of Trumps immigration crackdown, drawing an angry crowd of counterprotesters that quickly chased him away, shown here ( AP ) Earlier this year, Lang organized a rally in Minneapolis in support of Trumps immigration crackdown, drawing an angry crowd of counterprotesters that quickly chased him away. At least one local restaurant owner slammed both of Saturdays protest groups, which saw a total of six arrests. They're disturbing more business, small business, mom-and-pop more than anything else because everything north of us is closed, Phil Phillips, the owner of Mansion Restaurant, told ABC New York. I've been here in this restaurant my entire life, so I've watched demonstrations in the sixties, race riots - I've watched demonstrations with Vietnam. This didn't serve any purpose whatsoever other than people arguing with each other, Phillips added. The Associated Press contributed to this report. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Leo XIV has appointed a seasoned Vatican diplomat, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, as the new ambassador to the United States. This move comes as the Holy See seeks to navigate a crucial bilateral relationship, which has faced challenges under the Trump administration, particularly concerning its stance on Iran and immigration policies. Archbishop Caccia, 68, currently serves as the Holy Sees representative to the United Nations in New York. He takes over from French-born Cardinal Christophe Pierre, 80, who is retiring from his role as apostolic nuncio in Washington. Before his UN posting in 2019, Caccia held ambassadorial positions in Lebanon and the Philippines. open image in gallery Archbishop Gabriele Caccia ( REUTERS ) Ordained a priest in Milan in 1983, he also served as an "assessor" within the Vatican secretariat of state, a significant administrative role. He inherits a complicated and consequential dossier on both the U.S. church and state fronts. Pierres tenure as ambassador was notable for clear signs of friction between the leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which tends to skew conservative, and the more progressive priorities of Pope Francis pontificate. The relationship with the U.S. and its church is crucial for the Holy See, not least because U.S. Catholics are the most generous donors to the Holy Sees coffers. Leo, historys first U.S.-born pope, is well aware of the dynamic, having served as Francis point man on bishop nominations for two years before his 2025 election. Leo has emphasized a message of pacification and unity in the church. The first Trump administration clashed with Francis especially on migration, and that tension has continued in Leos pontificate and the second Trump term. Leo has repeatedly insisted that the Trump administration respect the human dignity of migrants, while acknowledging its right to its borders. More recently, Leo has expressed profound concern about the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and urged both sides to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss. open image in gallery Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan (C) and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia (R) speak to the press following a mass for the repose of the soul of the late Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York ( EPA ) In comments last Sunday, Leo called for the resumption of diplomacy. Weapons, he said, only sow destruction, pain and death. In a major foreign policy speech earlier this year, Leo also made clear he opposed the U.S. aggressive use of military power, in an apparent reference to Washington's incursion in Venezuela and threats to take Greenland. He denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide and completely undermine peace and the post-World War II international legal order. The Holy See has a tradition of diplomatic neutrality, though Leo has spoken out strongly against the humanitarian toll of Israels military action in Gaza and Russias invasion of Ukraine. The current president of the U.S. conference, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, welcomed Caccias appointment and offered the U.S. hierarchys warmest welcome and our prayerful support. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hungarian authorities have temporarily detained seven Ukrainian citizens and seized two armoured vehicles carrying tens of millions of euros in cash, amid suspicions of money laundering. The incident, which occurred across Hungary, saw the individuals held on Thursday before their release on Friday. Despite the Ukrainians being freed, Hungarian officials retained the substantial sum of money. This move has prompted a rebuke from Kyiv, with Ukraine accusing Hungary's Russia-friendly government of illegally confiscating the funds. We will not tolerate this state banditism, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X on Friday. open image in gallery Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha ( Reuters ) The seven detained Ukrainians were employees of the Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank, who were traveling in the two armored cars that were carrying the money between Austria and Ukraine as part of regular services between state banks, Sybiha said. In a post on Facebook, Oschadbank board Chairman Yurii Katsion wrote that Hungary groundlessly questions the source of the state banks funds, transported in accordance with international agreements and supported by all necessary documentation. The shipment seized by Hungary included 40 million U.S. dollars as well as 35 million euros and 9 kilograms (19.8 pounds) of gold worth around $1.5 million at current prices according to a separate statement by Oschadbank. After their detention, Hungary's government said it would expel the seven Ukrainians, but did not give details on why they would be released if they were suspected of money laundering. Later on Friday, Ukraine's foreign minister announced on social media that the seven Ukrainians had been returned to Ukraine. The incident further inflamed rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, which are embroiled in a bitter feud over Hungary's access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory. Oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline have been interrupted since Jan. 27. Ukraine says a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline's infrastructure, and that repairing it carried risks to technicians. It said that even if restored, it would remain vulnerable to further Russian attacks. open image in gallery Some of the seized cash in a handout image from the Hungarian Government ( Hungarian Government ) Hungary's government has accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up supplies of Russian crude, and has vowed to take strong countermeasures against Kyiv until oil flows resume. Orban stakes election on anti-Ukraine campaign Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained close relations with the Kremlin while escalating an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign ahead of crucial elections next month, has called Ukraine Hungary's enemy, and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of seeking to provoke an energy crisis in order to sway the April 12 vote. The best way for the Ukrainians to achieve their demands on Hungary is if they get rid of the national government and the prime minister who is standing in their way, Orban said in statements to state radio on Friday. While he did not directly mention the detention of the bank vehicles, Orban alluded to the incident, saying: We will stop things that are important to Ukraine passing through Hungary until we get the approval of the Ukrainians for oil shipments. The Ukrainians will run out of money sooner than we will run out of oil, he added. Trailing in most polls behind a popular center-right challenger, the populist Orban has staked the election on convincing voters that Ukraine poses an existential threat to Hungary's security. In office since 2010, the EU's longest-serving leader has claimed that if he loses the election, the European Union will force Hungary into bankruptcy by cutting Russian energy imports, and that Hungarian youth will be sent to their deaths on the front lines in Ukraine. In his post, Ukraine's foreign minister cast Orban's conduct as electoral politicking, saying the detention of the seven Ukrainians and seizure of money was part of Hungarys blackmail and electoral campaign. "We reserve the right to take appropriate action, including initiating sanctions and other restrictive measures," Sybiha wrote. We once again demand Hungary stop dragging Ukraine into its domestic politics and electoral campaign. Hungary clings to Russian oil Hungary, along with neighboring Slovakia, have defied EU efforts to wean off Russian fossil fuels, and continued to purchase them despite Moscow's invasion. Orban previously ceased diesel shipments to Ukraine, vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia and blocked a major, 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan for Kyiv in retaliation for the interruption in oil shipments. He's also deployed military forces to key energy infrastructure sites across Hungary, accusing Ukraine of plotting disruptions. On Thursday, Orban told an economic forum that Hungary would use force, including political and financial tools, to compel Ukraine to resume oil shipments. Ukraines Foreign Ministry on Friday urged Ukrainian citizens to abstain from visiting Hungary, saying their security could not be guaranteed amid arbitrary actions by the Hungarian authorities. The Ministry also called for Ukrainian and European businesses to take into account the risk of arbitrary seizure of property in Hungary. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Passengers were taken into tunnels and flights were briefly suspended at Dubai airport after a drone strike appeared to hit nearby. Several blasts were heard in the city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday morning as the countrys government said it had activated air defences, as Iranian strikes targeted the Gulf states in response to a joint Israel-US bombing campaign. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai international airport, the worlds busiest international travel hub, were ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Video footage shows an explosion and smoke appearing to emanate near the terminal. A whirring sound is heard just before the explosion in the footage. The impact of the drone appeared to be near a concourse of the airport. Later that morning, long-haul carrier Emirates resumed operations after briefly suspending all flights to and from Dubai. A Dubai Airports spokesperson said: Dubai Airports confirms partial resumption of operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International (DWC). open image in gallery File: Planes are parked at terminal three of the Dubai international airport ( Reuters ) Travellers are urged to not travel to the DXB or DWC unless they have been contacted by their airline that their flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change. The spokesperson added that Dubai Airports would continue to monitor the situation. Just before 9am UK time, Emirates wrote on X: Our post from 11:08am Dubai time regarding operational status is no longer current, and has been deleted to avoid causing unnecessary confusion. Emirates has resumed operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating. Authorities have not explained if there was an interception or damage at the airport. It came as Irans president on Saturday apologised for the countrys attacks on regional states, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. President Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television and added that the demand by the US for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should take to their grave. There were repeated attacks on Saturday morning in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. open image in gallery Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs ( AP ) There is no foreseeable end to the fighting. Donald Trumps administration has approved a new 112m arms sale to Israel after the US president said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender. The president then said on Truth Social on Saturday that Iran will be hit very hard today. He wrote: Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. US officials had also warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the week-long conflict. Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. Also early on Saturday, loud booms sounded in Jerusalem and incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israel's emergency services. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have also targeted Beirut and Tehran. Death tolls continued to rise on Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops were reported killed. Lebanon was pulled into the widening U.S.-Israel war with Iran on Monday after Hezbollah, an Iranian-aligned group, fired rockets and drrones into Israel. Israel responded with heavy strikes across Lebanon's south, east and near the capital. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Global oil prices have surged dramatically and show no signs of abating, a week after US and Israeli attacks on Iran escalated into a full-blown war across the Middle East. The widespread conflict has seen almost every nation in the region sustain damage from missile or drone strikes, directly impacting global energy supplies. An estimated 20 million barrels of oil per day are now stranded in the Persian Gulf, as shipping vessels are unable to navigate safely through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical narrow waterway bordered by Iran. This extensive disruption and damage to vital oil and gas infrastructure throughout the Middle East have consequently led to a significant interruption in the supply of crude oil and natural gas. Oil prices surpassed $90 a barrel Friday, with American crude settling at $90.90, up 36% from a week ago, and Brent, the international standard, climbing 27% over the course of the week to land at $92.69. The fallout is ratcheting up what consumers and business will pay for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, with some drivers already feeling it at the pump. Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Its crazy. Its not needed, especially at a time when people are already struggling, but not unexpected from all this turmoil thats going on, said Mark Doran, who was pumping gas in Middlebury, Vermont Friday. I dont think theres been an end in sight to any Middle East conflict thats been started by us, so the fact that they say that theres going to be an end that quickly is not believable, and the Middle East is, you know, a place that the U.S. is not going to solve. On Monday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. expected its military operations against Iran to last four to five weeks but has the capability to go far longer. And on Friday, Trump appeared to rule out talks with Iran absent its unconditional surrender. The more news we get, the more it seems like this is going to last a really long time, said Al Salazar, head of macro oil and gas research at Enverus. In the U.S., a gallon of regular gasoline rose to $3.32 on Friday, up 11% from a week ago, according to AAA motor club. Diesel was selling for $4.33 a gallon Friday, up 15% from a week ago. The price shocks were felt even more heavily in Europe and Asia, markets that rely more heavily on energy supplies from the Middle East. Diesel prices doubled in Europe, and jet fuel prices rose by close to 200% in Asia, according to Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy. Energy prices climbed throughout the week as Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks, including a drone strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and the conflict widened. Iran also hit a major refinery in Saudi Arabia and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar, halting flows of refined products and taking about 20% of the worlds LNG supply offline. We keep seeing news of vessels being hit or refineries or pipelines, so the list is very long, Galimberti said. As a result, roughly 9 million barrels of oil per day are off the market because of facilities being hit or producers taking precautionary measures, he said. Right now, with all of this shut in, we are in a situation of extreme deficit. The U.S. is a net exporter of oil, but that does not mean it is immune to increases in the price of oil or gasoline, or that its producers can just make up the difference. Oil is traded on global markets, so even the oil produced in the U.S. has risen in price based on what's happening in the Middle East. And for many American oil producers, "if you put more wells in the ground, theres about a six-month lag before you get that production uplift," Salazar said. In addition, the U.S. can't simply turn all of its crude oil into gasoline. That's because most of the oil produced in the U.S. is light, sweet crude, and refineries on the East and West coasts are primarily designed to process heavier, sour crude. As a result, the U.S. exports some of its crude oil and imports some refined products such as gasoline. Jerry Dalpiaz of Covington, Louisiana, said he started filling up his cars and gas cans on the day that they announced that the United States has started military operations against Iran" because he assumed gas prices would climb. I can weather the storm because Im in good financial position, but I feel sorry for my fellow citizens who are living paycheck to paycheck because they have to drive to get to work and they have to change their oil and all those things, Dalpiaz said. "And they need some relief and it doesnt seem to be coming anytime soon. Trump issued a plan Friday to insure losses up to approximately $20 billion in the Gulf region, aiming to restore confidence in maritime trade, help stabilize international commerce and support American and allied businesses operating in the Middle East. But some energy experts said extra insurance won't solve the problem. The problem is that in the oil trading, oil shipping world, people are worried about counterterrorism, said Amy Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University, adding that they're worried about automated drone speedboats, weapon-carrying, flying drones and mines or other devices. "In order for the United States to create the atmosphere that undoes the current bottleneck at the Strait of Hormuz, there has to be some credible demonstration of solutions to the counter-terrorism problem. Salazar wondered what the new normal would look like if the Strait of Hormuz was effectively re-opened, and what effective security would look like. All it takes is one individual with a RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) to stand on the shore and take out a tanker, right? Salazar said. And this is forever, do you know what I mean? Cardanos ADA token is now available as a payment option in Spar supermarkets across Switzerland, following the blockchains integration with fiat on- and off-ramp platform DFX.swiss. The integration leverages DFX.swiss crypto payment standard Open Crypto Pay, already used to enable payments in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the USDC, USDT and DAI stablecoins. Open Crypto Pay enables Cardano users to spend ADA tokens from native wallets to be used directly at the checkout for payment in Swiss Spar stores, by scanning a QR code. Stores receive payment in Swiss francs, regardless of the cryptocurrency the customer paid in, according to the Open Crypto Pay website. The platform does not implement specific double-spend protection for brick-and-mortar merchants, calling it a theoretical issue as unlikely given the technical complexity and ease with which other methods of non-payment, such as leaving a store without paying, can be accomplished. Major Supermarket Chain Spar to Launch Bitcoin Payments Across Switzerland So far, 137 Spar supermarkets across Switzerland and neighboring Lichtenstein can accept payments using Open Crypto Paythough according to a map on its website, stores in Geneva, Swiss capital Bern, and Davos, which hosts the World Economic Forum, have yet to be onboarded. Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation, called the integration the beginning of a fundamental shift in how value moves through society, in a press release shared with Decrypt. He added that the partnership is planting seeds for a financial ecosystem in which paying with ADA is as natural as paying with a card. Switzerland and crypto Switzerland has gained a reputation as an early adopter of crypto, with some 350 businesses in the city of Lugano now accepting Bitcoin for payment as of December 2025. While a citizen-led initiative has campaigned for an amendment to the Swiss Constitution to allow the countrys central bank to add Bitcoin to its reserves, the Swiss National Bank remains ambivalent about the prospect. In April 2025, the banks chairman Martin Schlegel rejected the idea, citing cryptos volatility and market liquidity as concerns. "Cryptocurrency cannot currently fulfill the requirements for our currency reserves," he added. Its hard to think that a few days ago, the national obsession revolved around the Gorton and Denton by-election and the arrest of Peter Mandelson. In essence, it was the usual mixture of parliamentary arithmetic and political theatre that felt shocking enough then, but mild considering what we are being confronted with today. Seven days ago, we awoke to the news that two men had decided to start a new war in the Middle East. As we digested the sight of America and Israel attacking Iran, the mood darkened, and the temperature of world affairs has risen several degrees ever since. Oil depots across the Gulf states are now burning. Warships are under attack from drones and submarines. Missiles are flying across borders. Westerners are fleeing the Middle East or trying to. Places once framed in the parlance of sunny holiday destinations Dubai, Cyprus, Turkey are now being talked of in terms of suicide drone attacks and, in Turkeys case, Natos Article 5. Meanwhile, in the UK, the terror threat has been raised as we are warned about terror cells and lone wolves joining a fatwa issued by Iranian clerics to avenge the death of their supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The global economy has been plunged into chaos, too, with shipping lanes vital to the transportation of oil and gas now facing serious disruption. With the conflict heightening, military analysts are openly speaking about how a regional war could easily become a great-power conflict. The warnings are coming thick and fast that a third world war is just around the corner or more chillingly still, perhaps it has just started. What makes the situation particularly unsettling is that there is not one single crisis the war with Iran but the sense that multiple crises around the globe are heating up simultaneously, each capable of dragging others into the flames. And at the centre of much of this instability sit political leaders whose instincts appear to favour intensification rather than restraint. We have witnessed American leaders talking about the crisis in terms usually reserved for scraps in a school yard: youre toast; were just getting started; not a fair fight. Meanwhile, the name Epic Fury has been mocked for sounding like a video game. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth has declared we will not follow rules of engagement in this war and has been roundly criticised for using the language of the barroom brawl to describe a global conflict which is now putting thousands of lives in danger. For his part, Donald Trump has approached the task in hand with a familiar mixture of impulsiveness and unpredictability. During a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, he even veered off from talking about the war with Iran and US military losses to focus on the gold curtains and his planned new ballroom in the White House. Accused of once again acting recklessly and unilaterally, he appears to have started a war with no specific aim, no goal or thoughts about what success looks like. As confusion rains down, at the last count, eight different reasons for entering the conflict have been stated. It was bad enough when Trump merely injected enormous uncertainty into the Western alliance. His casual rhetoric about Nato, his willingness to treat alliances as transactional bargaining chips, and his habit of making sweeping strategic statements without apparent regard for their consequences, have left European nations feeling deeply vulnerable. Add to this the hawkishness of the White House social media feed, which on Thursday posted a clip intercutting all-American gung-ho movies such as Top Gun with real-life footage of Iranian depots and warships being destroyed, and you cant escape the feeling that they havent fully grasped the seriousness of the situation they have ignited. To many, they have just lit the fuse of a global house of dynamite, and we dont know how big the final bang is going to be, or where. Alongside Trump stands Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister, whose response to regional threats has increasingly taken the form of aggressive and pre-emptive military action. Netanyahu has long cultivated the image of the hawk prepared to strike first and ask questions later. Secretary of state Marco Rubio publicly suggested the US acted because Israel was planning a strike that would provoke retaliation against American forces, framing it as preventative. As critics said it looked like the US was acting like Israels poodle, this narrative was then challenged with Netanyahu saying that Trump does what he thinks is right for America and doubling down on the security threat framing of the attack on Iran. It all adds to the sense of muddling of the mission, with little long-term strategic forethought. open image in gallery Pete Hegseth has been heavily criticised for using the language of the barroom brawl to describe a global conflict ( AFP/Getty ) The cauldron of the Middle East is now boiling over. We have temperamental leaders competing with a number of agendas, operating in a world already thick with geopolitical tensions. It is creating the impression of a world that is becoming dangerously volatile and could change our lives in very significant ways in any single moment. The historical parallel that increasingly comes to mind is Europe in the summer of 1914. Before the First World War erupted, the international system appeared outwardly stable. Great powers were bound together by alliances that were supposed to preserve peace: Britain aligned with France and Russia, Germany with Austria-Hungary, complex diplomatic arrangements linking capitals across the continent. Yet beneath this structure lay a fragile latticework of rivalries, nationalist ambitions and military plans. When the spark finally came the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo the alliance system did not prevent war. Instead, it helped spread it. Austria moved against Serbia. Russia mobilised to defend Serbia. Germany backed Austria and was prepared to strike Russia and France. Britain entered the conflict after Germany invaded Belgium. Within weeks, what had begun as a regional crisis became a global catastrophe. No historian should overuse the 1914 analogy. But it is hard to ignore how the modern world is again beginning to resemble a system of interlocking tensions. Russia remains locked in its brutal war against Ukraine. China continues to exert growing pressure on Taiwan. Israel confronts Iran and Iranian-backed forces across the Middle East. India and Pakistan remain nuclear-armed rivals with a long history of confrontation. open image in gallery Pro-Khamenei supporters in Iran rally in protest at US and Israeli bombings, Friday 6 March ( WANA ) Each of these disputes has its own local dynamics. Yet increasingly, they appear connected by alliances, rivalries and strategic calculations that stretch across continents. If one conflict escalates dramatically, logic suggests others may quickly follow. The most striking aspect of the present moment is how simultaneous the tensions appear to be. Russias war in Ukraine has become a grinding conflict that shows little sign of resolution. Western governments continue to arm Kyiv while Moscow intensifies missile strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure. In the Middle East, Iranian missile and drone capabilities have expanded dramatically in recent years as the events of the past week have borne witness. Meanwhile, in Asia, tensions between China and Taiwan remain among the most dangerous flashpoints on the planet. Beijing has made clear that it ultimately regards Taiwan as part of China, while the United States has pledged to support the islands defence. Add to this the nuclear rivalry between India and Pakistan, and periodic crises on the Korean peninsula, and the global map begins to look increasingly combustible. What makes this particularly disorientating for many Britons is that some of the places now appearing in the language of warzones are in places long marketed as Mediterranean paradises for British tourists. Suddenly, the war is no longer confined to faraway lands, but it feels uncomfortably close to home, threatening everything we know (or thought we knew) about life. Is this, many are wondering, how our grandparents felt before the war came to their door? Another reason the world feels more unstable is the rapid evolution of modern weaponry. For much of the 20th century, military power was defined by enormous and expensive platforms: aircraft carriers, tanks, strategic bombers and nuclear submarines. Today, many of the most disruptive weapons are far smaller and cheaper. Drones have transformed modern conflict. In Ukraine, small unmanned aircraft costing only a few hundred pounds have destroyed armoured vehicles worth millions. Ukrainian sea drones have struck Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea with remarkable effectiveness. Meanwhile, Iranian-designed suicide drones simple but deadly systems that crash directly into their targets have enabled Tehran to strike back against American facilities and those of its allies all across the Middle East. The result is a battlefield that feels less predictable and more chaotic, and, crucially, far less contained. When it comes to homeland security, a drone of this type could cause enormous damage to a core infrastructure target like a station or power plant, and our lack of preparedness is startling. open image in gallery Smoke billows in Beirut on Friday 6 March after reported strikes on the Lebanese capitals southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel ( Reuters ) Missile technology has also spread dramatically. Countries such as Russia, Iran, China and North Korea possess extensive missile arsenals capable of striking targets hundreds or even thousands of miles away. These weapons come in several forms: ballistic missiles that arc high into the atmosphere before descending at tremendous speed; cruise missiles that fly low and evade radar; and newer hypersonic weapons that travel at extraordinary velocities while manoeuvring unpredictably. The cumulative effect is sobering. The ability to strike distant targets with devastating force is no longer limited to a small number of superpowers. This leads to an uncomfortable truth about modern warfare: defence is often harder than attack. The UK relies on its nuclear submarine force to deter extreme attacks rather than defend against large-scale missile strikes. The official stance is that the nuclear deterrent exists to prevent attacks, not to shoot down every incoming missile, where our capabilities are sorely lacking. Missile defence systems exist, but none offer perfect protection. Israels Iron Dome has achieved impressive interception rates against short-range rockets, yet even it cannot stop everything. Patriot missile systems used by Nato allies are highly capable but extremely expensive and limited in number. Hypersonic weapons further compress the time available for defenders to react. In reality, if a missile were genuinely heading toward a European city such as London, there is very little anyone could do except watch events unfold and hope that defensive systems worked as intended. The situation would be akin to the recent film A House of Dynamite, in which we see every level of the United States defensive system failing to deal with an incoming nuclear missile. Such realities help explain why some military experts this week have issued urgent warnings. General Sir Richard Shirreff, the former deputy supreme allied commander of Nato in Europe, has repeatedly argued that Western societies risk underestimating the possibility that confrontation between Russia and the West could spiral into something much larger. His warning is not that global war is inevitable. Rather, it is that crises have a tendency to escalate through miscalculation, accident or political recklessness. And we are unprepared for any such event. open image in gallery Graves are prepared for victims of an Israeli strike on a school in Minab, Iran, on Monday ( WANA ) History again offers uncomfortable lessons. In 1914, European leaders believed they could manage a regional crisis. Within weeks, they had plunged the world into the deadliest war humanity had ever seen. In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war through a series of misunderstandings and brinkmanship. Todays geopolitical landscape contains many more actors, far more advanced weaponry and a faster information environment than either of those earlier crises. All of these contribute to the uneasy sense that the global system is becoming more fragile. The most unsettling element for many this week is simply how quickly the atmosphere has shifted. The world suddenly feels dangerously combustible. Whether the present tensions will escalate into something far worse remains impossible to say. But the uneasy feeling that anything could happen is no longer confined to military briefings or diplomatic cables. It has entered the public imagination. And that alone should give us pause. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump warned Iran will be hit hard after Tehran described the United Statess demand for an unconditional surrender as a dream that they should take to their grave. The US president was responding to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, who on Saturday morning apologised for attacks on Irans neighbours after a week of heavy missile fire. Trump said on Truth Social that Irans pledge to halt strikes was a result of the relentless US and Israeli attack, and framed the apology as a sign Tehran had already surrendered. Iran is no longer the Bully of the Middle East, they are, instead, the loser of the Middle East, he wrote, adding that he was considering the complete destruction of new areas and groups of people over Irans bad behaviour. Irans foreign ministry hit back, saying: If Mr Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely ... what he will get. Iran continued to fire missiles across the region as Israel claimed a new wave of strikes on Tehran and Isfahan. With no sign of the conflict winding down, Britain pushed to bolster its defences in the region as the Ministry of Defence said it was preparing the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier before a possible deployment to the Middle East. If deployed, it could join the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, which is due to be sent to protect a UK military base in Cyprus. open image in gallery Mr Trump made the comments on Truth Social ( Leon Neal/PA ) Irans ambassador to the UK warned Britain to be very careful about involvement in the burgeoning conflict in the Middle East. Seyed Ali Mousavi told the BBC that Tehran would have a right to self-defence if the UK does join in offensive actions with Israel and the United States. At least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel have already been killed, according to officials in those countries. Six US soldiers have also been killed. Despite the rare apology from Tehran, Iran stepped up strikes against Israel and Gulf countries hosting US forces on Saturday, saying it would only hit those working with the US in future. Tehran on Saturday claimed an attack on the American base in Juffair, Bahrain, as the island told residents to shelter. Qatars ministry of defence separately claimed it had eliminated a missile threat which targeted the State of Qatar. The president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said his country was in a time of war in his first public comments since the hostilities. Air defences engaged to intercept a missile threat in the afternoon. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai international airport, the world's busiest international travel hub, were taken into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after an alert sounded. Video footage showed that a drone strike appeared to hit an area near the airport. Longhaul carrier Emirates later resumed operations, after briefly suspending all flights to and from Dubai. Authorities have not explained if there was an interception or damage at the airport. Thousands of Americans remain stranded across the Middle East, with mounting criticism of the Trump administration over its planning. open image in gallery A strike appeared to hit near Dubai airport on Saturday ( Social media ) Irans foreign ministry said that defensive operations against US military bases and facilities in the region should not be interpreted as hostility against regional countries. But parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the attacks would continue so long as the US maintains a presence of bases in the region. Earlier, Irans UN ambassador said the country would take all necessary measures to defend itself. Tehran also pressed on with the process of selecting a new leader, after the Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war. Trump has said he must have a say in selecting his replacement, but Iranian media reported late on Saturday that the deliberative Assembly of Experts could meet within 24 hours to pick a new leader. Watch as protesters rally outside the US Embassy in London, calling for an end to attacks on Iran. Speaking at the demonstration, MP Zarah Sultana said: We cannot continue acting as the poodle of the United States. The protest was backed by several organisations, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign. This follows a decision by Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday, which permitted UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford, to be used for US defensive strikes targeting countries threatened by Tehran. Burkes behind bars: What Enoch's mother and sister can expect from overcrowded prison Martina and Ammi Burke will each spend two weeks in Mountjoy Female Prison What Martina and Ammi Burke can expect as they enter the prison environment Eavan Murray Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 This time last year, members of the Burke family caused chaos in Washington DC as they tried to highlight the case of sacked anti-transgender teacher Enoch Burke. Asking for a friend: My first love broke my heart six months ago and Im still not over it. I thought we were going to get married. How can I move on? Warrant issued for killer who failed to turn up at court in car crash case Rimantas Vaitekauskas served prison time for his role in the death of a man who was beaten with rocks and an axe in 2007 Rimantas Vaitekauskas was jailed in his native Lithuania Conor Feehan Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Lithuanian killer who failed to turn up in court in Ireland to face charges of causing a crash while nine times over the alcohol limit. A young woman let fraudsters use her account to transfer nearly 2,000 that was taken from the victim of a banking scam, it is alleged. Dublin City Council pulls out of offer to lease 37 apartments from company linked to Wexford developer behind 36 eviction notices Another company owned by Martin Sinnott issued 36 eviction notices in a Wexford estate last week but later withdrew them Martin Sinnott and Leonie Grant are directors of Patchflow Ltd and Percolt Ltd Amy Molloy Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Dublin City Council has pulled out of an agreement to lease 37 apartments for social housing from a company connected to Wexford developer Martin Sinnott due to delays completing the properties. Luke ONeill: Weight-loss drugs have been linked to sudden blindness, so how worried should you be? Trump is a madman, but right now hes helping Iranians in Ireland explain their support for US and Israel in war Many Iranians are backing the US and Israeli intervention to remove the theocratic leadership of the Islamic Republic which was established in 1979 Iranian activist speaks about support for the war against the Iranian regime and hopes for its downfall Keith Kelly Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Exactly one week after joint US-Israeli airstrikes rocked several cities across Iran, the West has once more become embroiled in war in the Middle East. BERLIN, March 6 (Reuters) - Ceconomy said on Friday that it would propose Chief Financial Officer Remko Rijnders to replace Kai-Ulrich Deissner as the company's chief executive. The German electronics retailer said earlier on Friday that Deissner, who only took over as CEO last year, was stepping down for personal reasons. Deissner told Reuters in an interview that the supervisory board was set to meet on Thursday to discuss his succession. More from Yahoo Scout How will Ceconomy benefit from JD.com acquisition? What is the status of JD.com's takeover bid? Who is proposed to replace Deissner as CEO? Why is Ceconomy's CEO Kai-Ulrich Deissner stepping down? Deissner served as chief financial officer at Ceconomy since February 2023 before being appointed to the CEO role in May 2025. Rijnders took his place as CFO at the time. Ceconomy is about to be taken over by Chinese tech group JD.com. Deissner, who has supported the takeover by JD.com, said regulatory approval of the acquisition was expected in the first half of this year. Ceconomy, which owns the MediaMarkt and Saturn electronics retail chains, aims to benefit from JD.com particularly in the areas of logistics and technology. (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi, writing by Linda Pasquini, editing by Miranda Murray) A series of new activities for children is set to be built at Beyond the Trees Avondale in Wicklow, after Treetop Walks Ireland Ltd was granted permission for the project along the boardwalk at Avondale Forest Park in Rathdrum. Nato chief Rutte is wrong Europe is not united on Trumps Iran war The bloc has split, with Germany taking the most pro-war stance and Spain leading the anti-war camp Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president. Photo: Getty Joe Barnes, James Crisp, James Rothwell and James Badcock Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Mark Rutte, chief of Nato, has said the US knows what its doing with the war in Iran and that there is widespread support for Donald Trumps strikes within the military alliance. John Downing: Why Germans may no longer be the hardest workers in Europe Four-day weeks and short working days are being blamed for sluggish post-Covid growth German chancellor Friedrich Merz. Photo: Bloomberg John Downing Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 German workers are usually home before sunset even in winter. That was the spiky reply from an Irish friend in Munich long ago when I innocently suggested the home-going rush hour started at around 3pm. When asked in the Dail to condemn the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as breaking international law, Taoiseach Micheal Martin declined to do so. Photo: Niall Carson/PA On the International Womens Day website, Gloria Steinem, a world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist, is quoted as saying: The story of womens struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. After the Epstein files revelations and the appalling treatment in France of Gisele Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by her husband and dozens of other men while she was unconscious, one must seriously wonder if women have really achieved parity, despite all the positive legislative changes in the Western world. During the week, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns and other women in the Dail asked the Taoiseach to condemn the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as breaking international law, particularly after the reported killing of over 100 children in southern Iran. Micheal Martin declined to do so. Have we really sunk so low that a supposedly decent man from Cork cant find the words to condemn the perpetrators of this latest act of violence against innocent people? If men cant stand up for what is morally right and proper, they should step aside and let women take the necessary political and humanitarian decisions to advance world peace and gender-based equality. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Leaders support UN role in international relations, but not in the Triple Lock In these recent disturbing days, both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee have stressed the importance of adhering to the principle of the UN Charter in international relations. It is therefore difficult to understand why the Government is attempting to remove the Triple Lock and, by doing so, removing the need for approval for Irish soldiers to operate abroad by the only agency with a remit to work for world peace. Elizabeth Cullen, Naas, Co Kildare Pity Martin isnt a bit more like the Spanish PM, but I suppose it could be worse Keir Starmer may be no Winston Churchill, but Donald Trump is no Franklin D Roosevelt. Sadly, Micheal Martin is no Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez, but on the positive side, hes no Margaret Thatcher either. David Curran, Knocknacarra, Galway European leaders should be following example set by Spains Pedro Sanchez The courage and integrity of the Spanish prime minister with regard to the Israeli and US assault on Iran is nothing short of phenomenal. Compared with the mealy-mouthed verbal tap dancing our own so-called leaders have engaged in, or the cowardly silence of Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, it is even more impressive. The world is in desperate need of more leaders like Pedro Sanchez. Simon OConnor, Ennis, Co Clare History shows appeasing aggressors is a mistake its time to challenge them Everyone knows who invaded Ukraine four years ago. And everyone knows who, last week, inflicted extreme violence on another sovereign nation, causing over 1,000 deaths, unleashing a spiral of conflict that is still expanding. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has spoken out courageously in defence of reason and humanity. Ireland needs to support Spain and seek the backing of the UN for an immediate ceasefire. In the 1930s, the international policy of appeasing aggressors did not halt the slide into the abyss of World War II. If a school has an armed bully active on its campus, it is not an easy thing to confront him, but the likely consequences of leaving him there unchallenged are unthinkable. Eamon Fitzpatrick, Strandhill Road, Sligo Callans take is amusing, but principle alone cannot guide government policy Oliver Callans lament that Ireland would not sacrifice a single tub of butter to take a moral stand against the US is amusing and, in part, understandable (Ireland wont sacrifice a single tub of exported butter to stand up to the US, Irish Independent, March 6). Many of us would prefer a world where principle alone guided foreign policy. Unfortunately, governments must also concern themselves with the less poetic matter of their citizens livelihoods. Irelands economic relationship with the US supports a vast number of jobs and a sizeable share of national prosperity. It is easier to part with a tub of butter in a newspaper column than with the livelihoods attached to it in the real world. Moral clarity is admirable. Responsible government, however, requires a little more than rhetorical dairy sacrifice. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Government wont halt fuel price rises when the Vat take is so lucrative Concerning your editorial (Government must protect consumers as oil prices start rising, March 5), there will be fat chance of that happening. Perhaps, if there was a general election in the offing, we might see some action. Consumers always seem to be caught with supply chain issues. There are plenty of reasons or excuses for price rises, but, sadly, there are few events that bring those sharp prices down to the same extent. The Government asking the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to probe energy markets is laughable. What will that achieve? Just deflection with economic theories. Meanwhile, back at government coffers, every cloud has a silver lining, with the Government collecting surplus Vat on those exorbitant price increases, be it home-heating oil, gas or whatever it can catch. For a start, Finance Minister Simon Harris should alleviate the burden on consumers by reducing Vat rates. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Co Dublin Whatever about petrol and diesel costs surging, Guinness is also climbing While, like everyone else, I am equally dismayed at the surging costs of petrol, diesel and heating oil, it is also a matter of deep concern that Guinness is now retailing at over 50 a gallon in my Wicklow local. Tom McGrath, Ashford, Co Wicklow A Cork mother of five, who faced her third charge in relation to the use of threatening and abusive language, has been told by a Judge that she needs to control her temper, and her mouth. Ann OGorman, whose baby Evelyn died just 20 minutes after birth at Bessborough, says current development offers best chance to establish memorial The first publicly-known survivor of Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, and an award-winning campaigner for the memorialisation of the notorious institution, has pleaded with the Government to act now on establishing a memorial for the 900+ infants who died, many of whom were buried in unmarked graves. Limerick native Ann OGorman was the first woman to come forward as a survivor of the home, in which she gave birth at the age of 17 to her daughter Evelyn, who died just 20 minutes after birth. In 2019, she filed a missing persons report with gardai to trigger an official investigation into her daughters exact burial site, which she had campaigned for almost 40 years to try and establish. In 2021, Ann, alongside other members of the Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance (CSSA), was awarded the Spirit of Mother Jones Award by Cork City Council for the groups efforts in protecting a site that they believed contained infant graves from being developed, following an appeal to the then Bord Pleanala. Ann, receiving the Spirit of Mother Jones award from Gerard O'Mahony However, the 72-year-old, who suffers from Parkinsons disease, COPD and emphysema, among other ailments, now says that her understanding is that, due to decay, her daughters remains will never be truly identified. Ann says that the most recent development, on a different site at the grounds of the former convent, which the group doesnt believe contains infant remains, presents the best opportunity for a memorial to be established. Infants and nuns in the Bessborough mother and baby home in Blackrock, Cork, which was run by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary I was okay about it, said Ms OGorman about the planning permission. My thing was that my daughter is buried down there, and I dont know whereabouts exactly, but I know its in the childrens graveyard because I saw her going out in the box, said Ann about her traumatic stay at the home in 1971. At the very start, I wanted her to come up out of the ground, because I actually have a grave now in her memory in Sixmilebridge (County Clare), and thats where Id be going to. But when I learned the facts, and that it would take years to figure out Ill be 73 in September, Ive serious health issues, and I want to see it made into consecrated ground. This is my only hope. The decision by Cork City Council to grant planning permission for a strategic development on the site of the former Blackrock Heritage Park drew condemnation from fellow survivors groups, who said that no development should be allowed on any ground in which infants may have been buried, given that no undisputed records of the exact location of burial grounds have been found. A site notice for the latest planning submission at the site of the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Carmel Cantwell, whose brother died shortly after he was born at the institution in 1960, submitted an objection to the development as part of her role as Chair of the Bessboro Mother & Baby Support Group, and vowed she would object to the decision from city planners to An Coimisiun Pleanala. Ann said she, and other mothers who gave birth to children at the institution but have kept their anonymity, support the project, with developers Estuary View Enterprises 2020 having previously engaged with survivors and offered a parcel of land on which to establish a memorial, should the project be given the green light. I dont know how long more Im going to be in this world, but I want to see it happening for my daughters and my sons I know theres a [group], and theyre going against everything that Im saying, and theyre going to have a meeting down there with teddy bears and everything. A teddy bear doesnt represent my baby. Never has, said Ms OGorman, who says the site of the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam is totally different to Bessborough, in that children buried there were not only older, but efforts were made to preserve their bodies. Theres babies buried out by where Im on about, and theres 28 mothers. Im fighting this a long time along with Catherine (Coffey OBrien, fellow survivor) and Maureen (Considine, historian), and were respectful and mindful of everyones thoughts, but I am the actual mother who had my baby. Catherine Coffey OBrien who fled Bessborough while heavily pregnant in 1989, left, with historian Maureen Considine who is working with survivors' groups. My baby is buried down there, I have the death cert and the birth cert. I dont care about the deaths anymore, thats behind me. I dont know how long more Im going to be in this world, but I want to see it happening for my daughters and my sons. They know they have a sister down there, and Id like a memorial down there for them to be able to go to, said Ann, who says she understands the arguments made by other groups but, like her fellow survivors in the CSSA, fears that time will have run out if anything is to ever happen on the site, which is currently lying largely idle. All I know is that when my baby died, I was three days out cold, I was haemorrhaging, and the day that she was being buried I saw her going out in a box. They asked me if I wanted to see her, and I said no, because I was only a child. I was frightened, I had never seen a dead person, never mind a dead baby. I saw the two men going out with a shovel, and the other man with an orange box on top of his shoulder. I was frightened, I had never seen a dead person, never mind a dead baby I know which way they went down to bury her, and thats how I know where she was buried. I saw it on the day, so I dont know what to think, said Ann, who says other mothers feel hurt and feel that their opinion isnt being heard among the reaction to the controversial development, which included both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris. Last week, Mr Harris said he felt deeply uneasy about the thought of the site housing new apartments, while the Taoiseach said that he believed Cork City Council should have purchased part of the Bessborough site as a memorial. The Taoiseach also told the Irish Independent last week that he didnt believe a Compulsory Purchase Order, called for by Ann and Catherine, was necessary in order to establish a local memorial on the site. The Taoiseach also said he was open to meeting the group. But the group stated it had been contacting his office since last July in order to establish a meeting. Ms OGorman said she has been left frustrated by the sudden reaction by Government to the decision, despite not having heard from Taoiseach Micheal Martin since he visited the institution in July 2021. Ann O'Gorman, photographed in 2019. Photo: Press 22 We showed him the land and everything, and at that time he was very sympathetic...and said he understood where I was coming from, but I havent heard anything about it since, so its very frustrating. Even the Pope got in touch with the nuns, and they still wouldnt tell him where the babies were buried. Everything Ive done, Ive done it right. I took everything into consideration, and I always said right from the start to speak the truth to get answers, and its still not happening. Its heartbreaking. Regardless of the decision regarding the apartments, which may indeed be challenged by the developers themselves, having had a substantial chunk of the apartments removed in the planning permission, Ann said she hopes the issue will break the inertia on the site, which lies largely derelict and is plagued by anti-social behaviour. The year before last, we put down a plaque belonging to me on a road that runs next to it as a small personal memorial. We made sure it was secure and everything, and when we went down to check it, it was gone. The land isnt being protected or anything. I was told the other day that my heart valves are getting very narrow, the weight is falling off me with worry, including with Bessborough. It needs to happen now. A Donegal Senator has told of her fear of sending her daughter to a childcare facility based in a building affected by defective concrete blocks. Senator Eileen Flynn told the Seanad that her daughter currently attends a creche so badly affected by defective concrete blocks that she fears it could fall down at absolutely any point. She said community organisations impacted by the defective-concrete crisis are being forgotten and highlighted that there is over 25 childcare providers in Donegal whose buildings are affected. Every single day, I send my little girl to a creche that could fall down at absolutely any point, said Senator Flynn. This is not the fault of the childcare providers in Donegal. There are over 25 childcare providers in Donegal whose buildings are impacted by defective blocks. For health and safety reasons, we would not be expected to come into this Chamber if it were impacted by defective blocks. Why are parents expected to send their children to early-education facilities when something could happen at any time?, said Senator Flynn. She invited the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley, and the Minister for Housing, Deputy James Browne, to Donegal to see the impact the defective concrete block crisis is having on communities. The Minister for children, Deputy Foley, should go to Donegal because what the eyes do not see, the heart does not feel. The same applies to the Minister for housing. They need to come up with a solution to make childcare facilities safe for our children and the workers, said Senator Flynn. In response, Senator Sean Kyne said he would request a debate on the issue. Senator Flynn raised the issue of 100pc redress and how it was forgetting the necessity to support our creches and childcare facilities. She stated that there were 25 buildings in Donegal that did not have remediation plans. I am not sure whether they are all privately or publicly owned, and maybe they may be a mixture. I will request a debate on the issue. Perhaps Senator Flynn may wish to table a Commencement debate with the Minister, Deputy Foley, on it. She is the Minister involved in childcare and may be able to put pressure on the Minister, Deputy Browne, to develop a scheme for childcare facilities in Donegal and elsewhere, said Senator Kyne. 100pc Redress Councillor Joy Beard echoed Senator Flynns call for the Ministers to visit Donegal. She added the crisis is a child safety issue and many children are leaving the affected childcare facilities to return home to houses also affected by defective concrete blocks. "These are not just buildings; they are places where our children learn, play and are cared for while parents go to work. This is not the fault of the childcare providers who are doing everything they can to keep their services open for families. "They are being left with buildings that are literally crumbling around them. When you stand in these buildings, when you see the cracks in the walls and the fear on parents faces, you realise this is not just a construction problem. Many of the children then leave for the day and return home to a home crumbling down with mould and damp. Some have never known anything else. Our children deserve safe buildings to learn and grow in. Our childcare workers deserve safe workplaces. "And Donegal communities deserve the same protection as every other part of this country, said Cllr Beard. A repeat roads offender has received a jail sentence after he was caught driving while disqualified, despite a court hearing that he had become a Muslim, was now living a cleaner lifestyle and had set up a construction company employing 15 people. Denniss Anolins (44), of Thornhill Road, Stillorgan, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified at Anglesea Road, Dublin 4, on April 30, 2025. Dun Laoghaire District Court heard the accused was driving a blue Volkswagen Polo when the offence occurred. The court heard that Anolins has 19 previous convictions, including six for theft and 13 road traffic offences. These include six convictions for driving without insurance and two for giving false details. Defence counsel, Michael OBrien BL, told the court that his client has recently set up his own construction company in Leixlip which now employs 15 people. Mr O'Brien said Anolins had become a Muslim and was now living a cleaner lifestyle. He also told the court that the accused employs a driver to bring him to and from work each day and that his adult daughter currently lives with him. Judge Anne Watkin said she had considered the guilty plea but also noted the defendants previous convictions. She convicted Anolins and imposed a three-month prison sentence, taking the guilty plea into account. Recognisance was fixed at 500 in the event of an appeal. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A 40-year-old woman who had a successful career before falling into difficulties with alcohol has been fined and banned from the roads after she tried to escape arrest and refused to give a sample for a drink driving test. Iwana Waldynsk, of Parkview, Belarmine, Dublin 18, pleaded not guilty at Dun Laoghaire District Court to failing to provide a blood or urine sample following a drink-driving arrest. The court heard that at about 7.10pm on October 4, 2024, Garda Cian Walsh approached a car parked at the old Dundrum Shopping Centre and spoke to the driver, whose daughter was in the passenger seat. Garda Walsh told the court that the car was stationary at the time but the lights were on. He said he noticed a smell of alcohol and that the accused appeared unsteady. He said he formed the opinion that the driver was intoxicated and arrested her. He told the court that Waldynsk attempted to flee during the arrest. The defendant was brought to Dundrum Garda Station, where Garda Walsh asked her to provide a blood or urine sample. The court heard that the legal requirement to do so was explained to her, but she repeatedly refused, replying no each time. The court also heard that the accused indicated she was a Polish national and that an interpreter was requested at the garda station to help explain her rights. Judge Anne Watkin said there was no evidence that the accused had claimed she did not understand the requirement and noted that she had not requested an interpreter for the court hearing. Judge Watkin said that although there may have been a technical issue regarding the timing of the interpreter request, there was no evidence that the accused did not understand the requirement. The court heard that Waldynsk had a successful career but was now living on social welfare and child benefit, having separated from her husband, and has experienced difficulties with alcohol. The judge also noted that Waldynsk did not request legal aid. Judge Watkin imposed a 1,500 fine, allowed nine months to pay, and disqualified Waldynsk from driving for four years. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. Cathal Walshe will be quizmaster on the night. Photo by Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan. The late Tim Moore will be honoured at a fundraising table quiz at the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Tuesday, March 10. A fundraising table quiz in aid of sending young people with additional needs on a pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place at the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Tuesday, March 10. Organised by the Rise and Shine Trust, the event will also honour the memory of well-known Killarney accountant Tim Moore, a devoted volunteer with the organisation, formerly the Irish Pilgrimage Trust, until his death in 2002. Funds raised on the night will help support a group of young people from Kerry to travel to Lourdes for a week-long respite pilgrimage during Easter. All doctors, nurses and carers accompanying the group volunteer their time and cover their own travel and accommodation costs. However, the Rise and Shine Trust relies on community fundraising initiatives, including the annual Killarney quiz, to fund the participation of the young pilgrims. For more than 30 years, the people of Killarney and East Kerry have generously supported the popular fundraising event, with dedicated community volunteer Cathal Walshe returning as quizmaster. Proceedings will begin at 7.30pm. Entry costs 40 per table of four adults and 20 for tables made up of primary or secondary school students. Organisers say all support for the event would be greatly appreciated. Rise and Shine is an independent, self-funding, inclusive and volunteer-led charity committed to providing those it supports with meaningful experiences, opportunities for personal development and lasting memories through what organisers describe as a life-changing journey. New Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel launched his tenure as the company's new chief with an 18-page letter to shareholders that shed light on many details regarding how Abel plans to run the sprawling company, how Berkshire is currently performing, how it is positioned for the future, and other, perhaps more surprising comments about plans for Berkshire's massive $318 billion equities portfolio. For instance, Abel cited four key positions in Berkshire's portfolio -- Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Moody's -- that he expects "will compound over decades" and will experience "limited activity," barring any fundamental changes in their long-term prospects. What's equally interesting is that Abel did not include two of Berkshire's current top-five positions in the group. Are these two stocks now on the chopping block? 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. Bank of America -- 8.1% of portfolio One stock not mentioned by Abel as a "core holding" is Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), the second-largest bank by assets in the U.S. and the fourth-largest position in Berkshire's portfolio. While dumping many of its bank stocks during the pandemic, Berkshire loaded up on Bank of America, signaling that it would be its preferred large bank. While Buffett and Berkshire have a long history with the banking sector, they have also clearly soured on the industry. Berkshire has also cut its stake in Bank of America in half over the past few years. In 2011, following the Great Recession, Berkshire injected $5 billion of capital into Bank of America, in return for preferred stock and warrants that allowed it to acquire 700 million common shares at a price of $7.14 each in 2017, so Bank of America has undoubtedly been a terrific investment for Berkshire. However, Berkshire may not consider banks as much of a long-term trade as they once were. The sector has faced numerous issues since the Great Recession and has lagged the broader market on a pure returns basis. If Berkshire is concerned about a recession, which it seems to be based on its hoard of cash and lack of buying activity in recent years, it may also want to pare its bank holdings. Now, this doesn't mean Berkshire will necessarily eliminate Bank of America, but the fact that it didn't mention the company among its core holdings and has sold a significant amount definitely puts it on the chopping block. The stock trades at roughly 175% Bank of America's tangible book value, or net worth, which is toward the higher end of its 10-year valuation range, although not the highest, so Berkshire may eventually prefer to find banks with cheaper valuations. Taoiseach Micheal Martin pictured with Conor O'Donnell, Tralee's Yann O'Carroll (right) and Aidan Stacey, the CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland. Ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, members of Down Syndrome Irelands National Advisory Council (NAC) met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin to deliver a clear message: decisions that affect people with Down syndrome must be shaped by people with Down syndrome. The meeting focused on key priorities for the coming years, including early intervention, transport access, healthcare and planning for adulthood. For the first time, the council presented the Taoiseach with the core pillars of Down Syndrome Irelands forthcoming national strategy, informed by adults with Down syndrome and their families across the country. The NAC is made up of adults with Down syndrome who advise Down Syndrome Ireland on advocacy and policy priorities. Their role ensures the organisations engagement with government and public campaigns are guided by lived experience. Among those on the NAC who met the Taoiseach was Tralees very own Yann O'Carroll. Speaking following the meeting, Yann said: "It's interesting to meet with the Taoiseach. I talked about employment because it's important for everyone to be able to get a job." Employment is a key part of DSI's new strategy, which will focus on growing its established and successful National Employment Programme. Joining Yann in attending the meeting were NAC Chairperson Fintan Bray, Una Coates, Eric Nolan, Conor ODonnell and Regional Advisory Council member Eileen Dunne. They highlighted barriers facing people with Down syndrome in Ireland today, including inconsistent access to therapies, unreliable and inaccessible public transport, limited pathways to independent living and the need for clearer planning when transitioning from school to adulthood. Taoiseach Micheal Martin pictured with Conor O'Donnell, Tralee's Yann O'Carroll (right) and Aidan Stacey, the CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland. Down Syndrome Ireland will launch its new national strategy on March 21, outlining plans to improve early intervention supports, strengthen inclusive employment pathways and address gaps in transport and adult services. The strategy is based on consultation with members nationwide and places lived experience at the centre of the organisations advocacy. On the meeting, the Taoiseach said It was an honour to meet with members of Down Syndrome Irelands National Advisory Council this week, ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. These members are doing incredible work for people across the country with Down syndrome, and should be commended and celebrated, not just on March 21, but every day. Aidan Stacey, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland, also added: When national leaders sit down directly with adults who are navigating these systems every day, the conversation changes. This is about practical barriers, transport that determines whether someone can work, therapies that shape long-term health outcomes, and planning that determines independence. Our National Advisory Council ensures those realities are heard clearly and consistently at the highest level. Im a normal person, Im not dangerous IPAS residents on the harrowing realities within the system New research lifts lid on state of IPAS centres as rights group calls for HIQA inspections of all accommodation sites Image from an IPAS centre in Limerick Edana Flynn Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Two residents have revealed their experiences of living in various International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around Ireland this week, where frustrations around delays to visas applications, societys attitudes to single men within the system and problems with food provisions were highlighted. A Chinese villager preparing a duck for dinner was left stunned after discovering gold particles worth about 1,730 inside the birds stomach. The man, identified in Chinese media only by his surname Liu, found the particles of gold in Longhui county in central Chinas Hunan province after slaughtering a free-range duck he had raised himself. According to the South China Morning Post, Mr Liu had been preparing the duck for cooking when he cut open its stomach and found several gold-coloured particles mixed in with its digestive contents. The man initially believed they might simply be small stones or metallic debris before he noticed a distinctive sheen. Local reports say that the particles Liu found weighed around 10 grammes in total, giving them a value of roughly 1,730. Mr Liu reportedly carried out a rudimentary heat test, a method often used to distinguish gold from other metals. When the grains did not change colour after being burned, he suspected they might indeed be gold. The Natural Resources Bureau of Longhui Prefecture has not confirmed if the particles were indeed of gold. Further verification by specialised agencies is needed to confirm whether the particle is gold or not, they said. Local authorities said the find was plausible given the regions geological history, a translated report in Liaoshen Evening News stated. Rivers in the surrounding area have been historically associated with naturally occurring particles of gold found in river sediment. The Hunan province is known for its significant mineral resources. In 2024, geologists identified a vast gold reserve beneath the Wangu gold field in Hunans Pingjiang county. Gold can also occur as placer deposits in river sediment, where small particles are eroded from ore bodies and carried downstream, which in turn leads to traces of the metal sometimes appearing in mud along riverbanks. Ducks that forage in mud and shallow water can ingest small stones and sediment as part of their feeding process. The duck had been raised in an area that was close to such waterways, where it likely fed freely along riverbanks or muddy ground. Seven people killed and others, including children, injured after Ukraines second-largest city hit by Russian missile attack At least seven people died in Kharkiv after a residential building was struck Bags with bodies of persons found under debris of an apartment building which was hit during overnight Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy Susie Blann Press Association Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 13:00 At least seven people have died and 10 others, including three children, were injured after a Russian missile hit a five-storey residential building in Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, officials said. Donald Trump says no deal without an unconditional surrender from Iran Israel continues to bomb Lebanon as it expands campaign against Hezbollah Donald Trump says Iran must surrender unconditionally for war to end. Photo: Getty Images Maya Gebeily, Steve Holland and Pesha Magid Reuters Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 US president Donald Trump demanded Irans unconditional surrender yesterday, a dramatic escalation of his demands a week into the war he launched alongside Israel, which could make it more difficult to negotiate a swift end to hostilities. LATEST | Iran apologises to Gulf but war still rages across region; investigation points to probable US responsibility in school bombing Iran to suspend strikes on neighbours unless attacks from themTrump says Iran will be 'hit very hard' on SaturdayIran envoy says 1,332 Iranian civilians killed in warIsrael strikes targets in LebanonTehran rejects Trump demand for say over next supreme leader TEHRAN, IRAN - MARCH 06: A general view of Tehran with smoke visible in the distance after explosions were reported in the city on March 06, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images) Irish Independent Newsdesk Associated Press Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 17:45 Israel and Iran traded attacks as the Middle East war entered a second week on Saturday, while Tehran made an unusual apology to neighbouring states, apparently seeking to calm regional anger at Iranian strikes on Gulf civilian targets. Canadian prime minister calls for Britains Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from line of succession Mark Carneys comments echo those of the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the line of succession (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) Jessica Coates Press Association Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 12:16 Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the royal line of succession over his deplorable links to Jeffrey Epstein. Days after Iran strikes, Trump hosts Latin American leaders to form anti-cartel coalition Trump forms coalition against drug cartels with Latin American nationsGathering includes leaders from Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and other countriesUnited States hopes to counter growing Chinese influence Donald Trump says Iran must surrender unconditionally for war to end. Photo: Getty Images Nandita Bose, David Brunnstrom, Sarah Morland Reuters Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 17:34 U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Latin American leaders to Florida on Saturday to announce the formation of a military coalition against drug cartels, in line with an argument that he has been making throughout his second term in office. Donald Trumps pick for homeland security is former MMA fighter who tried to start a brawl during senate hearing Mr Mullin has served 10 years in the US House of Representatives and three years in the senate and is widely seen as firmly aligned with Mr Trumps political agenda Markwayne Mullin new US Homeland Security secretary. Photo: Reuters Analysis by Harriet Barber Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Donald Trump has selected one of his most combative allies a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who once challenged a union leader to a fight during a congressional hearing to lead the US Department of Homeland Security. By Eduardo Baptista BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry on Saturday raised the possibility of another global semiconductor supply chain crisis due to "new conflicts" between Dutch chipmaker Nexperia and its Chinese subsidiary. Production across the global auto industry was disrupted in October when Beijing imposed export controls on Chinese-made Nexperia chips after The Hague seized the company from its Chinese parent Wingtech. Nexperia's chips are widely used in cars' electronic systems. More from Yahoo Scout How have diplomatic efforts addressed the Nexperia conflict? What caused the global semiconductor supply chain crisis? How did Nexperia's ownership dispute escalate between entities? What actions has China's commerce ministry taken recently? While the chip shortage has eased after diplomatic negotiations, the conflict between Nexperia's Dutch headquarters and its China-based unit has only intensified, with the former supporting the removal of Wingtech's control and the latter demanding this be restored. Beijing's warning on Saturday came a day after Nexperia's Chinese packaging arm accused Netherlands-based headquarters of disabling office accounts for all employees in China. "(This has) provoked new conflicts and created new difficulties and obstacles for (company-to-company) negotiations," China's commerce ministry said in a statement published on its official website. "Nexperia Netherlands has seriously disrupted the company's normal production and operation, and if this triggers a global semiconductor production and supply chain crisis again, the Netherlands must bear full responsibility for this," the ministry added. In a statement on Friday Nexperia's Dutch entity did not deny the IT action, but disputed the Chinese subsidiary's allegation that this had affected production at the company's assembly and testing facility in China's Guangdong province. Nexperia's Chinese subsidiary responded to the removal of Wingtech's control in September by declaring itself independent of its Dutch parent. Both entities have since traded accusations of bad-faith negotiating, while the Dutch headquarters has suspended wafer supply to the Guangdong plant. Efforts from Beijing, The Hague, and Brussels to push both to a mediated resolution have done little to resolve the impasse. Beijing has accused The Hague of not doing enough to force compromise from Nexperia's Netherlands headquarters, or end court proceedings in Amsterdam that transferred Wingtech's shares to a Dutch lawyer in October. (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Jan Harvey) Investigation points to probable US responsibility in Iran school bombing Strike on the first day of war killed up to 150 pupils as US says it does not target civilians People attend a funeral ceremony on Friday for victims of Israeli and US strikes in Yazd, Iran. Photo: Reuters Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali Reuters Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 US military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls school that killed scores of children last Saturday, but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation, two US officials said. Let me teach you how little girls are supposed to be new sexual allegations about Donald Trump in released missing Epstein files Interview with woman who accused US president of sexual assault released after US Department of Justice says documents were incorrectly coded as duplicative Paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and Donald Trump pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, in 1997. Photo: Getty Joe Sommerlad UK Independent Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 The US Department of Justice has released new files from its archive on Jeffrey Epstein that the DOJ claims were wrongly withheld. Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, votes during the general election in Kathmandu on Thursday. Photo: Reuters A progressive centrist party led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah is headed for a landslide win in Nepals first nationwide election after a Gen Z-led anti-government protest toppled the previous administration in the Himalayan nation. Voting began in Nepal on Thursday for a new government to replace former prime minister Khadga Prasad Olis administration, which had been tainted by allegations of corruption, nepotism and political impunity. Russian spies behind parcel bomb plot, UK police confirm Self-igniting parcels went off in Britain, Germany and Poland in 2024 The head of MI5 warned Vladimir Putin was intent on causing 'mayhem' on British and European streets. Photo: Getty Will Bolton Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 A parcel bomb plot targeting Britain is believed to have been orchestrated by Russian military intelligence. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Little Women Where to watch: Netflix Image credit : TVING | Little Women poster. Extraordinary Attorney Woo Where to watch: Netflix Image credit : Netflix | Extraordinary Attorney Woo. My Name Where to watch: Netflix Image credit : Netflix | My Name. The Glory Where to watch: Netflix Image credit : Netflix | The Glory. Hotel Del Luna Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, WeTV, Viki, Disney+Hotstar, iQIYI, Prime Video Image credit : tvN | Hotel Del Luna. Thirty-Nine Where to watch: Netflix, TVING Image credit : JTBC | Thirty-Nine. It's Okay to Not Be Okay Where to watch: Netflix Image credit : tvN | It's Okay to Not Be Okay. Strong Girl Bong-soon Where to watch: Apple TV, Netflix, Prime Video, TVING, Viki Image credit : JTBC | Strong Girl Bong-soon. A Virtuous Business Where to watch: TVING, Netflix Image credit : JTBC | A Virtuous Business. Queenmaker Where to watch: Netflix Image credit : Netflix | Queenmaker. K-dramas have delivered countless unforgettable stories, but some of the most compelling ones are led by women who refuse to be silenced. From fierce revenge plots to heartwarming friendships and battles against injustice, these dramas place complex female characters at the center of the narrative.With Women's Day 2026 celebrating the strength and resilience of women worldwide, it's the perfect time to spotlight stories that reflect those themes. Whether it's sisters fighting powerful elites, a determined lawyer navigating her career, or women challenging social norms together, these K-dramas highlight strength, resilience, and sisterhood.Three sisters raised in poverty find their lives spiraling into danger when they become entangled in a shocking incident involving the wealthiest family in the country. Bound together by loyalty and survival, the siblings are suddenly forced to navigate a world of power, corruption, and secrets far bigger than themselves.The eldest sister, Oh In Joo, dreams of protecting her family through wealth until a life-altering event shakes everything she believed in. Meanwhile, the second sister, Oh In Kyung, a determined reporter, begins digging into a past case that could expose the truth, while the youngest, Oh In Hye, uses her artistic talent to pursue a future despite their financial struggles.Woo Young Woo is a 27-year-old lawyer diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who graduated at the top of her class from Seoul National University for both college and law school. With an IQ of 164, an incredible memory, and a unique way of thinking, she stands out in the legal world from the moment she begins practicing law.Despite her brilliance, everyday social interactions present challenges as she navigates the workplace and courtroom. Through determination, intelligence, and creativity, Woo Young Woo slowly proves that her perspective is not a weakness but a strength that reshapes how cases are approached.After witnessing the brutal murder of her father, Yoon Ji Woo becomes consumed by a single goal: revenge. Determined to uncover the truth, she joins a dangerous criminal organization led by Choi Moo Jin, who eventually sends her deep undercover inside the police force.As she infiltrates the system, Ji Woo partners with the by-the-book detective Jeon Pil Do while Drug Investigation Unit leader Cha Gi Ho closes in on Choi Moo Jin. With enemies lurking on all sides, Ji Woo becomes trapped in a dangerous web of betrayal, loyalty, and revenge that threatens to destroy everything.As a teenager, Moon Dong Eun dreamed of becoming an architect, but her life was shattered after she endured relentless and brutal school violence. The trauma forced her to drop out of school, leaving behind the future she once imagined.Years later, fate places her directly back in the lives of those responsible. When one of her former tormentors has a child, Dong Eun becomes the child's homeroom teacher, quietly setting the stage for a carefully planned and chilling revenge against every person who once stood by and watched.In the middle of Seoul stands the mysterious Hotel Del Luna, a strange and ancient establishment that serves ghosts rather than the living. Its owner, Jang Man Wol, has spent a thousand years trapped in the role, weighed down by anger, resentment, and a past she cannot escape.Bound by a deity to manage the hotel, Man Wol must confront her bitterness and seek redemption if she ever hopes to break free. When Goo Chan Sung is forced to become the hotels new manager because of a deal made by his father, his arrival may hold the key to changing Man Wol's fate.Three lifelong friends stand by each other as they approach one of life's most emotional milestones: turning 40. Through love, heartbreak, career struggles, and personal loss, their bond becomes the anchor that keeps them grounded through every challenge.Cha Mi Jo is a successful dermatologist who grew up surrounded by comfort and stability, while Jung Chan Young gave up her acting dreams to become an acting teacher. Completing the trio is Jang Joo Hee, a shy department store cosmetics manager who has yet to experience a serious romantic relationship.Moon Gang Tae works as a community health worker at a psychiatric ward, known for his patience, empathy, and ability to handle difficult situations with calm precision. Despite appearing strong and capable on the outside, his life has been shaped by responsibility and emotional restraint.Ko Moon Young, on the other hand, is a successful children's book author who struggles with antisocial personality disorder, often appearing cold and selfish. When their lives collide, the two slowly confront their emotional wounds and discover healing, identity, and love in the most unexpected ways.Do Bong Sun may appear small and sweet, but she possesses an extraordinary secret: incredible superhuman strength passed down through the women in her family for generations. The power must be used for good, however, or it will disappear forever.After defending herself against gang members, she catches the attention of An Min Hyeok, the eccentric CEO of a gaming company who hires her as his bodyguard. As kidnappings terrorize her hometown, Bong Sun must decide whether to hide her abilities or embrace her strength to protect others.Set in 1992, the story follows four women who form an unlikely business venture in a rural village by selling adult products door-to-door. At a time when discussing sex was considered taboo, their bold decision shocks the conservative community around them.Despite the stigma, the women push forward with determination, independence, and humor. Known as the "Bangpan Sisters," they challenge social expectations while building a friendship that empowers them to thrive in a world not yet ready for their confidence.Hwang Do Hee is a brilliant strategist who works as a powerful fixer for the influential Eunsung Group, quietly managing crises and protecting the company's elite family. Her deep understanding of politics and power makes her one of the most formidable players behind the scenes.After a tragic turning point, she switches sides and decides to help civil rights lawyer Oh Kyung Sook run for mayor of Seoul. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, the two women join forces to challenge corruption and fight for a more just society. Greece's deployment of military forces to Cyprus is a necessary assertion of regional power, not just an act of solidarity, according to a top foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Sotiris Sermpos vigorously defended the military mission, describing it as a bold shift from passive observation to proactive diplomacy. Speaking in an interview, Mr. Sermpos said that Greece must secure its strategic stakes in the Eastern Mediterranean as the Middle East conflict rapidly escalates. He explicitly dismissed passive foreign policywhich he dubbed "chicken diplomacy"urging Athens to shape regional outcomes rather than watch from the sidelines. Mr. Sermpos pointed out that Greece now possesses the enhanced hard power and robust alliances required to project influence, a stark contrast to its military posture just a few years ago. Addressing the broader geopolitical crisis, Mr. Sermpos analyzed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent military strikes on Iran as a calculated strategy to enforce post-war stability. He billed Tehran's retaliatory attacks in the Persian Gulf as the desperate, regime-saving moves of a leadership playing a "lost game." To mitigate direct threats to Athens and Nicosia, Mr. Sermpos stressed the need to exhaust all diplomatic channels while maintaining a strong forward defense. Greece must actively participate in the current crisis, he argued, to ensure it commands a decisive voice in the region's "day after." By Vassilis Poulos iefimerida.gr Greece is urgently deploying a Patriot anti-missile battery and F-16 fighter jets to its northern border to shield neighboring Bulgaria from potential ballistic missile threats stemming from the escalating war in Iran, officials announced. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed the rapid deployment after receiving a formal assistance request from Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov. Mr. Dendias said that the mobilization, swiftly approved by Greeces Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), highlights the growing alarm across southeastern Europe regarding the Middle East conflict's expanding reach. "Following a request made yesterday by the Bulgarian side, I was able to inform him today that Greece will provide assets and personnel for the protection of Bulgaria," Mr. Dendias said. Within hours, the Patriot battery will relocate to a strategic site in northern Greece, providing critical anti-ballistic coverage across a large portion of Bulgarian territory. Additionally, a pair of F-16 fighter jets will be transferred to a northern Greek airfield with the specific mission of reinforcing Sofia's aerial defense umbrella. To streamline joint operations, two senior Hellenic Air Force officers are deploying to the Bulgarian armed forces' operations center in Sofia. Mr. Dendias emphasized that assisting a fellow NATO and European Union member will not compromise Greeces own domestic air defense grid. The Greek defense chief is scheduled to travel to Sofia next week to further solidify the bilateral security pact as the regional crisis intensifies. iefimerida.gr To many in the West, the spectacle seems surreal: exiles and students filling city streets by the tens of thousands, demanding the monarchys return and celebrating the military intervention by Israel and the U. S. For those who recall the 1970s anti-monarchy protests, this is bewildering. By rallying behind Reza Pahlavi, son of Mohammad Reza Shah, the movement challenges two pillars of left-wing thought: anti-bourgeois ideology and anti-Western imperialism. At the same time, progressives, long committed to universal human rights, cannot ignore the Islamic Republics brutal crackdown described as one of the deadliest massacres of street protesters in modern history. Yet, many hesitate to back an uprising invoking the authoritarian, pro-Western monarchy overthrown in 1979, where left-wing forces played a decisive role. That discomfort is deepened by the failure of the Iranian Left most notably the MEK/NCRI Party that had been instrumental in overthrowing the Shah to produce a credible leadership of their own. With no viable alternative leader other than Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Mohammad Reza Shah, supporting the uprising has become a political dilemma for Western progressives. For Iranians risking their lives for dignity and basic rights, this hesitation feels like betrayal. Once seen as allies, Western progressives now appear distant. Persian-language social media accuses them of double standards: swift outrage elsewhere, muted response here. Coverage of the digital blackout and the killing of at least 30,000 protestors often frames events as a geopolitical power game, sidelining protesters agency. Calls for negotiation dominate, while concerns about oil transfer routs and regional stability overshadow the demand of regime change in Irans streets. Some observers blame the muted reaction of mainstream media on the difficulties of verifying the scale of the regimes violence. Verifying fragmented reports amid severe internet restrictions is difficult, and the regimes coordinated troll networks further muddy the information space and strain independent media. Yet, this alone does not fully explain the Lefts inaction. A deeper identity crisis is at work. Traditionally, the Western Left countered capitalism by advancing equality, emancipation, and justice through socio-economic reform. Since the Vietnam War, however, a significant segment has embraced an identarian anti-colonialism that casts the West as the primary source of oppression even in countries untouched by Western rule. In this view, colonialism extends beyond political domination to encompass the fundamentals of bourgeois West: humanism, secularism, and free trade. The present, if temporary, alignment of parts of the Western Left with radical political Islam, anti-imperialism, and anti-Israel platforms reflects this shift. From its inception, the Islamic Republic of Iran has skilfully positioned itself within this framework. It appropriated the language of resistance while hollowing out its moral core, especially the inviolability of human dignity. The regime has instrumentalized anti-capitalist and anti-modernist strands within left-wing thought, particularly as some Western progressives, beginning in the 1960s, recast radical political Islam as emancipatory. As vigilance against Islamophobia became a central moral cornerstone especially after 9/11 the regime fused anti-Western rhetoric with hostility toward Israel, portraying it as a colonial outpost. By funding and arming proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Hashd al Shaabi, and Bashar Assads forces, and branding them as resistance movements despite their worldwide criminal networks, Tehran advanced this narrative. Simultaneously, it financed think tanks, conferences, research groups, and media outlets in the West to polish its image. In doing so, it often shields itself from left-wing criticism, speaking the idiom of resistance even as it represses its own citizens leaving parts of the Western Left intellectually trapped. This is not to say the Lefts anti-imperialist impulse is wholly misguided. Western powers have toppled governments, extracted resources, and redrawn borders with lasting harm. Such critiques remain vital. But when anti-imperialism hardens into dogma casting the West as perpetual aggressor and its adversaries as presumed victims moral clarity erodes, and opponents of the West gain automatic moral credit. In democracies, scepticism toward power sustains accountability. Yet, this worldview can harden into reflexive victimhood, projecting wishful thinking onto non-Western nations rather than supporting their emancipation on their own terms. Iran one of the oldest nation-states complicates the familiar West-versus-victim narrative. Never colonized, it adopted Western bourgeois norms to pursue a national, homegrown modernization. This accelerated under the Pahlavi dynasty and halted with the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Many on the Left, however, dismiss Iranians calling for a revival of pre-1979 civic values as reactionary. They see the longing for the bourgeois political system that prevailed in that era as mere nostalgia caused by buyers remorse, or even worse, as an Iranian Stockholm-syndrome caused by a desire for imposed Westernization and subservience. But memory is not static. Those who look back cite a secular national project that sought to introduce modernity and citizenship contrasted with decades of theocratic repression and isolation. Iranians favouring a return to the Pahlavi eras constitutional monarchy albeit a reformed one without past authoritarianism find it dismaying that progressives dismiss their claims as reactionary. Irans struggle, thus, defies neat left-wing templates. It is neither a classic proletarian revolt nor an anti-colonial uprising, but a nation reclaiming itself from a regime that fused Marxist revolutionary ideology with religious universalism. In 1979, the idea of bourgeois nationhood was subordinated to global class struggle or a transnational umma. Todays protesters voice a return to that national pragmatic civic identity beyond clerical rule. However, the old left-wing formula bourgeois nationhood being reactionary\ anti-Western theocracy meaning resistance has endured reducing the nations aspirations to nostalgia or geopolitics. Such criticism can sound condescending when protestors demand basic rights free speech, security, and secular citizenship echoing universal humanism. Their welcoming U.S military intervention to achieve their goals, further unsettle the Left. War is often seen as imperial coercion, yet history resists binaries: it is catastrophic, but has also defeated tyranny. Iranians expect moral clarity that sustains such tensions without collapsing them. For the Left, the Iranian uprising is thus more than a revolt against a regime; it is a test of the core values of progressive politics; namely, solidarity with the oppressed. It forces the Left to confront difficult questions: can it separate its justified critique of Western power from appeasing to a murderous regime simply because it opposes the West? Can it unequivocally condemn the Islamic Republic and support the Iranian people without either fearing alignment with Western imperial interests or betraying the universal human rights it claims to defend? Can it affirm that human dignity is indivisible and separate from global power games equally vital in Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran? Western measures such as designating Islamic Republics Guard Corpse as a terrorist organization and freezing the assets of regime affiliates are despite being overdue, welcome. Yet they fall short of the urgency required as sham trials and executions ordered by the Iranian regime accelerate. As Iranians welcome the U. S. led intervention, they are met with apprehension. What they want the world to understand is that they are not asking for ideological allegiance. They are asking for moral consistency that when they bleed in the streets, their suffering is not reduced to a footnote in someone elses (anti)imperialist script. Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), completing his registration at Ward 8 in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Friday morning. The registration followed the destruction of the ADCs office in the community set ablaze by unknown persons in the early hours of the same day. Residents awoke to the blaze, which gutted a section of the party office and sent panic rippling through the neighbourhood. No arrests had been made as of the time of the registration exercise. Advertisement Addressing supporters who thronged the venue to receive him, Amaechi appealed for calm, urging his loyalists to resist any temptation toward reprisal or disorder. Dont be violent because violence may lead to the death of somebody dont be violent. At the same time, they cant stop us from meeting in our community, he said. Despite the charged atmosphere, Amaechi expressed satisfaction with the conduct of security operatives deployed to the area, singling out the state commissioner of police and the director of the Department of State Services for praise. We thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS; they showed a lot of professionalism. In fact, I wasnt expecting that from them; I thought they would be behind the criminals, he said. He subsequently called on security agencies to move swiftly to identify and prosecute those behind the arson, warning that such acts of intimidation would not deter the partys activities in the area. Amaechis defection to the ADC signals a significant boost for the opposition party, which has been ramping up its national profile ahead of the 2027 general elections. Joel Crane: Thanks for that introduction, Kerry. We released an announcement today covering a couple of key developments. Most importantly, we produced a sample of cobalt sulphate back in September and sent it to prospective Japanese clients. They recently informed us that it meets their very strict trace metal purity and physical specifications. Proactive: Welcome back to Proactive Investors. Ladies and gentlemen, Im your host Kerry Stevenson. Joining us is Joel Crane, Business Development Manager for Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd. Joel, its good to see you. Some news out today. And by the way, ladies and gentlemen, the company is a leading metals processing company and Australia needs this processing capability. I really like what youre doing. Whats the news today? Development remains focused on the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery, with the company funded through the end of the year. Cobalt Blue is also collaborating with CSIRO on an R&D project to recover graphite from recycled battery materials (black mass). The facility is operated in collaboration with CSIRO, Curtin University and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia. Japanese battery manufacturers are known for having some of the most demanding trace metal purity standards globally. Meeting the specification represents a major milestone toward a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery project in Western Australia. The samples were produced at the Broken Hill Technology Centre using the companys proprietary refining process. Crane noted that Japanese battery producers are known for maintaining some of the toughest material specifications in the global battery supply chain. He said achieving qualification represented a significant milestone for the company and for any emerging battery raw material producer. Business development manager Joel Crane said the company had produced the cobalt sulphate samples at its Broken Hill Technology Centre before sending them to potential Japanese partners for testing. According to Crane, the material successfully met stringent trace metal purity and physical specifications required by battery precursor and cathode manufacturers. Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB, OTC:CBBHF, FRA:COH) earlier this week reported an i mportant technical milestone for its Kwinana Cobalt Refinery project in Western Australia after confirming that cobalt sulphate samples produced using its proprietary refining process meet strict battery precursor material specifications required by a prospective Japanese customer. Story Continues The Japanese tend to have some of the strictest requirements among precursor and cathode producers worldwide. Meeting this specification is a major milestone and an important step toward a final investment decision. This qualification is required as part of the pre-FID consortium we have with our Japanese partner. Proactive: I want to understand that a little more. You said the specifications are very strict. Was there a lot of processing required to meet those standards? Joel Crane: Yes. Every battery material product contains small amounts of trace metals, and each battery company has its own specifications. Japanese producers tend to require extremely low levels of these trace elements. We had to go through several processing steps to reduce those trace metals to the required level. After producing several batches, we finally achieved one that met the specification, so were very pleased. Proactive: Is that a significant hurdle to overcome? Is this a big step forward for the company? Joel Crane: Yes, it is. It would be for any prospective battery raw material producer. These materials must meet strict specifications so that batteries remain safe and reliable. Battery makers are very particular about the materials used in their products. Meeting those requirements is a major milestone. Proactive: I also understand you have a couple of projects with CSIRO. Can you tell us about those? Joel Crane: Yes. Another item in todays announcement is that we were asked to provide cobalt sulphate produced at the Broken Hill Technology Centre to the Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant in Western Australia. This facility is a collaboration between CSIRO, Curtin University and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia. They are producing an NCM battery and we are providing the cobalt sulphate component. In other words, we are supplying Australian-made cobalt sulphate that will go into a cathode used to produce one of the first domestically produced batteries. Proactive: Thats exciting. Is that the main project youre working on with them? Joel Crane: Thats one of them and its relatively straightforward because were supplying material weve already produced. Theres another project as well. CSIRO approached us a few months ago to assist with an R&D project aimed at developing a process to recover graphite from recycled battery material, known as black mass. They supply the black mass and we work together to find ways to extract graphite from it. The goal is to enable domestically produced graphite from recycled batteries. Proactive: One final question for our investor audience. Why should people be paying attention to ASX:COB right now? Joel Crane: Our key advantage is our patented refinery capability. As highlighted in the announcement, both the Japanese customer qualification and the collaborations with CSIRO demonstrate that the technology is attracting significant interest. Organisations are approaching the company to work on projects beyond our main goal of developing the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery in Western Australia. So investors should stay tuned for more announcements as further collaborations emerge. Proactive: And the company is fully funded until the end of the year, so its certainly an exciting time for Cobalt Blue. Joel Crane, thanks for joining me today. Joel Crane: Thanks, Kerry. Its been great. The former governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, has said that no individual or group has a monopoly of violence, insisting that nobody can stop him from visiting any part of the country. Obi was reacting to the Benin City incident and the subsequent threats circulating on the social media warning him against visiting certain parts of the country during a visit to Peter University, Achina, Anambra State. I am a Nigerian, and I am free to go to any part of this country. It is a constitutional right that nobody can take away from me. But let me make it clear, nobody has a monopoly of violence, he said. Advertisement He explained why he travelled to Rivers State despite a strong warning that he should not step foot in the state, adding that such threats did not deter him from honouring an earlier invitation shortly after the Benin incident. Obi, who has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, alleged that there had been orchestrated efforts to keep him off the 2027 ballot , insisting that such moves would not deter him from pursuing his ambition Im not desperate to be the President of Nigeria, but Im desperate to see Nigeria work. Nigeria has collapsed and is already lying on the ground. Nigeria is not working because many rich Nigerians are greedy. They have everything they need, but are still scavenging for more. No matter what they do, I must contest the election. Let them declare a free and fair contest, bring the ball to the centre of the field and declare it started, and let us see what happens. With their 30 governors, they should make the election free and fair, Obi said. He maintained that the countrys system was skewed against the poor and reiterated his belief that Nigeria should be a place where opportunities are open to all citizens. We want a country where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody, he said. The diplomatic corridors of Abuja have become the latest battleground in the escalating global conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. In an interview on Arise TV monitored in Abuja, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, levelled heavy accusations against Tehran, alleging that the regime is actively sponsoring terrorism within Nigeria and across Europe. Freeman pointed specifically to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, as a proxy backed by the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, warning that Irans entire apparatus is dedicated to spreading terror and destabilizing sovereign nations to export its revolutionary extremism. Advertisement Ambassador Freeman justified the ongoing military offensive against Iran, which recently claimed the life of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a moral obligation to prevent a nuclear-armed Tehran from wiping Israel off the map. He claimed that Irans reach extends far beyond the Middle East, with documented terror operations in Argentina, Bulgaria, and now West Africa. According to the Israeli envoy, the strikes are a necessary response to 47 years of Iranian aggression and an effort to dismantle a regime that he asserts has massacred tens of thousands of its own citizens. Ambassador of the Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, has assured that Nigerians currently residing in Iran are safe and that there have been no reported casualties involving them. Speaking during an interview, Raja stated that the Iranian government has not received any information suggesting that Nigerian citizens in the country have been affected by the ongoing tensions in the region. Nigerians in our country Iran are safe and secure. Weve not received any reports of casualties regarding the situation, he said. Advertisement The ambassador emphasized that the safety of foreigners living in Iran remains a top priority for the government. He also called for calm as hostilities in the region continue to attract global attention. His comments come amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing crisis involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, which has raised concerns internationally about the safety of civilians and foreign nationals in the affected areas. Rajas reassurance is expected to ease worries among Nigerians with family members or loved ones currently living in Iran, noting that, so far, there have been no confirmed reports of harm involving Nigerian citizens. US President Donald Trump on Friday demanded Irans unconditional surrender as the only acceptable outcome to end hostilities, while promising to help rebuild the countrys economy if Tehran complied and installed new leadership. There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The post came as Israel bombarded regime targets in Tehran and Hezbollah positions in Beirut, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said US strikes against Iran were about to surge dramatically. Advertisement Trump said that following any capitulation by the Islamic Republic, the United States and its allies would work to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. This would be contingent on the installation of what he called a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s). He closed with a new slogan MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!) a riff on his Make America Great Again political brand. AFP Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Saturday mocked the opposition in the build up for 2027 general election, bragging that they are confused and will remain so till the polls are concluded with ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) grabbing it all. Akpabio was addressing the audience in Uyo where Governor Umo Eno led Akwa Ibom state in reception for Nigerias First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who visited to unveil the Akwa Ibom established Senior Citizens Center named after the First Lady and in honour of Pastor Patience Eno, late wife of Governor Eno. The occasion also meant for the state to mark 8 March 2026 World Womens Day, turned out a mega rally that had in company of Remi Tinubu, wives of the Governors of Lagos, Imo, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Ondo states among others. Advertisement Addressing the large growth at the Gods will Akpabio International Stadium, the Senate President noted, If there is anything the First Lady will take away from this visit, its that there is unity in this state. Its the love Akwa Ibom has for her husband, the love women of Akwa Ibom have for her. I join the governor (Eno) to further endorse the President for a second term in office. The bill were considering to give space to more women in the National Assembly is still on. I pray the 10th Assembly succeeds with the bill in bringing more women to the parliament. Against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stipulations for political campaigns to start 26th August 2026, Senator Akpabio declared the APC has already started campaigns against a confused opposition yet to find bearing. The Senate President said, Each time we make a law and the opposition frowns, I get excited that Ive made the right law. While we are moving around Nigeria, consulting and campaigning, many of them are still trying to form their political party. They havent even finished registration and they would continue in confusion till 2027 election is over. Instead of putting their houses in order, theyre breaking up. You see a man who formed Labour Party, they had millions of votes, today they cant have a hundred thousand votes, because Labour Party is distressed. They have different leaderships. Some in the North, some in the South, some West, some in the East. See then PDP that used to be one now struggling to have five different offices in Abuja, with about four Secretaries. Who would sign their forms? Yesterday I saw one man shouting on TV because of the Amended Electoral Act, saying were likely to boycott elections. My response was tell the truth, youre boycotting the elections because youre not ready. If you were ready you wont boycott. Jill Scott's new album "To Whom This May Concern" was released on Feb. 13. The new song is a bluesy, old school, throwback to her neo soul sound with a modern day message as she harmonizes and tells listeners -- of all ages -- to be great. Read more Jill Scotts sixth studio album To Whom This May Concern is a tapestry of Scotts familiar easy rhythms with lyrics equal parts sweet longing and self-love. But on this 19-track project Scotts first collection of new music in more than a decade she isnt just telling us she plans to live her life like its golden the way she did 22 years ago. Shes also telling us about the great life she has right now. And shes urging us to join her in the present moment with funky beats, powerful lyrics, and tight rhymes. Advertisement You might as well go ahead and be great, Scott said in a recent video chat. Theres literally nothing stopping you from being all of yourself. To Whom This May Concern is Scotts assertion of self-love especially evident in the album covers illustration by Chicago-based muralist Marcellous Lovelace of the 53-year-old multi-hyphenate wearing big gold earrings and her natural hair in a top knot. Im free is written in block letters across her forehead. Im pushing and supporting all of the art we have created as Black people in America, Scott said. I support that. [But this album is not for] limited ears. Its definitely not limited music. READ MORE: Jill Scott makes her Tiny Desk Concert debut But its definitely Philadelphia music. Scott, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., recorded most of the album in Philly with Grammy winning producer and her cousin Carvin Haggins. She has traveled all over the world and says there is no place like Philadelphia. The people at home are so dear and warm, Scott, who often goes by Jilly from Philly, said. I was grateful to find that again. Scott loves every nook and cranny of her hometown, but she still pours an extra bit of love for the Norf Side, to borrow from the lyrically sound rap she performs with Tierra Whack on the new album. So often people have shunned me, making me feel less than because I come from North Philadelphia, Scott said. I wanted to shout out my area and remind [that people from] North Philly, we can do anything. Here is the songstresss idea of a perfect Philly day. 7 a.m. If I lived in an apartment or condo in Philly near a park Id get up and take a long walk, first thing. 9:30 a.m. In the summer, Id go over to the Blues Babe offices on North Broad and greet the kids at summer camp [Blues Babe is Scotts nonprofit that sends children from Philadelphia and Camden to free summer camp]. The children gather there before taking trips all over the city. Its important that I tell these kids that came from the same place I do, that they can do anything. 12:30 p.m. Id have lunch at Continental Midtown on Chestnut Street. (Im really sad they closed the one in Old City.) I just love their turkey burger. Then Id walk over to Rittenhouse Square and sit at the park. I love watching nature. On my perfect day, the artisans would be out selling jewelry and art and Id find a good deal because you know I like to save money. 2:30 p.m. From there, Id go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and maybe catch the Noah Davis show. Then, Id go to the African American Museum of Art before making my way down to Ishkabibbles on South Street. There, Id order a pizza steak with fried onions and mustard and pickles. (Nobody has to understand your cheesesteak.) 5:30 p.m. Id make my way back up to North Philly and visit my friend Syreeta Scott at the natural hair salon Duafe. She has such beautiful art work in there. Its so peaceful. The energy is so good. We would go out, or she might cook something amazing. I would raid her closet and just chill. 7:30 p.m. If Syreeta isnt cooking, wed make our way to Sid Bookers. I got to have it. Let me give you the deal: When you go to Sid Bookers, you have to eat it in the car. There is no such thing as waiting until you get home. You are wasting it. You will ruin it. And if you like ketchup and hot sauce you have to get it on your shrimp, not on the side. But on your shrimp. 10:30 p.m. Id hope that Stacy Flygirrl Wilson is having a party with Mike Nyce, I would definitely go there. That is always a good time. Nurse Brandy Frye (right) works a night shift at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in British Columbia on Feb. 16, 2026. Frye, who says she left the United States because of President Donald Trump's policies, is one of at least 20 U.S.-trained nurses hired by the Canadian hospital since April. (Taylor Pradine) Read more Last month, Justin and Amy Miller packed their vehicles with three kids, two dogs, a pet bearded dragon, and whatever belongings they could fit, then drove 2,000 miles from Wisconsin to British Columbia to leave President Donald Trumps America. Advertisement The Millers resettled on Vancouver Island, their scenic refuge accessible only by ferry or plane. Justin went to work in the emergency room at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, where he became one of at least 20 U.S.-trained nurses hired since April. Fear of Trump, some of the nurses said, was why they left. There are so many like-minded people out there, said Justin, who now works elbow to elbow with Americans in Canada. You arent trapped. You dont have to stay. Healthcare workers are welcomed with open arms around the world. The Millers are part of a new surge of American nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers moving to Canada, and specifically British Columbia, where more than 1,000 U.S.-trained nurses have been approved to work since April. As the Trump administration enacts increasingly authoritarian policies and decimates funding for public health, insurance, and medical research, many nurses have felt the draw of Canadas progressive politics, friendly reputation, and universal healthcare system. Additionally, some nurses were incensed last year when the Trump administration said it would reclassify nursing as a nonprofessional degree, which would impose strict federal limits on the loans nursing students could receive. Canada is poised to capitalize. Two of its most populous provinces, Ontario and British Columbia, have streamlined the licensing process for American nurses since Trump returned to the White House. British Columbia also launched a $5 million advertising campaign last year to recruit nurses from California, Oregon, and Washington state. With the chaos and uncertainty happening in the U.S., we are seizing the opportunity to attract the talent we need, Josie Osborne, the provinces health minister, said in a statement announcing the campaign. Fears realized Amy Miller, a nurse-practitioner, said she and her husband were determined to move their children out of the country because they felt Trumps second term would inevitably spiral into violence. First, the Millers got nursing licenses in New Zealand, but when the job search took too long, they pivoted to Canada. Justin was offered a job within weeks. Amy found one within three months. So they moved. And just a few days later, the Millers watched with horror from afar as their fears came true. As federal immigration forces clashed with protesters in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, federal agents fatally shot an ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, as he filmed a confrontation and appeared to be trying to shield a woman who was knocked down. Video of the killing showed border agents pinning Pretti to the ground before seizing his concealed, licensed handgun and opening fire on him. The Trump administration quickly called Pretti a domestic terrorist who intended to kill federal agents. That allegation was disputed by eyewitness videos that circulated on social media and spurred widespread outrage, including from nurses and nursing organizations, some of whom invoked the professions duty to care for the vulnerable. I dont want to say it was expected, but thats why we are here, Amy Miller said. Even our oldest kid, she was like: Its OK, Mom, because we are not there anymore. We are safe here. So she recognizes that, and shes not even in middle school yet. Both the U.S. and Canada have a severe need for nurses. The U.S. is projected to be short about 270,000 registered nurses, plus at least 120,000 licensed practical nurses, by 2028, according to recent estimates from the Health Resources and Services Administration. In Canada, nursing job vacancies tripled from 2018 to 2023, when they reached nearly 42,000, according to a recent report from the Montreal Economic Institute, a Canadian think tank. When asked to comment, the White House noted that industry data shows the number of nurses licensed in the U.S. increased in 2025. It dismissed accounts of nurses moving to Canada as anecdotes of individuals with severe cases of Trump derangement syndrome. The American healthcare workforce is the finest in the world, and it continues to expand under President Trump, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said. Employment opportunities in the American healthcare system remain robust, with career advancement and pay that far exceed that of other developed nations. A sense of relief It is unknown precisely how many American nurses have moved north since Trump returned to office, because some Canadian provinces do not track or release such statistics. British Columbia, which has done the most to recruit Americans, approved the licensing applications of 1,028 U.S.-trained nurses from when the provinces streamlined application process took effect in April 2025 through January, according to the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. In all of 2023, only 112 applicants from the U.S. were approved, the agency said. In 2024, it was 127. Increased interest from American nurses was also confirmed by nursing associations in Ontario and Alberta, as well as by the nationwide Canadian Nurses Association. Angela Wignall, CEO of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia, said American nurses used to move north because they had fallen in love with Canada (or a Canadian). But more recently, she said, she had met nurses who feared the White House would spur violence and vigilantism, particularly against families that included same-sex couples. Some of them were living in fear of the administration, and they shared a sense of relief when crossing the border, Wignall said. As a Canadian, its heartbreaking. And also a joy to welcome them. Vancouver Island, which has a population of about 860,000, has gained 64 U.S.-trained nurses since April, including those at Nanaimo Regional, said Andrew Leyne, a spokesperson for the islands health agency. One of the nurses was Susan Fleishman, a Canadian who moved to the U.S. as a child, then worked for 23 years in American emergency rooms before leaving the country in November. Fleishman said hateful rhetoric from Trump has fueled an angry division that has permeated and soured American life. It wasnt an easy move thats for sure. But I think its definitely worth it, she said, happily back in Canada. I find there is a lot more kindness here. And I think that will keep me here. Brandy Frye, who also worked for decades in American ERs, said she moved to Vancouver Island last year after waiting to see whether Mark Carney would become Canadas prime minister. Carneys rise was widely viewed as a rejection of Trumpism. Meanwhile, Frye said, the California hospital where she worked had been stripping words associated with diversity and equity out of its paperwork to appease the Trump administration. She couldnt stand it. It felt like a step against everything I believe in, Frye said. And I didnt feel like I belonged there anymore. Like many of the American nurses who have moved to Vancouver Island, Frye was first wooed to the area by a viral video that was meant to attract tourist dollars but ended up doing much more. About a year ago, Tod Maffin, a social media content creator and former CBC Radio host, invited Americans to the port city of Nanaimo for a weekend event designed to offset the impact of Trumps tariffs on the local economy. Maffin said about 350 people attended the April event. A lot of them were healthcare workers looking for an escape route, Maffin said. They were there to help support our economy but also to look into Canada. Maffin saw an opportunity. He repurposed the event website into a recruiting tool and launched a Discord chat room to help Americans relocate. Maffin said he believes the campaign helped about 35 healthcare workers move to Vancouver Island. Volunteers in more than 30 other Canadian communities have since duplicated his website in an effort to attract their own American nurses and doctors. There are communities across Canada where the emergency room closes at night because one nurse is out. Thats how thin staffing is, Maffin said. One new nurse in a small town, or in a midsized city like Nanaimo, he said, makes a difference. 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. People take shelter as air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missiles in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, March 7, 2026. Read more DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The Iran war exploded further late Saturday as pillars of flame rose above an oil storage facility in Tehran and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the week-old conflict. Iranian state media confirmed the strike as Associated Press video showed the horizon glowing against the night sky. Israels military confirmed new strikes that shook neighborhoods in Tehrans east and south but did not immediately comment on targets. Advertisement It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime at the facility that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north. Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for attacks on neighboring countries, even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehrans war strategy wouldnt budge. A rift between more pragmatic politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting statements involved two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the wars opening airstrikes. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. When asked by a reporter Saturday whether the U.S. was responsible for the Feb. 28 blast that killed more than 165 people, most of them children, at a school in Iran, Trump responded, without providing evidence: No, in my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran. Trump added that Iran is very inaccurate with their munitions. Satellite images, expert analysis, a U.S. official, and public information released by the U.S. and Israeli militaries, however, have suggested that the explosion was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regimes Revolutionary Guard. The strike, which had the highest reported civilian death toll since the war began, has come under staunch criticism from the United Nations and human rights monitors. Along with his apology, Pezeshkian dismissed Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Iran makes varying statements on attacks Pezeshkians message, seemingly filmed in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Pezeshkians statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks. From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy, he said. The U.S. strikes havent been coming from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region. But hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue, he posted on X. As long as the presence of U.S. bases in the region continue, the countries will not enjoy peace, Irans Parliament speaker and a former Revolutionary Guard general, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X. He called defense policies in line with the late supreme leaders guidance. Irans U.N. mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on nonmilitary sites may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems. Trump says Kurds wont be involved Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the war, even though Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government. The war is complicated enough without having getting the Kurds involved, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Days ago, Kurdish officials told the AP that Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. U.S. says more intense bombing lies ahead Earlier, AP video showed explosions over western Tehran as Israel said it struck a Tehran airport it said was used to transfer weapons and cash to militant groups. Tehran is under severe bombardment and even people far from military and government targets are living in fear, said a university student in western Tehran, speaking on condition of anonymity for security concerns. The U.S. and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership, and nuclear program. The wars stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. In Lebanon, Israel carried out a commando raid to search for clues about a navigator who went missing 40 years ago that left dozens of people dead and dozens more wounded Saturday. Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters again across Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Missile lands at U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties. It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a terrorist act carried out by rogue groups. Strikes target Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai U.S. allies in the Gulf have said the Trump administration did not give them adequate time to prepare for the war. On Saturday, hours after Pezeshkians message, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed an Asian driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Sirens sounded early Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defenses. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport were ushered into train tunnels. Long-haul carrier Emirates briefly said all flights to and from Dubai were suspended. The police officers were taunted and beaten. Some were knocked unconscious and dragged down stone steps, tear gas stinging their throats, to chants of U.S.A! U.S.A! on Jan. 6, 2021, as hundreds, then thousands, swarmed the citadel of American democracy. Now, more than five years later and years after Congress ordered a memorial honoring the officers be installed at the Capitol workers placed the plaque inside the building they protected from a mob of President Donald Trumps supporters intent on overturning his 2020 election loss. Advertisement In the predawn hours Saturday, around 4 a.m., staff with the Architect of the Capitol bolted the bronze plaque to a granite wall near an entrance on the west front, close to where the armed crowd had amassed and scaled scaffolding set up for the inauguration. They wheeled the plaque, stored in plywood, across the stone basement floor and guided it through the double doors. They raised the tribute with a jack table and began bolting it to the wall, the clang of their tools ringing out through otherwise empty hallways. There was no announcement, no ceremony, no news cameras just two employees on their routine overnight shift working while most of Washington slept. The quiet installation, which Congress ordered completed by mid-March 2023, marks the latest turn in the contested effort to remember Jan. 6, as Trump continues to reframe the riot as patriotic and the rioters as victims of a weaponized justice system. Congress passed a law in March 2022 mandating the installation of a memorial plaque within a year. Instead, the plaque sat in the Capitol basement, surrounded by maintenance equipment. It lists the names of almost two dozen local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including the D.C. police, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Capitol Police, the National Guard, and the Maryland and Virginia state police. Democrats have pressed for implementation in the years since, saying the only thing keeping the plaque from public view was that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) had yet to instruct the Architect of the Capitol which oversees the complex to install it. A spokesperson for Johnson at the time argued the project was not implementable. Some lawmakers took it upon themselves to memorialize the law enforcement response, mounting copies of the plaque outside their office doors. Johnsons office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday morning. Last summer, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and another officer who responded to the riot sued the Architect of the Capitol to have the congressional memorial installed and, according to federal court records, to honor the women and men who saved the lives of those inside the building, and to ensure that the history of this attack on the Capitol and on democracy is not forgotten. Reached by phone Saturday, Dunn said he was glad, but still pushing for answers on the plaques permanent home, noting that the 2022 federal law stipulates the plaque should be on the west front of the Capitol. I never thought honoring police officers would be this controversial, Dunn said. In January, senators passed by unanimous consent a resolution ordering the display of the plaque on the Senate side of the Capitol building until the plaque can be placed in its permanent location. It was a seemingly rare moment of bipartisanship, helmed by Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.). Five people died during the attack or its immediate aftermath. Among them was Brian D. Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer who suffered two strokes and died a day after he confronted rioters. He was 42 years old. More than 140 officers were injured. At least four officers later died by suicide. Trump, however, has called Jan. 6 a day of love. For hours that afternoon, he made little effort to quell the assault he helped instigate. When he ultimately shared a video telling people to go home, he continued to spread the falsehood that he won the election by a landslide. On the first day of his second term, he granted clemency to nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the attack, effectively wiping away a yearslong effort by federal investigations to seek accountability. Earlier this year, on the fifth anniversary of the attack, his administration unveiled a website filled largely with falsehoods, including a claim that Capitol Police had turned a peaceful demonstration into chaos. Architect of the Capitol staff were already back at work just hours after the riot ended, sweeping shattered glass and hauling away broken furniture. Their HVAC team offered their eyewash stations to officers struck by pepper spray and tear gas. About half an hour in on Saturday, the two employees lifted their screwdrivers and began to tighten. They used a level to check the installation was straight. Then they checked again and again. Dont want this thing coming off, one of the employees said, picking up his screwdriver and checking the bolts anew. They stepped back and looked at the plaque, newly displayed. It reads: On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on January 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten. Two other colleagues watched. Work like this typically takes place after hours, when visitors are not in the hallways, said Todd Andrews, a senior spokesperson for the Architect of the Capitol, when asked about the reason for an overnight assembly. A ceremony is probably forthcoming, he added. On the wall near the plaque, they affixed a QR code titled Honored Law Enforcement. A scan with a smartphone takes the viewer to a list of officers present that day. The list goes on for 45 pages. By 4:25 a.m. they had finished. They packed up their tools and wheeled the plywood away, leaving the hallway empty once more. Outside, the air was damp and filled with birdsong, the darkness gradually receding with the dawn of a new day. DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. President Donald Trump on Saturday joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base at the dignified transfer for the six U.S. soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East. The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was the toughest thing I have to do as president. Advertisement Its a very sad day, Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was glad we paid our respects. He said the relatives of the deceased are great people, great parents, wives, family and said that the parents were so proud. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were present for the transfer, as were their spouses. A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote in a social media post Friday of an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied; Attorney General Pam Bondi; White House chief of staff Susie Wiles; special envoy Steve Witkoff; and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Florida. Those killed in action were Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, Calif.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. As is protocol, Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie, and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to await transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about a half hour. The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, which provides food, fuel, water, ammunition, transport equipment, and supplies. They died just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Amors husband, Joey Amor, said earlier this week that she had been scheduled to return home to him and their two children within days. You dont go to Kuwait thinking somethings going to happen, and for her to be one of the first it hurts, Joey Amor said. OBrien had served in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years, according to his LinkedIn account, and his aunt said in a post on Facebook that OBrien was the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid youd ever know. He is so missed already. Marzans sister described him in a Facebook post as a strong leader and loving husband, father, and brother. My baby brother, you are loved and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart, Elizabeth Marzan wrote. Coady was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, his father, Andrew Coady, told the Associated Press. He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier, Coady said. He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone. Khorks family described him as the life of the party who was known for his infectious spirit and generous heart and who had wanted to serve in the military since childhood. That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was, according to a statement from his mother, Donna Burhans, his father, James Khork, and his stepmother, Stacey Khork. Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local churchs gym. Tietjens cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens 12-year-old son, wife, and parents, as they navigate unimaginable loss. Trump most recently traveled to Dover in December to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in an ambush attack in the Syrian desert. He attended dignified transfers several times during his first term, including for a Navy SEAL killed during a raid in Yemen, for two Army officers whose helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, and for two Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire. Corn futures closed out Thursday trade with most contracts 6 to 9 cents higher. Some deferred contracts were steady to 4 cents in the green. Excellent Export Salse data and a crude oil market rallying $4.23 provided some support. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 9 1/2 cents to $4.12 3/4. Export Sales data for the week of February 26 from this morning showed 2.02 MMT in old crop corn sales. That was nearly triple the previous week and more than double the same week last year. South Korea was the top buyer of 530,300 MT, with 225,000 MT sold to Colombia, and 224,700 MT to Mexico. New crop business was tallied at 154,000 MT, all to Japan. More News from Barchart Brazil trade data was released this morning, with February corn exports at 1.55 MMT, up 9.34% from last year but well below the January total. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange estimates the Argentina early corn crop at 7.2% harvested, with the crop estimate still at 57 MMT. Statistics Canada acreage intentions for this year showed corn acres at 3.846 million acres, up 1.7% from a year ago if realized. Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.41 1/2, up 9 3/4 cents, Nearby Cash was $4.12 3/4, up 9 1/2 cents, May 26 Corn closed at $4.53 1/2, up 9 3/4 cents, Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.62 3/4, up 9 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 Chester County, home to one of the largest numbers of electric vehicles in the state, hopes to grow its footprint of public charging stations. Through the federally funded National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the county is looking to build up its community-based public EV charging stations for people who have or want an electric vehicle but do not have a charging station installed at home. Advertisement Funding from the program flows directly to municipalities or other applicants for EV chargers. PennDot expects to fund more than 100 projects through the grant. It builds on an initial federally funded project under the same program, which sought to place charging stations every 50 miles along the major travel corridors to address long drives across the state. Through that program, Chester County projects received $3.2 million. Chester Countys proposal would increase the number of public chargers speckled around the county, from workplaces to businesses, giving drivers a place to charge their cars as part of their day-to-day routines. Chester County, which has both densely packed development and rolling agricultural pockets, saw its rates of EV ownership double between 2022 and 2024, with more than 9,000 EVs registered in the county in the states most recent data. The county is behind only Montgomery in overall EV registrations in the southeastern part of the state. Things are pretty spread out, and with the infrastructure that we have in place right now, other modes of transportation that are carbon-free or less carbon intensive than single-occupancy vehicles are not as viable here as they are in other places that are more dense, said Rachael Griffith, sustainability director for the Chester County Planning Commission. If were looking at a lower carbon future for our transportation network, EVs are really a great option for that here in our land-use setting. Building out the network of EV chargers is really the way that we incentivize that. EVs are expensive, but Chester County has the highest median income in the state, so it makes sense it would see the higher ownership rates, Griffith said. Under former President Joe Bidens administration, there had been a broader push nationally for electric projects. But that shifted with President Donald Trumps return to office, as the president slashed electric goals. Experts in clean transportation anticipated seeing more projects focused on propane and natural gas in response. Despite the policy shifts, its very clear that the future of transportation is electric, Griffith said. The more that we can do to plan for that future, I think the better prepared we will be in the long term, she said. The countys planning commission is reaching out to municipalities and chambers of commerce to drive applications for the program, Griffith said. Applications are open until Aug. 21; any business registered in Pennsylvania is eligible for funds. This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters. An unidentified woman in critical condition was found in Logan last spring. Read more Philadelphia police are hoping the public can help identify a woman who has been in the hospital since last spring after she was hit by a car in Logan. Authorities responded to the 4800 block of North Broad Street in the early hours of May 18. The unidentified woman was found at the scene in critical condition, police said. Police said a gray 2007 Cadillac CTS was traveling north on Broad Street as the unidentified woman stood in the middle of the roadway. As the Cadillac moved closer, the woman stepped directly into the path of the car, police said. Philadelphia Fire Department medics transported her to Einstein Medical Center, where she remains. Anyone who may recognize the woman can contact the Crash Investigation Division at 215-685-3180 or call the tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). President Donald Trump holds a model of an arch during a ballroom fundraising dinner on Oct. 15 at the White House. Read more Congressional Democrats have joined a legal challenge to President Donald Trumps planned 250-foot triumphal arch, arguing in U.S. District Court that the project must receive congressional approval before moving forward. The top Democrats on committees overseeing federal lands and natural resources filed an amicus brief Friday, citing the Commemorative Works Act, a 40-year-old federal law that governs the design and placement of memorials in Washington. Under the law, certain parts of the city including Memorial Circle, a traffic roundabout near Arlington National Cemetery, which Trump is eyeing for his planned arch are considered protected land, and monuments built there would require congressional authorization. The circle sits narrowly inside the boundaries of Washington. Advertisement Washington D.C. is not the Presidents backyard to renovate, relandscape, and build in as he sees fit, Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Angus King of Maine, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Reps. Jared Huffman of California, Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, and Maxine Dexter of Oregon wrote in their brief. King is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. King also requested a review from the Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan think tank that serves lawmakers, which independently concluded that an arch built in Memorial Circle would require congressional authorization. Kings office shared the review with the Washington Post. This is a straightforward issue of whos in charge, King said in an interview Friday. The law is clear that any structure in this zone of which Memorial Circle is certainly part has to have the express approval of Congress. Huffman said the presidents plans raise moral and political questions, including whether the arch is a vanity project rather than a necessary monument. This is not Pyongyang, Huffman said, invoking the capital of North Korea. Most Americans want to be able to appreciate the view of Arlington Cemetery without a massive eyesore. The White House criticized Democrats legal challenge, saying that the party is opposed to anything that celebrates the greatness of our Country and mocking them as America Last losers. The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world, spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement. It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today. The White House did not respond to questions about whether officials would seek congressional approval of their planned arch. Military veterans and a historic preservationist sued the Trump administration last month, arguing that Trumps planned arch would obstruct key views when visiting Arlington National Cemetery and interfere with the intent of nearby monuments. Public Citizen, a government watchdog organization, is seeking to halt the project until the administration secures approval from Congress and federal review panels. The White House has yet to formally propose its arch or seek those approvals, but Trump has repeatedly said that construction will soon begin. He has also tied the arch to the nations 250th anniversary, with Freedom 250 a Trump-aligned group helping plan commemorative activities this year helping guide the projects development. Were doing one that will be more magnificent and larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the president said in an interview last month with NBC News, invoking the famous 164-foot-tall arch in France. Trump said that his planned arch would be about 250 feet high. Air traffic at the Philadelphia International Airport Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Philadelphia Read more It has been three weeks since the Department of Homeland Security entered a shutdown, and at Philadelphia International Airport that means federal employees working without a paycheck, declining morale, and the travel industry bracing for an impact to flights. Funding for DHS lapsed on Feb. 14 after lawmakers in Washington were unable to strike a deal for an allocation. Democrats blocked funding for the department, demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as its agents carry out President Donald Trumps deportation agenda. Advertisement During the shutdown, ICE and Border Patrol will continue to be funded from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Employees in other DHS agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Coast Guard, will bear the brunt of the funding lapse. Most DHS employees are deemed excepted, meaning they must report to work even without pay. These essential workers have already endured a 43-day government shutdown last fall and a 4-day shutdown earlier this year and have continued to serve the American people with pride, Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said in a news release last week. AFGE members are tired of being forced on this roller coaster every time their elected officials fail to do their jobs. Heres what to know about how the DHS shutdown is affecting workers and air travel at PHL: What is the impact to air travel at Philadelphia International Airport? As of Saturday morning, all security checkpoints were open at PHL, according to a spokesperson for the airport. But the travel industry nationwide is bracing for potential problems if the shutdown stretches further into March and April, when travel volume increases, NPR reported. As the shutdown drags on and TSA employees continue working without pay, it becomes more difficult for them to come into work. Were going to see sickouts. Were going to see screeners who love their jobs but are going to be forced to look for other jobs, Todd Hauptli, the head of the American Association of Airport Executives, told NPR. TSA is going to do their very best to try and keep those lines moving, but theyre not going to sacrifice safety. And that means people should be prepared as this drags out for longer lines. During the government shutdown last fall the longest in history PHL closed two checkpoints. Unlike the current DHS shutdown, air traffic controllers were also working without pay. PHL was one of 40 high-volume airports that had their flight volume reduced by 10% as a result. Are TSA employees still getting paid during the shutdown? Nationwide, TSA employees have received a partial paycheck and are bracing to miss a full paycheck soon, marking the third time in just a handful of months that workers pay has been jeopardized by a lapse in government funding. Top travel organizations in the U.S. launched their Pay Federal Aviation Workers campaign on Thursday, calling on Congress to pass legislation that would allow aviation workers to continue receiving pay during shutdowns. Bipartisan bills in Congress, like the Shutdown Fairness Act, have been introduced to push for federal employees to get paid during shutdowns. What is morale like for TSA employees during the DHS shutdown? TSA employees have become all too familiar with trying to make ends meet while balancing a crucial national security job. Joe Shuker, Region 7 vice president of AFGE Council 100, which oversees Pennsylvania, said in an interview ahead of the DHS shutdown that employees were still recovering from the previous lapse in government funding. Theres a lot of young people working here, young families, that need that check, he said. A lead transportation security officer at PHL said in an interview a few days into the shutdown that the previous stoppage put a strain on making his mortgage and car payments and paying other household bills. All the officers, theyre just like, OK, well, I dont have anything saved again, because we just literally got out of the shutdown, and were back in it again, he said. Ha Nguyen McNeill, the acting TSA administrator, told Congress last month that roughly 1,110 transportation security officers left the agency in October and November 2025, a more than 25% increase from the same time period in 2024. Shuker said employees feel like pawns in the government game. Theres no reason not to pay us. Staff writer Ariana Perez-Castells contributed to this article. Snow removal vehicles plow through snow covered pathways at Swarthmore College on Feb. 23. It wasn't quite a blizzard in the Philly area, but blizzard conditions did occur at the Shore. Read more Philadelphia and environs didnt quite make the grade, but areas along the Jersey Shore and in southern Delaware did experience blizzard conditions early on the morning of Feb. 23, the National Weather Service reported Friday. Blizzard criteria sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 mph, with falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile for three or more continuous hours were met along about a 20- to 25-mile-wide corridor in New Jersey from Monmouth to Cape May, said Alex Staarmann, a meteorologist in the Mount Holly office who was part of the investigative team. Advertisement Those conditions also were observed in Sussex County, Del. In addition to direct instrument observations, Staarmann said, the weather service relied on available visual evidence from photographs and videos. Theyre an element of analysis as well, he said. As for why Philadelphia came up short, Staarmann said the visibility certainly was low enough at times, but the winds werent quite as strong as we were forecasting farther inland. Among the locations where blizzard conditions were preliminarily confirmed were the extreme eastern portion of Burlington County, Atlantic City, Long Beach Island, and all the resort towns in Cape May County. The weather service had posted a blizzard warning for the entire state of New Jersey, all of Delaware, and for Philly, Delaware County, and nearby portions of Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. However, conditions were not quite so extreme to the north and west of the city, nor were the snow totals quite so robust. Blizzard or not, by any other name it was a disruptive storm that generated 20 inches of snow in parts of the region, and 14 inches at Philadelphia International Airport, No. 16 on the all-time snow list that dates to the winter of 1884-85. As a 20-year Costco member, there are clearly many things I love about the store. If I didn't, I wouldn't keep paying a membership fee year after year. Some of my favorite Costco membership perks are the bulk savings, the cheap food court eats, and the option to bring back virtually any item for a full refund. But there are certain things I don't like about Costco -- the crowded parking lots, the requirement to scan a membership card on the way in, and the long lines to get out of the store once you've filled up your cart. And I'm certainly not the only person who feels that way. In a Reddit thread, Costco members highlighted the sometimes awful experience that is checking out at the store. "While 90-95% of the customer experience is swell, it's that last 15-20 mins that is among the most painful in any retail store I can think of," one user said. "I thought the self checkouts would help but without a scanner gun at each station its pretty much impossible for most people to work through those lines in a timely manner," said another. It's clear that long wait times at checkout are a huge pain point for members. Thankfully, Costco is finally taking notice. Costco makes key move to fix long waits at checkout Costco's executive team is hardly clueless when it comes to member satisfaction, or a lack thereof. The company goes to great lengths to offer low prices on the products it sells and excellent customer service. But Costco also knows that improving the checkout process is essential to member satisfaction and retention. And the company is now taking major steps to address that issue. During Costco's Q2 2026 earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris said, "In the warehouses, we are achieving meaningful improvements in the speed of checkout and employee productivity, both as a result of our mobile wallet enhancements, pharmacy pay ahead, and the rollout of employee pre-scan technology." Now, if you're a long-time Costco shopper, you know that pre-scanning isn't a new thing. But that's not the only step Costco is taking to get members out the door faster once they're ready to check out. Related: History of Costco: Company timeline and facts Vachris also said during the company's second-quarter 2026 earnings call, "We are also piloting automated pay stations that will allow members to pay for their pre-scan orders seamlessly with an average transaction time of around eight seconds. Early results show this is improving the flow of traffic, and we have received great member feedback." That, frankly, could be huge. If Costco is able to whittle the average transaction time down significantly, it could be the key to retaining members and attracting new ones. Defense attorneys for the man accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles held a news conference Thursday to call for his release from jail in light of new evidence they say shows he is not responsible for the blaze. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was charged in October with starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. It began Jan. 7, 2025, in hillside neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu and killed 12 people. Related: California Bill Requires Insurers to Offer, Renew Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started a fire on Jan. 1 that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up a week later. Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys say he is being used as a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Departments failure to fully extinguish the earlier blaze. The U.S. attorneys office declined to comment. Rinderknechts attorney Steve Haney pointed to a newly released deposition in which a firefighter testified that he noticed the ground was still smoldering from the fire on Jan. 2 and alerted a supervisors that there were hot spots. That testimony was gathered as part of a lawsuit filed by fire victims against the city. Related: Structural Shift Occurring in California Surplus Lines The lawsuit also included testimony from California state park ranger Christy Araujo confirming the firefighters account of the smoldering burn scar, according to Haney. A battalion chief testified that he walked the perimeter of the burn area four times throughout the day and ensured all hot spots were out. Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore, who was appointed in October, has said he is concerned about the differences in the firefighters testimonies and commissioned an independent report on how the Jan. 1 fire was handled. Haney said this evidence was not available to the defense when Rinderknecht was indicted. This evidence calls into question not only the fundamental fairness for my clients continued detention, but the very foundation of the charges themselves, Haney said in a statement. This is not a case about an individual causing a fire. This is a case about government agencies failing to do their jobs. He also said there was no evidence Rinderknecht started the Jan. 1 fire either, and that based on witness testimony, it was likely the blaze was ignited by fireworks. Haney said Rinderknecht, who has been jailed for 150 days, should have never been indicted and should be released immediately. Due to federal procedural rules, Haney cannot file a motion to dismiss the indictment, but plans to file a motion next week to suppress all evidence in the case that was obtained through search warrants that lacked probable cause, he said. Im calling upon the U.S. Attorneys, Haney said. I believe they have an ethical obligation to review this and dismiss the indictment. The next pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for April. Top photo: 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. Source: CalFire. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Louisiana Davy, investment banking and wealth management services provider, has made a series of senior appointments to its fixed income team. Aaron McIvor has joined as director, debt capital markets. He joins from BNP Paribas in New York, where he spent 18 months on the US private placement desk. Prior to that, he spent five years with BNP Paribas in London and two years with Mizuho in London in DCM roles covering UK and Ireland corporates. Costco just did the most Costco thing possible. It reported another quarter of very impressive, very steady growth and did it without breaking the no surprises brand promise that has turned the warehouse club into a market-cap religion. Amid all the market chaos, the warehouse club quietly keeps doing what it does best: selling a lot of stuff, moving a lot of people through its doors, and letting membership fees turn madness into margin. For Q2 FY 2026, Costco said net sales rose 9.1% to $68.24 billion, while net income climbed to $2.04 billion, or $4.58 per diluted share. Total revenue, which adds in the part investors actually tattoo over their hearts membership fees came in at $69.6 billion. Membership fees themselves were $1.36 billion, up about 14% from a year ago, and operating income grew to $2.61 billion. Thats a touch better than the drumbeat heading into today, when analysts were broadly looking for $4.55 EPS on $69.3 billion in revenue, with same-store sales (excluding gas) up 5.88%. Costco keeps selling the hot dog combo and the 40-pack of paper towels, but the model keeps behaving like a subscription business. Comparable sales for the quarter were up 7.4% companywide, with digitally-enabled sales up 22.6%, a reminder that Costcos e-commerce operation is a meaningful second register. Strip out gasoline and foreign exchange, and comps were still up 6.7%, with digitally-enabled up 21.7%. The U.S. did what the U.S. usually does for Costco: steady, mid-single-digit growth. Canada and Other International did what theyve been doing lately: reminding everyone that Costcos brand travels. Costco also bundled in its February sales update. For the four-week period ending March 1, net sales rose 9.5% to $21.69 billion, with total company comps up 7.9% (7% adjusted). That Other International category was a headline-grabber at 17.9% in February though Costco flagged that the later timing of Lunar and Chinese New Year this year (19 days later) boosted that region by about four percentage points and total company sales by about half a point. Under the hood, the company is still doing the same math it always does: Protect the value proposition, let volume do the heavy lifting, and let membership fees fatten the margins. Over the first 24 weeks of fiscal 2026, membership fees totaled $2.68 billion, total revenue hit $136.9 billion, and operating cash flow came in at $7.68 billion. Costco also kept returning cash the Costco way, reporting $419 million in share repurchases and $1.15 billion in dividends paid over that period. The journey to the glacier is as thrilling as hiking on the glacier itself. It involves taking a boat ride cruising past the mouth of an ice fjord, then jumping into an off-road vehicle for a dusty, bumpy, yet exciting ride across rugged, hilly terrain. Another boat takes us 40km nearer the inland ice, gliding through a wondrous forest of towering icebergs, before a huge bank of white suddenly appears at last: The glacier. The temperature drops dramatically as we approach. The striking thing is that once we reach the glacier, the majestic Saqqarliup Sermia glacier in southern west Greenland, located within the Sarqardleq fjord near Ilimanaq, there is complete silence. No birdsong, no wails from arctic foxes, no splashes from a playful and inquisitive walrus, no trees. Standing by the waters edge on this sunny yet freezing cold day, I see absolutely no wildlife in the water or on the land, not one bird flying above. Just water, ice, snow, sand, and silver rocks, and mosses on the nearby hills. Yet Im in Greenland, much in the news in the last year due to Donald Trumps designs upon it, a place renowned for its unique Arctic wildlife. Greenland is more accessible than ever It is more accessible than ever since new flights and a new expanded airport accommodating bigger planes opened in late 2024. Demand is being further fuelled by overtourism in many parts of the world, causing travellers to explore quieter climes, and temperatures rising in traditional holiday destinations triggering increased popularity of coolcations. Despite the absence of creatures in this beautiful wilderness, the glacier I stand next to more than makes up for it. The dramatic setting of the gigantic range of ice towering over us is enhanced by distinct thunder cracks seemingly from the heavens, which more specifically is the process of calving, the breaking off of ice chunks from the glacier to form icebergs. This sound is the loudest natural source of noise in the Arctic and can involve sections of ice so huge that in some cases can be measured in cubic kilometres. The sound is a chilling reminder that the Greenland ice sheet is losing mass, driven by rising atmospheric and oceanic temperatures which in turn contributes to a rise in sea levels. Despite the absence of creatures in this beautiful wilderness, the glacier I stand next to more than makes up for it. Before tackling the glacier, we rest on the beach beside it. The sun is blazing, and you could almost sunbathe here if it wasnt for the desperate cold. I reflect that there cant be another soul for many miles and hope very much that the two little boats we have arrived in dont break down during our journey back. My anticipation rises as we put on our insulated protection suits and crampons and start climbing the glacier, rewarded by a satisfying scrunch underfoot as the crampons hit the ice. This is one exhilarating walk! Now on the glacier and up close to the ice, I notice a surprising number of black areas on the surface. They have several causes, including dust from volcanic eruptions, soot from wildfires, organic matter that accumulates on the glacier surface, mud, sand, and rock. Before long, being a novice, I walk too close to a crevasse. It doesnt look particularly wide or too dangerous to me, but a companion on the trip, with much more experience, suddenly grabs me and pulls me back, explaining that these gaps in the ice are often far deeper and more dangerous than they look and that if I fall down one that may be the end of me. We are walking on the dead glacier, the section that is no longer moving. We stop and turn back when we reach the part of it that is moving, where the ice is whiter. It moves around a metre a day. Being on a moving glacier is considered highly dangerous without adequate training and equipment as you can trigger ice avalanches; fall into deep, hidden crevasses; risk being hit by falling ice; or get trapped by rapidly shifting, unstable terrain that can change daily. Being on a moving glacier is considered highly dangerous without adequate training and equipment The next day demands a rather more gentle itinerary. So we visit Nivie Heilmann, who has been devoting her life for 20 years to saving Greenlands sled dogs, which are a protected wild species. Dogs have been in contact with the Arctic peoples for 9,000 years, and are becoming rarer and rarer. In the 1990s, there were around 30,000 of them in the country, and now they total around 11,000. Although disease culled a number of them, with the disappearing ice they are less and less required. Also, many Greenlanders prefer to use snowmobiles and boats instead to get around, as the cost of feeding such dogs 30kg of food per day has become more and more prohibitive. The population of sled dogs was greatly reduced between 1950 and 1970 when the the Canadian government and Royal Canadian Mounted Police slaughtered thousands of Inuit sled dogs in Canadas Eastern Arctic regions, forcing Inuit to settle into communities and disrupting their hunting lifestyle. Canada did not issue a formal apology or compensation until 2024. Greenlands sled dogs are a protected wild species These are the only pure bred sled dogs left, says Nivie. There are no vets here, and only four vets in the whole of Greenland, all based in the capital, Nuuk. And so it is difficult when the dogs get ill. She runs tours of her dog sanctuary for visitors to help pay for the upkeep, where you can help feed the dogs. We learn about the vital role the dogs had in Arctic communities through history to their adaptation in the modern world, and are shown the specialised equipment used for sledding. The dogs in eastern Greenland differ from those in the west. Theres more ice in the west, and therefore over time they developed shorter legs, while in the east there is more snow, so they have evolved to have longer legs. Ilimanaq has only 51 inhabitants After this visit, spending a couple of days at Ilimanaq, a settlement 300km north of the Arctic Circle, is a special experience. Very remote there are virtually no roads on Greenland, and travel between the handful of towns and villages is generally via boat, helicopter, or aeroplane. It has only 51 inhabitants, who mainly depend on fishing and hunting for their sustenance and income. Even though it is a tiny village, the language changes, depending on where you live, with one side of the settlement speaking more quickly than the other. Homes are colourful, though surprisingly basic: Many dont have running water, and a number of the village use a community bathhouse. Theres also a church the priest travels to it by helicopter in the winter and by boat in the summer and a school for the four children living here. However, visitors can stay at Ilimanaq Lodge, with its comfortable, newly-built chalets situated on the edge of a cliff. The lodge also operates the wonderful Restaurant Egede here in an old colonial managers house dating from 1741, one of Greenlands oldest buildings. Its menu focuses on local ingredients like fish, reindeer, and musk ox. I take a guided walk that the lodge offers, with Inuit German John Geisler, who has lived at Ilimanaq all his life. We walk across thick mosses that are spongy underfoot, and spot Arctic fox holes among angelica plants, before reaching the coastline. It is so peaceful, except for the sound of Canadian geese, rock ptarmigan birds, and eagles flying by. An occasional Arctic fox runs across the nearby hills and the beach, which is covered in snow. The foxes are only hunted for their fur these days, as the possibility of rabies means eating them is too risky. An occasional Arctic fox runs across the nearby hills and the beach, which is covered in snow. Although I was told to prepare for all kinds of weather in Greenland, including clothing to avoid frostbite, it is so mild today that I am wearing a tee shirt. Towards the end of the walk, we see some Inuit burial sites. To the uninitiated, they just look like a piles of rocks yet these 1000-year-old monuments are sacred. As we re-enter the village, we see a tiny hut, which was lived in by eight people until the 1990s, which seems hard to believe. John points to another home: A woman lives alone in that house and is still active, gathering fuel and shopping, despite being aged 95. The state supports her to stay here rather than move her to a city retirement home. I think thats cool. Indeed, it is one of the many very cool things to discover in this fascinating and beautiful wilderness, the biggest island on Earth. Escape Notes Travelling to Greenland from Ireland requires flying from Dublin to Copenhagen, and then a direct flight to Nuuk with Air Greenland, costing around 1,050. airgreenland.com Alternatively fly from Dublin to Reykjavik, and then to Greenland with Icelandair, costing around 575 however this is around a 40-hour journey. Glacier tour: 2,499DKK/334.60. Sled dog meet n greet: 300DKK/40.17. Both diskobay-tours.com Ilimanaq Lodge: 1995DKK/ 267.13. worldofgreenland.com/en-gb/ilimanaq-lodge Learn more about Greenland at visitgreenland.com The Taoiseach and the foreign affairs minister have both condemned the strike on a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon that left several Ghanaian peacekeepers seriously injured. They warned that the surge in violence threatens years of progress in the region. Micheal Martin called the attack reckless and paid tribute to the Irish troops who rushed to assist their Ghanaian colleagues. He confirmed he had been fully briefed and that all Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL are safe and accounted for. Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Lebanon is extremely worrying. She insisted that any attack on UN peacekeepers is unacceptable. She emphasised that all necessary force protection measures were being observed and reiterated the responsibility of all sides to ensure peacekeeper safety. The minister also condemned Hezbollahs recent attacks on Israel, accusing the group of endangering both Israeli civilians and Lebanon itself. She criticised what she described as a disproportionate Israeli response, citing airstrikes, ground operations and evacuation demands affecting civilians. Ms McEntee said she had raised these concerns with EU and Gulf counterparts and discussed the situation directly with Lebanons foreign minister. Both leaders warned that the weeks escalation has undermined fragile progress, including efforts to disarm Hezbollah. They urged full adherence to the November 2024 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 while reaffirming the countrys commitment to supporting Lebanons recovery, with Ms McEntee saying the longsuffering Lebanese people must be given an opportunity to live in peace. Former president Mary Robinson has called for solidarity to guard against attacks on truth. Addressing an International Womens Day rally in Belfast, she claimed the current United States administration is flooding the atmosphere with lies. Crowds at the event, including representatives from Womens Aid, Global Womens Strike, Youth Action and Surviving Economic Abuse, also cheered calls by a number of speakers to end the conflict in Iran. The event started at Writers Square before marching along Royal Avenue to City Hall, with people holding aloft banners. Crowds gather in front of Belfast City Hall for an International Womens Day rally (Rebecca Black/PA) Ms Robinson told those gathered: We have an administration in the United States which is flooding the atmosphere with lies, not to be believed, but to confuse, to confuse that there is no truth. Truth is our relations with each other we must flourish together. We must know there is strength in our solidarity through that solidarity. Ms Robinson said she was delighted to mark International Womens Day in the Northern Ireland capital alongside speakers including Iranian human rights activist and academic Azadeh Sobout, Helen Crickard from Reclaim the Agenda and Aoife Nic An Tuile from Youth Action. People attended an International Womens Day rally in Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA) She condemned the epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland, Ireland and across the globe, and spending on wars at the same time as cuts on spending in international aid. Now we have this war by Israel and the United States on Iran which has opened up such devastation in the Middle East, she said. We are seeing the undermining of the rule of law which is very worrying for our world because its a rule by power and we must counter that, so we have a lot of issues that require exactly the theme of this International Womens Day here in Belfast is, strength in solidarity. We have to grow that solidarity and grow it in ways that strengthen it in order to counter a very severe range of backlashes against rights now. Crowds listened to speakers at the International Womens Day rally (Rebecca Black/PA) She also condemned the misogyny of social media for every women who stands up, or even if they dont stand up. It is an extraordinarily dark part of social media now, and getting worse because AI is enabling the denuding of women and girls, the ways in which its possible to literally try to destroy peoples lives through attacks on social media, she said. All of this needs the strength in solidarity. Ms Robinson also highlighted the environmental crisis as the biggest threat to our future, and announced an Ireland branch of her Project Dandelion initiative to work on food sovereignty on the island. Iranian human rights activist Azadeh Sobout addressed the rally (Rebecca Black/PA) Ms Sobout called for democracy for her country, describing it as being under bombardment. I stand before you as an Iranian woman who opposes the men who rule my country today, the theocratic regime that answered demands for dignity and freedom with massacre, and the men who ruled it before, a monarchy sustained by foreign intelligence and imperial power, she said. There is little space for people like me in the political script written about Iran because we are told that we must choose, between dictatorship and bombardment, between oppression and destruction, submission and annihilation, we reject that choice. Aoife Nic An Tuile, of Youth Action, spoke at the International Womens Day rally in Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA) Ms Nic An Tuile urged unity and solidarity to work to prevent violence against women and girls. She said: Violence against women affects everyone we know, our mothers, our grandmothers, our sisters, our friends and our girlfriends. The north of Ireland is the most dangerous place in Europe to be a woman, but no more, its time to stand up united. Violence against women is not inevitable but preventable, she added. Ending this violence is not just a fight for women but a fight for humanity, let us raise our voices, support survivors and build a world where respect and kindness replaces harm. Together we can create a safe space where everyone can thrive. The All-Ireland Fleadh is to return to Belfast for the second year in a row in 2027. It comes as the Northern Ireland capital prepares to host the worlds largest celebration of Irish music and culture for the first time this summer. The announcement was made following a meeting of the Ardchomhairle of Comhaltas in Dublin on Saturday. Belfast will also become the first location in Northern Ireland to host the event twice. Read More Ed Sheeran surprises fans in Wexford by playing secret gig at Fleadh Cheoil The showcase of traditional music, song, dance and language, which will take place from August 2 to 9, is expected to attract more than 800,000. Some of the artists involved will include musician Sharon Shannon and her Big Band who will headline the main stage outside Belfast City Hall on Sunday August 2. Other acts performing on the famous Gig Rig stage for the opening ceremony will be award-winning group Goitse, the Blackwater Ceili Band and Belfast ensemble McPeake. It allows us to build on 2026 and further strengthen Belfasts position as a vibrant, inclusive city that celebrates its rich cultural heritage The line-up will also include a range of school choirs, as well as cross-community and multicultural performances, creating a day of free entertainment and setting the tone for a week of multi-generational shared celebration across the city. Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast Paul Doherty described it as a tremendous honour for the city. Were delighted our city will host the Fleadh again in 2027, he said. Its a tremendous honour for Belfast and underscores its status as the islands only Unesco City of Music. It allows us to build on 2026 and further strengthen Belfasts position as a vibrant, inclusive city that celebrates its rich cultural heritage. The two-year staging will deliver a substantial tourism and economic impact, supporting local businesses, hospitality providers and cultural organisations. The opportunity to welcome so many artists and visitors to our city is already bringing great excitement and will no doubt add to the atmosphere and energy of the week. We look forward to sharing everything Belfast has to offer and to celebrating together. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann praised the partnership with Belfast City Council and their host local branch, Ards CCE, saying that the combination of world-class international venues and specialist music hubs, unique street environments and strong community support made the decision to return to Belfast an easy one. Dr Labhras O Murchu, director-general of Comhaltas, said Belfast will elevate the event to new heights. The decision to host the Fleadh in Belfast again in 2027 reflects the scale of our ambition and the strength of our partnership with Belfast City Council, he said. With world-class stages in the Waterfront and Ulster Hall, Belfast is set to elevate the amazing performances and atmosphere of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann to new heights. Its clear the warmth of welcome that awaits in Belfast will create a natural home for the event and we look forward to celebrating our 75th milestone year in the city. We appreciate the work that Belfast City Council and Ards CCE have put into planning 2026 and for their 2027 bid. Niall McClean, chairman of Ards CCE, added: Its a privilege to host the event in Belfast in both 2026 and 2027. Even before the first note has been played at Fleadh 2026, weve seen a remarkable surge in interest in Irish traditional music, song and dance with increased enrolment in classes particularly around Belfast. The Fleadh is more than a festival, its a catalyst to inspire older generations to pass on their skills and for new generations to carry these timeless traditions forward. We continue to be delighted to be part of this momentous opportunity for both our organisation and for Belfast. A Government-chartered flight carrying Irish citizens from the Middle East has departed Oman and is expected to arrive in Dublin later tonight. The flight, arranged by the department of foreign affairs to assist Irish citizens in the region, left Oman earlier today and will make a scheduled stop in Cairo before continuing on to Ireland. For more than four decades, relations between the United States and Iran have been defined by hostility, suspicion, and periodic confrontation. From sanctions and nuclear negotiations to proxy conflicts across the Middle East, the two countries have remained locked in one of the most complex power struggles in modern geopolitics. Yet, this antagonism is relatively recent in historical terms. As late as the mid-20th century, Washington and Tehran were close allies, bound together by Cold War strategy, oil interests, and shared opposition to Soviet influence. The shift from co-operation to confrontation was not the result of a single event but a sequence of turning points most notably the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the hostage crisis that helped reshape American politics at the end of Jimmy Carters presidency. To understand how the relationship deteriorated so dramatically, it is necessary to go back well before the revolution that transformed Iran in 1979. American involvement in Iran dates back to the early 20th century, but it intensified after the Second World War. Irans geographical position bordering the Soviet Union and sitting astride vital oil routes made it strategically significant to Washington as Cold War rivalries took shape. Covert operation That strategic importance became clear in 1953. Irans prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, had nationalised the countrys oil industry, challenging British interests, and alarming Western governments already wary of instability near the Soviet border. In response, the CIA and British intelligence helped orchestrate a covert operation that removed Mossadegh from power and strengthened the authority of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. For Washington, the coup ensured that Iran remained firmly within the Western sphere during the Cold War. Over the following decades, the US supplied military equipment, economic assistance, and political backing to Pahlavis government. By the 1970s, Iran had become one of Americas most important partners in the Middle East. It acted as a regional counterweight to Soviet influence and a major supplier of oil. However, the alliance masked deep tensions inside Iran. Pahlavis rule became increasingly authoritarian, relying heavily on the security services to suppress dissent. Rapid economic and social change created political strains that left many Iranians alienated from the monarchy and suspicious of the countrys close ties with Washington. Those pressures erupted in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. A broad coalition of clerics, secular activists, students, and workers mobilised against the Pahlavis regime, leading to months of mass demonstrations and political upheaval. A plume of smoke rises following a US-Israeli military strike in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. Picture: Vahid Salemi/AP When Pahlavi left Iran in January 1979, the revolutionary movement quickly consolidated around the cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The revolution also marked a decisive shift in Irans foreign policy outlook. The new Islamic Republic was founded partly on opposition to foreign influence in Irans politics, particularly that of the US, which many revolutionaries associated with decades of support for Pahlavi. For Washington, the sudden collapse of a key regional ally was a strategic shock. However, the relationship deteriorated even further later that year in an event that would permanently scar relations between the two countries. In November 1979, Iranian students stormed the United States embassy in Tehran. They took 52 American diplomats and staff hostage. The students demanded that Pahlavi, who had travelled to the US for medical treatment, be returned to Iran to face trial. The crisis lasted 444 days and dominated international headlines. For Irans revolutionary leadership, the seizure of the embassy symbolised defiance against what they saw as decades of American interference in Iranian affairs. For Americans, the images of blindfolded diplomats and nightly television updates created a powerful sense of national humiliation. Maintaining pressure to release hostages The hostage crisis quickly became the defining foreign policy challenge of president Jimmy Carters administration. Carter devoted enormous diplomatic and political effort to securing the hostages release, working through international intermediaries while attempting to maintain pressure on Tehran. In April 1980, the US attempted a daring military rescue mission known as Operation Eagle Claw. The operation ended in disaster in the Iranian desert. Helicopters malfunctioned and a collision between aircraft killed eight American servicemen. The failed mission further deepened the sense of crisis surrounding the standoff. As the ordeal dragged on into the 1980 presidential election year, it increasingly overshadowed Carters presidency. Nightly news broadcasts tracked the number of days the hostages had been held, turning the crisis into a daily reminder of American impotence abroad. People bow their heads for a moment of silence during a candlelight mat ceremony for former student and instructor Noah Tietjens, who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, at Martial Arts International in Nebraska on Thursday. Picture: Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP The hostages were finally released on January 20, 1981 the day Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president following the signing of the Algiers Accords. Although Carters defeat in the 1980 election had multiple causes, the prolonged crisis played a significant role in shaping public perceptions of his leadership. Relations between Washington and Tehran remained hostile throughout the 1980s. Irans revolutionary government frequently denounced the US as the Great Satan, while American policymakers increasingly viewed the Islamic Republic as a destabilising force in the Middle East. Yet, geopolitics sometimes produced unexpected contradictions. During the IranIraq War, which began in 1980, the US tilted toward Iraq under Saddam Hussein. At the same time, however, elements within the Reagan administration quietly explored back-channel contacts with Iran. Iran-Contra affair Those efforts eventually evolved into what became known as the IranContra affair. Beginning in 1985, senior US officials secretly facilitated the sale of weapons to Iran despite an existing arms embargo. The plan was partly intended to encourage Iranian assistance in securing the release of American hostages held by militant groups in Lebanon. The operation became far more controversial when it emerged that profits from the weapons sales had been diverted to fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua, who were fighting the countrys left-wing Sandinista government. Congress had explicitly prohibited such funding. When the scheme became public in 1986, it triggered one of the most significant political scandals of the Reagan presidency. Congressional investigations revealed the extent of the covert network involved, raising serious questions about executive authority and oversight. Although Reagan maintained he had not authorised the diversion of funds, the affair damaged the credibility of his administration. It underscored the complexities of dealing with Iran even during periods of official hostility. Iran has remained central to American foreign policy calculations for several reasons. Geography is one of them. The country sits at the crossroads of the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf, close to some of the worlds most critical energy routes. Its size and population also make it a major regional power. With more than 80m people and a long history as a dominant state in the region, Iran plays an influential role in political and military developments across the Middle East. Since the revolution, Irans leadership has frequently positioned itself in opposition to American influence in the region Support for groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq has been a continuing point of contention with Washington. Irans nuclear programme has added another layer of tension in recent decades. Western governments have long feared that Iran could eventually develop nuclear weapons capability, while Iranian officials insist their programme is intended solely for civilian energy purposes. (The International Atomic Energy Agency assessed that Iran does not currently have a nuclear weapon). Years of negotiations produced the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, although the US withdrew from the deal in 2018. The antagonism between Iran and the US is therefore rooted in overlapping historical experiences that continue to shape how each country views the other. For many Iranians, the memory of the 1953 coup remains a powerful symbol of foreign interference in their political system. For Americans, the hostage crisis of 1979 remains a defining moment in the breakdown of relations and a reminder of the dangers posed by revolutionary upheaval in the region. More than four decades after the revolution, mistrust between the two governments still runs deep. While the circumstances that first drew Washingtons attention to Iran from Cold War strategy to modern concerns about regional security and nuclear proliferation have evolved over time, the countrys importance in American foreign policy has never entirely faded. The result is a relationship defined as much by history as by current events, one in which past grievances continue to influence present calculations on both sides. Lorraine Long, from Passage West, doesn't know yet if she will be able to send her child back to school on Monday. The school closed abruptly more than a week ago, with little information sent to parents. Her daughter, Tara Rose, attends Carrigaline Community Special School (CCSS), which is set to reopen next week following the full closure for all its 48 students at the end of February. It followed an incident in which several staff members were injured. The special school, established in the Taoiseachs constituency five years ago in response to an acute shortage of school places, is for students with autism and a mild or moderate general learning disability between the ages of four and 18. It's been a very, very tough week for all involved, but moreover for the children," Lorraine said. "The lack of communication from day to day, knowing whether the school was going to be open or closed. I know in this house it caused a huge amount of anxiety which leads to severe dysregulation, and it takes so long to come down from that height of dysregulation. There was no point closing the school for a week to open it on Monday with nothing really different. Those kids who have been off school for a week will be dysregulated, I know my daughter will be. "I will have to gauge her on Monday to see is she able for the day. Will I have to do a soft opening for the week for her, and ease her in gently, or will I be expecting a phone call Monday to say shes not in a good place, will I come collect her? The week off did not do these children any good. If anything, it did them harm. School patronage The patron of CCSS, Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) told parents the closure was necessary to work through a number of issues. However after meeting with Cork ETB this week, parents who spoke to the Irish Examiner say they remain concerned about the school's reopening, and what supports are in place to protect students and staff. The closure didnt do the schools reputation any good. It certainly didnt do our children any good and that has a knock-on effect for families and parents, Lorraine said. It takes a long, long time for a child to come back from dysregulation. Dysregulation is part of having a dual diagnosis of autism and an intellectual disability. Dysregulation is part of my daughters life, and will always be part of her life at various degrees. Pressure from parents opened the school in 2021, she added. It was parent pressure on the Government to say we have nowhere for our children, you have to open a school'. Yes, we have the building, yes we have the staff, but the staff do not have the supports. Dont get me wrong, the staff that deal with Tara on a daily basis, they are incredible at what they do. I cannot praise them enough, but they are obviously not getting the support. "To shut down their workplace like that, it's as if to say to them ye arent handling it, ye are doing something wrong. No, they are not, they need more support and they will tell you they need more support. "We have been banging on for the last five years: We need more support. We need a full time behavioural therapist in there. School commute Many of the students are travelling from across Cork to get to school every day via bus, she added. Some can be travelling for up to an hour and a half. "It's like starting off with a bottle of Coke in the morning," she said. "That bottle is fine. Get on the bus and you might be stuck in traffic, it's like shaking the bottle of Coke once. "A child might be dysregulated, then goes into school and something small might happen. It's just the little shakes of that bottle that ends up in it exploding. Thats how dysregulation happens. It's the little, incremental things that build up until thats it, and you get that flash moment." Last year, the Irish Examiner highlighted the concerns of several parents at the school, and about an alarming pattern of suspensions. Their concerns included high staff turnover, which was leading to class closures and a lack of continuity for students who require routine and structure. They also raised concerns about students having little to no direct access to the therapies and services they need to access an education. These issues, combined, created an environment that caused high levels of anxiety and dysregulation among the schools students, resulting in students becoming distressed or lashing out. But parents warned that rather than address the core issues leading to the dysregulation, instead the approach was punitive, resulting in the out of control suspension rate. Between 2021 and 2024, the school issued 17 suspensions. It issued one further suspension in October. While suspensions have stopped at the school, the core issues remain. Niamh O'Grady was one of the parents who spoke to the Irish Examiner last year. 'Major intervention' This week, she said: The things that are going right for other special schools, so that things do not lead to school closures, are what the Cork ETB needs to learn and put in place for our school. "We need a major intervention from the Department of Education to make that happen, in order to support staff and children. In its letter to parents this week, Cork ETB said: "In recent months, the school has experienced a significant increase in injuries to staff which have occurred where children have become dysregulated. "We absolutely understand that these behaviours are outside the control of the children. However, the resultant injuries have had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of staff resulting in the requirement for a high level of staff injury leave in the school." In 2021, Carrigaline Community Special School was opened under the patronage of Cork ETB. It was the first special school the patron opened in Cork. It has gone on to open three more special schools in the years that followed. It has been the only patron to open new special schools in Cork over the last five years, with each school sanctioned by the Department of Education and opened quickly to provide places for students. As it is an educational patron, its students have not had direct access to respite services, unlike those with a traditional disability service provider. Cork ETB also does not have direct access to therapists such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists. In 2024, the school was included as one of several in Cork to pilot enhanced in-school therapy supports. The therapists on the pilot scheme come from a local childrens disability network team (CDNT), which is funded by the HSE. They provide 15 hours per week of speech and language therapy, along with occupational therapy. In a best-case scenario, this allows each therapist an average of 20 minutes a week to work with each of the schools students. A behavioural therapist also provides advice to the school, but does not work directly with students. From Whitechurch, Jill Looney's son Ben attends the school. 'In-house support" The Department of Education this week said the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) would provide advice to the school, she said. Weve already been through a NEPS assessment. That only involved a meeting with the NEPS psychologist. She interviewed us, she interviewed staff and she observed my son. We got a report at the end of it that highlighted his issues, which we all knew already. "Theres no in-house support there and thats what the kids need. They need a multi-disciplinary team in there to support the needs. These are kids with complex needs, kids with dual diagnosis. To me, having all his issues written down in a report isnt much support. Her son has autism, ADHD, and a severe intellectual disability. "As long as there are no supports in the school, there are going to be behaviours where kids lash out, because of dysregulation. To me, you have to start at the beginning, get the supports in. If the child is calmer, there will be less injuries to staff. Because the school was opened so quickly, it opened in a former gaelscoil. "It was never a retrofit for the kids' needs, its not purpose built. There are six or eight classrooms, and they are all full. There is one sensory room, between 48 children. If a child is upset, there is no room to take them to a quiet area. Its not big enough," Jill said. The support that goes in there is about 20 minutes for each student, which is nothing, and really it's only an advisory role. Theres nobody working with them hands on, and thats what the kids need. There needs to be support there [for staff so] that if you have an issue with a child, or a child has a behavioral issue today, that it can be looked at straight away, not in a months time. People make referrals if they have issues, and they have to wait to be seen. At that stage, theres a different behaviour cropping up. At the end of the day, if there were more supports there for the teachers, it would make life for the kids in school much more doable." She is also worried about the return next week. "You have 48 kids coming back on Monday who have been out of routine for six days, and there is nothing else in place. Id say it will be chaos but I imagine no one will get a phone call to come collect their child because there will be uproar. Children with behavioural problems and complex needs lash out due to frustration and not being able to communicate, she added. But that is happening in other special schools as well. No other special school closes a whole school for a week and keeps 48 kids at home for an incident. Ongoing engagement A spokesperson for Cork ETB said it is "committed to ensuring a safe, positive learning environment for all students and staff in the school". "Carrigaline Community Special School has ongoing engagement with the NCSE and CAMHS-ID, with this engagement intensifying over the past week. We remain in ongoing communication with the Department of Education and Youth regarding resourcing, staff training, and supports." The Department of Education has sanctioned an additional teacher and two additional SNAs for the school until the end of the current school year. "Cork ETB has commenced the process of recruiting these individuals," they added. "National shortages of qualified teachers continue to present challenges, particularly for special schools that must compete with mainstream primary schools for substitute teachers and SNAs. "Cork ETB is open to any support that will benefit Carrigaline Community Special School. A behavioural therapist is already working with staff, and any further supports would need to be aligned with the existing provision in the school." A spokesperson for the Department of Education said it and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are in "continuing engagement with Cork ETB". "This builds on close engagement over recent months on a range of measures to support Carrigaline Community Special School. "The Department, NCSE and Cork ETB continue to engage with the school on what additional supports may be necessary to support the school." They added: "An advisory team from the NCSE has been in the school this week to provide a bespoke whole of school training and guidance to all staff on supporting students and managing behaviours of concern. "This team, in collaboration with the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), the Inspectorate and the in-school therapy team, will continue to engage with and support all staff, on an ongoing basis, to provide training and support." Imagine if you could travel back in time briefly and reverse a decision you made at some point that you still regret, what would it be? I was asked that question recently. For me, its something that still nags at me many years later. It had nothing to do with work choices, or bad investments, or buying a ridiculous sports car when I could least afford to. No, its something far more bittersweet. I dearly wish to this day that I hadnt ditched my vinyl music collection. To put it in context, this wasnt a small tidy collection of LPs that you might neatly tuck away at the end of a bookshelf, or underneath a television screen. This was a sprawling repertoire of thousands of vinyl albums that took up two full walls. Others were stacked in corners and cupboards. Another pile took up a corner of the hallway. It was in hindsight a treasure trove of musical antiquity that mapped out a lifetime love of music in my childhood of the 1960s, my teenage years in the 70s and on through my 20s. We all have ways of recalling milestones in life that instantly take us back to those moments medals and trophies, certificates, concert tickets, photograph albums, signed autographs, even boarding passes. Mine was music: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Tapestry, Songs of Love and Hate, Wish You Were Here, Blood on the Tracks, Born to Run, Songs in the Key of Life, Hotel California, Rumours, Bat Out of Hell, Heroes, Out of the Blue. Too many to mention here; all first editions, pristine in condition. The first LP I ever bought was Atlantic Crossing by Rod Stewart. It was divided into a fast side and a slow side, as suggested to Stewart by his then-girlfriend Britt Ekland. Rod Stewart with his then wife Britt Ekland in 1977. It was on Britt's suggestion that he divided his 1975 album 'Atlantic Crossing' into an upbeat side and a slower side. File picture: PA It contained two of his greatest songs Sailing and I Dont Want to Talk About It. But it was his poignant retake of the Isley Brothers song This Old Heart of Mine that stole my heart. The album cost me the princely sum of 4.99. Most records in the 70s were being recorded for the first time in stereo which was a more expensive format than mono. Once stereo production started, vinyl records almost tripled in price. Then add to that the import charge of shipping them here from abroad. Once I left school and found a job, most of my wages were spent on vinyl. But it was all part of a plan. I had no intentions of building a secure pensionable career in insurance or accountancy, where I had struggled for almost three years. I wanted to be on radio, and building a solid music collection was part of that dream. The rest, as they say, is history. Looking back, I could have had a deposit for a house by the time I was 21 if Id just had the willpower to walk past the record shops I spent hours in during those years, but thats what the power of music did to me. In Andrew Lloyd Webbers famous words, Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you. Vinyl countdown There was nothing quite like the joy of carrying a brand new vinyl album home on the bus. It was a liberating experience for any teenager. Once back in my bedroom, the ritual began. I carefully unpacked the sleeve from the cover. Before taking out the vinyl, I would study the covers artwork. If I was lucky, the album might contain liner notes and art prints, maybe even lyric sheets. Then came the moment of discovery. Watching the diamond stylus make contact with the vinyl, listening to the gentle familiar sound of the crackle as it drops. And then came the music, so breathtaking its still impossible to describe. Vinyl has the ability to reproduce music with the finest clarity, unlike compressed digital formats which often lose the superior sound staging of vinyl. The old-fashioned LP retains the full frequency range of the master recording, which is why I can still hear every instrument finding its rightful place on those glorious tracks on Atlantic Crossing. I got rid of my record collection But then, 20 years ago, I emptied off the shelves, cleaned up that hallway and got rid of the lot. Why? I have no idea. Whenever I look for a reason, it doesnt make sense. Perhaps it was a midlife crisis, or a blast of sheer madness. In the space of a week, every LP with its emotional links to some important aspect of the decades of my life was gone. I was foolish to believe that vinyl was a thing of the past, but no one was talking about a vinyl revolution back then. What was once my pride and joy, a sign of my success, had become a daily reminder of hoarded clutter. It had to go. Most of it went to charity shops. A few hundred here, a few hundred there. I set up a stall at a car boot sale. Classics that cost me an arm and a leg were sold for a pittance to a second-hand record shop in Dublin. Almost a hundred favourite albums bagged me barely 40. One of them was Atlantic Crossing. Rod Stewart's classic 1975 album, 'Atlantic Crossing' was one of the thousands of vinyl albums that Gareth O'Callaghan sold off or gave away about 20 years ago. File picture Yes I know, its a first-world problem, but I still kick myself. If the entire collection had been stolen then at least I could have blamed someone else. But this was all of my own doing. Imagine giving away your gleaming black historic Mercedes convertible that you had lovingly restored to a blank stranger, or your villa in Quinta do Lago, or even your passport. This wasnt just a bundle of old dusty records. Each of these albums shared a part of my life. They helped me celebrate. And when the clouds came down, as Maya Angelou put it, Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. You either get it or you dont. If you do, youll know that a vinyl collection slowly becomes a collective masterpiece that preserves moments in time. Not quite as moving as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel maybe, but Im a great believer in how beauty subjectively impacts the eye (and ears) of its beholder. Record collection founded my dream Like any relationship, a vinyl collection needs to be nurtured. Its not a phone app. Unlike Alexa, it has seen you through years of joy and pain. Its your go-to when you need to escape. It needs care and attention. I remember dabbing those albums with watered-down isopropyl alcohol to keep them free from dust and restore their jet black shine. Every album label bore the insignia TGM, written in black. Each new addition as it joined the collection was inscribed with the letters. Its so long ago now that I cant remember what the initialism stood for. And then, out of the blue, I was reminded of it all when Paula and I were visiting friends in Scotland last year. While out walking, we called into a second-hand record shop. Combing through old albums, I found Atlantic Crossing. Something told me this wasnt just any old copy. And then, there it was TGM. It was my album. I asked the owner for a price. Its a rare original, he said. Fifty quid and its yours. And to think I sold it for a measly 50c when it was mine. I put it back and left the shop. With the help of an expert in collectibles and a long list of titles constructed from memory, I found out recently that my old vinyl arsenal would have a street value today in excess of five figures. If I still had it all, would I be tempted to sell? In a word, no. That collection was the foundation of a dream that came true. In our modern soulless world of virtual experiences and instant gratification, I hope those vinyl LPs, wherever they are, are bringing as much joy to the strangers who bought them as they once did to this old heart of mine. There was a time when homelessness, or even people living in emergency accommodation, shocked us as a nation. It wasnt that long ago either. In 2018, as the once-unthinkable Rubicon of 10,000 homeless was crossed, Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin said housing minister Eoghan Murphy should do the decent thing and resign. For his part, the minister said it was very disappointing to see more children in emergency accommodation as we enter into Christmas week. While numbers had been released by local authorities up to December 2015, figures released in the first departmental report in that month showed that more than 5,200 people, including 1,600 children, were in emergency accommodation. At the time, Niamh Randall of the Simon Communities said the government had to cut through the red tape and respond quickly to this urgent need. Until we do that, more people will suffer, more people will end up homeless, and more people will be trapped in emergency accommodation, she said. Each new milestone 5,000, 10,000, 15,000 last August has been met with less opprobrium and anger than the one before. When figures last week blew past 17,000, barely an eyelid was batted. Ministerial comments no longer form part of the press release which drops on the last Friday of the month, and the focus on the reports is short and sharp. The truth is that, since 2015, homelessness in Ireland has not only increased in numbers, it has also been accompanied by a noticeable shift in public attitudes. A national scandal While homelessness once generated widespread shock and urgency, over time it has become a more familiar and, in some ways, a normalised feature of Irish society. Having been a journalist at the time, I can tell you that 2015s rise in homelessness was widely seen as more than an emergency. It was about who we were as a people. Media coverage often focused on families forced into hotel rooms or individuals sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin, in their cars, or in garda stations. Public concern was strong, and homelessness was regularly described as a national scandal. At the time, the number of people officially recorded as homeless was under 4,000. Despite being four times lower than today, it was a constant source of debate on the airwaves and in the Oireachtas. However, as the crisis dragged on, the shock that once accompanied rising figures began to fade. Each new record level of homelessness still attracted headlines, but the public reaction was often less intense than it had been in earlier years. The repetition of similar statistics month after month contributed to a sense of fatigue and resignation, where homelessness came to be viewed by some as an unfortunate, but inevitable, part of urban life. 'Compassion fatigue' Besides, when every other aspect of the housing crisis feels so acute, whats one more? Sociologists sometimes describe this as compassion fatigue, where constant awareness of a social problem leads people to emotionally disengage as a way of coping. In a world where information is everywhere, the ability to claim ignorance is just not there any more. Disengaging feels healthier for many people. On the political side, governments since 2015 have introduced a range of strategies and housing plans aimed at reducing homelessness. However, the slow pace of improvement has led to frustration or even apathy among the public. These repeated policy announcements that come without tangible and rapid results have made some people sceptical about whether meaningful change is even possible. This scepticism can evolve into apathy, where individuals feel the crisis is too complex or entrenched to solve. Despite this growing sense of normalisation, homelessness remains a deeply serious social problem in Ireland. Thousands of adults and children continue to live in temporary accommodation, and many more experience hidden homelessness while staying with friends or relatives. One facet of the monthly reporting of numbers shows that Januarys report, which tracks Decembers numbers, is often slightly down as people in emergency accommodation find beds or places to stay with family over Christmas. Since 2015, Irelands homelessness crisis has worsened not only in scale but also in how society and the media is included in this responds to it. As the numbers have increased year after year, public attitudes in some cases have shifted from shock and outrage toward fatigue and apathy. This change in perception risks making the crisis harder to address, because meaningful solutions often depend on sustained public pressure and political urgency. Apollo House In late 2016, I was working a newsroom shift two days after Christmas when the phone rang. It was the organisers of the Apollo House occupation. If your memory is fuzzy, in December 2016, members of the Home Sweet Home campaign a broad coalition of housing activists, artists, and trade union members took over Apollo House in Dublin, repurposing it as accommodation for the homeless. In that time, the campaign garnered huge public support, brought government ministers to the table, and was hugely critical of the situation facing homeless people in Ireland. A donation being given by the public to the Home Sweet Home protesters. The campaign at Apollo House felt radical, like a moment in time that would be referenced in years to come. File picture: Bryan Meade It felt radical, like a moment in time that would be referenced in years to come. Inside the doors of the building, I found a loose community of volunteers giving medical and social help, and stockpiles of supplies donated by the public to a team working blind. The methodology was rough and ready, but the point was admirable. When the activists were forced to leave by a court order a couple of weeks after Christmas, they pledged that the movement had just begun. Since then, Apollo House has been demolished and replaced with Dublins tallest building a 21-storey punctuation mark on a decade of lost momentum on housing. New rental regulations This week, when new rental rules kicked in, we learned that 36 households in one estate in Wexford have been told they are to be evicted. The housing minister has referred the case to the Residential Tenancies Board to see if anything illegal has happened, but denied that his new rules were to blame. He said any suggestion to the contrary was misinformation. On the face of it, James Browne is correct; the new rules shouldnt affect existing tenancies. But a video which came to light on Thursday shows an agent of the landlord telling a resident that it was the companys view that theyre very unfavourable to the landlord, so we think its better just to sell up and get out. That video is likely to attract much comment. It may even make people annoyed as it flies around WhatsApp groups over the weekend. But the question must be asked: If 17,000 living in emergency accommodation doesnt spark real anger, what will? Cometh the hour, cometh the clown car. Previous US presidents have spoken of ordering of American soldiers to war as their "highest burden". For the solemn occasion of initiating Operation Epic Fury, Commander in Chief Donald Trump donned a baseball cap and several layers of pancake make-up. His location of choice was not a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF) within the White House. Instead it was a curtained-off section of his Mar-A-Lago members club, prompting one late night comic to quip: Im pretty sure its the first war ever to be started next to an omelette station." Intelligence Community Directive 705, which lays out the precise construction and kit-out standards for SCIFs was breached "just about every way you can imagine," according to a former FBI counterterrorism agent, who pronounced herself "stunned, kind of flabbergasted really" by the jerry-rigged contraption. One of the official photos released by the White House revealed two heads poking through from the outside. Trumps Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was photographed wearing a Whoop fitness tracker, a clear violation of regulations. Luckily the Whoop CEO took to X to reassure the nation that his product couldnt be used to hack into the meeting or track her location. For good measure the official photos of Donald Trump monitoring the strikes on Iran from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida partially revealed an Operation Epic Fury map that partially displayed joint US-Israeli airbases in the region. And for good measure the official photos partially revealed an Operation Epic Fury map that partially displayed joint US-Israeli airbases in the region. To paraphrase Epictetus, circumstances dont make the man, they reveal him. Some rise to the moment. For others, the crucible of crisis exposes their deficiencies in a way thats almost painful to witness. That Trump has no comprehension of what he may have unleashed in the Middle East comes as little surprise, but it retains the capacity to shock. His first public appearance came almost two days after the war started. During a Medal of Honour ceremony for three Army veterans, he barely acknowledged the first casualties of his war of choice four US soldiers killed in an Iranian retaliatory strike on their Bahrain base. Instead, he focused on a lengthy paean to his gold curtains and ballroom construction project. Unsurprisingly, his team of acolytes have likewise shown themselves to be wholly unequal to the moment. Trump's clown car passengers Marco Rubio, stammering and sweating on Capitol Hill, inadvertently ignited a MAGA firestorm when he answered the "Why now? part of the equation by revealing that Trump had been bounced into war by Israeli prime minister Bibi Netanyahu. Sectors of the MAGA world have long suspected that Netanyahu has been leading Trump around by the nose. But Rubios apparent confirmation enraged some of his most influential online supporters who dont need much prodding to unleash their inner anti-Semite. His admission didnt sit well with Trump either. Rubio was forced into an embarrassing walk back as he tried to convince reporters that their lying ears had tricked them again. The ridicule heaped on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseths pantomime theatrics and Dr Seuss-level rhyming rhetoric is justified. For all his desire to be front and centre, hes a backseat occupant of Trumps clown car along with Rubio, albeit a far more dangerous one in the current context. Trump is in the passenger seat and Netanyahu is at the wheel. And in case youre wondering, vice president JD Vance is along for the ride; hiding in the footwell as he tries to balance his proximity to power with the MAGA blowback that could torch his chances of becoming the GOP candidate for 2028. Trump's path to war Decisions to go to war, even by sober and serious leaders, are often based on imperfect intelligence, false perceptions and outright lies. But these are not serious people. Never have War Room principals been so at odds in their accounts of the rationale, strategy, duration, objective or endgame. Trump doesnt just contradict his advisers on a daily basis. He rebuts himself. If were to believe the mediators in Oman, Iran did not, as Trump claims, walk away from the table. Rather, Iranian negotiators were ready to agree to a ban on stockpiling any enriched uranium. Objectively, this would be a better deal than that negotiated by Obama in 2015. But Trump failed to take a win that would have allowed him to lord it over the predecessor hes obsessed with denigrating. Its something hell almost certainly come to regret. As Israeli and US warplanes continue to blitz their ways through the layers of Irans theocratic hierarchy, the options for a quick exit are narrowing. The idea that Irans Revolutionary Guard would willingly hand over their weapons to the civilian population theyve oppressed for almost half a century and slaughtered by the thousands in recent weeks is only useful as a yardstick by which Trumps ignorance can be measured. His outsized ego made him the ultimate useful idiot for the wily Israeli prime minister. That Trumps supine devotees on Capitol Hill are now portraying Netanyahu and Trump as a latter-day Churchill and FDR provides one of the few moments of pitch-black comic relief. Regime change And while Netanyahu and Trump are locked in the same car for now, they may have very different destinations in mind. While Trump may be willing to cut a deal with anyone who emerges from the rubble, it seems that Israel at any rate is determined to keep targeting replacements until the only man standing is Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the former Shah of Iran. The US-backed dictator was no slouch when it came to repression, brutality and corruption. Pahlavi claimed he was always prepared to fight the fight for Irans freedom since he moved to the United States 47 years ago. We were committed to fight regardless of outside intervention, he says referencing the US-Israeli bombardment. Which begs the question, now that hes 65 years old, when exactly did he intend to start? Regime change requires sinking vast amounts of time and resources into nation building. Its an investment Trump isnt willing to make. But for Netanyahu, who has already suckered the US into facilitating the obliteration of Gaza, the decimation of the West Bank and the annihilation of Hamas and Hezbollah, theres no reason to stop when he believes the ultimate victory is in sight. There is a slim chance that, despite himself, Trump could succeed in laying the groundwork for a new Iran that wishes to peacefully prosper alongside its Middle Eastern neighbours and end its perennial enmity with the US. Iran's reaction The Persians were the worlds first capitalists with a sophisticated market economy dating back to the 6th century. Its not such a leap to presume that a country that boasts a highly educated population and the natural resources to become another prosperous potentate in the region wouldnt seize the opportunity to do so. But not before the Revolutionary Guard has used every last missile, drone and bullet against Israel, the US and its military hosts in the region and the Iranians pushing for its ouster. The armchair generals who pontificate on Americas cable news channels and online media outlets have expressed surprise at Irans resilience and puzzlement that Iran would target US-friendly states that might otherwise have stayed neutral. Their surprise that a regime with its back to the wall wouldnt try to inflict as much damage as possible on its enemies and their hosts in the region is rather more surprising. During a Medal of Honour ceremony for three Army veterans, President Donald Trump barely acknowledged the first casualties of his war of choice, instead giving a lengthy paean to his gold curtains and ballroom construction project. Picture: AP/Alex Brandon Especially since its unlikely that the smaller Gulf states share Israels appetite for destruction. Every day the Strait of Hormuz remains off-limits is another direct hit on their economies. As well as an estimated 45,000 US troops, the region is host to as many as one million US citizens, tens of thousands of whom are highly paid expats who live in opulent compounds and socialise in the seven-star hotels of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama. Now theyre fleeing in droves, taking their dollars and their expertise with them. And the 100 million tourists who visited in the region in 2025 will be taking their billions to other overpriced resorts in 2026. Iran has few friends but the risk that Iraqs Shia militias could join the fray is a real one. There are cultural and ethnic differences between Iraqs majority Arab Shia population and Irans Farsi-speaking Persians. But they share the same holy sites and a loathing for the US and Israel. Both Iran and Iraq have majority Shia populations and share holy sites but there are cultural and ethnic differences; more than two thirds of Iraqs population of 48 million is Shia Arabs. Farsi speaking Persian Shias account for 90% of Irans 93 million citizens. End of Days reckoning Trump may already have his eye on the exit ramp but the biggest risk to his quick fix gamble comes from inside the White House. Hegseth isnt just dangerously out of his depth. Hes fuelled by a Christian fundamentalist zeal and an antipathy towards Muslims that should have disqualified him from his role. According to US Military Freedom Religious Foundation president Mike Weinstein, more than 110 complaints have been filed since the war began by soldiers in 40 different units spread across 30 military bases. The complaints are lodged against Hegseth-appointed military commanders who are framing the war with Iran as part of a Biblical prophesy with one military commander telling his troops: "President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth. Framing the war as an End of Days reckoning is a spark that could ignite a conflagration that engulfs the region. Its hard to fight an enemy that has no fear of death, much less one that relishes martyrdom. Iran cant win this war but it can make sure its not the only loser. Canadas Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has urged that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, be removed from the British royal line of succession, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media. Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne despite having been stripped of his titles in October amid mounting pressure over his connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations surfaced that he shared confidential material with Epstein. The former prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Carney described the Dukes actions as deplorable and asserted that they should warrant his removal from the line of succession. Some companies fly under the radar because you only call them when you need them. Many people plan for health care emergencies. They know where the closest emergency rooms are and how to get to a walk-in clinic. When it comes to our homes, however, people may not know who to call when something goes wrong. "In a time when natural disasters are becoming more frequent, most Americans are not physically or financially prepared, according to a new Wells Fargo & Company survey. The study showed that despite increased risk, many Americans are not prepared. "Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) say they or their families have been directly affected by natural disasters at some point in their lifetime. Nevertheless, most Americans (71%) admit they dont have a detailed emergency plan in the event of a natural disaster," the study showed. StopLoss 24/7, which just filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to documents filed on PacerMonitor, is one of the companies you call when something goes wrong at your home. What does StopLoss 24/7 do? StopLoss 24/7, which filed in Texas Southern Bankruptcy Court, describes its services on its website. "We strive to redefine emergency response and property restoration services, ensuring a swift, accurate, and efficient approach. Our goal is not just to fix damages but to restore lives and communities," the company shared. Its services include: StopLoss positions itself as a rapid emergencyresponse and property restoration services provider focused on stabilizing damage after disasters or structural losses. The company emphasizes swift onsite action, accurate damage assessment, and efficient workmanship . Its services include emergency response, structural stabilization, environmental remediation (including HAZMAT handling), and insurance recovery consultation to help clients document and mitigate damage. Source: StopLoss 24/7 StopLoss Chapter 11 basic facts: Because StopLoss 24/7 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 8, only basic details are publicly available. The company has not released any comment on its filing, and it does not operate any social media pages. The company's bankruptcy involves filings under several related entities. The US military campaign against Iran may take as long as four to six weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. She added that the US is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace. Leavitt claimed the US would consider Iran in a state of unconditional surrender once Donald Trump determines the country no longer poses a threat to the United States. She told reporters at the White House: "What the president means is that when he, as Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America, and the goals of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realized, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not." Donald Trump said today that only Tehrans unconditional surrender will bring an end to the joint US-Israeli offensive launched seven days ago. On timing, the US president has previously suggested the war would take approximately four to five weeks but could go far longer and today, Pete Hegseth, his defence secretary, said the US operation would continue for as long as it takes to achieve its objectives in Iran. Leavitt, speaking ahead of a meeting between Trump and major defence contractors told reporters at the White House that the US has sufficient weapons stockpiles to meet all its operational needs in Iran. She added that the US was looking at a number of potential candidates to lead Iran but didnt give any details. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has intensified direct engagement with Iran to help contain the conflict in the Middle East, Bloomberg News reported, citing several European officials. Saudi officials in recent days have used their diplomatic backchannel to Iran with increased urgency to ease tensions and keep the conflict from worsening, the report said. The Guardian Irans president has said that a demand by the United States for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should to take to their grave. President Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television. He also apologised for Irans attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted the Gulf Arab states on Saturday morning as Israel and the United States kept up their air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. There were repeated attacks on Saturday morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Passengers waiting for flights out at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Later that morning, long-haul carrier Emirates said that all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice. There is no foreseeable end to the fighting. Donald Trumps administration has approved a new $151m arms sale to Israel after the US president said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender. US officials also warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the week-long conflict. A vigil was held in honour of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New York (AP) Earlier, Irans UN ambassador said the country would take all necessary measures to defend itself. Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. Also early on Saturday, loud booms sounded in Jerusalem and incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel. US president Donald Trump has demanded Irans unconditional surrender (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israels emergency services. The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iranian attacks targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed drones heading for its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Displaced people are fleeing Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut (AP) Passengers waiting for flights out at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Qatars energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could bring down the economies of the world, predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to 150 dollars a barrel. The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above $90 on Friday for the first time in more than two years. Writing for the Qatar-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera, a regional analyst warned Iran was making a strategic miscalculation of historic proportions. Al Jazeera, a pan-Arab satellite news network owned and funded by Qatars government, has been used in the past to signal Dohas opinions on regional matters. Sultan al-Khulaifi, a senior researcher at the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, wrote: By spreading the conflict to the Gulf, Tehran is doing precisely what Israel could not do alone: steering the war away from the Israeli-Iranian axis and transforming it into a confrontation between Iran and its Arab neighbours. On Saturday, the defence minister of Saudi Arabia and Pakistans army chief met to discuss ways to stop the attacks coming from Iran, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman, a son of King Salman, spoke to Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh about the Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials. They cautioned that the US intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information. This marks the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war. In a social media post on Friday, Mr Trump said: There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down. pic.twitter.com/Nqn30feTQA U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 7, 2026 After a surrender, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), he wrote, the US and its allies will help rebuild Iran, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. Those comments were likely to raise further questions about the endgame of the war. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that some countries had begun mediation efforts. Iranian state television reported that a leadership council had started discussing how to convene the countrys Assembly of Experts, which will select the new supreme leader. US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview on Friday that the biggest bombing campaign of the war was still to come. A symbolic funeral was held for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP) Israel has said that over the past week it has heavily bombed an extensive underground bunker that Iranian leaders had planned to use during the hostilities. New information has surfaced suggesting that a deadly explosion at a school in the Iranian city of Minab, some 680 miles southeast of Tehran, was likely caused by US air strikes. The information included satellite images, expert analysis, a US official and public information released by US and Israeli military forces. Iranian state media has said more than 165 people were killed in the blast, most of them of children. Iran has blamed Israel and the US for the explosion. Neither country has accepted responsibility, though defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said the US is investigating. The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in the mountains of eastern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least three people were killed. Israel has carried out waves of air strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Lebanons health ministry said at least 217 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and 798 others were injured. Eight people have died, flights were disrupted and the military has been deployed as motorists in the Kenyan capital were stranded for hours on Saturday after heavy rains led to flooding. George Seda, the chief of police in Nairobi, said six people had drowned and two others were electrocuted, warning that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue. Mr Seda also said that more than 100 vehicles were damaged, with some overturning on the roadside and in parking bays. Beyond Nairobi, flooding has also been reported in Wangchieng Ward, Kisumu County, after Sondu-Miriu River burst its banks, affecting Kobala and Kobuya locations. Approximately 381 households have been affected, with homesteads and farms flooded and about 56 hectares of pic.twitter.com/AkgDS8OXUc Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) March 7, 2026 Kenya Airways said flights were disrupted, with some diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa, and that difficulties would continue for hours. The military was deployed to assist emergency rescue services, and the local toll road operator waived fees for an elevated road. Heavy rain began on Friday and continued overnight, submerging vehicles and forcing motorists in some areas to wade through hip-high water to reach higher ground. Videos of flooded homes and overturned vehicles were shared on social media. At least six people drowned, police said (AP) A military rescue unit was deployed overnight to support emergency services as Kenya Red Cross response units struggled to reach people in need. Kenya Red Cross secretary-general Ahmed Idris said search and rescue teams were working tirelessly to assist those stranded. We are severely limited by the traffic and the situation on what used to be roads. We are doing our best to reach those in need, he wrote on X. Kenyas public service minister Geoffrey Ruku said he was coordinating national disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. He urged Kenyans to be cautious and prioritise their safety. As part of the flood response in Nairobi, Kenya Red Cross first responders rescued 20 people stranded along Kirinyaga Road and moved them to safety. Teams continue to monitor the situation and provide support to those affected. pic.twitter.com/C100yOPhab Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) March 7, 2026 Some residents blamed the flooding on clogged drainage systems, stating that city authorities ought to have prepared by ensuring there was functional drainage infrastructure ahead of the rainy season. One resident, Aisha Bajaber, wrote on X: The whole city is flooded yet again. How long will officials keep ignoring the lack of drainage? Rains have been pounding the country since late February, which marks the start of the long rains season. Previous rain seasons have seen flooding, landslides and mudslides that have left hundreds of people dead and seen thousands of others displaced. The first reporter to interview Ian Huntley before he was arrested on suspicion of murdering two 10-year-olds has told of what led him to report the former school caretaker to the police. Journalist Brian Farmer, who worked for the Press Association in East Anglia at the time and had been reporting on the disappearance of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman on August 4 2002, told BBC News he went to speak to Huntley after police issued a list of last sightings of the girls. Read More Soham killer Ian Huntley dies after attack in maximum security prison He interviewed Huntley, then 28, and his partner Maxine Carr, then 25, who was a teaching assistant in Holly and Jessicas primary school class at St Andrews Primary School in Soham, Cambridgeshire. I knew where the caretakers house was, and its quite nearby, and also he seemed to be the last man to see them, Mr Farmer told BBC News on Saturday, when Huntley died following an attack at high-security prison HMP Frankland. Though, its always possible that the last man to see missing children or missing women is the culprit. So for those two reasons, I went to knock on the door. The reporter said it struck him that Carr and Huntley took a bit of persuading to agree to talk to him. What first took me by surprise was that both Maxine Carr and Ian Huntley seemed a little reluctant to let me in to talk about it, and it took a little bit of persuasion for them to allow me to go in and sit down and talk. Mr Farmer, who now works for the BBC, said Huntley had painted a picture of himself washing his Alsatian, Sadie, on a Sunday evening after being on a muddy walk, but had claimed Holly and Jessica had asked about their teaching assistant. It wasnt what theyd said that I thought was strange. It was what they hadnt said, Mr Farmer said of the interview on August 8 2002. Holly Wells (left) and her best friend, Jessica Chapman (Handout/PA) They didnt seem to have mentioned the dog, and I couldnt really believe that there would be two 10year-old girls anywhere on Earth who would be wandering about carefree on a summers day, who come across a man washing the dog with soap and water, who wouldnt see the dog. There were no: How cute is that dog or oohs and aahs. Nothing like that. I simply didnt believe what he was saying. It simply didnt seem possible. Mr Farmers concern grew when, after asking Carr if the girls had been taught about stranger danger in school, or how they might react if a man opened a door and asked them to come in, Huntley jumped in to answer the question, despite apparently not knowing the girls. Ian Huntley sitting in his car outside his house near the college in Soham (Andrew Parsons/PA) He said: To my astonishment, really, Ian Huntley answered the question, and he said that Holly would probably go quietly, but Jessica would put up a fight. I didnt show it at the time, but I couldnt understand how he could know that. He was the caretaker at a secondary school, a school they didnt go to. Their parents might know how theyd react. Maybe a teacher could speculate on how theyd react. But how could the caretaker at another school possibly know how theyd react? I came to the conclusion fairly quickly that I didnt think he was telling the truth. In his report from the time Mr Farmer wrote of Huntley weeping when he spoke of the girls disappearance. It seems they have just disappeared off the face of the earth, the murderer told Mr Farmer. How can two girls go missing in broad daylight, then nothing? No sighting. No nothing. It beggars belief. A police forensic expert displays one of the four tyres that the Old Bailey was told Ian Huntley had fitted on his car the day after the Soham girls disappeared (Rui Vieira/PA) After interviewing the couple, Mr Farmer filed a story before calling his elder brother, a retired senior detective. My brother Derek told me that I should contact the police and he agreed that what Huntley had said was very strange and maybe even grounds for arrest if hed been there himself, Mr Farmer said. So, with his advice, I contacted Cambridgeshire Police and told them why I thought what Huntley had said was strange and not true. The pair were arrested on August 17 2002. Mr Farmer was called to give evidence at Huntley and Carrs Old Bailey trial in 2003. Police officers seal off the home of caretaker Ian Huntley and his partner Maxine Carr in Soham (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) Huntley denied murdering the two 10-year-olds but was convicted after the trial. Carr gave Huntley a false alibi and was jailed for 21 months for perverting the course of justice. She is now living under a new identity. The former school caretakers life sentence recommended he serve at least 40 years for the Soham murders, meaning he would not have been eligible for parole until the 2040s. Mr Farmer added: Ive been thinking today about the parents, not about me or about my experiences. It simply can never go away for them, and this must be a day thats just beyond belief for them, isnt it, that they have to go through it again. President Donald Trump has joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base as the bodies of six American soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East were returned to the US. The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of US service members killed in action, is considered one of the most sombre duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Mr Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was the toughest thing I have to do as president. Read More Iran apologises to Gulf but war still rages across region Mr Trump, speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his trip to Delaware, said the fallen service members were heroes coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home. First lady Melania Trump and vice president JD Vance were also at Dover Air Force Base (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) He said it was a very sad situation and he pledged to keep American war deaths to a minimum. Both Mr Trump and vice president JD Vance were present for the transfer, as were their spouses. A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote in a social media post on Friday of an unbreakable spirit to honour their memory and the resolve they embodied; attorney general Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida. The remains of US soldiers killed in a drone strike were returned to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Those killed in action were Maj Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. As is protocol, Mr Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about half an hour. The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command centre in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. President Donald Trump did not speak during the transfer (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) They died just one day after the US and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure, Republican senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. RTX Corporation is an aerospace and defense company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Formed in 2020 through the merger of Raytheon Company and United Technologies and formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, the company develops advanced aircraft engines, missile systems, avionics, sensors, and defense technologies for commercial and military customers worldwide. RTX operates through three major divisions: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon, serving both the global aerospace industry and government defense programs. The company is one of the largest defense contractors in the world and has a market cap of $280.3 billion. Thus, this White House meeting could mark a pivotal moment for the defense industry and for RTX shareholders. And, it might trigger the next wave of defense spending tied to the widening Iran conflict. Meanwhile, defense companies have already begun increasing output, with RTX aiming to eventually increase Tomahawk missile production to 1,000 units annually. For investors, the implications could be significant. While Donald Trump said the U.S. has a virtually unlimited supply of munitions, the U.S. government is reportedly considering a supplemental defense package of roughly $50 billion to replenish weapons and ramp up production capacity, potentially creating a surge in demand for systems produced by companies like RTX, which manufactures key missile and defense technologies. The gathering comes as the Pentagon grapples with rapidly depleting inventories after intensive military operations, including the recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iranian targets and continued support for conflicts in the Middle East. Officials are increasingly concerned that missile interceptors, artillery shells, and other critical munitions are being consumed faster than they can be replenished. Investors in defense giant RTX Corporation (RTX) may want to circle Mar. 6 on their calendars. The White House is preparing to host top executives from Americas largest weapons manufacturers, including RTX, for an urgent meeting aimed at accelerating weapons production as U.S. munitions stockpiles shrink amid escalating conflict with Iran. Story Continues Shares of RTX Corporation have delivered a strong rally over the past year, significantly outperforming the broader market. The aerospace and defense giants stock has surged 56.5% over the past 52 weeks, amid robust demand for military systems, improving earnings momentum, and rising global defense spending. And year-to-date (YTD), the stock has climbed about 10.63%, extending last years powerful rally and trading near recent highs. More recently, geopolitical tensions have provided an additional catalyst. RTX has surged after the escalation of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, with shares hitting new highs as investors priced in expectations for increased weapons demand and higher defense spending. The stock is just 5% below its multi-year high of $214.50, reached on Mar. 3. The rally underscores how RTX is increasingly viewed by investors as a geopolitical hedge, benefiting from rising global security concerns and the potential for accelerated missile and munitions production as the U.S. moves to replenish depleted stockpiles. www.barchart.com The stock is currently trading at a premium valuation compared to industry peers, at 30.33 times forward earnings. Strong Financial Performance RTX Corporation released its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Jan. 27. For the quarter ended December 2025, RTX reported sales of $24.24 billion, representing a 12% year-over-year (YOY) increase. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.55, slightly higher than the $1.54 reported a year earlier, and above the consensus estimate. Importantly, the company generated $4.2 billion in operating cash flow, translating into free cash flow of $3.2 billion, a dramatic improvement compared with $492 million in free cash flow in Q4 2024, highlighting a sharp recovery in cash generation. RTX also ended the year with a solid backlog of $268 billion, underscoring strong long-term demand for its aircraft engines, avionics, and missile systems. For the full fiscal year, RTX delivered $88.6 billion in revenue, representing 10% YOY growth. Its adjusted EPS increased to $6.29, up 10% YOY from $5.73. The company also significantly strengthened its cash generation, with free cash flow climbing to $7.9 billion, an increase of 75% YOY. The strong performance was supported by higher defense demand, a recovery in commercial aerospace services, and continued momentum across its core segments. Furthermore, RTX expects continued growth in 2026. The company guided for adjusted sales of $92 billion to $93 billion, and projected adjusted EPS of $6.60 to $6.80. RTX also anticipates free cash flow of $8.25 billion to $8.75 billion, reflecting strong demand visibility supported by its large order backlog and ongoing expansion in both defense and commercial aerospace markets. Analysts predict EPS to be around $6.81 for fiscal 2026, up 8.3% YOY, before surging by another 10.1% annually to $7.50 in fiscal 2027. What Do Analysts Expect for RTX Corporation Stock? Recently, RTX Corporation received a price-target increase from Deutsche Bank to $240 from $235 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing the strong value proposition of the Hot Section Plus upgrade for the PW1100G engine. On the other hand, last month, Jefferies reiterated a Hold rating and a $225 price target, reflecting a cautious outlook despite the stocks strong gains over the past year. Overall, RTX has a consensus Moderate Buy rating. Of the 22 analysts covering the stock, 13 advise a Strong Buy, one suggests a Moderate Buy, seven analysts are on the sidelines, giving it a Hold rating, and one recommends Strong Sell. The average analyst price target for RTX is $215.19, indicating a potential upside of 5.53%. Deutsche Banks Street-high target price of $238 suggests that the stock could rally 16.72%. www.barchart.com www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Subhasree Kar did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Its not often that we find high dividend stocks that also offer significant upside potential. However, Accenture (ACN) would fit the bill after falling over 45% from its all-time highs. The stock not only has a dividend yield of 3.1%, which is over twice the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) yield, but the average sell-side analyst sees it rising to $295.35 over the next year, which is 43% higher than current levels. Let's explore whether it makes sense to add ACN stock after the recent crash. We'll begin by analyzing why the stock has fallen in the first place. www.barchart.com Why Has Accenture Stock Dropped? There are two key reasons why Accenture stock has dropped sharply over the last year. Firstly, discretionary client spending has been cautious, and it did not help that Accenture lost federal contracts last year as part of the Donald Trump administrations cost-cutting under the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). More News from Barchart Then there is the question of the very business model of companies like Accenture amid fears that artificial intelligence (AI) might cannibalize traditional consulting and IT services. With AI looking to automate coding and back-office tasks, the "man-hours" model that firms like Accenture rely on could be at risk. The flurry of AI tools released by Anthropic particularly compounded such fears and led to a selloff in software stocks. Accenture's AI-Powered Rebound Meanwhile, even as AI is seen as an existential threat to companies like Accenture, the management thinks otherwise and believes that AI can actually help it grow its business. The company has seen strong growth in advanced AI business booking, and the metric doubled on an annual basis to $2.2 billion in fiscal Q1 2026. While an increasing number of companies are looking to adopt AI, they would also need consulting and professional services companies (like Accenture) to implement these projects. Unlike consumer AI, where adoption can be instant and seamless, in enterprise AI, companies must consider several factors, including the safety of the massive data they handle and the long-term payoffs. As CEO Julie Sweet put it during the fiscal Q1 earnings call, Clients increasingly understand that advanced AI is not a quick fix. Adopting it successfully requires foundational work to deliver P&L impact and other critical outcomes. Environmental strain is growing in a region already vulnerable, leaving some countries with little capacity to cope By Daniel Cressey ( Dialogue Earth ) On 28 February, the latest escalation between the US, Israel and Iran moved from threats to open strikes, plunging the Gulf region into crisis. Missiles have hit military and strategic targets, and governments across the region are scrambling as the risk of wider war grows. The immediate costs are evident. Senior figures, military personnel and civilians have been killed. The arc of violence is widening. Missiles and drones streak the skies over the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon and Kuwait. Families are hunkering in their homes as air defences flare and explosions echo around cities. But the damage isnt restricted to people and politics. The picture is very concerning. Thus far our monitoring has identified that a wide range of environmentally problematic sites have been targeted by conflict parties, in particular fossil fuel and military facilities, says Doug Weir, director of the Conflict and Environment Observatory, a UK-based non-profit. Experience from past conflicts shows that pollution, contamination and ecological stress can persist long after the missiles stop flying. On 3 March, Weirs observatory said it had identified 120 incidents of environmental harm related to the conflict in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Jordan, Cyprus, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. History also suggests that those countries in the region with fewer resources and weaker environmental governance will struggle to address conflict-linked harm and the risks that it poses to people and ecosystems, says Weir. Oil infrastructure under fire Few regions are as closely tied to fossil-fuel production as the Middle East. Energy infrastructure is an inevitable target in times of war, raising the prospect of major spills and pollution. During the 1991 Gulf war, hundreds of oil wells were destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of oil and gas went up in flames. Millions more were leaked, some deliberately in what was widely classified as an act of war. Thirty five years later, Qatars state-owned energy firm has suspended all LNG production, citing Iranian attacks on its facilities. A major Saudi Arabian oil refinery has been damaged by drones being intercepted nearby, according to the countrys official press agency. Oil tankers have already been struck in the Gulf, with at least one crew member reported dead. The US president, Donald Trump, has boasted of the US sinking several Iranian navy vessels. Any strike or accidental damage to refineries, storage sites or tankers risks fires that degrade air quality, the contamination of water supplies and harm to fragile marine ecosystems. Animal populations in the Gulf are already under immense pressure from decades of extraction and coastal development, compounded by rising temperatures. Oil spilled in the Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s has been linked to nearly total annihilation of its hawksbill population and a major portion of its green turtle population. Looking back to the Iran-Iraq War, and the targeting of tankers and production sites, its reasonable to be concerned about oil pollution in the coastal and marine environment, says Weir. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also warned of regional risks linked to sites holding nuclear materials. In both cases, Weir adds, the regions capacity to respond to incidents will be limited for the foreseeable future, potentially increasing their severity. Military contamination and nuclear risks The conflict raises concerns about contamination from weapons and nuclear sites in a region still grappling with the chemical legacies of earlier wars. Explosions disperse metals and other contaminants that can harm human health. Strikes on military facilities can release additional hazardous substances including explosives residues, heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and, in the case of rocket and missile sites, toxic propellants. US officials have said Iranian missile facilities have been among the targets. And fires triggered by strikes are likely to worsen air quality in cities already struggling with pollution. Studies have found links between cancer and other health problems and the depleted uranium rounds used in Iraq and other conflicts, for example. A 2010 study found that 12 years after the Gulf war, oil residues along Saudi Arabias coasts remained harmful to bottom-dwelling life, with recovery expected to take decades. Irans nuclear armament is a major premise of the current iteration of the conflict. Trump has claimed a primary objective is to destroy Irans ballistic-missile capabilities and ability to develop nuclear weapons. Israel and other Middle Eastern states struck by Iranian counterattacks also host nuclear sites, raising fears of potential radioactive release if facilities were hit. As of 2 March, no elevated radiation levels had been detected in countries bordering Iran so far, said the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi. The agency had no indication Iranian nuclear sites had been struck. But, he warned that the situation today is very concerning. We cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities. The carbon cost of conflict In the long term, the conflict may have wider environmental impacts. Militaries are among the biggest fossil fuel users in the world. The US military is by some accounts the largest institutional emitter on the planet. Work on the conflict in Gaza estimated that the first 120 days produced more emissions than did 26 individual countries and territories in a year. Shipping companies are rerouting vessels to avoid the Middle East, sending ships around the tip of Africa rather than risking the Suez canal route through the Red Sea where Iranian-linked forces have attacked shipping in the past. This makes the route significantly longer for ships travelling from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Vessels attempting to recover lost time may sail faster, burning more fuel and emitting more carbon. Disruption of the Suez canal can push up the carbon footprint of ships by nearly 50%, according to a 2024 modelling study. While the UNs trade and development body UNCTAD suggests that a round trip from Singapore to northern Europe would have 70% higher emissions if it went via the Cape of Good Hope. The issue extends into the skies. While many flights have been cancelled due to the closure of Gulf airspace to civilian planes, longer term rerouting may drive up emissions. After the invasion of Ukraine, the closure of Russian airspace to many carriers increased global aviation emissions by 1% in 2023, according to one study. The Gulf conflict has sent oil prices surging, with the Strait of Hormuz through which huge amounts of oil travels in tankers shut down. In response, oil-producing countries in the OPEC group have said they will increase supply to help mitigate the closure of the strait. In some ways, the case for renewable energy is being made in real time. Decentralised systems are harder to manipulate through supply chokepoints. Solar panels, once installed, generate energy locally, wrote Hussein Dia, a researcher on transport and sustainability at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, in the Conversation. The vulnerability shifts from ongoing fuel imports to upfront manufacturing dependence, he added. Pre-existing environmental strain in Iran Some Gulf states have invested heavily in environmental science and resilience. Saudi Arabia has plans to plant millions of trees by 2030 and protect large areas of its sea. Oman has made a large commitment to mangrove restoration. But Iran entered this conflict with deep ecological vulnerabilities and limited capacity to respond. The country was already struggling with air pollution and water shortages. It as a key example of the concept of water bankruptcy, according to work done by leading UN expert Kaveh Madani published this year. Madani argues that the word crisis, which means a temporary deviation from the baseline, is insufficient to describe the worlds water systems. These are now chronic, and baseline conditions have been eroded. Iran has pulled so much water from the ground that it has caused subsidence. Yet usage is still so high that shortages are common and supplies sometimes run out at night in major cities, according to reports. Air pollution is thought to cause thousands of deaths every year and Tehran is regularly declared one of the worlds most polluted cities. Some have linked these environmental problems especially water issues to the upswell of popular protest in the autocratic regime in the recent past. Photo of Tehran, Tochal Climbing Entry, Bame Tehran, Iran, Feb. 2026, by Nourieh Ferdosian on Unsplash The current conflict is likely to compound those pressures. Damage to infrastructure, pollution from strikes and constrained state resources could leave environmental recovery low on the list of post-war priorities. Recommended No country is immune from water bankruptcy A growing body of research suggests that addressing environmental harm after conflict is essential to long-term stability. The latest fighting risks not only worsening ecological degradation but weakening the institutions needed to repair it. In a region already strained by climate change and resource scarcity and in a world bound together by energy markets, shipping lanes and shared ecosystems the environmental consequences of this war are already crossing borders. Richard Milburn, who researches armed conflict and the environment at Kings College London, believes those consequences and reconstruction efforts must be part of the conversation. But he finds it highly unlikely these will occur outside the environmental sector echo chamber. He calls this the enduring challenge for those of us concerned about the environment. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The United States is at war with a predominantly Shiite Muslim country. It is certain that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a white Christian nationalist with extremist white Christian nationalist tattoos, who views himself as leading a Crusade against Islam, knows nothing about Shiite Islam and has never read a book about it, visited a Shiite mosque, or familiarized himself with the spiritual geography of Iran. Yesterday, according to scenes on Iranian television, masses of Shiites flocked to mosques for Friday prayers and for sermons eulogizing the martyr, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death was fitted into the framework of Shiite mourning for martyrs. People are people, and I dont want to suggest that Shiites cant compromise or indeed that they always live up to their ideals. But they do have a distinctive moral style, and Hegseths and Trumps assumption that they would be willing just to put their heads down to avoid death was incorrect. For Shiites, steadfastness in a cause unto martyrdom is noble, Shiites comprise ten to fifteen percent of the worlds Muslims. The Muslim faith was founded by the Prophet Muhammad in 610-632 as an monotheist ethical religion that sees itself as a continuation of Judaism and Christianity, the essential truth of which it admits. I wrote a book about the Prophet Muhammad: Juan Cole, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires (Bold Type Books, 2018). Click here to Buy. Since Americans are at war with a Muslim country, they might want to get up to speed and read it. Shiite Islam differs from the Sunni version in several key ways. One is that Shiites believe that after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632, the Muslim community should have been led by his close relatives. The first leader should have been `Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophets cousin and son-in-law. Shiites believe that he should have been succeeded by his sons with the Prophets daughter, Fatimah, first Hasan and then Husayn. 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. In fact, Ali only came to power briefly as Commander of the Faithful, 656-661, and after his death power shifted to the Umayyad dynasty based in Damascus. The Shiites termed their spiritual leaders Imams, while over time Sunnis began calling theirs Caliphs. Hasan agreed not to pursue a claim to secular leadership so as to avoid any continuation of what had become a civil war, though Shiites recognized him as the second Imam. His brother Husayn, however, felt an obligation to stand up for the Muslims in Iraq, who felt oppressed by the Umayyad kings. In 680 the Umayyad Caliph Yazid sent an army to put down what he saw as a rebellion, which killed Husayn and several of his close family, including an infant son. I wrote a book about Shiite Islam: Juan Cole, Sacred Space and Holy War (London: IB Tauris, 2002). Click here to buy. The martyrdom of Husayn for Shiites is like the passion of Christ for Christians. They ritually mourn for him during the first ten days of the month of Muharram every year. The mourning rituals have varied over the centuries, but they have always been emotional, with weeping over the stories of his stand at Karbala in Iraq. There are gatherings and street processions. People strike their breasts. Although the upper classes and the high clergy discourage it, some working class Shiites flagellate, striking their bare breasts with chains or even cutting their foreheads with knives. These latter practices are rare nowadays. Boys become men when they first join in street processions, striking their chests with their hands, feeling the sting as they mourn the fallen Imam. There is another round of mourning on the fortieth day after the Imams death date. Sunnis dont engage in these practices, though they have joined processions in the past in places with a lot of Shiites, as in Lucknow in India. In pre-modern India even Hindus sometimes also mourned Husayn, who was praised by Mahatma Gandhi. I wrote a book about the Shiites of India, a community that is, like that of Pakistan, furious with the United States over the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. I dont know if your news channels are telling you, but there have been numerous attacks on US embassies, in Karachi and Lahore and big demos in parts of India. Juan Cole, Roots of North Indian Shiism in Iran and Iraq, Religion and State in Awadh, 1722-1859. Click here to buy American conservatives who despise Barack Hussein Obama for his middle name are engaging in Islamophobia and showing disrespect to the martyred Imam Husayn, whose life and death have touched many people inside and outside Islam. It is just prejudice toward a Semitic name; I have argued that it is no different from despising Benjamin Franklin or Zachary Taylor for not having an Aryan first name. Hasan means good or handsome, and Husayn is the diminutive. Ironically, in Arabic the diminutive can be used to indicate the superlative. I suppose it is like when people call the ripped, tall bodyguard Tiny. So Husayn was very good or very handsome. Most Iranian Shiites believe that there were twelve Imams. The last one disappeared as a small child in Samarra, Iraq, to escape persecution in 874 A.D. Just as Christians believe that Jesus ascended into heaven, from which he will one day return, so Shiites believe that Muhammad al-Mahdi went into occultation and will someday return as the Guided One to restore justice to the world. These two ideas, martyrdom and the expectation of the return of the Imam, have deeply shaped Shiite spirituality. Also important is studying the sayings and doings of the Imams. Admittedly, nowadays not all Iranians are devoted Shiites. The youths in particular have often turned away from religion. But many Iranians are believers. The late Ayatollah Ali Husayni Khamenei was recognized as a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad or Sayyid, which gave him high status in a Shiite society. He claimed direct descent from Imam Husayn. His refusal to retreat to a bunker, which allowed the US or the Israelis to bombard his home, killing him, his wife and daughter-in-law, was a claim on martyrdom. Alive, he was controversial because he had mismanaged the country and imposed an iron discipline on it, declining to countenance any movement toward liberalization. He also made the huge mistake of propping up the secular Baathist dicatorship of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, where his name is mud. He became a tyrant who ordered the mass slaughter of likely over 5,000 protesters in mid-January. But by murdering him from the air on February 28, Tel Aviv and Washington made him a martyr. And not only in Iran. Half of Tunisians admire him, and Iraqis are boiling mad over his killing. Most Shiites around the world do not believe in the Iranian Shiite notion of clerical rule, and I suspect a majority of Iranians dont anymore either. But most do respect prominent Shiite clergymen. Yesterday in Tehran at the Mosalla Mosque associated with Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, the Friday prayers sermon was given by Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Javad Hajj Ali Akbari. To the packed crowd, he described Khamenei as a martyr, a spiritual guide, and the physician for pain. He told of Khameneis eventful life and his role as a revolutionary against the American-backed dictatorship of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the deposed shah or king. He praised his immersion in the holy Quran, the Muslim scripture. He asked the masses of worshipers, How can we continue on his path? He said that the answer was that they must follow his words and his example. They must struggle (jihad) for the faith, they must be willing to accept martyrdom in its path. Iran was shaking with bombing raids during the Friday prayers, no doubt, but huge crowds braved the danger. Sermons like that of Ali Akbari were delivered in cities all over the country. It reminds me of the Shiite processions and mosque activism in Iraq under American occupation. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Ghana condemned on Saturday an attack a day earlier on a UN base in southern Lebanon that seriously wounded three Ghanaian UN peacekeepers. Ghana said it had lodged a formal complaint with the UN. It demanded "that those responsible be identified and held accountable, as the attack constitutes a grave violation of international law, amounts to war crime and affronts the protections afforded to United Nations peacekeeping personnel". The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, has accused Israel of targeting them, and the UN peacekeeping force has said it will investigate. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres "condemns the incident on Friday March 6 which resulted in three Ghanaian peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) being injured inside their position in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon". "The secretary general underscores that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times, and that those responsible must be held accountable. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected by all." In its formal complaint to the UN, the Ghanaian government called for a "full, immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on personnel deployed in the service of international peace and security". It said the officers' mess building inside UNFIL base had been burned to the ground in the strike. The attack occurred during an exchange of fire between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah. The international UN peacekeeping force has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. On Friday, the UN demanded swift investigations into waves of fatal Israeli strikes across Lebanon. Dujarric said the UN urged the parties to the conflict "to de-escalate immediately and fully adhere to their obligations under (UN) Security Council resolution 1701". The UN resolution was designed to end a conflict in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. It served as the basis for a ceasefire agreement in 2024 between Hezbollah and Israel. Emblazoned on signs at thousands of gas stations worldwide, Chevron Corporations (CVX) stacked blue and red V logo is an instantly recognizable symbol of corporate identity, one so iconic it actually shaped the companys rebranding in 1984, when what was then known as Standard Oil Company of California changed its name to Chevron Corporation. But Chevrons logo means much more than fill er up. Embodying both ancient symbolism and American industrial might, it also became known as an emblem for quality. So, what, exactly, does it signify? What does the Chevron symbol mean? The symbol of a chevron, or a V-shaped geometrical figure, has been used for thousands of years: It appeared on knights shields in the Middle Ages as a sign of protection. It can also be seen in architecture, like the herringbone patterns on the floors of European chateaus, representing strength and luxury. It has also been widely used as a military insignia to signify rank and honor. During World War II, for instance, the US Army used chevrons as a visual identifier for specialists, such as medics. The pattern can even be found in some of the worlds earliest known artworks, created during the Neolithic era, etched onto deer bones as an expression of complex culture. Chevrons logo is built around two inverted chevrons, one in blue and the other red, stacked atop a white background, forming a shield-like shape. The name Chevron appears above, in a round, sans-serif font. According to brand analysts, this design represented a clean and simple look that reflected the 20th centurys industrial optimism. It was also meant to signify trustworthiness, and some even say that the red, white, and blue color scheme is a subtle nod to the American flag. Related: Who owns Chevron? Understanding who controls one of the worlds largest energy companies What are the origins of the Chevron logo? Back in 1879, when the company was known as the Pacific Coast Oil Company, its logo embodied the ornate typography typical of the Victorian era. In 1906, Pacific Coast Oil Company became Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL), and a few years after that, in 1931, SOCAL introduced its chevron logo to standardize brand identity and set it apart from competitors, in the companys words. More on brands: The logo quickly became a sign of quality, and the word Chevron, which was originally used on Depression-era affiliate gasoline products, became so widely recognized that Chevron Corp. started using it as its official identity. A drone strike hit oil infrastructure in Bahrains Maameer industrial area, according to multiple early reports Thursday morning, raising concerns about the vulnerability of Gulf refining assets as regional tensions escalate. The Maameer area is home to infrastructure connected to BAPCOs refining operations. While full details remain limited, early reports indicate an Iranian ballistic missile attack targeted energy infrastructure in the industrial zone rather than upstream production. More from Yahoo Scout What is Bahrain's role in regional refined fuel supply? What impact did the Bahrain refinery strike have on energy markets? Why are refinery disruptions more critical than crude production losses? How vulnerable are Gulf refining assets to regional attacks? Authorities have not yet released a full damage assessment, although reports mention several large fires at Bahrain Petroleum Companys primary refinery. It remains unclear whether refinery operations have been disrupted. Editors' Update: Bahrain's BAPCO confirms a strike on its 405k b/d Sitra refinery; no casualties were confirmed. BAPCO claims that the refinery is still operational and that the fire has been contained. Energy markets reacted quickly to the reports, with refining margins widening as traders moved to price in the risk of supply disruptions. Crack spreadsan indicator of refinery profitability that measures the price difference between crude oil and refined products such as gasoline and dieselhave been climbing as markets begin to focus on refining capacity as a potential pressure point. Diesel margins, tracked by the ICE gasoil crack spread against Brent, widened as traders priced in potential refinery disruptions in the Gulf. ICE low-sulfur gasoil futures surged more than $100 per metric ton in early trading, far outpacing gains in Brent crude, which rose only a few dollars per barrel as traders brace for potential disruptions to diesel and jet fuel supply. In recent days, attacks and threats against energy infrastructure across the Gulf have increasingly shifted attention away from crude production and toward the refining system that turns crude into usable fuels. Global crude supply is typically buffered by inventories and spare production capacity, allowing markets time to adjust to supply losses. Refining capacity, however, is far less flexible. Damage to a refinery can tighten product markets almost immediately, pushing up prices for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Friday, March 6, 2026 - Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga recently paid a courtesy call to her brother and ODM party leader, Dr. Oburu Odinga, to discuss strategies for strengthening unity and cohesion within the party. However, social media quickly shifted attention from the meeting to Ruths striking physical appearance after she shared photos of the visit. Many netizens couldnt stop praising her natural beauty, with most focusing on her nyash, jokingly commenting that ata haitoshei kwa kiti, implying that it is too big to go unnoticed even while sitting. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 06, 2026 - Citizen TVs news anchor, Lillian Muli, has vowed never to eat restaurantprepared salads again after a regrettable encounter with kachumbari left her unwell. Taking to her Instagram stories, she narrated how the popular tomato and onion mix, often served as a side dish in Kenyan eateries, turned into a health scare. Never again salads in restaurants ama kachumbari sick. Though she did not disclose the name of the establishment, her warning resonated with thousands of Kenyans who have faced similar experiences. Her revelation highlights a broader public health concern. While street foods such as smokie pasua and mutura often attract criticism for hygiene lapses, Mulis case shows that even established restaurants can struggle with food safety standards. Experts caution that raw salads are particularly highrisk since they are not cooked. If vegetables are not thoroughly washed with treated water, they can carry harmful bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella. Netizens quickly joined the conversation, with some sharing their own food horror stories of salads or street snacks that ended in hospital visits. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 06, 2026 - A beautiful and youthful female preacher has set social media ablaze after her stunning photos went viral, sparking wild reactions from netizens. Many openly admired her looks, with some going beyond compliments to make cheeky - and hilarious - requests. One mans comment in particular has gone viral, leaving netizens in stitches. Responding under one of her photos, he wrote: Mchungaji kuna kichwa nataka uwekelee mikono. The playful remark, loosely interpreted as a humorous request for prayer, has drawn mixed interpretations and endless memes. Kenyans are indeed ungovernable. The Kenyan DAILY POST Ecopetrol SA (NYSE:EC) is one of the Stocks to Watch Right Now. Ecopetrol snapped two days of losses on Thursday, jumping 8.80 percent to end at $12.61 apiece, as investors took heart from its aggressive expansion initiative as it eyes to take advantage of the surging oil prices globally. According to CEO Ricardo Roa following Ecopetrol SAs (NYSE:EC) earnings release, the company would review its investment plan in April should oil prices continue to rise. EcoPetrol Photo from Ecopetrol website It is also setting its sights on partnering with Venezuela amid the latters abundance of crude oil products. It can be recalled that the US took control of Venezuelan oil in January this year after it captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, for alleged narco-trafficking. Additionally, Ecopetrol SA (NYSE:EC) Chief Finance Officer Camilo Barco said that the company may need to take on additional debt if it sees huge opportunities for inorganic growth, including acquisition or asset purchases. In other news, Ecopetrol SA (NYSE:EC) announced the distribution of 110 Colombian peso worth of dividends per share held, equivalent to a payout of 50.1 percent of its 2025 net income, payable no later than April 30, 2026. Last year, the company dropped its net income by 39 percent to 9.03 trillion Colombian pesos from 14.9 trillion Colombian pesos in 2024, as total sales dropped by 10.2 percent to 119.7 trillion Colombian pesos from 133.3 trillion Colombian pesos year-on-year. While we acknowledge the potential of EC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, 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. Friday, March 06, 2026 - X user, @Kieni_Vic, has dropped receipts alleging that slay queen Katheu Nzyimi was once gifted an iPhone by disgraced car dealer, Khalif Kairo, after a brief fling during his glory days. Kairo, who used to flaunt his flashy lifestyle online while dating Instagrams creme de la creme, had bragged about gifting a mystery lady an iPhone worth 250K just to prove his wealth. At the time, he kept her identity under wraps, but Twitter sleuths now claim the mystery girl was none other than Katheu, then just 19 years old. Meanwhile, Kairo is still fighting to rebuild his reputation after his car dealership collapsed, leaving clients unpaid, cars undelivered and landing him behind bars. Now, old tweets of Kairo mocking people while flexing his wealth are resurfacing, dragging Katheu back into the spotlight. And just like that, shes trending again - but for all the wrong reasons. See her photos below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 6, 2026 - Details have emerged regarding the identity of a university student who was reportedly killed by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after refusing to terminate her pregnancy. Reports circulating on social media claim that the young woman, identified as Regina Wairimu, had been involved in a secret affair with Gachagua that resulted in pregnancy. Gachagua is said to have pressured her to end the pregnancy. When she reportedly refused, the situation escalated tragically. According to the claims, both the lady and her unborn child lost their lives. The matter had previously been mentioned in sections of the media, where the individual involved was described only as a top politician, without being publicly named. Gachaguas former Communications Director, Martha J Miano, has revealed that he was the prime suspect behind the students murder through an explosive Facebook post. At the time of her death, Regina was a fourth year student at the Dedan Kimathi University. She died on February 12th, 2023 when Gachagua was still holding office. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 6, 2026 - A response letter written by youthful Nairobi-based advocate, Victor Muatine, after one of his clients was sued over defamation has sparked debate within the legal fraternity. Muatines response, which has since circulated widely online, has left many lawyers talking due to the unusual tone and language used in the correspondence. Some members of the legal fraternity have described the response as bold and unconventional, while others argue that the language used in the letter was unprofessional and not in line with the decorum expected in legal communication. Read the full response below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Colombias state-controlled oil giant Ecopetrol may increase spending and boost output if elevated oil prices persist amid the escalating Middle East conflict, the companys chief executive said Thursday. Benchmark Brent crude has surged to its highest level in more than a year following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and disruptions to exports from the Persian Gulf. Brent climbed to more than $85 per barrel this week, up from roughly $70 before the conflict erupted on February 28. Ecopetrol CEO Ricardo Roa told analysts during the companys quarterly earnings call that the firm is closely watching market developments and could adjust capital spending to take advantage of stronger prices. We will of course be reviewing the situation, Roa said. If we see the potential for higher investments we will adjust our capex to be on the higher range of our guidance, with the capability of increasing production on a short term basis. Ecopetrol has budgeted between $5.4 billion and $6.7 billion in capital expenditures this year. About 57% of that spending is allocated to exploration and production, while power subsidiary ISA accounts for roughly 25%. Downstream operations represent 7%, midstream activities 6%, and energy transition initiatives about 5%. Related: How Chinas Rare Earth Ban Backfired into a U.S. Tech Breakthrough Ecopetrol previously projected slightly lower production this year. The company expects average output of 730,000 to 740,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026, compared with 751,000 barrels per day in H1 last year. As of November 2025, their 2026 production plans were based on just $60 Brent. Company executives cautioned that the ultimate impact of the Middle East conflict remains uncertain. Chief Financial Officer Camilo Barco said it was too early to determine how the geopolitical crisis might affect Ecopetrols finances, noting that higher crude prices could be partially offset by rising shipping and transportation costs. It depends on how long the conflict will last and the extent to which it affects exporters in that region, Barco said. Stronger crude prices could increase demand for Colombian barrels and refined products, Barco added, but freight rates have already surged sharply amid the turmoil. Shipping costs are currently running roughly 150% to 160% higher, potentially eroding some of the gains from higher oil prices. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A FIXED speed camera at a single location in Graiguenaspiddoge, Co Carlow brought 34 drivers before Carlow District Court recently, although for many of them the law proved more forgiving than the lens. Of the 34 cases arising from the same stretch of road, 17 were struck out or withdrawn and three were dismissed by Judge Fiona Brennan, leaving a clutch of convicted motorists nursing 400 fines and, in one case, a rather stiffer 500 penalty. The busiest period for the camera was the first fortnight of July, when it caught a string of drivers exceeding the 100kph limit. On the morning of 3 July at 6.58am, Lee Gabbett, North Main St, Wexford, was recorded travelling at 114kph. By 4.20pm that same day, Cieragh Tarpey, Oaklawns, Paulstown, Kilkenny had pushed the needle to 115kph. Before the day was out, Sabrina Louise Murphy, Woodlawns Close, Borris was clocked at 118kph and Craig Fagan, Fullers Court, Ballitore, Athy at 116kph. None of the four appeared in court, none had paid their fixed-charge notice and all four were convicted and fined 400. Two days later, on 5 July, Rita Keogh, Raheen, Brittas, Dublin was caught at 111kph and received the same fine. Her fellow motorist that day, Ann Connors, Ballyprecas, Wexford, was recorded at a more spirited 128kph the highest speed of the entire bunch. The court noted that Ms Connors had only owned the vehicle since 1 July, making her speed camera debut remarkably prompt. She, too, was fined 400. The following day, Luke Connors of Piercetown, Station Road, Newbridge, who did not appear, was fined 400 for travelling at 113kph. and on 7 July Isac Bethel Gabor of Congress Hall, Dunboyne, Co Meath was caught at 117kph and received the same penalty. Not everyone who came before Judge Brennan left with a fine, however. Raymond Furlong, The Ramblings, Portsway, Bunclody, Co Carlow, who was present in court on 7 July, explained that his vehicle had been clocked speeding while he was home on holidays from Australia. His son, he said, had been driving the car and had accepted responsibility. I had two choices, Mr Furlong told the court, pay the fine and accept the penalty points or come to court. Judge Brennan dismissed the matter, leaving Mr Furlong with a clean record. Marius Mihoc, Brookfield, Artane, Dublin 5 similarly escaped penalty points after giving sworn evidence that he had been out of the country visiting family in Romania when his company van was caught at 108kph on 20 July. He had, he explained, lent it to one of the lads. The judge dismissed the case. Siobhan Keogh, Betaghstown, Clane, Co Kildare, whose vehicle was clocked at 113kph on 20 July, told Judge Brennan she had never received a fixed-charge notice. Although evidence suggested one had been posted to her address, she gave sworn testimony that her mother suffers from dementia and had access to the post, from which items had been known to go missing. The case was dismissed. Among those convicted was Milko Yankou, Main St, Ballon, Co Carlow, whose appetite for speed proved costly. Caught at 108kph on 11 July and again at 109kph the next day, he was fined 400 for the first offence and a sharper 500 for the second, with 12 months to pay. Eugene Breslin of Ballydawmore, Kinnacross, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford clocked in at 110kph on the evening of 8 July, was convicted and fined 400 in his absence. Thomas Cowman (Carrigbawn, Bunclody, Co Wexford) recorded at 118kph on 20 July, shared the same fate. Alan McDonagh (Dranagh Lane, Kilcormac, Boolavogue, Enniscorthy) at 119kph on 21 July and Hugh Byrne (Glasheroge, Spahill, Carlow) at 110kph the following day also received 400 fines. One case was adjourned until mid-March. Among the withdrawn cases, one had been issued to the address of an incorrect registration plate. One man arrived ready to deliver a prepared statement in his defence, only to be halted by Judge Brennan, who informed him that his case had already been struck out and that no statement was required. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme THERE are enough local shoplifters in Portlaoise without tourists coming to the town doing the same thing. So Judge Andrew Cody said at the local district court last week when a man appeared before him for the theft of an air fryer from a local store. When the case was called, solicitor for the defendant, Josephine Fitzpatrick, said that her client had spent the previous two days in custody and had been in a poor state when he was in court on the first day. Garda Insp Barry Houlihan said that on 9 February gardai received a report of the theft of an air fryer to the value of 70 from the Lidl store in Portlaoise. He said the defendant was caught a short distance away and the item was recovered in a resaleable condition. Sean Keenan (30), Rosse Court Heights, Balgaddy Road, Lucan, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to the offence. The court heard the defendant had 119 previous convictions, with his most recent conviction on 5 July 2024. When I met him on Tuesday (in court), he wasnt in great shape, said Ms Fitzpatrick. Thanks to the good work of the gardai, the item was recovered. Judge Andrew Cody said: Hes a young man with 119 previous convictions. He wanted to know: Had he any other reason of being in Portlaoise, apart from stealing? We have enough of our own without tourists coming in to steal as well. He went on to convict Mr Keenan of the offence and jailed him for six months. Ms Fitzpatrick asked to fix recognisance if her client wished to appeal against the sentence. Judge Cody commented: He is the man that did a runner from the court (two days previously) and was arrested on the Main Street by gardai. The judge went in to fix an own bail recognisance of 2,000, a cash lodgement of 100 and an independent surety of 1,000. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme. Newpark Hotel Kilkenny has once again been recognised as one of Irelands top destinations for family breaks, celebrating a standout achievement at the Gold Medal Hotel Awards by being named Best Family Friendly Hotel for the third consecutive year. The prestigious Gold Medal Hotel Awards, recognised as Irelands leading independent awards programme for the hospitality industry, took place at The Galmont Hotel & Spa, bringing together hospitality leaders from across the country to celebrate excellence, consistency and innovation within the sector. Securing the Best Family Friendly Hotel title for a third year in a row marks a significant milestone for the family-owned Kilkenny hotel and reflects its ongoing commitment to memorable, experience-led stays for people of all ages. From spacious family accommodation to child-friendly dining, dedicated leisure facilities and a warm, people-first service, Newpark Hotel has continued to set the benchmark for family hospitality in Ireland, always inspired by their motto Let our Family look after yours. READ NEXT: Kilkenny City ready to deliver a festival atmosphere for St Patricks Day and festival Central to Newpark Hotels family offering is Jurassic Newpark, the hotels much-loved outdoor adventure experience set within the hotel grounds and offered complimentary for resident guests. Designed to encourage imagination, exploration and shared play, Jurassic Newpark has become a defining part of the Newpark experience for families travelling from across Ireland. The award also reflects Newpark Hotels strong focus on customer experience, with warmth, attention to detail and a genuine sense of welcome underpinning every stay. As part of the Flynn Hotel Collection, the hotel remains proudly family-run, with an ethos centred on people, place and long-term investment. TAP HERE FOR MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS Commenting on the win, General Managers Niall Dunne and Mark Flynn said:To be recognised as Best Family Friendly Hotel for the third year in a row is an incredible honour and a real testament to the dedication of our entire team. Everything we do at Newpark Hotel is driven by a desire to create meaningful, memorable experiences for our guests. Were immensely proud of our colleagues and sincerely grateful to the families who continue to choose Newpark Hotel year after year. While best known for its family offering, Newpark Hotel also caters to adults seeking relaxation and indulgence, with an adult-only floor featuring hot-tub balcony suites, an infinity pool, Escape Spa and Leisure Centre, and a choice of dining options including Scotts Brasserie, The Terrace and Gullivers Italian Inspired Restaurant, alongside live music in the hotels spacious lobby. For more information, visit newparkhotelkilkenny.com. Kilkenny-based Senator, Patricia Stephenson (SD), criticised the Governments signalling of support for a revision of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and called for clarity on the reasons behind its position in the Seanad on Thursday. The possible shift in policy was triggered by a joint statement signed by 26 of 46 Council of Europe justice ministers, including Jim OCallaghan TD (FF), pushing for alterations to the Convention to curb migration challenges. The statement urges a re-examination of Articles 3 and 8, which detail protections from torture and inhumane or degrading treatment and guard the right to respect for private and family life respectively, as they have come under criticism for acting as a barrier against the deportation of illegal migrants. Opponents to the changes have argued that they could lead to a weakening of the protection of human rights across the EU while Senator Stephenson referred to the statement as a quiet but insidious shift in Irish policy. Addressing Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Charlie McConalogue TD (FF), the Senator questioned the nature of the deeply concerning and perplexing u-turn along with what she considered to be insufficient public consultation. READ NEXT: We have an awful lot in common: Japanese animation talent honing craft with Cartoon Saloon stay - Kilkenny Live This would weaken our standards on torture and inhumane and degrading treatment, she said. The whole process around the political decision to support amending elements of the ECHR was done without any meaningful public debate, she added. Critics have also pointed out that weakening the Convention could have implications for the Good Friday Agreement with Ireland itself bringing the first ever inter-state case against the UK in relation to the conduct of British soldiers and treatment of those interned. The Court ruled in 1978 that Article 3 breaches of inhumane and degrading treatment had occurred with Ireland also launching a case against the Troubles Legacy Act bill in 2023. Minister McConalogue replied that the changes were being sought in the context of contemporary challenges posed by both irregular migration and by the situation of foreigners convicted of serious offences, taking duly into account governments fundamental responsibility to ensure national security and public safety. Senator Stephenson went on to question the truth behind the claim that the Convention was a reason behind deportations being prevented as no data is available for this while also highlighting the fact that countries like France, Germany, Spain and Turkey, which take in a disproportionate amount of migrants, did not sign the statement. Concluding, the Senator once again called for the protection of human rights agreements in the midst of uncertain times and huge pressure for international law. We are living through utterly terrifying times in terms of global norms being ripped up. During times of turbulence and polarisation, we need to be holding on to the legal frameworks which underpin our self-proclaimed values of human rights and dignity. The Steering Committee for Human Rights of the Council of Europe will meet to discuss the Convention next week while a declaration in favour of the alterations is expected to be adopted at the next formal session of the Committee of Ministers in Chisinau, Moldova in May. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS Article funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Key Takeaways The Trump administration is working on new rules to restrict exports of advanced chips, Bloomberg reported. Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and other semiconductor stocks slumped Thursday before paring back losses. America's chip export rules could get tougher. That hit some big tech stocks today. The Trump administration is working on new rules that could require companies to obtain permission from the government for exports of "virtually all" of their AI accelerators, according to a Bloomberg report. The news weighed on a number of chip stocks during a down day for stocks broadly. More from Yahoo Scout What export deals have Nvidia and AMD made? How did semiconductor stocks react to export restriction news? Why haven't Nvidia's China chip sales generated revenue yet? What new chip export rules is Trump considering? Shares of AI chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and other semiconductor firms slumped Thursday before paring back losses. Broadcom (AVGO) was a bright spot in the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index (SOX), logging a nearly 5% gain after a better-than-expected earnings report. Why This Matters to Investors The rules reported by Bloomberg would represent another setback for investors of American AI chipmakers such as Nvidia and AMD, who have been eager to see the companies sell more of their advanced chips to other countries. Nvidia, AMD, and the Bureau of Industry and Securitywhich oversees semiconductor export controlsdid not respond to Investopedia's requests for comment in time for publication. The framework could further limit sales by chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD, the report said, as well as spur a flurry of new export licensing agreements like the ones President Donald Trump brokered with the two companies in recent months. Nvidia and AMD last year won approvals from the Trump administration to export some of their more advanced chips to China in exchange for sharing a cut of their revenues. Still, those sales haven't been easy to land: Nvidia executives said last week that the company has yet to generate any revenue from sales of its Trump-approved H200 chips to China. Trump's team hasn't finalized the new rules and they could still be subject to change or shelved in favor of other priorities, according to the report. Read Investopedia's full coverage of Thursday's trading here. Read the original article on Investopedia By Naveen Thukral and Ed White SINGAPORE/WINNIPEG, March 5 (Reuters) - The world's farmers face soaring fertiliser and fuel prices as the war in the Middle East escalates, leaving some scrambling for supplies as the spring planting season approaches. The war, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, has shut down fertiliser plants in the region and severely disrupted shipping routes, potentially curbing supplies to key importers around the world just as farmers in the Northern Hemisphere prepare to plant seeds. More from Yahoo Scout How might crop choices change due to fertilizer price spikes? What are farmers facing with spring planting season approaching? How is the Middle East war disrupting fertilizer supplies? Which countries are most affected by fertilizer supply disruptions? "It's a mess because it's spring," said Cedric Benoist, who farms wheat, barley and other crops south of Paris, referring to global fertiliser prices that have jumped by dozens of euros per metric ton. "This situation can't continue." Farmers from Srinagar in Kashmir to Saskatchewan in Canada rely on fertilizer and diesel shipped through the strait, the conduit for about one-third of global trade in fertilizer and 20% of the world's export fuels. Because of a global grains glut, many farmers were already expecting to lose money on this year's crop. Now the outlook is especially gloomy for farmers who still need to buy spring fertilizer, like Jeff Harrison of Quinte West in Ontario. "We're in a real bad situation now," Harrison said. Prices in the United States, which imports much of its fertilizer needs despite a large domestic industry, rose at the war's outbreak. Prices for fertilizer jumped from $516 per metric ton on Friday to up to $683 at the import hub of New Orleans on Thursday. Prices could jump higher if the Persian Gulf closure persists and shipments can't make it in time for spring planting, analysts told Reuters. "Literally, this could not happen at a worse time of the year," said StoneX analyst Josh Linville. Seth Meyer, former U.S. Department of Agriculture chief economist and now at the Food and Agricultural Policy Institute, said farmers might alter crop choices and fertilizer applications due to the price spike. Farmers need fertilizers for virtually all their crops if they want a good yield, but each crop and the soil they are grown in have different demands. Farmers could cut back on corn, which requires high rates of nitrogen fertiliser, or else sharply reduce fertiliser application rates, Meyer said. Shipments from the Middle East are likely to drop not only because transit through the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped, but also due to cuts in production. Qatar Energy has had to stop production at the world's largest single-site urea plant, as it lost its source of natural gas feedstock after the company shut down gas output due to attacks on its LNG facilities. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 47F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 47F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Weather Alert ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO NOON CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...South winds shifting to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois and central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to noon CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && With a market cap of $51.1 billion, Ford Motor Company (F) designs, manufactures, markets, and services Ford trucks, SUVs, commercial vans, passenger cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles across markets such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. Its operations are organized into segments including Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro, and Ford Credit, covering internal combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicle development along with digital technologies. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally considered "large-cap" stocks, and Ford Motor fits this criterion perfectly. In addition to vehicle production and sales through dealers and distributors, the company provides financing, leasing, telematics, EV charging solutions, and other mobility services to retail and commercial customers. More News from Barchart Shares of the American car maker have declined 15.7% from its 52-week high of $14.80. Over the past three months, shares of Ford Motor have fallen 3.6%, underperforming the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLY) nearly 3% drop over the same period. www.barchart.com Shares of Ford Motor have declined 4.3% on a YTD basis, lagging behind XLY's 2.7% decrease. However, longer term, F shares have surged 30.2% over the past 52 weeks, outpacing XLYs 9.9% gain during the same period. The stock has shown a bullish trend, consistently trading above its 50-day moving average since late April 2025 and 200-day moving average since early May 2025. www.barchart.com Shares of F rose 2.1% following its Q4 2025 results on Feb. 10. The company reported record full-year revenue of $187.3 billion, marking its fifth consecutive year of revenue growth, and generated $21.3 billion in operating cash flow with $3.5 billion in adjusted free cash flow for 2025. Investors were also encouraged by strong performance in the Ford Pro segment, which produced over $66 billion in revenue and $6.8 billion in EBIT with double-digit margins, along with a 55% jump in Ford Credit earnings to $2.6 billion. Additionally, the company issued a positive 2026 outlook, forecasting adjusted EBIT of $8 billion - $10 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $5 billion - $6 billion. COLUMBIA If you get a text message from the Department of Revenue that threatens you, I can guarantee its a scam, department Director Trish Vincent said. Delete it and spread the word. Vincent's comment comes as the Department of Revenue is warning residents about a new surge in phishing scam text messages falsely claiming to come from the Department of Revenue or the Department of Motor Vehicles. The department issued a public alert Thursday, urging Missourians to stay vigilant as phishing texts continue to circulate statewide. The Department of Revenue said the messages often accuse recipients of owing unpaid traffic violations, toll charges or other fines. Some texts threaten consequences such as suspension of driving privileges or additional penalties if payment is not made. Missouri Department of Revenue warns of text scam surge Missourians are urged to be cautious as phishing texts claiming to be the Department of Revenue or Department of Motor Vehicles surge. The department said these messages are scams and are not legitimate communications from the agency. Vincent said the scams are not new but continue to circulate periodically. This is not the first time this has happened, Vincent said. People are getting texts saying you have a toll you didnt pay, or you have a traffic ticket, or your license is going to be suspended. The Department of Revenue would never, ever send out a text like that. The department emphasized that it does not request payment or personal information through text messages. Officials urge anyone who receives one of the messages not to click links, respond or provide information. Any legitimate business is not going to text you and ask for your bank account or your Social Security number, Vincent said. That is not how reputable businesses operate. She said the scams are not limited to Missouri and are being reported nationwide. Its happening everywhere, Vincent said. Weve heard about it from other states as well. These bad actors are targeting every state, and because everyone has a mobile device, its an easy way for them to reach people. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. According to the department, scammers typically send messages designed to appear urgent or threatening. Some claim a driver owes money for toll roads or traffic violations. Vincent said one common claim should immediately raise suspicion in Missouri. First of all, we dont have toll roads in Missouri, Vincent said. Thats one tell right there. The department said the scams often appear in waves, lasting several weeks before resurfacing again later. Vincent said the timing may not be random. One theory is that its tax time, Vincent said. People are already thinking about the Department of Revenue, so when they see a message like that, they might panic and think they have to respond. The agency said the messages are often sent in bulk using automated systems that distribute texts to large lists of phone numbers. Vincent said scammers are usually difficult to identify or track down. They just send these messages out to see how much money they can get from people, Vincent said. Unfortunately, people do fall for this. Officials say clicking links in scam messages can be dangerous, and links may install allow scammers to access sensitive information stored on a phone. They want you to click on that link, Vincent said. They may be able to load malware onto your phone and scrape information like bank accounts or credit card numbers. The department continues to receive calls and emails from residents asking whether the texts are legitimate. People call us all the time asking what they should do, Vincent said. The answer is simple: Its a scam. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Ford Motor Co. reported a 5.5% decline in its U.S. February sales as it scales back EV offerings amid an anti-electric-vehicle policy environment. 149,962 Units Sold In February The automaker reported 149,962 units sold in the U.S. market during February, illustrating a 5.5% YoY decline from 2025's 158,675 figure, the company reported on Wednesday. Ford YTD sales were 285,324, 5.4% lower than 2025s 301,619 units sold. The company, however, recorded more than a 30% uptick in its large SUV sales. Ford's Expedition rose 27%, while the Explorer's sales surged by over 33%. The Ford Bronco was up 28%, demonstrating a record start for the product. Don't Miss: Ford also reported a 16% decline in F-Series pickup trucks, including a 76% drop in sales for the F-150 Lightning EV Pickup Truck, which was discontinued by Ford recently. Ford's EV Rollback Ford recently rolled back its efforts to develop EVs as it pushes to focus more on ICE vehicles. However, the automaker has committed to developing EVs with its Universal EV Platform, which will underpin the company's upcoming $30,000 Midsize EV pickup truck in 2027. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company U.S.-Iran Conflict The dip comes amid the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which has intensified. Ford's shares dipped as oil prices surged across the globe. Iran has also said that it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route for the global crude oil supply chain. The Strait of Hormuz is also responsible for over 27% of the worlds crude oil supply. Meanwhile, an oil spillage was reported over 60 kms away from Kuwait, as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that there was a large explosion on the port side of the tanker near Mubarak Al Kabeer, Kuwait. Read Next: This Under-$1 Pre-IPO AI Company Is Still Open to Retail Investors Learn More Its no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Heres how everyday investors are getting started. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. A GP has admitted to poor professional performance over his physical examination of an army officer at the Curragh Camp in Kildare during which he inappropriately exposed one of her breasts without the patients consent. The doctor who was identified only as Doctor C made admissions at a fitness-to-practise hearing of the Medical Council in relation to four allegations concerning his treatment of the female soldier while working as a locum at the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare on 19 September 2022. The inquiry heard that Doctor C, who comes originally from Sudan, accepted he had exposed the left breast of the officer identified only as Patient A during a physical examination of her chest. Counsel for the Medical Council, Neasa Bird BL, said the GPs action was inappropriate and not clinically justified. Ms Bird said the patients breast had been exposed without her consent or without informing her in advance. Another allegation related to the failure of Doctor C to document any findings of his physical examination of Patient A. The GP also admitted prescribing an intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone to treat the patient which Ms Bird said was clinically inappropriate and contrary to Irish antimicrobial prescribing practice. Doctor C acknowledged that he had inaccurately entered the name of a different drug, cefixime, in Patient As medication records. The inquiry arose following a complaint to the Medical Council by another doctor working full-time with the Defence Forces known only as Doctor B. Ms Bird said the chief executive of the Medical Council accepted the four allegations combined represented just one incident of poor professional performance as they related to a single episode of care. She claimed Doctor Cs treatment of Patient A had fallen short in a serious way of the standards of competence expected of general medicine practitioners. The inquiry heard that Patient A had gone to a medical aid post in the Curragh Camp with symptoms of wheezing, coughing and feeling unwell. Ms Bird said she declined a request to lift up her bra but subsequently curled it up slightly without uncovering her breasts. However, she said Doctor C now admitted that he had pulled down one side of her bra without advance warning or consent which exposed her left breast entirely and left it exposed for around ten seconds. Ms Bird said the patient felt very uncomfortable but did not express concern at the time as she was sick and surprised over what had happened. The inquiry heard the GP prescribed ceftriaxone for Patient A which was to be given intramuscularly and told her she would need to go to a pharmacy to have the antibiotic administered. However, Patient A returned to the surgery later that day after being advised by a pharmacist that it could not administer the medication. Ms Bird said the patient was seen by Doctor B who also carried out a chest examination of a different nature and who described the prescription given by Doctor C as incorrect. The woman was diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection and prescribed more appropriate oral antibiotics. She was subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia. Ms Bird explained that ceftriaxone was a strong antimicrobial medicine administered intravenously or intramuscularly to treat severe and life-threatening bacterial infections such as E-coli and meningitis but was not given in a community care setting. In correspondence, Doctor C said it was his second time seeing the patient after she had notified him by phone that she had a severe cough and her symptoms were not improving. The inquiry heard that the GP claimed he had asked the officer if she wanted a chaperone while he examined her chest but she was happy for him to go ahead without one. Doctor C said he considered prescribing her a short course of an intramuscular injectable antibiotic as the oral antibiotic he had previously prescribed did not appear to have had any effect. He claimed a nurse confirmed that it was appropriate to prescribe such a medicine and that it could be administered in a pharmacy a claim disputed by the nurse. Ms Bird said the doctor also introduced the possibility of having prescribed a third drug in correspondence as it contained a reference to cefotaxime. Doctor C said he now knew that the appropriate treatment where an injection was considered necessary was a referral to hospital and he had also familiarised himself with prescribing guidelines. The GP told the Medical Council that he was shocked about the complaint against him. The inquiry heard that an expert witness, Professor Tom Fahey, noted in a report prepared for the Medical Council that the exposure of the patients breast was not necessary for an examination of her chest. Prof Fahey said the doctors failure to record his findings was a serious omission in light of the treatment he recommended. He also pointed out that the HSEs advice on the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, which is available online, does not recommend intramuscular injections. Prof Fahey said the prescribing of such drugs in such circumstances by Doctor C was most unusual. Doctor C, told the inquiry that he had come to Ireland in July 2022. The GP said he had not attended any induction course about prescribing in Ireland but was familiar with antibiotics from having worked over 20 years in Saudi Arabia. In reply to questions from the committee, Doctor C said he felt oral antibiotics were not working for the patient as she appeared very sick and he could hear some crackles in her chest. I thought at that stage maybe if I give her one shot of this injection her condition may improve and there is no need for a referral. That was my plan, he added. The inquiry chairperson, Marie Culliton, adjourned the hearing until Monday when the committee will issue its findings and hear submissions on possible sanctions. The war with Iran has driven up oil prices, taking oil stocks up with them. Brent, the global crude oil benchmark, has rallied about 40% this year, rising from $60 to around $85 per barrel. That has fueled a more than 25% surge in the average oil company stock price this year. Here's a look at whether the rally in oil stocks can last. 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. The outlook for oil prices Oil prices have surged this year due to the growing tensions with Iran, which has now boiled over into an armed conflict. The war with Iran threatens global oil supplies. In addition to being a major oil producer, Iran has retaliated by attempting to impede oil exports from the Persian Gulf. About 20% of global oil supplies flow through the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran. The country has attacked crude-carrying ships passing through that key chokepoint. It has also used drones to attack oil infrastructure throughout the region. These attacks have driven up tanker shipping rates and caused insurance carriers to cancel coverage. Additionally, several energy companies have had to cut or suspend production due to safety issues or a lack of storage. If Iran continues to impede the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf or destroys key regional oil infrastructure, crude prices could top $100 a barrel. However, if there's a rapid de-escalation in the conflict, where Iran agrees to stop striking oil tankers in the Gulf, crude prices could begin deflating. Riding the crude oil rally The surge in crude prices is driving up oil company stock prices. For example, shares of U.S. oil and gas giant Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) have rocketed more than 30% while big oil behemoth ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is up around 25%. Higher oil prices will enable these companies to make even more money. The uptick in crude prices is an unforeseen boon for these companies, which had initially expected oil prices to remain lower this year. Occidental Petroleum has focused on becoming more efficient and paying down debt in recent years to generate more free cash flow at lower prices. That strategy had the company on track to produce an additional $1.2 billion in free cash flow this year at the same oil price as last year. It will now make even more free cash flow now that oil is higher, which could continue boosting its stock. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil is in the midst of a multi-year strategy to grow its advantaged resources (lowest-cost and highest-margin), while continuing to execute its structural cost-savings initiative. Exxon's plan through 2030 would deliver double-digit annual earnings and cash flow growth at an average oil price of around $65 per barrel. Exxon would likewise make even more money if oil prices remain at or above current levels. A HEALTH care worker was disqualified from driving for refusing to provide a breath sample following a road traffic collision. Jackie Murray, 29 Ballymorris Manor, Portarlington pleaded guilty at Portlaoise District Court to refusing to provide an evidential breath specimen at Abbeyleix Garda Station on 9 October 2025. Gardai stopped Ms Murray driving on Canal Road at 2am that morning and arrested her on suspicion of drink-driving. When taken to Abbeyleix Garda Station, she refused to provide a breath sample. The court heard that the defendant had one previous road traffic conviction in 2015, when she had received a 300 fine and a three months driving disqualification. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that on the night, her client, a health care assistant, made a foolish decision to drive and will have to make alternative travel arrangements. She asked Judge Andrew Cody to consider postponing the disqualification to allow her to get her affairs in order. The judge went on to convict Ms Murray of the offence, fined her 100 and imposed a four-year driving ban, which he postponed to 1 July. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme. MAJOR essential refurbishment works are being undertaken on the Barrow Line at Vicarstown harbour by Waterways Ireland, which includes rebuilding of over 130 metres of stone quay walls and extensive masonry repairs to improve the structural integrity and to enhance local amenities. The process involved a 250-metre stretch either side of Vicarstown bridge on the Grand Canal being dried out for construction to take place. As the work reached completion, a crowd of over 80 people turned up on Sunday 1 March to hear an information talk by Waterways Irelands senior engineer Gerard Bayley. This gave locals and waterways enthusiasts a chance to see the half-kilometre stretch of the canal without any water in it and to see the extensive works that have been carried out. Before the talk began shortly after 11am, senior engineer with Waterways Ireland, Gerard Bayley spoke to the Laois Nationalist about the restoration works. Taking up the story behind the works, he said: The work was required because the quay walls in Vicarstown were in very poor condition. They were built originally in the 1790s, so theyre over 200 years old. There were several stretches of about 20 metres each along the quay walls that had to be taken down and replaced. The last 20 metres by the bridge had fallen down in 2006, which is the last time that the water was taken out of the canal. It was replaced with a timber jetty. On the eastern side of the canal, no wall existed for most of living memory, no one on our crews or retired staff remembers a wall in that location, so it fell down maybe 50 or 60 years ago, were not sure when. It had a timber jetty, too, but again it wasnt original. We took on this project this winter to restore the quay walls on foot of a very successful project in Monasterevin two years ago. We have rebuilt all of the walls that were unstable or had fallen down, which includes 60 metres at Turleys side and 40 metres here at Creans side. Also, alongside the old building on Creans side, where the towpath is very narrow, there is a 40-metre stretch where there was never a quay wall. Towpath requirements are increasing with houses being built and farm entrances. Over the decades, bits of iron and timber were beaten into the ground to hold back the bank, so we have formalised this now. We built a concrete wall which will be finished with a nice timber capping to blend with the scenic views. We didnt do this in stone because in another 200 years, if the canal is dried again, people might think that it was original, so now theyll know that it is from a different era. When asked about the process of taking the water out and when the dams are due to be removed, Gerard said that taking the water out is a process in itself. He said: We have clay dams at either end of the canal, 500 metres apart. Each dam contains around 1,200 tonnes of clay. The clay is all from the canals from local areas, so we are not bringing in any invasive species. The clay will be returned to where we took it from when we are finished, were only borrowing it. Following this, we engaged with our colleagues in the fisheries and they came in and electro-fished the entire stretch of canal and took all of the fish out of the canal and returned them to the other side of the dams. Once that process has been undertaken, we can then use the pumps to pump the water out, also to the other sides of the dams, so no fish were harmed. Gerard said that over the 500-metre stretch of canal there were 11,000 fish taken from the water. While laughing, he added that: If a fisherman or fisherwoman is saying that they cant catch fish along the canal, then they are the problem. Also, he said that there were approximately 3,000,000 litres of water pumped out to dry the 500-metre stretch of canal and that the entire process only began in the last week of November, adding that the first stone wasnt laid until the first week of January. At the information talk, Gerard and his team had photographs from different stages of the process on show for people to view. He explained the whole process and commented that there are generally only about 15 people at these talks. He also answered questions from the large gathering. The canal will be rewetted and opened to boat traffic shortly after St Patricks day. However, the crew will continue to work on landscape projects along the banks for a number of weeks following that. The Taoiseach and hUachtarain of Fianna Fail has paid a glowing tribute to Cllr Padraig Fleming and his contribution to Laois and the community he served in and out of politics. Cllr Fleming was present in the Midlands Park Hotel recently when Micheal Martin was the guest of honour at a gala Laois Fianna Fail event to celebrate the centenary of the party's founding. Just a few weeks later, Cllr Fleming announced last week that he would step away from electoral office in Laois. Mr Martin paid tribute to the outgoing representative for the Graiguecullen Portarlington Municipal District in a statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. I want to pay tribute to Cllr Padraig Fleming. He is a councillor of great distinction, and his commitment to his community and electorate has been exemplary. Since he was first elected to Laois County Council in 2009, Padraig has worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of his community and county. "He has done so with an infectiously positive and warm can-do attitude. Padraig is a warm, engaging and positive friend and colleague, he said. The Cork TD also praised Cllr Fleming's contribution to Fianna Fail over decades before entering electoral politics in 2009. MORE BELOW PHOTO. Austin Clancy, Joey Kennedy, Cllr Padraig Fleming, Liz Anne Molloy, Ross Molloy and Mary Saunders at the Laois Fianna Fail Centenary Gala Dinner in The Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey Prior to his election, Padraig was a long-standing and much respected officer of the Party in Laois and also a highly effective Director of Elections for both General and European elections. READ NEXT: Senior Fianna Fail Laois county councillor to depart politics While there are a number of weeks until his retirement, I want to acknowledge and thank Padraig most sincerely for his loyal and commendable service both to his community and to Fianna Fail. "On behalf of myself and Fianna Fail, I wish Padraig, his wife Catherine and their three daughters much happiness and contentment in his retirement," he said. READ NEXT: Laois Fianna Fail celebrates centenary on big night in Portlaoise PICTURES Cllr Fleming is due to step down at the March meeting of Laois County Council to be held in Portlaoise. CEO Tom Lister provided specific context on Middle East chokepoints, stating the Red Sea/Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz are more or less closed at the moment. He said the Red Sea normally carries about 20% of containerized trade volumes, and that re-routing around the Cape of Good Hope absorbs roughly 10% of global effective fleet supply. For the Strait of Hormuz, Lister said a normal year would see 3% to 4% of global container volumes transit the area, with knock-on effects amplified by Jebel Alis role as a major transshipment hub. Despite those headwinds, Youroukos noted that aggregate global containerized trade increased 5% in 2025, with U.S. import volumes also rising year over year. Management said this environment has supported demand for mid-size and smaller container ships. Executive Chairman George Youroukos said the combination of supportive supply-demand trends and rising geopolitical uncertainty remained firmly in place throughout 2025, and intensified in recent days. Management cited tariffs, the prospect of new port fees, security risks around the Red Sea, and conflict involving Iran as factors that are increasing volatility, fragmenting trade patterns, and making supply chains less efficient. Global Ship Lease (NYSE:GSL) executives used the companys fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call to underscore what they described as a supportive backdrop for mid-size and smaller container ships, while emphasizing continued balance sheet deleveraging, high charter coverage, and a selective approach to fleet renewal amid heightened geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty. The company is actively deleveraging and preserving liquiditycash of $637M , debt under $700M (targeting < $600M by end2026), an annualized dividend of $2.50 and completed a selective fleet renewal buying three 8,600 TEU ecoupgraded ships for an aggregate $90M using cash on hand. Global Ship Lease reported more than $2.2 billion of forward contracted revenue with 2.7 years of contract coverage (99% for 2026, 81% for 2027) and added 52 charters totaling about $1.26 billion . Despite rising geopolitical risksmanagement said the Red Sea/Suez and Strait of Hormuz are effectively closed and rerouting absorbs roughly 10% of global fleet supplyaggregate containerized trade rose about 5% in 2025 , supporting demand for midsize and smaller containerships. Story Continues Charter coverage and contracted revenue emphasized Costco Wholesale: Buy Now, Get Paid Later as Cash and Returns Build Management highlighted what it described as strong forward revenue visibility. As of Dec. 31, the company reported more than $2.2 billion in forward contracted revenues with 2.7 years of remaining contract coverage. Youroukos later summarized contracted revenue at $2.24 billion over the next 2.7 years, with 99% contract coverage for 2026 and 81% for 2027. Lister said the company added 52 charters during 2025 and the first two months of the new year, including exercised options, totaling $1.26 billion in additional contracted revenues. Amprius Stock Price Gets Amped by Hyper Growth Outlook In the Q&A, Lister addressed a question about the gap between charter and freight rates, saying it is difficult to comment on freight markets given their sensitivity to near-term events. On the charter side, however, he said customer appetite remained to lock in charters at attractive rates for meaningful durations, reiterating the companys high coverage levels for 2026 and 2027. Fleet renewal: three 8,600 TEU acquisitions On fleet strategy, management reiterated its focus on mid-size and smaller container ships ranging from 2,000 TEU to 10,000 TEU, describing the segment as more flexible than larger vessels that are often constrained to mainline East-West routes and specialized ports. Lister also noted that roughly three-quarters of containerized trade by volume occurs in non-mainline North-South and intra-regional trades, such as intra-Asia. Lister discussed a fleet renewal transaction announced Dec. 1 for three high-specification, fuel-efficient 8,600 TEU ships built in 2010 and 2011, which had already received eco upgrades from prior owners. He said the ships were purchased with below-market charters attached for an aggregate price of $90 million, calling it essentially a three-for-the-price-of-one deal. Lister added that the vessels aggregate scrap value is around $40 million and said long-term historic average charter rates for comparable ships are over $40,000 per day. Management said the acquisition was executed on short notice using cash on hand and that it aligned with proceeds from sales of older, smaller ships monetized during 2025. Youroukos described the purchased vessels as fitting a Post-Panamax sweet spot, de-risked at entry with upside potential. Balance sheet, liquidity, and dividend policy CFO Tassos Psaropoulos said full-year 2025 earnings and cash flow increased compared to 2024. He reported a cash position of $637 million, including $164 million of restricted cash, and said liquidity supports covenant compliance, working capital needs, and potential financial implications from geopolitical issues. Psaropoulos also described the balance sheet as providing dry powder from a position of almost net zero debt for fleet-related capital expenditures and disciplined renewal opportunities, while maintaining dividend capacity. Psaropoulos said an $85 million refinancing pushed average debt maturity to 4.5 years and reduced the blended cost of debt to 4.49%. He also reported a $46.2 million gain from the sale of four older ships. Management highlighted deleveraging progress, with Psaropoulos stating debt declined from $950 million at the end of 2022 to under $700 million at the end of 2025, and was on track to fall well below $600 million by the end of 2026. He also said leverage declined from 8.4x in 2018 to 0.5x today, while borrowing costs decreased from a blended 7.56% in 2018 to 4.49% in 2025. On capital returns, executives reiterated that returning capital to shareholders remains a priority. The company raised its dividend again in late 2025; management said it now pays $2.50 per common share on an annualized basis. Annualized dividend: $2.50 per share, per management Cash balance: $637 million (including $164 million restricted), per CFO Blended cost of debt: 4.49% in 2025, per CFO Q&A: cash allocation, expenses, and restricted cash Asked about cash allocation, Lister said maintaining cash is super valuable in a cyclical industry because it enables the company to act on opportunities, particularly during downturns when capital is scarce. He pointed to the three-ship acquisition as an example, saying the deal went from zero to completion within about 30 days. On operating costs, Psaropoulos addressed a question about higher SG&A, attributing the increase to valuation of an incentive plan and characterizing it as a non-cash item, with more detail expected in the companys upcoming Form 20-F. Psaropoulos also explained a quarter-over-quarter increase in long-term restricted cash as revenue received in advance that must remain restricted and will be released as charter service is performed. In response to a follow-up on duration, management indicated the restriction period was five years (correcting an initial reference to three years). In closing remarks, management reiterated that the geopolitical and regulatory environment remains volatile, but said the companys high charter coverage, lower break-even levels (Lister cited a daily break-even rate just over $9,800 per vessel per day), and what executives described as a strengthened balance sheet position it to navigate uncertainty while pursuing selective renewal opportunities and sustaining shareholder returns. About Global Ship Lease (NYSE:GSL) Global Ship Lease (NYSE: GSL) is a Bermuda-based containership charter owner focused on acquiring, owning and leasing modern, fuel-efficient vessels to major liner operators. Founded in 2011 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange the same year, the companys fleet primarily comprises post-Panamax containerships designed to serve the high-volume AsiaEurope and transpacific shipping lanes. By specializing in long-term charter agreements, Global Ship Lease aims to maintain stable revenue streams and minimize spot-market volatility. The companys business model centers on negotiating multi-year time charters with leading global shipping lines. The article "Global Ship Lease Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. An Coimisiun Pleanala has approved plans to convert a building into a guesthouse on the Main Street in Mountrath. JPRT Properties Ltd and EDH Properties Ltd were granted conditional planning permission by Laois County Council last year but the decision was appealed. The Dublin and Offaly based property companies wanted permission to carry out work at the property on Main Street, Mountrath where O'Rourke's Pharmacy was located. The planning permission sought alterations to the existing front elevation by removing the shopfront with installation of two windows to return it to its original state, change of use of existing dwelling house to commercial guesthouse, and to construct a single storey extension. According to documents lodged with the plans, concerns were raised in a warning letter issued by the planning authority and the objections to the planning authority regarding potential end users and possibility that the building could be used as a hostel or for the accommodation for International Protection Applicants. The applicant submitted a response to the Planning Authority in relation to this issue in the Further Information Response and stated that it is clearly outlined in the planning notices that the premises will be a commercial guesthouse and will meet Failte Ireland standards, the documents state. A condition for its approval stipulated that: The proposed guesthouse bedroom accommodation hereby permitted shall be used exclusively as guesthouse/ holiday accommodation/short- term lettings accommodation. An Coimisiun Pleanala approved the plans subject to ten conditions on February 24, 2026. Former Portlaoise College student Scott Duffy has continued his academic success with further recognition at university level. Scott, who last year became the first recipient of Portlaoise Colleges Mary McAleese Ozanam Scholarship, is now studying Physics at University College Dublin. In recognition of his Leaving Certificate results, he recently received an Entrance Scholarship from the university. READ ALSO: Laois school needs help to fund trip to robotics final in America The award ceremony was attended by Noel Daly, Principal of Portlaoise College. Scott is also due to receive the prestigious JP McManus Scholarship, which will further support his studies in the years ahead. Mr Daly said the school community was delighted to see Scotts continued success. Scotts achievements reflect his dedication to his studies and the contribution he made to school life during his time here. It was a privilege to attend the ceremony in UCD, and I look forward to attending the ceremony in UL to see his work recognised at that level, he said. Scott returned to Portlaoise College this week to work with the schools guidance department, speaking to a number of classes about his experience of school and the transition to university. This included a session with fifth-year Physics students, during which he outlined the academic expectations of the course and the supports available at third level. Head of Guidance at the school, Daryl Egan, said current students benefited from hearing directly from a recent past pupil. It is valuable for students to hear from someone who was in their position only a short time ago. Scott spoke in a clear and practical way about preparing for university and managing the transition from school to third level, he said. 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. Gold is being offered at a steep discount in Dubai, as the war in the Middle East grounds flights and hampers suppliers ability to move bullion out of the key trading hub. Many buyers have stepped back from new orders, unwilling to pay exceptionally high shipping and insurance costs with no guarantee of prompt delivery. As a result, rather than paying indefinitely for storage and funding, traders are offering discounts of as much as $30 an ounce to the global benchmark in London, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named discussing market information. Most Read from Bloomberg Many shipments remained stranded on Friday, the people said, although some bullion had been loaded onto flights leaving Dubai from the middle of this week. The United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular, is an important center for refining and exporting bullion to buyers across Asia, as well as a conduit for shipments from Switzerland, the UK and several African countries. Its airspace has been partially closed due to a barrage of Iranian missiles as the US-Israeli war with Tehran extends for a seventh day with no sign of resolution. Gold is typically transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. Even with flights from the UAE severely restricted, traders and logistics firms are reluctant to transport high-value cargoes overland to airports in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman, due to the risks and complications involved, particularly when transiting land borders. While the Dubai Good Delivery standard the standard of gold bars widely used locally and regionally is typically traded at a discount to the London prices, the shipping bottleneck is making the gold even cheaper. Several cargo shipments have been delayed or stranded, leading to short-term tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India, said Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., one of Indias largest gold dealers. But buyers in India one of the largest consumers of gold shipped from Dubai can afford to wait, with near-term demand relatively muted and inventories swollen by a large volume of imports in January, said Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus. As of now, there is ample stock, he said, but if this drags on for a few months, then there will be a problem. A LIMERICK man has appeared before a special court sitting in Newcastle West this Saturday in connection with the seizure of 100,000 worth of cannabis. Richard Calvert, aged 26, with an address at Stenson Park, Farranshone, Limerick city was charged with possession of drugs, and with possession of drugs for sale or supply, both contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. It is alleged that gardai from the Divisional Drugs Unit, based at Henry Street garda station, carried out a search of a vehicle in Limerick city on Thursday, March 5 at approximately 6.30pm. Detective Garda Eoin Sheahan gave evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning Mr Calvert at Henry Street garda station on Friday afternoon. He made no reply to either charge, said Det Garda Sheahan. READ NEXT: Couple refuse to move caravan from public road in the city centre Inspector Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting on behalf of the State, said there was no objection to bail being granted subject to a number of conditions. The conditions include signing on daily at a garda station; obey a curfew between 10pm and 7am; not to apply for a passport; not to commit any offences and be of good behaviour; reside at an address in Stenson Park, Farranshone; and provide a mobile phone number to gardai. Insp Thompson said the allegation is a significant six-figure sum and it is being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Tom Kiely, solicitor for Mr Calvert during the brief procedural matter, applied for free legal aid on behalf of his client. He is not working, said Mr Kiely. Judge Carol Anne Coolican, presiding, granted the legal aid application. The judge granted bail to Mr Calvert on his own bond of 100. The case was adjourned to May 1 in Limerick District Court for DPPs directions. Ireland AM presenter Deric Hartigan issues statement after claims he was using AI to enhance his recent photos. The Limerick man is soaking up the sun in Italy and posting images of his weight loss transformation after training hard for the last three years and losing 13kg. Under a recent social media post, there has been claims he used AI to enhance his photos. One person commented, "I think you are using AI I know you are looking great but that's taking the proverbial". Another person said, "What in the AI are you turning men worldwide". In response, Deric posted a statement expressing his frustration against the negative claims, proving them to be untrue. READ NEXT: Stalker who followed Limerick influencer into her hotel and then the lift, convicted - Limerick Live He said: "Please stop with the AI comments. I've trained so hard every day for 6 months with my PT since last August 2025 after 3 years of mental upset and putting on a lot of emotional weight. "Since then I've given up alcohol; no chocolate, no sweets, no crisps, no bread, no pasta, no deserts. I've given up a lot and documented my journey along the way: having now lost 13kg in total. "Dropped 18% bodyfat from 24% to 6%. I've sacrificed a lot but I finally feel great and getting back on track so now I'm enjoying the results of the hard work. So please stop with this AI crap, be kind and go paddle your own canoe. I'm very focused in my own little lane". Despite some negative comments, Deric has received a huge amount of supportive feedback from people in awe of his incredible body transformation results. Many people told him that he looks amazing and that all of his hard work has paid off. One person in particular said : "Well now..... that's got to be the most inspired I've felt in a long time. Absolutely incredible. Determination + consistency + hard work = success". Grocery Outlet plans to close several of its Northeast Ohio stores as part of its move to shutter 36 "underperforming" locations nationwide. The California-based bargain retailer plans to close the below locations, according to posts on their individual Facebook pages: Parma - 5721 Broadview Road Canton - 4844 Everhard Road Lorain - 4415 North Leavitt Road Ontario - 876 Lexington-Springmill Road The store closeout sales at each location will begin on Sunday, March 8, with customers advised to stop in before March 21 to take advantage of the discounts. The Grocery Outlet store in Ontario opened in November of 2024, followed by the Parma and Canton stores in January and February 2025, respectively. Lorain's location was the most recent to open, doing so on Nov. 13, 2025. In addition, the company plans to close two other Ohio stores in Austintown and Cincinnati. The Grocery Outlet stores in Brooklyn and Cleveland Heights will remain open. The company also plans to open a location in Strongsville. WHY IS GROCERY OUTLET CLOSING STORES? Company officials made the announcement during an earnings call on Wednesday. In a news release, Grocery Outlet said the closures will happen in fiscal 2026. During the call, Grocery Outlet President and CEO Jason Potter, who joined the company about a year ago, said fourth-quarter results were "unacceptable," and the outlook for 2026 reflects there is "more work to do than we expected." "I own this and own fixing the issues," Potter said. During the earnings call, Potter said of the 36 locations slated for closure, 24 are in the eastern United States and represent about 30% of the regions stores. "We are not fully exiting any state and believe we have a meaningful opportunity to grow in the east over the long term. However, it's clear now that we expanded too quickly and these closures are a direct correction," the CEO explained. In 2025, the retailer opened 42 stores and closed five stores. The company ended the year with 570 stores in 16 states, according to the news release. Grocery Outlet operates on the West Coast and in New England. "We will be measured by what we deliver, not by what we promise. And we intent to earn back your confidence through execution," Potter added. The chain said it will also be refreshing 150 stores this year. WHAT STATES HAVE GROCERY OUTLET STORES? A Grocery Outlet spokesperson confirmed that Grocery Outlet and its subsidiaries have stores in the following 16 states: LIMERICK and Cork face off in Saturday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A with precious points up for grabs as teams battle for a place in the final. With two rounds to go in the group stage, this weekend will see the table take shape as we get closer to discovering who will face-off for the title of league champions on the first weekend on April. What time is throw-in? The clash of the Munster rival starts at 7pm at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night. Is the match on TV? Yes, the Limerick senior hurlers are back on the box this weekend. After being away from screens in Tullamore last time out, John Kiely's men are back on telly for this big game. READ MORE: Bumper crowd expected for Limerick's National Hurling League clash with Cork Who is the referee? Sean Stack of Dublin is in charge on Saturday night. Where can I get tickets? Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster or participating Centra or SuperValu stores in the county. Stand tickets are expected to have sold out by the end of the week, with a crowd in excess of 20,000 expected. Tickets for the City End terrace will be available up until match-day. What's the current form guide? This top of the table clash has two sides on winning runs. Limerick have won three-in-a-row for the first time since February 2024. John Kiely's men are unbeaten since slipping up in their league opener against Waterford. The Rebels are the form team in the country at the moment. They have four wins from four and - no matter the result on Saturday - with already-relegated Offaly coming to Supervalu Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the last round, Cork are all but certain to reach the league final. This International Women in Business Day, were celebrating the incredible talent and entrepreneurship of women in Limerick. We spoke to Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne about her life in politics, from the canvass trail with her father, joining Young Fine Gael and reaching the Seanad floor. What first sparked your interest in Politics? As a young child, I was always out on the canvass trail with my father for the late Tom ODonnell and former Minister Micheal Nooone. I got involved in youth politics under Garret Fitzgerald. This was my first taste of politics, and I especially liked how personal and engaging politics in Ireland is. I became a member of the Young Fine Gael National Executive and was involved in different positions. My interest continued to grow; I liked how politics provided opportunities to people. I would eventually go on to be a Councillor in Limerick City and County Council for 17 years where I served as Mayor of the city, before being elected to Seanad Eireann. In February 2025, I was honoured to be elected the 3rd female Leas Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann. How would you describe your style of political leadership? I have always valued working with people to find a consensus to bring change for the better. I believe in open communication, with a shared vision to bring change. READ NEXT: Laura Slattery shares her entrepreneurial secrets for International Women's Day Based on your experience in politics, what advice would you give your younger self? Or what advice would you give a woman getting started in politics? I would encourage people to get involved in all levels in politics because its about your future, and by getting involved you can help shape what your future can look like. Women especially should consider getting involved as we need to be at decision making tables. If you want to shape the future you need to be at the table. Do you have a personal motto you live by/What are the personal core values that guide your work in politics? Working hard and doing my best for people. Every day I work to delivery for people. Why does politics matter, and why should more women get involved in politics? For politics to really work for everyone, people from all parts of society need to get involved to ensure true representative and experiences for all walks of life. Women are an equal part of society, and politics should be no different. Women can also bring different experiences which can allow for different policy perspective and to bring issue thats impact women more directly to the table. They looked like pouting kids on the playgroundnot the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic, two of the hottest names in the AI scene. To many, the odd exchange was the physical manifestation of the growing rivalry between the companies. Both have been eyeing going public this year and, in doing so, are fighting each other for users, talent and investor dollars. (Bloomberg) -- The head of OpenAIs robotics team resigned Saturday, citing the companys deal to deploy its artificial intelligence models within the Pentagons classified network as the cause. This wasnt an easy call, Caitlin Kalinowski wrote in a post on X. AI has an important role in national security. But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got. OpenAI confirmed Kalinowskis departure in an email statement and said it believes the agreement with the Defense Department creates a workable path for responsible national security uses of AI while making clear our red lines, no domestic surveillance and no autonomous weapons. We recognize that people have strong views about these issues and we will continue to engage in discussion with employees, government, civil society and communities around the world, the company said. TechCrunch previously reported Kalinowskis resignation. Kalinowski joined OpenAI in November 2024 as a member of the companys technical staff in robotics after leading development of augmented reality glasses for Meta, according to her LinkedIn profile. OpenAI struck its deal with the Pentagon in late February following the breakdown of talks between the Trump administration and Anthropic PBC, which pressed for assurances that its technology wouldnt be used for mass surveillance of Americans or for fully autonomous weapons. OpenAI hasnt said whether its services for the Pentagon will replace the work previously done by Anthropic. President Donald Trump ordered all government departments to stop working with Anthropic, and the Pentagon declared the company and its products a supply-chain risk. Anthropic, in turn, has said it would challenge the designation which previously was reserved for entities of adversary nations such as Chinas Huawei Technologies Co. in court. OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said earlier this month that the companys rush to reach a deal with the Defense Department looked opportunistic and sloppy. OpenAI also publicly disagreed with the blacklisting of Anthropic. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JP Morgan, has offered a different perspective on artificial intelligence, moving away from the narrative of human replacement. In a fresh take on the future of work, Dimon said that Al could eventually help shorten the standard workweek to four days. He made these remarks in a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, where Dimon also also revealed that the company is already using Al across hundreds of applications to streamlining its operations. The technology is taking care of tasks such as fraud detection, risk-management, marketing, and error reduction. We use AI for risk, fraud, bargaining, underwriting, note taking, idea generation, error reporting, reducing errors, and you know, there are 600 more use cases, 50, I'd put in the important category, the CEO said, underscoring the areas in which the bank is actively integrating AI. Dimon's previous stance on remote work His latest comments contrast with his previous views on remote work. He has publicly highlighted earlier that he is not in favour of work-from-home arrangements in situations where he believes they do no support productivity, though he did not say he is completely against it. Im not against work from home. Im against where it doesn't work," Dimon said in an interview with CNBC. AI's capability to boost productivity During the interview, Dimon also predicted that within the next three to four decades, Al could boost productivity to such an extend that future generations might work four-day or even three-and-a-half-day workweeks. Though he had earlier shown hesitation about the concept of remote work, Dimon described the possibility of a shorter workweek enabled by AI as a a wonderful thing. Also Read | Pentagon vs Anthropic: Top US official opens up on clash with AI firm However, he also cautioned that rapid deployment of Al could lead to job disruptions and layoffs before employees and industries are fully prepared. His warning echoes concerns raised by several technology executives as AI adoption continues to accelerate across sectors. How is AI changing human lives? The emergence of AI has severely impacted lives of working professionals, with it increasingly serving as a productivity tool for white-collar jobs. The year 2025 was marked by AI-driven layoffs, fueling concerns among employees about whether AI might make their roles redundant. A similar trend could be witnessed this year too, as several tech companies such as Amazon, Oracle, and Meta had already trimmed corporate roles. Sundar Pichai is set to become one of the highest-paid chief executives in the world after Google decided to raise his total potential compensation to $692 million ( 6,361 crore), which will be paid out over the next three years. However, a major portion of Pichais package comes in performance stock units (PSUs), whose final value largely depends on how well the parent company Alphabet performs for shareholders. The India-origin executive joined Google in 2004 and rose swiftly through the ranks, earning four promotions in the 11 years that followed before being named the company's CEO in 2015. Under his leadership over the past decade, Google's market capitalisation has surged nearly sevenfold from $535 billion to $3.6 trillion, briefly crossing $4 trillion mark in January this year. Sundar Pichai's net worth and salary According to Forbes Real Time Billionaires, Sundar Pichai's current net worth stands at $1.5 billion. A sharp rise in Google's valuation over the years has significantly boosted Pichai's personal wealth, helping the 53-year-old former McKinsey & Company consultant become a billionaire. Since, most of his latest pay package is in form of stocks, it won't be counted in his net worth unless it is vested as it holds no immediate, realizable value and is usually forefeited if the employee leaves the company. Pichai currently earns an annual salary of $2 million, according to exchange filings. He last received a stock award in December 2022 worth $218 million, structured in the similar way to the latest compensation. In addition to these stock-based awards, his earnings are further boosted by his personal security-related expenses covered by the company. These personal security costs rose to $8.3 million in 2024, according to a report by the Financial Times. Meanwhile Pichai and his wife Anjali collectively own 1.67 million Google shares, valued at $498 million based on the company's Friday closing stock price of $298, according to regulatory filings. Sundar Pichai career and education Pichai, whose full name is actually Pichai Sundararajan, grew up in Chennai, India. His father worked as an electrical engineer and his mother worked as a stenographer before having him and his younger brother. The Google chief executive holds a degree in metallurgical and materials engineering from IIT kharagpur. In 1993, Pichai moved to the United States, and earned a master's degree from Stanford. He later attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School for his MBA degree. Under the Reliance umbrella, these brands gain access to the groups nationwide retail and distribution ecosystem, which includes millions of kirana stores as well as large-format retail chains operated by Reliance Retail. This enables them to expand beyond their regional strongholds far faster than they could independently. KYIV, Ukraine As the war in the Middle East strains U.S. missile stocks, Ukraine is hoping it can turn a wartime innovation low-cost interceptors designed to shoot down Russian attack drones into geopolitical leverage. Now one of the world's leading producers of interceptors, Ukraine is offering that expertise to the United States and its Gulf partners for the war in the Middle East, hoping to receive in return the high-end weaponry it cant manufacture at home. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion four years ago, Ukraines domestic arms industry was poor. Forced to innovate to survive, it has since built a fast-growing defense sector centered on low-cost drones some designed specifically to counter Iranian-style Shahed drones of the kind that Russia now launches by the hundreds. The U.S. recently requested specific support against Iranian-designed Shaheds in the Middle East, prompting Zelenskyy to order the deployment of Ukrainian equipment and experts, though details remain classified. When the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Kyiv banned weapons exports. But now Ukrainian manufacturers of low-cost interceptor drones say they are receiving interest from the United States and Gulf states. While other countries can build interceptor drones, Ukraine has the only mass-produced system already tested in war, Oleh Katkov, editor-in-chief of Defense Express said. There is a huge difference between a mass-produced system proven to work in real combat and something others only promise to develop ... Its like selling the house, not just the bricks, he said. If cooperation with partners succeeds, Ukraine could emerge as a new player in modern warfare, though it remains unclear whether its industry can scale up to meet that ambition or expand into global markets without compromising its own defense. The surge in interest from the Middle East comes as Gulf states burn through their stocks of expensive Patriot missiles, which they have been using to shoot down significantly cheaper Shaheds from Iran. An Iranian-designed Shahed drone costs from roughly $30,000, while a single interceptor missile for the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system costs millions. Lockheed Martin in a statement said it produced a record 600 PAC-3 MSE interceptors for Patriot batteries in all of 2025. Zelenskyy claimed Thursday that Middle Eastern nations expended over 800 such missiles in just three days more than Ukraine has held in reserve throughout the entire four-year war. To counter the Shaheds, Kyiv developed low-cost interceptor drones priced at roughly $1,000 to $2,000, moving the systems from prototype to mass production within months in 2025. But Ukraine never developed a defense against ballistic missiles. Thats why securing Patriot missiles remains a life-or-death challenge for Kyiv. Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy is pitching a swap to partners. Our message is very simple, he said. Wed like to quietly ... receive the Patriot missiles we have a deficit of, and give them a corresponding number of interceptors. Despite Zelenskyys optimism, some analysts warn that entering the global arms market is not as simple as signing a contract. Weapon trading is an incredibly subtle and sensitive issue, said Yevhen Mahda, executive director of the Kyiv-based Institute of World Policy. Its a market where the U.S. is dominant, he said, cautioning that it is naive to expect markets to open simply because Ukraine has a compelling story. It requires a tough, calculated diplomatic game. Ukrainian officials have only recently begun actively discussing a shift from a freeze on wartime weapons exports to a state-regulated market, though it remains unclear when or how such a system would be launched. We need more than just presidential statements. We need action, Mahda said. How can we talk about exports if we officially arent selling anything yet? The U.S. and Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, have made repeated requests for Ukraines domestically produced interceptor drones, according to three Ukrainian weapons producers. Neither the U.S. nor the Gulf countries responded immediately to a request for comment from The Associated Press. We are ready to share them, and we want to share them, said Marco Kushnir, a spokesperson for General Cherry, a Ukrainian weapons manufacturer that produces one of the best-performing interceptor drones striking Shaheds in the country. Kushnir said the decision ultimately depends on the government and Zelenskyy, but the company wants to help partners and could be ready to do so within days. He added they had the capacity to produce tens of thousands of interceptors per month. Ukraine currently has a surplus of interceptor drones, and manufacturers say they could produce tens of thousands more without compromising the countrys defenses. The bigger challenge, they say, is training crews and integrating the drones with radar systems that can detect targets at long range. Several Ukrainian firms have already fielded effective systems. General Cherrys Bullet interceptor, developed in late 2025, has downed several hundred Shahed drones, according to Kushnir, the spokesperson. Another model, Skyfalls 3D-printed P1-Sun, costs about $1,000 and can reach speeds of more than 300 kilometers per hour, with production capacity reaching up to 50,000 drones per month, a company spokesperson said. But while the legal framework for hardware remains in limbo, Ukraines most valuable asset is human expertise. Zelenskyy has many times reiterated that his country is ready to send instructors who can teach how to use the interceptors. Supplying the drones wont be a problem, said Andrii Taganskyi, director of the Camera Business at Odd Systems, which supplies cameras for interceptor drones made by another Ukrainian company, Wild Hornets. But training foreign crews to operate the system and adapt tactics will be essential, he said. Interceptor drones are not a standalone product and must be integrated into a broader system of radars that can detect and track incoming targets, said Taganskyi. While some models are partially automated, manufacturers say crews still require training to use them effectively. This is a tool that requires training, said Oleh Katkov. And the real, proven expertise not just on paper exists only in Ukraine. Kyivs willingness to send its specialists abroad marks a significant strategic sacrifice because of the impact on Ukraines own air defense capabilities. With the constant barrage of drones from Russia, every trained soldier is a vital asset. We do not have a surplus of military personnel at the front, Katkov said. However, there is a clear understanding that the benefits of such cooperation might far outweigh the risks. Kullab reported from Nyon, Switzerland. Japan has asked the US to spare it from a planned tariff increase from 10% to 15% underscoring fears that higher duties could hit the countrys automobile industry. We asked that Japan not be included in any increase to 15%, Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa told reporters in Washington after meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ahead of the March 19 leaders summit. He also stressed that Japans treatment should not become more disadvantageous than under last years JapanUS agreement. Also Read | Tariffs are lower and businesses are racing to take advantage The request highlights Tokyos concern that higher tariffs could erode the concessions it secured in 2025, particularly on autos, its largest manufacturing sector. While the US Supreme Court invalidated much of President Donald Trumps earlier tariff regime, duties on cars, steel and aluminum were left intact meaning Japans gains are fragile if the US broadens the levy. At stake is not only trade balance but also the Strategic Investment Initiative, a $550 billion program designed to channel Japanese financing into US projects. Under the deal, the US can raise tariffs if Tokyo fails to deliver funding on schedule. Also Read | How US businesses are shaving billions off their tariff bills Japan has already pledged up to $36 billion for an initial round, including a 9.2 gigawatt natural gas facility in Ohio, and the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Saturday that Tokyo is weighing about 15 trillion ($95.1 billion) for the second tranche, with nuclear reactors from Westinghouse Electric Co. among the centerpiece projects. According to Kpler's analysis of 223 container vessels between 28 February and 4 March, at least 37 were unable to exit the Gulf, meaning they cannot resume rotations until transit reopens. Some containers were headed for India, most notably, MSC Panaya to Vizhinjam, and Tema Express and One Majesty to Mundra. India is particularly at risk as over a third of its crude imports pass through the strait. India currently has crude stocks sufficient for about 25 days, plus petrol and diesel for another 25 days, Mint reported. Find winning stocks in any market cycle. Join 7 million investors using Simply Wall St's investing ideas for FREE. GSK (LSE:GSK) has completed its acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics, securing global rights to key immunology assets. The deal brings ozureprubart, a monoclonal antibody for severe food allergies, into GSKs late stage pipeline outside certain Asian territories. The transaction is aimed at expanding GSKs specialty medicine and immunology portfolio and addressing a significant unmet medical need. GSK enters this transaction with its shares at 20.38 and a 38.3% return over the past year, alongside a 64.2% return over three years and 98.0% over five years. For investors tracking LSE:GSK, the move adds a new clinical asset in immunology to an already established large cap pharmaceutical profile. The acquisition gives GSK immediate access to a late stage candidate focused on severe food allergies, an area with limited existing treatment options. Investors may monitor how GSK prioritises ozureprubart within its broader R&D portfolio and how management communicates progress on clinical milestones and regulatory plans over time. Stay updated on the most important news stories for GSK by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on GSK. LSE:GSK Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 Beyond the headline: 2 risks and 4 things going right for GSK that every investor should see. For GSK, the RAPT deal looks like a clear push deeper into higher value specialty medicine, specifically in immunology where peers such as AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Novartis are also active. Bringing ozureprubart in house fits alongside other late stage assets in areas like hepatitis B and liver disease and points to a business development approach that adds external programs where GSK wants more depth. Investors now have another clinical asset tied to a clearly defined unmet need in severe food allergies, which could broaden GSKs reach beyond vaccines and respiratory into allergist and pediatric settings if development progresses as planned. How This Fits Into The GSK Narrative When the trailer of Dhurandhar 2 arrived, it immediately caught the attention of fans not only for its scale and action, but also for its sound. Even in those few minutes, the music hinted at a distinct sonic directionone that appears deeply rooted in Punjabi culture. What the Music of Dhurandhar 2 Might Tell Us If the trailer is anything to go by, the films soundtrack could play a significant role in connecting the character of Hamza Ali Mazari to his original identity, Jaskirat Singh Rangi. The brief glimpse of music in the trailer already suggests this shift. One of the most noticeable elements is the use of the track 'Ari Ari', a revived version of the early-2000s hit by Bombay Rockers. The recreated version, arranged by composer Shashwat Sachdev with vocals by Navtej Singh Rehal, Khan Saab, Jasmine Sandlas and others, adds an energetic Punjabi flavour to the trailers action-heavy visuals. The rhythm is catchy, vibrant and unmistakably Punjabi in tone, and it instantly sets the mood for the gritty world of the film. But the music seems to be doing more than simply adding energy. It appears to be reflecting the characters roots. In the story, Hamza Ali Mazari is the alias of Jaskirat Singh Rangi, and the Punjabi musical influences in the trailer may be a way of honouring that background. Even though the character operates in a very different world in the film, the music reminds the audience of where he truly comes from. This would not be entirely surprising, especially considering the musical approach taken in the Dhurandhar Part One. Composer Shashwat Sachdev had already shown an interest in blending modern sounds with traditional influences. The earlier soundtrack included remixed Punjabi tracks and reinterpretations of classic songs, demonstrating a willingness to mix heritage with contemporary production. If the sequel continues this pattern, it could expand even further into Punjabi folk and cultural sounds. Folk elements may therefore become an important part of the films soundscape. Punjabi folk music carries a certain rawness and emotional depth that fits naturally with stories about identity, power and transformation. Instruments such as the dhol, tumbi or traditional vocal styles could easily complement the films intense and dramatic narrative. Even if used sparingly, such sounds could bring authenticity to the characters journey. At the same time, the trailer suggests that the film will not rely solely on folk influences. The remix of 'Ari Ari' itself is a blend of Punjabi rhythm, electronic beats and modern production techniques. This combination hints that the soundtrack may aim for a hybrid soundtraditional roots fused with contemporary energy. Such a mix would suit the scale of a modern action film while still keeping the cultural connection intact. Music in action cinema often works as a narrative device, helping the audience understand a characters world and emotional state. In Dhurandhar 2, the soundtrack may perform exactly that function. The Punjabi elements heard in the trailer could symbolise Jaskirats origins, while the darker and more intense background score might represent the transformation into Hamza. Of course, all these observations are based on the limited material we have seen so far. A trailer offers only a small glimpse of the full musical landscape of a film. The complete soundtrack may include several different styles and moods that have not yet been revealed. For now, however, the signs are clear. The music of Dhurandhar 2 appears poised to celebrate identity, culture and transformation through its Punjabi influences and possible folk elements. Whether these hints fully translate into the films final soundtrack remains to be seen. Also Read | Dhurandhar 2 trailer leaves Ranveer Singh fans impressed with dual avatars Tehran is making a huge gamble, ramping up conflict as it tries to face down two of the worlds most powerful air forces. It may fail, bringing new actors into the war against it and triggering powerful new financial sanctions from its neighbors. But if Irans gamble worksand the regime survives the bombing campaign that is grinding it downit could give it time to regroup under Khameneis successor. That, in turn, could strengthen Tehrans hands in any future negotiations on its nuclear or missile programs that follow. Other signs suggest that Israel is preparing for a bigger war. For days, convoys of Israeli tanks, infantry-fighting vehicles and mine-clearing bulldozers have been making their way to the border. Tens of thousands of reservists have been called up. Although Israeli generals say the government has not yet ordered them to send in their main forces, there seems little doubt it will. With the region and wider world distracted by the war in Iran, and with Hizbullah still weakened from the last war in Lebanon, Israel reckons it is unlikely to have a better opportunity to wipe out its enemy. The New York Stock Exchange agreed to pay a $9 million to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission allegations that an internal malfunction led to a botched market open and wild price swings on a single day in January 2023. NYSEs failures caused market-wide impacts, including price-triggered restrictions on trading, market-wide trading pauses in 84 of the securities and ultimately thousands of busted trades, the SEC said in a cease-and-desist order on Friday. NYSE, which is owned by Intercontinental Exchange Inc., agreed to pay the penalty without admitting or denying the SECs claims. NYSE promptly compensated affected market participants and enhanced its procedures and systems, and there has been no recurrence of the issue, ICE said in a statement. NYSE opening and closing auctions continue to be the most reliable liquidity event for NYSE-listed symbols. The exchange experienced technical glitches when the market opened on Jan. 24, 2023. The glitches sparked trading turmoil in companies including Wells Fargo & Co., McDonalds Corp., Walmart Inc. and Morgan Stanley, in some cases sending stock prices swinging by 25 percentage points in minutes, Bloomberg reported at the time. NYSE failed to conduct an opening auction for more than 2,800 securities before transitioning to whats called continuous trading, the SEC said. Instead, a critical systems disruption led it to initiate continuous trading, the agency said. The regulator also said NYSE didnt establish written policies and procedures to monitor certain systems that support its opening auctions. The obligation of national securities exchanges such as NYSE to operate in compliance with their own rules is fundamental, the SEC said. 2026 Bloomberg L.P. Sumeet Bagadia stock recommendation: At a time where the markets are boggled by the US-Israel-Iran war with broader markets witnessing a sell-off, Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking has picked FMCG stock Colgate Palmolive (India) as its 'Women's Day Pick'. Bagadia has cited a strong technical breakout and improving momentum indicators that signal potential upside in the coming months. He recommended buying Colgate around the 2,200 level, and up to 2,160, with a target of 2,420 and 2,530 in the medium term. It is currently around 20% away from its 52-week high of 2,745.95, hit in May 2025. However, it had touched its 52-week low of 2,030.75 in January 2026. The stock ended 0.34% at 2,203.50 on Friday, March 7. Women's Day Pick by Sumeet Bagadia Buy Colgate Palmolive at 2,200 and up to 2,160 for the target of 2,420 and 2,530. According to the brokerages research note, the stock has recently delivered a decisive breakout from a key chart formation, suggesting a shift in momentum in favour of the bulls. Analysts believe the development could open the door for further gains in the medium to long term as the stock continues to trade above important technical support levels. The brokerage highlighted that the stock has moved past a falling wedge pattern on the weekly chart and subsequently retested the breakout zone, reinforcing confidence in the sustainability of the move. The stock recently posted a fresh breakout from a falling wedge pattern on the weekly chart around the 2180 level and successfully retested the breakout level during the current week, he said. Moreover, Bagadia noted that the breakout was supported by strong trading volumes, indicating healthy buying interest among investors. The firm said the stock is currently trading above key moving averages, including the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, which typically signals strength in the underlying trend. The brokerage further pointed out that momentum indicators are also supportive of the bullish outlook. It explained that the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has remained above the midpoint level of 50, which generally indicates sustained upward momentum and improving investor sentiment toward the stock. Choice Broking said investors may consider accumulating the stock around the 2,200 level and up to 2,160, where an important technical support level is placed. Based on the above technical setup, investors can consider accumulating the stock around 2200 levels up to 2160 levels, where its key 100-DMA support is placed. Choice Broking added that if the bullish momentum sustains, the stock has the potential to move toward 2,420 and 2,530 levels over the medium to long term, supported by the improving technical setup and sustained buying interest in the counter. Colgate-Palmolive India, a leading player in the countrys oral care market, remains a widely tracked FMCG stock because of its strong brand presence, stable earnings profile and consistent demand. According to Choice Broking, the current technical setup positions the stock well for a potential upward move in the coming months if broader market conditions remain supportive. Just two months ago, the tech world gathered in Las Vegas for Consumer Electronics Show (CES), one of the industrys biggest trade shows. Now its March, and the action has moved to Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spainarguably the most important smartphone showcase of the year. Where CES is dominated by TVs, computers and the latest developments in AI, MWC has traditionally been the stage for smartphones. That said, the show floor also features tablets, wearables, laptops and a host of devices that dont always make their way to the US market. With brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Honor and Nothing Technology Limited competing for attention, here are some of the most interesting announcements and concepts from this years show. Also Read | Apple AirTag 2nd gen: The case for upgrading your Bluetooth tracker Honors Robot Phone View full Image View full Image A small robotic arm extends from the back of the phone, carrying a 200MP camera module Honor turned heads with one of the most unusual devices at MWC: a concept smartphone featuring an AI-powered motorised camera. The device had briefly appeared at CES earlier this year, though it wasnt functional then. At MWC, however, the company demonstrated the working prototype. A small robotic arm extends from the back of the phone, carrying a 200MP camera module that doubles as a stabilised gimbal once deployed. The camera can track subjects automatically, follow conversations and even dance along to music played on the phone. In effect, it combines elements of an action camera with a flagship Android smartphone. While the concept appears closer to reality than before, Honor hasnt announced a release timeline yet. Ultra flagships go global View full Image View full Image The Vivo X300 Ultra features an upgraded telephoto extender kit developed with Zeiss Both Vivo and Oppo used the MWC stage to confirm that their upcoming Ultra flagships will expand beyond China. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is being positioned as a camera-centric device developed in collaboration with Hasselblad. Although the phone itself wasnt demonstrated on stage, Oppo emphasised its imaging ambitions. Meanwhile, the Vivo X300 Ultra made a surprise appearance, featuring an upgraded telephoto extender kit developed with Zeiss. Vivo has also confirmed that the device will launch in India. Xiaomi 17 series View full Image View full Image The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Xiaomi introduced its new global flagship lineupthe Xiaomi 17 serieswith three models: the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the photography-focused Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone, developed in collaboration with Leica. An India launch for the series is expected later in March. The Leitzphone is essentially the international version of the China-exclusive Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition. It comes with a photography kit, a large 6,000mAh battery, and a single configuration with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. Under the hood is Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with Xiaomis HyperOS 3. The phone features a 6.9-inch LTPO HyperRGB OLED display with a 1120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Its triple-camera setup includes a 1-inch 50MP main sensor and a 200MP telephoto lens with variable focal length. A rotating physical Leica camera ring allows manual adjustments for zoom and exposure. The standard Xiaomi 17 will likely be the most relevant model for India, offering the same Snapdragon chip, a triple-50MP Leica-tuned camera system, a 6,330mAh battery and a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display. Nothing 4a View full Image View full Image The Nothing 4a is in four colour options: black, white, blue and pink Nothing Technology Limited previewed its upcoming Nothing 4a smartphone on the MWC show floor, displaying it in four colour options: black, white, blue and pink. The official launch is scheduled for March 5, followed by an exclusive drop at the companys newly opened Nothing Store in Bengaluru on March 7 at 6pm IST. The phone introduces a redesigned Glyph Bar and features colour-matched side frames. The Essential Key sits on the left side, while the power and volume buttons remain on the right. Tecnos modular phone concept Also Read | Which home projector should you choose for your watch parties? View full Image View full Image The technology allows accessories such as a power bank, action camera, telephoto lens, grip clips and lanyard connectors to snap onto the phone Tecno showcased one of the more experimental ideas at MWCa modular smartphone concept reminiscent of Project Ara and Moto Mods from a decade ago. The base device is a remarkably thin 4.9mm smartphone with a display, basic cameras and magnetic pogo-pin connectors. From there, users can attach additional hardware modules depending on their needs. The system relies on what Tecno calls Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology, allowing accessories such as a power bank, action camera, telephoto lens, grip clips and lanyard connectors to snap onto the phone. Two concept versions were on displaythe ATOM edition with a silver aluminium finish and the more playful MODA edition. Tecno also demonstrated the Pova Neon concept, which features a rear chamber filled with ionised inert gas. When the back panel is touched, the gas produces lightning-like patterns that follow the users finger. Motorola Razr Fold Also Read | Which home projector should you choose for your watch parties? View full Image View full Image The phone is expected to be one of the heavier book-style foldables After teasing the device at CES, Motorola officially unveiled the Moto Razr Fold at MWC. The foldable will be available in Pantone Lily White and Pantone Blackened Blue. The device enters an increasingly crowded foldable market and will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. However, it is expected to be one of the heavier book-style foldables at 243g and carries an IP49 rating. The cover display measures 6.6 inches with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 21:9 aspect ratio, while the internal screen expands to 8.09 inches with a near-square 8:7.2 ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. Motorola also announced a partnership with the GrapheneOS Foundation aimed at building smartphones for privacy-focused users. The collaboration will bring compatibility with GrapheneOSa hardened, security-focused operating system based on the Android Open Source Projectto future Motorola devices. The first phones built around this partnership are expected to arrive around 2027. Honor Magic V6 While the Robot Phone drew the most attention, Honor also introduced the powerful Honor Magic V6 foldable. The device runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and packs a large 6,600mAh battery. It measures just 4mm thick when unfolded and 8.75mm when folded, thanks in part to a redesigned Super Steel Hinge. The phone features a 7.95-inch AMOLED main display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. Honor says the crease depth has been reduced by 44%, and the external display now includes an anti-reflective coating. The rear houses a triple-camera system with a 50MP main camera, a 64MP telephoto lens and a 50MP ultrawide sensor, while dual 20MP cameras handle selfies. 6G and Wi-Fi 8 Even though much of the world is still adopting 5G and WiFi 7, the industry is already looking ahead to the next wave of connectivity. At MWC, Qualcomm announced a coalition with industry partners to accelerate the development of 6G, with commercial systems targeted around 2029. The company also introduced the FastConnect 8800 platform, designed to support WiFi 8 and Bluetooth 7.0 on smartphones, tablets and laptops. The chip features a 44 Wi-Fi radio configuration and could deliver up to twice the performance of the previous FastConnect 7800. In Qualcomms internal tests, peak speeds reached 11.6Gbpsnearly double the earlier platformwhile also extending wireless range significantly. Also Read | Which home projector should you choose for your watch parties? As the US-Iran conflict enters its second week, there are growing speculations that the Donald Trump administration could soon send ground troops into the Middle East. The US Department of Defence has abruptly canceled a major training exercise of the elite 82nd Airborne Divisions headquarters element at Fort Liberty, The Washington Post reported. 82nd Airborne Division The 82nd Airborne Division includes a brigade combat team of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers capable of deploying on 18 hours' notice. Its missions include seizing airfields and other critical infrastructure, reinforcing US embassies and enabling emergency evacuations. The report added that, while no deployment orders had been issued as of Friday, officials said the Army is expected to announce a previously scheduled Middle East deployment for a helicopter unit with the 82nd, soon. Operation Epic Fury The US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on February 28. In the opening hours of Operation Epic Fury, the US and Israel managed to eliminate the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with some of his family members and top leaders of the Iranian government and IRGC. Ayatollah eliminated, regime survives In the days that followed, the US continued to pound Iran with airstrikes, inflicting significant damage to its arsenal and naval fleet. But, despite the initial shock over the killing of Khamenei, the regime has survived and the IRGC has vowed to continue fighting and hurt US interests in the region. Also Read | US laser weapons target Iranian missile systems in Operation Epic Fury Report Can US force regime change without boots on ground? Though Trump has insisted that nothing short of an unconditional surrender by Iran would end the US attacks, many pointed out that regime change may not be possible without putting US boots on the ground. Trump one to US troop deployment in Iran Trump has been a long-standing critic of the USs forever wars and repeatedly said that he will not put US boots on the ground in global conflicts. However, in the past few days, Trump seems to have changed his position, and he recently told the New York Post that he is not ruling out the use of ground troops in Iran. I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground, he said. On Saturday, NBC News reported that Trump has privately expressed a serious interest in deploying US troops on the ground in Iran. Trump has discussed the idea of deploying ground troops with aides and Republican officials outside the White House, a source told NBC News. What will US deployment in Iran look like? The ground troops deployed, however, would not be a large one, two people familiar with the discussions said. Instead, Trump is eying the deployment of a small contingent of US troops that would be used for specific strategic purposes. Six US service personnel have been killed in the first week of the war, and the deployment of ground troops could risk the lives of more American soldiers in a crucial mid-term election year. Can US rely on Kurdish group for ground operation? There are also reports that the US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, are working with Iranian and Iraqi Kurdish militant groups to launch a ground operation. Also Read | CIA working to arm Kurdish militant groups for ground operation in Iran Reports also said that the Kurdish groups, who are opposed to the Iranian regime, could also be used to instigate another popular uprising in Iran, which, contrary to the US expectations following the airstrikes, hasn't happened at scale yet. Indian rapper musician Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, popularly known as Badshah, has been at the centre of controversy after his new Haryanvi music video Teteeree recently went live. He has been booked over alleged objectionable lyrics and visuals in the new song. What are the allegations, and what exactly is the controversy around Badshah's new song? Heres everything you need to know all explained in 10 key points. Badshah new song controversy: 10 points Why was Badshah booked? The rapper-musician was booked over alleged objectionable lyrics and visuals in his recently released music video Teteeree. What does the complaint say? An FIR was lodged against Badshah after a resident of Haryana's Panchkula alleged the use of objectionable lyrics and visuals in Badshah's recently released music video. What are the charges? Police lodged the FIR under various provisions of law alleging the use of Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. BNS Section 296 (obscene acts and songs) have also been slapped against the rapper, reported PTI. What is the controversy? Police said the video shows minor girls in school uniforms throwing away their school bags and appearing to run away from studies. The use of words such as 'Badshala' in the song has also been found to depict the school environment and education in a misleading and inappropriate manner. Furthermore, objectionable and derogatory expressions towards women and girls have also been identified in the lyrics, PTI reported, citing police statement. What happened after the complaint? Police have initiated the process to issue a Look Out Circular against Badshah, considering possibilities of him leaving the country. Badshah's apology: On Saturday, Badshah released a video statement on his official Instagram handle, where he apologised for the music video. "I never intended to say anything objectionable against any woman or child from HaryanaI am from the Hip-hop genre where lyrics often show looking down on competitors. These are never for any woman or child, now will I do this," he said. "I have always tried to take Haryanvi language and culture to take new heights. But if anyone one is hurt, I seek apology. I expect that you will forgive me by considering me the son of Haryana," Badshah added. 7. What aspects police is probing? Police said it is also looking into whether the makers of the video took proper approval for showing what appears to be a government school premises and a Haryana Roadways bus from the Jind depot. If required approvals were not taken, legal action will be taken, the police said. 8. What's next for Badshah? Panchkula police has issued a formal notice directing Badshah to appear before the police immediately. Several police teams have also been constituted to ensure the rapper's arrest and are conducting continuous raids at various possible locations, the Haryana Police said in a statement, reported news wire PTI. 9. Video taken off platforms? Besides the Look Out Circulars, raids at locations by police, notices have been issued to remove the Teteeree music video from all social media platforms. 10. Haryana Education Minister condemns video: On Friday, Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda said the government has taken cognisance of the music video. The depiction of school girls in the song and the manner our culture is shown in it is condemnable, he said. The Haryana State Commission for Women has also taken cognisance of the song and issued a summons to the rapper. Delhi Holi death: A 26-year-old man, Tarun was lynched in a clash that was allegedly triggered by a dispute between two families from different communities over a water balloon, in Uttam Nagar's JJ Colony area on Holi, Wednesday, according to police. Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in the area for security measures, reported HT. Taruns father, Memraj, reportedly said the altercation began after a balloon filled with coloured water accidentally fell on a woman from another community. DCP Dwarka District Niharika Bhatt said a total of 7 people have been arrested after an FIR was registered in connection with the incident. What happened in Uttam Nagar on Holi? On Wednesday, 4 March, Holi, Tarun's father Memraj claimed that during celebrations in Uttam Nagar's J J Colony, a balloon filled with coloured water accidentally fell on a woman from another community, which triggered an altercation. Delhi Police said the dispute escalated during Holi celebrations in the locality, following which Tarun was injured. He later died while undergoing treatment. Tarun's father told PTI: "It was around 11 pm on Holi, and we were getting ready to sleep when they came to attack us. Earlier in the day, a small girl had dropped a balloon by mistake, and it fell on a woman from another community. They made such a big deal about it. We even apologised to her," he claimed. How was Tarun attacked? According to Tarun's grandfather Maan Singh, who also sustained injuries in the clash, the woman began hurling abuses and picked a fight over the splash of colour. He alleged that she later gathered several members of her family and community who attacked their family members while they were playing Holi. Singh further claimed that although the matter appeared to have subsided initially, members of the other family later gathered and attacked Tarun when he was returning home, reported PTI. Tarun's uncle Ramesh alleged that his nephew had no idea about the earlier dispute. Who is the 26-year-old? The deceased, identified as Tarun, had been undergoing treatment after the altercation that reportedly occurred on March 4. He was pursuing a digital marketing course and hoped to support his family. Vehicles set ablaze, protests rock neighbourhood Following Taruns death, tensions flared in Uttam Nagar on Friday, with a car and a motorcycle set on fire and traffic disrupted for several hours as Hindu political outfits staged a massive protest over the killing of the 26-year-old during Holi celebrations. View full Image View full Image New Delhi, Mar 07 (ANI): Security heightened, following a sit-in protest by the deceased's father over the death of his son, Tarun (25), due to an alleged fight during Holi in Uttam Nagar, New Delhi, on Saturday. (ANI Photo/Sumit) ( sumit ) A helicopter flying to Kaushambi, with Uttar Pradesh's Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on board, had to undertake an emergency landing after it developed a technical snag soon after take off from Lucknow, sources said on Saturday. According to a BJP leader close to Maurya, the deputy chief minister was going to Kaushambi to attend multiple events. Also Read | Body of missing UP woman farmer leader recovered from forest What went wrong? The chopper, with five persons including Maurya, his aide Vivek and two pilots, had taken off from Lucknow La Martiniere College ground helipad when it developed a snag. "Smoke was noticed all inside the chopper soon after take off, forcing the pilots to opt for an emergency landing at the Lucknow airport," the BJP leader said. Maurya to use another helicopter Party leaders suggested Maurya was fine and would go to Kaushambi later in another helicopter. Nominal on Thursday announced a fresh $80 million Series B extension round at a $1 billion valuation, led by Founders Fund. This followed the companys $75 million Series B round led by Sequoia in September. The company offers software that helps hardware engineers test their designs and began as a picks-and-shovels type of startup for the defense industry. The three-and-a-half-year-old, L.A.-based company says that in the last 10 months, it has landed four of the five largest defense contractors as customers. CEO and co-founder Cameron McCord (pictured) is a former U.S. Navy submarine officer and an alum of defense tech company Anduril, which is also one of Nominals marquee customers. So perhaps its no surprise that Anduril co-founder and executive chairman Trae Stephens, who is also a Founders Fund partner, led this as a preemptive deal, McCord told Bloomberg and confirmed to TechCrunch. Sequoia, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Red Glass, and Lightspeed also participated. Next up, Nominal plans to expand beyond defense tech and into industrial sectors like automotive, robotics, and other industries. And its made a good start. The company tells TechCrunch that some of its other customers include Pratt Miller Motorsports (the Corvette Racing Team) and nuclear energy company Antares. India has responded to the United States granting a temporary sanctions waiver to the country to purchase oil from Russia. India said it will continue to buy oil from wherever it is available and it does not depend on permission from any country to do so. "India will buy oil from wherever it is available. Our oil purchases will not be governed by any hollow slogans. India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil," a senior government official told PTI. According to the official, India's energy procurement decisions are governed by one principle - national interest. US grants India 30-day sanctions waiver On Thursday the US temporarily eased economic sanctions against Russia to allow Russian oil stranded at sea to be sold to India. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday announced a 30-day waiver, while describing India as an essential partner. The waiver removes a friction that was never in anyone's interest to sustain and recognises the stabilising role India's refining and procurement capacity has played in global energy markets. The US decision came in the wake of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East due to which global oil prices have surged. Crude soared 8.5 percent on Friday and was up nearly 30 percent for the week after President Donald Trump said only the "unconditional surrender" of Iran would end the Middle East war. Indian purchase of Russian oil Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent sanctions, India became the largest buyer of crude from Moscow, peaking at nearly 40% of the country's total oil needs. India-US trade deal In February, Trump claimed that India had committed to stop buying Russian oil as part of a trade deal and rolled back a 25 percent duty on exports from the country. However, India has maintained that its energy sourcing is guided by "national interest" and "energy security". India seeking alternative energy sources Taking into account the ongoing situation in the Middle East, India is exploring alternative sources to further strengthen its energy security, PTI reported. President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday raised concerns over the poor attendance at a tribal community programme organised near Bagdogra Airport. She took a jibe at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, stating she doesn't know "whether she is upset". She also questioned why the venue had been moved from Bidhannagar and pointed out that Banerjee and other ministers from the West Bengal government were not present during her visit, according to PTI. "Mamata Banerjee is like my younger sister. I am also a daughter of Bengal. But I do not know why I was not allowed to come here. I do not know whether she is upset, and that is why the venue was shifted. Anyway, that does not matter. All of you stay well," the President said. Also Read | Major reshuffle of Governors by President Murmu check list CM should be welcoming when the President is coming "Generally, when the President is coming, the CM should be welcoming, and other ministers should be present. But she did not come. The governor has changed and could not come. But because the date was fixed, I have come. But it's okay. I would like to thank you for coming here," she told the gathering. Murmu said the programme would have been better held at Bidhannagar, noting that the venue had ample space and could have accommodated a larger number of people. She said she did not understand why the state administration had not allowed the event to be organised there and remarked that the current location made it difficult for people to attend. Murmu also suggested that the situation created an impression that the state government might not want tribal communities to participate in the event. Speaking about the challenges surrounding the event, she further said that while travelling to attend the international conference, she sensed that some people were not supportive of it taking place. Murmu added that it appeared as though certain sections did not want the Santal community to progress, gain knowledge and unite to become stronger. Murmu had been invited to attend the annual programme, which was initially planned to be held at Bidhannagar. However, officials said the venue was later moved to Goshaipur citing security concerns and other logistical reasons. When the President arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a small number of people were present. Gautam Deb was the sole representative of the state government at the airport to receive her. As per protocol, the chief minister or a minister from the state government is generally present to welcome the President. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee continued her sit-in protest for the second consecutive day over the alleged arbitrary deletion of names from the electoral rolls in West Bengal. Vijay, chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), on Saturday unveiled a series of welfare promises, including measures for women, if his party comes to power in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Speaking at an International Women's Day event organised by TVK in Mamallapuram, Vijay said the monthly financial support would be given to women up to the age of 60, excluding government employees, once the party forms the government, according to PTI. List of promises by TVK's Vijay: A monthly financial assistance of 2,500, a sovereign of gold along with a silk saree as a wedding gift for young women. 2. Families would receive six free LPG cylinders every year under the Annapurani Super Six Scheme. Also Read | Vijay separation case: Sangeetha seeks interim order to stay at matrimonial home 3. To prevent school dropouts, Vijay also announced that mothers or guardians would receive an annual financial assistance of 15,000 under the Kamarajar Kalvi Uruthi Thittam. 4. The Vetri Payanam (Victory Journey) Scheme would allow women to travel free of cost on all government buses. 5. A Rani Velu Nachiyar Force, named after Rani Velu Nachiyar, would be established to strengthen womens safety. According to him, women officers from this force would operate in plain clothes and be equipped with body cameras, with around 500 teams deployed across the state to handle security duties. 6. Anjalai Ammal Fast-Track Courts for Women, named after freedom fighter Anjalai Ammal, would be set up to ensure quicker investigation and delivery of justice in cases of crimes against women. 7. Smart panic buttons would be introduced in public transport for womens safety. These devices would be installed in all public transport vehicles, including private share autos, and would enable authorities to provide assistance and protection within five minutes of an alert. 8. Zero dark spots to be created by ensuring CCTV cameras and proper lighting in all vulnerable areas. Modern command centres to monitor these systems to ensure womens safety. 9. Free sanitary pads will be distributed through public distribution points such as ration shops, schools, and colleges 10. Singa Pengal (Empowered Women) Development Scheme-Women-run Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to receive interest-free funding up to 5 lakh to enhance their production capacity. SHGs that transform into registered MSMEs will also get 5 lakh annually as a 100% grant. 11 Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme, to celebrate the child's birth in the state, the Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme will be introduced. Every newborn child will receive a gold ring as a blessing from the government, he said. 12. "A Baby Welcome Kit will also be provided containing: Nutritional supplements, Baby clothes, Baby soaps, Baby oil, Baby powder, Mosquito nets, Toys and Napkins and diapers." The 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go to polls in the first half of 2026. In the upcoming election, the ruling alliance led by MK Stalin under the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) will seek to retain power against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is widely expected to make the contest a three-cornered one. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam secured 133 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 18 seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi won five, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi secured four, while other parties won eight seats. The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which included Congress and other partners, collectively won 159 seats. On the other hand, the NDA secured 75 seats, with the AIADMK emerging as the largest party within the alliance after winning 66 seats. A purported video showing a teacher getting a foot massage from students during school hours in Uttar Pradesh's Chitrakoot district has gone viral on social media. The teacher was issued a suspension notice soon after the video surfaced. The incident reportedly took place at a government school in Naya Bazar in Karbi, where the woman, Madhu, worked as the headmistress, according to The Times of India. The video allegedly shows the headmistress lying comfortably on the floor while watching a video. One student wearing a school uniform and sitting on a bench is seen giving her a foot massage, while other girls look on as the headmistress appears to be reveling in leisure. What action did authorities take? Basic Siksha Adhikari (BSA) BK Sharma told TOI that after the video came to his notice, he sent a team to the school on Friday for inspection. However, the teacher was reportedly on medical leave. "I have suspended her on the basis of the inspection report in which students have alleged that she used to have regular massage by them", Sharma said while informing that Madhu is about to retire in a couple of years. The headmistress denied the allegations and claimed that the video was doctored with the help of AI tools,. he said. Similar incident reported earlier in Andhra Pradesh In a similar incident, a video of a teacher had gone viral last year showing a teacher receiving a foot massage from students inside a classroom in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district. The teacher was suspended after the clip surfaced online. The video showed a female teacher reclining on a chair with her legs stretched out, while two girls in school uniform were seen sitting on the floor near her feet. While the teacher sat comfortably and spoke on her mobile phone, the students appeared to give her a leg and foot massage. Also Read | UP teacher suspended after DM checks his phone, discovers he played Candy Crush The incident was reported from the Bandapalli Tribal Girls Ashram School in Srikakulam district. The matter was soon brought to the attention of the authorities, including Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Seethampeta Project Officer Pawar Swapnil Jagannath. Also Read | Aligarh: AMU student dies by suicide days after teacher shot dead on campus A peculiar travel gimmick is going viral in China as pet owners are endangering their animal's life by placing them in sacks and hanging them outside the car while driving. An internet user exposed the consequences of this worrying trend following the Chinese New Year travel rush. A blogger named Wu Jiayou said that he found 62 pet carcasses on a 300-kilometre stretch of expressway. Expressing concern over the dead bodies strewn across the road, he shared a video of the scene on February 25, Yangcheng Evening News reported. The carcasses of pet animals were found on a stretch between Leshan in Sichuan province and Chongqing in southwestern China. Also Read | Biggest controversies involving former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem According to the blogger, nearly eight of the animals were dogs and the rest were cats. They all looked like pet animals because they wore clothes and their hair was well groomed. I think they died of accidents during the transport due to the lack of care and protection from their owners, Yangcheng Evening News quoted Wu Jiayou as saying. The disturbing visuals had a profound impact on the blogger who could feel the pain because he was also a pet owner. He had a dog named Border Collie. Pointing to the dangers and risk of this viral trend, Wu Jiayou said, Many pet owners just follow a recent trend of not putting their pets inside the vehicles, but hanging them outside." To celebrate the Chinese New Year a large number of people in China travel home, covering long distances with their pets which gets uncomfortable for the latter. Many pet owners use cages or ventilated boxes to accommodate the animals while some ignore safety practices in transporting pets during travel. Despite the risk associated with suspending pets outside the boot, some simply use woven bags or plastic bags to avoid animal distress in the car. Wu said, I did not expect that my video would go viral. I did not know so many people were sympathetic about the lives of pets" as he warned pet owners of this dangerous trend. Advocating for more humane practices in transporting pets during travel, he added, I would like to call on all pet owners to raise their fur babies in a civilised way and to never abandon them. Also Read | Amputated human leg found in mouth of roaming dog at AIMSS, Shimla Experts warn of dangers and risk associated with this trend According to Beijing Quanxinquanyi Animal Hospital doctor Li, pet reactions to long-distance road journey vary. Li said, Pets which do not often sit in cars will develop stress responses such as car sickness, nervousness, fear and defecation." Netflix has stepped down as an investor in As Ever, the lifestyle brand launched by Meghan Markle, marking a shift in the partnership that began when the brand debuted last year. Netflix exits Meghan Markles lifestyle brand As Ever The company confirmed that it will no longer act as a financial backer of the venture, which focuses on food and lifestyle products. However, Netflix said the decision was part of the original plan and that Markle will now continue developing the brand independently. Also Read | Netizens liken Nicola Peltz to Meghan Markle as Beckham family feud goes public A spokesperson for Netflix told Variety that the company was pleased to have helped introduce the brand to audiences. Meghans passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life, the spokesperson said. As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently. The lifestyle brand As Ever launched about 11 months ago. Its first collection included teas, jams, honey and baking mixes, reflecting Markles interest in cooking and home living. The brands debut came at the same time as the release of her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan. The series featured Markle hosting friends and collaborators while preparing food and discussing everyday life topics. The programme ran for two seasons, each consisting of eight episodes, released in March and August 2025. A holiday special was also released in December. Although the show has not been formally cancelled, reports suggest the project has slowed down while Markle considers new directions for filmed content. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said the company remains thankful for Netflixs support during the brands launch phase. The brand is grateful for Netflixs partnership through launch and our first year, the spokesperson said. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and cant wait to share more. Netflix executives previously described the companys role as limited. In an interview with Variety last year, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said the streaming giant had been a passive partner in Markles business venture. Sarandos also noted Markles cultural influence, pointing out that items she appeared with in public often attracted significant attention from audiences and the media. Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have maintained a high-profile partnership with Netflix since signing a production deal with the company in 2020. One of their most widely watched projects was the documentary series Harry & Meghan, which explored their lives and decision to step back from royal duties. A key US missile defence radar system worth around $300 million has reportedly been destroyed during the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States. Satellite imagery cited by CNN showed that an AN/TPY-2 radar part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) network was destroyed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan during the opening days of the war. The destruction of the equipment was later confirmed by a US official, Bloomberg stated. Data compiled by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies indicated two reported Iranian strikes in Jordan on February 28 and March 3, both of which were said to have been intercepted, the news outlet said. Experts warn of significant strategic loss Defence experts cited by the news outlet say that a successful strike on the radar would represent one of Tehrans most significant operational achievements in the conflict so far. If successful, an Iranian strike on a THAAD radar would mark one of Irans most successful attacks so far, Ryan Brobst was quoted as saying. However, Brobst noted that the US and its partners still retain other systems in the region. The US military and its partners have other radars that can continue to provide air and missile defense coverage, mitigating the loss of any single radar. What is the THAAD system? The THAAD system short for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense is designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles at high altitudes, often near the edge of the Earths atmosphere. This capability allows it to counter more advanced missile threats than shorter-range systems such as the Patriot batteries. The AN/TPY-2 radar plays a crucial role in detecting, tracking and guiding interceptors toward incoming ballistic missiles. A full THAAD battery typically includes: -Around 90 soldiers -Six truck-mounted launchers -Forty-eight interceptor missiles -One AN/TPY-2 radar system -A tactical fire control and communications unit Each interceptor missile, produced by Lockheed Martin, costs roughly $13 million. Limited global inventory The US military operates only eight THAAD systems globally, with deployments in locations such as South Korea and Guam. Each battery costs roughly $1 billion, with the radar component accounting for about $300 million, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. These are scarce strategic resources and its loss is a huge blow, said Tom Karako, a missile defense expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies was quoted by the news outlet. Karako added that the US Armys current force structure remains below earlier planning levels. The Armys current eight-battery force is still below the force structure requirements of nine set back in 2012, so there arent exactly any spare TPY-2 lying around. Missile defence network under strain The reported radar loss comes as air and missile defence systems across the Gulf region face sustained pressure from Iranian retaliatory attacks involving drones and ballistic missiles. Earlier in the conflict, a separate early-warning radar an AN/FPS-132 radar located in Qatar was also damaged during an Iranian attack, according to research from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Unlike THAADs mobile radar, the AN/FPS-132 system is designed to detect threats at very long distances but lacks the precision required to guide missile interceptors. A 28-year-old Bangladeshi man has been accused of child sexual exploitation in the United States. He allegedly used social media to trick teenage girls into sending him sexually explicit images, and then threatened to share them with their friends and family if they didn't send more. He adopted false identities, often posing as a teenager, to trick victims into sending him explicit images, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing US prosecutors. The accused, Zobaidul Amin, who was studying medicine in Malaysia, was flown to Alaska from Kuala Lumpur to face the federal charges. He pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance. The FBIs commitment to protecting our children from exploitation doesnt change whether an offender is here in the United States or overseas, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a news release. Also Read | UK PM orders social media firms to take down non-consensual content in 48 hours Bragged about causing mental harm In a detention memorandum, US prosecutors said Amin delighted in sexually abusing hundreds of minor victims over social media. He bragged about causing victims to become suicidal and engage in self-harm. The prosecutors said Amin shared hundreds of nude images and videos of minor victims all over the internet and encouraged other perpetrators to do the same. How was Zobaidul Amin caught? A 14-year-old Alaska girl first reported Amin to law enforcement, triggering an investigation. In her report of the abuse, the minor claimed that after she stopped communicating with Amin, he followed through on his threats by sending pornographic images of her to her friends and followers. In 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Amin on charges including child pornography, cyberstalking and wire fraud. US prosecutors, in the detention memorandum, said the accused adopted false identities, often posing as a teenager, to trick victims into sending him explicit images. In executing dozens of search warrants and subpoenas, investigators eventually learned his identity and realised he had done similar things to hundreds of minor victims, prosecutors said. According to the prosecutors, Amin told his victims that the only way to get him to stop demanding more images was to recruit other victims. Because he was in Malaysia and his victims were primarily in the US, Amin viewed himself as untouchable by law enforcement, prosecutors wrote. In one conversation, he told a minor victim that the cops wont do anything, and the cops wont track me down because I live no where near u. Also Read | Australia Blasts Big Tech for Child Sexual Abuse Failings Amin's extradition Efforts to extradite Amin to face charges failed, but with FBI assistance, Malaysian authorities brought charges, the Justice Department said. He was released on bail during the proceedings, and eventually the US succeeded in having him expelled from Malaysia. The FBI took him into custody and flew him to Alaska. Newly released Department of Justice documents show that one of Jeffrey Epsteins prison guards, Tova Noel, searched for information about the disgraced financier just minutes before he was found dead in his jail cell. According to FBI records cited in the documents reviewed by The New York Post, Tova Noel one of two Metropolitan Correctional Center guards on duty the night of Epsteins death searched for the phrase latest on Epstein in jail at 5:42 a.m. and again at 5:52 a.m. on August 10, 2019, less than 40 minutes before her colleague, correctional officer Michael Thomas, discovered Epstein dead by hanging at 6:30 a.m. Alleged negligence on duty Prosecutors say Noel shopped for furniture online and napped during her shift, neglecting the required 30-minute checks on Epstein. Thomas reportedly browsed motorcycles during the same period. The FBIs 66-page forensic review of the guards computers highlighted Noels internet searches as particularly significant. During her 2021 DOJ interview, Noel denied Googling Epstein, claiming she didnt remember and disputing the accuracy of the FBI records. Suspicious cash deposits DOJ's Epstein files also revealed that Chase Bank flagged a $5,000 cash deposit made by Noel on July 30, 2019, just days before Epsteins death. Her account had a total of seven deposits totaling $11,880 starting from April 2018. Noel began working in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) where Epstein was held on July 7, 2019. Noel, who drove a $62,000 Land Rover, was reportedly not questioned about the deposits during her DOJ interview. Blurry surveillance footage FBI briefings suggest Noel may be the mysterious orange shape seen near Epsteins cell at 10:40 p.m. the night of his death, carrying linen or inmate clothing to the SHU tier. The same report notes that this was the last time any correctional officer approached the only entrance to Epsteins tier. In sworn statements, Noel claimed she never handled inmate linen and last saw Epstein alive somewhere around after 10 p.m. The other guard on duty reportedly slept between 10 p.m. and midnight. Also Read | US DOJ releases Epstein documents linked to allegations against Donald Trump Criminal charges dropped Noel and Thomas were fired after falsifying records about Epstein checks, but criminal charges against both guards were later dropped. Noel has since been sued in Westchester County for alleged assault in her current role as a medical office assistant. Epsteins death remains under scrutiny The new DOJ documents mark the first time a name has been publicly associated with the mysterious orange figure in the surveillance footage, which has long fueled conspiracies surrounding Epsteins death. Noel has denied any involvement in Epsteins suicide during her sworn statement. Also Read | What newly released Epstein files reveal about allegations against Trump Investors from the United States and other countries are set to travel to Venezuela in the coming weeks, after the US said it was restoring diplomatic relations with the South American country, as part of a new era after former leader Nicolas Maduro's capture by Donald Trump. The travel party, spread across three trips organised by separate advisory groups, includes hedge fund managers, energy bigwigs and dozens of investors from the US and other countries, according to a Reuters report on 7 March. Also Read | Pentagon vs Anthropic: Top US official opens up on clash with AI firm The investors will meet with Venezuelan politicians and business leaders, and scout investment opportunities energy, finance, technology, oil and gas, and real estate, it added. Investor interest in Venezuela on rise? According to the Reuters report, the trips are organised by Orinoco Research (Caracas-based), Trans-National Research (New Jersey-based), and Signum Global Advisors (London-based). Reuters was the first to report on the former two, while Signum's trip has been public for some time now, it added. Venezuela houses the world's largest proven oil reserves but owes over $100 billion in debt that needs restructuring. The government under Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has proactively sought to better terms with the US following Maduro's capture in January. On 5 March, the two countries agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties. Speaking to Reuters, Miami-based Jesse Cole, president of Sky Drop Capital, who set up a manufacturing facility in the Latin American country in 1998 but left in 2011, feels that this is a coiled spring of opportunity The Venezuela I left, I don't think is the Venezuela I'm returning to. Cole said offices managing high net-worth families, individuals and private equity (PE), are keen to invest $25-100 million each, in the country. Three advisory groups plan investor trips to Venezuela The report cited a source to report that Trans-National's trip is planned for 16-17 March. President Marc Zeepvat confirmed the trip to Reuters, but did not share dates or an agenda, but said focus would be on gauging macroeconomic and political stability. Signum's trip of 55 participants is scheduled for 22-24 March, and founder-chairman Charles Myers told the publication about half of these are asset managers and hedge funds. Meanwhile, Orinoco's two-day trip is scheduled for April, founder Elias Ferrer confirmed to the agency, adding that participants (primarily bond holders) will meet senior-level Venezuelan officials to gather information and share ideas for the country's restructuring. Other attendees on the $7,000/person trip include oil and real estate sector investors. Most participants are American, Ferrer added. This trip also includes a beach visit to the Los Roques archipelago. The report cited sources to state that across the trips, big Venezuelan names are listed on the draft agendas Rodriguez, central bank policymaker Laura Guerra, Finance Minister Anabel Pereira, Mining Minister Hector Silva, PDVSA CEO Hector Obragon, and stock exchange CEO Jose Grasso to name a few. The Venezuelan communications ministry, PDVSA, central bank and Caracas stock exchange did not respond to queries on the same. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said that critical minerals, mining, and oil and gas companies are moving at Trump speed to invest in Venezuelan markets. Quick Read Hims & Hers (HIMS) surged 40% in aftermarket trading after falling 77% from its peak. Novo Nordisk partnered to sell Wegovy and Ozempic through Hims. Eli Lilly has been stealing market share with Zepbound. Novo Nordisk reversed from suing Hims over compounded GLP-1 drugs to partnering on branded obesity medication distribution, ending the legal feud and restoring a critical revenue stream. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. In a dramatic reversal of fortune, Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS) has been rescued by the very company that nearly sank it. Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO), which sued the telehealth provider just last month over copycat compounded GLP-1 drugs, has now agreed to partner with Hims to sell its branded obesity medications -- including Wegovy and Ozempic -- directly through the platform. The deal is expected to be announced as soon as Monday, ending the bitter legal feud and restoring a critical revenue stream that Hims had lost when their initial collaboration collapsed last year. Hims shares surged about 40% in aftermarket trading, erasing months of pain and signaling Wall Streets relief that the companys growth engine is back online. What looked like a slow death by regulatory pressure and lost momentum has suddenly become a second act. Novo Nordisk, once Hims aggressor, is now its savior. From Boom to Bust Hims & Hers rose like a rocket during the telehealth boom. What began as a platform for hair-loss treatments, erectile dysfunction meds, and skincare evolved into a weight-loss powerhouse once GLP-1 agonists exploded in popularity. During the acute shortage of Wegovy and Ozempic in 20232024, Hims capitalized by offering compounded semaglutide versions at lower prices and faster delivery. New customers flooded in, subscriptions soared, and the stock hit all-time highs nearly a year ago as investors bet on endless demand for obesity drugs. READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks That bet unraveled fast. As the FDA declared the semaglutide shortage over, Novo Nordisk turned hostile. Last April's partnership to expand Wegovy access via telehealth lasted only until June, when Novo abruptly terminated the deal, citing safety concerns over Hims compounded products. The real hammer came last month: Novo sued for patent infringement after Hims launched a $49 compounded oral pill mimicking Novos new formulation. Hims pulled the product under FDA pressure. Compounding the damage were parallel regulatory clouds -- an SEC investigation into Hims marketing practices and whispers of a potential Justice Dept. probe into the safety and legality of compounded GLP-1s. Investors fled. From its peak, the stock cratered 77%, wiping out billions in market value and leaving Hims staring at a future of slowed growth and limited upside without the GLP-1 tailwind. United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the nation is now in a time of war in his first public remarks since the conflict involving Iran escalated across the Gulf. Speaking during a visit to people injured in recent strikes, Zayed Al Nahyan said the UAE is resilient and warned that the country has thick skin and bitter flesh we are no easy prey. He added that the government will protect all citizens and residents, calling them part of the nations family. He said the leadership would carry out our duty towards our country, our people and our residents who are also part of our family. The remarks come as tensions across the Gulf intensify following missile and drone attacks linked to the wider Iran-US conflict, with several Gulf states increasing defensive measures and warning of further escalation in the region. UAE calls for end to attacks on Gulf states An Emirati official told Reuters that the UAE wants Iranian attacks against Gulf states to stop immediately. Any sort of escalation is worrying. We want to contain the war. We dont want the war to expand, the official said. We want to start with the Iranians realizing that they are not helping themselves by attacking their whole neighbourhood and to stop there and realize that. Air defences intercept missiles and drones The UAE reported fresh missile and drone attacks on Saturday as Iran continued retaliatory strikes across the Gulf. The countrys UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems were responding to incoming threats. UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran, the ministry said. Sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones. Dubai airport briefly shuts during attacks The barrage forced a brief shutdown of operations at Dubai International Airport, one of the worlds busiest hubs for international travel. An unidentified object was intercepted near the airport, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend flights as a precaution. UAE among most targeted nations in Gulf conflict The UAE a close US ally that hosts American military installations has been one of the most heavily targeted countries in the Gulf since the conflict began. According to the defence ministry, 16 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones targeted the country on Saturday. Officials said 15 of the missiles were intercepted, while one fell into the sea. Of the 121 drones detected, 119 were shot down, with two falling within Emirati territory. Hundreds of missiles and drones launched since war began The latest barrage brings the total number of ballistic missiles detected by the UAE since the war began last week to 221, while the number of drones launched toward the country has exceeded 1,300, the defence ministry said. Iranian strikes in recent days have hit several high-profile locations including Abu Dhabi International Airport, the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel and the upscale Palm Jumeirah development. Drone debris also sparked a fire earlier this week at the US Consulate Dubai. Attacks reported across the Gulf Elsewhere in the region, Qatar said its military intercepted a missile attack targeting the country. In Saudi Arabia, the defence ministry said three ballistic missiles headed toward Prince Sultan Air Base which hosts American troops were destroyed, along with 17 drones over the Shaybah Oil Field. Kuwait also reported intercepting a drone and announced a precautionary cut to crude oil production due to threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. Jordan says it was directly targeted Further north, Jordan accused Iran of directly targeting sites inside the kingdom. These missiles and drones were targeting vital installations inside Jordan and were not passing through our territories, military spokesman Mustafa Hayari said. A federal jury in the US on Friday, March 6, convicted a Pakistani man of planning to kill President Donald Trump and other prominent American politicians at the behest of Iran. The convict, Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, was accused of trying to recruit people in the US in a plan targeting Trump and others. According to the Department of Justice, Merchants targets also included the then-President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, who was running against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. Prosecutors said that the killings were in retaliation for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Soleimani was killed on January 3, 2020, in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, during Trumps first term in office. Who is Asif Merchant? Asif Merchant is a 47-year-old Pakistani national who worked for Pakistani banks for decades and was also involved with the garment industry. He has two families, in Pakistan and Iran. According to the DOJ, Merchant is a trained Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operative, and he entered the United States intending to commit acts of terror. Merchant began working for the IRGC in Pakistan in late 2022 or early 2023, when he received training in tradecraft, including countersurveillance. Entered US to hire hitmen He entered the US for the first time in 2023, with a mission to find potential IRGC recruits who could stay behind in the country. Merchant who repeatedly traveled to Iran to meet with his IRGC handler was sent to the US again in 2024, where he was tasked with recruiting Mafia members to steal documents, stage a protest, and carry out the assassination of one of the three targets. How the murder plot fell apart However, his plot fell apart after an acquaintance Merchant contacted in New York, alerted law enforcement agencies. The acquaintance, Nadeem Ali, helped Merchant plan the operations, while remaining a confidential source for the law enforcement. Merchant told Ali that the assassination would occur after he left the US and in mid-June, he met with the purported hitmen, who were undercover officials. Also Read | Explosive DOJ filing: Trump attacker wanted a rocket launcher or Stinger missile On June 21, Merchant paid $5,000 in cash as an advance to the undercover officials and was planning to leave the US. He was taken into custody on July 12, the day Merchant was to fly out of the US. What Asif Merchant said During the trial in New York City last week, Merchant admitted to joining the plot with Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps but testified he did so unwillingly, to protect his family in Tehran. Also Read | Iran names Ahmad Vahidi new IRGC chief amid escalating US, Israel attack My family was under threat, and I had to do this, he said. Merchant also told the jury he was carrying out instructions from a contact in the IRGC. According to Merchant, the handler never specified a target but mentioned the names of then-candidate Donald Trump, then-President Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley during the course of conversations in the Iranian capital. Asif Merchant faces life in jail A jury in Brooklyn convicted Merchant on charges of "murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries." He faces up to life in prison. Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Saturday announced that it was suspending all operations temporarily after an aerial interception in the area during attacks from Iran. "For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended," the government's Dubai Media Office said in a social media post. The announcement was made after an aerial interception of an object near the airport, which was initially reported as an explosion. Dubai authorities have confirmed that a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception has been successfully contained. No injuries have been reported, the Dubai Media Office had said. The Flightradar24 tracking website earlier showed planes circling above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. Authorities have not explained if there was an interception or damage at the airport, which is the world's busiest for international travel. Emirates suspends flights Earlier on Saturday, Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, announced that it was suspending all its flights to and from Dubai until further notice. "Please do not go to the airport," the airline said. "Emirates will share updates when available. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised," it said in a social media post. Resumed on Monday after previous strike Flights from Dubai's main airport had partially resumed on Monday despite daily drone attacks targeting sites in the United Arab Emirates. Last Saturday, four employees were injured and a terminal was damaged at Dubai airport as war broke out in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Operator Dubai Airports said at the time that the incident had been "quickly brought under control", without providing details. Hours after Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, apologised for the attack on neighbouring countries - which host major US military bases - the foreign ministry said Tehran would continue its response until what it described as aggression stops or the United Nations Security Council fulfils its responsibility by identifying the aggressors, Reuters reported. Iran further said its defensive operations targeting US military bases and facilities in the region should not be interpreted as hostility towards neighbouring countries. The statement comes as missile and drone attacks continue to rattle Gulf Arab states. Fresh blasts were reported in Doha and Manama, while the UAE Ministry of Defence said the countrys air defence systems were dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran. Mounting a fierce attack on its enemies, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, said the Gulf nation was in a time of war and warned that it was no easy prey. "The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh we are no easy prey," Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, said in comments made on Friday while visiting those injured in the strikes. The remarks were aired on Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday. "We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people and our residents, who are also part of our family," he said. Hours earlier, a barrage of missiles and drones disrupted flight operations at Dubai International Airport, struck a major Saudi oil facility and forced residents in Bahrain to seek shelter. Several hours after Pezeshkians apology, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain continued to issue alerts and report intercepting incoming missiles. Israel-Iran-US conflict Iran launched retaliatory strikes after the US and Israel jointly attacked the Islamic Republic on Saturday 28, February. Blasts were reported across Abu Dhabi, Doha, Qatar among other key Middle Eastern hubs which are also home to US military bases. Fresh military activity in UAE, Saudi UAE said it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones as Iran kept up its attacks. "UAE air defence systems detected today, Saturday 7th March 2026, 16 ballistic missiles, of which, 15 were intercepted and destroyed, while one ballistic missile fell into the sea," the ministry of defence said in a post on X. Air defence systems also detected 121 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), of which 119 were intercepted, while two fell within the territory of the UAE. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted four drones targeting the countrys massive Shaybah oil field, marking the second attempted attack within hours, reported AP. At the same time, Israeli warplanes continued strikes on Beirut and Tehran. The death toll from the escalating conflict kept rising on Saturday, with officials reporting at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, mentioned AP's report. UAE News Highlights: Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest airport for international travel, temporarily suspended operations on Saturday before partially resuming services after an air defence interception occurred in the area during attacks launched by Iran. Dubai airport status "We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC," it said, referring to Dubai's main airport as well as the city's Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International. A witness told AFP that a loud explosion was heard over the airport, followed by a cloud of smoke rising in the sky Dubai Media Office stated "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception", but rejected unspecified social media reports about the airport in a post on X. The United Arab Emiratess air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones on Saturday during a fresh wave of attacks targeting the country, the UAE Ministry of Defence said, according to Gulf News. According to the ministry, air defence units detected 16 ballistic missiles on March 7, successfully intercepting 15 of them, while one missile fell into the sea. Authorities also tracked 121 drones, of which 119 were shot down, while two crashed within the UAEs territory. The updates to this liveblog have now been closed. A fresh loud explosion was heard in Dubai on Saturday evening, according to AFP, as Iran persisted with missile and drone strikes against locations across the Gulf region. The UAE had earlier reported "incoming missile and drone threats from Iran". Israel and Iran continued exchanging attacks on Saturday as the war in the Middle East entered its second week. Tehran issued a rare apology to neighbouring countries, apparently aiming to ease regional anger over Iranian strikes that hit civilian targets in the Gulf. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to the Gulf countries and claimed that Tehran would stop striking its Arab neighbours, unless any attacks on Tehran originated from those countries. He refuted US President Donald Trump's demand for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender as a dream. In a video message released, Pezeshkian stated, "The temporary leadership council approved yesterday that neighbouring countries should no longer be targeted and missiles should not be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries. However, Trump described Irans apology as a sign of surrender. He also warned that Iran would be hit very hard and cautioned that the United States could expand its attacks to additional areas and groups that had not previously been designated as targets. Missile and drone threats from Iran in UAE On Saturday evening, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the UAEs air defence systems were currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. The ministry stated that the sounds heard in different parts of the country were caused by air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, while fighter jets were engaging drones and loitering munitions in the air. UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones, it said. This came after Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest airport for international travel, temporarily suspended operations before partially resuming services after an air defence interception occurred in the area during attacks launched by Iran. Also Read | CBSE postpones Class 12th exams from March 9 to 11 in Middle East countries Meanwhile, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in comments aired on Abu Dhabi TV, said the UAE was currently facing a time of war but remained stable and resilient. In his first public remarks since Iran launched missile attacks on Gulf countries during the ongoing United StatesIsrael strikes on Iran, he warned that the UAE was not an easy target and would defend itself. Airspace in West Asia has been affected by the ongoing conflict between US-Israel and Iran. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded across the Gulf region, with many forced to take longer and more expensive routes to access operational airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Ltd. shows that more than half of the 51,600 flights scheduled to or from the Middle East since February 28 have been cancelled. IndiGo said in a travel advisory that it will operate flights to five destinations in West Asia on Saturday despite the tense situation in the region. According to the advisory, the airline will run services to Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport, Sharjah International Airport, RAF Akrotiri and Fujairah International Airport. The airline will also operate return flights from these West Asian cities to Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, facilitating the return of Indian nationals. "To support customers during this time, subject to prevailing safety conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, IndiGo will be operating flights to five destinations in the Middle East on March 7, 2026, as detailed below. Our teams remain by your side, doing everything possible to help you continue your journey, while keeping the safety and well-being of our customers and crew at the heart of every decision we make," the travel advisory stated. IndiGo has also offered a month-long window for free cancellations and rescheduling until March 31. Meanwhile, Emirates said it has resumed operations. It said, Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating. Cancellations Singapore airlines said flights to and from Dubai are cancelled until March 15. Korean Air said flights to Dubai suspended until March 8, according to Bloomberg. Aegean Airlines, the largest airline in Greece, has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil and Baghdad until early morning arrivals on March 13. Flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been halted until evening arrivals on March 12, while services to Riyadh and Jeddah remain suspended until early morning arrivals on March 9. airBaltic said all its flights to and from Tel Aviv have been cancelled through March 9. The airline has also cancelled all flights to and from Dubai until March 8, including the DubaiRiga flight scheduled for March 9. Air Canada has also suspended all flights to and from Dubai and Tel Aviv, with plans to resume operations on March 23. Extra flights Meanwhile, Air India said additional non-scheduled flights have been planned to operate to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah today, to fly the stranded passengers back to India. Air India said it is also considering operating additional flights beyond March 11 in response to rising demand and the suspension of services by several Middle East carriers. SpiceJet said it continues to run numerous special flights from Dubai(Fujairah) to India to support passenger travel. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday (local time) apologised to the Gulf countries, saying that Tehran would stop striking its Arab neighbours unless any attacks on Iran originated from those countries, Iran International reported. In a video message released Saturday, Pezeshkian said, "The temporary leadership council approved yesterday that neighbouring countries should no longer be targeted and missiles should not be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries. He went on to say that the armed forces so far had acted with a kind of 'fire at will' authority; however, they have now been notified that they must not attack neighbouring countries or target them with missiles. The Iranian President also warned the groups in neighbouring countries and said, To groups in neighbouring countries who may think of using this opportunity to attack our territory, I send this message: do not become tools of imperialism. However, it is not clear whether Pezeshkian's announcement came into effect immediately, since after his address, interceptions continued over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and sirens rang in Bahrain, CNN reported. US-Israel, Iran war enters day 8 Pezeshkian's address comes as the US-Israel war in Iran enters day eight, with several Middle East countries bearing the brunt of the war. After the US and Israel targeted Tehran's key military and naval forces on 28 February and killed the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran retaliated and launched missiles targeting Israel and US military installations in Gulf countries. As a result, loud explosions have been heard in cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Manama, Riyadh, Doha, and others. Iran strikes Gulf states as fighting spreads According to an AP report, sirens sounded in Bahrain earlier today as the conflict widened and Iran launched attacks targeting the island kingdom. The Bahraini military said Saturday that since the beginning of the Iranian attacks against the kingdom, 86 missiles and 148 drones had been intercepted and destroyed, CNN reported. Additionally, Saudi Arabia said that it destroyed drones that were headed towards its Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile that was launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In the UAE, Dubai Airport, which is one of the busiest in the world, came under drone attack multiple times, with passengers reporting at least one impact and several interceptions, resulting in the suspension of departures for at least several hours. Qatar's Defence Ministry announced that a ballistic missile attack had been repelled. Iran's military said it had launched missiles and drones against US military bases in Bahrain and Qatar. US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, warned that Iran will be hit very hard today' and vowed complete destruction, death amid the ongoing Israel-US-Iran conflict which entered its eighth day. Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behaviour, Trump posted on Truth Social. Trump's message also comes hours after Iran president Pezeshkian apologised. The POTUS claimed that the Islamic Republic apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours. In a pre-recorded speech broadcast on state TV on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Iran's neighbours will not be targeted unless attacks are launched from them during the war with Israel and the United States. Israel-Iran-US conflict Iran launched retaliatory strikes after the US and Israel jointly attacked the Islamic Republic on Saturday 28, February. Blasts were reported across Abu Dhabi, Doha, Qatar among other key Middle Eastern hubs which are also home to US military bases. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was also killed in the US-Israel strikes. On Saturday, fresh military activity was reported in UAE, Saudi Arabia. Fresh military activity in UAE, Saudi UAE said it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones as Iran kept up its attacks. "UAE air defence systems detected today, Saturday 7th March 2026, 16 ballistic missiles, of which, 15 were intercepted and destroyed, while one ballistic missile fell into the sea," the ministry of defence said in a post on X. "Air defence systems also detected 121 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), of which 119 were intercepted, while two fell within the territory of the UAE." Operations at Dubai International Airport were briefly disrupted after several blasts were heard, prompting passengers to be moved into train tunnels as a precaution. View full Image View full Image This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media on March 7, 2026 shows smoke rising from the Dubai International Airport. Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, suspended operations on March 7 before partially resuming services, after an air defence interception in the area during attacks from Iran. ( AFP ) Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted four drones targeting the countrys massive Shaybah oil field, marking the second attempted attack within hours, reported AP. At the same time, Israeli warplanes continued strikes on Beirut and Tehran. The death toll from the escalating conflict kept rising on Saturday, with officials reporting at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, mentioned AP's report. Earlier, Gulf allies criticised the Trump administration for failing to notify them of Iran attacks. Officials from two countries reportedly said their governments were disappointed with how the United States handled the early stages of the war, particularly the initial strike on Iran on February 28. 'Unconditional surrender' Earlier in the day, Iran's president had said that a demand by the US for an "unconditional surrender" is a dream that they should take to their grave, according to the Associated Press. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his demand for Iran's "unconditional surrender" could mean the complete destruction of the regime's military capabilities. He told Axios in a phone interview, "Unconditional surrender could be that [the Iranians] announce it. But it could also be when they can't fight any longer because they don't have anyone or anything to fight with." His statement came after he ruled out any deal with Iran. In a post on TRUTH social media earlier, he called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" saying, There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! He also suggested appointment of "great and acceptable leaders" in Iran and pledged that the US and its allies would help rebuild the country and make it prosperous after the war. "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," Trump posted on social media. The US President said, "IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!). Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP" What does 'unconditional surrender' mean? Why Trump laid out his own explanation for the phrase, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that "unconditional surrender" means Trump determining "that Iran can no longer pose a threat to the US and our troops in the Middle East. According to Axios, Leavitt also listed the US' objectives as destroying Iran's navy, eliminating its ballistic missile threat, ensuring it cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and weakening its regional proxies. Trump said in a press conference on Friday, ...Their army is gone. Their Navy is gone. Their communications are gone. Their leaders are gone. Two sets of their leaders are gone. They're down to their third set. Their air forces are wiped out entirely...They have 32 ships. All 32 are at the bottom of the ocean... Mediation efforts Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that "some countries have begun mediation efforts" to stop the war. HONG KONG (AP) A subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based company that has lost control of two critical ports on the Panama Canal said it is seeking $2 billion of compensation in damages from Panama over its illegal takeover of the ports. Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kongs CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a Friday statement that it is demanding the sum under international arbitration proceedings that it had already started. Panamas government last week seized control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports on each end of the Panama Canal, a crucial waterway for maritime trade, after the countrys Supreme Court declared earlier that a concession allowing the Panama Ports Company to run the pair of ports was unconstitutional. Panama Ports Company operated the two ports since 1997 and had only renewed its concession in 2021 for another 25 years. Beijing and Hong Kongs governments had also hit back at Panama over the seizure of the two ports. The two ports came into the spotlight after U.S. President Donald Trump, early last year, accused China of running the Panama Canal. After CK Hutchison announced a deal in March last year that it would sell the bulk of their dozens of global ports, including the two Panama ports, to a consortium that involved U.S. investment firm BlackRock in a $23 billion deal, Beijing was quick to protest and the deal has been largely stalled over the past months. CK Hutchison and the Panama Ports Company will not relent and they are not coming for some token relief they will assert all of their rights and damages they are due because of the radical breaches and anti-investor conduct of the Panamanian State, Friday's statement said. In the statement, Panama Ports Company also said the Panamanian state had previously misstated the compensation figure sought in press comments. Panama Economy Minister Felipe Chapman had earlier said the company was seeking $1.5 billion in compensation. In a separate statement on Friday, CK Hutchison accused Panama of occupying the two ports and taking the property and personnel of the Panama Ports Company without transparency. The company also said it would continue to pursue recourse to available national and international legal proceedings on the matter. In Nepals closely watched general elections, rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who represented the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), appeared to be heading for a sweeping victory on Saturday, 7 March, according to data from the Election Commission. The RSP has won 67 seats and is leading on 55 seats. The general elections, held on 5 March, were the first ones since the Gen Z protest that took place in September 2025 and shattered the dominance of the established political parties. The party, which projected Shah as its candidate for prime minister, began its election campaign in Janakpur in Madhesh provinces Dhanusha district and is now poised to secure a decisive victory in the province. RSP wins big in Nepal elections Of the total 32 seats in eight districts of Madhesh province, the RSP won seven and is also leading in 23 other constituencies. Reports suggest that RSP is also making a clean sweep in the Kathmandu Valley, where it won all 10 seats of Kathmandu district. Additionally, it won two in Bhaktapur and one in the Lalitpur district. Out of the 15 seats in the Kathmandu Valley, the party is also ahead by a large margin in the remaining two constituencies. On the final day of campaigning, the party organised a roadshow across all 15 constituencies in the valley, led by Balen. Support for the RSP was visible across regions, from the Tarai plains to the mountainous areas and the Kathmandu Valley, The Kathmandu Post reported. Early counting of votes under the Proportional Representation system showed the partys tally at more than three times that of its nearest rival, the Nepali Congress. Balen Shah defeats former PM KP Oli According to the Election Commission, former mayor and rapper Balendra 'Balen' Shah won Jhapa-5, defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. According to the count, Balen received 68,348 votes, while former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli received 18,734 votes. Nepali Congress takes the lead in six seats The Nepali Congress, on the other hand, has secured victory in six seats and is leading in another 12. According to The Kathmandu Post, Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa, whose party was the largest in the dissolved parliament, was trailing significantly behind RSP candidate Amresh Kumar Singh in Sarlahi-4. Meanwhile, the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has so far secured two seats and is leading in six others. NCP's coordinator, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, was the only one from among the top brass of the old 'Big Three' to win, this time from Rukum East-1. Balen Shah to be the next PM? According to a PTI report, the 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician is expected to be the next Prime Minister of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of rejection of established parties. Shah had earlier emerged as a popular figure to lead an interim government after Gen Z-led protests brought down the coalition government headed by KP Sharma Oli. However, he declined the proposal, saying he preferred to seek a full mandate through parliamentary elections. The US State Department approved the "emergency" sale of 12,000 bomb casings to Israel on Friday as the countries engage Iran in an escalating Middle East war. The requested sale of 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) bomb casings, worth an estimated $151.8 million, was approved by the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, according to a press release. "The proposed sale will improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats," the bureau said in a statement. In addition to the munitions, the sale will include US government and contract engineering, logistics and technical support services, according to the release. Major US defense companies have agreed to quadruple production of advanced weapons, President Donald Trump said in a social media post Friday, a week after the US and Israel first launched strikes on Iran. While US arms sales typically require approval by Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a waiver bypassing the approval, to the consternation of some elected officials. "The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defense articles and defense services is in the national security interests of the United States," the State Department said, citing the Arms Export Control Act. Congressman Gregory Meeks, a Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said bypassing congressional review of the arms sale "exposes a stark contradiction at the heart of this administration's case for war." "The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it was fully prepared for this war," Meeks said in a statement. "Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story." The United States is reportedly pushing Sri Lanka not to repatriate the crew of IRIS Booshehr, the Iranian ship that was allowed to dock at Trincomalee, as well as the survivors from IRIS Dena, the Iranian warship, sunk by an American submarine earlier this week. 'Don't repatriate crew to Iran' According to Reuters, an internal State Department cable dated March 6 said that Jayne Howell, the charge d'affaires at the US embassy in Colombo, had emphasized to Sri Lanka's government that neither the Booshehr crew nor the 32 Dena survivors should be repatriated to Iran. "Sri Lankan authorities should minimize Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda," it said. The cable said Howell also told the Israeli ambassador to India and Sri Lanka that there was no plan to repatriate the crew to Iran. The envoy asked Howell whether there was any engagement with the crew to encourage "defection", the cable said. Sinking of IRIS Dena IRIS Dena, an Iranian warship that was heading to Iran after taking part in a naval exercise in India, was sank the US in the Indian Ocean about 19 nautical miles off Sri Lanka's southern port city of Galle on Wednesday. Over 80 sailors on board have been killed, and many more are still unaccounted for. Sri Lankan authorities have rescued a total of 32 people from IRIS Dena. On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's deputy minister for health and mass media, Hansaka Wijemuni, told Reuters that Tehran had asked Colombo for help repatriating the bodies of those killed aboard the Dena, but a timeframe to do so has not yet been determined. According to Iranian officials, IRIS Dena was unarmed at the time it was hit. An unnamed US official, however, told Reuters the Dena was armed when it was hit, and the United States did not provide a warning before carrying out the strike. Sri Lanka allows second Iranian ship to dock IRIS Bushehr, a replenishment vessel, sought emergency docking in Sri Lanka on March 4, after one of its engines was reported to be damaged. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his island nation had a "humanitarian responsibility" to take in the crew. On Thursday, Sri Lanka began offloading 208 crew members from the IRIS Booshehr to a navy camp near Colombo, after which it is currently being moved to a harbor on the eastern coast. The State Department cable said the second vessel, the Booshehr, will remain in Sri Lankan custody for the duration of the conflict. The sinking of IRIS Dena, using a torpedo, the first such act by the US since World War Two, had triggered fears of the conflict's widening geographic scope. India allowed Iranian ship to dock in Kochi On Friday, government sources said that days before IRIS Dena was sunk, India allowed another Iranian vessel to dock at the Kochi Port. IRIS Lavan, an Iranian Hengam-class landing ship, was permitted to dock in India after it sought emergency shelter on February 28, citing technical issues. IRIS Lavan was allowed to dock on March 1, and it anchored at Kochi on March 4. The 183 crew members of the IRIS Lavan are currently being accommodated at Indian naval facilities in Kochi. The United States and Israel's war in Iran has now entered its eighth day, with no sign of tensions easing so far. The conflict, which began on 28 February and targeted key Iranian leaders, including its military and naval forces, has plunged the Middle East region into a renewed military confrontation. The US-Israel strike on Iran resulted in the killing of several top leaders of Tehran, including the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following Khamenei's death, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that Tehran would avenge his death, with the country now deciding on his successor to lead the position. Here are the top updates in the US-Israel, Iran conflict: 1. On Saturday, fresh blasts were reported across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the country stating that it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones as Iran ramped up attacks on its Gulf neighbours. In a post on X, the UAEs Defence Ministry said the noises reported in several parts of the country were caused by air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, while fighter aircraft engaged drones and loitering munitions in the air. The ministry added that security forces were actively responding to missile and drone threats originating from Iran. 2. Earlier today, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to Iran's Arab neighbours, stating that Tehran would stop striking them unless any attacks on Iran originated from those countries. In a video message, Pezeshkian said, "The temporary leadership council approved yesterday that neighbouring countries should no longer be targeted and missiles should not be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries. The Iranian President added that the country's armed forces so far had acted with a 'fire at will' kind of authority, but they have now been notified that they must not attack neighbouring countries or target them with missiles and drones. 3. Following Pezeshkian's statement, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, claiming that the country 'will be hit very hard today.' Vowing complete destruction, death," Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that Tehran is no longer a "bully" of the Middle East but instead is "the loser of the Middle East." 4. Addressing the Shield of Americas Summit on Saturday, Trump claimed that the US knocked out 42 of Iran's Navy ships, their Air Force, and all communications amid the ongoing conflict. He further claimed they are bad, and that the strikes "had to be done." 5. In his first public comments since Iran launched strikes at Gulf nations, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that his country was in a time of war. In a message to its enemies, the UAE president warned that it was "no easy prey." He added, "The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh - we are no easy prey. We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents, who are also part of our family." 6. The Israeli military claimed that it struck 16 Iranian aircraft at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. According to an AFP report, the Israeli military added that the country's air force overnight completed a broad wave of strikes across Tehran. US-Israel, Iran war Highlights: In a major development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for firing on regional countries, even as Tehran continues its attacks on them. He said Iran will not carry out attacks or missile strikes against neighboring countries unless an attack against Iran originates from those countries. All flights to and from Dubai were suspended on Saturday, but resumed partially on Sunday. Earlier, on Friday, US President Donald Trump said at the White House that the United States is performing very well in operations against Iran. Theres a lot were doing by the way, in Iran, were doing very well. Somebody asked how I would score it from zero to 10. I said, Id give it a 12 to a 15, Trump said. The US President also called for unconditional surrender from Iran as reports claimed that third carrier, USS George H.W. Bush, was headed to Middle East as Iran war escalated. Amid the ongoing conflict, limited flight operations have resumed in parts of the Middle East as the war in Iran escalated recently. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for all the latest updates on US-Israel attack in Iran here. US President Donald Trump, who likes to keep people on their toes regarding his endgame in Iran, is now letting the world know what he wants, which is to choose who will rule Iran now, BBC reported. The development comes nearly a week after the United States and Israel launched strikes at Iran and targeted the country's military and naval forces, killing several of its leaders, including dozens of other clerics and commanders, and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump wants a "great, acceptable leader" for Iran In his latest remarks, Trump has made it clear that he would only choose "a great and acceptable leader" after Tehran's "unconditional surrender." Speaking to Axios and Reuters, Trump said, "I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy (Rodriguez) in Venezuela." Trump has made repeated references to the military action that the US carried out on 3 January in Caracas, where his forces captured Nicolas Maduro and no casualties were reported, calling it the "perfect scenario" for Iran. Trump's goal of changing the Iranian regime to disappoint Iranians? Trump's latest remarks seem to underline that his current goal is not regime change, but a change in the regime altogether, although he is known to veer in his views from one day to the next. His stance is further going to disappoint Iranians who hoped that the end of Khamenei would pave the way for the fall of the Islamic Republic. Will Iran appoint a leader who will work with the US differently? However, this seems impossible, especially for a clerical regime that is rooted in deep distrust of the US. Among the country's most ideological elements, there is an intense hostility towards the US, which was long ago labelled the "Great Satan." But whether Iran's top leadership will be willing to choose a top cleric who would be willing to work with Washington differently is something that remains to be seen. According to the report, Tehran's political establishment has long been divided between reformers and pragmatists on one side, and hardliners, who call themselves Principalists for their commitment to defending the revolution, on the other. Despite these differences, both sides have a common objective to preserve the system that keeps them in power. Khamenei's son is "unacceptable" to me: Trump The report suggests that Trump seems to have made up his mind regarding Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, a hardliner, who is now being considered as the front-runner to succeed his father. Trump said, "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me." Following his remarks, Tehran's response was predictable. Citing Mehr News Agency, the BBC reported that members of the interim leadership council, which is currently in charge until the new leader is announced, said that Trump's comments reflected "the depth of the enemy's malicious objectives in this battle." Khamenei to be Iran's last Supreme Leader? Following Khamenei's death, there has been a growing assumption that Khamenei would be Iran's last true supreme leader, the final figure with enough legitimacy and authority to act as the ultimate decision-maker. Currently, it is the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the establishment created in 1979 to protect and preserve the Islamic Republic, which is now dominating all levers of power, from security to the economy. Several media reports also claim that the 88-member Assembly of Experts could choose a council of leaders rather than one supreme leader to preside in this tumultuous time. An industrious man Shri Ram was born on 27 April 1884, the day of Ram Navami, which is how he came by the name. The eldest son of an Agarwal trading family, he attended the municipal primary school in Bazaar Sita Ram in Delhis Chandni Chowk, scraped through his matriculation, and briefly enrolled at Hindu College before commerce pulled him away. It was a thin education for a man who would eventually sit on the first Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India and the Planning Commission committee that designed technical education for independent India. But he would fill the gaps through total immersion in whatever he was doing. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) have once again found themselves at the centre of a controversy. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the TMC for their remarks on President Droupadi Murmu. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened. The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India. The TMC government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President..." PM Modi posted a video of some of President Murmu's remarks and accused the TMC of treating Santhal culture casually, and pointed out that the President is herself a member of a tribal community. President Murmu slams TMC The remarks by PM Modi came hours after President Droupadi Murmu criticised the government for changing the venue of the International Santhal Conference. Murmu, who was in North Bengal and was the chief guest at an event today, questioned the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government on why the venue was changed from Bidhannagar to Goshaipur, where many people did not attend. Earlier today, Murmu addressed a gathering of tribals at Bidhannagar near Siliguri and said that Banerjee was like her younger sister, but also questioned whether the TMC or the party supremo was upset with her, highlighting that nobody was present to receive her. West Bengal supremo hits out at President Murmu According to a PTI report, Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hit out at Murmu for questioning the pace of development among tribals in the state and accused her of indulging in politics ahead of the Assembly elections "at the behest of the BJP." Reacting to Murmu's comments during her visit to North Bengal, the TMC supremo alleged that the BJP was using the President's office to malign the state government's image. She went on to say that it was not always possible for her to attend such programmes, especially in the run-up to the Assembly elections. "I can welcome you if you come once a year, but if you come during elections, it won't be possible for me to attend your programmes as I am busy with people's rights," she asserted. The TMC supremo also questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) record on tribal welfare in states ruled by the party. Questioning Murmu, she said, "Are you aware how the 'saffron party' is snatching away the rights of tribals in BJP-ruled states?" Referring to the ethnic violence in Manipur, Banerjee said questions must be asked about how tribals were treated in BJP-ruled states. Banerjee further said that President Murmu is speaking about tribals, but why was she silent when tribals in Manipur and other BJP-governed states were tortured? Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The shift in Indias purchasing pattern has been particularly visible in recent months. Indian imports of Russian crude declined steadily from 1.85 million b/d in November 2025 to just 1.06 million b/d in February 2026. Much of the remaining flow has been concentrated in a single outlet: the Vadinar refinery operated by Nayara Energy, partly owned by Rosneft. By February, roughly half of the Russian crude delivered to India (around 510,000 b/d out of the 1.06 million b/d total) was imported there. In November 2025, the share was markedly smaller, with 560,000 b/d flowing to Vadinar out of the 1.85 million b/d imported overall. The retreat from Russian supply was largely driven by mounting pressure from Washington, prompting Indian refiners to stop buying Russian barrels. By February 2026 crude from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait accounted for more than half of Indias total imports of 5.18 million b/d, reaching roughly 2.8 million b/d compared with just 2 million b/d in November 2025. The nearly 1 million b/d increase reflected a belief that Gulf crude offered legal stability and relatively low prices. That assumption is now being severely tested, as a significant share of those cargoes is effectively stranded in Gulf waters waiting for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption is likely to force New Delhi to reconsider its recent distancing from Russian supply assuming those barrels are still available. The crisis around the Strait of Hormuz has become a severe stress test for both Gulf crude suppliers and their key buyers. Despite repeated assurances from U.S. officials that the waterway was never formally blocked, satellite tracking suggests that no oil or product tankers transited the strait since March 1. The disruption immediately placed the worlds largest importers under pressure. China and India together consume tens of millions of barrels per day, and both remain structurally dependent on Gulf crude. China has steadily expanded purchases of Russian oil since 2022, yet roughly 1/3 of its crude imports originate in the Gulf. India, meanwhile, has been deliberately reducing its earlier heavy reliance on Russian barrels and replacing them with Middle Eastern supplies. With the Iranian crisis unfolding and no quick normalization of Hormuz traffic in sight, both Asian giants may turn to their long-standing supplier in Moscow like never before. The key question is: does Russia have sufficient export capacity to meet the sudden surge in demand? Story Continues China faces a challenge of its own. In February 2026, its seaborne imports of Russian crude reached a new record of 1.92 million b/d. Yet the Iranian crisis affects Chinese refiners on two fronts. Unlike India, China was also a major buyer of Iranian crude, importing roughly 1 million b/d in February. Combined imports from Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE and Saudi Arabia totalled about 3.4 million b/d in the same month. Taken together, the potential loss of Iranian supply and disruption to Gulf shipments threatens more than 1/3 of Chinas crude imports. In this context, Russian barrels appear both politically and logistically attractive. Overland pipeline flows and shipments from Russias Far Eastern ports offer one of the few large-scale supply channels that bypass the Gulf entirely. Recent tanker movements underline how the market is already adjusting. A wave of U.S. enforcement actions against Venezuelan oil exports has left a number of numerous VLCCs idle in Asian waters. Many of these vessels had previously been used to collect Venezuelan crude through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers. With those flows disrupted, several of the VLCCs became redundant. Russia appears to have quickly stepped into that logistical vacuum. Although Russian exporters rarely relied on VLCCs in the past, at least 8 such vessels are currently positioned in the Arabian Sea and near Singapore, either en route to China or waiting offshore. Theres 12 million barrels of medium sour Urals alone that are carried by VLCCs, not counting Russias Far Eastern grades, surpassing the previous record carry of 9.8 million barrels from February 2023. Most of the cargoes they carry are already committed to Chinese buyers, offering little hope for Indias supply concerns. How much of the spare Russian oil is available now? Floating storage suggests that Russias spare export capacity may be limited. Inventories of Russian crude at sea climbed steadily through late January 2026, reaching about 19.6 million barrels. Since then, they have declining continuously. By early March, only 12 vessels remain in floating storage, holding roughly 7 million barrels in total, and several of those tankers are already anchored near Chinese ports awaiting a signal to offload. In other words, the pool of unsold Russian crude available on short notice has shrunk significantly. Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing? Pricing dynamics are shifting as well. Market insiders report that the Hormuz disruption has narrowed the discount of Russias Urals grade to Brent from roughly $10/bbl to $5-6/bbl. At the same time, Russia itself may soon have additional crude available for export because domestic refining activity has slowed. Russian refinery throughput fell from about 5.5 million b/d in December 2025 to roughly 5.15 million b/d in February 2026. Part of the decline followed drone strikes on two refining facilities, including the Volgograd refinery (300,000 b/d capacity) and the Ukhta refinery (80,000 b/d capacity). Planned maintenance at several other plants scheduled for March and April is expected to further reduce domestic crude demand, potentially freeing additional barrels for exports. Moscows most likely strategy in the current environment will be to play its two largest Asian customers against each other. In previous months, Russian exporters often stored unsold cargoes in tankers near Singapore or along the Chinese coast, a tactic that unintentionally signalled oversupply and widened price discounts. The current market situation is markedly different. With most floating cargoes already allocated and supply chains disrupted across the Gulf, the next wave of Russian barrels is not yet visible. That scarcity gives Russian sellers leverage to raise prices by pointing to strong demand from competing buyers. For both India and China, the Hormuz crisis may therefore lead to the same conclusion: Russian crude remains one of the few reliable alternatives but it may no longer come as cheaply and abundantly as before. By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else. You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here. Two men charged with having impeded a Garda during the course of his duty have been ordered to re-appear before Longford District Court on March 10. The charges arose from an incident which occurred on December 21, 2024, at Annaly car park in Longford. Mr Pierre Stokes stands accused of having unlawfully obstructed Garda John Hanley as he attempted to carry out a drug search. According to the charge, when Mr Stokes was informed of a search under the Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act, he took off running and when apprehended, he passed a package to the co accused. Courts: Longford woman's alcohol theft charges "speak for themselves" says Judge His co-accused, Mr Tom Stokes, also stands accused of having unlawfully obstructed Garda Hanley in that when informed of a Section 23 search under the Misuse of Drugs Act, he allegedly took off running and received a package from co-accused and continued running from Gardai and absconded. Solicitor Mr John Anderson went off record to discuss with Judge Bernadette Owens a matter concerning files being provided to another solicitor. I dont know if the state is in a position to proceed in any event today, he said. Inspector Declan McGlynn told the court that the state was in a similar position as Detective Sergeant Charles is an essential witness in this prosecution and he is in the Circuit Court in Dublin. In response, Judge Owens said she would adjourn the matter on the basis outlined by Inspector McGlynn, and delivered a stark warning to anyone attempting to engage in avoidance tactics. Courts: Longford father and son appear in court on fraud charges Judge Owens commented, As far as Im concerned, when a case is listed for hearing, it seems to me, and I see it as, a method of trying to avoid a case going ahead by moving it from one solicitor to another. Defendants do it time and time again. The Judge added, The only reason this is not going ahead is not because the defendants have instructed a new solicitor, its because Sergeant Charles is not available. Judge Owens said the matter would not proceed that day and instead listed it for mention on March 10. A 28-year-old man currently serving a prison sentence was fined after pleading guilty to road traffic offences at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on February 24. Martin McDonald (28), of 114 McEoin Park, Longford, appeared before the court via video link. The court heard he is currently serving a sentence in prison. Garda Sean Murphy from Carrigallen Garda Station told the court that Mr McDonald was observed driving in Mohill while using a mobile phone and failing to stop at a stop sign. He was subsequently stopped and charged. The court heard that Mr McDonald had 14 previous convictions and was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident. Also read: Longford father and son appear in court on fraud charges Mr McDonald had no solicitor and, when asked for his plea, pleaded guilty. Addressing the court, he said: I was on the way home and my child fell and thats why I was panicking, judge. Judge Eiteain Cunningham noted the defendants record and the fact that he was already serving a prison sentence. Also read: Longford District Court Judge critical of avoidance tactics The judge imposed a fine of 250 in relation to the Section 51A offence, with five days imprisonment in lieu of payment, and a further fine of 250 for the mobile phone offence. County Longford has so much potential but investment in public services is badly needed, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said. The Tanaiste was responding to a contribution made in the Dail by his party colleague and Longford TD Micheal Carrigy. Deputy Carrigy raised the issue of primary care centres during an Other Members Questions session. He welcomed the Governments primary care strategy, which has resulted in the construction of over 100 primary care centres, including one in Longford town. However, he insisted that increased investment is needed in these centres, particularly in his home county of Longford. READ NEXT: Longford supermarket applies for permission to keep two extensions and signage Deputy Carrigy said: Communities and local areas in Edgeworthstown, Granard, Ballymahon and the surrounding hinterland have been waiting many years for delivery of primary care centres. In response to parliamentary questions I submitted since being elected to the Dail going back to January 2025, we received replies from the HSE that the planning was currently progressing through the design phase with a view to lodging for planning permission in Edgeworthstown. In Granard, the HSE was exploring options to purchase and proceed with a capital funded centre. In Ballymahon, clarifications had been sought from tender parties and tender evaluation was to take place in mid-January followed by the tender award thereafter. Further replies to parliamentary questions in late 2025 showed that basically everything was at a standstill. He requested an update on these projects and asked when they are expected to progress. Given the length of time these projects have been discussed and raised repeatedly by me in parliamentary questions and in the Oireachtas, can we outline what the current plan is for delivering primary care centres in these towns and their communities? When can we expect to hear progress on their delivery? The Edgeworthstown, Granard and Ballymahon projects are stalled with tenders submitted. All we get in replies now is that we are reassessing our options. These have been discussed for years. The people of Longford and the people of these towns deserve first-class facilities. When will I see the delivery of first-class primary care centres in the towns of Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown, Granard, their surrounding areas and more importantly their surrounding communities? He concluded by acknowledging the work that Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has done in providing funding for St. Josephs Care Centre. In response to Deputy Carrigy, the Tanaiste said that his party colleague had raised an important issue. Deputy Harris admitted that it was clear that Longford needed improved primary care facilities, with just one centre currently in operation in the county. My note here tells me that, as the Deputy told the House, there have been some issues. REVEALED | The best restaurant and hospitality businesses in Longford honoured at Irish Restaurant Awards The HSE advised a preferred developer for Edgeworthstown primary care centre last year that it would not be progressing with the project and that it was reviewing the most appropriate options to proceed with the development and conducting an overall health service needs assessment for the county as a whole. It is looking at the needs in Granard and Ballymahon as well. The Department of Health and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, are currently waiting to hear back from the HSE in terms of its service needs assessment for the county. He emphasised that the Government is very eager to develop new facilities in Longford. Deputy Harris concluded by offering to organise a meeting between the Department of Health, the HSE and Deputy Carrigy. In response to the Tanaiste, Deputy Carrigy said he would welcome such a meeting. He continued: The people of Longford need first-class facilities, the same as every community in our country. My priority is to make sure we get those facilities in the towns of Ballymahon, Granard and Edgeworthstown. I would welcome an opportunity to sit down and meet that HSE team to make sure we progress and secure the funding to deliver these much-needed projects. Deputy Harris responded by saying that he agreed with the points made, particularly in relation to the need to develop facilities in the county. The Tanaiste said: I think that is right. County Longford is a county that has so much going for it and so much potential if we can put the public services in place that are badly needed. Also read: Longford Gardai and two ambulance crews attend incident in Market Square I have heard what he and the people of Longford have said, particularly in relation to the need for clarity on the next steps to delivering improved primary care facilities in the county, especially in Ballymahon, Granard, Edgeworthstown and the communities and areas they serve. I will arrange through my office for the Deputy to have a meeting with senior HSE capital representatives. I will obviously link in with the Minister for Health, as I know the Deputy has been. She will be supportive of his work in this regard. He outlined that the Government has significant capital to spend in the delivery of infrastructure nationwide. Deputy Harris concluded by adding that the main challenge facing the Government was delivering those facilities at speed. Relieved Longford man Jimmy O'Connor was among the passengers on the first flight from Dubai that touched down in Dublin airport since the recent crisis in the Middle East. There was relief and tearful reunions as Emirates Flight EK 163 touched down at 10:45pm on Wednesday. Jimmy OConnor said he had been on his way home from Australia visiting his daughter in Sydney when he got caught up in the situation in Dubai. We didnt think it would be such a long journey home, but were back now safe and sound, he said. Many had been in the UAE city since last Saturday amid the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel which caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights. Also read: 'Unacceptable' - Anger as petrol station workers getting abuse for fuel price hikes There were further direct flights from the Middle East landing in Dublin on Thursday, and a government charter plane later this week. Some were too overcome to speak as they arrived late on Wednesday night, while others described alarms in the middle of the night and seeing missile trails in Dubai where the Fairmont The Palm Hotel and the airport were hit. Anna Callaghan from Donegal was overcome to be surprised by her mother having travelled from the north west to Dublin Airport to see her. My mums come all the way from Donegal, thats why Im a little overwhelmed, I live in Dublin so I wasnt expecting to see her, she said, as the pair embraced again, her mother Patricia responding: Im just glad shes on the ground now. Ms Callaghan described a stressful and scary situation. We were seeing and hearing bangs and explosions, last night in particular it was jet after jet after jet going overhead, and then we heard the US Consulate was hit and that really scared everyone, she said. This is my fourth flight that I rebooked and I didnt think I was going to get out. Caption: Upama Ghosh (right) from India is met by her friends as she arrives at Dublin Airport on a flight from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (Niall Carson/PA) Elaine Gleeson from Limerick also surprised a family member, turning up with a balloon and flowers to welcome home her sister Norita Geary. Everyone clapped when the plane landed, and cheered, it was just magic, Ms Geary said. I didnt expect to see her (Elaine) because I told her I was getting a lift home, she added, hugging her sister. Dublin is the most beautiful city in the world. Gina Quinn from Dublin described hearing a national alarm in the middle of the night which woke them all up. It was very frightening, you just didnt know and getting information on when you might be able to fly home was nigh impossible, the airlines were great but they were inundated, she said. I think everyone on the flight coming in tonight is absolutely delighted, just hope that everybody else gets home quickly because its a very uncertain situation. Its fantastic to be home. Caption: Tim Riordan is welcomed by his wife Rachel Riordan and children Olivia, five, and two-year-old Fionn (Niall Carson/PA) Rob McClean from Greystones, who had been transiting through from India, said it was a massive relief to be home. I was in the airport on Saturday night when the explosion happened so we were evacuated from there which was pretty tough, he said. Its been nerve wracking for my family. There were also a number of passengers from across Europe who took the flight to Dublin in desperation to flee the Middle East. Alex Anderson, a French-American who lives in Frankfurt, described huge relief and said it was very emotional to land in Dublin. It was really difficult, I was a transfer passenger, I was supposed to be going on to Frankfurt on February 28, when I was coming in from Malaysia we actually saw the missile trails, but we didnt know what it was then, just thought it was planes, he said. It was really shocking when we landed and found out what had happened. I moved as quickly as I could out of the terminal building, and an hour later it got hit. Then there was the long wait of days, hearing thumps, anti missile stuff, that was nerve wracking, they definitely had a lot of drones coming over. I wouldnt say its a full blown warzone like you would see in Gaza, but its getting close. Its a huge relief to land in Ireland, and a bit emotional. Tomorrow morning Ill fly back home to my wife and kids in Frankfurt. Caption: Jimmy OConnor, from Longford, is welcomed home as he arrives at Dublin Airport (Niall Carson/PA) Dave and Gina Salt from Stoke on Trent described their experience in Dubai as scary sometimes hearing explosions. Other than that we felt quite safe, but relieved to get back, this was our fourth attempt to get out (of Dubai), Mr Salt added. Friends Andy Barnes from Hertfordshire and Andy Teasdale from Cumbria said they had spent their time in Dubai since their flight home was cancelled on Saturday in hotel basements. We were at the airport from 3.30am, there were no flights available but we went on the waiting list and ended up getting on the last flight out, they said. They had been staying in the area around the marina and said it had been pretty hairy at times. We saw a lot of interceptions, Saturday night was really hairy, Mr Teasdale said. Also read: RIP: Longford mourns death of devoted nurse who was known for her kindness and compassion We were out having a pizza sat out by the pool, and heard bangs going off, which we later found out were interceptions, you could see it all in the side, and then we saw smoke coming from the Fairmont Hotel, Mr Barnes added. The U.S. economy has been on unsteady footing for a while now, but the catalyst to tip it over the edge could be an event playing out on the other side of the world. The conflict in Iran is not even a week old, but observers are already seeing ways the war could cascade and contribute to a broader economic downturn on U.S. soil. If the war goes on for much longer, and if belligerents begin to target energy infrastructure important to the global oil and gas trade, the U.S. is likely to feel the economic pinch, according to Nobel Prizewinning economist Paul Krugman. With initial hopes for a swift, decisive victory in Iran rapidly fading, the U.S. has entered a delicate war of whim with no clear endgame and a rising daily price tag, Krugman wrote in a Substack post Wednesday. Its a potential shock the U.S. might be able to deal with in isolation, he added, but combined with an increasingly fragile and uncertain outlook back home, Americas latest foray in the Middle East could end up coming at an enormous cost. It isnt occurring in isolation, Krugman wrote. There are many stresses on our economy, and this could be the straw that breaks the camels backa straw that becomes heavier the longer the war goes on. The primary economic risk stemming from the conflict has to do with energyspecifically oil and gas. The Strait of Hormuza narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to global trade routeshas been effectively closed since the wars onset, cutting off the approximate 20% of both liquefied natural gas and petroleum products that ordinarily transit through the strait. This has already caused energy and fuel prices to rise in the U.S., Krugman noted. Brent crudea global benchmark for oil priceshas jumped more than 10% since the conflict began. Average U.S. prices for a gallon of gasoline have also risen by around $0.20. The longer the conflict goes on and the longer global oil and gas supply is restricted, the more painful price pressures will become. The other risk, Krugman pointed out, is that infrastructure used to produce and refine gas and petroleum products is damaged in an attack. Some key facilities have already been targeted by missile fire, including a reported Iranian attack Thursday directed at an oil refinery in Bahrain. The war could already be incurring a price tag of around $1 billion a day, according to Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), who told CNN Thursday the Pentagon has so far been unresponsive as to the conflicts costs. This week, administration officials were also reportedly preparing a $50 billion request to Congress to finance its campaign in the Middle East. US and Israeli aircraft conducting Juniper Oak 23.2, a large-scale exercise in Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in January 2023. (CENTCOM) The US and Israel have cooperated to achieve impressive operational successes against Iran, but a mutually shared definition of victory remains elusive. This inconsistency and lack of clarity could undermine the partners ability to achieve durable strategic objectives. The militaries of both countries have targeted Iranian air defense and missile launch assets, with Israel also eliminating many regime officials, and the US specializing in targeting hardened facilities and naval vessels. These differences in target selection may be influenced by differing goals between the two countries, especially when viewed alongside disparate articulations of the operations desired end state made by members of the Trump administration. In the current conflict, Washington and Jerusalem are coordinating and cooperating extensively in planning, intelligence sharing, and combat operations. US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the two most powerful air forces in the world are dominating the skies. That cooperation has enabled a remarkable pace of operations, evidenced by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamirs announcement on March 5 that the IDF had employed more than 6,000 munitions as part of Operation Roaring Lion, with Israeli Air Force total sorties surpassing 1,600 by March 3. Meanwhile, the first 24 hours of the US campaign featured nearly twice as much firepower as 2003s shock and awe campaign against Iraq, according to Admiral Cooper. He also noted that in just the first 100 hours, US forces had already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. Both militaries have extensively targeted Irans integrated air defense system to enable follow-on strikes. They are also both prioritizing going after Tehrans missile and drone capabilities in an increasingly successful effort to reduce retaliatory fire. As of March 5, the IDF claimed that it had neutralized more than 300 Iranian ballistic missile launchers. A CENTCOM operational update on March 3 referenced degrading Irans air defenses and the destruction of hundreds of Irans ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones, focusing on shooting all the things that can shoot at us. That effort resulted in a 90 percent drop in Iranian ballistic missile launches and an 83 percent drop in drone launches by March 5. However, Israel and the US are not always aiming their weapons at the same set of targets. Israel has prioritized hitting regime officials and military leaders, while the US has taken responsibility for degrading the Iranian Navy and is striking hardened targets with its bomber fleet. Even after Israel eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 40 other senior officials on the first day of the war, Jerusalem has continued targeting their replacements and other regime and military leaders. On March 4, Israel struck four Basij command centers in Tehran, and a regime compound containing the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Intelligence Directorate, the Basij paramilitary force, the Quds Force, internal security forces, and cyber warfare units. Israeli media reported that an IDF source described the strike as involving more than 250 bombs. Then, on March 5, the IDF targeted the headquarters of the special unit responsible for all internal security forces, along with other strikes on the IRGC, the Basij, and a central command center for internal security forces. Meanwhile, the US is using bomber aircraft, which Israel does not operate, to drop huge quantities of larger munitions that can hit hardened targets deep underground. In particular, Cooper stated on March 5 that in the hour preceding the press conference at which he was speaking, B-2 stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound bombs on underground Iranian missile sites. The Pentagon has also made it a point to strike Iranian naval assets, confirming as of March 5 that more than 30 regime vessels have been sunk. This total includes the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean by a submarine-launched torpedo. An Iranian drone carrier comparable in size to a World War II-era aircraft carrier was also struck. While the US and Israeli operations have been closely integrated and share the goal of eliminating Irans air defenses and offensive capabilities, the differences in targeting choices and statements by leaders indicate that the two countries may diverge in their desired end states. At the beginning of the current conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israels objective is to put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran. The elimination of senior Iranian leaders in Israels opening salvos underlined Jerusalems commitment to this goal. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on the first day of the conflict that US objectives were the destruction of Irans missiles, missile production capability, navy, and ability to pursue a nuclear weapon. On March 2, US President Donald Trump largely echoed Hegseths stated goals. However, on March 6, Trump expressed a demand for Irans unconditional surrender. Changing and unclear US goals may diverge from Israels, which could partially explain some differences in target selection. A similar phenomenon was evident in the 12-Day War when Washington pressured Jerusalem to end its combat operations. If the Trump administration cannot articulate a consistent set of goalsand the US and Israel cannot agree on themthis divergence could negatively impact both countries ability to obtain long-lasting strategic objectives. Justin Leopold-Cohen is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), where Ryan Brobst is the deputy director. The logo of Hizb ut Tahrir. The government of Australia formally banned Hizb ut Tahrir on March 6, designating the Islamist organization as a hate group in a move aimed at curbing extremist ideology and preventing radicalization. Hizb ut Tahrir is a radical political party that calls for the establishment of a global caliphate. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the decision was driven by concerns that Hizb ut Tahrir had long been able to promote hateful rhetoric and foster an environment that could encourage violence. Burke added that the governments new hate-group listing framework was created to prevent organizations like Hizb ut Tahrir from spreading hatred and deepening divisions within the community, warning that such activity threatens Australias social cohesion and public safety. The designation makes it a criminal offense to join, recruit for, train, fund, or otherwise support the organization, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Australias ABC News reported that Hizb ut Tahrir was on the Australian Security Intelligence Organizations radar for years, but had previously fallen short of meeting the legal bar to be formally banned. The report added that the Islamist organization was one of two groups the government had named as its main targets following the Bondi massacre. The Daily Telegraph reported that Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn approved the ban on Thursday, and it will go into effect on Friday. Hizb ut Tahrirs official website has not commented on the ban, but a statement published on January 13 denounced the Australian governments attempt at the time to limit the groups activities, framing it as a broader effort to prohibit all pro-Palestinian activities. Background on Hizb ut Tahrir Hizb ut Tahrir is an international Islamist political party that, like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, calls for the establishment of a global Caliphate and the implementation of Sharia (Islamic law). While Hizb ut Tahrir claims that it seeks to establish the Caliphate through peaceful means, the group has openly advocated violence against the West. The group is active in more than 40 countries and has been banned in many, including the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. However, the group has not been banned in the United States or Canada. In October 2008, Hizb ut Tahrirs branch in Pakistan advocated for the government to cut diplomatic and military ties with the West and deploy its nuclear weapons if the US continues to violate Pakistans territorial integrity. The US was launching drone strikes against Al Qaeda and other terror groups inside Pakistan at the time. Previously, Hizb ut Tahrir had urged Pakistan to attack US bases, including Bagram Airfield north of Kabul, Afghanistan, and Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, with nuclear weapons. The group also suggested that all of Pakistans 160 million citizens should conduct martyrdom operations. In December 2010, Hizb ut Tahrirs branch in Denmark announced that it would hold a meeting at the Royal Library in Copenhagen to focus on the duty of armed resistance for Muslims in Afghanistan and surrounding nations. A Hizb-ut Tahrir spokesman said that the Danish government was responsible for sending its troops to die in Afghanistan. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. An oil field in Basra, Iraq, burns after being targeted by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. (@EGYOSINT on X) On March 6, Iran and its aligned militias continued their campaign of missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, striking civilian infrastructure, military installations, airports, and political targets across Iraq, including Iraqi Kurdistan, and the Gulf states. While many projectiles were intercepted, several strikes caused fires, infrastructure damage, and injuries. As of March 6, Gulf governments have reported large numbers of Iranian missiles and drones targeting their territory since the start of the conflict. The United Arab Emirates reported 1,184 drones and 205 missiles launched toward its territory, with air defenses intercepting 1,110 drones and 198 missiles. Kuwait reported dealing with 394 drones and 212 missiles targeting the country. Qatar reported that 63 drones, 117 missiles, and two aircraft targeted its territory, with 47 drones, 113 missiles, and both aircraft intercepted. Bahrain announced that its air defenses have intercepted 147 drones and 84 missiles. In southern Iraq, Iranian-backed militias targeted critical energy infrastructure around Basra. One drone struck the Rumaila oil field, one of Iraqs largest oil-producing sites operated by British petroleum and Iraqi state oil agencies. Another drone hit the Baker Hughes Energy City complex near Zubair, while a separate drone crashed into the closed military section of Basra International Airport. Two drones were also intercepted over Basra. Further north, militants launched three missiles at Camp Taji in Baghdad Governorate, while security forces at Baghdad International Airport intercepted two missiles and two drones. Iran, along with its proxies, also struck Iraqi Kurdistan, targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition factions. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) reported that its base in Koysinjaq was hit by seven missiles and several drones, while another drone targeted the partys headquarters compound nearby. A base belonging to the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), another Iranian Kurdish party, was struck by an unspecified number of projectiles, wounding four individuals. In Erbil, air defenses intercepted four drones, although debris from one fell near the Rotana Arjaan Hotel, igniting a fire. Across the Gulf states, Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks primarily targeting US military facilities and strategic infrastructure. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three ballistic missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base, along with multiple additional projectiles across the Riyadh and Al Kharj regions, including two cruise missiles near Al Kharj and four drones near Riyadh. Saudi air defenses also intercepted another drone in the Eastern Province. In Kuwait, an Iranian missile reportedly struck near Ali al Salem Air Base, igniting a fire close to the installation. Kuwaiti authorities also reported intercepting 12 missiles and 12 drones. Qatar reported intercepting a drone targeting Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, while another drone fell in an uninhabited area of the country. Iranian drones also struck Bahrain, hitting the Fontana residential towers in Al Juffair, where the impact ignited a fire. Bahraini air defenses separately intercepted a drone attempting to strike the Bahrain Financial Harbour Towers, a complex that houses the Israeli embassy. In the United Arab Emirates, debris from an intercepted Iranian drone ignited a fire at the Port of Fujairah, while Emirati authorities reported that three drones fell in different parts of the country. Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant. We came across a bullish thesis on Iridium Communications Inc. on Dannys Substack by Danny Green. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on IRDM. Iridium Communications Inc.'s share was trading at $23.95 as of February 27th. IRDMs trailing and forward P/E were 22.59 and 21.69 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Iridium Communications Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services and products to businesses, the United States and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers in the United States, Canada, and internationally. IRDM is positioning itself for significant long-term growth, targeting $1 billion in service revenue by 2030. While 2025 growth guidance is conservative at 3-5%, the company expects double-digit expansion driven by IoT adoption and its new Direct-to-Device (D2D) and PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) services. The planned launch of Iridium NTN Direct in 2026, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites, could unlock a massive consumer market beyond Iridiums traditional industrial base. Over the next decade, the LEO satellite constellation is expected to remain operational, with management already planning a next-generation 5G/6G architecture to support autonomous systems and critical infrastructure where signal reliability is essential. Iridiums competitive advantage lies in its global L-band cross-linked network, which operates independently of local ground stations, providing unmatched coverage in polar regions and deep oceans. While Starlink and AST SpaceMobile are expanding in high-speed broadband, Iridium maintains a moat in low-power, mission-critical connectivity. Customers, including pilots, mariners, and first responders, value the network for its extreme reliability and ruggedized hardware. The company also reinforces its brand through corporate citizenship initiatives focused on biodiversity tracking and humanitarian aid. Financially, Iridium offers a compelling 16% free cash flow yield, as its satellite CapEx is largely behind it, making new service revenue highly profitable. Margins are expected to expand with IoT adoption and the shift toward higher-margin data services. Capital is deployed prudently through dividends, share buybacks, and strategic R&D. Long-term upside could be substantial, with a successful adoption of D2D technology and backup PNT services potentially driving a fivefold increase in value. The market, however, continues to undervalue Iridium, pricing it as a legacy telecom while largely ignoring its growing role as a tech-enabled infrastructure platform. A series of seaweed harvesting licence applications along Irelands west coast including one targeting Clew Bay could signal a significant shift in how marine resources are managed, with potential long-term implications for coastal communities in Mayo. An application by BioAtlantis is currently before the Marine Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) seeking permission for seaweed harvesting in Clew Bay. The proposal is at the statutory observation stage, with prescribed bodies invited to make submissions before it moves to public consultation. However, the Clew Bay application is not an isolated case. Environmental campaigner Saoirse McHugh said she believes the Clew Bay proposal must be viewed in the context of several other seaweed licence applications around the coast. Im looking at this BioAtlantis application in light of several others. BioAtlantis have an application in for Clew Bay and Kenmare Bay. Arramara Teoranta have applications in for, I think, five bays in Galway. And a company called Oilean Glas Teoranta (OGT) have applications in for two or three bays up in Donegal. Taken together, the developments have prompted concerns that Ireland could be on the cusp of a new regulatory and commercial model for seaweed harvesting one where companies hold licences directly rather than sourcing from independent local cutters. READ MORE: UPDATE: Seaweed harvesting application linked to west coast petition now marked withdrawn A new path for marine resources? Saoirse McHugh believes the cumulative effect of the applications could be significant and transformative. For generations, seaweed cutters have carefully harvested seaweed along the coast and sold it to companies, she said. Corporations having licences in their own right would be a significant departure from the norm. Historically, seaweed cutting along the Mayo coast has been carried out by independent harvesters, often operating within family or community traditions stretching back decades. Processing companies then purchased the harvested seaweed. Under the emerging model, companies would instead apply for and hold harvesting rights themselves. While each application is being assessed on its own merits under the Maritime Area Planning framework, McHugh argues that a decision in one bay could set an informal precedent. If one goes ahead, it would make it more likely for the others, she said. Equally, if one was stopped, it might influence the rest. What it could mean for Mayo For Mayo, the Clew Bay proposal is particularly significant. Clew Bay is not only an ecologically rich marine environment but also an area with a long history of small-scale seaweed harvesting. Concerns have been raised that a shift toward corporate-held licences could alter the balance of power in the sector. There already are people employed cutting seaweed, McHugh said, stressing she was not speaking on behalf of cutters. The fear is that if corporations own the licences, cutters could be reduced to working for wages, or the price paid for seaweed could be driven down. She said that while job creation is referenced in applications, the burden of proof should be much higher in demonstrating clear local economic benefit, particularly where livelihoods already exist. Environmental questions Beyond employment concerns, environmental considerations are also central to the debate. Seaweed plays a key role in coastal ecosystems, contributing to marine food webs, stabilising sediment and potentially helping mitigate coastal erosion. There is also ongoing scientific research into the role of seaweed in carbon absorption. Seaweed is the foundation of a lot of coastal food webs, McHugh said. It slows coastal erosion and sediment loss, and theres ongoing research into how much carbon it absorbs. If corporations are given licences, it cannot be a case where they are effectively regulating themselves, she said, calling for clear and robust oversight mechanisms. READ MORE: 'This has to be halted in its tracks' - West Mayo Cllrs oppose application The BioAtlantis Clew Bay application refers to sustainable hand harvesting methods. Any approval would be subject to conditions set by MARA following assessment and public consultation. The BioAtlantis Clew Bay application refers to sustainable hand harvesting of seaweed, and other applications around the coast also advertise hand harvesting methods. However, if any approval would be subject to conditions set by MARA following assessment and public consultation, critics argue that the key issue is how such claims would be verified in practice, and what mechanisms would be in place to ensure agreed harvesting limits are not exceeded. Public awareness While a recent online petition initially referenced a separate, withdrawn foreshore application, McHugh said it had helped raise awareness about marine licensing more generally. I think a lot of people didnt know this was going ahead, she said. Theres a strong cultural and emotional attachment to seaweed along the west coast. She said meaningful public consultation would be essential once the Clew Bay application reaches that stage, particularly given what she described as the potential long-term implications for coastal communities. Consultation to come The Clew Bay proposal is expected to move to public consultation following completion of the statutory observation phase. That stage will give individuals, community groups and stakeholders in Mayo an opportunity to formally submit their views. For Saoirse McHugh, the worst-case scenario would involve a ramping up of harvesting intensity combined with reduced livelihoods for traditional cutters and ecological damage if extraction levels were too high. With multiple applications now under consideration across the west coast, decisions taken in the coming months could shape not just Clew Bay, but the future direction of Irelands seaweed industry. READ MORE: Where the crying was heard: uncovering Mayos hidden cillini through folklore Minister of State Alan Dillon has welcomed the launch of a number of new cultural grant schemes which he says could bring significant opportunities for festivals, museums and community groups across Co. Mayo. The funding initiatives were announced by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and form part of its strategy to expand public access to the arts and Irelands National Collections. Minister Dillon said the schemes represent a major opportunity for the countys cultural sector, highlighting Mayos strong tradition of festivals, heritage organisations and community arts initiatives. Mayo has one of the strongest cultural identities in the country, with festivals, arts organisations, museums and community groups that contribute enormously to local life and tourism, he said. These schemes open the door for more funding, more events, and more opportunities to showcase Mayos creativity and heritage. Among the supports now open for applications is the Small-Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme, which is aimed at assisting smaller cultural events that may not qualify for funding from larger bodies such as Failte Ireland or Arts Council of Ireland. Grants of up to 5,000 are available under the scheme, with applications closing on April 2, 2026. READ MORE: Insurmountable costs: Mayo TD calls for urgent supports as energy prices surge Another initiative, the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme, will support cultural projects that involve cross-border collaboration. The programme aims to enhance or celebrate the artistic, musical, film and heritage traditions of the island of Ireland through projects developed on a NorthSouth basis. Grants of up to 15,000 are available. Funding is also available through the Mobility of Collections Scheme, which supports the transport, insurance and exhibition costs involved in bringing items from Irelands National Collections to museums and cultural institutions around the country. Meanwhile, the Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme provides capital funding to help museums improve exhibitions, increase visitor access and strengthen their role as tourism attractions in their local areas. Minister Dillon said the schemes will play an important role in supporting Mayos cultural tourism sector. These initiatives will help bring more visitors into our towns and villages, support local artists and cultural workers, and ensure that Mayo continues to be recognised as a county of rich heritage, creativity and community spirit, he said. READ MORE: Remote working proves a success as Minister Dillon says legislation benefits Mayo and rural Ireland He also encouraged organisations across the county to explore the funding opportunities and submit applications. I strongly encourage Mayos festivals, museums, arts groups and community organisations to explore these schemes and submit applications. They are designed to be accessible, practical and impactful, exactly the kind of support that can elevate local events and strengthen cultural life across the county, he added. Westport is preparing for a full weekend of celebrations ahead of this years St Patricks Day Parade, which will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at 1pm. Organised by the Gathering for Patrick committee, the parade will once again showcase the many community groups, clubs, and organisations of Westport. READ MORE: West Mayo town set for biggest St Patricks Day celebration in years This years theme, Reeling In the Years, will see participants celebrate their groups milestones and achievements over the years. The parade will be led by legendary musician and member of The Chieftains, Matt Molloy, as Grand Marshal. Pictured is the Westport St Patrick's Day route READ MORE: Young Mayo filmmaker nominated for prestigious Irish award The weekends festivities will begin on Saturday, March 14, with the Duck Race fundraiser on The Mall from 1pm. The fundraiser will see up to 1,000 ducks race along the river, with prizes awarded on the day. Ducks will be available to purchase on the day, with all funds raised going towards the cost of organising the St. Patricks Day Parade. Following the parade on St Patricks Day, celebrations will continue with a Family Fun Zone in the James Street Car Park from 2pm to 5pm. A spokesperson for the Westport St. Patricks Day parade said: We are a small group of volunteers working to make St Patricks Day in Westport the best family celebration it can be. Events like this take a huge amount of planning and support, and we are very grateful for the continued generosity of our community. Operational resilience remains high despite regional geopolitical tensions, with management noting that commercial activity in Israel typically recovers rapidly after brief disruptions. The company is transitioning from a traditional telematics provider to a data-centric platform, leveraging 30 years of proprietary driving behavior data. Management attributes sustained market leadership in Israel and Brazil to superior recovery rates and technological differentiation over legacy competitors. Strategic expansion into the motorcycle segment in Brazil via Yamaha and BMW partnerships has successfully opened a previously untapped high-volume market. Net subscriber growth reached a record 221,000 in 2025, supported by a significant one-time bump from the Stellantis OEM partnership integration in Q1. Achieved record annual results driven by a 15% increase in subscriber revenue and a milestone EBITDA run rate exceeding $100 million. Projected net subscriber additions for 2026 are targeted between 160,000 and 188,000, maintaining a steady run rate of approximately 40,000-plus per quarter. Commercial deployment of the 'Credit Carbon' initiative is expected toward year-end 2026, aiming to monetize EV emission reductions through regulatory-grade verification. The IturanMob platform is targeting the U.S. market's 17,000 small-to-mid-sized car rental companies to drive international diversification. Management expects new initiatives to begin contributing meaningfully to financial results starting in 2027 and 2028, rather than in the immediate fiscal year. The much-awaited trailer of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has finally been unveiled and is already receiving positive reactions from audiences. The trailer release comes just two weeks before the films worldwide premiere on March 19. Amid the growing buzz, it has also been revealed that Ranveer Singhs Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge will host special paid preview shows on March 18, giving fans an opportunity to watch the film a day before its official release. Dhurandhar: The Revenges paid previews According to a report by Pinkvilla, the decision is a strategic move to cash in on the immense excitement surrounding the sequel. Ever since Dhurandhar ended with a to be continued note along with a teaser for the next chapter, anticipation for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has been steadily building, making it one of the most awaited films in recent times. After weeks of growing anticipation, the makers have finally unveiled the trailer for Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the second instalment in the Dhurandhar franchise, and it promises an all-out, high-intensity spectacle. Packed with action, scale, and larger-than-life moments, the trailer hints at a sequel that aims to push the stakes far beyond the first film. Dhurandhar: The Revenge Trailer The trailer opens with the death of the feared gangster Rehman Dakait, immediately raising a crucial question, who will now claim the throne of Lyaris criminal empire? This power vacuum sets the stage for a violent struggle for control. Jio Studios Soon after, Ranveer Singh appears launching a series of relentless attacks across Lyari, suggesting a calculated takeover of the underworld territory. Alongside him stands Sanjay Dutt as Chaudhary Aslam, whose commanding presence and signature swagger add to the intensity of the unfolding conflict. As the trailer progresses, the action escalates with glimpses of large-scale combat, tactical operations and explosive confrontations. The final moments feature a powerful training montage of Ranveer Singhs character, intercut with high-octane action sequences that tease the films adrenaline-fuelled set pieces. Jio Studios Meanwhile, Arjun Rampal emerges as the primary antagonist this time, hinting at a formidable showdown that could define the films central conflict. Watch the trailer for Dhurandhar: The Revenge here: About Dhurandhar: The Revenge Dhurandhar: The Revenge is an intense spy-action sequel that continues the story established in Dhurandhar (2025). Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film features a star-studded cast including Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Sara Arjun. When the trailer for Dhurandhar: The Revenge dropped, most people were busy processing the obvious spectacle with guns, gore, and Ranveer Singh stepping into a darker and more dangerous avatar. But tucked between the explosions and the swagger is a chant that many Indians recognise instantly. Ari Ari For millennials especially, that hook triggers a very specific memory in the early-2000s bhangra-pop era. The version of Ari Ari most people know was popularised by Bombay Rockers, whose remix turned the chant into a full-blown party anthem. You heard it at weddings, birthday parties, college fests, clubs, and any place with a music speaker and DJ. Jio Studios However, Ari Ari is more than just a catchy Punjabi party song. It has centuries of history and a deep message. Call it 'peak detailing by Aditya Dhar or not,' it also has a hidden meaning for Ranveer's character in Dhurandhar 2. History Behind Ari Ari From Dhurandhar 2 The modern Ari Ari track traces its roots to Baari Barsi, a traditional Punjabi folk refrain sung in the style of boliyan, which are short, punchy couplets performed in a call-and-response style. You have probably heard them at weddings, and festive occasions in Punjabi households, often alongside energetic rhythms known as tappe. Think of them as the original Punjabi crowd anthems, long before DJs and bass drops existed. One of the most famous openings in this tradition begins with a line many Punjabis know instinctively: Baari barsi khattan gaya si Roughly translated, it describes someone leaving home to go away and work for 12 years. A simple line like khattaan gaya si carries echoes of a much older emotional world, where leaving home was both necessity and heartbreak. Interestingly, this isnt Ranveers first tryst with Baari Barsi as the song was also a part of his debut film, Band Baaja Baraat. YRF These verses are deeply intertwined with Punjabi dance traditions like bhangra and giddha, where performers sing boliyan while dancing to the beat of the dhol. At first glance, it sounds like a simple line. But historically, it reflected a very harsh reality. For generations, men left their villages to labour, trade or earn money elsewhere before returning home. Since boliyan were rarely written down and instead transmitted orally in villages, historians place their emergence broadly between the 15th to 17th centuries, when much of the regions folk poetry traditions were taking shape. However, boliyan as a festive tradition gained prominence in the modern society around 19th to 20th centuries. Legend also has it that Ranjha worked as herdsmen for 12 years to be close to the love of his life, Heer. He left his family after a dispute and worked for her family to earn a living and be close to his beloved. Hence, the baari barsi (12 years) part, supposedly, also links to this eternal tale of love and devotion. How Ari Ari Actually Fits in Dhurandhar 2 Jio Studios Youve probably seen the countless memes on peak detailing by Aditya Dhar, but the director may have played a masterstroke by including this song in the film. Whether its intentional or not, the man does deserve credit for it. Dhurandhar 2 is going to show a lot more of Ranveer Singh, not as Hamza but as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, an Indian spy trained to infiltrate Pakistan's underworld. The line that powers the track, derived from the folk refrain Baari Barsi khattan gaya si, traditionally sets up a simple idea: someone has gone away to work for 12 years to earn something far from home. In the structure of boliyan, that line is followed by a playful payoff. Baari Barsi khattan gaya si Khatt ke leyanda (he worked and brought back) Usually, what comes next is something cheeky. A joke. A lover. A piece of gossip. The entire joy of boliyan lies in that second line delivering a fun twist. But in the film, the man who leaves home isnt bringing back a trinket or a romantic anecdote. Ranveer Singhs character disappears into Lyari as a spy to bring back something far darker and more serious. Revenge. Justice for his homeland. Bollywood Using Folk Songs JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) is among the 6 Cheap Solar Stocks to Buy Now. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) Stock Sits Flat On March 2, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) declined to the lowest level over the last month, trading at $25. Based on the 1-year median price target of $25.61, this implies a mere 2.4% upside. Earlier, on February 17, Nextpower and JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) signed a multi-year supply agreement under which Nextpower will provide steel frames for solar modules developed at Jinkos Jacksonville, Florida, facility. The deal incorporates more than one gigawatt of steel frames, with the potential to expand to up to three gigawatts over a period of three years. Regarding this agreement, the companys General Manager, Nigel Cockroft, said it is in line with U.S. manufacturing priorities and offers improved durability for customers. Over the past six months, JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS)s stock has appreciated by nearly 7%, with a 20% surge over the past year. Overall, the company has underperformed, as the industrys six-month and one-year stock performance is reported at 13.06% and 42.18%, respectively, according to Finviz data. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) is a Chinese company that develops and markets photovoltaic products. Founded in 2006, the company provides solar system integration services, energy storage systems, and solar power generation and solar system EPC services. While we acknowledge the potential of JKS 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. As the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Wisconsin ramps up plans to send veterans to Washington, D.C., the organization is hoping in 2026 to send more Black veterans on a trip of a lifetime. Stars and Stripes offer veterans a free one-day trip to Washington to visit memorials and monuments, including the World War II memorial and the Vietnam honor wall. For one former Marine who served in Vietnam, the trip changed his life. Al Flowers, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, signed up for the Marine Corps as an ambitious, somewhat naive 17-year-old in 1968. He served in the Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971. When Flowers looks at photos from his time in the military, he hardly recognizes the young man staring back at him. This is me in Vietnam. I was in the Marine Corps, recon, special operations group, Flowers told Fox 6 News in Milwaukee. Our job was to gather intelligence and do threat assessments for the other units. Initially, Flowers worked as a radio operator, an extremely dangerous job with a short life span. He was tasked with traveling ahead of his unit in the field, collecting enemy intelligence, such as movements and unit size, then radioing the information, including fire strikes, back to his commanding officer. As if being a radioman wasnt risky enough, a few months later, Flowers was reassigned to combat duties. They assigned me to recon, and my heart dropped. I just knew my life was over, said Flowers. I wrote my sister and told her I didnt want to kill anyone. Flowers survived Vietnam, but following the war, he returned home and found it difficult to function, haunted by the horrors of combat. I was the one on the radio, when I would tell them to fire and see the results of that, it began to harden me, seeing that carnage, he said. You play these tapes over and over in your head, corrupted tapes, and its hard to get through it. Al Flowers had a positive Honor Flight experience and encourages other Black veterans to make the trip. (Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Wisconsin) PTSD is higher for Black Soldiers Eventually, Flowers was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which wasnt officially recognized as a psychiatric condition by the American Psychiatric Association until 1980. And the disorder is more prevalent in Black veterans. Based on findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Black veterans are 22 percent more likely to experience PTSD from deployments than white veterans (14 percent). In Vietnam, Black troops accounted for around 11 percent of the number of deployed soldiers but consisted of 23 percent of troops in combat and 20 percent of casualties. Besides being Black, Flowers believes his economic status played a role in the assignments he received in Vietnam. The military is like any other organization; its a microcosm of the larger society, said Flowers. I think there was an author who wrote one time, The sons of poor men will always be foot soldiers, and I was a poor kid, so I ended up being a foot soldier. Trip Made Healing Possible For Black Vietnam veterans, reliving those experiences can be traumatic, which is why many have been apprehensive about taking an honor flight to Washington. Karyn Roelke, vice president of public relations for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Wisconsin, said emotions can still be fresh. Even though it was 50 years ago, they buried that, Roelke said. I think some vets are worried about the feelings it may bring up. Karyn Roelke, right, with the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. (Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Wisconsin) Since 2008, more than 11,000 veterans have taken the Honor Flight Wisconsin trips, but only about 5 percent have been African American. We want to make sure that every vet gets their time, every vet knows that theyre special, and theyre honored, and theyre remembered, said Roelke. Every vet needs their closure. Flowers, too, admitted to having some hesitancy about the trip, but, looking back, was happy he decided to take the leap. He said the experience healed old wounds. At the Vietnam Wall, he took time to scan for the names of close friends he lost in war, more than five decades ago. Flowers was humbled by the warm welcome at the airport in Milwaukee, followed by a rousing return home. He opened mail on the flight, dozens of letters thanking him for his service. It allowed Flowers to reflect. He let his emotions pour out for the first time. I had to keep that stuff bottled in. I relaxed, and I finally cried for the Vietnam thing, said Flowers. I feel warm now just thinking about it, honestly. Since his memorable trip, Flowers has served as an unofficial ambassador for the honor flights, recruiting Black veterans to take the trip. Itll be worth it, he said. Ever since I did that Honor Flight, I feel reborn, Flowers said. For Vietnam veterans, there is currently a six-month wait list to book an honor flight, unless a veteran has a medical urgency, and might not be able to wait six months. World War II and Korean War veterans receive priority placement, according to Stars and Strips Honor Flight Wisconsin. DUBOIS, Wyo. - Tucked along U.S. Highway 26 in rural western Wyoming, about 80 miles east of Jackson Hole, the National Museum of Military Vehicles is one of the most ambitious military history projects in the country. The $100 million, 160,000-square-foot facility houses the world's largest private collection of restored military vehicles and has earned back-to-back TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice awards since opening in 2020. On Saturday, March 28, the museum will host a daylong ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans, combining two observances into a single event designed to deliver what so many who served in that war never received, a proper welcome home. The Community Event Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and First Lady Jenny Gordon will arrive at noon aboard a Wyoming Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, accompanied by the state's adjutant general and senior leaders from the Wyoming Veterans Commission. The Black Hawk will remain on site for public viewing throughout the afternoon. At 1 p.m., the governor will lead a Welcome Home ceremony recognizing several of Wyoming's Vietnam veterans by name, followed by a performance from the Eagle Society Drum Group from the Wind River Indian Reservation at 2:15 p.m. The afternoon features two film screenings. The first is "Victory on the Battlefield and in Peace," a 14-minute educational video produced as part of a collaboration between the museum, the Wyoming Department of Education and the University of Wyoming's Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program. The film provides a concise overview of Vietnam's history from French colonization through the war's aftermath. That will be followed by the community premiere of "Home from the Vietnam War," a new Wyoming PBS documentary directed by Mat Hames of Alpheus Media. The documentary tells the story of U.S. Army Lt. Lee Alley, one of Wyoming's most decorated Vietnam veterans. Alley, from Wheatland, served from 1967 to 1968 with the 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Soldier's Medal, two Purple Hearts and two Air Medals. A panel discussion will follow the screening. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordan will lead the Welcome Home Ceremony recognizing several Wyoming Vietnam Veterans. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas) Two Dates, One Ceremony The March 28 event honors two distinct observances. National Vietnam War Veterans Day falls on March 29, permanently designated through the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, which President Donald Trump signed into law. The date marks the 1973 departure of the last American combat troops from the Republic of Vietnam and was the first federal statute specifically providing for the recognition of Vietnam veterans. March 29, 1973, was when Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disbanded and the final elements of the infantry security force left the country. Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day falls on March 30. The Wyoming Legislature codified the observance in state law during the 61st Legislative Session in 2011 as Enrolled Act No. 15. The date was chosen because it represents when returning troops would have first begun arriving on Wyoming soil after the withdrawal. The law directs the governor to issue an annual proclamation honoring veterans of all wars, with particular attention to those from Vietnam and Korea who were never properly welcomed home. For decades, Vietnam veterans lived with the reality that the country they fought for did not want to acknowledge their service. The federal designation and Wyoming's state law are part of a broader, ongoing effort to correct that failure while the generation that served is still around to witness it. An M50 Ontos, a Marine Corps tank destroyer used in the Vietnam War on display at the National Military Vehicles Museum in Dubois, Wyoming. (Wikimedia Commons) The Museum and Its Vietnam Collection The museum is the creation of Dan Starks, a former lawyer and CEO of medical device company St. Jude Medical, who personally funded the entire project. Starks bought a World War II tank in 2014 to drive in the Dubois Fourth of July parade. That single purchase spiraled into a collection of more than 500 military vehicles and the construction of one of the most comprehensive military museums in the United States. The museum opened its WWII gallery in August 2020 and added its Vietnam and Korean War galleries on Memorial Day weekend of 2021. The Vietnam War exhibits occupy the 40,000-square-foot General Lewis "Chesty" Puller Gallery, named for the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. Designed and built by experience firm Roto, the gallery goes well beyond static displays. Visitors walk a winding trail through a re-created nighttime jungle with thousands of hand-sculpted bamboo stalks, projection-mapped moonlight and guerrilla fighters emerging from tunnel openings. A restored M109 155mm Howitzer anchors a firebase display while distant battle sounds and helicopter operations play across an animated mural. Among the Vietnam-era vehicles is a UH-1B Huey, one of only eight manufactured for the U.S. Navy, according to the museum. Starks has said the Vietnam exhibit is among the most important things the museum does. "Being able to honor these veterans and being able to have their families see their sacrifice remembered and highlighted while they're all still alive is a pretty big deal," Starks told Wyoming Public Media. "We really do our best to indicate how tough the combat conditions were in Vietnam and then how successful Americans who served in Vietnam were on the battlefield, even though the war was so controversial at a political level." A display of U.S. Marines taking cover behind an M48 Patton Tank in the Vietnam War Exhibit at the National Military Vehicles Museum in Dubois, Wyoming. (Photo by Allen Frazier) Honoring Vietnam Veterans According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 6 million Vietnam-era veterans are still alive today, 600,000 of which served in Vietnam itself. The U.S. Army estimates more than 500 of them die every day. More than 58,318 names are etched into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., including 120 from Wyoming. The window to thank these men and women in person is closing fast. Unlike the generation that returned from World War II to parades and the GI Bill, Vietnam veterans came home to a country that blamed them for a war they did not start. Many were advised not to wear their uniforms in public. Military leaders at the time recommended returning troops travel in civilian clothes. Some veterans endured hostility from the very communities they had left to serve. Others, like Lee Alley, spent decades wrestling with the emotional aftermath in silence before finding their voices. Many veterans who served in Vietnam went decades without ever being thanked for their service. The March 28 event at the National Museum of Military Vehicles, located at 6419 U.S. Highway 26 in Dubois, is an opportunity to honor veterans who have overwhelmingly been forgotten for more than 50 years old. For more information, visit nmmv.org. A group of 12 Vietnam War veterans returned to Southeast Asia this week, walking back onto Vietnamese soil for the first time in more than half a century as part of an organized delegation aimed at honoring fallen comrades, confronting long-unresolved trauma and preserving the living memory of one of America's most contested wars. The trip, called Vietnam Revisited, is organized by the Eagle Society, a Nashville-based nonpartisan 501(c)(3) civic education organization known for immersive historical experiences at sites including Normandy, Iwo Jima and Gettysburg. The eight-day delegation runs March 1-8 and takes participants through Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. A Homecoming Decades Overdue The men making the trip range in age from 74 to 81. They are former infantrymen, helicopter pilots, combat medics, a Navy boatswain's mate and a recon soldier who crawled through jungle tunnel complexes. Several earned valor decorations. More than one came home carrying wounds that never fully healed. "I've thought a lot about why I want to return to Vietnam," said Skip Funk, a combat Marine from Collierville, Tennessee, who served with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment at Khe Sanh Combat Base from September 1967 to July 1968. "First, it will be interesting to see the places where I fought after 59 years. Second, is to remember my comrades who didn't come home. I haven't forgotten them and I want them to know, Funk said. We never knew one minute to the next if we'd survive, and I can't believe so many of us made it home." Skip Funk, then a corporal with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, poses during his service at Khe Sanh Combat Base, where he arrived in September 1967. Funk, now 81, is returning to Vietnam for the first time since he left the country in July 1968. (Forever Young Veterans) Among the veterans on the delegation is Robert Kiyosaki, 79, a former Marine Corps helicopter gunship pilot who flew air cavalry operations in Vietnam before becoming the bestselling author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad." Kiyosaki also serves as grand marshal of the 2026 National Veterans Day Parade. He is the only one of the veterans to have visited Vietnam since the war. "Vietnam left a mark on every person who served there," Kiyosaki said. "For a lot of us, the hardest part wasn't the war. It was the homecoming. For some it was quiet; for others, it came with tension and controversy. This delegation is a chance to go back, face it head-on, honor the men we lost, and pass the truth on to the next generation." The Veterans The full group of veterans making the trip represents nearly every facet of the American war effort in Vietnam: Skip Funk , 81, Collierville, Tenn., U.S. Marine Corps: 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, Khe Sanh Combat Base, 1967-1968 , 81, Collierville, Tenn., U.S. Marine Corps: 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, Khe Sanh Combat Base, 1967-1968 Robert Kiyosaki , 78, Arizona, U.S. Marine Corps: Marine helicopter gunship pilot, first lieutenant, Air Medal recipient , 78, Arizona, U.S. Marine Corps: Marine helicopter gunship pilot, first lieutenant, Air Medal recipient Rudy Dixon , 74, New Albany, Miss., U.S. Army: Americal Division, Chu Lai, recon infantry, Bronze Star with V Device , 74, New Albany, Miss., U.S. Army: Americal Division, Chu Lai, recon infantry, Bronze Star with V Device Abel Garcia , 76, Willis, Texas, U.S. Army: 101st Airborne, 159th Aviation Battalion, CH-47 Chinook pilot, Bronze Star, 14 Air Medals including one with V Device , 76, Willis, Texas, U.S. Army: 101st Airborne, 159th Aviation Battalion, CH-47 Chinook pilot, Bronze Star, 14 Air Medals including one with V Device Ken Thompson , 75, Agawam, Mass., U.S. Army: 84th Engineer Battalion, combat medic, An Khe and Da Nang , 75, Agawam, Mass., U.S. Army: 84th Engineer Battalion, combat medic, An Khe and Da Nang Mike Kinniburgh , 76, Green River, Wyo., U.S. Army: 101st Airborne, rifleman, walked point and entered tunnel complexes through the A Shau Valley , 76, Green River, Wyo., U.S. Army: 101st Airborne, rifleman, walked point and entered tunnel complexes through the A Shau Valley Jerry Melcher , 76, Bartlett, Tenn., U.S. Army: 509th Engineer Company, combat medic, Pleiku and Dak To; later became an Army PTSD psychologist , 76, Bartlett, Tenn., U.S. Army: 509th Engineer Company, combat medic, Pleiku and Dak To; later became an Army PTSD psychologist Larry Dobesh , 78, Hudson, Fla., U.S. Army: 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 27th Regiment (Wolfhounds), Cu Chi and the Iron Triangle , 78, Hudson, Fla., U.S. Army: 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 27th Regiment (Wolfhounds), Cu Chi and the Iron Triangle Jerol Arguella , 76, Thornton, Colo., U.S. Army: Americal Division, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, I Corps Northern, carried M14, M16 and M60 in combat , 76, Thornton, Colo., U.S. Army: Americal Division, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, I Corps Northern, carried M14, M16 and M60 in combat Bill Hines , 77, Sandy Springs, Ga., U.S. Navy: Brown Water Navy, YTB 794, Da Nang, boatswain's mate , 77, Sandy Springs, Ga., U.S. Navy: Brown Water Navy, YTB 794, Da Nang, boatswain's mate Jerry Vandyke , 78, Texas, U.S. Army: 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Dong Tam, 1967-1968 , 78, Texas, U.S. Army: 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Dong Tam, 1967-1968 Mike Bennett, 80, New Albany, Miss., U.S. Army: 1st Air Cavalry, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, patrolled from Cam Ranh Bay to Da Nang The Welcome They Never Got Michael Davidson, founder of Eagle Society, said Vietnam carries a weight the organization's previous journeys did not. "This one is more loaded," Davidson said. "There's more of a through-line from that era to the fractures and wounds of today. It's a living process that we're contributing to." Jerol Arguella holds a rifle at his home, surrounded by memorabilia from his service as a combat infantryman with the Americal Division in I Corps Northern Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. Arguella is among the veterans traveling with the Eagle Society's Vietnam Revisited delegation in March 2026. (Forever Young Veterans) Many of the veterans returned home to a country that had little interest in what they had been through. Some faced open hostility. Davidson said that history is impossible to separate from what this week is meant to accomplish. "They didn't get to experience gratitude," he said. "Even now, when you call them and say thank you for your service, it sticks. I want them to come back feeling supported, thanked and respected. Honored." Passing It On The delegation includes civilian participants traveling alongside the veterans, part of Eagle Society's broader mission to deepen civic understanding among non-veteran leaders. Eagle Society is partnering with Forever Young Veterans and other nonprofits to support the group throughout the journey. Vietnam Revisited is part of a series of Eagle Society initiatives tied to America's 250th anniversary, convening veterans and civic leaders at pivotal historical sites to examine what the country's hardest chapters still demand of those who lived through them. "Don't just debate the war," Kiyosaki said. "Learn what it cost." Vietnam Revisited concludes March 8. More than 50 years after he hung beneath a bridge under enemy fire to stop a North Vietnamese armored invasion, the heroic actions of John Ripley are set to be recognized with the nations highest award for valor. As North Vietnamese tanks massed on the far side of the river in 1972, Ripley climbed onto the Dong Ha Bridge carrying explosives knowing that if the bridge stood, the invasion could roll south. During the opening days of the Easter Offensive, Ripley hung from the steel girders of the Dong Ha Bridge in the northern part of South Vietnam, hauling hundreds of pounds of explosives across the structure and rigging them by hand as enemy forces advanced. When the charges detonated, the bridge collapsed into the river below, halting a massive North Vietnamese armored advance and buying critical time for South Vietnamese and U.S. forces to respond. Now, more than five decades later, Ripleys extraordinary act of courage has been formally approved by the Senate, through special legislation, for the Medal of Honor. In an exclusive interview with Military.com, Ripleys son, Tom Ripley (also a Marine), described the moment as both deeply emotional and long anticipated. Its kind of surreal for my family, he said. Ive spent my entire life watching this play out. And now suddenly were at this moment. For generations of Marines, the story of Ripley hanging beneath a bridge while rigging explosives under enemy fire has become legendary, a moment that captures Ripleys leadership philosophy: Mission first, Marines always. John Ripley as an advisor in Vietnam to the Vietnamese Marine Corps (Photo courtesy of the Ripley family). A War Nearing Its Most Dangerous Moment By the spring of 1972, the Vietnam War had entered a new phase. The United States had begun withdrawing most of its combat forces, leaving a small advisory presence as part of the Nixon administrations Vietnamization strategy. Only about 6,000 U.S. troops remained in the country, many serving as advisors embedded with South Vietnamese units. Ripley, then a Marine Captain, was assigned as an advisor to the 3rd Battalion of the South Vietnamese Marine Corps in South Vietnam. Across the Demilitarized Zone, North Vietnamese forces launched a massive conventional invasion involving tens of thousands of troops supported by tanks and artillery. For the soldiers near Dong Ha, the situation quickly became dire. There were 300 men in the battalion with one U.S. Marine advisor, Tom Ripley said. Across the river were tens of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers and over a hundred tanks. The only obstacle between those armored columns and the road south was a single bridge. John Ripley (left) and Capt. Johnson (right). On the left shoulder is the 3rd Battalion Crest, the Soi Bien or Wolves of the Sea in Vietnamese. The advisors wore tiger stripes. (Photo courtesy of the Ripley family). The Bridge That Could Decide the Battle The Dong Ha Bridge spanned the Cua Viet River near the city of Dong Ha. It was the only crossing in the region capable of supporting heavy armored vehicles. If North Vietnamese tanks crossed the bridge intact, they could surge south into the northern provinces of South Vietnam. Ripley and other advisors quickly grasped what they were facing. On the far side of the river were elements of the North Vietnamese 308th and 304th Divisions, supported by tanks from the 203rd Tank Regiment. Weve got to blow that bridge at Dong Ha, Ripley reportedly told fellow advisors. Weve got to buy some time. The bridge had to be destroyed. But there was no prepared demolition plan. Someone would have to climb beneath the bridge and place the explosives by hand. Hanging Beneath the Bridge Ripley was the only officer present with the demolitions expertise required for the mission. A graduate of Army Ranger School, and the Royal Marines Commando Course, he had the specialized training needed to improvise the demolition. But executing the mission would require extraordinary endurance. The bridge was under enemy fire, and the explosives available had to be carried manually. Ripley began hauling ammunition crates packed with explosives under the bridge. Then he climbed beneath the steel girders supporting the roadway. Suspended above the river, he began attaching demolition charges. Ripley made five separate trips, dragging explosives (500 pounds in total) across the beams and positioning satchel charges and blocks of Composition B. Enemy rounds struck the structure around him. Exhausted and injured, Ripley later recalled repeating a simple prayer to keep moving. Jesus, Mary, get me there. On the bridge above, South Vietnamese Marines held their positions, firing anti-tank rockets and machine guns to prevent North Vietnamese armor from crossing. My father would be the first to say it wasnt just him, Tom Ripley said. It was the entire battalion holding those tanks back while he worked. Eventually, Ripley detonated the charges. The bridge collapsed into the river. John Ripley in Vietnam (Time Magazine). Buying Time for the Joint Force The destruction of the bridge halted the armored advance. North Vietnamese forces were forced to stop north of the river, creating a bottleneck that allowed other advisors the ability to escape and allowed U.S. airpower and naval gunfire to attack the concentrated enemy units. Among the ships providing support was the destroyer USS Buchanan (DDG-14), which moved close to shore to deliver continuous naval gunfire. Ripley later reflected on the moment with blunt honesty. The idea that I would even finish the job before the enemy got me was ludicrous, he once said. When you know youre not going to make it, a wonderful thing happens: you stop being cluttered by the feeling that youre going to survive. The destruction of the bridge slowed the invasion long enough for South Vietnamese forces to regroup and mount a defense. John Riply and his family (wife: Moline, son: Stephen) at the Award Ceremony in 1972 of the Navy Cross (Photo courtesy of the Ripley family). A Family Defined by Service For Tom Ripley, the story of Dong Ha Bridge was never just a historical event. It was part of the fabric of his life. The Ripley family has a deep tradition of service in the Marine Corps. My father and his brothers were Marines, Tom Ripley said. One of them was killed in action. My brother and I are Marines. My nephews are Marines. My son is finishing his senior year at the Naval Academy. In the Ripley household, military service was less a topic of conversation than a shared way of life. Its not something we talk about, he said. Its something we live. Growing up, Tom Ripley said his father rarely focused on his own actions during the battle. Instead, he emphasized the Marines and sailors who fought alongside him. He always said nothing great is accomplished by the individual, Tom Ripley said. Its always accomplished by the team. The Marines Who Were There For the surviving veterans who fought during those desperate days in 1972, the Medal of Honor represents something larger than the recognition of a single Marine. Many of the officers involved in the battle remained close throughout their lives. Some are now in their 80s and 90s. Tom Ripley recently called several of them to share the news that the award was moving forward. Their reactions were immediate and emotional. Its about damn time, several of them told him. One Marine general who fought in the battle told Tom Ripley that the destruction of the bridge likely saved his life. Im here today because your dad blew that bridge, he said. For many of those veterans, the recognition represents something deeply personal. This closes the circle, Tom Ripley said. One of theirs is being recognized for something they all went through. A Long Road to Recognition Ripley initially received the Navy Cross for his actions at Dong Ha Bridge. But many Marines believed the award never fully reflected the magnitude of the battle. Over the years, multiple efforts were made to upgrade the award. Ripley died in 2008 before the recognition could be reconsidered. Still, his son never stopped believing it would happen. I always believed our country would eventually see this the right way, he said. The DPAA Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matt Brannen views a low-lit diorama of the bravery of by then-Captain John Ripley, USMC, at the 1972 Easter Offensive in South Vietnam, called Ripley at the Bridge" during his tour of Bancroft Hall, in Annapolis, Md., Aug. 16, 2023. (DoD photo by Sun L. Vega) A Legacy for Future Marines Within the United States Marine Corps, Ripleys story has become a leadership lesson for generations of young Marines. Ripley often summed up leadership in simple terms. Leadership is a contact sport. To him, leadership meant being physically present where decisions mattered most. You have to be where the metal meets the meat, Tom Ripley recalled his father saying. It was a philosophy Ripley lived by throughout his career. For Marines studying the battle today, the story represents something deeper than heroism. It represents the responsibility leaders carry when the mission depends on them. Bringing the Veterans Together Tom Ripley hopes the award ceremony will bring together the surviving Marines who fought in that battle. Many of them have spent decades carrying the memory of those days. There are still people alive who saw this in color, he said. They need to be in the room. For the Marine Corps and the broader military community, the recognition represents long-awaited acknowledgment of one of the most extraordinary acts of battlefield leadership in modern American history. And for a son who has spent decades preserving his fathers legacy, the moment carries a deeply personal meaning. I miss my dad, Tom Ripley said. But to see him recognized alongside those who wear that medal its incredibly special. More than five decades after a Marine crawled beneath a bridge to stop an army, the nation is finally recognizing the moment that Marines have remembered for generations. Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) What Is Googles Venture Arm and the European Fintech Startup? . Googles venture arm is called CapitalG. It is part of Alphabet, Googles moms and dad business. CapitalG buys fast-growing modern technology companies beyond Googles main products. Just recently, it led a $200 million financing round in a European fintech startup. The start-up has not been named in early reports, however sources claim it uses electronic banking and payment options throughout Europe. This investment shows solid self-confidence in the start-ups vision and market capacity. You can find out more about this offer on this page. The start-up intends to simplify how people and small businesses take care of cash online. Its system includes attributes like instantaneous transfers, budgeting devices, and multi-currency accounts. Why Did Googles Endeavor Arm Pick This Fintech Startup? . CapitalG looks for companies that address real troubles with clever modern technology. This European fintech startup fits that objective flawlessly. It targets gaps in traditional banking, specifically for more youthful individuals and little ventures. Numerous financial institutions in Europe still rely on old systems. That makes solutions slow-moving and pricey. The startup uses cloud infrastructure and contemporary APIs to provide faster, less costly alternatives. Additionally, Europes regulative atmosphere supports fintech advancement with open banking guidelines. These guidelines allow third-party applications accessibility bank data with user permission. That offers startups room to construct new solutions. CapitalG likely sees an opportunity to back a firm that could come to be a major gamer throughout the continent. The $200 million will assist the start-up scale promptly and go into brand-new markets. How Does the Start-ups Technology Job? . The fintech startup runs on a completely digital platform. Users join with a mobile app or website. They get a digital account immediately. No paperwork or branch gos to are required. The system connects to local settlement rails like SEPA in Europe. That enables free euro transfers within seconds. For worldwide payments, the startup companions with foreign exchange carriers to use far better rates than large financial institutions. Safety is constructed in from the beginning. It utilizes two-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption. Machine learning helps find fraud in genuine time. The backend is modular, so new features can be included without reconstructing everything. This adaptability lets the group launch solutions like financial savings goals, invoice devices, or organization analytics quickly. All of this works on scalable cloud web servers, which keep prices reduced also as customer numbers expand. What Are the Real-World Applications of This Fintech Platform? . Individuals make use of the system for daily cash tasks. Freelancers get customer repayments instantaneously. Travelers hold and invest several currencies without high charges. Little shop owners track sales and expenditures in one location. Trainees take care of allowances and split costs with roommates. The application also assists migrants send out compensations home at reduced expenses. Services profit too. A bakeshop in Berlin can pay vendors in Poland using zlotys without leaving the application. An on the internet store in Lisbon can accept card repayments and settle funds the very same day. Some users even change their primary bank account with this solution. Schools, nonprofits, and gig employees all discover value in its simpleness and rate. Unlike old financial institutions, there are no covert fees or long wait times. Every little thing updates in real time, offering individuals full control. This sort of gain access to is altering just how cash moves in Europe. What Are Common Concerns About This Offer and the Start-up? . (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) Many people ask if the startup is secure. Yes, it holds appropriate economic licenses in the EU. Customer funds are shielded under local regulations, much like at standard financial institutions. Others wonder why Google is involved. CapitalG does not manage the start-up. It just supplies funding and calculated recommendations. The start-up remains independent. One more concern is whether united state individuals can sign up with. Not yet. The emphasis gets on Europe first, as a result of clear fintech legislations there. Development to various other areas might come later on. Individuals also ask about charges. Many standard services are free. Premium attributes, like advanced reporting or priority support, set you back a tiny month-to-month fee. Lastly, some fret about data privacy. The startup claims it never ever offers individual information. It only uses details to boost services or meet legal needs. Even more information concerning the financing round and product roadmap are offered at MIS Asias insurance coverage. While this news fixate fintech, other technology markets are additionally warming up like BYDs new flash-charging battery that adds 240 miles of array in simply five minutes, covered here, or the recent backlash against OpenAIs military connections, checked out in this record. Arrangements for a US-led insurance initiative to support tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz may require several weeks to establish, according to Marsh, reported Bloomberg. The plan, announced by President Donald Trump, involves the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) providing insurance at a very reasonable price to help maintain energy and trade movement through the region. The halt in shipping traffic through the Strait has led to oil reserves accumulating in producing countries and has restricted exports from the Persian Gulf. Marsh previously participated in arranging similar insurance for Black Sea shipping corridors, supported by the Ukrainian Government. Marcus Baker of Marsh said: We have spoken with the DFC earlier today and offered our assistance with the potential facility, but also noted it might take a few weeks to work out the details of any arrangement. Meanwhile, Lloyds of London is in discussions with the DFC regarding coverage for maritime trade in the Gulf, reported Reuters. A Lloyds spokesperson said: "Lloyds is engaging constructively with the US Development Finance Corporation and relevant stakeholders, with a clear focus on ensuring that the Lloyds market continues to lead as the global centre of excellence for war risk insurance." The Lloyds Market Association (LMA) welcomed this engagement. LMA CEO Sheila Cameron said: "Since Sunday 1 March, there have been at least 40 transits of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. She provided figures indicating that around 1,000 vessels, half being oil and gas tankers with a combined hull value of more than $25bn, remain in Gulf waters. According to Cameron, most are insured on the London market and cover currently remains in place. President Trump also suggested that US Navy escorts could be considered for vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas transport. India is holding discussions with the US regarding marine insurance for ships transporting oil from the Middle East, reported Reuters, citing a government official. The move aims to protect Indian buyers from possible supply interruptions stemming from ongoing tensions in the Gulf. "So far we are comfortable," noted the official, who requested anonymity. The official added that the Oil Ministry is engaging with key producers and traders to ensure continued access to oil, liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas. "Marsh and Lloyds in talks with US on Hormuz tanker insurance report " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms. Did our AI summary help? Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news. War Machine is running in the theatres Did our AI summary help? Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space. Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have led the broader market higher over the last few years. In fact, investors who haven't owned a slice of the AI revolution since it started gathering momentum at the start of 2023 have likely underperformed the benchmark S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) index. Fortunately, there is a simple way to rectify that in 2026. The Roundhill Generative AI and Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: CHAT) exclusively invests in companies developing AI infrastructure, AI software, and AI platforms, with over one-fifth of its assets parked in Nvidia, Alphabet, Micron Technology, and Amazon alone. 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 Here's why this exchange-traded fund (ETF) could be a great addition to a diversified portfolio that's lacking exposure to the AI boom. Image source: Getty Images. An complete AI portfolio packaged into one ETF The Roundhill Generative AI and Technology ETF holds just 43 stocks. It's actively managed by a team of investment professionals who make adjustments to the portfolio based on what they believe will deliver the best returns. This can lead to higher returns compared to passively managed ETFs that simply track indexes like the S&P 500, but on the flip side, volatility is a key risk because the AI industry is moving so quickly. Volatility can also be a side effect of the Roundhill ETF's top-heavy portfolio construction. As I alluded to, the fund has invested 20.7% of its assets in just four of the AI industry's top companies, so its performance is sometimes disproportionately affected by them alone: Stock Roundhill ETF Portfolio Weighting Alphabet 6.92% Nvidia 6.43% Amazon 4.01% Micron Technology 3.33% Data source: Roundhill Investments. Portfolio weightings are accurate as of March 1, 2026, and are subject to change. Fortunately, those four stocks have been standout performers since the start of 2023, delivering an average return of 559% over the three-year period. For some perspective, the S&P 500 climbed by just 79%. There is certainly a case for further upside in those four names. Nvidia's new Vera Rubin semiconductor platform for the data center is scheduled to enter mass production later this year, and it's expected to significantly bring down the cost of training and serving AI models. The company's chief financial officer, Colette Kress, says every major developer is likely to deploy them. Adnaan Shaikh is married to his longtime girlfriend Ayesha Did our AI summary help? Yoga expert Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar shares 7 essential yoga poses for women to build strength, reduce stress, improve digestion, and cultivate emotional balance. (Pics: Pinterest) Did our AI summary help? Namita S Kalla is a senior journalist who writes about different aspects of modern life that include lifestyle, health, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Talking about energy stock in the country, government sources have noted that the nation's stock levels are on an upward trajectory despite the volatility in West Asia. On Thursday, FederlegnoArredo shared a report measuring the value of exports to the region between January and November 2025. The United Arab Emirates ranked the seventh largest single market in the world for Italian furniture exports for a total of 431.7 million euros. That figure had risen 3.2 percent year-over-year. Saudi Arabia ranked number 18. Italys export of wood-furniture products to the Gulf nation totaled 205 million euros during the period, down 19.3 percent during the same period of 2024. Salone del Mobile.Milano is planning a satellite fair in Riyadh for 2026. The sectors biggest names Molteni&C, Minotti, Cassina and Poltrona Frau among them have invested in expanding their retail space in the Gulf to tap into the high-net-worth migration to the region over the past decade. The macroeconomic situation remained sluggish over the course of 2025 and into 2026, a period marked by geopolitical conflict, high interest rates, inflation, rising shipping costs and a housing slowdown. As a result, top firms banked on the resilience of the high-end consumer by investing in growing markets like Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , Abu Dhabi and Dubai. FederlegnoArredo , Italys wood supply chain, said the declining appetite for foreign luxury goods in China , in addition to tariff pressures, has been among the furniture sectors top challenges since the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of those famous alternative markets that our companies had cultivated for years and they started to yield the fruit of those efforts and now there is this stop and go. Its clear if the conflict ends in two or three weeks, we can continue to do business, Feltrin explained. In an interview, FederlegnoArredo president Claudio Feltrin said the furniture sector has been battling blow after blow, starting with a consumer slowdown in China and the Russia-Ukraine war, which toppled the industrys hopes for a Russia expansion. Efforts to grow in the Gulf region were just starting to pay off, he reflected. The Iran conflict, which ignited on Saturday and hit key luxury hubs like Riyadh and Dubai, adds another blow and will certainly be top of mind for leaders as they prepare for the biggest event of the year: the Salone del Mobile.Milano trade show. MILAN European furniture and design firms have played a fierce game of defense while navigating the tricky playing field of geopolitics, trade and even a global pandemic. Quick to re-strategize, the industry has used its lobbying prowess to pioneer trade routes and carve new markets. Story Continues Last year, according to FederlegnoArredo, which represents the interests of the majority of Italian luxury furniture firms, the supply chain posted revenues of 52.2 billion euros, which rose 1.3 percent versus 2024. Riyadh As consumers throughout the Gulf shelter at home and-or leave, leaders here await clarity on the duration of the conflict. In the meantime, there are a few industry and macroeconomic factors that will determine the industrys economic performance for 2026 and beyond. Contract Business Salone del Mobile.Milano recently revealed the debut of Salone Contract in 2027, in an attempt to create a new avenue of business for the luxury design firms that showcase at the fair. Its also a way to build Salone del Mobile.Milano into a hub for that facet of business. According to the 2025-26 branded real estate report by Savills, branded residences are being constructed at an unprecedented rate. Some of those hot spots happen to be Dubai and Abu Dhabi, though Miami is among the highest ranked globally. South Florida in general is a global leader, with 42 completed schemes recorded in 2024, while other top clusters of branded residence schemes include New York City, Los Cabos, Sao Paulo and the Caribbean. In 2025, the number of branded residences rose to 910 from just 323 in 2015. That number is expected to surge to 1,747 by 2032. Oniro Group In 2025, Italian design furniture firm B&B Italia became one of the first to announce its own branded private residence project. Set to open in Miami later this year, Casa Bella by B&B Italia is a way for the Northern Italian firm to tap into the demand for high-end homes with five-star hotel amenities and services with completion set for later this year. This year, Visionnaire, the Italian design and bespoke interior architecture firm, and The Longevity Suite, a biohacking and antiaging city clinic network, announced a partnership they say will pioneer a new way of living. Its one of the first residential collaborations of this type, uniting the worlds of wellness and design. EU Trade Deals With Mercosur and India Luxury industry concerns hit a peak this year after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his trade policy that involved a 15 percent tariff on all exports. Since then, leaders here have been banking on a reprieve that hinges on the swift approval of a crucial European Union deal with Mercosur, the South American bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. This deal, for which talks commenced in 1999, could potentially create the worlds biggest free-trade area. Provisional application of the deal is in force. The EU has also concluded European Union-India free trade agreement negotiations in January, solidifying an eradication of duties on up to 99 percent of Indian goods being imported into Europe. The development gives India a boost in an area where other countries like Bangladesh, Turkey and Pakistan have thus far had an advantage. The textile ministry noted that this would reduce tariffs by up to 12 percent for textiles and apparel. We have great expectations. There is a lot of optimism, Feltrin said, cautioning that it remains to be seen how much the furniture industry will benefit. With regard to the Mercosur deal, the tariffs for European imports to the region would will be reduced slowly and by 2 percent each year for 10 years. India, he said, has great potential, but European firms still need to work on communicating the essence of their products to Indian luxury goods consumers. In addition, the Indian government is requiring that every single piece of furniture must bear proof of origin certification before it lands on Indian soil, which is both timely and costly. According to the trade deal, the EU and India have agreed on a documentation or proof of origin in the form of a statement of origin as a separate document that exporters will need to upload on a portal allowing the importing partys customs authorities to verify the authenticity of the statements of origin. India has a lot of great potential; there are a lot of people that have the spending power to purchase Italian goods, but there is a big cultural gap, so in the medium term we really need to work on the Indian market, Feltrin said. Claudio Feltrin Eye on Salone del Mobile.Milano For now, he said, the industry expects new drivers to emerge at Salone del Mobile.Milano, which drew more than 300,000 visitors to the Italian creative capital in 2025. The 64th edition of the fair will open its doors at Fiera Milano Rho trade grounds on April 21 and run until April 26 and will include two biennials kitchen expo Euro Cucina and the International Bathroom Exhibition as well as breakout designer debuts at the annual Salone Satellite curation and a new collectible design curation. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Did our AI summary help? Dr. Peter Koerte, member of the managing board, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens AG Section 45 of the Insurance Act states that an insurer may question a life insurance policy only within 3 years of the policy's inception Navneet Dubey With over a dozen years in business journalism spanning print and digital, he demystifies personal finance. His insights empower individuals to build wealth and achieve their financial goals. Why a daughter but not a wife can be a karta of an HUF Teena Jain Kaushal is Editor - Personal Finance (Audience Growth) at Moneycontrol, with over two decades of expertise demystifying money matters. Whether its decoding tax, navigating investments, or breaking down the latest insurance trends, her aim is to help readers make smarter financial decisions. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK The claim that the US wont allow India to become a rival like China sounds odd, wrote the Global Time on X. (File photo of PM Modi with Chinese President Xi) Press Information Bureau says India has never needed permission to buy Russian crude even as the US allows temporary sales of cargoes stranded at sea. Carriers traversing the Middle East have to make diversions of an hour or more to avoid skies made unsafe by the conflict - Michael Stevenson Holidaymakers face a new era of rising airfares as war in the Middle East pushes up fuel prices and shuts airports. The price of jet fuel, the single biggest part of an airlines costs, has surged to a four-year high after the US hit Iran last week. Airlines typically hedge their fuel costs to stop wild price fluctuations but experts say airlines could be forced to increase fares for passengers once those hedging protections expire. Carriers traversing the Middle East are also having to make diversions of an hour or more to avoid skies made unsafe by the conflict adding to airlines fuel costs. Fares to Australia have already jumped 400 as far ahead as Easter as would-be travellers chase the reduced number of seats, with projections suggesting that prices could stick at 30pc to 40pc higher through the summer. John Strickland, an aviation consultant, said: Those [oil price] hedges arent going to last forever. On top of that, a shortage of capacity is going to drive up prices on some routes purely through the lack of availability. So on balance I would expect an upward rise in fares, particularly to Asia and the Middle East, but not only there because we could see lots of knock-on effects. A long-term closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20pc of the worlds oil and gas shipments, could see energy prices stay elevated. Meanwhile, the war threatens to disrupt travel through the Gulfs three megahub airports for weeks if not months and create a chronic capacity shortage on long-haul flights. Airline share prices have slumped since the war began amid fears about soaring costs. Shares at International Airlines Group (IAG), the owner of British Airways (BA), dropped a further 2.2pc on Thursday and have fallen 17pc since Monday. IAG said it is largely safeguarded from oil price fluctuations right now, with 80pc of its fuel needs hedged for the rest of March and 70pc for the second quarter. However, that drops to less than 60pc for the busiest summer months, meaning that BAs fuel bill would skyrocket if hostilities in the Middle East persist. IAG said there are absolutely no issues with obtaining fuel. A spokesman said: Were pretty bullish from a fuel perspective. Our exposure overall is not really that impacted and fares are not going to go massively north. Low-cost carriers have some of the most comprehensive fuel-hedging policies in place. Ryanair revealed in January that it was 84pc hedged at $77 a barrel for the current quarter and 80pc hedged at $67 for the whole of the fiscal year beginning in April. Saar also suggested that political change in Iran could significantly reshape the Middle East. Amitabh Sinha is the executive editor of News18 India. He has extensive experience in print and TV journalism. He started his career with Patna's 'Times of India' and reported for almost 14 years at 'Aaj Tak'. He has been associated with Network18 since 2015. writes with equal authority in Hindi and English languages and has reported on many important events and incidents in India and abroad. He has a long experience in parliamentary journalism and has special grasp of e policies and schemes of the government. He writes regularly on News18's website in both Hindi and English languages. He is a post graduate from Delhi University. X- @amitabhnews18 A probe is underway to find out why the two took the extreme step, police added. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is included among the 13 Best Defensive Dividend Stocks for 2025. Mizuho Lifts Target (TGT) PT to $120, Says Investor Day Was a Positive Catalyst Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com On March 5, Mizuho raised its price recommendation on Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) to $120 from $100. It reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. After the companys investor day, the firm said the meeting proved a decidedly positive catalyst for shares. According to the analyst, Target laid out a credible path toward returning to profitable growth. Also on March 5, the company shared plans to open more than 30 new stores in 2026. Among them will be its 2,000th location, set to open in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The expansion marks another step in Targets broader strategy to support long-term, sustainable growth through continued investment in its store base. The retailer plans to add more than 300 new stores by 2035. Seven locations are already scheduled to welcome guests this March as part of the ongoing rollout. These new stores and planned remodels are backed by Targets $5 billion capital investment plan for 2026. The spending is aimed at improving the in-store experience while also using technology to make online order fulfillment faster and easier for customers. The company also plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in additional store payroll and employee training in 2026. The goal is to strengthen guest service across its locations. Target said these steps support the growth priorities outlined by CEO Michael Fiddelke, which are expected to guide the companys decisions in 2026 and the years ahead. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) operates as a general merchandise retailer. The company sells products through its physical stores and digital platforms, offering everyday essentials and differentiated merchandise at discounted prices to customers it refers to as guests. While we acknowledge the potential of TGT 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading into 2026 and 15 Best Stocks to Buy Now for Passive Income Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Did our AI summary help? MC Science Desk Read the latest and trending science newsstay updated on NASA, ISRO, space missions, planets, asteroids, black holes, AI, quantum physics, galaxy discoveries, and more exciting breakthroughs. Endangered Blue Whales Appear Near the Massachusetts Coast (Image: New England Aquarium) How Hikmet Kaya Helped Transform 25,000 Acres of Lifeless Land Into Forest by Planting 30 Million Trees in Turkey (Image: Social Media) Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms. Quote of the Day by Marie Curie (Image: Canva) 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 Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (NYSE:AUB) is among the 10 Fastest Growing NYSE Stocks to Buy. Morgan Stanley Raises its Price Target on Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (AUB) to $47 and Maintains an Equal Weight Rating On March 2, 2026, Morgan Stanley raised the firms price target on Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (NYSE:AUB) to $47 from $44 and maintained an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm said it increased price targets across the midcap banks group by a median of 8%. While noting that recent outperformance means the bar is higher from here, the firm remains optimistic on the group, citing tailwinds from loan growth, net interest margin expansion, and capital return. On February 24, 2026, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (NYSE:AUB) announced that Alexander Dodd will become chief financial officer effective April 13, succeeding Robert Gorman, who is retiring after nearly 14 years with the company. Gorman will remain with the company through September 30 as an executive advisor to assist with Dodds transition. Dodd, 49, joins the company from TD Bank Group, where he held several senior finance leadership roles over nearly two decades, most recently serving as Deputy CFO and Executive Vice President. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (NYSE:AUB) operates as the bank holding company for Atlantic Union Bank, providing banking and related financial products and services to consumers and businesses in the United States through its Wholesale Banking and Consumer Banking segments. While we acknowledge the potential of AUB 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. ran's ambassador to the United Nations on Friday condemned US interference after President Donald Trump insisted that he should be involved in selecting the successor of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Amir Saeid Iravani said that Trump's reported comments "constitute a clear violation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states and enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations." "Iran is a sovereign and independent state. It does not accept and will never allow any foreign power to interfere in its internal affairs," Iravani told reporters in New York. "The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference," he added. In an interview with news outlet Axios, Trump said Thursday he must be "involved in the appointment" of Iran's next leader and rejected Khamenei's son as a suitable candidate. Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador again described his country's retaliation to US-Israeli attacks as legal and proportionate, and said investigations were ongoing into alleged strikes on non-military sites. "Our initial assessment indicates that some of these incidents may have resulted from the interceptions or interference by the United States defense system, which could have diverted from intended military targets." Smoke rises over Tehran following an explosion, after Israel and US launched strikes. (Courtesy: Reuters photo) Congress leader warns India may face higher fuel prices and slower economic growth due to Middle East conflict. During Israel's 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, the NGO Amnesty International reported the Islamic republic's use of widely banned cluster munitions. Earlier Friday, it had said that the war on its fifth day had killed at least 217 people. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) is included among the 15 Best High Dividend Stocks to Invest in Under $100. Morgan Stanley Reduces Prudential Financial (PRU) Price Target after Updating Insurance Estimates On March 3, Morgan Stanley lowered its price recommendation on Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) to $111 from $120. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The analyst said the firm updated its price targets for North American life and annuity insurers under its coverage. Morgan Stanley added that it is not concerned about life insurers exposure to private credit. Still, the broader industry could face pressure on valuations. Earlier, on February 25, Wells Fargo downgraded Prudential to Underweight from Equal Weight. The firm also reduced its price target to $103 from $115. The analyst said that while the shares appear cheap, they lack clear positive catalysts. According to the research note, concerns around Prudentials international business, possible competition in retail annuities, and a more lackluster pension sales backdrop outweigh the companys strengths. Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) operates as a financial services provider and global investment manager. The company offers a range of financial products and services. These include life insurance, annuities, retirement-related products and services, mutual funds, and investment management. 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 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: 14 Best Dividend Stocks to Invest in Under $50 and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Merchant's trial comes as the US and Israel carry out attacks on Iran, which have killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The latest outbreak of war in the Middle East has pushed oil prices higher worldwide, but Russia has gained disproportionately. Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a precision strike carried out with a Blue Sparrow missile. Russia will no longer share oil export numbers with India Council has remained silent: Iran accuses US, Israel of killing civilians, questions UNSC inaction Investor groups organised by Orinoco Research, Trans-National Research and Signum Global Advisors will assess opportunities across oil, finance and technology sectors. US president says Iran apologised and surrendered to neighbours while warning additional targets are under consideration as the war escalates. Ultimately, the long-term future of Social Security depends on decisions made in Washington. But you dont have to leave your retirement security entirely in lawmakers hands. Building additional income streams especially passive ones can be a game-changer for financial stability in retirement. If benefits are cut once the trust fund runs out of money, that dependence could make life significantly harder for millions of Americans in retirement. In reality, however, many seniors rely on it far more heavily. A 2025 study from The Senior Citizens League found that 39% of Americas seniors depend on Social Security for 100% of their income (5). As of January 2026, the average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker was $2,071 (4). The Social Security Administration has long emphasized that the program was never designed to fully fund retirement replacing about 40% of a workers pre-retirement earnings on average. Instead of funding foreign wars and foreign countries, Social Security needs to be saved! she wrote, adding that, If seniors cant collect their SS check the government should be burned down. According to the CBO, the shortfall would lead to a reduction in benefits. Payments would drop by 7% in 2032, followed by average cuts of about 28% per year between 2033 and 2036. At that time, the program would have insufficient funds to pay, on a timely basis, the full amounts that OASI beneficiaries are entitled to under current law, the report said. Greene pointed to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office, which projects that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund the program that pays retiree and survivor benefits will run out of money in 2032 (3). Most Americans earn a dismal 0.39% APY on their cash at big banks. Unlock up to 4.05% APY and pay $0 in account fees instead with a Wealthfront Cash Account Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Social Security is going to be broke by 2033. Ive been trying to tell everyone. Its less than 7 years away, Greene wrote in a recent post on X (2). Roughly 68 million Americans receive a Social Security check each month (1). But a new government report suggests those payments could soon shrink and former GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is sounding the alarm. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues Earn passive income through real estate Investing in real estate is widely regarded as a robust strategy for retirement planning due to its potential for generating steady, passive income and capital appreciation over time. Well-chosen properties can offer a reliable source of rental income, which can be used to cover living expenses in retirement, reducing dependency on traditional retirement savings or Social Security. At the same time, real estate has proven to be a powerful hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation. Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isnt exactly hands-off work managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns). The good news? You dont need to buy a property outright or deal with leaky faucets to invest in real estate today. 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. For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match. Another option is Lightstone DIRECT, which offers accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate with a minimum investment of $100,000. Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management. Over nearly-four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004. With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to the same multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital . Heres the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal roughly four times the industry average. With skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors. 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 Let your cash hatch its own income Whether youre nearing retirement or already retired, high-yield savings accounts can provide a low-risk way to generate passive income while keeping your funds accessible. These accounts typically offer much higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, allowing your money to grow without needing to lock it away in long-term investments. To get started, a high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your emergency funds, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it. A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30% and new clients can get a 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total APY of 4.05%. Thats ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDICs January report. With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks. Work with an expert At the end of the day, everyones financial situation is different from income levels and investment goals to debt obligations and risk tolerance which means the best move for someone else might not be the best move for you. If youre unsure where to start, it might be the right time to get in touch with a financial advisor through Advisor.com. Advisor.com is an online platform that matches you with vetted financial advisors suited to your unique needs. They can help tailor a strategy to your particular financial situation, whether youre looking to grow wealth, generate passive income or plan for long-term financial security. Once youre matched with an advisor, you can book a free consultation with no obligation to hire. You May Also Like 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. Social Security Administration (1, 4); @FmrRepMTG (2); Congressional Budget Office (3); The Senior Citizens League (5) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The Iran war is not the only legally dubious military intervention by the Trump administration. US urges Sri Lanka not to return Iranian sailors after warship sinking: Report The US president also claimed the country has a virtually unlimited supply of lower-grade weapons, which he said are currently being used in the Iran war. US intelligence says Russia is sharing military intelligence with Iran US plans $166bn Trump tariff refunds within 45 days after court ruling; importers to get single payment Munir reiterated that lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan would depend on the Afghan Taliban renouncing support for militant groups. US allowed India to buy Russian oil at sea, may unsanction more barrels: Bessen The UAE, which consists of seven emirates including Dubai, would protect everyone in the country, he said. Nvidia Corp. is adjusting its production strategy amid uncertainty over U.S. export approvals, which continue to limit shipments of advanced AI chips to China. China Strategy Recalibrated The company has reportedly halted production of its H200 AI chips intended for the Chinese market. It has shifted manufacturing capacity at contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. away from producing H200 chips and toward its next-generation Vera Rubin hardware, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Don't Miss: Last week, Nvidia said it had received U.S. government licenses to ship "small amounts" of H200 chips to customers in China. However, the production shift suggests the company may not expect significant H200 sales in China in the near term, Reuters reported. Earlier this year, the Trump administration approved sales of the China-bound H200 chips, but shipments have remained stalled due to regulatory guardrails in the approval process. Trending: Disney Was Built on Character IP This Pre-IPO Company Is Using the Same Playbook A U.S. Commerce Department official said last month that no H200 chips had been sold to Chinese customers. Recent changes to U.S. rules mean shipments to China and Macau are now reviewed on a case-by-case basis instead of being automatically denied, potentially reopening the market. Image via Shutterstock Read Next: UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Nvidia Abandons China-Bound Chips To Fast-Track Vera Rubin originally appeared on Benzinga.com "We are achieving the military objectives of this operation and that is going to continue," Leavitt said. An aerial view of the Iranian shores and Port of Bandar Abbas in the strait of Hormuz. (REUTERS) Oatly is investing $16m in the expansion of its of its production facility in Landskrona, Sweden. In a statement yesterday (5 March), the dairy-alternatives group said it will spend the sum over a "multi-year" period to upgrade the plant and lift capacity there by more than 33%. The expansion will be used to build three new production lines and increase Landskrona plants annual output from 150 million litres to 200 million litres. It is expected and enable Oatly to meet accelerating global demand for its plant-based drinks, the group said. Construction is due to start this month and is expected to be completed by March next year. Oatly sustainable operations SVP Simon Broadbent said: Were seeing growing demand for our products, so the time is right to upgrade our Landskrona site which has performed fantastically well in recent years, both in stability of output and outstanding cost management. The Landskrona factory is a key site for us, not only because of our roots in Sweden, but also because its a fully owned, endtoend production hub and home to many of our core functions. The site, which has been active since 2006, employs more than 300 people. Oatly added that increased production at the facility will also allow it to source more oats for its products from Swedish farmers. Nearly 70% of the volume produced at the site is exported. The business expects that share to increase after the expansion, as it serves increasing demand for Oatly products in countries such as Germany and the UK. The site will also support supplies to growth markets such as France and Spain, where the category is taking off. The Malmo-headquartered company sells its oat-based dairy alternatives in more than 60 countries worldwide. It owns two production sites and works with co-manufacturers at three other locations. Oatly achieved its first full fiscal year of profitable growth in 2025. Adjusted EBITDA for the 12 months to 31 December stood at $6.8m, compared to a loss of $35.3m in 2024. The firms revenues reached $862.5m last year, a 4.7% improvement over 2024. The company also reported sales of $233.8m in Q4 2025, up 9% year-on-year. The group's North America market however saw revenue drop 9.1% in reported and constant currency terms, while volumes were down 11%. In 2026, Oatly expects adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $25m to $35m. The group's capital expenditures budget is expected to sit between $20m and $30m, $16m of which has now gone towards the Landskrona site. Last month, Oatly also lost a UK court battle with the dairy-industry trade association Dairy UK over the labelling of oat milk. The UK Supreme Court ruled Oatlys Post Milk Generation trademark breaches EU laws that still apply in the country. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony I. Macaranas, right, speaks to reporters, as DPS Public Information Officer Fred Sato looks on during a press conference on Friday morning. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano By Emmanuel T. Erediano [email protected] Variety News Staff GOVERNOR David M. Apatang on Thursday reinstated Anthony I. Macaranas as Department of Public Safety commissioner, 10 days after Lt. Gov. Dennis James Mendiola, while serving as acting governor, terminated him without cause. In a Feb. 23, 2026, letter to Macaranas, Mendiola cited the law allowing the governor to remove public officials with or without cause. At a press conference Friday, the DPS chief told reporters that he spoke with Apatang at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Macaranas said the governor told him he would be ordered to return to work. According to Macaranas, the reinstatement letter stated that Apatang was reinstating him effective March 5, 2026. I am pretty much sure that he sought legal advice. He was advised that he could reinstate me and does not have to go through Senate confirmation, Macaranas said. Its good to be back to work. My return is to continue the work that I have been doing from the time I got appointed, he added, saying that returning to the department felt like coming back from a trip to the U.S. mainland or elsewhere. Macaranas said that on the morning he received Mendiolas termination letter, he had just returned from Australia, where he attended a law enforcement conference. He said he was preparing to report to the acting governor about the conference and upcoming initiatives when he received the letter. According to Macaranas, he was signing documents in his office when the special assistant for administration handed him the termination notice. Although the move was kind of shocking, Macaranas said he already knew the possibility existed. I would just have to obey the letter, he said. He added that even before receiving the termination letter, he had been hearing rumors that the acting governor might remove him. So I just told myself, If it happens, it happens, Macaranas said. I was expecting it was going to happen, and any time the governor would let me go, I just had to accept it. Now that he is back as commissioner, Macaranas said he intends to focus on continuing the departments mission. Im still going to focus on whats the purpose of my return, which is to continue to help our people in the Commonwealth and to help our men and women of this department, he said. Macaranas declined to comment on the allegations against him, saying his attorney advised him not to discuss an ongoing case. Whatever the allegations are, they are still allegations, he said. But Im still going to come back with an open mind to continue working here and to do whats necessary to continue the work of the department. He thanked those who have supported him and said he also appreciated those who oppose his return. Macaranas said he will not allow the allegations made after his termination to distract him from moving the department forward. Nothing is going to stop me and deter me from doing my job, he said. Addressing those within the department who made the allegations, Macaranas said they have the right to do so but urged them to continue performing their duties while the case proceeds. Let them continue the work they are tasked to do, and I will continue my job as commissioner, he said, confirming that he denies the allegations. Macaranas said he had never been confronted about the accusations and had not been notified of them by the departments human resources division. Not one time did HR come to me and advise me about the allegation, he said. He also noted that Mendiolas termination letter did not mention any reason for his removal. That day I was removed, I was never told to explain why, Macaranas said. I am open to accepting removal, but please have the courtesy to explain why. A formal complaint alleging unprofessional and inappropriate conduct against Macaranas was filed with the Civil Service Commission on March 2, 2026, eight days after Mendiola terminated him without cause on Feb. 23, 2026. NMCADSV stands with victims and survivors and calls for accountability The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, in a statement Friday, said it is deeply concerned by the decision to reinstate Macaranas following recent sexual harassment complaints. We have heard directly from the individuals who filed the complaint and respect their wishes to remain anonymous. We believe them. We support them. We stand with them, the coalition stated. Sexual harassment is serious in any workplace and should be taken seriously when reported. This situation is especially concerning given the high standard of professionalism, integrity, and accountability expected from the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the CNMI. The CNMI Department of Public Safetys own mission and values emphasize integrity and trust and call on its members to act with integrity and to the highest professional standards of behavior. DPS also states that one of its goals is to build public trust and confidence in the Department of Public Safety. Maintaining that trust should be a priority, particularly for victims and survivors who must decide whether they feel safe enough to report the harm they have experienced. Leadership decisions carry significant weight in shaping public confidence in our institutions, especially when they involve individuals in positions of authority within systems responsible for protecting public safety. Reinstating someone to a leadership position following reports of sexual harassment may erode trust and discourage others from coming forward. It is also important to recognize that delayed reporting is common in cases involving sexual harassment and sexual violence. Victims and survivors may take time to come forward due to fear of retaliation, concerns about their careers or reputations, trauma, stigma, or uncertainty about how their report will be received. There is no single timeline for when a person may feel ready or safe enough to report harm. The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence remains committed to standing with victims and survivors and advocating for systems where people feel safe, supported, and respected when reporting harm. We encourage leadership across the CNMI to ensure that decisions regarding allegations of sexual harassment reflect a commitment to transparency, accountability, and the safety of those who come forward. We will continue working with community partners and leadership to ensure that safety, dignity, accountability, and public trust remain priorities for the CNMI. If you or someone you know has experienced domestic or sexual violence, you are not alone. Support is available through the 24/7 Karidat Victim Hotline at (670) 234-5100 or the 24/7 Karidat Sexual Assault Helpline at (670) 838-7233. 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. (Corrects Kalinowski's job description in headline and first paragraph to hardware, not robotics.) By Karen Brettell March 7 (Reuters) - Caitlin Kalinowski, who oversaw hardware at OpenAI, announced her resignation on Saturday, citing concerns about the company's agreement with the Department of Defense. In a social media post on X, Kalinowski wrote that OpenAI did not take enough time before agreeing to deploy its AI models on the Pentagon's classified cloud networks. "AI has an important role in national security," Kalinowski posted. "But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got. Reuters could not immediately reach Kalinowski for comment, but she wrote on X that while she has "deep respect" for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the team, the company announced the Pentagon deal "without the guardrails defined," she posted. "It's a governance concern first and foremost," Kalinowski wrote in a subsequent X post. "These are too important for deals or announcements to be rushed." OpenAI said the day after the deal was struck that it includes additional safeguards to protect its use cases. The company on Saturday reiterated that its "red lines" preclude use of its technology in domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons. "We recognize that people have strong views about these issues and we will continue to engage in discussion with employees, government, civil society and communities around the world, the company said in a statement to Reuters. Kalinowski joined OpenAI in 2024 after leading augmented reality hardware development at Meta Platforms. (Reporting by Karen Brettell; Editing by Sergio Non and Franklin Paul) A gathering storm: Border vulnerabilities amplify domestic terror fears National security experts warn that Iranian-backed sleeper cells may be activated in the U.S. in retaliation for Operation Epic Fury. Concerns are heightened by the influx of millions of illegal border crossers during the previous administration, including individuals on terror watchlists. The recent mass shooting in Austin, Texas, is under FBI investigation as a potential act of terrorism linked to U.S. actions against Iran. Officials urge public vigilance, emphasizing the "see something, say something" doctrine in a heightened threat environment. Historical context points to long-standing Iranian plots against U.S. targets, now compounded by border security vulnerabilities. In the tense aftermath of a major U.S.-Israeli military strike on Iran, a chilling question grips national security officials and analysts: Will the conflict trigger retaliatory attacks on American soil? This concern is acutely amplified by what experts describe as a self-inflicted vulnerabilitythe historic levels of illegal immigration during the prior administration, which they argue allowed unknown numbers of potential threats to enter the country undetected. The recent mass shooting in Austin, Texas, now under FBI investigation as a potential act of terrorism, has transformed abstract warnings into a stark, immediate reality. The nexus of foreign conflict and domestic security Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israel operation targeting Iranian assets, has placed the nation on high alert. Security analysts liken Iran to a cornered animal, unpredictable and likely to lash out through all available means, including its proxy networks and suspected sleeper cells within the United States. This threat is not hypothetical; the Department of Homeland Security has previously warned that the Iranian government has attempted to plot lethal attacks against critics on U.S. soil in recent years. The current military engagement significantly raises the stakes, creating what officials term a "heightened threat environment" where retaliation against the homeland is a primary concern. A border legacy of unanswered questions The pervasive anxiety among security professionals stems from a fundamental intelligence gap: who exactly entered the United States during a period of record illegal border crossings. Official data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirms that nearly 400 individuals with terrorism-related records were encountered between ports of entry during the previous administration. More alarmingly, congressional estimates suggest approximately 2 million "known gotaways" evaded capture entirely. This massive cohort of unknown entrants provides a potential pathway for hostile actors. Experts point specifically to the possibility of Hezbollah operatives infiltrating via South America, a route allegedly encouraged by the Venezuelan regime. Austin attack: A case study in emerging threats The theoretical threat materialized with deadly speed. Just hours after Operation Epic Fury commenced, a gunman opened fire in a crowded Austin bar, killing three and injuring fourteen before being shot by police. The suspect, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, was wearing apparel with phrases and symbols linked to Islamic extremism. While the investigation is ongoing, federal authorities are probing potential ties to foreign terrorism inspired by the Iran conflict. The incident serves as a grim validation of expert warnings and underscores the challenge of detecting lone actors or activated cells within a vast population. A call for vigilance in a new era of risk The confluence of international conflict and persistent homeland vulnerabilities presents a unique security challenge. Historical precedent shows that state actors like Iran have the intent to strike within the United States. The contemporary difference, analysts argue, is the perceived ease with which malicious actors could have exploited recent border policies to establish a presence. In response, officials from the Department of Homeland Security to independent institutes are echoing a renewed call for public vigilance, stressing the "see something, say something" doctrine as a critical layer of national defense. An enduring security calculus The fallout from Operation Epic Fury extends far beyond the Middle East, directly testing the integrity of America's domestic security posture. The Austin shooting, whether definitively linked to Iran or not, exemplifies the type of low-tech, high-impact attack that security experts fear most in the current climate. It highlights a sobering reality: geopolitical actions have direct and potentially deadly consequences at home, especially when compounded by unresolved questions about who has entered the country and with what intentions. As the conflict evolves, so too must the nation's commitment to addressing both the immediate threat of foreign retaliation and the long-term consequences of border security failures. The nation's safety now depends on both strategic military precision abroad and unwavering vigilance within its own communities. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com TheDailySignal.com Irans new Ayatollah threatens to shed Trumps blood in live address The United States, in lockstep with Israel, has ignited a direct military conflict with Iran, a move that has triggered an aggressive and catastrophic retaliation, which is currently justifying a sweeping expansion of war. The U.S. targeting Iranian leadership and sinking an Iranian frigate in international waters, has elicited blood-curdling vows of revenge from Tehrans highest clerical authorities. Key points: Senior Iranian Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli has explicitly called for the "shedding of Trump's blood" in a televised address, signaling a shift to personal, existential threats. Iran has reportedly failed to assassinate President Donald Trump in the past, and Trump instinctively struck Iran first because he was weary of upcoming attacks. The U.S. Navy's sinking of the Iranian frigate Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing 87 sailors, has been branded an "atrocity at sea" by Iran's foreign minister, who warns the U.S. will "bitterly regret" setting this precedent. The conflict, beginning with coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on Saturday, has already killed over 1,000 in Iran and disrupted global energy supplies, with Iran retaliating against U.S. bases and allies across the region. Evidence suggests the U.S. military-industrial complex and political neoconservatives are orchestrating an escalation to justify wider war, while deliberately exposing naval forces to devastating attack. The situation creates a clear path to nuclear confrontation, with Iran capable of sinking U.S. carriers and Israel poised to use tactical nuclear weapons, potentially drawing in Russia and leading to an even greater global conflict. World War is here The incendiary rhetoric from Ayatollah Amoli is not mere posturing. It is the predictable outcome of a devastating military blow that has humiliated a nation with significant asymmetric and potentially nuclear-capable retaliatory options. The sinking of the Dena is a casus belli that Iran cannot ignore without losing face and domestic control. The U.S. administration understands this dynamic perfectly; it is the very reaction they are counting on to justify the next, more drastic phase of conflict. The strategic positioning of U.S. carrier groups in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Mediterranean is currently a demonstration of America's military power, but could become a provocative display of vulnerability. These vessels, including the showpiece USS Ford and USS Eisenhower, are not battle-ready fortresses but floating targets in a theater saturated with advanced missiles and drones. The military-industrial complex, a corrupt racket of wealth extraction, has prioritized showmanship over functional warfare, leaving the fleet ill-prepared for the modern battlefield. It's possible these ships become sacrificial lambs, and a single catastrophic loss, whether from a conventional barrage or a nuclear-tipped hypersonic missile, would provide the "Pearl Harbor" moment needed to unleash total war, suspend liberties, and crush domestic dissent under the guise of national emergency. Iran is not Afghanistan or Iraq While U.S. leaders currently appear braggadocios, this aggressive gambit in Iran ignores a stark reality: Iran is not Afghanistan, Iraq, or Gaza. It is not a weak adversary that can be readily occupied. It is a modern nation with a sophisticated domestic missile program, underground drone cities, suspected nuclear weapons capabilities, and a defense pact with Russia. An Iranian retaliatory strike that successfully destroys a U.S. aircraft carrier, potentially with thousands of sailors aboard, would instantly shatter the myth of American military invincibility. The political pressure for a nuclear response would be immense, pushing the world to the brink. Russia, which will not tolerate nuclear fallout on its borders or the annihilation of its ally, has already signaled its readiness with advanced Kinzhal hypersonic missiles that can easily evade current U.S. naval defenses and deliver devastating payloads. The endpoint of this path is a nuclear firestorm. Now that the U.S. military has went into Iran, it is obligated to finish the job it started, and this could mean a long, drawn out war, with global implications. Over the long term, Israel becomes less safe because of the actions they have taken. While Israel itself possesses an illicit arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, if backed into a corner, the Israeli leadership would not hesitate to use them on Iranian soil, an act that would almost certainly trigger a Russian nuclear response against U.S. naval assets in the region. The ensuing exchange would not only destroy the U.S. Navy's presence in the Middle East but could also lead to the coordinated annihilation of Israeli cities by a coalition of enraged nations. The world is weary of American and Israeli bullying in the Middle East, and is actively preparing for a post-Western order. Worse yet, the world must now deal with an Ayatollah that will refuse to give up, will seek to behead their adversaries like never before, and now has fresh motivation and justification for taking on Israel and the U.S. in their homelands. Sources include: The-Express.com TheHill.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai Trump demanding Irans unconditional surrender will have severe economic consequences for the West As the smoke from American and Israeli bunker-busters clears over Tehran, a singular, uncompromising demand echoes from the White House, driving the conflict into uncharted and perilous territory. President Donald Trumps insistence on Irans unconditional surrender will inevitably be the catalyst supercharging global oil markets and locking the United States into a high-stakes military gamble with unforeseeable consequences. This war, sold to the public as a swift decapitation of a rogue regime, is rapidly morphing into a protracted engagement that exposes critical vulnerabilities for the U.S. military's stockpile, while threatening higher energy prices that will cause further economic consequences for the West. Key points: President Trump has rejected all mediation, demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender" and suggesting the U.S. will later approve a new Iranian leader. U.S. Central Command reports a 90% decrease in Iranian ballistic missile attacks but warns of intensified U.S. naval strikes aimed at leveling Iran's missile industrial base. Global oil prices have surged, with Brent crude hitting $90 a barrel, as Gulf states warn of imminent production halts and Russia reports soaring demand for its energy exports. Heavy fighting continues, with Tehran experiencing its most intense bombardment yet, while Iranian retaliation targets civilian areas across the Gulf and draws in Hezbollah. The conflict is expanding globally, with reports of Russia providing Iran intelligence and China considering financial and material support. The price of unconditional surrender The U.S. and Israeli' military's strategic objectives has crystallized into something far beyond degrading Irans nuclear capabilities. U.S. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, outlined a campaign of systematic obliteration, stating the task is to raze, or level, Irans ballistic missile industrial base. This total-war philosophy, targeting a nations fundamental capacity to rebuild, explains Trumps recent clarification that surrender means when Iranians "can't fight any longer because they don't have anyone or anything to fight with." This maximalist approach leaves no room for the diplomatic off-ramp hinted at by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who noted mediation efforts but stressed they must address those who ignited this conflict. The human and infrastructural cost inside Iran is staggering, with authorities reporting at least 1,332 killed and strikes leveling residential neighborhoods and schools. Yet, the Iranian retaliation, though diminished in volume, continues to project power across the region, targeting U.S. bases, Israeli cities, and even civilian areas in Gulf allies like Bahrain. This demonstrates a critical miscalculation: the assumption that a swift, overwhelming blow would cause the Iranian state to simply collapse. Instead, it has activated a dispersed chain of command and galvanized pro-regime sentiment, as seen in massive Friday prayer gatherings chanting anti-American slogans amidst the bombardment. Global fallout and the energy weapon The most immediate and visceral impact for the world is the violent shock to global energy markets. Trumps demand for total victory has effectively slammed shut the door on a quick ceasefire, transforming regional uncertainty into a protracted crisis. The result is a predictable, yet devastating, spike in oil prices. Brent crudes jump to $90 a barrel is just the beginning. Qatars energy minister delivered a dire prognosis, warning that Gulf energy production and exports could halt within days, and normalization could take weeks to months even if the war stopped now. This scenario plays directly into the hands of Moscow. The Kremlin has openly stated it is seeing a significant increase in demand for Russian energy resources. As the Wests military focus and economic stability are battered by soaring prices, Russia stands to triple its revenue from oil and gas exports, funding its own geopolitical ambitions with the Wests money. This was an entirely predictable outcome, underscoring that the real beneficiaries of this war are not the American or Israeli people, but those waiting to capitalize on the resulting global disorder. The wars pros, as touted by the administrationdegrading Irans missile arsenal and eliminating key leadership figuresare tactical victories overshadowed by monumental strategic cons. The conflict is expanding, with Hezbollah engaging with unexpected intensity in Lebanon. It is drawing in other major powers, with credible reports that Russia is providing targeting intelligence to Iran and China may step in with support. Furthermore, it is crippling global energy security and economically empowering the Wests primary adversaries. The promise of rebuilding a bigger, better, and stronger Iran after its destruction rings hollow as gasoline prices climb and the specter of a regional conflagration grows. This is not a path to victory; it is a recipe for a generational catastrophe where the only unconditional outcome will be the surrender of American security and prosperity and future attacks on U.S. service members abroad. Sources include: Zerohedge.com TheEpochTimes.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai Jeffrey Clark RESIGNS from Trump administration, vows to continue conservative fight Conservative attorney Jeffrey Clark, a key Trump ally, has resigned as Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), a powerful regulatory oversight office within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In his resignation letter, Clark reaffirmed his dedication to constitutional governance and deregulation, signaling his continued involvement in the conservative movement despite returning to private practice. Clark faced intense scrutiny and legal attacks from Democrats over his role in challenging the 2020 election, including a now-collapsed Fulton County indictment and potential disbarment effortsdismissed as politically motivated. Clark's departure raises questions about the future of Trump's regulatory rollbacks, as he played a pivotal role in streamlining federal rules and reducing bureaucratic overreach. Clark's resignation marks a critical moment in the fight against bureaucratic overreach. His successor must navigate a polarized regulatory landscape while upholding his America First approach, as Clark's influence on conservative policy and election integrity efforts is expected to endure. Jeffrey Clark, a prominent conservative attorney and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, has resigned from his role as Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), a key regulatory oversight office within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Clark, who served as Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice during Trump's first term, submitted his resignation in a letter addressed to OMB Director Russell Vought. While stepping back into private life, Clark affirmed his commitment to the broader conservative movement, declaring that he will not abandon the fight for constitutional governance and deregulation. "Thank you very much for the tremendous opportunity you gave me starting early last year to serve you and President Trump as the Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)," Clark said in his letter. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that the OIRA's nominal mandate includes reviewing federal regulations, overseeing information collection requests and implementing cost-benefit analyses for proposed rules. However, a deeper investigation drawing on declassified documents, legislative history and expert analyses reveals that OIRA primarily functions as a mechanism for corporate capture, deregulation and the suppression of public health and environmental safeguards. A defender of Trump's America First agenda Clark assumed the acting OIRA role in March 2025, where he spearheaded efforts to roll back federal regulations in line with Trump's deregulatory priorities. His tenure focused on streamlining rule reviews and implementing executive orders aimed at reducing bureaucratic overreach an initiative central to Trump's economic and administrative policies. His resignation marks a significant loss for the administration, given his reputation as a principled legal mind and unwavering defender of constitutional principles. Clark's departure comes amid escalating political pressures, including relentless attacks from opponents over his role in challenging the disputed 2020 election results. In his resignation letter, Clark emphasized his voluntary transition to private practice while reaffirming his dedication to conservative causes. The White House has yet to comment on his departure or announce a successor. Clark has faced intense scrutiny from Democrats and legal adversaries, particularly over his involvement in post-2020 election challenges. The D.C. Bar recommended disciplinary actions, including potential disbarment, over allegations tied to his efforts to investigate election irregularitiesaccusations Clark and his supporters dismiss as politically motivated. Earlier, Clark was indicted alongside Trump, Rudy Giuliani and others by Fulton County District Attorney (DA) Fani Willis in a controversial case that has since collapsed. Despite these legal battles, Clark remains a respected figure among Trump loyalists and constitutional conservatives. Implications for regulatory policy Clark's exit raises questions about the future of Trump's deregulatory agenda. As OIRA Administrator, he played a pivotal role in shaping federal policy, ensuring regulations aligned with the administration's America First priorities. His departure could signal a shift in regulatory strategy, particularly as the administration navigates ongoing governance challenges ahead of the 2026 election. Despite stepping down, Clark's legacy as a tenacious legal advocate for election integrity and regulatory reform remains intact. His resignation letter reaffirms his commitment to conservative principles, suggesting he may continue his work outside governmentpotentially advising future investigations or legal battles. Clark's departure coincides with growing national debates over regulatory reform, bureaucratic inefficiency and the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents. His leadership at OIRA was marked by efforts to curb excessive government interventiona mission that resonates with small business owners and constitutionalists alike. The Trump administration must now appoint a new OIRA leader who can uphold Clark's legacy while navigating an increasingly polarized regulatory landscape. Clark's resignation underscores the broader struggle between constitutional governance and bureaucratic overreacha defining issue for the conservative movement. As Clark returns to private practice, his influence on regulatory policy and election integrity efforts will likely endure. His resignation is not just a personal transition but a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for America's constitutional framework. Watch this video about Jeffrey Clark destroying Fulton County DA Fani Willis in a reply brief related to the Georgia election interference case. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: InfoWars.com JoeHoft.com PatriotFetch.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com A strategic pivot: U.S. secures Venezuelan gold in post-Maduro economic shift The Trump administration has brokered a deal for Venezuela to export up to 1,000 kilograms of gold to U.S. markets. The agreement is part of a broader U.S. strategy to exert economic influence over Venezuela following the capture of former leader Nicolas Maduro. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum facilitated the deal, which involves global trader Trafigura and aims to redirect revenue from black-market channels to Venezuela's government. The deal follows massive oil contracts and is framed by the administration as a move to stabilize Venezuela's economy and "reimburse" U.S. intervention costs. Critics, including congressional Democrats, label the policy as imperialistic and question whether it prioritizes American interests over Venezuelan welfare. In a significant move to reshape hemispheric economic alliances, the Trump administration has brokered a multimillion-dollar deal for Venezuela to export a massive shipment of gold directly to the United States. The agreement, finalized this week, will see between 650 and 1,000 kilograms of semi-refined gold bars flow from Venezuelas state-owned miner to U.S. refineries via global commodities trader Trafigura. Orchestrated with the direct involvement of U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Venezuelas interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, the deal marks a dramatic pivot from years of sanctions and antagonism to a commercial partnership tightly managed from Washington. The mechanics of the gold deal The transaction involves Venezuelas Compania General de Mineria de Venezuela (Minerven) supplying gold dore bars, which are approximately 98% pure, to Trafigura. Under a separate arrangement with the U.S. government, Trafigura will then oversee the delivery of the precious metal to refineries within the United States. Based on current volatile market prices, the shipment could be worth up to $166 million. This contract is reported to be the third major resource extraction deal facilitated by U.S. officials since the January 3 capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, which the Trump administration justified as an action against narco-terrorism. The role of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has been pivotal. His recent trip to Caracas, which included a meeting with Interim President Rodriguez at the Miraflores Palace, was focused on unlocking opportunities in both oil and minerals. Following the meeting, Rodriguez announced plans to reform Venezuelas mining laws to attract foreign investment, signaling a willingness to align with U.S. economic objectives. From sanctions to statecraft This commercial shift represents a stark reversal from the preceding decade of U.S.-Venezuela relations. For years, comprehensive U.S. sanctions aimed at ousting Maduro severely restricted Venezuelas access to global financial systems. In response, the Maduro regime turned to black-market networks and allied nations like Iran, Russia and China to sell its gold and oil, a practice that U.S. officials argue fueled corruption and illicit activities. The new U.S.-brokered model aims to cut out those middlemen and adversaries. A source familiar with the deals framed the benefit for Venezuela, stating that revenue which was once skimmed by corrupt smugglers will now flow to the Venezuelan government and its people. Furthermore, it redirects a strategic resource away from U.S. geopolitical rivals and into American markets. Broader economic and geopolitical strategy The gold deal is not an isolated transaction but a component of a larger economic blueprint being implemented by the Trump administration. This strategy includes: Exerting de facto control over Venezuelas vast oil reserves, the largest in the world. Channeling billions in proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales back into purchases of American goods, such as agriculture, medicine and infrastructure equipment. Securing a direct supply of gold at a time of soaring prices driven by global uncertainty. President Trump alluded to this broader vision on his Truth Social platform, praising the cooperation and noting, The oil is beginning to flow. He has previously framed such resource agreements as a means to reimburse the United States for its costly interventions abroad. Major U.S. oil companies are reportedly poised to invest billions to rehabilitate Venezuelas crippled energy infrastructure, though long-term success remains contingent on sustained political stability. Criticism and controversy The administrations approach has ignited fierce criticism from congressional Democrats and liberal advocacy groups. They accuse the White House of engaging in a form of economic imperialism, leveraging military and political power to commandeer another nations natural resources. Critics argue that the policy prioritizes American corporate and strategic interests over equitable reconstruction and direct humanitarian aid for the Venezuelan populace, potentially cementing new forms of dependency and inequality. A new chapter of managed interdependence The gold agreement between the United States and Venezuela signifies more than a simple commodity trade; it is a cornerstone of a deliberate and controversial statecraft experiment. The Trump administration is moving to replace a sanctions-based policy of isolation with a framework of managed economic interdependence, where U.S. oversight of Venezuelan resources is presented as a pathway to stability and legitimate revenue. While proponents hail it as a pragmatic end to corruption and a strategic win, detractors see it as the consolidation of undue influence. The ultimate measure of this policy will be whether it fosters genuine, broad-based recovery in Venezuela or simply reshapes the channels of its economic dependency. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Axios.com Bloomberg.com 130 Maoists surrender with 124 weapons in Telangana. CM Revanth Reddy offers rehabilitation, case review, and appeals to top leaders like Ganapati to join mainstream. By Pramod Chaturvedi, Hyderabad, March 7 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appealed to top Maoist leaders, including Central Committee member Ganapati, to surrender, join mainstream life and actively participate in the reconstruction of the state. As many as 130 Maoists surrendered along with 124 sophisticated weapons before the government in the presence of the Chief Minister at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Hyderabad on Saturday. Those who surrendered included three State Committee members, one Regional Committee member, 10 Divisional Committee members, 46 Area Committee members, and 70 party members. The surrendered Maoists handed over 124 weapons to the police, including 1 INSAS LMG rifle, 31 AK-47 rifles, 21 INSAS rifles, 20 SLR rifles, 18 .303 rifles, and 33 other weapons. Addressing a press conference after the surrender programme, the Chief Minister congratulated the surrendered cadres for responding to the state government's call and choosing to join mainstream life. Revanth Reddy said the government is ready to revoke cases registered against the Naxalites within the purview of law. If required, the state government will also constitute a committee to review the pending cases. "The State Government is sympathetic towards the Naxalites and is ready to address their issues," the Chief Minister said. He further stated that the government is considering a financial rehabilitation package for the surrendered Maoists, and a decision will be taken soon. The state government is also prepared to provide better medical care, housing and financial assistance to the surrendered cadres. The Union Government has already given freedom to the state government to extend such support to those who return to normal life. Referring to proposals made by surrendered Maoist leaders, including Devji and Damodar, the Chief Minister said the matter has already been brought to the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He expressed hope that the surrendered cadres would bring people's issues to the notice of the government through democratic means in the future. Emphasising that dialogue is the only solution, Revanth Reddy said problems can be resolved through democratic processes. "Ballot is more powerful than a bullet in solving problems. India strongly believes in addressing challenges through peaceful means," he said, recalling how Mahatma Gandhi led the country to independence through non-violent struggle. "Violence cannot solve every problem. Let us resolve issues democratically," the Chief Minister added. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also appreciated the efforts of Telangana Police officials who convinced the Maoists to surrender by assuring them of rehabilitation and a chance to lead a peaceful life. - ANI March 5 (Reuters) - Enterprise software company Oracle is planning thousands of job cuts as it faces a cash crunch from a massive AI data center expansion effort, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. Long a smaller contender in the cloud market, over the past year Oracle has emerged as a major player in the business of renting computing power thanks, in part, to its $300 billion deal with OpenAI. But investors have grown worried about how it would fund the data center expansion needed to serve OpenAI and other customers, including Elon Musk's xAI and Meta. In December, the company said it expects capital expenditures for fiscal 2026 to be $15 billion higher than the $35 billion figure the company estimated during its first-quarter earnings call. The layoffs will impact divisions across Oracle and may be implemented as soon as this month, the Bloomberg report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Some cuts will be aimed at job categories that the company expects will shrink due to AI. The planned reductions are expected to be wider-reaching than Oracle's typical rolling job cuts, according to Bloomberg. This week, Oracle announced internally that it would be reviewing many of the open job listings in its cloud division, effectively slowing down or freezing the hiring process, the report added. Oracle declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. The company had about 162,000 full-time employees as of May 31, 2025, according to its annual filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The software company, chaired by billionaire Larry Ellison, in February outlined plans to raise $45 billion to $50 billion this year in order to expand its cloud infrastructure, fueling investor concerns about its rising debt load. Oracle will report third-quarter results on Tuesday. Its shares fell more than 15% last year, with its December results showing about $10 billion in cash burn for the first half of the fiscal year. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Alan Barona) Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that he ended eight wars during his presidency, specifically citing his intervention between India and Pakistan. He stated he used trade measures and tariffs to de-escalate a potential nuclear conflict that he says could have killed 35 million people. Trump also commented on the profound hostility between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, making it difficult to resolve their conflict. Additionally, he announced the development of new, powerful naval weapons intended as a deterrent. Donald Trump reiterates claims he ended eight wars, used trade to de-escalate India-Pakistan tensions, and comments on Putin-Zelenskyy hostility. Washington DC, March 8 US President Donald Trump claimed he used trade measures to calm a potential escalation between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, while noting deep hostility between his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin and his adversaries in Europe. Trump framed the US military buildup and economic pressure as tools he believes can prevent wars and stabilise global disputes. He also said the United States is developing a new class of powerful naval weapons and argued that strong military capability helps deter global conflict. "I suggested that why don't we have battleships anymore, shooting big bullets instead of $3 million rockets?... We're actually building 10 of them... I have been told that they are 100 times more powerful... We don't want to use them. But by having them, nobody's gonna play games... They'll say that he's very militaristic. I'm the one who ended eight wars... The hatred between Putin and his counterpart is so great... So it's very hard for them to get there... It doesn't really affect us very much, because we've got an ocean separating us. I'm doing it as a favour to Europe, and to life... I have an ability to get those things done, to bring people together... India and Pakistan were going to be a disaster. That was raging for a number of days. I did that through trade. I used tariffs in trade," he said. Earlier, on February 25, Trump, in his State of the Union Address, had claimed the same. He also made a stunning revelation, saying that Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had told him that almost 35 million people would have died had he not intervened in the conflict. "In my first 10 months, I ended eight wars... Cambodia and Thailand... Pakistan and India would have had a nuclear war. 35 million people said the Prime Minister of Pakistan would have died if it were not for my involvement," he claimed. Meanwhile, for the first time, the US sided with Russia and China on Thursday in a dispute at the United Nations atomic agency over the danger posed by attacks on Ukraine's nuclear power, showing US' increasing alignment with Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported on March 5. The US opposed a resolution at the UN atomic agency that was backed by a host of European countries, Australia, Canada, Argentina and Chile, among others. The resolution didn't mention Russia, according to a draft seen by The Wall Street Journal. - ANI Bollywood actor Ahan Shetty is enjoying a memorable all-boys' vacation in Thailand, sharing a series of photos on social media. The pictures showcase a luxury trip featuring cityscapes, an elephant sanctuary visit, and a focus on fitness with gym sessions. Shetty captioned the post, expressing his joy at spending the summer with his friends. The actor was last seen in 'Border 2' and has spoken about the pressure of comparisons with his father, Suniel Shetty. Bollywood actor Ahan Shetty enjoys an all-boys' trip to Thailand, sharing glimpses of luxury stays, elephant sanctuaries, and gym sessions. Mumbai, March 7 Bollywood actor Ahan Shetty seems to having a ball of a time at it all boys' trip to Thailand. The actor along with his friends appears to be enjoying a memorable vacation as he shared glimpses from his fancy trip with friends. The actor took to his social media account and posted a carousel of pictures capturing moments from the fun-filled getaway. Sharing the images, Ahan wrote "Best summer with the best people," adding a coconut tree and Thailand flag emoticon. The pictures show Ahan having a great time with his friends during the tropical holiday. In one picture the actor is seen posing with his friend against a stunning night time cityscape. In another picture, Ahan along with his group are seen visiting what appears to be an elephant sanctuary where the actor is seen gently patting an elephant. In another photo, Ahan and his friends a scene posing inside the gym reflecting on the fat that fitness comes first even on a vacation. In other pictures on shared seen it views from The luxury stay that included up picture squee infinity pool, a gazebo set up and other relaxing views. In one picture, Ahan can be seen travelling with his friends in the business class section of a flight. He gave a glimpse of the inflight set-up on his social media account. On the professional front, Ahan was last seen in the Sunny Deol starrer Border 2. He made his Bollywood debut the movie Tadap. Ahan Shetty who received a good amount of positive reviews for his work in 'Border 2', had spoken about the last scene from the film, which he didn't get to shoot with his father, Suniel Shetty. The actor spoke to IANS after the release of the film, and shared that he was ready for the comparisons with his father given the latter's iconic performance in 'Border'. Ahan told IANS, "That last scene that was there, unfortunately, we weren't able to shoot that together. But yeah, if I think about him being a part of 'Border' and then me being a part of 'Border 2', I knew there were always going to be comparisons." "And then I also had that very special scene that I had to do that he had done in the first film. That made me very, very nervous. I'm not going to lie. I knew those comparisons were going to come. I knew that pressure was going to be there". - IANS Banks are the "last line of defense" Lawmakers were warned that artificial intelligence and deepfake technology are driving a rapid increase in sophisticated financial scams, with Americans reporting $16.6 billion in cybercrime losses last year. Criminals are using tools like voice cloning and spoofed IDs to impersonate victims and manipulate consumers, often initiating scams on social media outside the financial system. Community banks and credit unions described being on the front lines, spending immense resources on fraud prevention but struggling to stop heartbreaking losses, like an elderly customer deceived out of $85,000. Witnesses urged Congress to improve inter-agency coordination and information sharing between institutions to better identify criminal patterns and protect consumers. Lawmakers hear how AI and deepfake tech are accelerating sophisticated financial scams, resulting in billions in losses for American families and seniors. Washington, March 6 Artificial intelligence and deepfake technology are accelerating financial scams in the United States, lawmakers were told, as banks and credit unions warned that criminals are using increasingly sophisticated tools to impersonate victims, manipulate consumers, and steal billions of dollars. During a hearing of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, lawmakers examined the growing threat of fraud and scams targeting American families, seniors, and small businesses. Subcommittee Chairman Andy Barr said the scale of the problem has expanded rapidly as criminals adopt new technologies and operate through global networks. "Fraud and scam losses are not abstract statistics," Barr said. "They represent retirement savings, wiped out college funds, drained and small business savings accounts emptied overnight." Citing FBI data, Barr said Americans reported $16.6 billion in cybercrime losses in 2024, a 33 per cent increase over the previous year. Criminal groups are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence, voice cloning, spoofed caller IDs, and fake investment platforms to deceive victims. He said banks and credit unions are often the "last lines of defense", even though many scams originate outside the financial system and frequently outside US borders. Ranking member Bill Foster said fraud and scam activity has continued to grow despite increased attention from regulators and law enforcement. "Scams are moving online, and the perpetrators are becoming more sophisticated," Foster said. Criminals are using artificial intelligence and deepfakes to falsify documents, impersonate consumers, and create false pretences to trick people into sending money, he added. Witnesses told lawmakers that community banks and credit unions are confronting the problem directly while trying to protect customers and detect suspicious transactions. Gaye Dempsey, chief executive of the Bank of Lincoln County in Tennessee, said smaller institutions are spending increasing resources on fraud prevention but cannot tackle the problem alone. "Community banks like mine are on the front lines," she said, describing cases involving check fraud, impersonation schemes and online romance scams. Dempsey told lawmakers about an elderly customer who sold her house for $85,000 after being deceived by an online scammer. Bank staff tried to stop the transfer but could not ultimately prevent the withdrawal. "This was heartbreaking," she said. Patrick McDade, senior vice president for fraud and technology risk management at EverBank, said banks are investing billions of dollars and millions of hours to combat fraud each year. However, he said banks cannot fight the problem alone because many scams begin on social media platforms, telecommunications networks or other digital channels outside the financial sector. "The criminal is not deceiving the bank. They're deceiving the customer," McDade said, explaining that scammers often manipulate victims into authorising payments themselves. Kate McKune, general counsel of Park Community Credit Union, said credit unions are also dealing with rising fraud threats while trying to balance customer demand for faster and more convenient financial services. She said scams frequently begin on social media or through online advertising and may involve impersonation, investment fraud or cryptocurrency schemes. "One of the biggest challenges in combating fraud is that it can come in so many different forms," McKune said. Several witnesses urged Congress to improve coordination across federal agencies and allow greater information sharing between financial institutions to detect fraud patterns earlier. Joseph Schuster, a partner at Ballard Spahr, said fraud detection relies heavily on identifying patterns across institutions and systems. "Fraud identification is inherently pattern recognition," he said, adding that legal uncertainty often discourages institutions from sharing information that could expose criminal networks more quickly. Witnesses also highlighted the need for stronger consumer education and a national strategy to address scams involving digital payments, cryptocurrencies and social media platforms. - IANS Flight operations between India and the Gulf region are partially resuming after severe disruptions caused by airspace closures linked to the Iran-Israel conflict. Air India and Air India Express are operating around 50 services, including scheduled and special flights, to six Gulf cities to evacuate stranded passengers. IndiGo has also announced a limited restart of its Middle East services while cancelling 144 other international flights due to ongoing restrictions. The airlines are operating these flights after obtaining necessary clearances from aviation authorities in both regions. Air India and IndiGo plan special flights to evacuate passengers stranded in the Gulf due to Iran-Israel conflict airspace disruptions. New Delhi, March 7 Air travel between India and the Gulf region is gradually resuming amid disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, with airlines including Air India and IndiGo announcing special and scheduled flights on Saturday to bring back stranded passengers. Flight operations between India and several Middle Eastern destinations had been severely affected after multiple countries in West Asia temporarily closed their airspace due to the conflict between Iran and Israel. The closures triggered widespread cancellations and left thousands of travellers stranded across the Gulf region. With some airspaces gradually reopening, airports in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have partially resumed operations, allowing airlines to restart a limited number of flights aimed primarily at evacuating stranded passengers and maintaining essential connectivity. In a statement posted on X, Air India said: "Air India and Air India Express continue to operate scheduled flights to/from Jeddah and Muscat assessed safe for operations. Additional non-scheduled flights have been planned to operate to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah on 7 March, to fly the stranded passengers back to India. Air India's services to Europe & North America are operating normally through safe alternative routings." According to the airline, Air India Express and Air India together will operate around 50 services on March 7 connecting India with six Gulf cities - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Jeddah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. These services include both regular scheduled flights and additional non-scheduled flights arranged after airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman reopened, enabling airlines to partially resume operations. The flights will connect several major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram with destinations across the Gulf. Air India said the additional services have been introduced specifically to assist passengers stranded in the region during the crisis. The airline added that the special flights are being operated after obtaining the necessary clearances from Indian authorities and aviation regulators in the Gulf region. IndiGo has also announced a limited restart of Middle East flights, operating services to five destinations in the region on Saturday. The airline said it understands that many travellers are still trying to reach their destinations and has planned a limited schedule while monitoring the evolving situation. However, the disruption remains severe. IndiGo has cancelled 144 international flights scheduled for March 7 due to airspace restrictions across the region. - IANS Telugu superstar Allu Arjun shared a heartfelt social media post welcoming Nayanika into the family and wishing his brother Allu Sirish a happy married life. He extended gratitude to fans for sending their warm wishes and blessings for the couple. Allu Sirish had earlier posted a touching tribute on Instagram honoring his late father-in-law, D Sharath Chandra Reddy. On the work front, Allu Arjun has high-profile projects lined up with directors Atlee Kumar and Lokesh Kanagaraj. Allu Arjun sends warm wishes to newlyweds Allu Sirish & Nayanika, welcomes her to the family, and thanks fans for their love and blessings. Hyderabad, March 7 Telugu star Allu Arjun has extended a warm message to greet her brother Allu Sirish following the latter's marriage to Nayanika. In a social media post, Allu Arjun shared his joy, further also thanked his fans for sending their wishes and blessings for his brother and extended gratitude. Welcoming Nayanika into the family, Allu Arjun wrote, "Wishing a happy married life to my brother Siri & Nayanika. Welcome to the Allu family. I also thank everyone for sending your warm wishes and blessings. We are always grateful for the love. ALLU FAMILY." Recently, Allu Arjun had also invited fans for the pre-wedding festivities of his brother Allu Sirish. Prior to this, Allu Sirish took to his Instagram handle and shared beautiful pictures from his wedding ceremony. Honouring his late father-in-law, he wrote, "To my late father-in-law, D Sharath Chandra Reddy garu, whom I never had the privilege of meeting -- thank you for raising the woman I now call my wife. I will carry forward the love you began, for the rest of my time on this Earth." For the wedding, the couple chose traditional outfits in pastel shades. While Nayanika chose a light lavender saree, which she paired with studded jewellery, Allu Sirish was dressed in a cream-coloured ensemble. Allu Sirish is the younger brother of actor Allu Arjun. He made his debut as a lead actor with Gouravam in 2013. On the professional front for Allu Arjun, the actor has an exciting slate of films lined up. He is set to collaborate with filmmaker Atlee Kumar for the much-anticipated project tentatively titled AA22. The film has already generated massive buzz among fans eager to see the powerhouse combination. In addition, Allu Arjun will also be working with acclaimed director Lokesh Kanagaraj for AA23. - ANI Telugu actor Allu Sirish married entrepreneur Nayanika Reddy in a traditional ceremony in Hyderabad on March 6, 2026. The wedding was attended by political leaders, including Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and numerous celebrities from the Telugu film industry. The couple's attire featured classic South Indian bridal and groom wear, with Sirish in an ivory sherwani and Nayanika in a champagne-gold Kanjivaram saree. The date was particularly significant as it marked the anniversary of Sirish's elder brother Allu Arjun's wedding. Telugu actor Allu Sirish ties the knot with entrepreneur Nayanika Reddy in a grand Hyderabad wedding. CM Revanth Reddy, Ram Charan, and top Tollywood stars attend. Hyderabad, March 7 Telugu actor Allu Sirish married entrepreneur Nayanika Reddy in a grand ceremony in Hyderabad on Friday evening, March 6, 2026, with family members, celebrities and political leaders in attendance. Among the notable guests was Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, who later shared glimpses from the celebration and extended his blessings to the newlyweds. The wedding was marked by traditional South Indian rituals. Photographs from the ceremony show the couple participating in customary wedding proceedings surrounded by family members and well-wishers. Actor Ram Charan also congratulated the newlywed couple on his official Instagram handle. The wedding date holds personal significance for the Allu family as the ceremony was held on the same date, March 6, on which Sirish's elder brother, actor Allu Arjun, married Sneha Reddy in 2011. For the wedding, Allu Sirish chose a regal ivory sherwani featuring intricate traditional embroidery along the front panel and cuffs. The outfit was paired with a matching pattu pancha (dhoti), a classic staple for South Indian weddings. He completed the ensemble with a gold-bordered stole and a simple yellow thread tied around his forehead as part of the rituals. Nayanika Reddy opted for a sophisticated bridal look in a tissue silk Kanjivaram saree in a champagne-gold shade with mauve undertones. Her ensemble was complemented by elaborate jewellery, including a multi-layered diamond and pink emerald necklace, a matching maang tikka, and a traditional nose ring. The handloomed Kanjivaram saree featured rich zari work, a hallmark of traditional South Indian bridal attire. The wedding followed a series of pre-wedding celebrations hosted in Hyderabad. On March 2, the couple organised a grand reception at Allu Studios for family members, close friends and members of the Telugu film industry. The gathering saw the presence of several prominent personalities, including Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Amala Akkineni, Naga Chaitanya, Atlee, Ram Charan, Nani, Rana Daggubati, Ravi Teja, Gopichand, Jagapati Babu, Naveen Polishetty, Lakshmi Manchu and Vaishnav Tej, among others. Ahead of the wedding, Sirish's traditional pelli koduku ceremony was held at the family residence in Hyderabad. The ritual began with the sacred mangala snanam, during which the groom was ceremonially bathed and smeared with turmeric and sandalwood paste- symbolising purification and blessings before the wedding. - ANI President Droupadi Murmu voiced strong disappointment over the arrangements for the International Santal Conference in Darjeeling, suggesting the venue was deliberately chosen to limit attendance. She explicitly questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's absence, noting it breaks protocol for a presidential visit. Murmu emotionally connected herself to Bengal, calling herself its daughter and referring to Banerjee as a sister. She also honored Santal community heroes and milestones, including the inclusion of the Santali language in the Constitution. President Droupadi Murmu expressed disappointment over arrangements and Mamata Banerjee's absence at the Santal Conference in Darjeeling. Darjeeling, March 7 President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday voiced disappointment over the arrangements made for the 9th International Santal Conference, questioning the choice of venue and expressing sadness that many members of the Santal community were unable to attend the event. She also remarked on the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Speaking after attending the conference here, President Murmu said the event could have been held at a larger venue that would have allowed greater participation from the Santal community. "Today was the International Santal Conference. When I came here after attending it, I realised it would have been better if it had been held here, because the area is so vast. I don't know what went through the administration's mind. They said the place was congested, but I think five lakh people could gather here easily," the President said. President Murmu also expressed concern that many Santal community members could not attend because the conference location was far away. "I am very sad that the people here were unable to reach the conference because it was held so far away. I don't know what went through the administration's mind that they chose a place where the Santal people couldn't go," she said. The President further suggested that the decision may have limited attendance at the event. "Perhaps the administration had hoped that no one would be able to attend, and the President would simply turn around and leave," she added. The President also commented on the absence of the state leadership, saying that it is customary for senior state officials to be present during a presidential visit. "If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and the Ministers should also come. But she did not," Murmu said, referring to Banerjee. President Murmu added that she considers herself closely connected to the state. "I am also a daughter of Bengal. Mamata Didi is also my sister, my younger sister. I don't know if she was angry with me, that's why this happened," she said. Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion earlier in the day, the President said that it is a matter of pride for the Santal community that our ancestor, Tilka Majhi, raised the banner of revolt against exploitation nearly 240 years ago. Nearly 60 years after his revolt, the brave brothers Sido-Kanhu and Chand-Bhairav, along with the brave sisters Phoolo-Jhano, led the Santal Hul in 1855, an official release from Rashtrapati Bhavan said. The President said that the year 2003 will always be remembered in the history of the Santali community. That year, the Santali language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Last year, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Constitution of India, written in the Santali language in the Ol Chiki script, was released. - ANI Finnish President Alexander Stubb, during his state visit to India, made a bold declaration that "the future is Indian," citing the country's demographic and economic strengths. His visit included a three-hour meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, and being hosted by Mukesh and Anant Ambani at their Mumbai residence. Stubb strongly advocated for reforming global institutions, specifically calling for India to receive a permanent seat on the UN Security Council to reflect the current world order. He also paid respects to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, calling the incident "horrific." Finnish President Alexander Stubb, hosted by Mukesh Ambani, predicts India's global rise and advocates for its UN Security Council seat. Mumbai, March 7 Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, along with his son Anant Ambani, hosted the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, for a warm and gracious afternoon at their Mumbai residence. The gathering reflected a spirit of friendship, meaningful conversation, and the strengthening of ties through shared values. Earlier, the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugrated the eleventh edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, on Friday. Opening the proceedings, Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), stated that throughout its eleven years, the Dialogue has remained steadfast in its "aim of unpacking the present to help shape the future. "He pointed out that its theme in 2026, Samskara, captures a world in which "nations are asserting their identity, asserting their dialogue, and advancing through refinement." On Saturday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb asserted that the global trajectory is shifting significantly towards New Delhi, declaring that "the future is Indian" due to the country's demographic and economic strength. Speaking during an interview with ANI, the President offered a bold prediction for the coming decade, stating, "First of all, I think the future is Indian. And I don't say this only because I'm in India, and I'm not trying to be openly diplomatic. I think demography, economy and history speak in your favour."The President described his high-level engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "wonderful", following a three-hour meeting that underscored the deepening ties between Finland and India during his ongoing state visit."It has been wonderful. I felt very warmly welcomed. I spent three hours with PM Modi and then spoke at the Raisina Dialogue and had meetings with political leaders," he noted. Reflecting on the country's rapid transformation since his previous trip, he remarked, "Last time I was here was in 2013. Now, just seeing the development, the infrastructure, the roads and the buildings, it is always nice to be back in India."Addressing the strategic importance of bilateral agreements, the President highlighted the mutual benefits of newly signed protocols. "I think these MoUs will help us have better exchanges when it comes to labour mobility. I think it is going to be a two-way street," he said. During his visit to Mumbai, President Stubb also paid a sombre tribute to the victims of the 26/11 attacks at the Taj Palace Hotel."Terrorism is always a menace everywhere. The attacks on 26 November 2008 were horrific. It was my great honour to pay respects to the victims," he stated. Discussing India's role in a shifting global landscape, he explained that the current global transition necessitates a move away from outdated power structures."A world order changes ever so often. And I think we're now seeing a transition of the world order. I would prefer it to be multilateral in other national institutions, rules and norms, not multipolar, which for me is often about pure interests, deals and transactions. Reality is probably going to be somewhere in between," he added. The Finnish President urged Western nations to recognise India's leadership."I am happy that the largest democracy in the world, India, is taking the lead. And my argument to my Western friends is that if we want to save multilateralism, we're going to have to give agency, in other words power, a seat around the table to the countries that matter today," he said. He further argued that international bodies must reflect the current era rather than the post-war period of 1945."We don't live in a world of 1945, so the institutions should not reflect that either. They should reflect the world of 2026. That's why I have called, for instance, for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for India," he stated. Drawing from his own scholarship on the subject, Stubb maintained that India's leadership is pivotal for the future of the international community."I wrote a book about it called The Triangle of Power, where I really think that the Global South is going to decide where we're going to go, and India leads it." - ANI Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reaffirmed the government's resolve to completely eradicate Naxalism from India by March 31, 2026. He made the declaration while addressing the 57th Raising Day ceremony of the Central Industrial Security Force in Cuttack, Odisha. Shah credited the CISF with playing a crucial role in counter-Naxal operations across several states, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. He also hailed the force's valor, sacrifice, and adaptation to modern challenges over its 56-year history. Union Home Minister Amit Shah pledges to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, highlighting the CISF's crucial role in security operations. Cuttack, March 6 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reaffirmed that the security forces will fulfil the resolve of eradicating Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026. Speaking at the 57th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force in Cuttack, Amit Shah highlighted CISF's "crucial role" in eliminating Naxalism. "PM Modi government is determined to free the country from Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and the CISF has played a crucial role in that effort. Whether in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, or Telangana, the CISF has played a crucial role in eliminating Naxalism. I assure you that by March 31, 2026, this country will be free from Naxalism. Our security forces will completely defeat those who dream of a Red Corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati and establish their dominance," he said. Hailing CISF personnel's "valour and self-sacrifice" for the country, Amit Shah further expressed his gratitude for their service. "In 56 years, CISF has not only fulfilled its original purpose but has also transformed itself by facing all kinds of challenges. Valour and sacrifice are the hallmarks of India's glorious history. By combining these qualities with dedication and armed with modern weaponry, CISF has demonstrated the courage to face all kinds of challenges. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the personnel of the Force," he said. Shah was attending the 57th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Kharavela Regional Training Centre, Mundali in Cuttack, Odisha. The Union Home Minister was recieved by the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the Bhubhaneswar Airport as he arrived in the state to attend various public programs. Amit Shah will also perform the Bhumi Pujan of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) located alongside the campus of National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Bhubaneswar. Shah will inaugurate an exhibition on the 'New Nyaya Sanhita' in Bhubaneswar and will also flag off a Mobile Forensic Van. - ANI Amit Shah and CM Pushkar Singh Dhami mark 4 years of Uttarakhand govt, launch Rs 1,129 cr projects, grant citizenship, and inaugurate e-Zero FIR system. Haridwar, March 7 Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday participated in the Bharatiya Janata Party Core Committee meeting in Haridwar. The BJP leaders were present in Haridwar for the "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal" event to mark the completion of four years of the state government. Dhami warmly welcomed and felicitated Amit Shah. The Chief Minister, in a post on X, praised Amit Shah for his contribution to the state's progress and national security, stating, "Heartfelt welcome and congratulations to the esteemed Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah ji on his arrival in the sacred land of Uttarakhand, the land of brave soldiers. Your leadership, dedicated to the nation's security, good governance, and development, has provided the country with a new direction and strength." On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented the Union Home Minister with a memento and honoured him with a traditional cap symbolising the rich cultural identity of the state. Meanwhile, Shah handed over appointment letters to newly recruited constables in the Uttarakhand Police. Citizenship certificates were also granted to 162 refugees who had migrated from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Among those who received the certificates on stage were Shailesh, associated with the priestly family of the revered Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan, Pakistan. Jaspal Kumar from Bhattagram, Pakistan. Durganath T Rajput, who came to India after facing harassment against women in Karachi, Pakistan, and Hanseri Bai from Afghanistan. The Union Home and Cooperation Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects worth Rs. 1,129.91 crore during a programme marking four years of the Pushkar Singh Dhami government. He laid the foundation stone for 22 projects worth Rs. 1,014.81 crore and inaugurated 17 projects worth Rs. 115.10 crore. He also launched the e-Zero FIR system in Uttarakhand. Initiated under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the e-Zero FIR system has been developed to provide quick assistance to victims of financial cyber fraud cases involving amounts above Rs. 1 lakh. Complaints received through the 1930 helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal will now be registered as e-Zero FIRs at the state cyber police station in Dehradun and immediately forwarded to the concerned police station through the CCTNS network. Shah hailed Dhami, saying that he has taken a constructive resolve to address and eliminate problems one by one. As a result, Uttarakhand is continuously moving forward on the path of progress. "CM Dhami has taken a constructive resolve to address and eliminate problems one by one in the state. As a result, Uttarakhand is continuously moving forward on the path of progress," he stated. Moreover, a state-level exhibition on "Nootan Nyaya Sanhita" was organised by the Uttarakhand government at Bairagi Camp. The exhibition aimed to spread awareness and highlight the effective implementation of the new criminal laws introduced by the Government of India, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). It was organised to familiarise citizens, advocates, police personnel, prosecution officers, and other stakeholders with the modern criminal justice system. Key provisions of the new laws are being presented through simple, visual, and interactive formats. The ceremony celebrates the completion of four years of the Dhami government in Uttarakhand, showcasing the state's developmental achievements and governance initiatives during this period. The Union Home Minister's presence at the event underscores the significance of the occasion and the central government's support for the state's development agenda. - ANI Crude oil was jumping again on Friday, March 6, on a warning from Qatar's energy minister that prices could soar much higher if the Persian Gulf can't be reopened. The Gulf region produces above 20% of the world's crude oil and a similar amount of liquid natural gas. Nearly all of it reaches global customers via tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. If that happens, crude oil prices might hit $150 a barrel in a few weeks, Qatar's Saad Sherida al-Kaabi told the Financial Times newspaper. Ultimately, he warned, the conflict in the Middle East a key player in global energy supplies and shipping routes could "bring down the economies of the world." But the strait is effectively closed because Iranian naval forces are firing on ships, and maritime insurers are refusing cover losses in the event of attacks. Related: J.P. Morgan revamps oil prices target for the rest of 2026 Crude oil jumps above $90 Oil prices are rising in reaction for a fifth straight day. Light sweet crude, the benchmark U.S. oil, peaked at $92.61 a barrel, its highest level since the summer of 2022. It then fell back to $90.44, up 11.6% on the day. Brent crude, the global benchmark, reached as high as $94.64 a barrel during the day, the highest level since August 2022. Then, it fell back to $92.30, up 8% on the day. That's up 52% for the year. In addition to the runup in oil prices, retail gasoline prices are jumping. AAA said the U.S. national average price of gasoline reached $3.32 a gallon, up 11.3% on the week and nearly 17% this year. Related: Gas prices surge 9% to highest level in 11 months Gulf producers shutting down production The runup began with the publication of an interview that al-Kaabi, the Qatari energy minister, gave to the Financial Times. The strait blockage is so bad that oil producers are planning to shut in production because they're running out of storage space. Kuwait has already begun cutting output, The Wall Street Journal said. That could stop all production in the Persian Gulf within days. More Oil and Gas: Qatar Energy Minister al-Kaabi shared his country's plans. Noushad Thekkayil/Getty Images Noushad Thekkayil/Getty Images How will the U.S react Timing, then, is everything, and it's not clear if the United States gets the severity of the immediate problem. (The long-run expectation is for crude and gasoline prices to fall back if and when a ceasefire is achieved.) President Donald Trump said this week he wants to approve whoever is nominated to be Iran's next leader. There has been no signal from Iran its leadership would even consider the idea. Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently celebrated the 500th performance of his autobiographical play "Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai" in Jaipur. The play, which chronicles his personal journey of failures and perseverance, has been resonating with global audiences for over two decades. Kher shared that the milestone was exhilarating and emphasized that dreams are realized not when life is easy, but when one refuses to give up. He expressed gratitude to his director, crew, and the audiences whose love has kept the production alive. Anupam Kher celebrates 500 shows of his autobiographical play "Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai," sharing his mantra that dreams come true when you refuse to quit. Mumbai, March 6 Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher believes that refusing to give up is the ultimate key to fulfilling one's dreams. Reflecting on his journey, the actor shared that 'dreams come true not because life is easy, but because one refuses to give up.' Kher recently celebrated a major milestone as his theatrical play 'Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai' completed its 500th show in Jaipur. Taking to his social media account, Anupam Kher shared a carousel post featuring videos and pictures from the milestone performance held in Jaipur. The post captured beautiful moments from the stage followed by the overwhelming response from the audience who gave the actor a standing ovation after the show. The play narrates Kher's own story of failures, struggles, hope and perseverance, and has travelled across the world and resonated with audiences for over two decades. Sharing his emotions about the milestone, the actor captioned the post, "JAIPUR. 500Th SHOW. GRATITUDE. Last night in Jaipur, I performed the 500th show of my autobiographical play #KuchBhiHoSaktaHai. And I must confess, it was exhilarating!" He added, "When we started this journey 23 years ago, it was simply my story of failures, struggles, hope and never giving up. I never imagined that this deeply personal story would travel across the world and touch so many hearts." "My heartfelt gratitude to my wonderful director #FerozAbbasKhan, my writer Ashok Patole, and the entire crew who make every performance possible." "And most importantly, thank you to the audiences across the world who have kept this play alive with their love for more than two decades. 500 shows later, I stand on stage with the same excitement as the first show." "Because life has taught me one beautiful truth- Dreams don't come true because life is easy.Dreams come true because you refuse to give up.And then... Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai! Special Thanks to Shri @ra_rathore ji for presence, appreciation and generosity! Jai Ho! #StandingOvation #Love" In one of the pictures shared in the carousel by Anupam Kher, the actor is seen standing on stage with his arms stretched wide as he faces a packed auditorium. The audience can be seen standing and applauding him. Talking about the play Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, it has been directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, and is based on Anupam Kher's own life story. It has travelled across several cities around the world over the past 23 years. On the professional front, Anupam Kher made his Bollywood debut with Saaransh, released in 1984. In the movie, he portrayed the role of an elderly widower grappling with the loss of his son. Despite being only 28 years old at the time, his powerful performance as a 60 plus year old, earned widespread acclaim. The actor has also been a part of many superhit movies like Tezaab, Lamhe, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Gandhi My Father, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara and many more. - IANS Director Anurag Kashyap has publicly praised the Anil Kapoor-led action drama 'Subedaar', which released on Prime Video. He stated the film, directed by Suresh Triveni, was clearly shot for the big screen and deserved a theatrical release. Kashyap highlighted the film's immersive depiction of the Bundelkhand/Chambal region and its exploration of patriarchy. The story follows a retired soldier struggling to reintegrate into a corrupt civilian world while mending his relationship with his daughter. Director Anurag Kashyap praises Anil Kapoor's 'Subedaar', calling it a film shot for the big screen that should have had a theatrical release. Mumbai, March 7 Director Anurag Kashyap has shared his thoughts on Anil Kapoor's action drama 'Subedaar,' which released on March 5. Kashyap, after watching the film, shared his review, saying he enjoyed it a lot and praised the performances of the cast. However, he also felt that the film should have been released in theatres instead of going directly to OTT. The film, directed by Suresh Triveni, features Anil Kapoor along with Radhikka Madan, Khushbu Sundar, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Mona Singh, and Faisal Malik. It tells the story of a retired soldier who struggles to adjust to life after leaving the army while dealing with societal problems and tensions within his family. The 'Gangs of Wasseypur' director took to his Instagram to pen a long note, sharing how 'Subedaar' was clearly "shot on anamorphic for the big screen." "SUBEDAAR on @primevideoin should have been a theatrical. Would have loved to experience it in cinemas, it's clearly shot on anamorphic for the big screen, designed for big screen. @sureshtriveni_ creates an immersive world of Bundelkhand/Chambal, complete with its patriarchy and entitlement, where women are as patriarchal as men, and those who aren't, they fight like a man in this male-dominated hinterland of the Beehad that once gave rise to Phoolan Devi," Anurag wrote. "The world has not changed since; in fact, it has gotten worse. And in that world comes our SUBEDAAR. In the world that also gave birth to Paan Singh Tomar, this ex-army man faces the totally uncivilised civilian world. Wholly fictional, but it makes me want to believe," he added. Check out full post 'Subedaar' follows the story of Subedaar Arjun Maurya, a retired soldier who returns home and tries to adjust to civilian life. Set in Madhya Pradesh, the film shows his fight against corruption in his area while also dealing with a difficult relationship with his daughter Shyama, played by Radhika Madan. As problems grow around him, Arjun relies on his army training to protect his family. - ANI A senior Taiwanese advisor has warned that any instability in the Taiwan Strait would directly impact the Indian economy, calling for New Delhi to play a role in regional safety. Analysts note the war involving Iran raises significant energy and strategic concerns for China, potentially disrupting a key oil source. Beijing may seek to leverage global conflicts to present itself as a responsible global power and contrast itself with Western nations. Despite ongoing wars, China's core ambitions regarding Taiwan remain constant, though it is learning military and strategic lessons from other conflicts. Senior advisor I-Chung Lai warns any Taiwan Strait conflict will affect India's economy, urging New Delhi to help ensure regional peace and stability. New Delhi, March 6 Highlighting the far-reaching consequences of regional instability, I-Chung Lai, Senior Advisor to the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, stated that any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would directly impact the Indian economy, calling on New Delhi to play a role in ensuring regional safety. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Lai noted the historical context of the tensions in the region. "China has tried to invade Taiwan for almost 75 years. Taiwan will continue to improve its defence capabilities. Any instability in Taiwan will impact the Indian economy. And this is why we would like to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region. We hope the Indian government can play a role to ensure the safety of this area," he said. The global ripple effects of concurrent conflicts were further detailed by Helena Legarda, Head of Program for the Foreign Relations team at the Mercator Institute for Chinese Studies (MERICS), who told ANI that the ongoing war involving Iran is causing significant energy and strategic concerns for Beijing. "China is looking at this war with some concern. Iran was one of the sources of oil that China leaned on, so this will have an impact on China's energy and security, which it will get from elsewhere, but it will be expensive and difficult. China could also lose a strategic partner, which geopolitically could have somewhat of an impact," Legarda explained. She further observed that Beijing might seek to leverage the situation to bolster its diplomatic image. "China also might actually see some potential benefits due to the fact that Beijing is very keen on presenting itself as a responsible global power and a force for peace and to contrast itself with the United States in particular, but also other Western powers. Beijing will definitely use this conflict as well to continue making this point internationally and try to build up more support for its own alternative views of how the global order and global governance should function," she stated. Addressing whether global conflicts are shifting Beijing's timeline regarding Taiwan, Legarda maintained that China's core ambitions remain constant, though its tactics are being refined. "China's policy and ambitions vis-a-vis Taiwan have not really changed based on Russia's post-Kremlin invasion of Ukraine or this war in Iran and the Middle East. The position is longstanding. Beijing is learning lessons from all of these conflicts, and it will adapt how it operates, in case it decides or when it decides to make a move on the Taiwan question. Some of these lessons are sort of military in nature, like the importance of air defence systems," Legarda noted. In the context of broader regional stability, Legarda suggested that China is currently prioritising a more cautious approach to its bilateral ties, including those with India, as it manages a complex international landscape. "China is at the moment looking to preserve or restore stability in a lot of its international and bilateral relations because it is dealing with what the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing describes as an increasingly challenging international environment. From Beijing's perspective, they will probably try to keep things relatively stable for the time being, at least in the short run, while they navigate their relationship with the US," she added. - ANI An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, approximately 60 km from Jorhat. Local residents reported hearing a loud noise and explosion as the aircraft came down during a training mission. Police and Air Force personnel are conducting search operations, but there is no trace of the pilot yet. The IAF stated the aircraft lost radar contact after taking off from Jorhat and a search and rescue mission has been initiated. An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI jet crashes near Jorhat, Assam. Locals report loud explosion; search ops ongoing for the missing pilot. Details here. Karbi Anglong, March 6 Following the Indian Air Force Su-30MKI jet crash in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, locals in the area reported hearing a loud explosion They were seen using torches and lights to aid in the search. The crash site is located roughly 60 km from Jorhat. Police personnel and Air Force Police are currently in the area, and search operations are underway. Speaking to ANI, a local stated that they saw the plane coming down in the evening yesterday. "We heard a loud noise and an explosion... The police from the Chowki Wala police station are here. They are searching for him from the helicopter... There is no trace of the pilot. Till now, nothing has been found," he said. Indian Air Force posted about the search operation on X, stating, "The Su-30MKI, which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat. Search operations are underway," said IAF. Earlier, the IAF said that the aircraft had lost radar contact at around 7.42 pm after taking off from Jorhat in Assam. "An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated," said IAF. The Su-30MKI is a two-seater fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. The IAF has a fleet of over 200 Su-30MKIs. - ANI The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), associated with former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, is heading for a landslide victory in Nepal's parliamentary elections. The party has officially won 19 seats and is leading in 98 others as vote counting continues. Major established parties like the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are trailing far behind in the tally. RSP leadership confidently predicts securing an absolute two-thirds majority of 186 seats in the 275-member lower house. Former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party leads in 98 seats, wins 19, heading for a landslide in Nepal's parliamentary elections. Kathmandu, March 7 Former Kathmandu mayor and rapper Balendra Shah-associated Rastriya Swatantra Party, continued to maintain a wide margin in the ongoing vote count. It is headed for a landslide victory in Thursday's parliamentary polls as it is already leading in 98 seats, with wins in 19 seats officially declared. As per the Election Commission, vote counting is underway in 135 constituencies out of the 165 under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) category, as of Saturday morning. In the count, Balen's RSP is taking the lead as it has won 19 seats out of the 27 constituencies where the vote count under FPTP is already over. Vote counting is yet to start in three constituencies due to various reasons. As of 8 AM (NST), Balen's RSP has emerged victorious in 19 seats while maintaining leads in 98 seats. The Nepali Congress is in second place with four wins and leads in 11 seats, while the KP Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist Leninist) has so far won one seat while maintaining leads in 11 places. The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has also won one seat so far while maintaining leads in 11 seats. In Jhapa-5, Balendra Shah (Balen) is ahead of contender KP Sharma Oli by almost four times the votes. As per the Election Commission (till 8 AM), Shah has secured 34,863 votes while Oli is trailing with 9,068 votes. In Sarlahi-4, Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa is trailing behind RSP's Amreshkumar Singh. As per the latest count, Singh has secured 11,383 votes while Thapa is behind with 6,952 votes. A total of 68 parties are in the fray in the March 5 election, with 3,406 candidates contesting under FPTP and 1,270 under the Proportional Representation (PR) category. There are a total of 110 seats under the PR category for which voters had cast their ballots separately on March 5. To form a single-party government, 138 seats are required in the lower house out of the 275 existing seats. With the vote count underway mainly for the FPTP category, Balen's RSP is expected to cross the simple majority mark. However, party vice-president Dol Prasad Aryal, in an interview with ANI on Friday, claimed the party would secure an absolute two-thirds majority. "One hundred and eight six. Yes, in total we are expecting one hundred and eighty-six seats in total," Aryal told ANI as he exited a counting centre on the outskirts of Kathmandu on Friday afternoon when asked about the number of seats they were expecting to win. A political party will need 186 seats to claim a two-thirds majority. - ANI Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, held a meeting with senior JD(U) leaders and MLAs ahead of his official induction into the party. His entry is directly timed with his father's historic move to file a nomination for the Rajya Sabha, ending his long tenure as CM. Senior party figures, including Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and MP Sanjay Jha, proposed bringing Nishant into state politics, a suggestion the party welcomed. There is now intense speculation that the low-profile software engineer could be appointed as a Deputy Chief Minister or assume a key party leadership role. Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, to officially join JD(U). Meeting held with senior leaders as Nitish files for Rajya Sabha, signaling major shift. Patna, March 7 Nishant Kumar, son of incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Saturday held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of the Janata Dal National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. Nishant Kumar will be officially joining the party on Sunday, JD(U) has confirmed. JD(U) leaders today discussed the party's future strategy and how to best move forward after party chief Nitish Kumar, in a historic move, is set to move back to the Centre with a seat in the Rajya Sabha. The timing of Nishant's entry into the party is directly linked to a major transition made by his father. On Thursday, March 5, Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, signalling the end of his record-breaking tenure as Chief Minister. Nishant's entry also marks a shift in Nitish's stance on dynastic politics; however, JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar informed that during the meeting at the CM's house, Union Minister and MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan) and MP Sanjay Jha made the suggestion to bring Nishant into state politics. "Union Minister Lalan Singh and MP Sanjay Jha suggested that Nishant Kumar should enter the party, and the party enthusiastically welcomed the suggestion. Hence, Nishant Kumar will be joining the party tomorrow. He has given his acceptance to the same and will be conducting a political tour in the state as well," the JD(U) Neeraj Kumar leader said on Friday without clarifying further on Nishant's role in the state politics. While Nishant has lived a low-profile life as a software engineer (BIT Mesra alumnus), there is intense speculation that he may be appointed as a Deputy Chief Minister in a new NDA government, or potentially take a leadership role within the party amid a vacuum, as now both Nitish and Sanjay Jha will represent JD(U) in the Upper House of Parliament. - ANI Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a crucial meeting with BJP tribal leaders to strategize for the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections. The meeting at the state party headquarters included discussions on electoral steps and contest plans. The TTAADC, currently governed by the Tipra Motha Party, is a politically significant body covering two-thirds of Tripura's area. With tribals forming a third of the state's population, all major parties are intensifying efforts to consolidate tribal voter support ahead of the polls expected in March or April. Tripura CM Manik Saha chairs BJP meeting on TTAADC poll strategy. Key tribal leaders discuss plans to contest crucial upcoming tribal council elections. Agartala, March 7 Ahead of the crucial elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Saturday, intensified its efforts to capture the constitutionally empowered tribal council, considered the second most important political body in the state after the State Assembly. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has chaired a key meeting with BJP Janajati (tribal) leaders at the state party headquarters and held detailed discussions on the party's preparations for the upcoming elections. Chief Minister Saha said that with the TTAADC polls approaching, the state BJP has already begun formulating its electoral strategy. "Everyone is aware that the TTAADC elections are approaching. Keeping this in mind, the State BJP unit has already started working on its strategy," the Chief Minister added. "Today (Saturday), Janajati Morcha karyakartas, leaders and members have gathered here. Janajati leaders, former TTAADC members, general secretaries, office-bearers and MLAs were also present in the meeting. The main objective was to discuss the steps we need to take in the coming days and how we will contest the election. A detailed discussion was held today at the Pradesh BJP office," he said. Among those present at the meeting were State BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee, BJP Janajati Morcha President Parimal Debbarma, BJP organisational secretary for Tripura and Assam Ravindra Raju, state general secretary Bipin Debbarma, Minister Bikash Debbarma and several other party leaders. Ahead of the upcoming TTAADC polls, major political parties -- including the BJP, its allies Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and Tipra Motha Party (TMP) -- as well as opposition parties such as the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Congress, have intensified efforts to consolidate support among tribal voters. The elections to the TTAADC are expected to be held by the end of March or in April. Since 2021, the Tipra Motha Party has been governing the politically significant 30-member council, which covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km geographical area and is home to more than 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 TTAADC elections a crucial political contest in the state. - IANS Iran's Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, has condemned a US attack on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, calling it a "blatant and desperate crime" that impacts water supply for 30 villages. He warned that targeting Iran's infrastructure sets a dangerous precedent with grave consequences. Concurrently, former US President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that Iran has apologized and surrendered to its neighbors due to relentless US and Israeli attacks. Trump further threatened severe escalation, stating areas previously not considered for targeting are now under review for "complete destruction." Iran's Foreign Minister calls a US strike on a Qeshm Island water facility a "blatant crime," as Trump claims Iranian surrender. Tehran, March 7 Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday condemned the US attack on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, stating it's a "blatant and desperate crime" with grave consequences. In a post on X, Araghchi emphasised that the US has set a dangerous precedent by targeting Iran's infrastructure. "The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted. Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran," Araghchi posted on X. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that Iran promised not to attack its neighbours anymore. In a post on Truth Social, he said, "Iran, which is being beaten to HELL, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attacks. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries." Trump added that Iran would no longer bully the Middle East. "They have said, "Thank you President Trump." I have said, "You're welcome!" Iran is no longer the "Bully of the Middle East," they are, instead, "THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST," and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse! Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP." Meanwhile, Trump welcomed fellow world leaders to the Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami and claimed that the US has been doing "amazing" against Iran. He said, "I rebuilt the military in my first administration, and now, we're using it. Unfortunately, we have to... We're doing very well in Iran. You see the result... They're bad people. Look at all of the killing they've done over the years--for 47 years. This had to be done." - ANI Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan outlines plan for Coconut Promotion Board, new varieties & intercropping to boost incomes of 1.25 crore farmers. Chennai, March 7 Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday held an extensive post-Budget consultation in Chennai with coconut farmers, scientists, agricultural experts, and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening India's coconut sector and improving farmers' incomes. The meeting focused on the challenges faced by coconut growers and explored ways to increase productivity, promote value addition, and expand opportunities for farmers associated with coconut cultivation. Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said that visiting Tamil Nadu always fills him with "joy and enthusiasm," and he paid tribute to the State's rich cultural heritage and the many eminent personalities who have contributed to the nation's progress. Highlighting the importance of the coconut sector, the Minister said Tamil Nadu remains one of the country's key coconut-producing regions. Across India, he said, nearly 1.25 crore farmers are directly involved in coconut cultivation, while the livelihoods of around 3 crore people depend on activities linked to the sector. However, he noted that coconut farmers are facing several challenges that are affecting productivity and long-term sustainability. Many coconut plantations in the country, he pointed out, are nearly 60 years old, leading to a steady decline in yield. In addition, pests and diseases such as root wilt and whitefly infestations continue to impact coconut production in several regions. Chouhan said the Union government plans to address these issues through coordinated efforts involving farmers, scientists, and policy experts. A major focus will be on developing new, disease-resistant coconut varieties capable of delivering higher productivity and better quality, thereby strengthening India's position in the global coconut export market. He also emphasised the importance of the Coconut Promotion Scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to support coconut farmers by improving production methods, expanding processing facilities, and promoting intercropping practices. Encouraging farmers to adopt intercropping alongside coconut cultivation, Chouhan said the practice could significantly improve farm profitability by generating additional income streams. The Minister further said the government intends to replace old and unproductive orchards with new plantations, establish high-quality nurseries, and strengthen processing infrastructure to promote value-added coconut products. He added that consultations with farmers and state governments are continuing to finalise the framework of the proposed Coconut Promotion Board. According to him, the initiative could benefit a large number of growers, including nearly 28 per cent of farmers in Tamil Nadu. Chouhan also highlighted India's linguistic diversity, encouraging participants to speak in their mother tongues during such consultations, with translators available to facilitate communication if necessary. - IANS AfDB President calls for an end to model A new report highlights growing criticism of China's long-standing practice of providing commodity-backed loans to African nations, which finance infrastructure but tie repayment to future exports. The African Development Bank President has condemned the model as asymmetrical and non-transparent, urging its end. The approach has left countries like Angola and Kenya vulnerable to volatile commodity markets and heavy debt servicing burdens. Experts warn the model is creating cycles of economic and ecological vulnerability, raising serious questions about its long-term sustainability and equity. Report criticizes China's resource-backed lending in Africa as non-transparent, straining budgets and creating economic vulnerabilities. New Delhi, March 7 China's long-standing resource-backed lending model in Africa is increasingly coming under criticism from experts and development authorities, according to a new report. The model -- which ties loans to future commodity exports such as oil, copper, and cobalt -- has been widely used across the continent to finance infrastructure projects, but its sustainability is now being questioned, Daily Monitor said in its report. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has raised concerns over the approach, with President Akinwumi Adesina describing the loans as "asymmetrical" and "non-transparent" and calling for an end to resource-backed lending (RBLs) in African nations. Critics argue that China's shift from lending to debt extraction is straining national budgets and threatening economic stability, according to the report. While Chinese financing fuelled an infrastructure boom for over two decades, the post-COVID slowdown and reduction in new loans have exposed vulnerabilities. "Tethering repayment to volatile commodity markets has left countries like Venezuela and Angola caught in a "creditor trap," forcing higher resource exports to service debts," Daily Monitor mentioned. The model's structure also encourages corruption and mismanagement, as loans are tied to Chinese state-owned contractors through non-competitive bidding, often producing substandard infrastructure. Examples include Ecuador's Coca Codo dam, which failed to deliver the projected economic returns. The outcomes for African nations vary widely. Angola has used its oil revenues to reduce outstanding debt from $10.2 billion to $8.9 billion in the first half of 2025, stabilising its debt-to-GDP ratio around 9 per cent. In contrast, Kenya struggles under the burden of the Chinese-funded Standard Gauge Railway, allocating $1 billion annually from a $33 billion budget to service debt, with obligations restructured in Chinese yuan, the report said. Experts say China's resource-backed debt model, once hailed as "patient capital," is evolving into a cycle of economic and ecological vulnerability. As easy credit disappears, borrowing nations must balance mounting debt against domestic development priorities, raising questions about the long-term sustainability and equity of the approach. - IANS Trading platform Robinhood Markets Inc. has unveiled a new platinum card that offers incentives for autonomous ride-hailing services, access to the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) PreCheck facility and more. Over $3000 In Benefits, Autonomous Rides Credit On Wednesday, the company announced its Platinum card, which is offered with an annual fee of $695 and is touted by the company to offer benefits of up to $3000 annually. Robinhood says the card is plated with 99.9% pure Platinum, available to users for a fee. As standard, users are provided with a stainless steel card. Don't Miss: The ChatGPT of Marketing' Just Opened a $0.85/Share Round 10,000+ Investors Are Already In Put professional stock research to work in a single ETF explore Motley Fool Asset Management's factor-based funds. The card offers $250 per year in credit for autonomous rides with a $20 monthly credit, and an additional $30 credit applied to transactions in December. The card will automatically apply the credit once a transaction is made using the card. As for the TSA Global Entry and PreCheck credit, the card offers $120 in credit. "Eligible cardholders will receive a credit of up to $120 every four years when application fees for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck are charged to their Robinhood Platinum Card," the company said. The application fee for the facility is $120. DoorDash, Dining Credit Another benefit of the card, the company says, is a $250 credit on DoorDash Inc. activated via a complimentary DashPass membership. The company says that it will provide "up to three $10 off discounts each January and up to two $10 off discounts in every other calendar month." Robinhood also said that the credit can be applied to one qualifying delivery order with a minimum subtotal of $50, excluding taxes and fees. Trending: You Saved for Retirement But Do You Know What You'll Keep After Taxes? "Primary cardholders are eligible to receive monthly statement credits for qualifying dining purchases at participating local restaurants," the company said, adding that the $250 in total statement credits per year can be availed at over 15,000 local restaurants. The cycle is identical to the credits applied to autonomous ride-hailing services. The news comes as Cathie Wood-led ARK Invest recently purchased over $5.4 million worth of the food delivery platform's shares. Hotel Credits, Lounge Access The company will also offer up to $500 in credits on hotel bookings via its Travel portal. The platform will also offer 5% cash back on flights booked through the Robinhood banking app. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addressed a National Convention of Women Thought Leaders ahead of International Women's Day. She celebrated women's progress and highlighted the sacrifices made by mothers within families. Gupta strongly encouraged women to pursue opportunities and leadership roles in every field, from the military to business and politics. She also detailed government initiatives aimed at empowerment and shared her action to remove a restrictive night-work rule for women. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, at a National Convention, encouraged women to pursue leadership and ensure better opportunities for the next generation. New Delhi, March 7 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday attended the National Convention of Women Thought Leaders titled 'Bharati - Nari to Narayani' at Vigyan Bhawan, where she highlighted the growing role of females in shaping the country's future and encouraged women to pursue opportunities across all fields. Speaking at the event, organised in connection with International Women's Day, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of recognising women's contributions and empowering them to achieve their aspirations. "This is exactly the opportunity to celebrate. That is why we can celebrate this International Women's Day, to recognize that we, as sisters, are moving steadily in the direction we should be. We have begun setting our own goals. I don't want to speak of very big matters from this stage. I want to say something simple..." she said. Highlighting the everyday sacrifices made by mothers, Gupta said many women prioritise their families over themselves. "How many times do I see mothers, who feed not just their own children but countless others as well. The mothers sitting here can feed the entire family, but when their own turn comes, if there isn't enough food left for themselves, they may skip their own meal or make do with scraps. Why is this? Because you are part of the family..." she said. Encouraging women to pursue leadership roles and professional success, the Chief Minister said women have the ability to excel in every field. "I want every sister in our country to move forward and make her mark in every field. Whether she becomes a Wing Commander, like our sisters Vyomika or Sophia, or reaches the highest levels of politics, business, or heads an institution as a principal, women have the ability to achieve anything..." she added. Addressing mothers specifically, Gupta urged them to ensure that the next generation of girls receives better opportunities. "When someone asks me what message I have for the women of the country or Delhi, I say that my message is especially for mothers. Whatever opportunities, resources, or positions you did not have, you must ensure that your daughters receive them, the freedom to make their own decisions, the chance to move forward, and a sky full of possibilities..." she said. The Chief Minister also spoke about various initiatives aimed at empowering women. "Similarly, through numerous initiatives, whether opening bank accounts, providing Mudra loans, giving houses in women's names, granting 33 per cent reservation in politics, or giving opportunities to daughters like me, the government, the country, and the Prime Minister have opened new horizons for us sisters..." she said. Emphasising the need for a safe and enabling environment for working women, Gupta said the government had taken steps to remove restrictive regulations. "I want the women of Delhi to feel safe and have a good environment. One day, while I was reading the rules related to businesses, I saw that women were not allowed to work at night. I was shocked, how could this be? If a woman wants to work and has the opportunity, who in this day and age should stop her? Immediately, I got that rule removed..." she said. The convention brought together women leaders, professionals and thinkers from across the country to discuss empowerment, leadership and opportunities for women in various sectors. - IANS CM Naidu unveils cash incentives for second & third child as South India's fertility rate falls below replacement level. Details on new policy. New Delhi, March 7 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday highlighted demographic challenges in South India and outlined the state's new Population Management Policy aimed at addressing declining fertility rates at the Raisina Dialogue held in the national capital. According to the Andhra Pradesh CMO, CM Naidu said, "Some countries are already facing an ageing problem. India still has the advantage of a demographic dividend, which will remain up to 2047. India's replacement fertility rate is 2.1, and currently it is around 2.2. But in South India, we are around 1.5 - far below the replacement level." He added, "For the first time, a state government has introduced a population management policy. If a family has a second child, the state government will give 25,000 cash on delivery. For the third child, we will provide 1,000 per month for five years for nutrition and child development." CM Naidu also spoke about parental support measures, stating, "We are giving maternity leave for one year. Even men will get one or two months of leave to look after the child. Raising children is a parental responsibility - both wife and husband have to share it equally." Furthermore, speaking to reporters after the Dialogue, CM Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh has been focusing on emerging technologies such as information technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies for several years, and that these sectors will play a key role in improving governance and strengthening the economy. "I've been working on technology since the beginning. IT, QUANTUM, AI. Andhra Pradesh is ahead in all these technologies. Through technology, we can provide better services in the future. And we can also build a better economy," he said. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the country currently has a strong government supported by effective public policy. ''Our Prime Minister is providing a very strong government and excellent public policy,'' he said. Highlighting demographic challenges, Naidu said that discussions in India have historically focused on population control, but the issue is now shifting towards concerns about declining population growth in certain regions, particularly in southern states. ''Recently, I introduced a population management policy. Until yesterday, we were all talking about population control. Now we're talking about how to increase the population. Now there's a problem in South India. Some countries are also facing the same problem,'' he said. Naidu noted that Andhra Pradesh has begun experimenting with a new population management policy aimed at addressing these demographic trends, describing the initiative as a major exercise that could serve as a model for other states. ''I raised that issue here as well. Andhra Pradesh is the first state where we're experimenting with population growth. This is the biggest exercise. Now, other states are also coming. If you can manage population management, no one can defeat India. It's going to happen,'' he said. The Chief Minister also referred to Friday's discussion in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on the ideal age cutoff for restricting social media usage among minors, stating that social media may be banned for children below 13 years of age. Naidu, on this today, said the state government is considering measures to limit access for younger users and is currently debating and examining the proposal. "We are also considering whether children under 13 can be prevented from using social media. We are working on this as well. We are debating and discussing this," he said. Meanwhile, amid rising concerns over excessive screen time among children, the government of Karnataka is also considering restrictions on social media access for minors. While presenting the 4,48,004 crore State Budget in the Assembly in Bengaluru on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that social media will be banned for children below 16 years of age in the state, saying the move aims to curb the growing impact of excessive mobile usage among youngsters. - ANI Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warmly welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah upon his arrival in the state. Shah is scheduled to address a public rally in Haridwar and visit exhibitions highlighting national security initiatives and government legal reforms. Dhami personally inspected the preparations at the Bairagi Camp venue, ensuring all arrangements were complete for the high-profile event. The program, titled "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal," underscores the government's outreach and developmental agenda. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomes Amit Shah to Haridwar for a public rally and exhibitions on national security and legal reforms. Haridwar, March 7 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday extended a warm welcome to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah upon his arrival in the state. The Chief Minister, in a post on X, praised Amit Shah for his contribution to the state's progress and national security. Pushkar Singh Dhami, in a post on X, wrote, "Heartfelt welcome and congratulations to the esteemed Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah ji on his arrival in the sacred land of Uttarakhand, the land of brave soldiers. Your leadership, dedicated to the nation's security, good governance, and development, has provided the country with a new direction and strength." Earlier, the Chief Minister, on Saturday, reviewed preparations for the Union Home Minister's visit to Haridwar, where he is scheduled to address a public rally and visit exhibitions highlighting national security initiatives and legal reforms. CM Dhami further confirmed that all the arrangements for the high-profile event had been completed. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, "Preparations have been made here for Home Minister Amit Shah's public rally. Two major exhibitions have been set up in Haridwar for his visit. One of the exhibitions will display a demo for the provisions made by the Indian government for the safety of citizens and for the speedy delivery of justice. After the Home Minister's arrival, one venue will remain open for the public for the next week." Earlier, on Friday, CM Dhami visited Haridwar to inspect arrangements for the programme titled "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal" scheduled for Saturday, March 7. He issued directions to officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will also participate in the programme "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal". All preparations for the event have been completed by the administration, and the city of Haridwar, along with the programme venue at Bairagi Camp, is being decorated to welcome him. On Sunday, Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister's residence to review preparations for the proposed visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Haridwar on March 7. - ANI Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin met outgoing Governor R.N. Ravi in Chennai to congratulate him on his appointment as the new Governor of West Bengal. The meeting, held at the Raj Bhavan, included the presentation of a ceremonial shawl and a statue of poet Thiruvalluvar. This interaction was seen as a courteous diplomatic gesture despite a tenure marked by significant disagreements over bill assent and administrative interference. The vacancy in West Bengal arose following the resignation of former Governor C.V. Ananda Bose. Tamil Nadu CM Stalin congratulates RN Ravi on his appointment as West Bengal Governor in a Chennai meeting, marking a diplomatic end to a strained tenure. Chennai, March 7 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin met R. N. Ravi on Saturday in Chennai and congratulated him following his appointment as the new Governor of West Bengal. The meeting, held at the Governor's official residence in Guindy, marked a formal and courteous interaction between the two leaders despite their past political differences. According to official sources, the Chief Minister visited the Raj Bhavan in Guindy to extend his greetings to Ravi after the Union government announced his transfer to West Bengal. During the meeting, Stalin honoured the Governor with a ceremonial shawl and presented him with a statue of the classical Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar as a gesture of goodwill and respect. The meeting assumes significance in the context of the strained relationship that had existed between the Tamil Nadu government led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Governor Ravi during his tenure in the state. Over the past few years, the two sides had been engaged in several disagreements on administrative and legislative matters. One of the major flashpoints was the delay in granting assent to several bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The state government had accused the Governor of withholding approval for key legislation and raised concerns about what it described as interference in the functioning of the elected government. The dispute eventually escalated to the legal arena, with the Tamil Nadu government approaching the Supreme Court seeking directions regarding the Governor's role in clearing bills passed by the Assembly. Despite these differences, Saturday's meeting was viewed as a diplomatic gesture marking the end of Ravi's tenure in Tamil Nadu before he assumes his new responsibilities in West Bengal. The development follows the resignation of C. V. Ananda Bose on March 5, which created the vacancy for the gubernatorial post in the eastern state. Subsequently, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Ravi as the new Governor of West Bengal. In a related announcement, the President also stated that R. V. Arlekar would hold additional charge as the Governor of Tamil Nadu until further arrangements are made. Political observers say the brief meeting between Stalin and Ravi symbolises a moment of courtesy and transition, bringing to a close a chapter marked by frequent constitutional debates between the Raj Bhavan and the state government. - IANS Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention to help Indian expatriates stranded in Gulf countries due to a severe shortage of flights. He highlighted the crisis of limited chartered and scheduled flights, coupled with exorbitantly high ticket fares charged by airlines. The CM proposed a centralised registration system to prioritise vulnerable groups like the sick and elderly for repatriation. He also requested better coordination with states and a dedicated helpline for stranded transit passengers. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Modi, urging intervention on flight shortages and high fares stranding Indian expatriates in Gulf countries. Thiruvananthapuram, March 6 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention to address the difficulties faced by a large number of Indian expatriates stranded in Gulf countries due to a shortage of flights and soaring ticket prices. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Vijayan highlighted the distress faced by thousands of Indians, including a large number of Keralites, who are unable to return home from countries in the Gulf region due to the limited availability of both chartered and scheduled flights. The Chief Minister urged the Union Government to immediately engage with airline operators to resume and increase flight services from the GCC countries to India, particularly to priority destinations and Tier-2 cities where many returning expatriates need to travel. Pointing out the plight of vulnerable travellers, Vijayan suggested the creation of a centralised registration system through Indian diplomatic missions or a dedicated online portal. Such a system, he said, would help authorities identify and prioritise the repatriation of the most vulnerable categories, including the sick, elderly, pregnant women, children and those facing financial distress. The Chief Minister also requested that State governments be kept informed about the repatriation arrangements so that they can facilitate the reception and provide necessary support to returning passengers upon arrival in India. Another major concern raised in the letter was the steep increase in ticket fares for chartered flights operating between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and India. Vijayan pointed out that several airline operators were charging excessively inflated fares, sometimes several times higher than normal prices, making travel unaffordable for many expatriates. He urged the Union Government to intervene and regulate ticket prices by engaging directly with airline companies to prevent exploitation during the ongoing crisis. The letter also drew attention to the difficulties faced by Indians on tourist and visit visas in Gulf countries who require assistance to return home. In addition, many Indian travellers who were using major Gulf airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait as transit hubs have been stranded mid-journey following sudden flight cancellations and airspace closures. Vijayan requested the Centre to establish a dedicated helpline or registration channel specifically for such transit passengers, noting that many of them lack accommodation, luggage or local contacts in the countries where they are stranded. - IANS Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful expresses grave concern that the Middle East conflict has escalated into a regional crisis with far-reaching global consequences. He highlights the severe impact on vulnerable nations like Mauritius, whose tourism sector is suffering from transport disruptions and stranded citizens. The minister praises India's leadership role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for addressing maritime security threats and fostering the blue economy. He also clarifies the legal standing of Mauritius in the sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Islands. Mauritius FM Dhananjay Ramful warns the Middle East crisis has become regional, hurting tourism & economies. He calls for diplomacy & praises India's IORA role. By Ayushi Agarwal, New Delhi, March 6 Expressing grave concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Mauritius Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dhananjay Ramful, has stated that the crisis has evolved into a regional conflict with extensive global implications. The minister highlighted that the fallout from the hostilities is placing an immense burden on vulnerable nations, particularly through economic instability and threats to essential resources. "The conflict has become a regional conflict, and its consequences are far-reaching. A lot of countries, especially vulnerable countries, will be facing a lot of difficulties. You have the rising prices of petroleum products and food security," the minister said. Speaking to ANI, Minister Ramful further explained the specific challenges facing Mauritius, noting that the nation's tourism-dependent economy is suffering due to transport disruptions and concerns about the safety of its citizens abroad. "Mauritius is highly dependent on tourism. You have disruptions in airlines. We have many foreign nationals who are stranded in the Middle East. We have issued a formal communication, and we have asked that the parties stop the war and come to the table and solve their differences diplomatically," he added. Transitioning to the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, the minister lauded India's pivotal role in maintaining regional stability. He pointed out that as the current chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), New Delhi is expected to spearhead efforts against unconventional maritime threats. "India has always been an ally of Mauritius across different sectors, particularly in maritime security within the Indian Ocean region. Currently, India holds the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and expectations are high that it will play a leading role in addressing the challenges faced by countries in the region," Ramful stated. He emphasised that "concrete projects must be developed" to tackle critical issues such as piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal fishing, alongside broader concerns like climate change and disaster management. Beyond security, the minister identified the "blue economy" as a vital area for growth, noting that the fishing sector could thrive with increased technological support. Highlighting the region's massive economic footprint, he noted that "50% of global container shipments, 33% of cargo vessels, and 68% of all shipments pass through the Indian Ocean." Addressing legal and territorial matters, Minister Ramful also clarified the situation regarding the Chagos Islands sovereignty claim. He addressed past tensions with the Maldives, noting that despite their opposition to certain UN resolutions, they had not formally contested sovereignty through international legal channels. "The Maldives were among the six countries that voted against the UN resolution. However, at no point did the Maldives bring any case before the ICJ or submit any resolution to the UN claiming sovereignty over the Chagos," he explained. Recalling a specific maritime boundary dispute, the minister detailed how the Maldives had previously questioned the legal standing of Mauritius in requesting delimitation of the waters surrounding the Chagos Islands. "The tribunal, however, ruled that the only state entitled to request delimitation of the boundary between the Chagos Islands and the Maldives was Mauritius, basing its decision on the ICJ resolution and judgment," he said. - ANI Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced the state is considering a new population management policy featuring financial incentives. The flagship proposal is a 25,000 assistance at delivery for parents having a second or third child. This policy marks a strategic shift from population control to promoting population growth, citing the state's low Total Fertility Rate of 1.5. The comprehensive framework also includes parental leave, childcare centers, and a focus on nutrition, education, and healthcare from infancy to old age. AP CM Naidu announces a proposed 25,000 delivery incentive for second & third children to address declining fertility rates and secure demographic future. Amaravathi, March 6 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the state government is considering a new population management policy that includes financial incentives to encourage families to have more children, announcing a proposed Rs 25,000 assistance at the time of delivery for parents who have a second or third child. Speaking in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, CM Naidu presented the state's proposed population management policy. He said that currently about 58 per cent of families have only one child, around 2.17 lakh families have two children, and nearly 62 lakh families have three or more children. He also noted that around three lakh families have only one child instead of two, while another three lakh families have more than two children.To address this, the government is proposing financial incentives for childbirth. Under the plan, parents who have a parents who have a second child or more will receive Rs 25,000 at the time of delivery. The Chief Minister explained that the state's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is currently 1.5, whereas the ideal level should be 2.1 to maintain demographic balance. He said that as economies grow, birth rates tend to decline, which can create workforce shortages and long-term economic challenges. CM Naidu described the move as a major policy intervention to encourage population growth. He added that, "Currently, about 58 per cent of families have only one child, around 2.17 lakh families have two children, and nearly 62 lakh families have three or more children." He asserted, "Around three lakh families have only one child instead of two, while another three lakh families have more than two children." While also posting about the proposed policy on X, CM Naidu wrote on the need to secure the state's "demographic future" with the policy now shifting focus from population control to population care."A strong and youthful population is the foundation of long-term prosperity. Andhra Pradesh will introduce India's first-of-its-kind Population Management Policy, shifting the focus from population control to population care. With fertility declining sharply, we must act now to secure our demographic future," CM wrote on X. Talking about the incentive, he added, "Our policy will support families through incentives including 25,000 for the third child, parental leave for mothers and fathers, and the Poshan-Shiksha-Suraksha package to ensure nutrition, education and protection for every child."The policy will focus on systems which enable families to thrive, including improving and building working women's hostels, childcare centres, maternal care centres and more. "We are strengthening the ecosystem that enables families to thrive through working women hostels, childcare centres, pink toilets, and improved maternal care through Matrutva centres of excellence. Through our five-pillar life-cycle framework: Matrutva, Shakti, Naipunyam, Kshema and Sanjeevani, we will ensure support from safe motherhood to skilling, healthy ageing and integrated public health delivery for every citizen," the post read. Last year in March, CM Naidu called for a shift in thinking on population growth, arguing that India must utilise its demographic advantage to sustain economic growth and global competitiveness. "I am changing my views and promoting population now. India is one country with the biggest advantage in the demographic dividend. If we can manage demographic dividend for the future, India and Indians will be great..." CM Naidu had said. In July, CM Naidu had said his government would launch a policy to encourage couples to have more children. - ANI India has firmly stated that its energy import decisions are made based on national interest and economic pragmatism, not on permissions from other nations. The country has significantly diversified its crude oil sourcing, expanding from 27 to 40 supplier nations to reduce geopolitical vulnerability. Despite external pressures, India continues to import Russian oil, citing affordability and reliability, a practice facilitated by a recent temporary US waiver. The government emphasizes that its strategy of diversification and strategic reserves ensures energy security against global market volatility and conflicts. India asserts its energy imports are guided by national interest and competitive pricing, not external permissions, after US waiver on Russian crude. New Delhi, March 7 After the US granted a temporary 30day waiver allowing continued imports of Russian crude oil, India on Saturday asserted that its energy policy is determined by national interest and economic pragmatism rather than external permissions. Responding to Washington's decision, the Centre has clarified that India has never depended on any country's permission to determine its energy imports. The Centre stressed that the guiding principle of policy remains the pursuit of competitive pricing and uninterrupted supplies, not political pressures from abroad. The Centre highlighted its diversification strategy, noting that India has expanded its crude sourcing base from 27 countries earlier to 40 countries now. India said that this broader network has reduced vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions and insulated the economy against sudden shocks in the international oil market. It said that the approach has assumed particular importance amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where instability continues to threaten global energy flows. Despite objections from some global actors, India has maintained imports of Russian oil, citing affordability and reliability as decisive factors. The waiver granted by Washington has enabled these imports to continue without immediate risk of sanctions. However, the Centre reiterated that such decisions are taken in the national interest, reflecting economic pragmatism rather than external dictates. The government further emphasised that India's energy supplies remain secure despite global conflicts and volatility. "By diversifying sources and maintaining strategic reserves, India has positioned itself to withstand fluctuations in crude markets. The emphasis on competitive pricing and multiple supply lines," an official said, which reflected a longterm strategy to safeguard economic stability. India's response to the waiver underscores its determination to pursue an independent energy policy, prioritising affordability and security while continuing to diversify crude oil sources to guard against global uncertainties. - IANS Newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has stated his focus is on development so that Delhi can compete with capitals worldwide. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the opportunity to serve. His appointment is part of a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across India by President Droupadi Murmu. The reshuffle saw VK Saxena move to become Ladakh LG, among several other key transfers. New Delhi LG Taranjit Sandhu aims for Delhi to compete with world capitals, focusing on development after major gubernatorial reshuffle. New Delhi, March 7 Newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, on Saturday affirmed his focus on development, saying that the national capital should compete against capitals across the world. Speaking to ANI, Taranjit Sandhu said, "Delhi is our capital, and we have to compete and compare with all the capitals of the world. We have to move ahead along with everyone. The focus is and should be on development." Sandhu, earlier in the day, offered prayers at Gurudwara Moti Bagh Sahib in South Moti Bagh and Uttara Swami Malai Mandir in RK Puram. Earlier on Friday, former Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah after he was appointed the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG). In an X post, Sandhu said that he is committed to serving the people in the national capital with dedication and humility. "I express my heartfelt gratitude to the most revered Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has provided me the opportunity to serve the people of Delhi as Lieutenant Governor. His leadership and visionary guidance have always been a source of inspiration. I am also grateful for the trust and guidance of the Home Minister Amit Shah. I am committed to serving the people of Delhi and the nation with dedication, loyalty, and humility," Sandhu wrote. President Droupadi Murmu has effected a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. In the reshuffle, Taranjit Singh Sandhu replaced VK Saxena, who has now been appointed as the Ladakh LG. Taranjit Sandhu was also a BJP candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, senior leader Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed as Nagaland Governor, and Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain has been named Governor of Bihar. In other key changes, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has been named Governor of Telangana, while Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has been transferred to serve as Governor of Maharashtra. Furthermore, Kavinder Gupta, the outgoing Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, has been appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will discharge the additional functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. - ANI The landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, concluded in early 2026 after nearly two decades of negotiation, is being hailed as a transformative deal for Indo-Mediterranean and European trade. Indo-Pacific Forum President Kaush Arha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for driving the initiative, which connects two of the world's largest democratic economies. Arha also highlighted the parallel development of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a modern "Golden Road" designed to enhance connectivity and reduce transit times. Meanwhile, at the Raisina Dialogue, Minister Goyal emphasized the multi-dimensional, technology-anchored partnership between India and the United States, expressing confidence in the trade outcomes achieved. Indo-Pacific Forum President praises PM Modi and Piyush Goyal for concluding the landmark India-EU Free Trade Agreement and advancing the IMEC corridor. New Delhi, March 7 Indo-Pacific Forum President Kaush Arha on Saturday praised India-EU FTA progress, saying it will transform Indo-Mediterranean and European trade. Speaking to ANI, Arha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for driving the initiative. The landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), often referred to as the "mother of all deals," was officially concluded on January 27, 2026, following nearly two decades of negotiations. "... Together, we will transform Indo-Mediterranean and European trade. Prime Minister Modi and your Commerce Minister, Mr Piyush Goyal, deserve a great deal of credit for making this happen...," he said. By connecting two of the world's largest democratic economies, the deal creates a massive market of approximately 2 billion people, aiming to significantly reshape trade, investment, and supply chain resilience between India and Europe. Officials are currently working on the legal review and translation of the agreement text, which is expected to be completed by July 2026. Arha also highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), hailed as a new "Golden Road" or modern Silk Route, being developed under PM Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to connect India, the Middle East, and Europe. Announced at the 2023 G20 Summit, this route links India with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe, bypassing traditional chokepoints like the Suez Canal to reduce transit time by nearly 40%. "One of the important things about William Dalrymple's book is the Golden Road. We are in the process under PM Modi and Piyush to put in a new Golden Road that connects India to Europe and onwards to America. That's the future, that's the discussion," Arha told ANI at Raisina Dialogue 2026. The Golden Road by William Dalrymple explores how ancient India transformed the world through trade, ideas, and culture. The book highlights India's significant influence on Eurasia from 250BC to AD1200, spreading Buddhism, Hinduism, and mathematical concepts like the decimal system and algebra. Reacting to the ongoing West Asia tensions, Arha stated that the current challenges are a necessary step towards a stronger and better future. Arha said, "Sometimes, and you know this from India, sometimes a bitter medicine makes the patient and the environment stronger and better. This is a bitter medicine we had to go through." Earlier, highlighting India's rising status in the global economic order, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday described the relationship between India and the United States as a multidimensional alliance that extends far beyond trade. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Goyal emphasised that the partnership is anchored in high-tech collaboration and strategic security. The Minister noted that the bond between the two nations is defined by a deep integration of technology and investment. "India and US relations are strong. It's multi-dimensional. It's not only about trade. There is a huge technology overlay on it. There is a huge critical minerals partnership, a defence partnership... It's a partnership of two countries which will define the future," Goyal stated. Addressing the specifics of trade negotiations with Washington, Goyal expressed immense confidence in the outcomes India has achieved compared to other global players. "We got the best deal amongst all of the competitors," he remarked. During a detailed fireside chat, Goyal elaborated on his "mantra" for negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which involves balancing international ambitions with domestic sensitivities. He revealed that, unlike previous administrations, the current government prioritises exhaustive stakeholder consultations to ensure no local industry is "thrown under the bus." The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugrated the eleventh edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, on Friday. Opening the proceedings, Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), stated that throughout its eleven years, the Dialogue has remained steadfast in its "aim of unpacking the present to help shape the future. "He pointed out that its theme in 2026, Samskara, captures a world in which "nations are asserting their identity, asserting their dialogue, and advancing through refinement." - ANI Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) is one of the Stocks to Watch Right Now. Sable Offshore extended its winning streak to a fifth consecutive day on Thursday, jumping 37.51 percent to finish at $13.88 apiece, as investor sentiment was fueled by the Department of Justices (DOJ) confirmation that a presidential order could override federal lawssparking hopes for the companys full resumption of oil and gas operations off the coast of California. Thomas Elliot Gaiser, assistant attorney general for the DOJs Office of Legal Counsel, confirmed in an opinion that a presidential order could preempt California laws currently impeding Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) from fully operating its Las Flores onshore pipeline system. Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels We conclude that it would. An order issued as an exercise of congressionally delegated authority or the Presidents constitutional powers has the force of federal law under the Supremacy Clause and may preempt contrary state law, Gaiser said. Because the DPA (Defense Production Act) authorizes the President to order certain actions that may otherwise be prohibited by state law, an order issued pursuant to the DPA could preempt those laws expressly or by conflict, he added. Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) acquired the Santa Ynez Unit in June 2015, but which was ordered shut for 10 years following a pipeline leak that caused a major oil spill along the California coast. Operations only restarted in May but Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) remains unable to sell and transport hydrocarbons through its pipeline system pending court approval. While we acknowledge the potential of SOC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, 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. EAM S. Jaishankar says India's growth is a "lifting tide" for the Indian Ocean, highlighting support for Sri Lanka and new trade corridors. New Delhi, March 7 External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday stated that India's rise would benefit the Indian Ocean region, describing it as "a lifting tide", emphasising the strategic significance of the wider region. Speaking alongside Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on 'Heart of the Seas: Future of the Indian Ocean', EAM said, "I do want the rest of the Indian Ocean to appreciate that India, in a way, India's rise is a lifting tide. With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean stand to benefit. Those who work with us, obviously, will get more benefits. And in a way, it's a trend." "I'm not saying there are no challenges to India's rise; there are. But the direction of India's rise, I think, is very clear. In a way, it's unstoppable. The rise of countries is determined by the countries. The rise of India will be determined by India. It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others," he added. EAM highlighted India's efforts to rebuild connectivity through initiatives like India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor, aiming to expand the country's trade links across Asia and beyond. "The Indian Ocean, perhaps much more than many other parts of the world, is in the process of a recovery and a rebuilding. It is individual states that are doing that, but the whole region. In a way, if you look today at the restoration of trade patterns and connectivity, we are trying to rebuild our connectivity towards the east, through Myanmar to Southeast Asia. We are rebuilding our connectivity to the west, through IMEC into the Arabian Peninsula and further through the International North-South Transport Corridor to Iran and through Iran into Eurasia." Stressing that India has consistently stepped in to support regional partners during difficult periods, EAM Jaishankar cited assistance extended to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, along with the rapid disaster relief efforts following Cyclone Ditwah in November last year. "There'll be the good periods when you can plan and do it. There'll be times of stress. Sri Lanka, for example, went through a severe economic crisis. And the fact was, finally, the most substantive and the fastest support really came from India. Recently, they had this, the cyclone, Ditwah; we were there within twenty-four hours," EAM said. "If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or spirit or identity, call it what you will, it's not just about broadcasting it or stating it, it's-- it has to be backed up with resources, with work, with commitments, with practical projects so that people know that you are actually serious about it," he noted. - IANS Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar stated that while Janata Dal workers are upset, they have resolved to stand by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to move to the Rajya Sabha. The decision, clarified in a party meeting, is described as Nitish Kumar's own political wish to complete his parliamentary journey. The party simultaneously welcomed the impending formal induction of Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, into politics, with leaders hailing him as an educated and uncontroversial figure. The future leadership of Bihar is now a pending decision between Nitish Kumar and the central government. Bihar JD(U) stands by Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha decision. Ministers welcome son Nishant Kumar's political entry as CM transition looms. Patna, March 7 Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar on Saturday said that the Janata Dal workers were upset with incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to move to the Rajya Sabha, but have resolved to stand by him and support him. Speaking to ANI, Shravan Kumar said that Nitish Kumar clarified his decision to the party leaders in a meeting on Friday. "In yesterday's meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar clarified all matters. This is his political (going to the Rajya Sabha) decision. Everyone is upset about this. But when a leader takes a political decision, it is the duty of their supporters or leaders and ministers around them to abide by the decision. All people have decided that we will stay with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and stand by him on every decision of his," the Bihar minister said. Addressing the Opposition's allegations of the BJP pressuring the JD(U) in making the decision to move to the Centre, Shravan Kumar said, "Where is the pressure? If there was pressure, he would have said so. He had expressed that he wanted to go to the fourth House. He has been to the Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, Lok Sabha and only the Rajya Sabha was left, so he filed the nomination." Shravan Kumar also welcomed the decision to induct Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, into the party. He said, "We had said that Nishant Kumar should come forward; he is young. Assessing the situation now, he should come forward, and we are talking about this." The JD(U) confirmed that Nishant Kumar will officially join the party on Sunday. Bihar Minister and BJP leader Dilip Jaiswal also said, "It was the wish of JD(U) leaders, workers, and many people, and respecting the emotional wish of everyone, Nishant Kumar's entry into politics will happen, and we welcome it." When asked about the new CM face for Bihar, Dilip Jaiswal said that Nitish Kumar and the Centre will decide on it. "Everything will be decided by Nitish Kumar and the central government," he said. Bihar minister Ramkripal Yadav hailed Nishant as an educated and "out of controversies" leader. He said that his entry into politics will bring "a new wave of enthusiasm" for JD(U). "Nishant is educated, and he has been out of controversies. He never did anything to bring disgrace to his father or the party. His entry into politics will bring a new wave of enthusiasm among the youth. Nishant will fulfil the gap left by Nitish Kumar, which is also the wish of the party workers. Nishant should take up the responsibility of the party," Ramkripal Yadav said. Earlier today, Nishant Kumar held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of the Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. JD(U) leaders today discussed the party's future strategy and how to best move forward after party chief Nitish Kumar, in a historic move, is set to move back to the Centre with a seat in the Rajya Sabha. The timing of Nishant's entry into the party is directly linked to a major transition made by his father. On Thursday, March 5, Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, signalling the end of his record-breaking tenure as Chief Minister. - ANI Five people were rescued from floodwaters in central Queensland, including three found clinging to a tree. In the Northern Territory, 21 patients from Katherine Hospital were evacuated due to a major flood warning for the Katherine River. The flooding is being driven by slow-moving tropical storms that made landfall, bringing intense rainfall and dangerous conditions. Authorities are urging residents to heed emergency warnings as river levels continue to rise. Five people rescued and patients evacuated as tropical storms cause major flooding across Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia. Sydney, March 7 Five people were rescued, and patients have been evacuated from a hospital amid major flooding in the Australian state of Queensland and the neighbouring Northern Territory. Flood warnings were in place for rivers and catchments across most of Queensland as of Saturday morning due to heavy rainfall from a slow-moving tropical storm that made landfall on the state's northeast coast on Friday afternoon local time. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the tropical low was moving west across central Queensland on Saturday and is forecast to bring heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that five people were rescued from floodwaters in central Queensland overnight, including three people who were found clinging to a tree in fast-moving waters after escaping a stranded vehicle. In the NT, a major flood warning has been issued for the small town of Katherine, 270 km southeast of Darwin, due to a separate tropical storm. The BoM said that rapid rises in river levels were occurring along the Katherine River on Saturday morning. It said the river has surpassed major flood levels in central Katherine and is expected to continue rising through Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. The 21 patients who were at the Katherine Hospital, including 20 pregnant women, were evacuated on Friday to other hospitals in case the town is cut off by floodwaters. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro flew into the town on Friday night and said it was critical that people heed emergency warnings. On March 6, a severe weather warning for dangerous flash flooding was issued in Australia's Queensland as a tropical low storm system approaches the state's northeast coast. The BoM had said in the warning that the tropical low was expected to bring intense rainfall to a 350-km stretch of coast in Queensland's tropical far north from Friday morning. The warning area included the northeast coastal cities of Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cooktown, which have a combined population of around 255,000 people. - IANS Finnish President Alexander Stubb, during his state visit to India, declared that "the future is Indian" due to the country's favorable demography, economy, and history. He highlighted the strategic importance of newly signed bilateral agreements with India, which will improve labour mobility and cooperation. Stubb argued that Western nations must give India more agency in multilateral institutions to save the global order, explicitly calling for a permanent UN Security Council seat for India. He based his analysis on the rise of the Global South, with India at its helm, as outlined in his own book, *The Triangle of Power*. Finnish President Alexander Stubb hails India's rise, calls for UNSC seat, citing demography and economy as key drivers in global transition. By Ayushi Agarwal And Ranjeet Singh, Mumbai, March 7 Finnish President Alexander Stubb has asserted that the global trajectory is shifting significantly towards New Delhi, declaring that "the future is Indian" due to the country's demographic and economic strength. Speaking during an interview with ANI, the President offered a bold prediction for the coming decade, stating, "First of all, I think the future is Indian. And I don't say this only because I'm in India, and I'm not trying to be openly diplomatic. I think demography, economy and history speak in your favour." The President described his high-level engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "wonderful", following a three-hour meeting that underscored the deepening ties between Finland and India during his ongoing state visit. "It has been wonderful. I felt very warmly welcomed. I spent three hours with PM Modi and then spoke at the Raisina Dialogue and had meetings with political leaders," he noted. Reflecting on the country's rapid transformation since his previous trip, he remarked, "Last time I was here was in 2013. Now, just seeing the development, the infrastructure, the roads and the buildings, it is always nice to be back in India." Addressing the strategic importance of bilateral agreements, the President highlighted the mutual benefits of newly signed protocols. "I think these MoUs will help us have better exchanges when it comes to labour mobility. I think it is going to be a two-way street," he said. During his visit to Mumbai, President Stubb also paid a sombre tribute to the victims of the 26/11 attacks at the Taj Palace Hotel. "Terrorism is always a menace everywhere. The attacks on 26 November 2008 were horrific. It was my great honour to pay respects to the victims," he stated. Discussing India's role in a shifting global landscape, he explained that the current global transition necessitates a move away from outdated power structures. "A world order changes ever so often. And I think we're now seeing a transition of the world order. I would prefer it to be multilateral in other national institutions, rules and norms, not multipolar, which for me is often about pure interests, deals and transactions. Reality is probably going to be somewhere in between," he added. The Finnish President urged Western nations to recognise India's leadership. "I am happy that the largest democracy in the world, India, is taking the lead. And my argument to my Western friends is that if we want to save multilateralism, we're going to have to give agency, in other words power, a seat around the table to the countries that matter today," he said. He further argued that international bodies must reflect the current era rather than the post-war period of 1945. "We don't live in a world of 1945, so the institutions should not reflect that either. They should reflect the world of 2026. That's why I have called, for instance, for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for India," he stated. Drawing from his own scholarship on the subject, Stubb maintained that India's leadership is pivotal for the future of the international community. "I wrote a book about it called The Triangle of Power, where I really think that the Global South is going to decide where we're going to go, and India leads it." - ANI The Greater Chennai Corporation is planning to establish approximately 200 temporary container-based shelters across the city to provide free accommodation. The shelters will be equipped with sleeping spaces, toilets, electricity, and drinking water, aiming to offer dignified living conditions. They will primarily serve migrant workers in sectors like construction and sanitation, as well as homeless families. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen urban welfare infrastructure for vulnerable residents. Greater Chennai Corporation to provide free, safe housing in 200 container-based shelters for migrant workers and homeless families across the city. Chennai, March 7 The Greater Chennai Corporation is planning to establish around 200 temporary container-based shelters across the city to provide free accommodation for migrant workers and homeless families, in a major initiative aimed at addressing the growing demand for safe and accessible shelter for vulnerable groups. According to civic officials, the proposed project will create interim housing facilities in different parts of Chennai, particularly in areas with a high concentration of migrant labourers and people without stable housing. The GCC will first conduct a detailed study of the migrant population across various zones of the city and identify suitable land parcels where the shelters can be set up. Each shelter will be developed using modified container units and will be equipped with essential facilities to ensure basic living standards. The units are expected to include sleeping spaces, toilets, electricity connections, and access to drinking water. Authorities said the aim is to provide dignified temporary accommodation to people who currently live in unsafe conditions such as pavements, under bridges, and in makeshift settlements. The shelters will primarily serve migrant workers who travel to Chennai in search of employment in sectors such as construction, sanitation, logistics and other informal services. Homeless families who lack stable housing will also be allowed to stay in these facilities. A senior GCC official said the initiative is designed to offer a more organised and humane solution for the city's growing migrant workforce. "Many workers and families currently live in precarious conditions due to the lack of affordable housing. These shelters will provide safer and more structured accommodation. The project will be implemented after studying the needs of different communities and locations," the official said. The design and layout of the container shelters will also be finalised based on the findings of these assessments to ensure that the facilities are suitable for the number of occupants and local conditions. At present, the Greater Chennai Corporation operates 49 shelters for the homeless across the city. These include 37 regular shelters and 12 special shelters that are attached to government hospitals. Along with expanding the number of shelters, the civic body is also planning to upgrade existing facilities and improve living conditions for residents. Officials said the new shelters are expected to provide three meals a day to workers staying there, ensuring basic food security in addition to accommodation. The initiative is part of the GCC's broader effort to strengthen urban welfare infrastructure and provide humane living conditions for some of the city's most vulnerable residents. - IANS The Ministry of External Affairs has officially debunked a viral social media claim alleging the arrest of an Indian national in Saudi Arabia for being an Israeli spy. The false information, which accused the individual of plotting bomb attacks to frame Iran, originated from an X account known for sharing pro-Congress content. The account frequently posts content praising Rahul Gandhi and criticizing BJP supporters. The MEA has urged the public to remain vigilant against such unsubstantiated claims, especially during periods of international tension. India's MEA rejects viral social media claim about an Indian's arrest as an Israeli spy in Saudi Arabia, warns against misinformation. New Delhi, March 7 The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday flagged a social media post that was circulating widely online and spreading false information about the alleged detention of an Indian national in Saudi Arabia for being an Israeli spy. The claim, shared on the social media platform X, asserted that Saudi authorities had arrested two agents linked to Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, including an Indian national, accusing them of plotting bomb attacks intended to frame Iran. Rejecting the claim as baseless, the MEA issued a clarification and urged people to remain cautious about such misinformation circulating online. "Please stay alert against such preposterous and unsubstantiated claims on social media!" the ministry said while addressing the viral post. The claim forms part of a broader wave of misinformation linked to the ongoing tensions in West Asia. The specific allegation that an Indian national was detained in Saudi Arabia for involvement in such a conspiracy has not been supported by any credible evidence or confirmation from official sources, a government official said. The misleading information originated from an account on X operating under the name 'Amoxicillin', which posted the claim about the supposed arrest of the two alleged Mossad agents. The said account has a long record of sharing politically aligned content, often promoting narratives supportive of the Congress party while circulating unverified information. The account frequently posts messages praising Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, highlighting his political statements, captioning them with praises for the Congress leader. In several posts, the account has also portrayed Rahul Gandhi's remarks as sharp criticisms of what it describes as "Sanghis", an expression commonly used online to refer to supporters of the BJP, the RSS, or other right-wing political groups. At the same time, the account often shares posts mocking or attacking the BJP and its supporters, frequently using terms like "Sanghi ecosystem" or "bhakts" in its commentary. Meanwhile, the MEA's clarification comes as authorities continue to warn citizens about the increasing spread of misinformation on social media, particularly during periods of heightened international tension, when unverified claims can quickly gain traction online. - IANS The Indian government has officially dismissed as false viral social media claims about plans to create a new Union Territory from districts in Bihar and West Bengal near the Siliguri Corridor. The Press Information Bureau stated there is no such proposal under consideration by the government. The false rumors suggested the move was to strengthen security around the strategically vital corridor, often called India's 'Chicken's Neck'. The PIB has urged the public to verify information from official sources before sharing online content. PIB fact-check debunks viral social media rumors about a new UT from Bihar and Bengal districts near the strategic Siliguri Corridor. New Delhi, March 7 The government on Saturday dismissed as false the claims circulating on social media that the Centre is planning to create a new Union Territory by combining certain districts from Bihar and West Bengal located near the strategically important Siliguri corridor. The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government's official fact-checking agency, clarified that the claim has no basis and urged people not to rely on unverified information circulating online. "Social media posts are claiming that the government is planning to create a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal near the Siliguri corridor. This claim is Fake," the PIB said in a post on X. The agency further stated that there is no proposal under discussion within the government regarding the formation of such a Union Territory. "There is no such proposal under consideration by the Government of India," the PIB said, reiterating that the information being shared on social media platforms is misleading. Advising the public to exercise caution while sharing information online, the PIB added, "Always verify information from official sources before sharing." The clarification came after several posts on social media platforms claimed that the Centre was considering the creation of a new Union Territory by combining districts from Bihar and West Bengal in order to strengthen security around the Siliguri Corridor. According to the rumours circulating online, the proposed territory would include Bihar districts such as Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar, along with West Bengal districts including Malda and Uttar Dinajpur. The unverified posts suggested that the move was being considered as part of efforts to secure the strategically-sensitive Siliguri Corridor. The rumours appeared to draw attention by highlighting the corridor's strategic importance, as the narrow stretch of land plays a critical role in linking India's northeastern region with the rest of the country. However, the Centre has now clarified that no official proposal exists regarding the creation of any new Union Territory in the region. The Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as India's 'Chicken's Neck', is a narrow land passage located in northern West Bengal around the city of Siliguri. At its narrowest point, the corridor measures roughly 20 to 22 kilometres in width and stretches for about 60 kilometres in length. Despite its limited width, it holds immense strategic and logistical importance for the country. The corridor forms the only land route connecting mainland India to its eight northeastern states -- Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim -- making it a vital economic, transportation and military lifeline for more than 45 million people living in the region. - IANS The government has extended the deadline for fulfilling export obligations under certain promotion schemes to August 31, 2026. This automatic extension applies to exporters holding specific Advance Authorisations and EPCG authorisations with obligations ending between March and May 2026. Officials stated the move provides operational flexibility amid disruptions to global shipping routes and supply chains. The extension is in addition to existing provisions and requires no separate application or fee from exporters. Government extends export obligation deadline for key schemes to Aug 31, 2026, offering automatic relief to exporters facing global trade disruptions. New Delhi, March 7 The government on Saturday extended the deadline for fulfilling export obligations under certain export promotion schemes to August 31, 2026, to help exporters facing disruptions in global trade and shipping routes. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, announced the decision through a public notice. The move comes amid ongoing geopolitical developments that are affecting global shipping routes, logistics corridors and international supply chains. According to the notification, exporters holding specified Advance Authorisations and Export Promotion Capital Goods authorisations whose export obligation period is ending between March 1, 2026 and May 31, 2026 will get an automatic extension. The new deadline for fulfilling their export obligation has been set as August 31, 2026. Officials said the extension will be granted automatically and exporters will not have to submit any separate application or pay any composition fee to avail the benefit. The step is aimed at giving exporters additional operational flexibility at a time when international trade and logistics are facing disruptions. The relaxation will apply to Advance Authorisations, including Advance Authorisation for Annual Requirement and Special Advance Authorisation, as well as authorisations issued under the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme. The government said the extension provided under the public notice will be in addition to the existing provisions under the Foreign Trade Policy and the Handbook of Procedures, which already allow exporters to seek extensions in the export obligation period after paying the prescribed composition fee. The DGFT's regional authorities will check whether exporters have met their export obligation requirements when they apply for the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate or during the closure or regularisation of the authorisation. Customs authorities have also been informed about the revised timelines so that exports can continue smoothly under the updated export obligation period. Officials said the measure reflects the government's continued efforts to support exporters and ensure that temporary global disruptions do not affect India's export performance or compliance requirements under export promotion schemes. - IANS The government will restore the full benefit rates under the RoDTEP export support scheme starting April 1, 2026, reversing a recent reduction. This assurance was given by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade to the exporters' body FIEO. The scheme provides refunds on various domestic taxes incurred during manufacturing to improve the competitiveness of Indian goods abroad. The move is expected to support exporters who have been dealing with global cost pressures and market uncertainty. The government will restore full RoDTEP export scheme benefits from April 1, 2026, providing crucial support to exporters facing global challenges. New Delhi, March 7 The government will restore full benefits under the export support scheme Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products from April 1, according to exporters' body Federation of Indian Export Organisations on Saturday. The move is expected to provide much-needed support to the exporting community, which has been dealing with multiple global challenges. "The assurance was given by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade during a meeting with the exporters' body," according to FIEO. FIEO President SC Ralhan said the currently reduced rates under the RoDTEP scheme will remain in place only until March 31, 2026. From April 1 onwards, the full rates will be restored, which is expected to support exporters who have been facing cost pressures and uncertainty in global markets. On February 23 this year, the government had reduced RoDTEP duty benefits by half for most products, except agricultural and processed food items. The decision had disappointed exporters, who urged the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to reconsider the move. The RoDTEP scheme, launched in 2021, provides refunds of certain taxes, duties, and levies that exporters incur during the manufacturing and distribution of goods but are not reimbursed under other mechanisms at the central, state, or local levels. The refunds under the scheme typically range from about 0.3 per cent to 3.9 per cent of the export value. The programme replaced the earlier Merchandise Exports from India Scheme to ensure compliance with rules set by the World Trade Organisation. It aims to improve the competitiveness of Indian products in global markets by reducing the tax burden on exporters. Under the scheme, exporters must declare their intention to claim the benefit while filing the shipping bill for export. After the export process is completed, the refund is issued as transferable electronic scrips that can be used to pay customs duties through the government's ICEGATE portal. - IANS CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurates Tapi-Karjan pipeline project to irrigate 53,750 acres across 73 tribal villages in Gujarat, boosting farm productivity. Surat, March 7 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday inaugurated the Tapi-Karjan Link Pipeline lift irrigation project, based on the Ukai Reservoir, providing water to 53,750 acres across 73 tribal villages in Umarpada taluka of Surat district and Dediapada taluka of Narmada district. The scheme aims to ensure reliable irrigation for tribal farmers in these areas and boost agricultural productivity. Alongside the inauguration, the Chief Minister performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rs 210-crore extension of the scheme, which will provide irrigation to 19,141 acres across 29 villages in Umarpada. The lift irrigation project, constructed at a cost of Rs 651.08 crore, delivers water through pipelines lifted from heights of up to 87 feet, overcoming topographical challenges to reach remote tribal farmland. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Patel highlighted the role of the project in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Developed India @2047' and a 'Developed Gujarat'. "The era of development politics, under the Prime Minister's leadership, brings the most marginalised and smallest individuals into the mainstream of development. Every scheme prioritises the welfare of the smallest individuals," he said. The Chief Minister also inaugurated 12 development works worth Rs 126 crore in Surat district and distributed benefits, including certificates under the Forest Rights Act, PMAY housing assistance, godown support, and tractors, to tribal beneficiaries. Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel said the government is committed to delivering irrigation even in remote areas. "From 'Nal Se Jal' to ensuring water reaches the fields, areas previously left to chance are now receiving water through lift irrigation. When farmers have water year-round, productivity will improve and contribute to the state economy," he said. Minister of State for Water Supply and Water Resources Ishwarsinh Patel noted that villages in Umarpada and Dediapada, despite heavy rainfall, faced water shortages for rabi and summer crops. "Through careful planning and engineering, the long-standing irrigation problems have been resolved," he added. According to officials, the state has constructed 14,756 small check dams, providing irrigation to 1.52 lakh acres, while 735 large check dams supply 80,500 acres. Additionally, 3,500 ponds have been deepened to ensure water availability. A Rs 912-crore lift irrigation pipeline is also under construction for remote areas of Songadh, Uchhal, Nizar, and Kukarmunda, which will benefit 69,000 acres and 14,117 families. To address water scarcity in south Gujarat, Rs 522 crore is being invested in 249 check dams and weirs this year, expected to benefit 16,990 acres directly or indirectly. MPs Prabhu Vasava and Mansukh Vasava praised the government's work in providing irrigation and improving agricultural prospects in tribal areas. MLA Ganpatsinh Vasava said the project would transform agriculture in remote hill and forest villages, providing water for irrigation while preserving the environment and local culture. The Chief Minister highlighted the contribution of the Vanbandhu Welfare Scheme in delivering education, healthcare, road infrastructure, housing, electricity, and water facilities across the tribal belt from Ambaji to Umargam. He also emphasised Prime Minister Modi's recent announcement of the Rs two lakh crore Tribal Welfare Scheme over five years, aimed at comprehensive development of tribal areas in Gujarat, with an annual allocation of Rs 35,000 crore for education, health, roads, and infrastructure projects. - IANS Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Scout's Birthing Pains Scout hasn't sold a single vehicle yet, but it's already faced several legal issues. It's mainly because of the brand's plan to take the direct sales route, and dealers aren't happy. Since Scout is under the Volkswagen Auto Group, dealer groups say sales have to be routed through them, as it is part of VW. There have been suits in Colorado, Florida, and South Carolina, repeatedly filing cases against Volkswagen of America. That's on top of the other financial and legal obligations the company has. To say Scout isn't having an easy birth is a relative understatement. Scout Scout More Dealers File Cases A dealer group in Virginia has also filed a lawsuit alleging that Volkswagen is violating standard dealer agreements. It then adds that Scout Motors is 'aiding and abetting' the bypass by going for direct sales. Cases have also been filed in New York and Connecticut against both VW and Scout Motors. One law firm representing the New York VW said, "They can't really seek refuge in this, what we call a shell game, by claiming that Scout is independent of Volkswagen. We feel we have a viable legal case to get an injunction and also damages for the lost business opportunities to the franchise dealers across the country." Scout Motors Scout Motors But Tesla and Rivian Have Direct Sales, Right? Well, yes, but not all states allow it. Wind back the clock a few years, and we go to Tesla's direct sales model, which faced similar legal hurdles as Scout Motors at the time. That said, Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid never had established franchise networks, which somewhat eased their burden. Mind you, it was still an uphill battle to get it done, but it was a win for them nonetheless. However, Scout's case is different. Volkswagen owns the Scout brand, and the German automaker already has a well-established network of franchises across the U.S. The dealer groups argue that they have been losing business due to deposits and reservations. Plaintiffs have repeatedly mentioned that allowing direct sales sets a dangerous precedent. One law firm told Automotive News, "It's Volkswagen today, and all manufacturers watch each other. So if manufacturers saw that dealers didn't stand up together, push back and assert their rights, it allows the other manufacturers to say, 'Hey look, Volkswagen was able to do it, so we can do it with impunity.' It's not just a case that's important for VW dealers, but it's equally important for dealers of all line makes." US President Donald Trump will attend the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for six soldiers killed in an Iranian retaliatory strike in Kuwait. The White House confirmed the solemn event where the nation will receive its fallen warriors. The Pentagon identified the deceased service members, who were in a fortified facility at Shuaiba Port when the attack occurred with no apparent warning. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth criticized media coverage, accusing outlets of trying to make the president "look bad" while overlooking broader US strategic control in the region. President Trump and First Lady to pay respects at Dover Air Force Base for six US service members killed in an Iranian strike in Kuwait. Washington, DC, March 7 US President Donald Trump has confirmed his presence at the dignified transfer ceremony for six US soldiers who lost their lives in Kuwait. The service members were killed during retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Gulf, following recent joint US-Israeli military operations. In a statement released late Friday on Truth Social, the US President expressed his commitment to honouring the fallen troops. "I will be going to Dover Air Force Base tomorrow, with the First Lady and Members of my Cabinet, to pay our Highest Respect to our Great Warriors, who are returning home for the last time," Trump wrote. He concluded his tribute by stating, "GOD BLESS THEM ALL!" The White House had previously outlined the arrangements for the solemn event, as press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that the service members would receive a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and that the president would attend. This ceremony serves as a poignant moment amidst the rapidly escalating conflict in West Asia, as the nation prepares to receive its fallen warriors. In preparation for the transfer, the US Army has officially identified the six service members killed during the sudden strike on Shuaiba Port in Kuwait, according to a report by The Hill. The fallen soldiers include Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45; Chief Warrant Officer Three Robert M. Marzan, 54; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor; Capt. Cody Khork; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens; and Sgt. Declan Coady. Multiple outlets reported that the personnel were positioned within a makeshift office space when the attack occurred. There was reportedly no apparent warning before Tehran attacked them, and the circumstances surrounding the strike are currently under investigation. Providing further context on the environment of the strike, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, described the site on the social platform X as a "secure facility fortified with 6-foot walls," highlighting the defensive measures that were in place at the time of the incident. Amidst the fallout of the tragedy, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday criticised the media's portrayal of the deaths. He claimed that various organisations were attempting to make Trump "look bad" and suggested that the true extent of Iran's weapons capabilities is "what the fake news misses." "We've taken control of Iran's airspace and waterways without boots on the ground," Hegseth asserted. "We control their fate. 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." - ANI External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has explained India's decision to allow the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi as a humanitarian gesture after the ship reported technical issues. The decision came amid regional tensions following the sinking of another Iranian ship, IRIS Dena, in international waters. Jaishankar emphasized that the crew, including young cadets, were caught on the "wrong side of events" after participating in a fleet review. He also used the occasion to outline India's broader investments and vision for stability and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. EAM Jaishankar explains India's decision to allow Iranian vessel IRIS Lavan to dock in Kochi on humanitarian grounds, amid regional tensions. New Delhi, March 7 EAM Jaishankar has underlined India's position on the events in the Indian Ocean. Recently an Iranian Vessel, IRIS Dena which was returning from India after participating in the Fleet review was sunk by the US while in international waters. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday, the Minister while highlighting India's position said that India had offered another Iranian vessel docking at Kochi. The IRIS Lavan, which took part in the International Fleet Review had earlier docked in Kochi after developing technical issues. India had been approached by Iran days before the IRIS Dena incident south of Sri Lanka. The ship was in the region as part of the Iranian naval presence for the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026, which took place from February 15 to February 25. India approved docking on March 1 and the ship's 183 crew members are currently staying at naval facilities in Kochi. The Minister described the sinking of IRIS Dena as unfortunate and said India took the humane approach when the Iranians send out a request for IRIS Lavan. "You had these ships, and we got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships, which presumably was closest to us--to our waters at that point of time, wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems. And so, my recollection is this was on the 28th, and on the 1st, we said, "Okay, you can come in." And it took them a few days to sail in, and then they docked in Kochi. And the ship is there. And obviously, the people on the ship, a lot of them were young cadets--that is my understanding. They have disembarked; they are, you know, in a nearby facility... When they set out and came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review, and then they got, in a way, caught on the wrong side of events. So for us, when this ship wanted to come in, and that too in difficulties, I think it was the humane thing to do. And I think we were guided by that principle. And in a sense, of the other ships, one obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, and they took the decision which they did, and one unfortunately didn't make it. So I think where really approached it from the point of view of, in a sense, of humanity, of other than, you know, whatever the legal issues were. And I think we did the right thing," the Minister said. In the specific case of IRIS Dena, after a distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo the Indian Navy had promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Elaborating on the situation in the Indian Ocean, the Minister said that it was important to understand the realities of the region. "There are a lot of social media debates going on over this.... Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades...The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period," the Minister said. Jaishankar further highlighted that India has invested in the development of the region and with India's growth countries in the region stand to benefit. "Indian Ocean Region is an ecosystem...Indian Ocean, much more than other parts of the world, is in the process of recovery and rebuilding. Individual states are doing that, but the whole region as a whole, restoration of trade patterns, connectivity...This whole rebuilding process of the Indian Ocean needs to be recognised... A lot of this requires hard work. In the last decade, Indian diplomacy has invested a lot in this process," he said. "If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or identity, it has to be backed up with resources, work, commitments, practical projects... There are different dimensions of how you build the Indian Ocean... On why the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country - we are right in the middle of it... With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean stand to benefit. Those who work with us will get more benefits... The rise of India will be determined by India... It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others," he added. The Minister further called for attention to the safety of merchant ships currently operating in waters that maybe the scenario of a conflict. "Indians are a large segment of people who man merchant ships. Every time there is an attack on a vessel carrying goods, it is very likely that a part of the vessel is manned by Indians... We should give a lot of weight to this because we have had fatalities in the last few days... There has got to be adequate recognition in the country about the interest of our people, the merchant mariners and what we could be doing to safeguard them. Our approach to the crisis is driven by the fact that we have 9-10 million people living in the Gulf. Their well-being is a factor just as much as that of merchant shipping has to be... Countries have their own interests, their economic or energy concerns, and, naturally, our policies will take all of that into account. I felt the merchant marine part has not got the prominence," he said. - ANI Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri argued that lasting global cooperation must be built on mutual interests, not just shared values, and questioned whether emerging powers have had a fair role in shaping international rules. He warned that a rules-based order risks irrelevance if it fails to adapt to new geopolitical realities. Other global leaders, including Canada's former PM Stephen Harper and Crisis Group's Comfort Ero, echoed concerns about shifting power dynamics and the challenge to sovereignty and multilateralism. The discussions highlighted the complex transition from values-based diplomacy to a more pragmatic, interest-driven world order. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urges pragmatic global partnerships based on mutual interests, not just values, at the Raisina Dialogue. New Delhi, March 8 Vikram Misri, India's Foreign Secretary, said New Delhi is pushing for a more pragmatic approach to global partnerships, arguing that cooperation should not rely solely on shared values but also on mutual interests. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Misri said India supports a rules-based system but questioned whether emerging powers had an equal role in shaping those rules, warning that frameworks that fail to adapt to new geopolitical realities risk losing relevance. He said, "We must move beyond the principle of shared values, which, while important, is not enough to build lasting cooperation. It is possible to compete in one domain while cooperating in another. India has no issue with a rules-based order--but did we have a hand in shaping those rules? If the rules fail to evolve and adapt to changing realities, they risk becoming irrelevant." Canada's former Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that the fact that two major powers are pursuing competitive policies is a cause of concern. "There is growing concern over the geopolitics of the two major powers, which are pursuing competitive policies unapologetically. Can middle powers step up to take the lead in tackling these issues?" he said. Harper further raised concern over the US threatening to make Canada the 51st US state- a threat to Canada's sovereignty. "In recent times, the US has posed challenges to Canadian sovereignty. The world is shifting from values-based diplomacy toward realpolitik and interest-driven policies, where democracy and ideals are increasingly taking a backseat to security and economic priorities," he said. Comfort Ero, President and CEO of Crisis Group think tank, said that India offered valuable cues on how the structure of future cooperation will be shaped. She said, "We need to reflect seriously on what a new 'New Deal' moment should look like and how the structure of future cooperation will be shaped. India and Canada have already offered valuable cues. Rule-makers have become rule-breakers, creating space for other countries to pursue their sovereign choices. Yet when they cannot safeguard those choices, the very value and legitimacy of the rules surrounding them become uncertain. Having an agency is critical." Philippe Varin, Chairperson of the International Chamber of Commerce in France, said that the growing number of bilateral agreements is further complicating the pursuit of multilateral consensus. "If the WTO were to collapse, developing and emerging economies could lose 5-10% of their GDP. The growing number of bilateral agreements is further complicating the pursuit of multilateral consensus. How can businesses compete in technology while still forging meaningful partnerships? Supply chains have grown increasingly complex, and critical materials are vital for mobility, energy, and sustainability. Partnerships are essential--but without shared principles, they remain fragile," he said. Leslie Vinjamuri, President and CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, said that US President Donald Trump's policies are causing significant disruptions in Americans' daily lives. "Trump remains the only sitting US president in recent history who has not received overwhelming approval through wars abroad. Deep divisions within the US are evident on issues such as tariffs and immigration, with these policies causing significant disruptions in the daily lives of Americans," she said. "We must be cautious when speaking of sovereignty. While it is a sound principle in theory, sovereignty must be accompanied by responsibility--otherwise, it risks enabling more autocratic tendencies. In recent years, these issues have grown increasingly complex, prompting the need for deeper reflection on the role of values," she added. - ANI Bihar BJP leaders have welcomed the appointment of senior party figure Nand Kishore Yadav as the new Governor of Nagaland. They cited his extensive administrative and organizational experience as a key qualification for the constitutional role. The appointment is part of a larger reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors effected by President Droupadi Murmu. Yadav has pledged to work for Nagaland's development within the framework of the Constitution. Bihar BJP leaders welcome Nand Kishore Yadav's elevation to Nagaland Governor, citing his administrative experience. President Murmu reshuffles governors. Patna, March 6 Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and BJP President Sanjay Saraogi Thursday, celebrated the appointment of Nand Kishore Yadav as the new Governor of Nagaland, citing his vast organisational experience. Party leaders, while speaking to, noted that Nand Kishore Yadav's appointment reflects the central government's trust in leaders from Bihar for high constitutional roles. Highlighting the senior leader's experience, BJP President Sanjay Saraogi said, "I express my gratitude to the central leadership. Nand Kishore Yadav has immense administrative and organisational experience. He has been appointed as the Governor of Nagaland...Best wishes to him...He will certainly work for the betterment of Nagaland."Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said, " Former Bihar State President Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed to the post of the Governor (of Nagaland) by the Government of India. The National President was also appointed from Bihar." Meanwhile, Former Bihar Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, who was appointed as the Nagaland Governor on Friday, said that he will work for the development of the state within Constitutional limits. President Droupadi Murmu has effected a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. "I want to thank the President of India and PM Modi for giving me an important responsibility. I will play my role in the development of Nagaland within the limits of the Constitution," Yadav told ANI. Nand Kishore Yadav is a senior BJP leader who served as the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 2024 to 2025. Representing the Patna Sahib constituency, he is a long-time BJP worker and has also held important cabinet ministerial portfolios, including Road Construction and Health in the Bihar government. He has also served as the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar. The BJP leader has also been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). On the other hand, Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain has been named Governor of Bihar. - ANI Finnish President Alexander Stubb, following a meeting with PM Modi, highlighted India's unique diplomatic position as one of the few nations capable of engaging with all sides in global conflicts due to its pragmatic foreign policy. He analyzed current crises, stating Russia's invasion of Ukraine has backfired and Iran's recent actions are a dangerous strategic mistake. Stubb expressed strong optimism about India's future global role and reiterated support for its permanent UN Security Council membership. He also explained Finland's NATO accession as a necessary security move following Russia's aggression. Finnish President Alexander Stubb lauds India's pragmatic foreign policy, calling it a rare nation that can engage with all sides in global conflicts. By Ayushi Agarwal, Mumbai, March 7 Calling India one of the few countries capable of engaging with all sides in global conflicts, Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Saturday said New Delhi's pragmatic foreign policy places it in a unique diplomatic position amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Speaking to ANI in Mumbai following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Stubb said the two leaders held extensive discussions on global conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions involving Iran. "It's an honour and privilege to spend three hours in the presence of the Prime Minister of India. We had a very good and engaging, broad-ranging conversation about conflicts around the world, relations with China, the United States, Russia and Europe, and of course bilateral relations," Stubb said. He noted that modern conflicts have evolved beyond localised wars into broader regional crises. "Conflicts after the Cold War used to be quite local. Now they have become regional, whether it's Russia-Ukraine or now Iran, with missiles flying to 12-13 countries. The situation is on the knife edge," he said, calling for de-escalation in the region. Stubb added that while countries may try to stay out of conflicts, global repercussions are unavoidable. "There's always an impact, whether it's oil prices, trade or maritime routes," he said, adding that the current situation "is not looking good." The Finnish President emphasised that India's balanced foreign policy allows it to maintain ties with multiple sides in global conflicts. "India is one of those rare countries that can pretty much speak with everyone. It has a pragmatic and realistic foreign policy and doesn't have deep alliances, which makes it quite open," he said. Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Stubb said Russia's invasion has ultimately backfired strategically. "Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has been a strategic failure. It wanted to make Ukraine Russian, but Ukraine became European. It wanted to prevent NATO enlargement but ended up with Finland and Sweden joining. It also wanted to demilitarise Europe, but defence spending is now rising," he said. He added that India's relationships with Russia, Ukraine and the United States place it in a strong position to remain diplomatically engaged. Speaking on tensions involving Iran, Stubb said recent developments have heightened risks in the region. "Iran made a strategic mistake with the counterattacks. It's not attacking only American or Israeli bases but also civilian infrastructure in the Gulf, which is dangerous," he said. Commenting on the role of US President Donald Trump in global conflicts, Stubb said fears that Trump's approach would be isolationist have not materialised. "President Trump is very engaged in foreign policy. Many feared his policy would be isolationist, but it has not been, whether in Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza or Iran," he said, while expressing hope that tensions in West Asia would eventually de-escalate. Looking ahead, Stubb expressed strong optimism about India's role in shaping the global order. "The future is Indian. I don't say this just because I'm in India. Demography, economy and history speak in your favour," he said. Stubb also reiterated his support for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council, arguing that global institutions must reflect contemporary geopolitical realities rather than those of 1945. "If we want to save multilateralism, we have to give power and a seat at the table to the countries that matter today," he said. Addressing Finland's evolving security policy, Stubb said the country's decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was driven by security considerations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He clarified that legislative changes under discussion are aimed at aligning Finland with NATO's deterrence framework. "We are upgrading legislation from the 1980s. Finland is not going to become a nuclear power, nor will we host or transport nuclear weapons during peacetime," he said. Instead, Finland seeks to participate in NATO's nuclear planning structure, which is part of the alliance's broader deterrence strategy. "Our decision is about protecting ourselves and being part of NATO's deterrence," Stubb added. - ANI Sanjeev Sanyal has highlighted a critical vulnerability in India's economy, with over 90% of its goods trade dependent on foreign shipping lines. He warned that targeted boycotts by a few major carriers could cause severe economic stress. In response, the government has initiated a major policy overhaul, including a 70,000-crore package and infrastructure status for the sector. Sanyal argues that India, with its steel and labour, is poised to become a global shipbuilding hub to secure its trade independence. Sanjeev Sanyal warns 95% of India's trade relies on foreign ships, posing a severe economic risk. Government launches maritime policy shift. New Delhi, March 7 India's heavy reliance on foreign vessels for international trade represents a significant strategic vulnerability, warned Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday, Sanyal noted that the domestic fleet is currently insufficient to protect the economy from potential global supply chain disruptions or targeted boycotts. Sanyal explained that the vast majority of India's goods trade is handled by international shipping lines, leaving the nation's economy exposed to external pressures. He stated, "90 to 95 per cent of all our goods trade is carried by foreign ships. So, if you really want to get India into trouble, all you really need to do is to get three or four of the largest shipping lines to boycott India for some reason. And this would really cause serious... severe stress to the Indian economy." The current scale of India's merchant fleet is a primary concern, with Sanyal pointing out that the country possesses only a small fraction of the necessary vessels. He noted: "India only has 480 functioning, seagoing vessels. I'm not taking fishing trawlers into account, but proper tankers and other things, just 480." Beyond the lack of ships, Sanyal highlighted a massive global imbalance in shipbuilding, where production is almost entirely concentrated in Northeast Asia. India currently accounts for a negligible portion of global construction. He said: "55 to 60 per cent of all the ships currently under construction or newly constructed were done in... China, another 20 per cent Japan, another 20 per cent South Korea. So if you combine those three countries in Northeast Asia, 95 per cent of all the ships currently under construction are in that one region. Rest of the world combined is 5 per cent, of which we are less than 0.5 per cent." To counter this, the government has begun a "huge reorientation" of maritime policy, including a significant financial package and infrastructure status for the sector. Sanyal mentioned: "In the last two or three years, we have taken this very, very seriously. We have changed all our shipping, ship flagging and ownership rules just a year ago. We have given a 70,000-crore package for ship building. We have given ships infrastructure status." Sanyal argued that India is uniquely positioned to become a global shipbuilding hub due to its steel production, design capabilities, and labour force. He emphasised that the sector is now attracting international attention: "In the last year and a half, I'm pleased to say we are not only getting Indian orders, we are also getting foreign orders, serious foreign orders. And some of the world's largest shipbuilders like Hyundai, Mitsubishi, etc, they're looking to shift some of their... shipbuilding activities to India." While high-tech sectors often dominate the headlines, Sanyal insisted that maritime independence is a top-tier national priority. He concluded: "People tend to think of all the high-tech stuff, you know, AI and chips and all that. But I would argue that shipbuilding is just as much a big priority area that India is pushing." Mehul Pandya, MD & Group CEO of CareEdge Group, also attended the event, and he spoke on the importance of the summit, stating: "It's an excellent initiative by ORF. The Raisina Dialogue is one of the premier conferences. There is an intense learning experience. The developments which are taking place are impacting every economy." - ANI India and Finland have elevated their bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability" during Finnish President Alexander Stubb's state visit. The two nations signed 11 key agreements, including a Migration and Mobility Partnership to facilitate the movement of Indian professionals and renewed cooperation on environmental and green energy projects. They agreed to establish a Joint Task Force on 6G and aim to double bilateral trade by 2030, leveraging the new India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Stubb discussed expanding collaboration in technology, Arctic research, and building resilient global supply chains. India and Finland elevate ties to a strategic partnership, signing 11 agreements on tech, mobility, and green energy during President Stubb's visit. New Delhi, March 5 India and Finland on Thursday marked a major milestone in their bilateral ties by elevating relations to a "Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability", with both countries agreeing on a series of initiatives covering trade, technology, mobility, sustainability, and innovation. The announcement was made during the state visit of Finnish President Alexander Stubb to India, coinciding with his role as Chief Guest at the 11th Raisina Dialogue. During the visit, the two countries signed an MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership, which will facilitate the movement of Indian professionals to Finland, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors. The leaders also renewed the existing MoU on Environmental Cooperation, expanding collaboration in areas such as bioenergy, waste-to-energy solutions, green hydrogen, power storage, and renewable energy systems, including wind, solar, and small hydropower. In addition, an MoU on cooperation in the field of statistics was signed to enable the exchange of best practices and mutual collaboration in official statistics. The state visit also saw announcements aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation, including the launch of joint research initiatives under an implementation arrangement between India's Department of Science and Technology and Finland's Innovation Funding Agency, Business Finland. Both sides also expressed their aim to double bilateral trade by 2030, leveraging opportunities created by the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Efforts to strengthen cooperation in emerging technologies were also agreed upon, with the establishment of a cross-sectoral Joint Working Group on Digitalisation, the creation of a Joint Task Force on 6G, and enhanced connectivity between startup ecosystems through the Indo-Finland Startup Corridor. India and Finland will also co-host the World Circular Economy Forum in 2026 and set up a Consular Dialogue between their foreign ministries to further streamline cooperation. Following his meeting with the Finnish President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, stated that the talks with Stubb were wide-ranging, covering trade, technology, infrastructure, defence, space, AI, semiconductors, education, and mobility. He added that the Migration and Mobility Agreement would provide new momentum to the partnership, while cooperation in Arctic and polar research was also discussed. "We see great scope in working together to ensure trustworthy technologies and resilient supply chains for the entire world. The Migration and Mobility Agreement will add momentum to our partnership. We are also expanding our cooperation in Arctic and polar research," the Prime Minister stated in his post. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a post on X also stated that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen collaboration across trade, investment, digitalisation, clean energy, circular economy, technology, education, innovation, and people-to-people ties, while also promoting multilateral cooperation and joint efforts against terrorism. "In a major milestone, the leaders agreed to elevate India-Finland relations to "Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability". The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to broaden and deepen cooperation in the areas of trade & investment, digitalisation & sustainability, clean energy & circular economy, semiconductors & critical minerals, education & innovation, technology, including AI, 6G, quantum computing and mobility & people-to-people ties. Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to eradicate terrorism in all its forms," the MEA stated. "Prime Minister Modi highlighted India's initiatives in digital transformation, skilling, and ease-of-doing business, and invited enhanced Finnish participation in India's flagship programmes. The leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of concern. They agreed to advance cooperation in the multilateral fora as well," it added. President Stubb thanked PM Modi for the warm welcome and highlighted that India is a key partner for Finland, noting that the newly signed EU-India Free Trade Agreement would open new avenues for trade, economic collaboration, science, and innovation. "Thank you for the warm welcome to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is an important partner for Finland. The state visit will further deepen our cooperation in the fields of trade, the economy, science and innovation. The newly signed EU-India Free Trade agreement opens new opportunities for both countries," the Finnish President said in a post on X. The visit and the agreements reached signal a comprehensive strategic vision for India-Finland relations, emphasising collaboration in digitalisation, sustainability, innovation, and technology, while creating a roadmap to expand bilateral trade, talent mobility, and joint research over the coming decade. - ANI India has made major progress in its decade-long goal to train 85,000 semiconductor engineers, with world-class Electronic Design Automation tools now available in 315 academic institutions. Students gain hands-on experience designing chips that are fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali, creating the world's largest open-access EDA program. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the massive employment opportunity as the global semiconductor industry grows to a $2 trillion market requiring 2 million skilled professionals. The program will now expand to 500 institutions under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to build a continuous talent pool across every state. India advances toward training 85,000 semiconductor engineers, expanding its world-class EDA program to 500 institutions for global hub ambitions. New Delhi, March 7 Government of India's initiative for prioritizing talent development through Training, Up-skilling and Workforce Development Programs under Chips to Startups initiative of India Semiconductor Mission, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that India has made significant progress in last 04 years itself for its 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. Vaishnaw informed that world-class Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools being supported by Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys and AMD have been made available in 315 academic institutions across the country. With the help of these tools, students are getting practical experience on designing semiconductor chips, Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a statement. These chips are being fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, giving students hands-on experience across the entire process from Design to Fabrication, Packaging and Testing. This initiative has evolved into the world's largest open-access EDA programme, with over 1.85 crore hours of EDA tool usage recorded for chip design training so far, and continuing to grow. He further stated that today, students from academic institutions across the nation from Assam to Gujarat and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are actively engaging in semiconductor design. This marks a significant milestone toward India's technological capability and self-reliance. Highlighting global industry requirements, Vaishnaw said that as the semiconductor industry grows from the current size of USD 800-900 billion to USD 2 trillion, there will be a demand for nearly 2 million skilled professionals. This presents massive employment opportunities for India's youth. He additionally announced that under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, the program will be expanded from 315 academic institutions to 500 academic institutions. This will help build a strong and continuous pool of trained talent in semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging and testing, across every state in the country. Vaishnaw reiterated that the Government of India is committed to building a strong and self-reliant ecosystem in the semiconductor sector. Through talent development, infrastructure creation, and industry collaboration under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, India aims to establish itself as a global semiconductor hub. - ANI A senior Taiwanese security official has lauded India as an "oasis of peace and stability," highlighting the strategic convergence between the two. He pointed to over 350 Taiwanese companies investing in India, with the high-tech and semiconductor sectors poised for major cooperation. The official expressed gratitude for India's diplomatic stance regarding stability in the Taiwan Strait and noted a shared commitment to national sovereignty. He framed the growing economic partnership as geopolitically significant for regional balance. Taiwan's NSC official praises India's stability, highlights growing semiconductor cooperation and shared geopolitical interests amid regional tensions. New Delhi, March 7 Highlighting the strengthening economic and strategic bond between Taipei and New Delhi, Vincent Yi-hsiang Chao, Deputy Secretary-General at the National Security Council in Taiwan, has described India as a vital "oasis of peace and stability" in a turbulent global landscape. While speaking to ANI, Chao pointed to the significant footprint of Taiwanese businesses in the country as a primary indicator of this growing trust. "350 Taiwanese companies have invested in India, and the number is growing. All of this is a testament to how Taiwanese companies and people see India as an oasis of peace and stability in a very turbulent region. We have a shared interest in peace and stability, in growing economic and trade ties, and we are determined to follow through on that," he said. The Deputy Secretary-General specifically identified the high-tech sector as a cornerstone for future bilateral engagement, noting that India's domestic strengths align perfectly with Taiwan's global leadership in technology. "The semiconductor industry is a global industry -- it stretches to every corner of the world, and India has a lot of traditional advantages in terms of human talent, software and innovation," he remarked. Chao emphasised that this partnership transcends mere commercial interests, carrying significant weight in the broader regional power structure. "We are going to see a lot of growing cooperation in the semiconductor, industrial and high-tech sectors between Taiwan and India. But I think also from a geopolitical perspective, having a good economic relationship is not only beneficial to India but to Taiwan as well. We see India as a very important geopolitical player, and our economic ties will reflect that," he added. Addressing the security challenges in the region, particularly the friction between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China (PRC), Chao expressed appreciation for New Delhi's diplomatic stance. "We are grateful that India has spoken out following the most recent round of PRC military exercises in our vicinity. The more like-minded countries come out and show concern over what is happening over the Taiwan Strait, it sends a very positive signal that peace and stability is in everybody's interest and that nobody wins in a conflict or a war scenario," he stated. He further underscored the hope for continued Indian engagement in maintaining regional order. "We hope that India will continue to show that interest in peace and stability, not only in the Taiwan Strait but in the Indo-Pacific region." Turning to the complex dynamics of India-China relations, the Taiwanese official noted that New Delhi's commitment to its own sovereignty acts as a unifying factor for like-minded partners. "We have seen that India wants avoidance of conflict, but also that India is going to stand up strongly for its national sovereignty and national interests. The Indian government has repeatedly said that we are going to have our own interests and strategic autonomy on this matter, and this is what brings us together in terms of our shared recognition," Chao observed. Regarding the specific territorial and bilateral disputes between the two neighbours, he maintained a respectful distance, noting that "India and China is an issue that is best left to a response from the Indian government." - ANI Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma affirmed India's steadfast support for a democratic, stable, and inclusive Bangladesh during an iftar reception in Dhaka. He highlighted the deep historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two nations, rooted in shared sacrifices during the 1971 Liberation War. The envoy emphasized a forward-looking partnership aimed at shared prosperity and discussed enhanced cooperation in local governance and rural development. The event was attended by senior Bangladeshi ministers, political leaders, and civil society members. Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma reiterates India's support for a democratic, stable, and inclusive Bangladesh, highlighting deep people-to-people ties. Dhaka, March 8 Pranay Verma, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, said on Saturday that India supports a democratic, stable and inclusive Bangladesh. Verma made the remarks while addressing an iftar reception hosted by the India High Commission in Dhaka. The event was attended by several senior ministers from the Bangladesh government, political leaders from different parties, and prominent members of civil society. In his address, he highlighted the depth and importance of the longstanding relationship between Bangladesh and India, underscoring the close ties between the two neighbouring countries. "As we gather here today, we are reminded of the bonds of friendship and societal and familial links between India and Bangladesh that connect our people, that connect the hearts of our people together, and that make our relationship a truly people-centric one. Our people share a rich history and a deep cultural connection. We are joined together by the indelible history of our shared sacrifices during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971," he added. "Today, as two aspiring and forward-moving societies, we stand at the cusp of a new future where we can offer to each other and to our region a shared prosperity by working together," the Indian envoy said. "India has and will always support a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh," Verma said. Recently, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh's Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, holding discussions over various areas of common interest. The discussions included enhanced cooperation to strengthen local governance structures and rural development, which are shared priorities of both countries. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral engagement in areas such as the rural economy, agricultural cooperatives, financial empowerment at the grassroots, etc. High Commissioner underlined that India-Bangladesh relations are founded on people-to-people ties and that India remains ready to engage with Bangladesh in a positive, constructive, and forward-looking manner to promote people-centric cooperation in all domains based on mutual interest and mutual benefit. - ANI Agricultural supply manufacturers in China's Xinjiang work at full capacity for spring farming Xinhua) 11:09, March 07, 2026 An employee monitors real-time field conditions to coordinate fertilizer delivery and stock through a smart system at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) This photo taken on March 5, 2026 shows an automatic loading machine at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Employees load bags of fertilizers onto a truck at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) An employee conducts an experiment at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 5, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Employees pack fertilizers at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A drone sprays fertilizers onto fields in Letuyi Town of Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A drone operator flies a drone to spray fertilizers onto fields in Letuyi Town of Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Trucks wait for loading at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 5, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) People load a drone with fertilizers in Letuyi Town of Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) An employee checks packaging at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 5, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) An employee works at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) An employee examines a bag of fertilizer at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 5, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Employees monitor facility operation at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 5, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) An automatic palletizing robot works on the production line at a fertilizer company in Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March 4, 2026. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) This aerial drone photo taken on March 4, 2026 shows a drone operator flying a drone to spray fertilizers onto fields in Letuyi Town of Manas County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Agricultural supply manufacturers in Xinjiang are working at full capacity to fulfill orders and ensure a steady flow of fertilizers and materials for spring farming. Ample farm supplies and improved field management, together with the use of drones, provide strong support for a smooth start of another round of spring sowing, which is key to achieving higher grain output and increased local farmer incomes. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan) Sharlot Kendall, left, Len Kendall, center, and their 3-year-old daughter walk around the wildfire remnants of their home on Dec. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades. The Kendalls complained repeatedly to the California Department of Insurance about State Farm's handling of their claim. (Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times) A brokered deal with regulators and consumer advocates will allow State Farm General to keep controversial increases in home insurance rates that took effect last year in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The agreement sent to a judge late Friday cements a $530-million emergency hike in home insurance rates Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara negotiated with the insurer last summer. "The agreement will provide financial relief to many policyholders while ensuring continued coverage for State Farm policyholders while Californias insurance market stabilizes," the insurance department said in a news release. State Farm argued the emergency hike was necessary because catastrophic fire losses jeopardized its financial ratings. The company has reported that it paid out $6.2 billion in claims last year, largely from the wildfires, with most of the costs covered through reinsurance payments. The company has told regulators it anticipates to pay an additional $1 billion in claims. The deal allows the insurer to keep an average 17% increase in homeowner rates. Local rates for many of the company's 1 million home customers were much higher. Read more: L.A. fire victims say state regulators ignored complaints about State Farm However, consumer advocates argued the agreement held the line on even higher increases and halted further policy cancellations that have deepened a crisis in the state's insurance industry. State Farm, California's largest home insurer, froze new business in 2023, announced 72,000 mass non-renewals, and sought a series of rate hikes. Its average homeowners premium in California doubled from 2020 to 2024. Under Friday's agreement, State Farm agrees to forgo mass non-renewals in 2026 and undergo further review of its rates by 2027. Additionally, State Farm will be required to return nearly two-thirds of its 15% increase to condominium owners, deliver a small refund to rental property owners and be able to raise premiums for renters a half a percent. "This rate enables State Farm General to continue serving existing California customers," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor our capacity to support the risks we insure and maintain the financial strength needed to pay claims and support customers and communities when it matters most. If approved by an administrative law judge, the settlement will be forwarded to Lara, who is expected to back it. The arrangement sidesteps efforts to tie State Farm's rates to its handling of disaster claims. India and the United Kingdom convened a conference in New Delhi to enhance cooperation on safety standards for green hydrogen technologies. The event, part of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, brought together government, industry, and academic representatives from both nations. Discussions covered the entire hydrogen value chain, focusing on safety frameworks, international standards, and regulatory practices. The conference was organized by the National Centre for Hydrogen Safety in collaboration with the British High Commission and World Resources Institute India. India and the UK held a conference to strengthen safety standards and regulatory frameworks for green hydrogen deployment under India's National Mission. New Delhi, March 7 India and the United Kingdom held a conference in the national capital to strengthen cooperation on safety standards and regulatory frameworks for green hydrogen, an emerging clean energy source that India is promoting under its National Green Hydrogen Mission, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said on Saturday. The event brought together representatives from government, industry, academia, standards bodies, testing institutions, research organisations, and regulatory agencies from both countries. The conference focused on strengthening cooperation on the safe deployment of green hydrogen technologies as part of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, the ministry said. The discussions covered safety frameworks, international standards, and regulatory practices across the green hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, transportation, and end-use applications. The conference was organised by the National Centre for Hydrogen Safety, which operates under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in collaboration with the British High Commission in India and World Resources Institute India. The inaugural session began with remarks by Mohammad Rihan, Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy. In his keynote address, Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Indian Government, highlighted the need for strong safety frameworks, clear standards, and global collaboration to enable large-scale deployment of green hydrogen technologies. The conference also saw participation from key regulators responsible for hydrogen safety and standards in India. Officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation discussed regulatory approaches to safety compliance, risk assessment, and hazard management in hydrogen systems. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Indian Standards shared insights on developing hydrogen standards and aligning them with global best practices. Technical sessions during the conference included presentations by experts from industry, research institutions, and academia. These sessions focused on issues such as safe design and operation of hydrogen production facilities, storage and transportation systems, and safety in hydrogen end-use applications. Experts also discussed risk assessment methods, lessons from past incidents, and emerging technologies such as advanced sensors and artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems for hydrogen safety. - IANS World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka began her Indian Wells campaign with a confident 6-4, 6-2 victory over qualifier Himeno Sakatsume. Fourth seed Coco Gauff overcame a stern challenge from Kamilla Rakhimova, saving a set point in the second set before winning in a tiebreak. Former champion Naomi Osaka also progressed, defeating Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva in straight sets. In other action, Camila Osorio staged a dramatic comeback, saving three match points to beat Iva Jovic. Aryna Sabalenka powers into Round 2 at Indian Wells. Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka also advance after tense opening battles in California. California, March 7 World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka made a confident start to her campaign at the Indian Wells, defeating Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-2 in the opener. The Belarusian, returning to competition after finishing runner-up to Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open, looked sharp despite the break from tournament play. Sabalenka dictated the tempo with her aggressive serving and powerful groundstrokes against the 136th-ranked Sakatsume, who was contesting her first match against a top-20 opponent. Sakatsume struggled with nerves early, surrendering her serve in the opening game. Although she settled briefly, saving four break points to hold in the fifth game, Sabalenka's power proved decisive. The Belarusian secured the only break she needed to claim the first set before tightening her grip on the contest. After Sakatsume opened the second set with a hold, Sabalenka surged ahead, reeling off five straight games and wrapping up the match in 72 minutes without facing a single break point. Elsewhere, fourth seed Coco Gauff overcame a stern challenge from Russian qualifier Kamilla Rakhimova to secure a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) victory. Rakhimova, ranked 88th in the world, threatened to push the match to a decider after building a two-break lead in the second set and serving for it three times. She even held a set point before the American rallied. Gauff forced a tiebreak and held her nerve, winning the final three points after trailing 5-4. "I felt like if I could get into the tiebreaker, I have a pretty good tiebreak record," she said. "I knew the odds were in my favour when the tiebreaker started." Former champion Naomi Osaka also progressed, beating Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes. Osaka relied on her powerful baseline game to pull away after a tight opening set and will next face Colombia's Camila Osorio. Osorio booked her place after a dramatic comeback against American teenager Iva Jovic. The Colombian fought back from a set down and saved three match points before sealing a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory in a gruelling two hours and 39 minutes in front of a partisan home crowd. - IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that instability from geopolitical rivalries, exemplified by the Gulf crisis, is increasingly becoming a persistent global reality. He highlighted the Strait of Hormuz's critical role for energy security, where any disruption impacts worldwide oil supplies and trade. Singh expressed confidence that India would provide leadership in the maritime sector by pursuing self-reliance, particularly in defence technology and shipbuilding. He emphasized that self-reliance is the only way to overcome supply chain disruptions in this uncertain era. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warns geopolitical rivalries, like the Gulf crisis, are creating a persistent "new normal" of instability impacting global trade. Kolkata, March 6 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that the risks of instability caused by geopolitical rivalry across land, sea, and air, such as the current tensions in the Gulf region involving the US, Israel, and Iran, are increasingly becoming the new normal. Speaking at the Sagar Sankalp Seminar in Kolkata on Friday, the Defence Minister spoke at length about the impact of the crisis, considering the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf for global energy security. "Any disruption in the region directly affects oil and gas supplies worldwide, and hence, uncertainties in the region will significantly impact global trade and economies. Rising geopolitical competition across land, sea, air, and even space is surely a matter of concern. What is even more worrying is that such instability risks are becoming the new normal," Singh said. According to him, the current development in West Asia being highly unusual, it is difficult now to make any specific and firm comment on what the crisis will ultimately lead to. However, he added, that despite the uncertainties over the geopolitical competition, he is confident that India will provide leadership in the maritime sector. "Self-reliance is the only way out to achieve that, overcoming the supply chain disruptions," the Defence Minister said. Claiming that in the current era of global geopolitics, oceans have once again come to the centre of the world's power balance, the Defence Minister observed that as a major maritime nation, India will have to provide leadership with confidence, capability, and a clear vision. "In the defence sector of the country, high-end and precision technologies are being utilised. Hence, our government has, from the very beginning, believed that in this era of uncertainty, the only way to avoid supply chain disruptions is self-reliance. One of the major pillars of our vision for self-reliance is defence public sector undertakings," Singh added. He also said that the goal of the Indian government is to make India emerge as one of the top ten global players in the sector of shipbuilding. - IANS UN humanitarians warn of an alarming intensification of fighting in Sudan's Kordofan region, which has killed and injured civilians. Confrontations between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have disrupted key aid routes and led to drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) calls for parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians. The UN Security Council had previously expressed deep concern over the continued violence and condemned attacks on civilians and aid assets. UN humanitarians report intensified fighting in Sudan's Kordofan region, with drone strikes hitting hospitals, killing civilians, and blocking critical aid routes. United Nations, March 6 An alarming intensification of fighting in Sudan's Kordofan region has killed and injured civilians, destroyed homes, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, UN humanitarians said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the escalation of violence also impeded relief workers' ability to reach civilians in need of aid. The office said that in South Kordofan, confrontations between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have intensified over the past week, with local humanitarian organisations reporting disruptions along key routes leading into the city of Dilling. "Humanitarian partners also report that a drone strike this week hit the Dilling General Hospital, killing at least four patients and injuring several civilians," OCHA said. The office said that violence has also escalated in the town of Kadugli, resulting in a highly volatile security environment for communities and humanitarian responders. Attacks in North Kordofan, including along the road between the cities of Kosti and El Obeid, raise serious concerns for both humanitarian and commercial supply chains. OCHA said the city of El Obeid has faced continued drone attacks over the past five days, with strikes reported against a hospital and government sites, Xinhua news agency reported. "OCHA once again calls for the parties to adhere to their obligations under IHL (international humanitarian law), including the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as facilitating humanitarian access," the office said. Earlier on February 24, the UN Security Council had expressed deep concern over continued violence across Sudan, including in the Kordofan and Darfur states, calling on all parties to the conflict to immediately halt the fighting. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council strongly had condemned reports of repeated drone attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian personnel as well as property and assets, including multiple attacks impacting the World Food Programme since the start of February 2026. - IANS Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Palantir Technologies co-founder Peter Thiel to discuss the advanced technology landscape. Their conversation centered on the current state and future prospects of fields like artificial intelligence and big data analytics in both Japan and the United States. The meeting highlights the growing importance of such technologies for economic growth and national security. Such exchanges aim to foster innovation and strengthen technological collaboration between the two nations. Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi held talks with Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel on AI, big data, and US-Japan tech cooperation and innovation. Tokyo, March 6 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held discussions with Peter Thiel, Co-Founder and Chairman of Palantir Technologies, at the Prime Minister's Office, focusing on advanced technology developments and cooperation. As per an official statement from the Japanese Prime Minister's office on March 5, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi received a courtesy call from Peter Thiel at the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting brought together the Japanese government and one of the leading figures in the global technology sector to exchange views on the evolving landscape of advanced technologies. In a social media post, Japan's Prime Minister's Office said that the discussion between the two focused on advanced technology in Japan. During the interaction, Takaichi noted that the conversation covered the current state and prospects of advanced technology fields in both Japan and the United States. "I received a courtesy call from Peter Thiel, co-founder and chairman of Palantir Technologies Inc. We exchanged views on the current state and prospects of advanced technology fields in Japan and the United States, among other topics," the Japanese Prime Minister said. Palantir Technologies is a US-based technology company known for developing advanced data analytics platforms that help governments and businesses analyse large and complex datasets. The company provides software that integrates artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and machine learning to support decision-making. Its platforms are widely used by government agencies, defence organisations, financial institutions, and private companies to analyse data, detect patterns, and improve operational efficiency. The discussion between Takaichi and Thiel is considered important as advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and digital infrastructure are becoming central to economic growth and national security. Exchanges between policymakers and technology leaders can help strengthen collaboration, encourage innovation, and support technological development between Japan and the United States. - ANI Veteran actress and politician Jaya Prada shared a heartfelt birthday wish for her son Samrat on social media, calling him the biggest blessing in her life. She expressed immense pride watching him grow and shared a handsome portrait of him. Reports indicate Samrat is her nephew, whom she adopted and raised as her own son. Jaya Prada is often seen sharing warm family moments with him on her social media accounts. Veteran actress Jaya Prada pens an emotional birthday message for her son Samrat, sharing a stylish portrait and expressing her immense pride. Mumbai, March 6 Veteran star and politician Jaya Prada, on Friday, penned a heartfelt birthday wish for her son Samrat, expressing how 'proud she is to see him grow.' Taking to her social media account, the actress shared a handsome portrait of the birthday boy, and showered him with love, further calling him the biggest blessing in her life. Sharing the post, Jaya Prada wrote, "Happy birthday my dear Samrat You are the biggest blessing in my life and watching you grow makes me so proud every day may your life be filled with happiness success good health and endless smiles." She added, 'Always remember that we love you more than words can express. Have a fantastic birthday and an amazing your ahead". In the picture shared by the actress, Samrat is seen posing stylishly in a portrait shot. For the uninitiated, Jaya Prada reportedly has no biological children. According to reports, Samrat is her nephew whom she later adopted and ever since then raised as her own son. The actress is often seen sharing warm moments with him on social media. Recently, the two were also seen visiting a temple together, offering prayers and spending quality time. They were also seen having a gala time in New York, USA. Talking about her Bollywood career, Jaya Prada was touted as one of the most popular actresses of the late 1970s and 1980s. She made her film debut with the Telugu film Bhoomi Kosam and soon became a prominent face across Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema. In Bollywood, she delivered several hit films including Sargam, Tohfa and Sharabi. Her on-screen pairings with actors like Jeetendra and Rishi Kapoor were among the most successful and loved collaborations of the 1980s. Apart from her acting career, Jaya Prada also entered the political space in the 1990s and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament. She married film producer Shrikant Nahata in 1986, after which she gradually reduced her work in films over the period of time. - IANS The Congress-led Karnataka government has announced a ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age to mitigate the adverse effects of mobile phone usage. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presented these measures as part of the 2026-27 state budget, focusing on student well-being and academic development. The reforms include appointing mental health counsellors, upgrading hundreds of schools, and launching an AI-based digital tutor for over 12 lakh students. A massive investment of Rs 3,900 crore over three years will fund these initiatives, alongside plans to fill 15,000 teaching vacancies. Karnataka announces social media ban for under-16s, mental health counsellors, and major education reforms in the 2026-27 state budget. Bengaluru, March 6 In a major move, the Congress-led Karnataka government has announced social media ban for children under 16 years of age in the state. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement on Friday in this regard while presenting the budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly. "To prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile phone usage on children, the use of social media will be banned for children below 16 years of age," CM Siddaramaiah announced. The announcement was made as part of a set of measures outlined by the Karnataka government in the education sector, aimed at improving the overall well-being, academic environment and development of students, he stated. Earlier, Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa stated that the government is seriously considering banning social media for schoolchildren. CM Siddaramaiah further stated, "To address students' mental health, one qualified mental health counsellor will be appointed at each of the 204 Block Resource Centres (BRCs)." The CM further stated that strict measures will be taken to prevent drug use in schools, colleges and universities through awareness programmes, strict regulations and the establishment of support centres for students. CM Siddaramaiah further announced, as part of the broader education reforms, the government has also decided to upgrade 184 Government Higher Primary Schools into High Schools and 50 High Schools into Pre-University Colleges, in line with the announcement made in the 2025-26 budget, to facilitate better access to higher education for students. The process of obtaining and renewing recognition for private schools has also been simplified by enabling online submission of applications and documents, CM Siddaramaiah stated. To provide quality education under one roof, the government will upgrade a total of 800 schools into Karnataka Public Schools. Of these, 500 schools will be developed with assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 200 through funds from the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), and 100 through the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC). The initiative will involve an expenditure of Rs. 3,900 crore over the next three years, CM Siddaramaiah announced. To improve infrastructure, Rs 565 crore will be allocated for construction of new classrooms and repair works in government primary schools, high schools and Pre-University colleges. Additionally, Rs 75 crore has been earmarked for construction of toilets and Rs 25 crore for purchasing furniture for schools, CM Siddaramaiah stated. The government will also provide Rs 125 crore for the maintenance of government primary schools, high schools and Pre-University colleges, with the funds to be directly transferred to School and College Development Committees, he stated. To introduce bilingual teaching in government primary schools, an English language training programme will be conducted for primary school teachers at a cost of Rs 24 crore, CM Siddaramaiah stated. In collaboration with IIT Dharwad, Karnataka will introduce AI-based learning support for about 12.28 lakh students studying from Classes 8 to 12. The initiative will provide a personalised digital self-learning tutor at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore, CM Siddaramaiah stated. The government also plans to fill 15,000 vacant teaching posts in schools and colleges during the 2026-27 academic year, CM Siddaramaiah stated. - IANS PM Modi lays foundation for Kota-Bundi airport, launches water projects, calling it a day of new hope for Rajasthan's Hadoti region. Jaipur, March 7 A video message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was played during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport and the launch of major drinking water projects on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a new milestone of hope and achievement for the Hadoti region. He added that he had recently visited Rajasthan and from the sacred land of Ajmer, laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees aimed at accelerating the state's progress. On that occasion, appointment letters were also distributed by Prime Minister Modi to more than 21,000 youths from Rajasthan. The Prime Minister noted that the launch of two major development initiatives in Rajasthan within a single week reflects the rapid pace of development in the state. Prime Minister Modi described the occasion as a day of new hope and a significant achievement for the entire Hadoti region, including Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar. Highlighting Kota's importance, the Prime Minister remarked that Kota is not only a centre of education but also a centre of energy. He also referred to the region's well-known products and heritage, including Kota Kachori, Kota Doria, Kota Stone, sandstone, and several important religious sites in and around Kota. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Saturday that the people of the region had long demanded the establishment of a greenfield airport. Efforts toward this objective had been made over many years under different state governments, Speaker Birla added. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the promise made in Kota in 2023. Speaker Birla also recalled that Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had assured during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that the long-standing dream of an airport in Kota would be realised, and that promise has now been fulfilled. He emphasised that Kota already enjoys strong road and rail connectivity, and the addition of air connectivity will further accelerate development in the region. The region, Speaker Birla said, is blessed by the Chambal river, has abundant water resources, and is one of the largest producers of electricity in the country. The Lok Sabha Speaker also told that Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Limited has set a target to develop nearly 600 hectares of land near the proposed airport, which is expected to open new opportunities for industrial development in the region. Looking ahead, Speaker Birla expressed confidence that Kota will emerge as a major IT hub in the future. "Over the next two years, significant growth is expected across sectors such as industry, agricultural processing, and tourism, paving the way for rapid development and making the Hadoti region one of the fastest-growing regions in the country." The Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,507 crore (nearly $180 million). The airport will have a passenger handling capacity of 1,000 passengers at a time. It will feature a 20,000-square metre terminal building, a 3,200-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway, and seven apron bays for parking Airbus A321 aircraft. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the airport is expected to be completed within the next two years. He added that the terminal building will reflect the cultural heritage of the Hadoti region so that visitors arriving in Kota can experience the region's identity and hospitality from the moment they arrive here. Chief Minister Sharma also reiterated the BJP-led Rajasthan government's commitment to ensuring water for every farm and safe drinking water for every household in the state. - IANS The Kurdistan Regional Government has issued a strong denial of reports claiming it is involved in a campaign to arm Kurdish opposition groups and send them into Iranian territory. A government spokesperson labeled the allegations as malicious and unfounded, asserting that the region is not part of any effort to expand war and tensions. Instead, the KRG called for peace and stability while condemning attacks on its territory and urging intervention from the federal Iraqi government and international community. This comes amid ongoing regional conflict, with Iran's Revolutionary Guards declaring readiness for a prolonged war and promising new strategic weapons. The Kurdistan Regional Government denies reports it is part of a campaign to arm Kurdish opposition against Iran, calling for peace and condemning attacks. Tehran, March 6 The Kurdistan Regional Government has denied reports suggesting that it was going to become a part of the campaign against Iran. "Reports that speak about a role of the Kurdistan Region and the allegations claiming that we are part of a plan to arm and send Kurdish opposition parties into Iranian territory are completely unfounded. We categorically deny them and affirm that they are being published deliberately and maliciously. At the same time, the Kurdistan Regional Government and the political parties within it are not part of any campaign to expand the war and tensions in the region. On the contrary, we call for peace and stability in the region. We strongly condemn the cowardly attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, and we call on the federal government and the international community to intervene to stop these assaults and protect our land, our people, and our region," Peshawa Hawramani Spokesperson of the Kurdistan Region Government said in a post on X. Earlier, a report in the Economist suggested that Kurdish forces are building up their force on the border. even as Israeli and US forces continue to pound Iran. A report on CNN further said, that the CIA was working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran. Iranian Kurdish armed groups have thousands of forces operating along the Iraq-Iran border. CNN also reported, citing a a senior Iranian Kurdish official that US President Donald Trump had spoken with the President of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI). The KDPI was one of the groups targeted by Iran's IRGC. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said Iran is fully prepared for a "prolonged war" and is set to introduce a new generation of strategic weaponry that has not yet been seen on the battlefield. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini said the country is prepared for a long war to punish the aggressor. The IRGC claimed that the waves of attacks under the Operation True Promise have only utilized a fraction of Iran's actual capabilities. "Iran's new initiatives and weapons are on the way," the spokesperson declared. "These technologies have not yet been deployed on a large scale. The enemy should expect painful blows in every upcoming operational wave." The conflict is already in Day 6, with the US and Israel continuing intensive bombing of Iranian targets while Iran has responded with bursts of attacks on US assets in the region. - ANI Life has returned to normal in the Kashmir Valley after authorities lifted all restrictions that had been in place for six days. Shops, transport, banks, and government offices are functioning as usual, while security forces remain deployed to monitor the situation. 5G internet services and prepaid mobile call facilities, which were suspended to prevent the upload of objectionable content, have been restored. The restrictions were imposed following protests that erupted after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei in air strikes. Kashmir Valley resumes normal life as authorities lift restrictions, restore 5G internet, and reopen businesses after six days of closure following protests. Srinagar, March 7 Life returned to normal after six days on Saturday in Kashmir Valley as authorities lifted all restrictions and people started their day-to-day routine as usual. Shops, private transport, other businesses, public transport, banks, post offices and government offices started working as usual in the entire Valley. Deployments of police and the security forces continued to remain on ground to keep a close watch on the situation as people came out to buy essentials of life. 5G Internet services and call facility on prepaid mobile phones were restored yesterday evening in the entire Valley. These had been brought down to prevent miscreants and anti-national elements from uploading objectionable content on the social media. Schools, colleges and universities in the Valley had been ordered to remain closed till March 7 and these will re-open on Monday. All exams scheduled till Saturday had been postponed by the Kashmir University and the central university of Kashmir. Officials said new dates would he announced for these exams by the university authorities soon. Private transport and pedestrian movement also resumed in city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar. In order to enforce restrictions, security forces had erected barricades and used coils of concertina wire to block passage inside the city centre during the last five days. Protests had broken out in the Valley last week after the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran. Protesters clashed with the security forces at a number of places during those those protests. The protesters were more aggressive in Shia Muslim dominated areas. Authorities had imposed restrictions to protect civilian life and property in the Valley. Despite keeping heightened vigil on the situation, police and the security forces showed exemplary patience and professionalism in dealing with the situation. In order to instill confidence among the people, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah interacted with the members of the civil society including representatives from religious, social, business communities and prominent citizens on Wednesday. Omar appealed people to observe their grief with dignity and discipline without doing anything to disturb the law and order situation. He had got positive response from the civil society members during that interaction. - IANS In todays CEO Daily: Phil Wahba interviews new Target CEO Michael Fiddelke. The big leadership story: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel is putting his salary into company stock. The markets: Mostly up at the end of a volatile week. Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune. Good morning. Earlier this week, I traveled to Target headquarters in Minneapolis to interview newly minted CEO Michael Fiddelke. (You can read my full story here.) Target had just reported a fourth straight quarter of comparable sales decline, continuing a slump that has seen it lose market share to many rivals. That same day, Fiddelke outlined for an audience of Wall Street analysts an ambitious plan he said would bring the most change Target has seen in a decade. But Fiddelke, a 23-year company lifer who took the reins five weeks ago, said that plan cant work unless Target returns to a culture of talking honestly about failures. Candor is one of the things culturally thats really important for us right now, because you cant solve problems youre not talking about, Fiddelke told me. While that might sound squishy, it does echo the approach taken by Macys CEO Tony Spring, who told me the same thing in October and has watched the retailers long-awaited turnaround take hold. Fiddelke, 49, is not kidding about the pace of change at Target: the cheap-chic retailer, which was thrown off its game by a COVID business boom and culture wars over DEI and LGBTQ rights, is overhauling categories it previously owned such as home goods, and clothing. It will add more space to its grocery sections, revamp its beauty business, and will ramp up store remodelings and renovations. A culture that didnt favor candor in recent years led to boring and off-trend offerings and stores that have lost a lot of their zhuzh, yielding weak sales for three years. (Target expects net sales to be up slightly this year, and shares rose 7% on Tuesday.) Fiddelke, who grew up on a farm in Iowa, says he learned early in his career at Target how crucial brutal honesty is to professional and corporate success. He spent his first five years on the retailers finance team before doing a tour of duty in stores that he thought would be a breeze. I thought I had this place figured out. I was full of strong opinions about what Target should and shouldnt do, he recalls. It didnt take long for things to go south. I didnt know the first thing about what it really takes to run a store on the front lines. After he confessed to his boss that he was out of his depth, she told him that the admission would pave the way for professional growth. If youre vulnerable and curious, then candid, now we can do the work to learn, he recalls her saying. And thats a lesson he knows he needs to tap as he works to make Target Tarzhay again. Contact CEO Daily via Diane Brady at diane.brady@fortune.com This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Major Swathi Shantha Kumar of the Indian Army has been honored with the prestigious UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 in the gender category for her project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'. She led a pioneering team of 20 women soldiers, the first such Indian contingent deployed on a UN mission in South Sudan. Her responsibilities included operational planning and conducting various patrols in challenging terrain to protect civilians and build community trust. The officer emphasized that the award reflects the collective effort of her team and the guiding principle of "service before self" upheld by the Indian Army. Major Swathi Shantha Kumar receives UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 for her project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace' in South Sudan. Exclusive interview details. New Delhi, March 7 Major Swathi Shantha Kumar, a Bengaluru-based officer serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has been honoured with the UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 in the gender category for her project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'. Speaking to, the Indian Army officer shared her experiences during the mission, her key responsibilities on the ground, and the challenges she faced while serving in the conflict-affected region. Major Swathi Kumar said the recognition reflects the collective effort of her entire team of Indian women peacekeepers who were deployed in South Sudan for the mission. "I have recently received the UN Secretary-General's Award for 2025 in the gender category for gender-inclusive peacekeeping. This award signifies the effort my team has put in because we were a team of 20 women soldiers from India. It was the first time we were participating in the UN mission in South Sudan. This recognition reflects the work my team has done and the guidance we received from our battalion, the Army Headquarters in Delhi, and the Indian Army," she told IANS. Major Swathi Kumar further added that although the soldiers were deployed on the ground in South Sudan, they constantly received guidance and support from India. "Even though we were the soldiers on the ground, we were always guided by our battalion and Army Headquarters in Delhi. That support helped us move forward and carry out our responsibilities effectively," she said. Speaking about her role in the mission, Major Swathi Kumar said her primary responsibilities involved operational planning and conducting various types of patrols to ensure the safety of civilians and maintain peace in the region. "My primary responsibilities included carrying out operational activities. We were mainly involved in planning patrols because, as a battalion deployed in the UN mission, we conduct different types of patrols. These include short-distance and long-distance patrols. We also conduct river and air patrols," Major Swathi Kumar said. She added that the terrain and weather conditions in South Sudan often made movement extremely difficult. "During the wet season, many roads become inaccessible due to flooding and heavy rainfall. Because of this, we had to adopt different approaches to reach remote areas and far-off payams. Conducting river and air patrols helped us ensure that we could still reach communities in those regions," she added. Talking about the challenges faced during the mission, Major Swathi Kumar said that while Indian Army personnel are trained to deal with difficult situations, serving in a completely new environment required adaptability. "As military personnel in the Indian Army, we are trained to overcome challenges. However, the environment there was entirely new because we were serving in a different country and interacting with different communities. We had a specific mandate to execute, and within that mandate, the protection of civilians was the top priority," she said. Major Swathi Kumar also spoke about the motivation behind her award-winning project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'. According to her, the project reflected the work and engagement carried out by her team during the mission. "This project represents the actions we undertook during the mission. When we went there, we realised that women soldiers and peacekeepers needed to be more involved in operational activities and community engagement," she said. Major Swathi Kumar added that her team also identified a communication gap between the local community and the UN mission, which encouraged them to take more proactive steps. "When we reached the mission area, we realised that there was a small gap between the community and the UN mission. We started engaging with the people through operational patrols and community interactions. These activities helped us build trust and improve communication between the mission and the local population," she said. Highlighting the values that guide Indian Army personnel, Major Swathi Kumar said the principle of "service before self" remained central to their work during the mission. "The ethos of the Indian Army is 'service before self'. Throughout our training and our deployment, both in India and abroad, we follow this principle. When we participate in peacekeeping missions and interact with people there, we understand that we are also representing our nation," she said. She also had a message for women serving in peacekeeping roles. "For every woman serving in such missions, it is important to believe in the mission because the mandate itself clearly states what needs to be done. Every community and every mission has its own challenges, so it is important to find innovative approaches and trust one's own process," she said. Major Swathi Kumar further emphasised the importance of empowering women in society. "Empowering women does not mean empowering just one individual; it means empowering an entire family. When women are given education, economic stability, and opportunities, it benefits the whole community," she added. - IANS Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has held separate phone conversations with leaders from Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Iran to convey Malaysia's position calling for peaceful approaches and restraint to ease rising Middle East tensions. He expressed appreciation for efforts by Qatar and Bahrain to ensure the safety of Malaysian residents and conveyed sympathy to Iran. Despite the significant geopolitical risks from the conflict, analysts from Maybank Investment Bank expect the Malaysian ringgit to remain relatively resilient due to strong economic fundamentals. The currency's performance is supported by Malaysia's status as a net oil importer, a current account surplus, and fiscal prudence. PM Anwar Ibrahim holds calls with Middle East leaders, advocating restraint. Analysts say Malaysia's ringgit remains resilient despite regional conflict risks. Kuala Lumpur, March 7 Malaysia has recently held phone conversations with several Middle Eastern leaders, calling for peaceful approaches and restraint to ease rising tensions in the region. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in several posts on social media on Saturday that Malaysia's position was conveyed during separate phone conversations recently with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Anwar said they exchanged views on the current developments in Qatar and Bahrain as well as the wider Middle East region following the attacks on Iran. "I also appreciate the efforts of the governments of Qatar and Bahrain in ensuring the safety and welfare of Malaysians residing in both countries. We agreed that all parties should prioritize peaceful approaches and exercise restraint from any actions that could jeopardize regional stability and security," he said. Meanwhile, Anwar also held a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to convey Malaysia's sympathy and solidarity with the people of Iran during this extremely difficult time, Xinhua news agency reported. Malaysia is also deeply concerned over the prolonged conflict's implications for global peace, stability, and well-being, said Anwar. The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on February 28, killing Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targetting Israel and US assets across the region. However, Malaysia's ringgit is expected to remain relatively resilient despite rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East, with analysts saying the currency could outperform regional peers on the back of strong economic fundamentals and robust technology-sector demand. Maybank Investment Bank said in a note on Friday that, despite the recent conflict posing significant risks, it sees the ringgit still faring better than other peers, given that Malaysia is a net oil importer. According to the research house, the country's strong fundamentals, current account surplus, fiscal prudence and political stability, all play a part in helping the ringgit better weather the challenging environment. "Also, higher oil prices can actually back higher dividend payments from state-owned enterprises towards the budget," it added. - IANS Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Yumnam reviewed the progress of the vital 111-km Jiribam-Imphal railway project with senior railway officials. The project, with a cost of Rs 21,885 crore, has already achieved approximately 90 per cent physical completion. Once finished, it will connect the state capital Imphal to the national railway network, significantly enhancing transport and supply chains. Officials state the line will boost tourism, industrial growth, and overall socio-economic development for Manipur. Manipur CM reviews the 111-km Jiribam-Imphal railway, 90% complete. The project promises to boost connectivity, tourism, and the state's economy. Imphal/Guwahati, March 7 Senior officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway, led by General Manager Ashish Bansal, met Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Yumnam and discussed the progress of the vital 111-km Jiribam-Imphal railway project, officials said on Saturday. An official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Bansal and other railway officials apprised the Chief Minister of the latest developments and construction progress of the railway line connecting Jiribam, which adjoins Assam, with the state capital Imphal. In a post on Facebook, the Chief Minister said: "Called on by Ashish Bansal, General Manager, NF Railway Construction (Maligaon), along with accompanying officials, at the Secretariat. The delegation apprised me of the latest progress on the construction of the railway line connecting Imphal, a landmark infrastructure project for the state." "Emphasised that the commissioning of this railway line will significantly strengthen Manipur's transport infrastructure, enhance connectivity, and ensure a more efficient and secure supply chain. This transformative project will greatly contribute to improving the ease of living for our people, in line with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added. The Chief Minister also said that the state government remains fully committed to extending all necessary support to ensure the timely completion of this crucial infrastructure project for the progress and prosperity of Manipur. According to NFR officials, the Rs 21,885 crore Jiribam-Imphal railway project has already achieved around 90 per cent physical progress. Officials said that the railway line, once completed, is expected to significantly boost tourism, promote industrial growth, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to the state's overall socio-economic development. Upon completion of the project, Imphal will be connected to the national railway network, becoming the fifth capital city in the northeastern region to have a rail link, after Dispur, Agartala, Itanagar, and Aizawl. Meanwhile, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla recently visited the Noney district to inspect the world's highest railway pier bridge being constructed over the Ijei River. The railway bridge forms part of the 111-km Jiribam-Imphal railway project and will play a crucial role in connecting the state capital with the national railway network. During the visit, railway engineers briefed the Governor about the ongoing construction work and informed him that the bridge is nearing completion and is expected to be finished soon. Bhalla appreciated the engineers' efforts and encouraged them to continue working diligently in the larger interest of the state's people. - IANS Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has announced that development works worth over Rs 700 crore are in progress to modernize Tura. The projects include road paving, street lighting, beautification, and the installation of hundreds of CCTV cameras for surveillance. Sangma emphasized that infrastructure improvements must be coupled with community participation and civic discipline to ensure lasting transformation. During a public interaction, residents also raised local issues including the need for a community hall and concerns over drug activities. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma announces over Rs 700 crore in development works to transform Tura into a modern, well-connected urban centre. Shillong, March 7 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said on Saturday that development works worth more than Rs 700 crore are currently underway to transform Tura into a modern and well-connected urban centre, while stressing the importance of community participation in maintaining civic discipline and cleanliness. Speaking after inaugurating the Nehru Ading Locality Beautification Project at Hawakhana in Tura, the Chief Minister added that the state government has been implementing multiple interventions to improve infrastructure and urban facilities in the town. "I am happy to visit this locality for the first time in my official capacity. Transformations are gradually and steadily taking place in Tura, though much more still needs to be done," Chief Minister Sangma said while addressing residents and community leaders at the event organised by the Nehru Ading Development and Welfare Committee. He told that projects worth more than Rs 700 crore are currently being implemented across Tura to strengthen urban infrastructure and boost development. Highlighting initiatives under the Smart City Mission, Chief Minister Sangma said that Rs 60 crore has been allocated for paving internal roads across various localities in the town. He added that Rs 15 crore has already been spent during Phase-I for street lighting and beautification, while another Rs 15 crore has been sanctioned specifically for the beautification of Tura Bazar. The Chief Minister also spoke about the ongoing city beautification drive, under which surveillance and lighting infrastructure are being expanded. According to CM Sangma, around 350 CCTV cameras and nearly 500 street lights are being installed across the town. "For Nehru Ading locality, four CCTV cameras and six street lights have already been provided," he said. Chief Minister Sangma emphasised that infrastructure alone cannot transform a city unless citizens also contribute by maintaining civic discipline. Citing Japan as an example, the Chief Minister said responsible public behaviour and cleanliness must come from within the community, urging residents to preserve the improvements made in their locality. During the interaction, residents also raised several issues, including the need for a community hall, school infrastructure upgrades and concerns over drug activities in certain areas. - IANS The "The Missing" campaign by Here&Now365 highlights a significant gender imbalance, with 118 boys born for every 100 girls to Indian mothers in the UK, far exceeding the national average. It aims to spark community reflection on the value of daughters and confront deep-seated norms of son preference. The campaign draws inspiration from commentary by Acharya Prashant on the societal dangers of male preference. Labour MP Virendra Sharma emphasizes the need to empower women against pressure, as abortion based on sex alone is illegal in England and Wales. A UK campaign highlights a stark gender imbalance in Indian-origin births, sparking a conversation on son preference and sex-selective practices. London, March 7 A leading London-based media and marketing agency, Here&Now365, has launched "The Missing", a campaign highlighting concerns around the imbalance in birth ratios among Indian-origin families in the UK, the release said. The Missing aims to spark reflection and conversation within communities about the value of daughters and the need to confront harmful norms. The campaign follows analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) birth data showing that between 2021 and 2025, approximately 118 boys were born for every 100 girls to Indian mothers in the UK. The national average across all ethnicities is around 105 boys to 100 girls, while ratios above 107 are widely recognised by demographic experts as a potential indicator of sex-selective practices. "When statistics begin to show a worrying imbalance, silence is no longer an option," said the Founder of the agency, Manish Tiwari. As per the release, Tiwari said, "As communicators, we believe our responsibility is not only to promote brands but also to shine a light on social issues that matter. This campaign aims to challenge outdated attitudes and reinforce a simple truth: girls deserve the same chance to be born, loved and celebrated." Tiwari said the campaign was inspired by a recent post by Acharya Prashant, Indian philosoper, teacher, and an alumnus of IIT and IIM. Acharya Prashant's commentary highlighted how male preference can create a dangerous imbalance in society, reinforcing patriarchy and sexism across generations. The campaign also follows Tiwari's recent white paper on the achievements of the Indian community as a diaspora that has helped build modern Britain, developed by Here&Now365 in collaboration with the Aston India Centre at Aston University. While the report highlights the Indian community as one of the UK's most economically successful and high-achieving migrant groups, Tiwari noted that no community, however successful, is above scrutiny, and harmful practices within parts of the community must be addressed. Here&Now365 launched the campaign to highlight the imbalance in birth ratios within parts of the Indian community in the UK. The campaign focuses on what these numbers represent: absence. But the implications go far beyond absence. Such imbalances pose a danger to society, where male preference can create distortions at every level and reinforce patriarchy and sexism, leading to deeper social consequences over time. The campaign, therefore, also draws attention to the broader cultural pressures that contribute to son preference. Concerns around sex-selective abortion have also been raised by policymakers and campaigners in the UK. Speaking to the BBC Asian Network, Labour MP Virendra Sharma said the practice was "not cultural or religious". He added, "What is most needed is the woman who is carrying the child needs to be empowered so that she gets the support from society and from the system that if she is put under pressure, she can take the legal remedy against those people who are putting her under pressure." In the UK, abortion on the grounds of a baby's sex alone is illegal. Guidance issued by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2014 confirms that terminating a pregnancy solely because of the child's sex constitutes a criminal offence in England and Wales. The release said that when the ratio shifts, it is not just a statistic that changes; someone is missing. - ANI Senior Pentagon officials testified that small, mass-produced drones have become a decisive weapon, fundamentally changing the character of modern warfare as seen in Ukraine. They warned the US has fallen behind China, which dominates the global market, making American drones far more expensive. A new $1.1 billion initiative aims to rapidly scale the domestic industrial base, with plans to deliver 30,000 one-way attack drones to military units within months. Lawmakers expressed concern that the pace and funding may still be inadequate to meet the urgent threat. Pentagon officials warn Congress that cheap drones are reshaping warfare. The US must accelerate domestic production to counter China and arm troops. Washington, March 6 The Pentagon told US lawmakers that modern warfare is being reshaped by cheap, mass-produced drones, warning that battlefield lessons from Ukraine and recent combat involving Iran make it imperative for the United States to rapidly build a domestic drone industry and arm troops with large numbers of unmanned systems. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, senior Pentagon officials said small drones have become a decisive weapon on modern battlefields and that the US must accelerate production while reducing dependence on Chinese-linked supply chains. "Drones are the most significant battlefield innovation in generations," Owen West, senior adviser for drone dominance at the Pentagon, told lawmakers. He said the department's effort to expand the American drone industrial base had three key objectives: "First, bolster the domestic manufacturing base; second, arm our combat units and train as we expect to fight, and third, power a technological leapfrog via reconciliation funding." West said the programme aims to ensure that American troops are "swiftly armed to fight on the modern battlefield". Lawmakers across party lines agreed that the character of war is changing rapidly. Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Roger Wicker said the conflict in Ukraine had "forever changed the character of modern warfare" and demonstrated the growing importance of small unmanned systems used for reconnaissance, targeting, and strike missions. Wicker also warned that the United States had fallen behind in the global drone market. China, he said, had used "state subsidies in the tens of billions of dollars", "predatory pricing practices" and control of key supply chains to capture "more than 90 per cent of the global nonmilitary small drone market". As a result, American drones have become "anywhere from 5 to 25 times more expensive" than Chinese models, he said. Ranking member Jack Reed said the scale of the battlefield shift was already clear. "More than half of all casualties on the battlefield are now attributed to UAS," Reed said, referring to unmanned aerial systems. Travis Metz, programme manager for the Pentagon's drone dominance initiative, told the committee the department has committed "$ 1.1 billion over the next 18 months to purchase drone systems" as part of a push to scale up production and reduce costs. "The drone dominance program is the engine to unleash the American small drone industrial base," Metz said. He explained that the programme has two central goals: "First, scale US supply chains for small drones, thereby reducing the cost of acquisition and second, supply significant quantities of those drones to the military services." Metz said the Pentagon recently completed a 14-day drone competition at Fort Benning involving 25 vendors whose systems were tested by military operators. "The winners will be given orders for a total of 30,000 small one-way attack drones which will be delivered to military units over the next five months," he said. The department plans to repeat the process in cycles every six months, "raising quantities, lowering prices, and evaluating against more difficult mission tests". The programme also seeks to put frontline troops at the centre of procurement decisions. "We have removed the bureaucratic filter," Metz said. "Warfighters who are the end users will be the primary evaluators." Major General Steven Marks, director of the Defence Autonomous Warfare Group, said autonomous systems are already transforming combat operations. "The character of warfare has fundamentally changed," Marks told the committee. "Autonomous systems are no longer emerging. They are a reality on the battlefield." He said the group was designed to connect operational demands with technological innovation by bringing engineers and military operators together to develop systems directly informed by battlefield needs. Senators, however, questioned whether the pace of US efforts matched the urgency of the threat. Senator Jeanne Shaheen said Ukrainian forces were iterating drone designs "every two weeks because of warfare", adding that it did not appear there was enough urgency in the US approach. Senator Richard Blumenthal also questioned the scale of funding, warning that "$ 1 billion even $ 2 billion seems totally inadequate" compared with the speed at which drone warfare is evolving. Metz acknowledged that Ukraine currently produces drones at a far larger scale. He said Ukraine built roughly 4.5 million drones last year and could produce about 6 million this year, with many costing between $500 and a few thousand dollars each. The Pentagon's first purchases under the programme will cost about "$ 5,000 per drone", though officials said they aim to reduce that price to less than $2,000 as production scales up. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the growing impact of low-cost drones on modern battlefields, with small unmanned systems increasingly used for surveillance, targeting and precision attacks. Military planners in Washington and allied capitals are now studying how these inexpensive systems can reshape tactics, overwhelm traditional defences and dramatically alter the economics of war. - IANS Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a forceful rejection of US President Donald Trump's demand for Iran's "unconditional surrender," vowing that Iranians will defend their country to the death. In a televised address, he apologized for past attacks on Gulf neighbors and announced a new policy to avoid striking neighboring countries unless attacked first, urging regional unity. Pezeshkian warned Gulf states against becoming puppets of US and Israeli "imperialism," calling for diplomatic resolution of differences. His speech comes amid ongoing military exchanges, including reported Israeli airstrikes on Iranian sites and new IRGC missile barrages. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defiantly responds to Trump's call for surrender, apologizes to Gulf neighbors, and calls for regional solidarity against US-Israel designs. Tehran Marc, h 7 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a televised address to the Iranian people called on them to join hands to defend the country even as he warned the US that there was no question of surrender. "Unfortunately, there is a trend where, disregarding all international laws, they bomb wherever they please, not refraining from targeting schools, hospitals, and various centres within the country...We must all join hands and powerfully defend our water, soil, and land. We stand ready to give our lives to pull our Iran proudly out of this crisis. As for the idea of us surrendering unconditionally, they must take such a dream to their graves," the Iranian President said. The Iranian President's response follows US President Donald Trump earlier declaring that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender", asserting that Tehran must capitulate before any diplomatic negotiations can proceed. Pezeshkian further sought to play on the sentiment of Muslim unity as he apologised to Gulf neighbours for the attacks on their soil and said that there will be no further atack on neighbours. "We have no intention of aggression against neighbouring countries; as I have said time and again, they are our brothers. We must join hands with these dear ones in the region to establish peace and tranquillity. I hope that what happened will change based on the decision we took yesterday in our temporary leadership council. This decision has been reported to the armed forces: that from now on, they should not attack or fire missiles at neighbouring countries unless those countries intend to attack us. I believe we must resolve this through diplomacy rather than facing problems by fighting with neighbouring countries," he said "And I send this message to neighbouring countries where some groups or factions are thinking of using this opportunity to attack our soil: it is better not to become playthings of imperialism. We may have differences, we may have complaints against one another, but right now, supporting Israel, which is committing genocide, and America, which is bullying--becoming a puppet in the hands of colonialists and genocide enablers is very bad for those who imagine they want to achieve their own freedom and honour," he added. Pezeshkian also called on Gulf states to sit down and iron out differences together and not fall prey to US-Israel designs. "Honour cannot be attained alongside foxes, liars, and criminals. If we have a difference, it is better we sit down and solve it together, but let us not become playthings of Israel and America," he said. Meanwhile, the theatre of war has seen no relenting. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran and central Iran on Friday night targeted several key Iranian military sites, including an underground ballistic missile factory and a military academy, the IDF said. According to the Israeli military, more than 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped 230 bombs on the targets during the strikes. Among the targets was a subterranean site "for the storage and production of ballistic missiles, from which hundreds of soldiers from the armed forces of the Iranian terror regime operated," the IDF said. Countering that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that on Friday night it had launched the 23rd wave of Operation True Promise 4, highlighting the deployment of new-generation missile systems against targets in the occupied territories and US bases across the region. According to the statement, the latest wave involved advanced missile systems designed to strike multiple targets. - ANI Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah defeats former PM KP Oli in Jhapa-5, leading his RSP party toward a supermajority and the premiership. Kathmandu, March 7 Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah has secured victory from Jhapa-5 in eastern Nepal in the elections for the House of Representatives, defeating former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli by a wide margin in what was described as a battle for the next prime ministership. However, the contest remained utterly one-sided as Shah, the prime ministerial candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), secured 68,348 votes against 18,734 votes polled by Oli, who suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the newcomer. The votes secured by Shah are the highest-ever in Nepal's parliamentary elections since the 1991 elections. This is not the first time Oli, chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), has faced defeat in Jhapa. In 2008, Maoist candidate Bishwadip Lingden had defeated him when the Maoists swept to a massive victory in the 2008 Nepal Constituent Assembly election. When Shah, the former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, chose Jhapa-5 - the traditional stronghold of Oli - to contest the election, many had questioned the move. But, that wall has now crumbled in the electoral wave of the RSP, which has won 61 seats and leads in another 61 constituencies out of 165 seats by Saturday evening under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system. The party is also leading under the proportional representation system, and if the trend continues, it could secure a supermajority in the 275-member House of Representatives. Shah entered politics only a few years ago, much like his party. But public disenchantment with traditional political parties - including the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) - had run so high because of their perceived underperformance and corruption that many voters appeared to view Shah and a new generation of leaders as a better alternative. Shah entered politics by running for Mayor of Kathmandu in 2022 and winning as an independent candidate. His unexpected victory set the stage for other ambitious younger figures, such as former media personality Rabi Lamichhane, to launch the RSP in the same year. Within a few months of its establishment, the RSP emerged as the fourth-largest party in the House of Representatives in the 2022 Nepalese general election. Shah maintained his rebellious and enigmatic persona during his tenure as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, frequently lambasting top leaders of traditional political parties on social media - a style that endeared him to the country's young population. In September last year, Nepal witnessed the deadly Gen-Z movement which led to the fall of the government headed by Oli and paved the way for the formation of the current interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, as well as the dissolution of the House of Representatives. Months before the fresh elections held on March 5, Shah and Lamichhane came together under the banner of the RSP - a move that proved to be a masterstroke as the party swept the parliamentary elections. Shah is expected to lead the next government with a supermajority that could enable him to implement the party's agenda, as other political parties are likely to be in a much weaker position to mount any meaningful opposition. - IANS Balendra "Balen" Shah, a structural engineer and former rap battler, has risen from an independent mayor of Kathmandu to a serious contender for Nepal's prime ministership. His strategic political moves, including declining an interim role and later joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party, have positioned him for a full term. Shah is now directly challenging political heavyweight KP Sharma Oli by contesting the Jhapa-05 constituency, eroding decades of established dominance. With a massive digital following and a volatile, unfiltered public persona, Shah represents a seismic shift in Nepal's political landscape. How Balen Shah rose from rap battles to challenge KP Sharma Oli for Nepal's premiership. His journey from engineer to political disruptor. Kathmandu, March 7 In 2022, a structural engineer with a signature pair of black rectangular sunglasses and a history in the underground rap scene did the unthinkable. Balendra "Balen" Shah dismantled the established political machinery of Nepal to become the Mayor of Kathmandu. Running as an independent under the symbol of a walking stick, Balen secured 61,767 votes, comfortably outstripping veterans Sirjana Singh of Nepali Congress, who fell back with 38,341 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit, also the former Mayor of the capital, got 38,117 votes. Now, just four years later, the 35-year-old is no longer just a local phenomenon; he is poised to become one of the youngest Prime Ministers in the nation's history. His success was never accidental. While he rose to fame in 2013 through the rap battle league Raw Barz, he spent two and a half years quietly laying the groundwork for his mayoral run. His academic pedigree, a degree in engineering from Himalayan White House College and a Master's in structural engineering from India, gave him the technical credibility that resonated with a disillusioned electorate. His political strategy has been equally deliberate. Following the tragic death of 77 people during the September protests and the subsequent resignation of KP Sharma Oli, Balen Shah was the first choice for Gen-Z activists to lead an interim government. He declined the interim role, supporting former Chief Justice Sushila Karki instead. It was a masterstroke of foresight; he traded a six-month temporary stint for a shot at a full five-year term as Prime Minister. On January 18, 2026, Balen formally joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), launching his campaign from Janakpur the very next day. In a move many labelled "foolish," Balen chose to contest the election from Jhapa-05, the long-standing stronghold of political heavyweight KP Sharma Oli. Located 300 km from the capital, this constituency is now the epicentre of a political earthquake. Current projections suggest Balen's charisma is successfully eroding Oli's decades-long dominance. Balen's relationship with the public is defined by a massive digital footprint and a volatile temperament. With over 3.5 million followers on Facebook, he bypasses traditional press conferences to speak directly to the masses. However, his "unfiltered" persona has courted significant controversy. In a now-deleted November post, he lashed out at geopolitical giants (USA, India, China) and every major Nepali political party, including the RSP, which he would join just two months later. Despite his aggressive rhetoric, including past threats to "burn down" the administrative hub of Singhadurbar, his supporters see him as the only "authentic" alternative to a stagnant status quo. Born in 1990, Balen is the youngest of four siblings. His late father, Ram Narayan Shah, was an Ayurvedic practitioner who passed away just before Balen Shah's formal entry into mainstream politics. Even as he eyes the premiership, Balen continues to pursue a PhD in traditional infrastructure at Kathmandu University, blending the roles of an academic, a technical expert, and a populist firebrand. Nepal stands at a crossroads. Whether Balen Shah is a visionary reformer or a volatile disruptor remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the era of the "Old Guard" is under siege. - ANI The UAE's diplomatic adviser, Anwar Gargash, expressed shock at Iran launching what he termed an "aggressive war," involving over 1,000 attacks in a matter of days. He emphasized that the UAE has always shown restraint and prioritizes diplomatic solutions to shield the region from conflict. Despite the unprecedented scale of the strikes, Gargash asserted the nation's readiness to defend its sovereignty and all people within its borders. He also praised the UAE Armed Forces for their professional and heroic performance in protecting the country. UAE adviser Anwar Gargash says Iran launched an unprecedented war, but the Emirates is ready to defend its homeland and people with strength. Abu Dhabi, March 6 The United Arab Emirates remains dedicated to regional peace and stability but stands fully equipped to safeguard its sovereignty and every individual within its borders, according to a news report by Gulf News citing Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President. During an interview on the "Maraya Podcast", hosted by journalist Mona Al Raisi and produced by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Gargash emphasised that the UAE has never acted as an aggressor. He noted that the nation has consistently displayed restraint, prioritising diplomatic channels to shield the region from the fallout of armed conflict. Gargash revealed that the country recently endured a barrage of over 1,000 attacks within a mere few days. He characterised the magnitude of these strikes as "unprecedented even by military standards" but maintained that such developments would not undermine the nation's steadfastness. "We never expected Iran to launch such an aggressive war against us," Gargash stated. "But we have always been, and will continue to be, ready to defend our homeland and its achievements." According to a news report by Gulf News, the diplomatic adviser clarified that the UAE did not back the current hostilities. Instead, the country adopted a firm stance against the violence, leveraging its diplomatic influence in an attempt to avert the outbreak of war. Regarding the broader geopolitical landscape, Gargash observed that Iran is becoming "increasingly isolated internationally" while grappling with a challenging military situation. He shared his conviction that the UAE would emerge from this period of tension with enhanced "strength and determination." Gulf News reported that Gargash also used the platform to reiterate the government's pledge to preserve national milestones and guarantee the safety of both UAE nationals and foreign residents. In a social media post on X, the adviser praised the "professional and heroic performance" of the UAE Armed Forces, specifically the air force and air defence units, for their role in securing the nation's territory. "Heartfelt salute to our armed forces, our air defence heroes and our air force," he wrote. "Your professional and heroic performance in protecting the skies and land of the UAE and everyone living here is a source of pride and gratitude. With you, the nation feels secure and our home remains safe." As noted by Gulf News, Gargash's remarks underscore the UAE's dual approach of maintaining military readiness while continuing to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the regional crisis. - ANI BYD Co. Ltd. has applied for a permit to import its vehicles in Canada following the reduced tariff agreement between Ottawa and Beijing. BYD Vehicles At 6.1% Tariff On Thursday, BYD had registered its factories in Shenzhen and Xi'an as potential exporters to Canada, filings from the automaker to Canada's transport regulator, Transport Canada, showed. Canada had earlier announced that it would let over 49,000 EVs into the country from China for a reduced tariff rate of 6.1% as part of the agreement, with the number potentially expanding to over 70,000 in the future, amid criticism from President Donald Trump and Transport Secretary Sean Duffy. Don't Miss: What This Could Mean For Tesla In Canada The news comes as Tesla could benefit from selling its EVs in Canada, as the Mark Carney-led government scrapped the EV mandate in favor of revised fuel economy standards. The government has also brought back its iZEV incentive program with rebates up to CA$5,000 (approximately $3,650) on a CA$50,000 (approximately $36,500) vehicle. Tesla, which sells its vehicles via 39 outlets in the country imported from its Shanghai facility, could benefit from the lower tariffs despite being a U.S.-based company. Trending: Disney Was Built on Character IP This Pre-IPO Company Is Using the Same Playbook BYD, Tesla Sales Meanwhile, overseas sales for the Chinese automaker continue to be a positive spot as BYD sales surged 165% in the European market, which saw Tesla decline over 17%. However, the company's declining domestic sales could pose a challenge for the world's largest EV maker as fellow Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. outsold BYD for the second consecutive month in China, as the former sold 76,000 more units than BYD during the first two months of 2026. Read Next: This Under-$1 Pre-IPO AI Company Is Still Open to Retail Investors Learn More Its no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Heres how everyday investors are getting started. Image via Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, a move his ministers state was his personal decision. Kumar expressed an unwavering commitment to continue working for a developed Bihar and promised full cooperation to the new state government. Minister Dilip Jaiswal supported the CM's dream, while Minister Ramkripal Yadav called it an internal party matter and criticized the opposition. The NDA alliance is presented as united, in contrast to an opposition described as troubled and losing credibility. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar files Rajya Sabha nomination, calling it his own decision while reaffirming his commitment to a developed Bihar. Ministers back his move. Patna, March 5 Nitish Kumar has a dream of a developed Bihar, Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal said on Friday, further reiterated that Kumar filing the nomination to Rajya Sabha "was his own decision." "He has made efforts for his dream of a developed Bihar, and we will continue to see his support in how Bihar progresses", he said. "The nomination for Rajya Sabha membership was filed by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar yesterday; this is his own decision...", he added. On the matter, Minister Ramkripal Yadav on Thursday stated that it is an internal matter of the Janata Dal (United) and the CM's decision is paramount, while terming the opposition as "troubled." "This is an internal matter of the Janata Dal (United), and they will make the decision; those led by Nitish Kumar and his decision are paramount," he added. Taking a dig at the opposition, he said they are troubled because they are getting nothing and their credibility is eroding daily. "The opposition is troubled because they are getting nothing. Every day, the opposition's credibility is eroding, so they are very distressed. The NDA is united, and all are working together to run the government," he added. Bihar politics on Thursday witnessed a drastic shift as the state's longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, extending "full support" to the new Cabinet. The 75-year-old penned a heartfelt message announcing his decision. "I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance," Nitish Kumar posted on X. - ANI Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed three Royal Australian Navy members were aboard a United States fast-attack submarine that sank an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka. He firmly stated that the Australian personnel did not participate in any offensive action against Iran, adhering to strict national protocols. The embedding of Australian defence staff in US submarine crews is a long-standing arrangement under the AUKUS pact for training purposes. Sri Lankan officials report 87 bodies have been recovered from the site, with another Iranian ship given refuge in Trincomalee. PM Albanese confirms 3 Australian Navy members were aboard the US submarine that sank an Iranian frigate but states they took no part in offensive action. Canberra, March 6 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has verified that three Royal Australian Navy members were stationed on a United States submarine that destroyed an Iranian naval vessel earlier this week, ABC News reported. The Prime Minister maintained that the Australian personnel did not take part in the mission to destroy the IRIS Dena, asserting that the nation's military staff did not "participate in any offensive action" against Tehran. The Iranian frigate was sunk by a US fast-attack submarine in waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to ABC News, Sri Lankan officials stated on Thursday that 87 bodies have been retrieved from the site, while 32 individuals have been rescued. While Washington has not officially named the vessel involved, military analysts suggest it was the USS Minnesota. This Virginia-class submarine had previously rotated through HMAS Stirling near Perth. As part of the AUKUS pact, numerous Australian personnel have been embedded in US fast-attack submarine crews based in Pearl Harbour to gain experience before Australia receives its own nuclear-powered fleet. Initially, Australian authorities were hesitant to validate claims regarding the presence of their citizens on the attacking vessel. However, Albanese confirmed to Sky News this morning that three Australians were indeed present. "We wouldn't normally confirm such an issue, but given our [National Security Committee] meetings and the public interest, I can confirm that there were three Australian personnel on board that vessel," he stated. According to the ABC News report, the Prime Minister highlighted that strict protocols are in effect to prevent Australian staff from engaging in such combat roles. "I can confirm also, though, that no Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran," he said. Albanese further explained, "These are long-standing third-country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time, and what they do is ensure that Australian defence force personnel, where they are embedded in third countries' defence assets, they act in accordance with Australian law, Australian policy, and that is, of course, taking place across the board." Defence officials previously informed parliamentary hearings that "more than 50" ADF members were serving on American fast-attack submarines, with figures expected to rise. ABC News noted that approximately one in ten crew members on active US nuclear-powered attack submarines are currently Australian. Additionally, civilian staff are undergoing training in nuclear submarine maintenance to support Australia's future domestic capabilities. In the aftermath of the sinking, Sri Lanka has provided refuge to another Iranian ship. The replenishment vessel IRINS Bushehr was moved to Trincomalee, while 208 crew members were transported to a naval facility near Colombo. - ANI Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced a decision by the country's leadership council to cease attacks on neighboring countries, offering an apology to Gulf states. He simultaneously issued a defiant rejection of US President Donald Trump's demand for Iran's "unconditional surrender" as a precondition for any deal. The conflict continues militarily, with Israel conducting major airstrikes on Iranian targets and the IRGC launching new missile attacks. Trump has explicitly stated there will be no negotiations until Iran capitulates and has even expressed a desire to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader. Iran's President announces no more attacks on Gulf neighbors but defiantly rejects US calls for unconditional surrender amid ongoing West Asia conflict. Tehran, March 7 As the West Asia conflict entered Day 7 on Saturday, Iran appeared to have struck a note of reconciliation with its Gulf neighbours. In a televised address Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that a decision has been taken by the leadership council not to attack neighbouring countries. Pezeshkian said, "I apologize to the neighbouring countries. We have no intention of invading other countries. The temporary leadership council announced yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighbouring countries and no missile launches, unless attacks originate from those countries against Iran." At the same time, he struck a note of defiance ruling out any suggestion of Iran surrendering as the US-Israel intensified its campaign with greater firepower. "They will take their dreams of us surrendering unconditionally to the grave," he said. The Iranian President's response follows US President Donald Trump earlier declaring that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender", asserting that Tehran must capitulate before any diplomatic negotiations can proceed. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasised that the US and its allies, particularly Israel, would only consider an agreement with Iran after the country's leadership completely yields and is replaced by "great & acceptable leader(s)". He also articulated ambitions to help reconstruct Iran into a stronger nation following its capitulation, coining the phrase "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" in an echo of his familiar political slogan. "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!),"" his post read. Earlier, Trump had expressed his desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel joint military strike last week, as reported by Axios. In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trump said he wanted a role in the appointment of Iran's next leader, drawing a comparison to his involvement in political developments in Venezuela in January following the capture of its former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a US military operation. Meanwhile, the theatre of war has seen no relenting. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran and central Iran on Friday night targeted several key Iranian military sites, including an underground ballistic missile factory and a military academy, the IDF said. According to the Israeli military, more than 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped 230 bombs on the targets during the strikes. Among the targets was a subterranean site "for the storage and production of ballistic missiles, from which hundreds of soldiers from the armed forces of the Iranian terror regime operated," the IDF said. Countering that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that on Friday night it had launched the 23rd wave of Operation True Promise 4, highlighting the deployment of new-generation missile systems against targets in the occupied territories and US bases across the region. According to the statement, the latest wave involved advanced missile systems designed to strike multiple targets. - ANI Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan stated that the Northeastern region has been placed at the core of India's development agenda under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He highlighted key infrastructure projects and government initiatives that are fostering growth and connectivity in the region. Addressing graduates at Mizoram University, he urged youth to focus on entrepreneurship, avoid narcotics, and use technology responsibly to build a developed India by 2047. The Vice President also praised the state's environmental consciousness and the university's sustainable operations. VP Radhakrishnan says NE region is now central to India's development narrative, highlighting connectivity projects and youth's role in Viksit Bharat 2047. Aizawl, March 7 Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeastern region has been placed at the centre of India's development narrative, reflecting the government's strong commitment to the region's growth and integration with the national mainstream. Addressing the 20th Convocation of Mizoram University in Aizawl, the Vice President noted that improved connectivity, including the recently inaugurated Bairabi-Sairang railway line, along with initiatives such as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) and PM-DevINE (Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region), are accelerating development and bringing the people of the region closer to new opportunities. Emphasising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Radhakrishnan urged the youths to move beyond seeking jobs and instead focus on creating opportunities. He highlighted the immense potential of the Northeast in sectors such as tourism, bamboo-based industries, organic agriculture, handicrafts and digital services. Expressing concern over the menace of narcotic drug abuse among youth, he called upon young people to stay away from narcotics and lead disciplined, purposeful lives. The Vice President also advised students to use technology and social media responsibly, urging them to become masters of technology rather than its servants. Highlighting Mizoram's rich natural heritage and high literacy, he praised the state's strong tribal traditions and environmental consciousness. Commending Mizoram University for operating substantially on solar energy, Radhakrishnan urged the youth to play a leadership role in promoting environmental sustainability. The Vice-President congratulated the graduating students, urging them to play a key role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Noting the scenic beauty of the campus, he remarked that Mizoram University is among the most beautiful campuses and stands as a symbol of what education can achieve when it is rooted in peace and purpose. The convocation was attended by Mizoram Governor and Chief Rector of Mizoram University, General (Retd.) Vijay Kumar Singh; Chief Minister Lalduhoma; and the Vice-Chancellor of Mizoram University, Prof. Dibakar Chandra Deka, along with faculty members, distinguished guests, parents and graduating students. After addressing the eighth convocation ceremony of Nagaland University in Kohima, Vice-President Radhakrishnan arrived in Mizoram's capital Aizawl on Friday afternoon on his maiden visit to the state since assuming office. Upon arrival at Lengpui Airport, Vice-President Radhakrishnan was warmly received by Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh (retired), along with School Education Minister Vanlalthlana and other senior officials. On Saturday, the Vice-President Radhakrishnan will leave for Tripura to attend the 14th convocation of Tripura University as the chief guest on March 8. In Agartala, Vice-President Radhakrishnan will also meet several 'Lakhpati Didis' and members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) at the International Trade and Fair Centre in Hapania, on the outskirts of the city, on Sunday. He will also pay tribute at the Albert Ekka Memorial Park at Lichubagan. - IANS US Central Command has intensified its campaign, striking over 3,000 targets inside Iran during the first week of Operation Epic Fury. President Donald Trump has declared there will be no diplomatic deal with Iran unless it agrees to unconditional surrender and the selection of new leadership. Trump has expressed a personal desire to be involved in choosing Iran's next Supreme Leader, criticizing the potential succession of the late leader's son. The military escalation follows a US-Israel strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Khamenei, triggering retaliatory attacks from Tehran. US Central Command intensifies Operation Epic Fury as President Trump declares no deal with Iran except "unconditional surrender" and seeks role in choosing its next leader. Washington, DC, March 7 US Central Command has announced a major intensification of its military campaign, confirming that thousands of strikes have been conducted against targets inside Iran over the past week. In a statement released on X, the military command detailed the progress of the ongoing mission, designated as "Operation Epic Fury." "U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down," US Central Command stated. Parallel to this military surge, US President Donald Trump on Friday declared that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender." Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the President asserted that Tehran must capitulate before any diplomatic negotiations can proceed. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasised that the US and its allies, particularly Israel, would only consider an agreement with Iran after the country's leadership completely yields and is replaced by "great & acceptable leader(s)". The President also articulated ambitions to help reconstruct Iran into a stronger nation following its capitulation, coining the phrase "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" in an echo of his familiar political slogan. "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!),'" his post read. These developments follow a week of extreme volatility after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory killed its Supreme Leader, 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, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its strikes on Tehran and widened the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. Amidst the fallout, Trump expressed his desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trump said he wanted a role in the appointment of Iran's next leader, drawing a comparison to his involvement in political developments in Venezuela. He specifically criticised the possible succession of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, who is widely viewed as a leading contender. "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. Trump described Mojtaba Khamenei as "unacceptable," adding that he would prefer a leader who could bring "harmony and peace" to Iran. He warned that a continuation of his father's policies could lead to renewed conflict with the United States. While reports suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric with close ties to the IRGC, is a frontrunner, the Iranian government has officially refuted these claims. Via the Consulate General in Mumbai, authorities stated that reports regarding potential candidates have no official source and are officially denied. According to Axios, the US President remains firm that Washington should not accept any new Iranian leader who would pursue policies similar to those of the late Khamenei. - ANI UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited five civilians injured amid regional tensions, emphasizing the nation's obligation to protect its people and residents. He thanked security forces and promised the UAE would emerge stronger from the current period of conflict. His visit and strong statements come against a backdrop of escalating violence in West Asia following US and Israeli strikes. Iran's retaliatory attacks have widened the conflict, targeting several countries including the UAE and raising risks for civilians. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed visits injured civilians, pledges to protect the country and its residents amid rising West Asia tensions. Dubai, March 8 UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan on Friday met five civilians who were injured amid tensions in West Asia and the Gulf region. He underlined that the UAE would continue to protect its people and the country, highlighting that they would emerge stronger than before. He made the remarks on Friday during his visit to check on the injured currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Nayhan said, "I am here at the hospital visiting five of those who were injured in the recent events. All five are civilians: two Emiratis, one Indian, one Sudanese, and one Iranian. They are all our responsibility, and, God willing, they will make a full recovery." He said that everything is well in the UAE and thanked the armed forces, other security institutions such as the Ministry of Interior, the security services, and Civil Defence for their service. "We are in a time of war, and I promise them that we will fulfil our duty, because it is our obligation to protect our people and our country. We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family. May God protect the UAE, protect its people, and safeguard everyone who lives in it with dignity and security. I promise everyone that we will emerge stronger than before." The UAE President added, "Another message I would like to convey is directed at the enemies of the UAE: The UAE is attractive; the UAE is beautiful. The UAE is a model. But I say to them: Do not be misled by the UAE's appearance. "The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh - we are no easy prey." His visit comes amid the backdrop of rising tensions in West Asia and the Gulf. In a message shared on X on Saturday, Nahyan underlined that the UAE places its security and sovereignty and the safety of its people and residents and visitors at the forefront of its priorities and stands capable of confronting the aggressions. Meanwhile, on Saturday, in a post on X, the Dubai Media Office said, "For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures are being managed in line with established safety protocols" The developments come as after the US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials. 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 Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has expressed strong confidence that his party will secure one of the Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana in the upcoming elections. BJP candidate Sanjay Bhatia expressed gratitude to his party leadership for the nomination. Concurrently, President Droupadi Murmu announced a significant administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across India. The changes include new postings for R N Ravi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, and Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda claims one Rajya Sabha seat in Haryana. BJP fields Sanjay Bhatia. Major gubernatorial reshuffle announced. Chandigarh, March 6 Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, expressed confidence in his party's prospects for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. He stated that Congress is set to secure one of the seats currently up for contest in the state. Hooda, while speaking to reporters, said, "One seat is ours, we will win. One seat will go to the BJP, one seat will come to Congress." Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkalm, speaking to the reporters, said, " We have our candidate for the Rajya Sabha, Karamvir Ji, and we have complete faith in him. We are confident that the Rajya Sabha seat will come in favour of the Congress." Meanwhile, BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Haryana, Sanjay Bhatia, while speaking to the reporters, said, "I want to thank my party leadership. I got the opportunity to work for the organisation right after 1987. I have always tried to work for the people of Haryana. My priority will be to keep the issues of Haryana in the Rajya Sabha." Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu effected a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. According to an official communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has been appointed as the new Governor of West Bengal, succeeding Dr C V Ananda Bose, who resigned earlier on Thursday. As part of the comprehensive administrative restructuring, Vinai Kumar Saxena has been transferred from his position as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, while former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. According to an official communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, these appointments will take effect from the dates on which the respective appointees assume charge of their offices. - ANI The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has successfully facilitated the safe return of over 52,000 nationals from the Gulf region in the first week of March 2026. A special control room and 24/7 embassy helplines have been established to assist those affected by the ongoing regional instability. The evacuation was made possible by the partial opening of airspace, allowing both Indian and foreign carriers to operate special flights. The government emphasizes that the safety of Indians abroad remains its utmost priority amidst continuing regional conflict. MEA reports over 52,000 Indians evacuated from Gulf region March 1-7, 2026. Special control room and embassy helplines active for stranded nationals. New Delhi, March 8 The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday shared an update on the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, noting that more than 52,000 Indians travelled safely from Gulf region to India between March 1-7, 2026 and that a dedicated special control room has been set up to monitor and respond to queries from those affected. In an official press statement, the MEA said that the Government of India is continuously monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, especially with regard to the welfare of Indian nationals who have been stranded there during transit or on short-duration visits. "All Indian nationals in the region are advised to follow the guidelines of the local authorities as well as the advisories being issued by the Indian Embassy or Consulate in their location. Each of our Embassies and Consulates in these countries have issued detailed advisories and set up 24x7 Helplines that are assisting in addressing concerns on account of the ongoing situation", the statement said. It further added, "The Ministry of External Affairs has also set up a dedicated Special Control Room to monitor and respond to queries from those affected as well as their families. Complete details of all our Helplines are available at: " The statement noted that following the partial opening of airspace across the region in the last few days, Indian and foreign airlines are operating commercial flights, including non-scheduled flights, to enable the return of Indian passengers who were in transit or on short-term visits in these countries. "By now, more than 52,000 Indians have availed of these flights and travelled safely from the Gulf region to India between March 1-7, 2026, 32107 of whom have travelled on Indian carriers. More flights are planned in the coming days", MEA added. It further noted that in those countries where commercial flight operations are unavailable, Indian nationals are advised to contact the concerned Embassy/Consulate for information and advice regarding the nearest available commercial flight options. The MEA underlined that the safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost priority to the Government, which remains engaged with the Governments across the region to work towards facilitating all those in need of assistance. Meanwhile, the theatre of war has seen no relenting. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran and central Iran on Friday night targeted several key Iranian military sites, including an underground ballistic missile factory and a military academy, the IDF said. According to the Israeli military, more than 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped 230 bombs on the targets during the strikes. Among the targets was a subterranean site "for the storage and production of ballistic missiles, from which hundreds of soldiers from the armed forces of the Iranian terror regime operated," the IDF said. Countering that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that on Friday night it had launched the 23rd wave of Operation True Promise 4, highlighting the deployment of new-generation missile systems against targets in the occupied territories and US bases across the region. According to the statement, the latest wave involved advanced missile systems designed to strike multiple targets. - ANI Jan Hubel, an Oxford University scholar, commended India's National Education Policy 2020 for its emphasis on practical skill development and vocational training. He observed its implementation at the Akshar Foundation in Guwahati, where students learn business and technical skills. Hubel believes this approach equips students for real-world economic challenges and can reduce youth unemployment. He suggests India's model could serve as an example for other developing nations. An Oxford scholar lauds India's NEP 2020 for its focus on vocational training and skill development, calling it a transformative model for students. Geneva, March 7 On the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Jan Hubel, a Luxembourgish national and master's student of International Development at the University of Oxford, lauded India's push to transform its education system through the National Education Policy 2020. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Jan stated that what surprised him most about India's education reforms was the policy's strong focus on vocational training and skill development, which gives students a practical foundation for the future. According to him, the approach encourages young people not only to pursue employment but also to develop entrepreneurial ambitions and become self-reliant. During his work with the Akshar Foundation in Guwahati, Hubel observed how vocational training was integrated into classroom learning. Students were introduced to practical competencies such as business management, accounting, and public relations. These skills, he said, enabled them to understand real-world economic opportunities better and prepare for professional life. Hubel emphasised that such initiatives could be transformative for students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. By equipping learners with practical abilities, vocational education allows them to build independence and confidently navigate everyday economic challenges. Comparing India's evolving approach to education with those in other countries, Hubel noted that the NEP's focus on creativity and independent thinking aligns with practices he has observed in places like Hong Kong and Luxembourg. However, he noted that the emphasis on applying these ideas in practical, hands-on projects gives India's model a distinctive dimension. While working with students at the Akshar Foundation, Hubel also participated in collaborative projects, including producing a short film with students. The experience revealed how comfortable many learners were with modern technology and digital tools, skills increasingly essential in today's global economy. According to Hubel, integrating livelihood and employability skills directly into school education could play an important role in addressing youth unemployment. By preparing students with both academic knowledge and practical expertise, India's reforms may help bridge the gap between education and the job market. He added that India's efforts to expand access to skill-based education for the wider student population could also provide an example for other countries in the Global South seeking to reform their own education systems. In 2023, Hubel completed the Oxford Internship Programme with the Akshar Foundation, where he worked in government schools to implement the foundation's Indian Education Model aligned with NEP 2020. He later taught in Hong Kong and delivered lectures at Banasthali Vidyapith in Rajasthan. - ANI Cross-border trade between Iran and Pakistan's Balochistan province has nearly collapsed due to export restrictions and border closures, triggering a supply crisis. Essential commodities like flour, cooking oil, and fuel have become scarce, with prices surging by 30 to 70 percent in border districts. Local traders warn that prolonged disruptions could lead to severe shortages across multiple districts, as these regions historically depend on cheaper Iranian imports. The crisis is also severely impacting Gwadar's fishing industry, where soaring fuel costs have made operations unsustainable. Iran's export bans and border closures trigger severe shortages and price surges in Pakistan's Balochistan, crippling local supply chains and fishing industry. Balochistan, March 7 The ongoing tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States have begun to severely disrupt the supply of essential commodities in Balochistan's border districts, exposing Pakistan's fragile supply systems and leaving local populations vulnerable to rising prices and potential shortages. Districts situated along the Iran border have experienced sharp declines in the availability of food and fuel, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, border areas in the Makran and Rakhshan divisions, including Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, Chagai and Washuk, traditionally depend heavily on goods imported from Iran. These products are not only cheaper but also easier to obtain than supplies transported from distant Pakistani cities. However, traders report that the closure of border crossings and new export restrictions imposed by Iran have drastically reduced the movement of essential commodities into these regions. The disruption has already begun affecting daily life across several towns. Ishaq Roshan Dashti, president of the Makran Traders Alliance, stated that nearly 80 per cent of fuel and food consumed in the border belt originates from Iran. He explained that prices had already begun rising earlier this year after Iranian authorities imposed taxes exceeding 30 per cent on exported food items following domestic protests. Since the outbreak of the current conflict, cross-border trade has nearly collapsed. Dashti also noted that Iranian authorities have now placed a complete ban on the export of food products, further restricting supplies. As a result, commodities such as flour, cooking oil, milk, yoghurt, LPG gas, petrol and diesel have become increasingly scarce. Traders stated that local markets are beginning to show signs of shortages, while existing stock is being sold at significantly inflated prices. In coastal districts including Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni and Ormara, the prices of Iranian food products have surged by 30 to 40 per cent. A similar trend has emerged in Mashkel, a remote town in the Washuk district located roughly 20 to 25 kilometres from Iran. Mashkel has historically relied on Iranian imports due to weak road links with the rest of Pakistan, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post. Local trader Khuda Dad said LPG prices have doubled to nearly 600 rupees per kilogram, while Iranian petrol, diesel and cooking oil have increased by 60 to 70 per cent. The crisis is also affecting Gwadar's fishing industry. Fishermen say soaring fuel costs have significantly increased operational expenses, making fishing increasingly difficult. Traders warn prolonged border closures could soon trigger severe shortages of essential goods across multiple districts of Balochistan, as reported by The Balochistan Post. - ANI Alphabet Inc.-backed Waymo announced that it is now operating in 10 cities as the global robotaxi race heats up. Waymo Now Operating In 10 Cities The company announced on February 25 that it was rolling out its autonomous ride-hailing service in four new cities: Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and Orlando, taking the total number of cities it operates in to 10. "Waymo is serving more riders than ever, as we are on track to serve over one million rides per week by the end of this year," Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, said in the official statement released by the company. The company last reported having 450,000 rides per week. The same statement also shared that the company had recorded over 200 million autonomous miles driven by its self-driving system. Don't Miss: Waymo Under NHTSA Radar However, despite its growth, Waymo has been under scrutiny by the authorities after multiple incidents involving its autonomous vehicles. A Waymo "Ojai" Robotaxi crashed into several parked vehicles in California. A Waymo robotaxi also collided with a child in Santa Monica in a school zone. NHTSA has said that it is investigating over 3,000 Waymo autonomous vehicles following these incidents. Tesla Cybercab And Robotaxi Efforts Waymo's rival Tesla Inc. has also been accelerating its robotaxi and autonomous vehicle efforts, as the Elon Musk-led automaker recently unveiled the company's Cybercab, which will command a price tag of $30,000 or less and is set to enter ramped-up production in April this year. The Cybercab was also spotted testing on a highway in Chicago, signalling positive shifts in the company's AV efforts. However, challenges remain in Tesla's Robotaxi roadmap after the service in Austin reported 5 additional crashes in January, taking the total number of reported incidents to 14 since mid-2025. Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company Musk has also touted Tesla having the largest autonomous fleet in the future, but the company's self-driving efforts have also faced criticism from investors like Ross Gerber of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki. Baidu's Apollo Go Continues Growth Meanwhile, Waymo also faces competition from Baidu Inc.-backed Robotaxi company Apollo Go on a global level, as the Chinese company announced it had reached the 300,000 robotaxi rides per week milestone amid an expansion of the service into South Korea. The Tamil Nadu government has declared the proposed Parandur Greenfield Airport a 'Special Project' under a 2023 land consolidation law, aimed at easing acquisition where water bodies are involved. The massive project covers over 2,100 hectares, including significant wetlands, agricultural land, and numerous lakes and ponds. Environmentalists and residents warn it will destroy natural drainage, threaten groundwater recharge, and displace villages while acting as a crucial flood buffer for Chennai. Protests continue as groups demand the project's reconsideration and the Act's repeal. Tamil Nadu designates Parandur Airport a 'Special Project', intensifying concerns over wetlands, water bodies, and displacement in Kancheepuram. Chennai, March 7 The Tamil Nadu government's decision to designate the proposed Parandur Greenfield Airport in Kancheepuram district as a 'Special Project' under the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation Act, 2023 has triggered renewed concerns among environmental groups and residents who have been opposing the project for several years. The legislation enabling the move was introduced in the State Assembly by Revenue Minister Sattur Ramachandran on April 21, 2023, and was passed on the same day through a voice vote without discussion. The detailed rules for implementing the Act were subsequently notified on October 18, 2024. The Act was framed to address difficulties in land acquisition for large-scale infrastructure projects when water bodies such as lakes, ponds, canals, and streams fall within the proposed project area. It allows the government to consolidate contiguous land parcels of at least 100 hectares that contain such water bodies and allocate them for commercial, industrial, or infrastructure ventures classified as 'Special Projects'. Once a project receives this designation, the government appoints a five-member expert committee consisting of four government officials and one government-nominated environmental expert. The committee conducts public consultations and prepares a draft land consolidation plan. This plan is then reviewed by the government before final approval is issued through a notification in the government gazette. However, environmentalists and activists argue that the framework is skewed towards facilitating project approvals and fails to adequately safeguard ecological systems. The proposed Parandur Airport project spans more than 2,172 hectares across 13 villages and includes wetlands, agricultural fields, and water bodies. Environmental assessments cited by activists indicate that about 64 per cent of the land comprises wet and dry agricultural areas, while nearly 27 per cent consists of lakes, ponds, and pools. The site reportedly contains around 40 water sources with a combined storage capacity of approximately nine million cubic feet, of which 34 lie within or close to the proposed airport boundary. Experts warn that large-scale construction in the region could severely disrupt natural drainage networks, groundwater recharge systems, and flood mitigation mechanisms. The area also includes a natural drainage channel linking the Kesavaram dam with the Cooum River, as well as a section of the 42-kilometre-long Kamban Canal that carries water from the Palar dam to Sriperumbudur Lake. Environmental organisation Poovulagin Nanbargal has urged the State government to reconsider the project, citing climate change risks and potential damage to water ecosystems. It has also demanded that the Land Consolidation Act be repealed. Residents of Parandur and neighbouring Ekanapuram have continued protests against the project, warning that it could displace villages and destroy fertile farmland. "This region acts as a flood buffer for Chennai. We will continue to oppose any move that destroys our land and water bodies," a resident of Ekanapuram said. - IANS Parents of Indian students in Iran met with the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, seeking urgent government intervention for their safe return. Students have reported continuous blasts near facilities in Shiraz, with Qom declared a red-alert area. The Indian Embassy has reportedly begun collecting lists of students willing to travel via Armenia for evacuation. The All India Medical Students Association has also met with the Iranian Ambassador to India to facilitate the safe return of citizens. Parents meet officials, demand urgent evacuation of Indian students from Iran amid reported blasts. Embassy lists being prepared for travel via Armenia. New Delhi, March 7 Parents of Indian students currently studying in Iran met with the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir on Saturday, seeking urgent intervention for the safe return of their children According to the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), the Commissioner assured them that authorities are actively addressing the matter, but cautioned that the process may take time. Some parents also approached the Kashmir Press Colony, demanding that the Government of India directly manage the evacuation to ensure safety. They highlighted that several countries, including Azerbaijan, have already evacuated their citizens. Students in Shiraz reported continuous blasts near local hospitals and the passport office on Friday, and were advised to remain underground for safety. As per the release, students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences also stated that Qom has been considered a red-alert area, as explosions were reportedly heard there as well. Calls from students in Urmia and Qom indicate that the Indian Embassy has requested lists of those willing to travel via Armenia. However, many students prefer that the evacuation be directly arranged by the Embassy of India in Iran. Mohammad Momin Khan, National Representative of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), met Mohammad Fathali, Ambassador of Iran to India, urging him to facilitate the safe return of Indian citizens. AIMSA and concerned parents have urged the Ministry of External Affairs to initiate the evacuation of Indian students at the earliest. At the same time, they expressed trust in the Government of India and hope that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of Indian citizens. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the death of Gujarat BJP MLA Govindbhai Parmar, who passed away at age 72. Modi highlighted Parmar's lifelong commitment to social welfare activities in his condolence message. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also mourned the loss, calling the popular Umreth MLA's demise "heartbreaking." The Gujarat BJP organization described his passing as an irreplaceable loss to both the party and society. PM Narendra Modi and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel express grief over the demise of BJP MLA Govind Parmar, remembering his dedication to public service. New Delhi, March 7 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of Gujarat BJP MLA Govindbhai Parmar, who passed away on March 6 at the age of 72. In an X post, PM Modi noted that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Parmar was dedicated to social welfare activities. "I am saddened by the news of the passing of Govindbhai Parmar, a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He was always dedicated and committed to social welfare activities. Prayers for the peace of the departed soul and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti!" the Prime Minister wrote. Parmar was an MLA from Umreth in Gujarat and was popular among the public for his welfare approach. On Friday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed grief over his demise, calling the news "heartbreaking." CM Patel remembered him for his "endeavour of public service." Bhupendra Patel wrote on X, "The passing of Govindbhai Parmar, MLA of Umreth Constituency, is extremely heartbreaking. By remaining connected to the land, he had embodied the manly endeavour of public service. Through his service-oriented activities, he had attained remarkable popularity among the masses. May the supremely compassionate Supreme Being grant peace to his soul and bestow strength upon the bereaved family and supporters to endure this sorrow--such is my prayer. Om Shanti." Gujarat BJP also expressed shock over the death of party leader and wrote on X, "The news of the tragic demise of Govindbhai Parmar, the popular MLA of Umreth Assembly Constituency, is extremely shocking. His passing has caused an irreplaceable loss to the organisation and society. May the supremely compassionate Supreme Being grant a place at His feet to his divine soul and bestow strength upon the bereaved family and workers to bear this sorrow--such is our prayer." - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two new Delhi Metro corridors and lay the foundation stone for three additional lines on March 8. The projects include the Majlis Park-Maujpur-Babarpur section, completing the Pink Line as India's first fully operational "Ring Metro," and the Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park Magenta Line extension. The new Phase-V(A) corridors will enhance connectivity to administrative hubs, the airport, and key residential areas across Delhi and the NCR. The Delhi government has allocated 2,929 crore specifically to accelerate Metro projects as part of a larger push for clean, modern public transport. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate two new Delhi Metro corridors and lay the foundation stone for three new lines on March 8, enhancing connectivity. New Delhi, March 7 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said the continuous expansion of the Delhi Metro network will transform connectivity in the national capital and give a major push to clean public transport. The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two new Metro corridors and lay the foundation stone for three additional corridors in Delhi on March 8. Gupta said the projects will mark a significant step towards faster, smoother and environmentally friendly public transport in the capital while reducing pressure from private vehicles on roads and helping control pollution. According to the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister will inaugurate two Metro corridors -- the Majlis Park-Maujpur-Babarpur section of the Pink Line and the Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park section of the Magenta Line. With the opening of the Majlis Park-Maujpur-Babarpur stretch, the total length of the Pink Line will reach about 71.56 km, making Delhi the country's first fully operational "Ring Metro". The corridor is expected to improve connectivity between North-East and North-West Delhi and reduce travel time across several parts of the city. Gupta added that the Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park corridor is an extension of the Magenta Line, which will expand the line's total length to around 49 km. The extension will further integrate several residential and commercial areas with the Metro network. The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for three new Metro corridors under Phase-V (A) of the network. These include the Ramakrishna Ashram Marg-Indraprastha Central Vista corridor, the Aerocity-Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal-1 corridor, and the Tughlakabad-Kalindi Kunj corridor. She said once completed, these corridors will significantly enhance connectivity between administrative, residential and commercial areas of Delhi while providing faster access to the airport. Gupta said the projects will benefit not only Delhi but also commuters from cities across the National Capital Region (NCR). Residents of Faridabad and Ballabhgarh will be able to reach Tughlakabad via the Violet Line and then travel directly to Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal-1 through the Golden Line. Similarly, commuters from Noida will be able to reach Kalindi Kunj via the Magenta Line and then travel conveniently to the airport and South Delhi through the Golden Line. Highlighting the Delhi government's focus on public transport, Gupta said 9,110 crore has been allocated to the Transport Department in the 2025-26 budget, nearly 60 per cent higher than last year's 5,702 crore allocation. Out of this, 2,929 crore has been earmarked to accelerate Metro projects in the capital. Gupta said the expansion of the Metro network aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of creating a modern, integrated and environmentally friendly transport system, which will help make Delhi a world-class city and strengthen the goal of a "Viksit Bharat". - ANI Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced key procedural changes for the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly elections. Postal ballots will be counted two rounds before EVM votes, and mandatory VVPAT slip counting will occur if data mismatches are found. New voter-friendly measures include allowing electors to carry mobile phones to the polling station gate and displaying colour photos of candidates on EVMs for the first time in the state. The commission also confirmed 100% webcasting at all polling stations and special provisions for senior citizens and divyang voters. CEC Gyanesh Kumar details Kerala election rules: postal ballots counted before EVMs, mobile phones allowed till booth gate, and colour candidate photos on EVMs. Kochi, March 7 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, on Saturday, said that the electors in Kerala will be allowed to carry their mobile phones till the gate of the polling station, and EVMs will carry a colour photo of candidates. Addressing a press conference in Kerala following two days of poll preparedness, CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that postal ballots will be counted two rounds before EVMs and there will be mandatory counting of VVPAT slips in case of a mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data. Noting new initiatives by the Election Commission for "ease of voting," he said, "Electors will be allowed to carry their mobile phones till the gate of the polling station. In order to enable the electors to select candidates without any doubt, colour photos of candidates will be available for the first time in Kerala. The Presiding Officer will directly upload voter turnout data on the ECINET app every two hours." "To reduce pressure on returning officers, the postal ballots will be counted 2 rounds before EVMs. Mandatory counting of VVPAT slips in every case of mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data," he added. Following meetings with political parties, CEC Kumar said that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll was taken with a clear objective, that "no eligible voter is to be excluded while no ineligible person should be included." Describing the poll preparedness review, he said, "We had meetings with the entire state election machinery and detailed interactions with all political parties. We also met the youth, the icons, who are going to vote in the upcoming elections. I also appreciate the Literacy Club. I also acknowledge the hard work by our booth-level officers for successfully completing the SIR in Kerala. Democracy is not new to Kerala; in fact, Kerala has taught it to many parts of the country and the world. Kerala also made the first code of conduct in 1960, which was later adopted by the ECI in consultation with all parties." "Pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of democracy. The SIR undertaken had a clear objective, that no eligible voter is to be excluded while no ineligible person should be included," he added. He also announced that all polling stations will have 100 per cent web casting. The CEC said, "100 per cent webcasting will be at all polling stations. The commission had taken the decision to give more facilities to electors. There shall not be more than 1200 electors in any booth. There will be 397 women-managed polling booths and 790 model polling stations." "We have 2.43 lakhs Divyang voters and more than two lakh senior citizens with age above 85 years, and they will have an optional voting at their homes. We have 1571 electors who are more than 100 years of age. To ensure that young voters participate, there will be 138 dedicated AEROs to campaign in colleges," the CEC said. Kerala is set to hold Legislative Assembly elections later this year. During the review visit, the Commission interacted with representatives of recognised national political parties, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian National Congress (INC). The Commission also met representatives of recognised state political parties such as Communist Party of India (CPI), Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party and sought their suggestions. According to a press release, several parties urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to keep in mind upcoming local festivals while finalising the dates of the elections. - ANI Success seen as inspiring for the industry Actor Pratik Gandhi has expressed immense pride as the Gujarati devotional drama "Laalo - Krishna Sada Sahaayate" becomes the first film from the industry to cross the 100 crore mark. He called it a significant milestone, praising the team's sincere work and quiet faith during production. The film, which follows a rickshaw driver's transformative journey guided by visions of Lord Krishna, is now preparing for its World Digital Premiere on Sony LIV. Gandhi hopes the OTT release will allow the film's heartfelt storytelling to reach a wider global audience. Actor Pratik Gandhi hails Laalo's historic 100 crore box office success as a proud milestone for Gujarati cinema ahead of its Sony LIV premiere. Mumbai, March 6 Actor Pratik Gandhi has expressed pride over the Gujarati film "Laalo - Krishna Sada Sahaayate" becoming the first film from the industry to cross the Rs 100 crore mark, calling it a significant milestone for Gujarati cinema. Following the success of the film, actor Pratik Gandhi, said, "Laalo becoming the first-ever Gujarati film to cross 100 crore is a proud moment for Gujarati cinema. It's a huge milestone for the entire team, and their journey makes that achievement even more inspiring." Pratik said the film's story reminded him of the importance of trusting the process and continuing to work with sincerity rather than overthinking outcomes. "It reminded me not to overthink, but to keep doing your work honestly and trust the process. When the team began, they didn't even know if the film would be completed, let alone become such a historic success," said the actor. He added: Yet, they carried a quiet faith that something good would come of it. That belief and sincerity are what shine through in the film. I'm proud that Laalo has made Gujarati cinema shine brighter. Laalo - Krishna Sada Sahaayate now gears up for its World Digital Premiere on Sony LIV. The actor added: I'm glad it will now reach a wider audience with its OTT release on Sony LIV. I hope more people watch it and experience its simple, heartfelt storytelling." Produced by Manifest Films, Jay Vyas Productions, and Ajay Balavant Padariya, the film stars Reeva Rachh, Shruhad Goswami, and Karan Joshi. The devotional drama film is directed by Ankit Sakhiya and written by Krushansh Vaja, Vicky Poornima and Ankit Sakhiya. It stars Reeva Rachh, Shruhad Goswami, Karan Joshi, Mishty Kadecha and others. The film follows a rickshaw driver, who is trapped in a Farmhouse confronts his past demons while experiencing visions of Lord Krishna, who guides him through a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing. - IANS President Droupadi Murmu addressed the 9th International Santal Conference in Darjeeling, honoring the community's history of rebellion against exploitation led by figures like Tilka Majhi and Sido-Kanhu. She highlighted key milestones for the Santali language, including its inclusion in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule in 2003 and the invention of the Ol Chiki script by Pandit Raghunath Murmu. The President emphasized the need for tribal communities to preserve their language, folk traditions, and environmental sensitivity while embracing modern development through education and skill development. She called for a harmonious balance between progress and nature, focusing on health and economic empowerment without forgetting one's roots. President Droupadi Murmu addresses the 9th International Santal Conference, urging the community to preserve language and culture while embracing education and development. Darjeeling, March 7 President Droupadi Murmu graced the 9th International Santal Conference at Darjeeling, West Bengal, on Saturday, an official release from Rashtrapati Bhavan said. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is a matter of pride for the Santal community that our ancestor, Tilka Majhi, raised the banner of revolt against exploitation nearly 240 years ago. Nearly 60 years after his revolt, the brave brothers Sido-Kanhu and Chand-Bhairav, along with the brave sisters Phoolo-Jhano, led the Santal Hul in 1855. The President said that the year 2003 will always be remembered in the history of the Santali community. That year, the Santali language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Last year, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Constitution of India, written in the Santali language in the Ol Chiki script, was released. The President said that in 1925, Pandit Raghunath Murmu invented the Ol Chiki script. Recently, we have celebrated the centenary of this invention. His contributions provided Santali speakers with a new opening for expression. He also composed plays such as "Bidu Chandan," "Kherwal Veer," "Dalege Dhan," and "Sido Kanhu - Santal Hul." In this way, he spread the light of literature and social consciousness within the Santali community. She said that members of Santal community should read other languages and scripts, but be connected with their own language. The President said that tribal communities have preserved their folk music, dances and traditions for centuries. They have maintained a sensitivity to nature, passed down from generation to generation. She emphasised that the lesson of nature conservation must be passed to future generations, a release stated. She underlined that along with preserving folk traditions and the environment, our tribal communities must embrace modern development and move forward on the journey of progress. She expressed confidence that members of tribal communities, including the Santal community, will set an example of the harmony between progress and nature. The President said that the need of the hour is to focus on education, health and economic empowerment. Tribal youth must progress through education and skill development. But in all these efforts, they should not forget their roots. She said that we should resolve to preserve our language and culture, prioritise education and maintain unity and fraternity in society. This will help us in building an empowered society and a strong India, a release added. - ANI Catherine, Princess of Wales, participated in Holi celebrations in Leicester, engaging with the local British-Indian community. Her visit included a traditional welcome at a Hindu temple and observing demonstrations at a dance company. She also spent time on the Golden Mile, interacting with residents and business owners. The Princess chose a cream-colored outfit that respectfully nodded to the festival's tradition of wearing light clothing. The Princess of Wales marked Holi in Leicester, visiting a temple, a dance company, and local businesses in a vibrant cultural celebration. Leicester, March 6 In a colourful tribute to one of the world's most vibrant festivals, Catherine, Princess of Wales joined the British-Indian community in Leicester on March 5, celebrating Holi through cultural engagements, conversations and traditional rituals across the multicultural UK city. Photos shared on the official Kensington Palace and The Prince and Princess of Wales' social media account on Thursday captured the Princess participating in post-Holi celebrations, greeting community members, clapping along to performances and sharing tea during the visit. During the visit, the Princess began at the Shreeji Dham Haveli Temple, where she was welcomed with a traditional namaste greeting and presented with a mala, a garland made of red roses and pearls, which she wore throughout the engagement. She later visited the Aakash Odedra Company, watching demonstrations of traditional Indian dance and briefly joining a dance class barefoot. The royal also spent time on Leicester's well-known Golden Mile (Belgrave Road), where she stopped at the long-running family restaurant Bobby's to sample chai and traditional snacks while interacting with local residents and business owners. For the occasion, Catherine chose an outfit that subtly referenced Holi traditions. She wore a cream bespoke coat, previously worn during her 2023 'Together at Christmas' service, over a pleated long-sleeve dress. The ensemble reflected the custom of wearing light or white clothing during Holi. Her look was complemented by camel-coloured suede pumps, a brown suede clutch, and gold-plated Sezane "Dina" earrings featuring blue natural stones. Online reactions to the Kensington Royal post were largely supportive, with many users praising the Princess for embracing the festival and engaging respectfully with local traditions. "It's always wonderful to see moments like this that celebrate community, culture and local businesses. Thank you for sharing such a meaningful visit," one user wrote. Another social media user commented, "The best princess of wales we can ask for." Known as the Festival of Colors, is a vibrant Hindu festival which marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. People throw colored powders, dance, sing, and share sweets, spreading joy, unity, love, and happiness everywhere. The festival begins with ka Dahan, where a bonfire is lit to mark the death of ka, a symbol of evil and a special Puja to burn evil spirits is performed. - ANI Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation for a Rs 137-crore rural link road in Khemkaran, highlighting border area development and job creation. Chandigarh, March 7 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 137-crore rural link road project in the border constituency of Khemkaran and said the AAP government was focusing on strengthening infrastructure, employment opportunities, and improved public services in border regions. He also highlighted progress in canal irrigation, employment generation, and education reforms. Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone, CM Mann said, "From roads to schools to playgrounds and industry, I assure you that my government is committed to ensuring everything in this area. Successive governments ignored the development of border areas, but the AAP government has made dedicated efforts for their progress. "We are committed to the welfare of the residents of these regions who are true patriots of the country." The Chief Minister said that, for the first time in the history of Punjab, the state's industrial policy provides incentives to industrialists willing to establish units in border areas. "Nine thrust sectors and borders, as well as Kandi areas, are being given 25 per cent additional incentives. Border districts such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Fazilka have historically seen lower investment due to perceived geographical risks," he said. Emphasising employment generation, CM Mann said, "We want to place a tiffin in the hands of our youth by providing them employment so that they stay away from syringes and the menace of drugs. Idle hands are the devil's workshop, so we are making every effort to ensure that youth get jobs and do not fall prey to social evils. The AAP government has already provided more than 63,000 government jobs to the youth." Highlighting achievements in irrigation, he said, "When we assumed office, only 21 per cent of canal water was being used for irrigation. Today this figure has risen to 68 per cent, and it will reach 85 per cent by the coming paddy season. A total of 6,900 km of canals and 18,349 watercourses have been revived to ensure water reaches tail-end farmers." He said the government has spent Rs 6,500 crore to rejuvenate the canal system, enabling canal water to reach 1,365 villages for the first time, and added that work on constructing more than 49,000 km of roads is underway at a cost of Rs 16,209 crore to improve rural connectivity. - IANS Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched the Industrial and Business Development Policy 2026 to strengthen the state's industrial growth. The policy framework is designed to attract large investments and make Punjab a leading destination for manufacturing and emerging technologies. Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora emphasized its unprecedented flexibility, allowing investors to choose their incentives and timelines. The state will showcase this new vision at the Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit in March 2026. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann unveils new industrial policy with flexible incentives to attract investment, boost manufacturing, and generate employment. Ludhiana, March 7 Punjab on Saturday took a major step towards strengthening its industrial growth trajectory with the launch of the Industrial and Business Development Policy -- 2026, a framework aimed at accelerating industrial expansion, attracting large investments, and generating employment opportunities. The policy was formally unveiled by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the presence of Minister for Industries and Commerce Sanjeev Arora here. The launch attracted nearly 200 industrialists, industry leaders, and representatives from multiple sectors, reflecting strong industry interest and confidence in the state's industrial future. Describing the policy as one of the most progressive industrial policy frameworks in the country, CM Mann said the initiative would significantly strengthen Punjab's position as a leading destination for manufacturing, services, and emerging technologies. The policy introduces a wide range of incentives and reforms to make Punjab one of the most attractive investment destinations in India. Highlighting the flexibility built into the new framework, Minister Arora said, "For the first time, this policy truly puts the power in the hands of investors. Investors can choose the incentives they want to avail themselves of and the time period over which they wish to avail themselves. "This flexibility and investor-driven framework is unprecedented and reflects Punjab's commitment to becoming the most investor-friendly state in India." The state government reiterated that the Industrial and Business Development Policy -- 2026 will play a transformative role in accelerating industrial growth, strengthening Punjab's competitiveness, and creating large-scale employment opportunities for the youth of Punjab. The government also invited domestic and global investors to explore opportunities in Punjab and participate in the Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit 2026, scheduled to be held from March 13-15 at Plaksha University in Mohali, where Punjab will showcase its new industrial vision and investment opportunities. - IANS Texas doesnt have a state income tax, but a new study says residents still face some of the highest tax costs nationwide. Personal finance company WalletHub ranked the Lone Star state 42 out of 51 (including Washington, D.C.) in a new report that compares how much households pay through major taxes each year. Low income taxes dont always mean low taxes as a whole, WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. Every year during tax season, Americans are reminded of just how much of their hard-earned income isnt theirs to keep. The analysis breaks down how property taxes, sales taxes and other recurring costs shape a familys overall tax load. Heres what to know. In case you missed it... Sign up for Star-Telegram news alerts. Where does Texas rank for total tax burden? WalletHub estimated that a typical Texas household pays an effective tax rate of 12.59%, which reflects what residents owe through major taxes collected across the state. The study also estimated how much the median U.S. household would pay under Texas tax structure, and put that amount at about $10,222 a year. When adjusting the calculation for Texas median income, the annual cost drops to about $9,351, reflecting differences in earnings between Texas and the national average. WalletHub says these figures help show how much the states tax system can impact families at different income levels. The estimates are part of the formula used to compare how each states tax structure weighs on a typical household. Why are Texas tax costs high without an income tax? Texas doesnt tax personal income, but those savings disappear once property and sales taxes are factored in. WalletHub found that property taxes are one of the biggest expenses for Texas homeowners because they help fund schools, public safety and county services. Sales taxes also make a noticeable difference. The state sales tax rate is 6.25%, and many cities and counties add enough local taxes to bring the total to 8.25% on most purchases, according to the Texas Comptrollers Office. These taxes affect residents across all income levels because they show up in everyday spending. How does Texas compare with other states? Texas sits closer to higher-burden states than lower-burden ones in WalletHubs national comparison. The report found that Alaska had the lowest overall tax burden, in part because revenue from natural resources reduces what residents pay directly. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he expressed condolences for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Putin reaffirmed Russia's position demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and a diplomatic resolution to the regional conflict. The conversation follows a major joint US-Israeli military operation that struck Iranian territory, killing Khamenei and other senior figures. Both leaders agreed to maintain contact through various diplomatic channels as tensions remain high across the Middle East. Putin conveys condolences for Khamenei, urges immediate end to hostilities in call with Iran's President Pezeshkian amid regional escalation. Moscow, March 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Friday and conveyed his condolences on the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. He reaffirmed Russia's stance of immediate cessation of hostilities and said that he was in constant contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. The details of the telecon were shared by Russia's Foreign Ministry. In a post on Telegram it noted, "During the telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian Vladimir Putin has once again expressed his heartfelt condolences on the assassination of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei along with his family members and the country's military and political leadership, as well as the numerous civilian casualties resulting from the United States and Israel's armed aggression against Iran." "Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution. In this regard, the President of Russia noted that he was in constant contact with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states", the post added. As per the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's solidarity with the Iranian people, "as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country." He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict. The Foreign Ministry further noted that it was agreed that contact will be maintained with the Iranian side via various channels. The developments come amid tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory killed its Supreme Leader, Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran. In a coordinated operation known as Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, US and Israeli forces carried out large-scale air and missile strikes across Iran, targeting key military sites, nuclear-related infrastructure, and leadership compounds. In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. - ANI Superstar Ram Charan extended warm congratulations to actor Allu Sirish and his new wife, Nayanika Reddy, on social media. The couple had an intimate wedding ceremony on March 6th, which coincided with the 15th wedding anniversary of Sirish's elder brother, Allu Arjun. A lavish pre-wedding reception for the Telugu film industry was hosted at Allu Studios on March 2nd. The family, including producer Allu Aravind, personally delivered invitations to industry members. Superstar Ram Charan shares warm wishes for Allu Sirish and Nayanika Reddy's wedding. See the photo and heartfelt messages from the ceremony. Mumbai, March 7 superstar Ram Charan has extended warm wishes to actor Allu Sirish wedding and new life journey with wife Nayanika Reddy. Ram Charan took to his social media account on the 6th of March and shared a picture from the wedding ceremony. He wrote, "Congratulations dearest brother @allusirish & @nayanika_reddy Have a blessed journey together." Re-sharing the post on his social media account, Allu Sirish responded with a heartfelt note that read, "Thank you swami." The picture shows the newlyweds Allu Sirish and Nayanika pose with family members against a grand decorated backdrop at the wedding venue. The groom Allu Sirish is seen dressed in traditional attire, while his bride Nayanika Reddy stunning in a silk saree paired with traditional jewellery. Ram Charan looks handsome in a traditional black outfit and his wife Upasana is seen looking gorgeous in her golden ensemble. For the uninitiated, Allu Sirish's wedding took place on the same date as the wedding anniversary of his elder brother and superstar Allu Arjun and his wife Sneha Reddy, who got married exactly 15 years ago, on the same date. On the 2nd of March, t he couple had hosted a lavish pre-wedding bash for the members of the Telugu film industry. This pre-wedding celebration took place at the prestigious Allu Studios. Earlier this week, sharing the latest update about his wedding plans on social media, Allu Sirish had written the update on his X (Earlier known as Twitter) handle. He wrote,"Nayanika & I are having an intimate wedding with family & friends on 6th March. But we're excited to celebrate our Pre-Wedding Reception with the Telugu film industry prestigiously at Allu Studios on the 2nd March. (sic)" For the uninitiated, Allu Sirish and Allu Arjun's father, producer Allu Aravind, along with his wife and Sirish, had visited several prominent members of the industry to extend wedding invitations personally. - IANS A volunteer with the Sambhali Trust addressed the UN Human Rights Council on the plight of migrants from minority communities who have moved from Pakistan to India. She stated that religious discrimination is the primary, intolerable factor forcing people to leave Pakistan. The trust provides essential support like livelihood assistance and education to these vulnerable communities in Rajasthan. The volunteer also shared a broader message of compassion and open-hearted dialogue learned from her experiences in India. A volunteer at the UNHRC highlights religious discrimination as the key reason families are leaving Pakistan for India, citing grassroots support work. Geneva, March 7 Lara Delutis, a volunteer representing the Sambhali Trust, a community-based non-profit organisation based in Rajasthan, spoke at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council about the challenges faced by migrants from minority communities who have moved from Pakistan to India. She also highlighted the important role grassroots organisations play in supporting them. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the 61st UNHRC session in Geneva, Delutis recalled her visit to Rajasthan, where the Sambhali Trust operates. During her visit, she met several women and families who had migrated from Pakistan years ago. She said witnessing their experiences left a deep impression on her. "There I had the chance to meet many women who came from Pakistan and many families who had migrated years ago," she said. Delutis highlighted the work carried out by the Sambhali Trust in supporting migrants and vulnerable communities in the region. "Sambhali Trust is an organisation that is really working for asylum seekers, especially in desert communities. They are providing livelihood support, education, and assistance in cases of emergency," she said. Speaking about the reasons behind the migration of several families from Pakistan, Delutis pointed to religious discrimination as a major factor. "The reason why these people, unfortunately, are leaving their nation, Pakistan, is basically because of religious discrimination, which is absolutely intolerable," she said. Delutis also shared a broader message of compassion and openness based on her experiences in India. "My message to the world is that we should try to live with our hearts open. This is what I learned in India. That open-hearted conversation and openness is something we can express even through a simple 'Namaste,'" she said. "So we should really remember our roots and live with our hearts open. That will take us in the right direction," she added. - ANI External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar asserted that India's global rise is self-determined and built upon its own domestic strength and capabilities. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, he emphasized India's significant investment in the development and rebuilding of the Indian Ocean region as an interconnected ecosystem. He detailed India's contrasting, humane approach in offering port access to the Iranian vessel IRIS Lavan after technical issues, unlike the fate of its sister ship, IRIS Dena. Jaishankar positioned India's actions as guided by principles of humanity within the complex realities of the region. EAM Jaishankar asserts India's growth is self-determined, highlights regional investments, and details India's humane approach in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi, March 7 External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has asserted that India's global trajectory is self-determined, highlighting that the nation's growth is built upon its own domestic capabilities and resilience. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue the EAM said, "If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or identity, it has to be backed up with resources, work, commitments, practical projects. There are different dimensions of how you build the Indian Ocean. On why the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country - we are right in the middle of it. With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean stand to benefit. Those who work with us will get more benefits. The rise of India will be determined by India. It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others," he added. Jaishankar further highlighted that India has invested in the development of the region and with India's growth, countries in the region stand to benefit. "Indian Ocean Region is an ecosystem. Indian Ocean, much more than other parts of the world, is in the process of recovery and rebuilding. Individual states are doing that, but the whole region as a whole, restoration of trade patterns, connectivity. This whole rebuilding process of the Indian Ocean needs to be recognised. A lot of this requires hard work. In the last decade, Indian diplomacy has invested a lot in this process," he said. Underlining India's position on recent volatile events in the Indian Ocean, Jaishankar addressed the sinking of an Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, which was returning from India after participating in the Fleet Review. The vessel was sunk by the US while in international waters. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday, the Minister highlighted India's contrasting position, noting that India had offered another Iranian vessel docking at Kochi. The IRIS Lavan, which also took part in the International Fleet Review, had earlier docked in Kochi after developing technical issues. India had been approached by Iran days before the IRIS Dena incident south of Sri Lanka. The ship was in the region as part of the Iranian naval presence for the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026, which took place from February 15 to February 25. India approved docking on March 1 and the ship's 183 crew members are currently staying at naval facilities in Kochi. The Minister described the sinking of IRIS Dena as unfortunate and said India took the humane approach when the Iranians sent out a request for IRIS Lavan. "You had these ships, and we got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships, which presumably was closest to us--to our waters at that point of time, wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems. And so, my recollection is this was on the 28th, and on the 1st we said, 'Okay, you can come in.' And it took them a few days to sail in, and then they docked in Kochi. And the ship is there. And obviously, the people on the ship, a lot of them were young cadets--that is my understanding. They have disembarked; they are, you know, in a nearby facility. When they set out and came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review, and then they got, in a way, caught on the wrong side of events. So for us, when this ship wanted to come in, and that too in difficulties, I think it was the humane thing to do. And I think we were guided by that principle. And in a sense, of the other ships, one obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, and they took the decision which they did, and one unfortunately didn't make it. So I think we really approached it from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were. And I think we did the right thing," the Minister said. In the specific case of IRIS Dena, after a distress call was received at the MRCC Colombo, the Indian Navy had promptly launched its SAR efforts, commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Elaborating on the broader situation in the Indian Ocean, the Minister said that it was important to understand the realities of the region beyond contemporary debates. "There are a lot of social media debates going on over this. Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades. The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period," the Minister said. The Minister also called for attention to the safety of merchant ships currently operating in waters that may be the scenario of a conflict. "Indians are a large segment of people who man merchant ships. Every time there is an attack on a vessel carrying goods, it is very likely that a part of the vessel is manned by Indians. We should give a lot of weight to this because we have had fatalities in the last few days. There has got to be adequate recognition in the country about the interest of our people, the merchant mariners and what we could be doing to safeguard them. Our approach to the crisis is driven by the fact that we have 9-10 million people living in the Gulf. Their well-being is a factor just as much as that of merchant shipping has to be. Countries have their own interests, their economic or energy concerns, and, naturally, our policies will take all of that into account. I felt the merchant marine part has not got the prominence," he said. - ANI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic Su-30MKI crash in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, which resulted in the martyrdom of two Indian Air Force pilots. The IAF confirmed the fatalities as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, who were on a training mission when the aircraft lost radar contact. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched following the incident near Jorhat. The nation and the IAF have extended their condolences, standing in solidarity with the bereaved families of the brave air warriors. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the Su-30MKI crash in Assam that claimed the lives of two IAF pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. New Delhi, March 6 Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday condoled the death of two Indian Air Force pilots in Su-30MKI crash in Assam's Karbi Anglong district. In a Facebook post, Gandhi described the incident as saddening and painful, adding a tribute to the deceased Indian Air Force pilots. "The news of the martyrdom of Indian Air Force soldiers Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar in a plane crash is deeply saddening and painful. I pay my heartfelt tribute to these brave sons of India and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The entire nation stands with them in this hour of grief," Rahul Gandhi wrote on 'X'. Two pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, have been killed in the Su-30MKI crash in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed on Friday. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, they acknowledged the deaths on X, stating, "IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." Prior to the acknowledgement, they stated that a search operation was underway. "The Su-30MKI, which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat. Search operations are underway," IAF said on X. The aircraft had lost radar contact at around 7.42 pm after taking off from Jorhat in Assam. "An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated," said IAF. Speaking to ANI, a local stated that they saw the plane coming down in the evening yesterday." We heard a loud noise and an explosion... The police from the Chowki Wala police station are here. They are searching for him from the helicopter," he said. The Su-30MKI is a two-seater fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. The IAF has a fleet of over 200 Su-30MKIs. - ANI The US Department of State has announced the suspension of operations at its Embassy in Kuwait City. It urged American citizens in Kuwait to depart the country using available transportation options if they can do so safely. The department emphasized that the safety of Americans abroad remains its highest priority, providing emergency contact details for those requiring assistance. This move comes amid escalating regional tensions following recent military strikes and retaliatory attacks. US State Department suspends operations at its Kuwait embassy, urges American citizens to leave the country amid escalating regional tensions. Washington DC, March 6 The United States Department of State has announced the suspension of operations at its Embassy in Kuwait City, urging American citizens in Kuwait to leave the country. In a press release, the State Department said that while operations at the embassy have been halted, there have been no reported injuries among US personnel. "Today, the Department of State announced the suspension of operations at U.S. Embassy Kuwait City," the statement said. The department emphasised that the safety and security of Americans overseas remains its "highest priority." "While there have been no reported injuries to the US personnel, the safety of Americans abroad remains the highest priority of the US Department of State," it added. The State Department also said that the travel advisory for Kuwait remains at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, advising US citizens to check the latest updates and country-specific information through official channels. "The Travel Advisory for Kuwait remains at a Level 3: Reconsider Travel. US citizens should consult the most current Travel Advisory and country information at travel.state.gov," the statement said. In its advisory, the department urged American citizens currently in Kuwait to leave the country. "US citizens in Kuwait should depart the country, if they can do so safely, using commercial or other available transportation options. US citizens unable to depart should shelter in place," the statement noted. The department also provided emergency contact details for American nationals who may require urgent assistance, including consular services or information regarding departure options. "US citizens requiring emergency assistance, including consular services and information on available departure options, may contact the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the United States and Canada)," it said. Additionally, the State Department encouraged US nationals abroad to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows citizens to receive security alerts and updates from nearby US diplomatic missions. "US citizens are strongly encouraged to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate," the statement said. This comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 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 targeting American military bases across multiple Arab countries as the conflict entered its sixth day. Israel is also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. - ANI Saudi Arabia has publicly cautioned Iran against making "misguided calculations" as regional tensions escalate. The warning followed a meeting between Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud and Pakistan's Army Chief. Saudi air defenses have been active, intercepting a ballistic missile aimed at a key air base and neutralizing multiple drones and a cruise missile in recent days. Attacks have targeted critical energy infrastructure, including the Ras Tanura oil refinery, as well as US military and diplomatic sites. Saudi Defence Minister cautions Iran as ballistic missiles, drones target energy sites, US bases, and Riyadh. Air defenses intercept attacks. Riyadh, March 7 Saudi Arabia on Saturday cautioned Iran against engaging in what it described as "misguided calculations" as tensions across the West Asia region continue to intensify amid an expanding conflict. Iran has directed retaliatory missile and drone strikes toward Israel and US military positions, while also launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones toward Arab states across the Gulf. These attacks have targeted energy infrastructure, civilian locations, and US military bases spread across the region. Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud issued the warning following a meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. After the discussions, the minister expressed hope that Iran would "act with wisdom and reason" and refrain from taking steps that could further inflame the already volatile situation, urging Tehran to avoid "misguided calculations." Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reported that its air defence systems successfully intercepted another incoming attack. The Kingdom said a ballistic missile aimed at a military facility southeast of the capital was neutralised before reaching its target. "A ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base was intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi Defence Ministry said in a post on X. Saudi officials also disclosed that multiple aerial threats had been neutralised in recent days. According to the Defence Ministry, four drones were shot down on Friday (local time), including three in the eastern areas of Riyadh and another to the northeast of the capital. Authorities further said that a cruise missile was intercepted over the city of Kharj. Earlier in the week, Iranian drones also targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said two drones struck the compound, causing what it described as "limited fire" and only minor structural damage. Following the incident, the US Embassy urged American citizens to avoid visiting the compound as a precautionary measure. Saudi Arabia's key energy infrastructure has also been targeted during the ongoing attacks. The Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the Kingdom's major crude processing facilities, came under a drone assault as well. However, Saudi air defences managed to bring down the incoming aircraft before they could cause damage, a military spokesperson told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The Ras Tanura refinery has a production capacity of more than half a million barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the most significant oil processing sites in the country. - IANS South Korean diplomatic missions are assisting citizens in evacuating from multiple Middle Eastern nations to safer locations and facilitating their return home. Evacuations have occurred from Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, Israel, Bahrain, and Iraq. The first direct commercial flight from Dubai since the onset of regional hostilities brought over 370 South Koreans back to Incheon International Airport. The government estimates thousands of its citizens remain in the region, with many short-term travelers stranded due to canceled flights. South Korean nationals evacuated from Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern nations with embassy support amid regional crisis. Hundreds return home. Seoul, March 7 South Korean nationals stranded across the Middle East in the wake of a regional crisis are continuing to evacuate to safer areas with assistance from local diplomatic missions, the foreign ministry said Saturday. According to the ministry, 65 South Koreans who had been staying in Qatar safely moved to neighboring Saudi Arabia from Tuesday to Friday. In Jordan, where commercial flights remain in operation, 41 South Korean short-term visitors departed the country from Thursday to Friday. The South Korean Embassy in Jordan dispatched a support team to an airport in Amman to assist with departure procedures. In Kuwait, 14 South Korean nationals and one foreign spouse also traveled to Saudi Arabia with the support of the embassy. The ministry said it has also supported South Koreans in other parts of the region, helping 25 people in Iran, 113 in Israel, 14 in Bahrain and five in Iraq move to neighboring countries so they can return home, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier, on March 6, more than 370 South Koreans returned home aboard the first direct flight from Dubai since last week's US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. The Emirates flight arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, around 8:25 p.m., carrying 422 passengers, including 372 South Koreans, the officials had said. It was the first direct commercial flight to head for Incheon from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s Dubai since the war on Iran began last weekend. The government earlier said it had consulted with the UAE government to enable the safe return of South Koreans from the Middle East on direct flights. Around 18,000 South Koreans are currently believed to be in 14 Middle Eastern nations, including 4,900 short-term travelers, of whom 3,500 are stranded due to canceled flights, according to the government. Returning travelers embraced with family members at the airport, with some wiping tears of relief following days of uncertainty. Others also told similar stories of hearing loud bangs from drone interceptions and bombing. - IANS Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the government has taken over operations concerning the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr under international conventions. The ship sought permission to enter a Sri Lankan port following the sinking of its companion vessel, IRIS Dena, after a reported US submarine attack. The crew will be evacuated to Colombo and housed at a navy camp, while the ship itself will be moved to Trincomalee Port away from the main commercial harbor. The president emphasized Sri Lanka's neutral and humanitarian handling of the situation involving a party to an ongoing conflict. President Dissanayake says Sri Lanka, as a neutral state, will care for the IRIS Bushehr crew and relocate the vessel under international conventions. Colombo, March 6 Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government has taken over operations concerning the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr and its crew under international conventions as a neutral state, as authorities move to bring the crew ashore and relocate the ship away from the country's main commercial harbor. IRIS Bushehr is an Iranian naval vessel which had taken part in a 2026 International Fleet Review, a cooperative maritime exercise held in India along with IRIS Dena, which sank off the island's southern coast after a US submarine attack on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Dissanayake told a news conference that IRIS Bushehr reported to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 4, and sought permission to enter a Sri Lankan port. He said Sri Lanka, which places great emphasis on humanity, handled the situation in line with international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Calling it a non-routine situation because the ship belongs to a party to an ongoing conflict, the president said officials held continuous discussions with the ship's captain, the crew and the Iranian Embassy, and decided to place the vessel and personnel on board under Sri Lanka's care following agreed procedures. He said the government decided not to bring the vessel into the Port of Colombo due to commercial sensitivities. Instead, Sri Lanka will transfer the crew to Colombo by naval vessels and then move the ship to the Trincomalee Port area in the country's east. Dissanayake said personnel prepared to be brought ashore include 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors and 21 sailors. They are to be placed at Welisara Navy Camp in Sri Lanka's Western Province after medical examinations and registration. After the evacuation, a joint essential team comprising Sri Lankan naval personnel and 42 members of the ship's crew will sail the vessel to the Trincomalee area, he added. - IANS The Indian Army's Central Command conducted its inaugural Strategic Communication Conclave in Lucknow. The event gathered nearly 500 participants to discuss integrating strategic communication into national security. Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta emphasized the critical role of perception management in modern warfare. The conclave featured sessions with senior diplomats, retired officials, and media experts on institutionalizing this capability. Indian Army's Central Command holds first Strategic Communication Conclave in Lucknow, focusing on perception management and information warfare. Lucknow, March 7 The Indian Army's Central Command on Saturday conducted its first-ever Strategic Communication Conclave in Lucknow, discussing the shifting nature of warfare and the crucial role of perception management, an official said. The conclave aimed to examine strategic communication as an institutional capability within India's national security architecture and generate actionable insights on doctrine, structures, processes, and preparedness in the emerging information space. With close to 500 people in attendance, the conclave featured deliberations and panel discussions on strategic communication within the national security architecture, the official said in a statement. The panellists and speakers included senior diplomats, government communication experts, and the media. The attendees included senior military personnel from the Central Command and communication professionals from the government and the private sector. In his opening address, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta highlighted the fundamental shift like warfare, which now encompasses the information and cognitive domains. Underscoring the crucial role of perception management, he stated that perception shapes legitimacy, legitimacy shapes influence, and influence shapes outcomes. He also spoke about the weaponisation of narratives and the threat from conflicts below the threshold of war. He pointed out that strategic communication cannot remain reactive, episodic, or personality-driven, but must become institutionalised, doctrine-backed, and capability-driven. The conclave included an expert policy-level session on the institutional and national security dimensions, under the theme 'Institutionalising Strategic Communication as a Capability for Future Preparedness in the Emerging Information Space'. India's first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (Retd), Ambassador Yashvardhan Sinha (Retd), and Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd) addressed the session. A special interactive session was organised on the theme 'Strategic Communication in Emerging Multi-Domain Operations: Strategies, Structures, Processes and Preparedness', integrating policy and operational perspectives. Retired civil and military officials, including Ambassador Dilip Sinha, Shantanu Mukharji, Veena Jain, and Lt Gen DP Pandey, shared key insights during the session. Panel discussions with media on the themes 'Shaping the mind space: Perception Management in the Strategic Domain' and 'Information Power and Strategic Communication' addressed the importance of perception management and information power. - IANS The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD) is one of the best Canadian value stocks to buy. On February 26, Toronto-Dominion Bank reported financial results for FQ1 2026, with net earnings reaching CAD 4.2 billion and EPS of CAD 2.44. This was supported by an 11% year-over-year increase in revenue and a 19% rise in adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision profit. The bank achieved an improved return on equity of 14.2% and saw strong volume growth in its Canadian personal and commercial banking segments, which posted record results across deposits, loans, and earnings. The bank is aggressively returning capital to shareholders, having completed an $8 billion share buyback in January and immediately launching a new $7 billion program. These buybacks, which included the repurchase of ~84 million shares, contributed to a slight decline in the CET1 ratio to 14.5%. Management indicated it plans to manage this ratio toward a 13% target by H2 FY2027. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) Reports Record Q1 Earnings Fueled by Strong Revenue and Volume Growth Looking ahead, The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD) is focusing on strategic investments in technology and regulatory remediation. The bank plans to spend ~CAD 500 million in 2026 on US anti-money laundering remediation and is targeting CAD 1 billion in medium-term value from AI deployments. While credit provisions remained within expectations at 43 basis points, the bank is maintaining over CAD 500 million in reserves to navigate potential policy and trade uncertainties. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD), together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the US, and internationally. It has four segments: Canadian Personal & Commercial Banking, US Retail, Wealth Management & Insurance, and Wholesale Banking. While we acknowledge the potential of TD 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Best Canadian Stocks to Buy Under $20. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has declared readiness for a prolonged war, announcing the imminent deployment of new strategic weaponry not yet seen on the battlefield. The warning follows precise missile strikes on Tel Aviv and comes in retaliation for a US-Israel strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader. In response, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned Iran against miscalculating Washington's resolve, stating the US has "only just begun to fight." Simultaneously, the conflict has widened to Lebanon, where the IDF announced it eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for rocket attacks on Israel. IRGC says new strategic weapons "on the way" for prolonged war. US Secretary of War warns Iran against miscalculation as regional conflict widens. Tehran, March 6 The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has asserted that Iran is entirely equipped for a "prolonged war" and is preparing to debut a fresh category of strategic armaments that have "not yet been seen on the battlefield," as reported by Iranian state broadcaster Press TV. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, speaking on behalf of the IRGC, confirmed that the nation is ready for a lengthy confrontation intended to "punish the aggressor." He highlighted that the military operations carried out during the "True Promise 4 Operation" to date have "only utilised a fraction of Iran's actual capabilities." The spokesperson further warned that "Iran's new initiatives and weapons are on the way," noting that these advanced systems "have not yet been deployed on a large scale." According to details shared by the Tehran-based media outlet, the General cautioned that "the enemy should expect painful blows in every upcoming operational wave." This high-level declaration occurred simultaneously with the launch of Khayber missiles towards Tel Aviv. These specific strikes were noted for having "demonstrated a high degree of precision" in their execution, signalling a potential shift in the scale of the ongoing regional tensions. In response to these escalating threats, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has warned Iran against miscalculating Washington's resolve, asserting that they are prepared to continue military operations decisively. Speaking during a press conference at US Central Command on Thursday, Hegseth said Iran's leadership is mistaken if it believes the US cannot sustain the ongoing military campaign. "Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran," he said. "Our commitment to our mission objectives only increases as our advantages continue to increase... We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively," Hegseth added, indicating that Washington is prepared for a prolonged confrontation if necessary. The US defence chief also dismissed concerns about a possible influx of refugees to the United States due to the expanding conflict in the Middle East, stating, "I think it's safe to say there's no plan for a wave of new Middle Eastern refugees to the United States of America." His remarks come amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 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 targeting American military bases across multiple Arab countries as the conflict entered its sixth day. Simultaneously, Israel is continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. In a post on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also said it has eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander, Zaid Ali Jumaa, in Beirut, accusing him of overseeing large-scale rocket and missile attacks against Israel from southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that Jumaa served as the head of Hezbollah's artillery operations in southern Lebanon and played a key role in directing attacks targeting Israeli territory. "ELIMINATED: Hezbollah firepower management commander Zaid Ali Jumaa in Beirut. Jumaa served as Hezbollah's head of artillery in southern Lebanon and was responsible for launching thousands of rockets, missiles, and UAVs from Lebanon toward Israel," the IDF said in its post. According to the Israeli military, Jumaa also had a history of involvement in earlier attacks against Israeli forces. "He also led the 2015 anti-tank missile attack in Mount Dov that killed an IDF officer and soldier," the post added. - ANI Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has condemned recent US-Israel military strikes as a "brutal military aggression" and a fundamental clash between truth and falsehood. The envoy framed the conflict as a struggle between justice and oppression, vowing that Iran would achieve victory or martyrdom. This comes as US Central Command confirmed thousands of strikes in "Operation Epic Fury" and President Donald Trump declared there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender." Trump also expressed a desire to be involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader, criticizing potential successor Mojtaba Khamenei. Iran's ambassador to India condemns US-Israel military action as a brutal aggression and a clash of worldviews, as Trump demands Iran's unconditional surrender. New Delhi, March 7 Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has condemned the recent military actions by the United States and Israel, framing the escalation as a fundamental clash of values rather than a mere territorial dispute. Speaking in the capital following reports of strikes against Iranian interests, the Ambassador characterised the current situation as a profound moral struggle. "What is happening today is not simply a political or military conflict. This strike is a continuation of the strike between truth and falsehood," Fathali stated. The envoy further expanded on this ideological divide, suggesting that the conflict represents two opposing worldviews. "On one side, there is human dignity, justice and the right of nations to live freely and independently. On the other side are oppression, injustice and domination." Connecting the specific military strikes to this broader theme of injustice, Fathali argued that the actions of the US and Israel have far-reaching implications for global sovereignty. "The brutal military aggression by the US and Israeli regime against Iran is a clear example of this injustice. This aggression is not just against Iran but also against the principles of internal law, human dignity and the rights of nations to determine their own future," the Ambassador asserted. Emphasising the resolve of the Iranian leadership and its citizens, Fathali said the nation remains undeterred by the military pressure. "We, the people of Iran, clearly declare that on this path we will either achieve victory or reach martyrdom. For us, both are honour and happiness." This defiance comes as US Central Command announced a major intensification of its military campaign, confirming that thousands of strikes have been conducted against targets inside Iran over the past week. In a statement released on X, the military command detailed the progress of the ongoing mission, designated as "Operation Epic Fury." "U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down." Parallel to this military surge, US President Donald Trump on Friday declared that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender." Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the President asserted that Tehran must capitulate before any diplomatic negotiations can proceed. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasised that the US and its allies, particularly Israel, would only consider an agreement with Iran after the country's leadership completely yields and is replaced by "great & acceptable leader(s)". The President also articulated ambitions to help reconstruct Iran into a stronger nation following its capitulation, coining the phrase "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" in an echo of his familiar political slogan. "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that... we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction... IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE," his post read. These developments follow a week of extreme volatility after a joint US-Israel military strike on 28 February killed Iran's Supreme Leader, 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, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets, while Israel has widened the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. Amidst the fallout, President Trump expressed his desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader. In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trump drew a comparison to his involvement in political developments in Venezuela, specifically criticising the possible succession of Mojtaba Khamenei, whom he described as "unacceptable" and a "lightweight." While reports suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric with close ties to the IRGC, is a frontrunner, the Iranian government has officially refuted these claims. Via the Consulate General in Mumbai, authorities stated that reports regarding potential candidates have no official source and are officially denied. However, Trump remains firm that Washington should not accept any new Iranian leader pursuing policies similar to those of the late Khamenei. The diplomatic and political posturing is unfolding against a backdrop of immediate violence, as airstrikes hit the Iranian capital in the early hours of Saturday. According to CNN, geolocated footage showed Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on fire following the strikes, with large plumes of smoke rising from the primary aviation hub. Iran's state broadcaster further noted that explosions were heard in the eastern and western parts of Tehran shortly after the Israeli military announced a new wave of attacks targeting regime infrastructure. In a rapid cycle of retaliation, Iran launched strikes at Tel Aviv, where a CNN team witnessed explosions in the sky as Israeli air defences intercepted the incoming fire. This exchange follows a week of intense military operations that have significantly heightened risks for civilians and infrastructure across the Middle East. - ANI Chief Justice of India Surya Kant announced the Supreme Court's dedicated AI Committee to harness artificial intelligence for a faster, more affordable, and effective justice system. He emphasized identifying and prioritizing backlogged cases from lower courts to expedite their disposal at the apex court. The initiative aligns with the government's push, including the funded e-Courts Project Phase III, to integrate AI and blockchain into judicial processes. Technologies like machine learning and predictive analytics are being leveraged to modernize case management and enhance transparency across the judiciary. CJI Surya Kant details Supreme Court's AI plans to reduce case backlog and achieve speedy, affordable justice through tech integration. Chandigarh, March 7 Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised the Supreme Court's commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence to enhance the justice delivery system. The CJI stated that AI would be utilised to achieve speedy, affordable, and true justice, adding that the apex court's research centre had been rejuvenated to identify and address reasons behind the case backlog. While speaking to reporters, (CJI) Surya Kant said, "We're making the optimistic, positive, and constructive use of AI. For this, we've constituted a separate committee. The Supreme Court's AI Committee. We'll use AI to its maximum optimal potential for speedy justice, affordable justice, and true justice." Addressing concerns over pendency, CJI Surya Kant assured that matters contributing to backlog in High Courts and District Courts would be prioritised in the Supreme Court. CJI said, "There are many reasons for the backlog. We're identifying those reasons one by one. I've rejuvenated the research centre at the Supreme Court. There are some people there who are engaged in this work. There are a lot of matters, bulk matters, group matters. After identifying them, we have started listing them so that their disposal can be done quickly. We have some such matters due to which pendency has increased in the High Courts, District Courts. We will take those matters to the Supreme Court on a priority basis." He emphasised that technology and AI had substantially achieved the motto of "affordable justice or justice at the doorstep". "Our motto of affordable justice or justice at the doorstep, both are very successfully achievable and substantially have been achieved with the aid and support of technology and AI," CJI added. Last year Ministry of Law and Justice stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving a transformative shift in India's judiciary and law enforcement, enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and decision-making. By integrating AI into judicial processes, case management, legal research, and law enforcement, India is streamlining operations, reducing delays, and making justice more accessible to all. The judiciary faces longstanding challenges such as case backlogs, language barriers, and the need for digital modernisation. AI-powered technologies--including Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and Predictive Analytics are now being leveraged to automate administrative tasks, improve case tracking, and enhance crime prevention, the ministry stated. Initiatives like e-Courts Project Phase III, AI-assisted legal translation, predictive policing, and AI-driven legal chatbots are reshaping the legal landscape, making processes faster, smarter, and more transparent. While the adoption of AI presents challenges, particularly in data security, ethical governance, and legal adaptation, its potential to strengthen India's justice system is unparalleled. The e-Courts Project, initiated under the aegis of the Supreme Court of India, is a transformative initiative aimed at modernising judicial functions through digital innovation. In Phase III, the project integrates advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to enhance case management and administrative efficiency across courts in India. This phase builds on earlier digital transformation efforts to deliver a more responsive and effective judicial system. The Government of India has allocated a total of 7210 Crore for the e-Courts Phase III project, reflecting a strong commitment to judicial digital transformation. Within this budget, 53.57 Crore is specifically earmarked for the integration of AI and Blockchain technologies across High Courts in India. This financial commitment underscores the importance of leveraging advanced technology to achieve greater efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in the judicial system. - ANI Tehran's Mehrabad Airport was set ablaze following Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian capital, with state media reporting explosions across the city. Iran launched retaliatory strikes toward Tel Aviv, which were intercepted by Israeli air defences. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabian defences neutralised a major wave of aerial assaults, destroying 16 drones targeting the critical Shaybah oil field and missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base. The escalating exchange marks a severe intensification of regional conflict, with the UAE also reporting the interception of over 125 drones in a single day. Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on fire after Israeli strikes. Iran retaliates against Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia intercepts drones and missiles targeting oil fields and air bases. Tehran, March 7 Airstrikes hit the Iranian capital in the early hours of Saturday, as reported by state media, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing regional conflict. According to CNN, a video circulating on social media and geolocated by the network showed Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on fire following the strikes. The footage captured large plumes of smoke and flames rising from the facility, which serves as one of the capital's primary aviation hubs. Iran's state broadcaster further noted that explosions were heard and smoke was seen in the eastern and western parts of Tehran. The reports came shortly after the Israeli military announced it was carrying out a new wave of attacks on Tehran, specifically targeting regime infrastructure. CNN teams on the ground in the region have been monitoring the rapidly developing situation. Meanwhile, Iran launched retaliatory strikes at Tel Aviv, as reported by Fars News. A CNN team in Tel Aviv witnessed explosions in the sky as Israeli air defences intercepted the incoming fire. The exchange of strikes follows a week of intense military operations that have significantly heightened risks for civilians and infrastructure across the Middle East. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabian air defences successfully neutralised a fresh wave of aerial assaults targeting the strategic Shaybah oil field early Saturday, according to reports from Arab News citing the Ministry of Defence. In a series of updates on X, ministry spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki confirmed that 16 drones, launched in four separate waves, were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter. These unmanned aircraft were reportedly tracking toward the vital energy facility before being downed. In additional statements, Al-Maliki confirmed the "interception and destruction" of a ballistic missile and a cruise missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj. Arab News noted that another drone was downed east of Riyadh, marking the third consecutive day of attempted strikes on Al-Kharj, a major industrial hub located 80 kilometres from the capital. The attempt on the Shaybah field is the first since February 28, following the onset of a massive US-Israeli air campaign against Iran. The escalation has prompted a series of retaliatory strikes from Tehran against various Gulf targets, including critical industrial and oil infrastructure. Situated deep within the Rub' al-Khali, or the Empty Quarter, Shaybah is considered one of the Kingdom's "super-giant" fields. It serves as a lynchpin for Saudi Arabia's gas strategy, utilising a high-tech recovery plant to supply natural gas liquids (NGLs) to the petrochemical industry. The surge in regional aggression has seen a dramatic rise in aerial threats. Arab News highlighted that within the last 24 hours, the UAE successfully intercepted over 125 drones and six ballistic missiles. On Friday alone, Saudi defences thwarted five missiles headed for Prince Sultan Air Base and multiple drones across Riyadh and Al-Kharj. These persistent attacks come despite heavy condemnation from international bodies, including the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. During an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Riyadh on March 1, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) affirmed the collective right of member states to defend their territories against "treacherous Iranian aggression." Following a Cabinet session led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 3, Saudi Arabia officially declared it reserves the "full right" to respond. Arab News reported that the Cabinet emphasised the Kingdom will implement all necessary measures to safeguard its territory, citizens, and residents from ongoing hostilities. - ANI Telangana's government has set an ambitious vision to transform the state into a $3 trillion economy. Minister G Vivek Venkataswamy emphasized strong industry partnership and skill development through Advanced Technology Centres to prepare the youth. The government is focusing on both the ease and speed of doing business to facilitate rapid investment implementation. Industries were also urged to comply with safety norms and new labour codes to ensure sustainable growth and worker welfare. Telangana's government, led by CM Revanth Reddy, partners with CII to build a skilled workforce for a $3 trillion economy goal. Hyderabad, March 7 Telangana Labour, Employment and Mines Minister G Vivek Venkataswamy said that the Telangana government, under the leadership of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, is working with a clear vision to transform Telangana into a $3 trillion economy in the coming years. Vivek noted that to achieve this ambitious goal, the government is maintaining continuous engagement with industry leaders and stakeholders. Speaking at an annual meet of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Hyderabad on Saturday, the minister said the government is focusing strongly on skill development to prepare the youth for emerging industrial opportunities. "The Employment Department has established Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs) to train young people in line with the requirements of modern industries," he stated. Discussions have also been held with CII to identify the specific skills required for upcoming industries, he added. The minister noted that Telangana is witnessing a steady inflow of investments and several new industries are expected to be established in the state. "In view of this, the government is making efforts to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce that can meet the future demands of industry. New training courses aligned with evolving industrial needs are also being introduced," Vivek said. He emphasised that while the government is committed to improving the ease of doing business, equal importance is being given to ensuring the speed of doing business so that investments can be implemented quickly. "At the same time, industries also have a crucial role to play by voluntarily complying with regulations and standards," Vivek said. The minister urged industrial units to strictly adhere to safety guidelines and statutory norms prescribed by the Government of India and the Government of Telangana. Referring to the recently introduced labour codes, he said that industries must ensure proper compliance to safeguard the interests of workers. Vivek added that the cost of following safety and statutory norms is minimal when compared to the losses that may arise due to negligence or non-compliance. Recalling the contributions of former Union Minister Kaka Venkat Swamy, the minister noted that he had once proposed the introduction of pension schemes for private sector employees despite facing resistance from industries at that time. "Today, such social security measures have proved to be highly beneficial for workers," Vivek said. The minister called upon industries to actively cooperate with the government and comply with statutory regulations to ensure sustainable industrial growth and worker welfare in the state. - ANI Foreign policy experts at the Raisina Dialogue warned that conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine are creating dangerous spillover effects, "bleeding together" with the Indo-Pacific security theatre. They highlighted concerns that China might perceive an opportunity regarding Taiwan as US attention shifts, though American capability for a multi-front response remains. European capacity to support Indo-Pacific security militarily is strained by the ongoing war in Ukraine, limiting potential asset deployment. From Taipei, the view is that China lacks the immediate capability for a successful invasion, though long-term military supply chains remain a critical concern. Experts warn Iran conflict & Ukraine war are "bleeding together" with Indo-Pacific security, impacting Taiwan Strait deterrence & global response capabilities. New Delhi, March 6 Highlighting the interconnected nature of modern warfare, foreign policy experts at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 stated that the ongoing conflict in West Asia is no longer a regional affair but one that is "bleeding together" with global security theatres, including the Indo-Pacific. Speaking at a session titled 'Beyond Strategic Ambiguity: Rethinking Deterrence in the Taiwan Strait', Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) America, noted that the scope of the Middle East conflict is "obviously widening." "From Cyprus, we have had drone strikes against British military facilities in Cyprus, so a European country was listed directly, obviously off the coast. And I think that, in some ways, indicates the expanding interest, you know, the range that both in terms of the missile and drone capabilities that Iran has demonstrated," Jaishankar remarked. He emphasised that both the US and Iran are aware that their "war is not going to be contained to a very narrow area," creating a significant spillover effect. Drawing a parallel to the Indo-Pacific, he added: "All this indicates is that these conflicts, whether in Ukraine or Iran, have nothing pertained to those regions. These theatres are bleeding together in ways that we had not been okay." Addressing the shift of American military resources from East Asia to West Asia amid the Iran conflict, Bonnie Glick, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, maintained that the United States remains capable of addressing multiple crises simultaneously. "I think one of the things that we focus on in the United States is addressing conflicts individually, while also simultaneously having access to an ability to respond elsewhere in the world," Glick said. She noted that while there is concern over China using the "opportunity vis-a-vis Taiwan," the messaging from Washington remains firm. "I think China views bottom line American intervention in Iran right now as a moment for consideration of Taiwan, but also as a moment of this probably does not make sense right now, because we know that the United States will be able to respond if needed," she added. Helena Legarda, Head of Program Foreign Relations at the Mercator Institute for Chinese Studies, suggested that while Beijing might use these foreign conflicts for "rhetorical ammunition," they do not necessarily legitimise military action against Taiwan. "Beijing does want to present itself as a responsible global power and force for peace and a defender of the interests of smaller countries," Legarda noted, adding that these narratives find a "receptive audience in some parts of the world." However, she cautioned that the timeline of these conflicts impacts European response capabilities. "If the war in Ukraine is still ongoing, and Europe is facing that one alone, I would find it unlikely that most European or EU member states, rather, will be able to muster military assets or substantial military assets to send to the Indo-Pacific region," she said, though she noted economic sanctions would remain a viable form of involvement. Providing a perspective from Taipei, I-Chung Lai, Senior Advisor to the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, stated that current regional conflicts do not yet shift the fundamental military balance in the strait. "When we look at the Chinese capability, we do not think that China possess the kind of invasion capability. They cannot just accept invasion of Taiwanese movement. No, they can't, and probably even they won't be able to do it next year as well," Lai remarked. He emphasised that the primary concern remains the "longer term the military supply" of weaponry and ammunition to ensure Taiwan's security is not compromised by global demand elsewhere. - ANI A senior Taiwanese security official has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict will have significant implications for Taiwan's economy, energy security, and financial markets. He stated that Taiwan is monitoring the crisis through the prism of its primary interest: maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The official highlighted Taiwan's efforts to diversify trade and reduce reliance on volatile regions, including importing more from the US and Southeast Asia. He cautioned that all energy-dependent nations, including Taiwan, will still be impacted by the instability in the Middle East. Taiwan's NSC official warns Middle East conflict has implications for Taiwan's energy, economy, and financial markets, stressing need for regional stability. New Delhi, March 7 Vincent Yi-hsiang Chao, the Deputy Secretary-General at the National Security Council in Taiwan, has warned of the far-reaching economic and security implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict, stressing the need for regional stability. Speaking to ANI, Chao highlighted that the tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran are already being felt globally. "There are going to be implications and repercussions for Taiwan, whether we're talking about energy, the economy or potentially financial markets as well, and already we are seeing some signs of that," he stated. Amid these developments, he explained that Taiwan remains focused on its own regional security priorities while closely monitoring the crisis in West Asia. "We are going to see what is happening in the Middle East through the prism of our immediate interests, which is peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait. And we do hope that this conflict in the Middle East is finished as soon as possible so that we can continue to focus on deterring conflict across the Taiwan Strait in the Indo-Pacific region," he added. In this context, Chao emphasised that Taiwan is maintaining robust diplomatic coordination to navigate the evolving situation. "We will continue to be in close contact with the United States and close partners and allies in the region," he noted. Addressing the impact of the war on global supply chains, he pointed out that Taiwan has been proactive in reducing its reliance on volatile regions. "Fortunately, the diversification process has already started for a couple of years now, and we are importing a lot more from the United States. We're working with Southeast Asia as well," he said. However, he acknowledged the persistent risks for energy-dependent nations. "We can't be over-leveraged in any part of the world, particularly one as volatile as the Middle East. And so we have been taking a lot of steps to rectify that and to manage the trade diversification components. Every country that relies on Middle Eastern gas and Middle Eastern oil is still going to be impacted to a large degree," Chao cautioned. - ANI Over 120 participants from 32 countries gathered in Dharamshala for a special three-day Tibet support meeting. The conference, hosted by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India, focuses on critical issues including the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and human rights violations. Tibetan Parliament-in-exile member Thubten Wangchen reiterated that Tibet was never part of China and called for dialogue. The event coincides with Losar festivities, where prayers were offered for the Dalai Lama's long life and global peace. Over 120 participants from 32 nations gather in Dharamshala for a 3-day meeting focused on the Dalai Lama's reincarnation and human rights in Tibet. Dharamshala, March 7 The Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India hosted a Special Tibet Support Groups Meeting which began today and would conclude on March 9 in the North Indian hill town of Dharamshala. Over 120 participants from 32 countries across the world are attending the 3-day event to show their support for the cause of Tibet. The meeting focuses on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, human rights violations, and colonial boarding schools in Tibet, featuring leaders from the Tibetan government-in-exile and international supporters. Speaking to ANI at the inaugural session, national convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India RK Khrimey said, "The most important issue in front of us is the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and then another issues are colonial boarding schools and violation of human rights in Tibet. We have invited Tibet support groups from 37 countries, but 32 countries could arrive here to attend the conference." Member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Thubten Wangchen emphasized that this event serves as a way to reiterate that "Tibet was never a part of China and we want to have dialogue with China". Many supporters of the cause also echoed these sentiments as Damenda Porage, a supporter from said, "We hold various programmes in Sri Lanka also about the commitments of the Dalai Lama that is love, peace, compassion and kindness. I appeal to the government of China to respect Tibetans' rights. An Australian supporter Zeo Bedford also highlighted the importance of adressing Tibet issues. "So that they can have freedom like us," said Bedford. Earlier on Tuesday, thousands of Tibetans gathered at the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglagkhang, on the first full moon day of the Tibetan New Year to celebrate the 15th day of Losar on Tuesday and offer prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama and for global peace. The occassion considered highly auspicious in Tibetan Buddhism, marks the culmination of Losar festivities. Devotees assembled for special prayers amid a spiritually significant full moon day. - ANI Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin greeted women on the eve of International Women's Day, reaffirming his government's commitment to women's rights and economic independence. He credited the Dravidian movement, particularly reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, for championing gender equality and challenging patriarchal structures. Stalin also honored former CM M. Karunanidhi for enacting laws on women's property rights and reservations. The current DMK administration continues this legacy through schemes like free bus travel for women and financial assistance programs, aiming to place women at the center of the state's development agenda. CM M.K. Stalin praises women's resilience, cites Periyar & Karunanidhi's reforms, and details DMK's welfare schemes for women's empowerment. Chennai, March 7 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Saturday, greeted women across the state on the occasion of International Women's Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, and reaffirmed the DMK government's commitment to strengthening women's rights, welfare and economic independence. In his message, the Chief Minister praised the resilience, strength and contributions of women in every sphere of life and said their progress is central to the development of society. Chief Minister Stalin said the Dravidian movement had long championed the cause of gender equality and social justice. He recalled that social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy played a pivotal role in challenging patriarchal structures and questioned the historical subjugation of women through his famous work "Pen Yen Adimaiaanaal?" (Why did women become slaves?). According to Chief Minister Stalin, Periyar's ideas helped ignite a broader social awakening on women's rights and dignity. Chief Minister Stalin also paid tribute to former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for carrying forward those reformist ideals through progressive legislation. He noted that Karunanidhi's government enacted laws granting equal property rights to women and implemented reservation for women in government employment, steps that significantly improved women's access to economic and social opportunities. He said the present DMK-led state government continues to follow these ideals through what it calls the "Dravidian Model" of governance, which focuses on inclusive development and social justice. According to the Chief Minister, empowering women through education, employment and financial security remains a central priority of his administration. Chief Minister Stalin listed several welfare initiatives introduced by the current DMK government to improve the lives of women across Tamil Nadu. These include the Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme providing free bus travel for women, the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) offering financial assistance to women heads of families, and the Pudhumai Penn scheme encouraging girls to continue their education. He also highlighted the establishment of Thozhi hostels for working women, concessions in registration fees for properties registered in women's names, a free HPV vaccination programme for girls aged below 14 years, the Nannilam land ownership scheme for Adi Dravidar and tribal women, and the appointment of women Odhuvars in temples. Looking ahead, the Chief Minister said that women would remain at the centre of Tamil Nadu's development agenda. He expressed confidence that their participation and leadership would play a crucial role in shaping the state's economic future and in achieving the state government's broader vision for sustainable growth and social progress. Reaffirming the state government's commitment, Chief Minister Stalin said that further initiatives aimed at strengthening women's financial security and opportunities would continue to be implemented. He emphasised that the progress of women is inseparable from the progress of Tamil Nadu and that empowering them will remain a key priority of the state government in the years ahead. - IANS Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a crucial meeting with BJP Janajati leaders to strategize for the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections. The meeting at the Pradesh BJP office included top state party leaders and focused on election preparations. CM Saha criticized the opposition CPI(M) for hoping for internal conflict within the BJP to return to power. He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing peace and development to Tripura and the Northeast region. CM Manik Saha chairs BJP Janajati leaders' meeting to discuss strategy for upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections. Agartala, March 7 Ahead of the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections, Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday chaired a meeting with BJP Janajati leaders and held a detailed discussion regarding the party's preparations at the Pradesh BJP Office. Dr Saha said that everyone is aware that the TTAADC elections are approaching, and keeping this in mind, the Pradesh BJP has already started working on its strategy. "Today, Janajati Morcha karyakartas, leaders, and members have gathered here. Janajati leaders, former MDCs, MDCs, general secretaries, office bearers, and MLAs are also present in the meeting. The main aim is to discuss what steps we need to take in the coming days and how we will contest the election. A detailed discussion held today at the Pradesh BJP office," he said. During the meeting, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharya, BJP Janajati Morcha president Parimal Debbarma, BJP organisational secretary (Tripura and Assam) Ravindra Raju, general secretary Bipin Debbarma, Minister Bikash Debbarma, and others were present. Earlier on Friday, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the opposition CPI(M) is hoping for internal conflict within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is dreaming of returning to power by forming a Left Front government again. He said the current state government is working transparently for the welfare and development of the people and that Tripura continues to progress across multiple sectors. "Despite being a small state, Tripura is moving in the right direction in every parameter. Tripura has won 347 awards at the all-India level. However, the opposition is not able to see the real development of the state," said CM Saha. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the Yuva Shankhanad programme organised by the BJP at the BBI School Ground in Dharmanagar in North Tripura district. During his address, Saha also paid tribute to the late Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Bishwabandhu Sen, describing his death as an irreparable loss for the state. "My friend and Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, late Bishwabandhu Sen, passed away untimely. It is an irreparable loss for all of us. We will together complete the unfinished work he had started. He was also associated with Jatra and theatre and had dreamt of the overall development of Dharmanagar," he said. CM Saha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing peace and stability to Tripura and the Northeast region. - ANI TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) is one of the Best Value Stocks to Buy for the Long Term. On March 3, TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) announced its deal to sell 50% stake in 11 battery storage projects in Germany to Allianz Global Investors. Management noted that through this deal, the partners will invest 500 million into Germanys energy infrastructure, with 70% of the investment funded through debt. The portfolio of 11 battery storage projects has a capacity of 789 MW and 1,628 MWh of storage and was developed by TotalEnergies subsidiary Kyon Energy. Management noted that all projects are expected to be operational by 2028 and would largely be powered by next-gen batteries from Saft, which is another TTE unit. After the sale, the company still holds half the ownership and operations of the projects. TotalEnergies (TTE) Sells 50% Stake For 11 Projects in Germany to Allianz Global Investors Photo from Ecopetrol website Stephane Michel, TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE)s President of Gas, Renewables & Power, welcomed Allianz as a premier German partner, noting that the transaction refines capital allocation, boosts profitability, and fuels growth in this key market. TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets oil, biofuels, natural gas, renewables, and electricity. While we acknowledge the potential of TTE 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Actors Rashmika Mandanna and Naga Chaitanya were honoured as Best Actress and Best Actor at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025. Mandanna won for her role in 'The Girlfriend,' expressing deep gratitude to her team and the Telangana government. Chaitanya was recognised for his performance in the film 'Thandel.' Megastar Chiranjeevi was also honoured with the prestigious NTR National Film Award at the ceremony. Rashmika Mandanna wins Best Actress for 'The Girlfriend' and Naga Chaitanya wins Best Actor for 'Thandel' at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025. Mumbai, March 7 Actors Naga Chaitanya and Rashmika Mandanna have won big at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025, taking home the Best Actor and Best Actress trophies for their respective performances in 'Thandel' and 'The Girlfriend'. In a heartfelt Instagram post, 'The Girlfriend' director, Rahul Ravindran gave a major shoutout to Rashmika and expressed immense pride. "Mikaaaaaaaa! Our girl wins The Telangana State Award! Many more to come @rashmika_mandanna. So damn proud of you! #GaddarAwards #TheGirlfriend," the director wrote. Rashmika also reacted with much delight as she commented, "Dreams are finally coming true." Taking to her X handle, Rashmika Mandanna expressed her joy on receiving the award. She also thanked the Telangana government for the recognition. "Feeling truly grateful and happy to receive the Best Actress award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 for #TheGirlfriend. 'Bhooma Devi' is so very very close to my heart and I'll always be grateful to @23_rahulr, @GeethaArts, @DheeMogilineni, #Vidya akka and the whole team of 'The Girlfriend'.. Thankyou to the Telangana Government. My sincere thanks to @revanth_anumula garu, Deputy CM @Bhatti_Mallu garu, Cinematography Minister @KomatireddyKVR garu, This truly means a lot. #TheGirlFriend #GaddarTelanganaFilmAwards Congratulations to all the winner," she wrote. Her 'The Girlfriend' co-star Dheekshith Shetty also celebrated the feat and wrote, "Very proud!!! Congratulations @rashmika_mandanna," to which Rashmika responded, "We did it." On the other hand, Naga Chaitanya was honoured with the Best Actor trophy for his performance in 'Thandel'. "'THANDEL RAJU' conquered hearts, earned accolades, and now receives the top honour. Yuvasamrat @chay_akkineni wins the BEST ACTOR award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 for his spectacular performance in #Thandel," Geetha Arts wrote. Megastar Chiranjeevi was honoured with the prestigious NTR National Film Award. "Many congratulations to all the winners of the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025. It is always a joy to celebrate the hard work and passion of our film fraternity. My sincere thanks to the Government of Telangana, CM @revanth_anumula garu, @Bhatti_Mallu garu and the entire jury for honouring me with the NTR National Film Award. Receiving an award named after NTR garu is truly a great honour. Deeply grateful for the love and support that have been my greatest strength throughout my journey," Chiranjeevi wrote on X. The Telangana Gaddar Film Awards were announced on Saturday, recognising fine works across the Telugu film industry. - ANI Iran says no reason to negotiate with US A report citing sources claims President Donald Trump has privately expressed interest in deploying a small contingent of US ground forces into Iran for specific missions. The report also outlines a Trump vision for a post-conflict Iran involving securing its uranium and establishing oil cooperation similar to the arrangement with Venezuela. The White House has pushed back, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating the story relies on anonymous sources not part of the national security team. This comes amid ongoing US military strikes in Iran and a firm stance from Iranian officials against a ceasefire or negotiations. Report says Trump discussed deploying small US ground forces in Iran and a post-war plan for its uranium and oil, as White House pushes back. Washington, March 7 US President Donald Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying US ground forces into Iran, according to a report citing multiple sources. Trump has discussed the idea of deploying ground troops with aides and Republican officials outside the White House, focusing on a small contingent of troops for specific strategic missions rather than a large-scale invasion, Xinhua news agency reported quoting NBC News. The report cited two US officials -- a former US official and a person with knowledge of the discussions. However, no decision has been made. Trump has also outlined a vision for a post-war Iran in which its uranium would be secured and a new Iranian government would cooperate with the United States on oil production, similar to the current US-Venezuela arrangement that allows Washington to benefit from Venezuela's oil output, the sources were quoted as saying in the report. "This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the President's national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "President Trump always wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table," Leavitt said in a statement. Trump told the New York Post earlier this week that while other presidents have ruled out boots on the ground, "I say 'probably don't need them,' (or) 'if they were necessary." The US forces have struck over 3,000 targets inside Iran since operations began on February 28, with 43 Iranian ships damaged or destroyed, US Central Command said Friday in a post on X. The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on February 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US assets across the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told NBC News on Thursday that his country is not requesting a ceasefire and does not see any reason to negotiate with Washington. - IANS Pledges to "take care" of Cuba at leaders' request Reveals negotiations with Cuba are already underway Says Cuba has no money and no oil without Venezuela U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Cuba's communist government is nearing its end due to severe economic strains, particularly the loss of Venezuelan oil and financial support. He revealed that negotiations with Cuban authorities are already in progress and suggested a deal could be made "very easily." However, Trump emphasized that Washington's immediate foreign policy focus remains on Iran. The comments were made at the Shield of the Americas Summit, where he also pledged to address Cuba after several Latin American leaders requested it. President Trump says Cuba's regime is failing and a new agreement with Havana could be made "very easily," while shifting focus to Iran. Washington, March 7 U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Cuba's communist government is nearing its end and suggested that Washington could soon reach a new agreement with Havana. Speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump said the island nation was facing severe economic difficulties and could soon undergo political change. "Cuba's at the end of the line," he said. "They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that's been bad for a long time." Trump said the Cuban government had long depended on Venezuelan support. "They used to get the money from Venezuela. They get the oil from Venezuela," he said. "But they don't have any money from Venezuela. They don't have any oil." He described the current situation on the island as increasingly unstable. "People can't even - they land in Cuba - they can't get gasoline to fly out," Trump said. "They have to leave their planes behind." According to the president, negotiations with Cuban authorities are already underway. "They want to negotiate," Trump said. "And they are negotiating with Marco and me and some others." Trump suggested that reaching an agreement with Havana would be relatively straightforward. "I would think a deal would be made very easily with Cuba," he said. However, he emphasised that Washington's immediate focus remains on other global crises. "Our focus right now is on Iran," Trump said. Trump also said several Latin American leaders had urged him to address Cuba's political situation. "Many of you have come today, and they say, 'I hope you can take care of Cuba,'" he said. "I was surprised, but four of you said, actually, 'Could you do us a favor? Take care of Cuba.'" Trump responded with a brief pledge. "I'll take care of it." The president said developments in Cuba were linked to broader regional policy aimed at limiting foreign influence in the Western Hemisphere. "Under a new doctrine, we will not allow hostile foreign influence to gain a foothold in this hemisphere," he said. - IANS Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed when their Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a training mission in Assam's Karbi Anglong district. The aircraft lost radar contact shortly after taking off from Jorhat, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation. The IAF officially confirmed the fatalities and expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased officers. The incident involves one of the IAF's primary fighter aircraft, of which it operates a fleet of over 200. Two Indian Air Force pilots, Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, died in a Su-30MKI crash in Assam's Karbi Anglong district. New Delhi, March 6 Two pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, have been killed in the Su-30MKI crash in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, the Indian Air Force confirmed on Friday. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, they acknowledged the deaths on X, stating, "IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." Prior to the acknowledgement, they stated that a search operation was underway. "The Su-30MKI, which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat. Search operations are underway," IAF said on X. The aircraft had lost radar contact at around 7.42 pm after taking off from Jorhat in Assam. "An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated," said IAF. Speaking to ANI, a local stated that they saw the plane coming down in the evening yesterday." We heard a loud noise and an explosion... The police from the Chowki Wala police station are here. They are searching for him from the helicopter," he said. The Su-30MKI is a two-seater fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. The IAF has a fleet of over 200 Su-30MKIs. - ANI Indian passengers arriving from Dubai have praised the UAE government for providing support and hotel accommodation amid widespread flight cancellations caused by the West Asia conflict. Despite the regional tensions, travelers described Dubai as a safe country where they faced no problems. The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation reported 281 domestic flight cancellations and is operating a 24x7 control room to address passenger grievances. Authorities advise travelers to monitor flight statuses closely as the situation continues to evolve. Indian passengers arriving from Dubai recount safe travel experience and UAE government support with hotels amid West Asia conflict causing major flight disruptions. New Delhi, March 6 Indian passengers arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday from Dubai, UAE, described the West Asian country as safe amid the ongoing conflict in the region. Passengers told ANI that the UAE government provided help and support amid a tense situation caused by flight cancellations. A passenger, Rahul Ghosh, said, "I am coming from Kuwait. In Dubai, we were told that our flight had been cancelled due to the war. There is no struggle. I did not feel like Dubai was unsafe. " "It is a very safe country. I did not face any problem. The government helped us a lot. They provided hotels to the tourists," another passenger said. 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. Earlier on Thursday, a total of 281 flights scheduled to operate by Indian domestic carriers were cancelled, confirmed the Civil Aviation Ministry, adding that it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in West Asia. Passengers have been advised to regularly monitor their flight status and remain attentive to updates shared through their registered contact details by their respective airlines. "The Ministry of Civil Aviation continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in West Asia. As of 5 March, a total of 281 flights scheduled to operate today by Indian domestic carriers have been cancelled. Passengers are advised to regularly monitor their flight status and remain attentive to updates shared through their registered contact details by their respective airlines," the MoCA posted on X. "A dedicated Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) is functioning 24x7 to provide real-time passenger support. A total of 1,461 grievances have been addressed during this period through AirSewa, social media platforms, and dedicated helpline calls, in coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders," the ministry added. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its seventh 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 on February 28. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. - ANI Union Home Minister Amit Shah was presented with a portrait of Lord Jagannath by devotee Annata Biswal during a visit to Odisha. He used the event to announce plans to establish a widespread dairy cooperative network in the state, modeled on Gujarat's Amul. The initiative is designed to boost rural livelihoods and economically empower women, particularly from tribal and OBC communities. Shah also inaugurated a new fertiliser plant stream and thanked Odisha's voters for their support in the 2024 elections. Amit Shah receives a sacred portrait, outlines a Gujarat-inspired dairy cooperative network to empower Odisha's women and tribal communities. Paradeep, March 7 Union Home Minister Amit Shah accepted a portrait of Lord Jagannath from devotee Annata Biswal during the inauguration of Sulphuric Acid Plant 3 at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited unit in Paradeep. The Home Minister invited Biswal onto the stage to personally acknowledge the artwork and shared a brief interaction with him. Annata Biswal, while speaking to ANI on Friday, said, "...I am feeling very happy that Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me on stage...He also shook hands with me...PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are taking the nation forward by taking everyone along..." During the event, Shah highlighted the government's plans to strengthen rural livelihoods in Odisha by establishing a robust dairy cooperative network, inspired by the successful model of Gujarat. He emphasised that the initiative aims to economically empower women, especially from tribal communities and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). After inaugurating the third stream of the Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit in Paradeep, he said the expansion would also support India's push toward self-reliance in fertiliser production. "Today in Gujarat, through 3.6 million rural women, Amul became a movement, and today Amul does business worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore. Its profit, down to every penny, goes to the women cattle herders of Gujarat. Similarly, we will explore the full potential of Odisha to enrich the tribal and OBC mothers and sisters here," Shah said. He added that both the central and state governments would work together to introduce dairy cooperatives across villages in the state. "In the coming days, both the Bharatiya Janata Party governments will take up the programme of bringing dairy to every village in Odisha, just as it is in Gujarat," he said. Calling it his first public event in the state after the 2024 elections, Shah also thanked the people of Odisha for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I want to express my deep gratitude to my Odia brothers and sisters for liberating Odisha from the rule of another state after such a long time," he said. - ANI Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated IFFCO's new Sulphuric Acid Plant-3 at its Paradeep unit, marking a major step in strengthening India's fertiliser production capacity. The Rs 700 crore plant will produce 2,000 metric tonnes per day, enhancing the operational capability of one of India's largest integrated phosphatic fertiliser complexes. Shah emphasized that IFFCO's profits and turnover ultimately benefit nearly five crore Indian farmers, highlighting the strength of the cooperative model. The event was also attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who noted the project's role in industrial development and ensuring timely fertiliser supply for agricultural growth. Union Minister Amit Shah dedicated IFFCO's new Sulphuric Acid Plant-3 in Odisha, boosting India's fertiliser infrastructure and supporting farmers. Paradeep, March 7 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah dedicated the newly commissioned Sulphuric Acid Plant-3 at the Paradeep unit of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited to the nation, marking a significant milestone in strengthening India's fertiliser infrastructure and supporting farmers across the country. Speaking on the occasion on Friday, the Union Minister said that in the coming days, the Ministry of Cooperation of the Government of India and the Government of Odisha will work together to improve rural livelihoods in the state, as per an official release. He informed that in 2005, IFFCO bought this plant for Rs 2,577 crore and at that time its production capacity was 7.5 lakh metric tonnes. Today, the capacity has increased to about 22 lakh metric tonnes, with approximately 15 per cent of production as blended fertilisers and around 40 per cent indigenous DAP. "Wherever sulphuric acid is required in fertiliser factories and chemical industries in the country, it should be produced at IFFCO's Paradeep unit. IFFCO is running a movement to reduce the excessive use of chemical fertilisers through Nano Urea, Nano DAP and the PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) scheme. This will help in protecting our soil. IFFCO has now become the world's largest cooperative unit in this field," Shah said. The Union Home and Cooperation Minister emphasised that whatever IFFCO earns benefits nearly five crore farmers of the country, and this is its biggest strength. "Wherever IFFCO's factories are located, their real owners are the 5 crore farmers of India. IFFCO's turnover of more than Rs 41,000 crore, profit of over Rs 3,800 crore and net worth of more than Rs 28,000 crore belong to these farmers. This is the true strength of the cooperative model," he added. Shah further noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Government of India and the Odisha government will collaborate through the cooperative sector to empower poor farmers, rural communities and especially women in Odisha, making them self-reliant in the coming days. The new sulphuric acid plant has been established with an estimated project cost of around Rs 700 crore and has a production capacity of about 2,000 metric tonnes per day. The facility will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Paradeep complex, which is one of India's largest integrated phosphatic fertiliser production units. The dedication ceremony was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, IFFCO Chairman Dilip Sanghani, IFFCO Managing Director KJ Patel, MPs, state ministers, senior officials and representatives from the cooperative sector. Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah also highlighted the important role of the cooperative sector in strengthening India's rural economy, noting that institutions like IFFCO have played a transformative role in empowering millions of farmers across the country. Shah also added that the Government of India is committed to strengthening the cooperative movement so that farmers can become economically stronger and agriculture can move towards greater self-reliance. He also noted that the expansion of fertiliser infrastructure using modern technology will help ensure the timely availability of essential agricultural inputs to farmers and improve productivity in the agriculture sector. Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the commissioning of the new plant at Paradeep will accelerate industrial development in the state. He said Odisha is emerging as an important industrial hub and projects of this scale help attract investment while also creating employment opportunities for local people. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the expansion of IFFCO's Paradeep complex will strengthen the country's fertiliser production capacity and ensure the timely availability of fertilisers to farmers, which is essential for sustaining agricultural growth and improving farmers' incomes. IFFCO Chairman Dilip Sanghani said that IFFCO has always worked with the primary objective of serving farmers and strengthening the cooperative movement. He said the commissioning of Sulphuric Acid Plant-3 reflects IFFCO's commitment to expanding production capacity and adopting modern technologies for the benefit of farmers. He added that the new plant will improve the availability of key raw materials required for fertiliser production and make the production process more efficient. He said IFFCO represents millions of farmers across India and continues to work towards strengthening agriculture and rural prosperity. IFFCO Managing Director KJ Patel provided technical details of the project and said that the plant has been built using advanced and environmentally efficient technology. He said the new facility will enhance the production capacity and operational efficiency of the Paradeep unit and strengthen the supply chain for fertiliser manufacturing. The programme was also attended by Jagatsinghpur Member of Parliament Bibhu Prasad Tarai, MLA Amarendra Das, Odisha Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain, and Cooperation Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, along with several other dignitaries. With the commissioning of Sulphuric Acid Plant-3, the Paradeep unit of IFFCO will further strengthen India's fertiliser production ecosystem, ensuring better availability of fertilisers to farmers while contributing to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and reinforcing the strength of the cooperative sector in the country. - ANI Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's helicopter made an emergency landing at Lucknow Airport after a technical malfunction and reports of smoke inside the aircraft. Maurya escaped unhurt and arrangements were made for him to continue his journey to Kaushambi by road to attend a public event. The incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened aviation safety concerns following a recent fatal crash in Maharashtra involving another Deputy Chief Minister. Maurya was scheduled to inaugurate a women's empowerment festival and interact with thousands from self-help groups. UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya safe after helicopter emergency landing due to technical glitch and smoke. Details on the incident and his schedule. Lucknow, March 7 Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had a close shave on Saturday after the helicopter in which he was travelling developed a technical glitch, and made an emergency landing at Lucknow Airport. Deputy Chief Minister Maurya was travelling by the helicopter from La Martiniere Ground in Lucknow to Kaushambi when the issue occurred. According to sources, a sudden technical malfunction forced the pilot to carry out an emergency landing at Lucknow Airport as a precautionary measure. Sources said that smoke was reportedly noticed inside the helicopter during the flight, which prompted the immediate landing to ensure the safety of everyone on board, including that of Maurya and the crew members. Following the emergency landing, arrangements are being made for Maurya to continue his journey to Kaushambi by road. Meanwhile, the helicopter has been taken for a detailed technical inspection to determine the cause of the malfunction and to ensure safety before it is cleared for further use. Maurya is scheduled to attend a public programme in Kaushambi later in the day. He will interact with around 10,000 women associated with self-help groups during the two-day Saras Mahotsav, an event organised to promote rural livelihoods and women's empowerment. During the programme, Maurya is scheduled to learn about the work, experiences, and achievements of women from various self-help groups and encourage them to move towards greater financial independence and self-reliance. The Deputy Chief Minister is also set to inaugurate the two-day Saras Mahotsav being organised at the Babu Singh Degree College Ground in Sayara. The event is expected to witness the participation of nearly 10,000 women from self-help groups across the district. Officials said the programme aims to showcase the work of women entrepreneurs from rural areas and highlight their contribution to local economic development. The incident comes amid heightened concerns over aviation safety following a recent tragic aircraft accident in Maharashtra. On January 28, a Learjet 45XR aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati in Pune district. The aircraft, bearing registration VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, was carrying five people, including Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Pilot-in-Command Sumit Kapur, and Second-in-Command Shambhavi Pathak. According to reports, the aircraft departed from Mumbai and was operating a non-scheduled VIP charter flight. It reportedly crashed while attempting to land on Runway 11 at Baramati. - IANS India has finalized a major long-term uranium supply agreement with Canada worth $2.6 billion, which analysts see as vital for its ambitious nuclear energy expansion. The deal helps address a projected shortfall in domestic uranium production needed to fuel both existing and future reactors. It follows India's 2025 parliamentary reform that opened its nuclear sector to private and foreign investment by dismantling the state monopoly. The agreement is part of a broader India-Canada Strategic Energy Partnership that will also include cooperation on advanced reactor technologies. India seals a landmark $2.6 billion uranium supply deal with Canada, a crucial step toward its goal of 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047. New Delhi, March 6 The Narendra Modi government's sealing of the $2.6 billion deal for the long-term supply of uranium from Canada is seen by global analysts as a crucial step in India's ambitious push for achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047. India's domestic production is expected to fall short of projected needs, making long-term import arrangements essential, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The report cites experts as saying that India's domestic uranium production is likely to be well below total demand, implying continued and growing reliance on imports to fuel both existing and future reactors. Considering this gap, a long-dated Canada-India supply agreement would be strategically important. Kazakhstan, the world's largest uranium producer, has been India's primary supplier in recent years, the Canada deal will now open up another sources for this vital fuel to power the country's nuclear reactors. The report also points out that India's Parliament approved an overhaul of the country's civilian nuclear energy framework in December 2025, allowing domestic and foreign companies to build, own and operate nuclear power plants for the first time - dismantling a state monopoly. The reform removed long-standing supplier liability concerns and established a more predictable regulatory environment, clearing the way for the foreign technology partners and private capital that India's expansion will require. Canada is well placed to deliver the uranium as a string of new mining projects already in development means the country's uranium output is set to grow well into the future, giving Delhi confidence that the agreement will deliver fuel in he long run, the article cites an analyst as saying. PM Modi termed the agreement on uranium with Canada as a "landmark deal" and said the two countries would work together on small modular reactors, advanced reactors and "the nuclear value chain". Carney said Canada had the capability to contribute to India's nuclear energy needs and confirmed the two sides were launching a strategic energy partnership. The two leaders welcomed the conclusion of a CAD $2.6 billion commercial agreement between Cameco and the Department of Atomic Energy for the long-term supply of uranium, contributing to India's civil nuclear energy generation, clean energy transition objectives, and long-term energy security, according to a joint statement issued after the summit. Recognising their complementary strengths as energy powers, the leaders agreed to advance the India-Canada Strategic Energy Partnership aimed at deepening long-term cooperation across the energy value chain. They underscored the shared commitment to enhancing collaboration across clean energy, conventional energy, civil nuclear energy, and critical minerals to promote affordability, sustainability, and economic growth, according to a joint statement issued after the summit. - IANS Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has accused the United States of committing a war crime by attacking and sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. He stated the vessel was on a goodwill visit with the Indian Navy and that the attack in international waters resulted in nearly 100 sailor casualties. Iravani called on the UN Security Council to intervene firmly to halt what he described as a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign. The accusations follow earlier condemnation from Iran's Foreign Minister over U.S. strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including a reported attack on a girls' school. Iran's UN Ambassador alleges a US attack sank the IRIS Dena, killing sailors, and calls for UN Security Council action against the "aggression." New York, March 7 Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has attacked the United States alleging that the attack that sank IRIS Dena was a violation of international law and a war crime. Speaking at a stakeout at the UN Headquarters Iravani said, "United States committed a dangerous act of aggression at sea, nearly 2,000 miles from Iran's shore. The Iranian frigate Dena which was on the goodwill visit and upon invitation was with the Indian Navy and carrying around 130 sailors was attacked in international waters. Nearly 100 Iranian sailors were martyred. The US committed a war crime. This heinous and unlawful attack constitute a grave violation of the law and the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation." Iravani further called on the UN Security Council to intervene "firmly, clearly, and without delay" to halt what he described as a joint military campaign by the United States and Israel against his nation. "We reiterate our call on the Security Council and Secretary General to condemn the aggression, war crimes, and crime against humanity that are being committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against our people. To force the aggressor to put an immediate end to all crimes and military attack against Iran and against civilian and civilian infrastructure. To ensure accountability for these grave violation of international humanitarian law and war crimes," he said. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister, Syed Abbas Araghchi, came down heavily on the United States on Saturday, condemning American strikes which targeted children and the innocent. He said that Iran's response would inevitably be directed at American bases and institutions. In a post on X, Araghchi accused the US of launching attacks from the "lands of our Arab friends" to target children and the innocent in Iran. "Iran and the Arab brothers have lived side by side for centuries in a spirit of affection, friendship, and mutual respect. The American aggressors launch from the lands of our Arab friends to target children and the innocent. As for Iran's response, it will inevitably be directed at the bases of the United States and its institutions," Araghchi said. His remarks come amid the backdrop of international outrage after strikes in Iran hit Minab Girls' Primary School in the country's Hormozgan province, killing over 160 and injuring another 100. A recent report by CNN said that analysis has suggested the US was likely responsible for the deadly strike on the elementary school. - ANI Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) is one of the Best Value Stocks to Buy for the Long Term. On February 26, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) released its sales, production and export results for January 2026. The results paint a mixed picture with steady demand but challenging production. The companys sales for January 2026 hit 822,577 vehicles, including Lexus, up 4.7% year-over-year. This marked the second straight month of growth driven by North America and Europe. Management noted that the worldwide sales improved due to strong performance from Corolla, Camry, TX, and Grand Highlander in North America. Moreover, models including Yaris, Yaris Cross, and Aygo X in Europe also contributed 104,727 units to the worldwide sales. Japan was a challenging region with sales dipping 2.7% to 123,065 units. Toyota Motor (TM) Releases January 2026 Operating Data Global production by Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) fell 6% in January 2026 to 735,097 units, marking three months of YoY declines, mainly due to the RAV4 model transition and fewer operating days. In terms of regional performance, Japans output dropped 6.1%, followed by North America, which also saw a sharp decline of 24.8% to 134,351 units due to the RAV4 changeover. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) is a leading Japanese automaker that primarily designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, trucks, and minivans, along with parts and accessories. While we acknowledge the potential of TM 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: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. US Central Command has struck an Iranian vessel described as a drone carrier, releasing footage of the ship engulfed in smoke. Admiral Brad Cooper stated that nearly 200 targets have been hit inside Iran over the past 72 hours, severely degrading Tehran's missile and drone capabilities. The operation, named Epic Fury, has expanded on orders from President Trump to dismantle Iran's ballistic missile industrial base. The offensive escalation follows a joint US-Israel strike that resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region. US military targets Iranian naval vessel, strikes nearly 200 targets inside Iran over 72 hours, degrading missile and drone capabilities by over 80%. Washington, DC, March 6 The United States military has targeted an Iranian ship, characterised as a "drone carrier", which is reportedly "is now on fire" following a maritime engagement. The strike was confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM) through a statement on X, occurring as the combined US-Israeli military offensive against Iran reaches its seventh day. In its communication, CENTCOM asserted that "US forces aren't holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy." The command further detailed the scale of the vessel, describing the targeted drone carrier as "roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier." While the exact location of the naval engagement was not specified in the official post, the military command released footage of the operation. The video provided by CENTCOM depicted the alleged Iranian ship being "engulfed in thick smoke" after sustaining a direct hit from US forces. Complementing these naval strikes, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that America has struck nearly 200 targets inside Iran over the past 72 hours. He noted that these actions have significantly degraded Tehran's missile and drone attack capabilities. Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Cooper detailed the scale of the ongoing military operation, titled 'Operation Epic Fury', which specifically targets Iranian missile launchers and infrastructure. "In just the last 72 hours, America's bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets deep inside of Iran. In just the last hour, U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers dropped dozens of 2,000lb Penetrator bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers," Cooper said. According to the commander, these strikes have sharply reduced the scale of Iranian retaliatory attacks since the operation began. He noted that compared to the start of the mission, ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90 per cent and drone attacks by 83 per cent, adding, "we're now up over 30 ships [destroyed]." Cooper also revealed that 'Operation Epic Fury' has expanded to target the long-term capacity of Iran's missile programme, following instructions from US President Donald Trump. "President Trump gave us another task to raze or level Iran's ballistic missile industrial base," he said. "We're not just hitting what they have, we're destroying their ability to rebuild. We will systemically dismantle Iran's missile production capability for the future, and that's absolutely in progress." The CENTCOM chief also highlighted a unique programme involving a captured Iranian drone design, named LUCAS, which has been reverse-engineered and redeployed by US forces. "LUCAS -- indispensable... This was an original Iranian drone design. We captured it, pulled the guts out, sent it back to America, put a little 'Made in America' on it, brought it back here, and we're shooting it at the Iranians," Cooper stated. These remarks come amid escalating tensions in West Asia following a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28. That operation resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran. In retaliation, Iran has launched waves of drone and missile attacks targeting American military bases across multiple Arab countries as the conflict enters its seventh day. Simultaneously, Israel is continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. - ANI A senior Pentagon official has stated that the U.S. defense strategy is now centered on preventing China from dominating the Indo-Pacific region. Elbridge Colby emphasized the goal is not confrontation but preserving a favorable balance of power through deterrence. The strategy prioritizes denying aggression along the strategic "first island chain" stretching from Japan to the Philippines. It also calls on wealthy allies to increase their contributions to collective security in the region. Pentagon official outlines strategy to prevent Chinese hegemony in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing deterrence and allied cooperation. Washington, Mar 6 The United States' new defence strategy aims to prevent China from dominating the Indo-Pacific, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers, underscoring Washington's growing focus on the region as the centre of global strategic competition. Elbridge Colby, Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, told members of Congress that the Indo-Pacific is now the most important theatre for US military planning due to its economic and strategic significance. "The strategy focuses our military effort on ensuring the preservation of a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, the world's largest market area," Colby said during a hearing before lawmakers examining the administration's National Defence Strategy. He said Washington's objective is not to seek confrontation with Beijing but to prevent any single power from dominating the region. "We understand that China is a very powerful country that is undertaking an extraordinary military buildup," Colby said. "At the same time, we are clear that we do not seek conflict with China. To the contrary, we seek to avoid it." Colby stressed that the United States is aiming to ensure regional stability by maintaining a balance of power rather than seeking outright dominance. "We do not seek to strangle China nor compel a change in its form of government. Rather, we seek to prevent China from becoming the hegemon of the Indo-Pacific," he said. According to the Pentagon, the strategy focuses on deterring aggression along the "first island chain," a key strategic line stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines. "Meeting this standard of an effective denial defense along the first island chain is the primary focus of the US Armed Forces," Colby said. He said the strategy reflects a broader shift in American defence planning toward prioritising the Indo-Pacific while encouraging allies to play a larger role in regional security. "The American military, while without peer, is not infinite in its application and resources," he said. "Potential opponents have been building their strength and capabilities." Colby added that Washington expects partners in Asia and Europe to increase defence spending and contribute more to collective security. "We are urging these wealthy and capable allies to do their part for collective defense," he said. He noted that the strategy emphasises cooperation with allies such as Japan, Australia and South Korea to maintain regional stability and deter potential aggression. During the hearing, lawmakers from both parties questioned how the United States could maintain focus on China while also conducting military operations elsewhere, including in the Middle East. Colby defended the administration's approach, saying recent military operations demonstrate the effectiveness of American forces. "With your support in the Congress, the American military is and will be the world's finest and unmatched fighting force that has impressively demonstrated its prowess in recent months," he said, citing operations including "Midnight Hammer," "Absolute Resolve," and "Epic Fury." The strategy, he said, aims to ensure that potential adversaries recognise the strength of US forces and avoid conflict. "We can expect our potential opponents to see the peerlessly formidable armed forces of the United States and the highly capable forces of our allies and partners together and to conclude that peace and restraint is the better course for them," Colby said. - IANS Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally congratulated UPSC achievers Shambhavi Tiwari (46th rank) from Kichha and Meenal Negi (66th rank) from Tehri. He also spoke with Anuj Pant from Champawat, who secured the 69th rank, praising his achievement as a matter of state pride. Dhami stated that these successes would inspire the state's youth, particularly girls, and highlighted government efforts to create supportive opportunities. Separately, All India Rank 1 holder Anuj Agnihotri described clearing the exam as the culmination of a demanding journey. CM Pushkar Dhami congratulates UPSC rank holders Shambhavi Tiwari, Meenal Negi, and Anuj Pant, calling their success an inspiration for youth. Dehradun, March 8 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with UPSC achievers Shambhavi Tiwari from Kichha and Meenal Negi from Tehri, who secured the 46th and 66th ranks respectively in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination, and extended his heartfelt congratulations on their accomplishment. The Chief Minister lauded the candidates for their dedication and hard work, stating that their achievements would inspire the youth of the state, particularly girls. "This achievement will serve as a source of inspiration for the youth of the state, especially for girls," CM Dhami said. Earlier on Friday, Dhami had also congratulated Anuj Pant, a resident of Jhoolape village in the Barakot block of Champawat district, who secured the 69th rank in the UPSC examination. The Chief Minister spoke with Pant over the phone and conveyed his best wishes for a bright future in administrative service. Dhami described Pant's achievement as a matter of immense pride for the state and said that his selection to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) would serve as an inspiration for the youth of Uttarakhand. He added that Pant's success has brought recognition not only to Champawat district but to the entire state. The Chief Minister further said that the state government is continuously working to provide better opportunities and a supportive environment for young people so that talented youth from Uttarakhand can showcase their abilities at the national level. Meanwhile, UPSC Civil Services Examination All India Rank 1 holder Anuj Agnihotri described clearing the examination as the culmination of a long and demanding journey. Speaking to ANI, Agnihotri said he began preparing for the examination during his internship in 2022 and appeared for the exam for the first time in 2023. Calling the UPSC journey "gruelling," he said the positive result made the hard work worthwhile. Agnihotri also credited his family and fellow aspirants for supporting him throughout the preparation process and advised students to remain determined and develop a well-rounded personality while pursuing their goals. - ANI Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed and honored Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a major public event in Haridwar celebrating four years of the state government. The Chief Minister presented Shah with a memento and a traditional cap, praising his leadership on national security and development. The event featured large crowds and was attended by local MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, with exhibitions set up to display government initiatives on safety and justice. Extensive preparations and security arrangements were made in Haridwar to ensure the smooth conduct of the high-profile visit. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was honored by Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami at a grand public event marking four years of the state government. Haridwar, March 7 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday warmly welcomed and felicitated Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at a grand event titled "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal" held in Haridwar to mark the completion of four years of the state government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was welcomed by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami upon his arrival at Jolly Grant Airport before proceeding to Haridwar for the ceremony. The Chief Minister, in a post on X, praised Amit Shah for his contribution to the state's progress and national security, writing, "Heartfelt welcome and congratulations to the esteemed Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah ji on his arrival in the sacred land of Uttarakhand, the land of brave soldiers. Your leadership, dedicated to the nation's security, good governance, and development, has provided the country with a new direction and strength." On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented the Union Home Minister with a memento and honored him with a traditional cap symbolizing the rich cultural identity of the state. A massive crowd gathered in Haridwar for the ceremony marking four years of the state government. The event was also attended by Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, who addressed the gathering. Earlier, CM Dhami reviewed preparations for the event and confirmed that all arrangements have been completed. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, "Preparations have been made here for Home Minister Amit Shah's public rally. Two major exhibitions have been set up in Haridwar for his visit. One of the exhibitions will display a demo for the provisions made by the Indian government for the safety of citizens and for the speedy delivery of justice. After the Home Minister's arrival, one venue will remain open for the public for the next week." On Friday, Dhami visited Haridwar to inspect arrangements for the programme and issued directions to officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. The city of Haridwar, along with the programme venue at Bairagi Camp, was decorated to welcome the Union Home Minister. The Chief Minister emphasized that security, traffic management, public convenience, and inter-departmental coordination must function smoothly throughout the visit. He instructed all concerned officials to regularly monitor every aspect of the arrangements and ensure that no laxity is shown at any level. The ceremony celebrates the completion of four years of the Dhami government in Uttarakhand, showcasing the state's developmental achievements and governance initiatives during this period. The Union Home Minister's presence at the event underscores the significance of the occasion and the central government's support for the state's development agenda. - ANI Uttarakhand has secured the top national position for effectively implementing the new criminal laws and the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System 2.0, achieving a score of 93.46. The state's success is attributed to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's direct oversight and the adoption of the "One Data, One Entry" mechanism, which integrates police, courts, and forensic data. Over 23,000 police personnel received intensive training, and the use of the "e-Sakshya" app for crime scene videography has been mandated. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has praised Uttarakhand's efficiency, making it a model for "smart policing" in India. Uttarakhand ranks first in India for implementing new criminal laws and the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System 2.0 with a score of 93.46. Dehradun, March 7 Marking a historic milestone in the modernization of India's judicial and law-enforcement system, Uttarakhand has secured the first position in the national implementation of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System 2.0, according to data up to January 2026. This remarkable achievement reflects the visionary guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and his commitment to building a technology-driven justice system. According to the latest CCTNS/ICJS Progress Dashboard of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttarakhand has ranked first at the national level with an outstanding score of 93.46. The performance of the top five states in the national ranking has been highly commendable: Uttarakhand leads with 93.46, followed by Haryana with 93.41, Assam with 93.16, Sikkim with 91.82, and Madhya Pradesh with 90.55. Uttarakhand's success is the result of the effective leadership and continuous monitoring by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. To ensure the implementation of the new laws--Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)--on the ground, the Chief Minister personally took charge. CM Dhami held continuous review meetings with senior government officials as well as field officers at the district level. This top-to-bottom monitoring helped in resolving technical challenges in time and enabled the police department to successfully adapt to the new legal framework. The foundation of this achievement lies in the "One Data, One Entry" mechanism under ICJS 2.0. Through this system, seamless data flow has been ensured among Police (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-Prisons, e-Prosecution, and e-Forensics. Once data is entered, it becomes instantly available to all concerned departments, reducing paperwork and accelerating the disposal of cases. To ensure transparency, videography of crime scenes and secure storage of digital evidence have been made mandatory through the "e-Sakshya" app. More than 23,000 police personnel in the state have been given intensive training on the provisions of the new laws. Facilities such as virtual court hearings through "Nyaya Shruti" and the availability of forensic mobile vans have been prioritized for technological strengthening. Confirming the ranking, Uttarakhand Police spokesperson and Inspector General of Police (Crime and Law and Order) Sunil Kumar Meena stated that the state has set a record not only in implementing the technological infrastructure but also in real-time data entry. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has specifically appreciated Uttarakhand's efficiency in the "One Data, One Entry" system during high-level meetings. With this coordination and commitment, Uttarakhand has emerged as an ideal model of "smart policing" for the country, reflecting the visionary guidance of the Union Home Minister and his commitment to building a technology-driven justice system. - ANI Uttarakhand has secured the top national position for effectively implementing new criminal laws and the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System 2.0, achieving a score of 93.46. The state's success is attributed to strong leadership from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and a mission-mode approach to adopting the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and related laws. Key to this achievement is the 'One Data, One Entry' mechanism, which ensures seamless data sharing across police, courts, prisons, and forensic departments. Extensive training for over 23,000 police personnel and technological tools like the 'e-Sakshya' app for evidence have established Uttarakhand as a model for smart policing and judicial modernization. Uttarakhand ranks first in India for implementing new criminal laws and ICJS 2.0, scoring 93.46. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami led the tech-driven reforms. Dehradun, March 7 Marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of India's judicial and law enforcement system, Uttarakhand has secured the first position in the national implementation of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System 2.0. According to data available up to January 2026, the achievement reflects the state's strong push towards a technology-driven justice system and aligns with the vision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to modernise the country's criminal justice infrastructure. As per the latest CCTNS/ICJS Progress Dashboard released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttarakhand has ranked first at the national level with an impressive score of 93.46. The top five states in the national ranking include Uttarakhand with 93.46, followed closely by Haryana with 93.41, Assam with 93.16, Sikkim with 91.82, and Madhya Pradesh with 90.55. Officials said the state's performance highlights the effectiveness of coordinated administrative efforts and the adoption of advanced digital systems within the criminal justice framework. Uttarakhand's success has also been attributed to the leadership and close monitoring by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The state government adopted a mission-mode approach to implement the newly-introduced criminal laws - the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). To ensure smooth implementation of these laws on the ground, the Chief Minister personally reviewed the progress through regular meetings with senior government officials as well as district-level field officers. These continuous reviews helped address technical challenges in time and enabled the police and other departments to adapt effectively to the new legal framework. Officials said that one of the key factors behind the state's success is the 'One Data, One Entry' mechanism introduced under ICJS 2.0. This system ensures seamless data sharing among various components of the criminal justice system, including Police (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-Prisons, e-Prosecution, and e-Forensics. Under this integrated system, once data is entered into the platform, it becomes instantly accessible to all relevant departments. This has significantly reduced paperwork, improved coordination among agencies, and accelerated the process of case investigation and disposal. In addition, measures have been taken to strengthen transparency and evidence management. Videography of crime scenes and the secure storage of digital evidence have been made mandatory through the use of the 'e-Sakshya' application. The state government has also focussed on extensive capacity building within the police force. More than 23,000 police personnel in Uttarakhand have undergone intensive training on the provisions and procedures of the new criminal laws. Technological advancements have also been prioritised, including facilities for virtual court hearings through the 'Nyaya Shruti' system and the deployment of forensic mobile vans to strengthen on-site investigations. Confirming the state's top ranking, Uttarakhand Police spokesperson and Inspector General of Police (Crime and Law & Order) Sunil Kumar Meena said the state has set a benchmark not only in implementing technological infrastructure but also in ensuring real-time data entry and coordination among departments. Officials also noted that Amit Shah has appreciated Uttarakhand's performance, particularly the efficiency of the 'One Data, One Entry' system, during high-level review meetings. With these coordinated efforts and technological advancements, Uttarakhand has emerged as a model for 'smart policing' and an example of effective implementation of modern criminal justice reforms in the country. - IANS Odisha's Director General of Police has highlighted the impact of the new Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, noting 70 cases where verdicts were delivered within 100 days by prioritizing victims. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate a 'New Nyaya Sanhita' exhibition and key infrastructure projects in Bhubaneswar. These include laying the foundation for a permanent National Forensic Sciences University campus and inaugurating new police station buildings. The events underscore a dual focus on expediting justice and strengthening forensic and investigative capabilities in the state. Odisha DGP reports 70 cases resolved within 100 days under Bharatiya Nyay Samhita. Amit Shah to inaugurate key forensic and police infrastructure projects. Bhubaneswar, March 6 Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania has lauded the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, highlighting the changes it has brought to the justice system across state since its implementation. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the Odisha DGP emphasised that new BNS system has brought new speed in the justice system, in which priority has been given to victims. He added that in Odisha itself, there have been 70 cases in which verdict has been declared within 100 days. "On July 1, 2024, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was implemented across the country. In this justice process, priority has been given to the victims... efforts have been made to complete the entire process and deliver justice in the minimum time. The new laws implemented from July 1, 2024, have brought speed to the justice system. In Odisha, 70 such cases have come to light in which action was completed within 100 days, and the judge delivered the verdict," the Odisha DGP said. This comes at a time when Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate the 'New Nyaya Sanhita' exhibition in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Shah will also address the 57th Raising Day ceremony of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as the Chief Guest on Friday in Odisha's Mudali. The Home Minister will perform the Bhumi Pujan and lay the foundation stone of the campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Bhubaneswar. In addition, the Union Home Minister will virtually inaugurate the transit campus of NFSU. Amit Shah will also perform the Bhumi Pujan of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) located alongside the campus of National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Home Secretary, the founder Vice-Chancellor of NFSU, and several other distinguished dignitaries will be present. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation will also virtually inaugurate many police station buildings aimed at strengthening police infrastructure under initiatives related to the Ministry of Home Affairs. He will also inaugurate CC and EO facilities in some police stations. In addition, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will also be signed with Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and Rashtriya Raksha University. The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) campus in Bhubaneswar is an important step towards strengthening the forensic and investigative infrastructure of Odisha. The permanent campus, to be built on 40 acres of land allocated by the Government of Odisha, will be developed as a centre of excellence for forensic and allied sciences. The temporary campus of NFSU will begin operations with three specialised academic programmes, including M.Sc. Forensic Science, M.Sc. Digital Forensics and Information Security, and LL.M. in Cyber Law and Cyber Crime Investigation. - ANI Vice President C P Radhakrishnan has arrived in Agartala for a two-day official visit to Tripura. His itinerary includes attending the convocation ceremony of Tripura University and interacting with 'Lakhpati Didis' to promote women's empowerment. The visit highlights engagement with both academic institutions and social welfare initiatives in the state. This follows his recent participation in laying the foundation stone for a statue of freedom fighter V O Chidambaram Pillai in Madurai. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan arrives in Agartala for a two-day visit, to attend Tripura University convocation and interact with 'Lakhpati Didis'. Agartala, March 7 Vice President C P Radhakrishnan arrived at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala on Saturday for a two-day visit to the state. He was received at the airport by Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, and Tripura BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee. During his visit, the Vice President will attend the convocation ceremony of Tripura University. He will also interact with 'Lakhpati Didis' at the International Fair Ground in Hapania, Agartala. The visit is expected to focus on promoting women's empowerment initiatives and engaging with academic institutions in the state. 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 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, highlighting the direct danger to Indian nationals living in the region. He detailed the economic repercussions, including skyrocketing oil prices and halted gas shipments from Qatar, which could impact Indian industry. Tharoor strongly advocated for diplomatic efforts and de-escalation, hoping India would be a leading voice for a peaceful settlement. The ongoing conflict, which began with US-Israel strikes, poses broader risks to financial stability and supply chains. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor warns of risks to Indian nationals and economic fallout from rising oil prices, urging diplomatic solutions. Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday urged for de-escalation in the US-Israel vs Iran conflict, saying that stability and calm should be restored as soon as possible. Speaking to reporters, Tharoor said that the situation is deeply concerning, with human bodies at risk. He underlined that several Indian Nationals residing in the Middle Eastern countries are in danger of the ongoing military strikes. "Its a very serious situation, we are very concerned about it. I must say that there are multiple worries. We have a lot of citizens living in these countries who are potentially affected and are at risk of falling bombs, drones, and missiles," he said. The Congress MP underlined the economic downturn with skyrocketing oil prices and halted shipment of gas amid the concerning situation. "There is also an economic worry, which is that the oil prices are going up. Before the war, it was $65 a barrel, yesterday it was $83, and today it was $89. If the oil prices continue to increase, then it will impact all the ordinary citizens in all our countries and certainly across India," he stated. Tharoor further stated that Qatar has imposed 'force measures', not only halting the shipment of gas but also the insurance won't apply to it. "On top of that, we get most of our gas from the Middle East, and Qatar is a major supplier. It is unable to ship any gas and has declared force measures, which means that not only will the gas not come, but also the insurance will not apply. In these circumstances, we will literally have some factories to slow down because there will be no gas to power them," he added. He vouched for diplomacy and a peaceful settlement to ensure safety and stability within the countries, saying, "This situation is truly dismaying for us. I believe we want to see stability and calm restored as soon as possible. My view is that we should be calling for de-escalation and diplomacy. There are some diplomatic efforts already underway with other countries to try to end this war. I hope India will be a leading voice in favour of a peaceful settlement." The conflict in West Asia, which began with US-Israel joint strikes on Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, has entered its eighth day. Tehran retaliated by attacking Israel and US military bases in West Asian countries. If tensions continue, potential risks include capital outflows from emerging markets, volatility in financial markets and disruptions in supply chains, all of which could invariably affect countries like India. - ANI A Pakistani driver was killed in Dubai's Al Barsha area after debris from an aerial interception fell on his vehicle. The incident occurs amid escalating regional conflict, with Iran's IRGC claiming a missile strike on a Haifa refinery and Israel reportedly attacking oil resources near Tehran. Iranian officials have vowed continued retaliatory strikes, accusing regional states of aiding aggression against Iran. The widening conflict now engulfs multiple Gulf nations, following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader in a late February strike and subsequent Iranian attacks across the region. Pakistani driver killed in Dubai from aerial interception debris as Iran-Israel conflict escalates, striking targets across the Gulf region. Dubai, March 8 Dubai Media Office has confirmed that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver. In a post on X, it also shared that authorities had confirmed a minor incident on the facade of a tower in Dubai Marina, with no injuries reported. As conflict deepens in West Asia and the Gulf, the IRNA claimed on Sunday, citing the IRGC, that a refinery was hit in Haifa. It said in a post on X, "IRGC : The Haifa refinery was struck by Kheibarshekan missiles." Al Jazeera Breaking reported that air strikes targeted an oil storage facility in Tehran. It also mentioned that Hezbollah said it launched missiles at Haifa naval base and that it targeted Kiryat Shmona with rocket fire. Citing IDF sources, the Jerusalem Post reported that on Saturday night, the Israeli Air Force had attacked significant oil resources in the Tehran region of Iran. As per the sources, the oil resources attacked are directly connected to Iran's military industrial complex. Earlier, IRNA said in a post on X on Saturday, "Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei: Intelligence from Iran's armed forces indicates that certain regional states' territory is being made available to the adversary, both overtly and covertly, and is being utilized to launch aggression against Iran." It added, "Retaliatory strikes against these positions will persist. This policy is active and enjoys full consensus between the government and all branches of the establishment." The conflict in West Asia has now brought into its fold several countries of the Gulf region. These developments come in the wake of escalating tensions after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 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 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 Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is back buying stocks again in 2026, adding to his recent purchases made in January. Here's a look at his latest buys. Markwayne Mullin Stock Transactions Mullin, who is well-known as a supporter of President Donald Trump, has come out in defense of the recent military action by the U.S. in Iran. The support for the actions of Iran come as Benzinga has flagged that Mullin owns shares of oil companies Chevron Corporation and ConocoPhillips and defense company RTX Corp, companies that could benefit from increasing geopolitical activity in the Middle East. Don't Miss: Those stocks don't appear on Mullin's recent buys. Here are the stock transactions made in February, as reported by Quiver Quantitative, with all transactions made on Feb. 4. Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in Adobe Inc stock Sold $1,001 to $15,000 in Applied Industrial Technologies stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in Amkor Technology stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in APi Group stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in Citigroup stock Sold $15,001 to $50,000 in Coherent Corp stock Sold $15,001 to $50,000 in Credo Technology stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in Carpenter Technology stock Sold $15,001 to $50,000 in Dell Technologies stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in FirstCash Holdings stock Sold $15,001 to $50,000 in Goldman Sachs stock Sold $1,001 to $15,000 in Iron Mountain stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in Stride Inc stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in McKesson stock Bought $15,001 to $50,000 in Monolithic Power Systems stock Sold $15,001 to $50,000 in MasTech stock Bought $15,001 to $50,00 in VSE Corporation stock Adobe, Amkor, APiGroup, Citigroup, Carpenter Technology, FirstCash Holdings, Stride, McKesson, Monolithic Power and VSE were also purchased by Mullin back in January. Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights Benzinga previously flagged the small market capitalization of several of the stocks bought, including FirstCash, Stride and VSE all being valued at under $10 billion. VSE was also highlighted due to having landed government contracts over the years, including a $565 million deal for Air Force aircraft signed in 2023. Mullin serves on the Senate Committee on Armed Services. The recent purchases of Carpenter Technology have been flagged by prominent social media account Pelosi Tracker. Former Bihar Assembly Speaker and senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed as the Governor of Nagaland. He expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pledging to work for Nagaland's development within constitutional limits. The appointment is part of a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country announced by the President. Several other key transfers were also effected, including RN Ravi moving to West Bengal and the appointment of a new LG for Delhi. Former Bihar Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav appointed Nagaland Governor. Major reshuffle of Governors and LGs announced by President Murmu ahead of Rajya Sabha polls. Patna, March 6 Former Bihar Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, who was appointed as the Nagaland Governor on Friday, said that he will work for the development of the state within Constitutional limits. President Droupadi Murmu has effected a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. "I want to thank the President of India and PM Modi for giving me an important responsibility. I will play my role in the development of Nagaland within the limits of the Constitution," Yadav told ANI. Nand Kishore Yadav is a senior BJP leader who served as the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 2024 to 2025. Representing the Patna Sahib constituency, he is a long-time BJP worker and has also held important cabinet ministerial portfolios, including Road Construction and Health in the Bihar government. He has also served as the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar. The BJP leader has also been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Meanwhile, Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain has been named Governor of Bihar. In a major reshuffle, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has been appointed as the new West Bengal Governor, succeeding CV Ananda Bose, who resigned earlier on Thursday. Vinai Kumar Saxena has been transferred from his position as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to serve as Ladakh LG, while former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the new LG in the national capital. In other key changes, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has been named Governor of Telangana, while Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has been transferred to serve as Governor of Maharashtra. Furthermore, Kavinder Gupta, the outgoing Ladakh LG, has been appointed Himachal Pradesh Governor, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will discharge the additional functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. - ANI Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended International Women's Day greetings, praising the women of the state as symbols of strength and dedication. He highlighted their vital role in the statehood movement and ongoing development. The CM detailed government initiatives, including economic empowerment for 500,000 women through self-help groups and reservations in jobs and cooperatives. He also linked the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code to ensuring respect and rights for women. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami highlights women's empowerment schemes, UCC implementation, and economic initiatives for women in Uttarakhand on International Women's Day. Dehradun, March 7 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his greetings to the people of the state, especially to the Matri Shakti, on Saturday, on the occasion of International Women's Day. According to the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office (CMO), CM Dhami said that the women of Uttarakhand have always been a symbol of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. Women have played a vital role in the development of the state and in strengthening its social structure. The Chief Minister said that the state government is continuously working towards ensuring the dignity, safety, and empowerment of women. He added that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both the Central and State Governments are running several schemes for the welfare of women. He also highlighted that women have made a significant contribution to the Uttarakhand statehood movement and to the development of the state thereafter. Women's empowerment and their overall development remain among the top priorities of the state government. The Chief Minister further stated that through 68,000 self-help groups, around 500,000 women in the state are being economically empowered under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, and more than 200,000 women have already become Lakhpati Didis. Women in the state are also being provided 30 per cent reservation in government jobs and 33 per cent reservation in cooperative societies. CM Dhami also said that the government has fulfilled its promise to the people by implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, which is also linked to ensuring respect and rights for women. Efforts are being made to strengthen women's economic independence through skill development initiatives. On this occasion, the Chief Minister wished happiness, prosperity, and a bright future to all women of the state. He expressed confidence that with the cooperation and participation of Matri Shakti, Uttarakhand will achieve new milestones of development and progress. - ANI Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a public gathering in Haridwar to mark four years of the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government and nine years of BJP administration in Uttarakhand. He credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the creation of the state and outlined the developmental progress made. Shah announced the initiation of development projects worth over Rs 1,100 crore and highlighted employment initiatives, including the recruitment of police constables. He also spoke on legal reforms, including the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, aimed at delivering faster justice. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses public in Haridwar, marking 4 years of Dhami govt and 9 years of BJP rule, credits Vajpayee for statehood. Haridwar, March 7 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday addressed a large public gathering in Uttarakhand's Haridwar during the 'Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal' programme, marking four years of the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government in the state. Speaking at the event, HM Shah said the occasion marked the completion of four years of the Dhami government and nine years of the BJP-led administration in Uttarakhand. "Today, the Dhami government completed its four-year tenure. Along with this, the BJP-led government has also completed its nine-year tenure in the state. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came here to commence the celebrations of 25 years of Uttarakhand," he said. Recalling the statehood movement, the Home Minister said Uttarakhand had once struggled for recognition and identity. "There was a time when this 'Devbhoomi' was struggling for its rights, demanding a different state and identity. Uttarakhand's youth had come to the ground to save the culture of the state. At that time, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party orchestrated intolerable atrocities on the youth of the state. Several were shot; they sacrificed themselves. The people of Uttarakhand have not yet forgotten the Rampur Tiraha incident," he said. Shah credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the creation of Uttarakhand, recalling the political debates that took place when smaller states were formed. "I would like to remind everyone that at that time, senior BJP leader and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had worked to form Uttarakhand. The so-called intellectuals of the Congress party used to question how 'small states' would work out and how their economies would survive. Atal ji had formed three small states -- Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh -- and today, all of them are moving forward on the path of development," he said. Referring to his earlier visit to the state after the BJP formed the government, HM Shah said the party had pledged to carry forward Vajpayee's vision for Uttarakhand. "When the BJP government was formed nine years ago, I had visited the state and had announced, 'Atal ji formed Uttarakhand, Modi ji will take it forward on the path of progress'," he said. Calling the nine years of BJP rule as "years of Uttarakhand's development," HM Shah also praised the Dhami government for addressing the concerns and challenges faced by the people of the state. During the programme, he announced that the government had initiated development projects worth Rs 1,132 crore in Uttarakhand. Speaking about legal reforms and the implementation of new criminal laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Shah said the government aimed to ensure faster justice. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, all old laws were scrapped, and the BNS has been introduced. By the year 2028, there will be complete implementation of all laws. After that, if anyone files an FIR in a police station, the legal procedure till the Supreme Court will be completed within the next three years. Now, justice will be served promptly," he said. The Home Minister also highlighted employment initiatives in the state and said that around 1,900 youths had been recruited as police Constables. "I want to ask all the young people, if the Congress were in power, would you have gotten these jobs? A slip would have been required, and there would have been expenses. Both. Now, no recommendation is needed, no bribes have to be paid. The old mother's son, who lives in the mountains, is returning home today after getting a job without any recommendation. This is what governance is. The anti-cheating law enacted by Dhami ji has brought a kind of transparency to the employment sector," he said. He also referred to the issue of citizenship for religious minorities from neighbouring countries, accusing earlier governments of denying them rights due to appeasement politics. "Due to appeasement politics, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan had been denied citizenship since Independence," he said. "They (refugees) have equal right to stay in this nation as Narendra Modi has... They have come to our country as refugees after enduring immense torture. To save their religion, to protect the honour of the women in their families, will India not grant them citizenship? Rahul Baba, protest as much as you want, we will grant citizenship; you cannot stop us," he said, targeting Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Referring to recent electoral victories of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, Shah expressed confidence about the party's future prospects. "In the 2024 general elections, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country for the third time, for the third-consecutive time. In 2024 itself, a BJP leader became the Chief Minister of Odisha for the first time, the party scored a hat-trick in Haryana and Maharashtra, and then in 2025, the AAP was wiped out in Delhi," he said. Rallying the electorate for the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections, Shah said, "A government was formed with a two-thirds majority. For the first time, the BJP's saffron flag was hoisted in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. We also won in Maharashtra. In 2026, the BJP and NDA governments will be formed in Bengal and Tamil Nadu. But you, the people of Devbhoomi, have to inaugurate 2027. In 2027, we have to form a full-majority BJP government again," he added. - IANS Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St. Twilio (NYSE:TWLO) is partnering with KPN in the Netherlands and Google to roll out nationwide Rich Communication Services (RCS) Business Messaging. The launch aims to modernize business messaging across all major mobile operators in the Netherlands. The collaboration uses Google's messaging platform and is expected to support expanded device coverage over time. This move fits within Twilio's core focus on cloud communications, where it provides tools for companies to interact with customers across messaging, voice, and other channels. For investors watching enterprise communications, RCS has been one of the technologies to watch as it brings app-like, interactive features into native messaging on smartphones. For investors, the Dutch rollout highlights how Twilio is working with carriers and large tech platforms to broaden its international footprint. As device support grows and more businesses test richer messaging formats, this type of partnership could help shape how brands think about customer engagement and digital transformation projects over the coming years. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Twilio by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Twilio. NYSE:TWLO Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 3 things going right for Twilio that this headline doesn't cover. Quick Assessment Price vs Analyst Target : At US$128.03, Twilio trades about 11% below the US$143.43 analyst price target, which is close to analysts' central view. Simply Wall St Valuation : Simply Wall Sts model flags the shares as trading roughly 18.3% below estimated fair value. Recent Momentum: The stock has returned about 14.5% over the last 30 days, showing short term strength heading into this partnership news. To explore whether it may be the right time to buy, sell or hold Twilio, visit Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Twilio's fair value. Key Considerations The KPN and Google RCS rollout shows Twilio embedding its platform into carrier grade messaging, which may support its customer engagement story in Europe. Watch how RCS Business Messaging volumes, enterprise adoption and any disclosed regional revenue trends develop over future updates. Simply Wall St flags two minor risks, including significant insider selling over the past 3 months, which some investors monitor when sentiment improves. Dig Deeper For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete Twilio analysis. Alternatively, you can visit the community page for Twilio to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company's narrative. The University of Barcelona is consolidating its position at the forefront of European research thanks to the strategic project "VISI-ON-BRAIN: Cutting-edge Human In Vitro and In Silico Biomedical Tools on Brain Disorders". This is a training and research programme involving 15 PhD researchers focused on developing new-generation human models to advance the study of complex brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. The key point of the initiative is the paradigm shift it proposes, as the study is carried out leaving behind the animal model and seeking a more ethical science, with experimental (in vitro) and computational (in silico) models. Josep M. Canals, professor at the UB's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, leads this project, which is part of the Horizon Europe programme and has received 4.5 million in funding under the Marie Skodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN). Canals is a member of the UB Institute of Neurosciences (UBneuro) and director of the Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), also at the UB. Neuroscience: new ethical models for studying human biology The field of biomedical R&D is undergoing a transformation towards scientific innovation without the use of laboratory animals and the promotion of more ethical and effective science for humans. In Europe, this includes a EC roadmap to phase out animal testing, as well as a call from the European Parliament to accelerate the transition with clearer objectives and timelines. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has outlined a plan to reduce animal testing in preclinical safety studies and to expand new approach methodologies (NAMs), which include advanced computational systems and in vitro methods. Neuroscience makes this transition mission-critical: the development of therapeutic agents to address neurodegeneration has experienced exceptionally high failure rates, underscoring the need to establish models that better reflect human biology and disease progression. The EU's most ambitious competitive push through the 'Choose Europe for Life Sciences' strategy and the European Biotechnology Act reinforces this guideline by translating results from the laboratory to the market, boosting innovation uptakes and accelerating the real-world impact of research. VISI-ON-BRAIN is designed to close the translational gap by building an integrated chain of predictive, reproducible, and clinically established experimental and computational tools, while training researchers who can operate at the interface of biology, data, engineering, and regulatory relevance. VISI-ON-BRAIN: a pan-European, cross-sector training and research platform The programme brings together 15 academic, clinical and industrial partners from eight European countries, a structure that will enable PhD researchers to combine innovation in laboratories with advanced models, analysis and translational validation. The project is coordinated by the UB through Creatio. The beneficiary consortium includes the Technical University of Denmark (Denmark), the Prinses Maxima Centrum for Paediatric Oncology (Netherlands), the University of Tubingen (Germany), Lund University (Sweden), Cardiff University and King's College London (United Kingdom), the National Research Council (Italy), Starlab Barcelona SL (Spain) and FRESCI (Spain). Associate members are the University of Milan-Bicocca (Italy), Utrecht University (Netherlands), VeriGraft (Sweden), San Raffaele Hospital SRL (Italy) and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) (Italy). Why is this important? From more data to better evidence Brain disorders are a major challenge for global health and a substantial societal and economic burden. VISI-ON-BRAIN will accelerate the development of relevant decision-making tools for patient treatment, enabling more go/no-go decisions, de-risk translation and improving the efficiency of discoveries and therapeutic development. Beyond science, it is an investment in workforce and competitiveness: it is about training doctoral researchers who can move easily between academia, clinical research and industry, and help NAMs, from promising methods to validated practices, always in line with evolving expectations. In this context, the UB promotes scientific innovation without the use of experimental animals and the promotion of more ethical and effective science for humans, with the creation of the Hub for Alternative Methods to Animal Experimentation, coordinated by Professor Josep M. Canals. VISI-ON-BRAIN is funded by the European Union under the Marie Skodowska-Curie grant agreement N. 101227124. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Dubai-Kolkata Emirates flight resumes operations Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 21:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kolkata, Mar 7 (PTI) After a few days of disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict, Dubai-based airline Emirates resumed services to Kolkata airport on Saturday evening, with the first aircraft from the Gulf nation expected to land late at night. An Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson said Emirates flight EK 572, operating from Dubai (DXB) to Kolkata (CCU), took off from Dubai at 7:43 pm IST. The flight, originally scheduled to arrive here at 6:50 pm, now has a revised estimated time of arrival (ETA) of 11:50 pm. After landing at NSC Bose International Airport, the aircraft will operate the return service, EK 573, scheduled to depart at 1:30 am instead of the original 8:25 pm. This will be the first Emirates arrival in Kolkata after the recent conflict-related disruptions in West Asia. Earlier in the day, a flydubai flight from Dubai arrived at the city airport at 12:53 am with 163 passengers. It later left for Dubai with 92 passengers, the AAI spokesperson said. A Qatar Airways flight left Kolkata for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, he said. On Friday, seven international flights from Kolkata to Gulf countries were cancelled due to the ongoing conflict, the official said. PTI SUS BSM MNB First Published: March 07, 2026, 21:15 IST News agency-feeds Dubai-Kolkata Emirates flight resumes operations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Factory owner, son die after falling inside pickle well in Delhi's Nangloi Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 23:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Mar 7 (PTI) A factory owner and his son died after falling into a well at a pickle manufacturing unit in outer Delhis Nangloi area on Saturday evening, police said. The police were informed by a caller that two to three people had fallen into a well meant to process pickle at a factory in Rao Vihar. The manufacturing unit operated from the ground floor of a residential building, while its 60-year-old owner, Anil, lived on the first floor with his family. During the inquiry, it was learnt that the factory had four to five wells of around 10 feet depth where pickles were processed and stored. On Saturday, a labourer entered one of the wells for work but reportedly fell unconscious due to suffocation," an officer said. Seeing the labourer collapse, the factory owner and his two sons, Neeraj and Sandeep, aged 32 and 28, too, went down the well to rescue him. However, they too fell unconscious due to the lack of oxygen, the officer said. All four were pulled out of the well by Anils brother, Subhash, and other locals who rushed after the commotion. While the labourer and Sandeep regained consciousness, Anil and his son Neeraj remained unresponsive, the police said. They were taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where doctors declared them both dead. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of suffocation and whether safety protocols were followed at the factory. PTI SSJ VN VN First Published: March 07, 2026, 23:45 IST News agency-feeds Factory owner, son die after falling inside pickle well in Delhi's Nangloi Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... New strikes light up the night in Tehran as Israel vows 'many surprises' Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 03:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Dubai, Mar 8 (AP) The Iran war exploded further late on Saturday as pillars of flame rose above an oil storage facility in Tehran and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises" for the next phase of the week-old conflict. Iranian state media confirmed the strike as Associated Press video showed the horizon glowing against the night sky. Israels military confirmed new strikes that shook neighbourhoods in Tehrans east and south but did not immediately comment on targets. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the US and the Zionist regime" at the facility that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries", even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehrans war strategy would not budge. A rift between more pragmatic politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting statements involved two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the wars opening airstrikes. US President Donald Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard" and more areas and groups of people" would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Along with his apology, Pezeshkian dismissed Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: That is a dream that they should take to their grave." Iran makes varying statements on attacks Pezeshkians message, seemingly filmed in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Pezeshkians statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks. From now on, they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy," he said. The US strikes have not been coming from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region. But hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue," he posted on X. As long as the presence of US bases in the region continue, the countries will not enjoy peace," Irans Parliament speaker and a former Revolutionary Guard general, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X. He called defence policies in line with the late supreme leaders guidance. Irans UN mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems". US says more intense bombing lies ahead Earlier, AP video showed explosions over western Tehran as Israel said it struck a Tehran airport it said was used to transfer weapons and cash to militant groups. Tehran is under severe bombardment" and even people far from military and government targets are living in fear, said a university student in western Tehran, speaking on condition of anonymity for security concerns. The US and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The wars stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. In Lebanon, Israel carried out a commando raid to search for clues about a navigator who went missing 40 years ago that left dozens of people dead and dozens more wounded on Saturday. Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters again across Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Missile lands at US Embassy compound in Iraq Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the US embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties. It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily-fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on US military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a terrorist act" carried out by rogue groups". Strikes target Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai US allies in the Gulf have said the Trump administration did not give them adequate time to prepare for the war. On Saturday, hours after Pezeshkians message, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed an Asian driver". Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport were ushered into train tunnels. Long-haul carrier Emirates briefly said all flights to and from Dubai were suspended. (AP) RC First Published: March 08, 2026, 03:15 IST News agency-feeds New strikes light up the night in Tehran as Israel vows 'many surprises' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... RSP's Balendra Shah defeats four-time PM Oli by huge margin in Nepal Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 18:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kathmandu, Mar 7 (PTI) RSP leader and rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah Balen defeated four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli by a huge margin of about 50,000 votes in Nepals Jhapa-5 constituency, the Election Commission said here. The Rashtriya Swatantrata Party (RSP) leader and former Kathmandu Mayor, popularly known only as Balen is his partys prime ministerial candidate. As of 6 pm, the RSP had won 62 seats from among the 78 for which results have been declared and leading in 60 seats. Balen, 35, secured 68,348 votes against 74-year-old Olis 18,734, the Election Commission (EC) said. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) CPN-UML had projected Oli as the partys Prime Ministerial candidate. Nepal voted on Thursday in the first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests last year that had demanded a generational change in politics and a corruption-free regime in the Himalayan nation. PTI SBP NPK NPK First Published: March 07, 2026, 18:45 IST News agency-feeds RSP's Balendra Shah defeats four-time PM Oli by huge margin in Nepal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami congratulates UPSC toppers from Kichha and Tehri Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 04:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], March 8 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with UPSC achievers Shambhavi Tiwari from Kichha and Meenal Negi from Tehri, who secured the 46th and 66th ranks respectively in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, and extended his heartfelt congratulations on their accomplishment.The Chief Minister lauded the candidates for their dedication and hard work, stating that their achievements would inspire the youth of the state, particularly girls.This achievement will serve as a source of inspiration for the youth of the state, especially for girls," CM Dhami said.Earlier on Friday, Dhami had also congratulated Anuj Pant, a resident of Jhoolape village in the Barakot block of Champawat district, who secured the 69th rank in the UPSC examination. The Chief Minister spoke with Pant over the phone and conveyed his best wishes for a bright future in administrative service.Dhami described Pants achievement as a matter of immense pride for the state and said that his selection to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) would serve as an inspiration for the youth of Uttarakhand. He added that Pants success has brought recognition not only to Champawat district but to the entire state.The Chief Minister further said that the state government is continuously working to provide better opportunities and a supportive environment for young people so that talented youth from Uttarakhand can showcase their abilities at the national level.Meanwhile, UPSC Civil Services Examination All India Rank 1 holder Anuj Agnihotri described clearing the examination as the culmination of a long and demanding journey. Speaking to ANI, Agnihotri said he began preparing for the examination during his internship in 2022 and appeared for the exam for the first time in 2023.Calling the UPSC journey gruelling," he said the positive result made the hard work worthwhile. Agnihotri also credited his family and fellow aspirants for supporting him throughout the preparation process and advised students to remain determined and develop a well-rounded personality while pursuing their goals. (ANI) First Published: March 08, 2026, 04:30 IST News agency-feeds Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami congratulates UPSC toppers from Kichha and Tehri Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Youth's body found with throat slit in field in UP's Barabanki Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 21:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Barabanki (UP), Mar 7 (PTI) The body of a youth was found with his throat slit in a field here, police said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Mithun Rawat, a resident of Durin Purva village. According to police sources, Rawat left his home on Friday but did not return. His body was found in the field in the Kursi police station area by villagers on Friday night. They informed police about it on Saturday morning, police said. Preliminary investigation suggests that the assailants repeatedly attacked the youth with a sharp object, nearly severing his neck, they said. We have taken the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem. The matter is under active investigation, and we expect to crack the case soon," said Circle Officer, Fatehpur, Jagat Kanaujia. Police teams are currently combing the area where the body was found for clues, he said. PTI COR CDN DIV DIV First Published: March 07, 2026, 21:15 IST News agency-feeds Youth's body found with throat slit in field in UP's Barabanki Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tarot Card Reading Today, March 7, 2026 Written By : GaneshaGrace Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 07:30 IST Tarot Horoscope for March 7, 2026, highlights inner change, new beginnings, and resolving challenges. Key themes include trust, communication, and thoughtful actions. Tarot Card Predictions Today March 7 2026 Daily Tarot Card Reading for All Zodiac Signs. (AI generated image) Tarot Horoscope, March 7, 2026: Todays Tarot readings reflect deep inner change, new beginnings, and resolution of long-standing emotional or professional challenges. Aries, Taurus, and Capricorn natives grapple with resentment, confusion, or betrayal, which requires courage, clarity, and emotional maturity. Gemini, Cancer, and Sagittarius natives move forward with exciting professional or personal growth, including travel, promotions, or new relationships. Leo, Pisces, and Virgo natives are excited by happy changes like a family celebration, inheritance, or romance. Scorpio and Aquarius natives experience spiritual growth and life-changing revelationswhere faith, detachment, and the guidance of gurus provide healing. Libra natives are advised to stay calm during jealousy or conflict. Overall, trust, communication, and thoughtful actions are the key themes of progress and peace. Aries Card Readings (The Fool) Ganesha says you may feel helpless due to the ill health of someone close to you. It may seem as if you have never made any meaningful effort to improve your life. You may compare yourself with someone elses success. You will try to bring changes in your life. All your efforts to strengthen yourself will lead you towards God, which will increase your faith and belief in God. A friends proposal for business partnership may help you overcome all difficulties. You may start a new life in a new place. Your desire to gain knowledge on a new subject is likely to be fulfilled soon. Someone at your workplace who is jealous of your work may try to trouble you. Ignore such a person and keep your thoughts positive. Taurus Card Readings (Seven of Pentacles) Ganesha says although everything is going well in life, you may still feel dissatisfied. It may seem that you have not yet been able to bring your life on the right track. There may be a new change in your life soon. You have full faith in your efficiency and hard work. No matter how difficult or challenging the task is, you face it boldly and win. You may get a chance to work on a new project, which may also come with big responsibilities. You can start working on this new project with your colleagues with full energy and enthusiasm. You may feel that you have not found the right path yet, which is the reason for your dissatisfaction. At this time, you may be confused about your relationship. You can overcome all your problems by talking to your partner and solving this confusion. Gemini Card Readings (The Chariot) Ganesha says you have been thinking about starting a business for a long time. Work-related travels may bring positive results. Friendly relationships with some new people may prove to be very helpful in starting a new business in the future. Avoid unnecessary arguments with people who are not ready to understand anything; arguing with them will only cause trouble for you. An unexpected new relationship may fill your heart with excitement. You may feel eager to gather information about the other person. You may get news of a promotion at work. Your efforts to complete tasks correctly will increase your respect and recognition. You may start working on a plan to start a new business. If you are facing major obstacles in any work, reconsider your approach. You may have made some mistakes along the way. Cancer Card Readings (Knight of Wands) Ganesha says you may try to finish some work in a hurry. Change your behavior, adopt seriousness instead of carelessness and haste. You can make positive efforts to move forward in life with enthusiasm and excitement. The ongoing problems related to your job may get resolved soon. Your wish to travel abroad is likely to be fulfilled. The ambition to expand your business internationally has been in your mind for a long time. You are working on a plan to fulfill this ambition soon. Your wish to get education abroad is going to be fulfilled. Your continuous efforts may get you an opportunity to study in a prestigious university. You may feel very excited and happy. Along with promotion at the workplace, you may also get an opportunity for a new position and salary hike. Plans to buy new property seem to be bearing fruit. Leo Card Readings (The Sun) Ganesha says there may be a change in circumstances. You may get a chance to complete a task that seemed impossible earlier. Suddenly, you will start getting success in all your efforts. Childless couples may get the news of pregnancy. A new wave of enthusiasm and excitement may run in your life. Good deeds may get positive results. You may get a desired life partner. You can work on a new project with friends. You can take leave from work and plan to go on a trip with family. A marriage-related ceremony may be organized in the family soon. Avoid taking any harsh decision without full understanding, as a decision taken in haste can hurt your future work. Virgo Card Readings (Knight of Cups) Ganesha says due to haste and anger, there may be a dispute with a colleague at the workplace. Due to some misunderstandings, rumors may spread against you at the workplace, which may upset you. You may meet an old friend or colleague. Do not lose your confidence or courage under any circumstances. There are chances of travel. You are going to get an important opportunity in business, which can give you good financial benefits. If you are single, you may find your ideal life partner. This is the right time to propose to your beloved. You may get a long-awaited promotion at the workplace, and there is also a strong possibility of getting a new job. Libra Card Readings (Queen of Wands) Ganesha says do not react immediately to the opinions of people around you. You may react negatively without fully understanding the situation. Some people may be jealous of your charming personality and sweet behavior. They may try to tarnish your good image among others. Be careful with your loved ones and people around you. Do not make false allegations without knowing the truth, as this may hurt your reputation. You may face some difficulties in a new business. However, with the help of a female friend or a woman in the family, you can overcome these troubles. You can expect a promotion as well as a salary hike in your job. There is also a possibility of getting the desired job. Scorpio Card Readings (The Hierophant) Ganesha says you may be a little nervous about starting a new business as there are concerns about its success, which may create confusion in your mind. However, you may get success in your work soon. You have immense faith and devotion towards your Ishta Dev. You have always given more importance to karma than luck and believe in doing the work well and leaving the results to God. This positive and religious thinking helps in making your efforts successful. There may be a religious event in your family soon. With patience and dedication, keep trying to mold your thoughts according to your goal. Always respect your Gurus and elders. Taking advice from an experienced person or Guru can solve any problem at the workplace. You may get praise from higher officials, and your enthusiasm may increase. Sagittarius Card Readings (The Magician) Ganesha says you have been wanting a change in your life for a long time and have been constantly striving to change yourself. Devotion to God has been your only support in times of loneliness. Suddenly, something very good may happen. Meeting a new person may bring significant benefits to your business. New opportunities may arise in your business. Your search for a new job may be successful, and you may get a good salary, which will make you happy. You may get the happiness of children. However, avoid getting overexcited. The news of promotion and transfer at the workplace may upset you a bit. New love relationships may be formed. Sometimes trusting people too much can create problems, so stay away from selfish people. Capricorn Card Readings (Three of Swords) Ganesha says suddenly, someone close to you may affect you financially. You have been ignoring some things for a long time, and not taking some matters seriously may have bad consequences. At this time, you may feel unable to understand this situation. You may feel lonely and would like to ask questions to the concerned person. In business, a partner may try to snatch many good opportunities from you by joining hands with your opponents. Be careful. A growing dispute over property in your family may turn into a quarrel. Do not get into any argument and give advice only when needed. Biased behavior of an officer at the workplace may cause trouble for you. Someone may try to get your promotion transferred to a far-off place. Consider finding new sources of income for yourself. Aquarius Card Readings (Death) Ganesha says a new aspect of someones behavior may come to the fore, and you may face betrayal from someone you never thought would cheat you. A relationship that gave you nothing but hatred and failure may end. You are keeping a distance from selfish people. The pace of your work seems to be picking up. People who used to take advantage of your good nature are now going away from your life. Take care of your parents health. Meeting an experienced person will be beneficial for you. Try to complete pending tasks. You may feel some anxiety about a particular matter. Opportunities for economic growth are being created. You may worry about right and wrong. Investment in plans is possible. Pisces Card Readings (Ten of Pentacles) Ganesha says you may receive some kind of property or money from your father or mother. This will happen unexpectedly, and you will be very happy with this sudden gift. You will consider yourself very lucky. You may have to travel in connection with work, and during these travels you will gain knowledge of many subjects. Recently, you have completed some work and now you are planning new work. You have received some marriage proposals and you have handed over the responsibility of handling this matter to your family. You and the other party have mutual consent for this relationship from a wealthy and reputed family. You can consider buying a big house and talk to all the family members about this. (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). First Published: March 07, 2026, 07:30 IST News astrology horoscope Tarot Card Reading Today, March 7, 2026 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has declined to refund tariffs the Supreme Court ruled illegal last month, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The customs officials are denying companies' requests to recover duties imposed under emergency powers invoked by U.S. President Donald Trump, leaving businesses uncertain and driving more disputes into court, the FT said. The U.S. government collected more than $130 billion in illegal tariff payments, which were central to Trump's trade policy. The Supreme Court did not provide guidance for issuing refunds, creating confusion over how importers would be reimbursed. On Wednesday, a U.S. trade court judge ordered the government to begin paying potentially billions of dollars in refunds to importers who paid tariffs. Many companies have rushed to submit Post Summary Corrections to remove International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff codes from shipment entries and seek refunds, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been rejecting those submissions and suspending protests filed over repayments of IEEPA tariffs that had already been liquidated, the FT said. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and CBP did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. (Reporting by Devika Nair in BengaluruEditing by Tomasz Janowski) Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, Saturday, March 7? Check Bank Holidays This Month Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 07:31 IST Are Banks Open Or Closed Today? As March 7 is the first Saturday of the month, banks will remain open as usual across the country. Rapid Read Bank Holidays 2026: Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 7? Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 7? 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 7? As March 7 is the first Saturday of the month, banks will remain open as usual across the country. Banks remain closed on second and fourth Saturdays of the month, apart from Sundays and other RBI-notified holidays. 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 07, 2026, 07:31 IST News business banking-finance Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, Saturday, March 7? Check Bank Holidays This Month Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Lost Money In Online Banking Fraud? RBI Proposes Compensation Up To Rs 25,000 From July 1 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 13:08 IST Under the RBI proposal, if an individual customer loses up to Rs 50,000 in a genuine fraudulent electronic transaction, they may receive 85% of the net loss or up to Rs 25,000. Rapid Read For smaller fraud losses, most of the compensation will be paid by the RBI, with smaller contributions from the customer's bank and the beneficiary bank. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed stronger safeguards for bank customers facing fraud in digital banking transactions. The central bank has issued draft Third Amendment Directions, 2026, under its Responsible Business Conduct framework to revise rules governing customer liability in unauthorised electronic transactions. The draft directions, released on March 6, 2026, aim to provide clearer protection to customers in cases of fraud involving digital payment channels such as UPI, internet banking, mobile banking, debit or credit cards and ATM transactions. If implemented, the new rules will apply to transactions carried out on or after July 1, 2026. The proposed framework will apply to commercial banks, but excludes small finance banks, payments banks, regional rural banks and local area banks. Under the proposal, if an individual customer loses up to Rs 50,000 in a genuine fraudulent electronic transaction, they may receive 85 per cent of the net loss or up to Rs 25,000, whichever is lower. What counts as electronic banking transactions The RBI said electronic banking transactions will include payments carried out through internet banking, mobile banking, cards or other digital channels that fall under the definition of electronic funds transfer under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The draft also introduces clearer definitions for authorised and unauthorised transactions. According to the RBI, transactions carried out by customers using authentication methods such as OTP, PIN, passwords or card details will be treated as authorised transactions. However, the central bank clarified that certain fraud-related situations will still be considered fraudulent electronic banking transactions. These include cases where a third party uses credentials obtained through fraud, or where customers are tricked or coerced into sending money to scammers posing as legitimate recipients. The RBI said, Authorised electronic banking transaction includes: a transaction carried out by a customer or a previously authorised third party registered with the bank by granting approval through a standing instruction or mandate or any form of additional authentication such as a static password or dynamic password (e.g. OTP), answering challenge questions, card details (CVV / expiry date / PIN) or any other electronic authentication mode provided by the bank." It added that transactions executed using credentials obtained fraudulently, or where customers are coerced or tricked into transferring money to scammers, will fall under fraudulent transactions. Bank negligence vs customer negligence The draft directions also clarify situations where banks or customers may be held responsible. Bank negligence may include failure to maintain secure systems, not sending transaction alerts or failing to provide channels for reporting fraud. Customer negligence, on the other hand, may include sharing passwords or OTPs, ignoring bank warnings about fraud, or downloading malicious applications. The RBI has also defined third-party breaches. These refer to cases where the problem lies with intermediaries such as payment gateways, telecom companies or third-party app providers rather than the bank or the customer. The circular said a third-party breach may involve entities such as Third-Party Application Providers (TPAPs), Payment Aggregators, Payment Gateways or Telecom Service Providers. Fraud must be reported immediately The RBI has asked banks to advise customers to report any fraudulent digital transaction immediately. Customers should inform their bank and also lodge a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or call the cyber crime helpline 1930 at the earliest after discovering the fraud. Compensation for small digital fraud losses The draft directions also propose a compensation mechanism for small digital banking frauds. Under the proposal, if an individual customer loses up to Rs 50,000 in a genuine fraudulent electronic transaction, they may receive 85 per cent of the net loss or up to Rs 25,000, whichever is lower. However, the compensation will be available only once in a customers lifetime. To qualify, the fraud must be reported to both the bank and the cyber crime portal or helpline within five days of the incident. For smaller fraud losses, most of the compensation will be paid by the RBI, with smaller contributions from the customers bank and the beneficiary bank. If the stolen money is later recovered, the compensation amount will be recalculated accordingly. First Published: March 07, 2026, 13:08 IST News business banking-finance Lost Money In Online Banking Fraud? RBI Proposes Compensation Up To Rs 25,000 From July 1 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Flipkart Layoffs 2026: Why Has E-Commerce Firm Sacked Around 500 Employees? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 14:51 IST The layoffs account for 3-4% of Flipkart's workforce, which is higher than the company's practice of letting go of 1-2% of employees in the lowest performance bracket every year. Rapid Read Flipkart Layoffs 2026. Flipkart Layoffs 2026: Flipkart, the Walmart-owned e-commerce giant, has reportedly asked around 400-500 employees to exit the company this year following its annual performance review process. According to a report by The Economic Times, the layoffs account for roughly 3-4% of Flipkarts workforce, which is higher than the companys usual practice of letting go of 1-2% of employees in the lowest performance bracket every year. Why Has Flipkart Laid Off Employees? Responding to queries, Flipkart said the move is part of its routine evaluation process. Flipkart conducts regular performance reviews aligned with clearly defined expectations. As part of this process, a small percentage of employees may transition from the organisation. We are supporting affected employees with transition support," the company said, according to Mint. Layoffs Across Teams, Hiring Continues For Senior Roles The job cuts have reportedly impacted employees across multiple departments and job levels. At the same time, the company continues to recruit senior executives as it prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO). According to a report by ANI, Flipkart has recently strengthened its leadership team with several senior appointments. These include Somnath Das as vice-president (supply chain), Digbijay Mishra as vice-president (corporate communications), Vipin Kapooria as vice-president (business finance), Yogita Shanbhag as vice-president (human resources), and Amer Hussain as vice-president (supply chain for its grocery and quick-commerce businesses). Flipkart Preparing For India IPO In December 2025, Flipkart received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal to shift its legal domicile from Singapore to India, a key step ahead of a potential domestic listing. The restructuring involved merging eight Singapore-based entities into Flipkart Internet Pvt Ltd, simplifying the groups holding structure across businesses such as fashion, health and logistics. Loss Widens Despite Revenue Growth Financial data shows that Flipkart continues to expand its business, although losses have widened. According to data from Tofler, Flipkart India reported a consolidated loss of Rs 5,189 crore in FY25, compared with Rs 4,248.3 crore in FY24. However, revenue from operations rose 17.3% to Rs 82,787.3 crore, up from Rs 70,541.9 crore a year earlier. Total expenses also increased 17.4% to Rs 88,121.4 crore, largely due to higher stock-in-trade purchases, which climbed to Rs 87,737.8 crore, compared with Rs 74,271.2 crore in the previous financial year. First Published: March 07, 2026, 14:51 IST News business economy Flipkart Layoffs 2026: Why Has E-Commerce Firm Sacked Around 500 Employees? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India's Forex Reserves Hit Record $728.5 Billion After $4.8 Billion Jump; Gold Reserves Up $4.1 Billion Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 08:19 IST India's gold reserves register a sharp rise, increasing $4.141 billion to $131.630 billion, according to the RBI data. Rapid Read India's Latest Forex Reserves. Indias Latest Forex Reserves: Indias foreign exchange reserves rose sharply to a new record during the week ended February 27, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday. The countrys forex reserves increased by $4.885 billion to $728.494 billion, marking the highest level on record. This comes after reserves had declined by $2.119 billion to $723.608 billion in the previous reporting week. The earlier all-time high stood at $725.727 billion, recorded in the week ended February 13, 2026. Foreign currency assets rise Foreign currency assets (FCAs), which form the largest component of Indias forex reserves, rose $561 million to $573.125 billion during the reporting week. These assets reflect the value of currencies such as the euro, pound sterling and Japanese yen held in the reserves. Their valuation in dollar terms also changes depending on the appreciation or depreciation of these currencies against the US dollar. Gold reserves see strong increase Indias gold reserves registered a sharp rise, increasing $4.141 billion to $131.630 billion, according to the RBI data. Meanwhile, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund increased $26 million to $18.87 billion. Indias reserve position with the IMF also improved, rising $158 million to $4.87 billion during the week. Reserves up sharply in 2025 Data shows that Indias forex reserves have increased by about $56 billion so far in 2025. In comparison, the reserves had risen by just over $20 billion in 2024, while the country had added around $58 billion in 2023. This came after a sharp decline of about $71 billion in 2022, when the RBI intervened aggressively in currency markets. RBI confident on external sector Following the latest monetary policy review last month, the RBI said Indias foreign exchange reserves are sufficient to cover more than 11 months of merchandise imports. The central bank noted that the external sector remains resilient and expressed confidence that India will be able to comfortably meet its external financing requirements. Forex reserves are assets held by a countrys central bank, mainly in reserve currencies such as the US dollar, along with smaller holdings in the euro, Japanese yen and pound sterling. The RBI uses these reserves to manage liquidity and intervene in currency markets to prevent excessive volatility in the rupee. First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:19 IST News business economy India's Forex Reserves Hit Record $728.5 Billion After $4.8 Billion Jump; Gold Reserves Up $4.1 Billion Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran War: Crude Oil Crosses $90, Jumps Over 12% As Trump Demands 'Unconditional Surrender' From Iran Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 08:38 IST Crude Oil WTI futures trade 12.2% higher at $90.90 at the time of filing this report; the benchmark has recorded its biggest weekly gain since April 2020, according to reports. Rapid Read India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirements. About two million barrels per day of this, out of 5.5 million, transits through the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil prices surged sharply after US President Donald Trump demanded what he described as unconditional surrender" from Iran, raising fears of a prolonged conflict that could disrupt global energy supplies. Crude Oil WTI futures were trading 12.2 per cent higher at $90.90 at the time of filing this report. The benchmark has recorded its biggest weekly gain since April 2020, according to reports. The spike comes amid escalating tensions in the wider West Asia region, with analysts warning that the conflict could create sustained volatility in global oil markets and eventually impact energy-importing economies such as India. Strait of Hormuz concerns push oil higher Market experts say the biggest concern for traders is the risk to oil shipments passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research at SAMCO Securities, said the ongoing conflict is likely to keep oil prices elevated. The war has significantly disrupted energy markets and heightened concerns about supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil shipping routes. Approximately 20% of global oil supply passes through this chokepoint, making it highly sensitive to geopolitical disruptions," Sheth said. Risk of largest oil supply shock According to analysts, the conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other could potentially trigger one of the biggest supply shocks in oil market history if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. Jim Burkhard, Global Head of Crude Oil Research at S&P Global Energy, said the situation has already started impacting energy infrastructure in the region. The war between the United States and Israel against Iran has the potential to be the largest oil supply disruption in history if oil flows via the narrow Strait of Hormuz remain low or come to a halt," Burkhard said. Initially, energy infrastructure had not been targeted by Iran, but that has changed with attacks on facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This adds a critical further dimension to the shock wave hitting oil and gas markets, according to a new S&P Global Energy analysis," he added. Tanker traffic through strait drops Data from S&P Global Energy Commodities at Sea also indicates that tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined. The data shows that on March 1, only five oil tankers passed through the Strait, compared with around 60 tankers per day in recent periods. The sharp fall in tanker traffic has intensified fears that prolonged disruption in the Strait could tighten global oil supplies and keep crude prices volatile in the coming weeks. Hormuz is crucial for India India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirements. About two million barrels per day of this, out of 5.5 million, transits through the Strait of Hormuz. India, the worlds third-largest oil importer and consumer, acquired about 5.5 million barrels of crude oil internationally. However, over the years, India has strategically shifted to import oil from more than 40 countries, more from Russia since 2022. Though India does not buy any oil from Iran, but Hormuz is crucial for India as 40% of oil imports still passes through this waterway between Iran and Oman. (With inputs from ANI) First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:38 IST News business economy Iran War: Crude Oil Crosses $90, Jumps Over 12% As Trump Demands 'Unconditional Surrender' From Iran Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... LPG Gets Costlier In India Amid Iran War: Domestic Cylinder Price Rises Rs 60, Commercial Gas Up Rs 115 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 08:05 IST The price of a non-subsidised domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi has now risen to Rs 913, up from Rs 853 earlier; commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi now costs Rs 1,883. Rapid Read LPG Gas Cylinder Price Hike March 2026. US-Iran-Israel War Impact on LPG Cylinder Prices in India: Cooking gas prices have been increased across the country with effect from March 7, raising the cost of both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders. The revision comes at a time when global energy markets remain volatile amid tensions in West Asia. The price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder has been increased by Rs 60, while the 19-kg commercial cylinder has become Rs 115 costlier, according to a notification by oil market companies. This marks the second increase in LPG prices in less than a year. The latest hike comes amid rising global energy costs as geopolitical tensions in West Asia continue to push up fuel prices. The last revision in domestic LPG prices came in April 2025, when rates were raised by Rs 50. Commercial LPG cylinders were last increased on January 1, 2026, when oil companies hiked the price of a 19-kg cylinder by Rs 111. City-Wise Domestic LPG Cylinder Prices According to the notification by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on March 7, 2026, the price of a non-subsidised domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi has now risen to Rs 913, up from Rs 853 earlier. Prices have also gone up in other major cities. In Mumbai, a domestic LPG cylinder now costs Rs 912.50, compared with Rs 852.50 earlier. In Kolkata, the rate has increased from Rs 879 to Rs 930, while in Chennai it has gone up from Rs 868.50 to Rs 928.50. Despite the increase, beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will continue to receive government support. Over 10 crore poor households covered under the scheme will keep getting a subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills every year. City-Wise Commercial LPG Cylinder Prices For commercial LPG cylinders used by hotels, restaurants and other businesses, prices have also been revised upward. The rate of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi has increased to Rs 1,883, compared with Rs 1,768.50 earlier. Similar revisions have been made in other major cities. In Mumbai, the price has moved up from Rs 1,720.50 to Rs 1,835. In Kolkata, the rate has climbed from Rs 1,875.50 to Rs 1,990, while in Chennai, it has risen from Rs 1,929 to Rs 2,043.50. Meanwhile, the government has sought to reassure consumers on the availability of fuel. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently said that India has sufficient energy supplies and that consumers should not worry about shortages. Our priority is to ensure the availability of affordable and sustainable fuel for our citizens, and we are doing it comfortably. There is no shortage of energy in India, and there is no cause of worry for our energy consumers," he said in a post on X. First Published: March 07, 2026, 07:45 IST News business economy LPG Gets Costlier In India Amid Iran War: Domestic Cylinder Price Rises Rs 60, Commercial Gas Up Rs 115 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... CBSE 10th Board Exams Cancelled In Middle East: How Will Results Be Prepared? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 14:47 IST CBSE Board Exams 2026: In light of the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the 10th grade board exams have been cancelled to ensure student safety. CBSE has stressed that student safety is paramount. (AI Generated Image) Due to rising tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the CBSE Board has decided to cancel the 10th grade board exams to ensure student safety. This affects students in Gulf countries who will no longer have to take these exams. Additionally, the 12th grade exams have been postponed, with a revised schedule to be announced once conditions improve. CBSE has stressed that student safety is paramount. This decision comes in response to threats of Iranian attacks in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The board faces the challenge of determining how 10th grade results will be calculated without exams, and plans to implement a unique assessment scheme to safeguard students academic progress. Different Rules for 10th and 12th Grades Class 10: The CBSE board exams scheduled for March 7th and 11th, 2026, are cancelled, including previously postponed papers, ending the board exams for Class 10 students. Class 12: Exams for senior secondary students are postponed. The March 7th exam is postponed, and a decision on the March 9th exam will be made following a review meeting on March 7th. How Will CBSE Board Results Be Prepared Without Exams? The board will soon release the result formula for 10th-grade students, likely based on marks from completed subjects and internal assessments or pre-board marks. The board aims to provide fair grading to enable students to progress to the next class. The CBSE Board has instructed schools in affected countries to maintain regular communication with students and parents. Grade 12 students are advised to continue their studies and ignore any rumours. The worsening conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel in the Middle East has created dangerous conditions, with attacks reported near residential areas in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, making travel to exam centres risky. Responding to concerns from students and parents, CBSE has made this emergency decision affecting schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. First Published: March 07, 2026, 14:47 IST News education-career CBSE 10th Board Exams Cancelled In Middle East: How Will Results Be Prepared? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modi Congratulates Successful Candidates In UPSC 2025, Encourages Those Who Didn't Make It Published By : ANI Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 14:37 IST UPSC Results 2025: PM Modi also encouraged those who didn't get the result they wanted, saying that these moments can be tough but the exam is just one step in a bigger journey. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Credits: X) Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated those who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025, praising their dedication and hard work. He wished them all the best as they start their journey serving the nation and fulfilling peoples hopes. He said, Congratulations to everyone who cleared the Civil Services Exam 2025. Your dedication and hard work have brought you to this important milestone. Best wishes as you begin serving the nation. PM Modi also encouraged those who didnt get the result they wanted, saying that these moments can be tough but the exam is just one step in a bigger journey, with many chances ahead to contribute to the country. He added, For those who didnt get the outcome they hoped for, I know it can be difficult. But this is only one step in a larger journey. There are many opportunities ahead, both in future exams and other ways to serve our nation. Best wishes for the road ahead. To those who may not have secured the desired outcome in the Civil Services Examination, I understand that such moments can be difficult. However, this is only one step in a larger journey. Many opportunities lie ahead, both in future examinations and in the many avenues through Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 6, 2026 The UPSC announced the final results for the civil services exam 2025 on Friday. Rajeshwari Suve M and Akansh Dhull secured the second and third ranks, and 958 candidates made it to the merit list. Anuj Agnihotri, who got All India Rank 1, said he was thrilled with his achievement and called it a tough journey with a positive result. Speaking to ANI, Anuj said he first attempted the exam in 2022 while interning and finally cleared it with a top rank in his third try. He had earlier become a DANICS officer and is currently training for that role. When asked about his preparation, he said he didnt track his study hours but the journey was tough. He wants to start as an SDM but aims for higher positions through continued hard work. He said, Im feeling good. I gave my first attempt for UPSC CSE in 2023. I started preparing during my internship in 2022, and now its 2026, so its been a long time. The UPSC journey takes a lot of effort. Its tough, but the final result is good, so everything feels good. First Published: March 07, 2026, 14:37 IST News education-career PM Modi Congratulates Successful Candidates In UPSC 2025, Encourages Those Who Didn't Make It Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Study Abroad: Singapore Student Visa Process, Costs, And Top Universities Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 12:52 IST After completing their degree, international students can apply for a long-term visit pass valid for one year, allowing them to stay in Singapore while seeking employment. Singapore is home to several high-ranking universities recognised globally and within Asia. (AI Generated Image) Indian students have traditionally favoured destinations such as the United States, Britain, and Canada. Recently, Singapore has become a preferred choice due to its globally ranked universities that offer diverse programmes and promising career prospects. According to the Ministry of External Affairs data presented in the Rajya Sabha, 33,250 Indian students are currently studying in Singapore. Degrees from Singapores universities are recognised worldwide by employers. Lets delve into the visa process, top universities, and essential documents. QS 2025: Top Universities In Singapore Singapore is home to several high-ranking universities recognised globally and within Asia, including: National University of Singapore (NUS) Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore Management University (SMU) Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) Lasalle College of the Arts Ngee Ann Polytechnic PSB Academy Cost Of Studying In Singapore Undergraduate course fees at public universities (NUS, NTU, SMU) range from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 18 lakh per year, while private universities charge between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 22 lakh. Postgraduate course fees at public universities range from Rs 1.2 million to Rs 2.8 million, and at private universities from Rs 2.5 million to Rs 4.5 million. Government tuition grants can reduce these fees by 30 to 50 per cent for some courses. How To Get Singapore Student Visa To study in Singapore, follow these steps for obtaining a student visa: 1. Secure admission to a Singaporean university and receive the offer letter. 2. The university initiates the application process through the Student Pass Online Application and Registration (SOLAR) system. A SOLAR application number is generated. 3. Visit the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website with your SOLAR application number, fill out Form 16, and upload the necessary documents. The visa fee is approximately Rs 1,800-Rs 2,000. 4. Within two to four weeks, you will receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which serves as your temporary student visa for entering Singapore. 5. Upon arrival, go to the ICA office for biometric and medical checks (if required) and make the final fee payment. You will then receive your Student Pass Card. Documents Required For Student Visa Passport Offer Letter 10+2 / Graduation Marksheet Bank Statement (safe to show up to Rs 2030 lakh) Passport Size Photo IELTS/English Proof (if required) Medical Report (if required) Job Opportunities While Studying International students at certain higher education institutions in Singapore can work part-time for up to 16 hours per week during term time. No work permit is required during holidays. Check the Ministry of Manpowers official website to confirm if your institution allows this. After completing their degree, international students can apply for a long-term visit pass valid for one year through the ICA, allowing them to stay in Singapore while seeking employment. Employers typically handle this application process on the students behalf. First Published: March 07, 2026, 12:52 IST News education-career Study Abroad: Singapore Student Visa Process, Costs, And Top Universities Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UPSC Result 2025: Visually Impaired Ravi Raj Secures AIR 20, Says Lectures On YouTube Helped Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 10:42 IST UPSC Success Story: Ravi Raj's success demonstrates that with passion for learning, neither resources nor physical disabilities can stand in the way. Ravi Raj attributes his success to his mother, Vibha Sinha, who became his eyes. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the final results of the Civil Services Examination 2025. These results have unveiled numerous stories of perseverance, with the success of Ravi Raj, from Nawada district in Bihar, standing out. Ravi Raj secured All India Rank 20 (AIR 20). Despite being visually impaired, he had previously secured the 182nd rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. Earlier, in November 2024, Ravi Raj also passed the 69th Civil Services Examination of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), earning a position as a Revenue Officer. After passing the BPSC exam, the then District Magistrate, Ravi Prakash, honoured him. However, Ravi did not take up the job, as his dream was to become an IAS officer. Despite failing the UPSC exam three times, he persevered and succeeded on his fourth attempt. On his fifth attempt, he secured a top-20 rank. Ravis journey took a significant turn in his childhood when he lost his eyesight due to an illness. For his farming family in a small village, this was a devastating blow. However, while others saw darkness in his future, his mother, Vibha Sinha, was determined to keep the light of her sons dreams burning. Ravi Raj attributes his success to his mother, Vibha Sinha, who became his eyes. A homemaker, she worked tirelessly to support her sons ambitions to become an IAS officer. She spent hours reading thick books to him and making notes for him to memorize. Together, they conquered the vast syllabus. Ravi credits 90 per cent of his success to his mother, who never let him feel different from others. UPSC Preparation Strategy Ravi Rajs study routine was unique and disciplined. He studied at home for 8 to 10 hours daily, utilising modern technology despite his poor eyesight. He regularly listened to Khan Sirs lectures on YouTube, which helped him understand complex concepts. Ravis success demonstrates that with passion for learning, neither resources nor physical disabilities can stand in the way. Ravi Rajs father, Ranjan Kumar Sinha, a simple farmer, always supported his sons education despite their limited income. When the results were posted on the official UPSC website and Ravis name appeared at number 20, the entire village of Mahuli erupted in celebration. Father Ranjan Sinhas eyes filled with tears of joy. My son has brought glory to Nawada across the country. The fruits of his hard work and his mothers sacrifice are visible to everyone today," he told News18 Hindi. Ravi Raj will now join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). His achievement serves as an inspiration to millions who fear small obstacles. Ravis story exemplifies that determination and family support can overcome any challenge. This son of Nawada will now contribute to the nation through policymaking. First Published: March 07, 2026, 10:42 IST News education-career UPSC Result 2025: Visually Impaired Ravi Raj Secures AIR 20, Says Lectures On YouTube Helped Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department could announce measures as soon as Thursday to address rising energy prices, potentially including action in the oil futures market, a senior White House official said. Global oil prices have jumped since the war with Iran started on Saturday, as the spreading conflict disrupts Middle East supplies. [O/R] JOHN PAISIE, PRESIDENT OF STRATAS ADVISORS "It could dampen speculation with traders knowing that the U.S. government is taking the opposite side - which should moderate the spike in oil prices - but it does not solve the disruption to physical supply, which is significant with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and there is no spare capacity outside of the Gulf. "Ultimately, if substantial oil volumes are kept off the market, financial manipulation is not going to work. Traders will continue betting on the oil price going higher - because the price should be higher." PHIL FLYNN, SENIOR ANALYST WITH PRICE FUTURES GROUP "This is a very novel, think-outside-the-box move. Instead of using physical barrels to try to ease market concerns you can use futures to sell the front end of the curve and buy the back end. "The Treasury's traditional role focuses on fiscal policy, debt management, and occasional interventions in currency markets through mechanisms like the Exchange Stabilization Fund, but not in commodities like oil." TONY SYCAMORE, IG MARKET ANALYST "If they go ahead and try to influence futures contracts themselves (deliverable futures contracts at that), it might create a short-term pause or spook some speculative longs, but I'd be surprised if it moves the needle meaningfully beyond a day or two. "The oil market is deep, global, and driven by real supply/demand fundamentals - especially with tanker traffic already choked in the Strait and trying to avoid the genuine threat of Iranian drone and other strikes. A bit of Treasury jawboning or symbolic action is unlikely to unlock or change that." ED MEIR, MAREX ANALYST "I'm not sure what they have in mind, but if they intend to sell futures to bring prices lower, this is a big gamble and will also be an unprecedented interference in the crude oil markets. "The question that comes immediately to mind is what happens if prices continue to move higher and go against a potential Treasury short position? Will they use the SPR oil to deliver against their short or just continue to post margin and ride out their position?" (Reporting by Anushree Mukherjee and Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Nia Williams) WBJEE 2026 Notification Released: Application Begins March 10, Check Exam Schedule Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 11:29 IST WBJEE 2026: Candidates must note that the detailed notification and information brochure will be released on March 10 along with the application forms. Applications will start on March 10. The last date to register and pay the fee is April 5. (AI Generated Image) The WBJEE or the West Bengal Joint Entrance Board has released the schedule for the 2026 engineering examination in the state. Applications for WBJEE 2026 will start on March 10. The last date to register and pay the fee is April 5. Applicants will have the chance to correct their forms from April 7 to April 9. Admit cards will be available on the website beginning May 15. The engineering entrance exam is set for May 24. Those interested and eligible will be able to apply for the exams on the official website at wbjeeb.nic.in. According to the WB Joint Entrance Board, the Mathematics exam will be from 11 am to 1 pm, and the Physics and Chemistry exams will be from 2 pm to 4 pm. The result publication date will be announced later. WBJEE Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be citizens of India or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), subject to approval by the Competent Authority. OCI candidates are eligible only for unreserved seats under the All-India quota. Educational Qualification: Candidates should have completed Class 12 (10+2) or an equivalent examination before 2026, or be appearing for the same in 2026. Age Limit: The minimum age requirement is 17 years as of December 31, 2026. Candidates must have been born on or before December 12, 2009. There is no upper age limit for most courses, except for the Marine Engineering course, where the upper age limit is 25 years. Candidates must note that the detailed notification and information brochure will be released on March 10 along with the application forms. It will contain the eligibility criteria in detail. WBJEE Application Fees Application fee charges vary across different categories and genders. In WBJEE last year, the fee was Rs 500 for males in general category, Rs 400 for females, and Rs 300 for third gender applicants. For SC, ST, OBC-A, OBC-B, EWS, and PwD categories, males were required to pay Rs 400, females Rs 300, and third gender applicants Rs 200. First Published: March 07, 2026, 11:28 IST News education-career WBJEE 2026 Notification Released: Application Begins March 10, Check Exam Schedule Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Claude AI In Action: How Anthropic's Tool Helped US Strike 1,000 Targets In Iran In 24 Hours Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 11:01 IST Embedded in the Pentagons Maven Smart System, the AI synthesises intelligence across multiple sources, flagging patterns, ranking potential threats & simulating battle scenarios Rapid Read Claude helps compress the so-called kill chain---the timeline from detecting a target to executing a strike---from days to mere hours. (AFP) If you thought conflicts in 2026 were all about rockets, missiles, and boots on the ground, think again. When the United States and Israel launched operations targeting Iranian infrastructure this year, not men but a surprising tool moved to the forefront of combat strategy: Anthropics Claude AI. Originally designed as a large language model for general-purpose tasks, Claude has been adapted to military intelligence workflows and is helping commanders digest massive streams of data, prioritise targets, and speed critical decisions. From Intelligence Overload To Action One of the most striking examples of AIs influence came during the opening phase of the Iran campaign, where US and Israeli forces reportedly identified and prioritised roughly 1,000 strike targets within the first 24 hours of operations. It is no secret that modern conflicts generate staggering volumes of data: satellite imagery, drone footage, signals intercepts, and battlefield reports. Human analysts alone cannot process this flood in real time. Enter Claude. Embedded in the Pentagons Maven Smart System, the AI scans and synthesises intelligence across multiple sources, flagging patterns, ranking potential threats, and simulating battle scenarios. According to The Guardian, Claude helps compress the so-called kill chain"the timeline from detecting a target to executing a strikefrom days to mere hours. This ability to process information faster than humans can perceive has earned AI-assisted operations the description faster than the speed of thought". Real-Time Decision Support While Claude does not replace human decision-making, its recommendations shape operational strategy by highlighting high-priority targets based on predictive models, simulating potential outcomes of strikes and troop movements, and aggregating disparate intelligence to produce actionable insights within minutes. Its influence was so critical that Claude remained embedded in military workflows even amid political tension and restrictions. Not Only Claude Claude is the most high-profile example, but other AI tools are also shaping modern combat. For instance, data fusion and intelligence analysis helps integrate satellite imagery, drone feeds, and signal intercepts. Predictive modelling helps forecast enemy movements or escalation patterns, while operational simulations create virtual battle labs" that allow rapid testing of scenarios before committing resources. Together, these systems illustrate a future where AI is central not just to planning, but to the speed and execution of war itself. AI At The Speed Of War Claudes deployment illustrates a paradigm shift in warfare: machines now accelerate every step of the decision-making cycle. Experts call this decision compression"reducing what used to take days of human analysis to hours or minutes. While this leads to faster, more precise operations, it raises serious questions. Rapid AI-driven recommendations risk turning humans into rubber stamps," approving decisions without full deliberation, according to Nature. Claude Amid Politics: Anthropic vs Trump Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, has often been at loggerheads with US President Donald Trump. Despite Anthropics AI tools being deployed in support of US military operations in Iran, tensions have escalated between the companys CEO, Dario Amodei, and the Trump administration. According to The Washington Post, just hours before the Iranian bombing campaign commenced, Trump declared that federal agencies would be barred from using Anthropics technology, giving them six months to transition away from the systems. The decision follows a contentious dispute between the company and the Pentagon over the use of its tools in large-scale domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. The Pentagons chief technology officer also designated Anthropic a supplychain risk, effectively cutting off future defence contracts unless these ethical restrictions were lifted. Yet despite the ban and political pressure, Claude remained embedded in classified military systems, and military forces continued to use the AI platform in the Iran campaign, illustrating the significance of the tool. The Bottom Line Claudes deployment in the Iran conflict demonstrates how AI can compress intelligence, guide strategy, and shape operational decisions in near real-time. As AI becomes more embedded in warfare, governments and militaries face a critical challenge: balancing technological efficiency with ethics, accountability, and human oversight. The Iran campaign is a glimpse of a future where AI and human decision-making are inseparably entwined on the battlefield and where political disputes, like those between Trump and Anthropic, can intersect with high-stakes operational realities. First Published: March 07, 2026, 10:57 IST News explainers Claude AI In Action: How Anthropic's Tool Helped US Strike 1,000 Targets In Iran In 24 Hours Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Is Rising Male Infertility Pushing Urban Women To Freeze Their Eggs In Their 20s? Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 11:08 IST Many women are taking greater control of their reproductive timelines. Increasing numbers of women in their late 20s and early 30s are now exploring the egg freezing procedure Rapid Read Despite rising cases of male infertility, men are often not the first to be tested when couples face fertility challenges. In many cases, women undergo extensive medical evaluations. (Getty Images) For decades, conversations about fertility have revolved around women, their biological clock, age-related fertility decline, and the pressure to have children before their 30s. But doctors and researchers are increasingly warning that the fertility crisis may not be just about women. Men may be equally part of the equation. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests male infertility is rising worldwide. As awareness spreads, many women, particularly in cities, are taking greater control of their reproductive timelines. One noticeable outcome is the rising interest in egg freezing, sometimes referred to as fertility insurance". This raises an important question, especially in the context of International Womens Day: Are women freezing their eggs earlier not only because of career choices or delayed marriage, but also because male fertility is becoming less predictable? Changing Conversations Around Fertility Until recently, egg freezing was largely associated with women who wanted to delay motherhood for professional or personal reasons. Many fertility clinics report that women typically consider the option in their mid-30s, when the natural decline in fertility becomes more pronounced. However, fertility specialists say the profile of women choosing egg freezing is gradually changing. Increasing numbers of women in their late 20s and early 30s are now exploring the procedure. Many say they want greater control over their reproductive choices, especially in a world where relationships, careers, and marriage timelines are shifting. Awareness around fertility and age has grown significantly in recent years. Many women are now more informed about how egg quality and egg numbers gradually decline over time, with a more noticeable change after the mid-30s. At the same time, personal and professional timelines do not always align with biological fertility patterns. Egg freezing allows eggs to be preserved at a younger age for potential use in the future. In clinics across major cities, it is increasingly common to see women from professional backgrounds considering this option earlier," said Dr Shivika Gupta, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Gurugram. Over the past decade, egg freezing has surged worldwide, with cases rising by nearly 60%. The trend is particularly pronounced in the US, where egg-freezing cycles are growing by about 20% each year. India is also witnessing a rapid shift. According to Forbes India, inquiries about egg freezing have increased nearly five-fold in metro cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru over the past five years. Fertility clinics in Delhi say that while earlier only one or two women opted for the procedure in a year, they now see around five to six women choosing egg freezing every month. Globally, infertility affects roughly one in six people, according to the World Health Organization. While female fertility decline with age is well documented, male fertility is now emerging as a parallel concern. How Males Add To The Infertility Crisis Male factors contribute to around half of all infertility cases worldwide, yet they remain far less discussed. In many countries, including India, infertility has historically been perceived as a womans problem," even though medical evidence shows that both partners can contribute equally. There has been a clear shift in how fertility is evaluated today. In the past, many couples arrived with investigations focused mainly on the woman. Increasingly, semen analysis is now recommended early as part of the initial assessment. This reflects what medical evidence has long shown. Male factors are involved in 40% to 50% of infertility cases globally. Sperm health plays an important role in fertilisation, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes. When both partners are evaluated at the beginning, clinicians are able to identify contributing factors earlier and guide treatment more appropriately," stressed Dr Gupta. Research over the past decade has revealed worrying trends in male reproductive health. According to a study published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction Update, which analysed data from 53 countries, the average sperm concentration declined by 1.16% each year from 1973 to 2018, increasing to 2.64% per year post-2000, with an overall reduction of 51.6%. This suggests that average global sperm counts have halved in just under 50 years. Experts point to factors such as pollution, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and rising stress levels. Heat exposure from prolonged laptop use or tight clothing has also been discussed as a possible contributor. In India, doctors say they are seeing more cases of male infertility than before. A research paper titled Lifestyle and hormonal factors affecting semen quality and sperm DNA integrity: A cross-sectional study published in October 2025 showed that nearly half of the 278 Indian male participants aged 21 to 50 showed abnormal semen parameters. While older age did not reduce semen volume or motility, men over 40 had higher levels of sperm DNA fragmentation, a key marker of genetic damage and reduced fertility potential. In this study, Saniya Imtiyaz Chamanmalik, Rajendra B Nerli, and Pankaja Umarane from KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research and Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre discovered that some lifestyle choices and hormone changes can significantly impact mens reproductive health. Despite this, men are often not the first to be tested when couples face fertility challenges. In many cases, women undergo extensive medical evaluations before male fertility tests are even considered. Dr Gupta explains, Male infertility is also often asymptomatic. Unlike some female reproductive conditions, it rarely presents with obvious signs. As a result, concerns such as low sperm count, reduced motility or abnormal morphology may only become apparent once testing is carried out. There can also be hesitation around male fertility testing because of social stigma or discomfort. However, sperm production reflects several aspects of health, including hormonal balance, metabolic health, lifestyle factors, and age. Evaluating both partners early allows fertility care to be approached more comprehensively." Why Are Women Freezing Eggs Early? Studies show womens fertility naturally declines with age, particularly after 30. By the late 30s, both egg quality and quantity begin to fall sharply. Freezing eggs at a younger age helps preserve healthier eggs that can be used later for pregnancy through assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF. Doctors say egg freezing tends to work best when performed before the age of 35. Eggs frozen earlier have a higher chance of a successful pregnancy later. Urban lifestyle patterns also play a major role. Late marriage, career ambitions, and financial independence among women have been major factors in lower childbirth or fertility rates. For many, egg freezing provides flexibility while they focus on education, work, or finding the right partner. Preventive fertility consultations are becoming increasingly common. Many women in their late 20s and early 30s now seek fertility assessments even when they are not actively trying to conceive. These consultations may include ovarian reserve testing, menstrual health evaluation and screening for conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders. Early identification allows appropriate medical advice and timely management where needed," Dr Gupta points out. But alongside these social factors, fertility specialists say awareness of male infertility is quietly influencing decision-making. Some women worry that even if they preserve their own fertility, future partners may face fertility challenges. The Science Behind Egg Freezing Egg freezing, medically known as oocyte cryopreservation, involves retrieving eggs from a womans ovaries, freezing them at extremely low temperatures, and storing them for future use. Egg freezing involves a structured medical process, said Dr Gupta. The ovaries are stimulated with hormonal medication for around 10 to 12 days so that multiple eggs mature in a single cycle. These eggs are then retrieved through a short procedure carried out under sedation. The mature eggs are frozen using a technique known as vitrification, which rapidly preserves the egg structure. At a later stage, the eggs can be thawed, fertilised through IVF and transferred as embryos. Outcomes depend largely on the age at which the eggs are frozen and the number of eggs preserved. Eggs frozen at a younger age generally have higher developmental potential. Fertility centres in India follow vitrification techniques and laboratory protocols that are consistent with international standards," she explains. While egg freezing does not guarantee pregnancy, it significantly improves the chances compared with attempting conception later in life with ageing eggs. In India, the procedure has become more accessible over the past decade. The cost of one egg freezing cycle typically ranges from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, excluding annual storage fees. The average IVF success rate in India is between 30% and 55% per cycle. Each IVF cycle carries a chance of pregnancy. But success in the first attempt is not guaranteed. What This Means For The Future Of Parenthood The growing interest in egg freezing reflects broader changes in how people approach family planning. For many women, the procedure offers a sense of control in an uncertain reproductive landscape. It allows them to focus on career growth, financial stability, or finding the right partner without feeling constrained by immediate biological deadlines. Dr Gupta says women above the age of 35 may still consider egg freezing. The key is to approach the decision with appropriate medical guidance. Both egg quantity and egg quality decline with age. For this reason, women in their late 30s may require more than one cycle to store a sufficient number of eggs. Investigations such as anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels and antral follicle count help assess ovarian reserve and inform these discussions. Other factors include general health, how long pregnancy may be delayed and individual reproductive plans. Even after 35, egg freezing can offer additional reproductive flexibility in certain circumstances," she adds. At the same time, rising concerns about male fertility are adding a new dimension to the conversation. Experts say the future of fertility discussions will likely involve greater awareness of both male and female reproductive health. Couples may increasingly approach fertility planning as a shared responsibility rather than a burden carried primarily by women. First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:30 IST News explainers Is Rising Male Infertility Pushing Urban Women To Freeze Their Eggs In Their 20s? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Nepal And Bangladesh Political Upheaval: How Indias Neighbourhood First Policy Faces A New Reality Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 21:50 IST The rise of a rapper-engineer in Kathmandu and the return of a once-exiled nationalist in Dhaka represent the most significant test of India's policy Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman (L) and Nepal's Balen Shah. Images/X In early March 2026, Indias Neighbourhood First" policy is navigating a geopolitical minefield. Within just 30 days, both Nepal and Bangladesh have undergone seismic regime changes, sweeping away the Old Guard" allies New Delhi had relied on for over a decade. The rise of a rapper-engineer in Kathmandu and the return of a once-exiled nationalist in Dhaka represent the most significant test of Indian diplomacy since the policy was conceived in 2014. The Gen Z Landslide in Nepal On March 7, Nepals general election results confirmed a staggering victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by the 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra (Balen) Shah. Shattering the 30-year dominance of the Nepali Congress and the Communists, Shahs party secured a landslide by tapping into the frustrations of a young, tech-savvy electorate that rose to prominence during the 2025 student protests. For New Delhi, Shah is an enigma. While he has previously expressed scepticism regarding Indias regional influence, his election manifesto notably omitted major China-backed BRI" projects near the sensitive Siliguri Corridor. This suggests a Nepal First" pragmatism that may avoid the pro-China tilt of the previous regime but will likely demand a more equal, less Big Brother" relationship with India. The Dhaka Reset and Tarique Rahman Simultaneously, Bangladesh has completed its transition from the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina to a government led by Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). After winning a decisive mandate in February 2026, the BNPs return marks the end of an era of political intimacy" between New Delhi and the Awami League. However, the predicted anti-India" explosion has been replaced by a cautious Bangladesh Before All" strategy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Rahman, signalling a swift pivot from palace diplomacy" to statecraft". The challenge now lies in managing a parliament where Jamaat-e-Islamitraditionally viewed as pro-Pakistanserves as the principal opposition for the first time. India must now ensure that its critical connectivity and energy projects, such as the tripartite power trade involving Nepal, remain safe from shifting political winds. Navigating the Security vs Sentiment Gap The dual regime change has exposed the primary flaw in Indias old strategy: over-reliance on individual leaders. In both Dhaka and Kathmandu, the new leadership is driven by a Gen Z" electorate that views India through a lens of sovereignty rather than shared history. New Delhis Neighbourhood First 2.0 is now forced to adapt: Infrastructure over Ideology: India is doubling down on hard" connectivity (railways, pipelines, and electricity grids) that serves the national interests of its neighbours, regardless of who is in power. Non-Reciprocal Diplomacy: Following the Gujral Doctrine principles, India is increasingly offering asymmetric concessions" to prove it is a reliable utility provider rather than a political kingmaker. The China Factor: While Beijing continues to offer mega-loans, both Shah and Rahman appear wary of debt-trap" scenarios, giving India a narrow window to out-implement" its rival through faster project delivery. The Verdict Indias periphery is no longer a circle of predictable allies but a collection of assertive, youthful democracies. While the Neighbourhood First" policy is indeed facing its biggest test, the pragmatism shown by the new governments in Kathmandu and Dhaka suggests that mutual economic dependency may eventually outweigh historical friction. The test for 2026 is whether New Delhi can move from being a security provider" to a prosperity partner". First Published: March 07, 2026, 21:50 IST News explainers Nepal And Bangladesh Political Upheaval: How Indias Neighbourhood First Policy Faces A New Reality Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 500 Maharashtrian Tourists Return From Dubai As MahaHelpline Steps In Amid Flight Disruptions Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 00:52 IST Recognised by the Maharashtra government, the IPF MahaHelpline (+971 50 365 4357) is being run by a network of over 20 volunteers across five UAE cities, operating round the clock Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with the team managing the helpline as well as officials at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Image/News18 More than 1,200 tourists from Maharashtra found themselves stranded in Dubai after sudden disruptions in air travel triggered by the West Asia war. As flights were cancelled and uncertainty grew, a community-driven initiativeIPF MahaHelplinequickly turned into a crucial support system for worried travellers far from home. Within just a few days, the helpline has already helped over 500 tourists return safely to India, while hundreds more are being assisted with travel arrangements, accommodation, food, and medical support. The helpline, launched earlier to support the Marathi diaspora in the UAE, has now been activated as an emergency assistance channel for stranded tourists. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with the team managing the helpline as well as officials at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. US-Israel-Iran War Live According to Rahul Tulpule, who is leading the initiative from Dubai, the helpline received more than 1,200 requests for assistance within just 24 hours of its activation. The scale of distress calls highlighted how abruptly travel plans had been disrupted for tourists visiting the UAE. Recognised by the Maharashtra government, the IPF MahaHelpline (+971 50 365 4357) is being run by a network of over 20 volunteers across five UAE cities, operating round the clock. Volunteers are helping stranded travellers extend hotel bookings, arrange temporary accommodation, provide food and medicines, and coordinate with authorities to ensure passengers get seats on the earliest available flights. A separate medical support team has also been mobilised to help tourists access doctors and prescriptions so that ongoing treatments are not interrupted during the unexpected delay. The helpline team is also working closely with the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Dubai, sharing verified updates with stranded travellers through coordinated WhatsApp groups to prevent confusion and misinformation. Between March 2 and 6, many tourists managed to return to India via flights departing from Dubai and alternate hubs such as Muscat in Oman, taking the total number of safe returns past 500. With flight operations slowly stabilising, the helpline team is now coordinating with airlines, charter operators, and the Indian Consulate to prioritise stranded passengers. Authorities in Maharashtra are also keeping a close watch, ensuring that every possible effort is made to bring the remaining tourists home safely in the coming days. First Published: March 08, 2026, 00:52 IST News india 500 Maharashtrian Tourists Return From Dubai As MahaHelpline Steps In Amid Flight Disruptions Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Air India, IndiGo Resume Limited Flights To Gulf To Evacuate Stranded Passengers Amid Iran War Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 12:45 IST Air travel between India and Gulf nations resumes with limited flights. Image for representation Air travel between India and the Gulf nations is resuming, with flight services starting with limited operations across multiple airports in West Asia. Several airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, announced limited Middle East flights on March 7. Qatar Airways has kept flight operations suspended amid the raging hostilities. The disruption follows widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures in the wake of coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. Airports in cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have partially reopened. Following this, airlines have introduced a limited number of flights to evacuate stranded passengers and provide for essential connectivity. Air India Announces 50 Flight Services Air India and Air India Express have announced 50 flight services, connecting India with several cities across West Asia. These include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Jeddah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. The list includes both scheduled and additional flights, which are meant to evacuate passengers stranded in West Asia amid the hostilities. To support guests stranded in the region, both airlines are operating additional non-scheduled commercial flights on 7 March with necessary clearances from Indian and local authorities", the airline said in a statement. IndiGo Announces Extra Flights With the partial reopening of airspaces across the Middle East, IndiGo has announced a restricted resumption of flights to the region. The airline said it has planned a limited schedule, while keeping an eye on the evolving situation in the region. Qatar Airways Keep Services Suspended Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended scheduled flights amid the closure of the Qatari airspace. So far, thousands of flights have been cancelled since the start of the war, with the aviation sector plunging into a widespread disruption. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran amid Tehrans stalled nuclear programme. In retaliation, Iran targeted the Gulf nations, hosting the U.S. and Israeli military facilities. First Published: March 07, 2026, 12:45 IST News india Air India, IndiGo Resume Limited Flights To Gulf To Evacuate Stranded Passengers Amid Iran War Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Celebration Turned Into Tragedy: IAF Pilot Killed In Su-30 Crash Was Soon To Get Married Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 08:37 IST Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht, soon to be married, died in a Su-30 MKI crash in Assam. His family, unaware, was preparing for his wedding. Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht (Image credit: X/@IAF_MCC) Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht was soon to get married. Like many Indian families, his family was busy preparing for their sons big day. Then came a call that turned their whole world upside down. On the other end of the call was an Indian Air Force (IAF) official who informed Anujs family that he was killed in the Su-30 MKI crash in Assams Karbi Anglong district. Soon after they received the information, some members left for Assam, according to Chandra Prakash, a relative of the family, as quoted by news agency PTI. Anujs mother, meanwhile, has been kept in oblivion about her sons death. She has been told that her son sustained injuries in the crash, said the relative. According to the report, Anuj was a native of Haryanas Bhiwani district. He is survived by his parents Subedar (retd) Anand Prakash and Anita Devi and a younger brother. Anuj completed his early education from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sector 14, Gurugram, and subsequently joined the Indian Air Force. His family was preparing for his wedding and his fiance is also a pilot," Prakash said. Su-30 MKI Crash In a post on X, the IAF confirmed the deaths of Anuj Vashisht and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar on Friday. The Su-30 MKI was on a training mission. Soon after taking off from Jorhat airbase, it went missing and disappeared from the radar. It crashed in a remote hilly area. Locals reported having heard loud explosion and seen a plume of smoke rising from the site. Rajnath Singh Pays Tribute Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over the incident and paid condolences to the families of the pilots who were killed in the jet crash. Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude," he wrote in a post on X. Location : Assam, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:31 IST News india Celebration Turned Into Tragedy: IAF Pilot Killed In Su-30 Crash Was Soon To Get Married Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Acquitted In Journalist Murder Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 10:43 IST The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder case of journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati. Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. (PTI/File) The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder case of journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati. Chhatrapati was shot at point-blank range at his residence on October 24, 2002. The attack occurred months after his newspaper published an anonymous letter alleging that women who joined the dera as sadhvis were sexually harassed and raped by the dera chief. On January 17, 2019, a special CBI court in Panchkula sentenced Ram Rahim and three others to life imprisonment and fined them Rs 50,000. The Dera chief and the co-accused challenged the verdict later that year, arguing that they had been falsely implicated in the case. Ram Rahim is currently serving a 20-year jail term in two rape cases dating back to 2017 and is lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Haryana. In May 2024, however, the high court acquitted him in the 2002 murder case of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh. He has also been named in several FIRs related to the 2015 sacrilege incidents in Punjab, which are still under investigation. Location : Punjab, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 10:35 IST News india Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Acquitted In Journalist Murder Case Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Flight Status, March 7: Gulf Flights Halted Amid War; IndiGo, Air India Among 183 Affected, Repatriation Specials On Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 12:45 IST Indian carriers are among those hit hard, which has left travellers scrambling amid the Gulf airspace closures. Rapid Read The escalating tensions have prompted the airlines to reschedule or suspend flights. (representation Image) Air travel across the Middle East continues to be thrown into disarray as the escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran disrupts skies over key Gulf hubs. Since February 28, airports in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain have witnessed mass cancellations, which have affected thousands of passengers. The escalating tensions have prompted the airlines to reschedule or suspend flights. Indian carriers are among those hit hard which has left travellers scrambling amid the Gulf airspace closures. Most of the flights towards these routes have been cancelled. At the same time, airlines are also offering waivers and repatriation flights. Air India Express Adds Special Routes To India Air India Express has cancelled select international flights amid ongoing disruptions in the Gulf airspace. But it is also operating additional services to help passengers reach India safely. The airline has resumed all scheduled flights between Muscat and India, along with select routes from Jeddah. In addition, it is running extra flights connecting Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to India. Travellers are advised to check the airlines website or contact customer care for updated schedules and to avail refunds or rescheduling options. In addition to the resumption of all Air India Express scheduled operations between Muscat & India, along with select routes from Jeddah, we are also operating additional flights connecting Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to India. For flight status or any pic.twitter.com/5F3yvR5y72 Air India Express (@AirIndiaX) March 6, 2026 IndiGo Cancels Over 140 International Flights IndiGo is cancelling more than 140 international flights on March 7. The airline is offering full waivers and refunds for affected passengers. Travel Advisory As the situation in Middle East remains volatile, IndiGo extends free waivers on cancellations up till the 31st of March 2026. Despite cancellations, IndiGo continues to operate select repatriation flights to the UAE. Limited services are also running to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah and Sharjah, which depend on prevailing safety conditions and regulatory approvals." The airline had recently started flights to Athens, Muscat, Jeddah and Madinah, but the current conflict has forced operational adjustments. Travel Advisory As situation continues to be volatile in and around the Middle East, we understand that many customers are still waiting to reach the places and the people that matter most to them. Over the past few days, our flights have helped reunite many with their loved pic.twitter.com/PuFFmSemXA IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 6, 2026 Air India Operates Limited Flights Amid Middle East Airspace Restrictions Air India continues to operate flights on March 7, although disruptions persist due to ongoing airspace restrictions in the Middle East. The airline is running special, limited flights to major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Sharjah and Jeddah, with some schedules modified to ensure passenger safety amid the regional volatility. Priority is being given to repatriation services. Meanwhile, long-haul flights to Europe and North America are generally operating normally, though certain services may follow alternative routes to avoid restricted airspace. #ImportantUpdate Air India and Air India Express continue to operate scheduled flights to/from Jeddah and Muscat assessed safe for operations. Additional non-scheduled flights have been planned to operate to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah on 7 Air India (@airindia) March 6, 2026 Major Indian Airports See Flight Disruptions Amid Middle East Tensions The ongoing conflict in West Asia has heavily affected operations at several major Indian airports. At Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, 33 flights were cancelled on Friday due to airspace restrictions. Similarly, at Kolkata, flights to the Gulf were suspended after overnight strikes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai forced airlines to prioritise passenger safety even after a FlyDubai flight had landed briefly on Thursday. Passengers have been directly impacted by these disruptions. Pradeep Reddy, who had planned to fly to Dubai to be with his daughter, told Deccan Herald: My daughter is studying there, and she is only 19. We wanted her to come to India amidst all the chaos, but she is not able to since she has exams. So, I decided that I would go to Dubai to be with her. We did not want her to be scared and alone." Meanwhile, at Mangaluru International Airport, Air India Express cancelled all scheduled international flights on March 7. Gulf Route Chaos Forces Travellers To Seek Alternatives According to Times Of India citing airline officials, the usual consistency and predictability of Gulf carriers has completely broken down due to the ongoing crisis. Many travellers heading to Europe, who would normally transit through Gulf hubs, are now booking direct flights on carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa and KLM to avoid the disrupted routes. Similarly, passengers traveling to US are opting for flights via Southeast Asia on Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines as the Gulf airspace remains unstable. But situation worsened for these carriers as well after a drone strike on Azerbaijan early Friday. Ticket Prices Soar Amid Scarcity The disruption has also caused a spike in airfare. Even as Gulf flights remain suspended, tickets are being sold at six to seven times the usual price, Times Of India reported. Travel agents attribute the surge to restricted airspace, large-scale cancellations and limited seat availability on international routes. Middle East-based carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad, continue to operate only a few special flights due to airspace closure. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 12:02 IST News india Flight Status, March 7: Gulf Flights Halted Amid War; IndiGo, Air India Among 183 Affected, Repatriation Specials On Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Indian Ocean Is More Than Other Regions: Jaishankar Calls For Recognition Of Rebuilding Process Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 13:05 IST He emphasised that restoring trade routes and strengthening connectivity across the region are key elements of this rebuilding effort. Rapid Read Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (PTI/File) Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday highlighted the importance of the Indian Ocean Region, saying the region is undergoing a broader process of recovery and rebuilding that requires sustained diplomatic efforts and cooperation among states. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Jaishankar said, Indian Ocean Region is an ecosystemIndian Ocean, much more than other parts of the world, is in the process of recovery and rebuilding. Individual states are doing that, but the whole region as a whole, restoration of trade patterns, connectivityThis whole rebuilding process of the Indian Ocean needs to be recognised A lot of this requires hard work. In the last decade, Indian diplomacy has invested a lot in this process" He emphasised that restoring trade routes and strengthening connectivity across the region are key elements of this rebuilding effort. The external minister noted that India has significantly expanded its diplomatic engagement in the region over the past decade to support stability, economic cooperation and regional integration. If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or identity, it has to be backed up with resources, work, commitments, practical projects There are different dimensions of how you build the Indian Ocean On why the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country we are right in the middle of it With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean stand to benefit. Those who work with us will get more benefits The rise of India will be determined by India It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others," he added. The minister also urged greater attention to the safety of merchant ships operating in waters that could become zones of conflict. Indians are a large segment of people who man merchant ships. Every time there is an attack on a vessel carrying goods, it is very likely that a part of the vessel is manned by Indians," he said. He added that the issue deserved serious attention, noting recent casualties. We should give a lot of weight to this because we have had fatalities in the last few days," he said. There has got to be adequate recognition in the country about the interest of our people, the merchant mariners and what we could be doing to safeguard them," the minister said. He further noted that Indias response to regional crises is shaped by the large number of Indians living in the Gulf. Our approach to the crisis is driven by the fact that we have 9-10 million people living in the Gulf. Their well-being is a factor just as much as that of merchant shipping has to be," he said. Countries have their own interests, their economic or energy concerns, and, naturally, our policies will take all of that into account," he added, stressing that the concerns of the merchant marine sector had not received adequate attention. I felt the merchant marine part has not got the prominence," he said. First Published: March 07, 2026, 13:05 IST News india Indian Ocean Is More Than Other Regions: Jaishankar Calls For Recognition Of Rebuilding Process Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Arun examined the issue of GPU depreciation in a November paper for CPI , in which he wrote that neocloud companies like CoreWeave, which often provide GPU capacity to hyperscalers like Google, are disproportionately exposed to the risk of falling asset values but this risk is a threat to the whole sector. This is a business model that hasn't exactly proved it can generate revenue or have a stable core to its demand, he added. It's still not exactly clear what you could do with [data center] assets in, like, a dark GPU situation, Arun said. With fiber optic, the Internet was still a thing, and it was the infrastructure on which you could build newer websites or new service models. But it's not really clear what the future of the inference services industry looks like, simply because we have all of these competing companies with fairly identical services. However, the legacy of that crash millions of miles of abandoned fiber-optic cable, or dark fiber, later tapped to power data-intensive applications like AI has no good analogue to the current moment, said Advait Arun, senior associate for energy finance at the nonprofit Center for Public Enterprise. Many have compared the possibility of an AI bubble to the dot-com bubble that burst around the year 2000. The load profile of these AI data centers is fundamentally different from earlier data centers and other industrial or commercial loads. They would be hard to replace once their presence has been written into utility planning. At the same time, the ever-evolving nature of both AI and the hardware it runs on makes it difficult to predict how much power data centers may need in the future. The electric power industry works on planning horizons of decades, while most of the data center demand surge associated with artificial intelligence arrived in November 2022 with the public release of ChatGPT, which was followed by rapid technological advancements in the field. But several factors are working against utilities as they seek to manage risk, experts and industry sources say, potentially leaving them and their ratepayers or members vulnerable to stranded investments. The data centers being planned and built across the U.S. need a massive amount of electricity, and utilities are racing to build new generation and grid infrastructure to meet unprecedented demand growth driven in significant part by these large load customers while coming up with contract structures that protect their other customers. This story was originally published on Utility Dive . To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter . Story Continues In the event of any crash or market correction that reduces demand for inference services, neoclouds are definitely most at risk, Arun said, along with any data centers that they're going to be building. These companies will almost certainly have a much worse time than the leading cloud service providers, such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon, he said. One of the biggest risks of a significant increase in large load customers is simply the credit risk they pose, said Scott Engstrom, chief customer officer at GridX. Whos on the other side of signing up for, say, $100 million a year of minimum payments? he said. You have to be confident that the counterparty is going to be around for the period of time that they are committed to recover that infrastructure investment. Thats a way that this can go wrong somebody goes into bankruptcy, they go out of business, they lose funding, whatever it is. Engstrom said that when it comes to hyperscalers like Google, Meta or Amazon, you certainly feel very good that they are going to have a lot of money 10, 15 years from now. Could the world change? Obviously. The increasingly circular nature of the inference services industry also poses challenges for utilities that are trying to get a clear picture of demand and manage risk. Is there the potential for market correction? Yes, absolutely. Daniel Farris Partner at Foley & Lardner There are reasonable concerns about the interconnected nature of some of the investments, said Daniel Farris, a law partner at Foley & Lardner who works on data center and energy contracts. The chip manufacturers are investing in neoclouds so that they can go secure data centers that are backstopped by those chip makers, so that they can turn around and spend money that they receive from the chip makers to buy chips from the chip makers, Farris said. Is there the potential for market correction? Yes, absolutely. In the CPI paper, Arun noted that CoreWeaves growth trajectory may not be sustainable if its two key revenue sources Microsoft and NVIDIA, over 70% of CoreWeaves revenues do not meet their payment commitments, and that CoreWeave is on the hook for over $56 billion in data center lease payments, which will last around 10 years. We don't really have anything else that could take up that space Gas and nuclear are two of the most sought-after solutions for data center energy demand, but a supply chain crunch is stretching out the timeline for new gas generation to at least several years, and new nuclear can take even longer. Data center demand is hard to project over the next few years, Arun said. In a market correction, it's very possible the data centers that have promised to pay for these [combined-cycle gas turbine plants], that can no longer pay for them, will end up crashing out of their tariff arrangements, and the utilities will cut these gas plants from their [integrated resource plans]. Worker installs fiber-optic cable. In the event of a market correction that leaves data centers unbuilt but in possession of those rights for the land interconnection, that's basically hundreds of megawatts worth of interconnection that is now not being used maybe up to a gigawatt, if that gigawatt data center gets built, he said. And we don't really have anything else that could take up that space. Farris noted that everybody in the industry expects there to be something of a power cliff in other words, a lot of the available dispatchable power has largely already been acquired or secured by most of the hyperscalers, neoclouds, data center operators, and so renewable energy is still a source people are looking to. A big factor in determining power sources is going to be the consistency of the power to keep up with these AI loads, which are still somewhat chaotic, he said. They're not as well-balanced as more traditional CPU kind of loads. The Digital Realty ACC10 data center next to the Nimbus substation in Ashburn, Virginia. GPUs, a more advanced type of processor than a CPU, are essential to AI workloads, and can individually draw up to 700W. They also have a tendency to generate unforeseeable energy spikes when running those workloads, sometimes called AI power bursts. Data centers can house tens to hundreds of thousands of GPUs. Not all data centers contain GPUs, but all of them contain servers, which themselves use a lot of electricity just because of the sheer number, said Christopher Tozzi, a technology analyst and senior lecturer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. I don't really see a way to mitigate that issue. There are ways of trying to make server components a little more energy efficient, but they're already pretty energy efficient. Servers, with or without GPUs, also use a lot of electricity for cooling. More energy efficient technologies for cooling exist, Tozzi said, but they are more expensive, and he doesnt see pressures in the market that are likely to drive down the cost. My overall sense is that the data center industry right now is more focused on the idea that energy itself will become cheaper and more abundant and that will solve their energy problems, as opposed to trying to find ways to make data centers more energy efficient, Tozzi said. Digital Realty's IAD-56 data center project under construction in Ashburn, Virginia. Before the public release of ChatGPT, Farris noted, hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta were very focused on improving efficiency and sustainability in their facilities. Since we've had the last three-ish plus years of the arms race for securing power and creating these much larger [high-performance computing] data centers, some of that has gone by the wayside as everyone's just trying to secure power, he said. But I think you'll have a return to that strategy over time, Farris added. We're seeing public opposition to data centers, and thats for a variety of reasons, one of which is certainly sustainability. And there are definitely folks pushing for cleaner power, so that helps to support renewables. Arun said he anticipates that solar and storage, which are significantly cheaper to build than new gas plants, will likely stay on IRPs and will stay in the queue, regardless of what happens to data centers. Not just because electrification and demand growth is still happening at a lower rate even without data centers, but also, these are just cheaper and better for the ratepayers balance sheet, he said. I think utilities will want to avoid, at all costs, burdening ratepayers with assets that a large load customer is no longer able to pay for. Large load tariffs, bring-your-own-capacity models gain traction Utilities are increasingly using methods like large load tariffs and long-term contracts, sometimes with take-or-pay clauses, to manage the risk of connecting data centers to the grid. A December analysis from Enverus Intelligence Research found that three dozen utilities have adopted new-large load tariffs, with several geared specifically toward data centers, and the group expects that trend to continue. In July, American Electric Powers Ohio utility introduced a load study tariff and began to charge between $10,000 and $100,000 to look at large load proposals, which it said slashed its large load forecast from 30 GW to 13 GW though the Ohio Manufacturers Association says the utility is still inflating its forecast. Utilities are able to impose lockout fees and create large load tariff structures for these interconnections. And I think that will help rationalize for the rest of the system the kind of demand that we're actually expecting. Advait Arun Senior associate for energy finance at the Center for Public Enterprise Dominion Energy, which serves the Northern Virginia area of high-density development called Data Center Alley, got approval from the State Corporation Commission in November to create a new GS-5 rate class, which starting on Jan. 1, 2027, will require data centers and other customers over 25 MW to sign 14-year contracts and pay a minimum of 85% of contracted distribution and transmission demand, along with 60% of generation demand. A company like Dominion is actually much better poised than a lot of other utilities, because they're in a vertically integrated territory where they've always been handling almost all parts of the grid process, said Arun. And in the process, theyve developed the full stack of experience for understanding interconnection requests, for dealing with all different kinds of load classes. Googles SBP1 Data Center in Ashburn, Virginia. Smaller co-op utilities, Arun noted, generally lack this kind of experience. Those utilities along with municipally owned utilities have a different risk profile, Engstrom said, because their customers are the shareholders. If we think about the worst-case outcomes, the utility signs up with one of these customers who has a lot of money today, and they agree to pay these terms, and then any of these bad events happen, and the counterpartys unable to pay, Engstrom said. Let's say that the gap there is $100 million or $500 million is that the responsibility of the other customers, or is that the shareholders for the utility? Some small utilities have talked about how the volume of what they're delivering to the data centers might literally double their size," he added. One such utility is the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, which operates in parts of Data Center Alley and doesnt own generation but purchases wholesale electricity through the PJM Interconnection. In a January 2025 article in the Prince William Times, Gilbert Jaramillo, the co-ops vice president for power supply, told the newspaper that by 2032, data center customers are expected to account for more than 95% of NOVECs energy sales. Jaramillo described this as very concerning but a great opportunity for the rest of the membership as well. Since then, Dominion has entered talks to purchase NOVEC, Bloomberg reported in November. Dominion and NOVEC are already intertwined, as Dominion's transmission services are tied to NOVEC's substations dedicated to data centers. Trappe Rock Substation, a Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative substation in Ashburn, Va. The success of the bring-your-own-generation model for meeting data center demand is also influenced by the utilitys structure, Engstrom said. In some states, that works well where the utilities don't own the generation, at least in terms of negotiating with the utility, he said. In the states where they're still vertically integrated, that can create some conflict. In some ways, utilities hold significant power, Arun said, because the growth of the power sector is the ultimate constraint on the actual realization of this bubble. Utilities are able to impose lockout fees and create large load tariff structures for these interconnections, he said. And I think that will help rationalize for the rest of the system the kind of demand that we're actually expecting. Recommended Reading Intoxicated Nainital Cab Driver Tries To Molest Delhi Woman. She Hides In Forest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 09:17 IST A 22-year-old woman from Delhi reported an attempted sexual assault by a taxi driver en route to Nainital. She escaped, hid in a forest, and police are searching for the driver. Manhunt is underway to apprehend the accused driver. (AI Image) In a harrowing incident, a 22-year-old Delhi woman alleged that a cab driver in Uttarakhands Nainital attempted to molest her late on Thursday night. The driver was allegedly intoxicated and in a bid to escape the horrific incident, the woman jumped out of the taxi and hid herself in a forest. As per a report by Hindustan Times, the woman spent entire night in the forest. Police are now looking for the unidentified driver, and a lookout is underway. According to the police, the woman hired a cab from Haldwani to Nainital around midnight. She was travelling alone. The incident took place in near Patwadangar, about 12 kilometres from Nainital. The driver allegedly diverted the taxi from the highway to a link road leading towards the area and stopped the vehicle. He started molesting the woman, and on resisting, he also assaulted her. The woman managed to escape from the taxi and hid into a forest area. Accused fled the spot after she alarmed the locals. The woman told the police that she spent her entire night hidden in the forest and on Friday morning, she reached police station with the help of locals. Probe is underway to identify and apprehend the driver. Location : Nainital, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:29 IST News india Intoxicated Nainital Cab Driver Tries To Molest Delhi Woman. She Hides In Forest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Keep One Bag Packed: Indian Passengers Arriving From Dubai Recount Experience Amid Conflict Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 15:16 IST At New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, one passenger said daily life in Dubai continued normally despite occasional sirens and safety advisories. Another returnee in Mumbai said that although missile activity was visible, it did not directly affect civilians. (X) West Asia Conflict: Passengers arriving from Dubai at airports across India on Saturday described the situation in the United Arab Emirates as largely controlled despite missile alerts, with many expressing relief at returning home safely and thanking authorities for facilitating their travel. At New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport, one passenger said daily life in Dubai continued normally despite occasional sirens and safety advisories. The situation is very normal there. Sirens ring and alarms come but still, its quite a normal environment. Advisory is to stay inside unless its an emergency," the passenger said as quoted by news agency ANI. Another returnee at the Delhi airport said residents had been receiving emergency alerts and were advised to keep essential items ready. The missiles are being intercepted and we used to receive emergency alerts. We were advised to stay safe and stay indoors, and keep one bag packed, ready with all essentials," the passenger said. At Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, a passenger said the Government of Dubai was handling the situation effectively and that the Maharashtra government had assisted in arranging the flight back to India. The Government of Dubai is handling the situation very well. The state government helped me in arranging the flight," the passenger said, referring to assistance from the Maharashtra government. Another returnee in Mumbai said that although missile activity was visible, it did not directly affect civilians. The situation in Dubai is controlled. I saw missiles going up and down near me, but nothing of it actually affected the civilians," the passenger said, adding that educational institutions also ensured the safety of students. Meanwhile, passengers arriving at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad expressed relief at returning to India and thanked the government for facilitating their journey. I am very happy to be back in India and I thank the government," one passenger said, while another added that there was no major problem in Dubai apart from flight rescheduling. There is no big problem in Dubai, but the flights are getting rescheduled. I am feeling very happy to be back in India," the passenger said. The accounts collectively reflect a pattern of relative calm in Dubai amid ongoing regional tensions, with authorities maintaining safety protocols and issuing timely advisories to residents and visitors. Amid the intense situation in the region, IndiGo announced that it would operate flights to five destinations in West Asia on Saturday. According to the airlines travel advisory, flights will operate to Dubai Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Airport, Akrotiri Airport, and Fujairah International Airport. Return flights from these West Asian cities to Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad are also being operated to facilitate the return of Indian nationals. To support customers during this time, subject to prevailing safety conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, IndiGo will be operating flights to five destinations in the Middle East on March 7, 2026, as detailed below. Our teams remain by your side, doing everything possible to help you continue your journey, while keeping the safety and well-being of our customers and crew at the heart of every decision we make," the airline said in its advisory. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia that is affecting air travel between India and the region. Air travel across the West Asia continues to be thrown into disarray as the escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran disrupts skies over key Gulf hubs. Since February 28, airports in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain have witnessed mass cancellations, which have affected thousands of passengers. The escalating tensions have prompted the airlines to reschedule or suspend flights/ Dubai International Airport, one of the worlds busiest hubs and ranked second globally after HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport, has faced disruptions in recent days amid heightened tensions in West Asia. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: March 07, 2026, 15:16 IST News india Keep One Bag Packed: Indian Passengers Arriving From Dubai Recount Experience Amid Conflict Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modi Congratulates Nepal For Successful Elections, Vows To Work Closely With New Govt Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 16:57 IST PM Modi congratulated Nepal for the successful and peaceful conduct of elections, as Nepalese rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah's party is headed for a landslide victory. Rapid Read Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Nepal for the successful and peaceful conduct of elections, as counting is underway to pick the next government in the Himalayan nation. I warmly congratulate the people and Government of Nepal on the successful and peaceful conduct of elections. It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly," PM Modi said in a post on X. He also called this a historic milestone" and a proud moment in the democratic journey in Nepal, which was wracked with widespread Gen Z-led protests last year over a social media ban to overthrow KP Sharma Olis government. After Oli was forced to resign from the post, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives on September 12 and appointed Sushila Karki as the caretaker PM. As a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people of Nepal and their new Government to scale new heights of shared peace, progress and prosperity," PM Modi further remarked. I warmly congratulate the people and Government of Nepal on the successful and peaceful conduct of elections. It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly.This historic milestone is a proud moment in Nepals democratic Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 7, 2026 The Prime Ministers remarks came as rapper-turned politician Balendra Shahs Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is heading toward a sweeping victory in Nepals first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests. According to the Election Commission of Nepal, the RSP has already won 40 seats and holds a lead in 80 constituencies. The Nepali Congress has won six seats, while the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and Olis CPN (UML) each have two winners. Shah himself is leading over Oli by a margin of more than 38,000 votes in Jhapa constituency-5 as the counting of votes progresses for the high-stakes general election for Nepals 275-member House of Representatives. The RSP has performed particularly strongly in the Kathmandu Valley, winning all 10 seats in Kathmandu district, along with two in Bhaktapur and one in Lalitpur. First Published: March 07, 2026, 16:57 IST News india PM Modi Congratulates Nepal For Successful Elections, Vows To Work Closely With New Govt Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... We Did The Right Thing: EAM Jaishankar On India Allowing Iran's IRIS Lavan To Dock At Kochi Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 13:10 IST Dr. S Jaishankar said India allowed Iranian ship IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi port on humanitarian grounds despite legal issues. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. (File image) External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday said that New Delhi allowed Iranian ship, IRIS Lavan, facing technical issues, to dock at Kochi port on humanitarian grounds. While speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, the Union Minister said that India did the right thing by providing assistance as it approached the matter from a humanitarian perspective despite legal complexities We approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were and I think we did the right thing" he said as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Raisina Dialogue 2026 | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I too support UNCLOS and international law We got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships, which presumably was closest to our borders at that point of time, wanted to come into our port. They were pic.twitter.com/CujBWJkXIL ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2026 Jaishankar further detailed the sequence of events as how the Iranian ship requested permission to enter an Indian port after facing issues. He said India received a message from the Iranian side stating that one of their ships closest to Indian waters was experiencing problems and requested permission to enter an Indian port. He said that India granted permission on March 1 and the vessel reached Kochi a few days later. On the 1st March, we said you can come in and it took them a few days to sail in and then they docked in Kochi," he said, adding that several young cadets were on board the vessel and have since disembarked and been moved to a safe location nearby. According to Jaishankar, the Iranian ships had initially set out to participate in a fleet review, but the regional situation changed dramatically due to the ongoing conflict, leaving them in a difficult position. When the ships had set out and when they came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review and then they got in a way caught on the wrong side of events," Jaishankar said. He added that one ship reached Sri Lanka, while another vessel, IRIS Dena, sank after being hit by US strike. Responding to debates online, Jaishankar also pointed to the broader security realities in the Indian Ocean. There are a lot of social media debates going on over this. Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean," he said, noting that foreign military presences in the region have existed for decades. He cited the long-standing US military base at Diego Garcia and the presence of foreign forces in Djibouti, while also referring to infrastructure developments such as Sri Lankas Hambantota port. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decadesThe fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period" he added. His comments came after a US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena on Wednesday about 19 nautical miles off Sri Lankas southern port city of Galle amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. Sri Lankan authorities launched a rescue operation following a distress signal and recovered at least 87 bodies, while 32 sailors were rescued. The vessel, IRIS Dena, had been returning to Iran after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. Sri Lanka on Thursday began offloading the Booshehrs crew and moving them to facilities near Colombo. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the island nation had a humanitarian responsibility" to assist the stranded sailors. The Dena, one of Irans newer Moudge-class frigates, had about 180 personnel on board and was armed with missiles, guns and torpedoes. Multiple US officials told CBS News that the vessel was struck by torpedoes fired from the attack submarine USS Charlotte, with the second torpedo hitting and sinking the ship after the first missed. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: March 07, 2026, 13:07 IST News india We Did The Right Thing: EAM Jaishankar On India Allowing Iran's IRIS Lavan To Dock At Kochi Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... CNN name, logo and all associated elements and 2026 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2026. All rights reserved. Inside Vijay Deverakondas Wedding Watch Wardrobe: Vintage Rolex, Cartier And A Statement Gucci Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 08:40 IST Inside Vijay Deverakondas wedding watch wardrobe - featuring rare Rolex Cellini pieces, Cartier vintage elegance and a modern Gucci statement. Vijay Deverakonda wore some of the most luxurious watches during his wedding festivities. While wedding fashion often centres around couture ensembles and jewellery, actor Vijay Deverakonda quietly turned the spotlight toward another realm of style his carefully curated watch collection. Across the celebrations surrounding his wedding with Rashmika Mandanna, the actor showcased a series of timepieces that blended vintage charm, modern luxury and a collectors sensibility. From rare archival pieces to contemporary design statements, each watch appeared thoughtfully chosen to complement a particular moment of the festivities. Together, they formed a subtle narrative of personal style one that values craftsmanship, heritage and individuality. A Rare Vintage Rolex Moment For the wedding reception, Vijay Deverakonda opted for a customised vintage version of the Rolex Cellini Asymmetrical Watch, reportedly designed by a Thai designer in 1976. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rashmika Mandanna (@rashmika_mandanna) The striking timepiece features an unconventional asymmetrical case crafted in 18-karat white gold, paired with a black crocodile leather strap. A sapphire crystal glass protects the dial, while the manual winding movement reinforces its vintage character. According to listings on the Patcharavipa website, the watch is priced at approximately 32,000, around Rs 39.19 lakh. The sculptural silhouette of the piece made it a fitting accent for the reception, adding a quiet but unmistakable element of luxury. Temple Visit With A Classic Rolex Cellini For a visit to the sacred Tirupati Tirumala Temple, the actor chose another classic from the Rolex Cellini line this time a vintage piece from the 1980s. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kamlesh Nand (work) (@artistrybuzz_) The watch features an elegant blue ombre dial framed within an 18-karat white gold case, paired with a silver bracelet that enhances its understated sophistication. According to online listings, the watch is priced at approximately Rs 10.47 lakh, with additional insured shipping charges. A Vintage Cartier With Character View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) During a media interaction on March 4, Vijay leaned into classic Parisian elegance with the Vintage Must de Cartier Vendome Watch from Cartier. The watch stands out for its burgundy quartz dial and vermeil case. On the secondary luxury market, the watch is priced at around Rs 2.17 lakh. A Contemporary Gucci Statement Vijay Deverakonda starting Scholarship Scheme for 9th &10th class students from this year Great idea which helps students for their future education without any financial struggle Vijay Deverakonda VIjay BANGARUKONDA #VijayDeverakonda #Ranabaali #rashmikamandana pic.twitter.com/UotlV28SM8 ???????????? ???????????????????? (@theyogayadav) March 2, 2026 Balancing the vintage-heavy lineup was the Gucci Grip Yellow Gold PVD Stainless Steel Watch from Guccis unisex Grip collection. Inspired by the world of skateboarding, the design features a cushion-shaped case and an unusual display mechanism with three rotating discs that indicate the hour, minute and date. According to online listings, the timepiece is priced at around $1,550 (approximately Rs 1.42 lakh). Vijay wore the watch while announcing scholarships for students across 44 government schools in Telangana through the Deverakonda Charitable Trust. What made Vijay Deverakondas wedding watch wardrobe compelling was its balance. Rather than relying solely on high-value luxury pieces, the actors selections reflected a deeper appreciation for design eras, heritage brands and unconventional silhouettes. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:40 IST News lifestyle fashion Inside Vijay Deverakondas Wedding Watch Wardrobe: Vintage Rolex, Cartier And A Statement Gucci Kate Middleton Adds A Desi Touch To Holi With Jhumka-Inspired Earrings In Leicester Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 09:07 IST Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, celebrated Holi in Leicester wearing jhumka-inspired earrings and a chic Ralph Lauren dress. Kate Middleton joined Holi celebrations in Leicester. Royal fashion often communicates far more than style alone it can signal diplomacy, cultural respect and thoughtful symbolism. During a recent Holi celebration in Leicester, Catherine, Princess of Wales, demonstrated exactly that, pairing classic British elegance with a subtle yet meaningful nod to Indian heritage. The Princess visited the city on March 5 to celebrate Holi with members of the British Indian community, and while the festivities were lively and vibrant, her outfit struck a characteristically refined balance between simplicity and statement. A Neutral Palette With Royal Polish For the occasion, Kate Middleton chose a softly structured cream pleated midi dress from Ralph Lauren. The design featured a fitted bodice and a gently flowing skirt that moved elegantly as she walked, offering a polished silhouette that felt appropriate for both a royal engagement and a festive cultural event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Waleses (@thewales_family) Layered over the dress was a tailored coat by Chris Kerr of Savile Row, a piece royal watchers quickly recognised. The Princess had previously worn the coat during her appearance at the 2023 Christmas carol service, reinforcing her well-known commitment to thoughtful wardrobe repetition. The neutral colour palette was completed with camel-toned suede pumps and a matching clutch, creating a monochrome ensemble that felt timeless, understated and impeccably tailored. While the outfit itself exuded quiet sophistication, it was Kates jewellery that sparked the most conversation online. She accessorised the look with the Dina earrings from Parisian label Sezane gold-plated recycled brass drops featuring delicate beadwork and vivid blue stones. The handcrafted design bears a striking resemblance to traditional Indian jhumka earrings, instantly drawing attention from fashion enthusiasts and cultural commentators alike. Priced at approximately $130 (around Rs 11,900), the earrings offered an accessible yet elegant statement piece. More importantly, their silhouette was widely interpreted as a thoughtful tribute to Indian jewellery traditions, making them a fitting choice for a Holi celebration. Celebrating Culture Through Fashion View this post on Instagram A post shared by Catherine Princess of Wales (@katemiddletonprincessofwalesuk) Kates visit centred around the renowned Aakash Odedra Company, a prominent South Asian dance organisation based in Leicester. Upon arrival, the Princess was welcomed with a traditional garland of red roses and pearls, adding a vivid burst of colour against her ivory ensemble. The royal later watched a vibrant dance performance by the company and even joined a group of women for a spirited round of garba. The moment quickly went viral online, capturing the warmth and celebratory spirit of the festival. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 09:07 IST News lifestyle fashion Kate Middleton Adds A Desi Touch To Holi With Jhumka-Inspired Earrings In Leicester From Fjords To Vineyards: Discovering Europe Through Curated Experiences Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 10:50 IST With travellers increasingly prioritizing curated experiences, scenic routes and multi-country itineraries, European holidays are evolving into thoughtfully crafted journeys. Europes allure continues to grow among Indian travellers. Europe continues to be one of the most aspirational travel destinations for Indian holidaymakers, but the way travellers experience the continent is evolving. Todays journeys are no longer defined by hurried sightseeing or checklist tourism. Instead, travellers are seeking immersive moments whether its watching the sunrise over Norwegian fjords, discovering centuries-old neighbourhoods on twilight walks, or savouring regional wines against dramatic landscapes. Recognising this shift, SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head Holidays & Corporate Tours SOTC Travel, has curated a range of experiential European holidays designed to blend iconic destinations with meaningful local encounters, offering travellers a deeper and more memorable way to explore the continent. Norway, Finland & Iceland Midnight Sun & Arctic Landscapes The Arctic summer phenomenon of the Midnight Sun is inspiring aspirational travel to Lapland across Norway and Finland, along with Icelands dramatic terrain. Extended daylight hours allow travellers to experience fjords, glaciers and geothermal landscapes in a truly immersive way. From scenic coastal drives to fjord cruises and nature-led explorations, the region offers a striking blend of raw beauty and curated comfort, making it a standout summer highlight. Greece Ancient Wonders & Santorini Sunsets Greece continues to attract strong demand for its combination of classical heritage and island elegance. Visits to the Acropolis of Athens, Delphi and Olympia anchor cultural itineraries, while the iconic sunset views in Oia, Santorini, provide one of Europes most romantic and photographed experiences. The seamless pairing of history and Mediterranean leisure resonates deeply with Indian travellers seeking both exploration and relaxation. Switzerland Swiss Alps & Scenic Rail Journeys Switzerland remains a cornerstone of European travel, driven by the majestic Swiss Alps and its world-renowned panoramic train journeys. Scenic rail routes wind through alpine passes, pristine lakes and charming mountain towns, offering uninterrupted views alongside comfort and efficiency. These journeys transform travel time into an experience in itself, reinforcing Switzerlands timeless appeal. Scotland Highlands & Loch Ness Nature-driven itineraries in Scotland showcase the rugged beauty of the Highlands alongside serene experiences such as a cruise on Loch Ness. Dramatic terrain, historic castles and rich folklore create a compelling narrative for travellers looking to add depth and storytelling to multi-country European journeys. France Paris by Night & Culinary Indulgence France captivates with its blend of culture, cuisine and romance. Evening experiences such as Paris by Night, featuring the Eiffel Tower and Seine river cruises, offer travellers a refined perspective of the capital. Complemented by curated culinary moments and vineyard explorations, France delivers an elegant balance of heritage and lifestyle. Italy Amalfi Coast & Cultural Icons Italys enduring charm lies in its seamless fusion of art, history and coastal splendour. The Amalfi Coast remains a major draw, with scenic drives, pastel cliffside villages and azure waters creating an idyllic Mediterranean setting. Italian itineraries often balance iconic cities like Rome and Florence with leisurely coastal experiences, offering both cultural richness and relaxation. Portugal Porto & Algarve Portugal is emerging as a favourite among discerning travellers. Portos famed port wine tastings provide a distinctive cultural touchpoint, while the Algarves dramatic coastline and golden beaches offer leisurely coastal stays. Together with Lisbons historic quarters and vibrant food scene, Portugal blends heritage with laid-back charm. Spain From Gothic Spires to Flamenco Nights Spains architectural marvels from Barcelonas Sagrada Familia to Granadas Alhambra continue to draw culturally inclined travellers. Evenings enriched with flamenco performances in Seville add authenticity and emotional depth, creating journeys that go beyond sightseeing into meaningful cultural immersion. Croatia Medieval Marvels & Turquoise Waters Croatias natural beauty and historic cities offer a striking contrast. The cascading waters of Plitvice Lakes National Park provide serene, nature-led exploration, while walks along Dubrovniks ancient city walls reveal sweeping Adriatic views. The destination appeals to travellers seeking both tranquillity and history. Czech Republic Bohemian Charm & Gothic Grandeur The Czech Republic balances storybook charm with vibrant city life. Cesky Krumlov enchants with its castle skyline and cobblestone streets, while Pragues architectural landscape and cultural energy offer a dynamic urban counterpoint. Together, they create a well-rounded and visually captivating experience. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 10:50 IST News lifestyle travel From Fjords To Vineyards: Discovering Europe Through Curated Experiences Dhurandhar 2: Alia Bhatt REACTS To Ranveer Singh's Trailer, Hrithik Roshan Says 'Too Good, Killing It' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 12:38 IST Many fans also took to the comments section to praise this Ranveer Singh-Aditya Dhar collaboration. Rapid Read Alia Bhatt liked Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 trailer. Dhurandhar 2 Trailer: The trailer of Aditya Dhars Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is finally here, and fans cant stop talking about it. But not just fans, Dhurandhar 2 fever has also reached Bollywood with stars reacting to the trailer! The much-awaited sequel to Dhurandhar continues the story of Ranveer Singhs character, Jaskirat, and charts his rise as he sets out on a path of revenge. Ranveer Singh shared the trailer on his Instagram. He wrote, Told you it was personal . . ." Hrithik Roshan took to the comments section and wrote, Too too good. Killing it." Alia Bhatt and Rohit Shetty dropped likes on Ranveers post. Alia also took to her Instagram Story and wrote, Beast Mode On. This trailer is out of control." Have a look at Ranveers post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) Ranveers former co-star, Tota Roy Choudhury, wrote, This is friggin next level." Aahana Kumra dropped fire emojis in the comments section. Maheep Kapoor took to the comments section and dropped clapping hands and fire emojis. Karishma Tanna and Shreya Chaudhry dropped heart eyes emojis. Many fans also took to the comments section to praise this Ranveer Singh-Aditya Dhar collaboration. Meanwhile, the new trailer shows Ranveer Singh returning in his dual avatars as Jaskirat Singh Rangi and Hamza Ali Mazari, suggesting that the story will dive deeper into the mystery surrounding his identity. Several questions that fans have been debating online may finally be answered. How did Jaskirat transform into Hamza? Who is the mysterious Sher-e-Baloch? And what exactly is the next stage of Mission Dhurandhar? The sequel is also expected to expand the role of R Madhavans Ajay Sanyal, who will reportedly be seen training Jaskirat in espionage tactics and combat. Meanwhile, the power vacuum in Karachi after Rehmans death could lead to new battles, with Uzair Baloch preparing to take control of Lyari. Fans are also curious to see whether characters like Major Iqbal and SP Aslam Chaudhry suspect the infiltrator and whether Yaalina will eventually learn the truth about Hamza. Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film continues Aditya Dhars ambitious spy-action saga. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is set to release in cinemas worldwide on March 19, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. First Published: March 07, 2026, 12:28 IST News movies bollywood Dhurandhar 2: Alia Bhatt REACTS To Ranveer Singh's Trailer, Hrithik Roshan Says 'Too Good, Killing It' Dhurandhar 2 Trailer 2 Out: Ranveer Singh Returns Fiercer Than Ever In Explosive Spy Saga Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 11:04 IST The second trailer of Dhurandhar 2 promises high-stakes action and gripping drama. Ranveer Singh returns in dual roles. The trailer of Dhurandhar 2 is out now. The Dhurandhar wave clearly isnt slowing down anytime soon. After the first film became one of the biggest action blockbusters of 2025, fans have been eagerly waiting to see what happens next in this gripping spy saga. And now, the excitement has hit a new high. The second trailer of Dhurandhar 2 has finally dropped, giving audiences a fiery glimpse of the next chapter in Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhars ambitious franchise. Released on March 7, 2026, at exactly 11:01 am, the new trailer promises a film that is bigger, darker and even more intense than the first instalment. With powerful visuals, high-stakes drama and explosive action sequences, the sequel looks ready to expand the Dhurandhar universe in a massive way. Watch the trailer of Dhurandhar 2 here: The original Dhurandhar, which hit theatres in December 2025, quickly became one of the most talked-about films of the year. Written, directed and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, the spy-action thriller blended geopolitics, espionage and emotional storytelling into a gripping cinematic ride. With a runtime of over three hours, it also stood out as one of the longest Indian films ever made. The story followed an undercover Indian intelligence agent tasked with infiltrating Karachis dangerous criminal syndicates and political networks to dismantle a terror operation targeting India. Drawing loose inspiration from several real geopolitical incidents in South Asia, the film explored covert missions and intelligence warfare while keeping audiences hooked with thrilling action. Ranveer Singh led the film with a fierce and layered performance. The ensemble cast also included Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Gaurav Gera and Danish Pandor. Shot across multiple locations including Punjab, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Thailand, the films scale and visual ambition were widely appreciated. Shashwat Sachdevs music and Vikash Nowlakhas cinematography added to the films immersive experience. The plot of the first film centred on a covert mission launched after terror incidents such as the 1999 IC-814 Kandahar hijacking and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Intelligence Director Ajay Sanyal, played by R. Madhavan, initiates a secret operation named Dhu-Ran-Dhar to infiltrate Pakistans criminal networks from the inside. For this mission, a young man from Punjab is recruited, Ranveer Singhs character, who adopts the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari. Slowly, he gains the trust of a powerful Baloch gang led by Rehman Dakait, played by Akshaye Khanna. Hamza eventually executes a daring plan to eliminate Rehman with the help of SP Aslam Chaudhry, portrayed by Sanjay Dutt. The films final moments hinted at a much bigger conspiracy. After the mission, Hamza wakes up and opens a confidential diary given by another Indian agent. He removes Rehmans name from a hit list, only to discover a far more dangerous set of targets, including ISI officer Major Iqbal and the Khanani brothers. In the closing scene, Ajay Sanyal reveals that the larger operation has only just begun. Now, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is expected to pick up from that cliffhanger. The new trailer shows Ranveer Singh returning in his dual avatars as Jaskirat Singh Rangi and Hamza Ali Mazari, suggesting that the story will dive deeper into the mystery surrounding his identity. Several questions that fans have been debating online may finally be answered. How did Jaskirat transform into Hamza? Who is the mysterious Sher-e-Baloch? And what exactly is the next stage of Mission Dhurandhar? The sequel is also expected to expand the role of R. Madhavans Ajay Sanyal, who will reportedly be seen training Jaskirat in espionage tactics and combat. Meanwhile, the power vacuum in Karachi after Rehmans death could lead to new battles, with Uzair Baloch preparing to take control of Lyari. Fans are also curious to see whether characters like Major Iqbal and SP Aslam Chaudhry suspect the infiltrator and whether Yaalina will eventually learn the truth about Hamza. Whats clear from the trailer is that the stakes are much higher this time. The story appears more personal, the action grander and the political intrigue deeper. Trade experts are already optimistic about the films prospects. The first instalment broke several box-office records in India and overseas markets, particularly in North America, Canada, the UK and Australia, and industry insiders expect the sequel to perform just as strongly. Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film continues Aditya Dhars ambitious spy-action saga. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is set to release in cinemas worldwide on March 19, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. First Published: March 07, 2026, 11:04 IST News movies bollywood Dhurandhar 2 Trailer 2 Out: Ranveer Singh Returns Fiercer Than Ever In Explosive Spy Saga CARACAS, March 5 (Reuters) - United States Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sounded an optimistic note as he prepared to leave Venezuela on Thursday after a two-day visit, telling journalists a new mining law will create opportunities for companies, licenses allowing them to operate are on the horizon and the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez has promised to ensure their security. Burgum, who also heads the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, has hailed efforts by interim President Delcy Rodriguez to open the South American country to foreign investment in oil and minerals, echoing praise by U.S. President Donald Trump. Burgum is the second cabinet secretary to visit Venezuela since a January U.S. raid that captured President Nicolas Maduro. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited in February. Despite having massive reserves of minerals from gold to iron ore, bauxite and coltan, Venezuela's output is at a fraction of capacity as plants urgently need major repairs and investment for expansions and upgrades. The country's main conglomerate, CVG, remains cash-strapped and under U.S. sanctions, as does state mining company Minerven. Following nationalizations under late President Hugo Chavez, foreign investment has been minimal in the last decade. Some experts now see room for an immediate export recovery, particularly for gold, but have warned that massive investment - even higher than for the oil industry- is needed, along with renovated efforts for exploration. Burgum brought more than two dozen mining and minerals companies with him on the visit, he said, and met on Thursday morning in Caracas with major foreign oil and gas companies as well as the heads of large Venezuelan companies and banks. Asked about corruption and security issues - including armed groups which participate in illegal mining in some regions - Burgum said the companies interested in coming into or returning to Venezuela have proven track records of integrity and that the new law will be an opportunity for them to create jobs. "I think you're going to see this government very concerned about providing the right kind of security. We heard assurances in the meeting today and yesterday that if companies wanted to get to these areas, do due diligence, think about reopening mines, maybe even getting back to mines that they themselves were running 15 or 20 years ago, that this government would ensure their security," Burgum said. "I'm feeling very optimistic about an environment where investment is going to flow, not just to offshore oil and gas, not just to Caracas but actually to the interior where these enormous resources exist," he added. Kiara Advani To Play Madhubala In Sanjay Leela Bhansali Produced Biopic? Here's What We Know Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 15:43 IST The actress will be next seen in Toxic with Yash. In a fresh update, Toxic will now release on June 4. Rapid Read Kiara Advani To Play Madhubala In Sanjay Leela Bhansali Produced Biopic? Here's What We Know Kiara Advani has grabbed attention after reports of her doing Madhubalas biopic went viral. But now the recent reports have suggested that this news is not true. Industry sources have now firmly dismissed these claims. It clarified that the reports linking Kiara Advani to a Madhubala biopic produced by Bhansali are completely unfounded. The source said, There is absolutely no truth to the reports currently circulating about Kiara Advani being cast in a Madhubala biopic produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The claims are completely baseless." The rumours had sparked curiosity, given Madhubalas enduring legacy as one of Indian cinemas most iconic stars. However, the source reiterated that the current reports linking Kiara Advani to the project are entirely speculative and that no such development is underway. Kiara Advanis work front The actress will be next seen in Toxic with Yash. In a fresh update, the much-anticipated trailer launch of Toxic, which was scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on March 8, has now been officially cancelled. The development comes after the makers decided to postpone the films theatrical release to June 4. The makers have issued a statement reading, Just wanted to officially inform you that the trailer launch for Toxic, which was scheduled in Bangalore on 8th March, has been cancelled as the films release has now been postponed to 4th June. Well be in touch soon with fresh updates regarding the event. Thank you for your continued support. KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations today announced that the release of Yashs highly anticipated film, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, has now been delayed. Originally slated for a worldwide premiere on March 19, 2026, the films release is being moved to June 4, 2026, due to the ongoing volatile escalation and regional instability in the Middle East. With this move, Toxic has also managed to avoid a clash with Ranveer Singhs Dhurandhar 2. The release of Toxic has been rescheduled per the advice of one of their major distributors, Phars Films. The decision to reschedule the release was made in response to escalating tensions and the resulting disruptions to cinema operations across the Gulf region, a key market for the films multi-language global rollout. First Published: March 07, 2026, 15:43 IST News movies bollywood Kiara Advani To Play Madhubala In Sanjay Leela Bhansali Produced Biopic? Here's What We Know News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026: Mohit Suri Wins Best Director For Saiyaara Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 23:29 IST Mohit Suri won Best Director (Popular Choice) at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026. Rapid Read Bollywood soundtracks continue to dominate, with Mohit Suris film albums seeing a resurgence, making them the most streamed albums this year. (File Photo) Congratulations are in order for the ace director Mohit Suri, who has just won Best Director (Popular Choice) at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026. The filmmaker was honoured with the award for his blockbuster movie, Saiyaara. The awards were held on March 7 in Mumbai. Released in July 2025, Mohit Suris film Saiyaara was backed by YRF, and it starred newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in lead roles. It went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year alongside films like Dhurandhar and Chhaava. Saiyaara also featured Rajesh Kumar, Alam Khan, Shaad Randhawa, Varun Badola, and others. The musical romantic drama revolves around the love story of Vaani and Krish, who connect over music and songwriting. Their worlds turn upside down after she gets diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers. In an earlier interview, Mohit spoke about the casting process, sharing that it was Aditya Chopra who first introduced him to Ahaan. He admitted that during their initial meeting, he didnt immediately see his character in him. However, after spending more time together, Mohit began to notice the qualities he was searching for and eventually felt confident about casting him. He also revealed that he cast Aneet for Vaanis role as he wanted a 2022-year-old girl who hadnt done anything cosmetological to her face or body in todays age. Apart from the new faces, Saiyaaras chartbuster songs like Tum Ho Toh, Saiyaara, Barbaad, and Humsafar struck a chord with the audience. The film is now available to watch on Netflix. Mohit Suri faced tough competition for the Best Director Award, with other nominations in the category being Laxman Utekar for Chhaava, Aditya Dhar for Dhurandhar, Anurag Basu for Metro In Dino, Suparn S Varma for Haq, and Aditya Sarpotdar for Thamma. First Published: March 07, 2026, 23:29 IST News movies bollywood News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026: Mohit Suri Wins Best Director For Saiyaara Richa Chadha Criticises Mumbais New Coastal Road Cycle Track: Not A Single Tree But Why Is She Facing Backlash? Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 14:29 IST The Maharashtra government introduced a 7-kilometre cycling track along the coastal road, but Richa Chadha pointed out that she could not see a single tree along the route. Rapid Read 600 trees were reportedly removed during the construction. Mumbai, known for its constant growth, is adding new features to its coastal road project aimed at improving travel and public spaces. The project includes a 7-kilometre cycling track along the route in South Mumbai, designed to make commuting easier and promote outdoor activities. Many residents have welcomed the idea, saying it could encourage fitness and offer a scenic place to cycle by the sea. While the development generated excitement, it also drew criticism from actress Richa Chadha. She responded to a video shared by politician Milind Deora, which praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for the coastal road initiative. After watching the clip, the actress expressed her disappointment, noting that she could not see a single tree along the cycling track. Not A Single Tree In Sight, Says Richa Chadha Sharing the clip on X (Formerly Twitter), Milind Deora wrote, Mumbai just got a world-class cycling track along the Coastal Road & its a proud moment for our city. Kudos to the Maharashtra Government led by Devendra Fadnavis ji & Eknath Shinde ji for their vision & commitment to creating long-term infrastructure that improves quality of life for Mumbaikars. Urging all residents to enjoy this beautiful new stretch that not only promotes fitness and sustainable mobility, but also seeks to open up nearly 300 acres of new public spaces in South Mumbai." Mumbai just got a world-class cycling track along the Coastal Road & its a proud moment for our city! Kudos to the #Maharashtra Government led @Dev_Fadnavis ji & @mieknathshinde ji for their vision & commitment to creating long-term infrastructure that improves quality of pic.twitter.com/wpptav7Wz9 Milind Deora | (@milinddeora) March 6, 2026 Soon after the clip started circulating online, Richa Chadha replied, Not a single tree in sight." Not a single tree in sight https://t.co/sw0VwtKUc2 RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) March 6, 2026 Users Defend Project While many agreed with her concern about the lack of trees, politician Milind Deora had also mentioned in the same video that parks would be developed as part of the coastal road project. Soon after, Richa Chadhas comment drew backlash, with many criticising her for reacting too quickly and pointing out that the full plan of the development had already been shown in the video. Reacting to the post, a user wrote, There are trees alongside, its a 7km long ride." Another shared, Look at the complete video before posting it. Milind Deora mentions the green cover and parks as part of the project at the end of the video." Trees are planted, will take a few years to grow, which trees grow in a year?" a comment read. An individual stated, It would be very helpful to NOT CONCRETISE everything and line big Shading trees on both sides, which will produce oxygen for the riders and save soil erosion for the city, besides other benefits." One more added, Trees arent planted. They grow over time. There are saplings planted already, and theyll grow into trees. Reports suggest that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had removed around 600 trees during the construction of the southern section of the coastal road project. This part of the project runs from the Princess Street Flyover in Marine Lines to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 13:49 IST News viral Richa Chadha Criticises Mumbais New Coastal Road Cycle Track: Not A Single Tree But Why Is She Facing Backlash? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Subhashree Ganguly Calls Dubai Situation Very Frightening As She Returns To India Safely Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 18:25 IST On March 3, actress Sonal Chauhan was seen arriving back in Mumbai after being stuck in Dubai amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Rapid Read Subhashree Ganguly Calls Dubai Situation Very Frightening As She Returns To India Safely Subhashree Ganguly has safely returned to India after being stranded in Dubai for nearly a week amid rising tensions linked to the ongoing USIran conflict. The actress finally arrived home after a stressful period overseas, where travel disruptions left several passengers waiting for flights. Talking to reporters at the airport, the actress said, It was a very frightening situation. I am so devastated that I am not in a position to share my experiences right now. Thank you, everyone, for the love and support. It gave me strength in such a difficult time." Subhashree had travelled to Dubai with her son Yuvaan during his school holidays. However, amid the ongoing conflict in the region and subsequent airspace restrictions, she has been unable to fly back to India. Sonal Chauhan Returns To Mumbai Safely After Being Stranded In Dubai On March 3, actress Sonal Chauhan was seen arriving back in Mumbai after being stuck in Dubai amid rising tensions in the Middle East. She was spotted by the paparazzi stationed at the Mumbai airport. Sonal even took to social media, giving a peek into her return to Mumbai after a terrifying stay in Dubai. She also took to her Instagram story and shared visuals from Dubai before heading back to India. She shared a picture of her flight and shared it with the song I am coming home. Meanwhile, Sonal recently sought help from PM Narendra Modi since she was unable to travel back home. She took to X (previously Twitter) and made a public appeal. Her post read, Honble PM @narendramodi ji, I am currently stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing crisis, with flights canceled and no clear way to return to India, I respectfully seek the Governments guidance for a safe journey home. Grateful for any support extended." While some people were seen showing support, a section of people trolled the Jannat actress for tagging PM Modi. Several other celebs like Esha Gupta, PV Sindhu, Ammy Kirks wife and daughter, Ajith Kumar, Erica Fernandes and more were stuck in Dubai. Esha and PV Sindhu took to social media and confirmed that they have returned to their homes safely. First Published: March 07, 2026, 18:25 IST News movies regional-cinema Subhashree Ganguly Calls Dubai Situation Very Frightening As She Returns To India Safely 'Weaponised To Create Divisions': Rahul Gandhi Calls 'Kerala Story 2' A Propaganda Film Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2026, 19:41 IST The release of the sequel sparked widespread controversy, with critics and political figures claiming it misrepresents Kerala and spreads communal hatred. Speaking during an interaction with students in Kuttikkanam, the LoP in the Lok Sabha said it was good news that the film was not being widely watched. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the controversial film Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, calling it a propaganda tool that aims to create divisions" in society. Speaking during an interaction with students at Marian College in Kuttikkanam, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said it was good news" that the film was not being widely watched. While the good news is that Kerala Story seems to be empty, and no one is watching it. It also shows that there are people, a majority of them, who havent understood what Kerala is and its traditions and culture," Gandhi said. Nobody is really watching The Kerala Story. It shows that the majority of people in this country understand what Kerala is and appreciate its traditions and culture.Movies, TV, and the media have been weaponised. They are being used precisely to vilify people, to alienate pic.twitter.com/0qdyP3FKSE Congress (@INCIndia) March 6, 2026 The Congress leader pointed out that movies, television, and the media have been weaponised. They are being used precisely to vilify people, to alienate communities, and to create divisions in society so that certain groups can benefit while others are harmed." Gandhi warned that such developments are extremely damaging for the country, noting that large amounts of money are being spent to push these narratives. ALSO READ: Adah Sharma Breaks Silence On Not Returning For The Kerala Story 2: Whether I Was Offered The Sequel Or If a person wants to make a certain type of film, say something in the media, or defend particular ideas, they are attacked and often not allowed to speak. I experience this all the time. On the other hand, certain narratives can be spread and propagated as much as people want, and nothing happens to them," he said. The film, which hit theatres last week, tells the story of three Hindu women from different states who defy their families to marry Muslim men and are subsequently forced to convert. The release of the sequel sparked widespread controversy, with critics and political figures claiming it misrepresents Kerala and spreads communal hatred. Congress has alleged that Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond was produced with the agenda of undermining communal harmony in the state. Last week, a division bench of the Kerala High Court cleared the way for the films release by staying a single-judge order that had temporarily blocked its screening for 15 days. The single judge had noted a prima facie manifest non-application of mind" by the censor board in approving the film. (With inputs from PTI) Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: March 06, 2026, 19:41 IST News movies 'Weaponised To Create Divisions': Rahul Gandhi Calls 'Kerala Story 2' A Propaganda Film Opinion | 7 March: The Call For Freedom And An Eternal Pledge In Bengali History Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 19:44 IST The historical significance of the 7 March speech by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has now been recognised far beyond Bangladesh Bangabandhus speech on 7 March was not merely a political address. It was a powerful expression of the Bengali peoples accumulated anger, humiliation, and longing for dignity. Representational image/AP History sometimes presents moments that transcend the simple passage of time. They are no longer just dates on a calendar; they become the very foundation of a nations identity. For Bangladesh and the Bengali people, 7 March 1971 stands as one such moment. On that historic afternoon at the Racecourse Maidan in Dhaka, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, issued a thunderous call for freedom. That call did more than stir emotion. It prepared an entire nation mentally, politically, and morally, for the inevitable path towards independence. Bangabandhus speech on 7 March was not merely a political address. It was a powerful expression of the Bengali peoples accumulated anger, humiliation, and longing for dignity. For decades, the Pakistani ruling establishment had subjected Bengalis to systematic political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and cultural suppression. On that day, Bangabandhu transformed the silent fury and aspirations of millions into a clear direction for national resistance. Standing before a sea of restless humanity, he delivered the immortal words that still echo through history: This time the struggle is for our liberation; this time the struggle is for our independence." Those words became more than a declaration; they were the unspoken signal for a nation preparing to wage its war of freedom. The historical significance of the 7 March speech has now been recognised far beyond Bangladesh. In 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the speech into the Memory of the World International Register, acknowledging it as one of the most important documentary heritages of humanity. Through this recognition, the international community affirmed what Bengalis have long known: this was not merely a national speech but one of the greatest political orations in the history of human civilisation. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the speech lies in its strategic brilliance. Bangabandhu did not formally declare independence that day. Yet he prepared the nation in such a way that every village, every town, every household became mentally ready for resistance. His call for non-cooperation, his instructions to paralyse the administrative machinery, and his appeal to organise collective resistance shook the very foundation of the Pakistani state apparatus. The ruling elites in Islamabad suddenly realised a harsh truth: the Bengali nation could no longer be subdued. In essence, the speech of 7 March laid the political foundation for the Liberation War. When Bangabandhu formally declared independence in the early hours of 26 March, the people of Bengal already understood that the path ahead was singular and irreversible, the path to freedom. With unwavering determination, the entire nation rose in resistance against the Pakistani occupation forces. That struggle came at an unimaginable cost: three million lives lost and the honour of nearly two hundred thousand women violated. Yet from that sacrifice emerged a new nation on the world map, the red and green flag of Bangladesh. Today, this immortal chapter of history has acquired renewed relevance. Even fifty-five years after that defining moment, the ideals of the Liberation War are frequently challenged within Bangladesh itself. The dignity of heroic freedom fighters is sometimes insulted. Monuments commemorating the war have been vandalised. Even the historic house at Dhanmondi 32, the cradle of the Bengali liberation struggle and the residence of Bangabandhu, has not been spared from destruction. Meanwhile, the ideological heirs of the collaborators of 1971, Rajakar, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams continue to propagate narratives that undermine the spirit of the Liberation War. Through organised propaganda, they attempt to distort the memory of 1971 and place it in false opposition to contemporary political narratives. Perhaps it was with a sense of such painful contradictions that the poet Shamsur Rahman once wrote of a time when it feels like poet against poet, March against March. Yet the speech of 7 March reminds us that the spirit of the Liberation War is never a matter for compromise. It was earned through blood, sacrifice, and an unbreakable collective will. For that reason, 7 March is not simply a remembrance of the past; it is a guiding light for the present. It teaches us that the struggle to defend national unity, democratic rights, and the ideals of the Liberation War never truly ends. For todays generation, the meaning of the 7 March speech carries even deeper significance. It was not merely a set of words delivered by a political leader; it was the proclamation of a nations self-respect. It reminded the Bengali people that they do not bow their heads before injustice, that they possess the courage to stand against oppression, and that their destiny lies in dignity and freedom. Whenever attempts are made to distort history, whenever forces hostile to the spirit of the Liberation War attempt to reassert themselves, the speech of 7 March stands before us like a beacon of truth. It reminds us that Bangladesh was born through struggle, sacrifice, and an unyielding demand for justice. At the heart of that historic struggle stood the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. That truth forms the very core of the Bengali national consciousness. For this reason, 7 March is not merely a day in history. It is an eternal pledge of a nation. Aminul Hoque Polash is a Bangladeshi political activist, researcher, and former government official with experience in national security, diplomacy, and state institutions. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 07, 2026, 19:41 IST News opinion Opinion | 7 March: The Call For Freedom And An Eternal Pledge In Bengali History Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | How PM Modi Scripted An Incredible Reset Of India-Canada Ties Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 18:43 IST What was unnecessarily marred for years by Justin Trudeaus vile, politically motivated agenda has now been replaced by a mature, interest-driven strategic partnership Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a joint press meet, at Hyderabad House. (File photo/PTI) In the annals of Indian diplomacy, few turnarounds have been as dramatic or as strategically masterful as the revival of Indias ties with Canada. What began as a near-total breakdown in 2023 has, under Prime Minister Narendra Modis adroit leadership, transformed into a robust, forward-looking partnership by early 2026. This is not mere diplomacy; it is a masterclass in patience, pragmatism and national interest. Trudeaus Hostile, Pro-Khalistani Agenda The rupture was swift and ugly. In 2023, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled baseless allegations linking Indian officials to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist designated as a terrorist by India. Diplomatic expulsions followed, high commissioners were withdrawn, and bilateral trust hit rock bottom. Trudeaus approach was openly hostile, pandering to pro-Khalistani elements within Canadas Sikh diaspora for electoral gains a textbook case of vote-bank politics overriding strategic sense. India was absolutely justified in calling out Trudeaus mala fide designs. New Delhi refused to be lectured by a leader who allowed Canadian soil to become a safe haven for anti-India extremists. The pattern, tragically, was not new. Back in the 1980s, Justins father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, had shown similar leniency. Despite repeated appeals from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to crack down on Khalistani terror networks, Pierre Trudeaus government dragged its feet. The result? The horrific bombing of Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka) in June 1985, which killed 329 innocent people one of the deadliest aviation terror attacks in history. Canadas failure to extradite key suspects such as Talwinder Parmar, and its soft stance on separatist rhetoric, directly contributed to the tragedy. History had repeated itself under his son, until PM Modi drew a firm line. Enter Mark Carney: A Pragmatic Prime Minister The turning point came with Canadas leadership change. Justin Trudeaus exit and the rise of Mark Carney as Prime Minister in March 2025 did Canada and the bilateral relationship a world of good. Carney, a seasoned economist and former central banker, brought a no-nonsense, results-oriented approach that stood in stark contrast to his predecessors toxicity. Where Trudeau had chosen confrontation and ideological posturing, Carney chose pragmatism. His positive, forward-looking outreach was like a breath of fresh air in New Delhi. Gone were the grandstanding press conferences and diaspora appeasement; in their place came quiet, focused diplomacy centred on mutual economic and strategic gains. For India, it signalled that Canada was finally ready to treat a rising global power with the respect it deserved. The G7 Invitation That Set the Ball Rolling The reset truly gathered momentum in June 2025 just weeks after Indias decisive Operation Sindoor, the precision military strikes that neutralised terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the horrific Pahalgam attack. Fresh from that assertive demonstration of national resolve, PM Modi received a warm invitation from Prime Minister Carney to attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. PM Modi was initially cautious. After two years of needless hostility, should he travel? Yet in Carneys sincere and respectful invitation, he saw a genuine opening an opportunity to reset ties on Indias terms, without compromising sovereignty or security concerns. PM Modi accepted. His visit to Canada became the catalyst. Quiet conversations on the sidelines, renewed high-level channels, and a clear signal that both nations wanted to move forward ushered in the reset. What followed was a masterstroke of quiet diplomacy. From Scepticism to Robust Partnership In the span of barely a year, India and Canada have moved from deep scepticism to becoming reliable partners. Carney has been effusive in private and public about the enormous economic opportunity India represents. He has repeatedly praised PM Modis visionary policies from economic reforms and infrastructure push to Indias emergence as a trusted technology and defence partner. For Carney, a leader focused on Canadas future prosperity amid global uncertainties, deeper engagement with the worlds fastest-growing major economy was a no-brainer. Two major takeaways define this new chapter in India-Canada ties. First, optimising massive economic opportunities. Both sides have fast-tracked negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with an ambitious target to conclude it by the end of 2026 and double bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. Landmark deals in critical minerals, technology, AI, supply chains and, especially, a multi-billion-dollar long-term uranium supply agreement for Indias nuclear energy programme have been signed. Energy security, green hydrogen and defence cooperation are now firmly on the table. This is pragmatic economics at its best India gains reliable resources and markets; Canada gains a massive growth partner. Second, iron-clad assurances on Khalistani terrorism. India has received clear commitments that Canada will not allow its territory to be used as a base for anti-India activities. Dedicated national security and law-enforcement dialogues, reinstated high commissioners, and upgraded counter-terrorism mechanisms ensure that past frictions are compartmentalised and never allowed to derail the broader relationship again. The era of turning a blind eye to Khalistani extremists is over. What was unnecessarily marred for years by Justin Trudeaus vile, politically motivated agenda has now been replaced by a mature, interest-driven strategic partnership. PM Modi did not chase the reset he scripted it with patience, firmness and foresight. By standing his ground in 2023, seizing the opening in 2025, and steering the relationship towards concrete gains in 2026, he has once again shown why he is one of the most respected statesmen on the global stage. India-Canada ties have not just been revived they are stronger, smarter and built to last. This is PM Modis reset. And it is incredible. The writer is a national spokesperson of the BJP, besides being an acclaimed author. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 07, 2026, 18:43 IST News opinion Opinion | How PM Modi Scripted An Incredible Reset Of India-Canada Ties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 15:33 IST 1 / 10 After years of delay, it looks like people in Pune will finally get a metro line connecting the city to the Pune International Airport in Lohegaon. Authorities have now finalised a practical route to connect the airport with the Pune metro network after discussions on six possible alignments. 2 / 10 During a joint meeting on the ongoing and upcoming metro projects, Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol announced plans to connect the airport through the Kalyaninagar Metro station, much to the relief of frequent flyers. Sharing that extending the line to the airport has become necessary, he mentioned during the meeting that construction of the line is underway. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 At present, passengers travelling by Metro must get down at stations like Yerawada or Ramwadi and then rely on buses, autorickshaws, or cabs to reach the airport. Once the proposed direct link is completed, travelling to the airport is said to become easier and more convenient. 4 / 10 Authorities reportedly explored six different routes while planning the connection to the Lohegaon airport. These included links from Kalyaninagar, Viman Nagar, the Kharadi bypass area, and Ramwadi Metro station. After a detailed review, they concluded that the Kalyaninagar route would be the most feasible. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Officials revealed that they zeroed in on the Kalyaninagar Metro station route as the best choice after several technical evaluations. "After detailed discussions, the Kalyaninagar-Lohegaon stretch emerged as the most feasible alignment. A detailed project report for this link is already being prepared. Space has also been identified near the airport for the proposed Metro connectivity, with additional details to be worked out," one Maha Metro official said, as quoted by Times of India. 6 / 10 Meanwhile, work on the Metro line between Vanaz and Chandni Chowk, and Ramwadi and Wagholi, is expected to begin soon. Once complete, these routes will play a key role in linking the Pune International Airport directly to the city's expanding metro network. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Apart from the Lohegaon airport link, authorities also reviewed the progress of the 23-kilometre Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor being developed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). Considered one of the citys most important Metro lines, this line is expected to significantly improve daily commuting for thousands of people. 8 / 10 The Union Minister shared that 13 out of the 23 stations on this route are likely to be ready by the end of April 2026. He said that nearly 94 per cent of the construction work on the corridor has already been completed. Trial runs have already begun on the fully elevated Line 3 of the Metro project. Notably, authorities have yet to announce an official start date for commercial operations on the route. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 Murlidhar Mohol has also directed officials to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed metro corridor between Khadakwasla and Hinjewadi, further expanding the citys rapid transit system. The progress of these projects was reviewed during a recent meeting held at the government rest house, where senior officials discussed 16 major development initiatives concerning the city. Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 17:30 IST 1 / 8 Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Known as the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh is exceptionally safe for solo women. Its peaceful vibe, plethora of wellness retreats, and traveller-friendly cafe culture create a supportive environment where spiritual seekers and adventure enthusiasts feel instantly at home. (Image: X) 2 / 8 Pondicherry: This charming former French colony offers a unique blend of coastal calm and European aesthetics. Its compact, walkable "White Town," welcoming Auroville community, and slow-paced lifestyle make it one of the most comfortable and secure destinations for women traveling alone. (Image: X) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 8 Udaipur, Rajasthan: Often called the "City of Lakes," Udaipur is celebrated for its hospitality and manageable size. With well-lit tourist areas, family-run heritage guesthouses, and a respectful local culture, it allows solo travellers to explore royal history and shimmering waters with ease. (Image: X) 4 / 8 Gangtok, Sikkim: Sikkim consistently ranks as one of India's safest states, and its capital, Gangtok, is no exception. Known for its cleanliness, low crime rates, and disciplined traffic, the city offers a serene mountain escape where local respect for women is paramount. (Image: X) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 8 Hampi, Karnataka: This UNESCO World Heritage site is a favourite for its laid-back backpacker community and surreal boulder landscapes. The village-like atmosphere, presence of many international travellers, and slow-travel rhythm make Hampi a safe, immersive sanctuary for female history buffs. (Image: X) 6 / 8 Mysore, Karnataka: Mysore is an orderly, heritage-rich city that feels both traditional and progressive. Its reputation for safety, combined with world-renowned yoga centers and a well-connected transport system, makes it a reliable choice for women looking for a calm urban experience. (Image: X) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 8 Varkala, Kerala: Perched on high cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea, Varkala offers a more secluded and secure alternative to busier beach towns. Its wellness-centric community, cliffside cafes, and Keralan hospitality ensure a restorative and safe environment for coastal solo wanderers. (Image: X) Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 07:00 IST 1 / 10 Success stories often begin with setbacks, but for Kalpana Saroj, hardship started long before adulthood. While most children her age were still in school, she was already navigating the harsh realities of life. Born into poverty and social discrimination, her early years were far from easy. Her journey began in a small village in Maharashtra where opportunities were limited. What followed would test her resilience in unimaginable ways. Yet those struggles eventually shaped one of Indias most remarkable entrepreneurial journeys. 2 / 10 Kalpana Saroj was born in 1961 into a Dalit family that faced both economic hardship and social prejudice. Her father worked as a police constable, earning a modest salary that barely supported the family. Growing up, she saw firsthand how limited opportunities were for people in her community. Education was difficult to pursue and social barriers were constant. For girls especially, expectations were extremely narrow. Life seemed to follow a path already decided by tradition. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 At just twelve years old, Kalpanas life took a dramatic turn. Following societal customs of the time, her family arranged her marriage. She was sent away from her village to live with her husbands family in Mumbai. Instead of a new beginning, however, she entered a difficult and painful environment. What awaited her there was far from the dream of married life many young girls are promised. Her childhood abruptly ended in a household filled with hardship. 4 / 10 Kalpana later recalled that her married life quickly became unbearable. She faced constant emotional and physical abuse from her husbands family. Isolated from her parents and still a teenager, she struggled to cope with the harsh treatment. The environment left her feeling trapped and helpless. Eventually, when she was sixteen, her father brought her back home. But returning to her village did not bring the peace she hoped for. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 In conservative rural communities at the time, a girl returning from her husbands house carried heavy stigma. Instead of receiving sympathy, Kalpana faced criticism and humiliation from those around her. People whispered about her situation and treated her as though she had failed. The judgement weighed heavily on the young girl. She felt that society had already decided her fate. At just sixteen, the burden of shame and despair pushed her toward a dark moment in her life. 6 / 10 Overwhelmed by hopelessness, Kalpana attempted to end her life by consuming poison. Miraculously, she survived the ordeal. That moment later became a turning point that reshaped her thinking about life. As she recovered, she realised that surviving meant she had another chance. She decided she would not allow society to define her future. With that determination, she resolved to leave her village behind and start over. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Kalpana moved to Mumbai to live with relatives, hoping to rebuild her life from scratch. The city was unfamiliar and overwhelming, especially for someone with little education or financial support. Her first job was in a garment factory where she stitched clothes for long hours. The salary was small, but it offered her something important - independence. Slowly she began saving whatever money she could. Those small savings marked the beginning of her journey toward self-reliance. 8 / 10 After working for some time, Kalpana realised that a regular job would never dramatically change her circumstances. She decided to explore entrepreneurship despite having limited resources. Through a government scheme meant to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds, she secured a small loan. With that money, she started a modest furniture business. The early days were full of challenges and uncertainty. But her determination kept her moving forward. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 A major turning point came when she became involved with the struggling industrial company Kamani Tubes. The factory had been shut down and was buried under legal and financial troubles. Workers who had lost their livelihoods were searching for someone who could revive it. Kalpana studied the situation carefully and eventually took on the daunting challenge. Through persistence, negotiations and restructuring, she helped bring the company back to life. The revival established her reputation as a fearless entrepreneur. Quick Read Exxon (XOM) is up 26.52% YTD and Chevron (CVX) is up 25.85%, crushing the S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Exxon plans $27-29B CapEx and $20B buybacks in 2026; Chevron returned $27.1B in 2025. Exxon and Chevron are making capital allocation decisions that assume oil will reach $80-100+, significantly higher than current $71.13 WTI crude. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. The smart money is making a very specific bet right now: both ExxonMobil and Chevron are being priced for an oil environment significantly richer than what we're seeing today. The capital allocation decisions, production buildouts, and institutional re-ratings on both stocks tell a clear, unified story. The Institutional Signal Start with the stock moves. XOM is up 26.52% year-to-date in 2026, moving from $119.52 to $151.21. CVX is up 25.85% year-to-date, climbing from $150.92 to $189.94. Both have crushed the S&P 500 over the same stretch, with SPY actually declining. This isn't a momentum trade. Institutions are re-rating these companies based on forward earnings power, and forward earnings power in energy is almost entirely a function of where oil prices are headed. READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks The current setup: WTI crude sits at $71.13 per barrel as of March 2, 2026, up 10.3% in the past month. That's still well below $100. But the companies themselves are behaving as if $100 is the planning assumption. Three Data Points That Explain the Bet First, the CapEx commitment. ExxonMobil is guiding for $27 to $29 billion in capital expenditures for 2026. Chevron spent $17.3 billion in CapEx in 2025. You don't commit that kind of capital into a $65 oil world. These are decade-long infrastructure decisions priced on long-run oil assumptions that run meaningfully higher than spot. Second, the shareholder return programs. ExxonMobil repurchased $20 billion in shares in 2025 and has another $20 billion planned through 2026. Chevron returned $27.1 billion to shareholders in 2025 alone. Companies running these programs at this scale are signaling that current earnings are not a ceiling. They're a floor. Third, the analyst positioning. XOM carries a consensus analyst target price of $144.25, with 13 buy-or-strong-buy ratings against 10 holds and 2 sells. CVX's consensus target sits at $185.92, with 16 buy-or-strong-buy ratings against 9 holds and 1 sell. The buy-side skew on both names is clear, even if the published targets look modest relative to current trading levels. Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 09:31 IST 1 / 10 In Mumbai, there are over 55 flyovers which are designed to manage traffic across busy routes, especially during busy hours. But the situation hasnt changed much. Why so? This is because heavy trucks and buses use these flyovers heavily during peak hours. The result is crawling traffic. The situation has become a travel challenge for regular motorists. The Western and Eastern Express Highways are particularly experiencing this influx, with drivers stuck in traffic for hours. 2 / 10 Mid-day recently conducted a test drive on both the Western and Eastern corridors to witness the traffic situation. The conclusion that was drawn: heavy goods vehicles and outstation buses significantly contribute to traffic buildup. The report, citing experts, mentioned that one way to reduce congestion on these arterial routes could be restricting heavy vehicles from flyovers during peak periods. Traffic authorities currently limit the movement of these vehicles from 8 AM to 11 AM and 5 PM to 9 PM, but enforcement remains a challenge. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 In the Eastern Suburbs, the Kanjurmarg flyover has been a point of concern. Although the Eastern Express Highway typically sees lighter traffic than the western corridor, congestion still occurs. From Sion to Ghatkopar, buses and small to medium goods carriers were observed on the flyover that slowed down movement, the mid-day report stated. Meanwhile, lanes beneath the flyover remained largely empty. How to ease traffic here? By diverting these heavy vehicles to the surface lanes, which could significantly ease pressure on the elevated structure. 4 / 10 In the Western Suburbs, the Kalina-Vakola flyover faces similar issues. Evening rush hours see traffic slowing to a crawl as heavy goods carriers, trucks and long-distance buses occupy the lanes. Like Kanjurmarg, the northbound lanes beneath the flyover are mostly empty. Moving trucks, tempos and buses could use these lower lanes, which in turn will help in improving traffic flow. Drivers of personal vehicles often remain stuck behind slower vehicles on the flyover. Better planning and vehicle segregation at key ramps could reduce these bottlenecks significantly. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 The Domestic Airport flyover is another critical area where congestion is evident. In the northbound direction, tempos, medium-sized goods carriers and buses frequently use the flyover. This continuous usage appears to be a key reason for slow traffic during both morning and evening peaks. Mid-day report noted that the approach lanes, which are meant to handle overflow traffic, are often underutilised. Using these lanes more effectively for heavy vehicles could make a noticeable difference in commute times. 6 / 10 The Aarey Colony flyover in Goregaon also experiences heavy traffic during peak hours. Congestion is largely caused by slow-moving goods carriers, outstation buses and other heavy vehicles. Meanwhile, lanes beneath the flyover were mostly vacant. Rising numbers of construction vehicles, logistics trailers, tankers and private intercity buses are cited as contributing factors. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 A senior traffic police official told Mid-day that the issue stems from network management challenges. On the Western and Eastern Express Highways, most flyovers are part of continuous highway corridors, and we cannot arbitrarily stop trucks unless a formal restriction is notified. If we suddenly block them without an order, the decision does not stand legally, and transport operators challenge it, he explained. He added that many drivers schedule their trips to coincide with the end of restriction hours, which often overlaps with peak commuter traffic. He further noted, From the drivers perspective, the flyover is the straightest route with fewer signals, so they naturally choose it. 8 / 10 Voices from commuters also shed light on the daily frustration. Ratnakar Sawant, a regular traveller, told the outlet, I get stuck on the Western Express Highway daily largely due to the presence of tankers, goods carriers, long-distance buses and tempos. The traffic police must enforce rules regarding such vehicles on flyovers, which would help ensure smoother and faster movement of vehicles. Shilpa Nair, who works at the airport, shared a similar concern, saying, The airport flyover should be the fastest stretch, but its actually the slowest. We often see buses and tempos occupying both lanes, and cars are trapped behind them. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 Transport experts have suggested several measures to manage flyover congestion. Peak-hour segregation of vehicles could redirect trucks, tankers and buses to surface lanes. With ramp-level enforcement, heavy vehicles can be prevented from entering elevated roads during busy hours. Dynamic signage and electronic boards may help alter traffic flow in real time. Dedicated time windows at night or off-peak hours could allow goods carriers to use flyovers without disrupting commuter traffic. Moreover, long-distance and contract buses could be routed via surface corridors, which could reduce their impact on elevated lanes. In Rare Rebuke, President Murmu Flags Protocol Lapse In Bengal, Says No Grudges with 'Sister' Mamata Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 19:47 IST President Murmu questioned the TMC government for denying permission to an adivasi event, while stressing that she had no grudges against "sister" Mamata Banerjee. Rapid Read President Droupadi Murmu addressing an event in Siliguri. In a rare rebuke, President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday publicly expressed displeasure with the West Bengal government for allegedly denying permission for an International Adivasi Conclave in North Bengal, where she was scheduled to attend as chief guest. Speaking during her visit to Siliguri, the President also pointed to lapses in protocol and preparations, emphasising that neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor any of her ministers received her during his visit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by News18.com (@cnnnews18) The 9th International Santhali Conclave was initially supposed to take place in Bidhannagar. However, Murmu alleged that West Bengal authorities changed the venue to a smaller one in Goshaipur near Bagdogra Airport, citing congestion. Organisers also complained about improper stage arrangements and poor toilet facilities. Murmu later travelled to Bidhannagar in the Phansidewa area, a region with a significant Adivasi population, where she interacted with local residents. She highlighted the social harmony in the region, saying communities including Adivasis, Gorkhas, Rajbangshis and Bengalis had lived together peacefully. I came here very easily, but the administration apparently said that it would become overcrowded here. However, I can see that even a gathering of 500,000 people could be accommodated here," Murmu said while addressing locals in Siliguri. At the place where the event is being held, not all Santhals will be able to go. I felt that the brothers and sisters here would not all be able to attend the event." Perhaps the administration thought that no one would be able to go there. They thought that the President would arrive, hold the event in an empty place, and return. I dont know what came to their minds, but I am very hurt," she added. No Grudges With Sister Mamata President Murmu also flagged protocol lapses by the Bengal government, saying that neither the Chief Minister nor the state ministers came to receive her at the airport. Only Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb had arrived at the airport to welcome the President. The administration said that this is a very congested area. I thought I should come and see how congested it really is. If needed, I would ask the state government to arrange more space. But there is already such a large area here," she added. However, the President made it clear that she held no grudges with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. I am also a daughter of Bengal. Yet I am not allowed to come here. Mamata Didi is like my younger sister. I dont know, maybe she is angry with me for some reason. Anyway, I have no complaints with her. May she also stay well, and may all of you stay well," she said. BJP Slams Complete Collapse In Bengal The BJP lashed out at the West Bengal government, terming the events as a complete collapse of the constitutional framework" under the Trinamool Congress. In a rare and unprecedented development, the Honble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, openly expressed displeasure over the lack of preparation and protocol during her visit to Siliguri. Even more shocking, the state government denied permission for the International Santhali Conclave, where the President herself was the Chief Guest," said BJP leader Amit Malviya. The events in West Bengal today point to a complete collapse of the constitutional framework under the Mamata Banerjee government.In a rare and unprecedented development, the Honble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, openly expressed displeasure over the lack of pic.twitter.com/ZMiRwZkVbJ Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 7, 2026 When a state government begins to disregard the dignity of the office of the President of India, it reflects not just administrative failure but a breakdown of constitutional propriety and governance. This is not merely discourtesy. It is institutional disrespect and another reminder of how governance in Bengal has descended into chaos," he added. Mamata Banerjee Hits Back Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee hit back at the President, saying that she had great respect for Murmu, but advised her to refrain from politics. We respect the Honourable President. She has been sent to do politics and advance the BJPs agenda. I am sorry madam, I have great regard for you, but you are trapped by the BJP," Banerjee said in a public event. She said the state government was not informed about the Presidents visit and added that the government had other work to do. You are the priority of the BJP and the public is a priority of mine. I did not know about the programme, about the organisers or who is attending the programme," she said. She also criticised the President for implying that the Bengal government did not do much for tribals. Why were you silent when tribals were being persecuted in Manipur? Why do you remain silent in the case of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh? We have given recognition to tribal languages the Santali language is used for state government services. We have provided schools and universities for Santalis," she charged. You have not been able to do even a single piece of work. Do something first, and then speak about the BJP. We respect you, you are in the number one chair of India. Do not do politics during elections as per the BJPs advice," Banerjee said. She also questioned the change of Governors in several states during elections, and accused the BJP of planning to impose Presidents Rule in West Bengal. No matter how much you attack, Bengal will win again. After the elections in West Bengal, the target will be Delhi," she said. Location : Siliguri, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 16:12 IST News politics In Rare Rebuke, President Murmu Flags Protocol Lapse In Bengal, Says No Grudges with 'Sister' Mamata Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Crossed All Limits': PM Modi Slams Mamata Banerjee's TMC For Insulting President Murmu, Tribals Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 21:02 IST PM Modi's remarks came after President Murmu openly expressed displeasure with the West Bengal government for allegedly denying permission for the International Santhal Conclave. Rapid Read PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu (Credits: X) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal for alleged protocol lapses during President Droupadi Murmus visit and for abruptly changing the venue for the International Santhal Conference, scheduled to take place in Bidhannagar. His remarks came after President Murmu, in a rare move, openly expressed displeasure with the West Bengal government for allegedly denying permission for the International Santhal Conclave in North Bengal. She also said neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor any of her ministers received her during his visit, as protocol dictated. Taking to X, PM Modi called the incident shameful and unprecedented", while criticising the TMC government for the casual treatment of the Santal community. He also asserted that the Presidents office was above politics and should be respected. This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened. The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India," he said. This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened.The pain and anguish expressed by Rashtrapati Ji, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people https://t.co/XGzwMCMFrT Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 7, 2026 The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President. It is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santhal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal Government," he added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that the TMC government hit a new low in its anarchical behaviour" by humiliating the President. This lays bare the rot in the TMC Government which not only violates the constitutional rights of citizens at will but also does not spare even the President of India from its tyranny. The disrespect for the highest constitutional post of India that too at a program organised by our tribal sisters and brothers is an insult to our nation and the very values that define our constitutional democracy," he said. The TMC Government in West Bengal today hit a new low in its anarchic behaviour by humiliating the President of India with its glaring disregard for protocol.This lays bare the rot in the TMC Government which not only violates the constitutional rights of citizens at will but Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 7, 2026 ALSO READ: In Rare Rebuke, President Murmu Flags Protocol Lapse In Bengal, Says No Grudges with Sister Mamata What Happened During Murmus Visit? The 9th International Santhali Conclave was initially supposed to take place in Bidhannagar. However, Murmu alleged that West Bengal authorities changed the venue to a smaller one in Goshaipur near Bagdogra Airport, citing congestion. Organisers also complained about improper stage arrangements and poor toilet facilities. Murmu later travelled to Bidhannagar in the Phansidewa area, a region with a significant Adivasi population, and said that all Santhals will not be able to go to the second venue. Perhaps the administration thought that no one would be able to go there. They thought that the President would arrive, hold the event in an empty place, and return. I dont know what came to their minds, but I am very hurt," she added. President Murmu also flagged protocol lapses by the Bengal government, saying that neither the Chief Minister nor the state ministers came to receive her at the airport. Only Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb had arrived at the airport to welcome the President. I am also a daughter of Bengal. Yet I am not allowed to come here. Mamata Didi is like my younger sister. I dont know, maybe she is angry with me for some reason. Anyway, I have no complaints with her. May she also stay well, and may all of you stay well," she said. The BJP called the events as a complete collapse of the constitutional framework" under the Trinamool Congress. When a state government begins to disregard the dignity of the office of the President of India, it reflects not just administrative failure but a breakdown of constitutional propriety and governance. This is not merely discourtesy. It is institutional disrespect and another reminder of how governance in Bengal has descended into chaos," said BJP leader Amit Malviya. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: March 07, 2026, 19:31 IST News politics 'Crossed All Limits': PM Modi Slams Mamata Banerjee's TMC For Insulting President Murmu, Tribals Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 24-Year-Olds Heart Starts Racing After Taking Just One Tablet: What Went Wrong? What You Should Know? | Explained Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 16:04 IST A doctor shared a case where a 24-year-old was rushed to the ER with a heart rate of 212 after a night with friends. Rapid Read The episode was later linked to an over-the-counter tablet that affected how his body processed THC. (Photo Credit: X) A doctor has shared an unusual case from the emergency room that caught many peoples attention online. The post describes how a young man suddenly developed an extremely high heart rate after what seemed like a normal night with friends at a hostel. The doctor used the incident to highlight how even a small detail in someones medical history can make a big difference. The story also sparked discussion among users about drug interactions and how medicines can affect the body in unexpected ways. Doctor Describes Emergency Case Of 24-Year-Old Patient In the post, the doctor wrote, A 24-year-old was brought to the ER with a heart rate of 212. His batchmates carried him in from the hostel. Palpitations. Breathlessness. Panic couldnt sit still, kept grabbing the bed rail HR 212 on the monitor." The doctor explained that the patient was restless and clearly distressed when he arrived at the hospital. Tests showed he had a condition called narrow complex tachycardia, which causes the heart to beat very fast. The post continued, Narrow complex tachycardia. No prior cardiac history. No previous episodes. Completely healthy till tonight. History revealed theyd been drinking. Smoking cigarettes. Normal hostel night. Then someone brought a joint. Single joint. Passed around among five of them. Four of them were fine. Only he ended up here." Doctors Search For The Reason Behind The Reaction The doctor explained that everyone present that night had consumed the same things. Same alcohol. Same cigarettes. Same joint. Same room. So what was different about him?" At the hospital, doctors tried a Valsalva manoeuvre, a technique used to slow down a fast heartbeat. The doctor wrote, We tried a Valsalva. The rhythm broke. He converted back to sinus." Once the patients heart rhythm returned to normal, doctors asked more questions about his recent activities and medications. A Single Tablet Becomes The Key Detail During the second round of questioning, the patient remembered something he had taken earlier. He thought for a moment. Then he said. He had taken one tablet the previous day. Something small. Something he bought over the counter." The doctor revealed the medicine was fluconazole. Fluconazole 150 mg. One tablet. Taken for a minor fungal issue. Available without prescription. Forgotten about completely." The post explained that the medicine can interfere with how the body processes certain substances. Fluconazole is a potent CYP inhibitor. Thats one of the pathways responsible for clearing THC from the body." According to the doctor, blocking this pathway meant the substance stayed in the body longer and turned into a stronger active compound. Block that pathway and THC doesnt metabolise normally. Instead it accumulates as 11-OH-THC, its active metabolite which crosses the blood brain barrier more efficiently than THC itself and produces stronger sympathetic stimulation," the post said. The doctor also noted that fluconazole stays active in the body for a long time. Fluconazole has a half life of about 30 hours. It was still fully active when that joint came around." A 24 year old was brought to the ER with a heart rate of 212His batchmates carried him in from the hostel. Palpitations. Breathlessness. Panic Couldnt sit still, kept grabbing the bed rail HR 212 on the monitor. Narrow complex tachycardia No prior cardiac history. No pic.twitter.com/Q1e8YTEZyp DocXus (@docxusofficial) March 6, 2026 Post Sparks Discussion Among Users Online Because of this interaction, the effect of the drug became stronger for the patient compared to his friends. His friends cleared the THC normally. His liver couldnt. The same joint effectively became a much larger dose. His sympathetic system fired. His heart rate hit 212." The doctor summed it up by writing, Same alcohol. Same cigarettes. Same joint. But one over-the-counter tablet had quietly changed the evening." The post also highlighted an important medical lesson. Drug interactions dont care why you took the drug. They dont care that it was just ONE tablet. Sometimes the critical detail is the one patients leave out. The small thing they thought wasnt worth mentioning." Shared on March 6, the post has received over 69,000 views and several reactions. A user commented, Medicine reminder: The one small tablet can change the whole clinical picture." Another wrote, The same thing happened to my colleague. He took Rhinos one day before. Rhinos were his medicine for running nose, and he never had tachy before." Just tell me is he fine now?" one person asked. The doctor later replied, he converted quickly and was fine within minutes of reaching ER." Can one small tablet really trigger an unexpected reaction in the body? Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 16:04 IST News viral 24-Year-Olds Heart Starts Racing After Taking Just One Tablet: What Went Wrong? What You Should Know? | Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Pune Rolls Out Special Womens Day Tour To 8 Destinations: Price, Route, What All Is Covered | Explained Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 15:20 IST According to officials, the special buses will depart in the morning between 8:30 am and 9:00 am from key locations across the city. Rapid Read The tourism initiative will cover several well-known destinations in Pune. (Photo Credit: X) To celebrate International Womens Day, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has announced special one-day tourism bus services across eight routes around the city. The initiative aims to encourage women to step out, travel, and explore nearby religious, historical, and scenic destinations while marking the occasion with friends and family. The buses will operate on March 8 and will take passengers to multiple tourist spots at a concessional fare of Rs 500 per person. Special Tourism Routes for Women Travellers According to officials, the special buses will depart in the morning between 8:30 am and 9:00 am from key locations across the city. Major boarding points include Pune Railway Station, Swargate Bus Stand, and Hadapsar Gadital Bus Stand. All the buses will return to Pune by evening the same day, offering a structured full-day travel plan for passengers. The tourism initiative will cover several well-known destinations in Pune, including Morgaon, Jejuri, Saswad, Narayanpur, Theur, Ramdara, Sinhagad foothills, Khadakwasla and Panshet dams, Tulapur, Ranjangaon, Lonavala, Bhuleshwar and Baneshwar. As per a report in Pune Pulse, some tours focus on religious circuits, while others explore scenic and historical sites in the city. Affordable Travel Initiative The transport body said the programme has been planned specifically keeping women commuters in mind. To make the trips accessible to a wider group of travellers, PMPML has fixed a flat fare of Rs 500 for the full-day tour. It expects strong public interest in the initiative and has advised passengers to book their seats in advance due to limited capacity. Positive Response from Women Passengers Many women commuters have welcomed the initiative, saying it offers a safe and economical opportunity to travel together. Snehal Shirodkar, a resident of Hadapsar, said that this initiative makes it easier for women to plan group travel. Usually, transport becomes expensive and difficult to arrange. A fixed bus tour at this price makes it simple and safe for us to travel together," Shirodkar said. Another commuter, Aarti Karnik from Kothrud, said safety and planning challenges often discourage women from travelling long distances. Many women hesitate to travel long distances because of safety concerns or planning issues. With PMPML organising these tours, it becomes easier and more comfortable to explore places around Pune," she added. International Womens Day 2026 Observed every year on March 8, International Womens Day is celebrated to honour womens achievements in many aspects of life. In 2026, the official United Nations theme is Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls." The day honours womens progress across social, economic, cultural, and political spheres while serving as a global call for advancing gender equality. First established in 1911, the movement celebrates a major landmark in 2026: 115 years of collective action, advocacy, and progress toward gender equality. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 07, 2026, 15:19 IST News viral Pune Rolls Out Special Womens Day Tour To 8 Destinations: Price, Route, What All Is Covered | Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Asim Munir In Riyadh, Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia Against Iran, Assures Defence Support | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 11:12 IST Field Marshal Munir assured the Saudi leadership that Pakistan stands ready to provide defence and strategic support to the kingdom in the event of threats to its security Rapid Read Field Marshal Asim Munir held high-level security talks with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh. (News18) Pakistan has signalled strong strategic support for Saudi Arabia amid rising tensions with Iran, as the countrys army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, held high-level security talks with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The meeting comes at a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with several Gulf countries expressing concern over Iranian military activity. During the meeting, the two sides discussed what Saudi officials described as Iranian attacks and aggressions against the kingdom and explored measures to counter them within the framework of the existing strategic defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Khalid bin Salman said the discussions focused on steps required to halt these attacks and protect regional stability. We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them within the framework of our Joint Strategic Defence Agreement," he said, adding that such actions threaten the broader security environment of the region. Both sides stressed that continued escalation could undermine regional stability and called on Iran to act with restraint and avoid miscalculation. Pakistan Assures Strategic and Defence Support According to security sources familiar with the discussions, Field Marshal Munir assured the Saudi leadership that Pakistan stands ready to provide defence and strategic support to the kingdom in the event of threats to its security. The talks also focused on strengthening joint military coordination and operational frameworks between the two countries during the ongoing Middle East crisis. Officials discussed mechanisms for closer intelligence sharing, defence cooperation and coordinated responses to emerging threats in the region. The meeting was attended by Saudi Arabias Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, and intelligence adviser Professor Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif. On the Pakistani side, Brigadier General Muhammad Javed Tariq, secretary to the army chief, was also present. Strategic Defence Pact in Focus The discussions come within the context of a strategic defence pact signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in 2025, which significantly strengthened military cooperation between the two countries and established a framework for joint defence against external aggression. Under the agreement, any attack on one country could potentially be treated as an attack on both. Recent Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi territory have raised concerns across the Gulf and prompted Riyadh to consult its security partners under the framework of this defence arrangement. Regional Alignments Shifting Pakistans visible alignment with Saudi Arabia during the current crisis highlights the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. Islamabad has historically maintained close defence ties with Riyadh, including military training cooperation, intelligence sharing and strategic coordination. Analysts say Pakistans support for Saudi Arabia could play a significant role if tensions between Iran and Gulf states escalate further, potentially drawing Islamabad more deeply into regional security dynamics. For now, officials from both countries have emphasised the importance of preventing further escalation while maintaining readiness to protect their national security interests and regional stability. Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia First Published: March 07, 2026, 11:12 IST News world Asim Munir In Riyadh, Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia Against Iran, Assures Defence Support | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Crowned In Glory, Buried On Foreign Land: How Irans Last Shah Died Far From Home Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 13:10 IST Educated partly in Switzerland, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi inherited the kingdom at a moment of geopolitical tension and rising nationalism. Rapid Read For decades, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was known as the King of Kings a monarch who ruled one of the Middle Easts most powerful states. (Image: Getty) The final days of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Irans last monarch, were marked not by imperial grandeur but by illness, political isolation and exile. For decades, he was known as the King of Kings" a monarch who ruled one of the Middle Easts most powerful states and hosted lavish celebrations attended by global leaders and royalty. Yet when he died in 1980, the once-powerful ruler was far from the country he had governed for nearly four decades. A King Who Ruled Iran for Nearly Four Decades Mohammad Reza Pahlavi became the Shah of Iran in 1941, after Allied forces forced his father, Reza Shah, to abdicate during World War II. However, he was formally crowned 26 years later, after ascending to the throne, on October 26, 1967. He delayed the coronation until his 48th birthday to signify that his country had achieved stability and progress. Educated partly in Switzerland, the young monarch inherited a kingdom at a moment of geopolitical tension and rising nationalism. During his reign, the Shah sought to transform Iran into a modern state. His ambitious reform programme, known as the White Revolution, expanded infrastructure, improved literacy, and promoted industrial growth using the countrys vast oil revenues. But modernisation came with a cost. Critics accused the Shah of ruling with an iron hand, suppressing dissent and concentrating power around the monarchy. By the late 1970s, growing inequality, political repression and anger against his pro-Western policies triggered mass protests across Iran. A Revolution Forced The King To Flee The unrest eventually exploded into the 1979 Iranian Revolution, led by exiled cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Demonstrations intensified, and the monarchys authority collapsed. On January 16, 1979, Mohammad Reza Shah left Iran, officially for medical treatment but effectively in exile. He never returned. Within months, a national referendum abolished the monarchy and established the Islamic Republic of Iran, ending the 2,500-year tradition of Persian kingship. A Monarch Without A Home Exile proved to be a humiliating journey for the former ruler. Countries that had once welcomed him as an ally were now reluctant to host a deposed king whose presence could trigger diplomatic tensions with Irans new revolutionary government. In the months after leaving Iran, the Shah moved repeatedly across continents. He sought temporary refuge in Egypt, Morocco, the Bahamas and Mexico, while quietly battling a form of lymphatic cancer. In October 1979, the United States allowed him to enter for medical treatment. The decision angered Irans revolutionary leadership and helped spark the US Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, where militants held more than 50 Americans captive for 444 days while demanding the Shahs return to face trial. The political storm forced the ailing monarch to leave again. From the United States, he travelled to Panama, where uncertainty over his legal status and fears of extradition deepened his isolation. Eventually, one leader agreed to take him in: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who offered the Shah asylum despite diplomatic risks. By early 1980, the Shah arrived in Cairo with his wife, Empress Farah, physically weakened and politically abandoned. Once the ruler of a wealthy oil state and host to world leaders, he now lived quietly under protection in Egypt. On July 27, 1980, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi died at the age of 60 in Cairo after complications related to his cancer. He was buried in Cairos Al-Rifai Mosque, far from the land he had ruled for 37 years. Egypt granted him a state funeral a final gesture of honour for a king who had once been among the most powerful rulers in the Middle East. His son, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, later declared himself the heir to the throne in exile, but Iran remained under the Islamic Republic established after the revolution. First Published: March 07, 2026, 13:10 IST News world Crowned In Glory, Buried On Foreign Land: How Irans Last Shah Died Far From Home Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Deadly Blast Rocks South Waziristan Fuel Station In Pakistan: 10 Killed, Many Injured | Exclusive Details Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 20:19 IST A probe is underway to determine whether the carnage was caused by a remote-controlled IED planted at the fuel station or a suicide bomber The incident comes at a time of heightened regional tension and a deteriorating security situation along the Durand Line. Representational image A devastating explosion tore through a petrol station in the Lower Wana area of South Waziristan in Pakistan on Saturday, claiming the lives of at least ten people and leaving several others critically injured, CNN-News18 has learnt. The blast, which occurred during a busy hour at the fuel station, has once again plunged the restive tribal district into a state of mourning and high alert. Rescue teams and law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene immediately following the blast to shift the deceased and wounded to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Wana. Hospital sources have expressed concern that the death toll may rise, as several of the injured remain in a precarious condition. Preliminary investigations are currently underway to determine the exact nature of the explosion, said sources. Security officials are scrutinising the site to ascertain whether the carnage was caused by a remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted at the station or a suicide bomber targeting the facility. While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack as of Saturday evening, the region has seen a sharp uptick in militant activity over the past month. The incident comes at a time of heightened regional tension and a deteriorating security situation along the Durand Line. Over the last fortnight, South Waziristan and neighbouring North Waziristan have been the site of frequent skirmishes and targeted attacks. This latest tragedy follows a suicide bombing just a day prior in North Waziristan, which targeted a security check post, further straining the capacity of local law enforcement. The blast has also sparked panic among the local population, who have been grappling with fuel shortages and economic instability caused by the broader regional conflict between Iran and Israel. The destruction of a key petrol pump in Wana not only represents a loss of life but also a direct blow to the already fragile supply chain in the tribal belt. Following the explosion, security forces cordoned off the Lower Wana area, launching a massive search and strike operation to apprehend any facilitators involved in the planning of the attack. Local authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid crowded areas as the threat level remains high across the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. First Published: March 07, 2026, 20:19 IST News world Deadly Blast Rocks South Waziristan Fuel Station In Pakistan: 10 Killed, Many Injured | Exclusive Details Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Deliberate Targeting': Iran Accuses US, Israel Of Killing Civilians, Questions UNSC Silence Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 10:54 IST Iran Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani said at least 1,332 civilians, including women and children, have been killed so far in the attacks, while thousands more have been injured. Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani. (ANI) Iran has accused the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict, saying that their claim of targeting only military bases is a lie and baseless as they continue a brutal and massive attack on Iran and its people. While speaking at the United Nations Security Council, Irans ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani said that the attacks were causing large-scale civilian casualties. Iravani said that Iranian cities and residential areas were being hit indiscriminately. Iranian cities are being attacked indiscriminately. Densely populated residential area and critical civilian infrastructure are deliberately targeted They are dropping 2,000 pound bomb in densely populated civilian areas. Their intention is clear, to terrorise civilians, massacre innocent people, and cause maximum destruction and suffering" he said as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani says, " The US and Israeli regime continue a brutal and massive attack on Iran and its people They deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure Iranian cities are being pic.twitter.com/eEIi1Qi9iG ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2026 According to him, at least 1,332 civilians, including women and children, have been killed so far in the attacks, while thousands more have been injured. He said airports, schools, hospitals, residential buildings, mosques and other civilian facilities had been damaged or destroyed. So far, more than 180 Iranian children across the country have lost their lives as a result of this criminal war More than 20 schools have been damaged, 13 health care facilities have been attacked" he added. Iravani further criticised the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for failing to act on the raging war. Despite our repeated communication to the Security Council calling for an immediate halt to this criminal war, the Council has remained silent," he said. The Iranian envoy also condemned the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which he said was attacked by the United States in international waters. He described the strike as a dangerous act of aggression" and a violation of international law. United States committed a dangerous act of aggression at sea, nearly 2,000 miles from Irans shore. The Iranian frigate Dena which was on the goodwill visit and upon invitation was with the Indian Navy and carrying around 130 sailors was attacked in international waters. Nearly 100 Iranian sailors were martyred. The US committed a war crime. This heinous and unlawful attack constitute a grave violation of the law and the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation," he added. The Iranian ambassador called on the UN Security Council to intervene firmly, clearly, and without delay" to halt what he described as a joint military campaign by the United States and Israel against his nation. We reiterate our call on the Security Council and Secretary General to condemn the aggression, war crimes, and crime against humanity that are being committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against our people. To force the aggressor to put an immediate end to all crimes and military attack against Iran and against civilian and civilian infrastructure. To ensure accountability for these grave violation of international humanitarian law and war crimes," he said. Meanwhile, The US-Israeli war on Iran entered second week with Tehran launching fresh missile strikes on the military bases of the two countries in West Asia. Israeli forces also struck Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, where eight people were killed. Lebanon was dragged into the conflict on Monday, when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over 1,230 people have died in Iran since the start of the war. In Lebanon, over 70 people have been killed, about a dozen in Israel have died, and six US troops have also been killed. (With inputs from agencies) Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 10:54 IST News world 'Deliberate Targeting': Iran Accuses US, Israel Of Killing Civilians, Questions UNSC Silence Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Flights Seen Holding Over Dubai Airspace After Intercepted Drone Debris Falls Near Airport Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 10:02 IST Dubai authorities dismissed such speculations that there had been a direct strike at the airport, and said that the situation involved a minor incident caused by falling debris. Airspace Clears Over Dubai Airport After Minor Incident from Drone Debris. (X) Several flights bound for Dubai International Airport were seen holding in nearby airspace after debris from an intercepted drone or missile fell close to the airport. According to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, multiple aircraft circled or delayed their approach to Dubai amid reports of a possible Iranian drone strike. Flights bound for Dubai are holding after a reported drone/missile strike in close proximity to the airport. https://t.co/Xv8JfcamE6 pic.twitter.com/Q41IirIJCV Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 7, 2026 An Iranian drone reportedly exploded over Dubai International Airport in the UAE just moments ago. pic.twitter.com/lo7EZlz4Fd Egypts Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) March 7, 2026 However, Dubai authorities dismissed such speculations that there had been a direct strike or major explosion at the airport, and said that the situation involved a minor incident" caused by falling debris after an interception. Officials said the incident was quickly contained and no injuries were reported. Dubai authorities have confirmed that a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception has been successfully contained. No injuries have been reported. Authorities have also denied reports circulating on social media regarding any incidents at Dubai International Airport," Dubai Media Office said in a post on X. Dubai authorities have confirmed that a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception has been successfully contained. No injuries have been reported. Authorities have also denied reports circulating on social media regarding any incidents at Dubai Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 7, 2026 After hovering over the Dubai airport for a bit, aircraft started moving closer towards it, FlightRadar24.com reported. Additional aircraft have now moved to a closer hold to the airport, though arrivals have not yet resumed," the tracker said in a post. Dubai authorities earlier issued an emergency safety notice asking passengers and airport staff to move to designated shelter areas inside the terminal buildings and stay away from windows until further instructions. Due to the current situation and a potential missile threat, all passengers and airport personnel are requested to proceed immediately to the nearest designated shelter-in-place area within the terminal building. Please remain calm, follow airport staff instructions, and stay away from windows and open areas until further notice," the notice read. The development came as the conflict between the United States and Iran continued into its second week, raising security concerns across the region. Dubai International Airport, one of the worlds busiest hubs and ranked second globally after HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport, has faced disruptions in recent days amid heightened tensions in West Asia. Last week, the airport suffered damage following Iranian strikes on Gulf countries. A concourse was damaged, and four staff were injured, an airport statement said, adding that the terminals were previously cleared of passengers. Dubais media office also said debris from an aerial interception sparked a fire at one of the berths at Jebel Ali Port. Dubai is the biggest tourism and trade hub in the West Asia and its airport is one of the worlds busiest travel hubs. Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: March 07, 2026, 10:02 IST News world Flights Seen Holding Over Dubai Airspace After Intercepted Drone Debris Falls Near Airport Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Wayfair is a leading online specialty retailer in the home goods sector, leveraging a vast product assortment and multiple branded websites to capture market share. The companys strategy centers on providing a seamless digital shopping experience, supported by a significant logistics and supply chain infrastructure. The company targets individual consumers seeking home furnishings and decor, with a primary focus on the United States and international markets. Does Mr. Conine maintain a meaningful stake in Wayfair following this sale? Yes; as of Feb. 27, 2026, Mr. Conine retains 169,073 shares directly and 22,857 shares indirectly, providing ongoing exposure to the companys equity. Were any indirect or derivative holdings affected by this transaction? No indirect or derivative securities were disposed in this filing; indirect holdings of 22,857 shares remain attributed to SK Ventures LLC. What percentage of Mr. Conines ownership was impacted in this transaction? This sale accounted for 12.31% of his direct holdings and 12.31% of his total ownership at the time, a higher proportion relative to earlier sales as the available share base has decreased. How does the size of this sale compare to Mr. Conines recent trading activity? The 26,950-share sale is below the median sell-only transaction of 85,000 shares executed by Mr. Conine in the recent period since May 2025, reflecting the reduced available capacity as direct holdings have declined to under 170,000 shares. Steven Conine, Co-Founder of Wayfair (NYSE:W), disclosed the sale of 26,950 shares of Common Stock in multiple open-market transactions on Feb. 26, 2026, as detailed in this SEC Form 4 filing . Story Continues Scale, assortment breadth, and a data-driven approach to merchandising and customer experience underpin Wayfairs competitive positioning in the consumer cyclical sector. What this transaction means for investors Wayfair co-founder and co-chairman Steven Conines sale of 26,950 shares in the company is not a cause for concern. The transactions were part of a prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which Mr. Conine adopted in May of 2025. Such plans are commonly implemented by insiders to avoid accusations of making trades based on insider information. Moreover, Mr. Conine maintained almost 170,000 directly-held shares after the sale, and another nearly 23,000 shares indirectly. This suggests he is not in a rush to eliminate his stake. Mr. Conines sale came at a time when Wayfair stock was doing well. Shares hit a 52-week high of $119.98 in January thanks to strong company performance. Wayfair generated sales of $12.5 billion in 2025, which represented 5% year over year growth. It isnt profitable, but its 2025 net loss of $313 million was down from the prior years loss of $492 million, indicating that its bottom line is improving. As a result of Wayfairs share price increase, its price-to-sales ratio of nearly one is elevated compared to where its been for most of the past year. This suggests now is a good time to sell the stock, but not to buy. Should you buy stock in Wayfair right now? Before you buy stock in Wayfair, 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 Wayfair 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 $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,090,073!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 949% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of March 7, 2026. Robert Izquierdo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Wayfair. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Wayfair's Co-Founder Sells Company Shares Worth $2.1 Million. Is the Stock a Buy or Sell? was originally published by The Motley Fool From IRGC Training To ISIS Plots: Terror Cases Reveal Pakistan's Jihad Pipeline | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 15:49 IST Between 2024 & 2025, cases involving ISIS-inspired threats rose, often tied to online radicalisation networks that begin or intensify in Pakistan before suspects try attacks abroad Rapid Read From the planners of the September 11 attacks who once found refuge in Pakistan to recent cases, Pakistani nationals continue to surface in foiled terror plots targeting the United States. Pakistan has increasingly become a breeding ground for global jihadist activity, with multiple recent cases indicating that Pakistani nationals are being radicalised, recruited, or enabled in ways that allow extremist threats to reach American soil, investigations accessed by CNN-News18 have revealed. The conviction of Pakistani national Asif Merchant on March 6 is the latest example in what security officials say is a wider systemic problem tied to Pakistans terror ecosystem rather than isolated incidents. Merchant, who was convicted in the United States, had allegedly received training from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Pakistan beginning in early 2023. According to investigators, he was later dispatched to the US in 2024 with a plan to hire hitmen to assassinate prominent American political figures, including Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley as retaliation for the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. Authorities said Merchant paid $5,000 to individuals he believed were contract killerswho were in fact undercover FBI agentsand conducted surveillance on potential targets. His case has raised concerns about how Pakistans environment can be exploited by foreign powers such as Iran to recruit and train operatives for anti-US operations. However, Merchants case is only one chapter in a growing list of incidents involving Pakistani nationals linked to extremist plots abroad. In September 2024, 20-year-old Pakistani national Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested near the US border while living in Canada on a student permit. Investigators say Khan was planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York. Authorities allege he aimed to carry out the attack around the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks and intended to kill as many people as possible. Khan reportedly attempted to recruit collaborators online, sought AR-style rifles and knives, and boasted the assault could become the largest attack on US soil since the September 11 attacks. Khan was extradited to the United States in June 2025 and now faces charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and committing acts of terrorism transcending national borders. Investigators say the case demonstrates how extremist intent rooted in Pakistan can manifest in plots targeting the United States. Another alarming case emerged in November 2025 when Pakistani national and University of Delaware student Luqmaan Khan was arrested after police discovered firearms, ammunition, a tactical vest, and a manifesto in his car and residence. According to investigators, Khan had drafted plans for a campus mass shooting, writing that he intended to kill as many people as possible in pursuit of martyrdom. His notes reportedly included strategies to avoid detection and instructions for targeting responding police officers. During questioning, authorities said Khan described martyrdom as one of the greatest things you can do." US law enforcement officials say such incidents reflect a concerning trend of young Pakistani nationals abroad embracing extremist violence. Over the past several years, multiple Pakistani citizens or individuals of Pakistani origin have been charged in the United States with supporting extremist organisations such as ISIS. In one case, a Pakistani doctor was sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to aid the group, while others have been prosecuted for providing material support to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Security analysts note that between 2024 and 2025, cases involving ISIS-inspired threats increased, often tied to online radicalisation networks that begin or intensify in Pakistan before suspects attempt attacks overseas. Pakistans long-standing relationship with extremist groups has also drawn scrutiny. The country has historically harboured Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant organisation responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, including several Americans. Key LeT operative Sajid Mir and others operated from Pakistani territory for years with little action until sustained international pressure forced Islamabad to prosecute them. Critics argue that such selective enforcementcracking down on militants only under external pressurehas allowed anti-Western extremist networks to survive as long as they do not directly threaten Pakistans internal security. While Pakistan has cooperated in certain counter-terror operations, including handing over select ISIS-K suspects, analysts say other groups have been tolerated when they align with strategic interests, particularly in relation to India or Afghanistan. This approach, they argue, creates an environment where radicalisation networks, recruitment pipelines, and foreign intelligence operations can operate with limited oversight. From the planners of the September 11 attacks who once found refuge in Pakistan to recent cases such as Merchant, Shahzeb Khan, and Luqmaan Khan, Pakistani nationals continue to surface in foiled terror plots targeting the United States. Investigators warn that unless Pakistan dismantles these ecosystems rather than selectively cooperating against certain militants, the global community may continue to face recurring threats from individuals emerging from the same networks. Merchants conviction, officials say, is not the end of the story, but only the latest chapter in a much longer and deeply concerning one. Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: March 07, 2026, 15:49 IST News world From IRGC Training To ISIS Plots: Terror Cases Reveal Pakistan's Jihad Pipeline | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Indians Have Been Very Good Actors: US Treasury Secretary After Waiver On Russian Oil Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 10:15 IST US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday announced that Washington issued a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to buy Russian oil already on vessels U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, in the Oval Office. (Reuters File photo) The United States said that it may temporarily ease sanctions on additional Russian crude oil to stabilise global energy markets, and called Indians very good actors" for complying with earlier restrictions on sanctioned crude. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday announced that Washington issued a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to buy Russian oil already on vessels, as global energy markets face supply pressures amid rising tensions in West Asia. He emphasised that Washington allowed the purchases to prevent short-term disruptions in global oil supplies. The Indians had been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil. But to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept the Russian oil. We may unsanction other Russian oil," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview to Fox Business. He said that hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned Russian crude are currently stranded on ships due to sanctions. Allowing those cargoes to reach buyers could quickly boost global supply. By unsanctioning them, Treasury can create supply. And we are looking at that. We are going to keep a cadence of announcing measures to bring relief to the market during this conflict," he added. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright also said Washington had encouraged India to take the Russian oil already on ships around Southern Asia, refine it and move the stocks into the market quickly in order to ensure a flowing supply and ease pressure amid the ongoing conflict. We have implemented short term measures to help keep oil prices down. We are allowing our friends in India to take oil that is already on ships, refine it, and move those barrels into the market quickly. A practical way to get supply flowing and ease pressure," Wright said in a post on X. In an interview to ABC News Live, Wright said that long-term oil supplies are abundant" and there are no worries regarding that, but in the short term, there is a need to get oil on the market. But as oil gets bid up a little bit because of those constraints coming out of the Strait of Hormuz, were taking a short-term action to say all this floating Russian oil storage thats around Southern Asia, its China just backed up, China does not treat their suppliers well, so theres a bunch of floating barrels just sitting there," he said. Weve reached out to our friends in India and said, Buy that oil. Bring it into your refineries. That pulls stored oil immediately into Indian refineries and releases the pressure on other refineries around the world to buy oil that theyre no longer competing with the Indians for in that marketplace," Wright said. These remarks came a day after the US Treasury Secretary announced that the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil, saying the move was intended to stabilise global energy supplies amid rising tensions in West Asia. President Trumps energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil," Bessant said. Terming India an essential partner" of the United States, Secretary Bessent said that Washington anticipates that New Delhi will ramp up its purchase of US oil. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Irans attempt to take global energy hostage." The waiver came as the ongoing tensions in the gulf region as missile strikes in several Gulf countries have impacted the production of oil. The situation has become more tense due to Irans blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime chokepoint that handles 20 percent of the global oil supplies. India is considered to be the largest buyer of Russian crude oil after Moscows invasion of Ukraine. However, India began to cut its purchases of Russian oil earlier this year after Washington imposed an additional 25% tariff for buying Russian oil. Following this, the US lowered the tariffs imposed on New Delhi. Additionally, both India and the US have also secured an interim trade agreement with each other, escalating ties between the two countries. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 09:16 IST News world Indians Have Been Very Good Actors: US Treasury Secretary After Waiver On Russian Oil Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran Judiciary Chief Vows Continued Strikes On Gulf Countries Hours After Pezeshkian's Apology Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 23:35 IST Irans judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei vowed continued strikes on neighbouring countries after President Masoud Pezeshkian made an unusual apology. Rapid Read Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (C), Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, the head of the judiciary and Alireza Arafi, deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts. (Reuters) Irans judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei on Saturday said Tehran will continue to target regional neighbours that are allegedly helping its enemies, warning that heavy attacks on such targets will persist. His remarks came hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made an unusual apology to neighbouring states for the recent attacks, apparently seeking to calm regional anger at Iranian strikes on Gulf civilian targets. The Chief Justices remarks underscored the cracks within the Iranian leadership over its retaliatory campaign. Mohseni-Ejei, who is a member of the interim leadership council that was formed after the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to continue targeting regional neighbours, as per reports. Evidence from Irans armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy," he said. The heavy attacks on these targets will continue." READ MORE: We Are No Easy Prey: UAE President Vows To Defend Country In First Remarks After Iran Strikes He also emphasised that this strategy is currently being implemented and that the government and other pillars of the establishment are in full agreement on the matter. Pezeshkians Apology These remarks came after Pezeshkian issued a video message apologising to neighbouring countries, stating that the Iranian armed forces would no longer attack these nations. I apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast by state television. The Iranian president said the country had adopted a policy of refraining from attacks on neighbouring nations unless those territories were used to launch strikes against Iran. However, US President Donald Trump cast Irans apology as a surrender, while saying the country would be hit very hard" on Saturday. Pezeshkians office reiterated that Irans military would respond firmly to attacks from US bases in the region. Hamid Rasai, a hardline Iranian cleric and lawmaker, criticised Pezeshkian for his apology. Mr Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable," he said on X, adding that the Assembly of Experts must announce the end of the Interim Leadership Councils activities by introducing the next Leader. Iranian Attacks Continue Soon after Pezeshkians remarks, Irans Revolutionary Guards said their drones struck a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi. Dozens of explosions were reported in Dubai, Riyadh, Kuwait and Bahrain as Tehran stepped up its attacks. Bahrains Interior Ministry reported that an Iranian attack caused a fire and material damage to a house and several surrounding buildings in Manama. A ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultain Air Base in Saudi Arabia was also reported. Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that neighbouring countries will not enjoy peace" as long as there were US bases in the region, which are being used to launch attacks on Tehran. Irans Revolutionary Guards also said they were targeting separatist groups" in Iraqs Kurdistan region, which hosts bases operated by several Iranian Kurdish militant groups and which lies across the border from Irans own Kurdish region. Over 1,300 people have died in Iran since the start of the war. In Lebanon, over 70 people have been killed, about a dozen in Israel have died, and six US troops have also been killed. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 07, 2026, 23:00 IST News world Iran Judiciary Chief Vows Continued Strikes On Gulf Countries Hours After Pezeshkian's Apology Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran President Apologises To Neighbouring Countries For Attacks, Says 'Will Not Strike Unless...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 14:00 IST The Iranian president said the country had adopted a policy of refraining from attacks on neighbouring nations unless those territories were used to launch strikes against Iran. Rapid Read Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. (AFP file photo) Iranian Presdient Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologised to neighbouring countries that were targeted in recent Iranian attacks, saying Tehran would avoid striking regional states unless assaults on Iran originated from their territory. I apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast by state television. The Iranian president said the country had adopted a policy of refraining from attacks on neighbouring nations unless those territories were used to launch strikes against Iran. Iran will not carry out attacks or missile strikes against neighboring countries unless an attack against Iran originates from those countries," Pezeshkian was quoted by Iran International as saying on Saturday. Pezeshkian added that the policy had been approved by Irans interim leadership council, describing it as a step intended to avoid further escalation with countries in the region. He also said that Tehran harbours no hostility toward neighbouring states and does not seek confrontation with governments across the region, even as tensions with Israel and the United States persist. However, Pezeshkian asserted that Tehran would not surrender". The enemies must take their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," he said. For the past week, Iran has been launching missiles in retaliation for the killing of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The strikes have hit several Gulf locations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, with videos circulating online showing widespread destruction. The United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes across Iran on February 28 following stalled nuclear talks and allegations that Tehran had resumed its nuclear activities. The operation, called Operation Epic Fury", targeted multiple Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in the joint US-Israel strikes on Tehran while he was at his compound. His daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were also killed in the attack. Khameneis wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, later died after succumbing to injuries sustained during the strikes. Location : Iran First Published: March 07, 2026, 13:35 IST News world Iran President Apologises To Neighbouring Countries For Attacks, Says 'Will Not Strike Unless...' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Iran Will Be Hit Very Hard': Trump Promises 'Complete Destruction, Certain Death' In Tehran Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 19:13 IST Donald Trump said relentless US and Israeli pressure had forced Iran to apologise for targeting neighbouring countries, and vowed to intensify the campaign against Tehran. Rapid Read A file photo of US President Donald Trump (AP) US President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed that Iran would be hit very hard today, and certain areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting before would be marked for complete destruction and certain death." His remarks came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries that were targeted in recent Iranian attacks, saying Tehran would avoid striking regional states unless assaults on Iran originated from their territory. Taking credit for Pezeshkians apology, Trump claimed that Iran had apologised and surrendered" to its Middle East neighbours and that relentless US and Israeli pressure had forced Tehran to stop targeting neighbouring countries. Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless US and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries," he said on Truth Social. Trump also called Iran the Loser of the Middle East" and promised to hit the country hard until total surrender. Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time," he said. ALSO READ: What Is Shield Of The Americas? Trump Meets Latin American Leaders To Take On Cartels This followed a week of escalating violence across the region after the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States expanded beyond Iranian territory. Iranian missiles and drones targeted several Gulf states hosting US military facilities, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, prompting strong regional condemnation. Iran, which launched hundreds of missiles targeting US and Israeli facilities in the Gulf region, has now decided to halt attacks on nearby countries unless they were used as a base for strikes against the Islamic Republic after widespread condemnation from Gulf countries. Despite the apology, Pezeshkian rejected calls by Trump for Irans unconditional surrender," saying the country would continue defending itself if attacked. US Bombers Land In Britain Meanwhile, three US B-1 bombers capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles have landed in the UK after Prime Minister Keir Starmer approved defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, according to BBC. Starmer had earlier refused to grant permission for the US to use UK bases in its joint offensive with Israel against Iran, causing a disagreement with Trump. Trump told journalists in the Oval Office earlier this week he was not happy with the UK" over the decision, which led to US planes flying many extra hours" to carry out strikes last weekend. However, the UKs decision to allow US bombers has not sit well with MPs. American B-1 bombers are landing on British soil before flying off to bomb Iran, yet Keir Starmer gaslights the nation by claiming the UK isnt at war. These aircraft are dropping 2,000lb bombs on schools, hospitals and homes in Iran, where the death toll has already surpassed 1,300. If this illegal war is being launched from our bases, then the UK is directly involved," said Zarah Sultana, an MP for Coventry South. While Gulf states host US military bases, they had told Washington they would not allow these to be used for any attacks on Iran. Irans apparent strategy of maximum chaos has driven up the costs of the conflict by raising energy prices, hurting global business and logistics links and shaking trust in the stability of a critical region for the worlds economy. The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Irans UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Iranian attacks have killed 11 people in Israel, and at least six US service members have been killed. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 18:18 IST News world 'Iran Will Be Hit Very Hard': Trump Promises 'Complete Destruction, Certain Death' In Tehran Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mehrabad Strike: Iran Condemns 'Cowardly Act', Israel Says 16 IRGC Aircraft Destroyed Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 20:43 IST Iran warned of retaliation after Israeli strikes on Mehrabad Airport. Foreign Minister Araghchi condemned the attack. Iran also accused the US of hitting a desalination plant. Iran warned of retaliation after Israeli strikes on Mehrabad Airport. Foreign Minister Araghchi condemned the attack. Iran also accused the US of hitting a desalination plant. (Image: reuters) Iran has warned it will respond with force after Israeli strikes reportedly targeted Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the alleged attack, saying targeting civilian aviation facilities was unacceptable. Targeting our airports is a cowardly act and we will respond to it with force," Araghchi said in remarks reported by Iranian media. The reaction came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out a wave of overnight airstrikes on Tehran, destroying 16 aircraft belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force at Mehrabad Airport. According to the Israeli military, the airport had been used by the Quds Force as a logistical hub to support Iran-aligned militant groups across the Middle East, including Lebanons Hezbollah. The IDF said aircraft operating from the airport had been used to transport weapons and cash to allied groups in the region. Aircraft loaded with weapons and cash took off from the airport numerous times and landed across the region for the use of the Iranian terror regimes proxies," the Israeli military said in a statement. Israel said the strikes were aimed at disrupting the Quds Forces ability to supply and fund its regional network of allied militant groups. Iran Accuses US of Striking Desalination Plant Separately, Iran has accused the United States of targeting a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, claiming the attack disrupted water supplies to around 30 villages. Foreign Minister Araghchi said the strike hit civilian infrastructure and warned that such actions could have serious consequences. The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted," he wrote in a post on X. The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted.Attacking Irans infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran. Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 7, 2026 Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 07, 2026, 20:42 IST News world Mehrabad Strike: Iran Condemns 'Cowardly Act', Israel Says 16 IRGC Aircraft Destroyed Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Nepal Elections: Balendra Shah Trounces KP Oli With RSP On Cusp Of Historic Victory Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 23:30 IST Nepal Elections: Balendra Shahs Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is inching towards a historic victory in Nepal's 275-member House of Representatives. Rapid Read Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is poised to become Nepal's next Prime Minister. (Reuters) Nepal Election 2026: As counting is still underway in Nepal, rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shahs Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is inching towards a historic victory in the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. The poll marks Nepals first general election since Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9 forced the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and led to the dissolution of Parliament. The RSP has maintained a commanding lead in Nepals proportional representation vote count on Saturday. Nepal follows a mixed electoral system, under which 165 members of the House of Representatives are elected through the first-past-the-post system. The remaining 110 are chosen through proportional representation. RSP On Cusp Of Historic Victory So far, the RSP has clinched victory in 78 seats, and is leading in 44 others, shattering the dominance of parties who have reigned over Nepals political battleground for decades . The Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Olis Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) CPN-UML lagged far behind, with 12 and five seats respectively. The RSP has also dominated key constituencies across the Kathmandu Valley, consolidating its position as the leading force in the elections and reflecting widespread voter support. READ MORE: After The Landslide: What Balen Shahs Mega Mandate Means For India-Nepal Relations According to The Himalayan Times, projections indicate that the party is set to win 183 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, just short of a two-thirds majority. If this is true, the RSP would form a government entirely on its own, bringing an end to the coalition politics that have frequently destabilised Nepals governance. This would also mark a dramatic realignment of political power in Nepals democratic history, where a party that contested its first general election in 2022 is poised to form the government alone while major parties have reduced to a fraction of their strength. Balen Shah Defeats Oli The election results have fared worse for former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who was ousted in last years elections. Oli was defeated by Balendra Shah in Jhapa-5 constituency by a massive margin of 49,614 votes. Shah secured 68,348 votes, while Oli managed only 18,734 votes in the constituency widely regarded as the elections epicentre. Oli had previously defeated Nepali Congress leader Khagendra Adhikari by a margin of 28,576 votes in the 2022 parliamentary elections. This marked a stunning political failure for Oli, who has been a dominant figure in Nepals politics. The victory is also deeply personal for Shah, who chose to contest Jhapa-5 specifically to take on Oli as part of his anti-establishment agenda. Oli had been elected from Jhapa in six out of eight elections since 1991. The Nepali Congress, currently in second place, has already conceded defeat. Nepali Communist Partys coordinator and former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal is the only top political figure who won from Rukum East, with others including Oli being defeated by huge margins. Youngest PM In Nepal Balen Shah is on course to become the youngest Prime Minister of Nepal at the age of 44. Popular among the younger generation due to his career as a rapper, Shah began his political career by getting elected as the Mayor of Kathmandu as an independent candidate in 2022. In 2023, Shah was listed in the TIME Magazine among its Top 100 Emerging Leaders." He emerged as the centre of power during the Gen Z protests in 2025, after which he resigned from the position of Kathmandu Metropolitan Mayor on January 18 and sought to compete directly against Oli. PM Modi Congratulates Nepal Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people and the Government of Nepal for the successful conduct of elections and vowed to continue to work closely with the new government. I warmly congratulate the people and government of Nepal on the successful and peaceful conduct of elections. It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly. This historic milestone is a proud moment in Nepals democratic journey," PM Modi said in a post on X. Location : Kathmandu, Nepal First Published: March 07, 2026, 23:30 IST News world Nepal Elections: Balendra Shah Trounces KP Oli With RSP On Cusp Of Historic Victory Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Approves Sale Of 12,000 Aerial Bombs Worth Over $150 Million To Israel Amid Iran Conflict Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 11:51 IST The US approved an emergency $151.8 million bomb casing sale to Israel, bypassing Congress amid Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. (IMAGE: X/IsraeliPMO) The United States has approved an emergency" sale of bomb casings worth $151.8 million to Israel, bypassing congressional review as the conflict with Iran intensifies in West Asia. In a press release, the US State Department said that Israel had requested 12,000 BLU-110A/B general-purpose bomb bodies weighing 1,000 pounds each. The approval was granted after Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency existed requiring the immediate sale in the national security interests of the United States." The proposed sale will improve Israels capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats," it said. In addition to the bomb casings, the package includes US government and contractor engineering, logistics and technical support services. The principal contractor for the sale will be Repkon USA, based in Texas, with some of the munitions expected to be drawn from existing US military stock. Trump Admin Bypasses Congress While US arms sales typically require approval by Congress, Rubio has issued a waiver bypassing the approval, to the consternation of some elected officials. The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defense articles and defense services is in the national security interests of the United States," the State Department said, citing the Arms Export Control Act. The decision has drawn criticism from some lawmakers. Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks said that bypassing congressional review of the arms sale exposes a stark contradiction at the heart of this administrations case for war." The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it was fully prepared for this war. Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story. This is an emergency of the Trump administrations own creation," Meeks said in a statement. Iran Conflict The deal came amid escalating West Asia tensions after United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes by Tehran against Israeli targets and sites hosting US forces in the region. The joint US-Israel strikes targeted key government and military establishments, including the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian President. The targeted strikes also killed Khamenei and his family, including his daughter and granddaughter. Meanwhile, the war has entered its second week with Tehran launching fresh missile strikes on the military bases of the two countries in West Asia. Israeli forces also struck Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, where eight people were killed. Lebanon was dragged into the conflict on Monday, when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over 1,230 people have died in Iran since the start of the war. In Lebanon, over 70 people have been killed, about a dozen in Israel have died, and six US troops have also been killed. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 11:51 IST News world US Approves Sale Of 12,000 Aerial Bombs Worth Over $150 Million To Israel Amid Iran Conflict Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Flight Makes Emergency Diversion After Security Threat, Passenger Detained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 20:59 IST Southwest Flight 2094 to Florida was diverted to Atlanta due to a possible security issue. The flight landed safely, and a passenger was removed by police. FILE PHOTO: A Southwest Airline Boeing 737 MAX 8 REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo A Southwest Airlines flight en route to Florida was diverted to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday night after what the airline described as a possible security matter." Flight 2094 landed safely in Atlanta at around 9:06 p.m., according to a statement from the airline. After landing, a passenger was removed from the aircraft by the Atlanta Police Department, as reported by Fox News. Southwest said the diversion was carried out as a precaution and praised the crew for handling the situation. Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Friday evening after diverting to respond to a possible security matter," a company spokesperson said. We appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew and apologize to our customers for the delay. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees." Authorities have not disclosed what exactly prompted the security concern. It also remains unclear whether any dangerous items were found on the aircraft. Police have not yet released details about the passenger involved or whether the individual will face charges. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 20:59 IST News world US Flight Makes Emergency Diversion After Security Threat, Passenger Detained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mar 10, 2026 09:20 IST Chaos erupted at Israels Ben Gurion International Airport after several passengers were refused boarding due to a quota on the number of passengers on board outbound planes, Times of Israel reported. According to the Israeli news outlet, police were called to check-in counters as passengers voiced their anger. The chaos came as Israels Transportation Ministry said that airlines are not permitted to carry more than 100 passengers on an outbound flight in accordance with the guidelines of the Civil Aviation Authority and the defense establishment. You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Wendys is adding a unique role to its C-suite, posting a job opening for chief tasting officer. The job description is laid out on wendyschieftastingofficer.com and includes a $100,000 salary and the ability to work remotely. The start date is listed as ASAP, with light travel to your local Wendys and/or the couch. Required credentials include: A human mouth. A pulse. Opinions. Creativity. Taste. Wendys promises the job is real and fitting for those who hate their job, are too iconic to be opening PDFs for their boss, told theyre a personality hire, care more about bacon than bottom lines, or are more about JBC than KPI, referencing Wendys signature Junior Bacon Cheeseburger. Basically, youll get paid to eat Wendys, be chill, maybe make some content, and maybe even star in ads. Whether its quarterly vlog check-ins, taste trending, or whatever, youll make cheddar just for liking cheddar, according to the posting. Wendys also lists benefits, including getting paid to eat, earning a custom Wendys Chief Tasting Officer email signature, a job AI cant steal (because AI doesnt have a mouth), $100,000, a Wendys-approved amount of chaos, and career advancement in bite leadership and sauce alignment. Those interested in the role are asked to upload a video depicting why theyre the right fit, with bonus points if they show Wendys branding, products, or a restaurant in their application. In a statement, a company spokesperson said, Wendys is looking for one lucky fan with genuine brand love, creativity, and a personality that fits everything Wendy's stands for. If you're the type who cares more about fresh, never frozen beef than climbing the corporate ladder or knows more about JBCs than KPIs we want you. Apply here and show us what you've got. Notably, this position opens up as Wendys competitor Burger King ramps up its consumer feedback-driven initiatives, including a campaign in which president Tom Curtis gave out his phone number for such feedback. McDonalds also recently created category teams to focus specifically on beef, chicken, and beverages as consumer demand for new, higher quality innovations continues to grow. Wendys could use a tailwind. The chain is in the middle of a turnround plan called Project Fresh following several negative quarters, including Q4 in which same-store sales were down over 11%. US Pressing Sri Lanka Not To Repatriate Iranian Ship IRIS Dena's Crew: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 07:13 IST The vessel, IRIS Dena, had been returning to Iran after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. Sri Lanka Navy personnel assist Iranian sailors during a rescue operation after responding to a distress call from their vessel, the Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena (Reuters) Iran-US War: Days after US torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lankan coast, Washington is reportedly pressing Sri Lanka government not to repatriate survivors from the sunken ship, news agency Reuters reported, citing an internal State Department cable. The government also asked Sri Lanka to not send back the crew of another Iranian ship, IRIS Booshehr, that is in the Sri Lankan custody. A US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena on Wednesday about 19 nautical miles off Sri Lankas southern port city of Galle amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. Sri Lankan authorities launched a rescue operation following a distress signal and recovered at least 87 bodies, while 32 sailors were rescued. The vessel, IRIS Dena, had been returning to Iran after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. According to the cable dated March 6, Jayne Howell, the charge daffaires at the US embassy in Colombo, urged Sri Lankan authorities not to return the survivors of the Dena to Iran. Washington also asked Sri Lanka not to repatriate the 208 crew members of another Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Booshehr, which was stranded in Sri Lankas exclusive economic zone and is currently in Sri Lankan custody. Sri Lankan authorities should minimise Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda," the cable reportedly said. Sri Lanka on Thursday began offloading the Booshehrs crew and moving them to facilities near Colombo. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the island nation had a humanitarian responsibility" to assist the stranded sailors. The Dena, one of Irans newer Moudge-class frigates, had about 180 personnel on board and was armed with missiles, guns and torpedoes. Multiple US officials told CBS News that the vessel was struck by torpedoes fired from the attack submarine USS Charlotte, with the second torpedo hitting and sinking the ship after the first missed. According to the report, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine fired two MK-48 torpedoes at the Iranian warship IRIS Dena. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike, describing the attack as a quiet death" delivered by a torpedo against a warship that believed it was safe in international waters. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 07:13 IST News world US Pressing Sri Lanka Not To Repatriate Iranian Ship IRIS Dena's Crew: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'We Are No Easy Prey': UAE President Vows To Defend Country In First Remarks After Iran Strikes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 22:06 IST UAE President Zayed Al Nahyan said his country had 'thick skin and bitter flesh' after Iran launched attacks on several Gulf nations in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes. Rapid Read UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets an injured patient receiving treatment at a hospital. (Reuters) The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said his country was well in a time of war and told his enemies that it was no easy prey, in his public comments since Iran launched missiles at its Gulf neighbour amid US-Israeli strikes. The UAE is attractive, but dont be misled by the UAEs appearance. The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh we are no easy prey," Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also ruler of Abu Dhabi, said in comments aired on Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday. We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family," he said. Al Nahyan also vowed that the UAE would protect everyone in the country. #_ # pic.twitter.com/kHPdcvotyB UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) March 7, 2026 The UAE president made the remarks on Friday while visiting five civilians injured by the Iranian strikes in the hospital. One of the injured civilians was an Indian. I promise everyone that we will emerge stronger than before, without doubt," he said. After the US-Israeli attacks on February 28, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks, targeting US and Israeli infrastructure in other Gulf countries including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and more. The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have all reported drone or missile attacks over the past week. On Saturday, the UAE defence ministry said that it destroyed 15 ballistic missiles and intercepted 119 drones from Iran, after several parts of the country including Dubai came under attack. The Emirates airline briefly suspended flights to and from Dubai on Saturday, and Dubai authorities cited a minor" incident resulting from a fall of debris after an interception, without saying where the incident happened. ALSO READ: Iran Will Be Hit Very Hard Today: Trump Promises Complete Destruction, Certain Death In Tehran Iran Apologises To Gulf Countries The UAE presidents remarks came after Iran made an unusual apology to neighbouring states for its recent attacks, apparently seeking to calm regional anger at Iranian strikes on Gulf civilian targets. I apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast by state television. The Iranian president said the country had adopted a policy of refraining from attacks on neighbouring nations unless those territories were used to launch strikes against Iran. However, US President Donald Trump cast Irans apology as a surrender, while saying the country would be hit very hard" on Saturday. Pezeshkians office reiterated that Irans military would respond firmly to attacks from US bases in the region. Hours after Pezeshkians announcement, Irans Revolutionary Guards said their drones struck a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi. Iranian attacks on UAE energy sites have also threatened oil storage, refining, and shipping infrastructure. (with inputs from Reuters) Location : Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: March 07, 2026, 22:00 IST News world 'We Are No Easy Prey': UAE President Vows To Defend Country In First Remarks After Iran Strikes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Who Is Asif Merchant? Pakistani Man Convicted Of Plotting To Kill Trump, US Officials Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 08:26 IST Pakistani man Asif Merchant was convicted in Brooklyn for plotting to assassinate US President Trump, linked to Irans IRGC. Pakistani man claims Iranian spies recruited him to kill US politicians including Trump, Biden (Image credit: AP) A Pakistani man was found guilty of plotting to assassinate US President Donald Trump and other American officials in retaliation for the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, prosecutors said. The accused, identified as Asif Merchant, was convicted in a federal court in Brooklyn on charges including murder-for-hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism across national borders. Prosecutors said that Merchant was linked to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and had travelled to the United States to arrange political assassinations. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Merchant arrived in the US in April 2024 and met individuals he believed were hired assailants in New York in June. They were actually undercover law enforcement officers, and Merchant was arrested in July 2024 before leaving the country. Iranian Intelligence Agent Convicted of Terrorism and Murder for Hire in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate U.S. Politicians and Government Officialshttps://t.co/5zZsHByzbT pic.twitter.com/eePzmRitKd FBI (@FBI) March 7, 2026 Authorities said that Merchant admitted during the trial that he had been sent to the US by the IRGC to recruit people to carry out operations, including stealing documents, staging protests and killing a political figure. He even paid $5,000 in advance to the supposed hitmen as part of the plan. He claimed before the court that his family was threatened and that he was forced into the plot to save them. I had no other options. My family was threatened," Merchant told jurors in Brooklyn federal court. This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement," US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said after the verdict. FBI Director Kash Patel said the conviction shows the agencys commitment to stopping threats linked to foreign actors. Merchant tried to hire someone to kill a politician or a US government official, but the FBI and our partners stopped that deadly plot," he said. Who Is Asif Merchant? Merchant, a former banker with a failed banana business, told the court he hoped to eventually inform US authorities about the plot and seek legal residency in the country. He began working with Iranian operatives in Pakistan in late 2022 or early 2023 and received training in surveillance and covert operations. He later travelled to Iran several times to meet his handler before being sent back to the United States in 2024 with instructions to arrange assassinations. His handler, who he named as Mehrdad Yousef, was reportedly a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Merchant said he agreed to work along the plot because Yousef had put pressure on his Iranian relatives". He went on to claim Yousef made an unannounced visit outside his Iran-based home and had displayed a weapon during their meetings. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2026, 08:26 IST News world Who Is Asif Merchant? Pakistani Man Convicted Of Plotting To Kill Trump, US Officials Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Apple built its iconic headquarters known as Apple Park out of necessity. Its main office at 1 Infinite Loop was built in the early 1990s, and the tech giant needed more space to meet its rapid growth, having already used up a lot of the available office space in Cupertino. Steve Jobs set Apple's vision for its role in the computer industry, and almost a decade after retaking control of the company in 1997, he set another visionthis time for the company's headquarters to move into the 21st century. Jobs wouldn't be around to see his vision come to life when the new headquarterswhich includes over four miles of walking and jogging trailsopened in 2017. But its certainly a part of his legacy. Heres what you need to know about where Apples headquarters are located and what it took to build them. Where is Apples headquarters? Apples headquarters are located on a 175-acre property in Cupertino, California, where the company has had its main offices since shortly after being incorporated in 1977. Known as Apple Park, the four-story, ring-shaped building replaced the tech giants original headquarters at 1 Infinite Loop, which was its main office from 1993 to 2017. Apple Parks other names include Apple Campus 2 and The Spaceship, due to its massive circular shape. Construction began in 2014 and involved demolishing buildings on a former Hewlett-Packard campus. Apple employees began moving into Apple Park in 2017. Related: Who owns Apple? Institutional holdings & executives shares How much did it cost to build Apples headquarters? The cost for the construction of Apples headquarters was reportedly around $5 billion. Apple reportedly paid about $300 million for a 98-acre parcel of land that was once Hewlett-Packards campus, according to Cnet. That site was adjacent to 50 acres that Apple bought in 2006 for an undisclosed amount. Jobs presented his replacement-and-rebuild proposal to the Cupertino City Council in June 2011, just a few months before his death, saying that construction of a curved building wouldnt be the cheapest way to build something. The office would be built of curved glass since Apple had architectural experience using glass as a primary building material for its retail outlets. Jobs likened the building to a spaceship landing on the ground. How much are Apple's headquarters worth? Apple is one of the biggest property holders in Santa Clara County, of which Cupertino is a part. Apple Park is Apples main property holding in Cupertino (although it still maintains its 32-acre former campus at 1 Infinite Loop for offices and labs), and based on Santa Claras 2024 annual report, the assessed value of Apples property was $3.287 billion. (A property's assessed value is typically lower than its market value.) Mermaid tails aren't just for kids' birthday parties anymorethey're fueling a global travel trend. At the BBC , Laura Studarus dives into the growing world of "mermaiding," where travelers strap on monofin tails and swim through springs, reefs, and kelp forests as part of an immersive fantasy escape. With "romantasy" travel projected to surge in 2026, the hobby has evolved into a body-positive subculture with conventions, retreats, and certification courses. For some devotees, the appeal is simple. "For me, [it's] about getting in the water and escaping from life for a little bit," says blogger James Barrett. "Pretending that you live in the ocean and all your problems aren't around." Around the world, destinations are leaning into the fantasy. Florida's Weeki Wachee Springs hosts gatherings and workshops, while resorts in the Maldives offer beginner certification classes over coral reefs. Taiwan's DiveCube offers a 69-foot-deep pool designed for underwater fantasy shoots with hotel rooms overlooking the water. California's Catalina Island lets swimmers glide through kelp forests. The movement spans all ages, from twenty-somethings to retirees, and emphasizes safety alongside spectaclebreath-hold training, reef-safe sunscreen, and buddy systems included. But as the Washington Post notes, the immersion doesn't require a resort lagoon or a natural spring. It can happen anywhere, like at a suburban Maryland pool where "pods" gather to be part of a community of likeminded merfolk who enjoy everything from the exercise to the role play. As one enthusiast put it, "To escape into something magical, anything as far from this reality as you can, feels really nice, even if it's just for a couple of hours." Movie titles, it turns out, aren't always memorable enough for us to, well, remember them correctly. In the New York Times, Matthew Huff reports on Film at Lincoln Center's kind-of-amazing Google doc, "WRONG MOVIE TITLES." It's a three-years-and-counting log of what patrons think they're about to see, based on the name of the movie they try to buy tickets for. Everything Everywhere All at Once became Upside Down, Anyways. Anatomy of a Fall morphed into An Economy of a Murder. The Croods got redubbed The Shrouds, while Corsage showed up as Bouquet. Lonely and isolated Americans turned to "unconventional pets" for companionship during the pandemic, writes Amira McKee in the Wall Street Journal . One of those pets turned out to be more than they bargained for: so-called "teacup" pigs, which McKee quickly explains is a misnomer, because there's no such thing. Buyers lured by Craigslist ads and cutesy labels like "micro" or "pixie" are discovering years later (pigs take up to five years to reach full size) that their supposed 40-pound lap pet can easily top 200 pounds. Veterinarians quoted in the story are blunt: There's no recognized breed of "teacup" pig, and "mini" in breeder-speak usually just means smaller than 300 pounds. McKee details how owner Jessica Moul's now-200-pound pig "has outgrown the family bathroom, shredded a couch, and required the installation of heavy-duty horse panels to keep him from escaping the yard of his Arizona home." Sanctuaries and rehoming networks say they field hundreds and even thousands of surrender requests a year. Read the full article for the stories behind pigs named Tucker, Speedy, and Stella, the latter of which has her own bedroom. A glimpse of what the future of flying taxis might look like can be seen in a southeastern Chinese city. In a hangar in Kunshan, about 35 miles west of the port of Shanghai, a sort of gigantic drone was being prepared for a demonstration. The Matrix is a 5-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, considered the largest electric aircraft ever built, at least in China. The Chinese company AutoFlight developed the Matrix, which can carry up to 10 passengers, the AP reports. It has a 66-foot wingspan and is 56 feet long and 11 feet tall. It can travel for an hour without charging. The idea is that eventually it could become a flying taxi, though experts say that it will take some time. AutoFlight conducted a flying demonstration for the AP at its low-altitude flight test facility, first moving the Matrix from the hangar to a helipad. Once the propellers were turned on, and after a few minutes of checks, the eVTOL began rising. It was noisy, but less so than a helicopter. Around 10 minutes later, after two laps around the heliport, the Matrix returned and landed smoothly with no problems. When would a flying taxi become a reality? "This is very tough question for me to answer," said Steven Yang, senior vice president of AutoFlight. But he said it will happen. The company already has a 2-ton passenger eVTOL version but is awaiting needed certifications. Yang said AutoFlight hopes to get a type certificate from regulators by 2027, indicating the aircraft design complies with safety standards. But other regulatory approvals would still be required for an operator certificate allowing the aircraft to carry passengers. The Matrix is still a prototype. Other companies in China are building eVTOL aircraft. One in Guangdong province, EHANG, has already been granted a certification to offer commercial passenger services. That hasn't happened yet. Apart from permits, flying taxis are not yet cruising the skies because they need facilities to support them. As part of what is known as the "low-altitude economy," what is already a reality is the use of drones for food delivery. Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking, said hurdles still needing to be overcome include guaranteeing safety, building required infrastructure, and sorting out logistics such as routing. "All of this ecosystem surrounding the technology itself is also still underdeveloped at this point," he said. "I would say it would take at least another three years to see something more viable." Scientists didn't just find a "living fossil" in West Papuathey found two. In remote rainforests of New Guinea's West Papua region, researchers have confirmed living populations of a tiny striped marsupial called the pygmy long-fingered possum and a ring-tailed glider with a prehensile tail, both believed to have vanished around 6,000 years ago, reports the BBC . The two mammals are what biologists call "Lazarus species," organisms that disappear from the fossil record only to turn up alive much later. Both the BBC and the Guardian have multiple photos of each. "The discovery of one Lazarus taxon ... is an exceptional discovery," says Australian scientist Tim Flannery. "But the discovery of two species, thought to have been extinct for thousands of years, is remarkable." The possum (Dactylonax kambuayai) has a distinctive extra-long fourth finger on each hand, which it uses to fish wood-boring insect larvae out of trees. The ring-tailed glider (Tous ayamaruensis) is related to Australia's greater glider, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It sleeps in tree hollows and uses its grasping tail to navigate the canopy. The finds didn't come from a single lucky trek. Scientists pieced together decades of fossil evidence, old museum specimens, and rare photographs, then teamed up with Indigenous communities in the Tambrauw and Maybrat regions to track down the animals in the field. Local elderssome with only a few decades of contact with the outside worldprovided knowledge crucial to identifying the species. The findings are published in the Records of the Australian Museum. The National Symphony Orchestra's top executive is moving on, adding to the upheaval at the Kennedy Center. Jean Davidson, who has headed the NSO since 2023, said she will leave Washington at the end of March to become executive director and CEO of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. "It has been a great honor serving the NSO," she said in an email to the Washington Post , adding, "It is no secret that it has been a hard year, though." Among the disruptions was President Trump's announcement that he plans to close down the Kennedy Center for two years for remodeling, a decision that blindsided the orchestra's management and musicians. Also, a number of artists and productions have withdrawn from scheduled performances since Trump took over the venue. In January, the Washington National Opera announced it would cut ties with the center. Davidson said her new job will return her to her husband, their home in Los Angeles, and a familiar arts community. "I had intended to stay through the [orchestra's] 100th anniversary in 2031," she told the Los Angeles Times, "but found it more and more difficult to achieve the goals that we had set out to achieve given the external forces that are at work." An American anti-drone system proven to work against Russian drones in Ukraine will soon be sent to the Middle East to bolster US defenses against Iranian drones, two American officials told the AP on Friday. While the US has used Patriot and THAAD missile systems to take down Iranian missiles successfully, there are limited effective anti-drone defenses now in the Middle East, according to one of the officials. The US effort to counter Iran's Shahed drones has been "disappointing," the other said, particularly because the drones fired by Iran are a much more basic version of the same drone that Russia is continuously refining and updating in its war on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted Thursday on X that the US had asked for such assistance, per the Washington Post. The systems, along with advisers, will be dispatched to the Persian Gulf region because "Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security," he said. The effort to bolster US anti-drone capabilities underscores concerns about the planning for an Iranian retaliatory response across the region to the American and Israeli strikes, per the AP. Persian Gulf countries have complained they were not given adequate time to prepare for the torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their territory. The system being sent, known as Merops, flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, using artificial intelligence to navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed. Drones are hard to pinpoint on radar systems calibrated for spotting high-speed missiles and can be mistaken for birds or planes. The Merops system is designed to spot them and take them down. The system also is cheaper than firing a missile that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars at a drone that costs less than $50,000. Rep. Darrell Issa is stepping off the ballot again. The 72-year-old Republican said on Friday that he won't seek another term, setting up a wide-open race in his increasingly Democratic-leaning Southern California district, reports the New York Times . Issa, one of Congress' richest members and a 12-term lawmaker, cited "a new chapter and new challenges" after roughly 25 years in the House and a prior business career. His seat, spanning parts of Riverside and San Diego Counties, was recently reshaped under a redistricting measure backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, turning it into a toss-up thanks to more liberal areas being added. "This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didn't make it lightly," Issa said in a statement, per Politico. The Trump ally had previously retired in 2018 rather than face a tough race, only to return to Congress after a 2020 win. He briefly weighed running in Texas when the new map emerged, but he ultimately stayed put. "I can hold this seat," he said at the time, per the AP. "I'm not quitting on California and neither should anyone else." Friday's announcement followed the filing of Republican Jim Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor, whom Issa promptly endorsed. Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who lost to Issa in 2020 and is running again, framed the retirement as a sign that Republicans fear defeat. The National Republican Congressional Committee thanked Issa for his service and expressed confidence the seat can remain in GOP hands, per the Times. SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S) is one of the cheap AI stocks to buy in 2026. On March 3, 2026, Wells Fargo initiated coverage of SentinelOne with an Equal Weight rating and a $13 price target, with The Fly identifying Richard Poland as the analyst. Reports summarizing the note said Wells Fargo sees SentinelOne as a meaningful player in endpoint security, but one facing heavyweight competition from larger platforms such as CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and Palo Alto Networks. The firm also said SentinelOnes valuation is compelling, while arguing the companys recent phase has been uneven as growth has slowed and management has pushed harder on profitability. The same reports said Wells Fargos field work and CIO survey pointed to endpoint security being a lower priority area heading into 2026, which helps explain the more balanced stance despite the stocks valuation backdrop. Why Wells Fargo Sees Promise in SentinelOne (S) but Stops Short of Going Bullish Pixabay/Public domain SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S) is a cybersecurity company that provides an AI-powered security platform for endpoint, cloud, and identity protection. The company is best known for its Singularity platform. While we acknowledge the potential of S 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: 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. Prime Minister Mark Carney says it's time to formally bar Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from ever taking the throne. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo on Friday, Carney called Andrew's conduct and ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "deplorable" and said it "necessitates" his removal from the royal line of succession, even though the disgraced former prince currently sits eighth in the queue and is considered highly unlikely to ever become king, reports the CBC . Doing so wouldn't be simple. Because King Charles is head of state in 15 Commonwealth realms, Carney said any move would have to be coordinated with those countries to avoid Andrew's accidental elevation in any of them. His comments follow Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's push to start the process after Andrew was arrested for misconduct in public office, which Albanese called "grave" in a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Times of London notes that New Zealand is also on board with yanking Andrew from the line of succession. Andrew has already been stripped of his royal titles over his ties to Epstein, but that didn't affect the laws governing succession. The last major succession change came in 2013, when Commonwealth realms agreed to end male preference and other outdated rulesan example Carney now wants them to follow again, per the CBC. The UK government is said to be mulling Andrew's removal from the succession line. The AP notes that Charles' oldest son, William, is set to be king next, with his three kidsPrince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louisnext in line after him. A woman has sued author and venture capitalist Amy Griffin over her bestselling 2025 memoir The Tell, saying that Griffin's descriptions of childhood sexual abuse in the book were stolen from her experience. The plaintiff IDs herself as Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. An attorney for Griffin called the suit "absurd" and "meritless," per the AP . In The Tell, published a year ago, Griffin writes that undergoing therapy using the psychedelic drug MDMA uncovered previously buried childhood memories of being sexually abused by a teacher at her middle school in Amarillo, Texas, in the 1980s. The memoir was an Oprah's Book Club selection and was also touted by Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow. In the suit, the plaintiff says the descriptions match her own sexual assaults by a different teacher at a school dance and in a school bathroom. The suit says Griffin had reason to know about the abuse. "The Tell constitutes neither a genuine nor harmless memoir," the complaint says, alleging Griffin engaged in intrusion, invasion of privacy, publication of private facts, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress. It seeks damages to be determined at trial. The suit says the plaintiff met with Griffin for the first time in decades in California in 2019, a meeting recounted in the book. But the woman said she didn't discuss her sexual assaults. The plaintiff says she did describe the abuse in detail to a talent agent who called her later about her life story. Per the suit, the agent told the plaintiff he'd learned about her and her stories through an unidentified third party. The lawsuit says the agent stopped contact when she began asking him too many probing questions, and that details from the conversations "found their way into The Tell." The lawsuit also names Griffin's publishers and a ghostwriter as defendants. The New York Times published a story in September raising questions about the book. It included people who expressed doubts about the reliability of the memories. The story also pointed out financial ties between Griffin and the prominent people who helped promote the book. The plaintiff first learned of the existence of the memoir when the Times reached out to her during its reporting. Griffin's attorney said in an email: "We look forward to exposing these meritless claims in court, as well as the deeply flawed New York Times reporting that is at the center of it." A Times rep said in response: "We're confident in the accuracy of our reporting." Iran's president on Saturday apologized for attacks on regional countries even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states, suggesting that Tehran's political leadership couldn't exercise full command over Iran's armed forces. He also rejected US President Trump's repeated demands for surrender . President Masoud Pezeshkian, one member of a tripartite leadership council overseeing Iran since a Feb. 28 airstrike started the war and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , delivered the defiant message exactly one week into a conflict that has spread across the region, rattled global markets and air travel, and left Iran's own leadership greatly weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. The message, seemingly filmed in a hurry without professional broadcast equipment, again underlined the limited powers being exercised by the theocracy's leaders over its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the ballistic missiles targeting Israel and others. It answered only to Khamenei and now appears to be picking its own targets as the conflict widens. Pezeshkian's statement on Saturday said the country's three-man leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks. "I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf," the president said. "From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy." Pezeshkian also kept up his criticism of Trump's call for Iran to unconditionally surrender to America. "That's a dream that they should take to their grave," he said. Trump warned in a social media post on Saturday that there would be more targets in the war, writing, "Today Iran will be hit very hard!" He added, without elaborating: "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time." The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. More here. At least eight people died, flights were disrupted, and the military was deployed as motorists in the Kenyan capital were stranded for hours on Saturday after roads were flooded following heavy rains overnight. George Seda, the police boss in Nairobi, said Saturday that six people drowned and two others were electrocuted, warning that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue, per the AP . Seda also said that more than 100 vehicles were damaged, with some overturning on the roadside and in parking bays. Kenya Airways on Saturday said flights were disrupted, with some diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa, and that disruptions would continue for hours. The military was deployed to assist emergency rescue services, and the local toll road operator waived fees for an elevated road. Heavy rain began on Friday and continued overnight, submerging vehicles and forcing motorists in some areas to wade through hip-high water to reach higher ground. Videos of flooded homes and overturned vehicles were shared on social media. A military rescue unit was deployed overnight to support emergency services as Kenya Red Cross response units struggled to reach people in need. Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Ahmed Idris said search and rescue teams were working tirelessly to assist those stranded. "We are severely limited by the traffic and the situation on what used to be roads. We are doing our best to reach those in need," he wrote on X. Kenya's Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku said Saturday that he was coordinating national disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. He urged Kenyans to be cautious and prioritize their safety. Some residents blamed the flooding on clogged drainage systems, stating that city authorities ought to have prepared by ensuring there was functional drainage infrastructure ahead of the rainy season. One resident wrote on X that "the whole city is flooded yet again. How long will officials keep ignoring the lack of drainage?" Rains have been pounding the country since late February, which marks the start of the long-rains season. President Trump has been talking privately about putting a limited number of US troops on the ground in Iran , multiple current and former US officials tell NBC News . According to those sources, Trump has floated deploying a small, targeted contingent rather than launching a large-scale ground invasion. The discussions, said to have been held with aides and Republican allies outside the White House, reportedly have centered on scenarios such as securing Iran's uranium stockpiles and helping to set up a post-war government friendly to US interests, including cooperation on oil production similar to the US-Venezuela relationship after Nicolas Maduro's capture. NBC's sources say no decisions have been made and no orders issued. Publicly, Trump has kept the option open without endorsing it. "I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground," he told the New York Post earlier this week, saying he "probably" wouldn't need them but could use them "if they were necessary." The White House also said on Wednesday that ground troops in Iran are "not part of the plan ... at this time," per PBS. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NBC its report was based on "assumptions from anonymous sources" outside the president's national security team and insisted that Trump "always, wisely keeps all options open." Leavitt added that anyone implying he favors one specific option has "no real seat at the table." Foreign policy analysts say any ground role would most likely involve special operations raids or, in the event of regime collapse, missions to help secure nuclear materials and shape a new government. Others note that the calculus could change if Iran appears to be winning a war of attrition. The conflict so far has been limited to airstrikes, but since it began last Saturday, six US service members have been killed and 18 wounded in Iranian counterattacks, per the Pentagon. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, tells NBC that the country is ready to confront any US troops sent in: "We are waiting for them ... that would be a big disaster for them." Another Iranian official and ally to the late Ayatollah Ali Khameini adds, per Al Jazeera, that Iranian forces are "ready to disgrace those corrupt American officials by killing and capturing thousands." (Rumors of US ground troops heading to Iran had swirled earlier after an Army drill was canceled.) Barack Obama used the pulpit at Jesse Jackson's funeral in Chicago on Friday to deliver one of his sharpest public rebukes of Donald Trump's presidency, all without ever saying Trump's name or directly referencing his administration. The former president warned that "every day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions," citing threats to the rule of law, "offense to common decency," and leaders who urge Americans "to fear each other, and to turn on each other," per the Hill . "We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope," he said. "Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated and bullying and [mockery] masquerading as strength." Obama also made clear that he's not interested in a return to the Oval Office for a third term, which is currently not allowable by law, per Newsweek. When someone in the audience at the funeral yelled out that Obama should consider "four more years," Obama replied, "Nah, see, I believe in the Constitution." Trump has previously suggested he would "love" to serve for a third term, even though there's no way at the moment to legally do so. The service for Jackson, the 84-year-old civil rights leader and former presidential candidate who died last month, drew a lineup of Democratic heavyweights, including Obama, former presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton, and former VP Kamala Harris, along with Rev. Al Sharpton and other prominent progressives, per the Guardian. Obama praised Jackson as someone who pushed the country toward "a harder path" and urged Americans to be "messengers of hope," per the Hill. Biden followed with a shorter critique of the Trump administration's values, saying Jackson "knew who we were at our best." Clinton avoided any Trump references, focusing on Jackson's legacy, while Trump, who didn't attend, called Jackson "a force of nature" in a Truth Social post that also took a swipe at Obama. Powerful storms that whipped up tornadoes killed at least four people in southern Michigan and two people in eastern Oklahoma on Friday, leaving swaths of damage, including homes reduced to rubble and downed trees and power lines. In Michigan, three people were killed and 12 were injured in the Union Lake area near Union City after an apparent tornado hit, according to the Branch County Sheriff's Office. About 50 miles southwest, Cass County officials reported one death and several injuries after a tornado touched down, per the AP . In Oklahoma, meanwhile, just south of Tulsa, a tornado in Beggs was blamed for the deaths of two people in a house, the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office said. The storms hit a broad section of the nation's midsection, spurring tornado warnings and watches from Oklahoma to Iowa to Michigan. In Michigan, Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed, then dropped toward the ground. Trees were torn from their roots, and debris flew into the air. "It's lifting houses!" Piper can be heard exclaiming in the video. As the devastation continued, she added, "Oh, my heart is pounding. Oh, I hope they're OK." Another video shot by Jordan Lynn of Union City can be seen here. At least one tornado was confirmed in southern Michigan, near Union City, on Friday, according to the National Weather Service, and there were reports of possible others. A weather system that pulled moisture out of the Gulf Coast combined with a warm front that moved north to create the right conditions for a tornado in a state where they're relatively rare, per David Roth, a meteorologist at the NWS' Weather Prediction Center. Michigan gets an average of 15 tornadoes a year, which is much less than the 155 for Texas and 96 for Kansas, he said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the state's Emergency Operations Center on Friday "to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather," she said in a statement. The NWS said strong storms and flash flood risks on Saturday stretched from the Great Lakes to Texas. A tornado watch was issued for a large portion of Arkansas and parts of Texas and Louisiana. The spring storms come near the start of what many call tornado season, which generally begins at various times in different parts of the US. More here. President Trump reportedly is weighing a limited deployment of ground troops to Iran, with the installation of a postwar government a potential goal. But US intelligence analysts have warned that even a broad military offensive is unlikely to dislodge Iran's ruling system, according to a classified assessment described to the Washington Post . The National Intelligence Council report, completed about a week before the US and Israel began their strikes on Feb. 28, concludes that Iran's clerical and security institutions are structured to survive the loss of top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, three people familiar with the findings said. The document examines possible outcomes of both limited strikes focused on senior figures and more extensive attacks on government and military infrastructure. In each case, the report says, Iran's leadership would turn to established succession mechanisms aimed at preserving continuity of rule. The likelihood that Iran's fractured opposition could take over was deemed unlikely, per the Post. "There's no other force within Iran that can confront the remaining power that the regime has," said Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution. The NIC report, according to those familiar with it, does not view the Iranian system's grip on power as fragile. Outside experts said there is little evidence so far of large-scale unrest or serious fractures within Iran's security apparatus. One expert who has studied air power for three decades said airstrikes alone aren't likely to remove Iran's government, either, per CBS News. "The fact of the matter is, for over a century, states have been trying to topple regimes with air power alone andI'm choosing my words carefully it has never worked," said Robert Pape, a University of Chicago professor. The White House did not say whether Trump has been briefed on the intelligence assessment. A plaque honoring law enforcement officers who defended the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was finally mounted inside the building before dawn Saturday, three years after Congress' own deadline to put it up passed. Around 4am, two members from the Architect of the Capitol installed the bronze marker on a granite wall near a west front entrance, the Washington Post reports, close to where rioters massed during the attack. Congress ordered the plaque in March 2022 and required it be displayed by mid-March 2023, but it had remained in storage in the Capitol basement, surrounded by maintenance equipment. The installation was carried out without ceremony, speeches, or media present. Democrats had for months accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of blocking the installation by not directing the Architect of the Capitol to proceed; his office previously said the project was "not implementable" and did not respond to a request for comment Saturday. After Johnson said it couldn't be installed, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis went onto the Senate floor and proposed a resolution, which passed with no objections, to place the plaque on the Senate side until it goes up at its permanent location on the Capitol's west front, per the AP. Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges sued last year to force compliance with the law. The plaque lists nearly two dozen agencies that responded, including US Capitol Police, DC police, the Secret Service, the National Guard, and Maryland and Virginia state police, to defend the building from President Trump's supporters echoing his false claims of a stolen election. A QR code posted next to it links to a 45-page roster of officers on duty that day. Hodges, who was crushed by the rioters in the heavy doors steps away from where the plaque is now displayed, said Saturday that the plaque is not in full compliance with the law. The original statute said all of the officers' names should be listed, among other technical specifications. "The weight of a judicial ruling would help secure the memorial against future tampering," he said. The plaque reads: "On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on January 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten." Six US soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike were returned to American soil on Saturday in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, with President Trump in attendance. They're the first military members to be killed since Trump ordered an attack, in conjunction with Israel, on Iran on Feb. 28. During the ritual, carry teams of seven soldiers dressed in camouflage uniforms with black berets and white gloves brought each transfer case, draped in a US flag, to transfer vans, the Delaware Journal reports. The transfer cases are carried past dignitaries on one side and the fallen troops' families on the other. The vans then transported them to the base mortuary. In keeping with protocol, Trump did not speak during the ritual, which lasted about a half-hour. The president, who was accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, saluted as each transfer case was carried past him. The troops' families were largely silent, per the AP. Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other administration officials also were present. Returning to Florida later on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that it was "a sad day" and that he was "glad we paid our respects." He praised the soldiers' family members, saying, the "parents were so proud." The Pentagon identified the six as Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; 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. Actor William Shatner has shared updates on the X Money payments service's beta rollout as Elon Musk's "everything app" goal takes shape. Shatner had previously announced his involvement with the program via social media as a means to raise money for his charity. Cashbacks, Interest And Metal Debit Card In a series of posts on the social media platform X on Tuesday, the Star Trek actor shared details on the beta rollout, which will offer a 6% APY (annual percentage yield) on the account. Shatner also said that X will offer a "$25 welcome gift" to users in the rollout. You will receive a $25 welcome gift from the wonderful team at X, then I will send you one dollar from Elon. You can connect a bank account as well. I would also suggest you set up 2 factor authentication if you haven't done so already. https://t.co/MrCRER5gwY Don't Miss: Sharing screenshots of the service's user interface (UI), Shatner touted features offered by X Money. "Here's a few more screenshots. There's a debit card with cash back too!" he said in the post. Here's a few more screenshots. There's a debit card with cash back too! pic.twitter.com/yeKE1gXAjQ X Money will also offer a metal debit card to users, which can be personalized with the users' official X handle on it. The service has shared that the debit card would enable zero foreign transaction fees. Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights X Chat Rollout Meanwhile, X designer Michael Boswell touted that the social media platform's standalone Chat app, X Chat, will also be rolling out its beta version of its app on Apple Inc.'s TestFlight platform. "For the past few months, we've been quietly building a standalone X Chat app for iOS. Today we're opening it to the first 1,000 users on TestFlight," Boswell said in his post. Hundreds of barking dogs took over downtown Anchorage as the ceremonial start of the world's most famous sled dog race got underway Saturday. As snow fell, fans lined up near the starting line in frigid, 19-degree weather to see and cheer their favorite mushers. The competitive start to the 54th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is Sunday, the AP reports. The roots: The Iditarod was conceived by co-founders Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. as a long-distance sled dog race to honor both Alaska's mushing tradition and the Iditarod Trail. That was a 938-mile freight and mail route that ran from Seward on Alaska's southern coast to Nome, on the Bering Sea on Alaska's western coast. For too long the US was using $2 million missiles to fight $300-$30000 threats. No longer. There is shift and and armraces of the cheap, good enough drones. The US now has cheap $35000 drones too and combat lasers are getting deployed for $5 per shot defense. It is $35000 drone for $35000 drone and a $100 billion munition and drone budget along with the expensive budget. The US will get getting 340,000 of the cheap drones by 2028. This would be a $10 billion procurement. $30 billion per year for a million cheap drones. No one else has the military budget to match. Quantity has a quality all of its own. Israel and US have deployed lasers (tiny numbers so far but have been used) in the 60-100 kw Class ($1-5 per shot). 150 kw tested and deploying in 2027-2028, about 7km range now, At 250-300 kw will have about 21 km range. Every truck, tank, vehicle will eventually have drone cover. In a year so there will be 5-10 destroyers with 60 kw Helios, then 150-300kw. 44 Stryker armored vehicles with 50kw within 24 months $679M procurement. There will be more more 10-30kw anti drone JLTVs. Lasers will be a standard defense layer with missiles. These can take out the balsa wood $10 drones and also destroy the $300 drones. The 100X larger US industrial capacity will be. unleashed with an affordable disposable layer. China can match the US industrial capacity. But China has not proven a beyond SAP military theater software integration live. It takes 2 years to install a company wide SAP software and it takes decades to develop a competitive software system of big company wide complexity. The US military software coordination is far more complicated. There is also the experience gap. It is like video game players, the new video game player gets wrecked by the experienced player. Marianas Turkey shoot in WW2. Japan Zeroes matched the US planes but Japan lost almost all experienced pilots at Midway. New pilots were no match for experienced pilots. Need 2 years of actual combat to become effective. Concerned about an AI bubble? Sign up for The Daily Upside for smart and actionable market news, built for investors. Retirement sometimes conjures up images of a smiling, silver-haired couple walking the beach. For others, however, its the fear of running out of money late in life. Others struggle to picture life after work at all. Michael Kitces, the self-professed financial planning nerd and co-founder of the XY Planning Network, thinks of retirement as a two-fold concept that has long been fundamental to the work of wealth management professionals. Theres the accumulation question on the one hand, he told Retirement Upside, and the spending question on the other. Sign up for The Daily Upside at no cost for premium analysis on all your favorite stocks. READ ALSO: Why Money Alone Cant Guarantee a Happy Retirement and 401(k) Withdrawals Are Rising. Heres Why Financial advisors have mastered accumulation, as saving and investing have been the industrys bread and butter for decades. The decumulation challenge is another matter entirely, one fraught with risks and little margin for error. The reality is that clients can do everything right on the front end, but still find even the best-laid retirement plans ruined by a combination of bad decisions and bad luck. Effective advisors, Kitces said, bring clients the insights, tools and tough love it takes to navigate their golden years with confidence. Theres a different set of soft skills and non-financial issues that crop up with retirement, Kitces said. Its everything from new retirees struggling with meaning and purpose, to fears about late-in-life bankruptcy stopping people from spending what they can afford to spend. Retirement Upside sat down with Kitces to discuss key retirement trends, including the emergence of more advanced retirement income-planning tech tools. RU: Reflecting on your career and the work you do with financial advisors, what does retirement mean to you from a business and client service perspective? MK: In a really broad sense, you can break retirement planning into two batches. First off, you have the accumulation side. The client comes to you and says, Im a saver and Im trying to find the right way to do it. Where do I save? How much do I need to save? How do I invest what I save and what tax-advantaged buckets should I be using? These are all questions about accumulation that advisors are used to grappling with. But then you have the decumulation side. At this point, the clients have hopefully got a lot of money saved and invested. Theyre no longer working, so their big question is: How do I enjoy my retirement without spending too much and risking running out? How can I maximize the utility of what I have already accumulated, and how do I factor in things like Social Security and Medicare into my overall plan. This phase raises a whole different set of problems that many financial advisors are not as adept at answering, to be frank. Its about things like timing Roth conversions, understanding the interplay of ones taxable withdrawals with things like IRMMA surcharges. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Discovering money has been sitting in an old account that you forgot about would be a welcome surprise for anyone, especially if it were thousands of dollars. That much money could pay off bills, kickstart a savings account or pay for a surprise vacation. Thats what happened to Massachusetts couple Meryl Goldsmith and Scott Penoyer, who were alerted by the state that Penoyer had about $11,500 sitting in an old Morgan Stanley account, according to CBS Boston (1). All they had to do was file a claim. Must Read Seems quick and easy, right? The couple found out otherwise. Barriers to their own cash After Goldsmith and Penoyer filled out the necessary paperwork, it turns out the state needed the account certified by the bank before the funds could be released. They need Morgan Stanley basically to fill out the rest of this form and thats where it just kind of falls, Penoyer told the broadcaster. Instead of getting the sign-off they needed, what followed was months of the bank dragging their feet, which prompted the couple to call CBS Boston, hoping the news outlet would push Morgan Stanley to do its part. It worked after nearly a year, the couple finally got access to the long-lost cash. And they planned to enjoy it. Were putting some of the money away, but were doing something a little crazy, and were going out to Vegas to see the Eagles, Goldsmith said. Despite the couples long battle to get their money, the state insists the recovery program itself is doing just fine. We can always do better, but were one of the highest returned states in the nation, Mark Bracken, director of Massachusettss Unclaimed Property Division, told CBS Boston. Last year, we paid out just over 130,000 claims, around 80,000 of them were fast-tracked and paid online without anyone ever having to fill out paperwork. The state says its holding over $3 billion in unclaimed property, which may include forgotten bank accounts, tax refunds and uncashed checks. Read More: The average net worth of Americans is a surprising $620,654. But it almost means nothing. Heres the number that counts (and how to make it skyrocket) What happens to forgotten accounts? About 1 in 7 Americans 33 million people had unclaimed property held by states worth $70 billion, CNBC reported in 2023, citing data from the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) (2). States hold most unclaimed funds, and each one has an office dedicated to unclaimed property. Programs facilitating the recovery of these lost assets may vary by state. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 19F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph, becoming E and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 19F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph, becoming E and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno stands next to Deputy Mayor Michael Harrison, as they take turns talking about the arrest of the arsonist who started the string of fires in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. City officials announced the arrest at City Hall on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune) Volunteers working to transform a derelict Devon monastery into a thriving new community centre are appealing for Paigntonians with paintbrushes. Come along and join us and bring your friends! said local councillor Cat Johns (Lib Dem, Clifton with Maidenway), who is one of the team behind the project. We need your help, whether it is DIY, or anything at all. Torbay Council had declared the old Victorian monastery building surplus to requirements and was ready to sell it off on the open market when Cllr Johns and her fellow campaigners stepped in. Home of the Marists priests until 1971, it had been a Lions Club, childrens centre and food bank before it fell into disuse, and the new Paignton Monastery Community Interest Company (CIC) wants it to become a hub for the busy Clifton with Maidenway area. READ NEXT: Paignton campaigners offered Old Monastery for 1 in community takeover plan The council changed its mind after hearing from the campaigners, and will hand over the keys to the monastery for just one pound a symbolic moment that is yet to happen. Then the hard work begins for the CIC, which is currently going through its formal formation process, with four directors and half a dozen support executives signed on. I feel like somethings really happening now, said Cllr Johns. It all felt like it was slowing down a little bit, but the council is committed to making it happen and were committed too. Were grateful for the support we are getting from the council. Inside the monastery groups of interested local people, including Torbays Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling, saw the scale of the work needed to restore the building for its new use. The visitors wore hard hats for safety, and face masks because of the extensive mould inside some of the monasterys many rooms. Recent storms have also dislodged tiles from the roof, meaning repairs will be needed inside and out. But architects drawings show a community cafe in the future plans, along with a gallery and meeting rooms. Visitors have already come up with ideas for uses including exercise classes and exhibitions. We all want to make it work, said Cllr Johns. But maintaining and restoring it is going to be a big job. At the moment the repairs are still the councils responsibility, and they shouldnt have let it get into this state. We are getting quotes to see how much it is all going to cost. The CIC says that with more than 8,000 people living in the Clifton with Maidenway ward, a community centre should be a priority. We dont actually have one, said Cllr Johns. I think weve always felt a little bit neglected. We dont have the town, we dont have shops, we dont actually have a business in this ward. Others like Foxhole and Kings Ash have got places where young people can go, so why not here? Not everybody is well off enough to be able to look after themselves, and people with mental health problems, unemployed people, the youth, theyve got nowhere. Why not come here? Estimates vary on how much it will cost to bring the monastery back into use, but it will be at least 150,000, plus the cost of repairing the recent roof damage. The CIC is busy looking at ways of funding the work, with a possibility of accessing community interest levy money paid to the council by developers in return for building local housing projects. Local councillors also have small sums of money allocated to them to be spent in their wards. Now a drive has begun to get local people involved in the project. Considering it was nearly sold off and lost to the community, theres some real excitement about this, said Cllr Johns. It has been left like this for far too long, and now either it gets disposed of by the council, or we step in and get it right. Now we have to get on and do it. Pupils across Exeter stepped into the world of books this week as schools marked World Book Day (Thursday 5 March) with author visits, costume celebrations and creative reading activities. Schools across the city organised a range of events designed to encourage children to discover new stories and develop a lifelong love of reading. At West Exe School, pupils welcomed bestselling young adult author Madeline Dyer for a day of writing workshops, assemblies and a book signing. The Lambda Literary Award finalist spoke to students about her experiences as a writer and shared insights into the creative process behind her novels, which explore themes including identity and loneliness. READ NEXT: Exeter chef appears on ITV's new cooking competition, aged 21 The visit gave pupils the chance to ask questions about storytelling and gain first-hand insight into what it takes to become a published author. Meanwhile, pupils and staff at Whipton Barton Federation celebrated by dressing up as their favourite book characters, transforming the school into a colourful showcase of literary heroes and villains. Activities throughout the day included book treasure hunts and interactive reading challenges designed to bring stories to life. At St Lukes CofE School, pupils took part in a variety of literary competitions and activities, including a World Book Day quiz and a book swap where children could exchange stories with friends. Students also entered national competitions such as the National Book Token Design Competition and the Young Writers Poetry Competition, encouraging them to engage creatively with literature beyond the classroom. All pupils received 1 World Book Day tokens, which can be redeemed for specially selected books, helping them explore new authors and titles. Reading is a central part of school life at all four schools, which are part of the Ted Wragg Trust. Pupils take part in daily reading sessions, guided lessons and read-aloud activities, with classrooms and libraries designed to provide easy access to books. These initiatives aim to help children build reading fluency and comprehension while fostering an enjoyment of literature. Moira Marder, chief executive of the Ted Wragg Trust, said the celebrations highlighted how important reading is across the trusts schools. World Book Day is always a memorable occasion across our schools, she said. Its been wonderful to see all the exciting activities taking place. From author visits to quizzes and creative challenges, its clear that pupils are enjoying reading and being inspired to explore new stories. Schools beyond the city also joined the celebrations, including Dunsford CofE Academy in the Teign Valley. Pupils there dressed up as their favourite book characters and shared stories throughout the day, while a book swap gave children the opportunity to discover new authors. The celebrations reflected this years World Book Day theme, Go All In, which encourages children to explore their interests and passions through reading. All pupils at Dunsford also received 1 book tokens to help them discover new stories and authors. Reading plays a central role in school life at the academy, with daily phonics lessons, whole-class reading sessions and read-aloud activities forming part of the curriculum. Headteacher Liam OSullivan said the day was an opportunity to celebrate books and encourage children to enjoy reading together. World Book Day was a wonderful occasion at Dunsford, he said. It was brilliant to see our pupils dressed up, sharing stories and discovering new books together. Events like this really show how reading can be fun, inspiring and something to enjoy every day. Tracey Cleverly, chief executive of the Learning Academy Partnership, said activities like World Book Day help nurture a long-term passion for reading. When children see stories come alive and share their favourite books with friends, it helps build a passion for reading that will stay with them for years to come, she said. World Book Day takes place annually to celebrate reading for pleasure and encourage children to explore books beyond the classroom. This years celebrations are also linked with the UKs National Year of Reading 2026 initiative, which aims to inspire more children and families to discover the joy of books. Across Exeter and beyond, schools used the occasion to remind pupils that reading can open the door to imagination, creativity and new ideas. Torbays Liberal Democrat MP has accused the previous Tory government of corporate vandalism as staff at the bays main hospital work in a crumbling building which is hit by sewage leaks. And, he said, the current Labour government was kicking the bay into the long grass by failing to provide enough investment. Steve Darling highlighted the plight of the hospital and its staff during a Westminster debate on NHS capital spending. He said he knew the hospital was in a difficult place before he was elected in 2024, but he had been shocked by what he saw when he began to delve deeper. I was shocked by what was effectively wanton vandalism corporate vandalism, even undertaken by the previous Conservative government by making promises that they just could not keep. The vandalism the fact that they chose not to invest made it much harder to invest in the longer term and actually made it more costly. Boris Johnsons government promised to include Torbay Hospital in a 3.7billion nationwide programme to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, aimed at replacing ageing, sub-standard infrastructure. The programme was not implemented before the change of government in 2024 and has been under review ever since. Mr Darling said there had been more than 700 sewage leaks at the hospital, not only in corridors but also in clinical areas and wards. Deep cleans then meant delays for patients. And, he added: Approaching the hospital, someone might think that the 7th Cavalry was coming over the horizon. The tower block is wrapped in scaffolding, so it must be being sorted. However, the reality is that the 1million scaffolding is there purely to stop bits of the building falling off and braining staff and members of the public as they go past. Having to spend so much of our NHS money just maintaining a crumbling building is not good. The MP said there had been exciting changes at the hospital, with millions of pounds worth of welcome investment in the emergency department. The daytime operations area is calm and businesslike, he said, but other parts of the hospital including areas for cancer patients were chaotic. Investment in the endoscopy unit had brought a massive improvement, he added, but 85 per cent of the estate was below standard, he added. The pledged 350million government investment will only support half of the hospital. The MP went on: Torbay is one of the most deprived communities in the country and the NHS often picks up the rough end of that. Only recently, a director told me she has patients who believe that living to their 60s is a good span of life. Torbay has been kicked into the long grass until the mid-2030s.The staff are our most important asset, and they deserve that investment much sooner. The Department of Health and Social Care has said it has already confirmed a funding plan and realistic time-frame to rebuild Torbay Hospital. Five pupils from Cranbrook Education Campuss Eco-Club visited the Met Office as part of its Climate Camp programme, taking part in workshops and tours designed to demonstrate practical approaches to sustainability and climate science. During the visit, pupils toured the facility, met staff working in climate-focused roles, and participated in hands-on workshops addressing environmental challenges. The visit builds on Cranbrook Education Campuss ongoing environmental initiatives. Prior to Christmas, pupils planted more than 90 trees on campus and have also been involved with the nearby Elbury Farm woodland project in partnership with the National Trust. READ NEXT: Devon Local Government Reorganisation: Exeter residents urged to have their say on 2028 council shake-up Stephen Farmer, Head of Campus at Cranbrook Education Campus, said: "Our pupils participated in all aspects of the Climate Camp, from exploring the labs to the workshops, and brought back ideas on how to make the school more sustainable." Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, said: "We are proud of the pupils for taking part in environmental projects both on campus and in the local area. These experiences help young people understand the impact of their actions." The school is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, which promotes environmental awareness and practical sustainability projects. The visit is intended to provide pupils with insight into climate work and encourage the application of sustainable practices within the school and the wider community. You would be forgiven for not knowing who Peter Quaife is. Maybe if I said Ray, Dave, Peter and Mick it would help? Okay, probably not. He was born in Tavistock in 1943, the illegitimate son of serving American soldier. As a teen, now in London, he studied art but always loved music and helped start a group known as The Ravens in 1963 with two brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They later changed their name to The Kinks and the rest, as they say, is history. Peter was the original bassist for the band from 1963 to 1969. Quaife and the Davies brothers all attended William Grimshaw secondary school in Muswell Hill. While closer in age to Ray, Peter was closest to Dave who worked down the road from him in Londons West End. By the mid-sixties, the band had made it, with hits like the Ray Davies written "You Really Got Me" which became an international hit, and other early hits like "All Day and All of the Night" (1964), "Tired of Waiting for You". Peter was a key member of the band but in 1966 he was involved in a serious car wreck which saw him replaced in the song for a while, but by the end of the year he was back in the line-up. Clearly he was very highly thought of as Eric Clapton invited him to join Cream, but he turned the opportunity down. He hung on with The Kinks until 1969 before leaving for a final time to form the country rock band Mapleoak. After retiring from the music business, Quaife lived in Denmark and eventually Canada where he worked as a cartoonist and an artist. He did perform with the band on two further occasions, once for a solitary song when they toured Canada and finally at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards ceremony in 1990. Quaife was diagnosed with renal failure in the late nineties. During his dialysis sessions, he drew a series of cartoons based on his experiences. These have subsequently been published as The Lighter Side of Dialysis. Because of his illness he moved back to Denmark in 2005, the same year that he made his final appearance with his ex-bandmates at the UK Music Hall of Fame show. Quaife finally submitted to kidney failure in 2010. The following appears on The Kinks website, Dave Davies posted a statement on his message board expressing his deep sorrow over the passing of his former band mate and lauding him for his friendship, personality, talent, and contributions to The Kinks sound. He stated that Quaife was never really given the credit he deserved for his contribution and involvement. Ray dedicated his 27 June 2010 show at Glastonbury Festival to Pete by saying: I wouldnt be here today, if it wasnt for him. If you are a fan of the band, you could do worse that take in Sunny Afternoon, the award winning musical which is in Torquay from 17th to 21st May as part of the nationwide tour following two years on the West End. Based on the true story of The Kinks, one of the most influential bands of the British Invasion and featuring all the hits. It is a proper story featuring the fame Peter enjoyed with the Davies brothers and showcases the fame they enjoyed. Sunny Afternoon is a story of friendship, fame and rock history, set to a soundtrack of era-defining songs that brings the sound of the 60s roaring back to life. Experience the electrifying true story behind The Kinks, the band that changed rock music forever, with a back catalogue of unforgettable hits. E ven without songwriting credits, Quaifes role was significant in shaping the bands early sound, he is often described as an unsung hero whose musicianship and personality were central to the bands early chemistry. Tickets are still available. Families across South Devon can once again step aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride this Christmas, with tickets now available for selected dates between 27 November and 23 December 2026. The immersive steam train experience, returning for its sixth year at South Devon Railway, in Buckfastleigh, brings Chris Van Allsburgs 2004 classic film to life. Guests are encouraged to wear pyjamas, with many families choosing matching sets to enhance the festive atmosphere. Passengers board as snow falls on the platform, taking their seats at lantern-lit tables for a magical round-trip journey to the North Pole. Along the way, performers bring the story to life, with a conductor punching golden tickets, dancing chefs serving hot chocolate and cookies, and interactive readings from the original book. The Hobo makes surprise appearances before Santa and his elf assistant pass through the carriages, presenting each guest with a silver sleigh bell the cherished first gift of Christmas. The train returns to the railway with time to explore the gift shop and collect festive keepsakes. Ticket prices range from 35.95 to 52.95, and each passenger receives a souvenir golden ticket and sleigh bell. Popular dates are expected to sell out quickly, and bookings can be made at www.southdevonrailwaythepolarexpressride.com . This year, the event will also support the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, with 5p from each biodegradable carrier bag sold at the railway shops going toward maintaining Britains only free-ranging reindeer herd in the Cairngorms. As the US/Israeli war on Iran settles in for the long, bloody haul, the question of credit or culpability only seems to get more confused. The question of context, now, that's a serious bone of contention. "It's not a war," says one the leaders, apparently believing that only Congress can say it's a war, and they haven't, and it's not until they do, according to the Constitution. Useless to say, the Constitution might not be quite that stretchy. But that's typical legal thinking these days, upside-down and bass-ackwards. "It's a War!" says another, apparently unaware that in that heady realm of power, the word "loyal" is a synonym for "stupid," and such people are often highly placed for that very reason. Take ICE Barbie... oh, they did! Take note, ye loyal minions, if you actually serve your nefarious purpose, you will be summarily dispatched. The play's the thing. As to who owns this debacle, the deeper you dig, the farther back in history you look, the more explainable it all becomes. In the case of Iran we have to look before 1953, when the democratically-elected government was taken down by CIA and MI6 and replaced by the Shah. I was in nursery school at the time, and as an American my knowledge of Iran is spotty, but even I know about that. And it was all on PBS, and quite recently, who could have missed it? But whether it penetrated our exceptional minds or not, the Persian civilization pulled itself up out of that bloody morass and built a constitutional republic. It took a revolution. And now this. To make any sense of a war of conquest, you have to know who is doing the conquering. And that's way complicated in America, by organized crime, political and social intrigue, clandestine government operations, and the arcane and convoluted financial system (which is a puzzling economy-hack). So to say that this is "Trump's war" or if you insist, "International Iranian terrorism" coming to a head, is to simplicate (not simplify, but render) the whole churning mess into an object that may be seen as understood. Of course it isn't. If it's "Trump's war" the problem then becomes how to stop Trump before it gets any worse? If it's "terrorism" fighting it to the death seems the only option. But neither of these reactions is either realistic or at all effective. There is a range of such simplications, each of which renders a "solution" or set of same that might even seem plausible. None of them are new, most were tried in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria... Most Americans don't know that Sudan has experienced genocide, and like Congo it is still going on now. All of these horrors were very unlikely except for "our vital interests." Even accepting that all of the above are inextricably entangled in the Iran debacle doesn't make us wiser by much. But at least that view dismisses "Trump's war" as the cause-of-causes. And maybe that frees our attention to focus on what matters, instead of hanging on every demented exudate from that suppurating pustule, while Rome burns. Whomever the big boss is loyal to, paymasters, creditors, blackmailers, the loyal are stupid, and the stupid are easily replaced, when they have served their purpose. Now whose war is it? When the first Gulf War was ramping up, the promoters had a simple enough task: create the "narrative" in which enough of the people can entrench themselves to argue with the rest, leaving the business of war to business. But since then the internet has gone super-critical. In network-speak that means giant nodes appeared that had very large numbers of connections like international airports do. That made two things possible: a signal saturates the net very fast; and unlike TV, each individual screen can be curated according to user-reactions. Social Fragmentation means instead of a society living with one "narrative" about world affairs and events, every person has their own, while having no means of knowing if their worldview agrees with everyone else, or even one other person. This is so painful that it's unlikely anyone will reach across the yawning solipsistic gulf and ask. Because, you see, it is relational impairment, and relation is our very means of existence. This is easily seen now, as the "Secretary of War" explains that this is War, and we are not going to Play Fair, because Jesus as Anointed the president; and the Speaker of the House explains that this is not a war, but a limited military operation, and Jesus is Coming Back; and lots of other people explain that the Bible says God told the Israelites to kill all the Amaleks to the last nursing infant. Now whose war is it? This is why the war machinery, which takes months or years to crank up to escape-velocity, could just wind up, louder and faster, for months and months, and in this case decade after decade, until the US Navy could lure an Iranian ship to a naval boat show in India, where nobody brings any ammo, and then sneak up and sink it with a torpedo from a sub as it sailed homewards. This is why the invasion could start with blowing up toddlers at school, the latest number of mangled children reported is one hundred eighty, as the opening salvo. It would not be the first such civilian target. To "send a signal" no doubt. The administration is not immune to social fragmentation, it too is operating in its own world. When I went to Nigeria in 1963 my mind was full of Tarzan movies and Jungle Jim serials down at the local cinema palace. This isn't different from the world of the now-unitary executive, where Iran is a bunch of primitive tribes ruled by fanatical witch-doctors who keep women enslaved and spend their time launching terror attacks on Americans. They have no functioning economy because they don't even have a culture. This level of ignorance leads to terrible fantasies of power. If "we" just knocked off the brutal dictator, the people would rise up and "take back" their country, and hand it to the previous ruler's son, a current pretender to the throne. In his tiny bubble people think he will be welcomed back to Iran with parades and flowers. I knew the son of the deposed Shah, briefly: I built part of his mansion near Langley, Va, in the 1980s. He was a spoiled, supercilious idiot then, and by all accounts remains so. In the actual world, Iran's culture is several thousand years old, and shaped much of ours at the roots, and Iran is a constitutional republic that recently loosened religious prohibitions on women's attire in response to public demand. The largest population of Jews lives there in quiet harmony with the neighbors. The economy was sanctioned into the ground for the last decade or two, according to Sec. Bessent (proudly taking credit at the WEF). The violent "protesters" were, according to public statements from both Israel and Washington, "assets" of Mossad. CIA wanted credit for that too, but subsequent reports cast doubt. The "media," knowing this, continue to report on the "government massacre" of 2 or 40 thousand innocent bystanders. When the Ayatollah (think, the Pope) was killed in his office, he had already said he would prefer to die as any other Iranian must who didn't have a bunker to run to. The succession was constitutionally established and the constitution was followed. There was no "regime" and it didn't change. Instead, millions poured into the streets, "under the open sky" as they put it, while drones and rockets whizzed overhead, shouting that they were ready to die too. Within ten hours, according to Pepe Escobar, whose impeccable reporting is done with both feet on the ground, Iran had bombed 27 major US military bases, relentlessly - inflicting extensive damage. determined that all US and Israeli assets and interests in West Asia were legitimate targets for retaliation. blocked the Strait of Hormuz (then unblocked; but allowed free passage only for Russian and Chinese vessels). The State Department is advising Americans to leave, when there are no functioning airports. The pundits and comics are laughing it up about Iran just attacking everything at random. The economic repercussions have only just begun. The Americans are being thrown out of West Asia. It doesn't matter if Iran is left a parking-lot. Imagine a carrier, with four or five thousand aboard, reduced to fragments in a few seconds. This is easily possible, and several times over. At this writing it has not been done. That can only indicate forbearance, a spiritual quality that might not occur to Pistol Packin' Pete. But don't hold your breath. Now whose war is it? You see where this is going: it's not whose war it is, not even whose "narrative"; but whose context. And the Americans (joined to Israel at the umbilicus), with their shattered, algorithm-fragmented society, can't settle on one story. And when they do, if they do, they will find it but one of many stories within the context of a much older and deeper history, in a world that has matured in relations while the west was busy accumulating what it sees as wealth. A multi-polar world that sees little hedge-money empires in toxic competition as a culture in the death-throes of late-stage addiction. Who would want to kill us? We're doing that just fine, thank you. Meanwhile, we are slaughtering civilians, again. Our "limited military operation" is nothing but Gaza redux. Whatever the stories in which this behavior makes any human sense at all, it is collective mental impairment, and it is the acute phase of the by-now well-understood cycle of abuse, trauma, addiction and denial. This is what underlies the financial system called "Capitalism" or "Fascism." It's real name is Colonialism, and will continue until it burns out, or we abandon it. Other parts of our world are already well along in the decolonization process. They have much to teach us, if we will listen and learn. If not, it won't be long before we are gone. But we are alienated, cut off even from each other. With luck we won't take everything else down with us. Pro-democracy Congress members should also go to the Supreme Court to seek order blocking harassment before WH abuses process repeatedly. Under White House orders, federal agents seized hundreds of boxes of ballots from Fulton County, GA, six years after the certified 2020 presidential election. This is not routine law enforcement, but an unprecedented intrusion into local election data. Sen. Mark Warner (VA), Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA), and Democratic leadership should pursue an order from the Supreme Court to put a stop to further interference in the states' well-documented and audited elections. Supporting the Fulton County election process in opposition to the White House and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's claim of 2020 election fraud is needed now, since the claims of never being investigated fully are clearly a national model for the White House and election deniers for 2026- and likely 2028 as well. Pro-Democracy Congress members should also go to the Supreme Court to seek order blocking harassment before the White House abuses the process repeatedly. Democracy will only erode over time by corrupt "procedural" actions. The fact remains that this election has been settled- over and over again. "After three counts, the results remained unchanged" said Jacquelyn Lopez, who served as voter protection counsel for the Biden-Harris campaign during the 2020 Georgia recount. "Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in Georgia by nearly 12,000 votes." Courts have adjudicated Trump's fraud claims dozens of times, repeatedly rejecting them. "Every audit, every recap, every courtroom, has confirmed what we, the people of Fulton County, already knew," said Robb Pitts, Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. "Our election was fair and accurate." Sen. Warnock underscores Pitts' point, saying, "Look, this issue has been litigated time and time again." There is no unresolved legal question here, only Trump's refusal to accept reality. Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith accused Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Smith said, "Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity," and in front of Congress he reaffirmed the merits of his decisions to bring charges against Trump. Fani Willis, prior Fulton County District Attorney, was disqualified from this case against Trump late last year following a "significant appearance of impropriety" regarding her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Georgia Republican officials were happy to use personal dirt on Willis against her- they declined to hear her appeal, finalizing her removal. This censorship makes it exceedingly clear that the law is protecting election interference in our country. Additionally, the president was recorded on a call with Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's Republican secretary of state, requesting that the official conjure enough votes to overturn Biden's victory. "I just want to find 11,780 votes," Trump said to Raffensperger. This is the strongest proof yet that Trump had intentions to see his own triumph, even if it meant engaging in grossly undemocratic misconduct. While DOJ leadership authorized this warrant mere weeks ago, Georgia's legal obligation had long expired- federal statute requires that ballots in federal elections be preserved for 22 months after election day, not six years. In response, Fulton County has filed a lawsuit in federal district court challenging the legality of the FBI's raid. County attorneys' goal is to "compel the government to return the ballots using the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41 (g), which allows a person aggrieved by an unlawful search or seizure to demand the property back." However, given that Trump pushes everything to his friends on the U.S. Supreme Court, this lawsuit may not be aggressive enough. U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee has signed an order demanding the two parties to engage in mediation before the court rules on whether the ballots must be returned. Boulee wrote, "Given that returning the property with conditions -- rather than fully restricting access to the evidence -- is the standard practice... the Court would like the parties to mediate this dispute." But mediation will not suffice. Democratic leadership needs to demand justice from the courts. "The fact is, Donald Trump cannot get over the fact that he lost Georgia in 2020, that he lost the election in 2020," said Sen. Warner. "My fear is now he sees the political winds turning against him, and he's going to try to interfere in the 2026 election, something a year ago I didn't think would be possible." This is not about politics; it's about defending the exercising of Congress' rightful duties. Congress certified the 2020 election under its constitutional authority- therefore, senators have institutional standing to staunchly defend that certification. They must approach the Supreme Court before the president does, to stop further ballot reviews and ensure the return of the rightful property of Fulton County. The right wing has mastered legal hardball, using courts aggressively and preemptively. For that reason, any restraint from the left becomes vulnerability. "We will not give one inch to those who seek to take control of elections in Fulton County, not today, not tomorrow, not ever," said Pitts. The precedent that Trump's actions will set is that any future election could be reopened by a bitter administration. Senators must act now- not after more damage is done- to protect the finality of American elections. Consultant colorectal surgeon Shahnawaz Rasheed and three other medics reveal the red flags to look out for - The Royal Marsden Given that one in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime, its in everyones interest to be up to speed on the symptoms of the disease. The big four cancers breast, prostate, bowel and lung are behind more than half of the 420,000 new diagnoses in the UK each year. Recognising their symptoms can lead to an earlier diagnosis, when treatment is more likely to be successful. Here, doctors treating these cancers share some of the most overlooked symptoms and what to do if you develop them. Breast cancer Overlooked symptom: Texture changes The majority of breast cancers are found because they cause a lump in the breast, says Dr Alicia Okines, a consultant medical oncologist and breast cancer specialist at The Royal Marsden, the leading cancer centre. Advertisement However, a change in the texture of the breast is a lesser-known, harder-to-spot breast cancer symptom. It is caused by lobular breast cancer, the second most common type of breast cancer, which accounts for 8,400 new cases in the UK each year. Lobular breast cancer cells grow in lines more commonly than lumps due to a loss of a particular protein that normally binds cells together, Dr Okines explains. Women may just notice that the breast feels a bit thickened or the nipple is a bit flatter or inverted, which are quite subtle changes. When they self-examine, they cant feel a lump as such, so it doesnt always get investigated quickly, and [the tumour] can cover quite a large area by the time it becomes noticeable. A change in the texture of the breast is harder to spot than a lump, says Dr Alicia Okines, and requires a visit to your GP - Dominick Tyler/The Royal Marsden Additionally, lobular breast cancer isnt always visible on a mammogram and can be missed during breast screening. As a result, they are generally caught later at stages two or three meaning it has spread to surrounding lymph nodes or tissues, rather than stage one, when the cancer is more contained and easier to treat, she explains. Advertisement Advertisement If you notice a change in your breast texture, Dr Okines recommends seeing your GP, especially if you are a post-menopausal woman, as 90 per cent of cases are in this group. If concerned, your doctor will refer you to a one-stop breast clinic, where there will be a breast examination and ultrasound and, if they reveal anything suspicious, a needle biopsy, she says. However, breast changes that go away arent cause for concern. For example, breasts can become swollen just before your period, she says. If you notice a change, examine yourself a week or two later and, if it is still there, definitely get it checked out. Lung cancer Overlooked symptom: Persistent or repeated chest infections There are 49,300 lung cancer cases diagnosed each year in the UK. They dont always cause symptoms, but a cough lasting more than three weeks is one of the better-known ones, says Robert Rintoul, a professor of thoracic oncology at the University of Cambridge and honorary consultant respiratory physician at Royal Papworth Hospital. However, less attention is given to persistent chest infections which can cause coughing but also wheezing, shortness of breath and other cold or flu-like symptoms, he says. Repeated chest infections is something I commonly see and often isnt appreciated [as a cancer symptom] in the same way as a persistent cough, he says. Prof Robert Rintoul says if a chest infection is slow to clear up or is your second or third one in the last year, it should ring alarm bells Lung cancer can lead to chest infections if the tumour blocks an airway, he explains. The lungs constantly clear themselves out by moving mucus into the back of your throat. You swallow these secretions all the time without realising. Advertisement Advertisement But, if you have a blocked airway, those clearance mechanisms cant work properly and then infection can get in and cause pneumonia in the lung. The airways are not sterile; they do contain bacteria, and if airways are blocked, it is easy for them to multiply and cause infections. Lung cancer can also lead to chest infections as cancer impairs the immune system, which means infections can take hold more easily, he notes. Most people with a chest infection wont have lung cancer, he notes. However, if its slow to clear up or it is the second or third chest infection in the last year or so, then it should start ringing alarm bells. This is especially the case for those who have smoked, who account for 85 per cent of lung cancer cases, Prof Rintoul says. If concerned, he recommends asking your GP for a chest X-ray or CT scan. He also urges former and current smokers to participate in the national lung cancer screening programme, which offers CT scans to people ages 55 to 74 in England. Prostate cancer Overlooked symptom: Constantly feeling under the weather Prostate cancer typically shows no symptoms in its early stages, notes Declan Cahill, head of urology and consultant urological surgeon at The Royal Marsden. Advertisement Advertisement Difficulty urinating, passing urine frequently and poor urine flow are often flagged as prostate cancer symptoms but are more likely a sign of benign prostatic growth, which happens with age. Curable prostate cancer comes without symptoms, he emphasises. Men who dont have symptoms think there isnt a problem and therefore dont get a PSA test. Instead, symptoms of prostate cancer usually appear only once it has spread. Patients may feel generally unwell, but this may happen gradually, over time, as prostate cancer is slow-growing, he notes. Even aggressive prostate cancer has a doubling time of two years, Cahill says. It creeps up on people, and they tend to feel rubbish, slowly. Prostate cancer usually shows no symptoms in its early stages, notes Declan Cahill, but patients may feel generally unwell over time - Kirsten Holst/The Royal Marsden People who present late with prostate cancer also have bone pain often hip pain and back pain that doesnt go away, he says. Ibuprofen and paracetamol arent enough [to ease it]. This is a sign the cancer has spread to the bones, he notes, which is an advanced, stage four symptom. More than 60,000 men are given diagnoses of prostate cancer annually, and it kills around 12,000 men every year. Advertisement Advertisement Cahill urges all men over 50 to ask their GP for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If PSA levels are high, it can be a sign of prostate cancer. Everyone whinges about the test not being a very good test, but, actually, its brilliant, he says. The prostate is the only organ thats got its very own blood test. Advertisement Advertisement A PSA test can give a false positive reporting a high score when cancer is not present because of an infection, for example. If your PSA is high for other reasons, youll have an MRI, which costs the NHS 139, and itll tell you whether you need a biopsy or not, Cahill notes. You will only get a biopsy if the MRI looks significant. As an individual, the only way you can not be the one in 10 men who get a prostate cancer diagnosis too late, or the three per cent who die, is to get checked. Bowel cancer Overlooked symptom: Loose stools People often think that constipation is a sign of bowel cancer, says Shahnawaz Rasheed, a consultant colorectal surgeon at The Royal Marsden and a senior lecturer at Imperial College London. In fact, its the opposite. Youre more likely to get a persistent change of bowel habit towards looseness than constipation with bowel cancer. Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt have to be every bowel movement thats affected, he notes. It can be a general trend. One day, you might not go at all, but the next day you go two or three times. Generally people will know their bowel movement pattern some go like clockwork. [With bowel cancer], over a couple of months, [stools] may change to become looser. In many cases, this symptom will be caused by a stomach bug or infection and go away within a week or two. Thats not what you worry about, he says. Its persistent loose stools for more than four to six weeks that are cause for concern. Bowel cancer causes this symptom because glandular cells in the colon, which create a small amount of mucus to facilitate the passage of stool through the bowel, start producing abnormally large amounts of mucus when cancer is developing, he explains. In some cases, this mucus may be visible in stool. Generally, people think it must be haemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome, Rasheed says. They justify the symptom because no one really thinks they have cancer. They think of all the 100 reasons why they probably dont. The only way of knowing is by doing the test to exclude it. You cant ignore new symptoms. Your GP will likely recommend a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to look for blood in your stool if you are suffering from this symptom. If the result is more than 10, then it means blood is present in your stool at a microscopic level, and your GP should refer you to your local hospital, and you will most likely have a colonoscopy, he explains. Advertisement Advertisement We need to lessen the fear of this whole process, Rasheed says. People are terrified of colonoscopies when theyre really not that bad. You have medicine to clear out your system, which is a bit rubbish, but you can have the procedure done under sedation, and its really not a big deal. There are around 44,100 bowel-cancer cases diagnosed in the UK each year. Theres no way of knowing if you have it until you do the FIT test, he says. If its negative, it gives you very high confidence that there isnt anything there. The earlier you find cancer, the better. If you dont go and see your GP, youve got a gnawing feeling that does your head in anyway. In order to give yourself the confidence that there is nothing there, you are better off seeing your doctor and doing tests. You dont want to wait months and months to get a diagnosis or treatment. 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. Action continued inside the Grand Casino Liechtenstein as Day 1b of the CHF1,500 Main Event at the 2026 WSOP Circuit Liechtenstein drew 188 entries, all chasing a slice of the CHF1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. By the end of the night, the field was trimmed down to 29 players, all of whom bagged up their chips and secured a min-cash heading into Day 2. Topping the second starting flight is Romanias Mihai Andrei-Munteanu, who finished with 875,000. The stack not only tops the Day 1b leaderboard, but also moves him into the overall chip lead across the tournament so far. Andrei-Munteanu currently stands as the only player with more than 100 big blinds heading into Day 2. Next in the counts is Switzerlands Lukas Schlumpf, who bagged 740,000, while Romanias Mihai Tabac rounds out the top three with 711,000, after max late registering, and the being the player to burst the bubble on the last hand of the night, Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Mihai Andrei-Munteanu Romania 875,000 109 2 Lukas Schlumpf Switzerland 740,000 93 3 Mihai Tabac Romania 711,000 89 4 Marc Sen Switzerland 638,000 80 5 Manuel Lussi Switzerland 596,000 75 6 Nils Mallon Germany 536,000 67 7 Marcel Maurer Switzerland 519,000 65 8 George-Valentin Otomega Romania 510,000 64 9 Neculai Macovei Romania 467,000 58 10 Micha Wildberger Switzerland 440,000 55 Lukas Schlumpf On the bubble, Schlumpf tried to burst it earlier, by calling Michael Allgauers short stack shove with a suited king, but couldnt improve against pocket sevens. Tabac entered just before registration closed and quickly doubled with pocket queens, then again with aces when Rishi Karan hero called his river shove with fifth pair. Tabac would eventually be the one to burst the bubble and bring play to a close. From under the gun, Tabac opened ace-queen and then called the 14 or so big blind shove of Vito Branciforte, who held pocket tens. The window card was a queen, and there was no coming back for Branciforte, who earned the unwanted title of bubble boy. This pot was part of the trio that helped Tabac finish in the top three on the leaderboard. Mihai Tabac Some of the other notables to bag up a stack on Day 1b included Neculai Macovei (467,000), who sent to the tournament into the bubble stage when his queens held against the pocket tens of Sascha Messmer. David Wintersberger (293,000) sits just outside the top ten, helped drastically by being on the right side of cooler towards the end of the night. Also returning to the baize on Sunday is Raphael Groicher (285,000), Italy's Lorenzo Arduini (253,000), Marek Tatar (215,000), and Chandru Alt (170,000). Bracelet winner Ivo Donev (45,000), and Paul-Adrian Covaciu prop up the bottom of the counts, having just crept through with a few big blinds. Chandru Alt Action inside the tournament area is far from over, as Day 1c, the turbo flight, is currently still underway with its faster-paced 20-minute blind structure. A further 44 players entered this flight, with seven advancing into the second stage of the tournament. Attention will then turn to Saturday, March 7, when the schedule continues with Day 1d starting at 12 p.m., following the same structure as todays flight with 40-minute blind levels. Players will have one final chance to secure a seat in Day 2 later that evening when the last starting flight, Day 1e, gets underway at 8 p.m with 20-minute levels. Remaining CHF1,500 Main Event Schedule Day Date Time Blind Levels Day 1d March 7 12 p.m. 40 minutes Day 1e March 7 8 p.m. 20 minutes Day 2 March 8 1 p.m. 60 minutes Day 3 March 9 1 p.m. 60 minutes Final Day March 10 1 p.m. 60 minutes Join PokerNews for continued live action, chip counts, and all the updates as the final few starting flights of the Main Event take place. Reporter Riley covers business and government in Richland County for The Post and Courier Columbia. She has previously written for The State and National Mortgage News. She graduated from the University of South Carolina's journalism school and is finalizing a master's degree in data and communications. Quick Response and Public Safety Reporter Caitlin Bell is a breaking news and courts reporter for The Post and Courier Charleston. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-07 00:03:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 965 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Company Also Announces Renewal of IR ProgramVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2026 /Green Bridge Metals Corporation (CSE:GRBM)(OTCQB:GBMCF)(FWB:J48, WKN:A3EW4S) ("Green Bridge" or the "Company") announces that it plans to ship selected diamond drill core from its Titac Project in Minnesota to a Canadian laboratory to conduct metallurgical testing focused on evaluating potential extraction pathways for titanium dioxide (TiO2) from ilmenite mineralization using the chloride process.The Company is currently conducting a diamond drilling program at the Titac deposit designed to test copper mineralization associated with oxide ultramafic intrusions within the South Contact District of the Duluth Complex. While drill testing for copper, the Company will also utilize recovered drill core to advance its understanding of the metallurgical characteristics of ilmenite-hosted titanium mineralization present at the Titac.The Titac deposit forms part of the Company's broader South Contact District property package, which hosts mineralization containing copper, nickel, titanium, vanadium and other critical minerals within Minnesota's Duluth Complex. Please see the Company's technical report dated September 18, 2024, a copy of which may be obtained under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca for more information. The Company notes that the Titac deposit includes inferred mineral resources.Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.Importance of the Metallurgical ProgramEvaluating titanium extraction potentialThe Titac deposit is hosted in an Oxide Ultramafic Intrusion which contains an average grade of 15% TiO2 and low grade (0.3-0.4%) copper over long intervals making the deposit appealing as a multi-commodity asset1. However, a critical component of the value at Titac is the understanding how the metals can be extracted from the host rock. Metallurgical testing is expected to provide important data regarding the recoverability of TiO2 from ilmenite mineralization at Titac, representing a key step in evaluating the potential economic viability of the deposit.Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.Advancing a multi-commodity development conceptTitac hosts both titanium dioxide and copper mineralization. Understanding the processing characteristics of titanium-bearing material while drilling for copper may help define opportunities for potential co-product value.Supporting future technical studiesMetallurgical results are expected to provide important inputs for future resource evaluation and engineering studies as the Company advances technical work across the South Contact District.IR RenewalThe Company also announces, further to its news release dated January 13, 2026, that it has renewed, with immediate effect, the term of its engagement of MCS Market Communication Service GmbH (business address: Saarlandstrae 28 58511 Ludenscheid, Germany, email: info@ mcsmarket.de; telephone: +491772481220; and website: www.mcsmarket.de) ("MCS") for the continued provision of a range of online marketing services, including campaign creation, production of marketing materials, as well as research and analytics (the "Services"). The Services are expected to run until June 1, 2026, or budget exhaustion. The Company has paid MCS EUR 372,000 for the renewed term (for aggregate compensation, including the last term, of EUR 744,000 (equivalent to approximately CAD 1,179,240, based on the Bank of Canada exchange rate posted today)). Compensation for the Services is fixed and not tied to market performance, and no securities have been provided to MCS or its principals as compensation. The Services will be executed via digital channels, including Google Ads and native advertising.Qualified PersonAjeet Milliard, Chief Geologist at Green Bridge Metals, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release.For a discussion of the Company's QA/QC and data verification processes and procedures, please see its most recently-filed technical report, a copy of which may be obtained under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca About Green Bridge Metals CorporationGreen Bridge Metals Corporation is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring critical mineral rich assets and advancing exploration projects along the South Contact District of the Duluth Complex, north of Duluth, Minnesota. The Company is focused on copper, nickel and titanium systems in a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction with existing infrastructure and a skilled workforce.ON BEHALF OF GREEN BRIDGE METALS CORPORATION"David Suda"President and Chief Executive OfficerFor more information, please contact:David SudaPresident and Chief Executive OfficerTel: 604.928.3101Email: investors@ greenbridgemetals.com Forward-Looking InformationCertain statements and information contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's investor awareness activities, exploration activities, future studies, and the advancement of its mineral projects.Forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, and opinions as of the date of this news release and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks related to exploration, permitting, regulatory approvals, market conditions, commodity prices, and the availability of financing.The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved or disappro PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-07 05:26:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 840 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2026 / The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition strongly criticizes the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Will Poston forexploiting the recent fish wash-upfrom Cape Henry, Virginia to Nags Head, North Carolina to promote yet another misleading attack on Virginia's menhaden fishery.The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is using this natural event to make false accusations and continue the campaign of anti-menhaden misinformation it has employed in numerous fundraising appeals, both online and in direct mail. It is another shameless attempt by CBF to make villains of the menhaden fishery, while failing to put the same focus on current environmental disasters, such as the vast amounts of raw sewage flowing into the Bay from the Potomac River. CBF's effort to use this beach wash-up to smear the menhaden fishery fits a broader pattern: blame menhaden harvest first, oversimplify the science second, and ignore every other environmental stressor that is harder to politicize.Mr. Poston falsely stated that efforts to fund research to better understand the Chesapeake Bay menhaden population have "been needlessly delayed by Omega Protein and their McGuireWoods lobbyists in Richmond." There is no truth to that statement. Neither Omega Protein, nor Ocean Harvesters, nor McGuireWoods are standing in the way of any funding of a Bay survey.The industry supports science. Over the past two decades, Ocean Harvesters and Omega Protein have supported at least 15 scientific studies and have regularly provided detailed landings and operational data to NOAA and ASMFC scientists. The industry is currently working collaboratively with researchers day in and day out on menhaden tagging and other studies.Through the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS), a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) that includes the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, theMarine Stewardship Council , andresearchers from NASA , the industryhas fundeda project designed to identify the research needed to finally develop a scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful Chesapeake Bay harvest cap for Atlantic menhaden. Led by scientists from the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and NOAA, it will review existing menhaden science, identify key data gaps, and recommend specific study designs, analytical methods, timelines, and costs for future Bay-focused research, including tools such as tagging, hydroacoustics, spatial modeling, and analysis of existing datasets like landings and spotter pilot reports.When CBF says research has been "needlessly delayed" by the industry, it is distorting the record. The real issue has been making sure research is done with credible methods and defensible study design, not blocking research.The fish die-offs are unfortunate. Butas reportedby WTKR News 3, Virginia Marine Resources Commission public information officer Zach Widgeon stated this was "not a result of a fishing spill or a net bust." It was a natural cold-weather occurrence tied to a sudden temperature drop offshore.The current die-off is not evidence of a collapsing forage base. It is evidence that menhaden remain abundant in Bay waters. As Mr. Widgeon noted, "There are so many menhaden out on the East Coast that you're going to see them affected and washing up more than any other species." CBF's statements continually ignore this most basic scientific reality: Atlantic menhaden arenot overfishedand overfishing is not occurring, according to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's current benchmark assessment. ASMFC's management framework explicitly uses ecological reference points designed to account for menhaden's role as forage for predator species.CBF also ignores recent state survey data. In October 2025, the Maryland Department of Natural Resourcesreported thatAtlantic menhaden were widespread in the Chesapeake Bay for the third consecutive year.These attacks are aimed at real people in a real working community. The Reedville-centered menhaden industry provides the kinds of jobs that rural Virginia cannot easily replace. A Virginia Marine Resources Commissioneconomic assessmentfound that the direct effects of the operation are heavily concentrated in Northumberland County, with 217 of 299 employees residing there, including 55 in Reedville. The report also describes the jobs as stable employment with benefits and union representation, and notes that most direct impacts occur in Northumberland County.CBF is not just criticizing a fishery. It is attacking one of the most economically important sources of unionized working-class employment in Virginia's Northern Neck, while presenting itself as the sole voice of the public interest. It is easy to issue inflammatory press releases, it's much harder to create well-paying jobs with full benefits.Anyone who wants to understand what is really at stake should hear directly from the union fishermen themselves. Readers should visit the UFCW Local 400 website andwatch this videofeaturing the union fishermen describing their jobs in their own words.About the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition TheMenhaden Fisheries Coalition(MFC) is a collective of menhaden fishermen, related businesses, and supporting industries. Comprised of businesses along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition conducts media and public outreach on behalf of the menhaden industry to ensure that members of the public, media, and government are informed of important issues, events, and facts about the fishery.Press Contact Menhaden Fisheries Coalition(202) 595-1212 www.menhaden.org SOURCE: Menhaden Fisheries Coalition PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-07 17:02:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 434 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 7, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against NuScale Power Corporation ("NuScale" or the "Company") (NYSE:SMR). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether NuScale and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until April 20, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired NuScale securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On November 6, 2025 NuScale revealed that its general and administrative expenses had ballooned more than 3,000% to $519 million during its third fiscal quarter, up from $17 million in the prior year period, due largely to NuScale's payment of $495 million to ENTRA1 Energy LLC ("ENTRA1") in connection with an agreement to develop power plants to provide the Tennessee Valley Authority ("TVA") with up to six gigawatts of new nuclear power generation. As a result, NuScale's quarterly net loss skyrocketed to $532 million, up from $46 million in the prior year period. During a corresponding conference call, analysts pressed NuScale management regarding whether ENTRA1 was sufficiently experienced to own and operate the energy generation facilities contemplated by the TVA agreement. NuScale's Chief Executive Officer further revealed during the call that the agreement between ENTRA1 and the TVA contemplated as many as 72 NPMs, meaning NuScale's milestone payments to ENTRA1 could potentially exceed more than $3 billion.On this news, NuScale's stock price fell $7.57 per share, or 19.97%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $30.34 per share on November 7, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-07 02:45:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 483 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2026 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Barclays plc (NYSE:BCS) resulting from allegations that Barclays may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased Barclays securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=23523 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 27, 2026, Reuters published an article entitled "Wall Street hit by UK mortgage lender collapse, raising fears of more credit cockroaches.'" The article stated that lenders were "rocked by the implosion of little-known UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd ["MFS"], fueling concerns about wider losses among banks and reviving warnings of more "cockroaches" in the booming private credit industry." It further stated that another publication "reported Barclays has a 600 million pound ($809.70 million) exposure to MFS." On this news, Barclays American Depositary Shares ("ADS") fell 3.99% on February 27, 2026, and 2.3% on March 2, 2026.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-07 02:00:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 328 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2026 / (ACCESSWIRE)-The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP continues its investigation on behalf of Tennant Company ("Tennant" or the "Company") (NYSE:TNC) investors concerning the Company's and/or members of its senior management's possible violation of the federal securities laws and other unlawful business practices.[LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION]What Happened?On February 24, 2026, after the company reported Q4 results that missed analyst expectations and issued FY26 guidance below consensus estimates. Tennant disclosed that net sales declined year over year and that adjusted earnings fell sharply, citing operational disruptions related to its Enterprise Resource Planning system transition that negatively impacted production, margins and volumes. The company also projected continued pressure into 2026, signaling a slower recovery than investors anticipated. On this news, the price of Tennant shares declined by $19.28 per share, or approximately 23.4%, from $82.30 per share on February 23, 2026 to close at $63.02 on February 24, 2026.What Should I Do?At this stage, no lawsuit has been filed. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether claims may be brought under federal securities laws.If you purchased or otherwise acquired Tennant securities, have information, or would like to learn more about this investigation, please contact Lauren Molinaro of Kirby McInerney LLP by email at investigations@ kmllp.com , or fill out the contact form below, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters at no cost.[LEARN MORE ABOUT SECURITIES CLASS ACTIONS]Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs' law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm's efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP's website.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.ContactsKirby McInerney LLPLauren Molinaro, Esq.212-699-1171 SOURCE: Kirby McInerney LLP The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) says no fewer than 3,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers are stranded in Middle East over the ongoing war by the US and Israel against Iran. The crucial Strait of Hormuz global shipping corridor marking the entrance to the Persian Gulf, is essentially closed due to the threat of strikes from Iran and elsewhere, IMO declared. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, warned of the global knock-on effect from the closure of the sea lane responsible for 20 per cent of the worlds oil. Mr Dominguez disclosed that the Strait of Hormuz was closed after a tugboat assisting another vessel in the strait on Friday morning was struck killing four seafarers. The UN shipping agency chief condemned the attack and that the overall situation was deteriorating and urged ships to avoid navigating in the region. He urged member states to find solutions through dialogue in order to de-escalate and restore free and safe movement across the region. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher further warned that the widening conflict in the Middle East could trigger far-reaching humanitarian consequences well beyond the region. Fletcher said disruptions to key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz could drive up food prices. The UN relief chief added that the disruption could strain health systems and make humanitarian supplies harder to deliver, hitting the most vulnerable people first. (NAN) The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stated that Nigerias bank recapitalisation exercise is progressing as 30 banks have already met the new minimum capital requirements ahead of the 31 March deadline. The bank disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Hakama Ali, on Friday. In March 2024, the CBN introduced a revised recapitalisation policy that requires Nigerian banks to raise their capital base within 24 months, with the compliance period running from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2026. At the recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in February, the central bank revealed that 20 of 33 Nigerian banks had met the new minimum capital requirements, raising N4.05 trillion. In its statement on Friday, the central bank noted that all the 33 banks have raised additional capital through rights issues, initial public offerings (IPOs), and private placements, but not all have met all the requirements. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a recapitalisation programme for the banking sector in 2024 to strengthen the resilience, stability, and long-term capacity of the financial system to support Nigerias economic development. Since the introduction of the policy, banks across the industry have taken steps to strengthen their capital base in line with the revised regulatory requirements. As of 6 March, the recapitalisation exercise is progressing steadily. Thirty (30) banks have met the new minimum capital requirements applicable to their respective licence authorisations. In total, thirty-three (33) banks have raised additional capital through rights issues, initial public offerings (IPOs), and private placements as part of the programme, the statement read. The CBN explained that capital positions of the other three banks await the central banks verification process and confirmation in the scope of the recapitalisation programme. The bank also affirmed that Nigerias banking system is in good shape, noting that the recapitalisation programme will strengthen the capacity of the banking sector, while supporting households, businesses, and sustainable economic growth of the country. The capital positions of the remaining banks are currently undergoing the Central Banks routine verification process ahead of final confirmation of compliance within the recapitalisation timeline. The CBN reiterates that the Nigerian banking system remains stable and sound. The recapitalisation programme remains firmly on track and will further strengthen the capacity of the banking sector to support households, businesses, and sustainable economic growth. The Central Bank of Nigeria will continue to maintain close supervisory engagement with regulated institutions to ensure full compliance with prudential and capital requirements, the CBN stated. Three months after actor Olanrewaju Baba Ijesha James was released from prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, he has broken his silence. On 15 November 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Baba Ijesha was freed three years into a 16-year prison sentence handed down by the Ikeja Special Offences Court in July 2022. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo delivered the judgment after a rape trial that spanned more than 12 months, following his arrest and arraignment in June 2021. However, in a music video titled Eniwaye Daran uploaded to his YouTube page on Thursday, the actor recounted the events that led to his imprisonment and detailed his experiences behind bars. He further alleged that actress and comedienne Damilola Princess Comedian Adekoya orchestrated the setup that resulted in his conviction. Prison ordeal He sang as he recounted his ordeal: I was sent to Kirikiri by a woman. A lot of people suffered innocently. I trusted innocently, but I was betrayed. I saw hell in the hand of the She Devil. She said, Kill him, he mustnt talk. I suffered in vain. This is the full story. Please listen to me. This incident happened on the 21st of April 2021. I had an emergency call from Princess Devil. She said I should hurry down to her place because she had prepared my favourite meal: delicious pounded yams with lobster and bush meat, all mixed into egusi soup. She said its on point, and I accepted the invitation. I didnt know it was a trap. The world is difficult. However, she told me earlier about a production. She said, Listen to me, Baba Ijesha, you wouldnt act like an old man but a young man. She said she was taking me to another level, but I didnt suspect that it was a trap to send me to Kirikiri and Panti. I was elated and drove down to her place. I didnt know it was a trap. She Devil Furthermore, Baba Ijesha stated that when he arrived at Princess Comedian, whom he referred to as She Devil in the song, she was preparing the meal. He added that he appreciated her effort in preparing the food and asked whether he had arrived late, as there were already many people on the ground. When I got there, she said preparation of the meal was still ongoing and that she was exhausted. I appreciated her effort. I asked if I was already late because I met people there. She said she wants the whole world to see me in a different light. I started the job, you people already know how much I love to do my job. We started rehearsal and were giving them what they wanted me to do, but alas, it was a scheme, it was a setup. She wants to exploit my fame to regain relevance. She Devil is wicked. The guilty are walking freely. Youre demanding the head of an innocent man. Its really frustrating, he said. Advice The actor further cautioned his fans and Nigerians to exercise care when interacting with acquaintances or friends they have not seen for many years. He claimed that some people could harbour ill intentions, citing Princess Comedian as an example, who he alleged orchestrated his imprisonment despite him committing no offence. Baba Ijesha also recounted that Princess Comedian had called him, requesting his help to revive her fading fame, insisting that her popularity was dwindling. He noted, Any person youre meeting after so many years, my people, any friend youre meeting after so many years, my fans, such a person cant be trusted. He may now be a different person, wicked; flee from them. The world is wicked, man is wicked, worse than a venomous snake. Learn from my mistakes. This is my advice to my fans, wise and swift: Be careful with friends and associates. The Princess She Devil Im talking about, she called me in the first place to relaunch her back into fame because her fame is fast going into extinction. So many elders in the industry and the youth I trusted betrayed me. They want to stop my fame because of my glory. Welcome me back from the centre of Tiger. Backstory This newspaper reported that following Baba Ijeshas release, the Lagos State Government added his name to the sex offenders register. The government clarified that the ex-convict had not been exonerated of his sexual assault offences. It emphasised that although Baba Ijesha had completed his jail term, he remained guilty of sexual assault and the indecent treatment of a child. The agency added that the step was taken in line with Section 37 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law 2021. The confirmation of his inclusion on the sex offenders register came after Princess Comedian petitioned the state government to ensure his name was recorded. In an era when Nollywood is stretching its limbs toward the global market, Son of the Soil (2025) arrives with quite a bit of intrigue. Though initially released in December 2025, the movie only became available on the international streaming platform Netflix on 1 March 2026. A UKNigeria co-production directed by Chee Keong Cheung and written by and starring Razaaq Adoti, the film clearly wants to be Nigerias John Wick. The action movie featured all the stunts and gimmicks of the genre, but it didnt make an impression. Instead, what audiences get is a muscular but uneven revenge drama, a film brimming with ambition, kinetic violence, and Lagos grit, yet weighed down by thin characterisation and a script that mistakes intensity for depth. Plot The movie opens with a news report on the outbreak of a drug called Matrix, that was responsible for the death of many in the streets of Lagos. Shortly after, it tells the story of Ronke, a young woman running late for work. Her colleague had arranged one of the hotel rooms so she could quickly change into work outfit. However, while she was at it, the occupant of the room came in, and she witnessed a murder. In a bid to video the event, she got caught, leading to her untimely death, but before her death, she sent a voice message to her brother Zion. Zion Ladejo (Adoti), a dishonourably discharged Nigerian Special Ops soldier now living in the United States, is summoned home by a desperate SOS from his sister Ronke (Sharon Rotimi). By the time he arrives, she is dead, framed as yet another casualty of a deadly fentanyl cocktail called Matrix. The drug, we learn, is flooding Lagos under the watchful eye of Dr Baptiste (Philip Asaya), a polished medical professional who doubles as a calculating narcotics kingpin. Ronkes murder was quickly dismissed by the police, forcing Zion to investigate his sisters death himself, but it was only the beginning of trouble. Performance Adoti, as the protagonist, commits physically to the role. His role as Zion is imposing, intense, and convincingly dangerous. The actor clearly understands the physical grammar of action cinema. His appearance in a Black suit and soft-spoken nature closely match the Hollywood character John Wick. But emotional vulnerability, the element that might have elevated the character, rarely surfaces. Zion suffers, yes. But we are told this more than we feel it. Good acting shows rather than tells. Supporting performances vary. Some Nollywood veterans like Patience Ozokwor and Ireti Doyle inject theatrical flair that adds texture; others feel underwritten. Sharon Rotimis Ronke, in particular, is given too little screen time to register as more than a tragic catalyst. Strengths Let us give credit where it is due. Cheung directs the action with admirable confidence. Shot entirely on location, in the slums and streets of Lagos, Son of the Soil captures Lagos in all its claustrophobic intensity; crowded danfos, yellow tricycles (Keke), chaotic open-air markets, neon-lit backstreets and noise from different daily activities. The fight choreography is raw and bone-crunching rather than balletic. The camera lingers on impact, such as knives cutting close and blood spills, giving the movie the sense of action it needed. There is even a moment, absurd yet oddly daring, when Zion staggers from an intensive-care ward straight into a bustling street market wearing nothing but a backless hospital gown. It might seem excessive, but its undeniably not a common stunt in Nollywood. And in those moments, the film feels alive. The movie captures the streets of Lagos in all their natural detail; it spares no detail. Also, it shows the deplorable state of some Nigerian police cells, and the movie exposes some realities about corruption in the Police Force. Weaknesses Where Son of the Soil falters is in its writing. Adotis script frames Zion as a mythic avenger, unstoppable, brooding, and haunted. But beyond grief and vague references to past sins, we learn little about the man beneath the muscle. Unlike John Wick, where grief is textured and world-building meticulous, Zion operates in a moral vacuum. His sister Ronke exists primarily as narrative fuel, a device to justify carnage. The film gestures toward themes of diaspora identity, family loyalty and systemic corruption, yet never fully interrogates them. Even the villains, though serviceably menacing, lack dimension. Dr Baptistes dual identity as healer and destroyer is ripe for psychological exploration. Instead, he remains a stock antagonist with expensive suits and evil intentions. The films dialogue oscillates between earnest melodrama and action-movie cliche. Emotional beats feel rushed. Plot conveniences pile up. Stakes that should devastate instead merely propel the next fight sequence. Balance Still, dismissing Son of the Soil outright would be unfair. The film represents something important: Nollywoods willingness to experiment in a genre long dominated by Hollywood and Asian cinema. Action filmmaking in Nigeria is still evolving, and this production demonstrates technical growth, tighter choreography, more disciplined cinematography, and international collaboration. It signals intent. But ambition alone does not equal excellence. Son of the Soil wants to be Nigerias John Wick. It delivers the violence, vengeance, and a brooding protagonist. What it lacks is the narrative precision, emotional resonance and mythic world-building that made that franchise iconic. The movie is entertaining, but ultimately a weak Nigerian John Wick. Verdict 6/10 Son of the Soil is streaming on Netflix Nollywood movie The Weekend, a psychological thriller produced by Trino Motion Pictures, is now streaming on HBO Max across several countries in Central and Eastern Europe. This marks a significant milestone for Nigerias film industry, as the films availability on a global streaming platform represents one of the most notable international distribution deals secured by an independently produced Nollywood thriller, also indicating a growing global appetite for Nigerian stories. Produced by Uche Okocha and directed by Daniel Oriahi, The Weekend is a psychological horror-thriller that explores family, tradition and hidden secrets through the story of a young woman whose visit to meet her fiances family spirals into a disturbing ordeal. The Weekend The Weekend stars Uzoamaka Power as Nikiya, an orphan who accompanies her fiance, Luke (Bucci Franklin), to meet his parents for the first time. What begins as a seemingly ordinary introduction soon evolves into a tense psychological battle as unsettling family traditions and long-buried secrets come to light. The film also features a veteran cast including Meg Otanwa, Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey, Gloria Anozie-Young, Damilola Ogunsi and Ghanaian actor James Gardiner. Streaming Following the distribution agreement, the film is now available to HBO Max subscribers across Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Hungary, among others. The expansion into these territories introduces new audiences to Nollywoods evolving cinematic language, which increasingly blends African storytelling traditions with global filmmaking techniques. Nigerias film industry, widely known as Nollywood, is among the largest in the world by production volume and has seen increasing global visibility in recent years through international festivals and streaming platforms. Acclaim The film gained international attention following its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024, where it became one of the few independently produced Nigerian films to screen at the prestigious New York event. After its debut, The Weekend continued its festival run with selections at the BFI London Film Festival and Screamfest Horror Film Festival in the United States, one of the worlds longest-running horror film festivals. Its festival success translated into awards on the international circuit, including the Best Film Monster Award at the Monsters Fantastic Film Festival. Domestically, the film also made an impact at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, where it earned 16 nominations and won several prizes, including Best Film, Best Nigerian Film, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Growing global recognition The deal with HBO Max underscores the growing international visibility of Nigerian films, particularly in the thriller and horror genres, which are attracting attention beyond Africa. Speaking on the development, Mr Okocha, the managing director of Trino Motion Pictures, described the streaming deal as a defining moment for the company and Nigerias independent filmmaking community. When we set out to make The Weekend, our ambition was to tell a story with themes that resonate globally but from an African perspective, he said. To have a platform like HBO Max recognise the quality of the film and present it to audiences across multiple territories is a strong validation that Nigerian stories belong on the world stage. Trino Motion Pictures said the development reflects its broader mission of producing high-quality films that showcase African stories to global audiences. The company described the HBO Max deal as a step forward in positioning Nigerian independent cinema within the international film distribution ecosystem. The war between the United States and Israel against Iran entered its eighth day and second week today (Saturday). At least 1,332 have been killed in the war, the majority of them in Iran. We bring you major updates on the war on its seventh day. Iran announces end to attacks on neighbours Iran announced on Saturday morning that it would no longer attack neighbouring countries unless the US or Israel carried out attacks from there. Irans President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said this resolution was reached by Irans interim council on Friday, a further confirmation that the country is still undergoing regular governance despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes. In remarks carried out by Iranian media, the president also apologised to the neighbouring countries for the strikes that took place in the past days, Al Jazeera reports. Since the US and Israel launched an unprovoked war on Iran last Saturday, Iran has fired missiles at Israel and American interests in the Middle East, including bases, hotels and oil infrastructure. Trump wants Iran to surrender After the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint USIsraeli strike on Tehran last Saturday, attention has turned to the question of succession. Reports have suggested that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, may emerge as a leading candidate. But Mr Trump said he intends to play a direct role in the selection of a new leader, while describing Mr Khameneis son as an unacceptable choice. Mr Trump also said the US will not agree to stop military strikes on Iran without an unconditional surrender. This, alongside the selection of an acceptable leader, is the major way to get the US to accept mediation as opposed to war, according to him. 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, he said. Iran will have a great future. Make Iran Great Again (MIGA!), he added. Ongoing US and Israeli military campaign US and Israeli attacks on Iran have continued, and the war casualties are increasing. Iran has also continued to fire missiles at Israel. At least 1,332 people have been killed in Iran since the attacks started, Al Jazeera reported. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the death toll was estimated at 1,239 a day earlier. At least 12 people were killed in Israel from Iranian missile strikes. PREMIUM TIMES reported that six US citizens have been confirmed killed. They died in an Iranian strike on a US military base in Kuwait during the conflict. Strait of Hormuz closed Iran has ensured the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is doing so for safety reasons. The strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze, the Iranian military had said. On Friday, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said no fewer than 3,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Middle East due to the war The crucial Strait of Hormuz global shipping corridor marking the entrance to the Persian Gulf, is essentially closed due to the threat of strikes from Iran and elsewhere, the IMO declared. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, warned of the global knock-on effect from the closure of the sea lane responsible for 20 per cent of the worlds oil. Iran may target EU interests Meanwhile, as EU countries send warships and planes towards the Middle East, Irans deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, has warned European nations that they will become legitimate targets if they become involved in the US and Israels war on Tehran. He warned on Friday that If any country joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, they will also be legitimate targets for Irans retaliation, he told France 24. He said Iranian officials had been negotiating in good faith with the US, which decided to launch an attack mid-negotiation. Maybe we do not trust the Americans. Not only did they betray us, but they betrayed diplomacy, he said. Increased demand for Russian oil Russia has said the US-Israeli war on Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompted a significant increase in demand for Russian energy products. This comes a day after the US Treasury issued a 30-day waiver allowing India to buy Russian oil currently stuck at sea. With the Strait of Hormuz shut, countries are scrambling for other sources of oil and liquefied natural gas. According to Russias spokesman Dmitry Peskov, this has driven up demand for the countrys oil. He also described Russia as a reliable supplier of oil and gas, in liquefied form. We are seeing a significant increase in demand for Russian energy resources in connection with the war in Iran. Russia has been and remains a reliable supplier of both oil and gas including pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas, he told reporters. It also remains capable of guaranteeing the continuity of all deliveries for which contracts have been concluded, he added. Fatima Shinkafi has been named among 100 influential African women recognised in the 2026 Africa Women of Impact Awards organised by ARISE News. Mrs Shinkafi, the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI), was listed alongside 99 other prominent African women honoured for their contributions across various sectors. She was first appointed to the position by former President Muhammadu Buhari and was reappointed in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu. Mrs Shinkafi is widely regarded as one of the key drivers of reforms in Nigerias solid minerals sector through her leadership at the SMDF. The awards The recognition, which is in commemoration of the International Womens Day (IWD), celebrates women who have made significant contributions to governance, business, healthcare, technology, and the creative industries. Others include entrepreneurship, law and justice, media, academia, science, medicine, social impact and philanthropy. This years IWD theme is Give To Gain, to encourage the mindset of generosity and collaboration. The honourees were selected by the Board of Editors of the ARISE News channel from audience nominations and focus group engagements across Africa and the world. According to the broadcast channel, the honourees were found to be fit and proper in the shaping of the African renaissance in the emerging new world. The awardees reflect a cross-section of African excellence, with strong representation from Nigeria alongside leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Sudan, Cote dIvoire, Niger as well as accomplished African women in other parts of the world. The list includes the former Nigerian First Lady Aisha Buhari; Executive Director of UNAIDS (Uganda), Winnie Byanyima; and South African politician, activist, Helen Zille. Business leaders like Ibukun Awosika and Halima Dangote, and creative industry professionals like filmmaker Kemi Adetiba were recognised. The award ceremony, scheduled for 8 March, will bring together women leaders from diverse fields to the Eko Hotel and Suites in the Victoria Island area of Lagos. Congratulatory message The management of PREMIUM TIMES has congratulated Ms Shinkafi on the recognition. In a statement on Friday, Olayinka Lawal, Senior Manager, Business and Partnership at PREMIUM TIMES, described Ms Shinkafi as a leader committed to excellence, public service and national development. Mrs Shinkafis selection underscores her dedication to advancing Nigerias solid minerals sector and strengthening institutional frameworks that promote sustainable resource development, Mr Lawal wrote. Through her leadership at the SMDF, she has continued to champion initiatives aimed at unlocking the economic potential of Nigerias mineral resources while encouraging responsible investment and innovation within the sector. About 30 widows in Makoko, a waterfront community in Lagos, received food items from IDA Beauty on Thursday, as part of activities marking International Womens Day. This years campaign theme is Give To Gain, to encourage the mindset of generosity and collaboration. The food empowerment programme, in partnership with Tabitha-Kay Widow Care Foundation, aimed to support vulnerable families in the community and bring relief to those in need. This is because the floating slum faces severe humanitarian challenges following forced eviction by the Lagos state government. These actions have disproportionately affected women and children, resulting in loss of shelter. Makoko widows The women, numbering up to 30, received food items including rice, groundnut oil, spaghetti, salt and tomato paste. The beneficiaries, mostly traders, expressed gratitude to the organisers for reaching out to them. Im happy. May God bless her. I have even prayed for her, said Mariya Wenu, a food seller. Similarly, Angelina Ajibade, a fish seller, urged the organisers to always remember to reach out to them. They love us, and that is why they reach out to us, she said. However, Margaret Andrew, while thanking the organisers, noted that she would appreciate capital to kickstart a new business. The fish trader noted that she would like to venture into the soft drinks trade. Also, Sarah Johnson applauded the organisers for the food support. We are happy. We are grateful, Johnson Sarah, she said. In her remark, Idowu Adepeju, founder of Ida Beauty, said that the IWD is to celebrate and acknowledge womens incredible strength, especially the young widows present. We see the silent strength it takes to wake up each day and keep going, Ms Adepeju said. We see the weight you carry. We see the courage it takes to rebuild when life changes unexpectedly. She commended the women for standing tall despite the storm that had reshaped their world, proving strength beyond measure. Ms Adepeju reminded the widows that their story did not end when tragedy happened. Similarly, Dorcas Adelaja, the cofounder of Tabitha-Kay Widow Care, described the initiative as thoughtful and great. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that it has supported nine countries to begin rolling out lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention medicine, targeting people at high risk of infection across several African nations. The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, made this known on Thursday during a virtual media briefing addressing global health priorities, including HIV prevention, obesity treatment advances and progress in cervical cancer elimination. Mr Ghebreyesus said a new medicine approved in 2025 for HIV prevention, Lenacapavir, represents the most significant development in combating HIV since the first antiretroviral treatments were approved nearly 40 years ago. He noted that HIV remains one of the defining public health challenges of the past half-century, but it had also become one of the worlds most notable successes in disease control efforts. According to him, HIV, once considered a death sentence, can now be controlled with safe and effective medication, allowing millions of people living with the virus to live longer, healthier lives worldwide. Mr Ghebreyesus noted that as treatment improved and access expanded, annual AIDS-related deaths globally had dropped dramatically, declining by about 70 per cent over the past 20 years. He added that medicines originally designed to treat HIV infection were increasingly used as preventive tools, protecting people at substantial risk of contracting the virus before exposure occurred. Lenacapavir for HIV prevention The WHO chief reiterated that the approval of Lenacapavir for HIV prevention in 2025 marked a historic milestone in global efforts to curb transmission and accelerate progress toward ending the epidemic. He explained that lenacapavir is not a vaccine but functioned as a long-acting antiretroviral drug administered once every six months to people who are HIV-negative but vulnerable to infection. According to him, clinical trials have shown the medicine can prevent almost all cases of HIV among individuals at risk, making it one of the most promising prevention tools available. Mr Ghebreyesus said WHO issued official guidelines on the use of Lenacapavir in July 2025 and later granted prequalification in October, enabling global health donors to procure and distribute the medicine. He said that it was the first time the WHO developed treatment guidelines and product prequalification simultaneously rather than sequentially, accelerating equitable access to a major public health innovation. In the past eight months, the WHO has supported the rollout of lenacapavir in Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, he said. He said South Africa became the first African country to approve lenacapavir in October 2025, and only the third country globally to authorise the medicine for HIV prevention. He added that Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, announced during his 2025 State of the Nation address that the country planned a large-scale rollout of the prevention drug. South Africa also announced plans on Thursday to manufacture Lenacapavir locally, a move expected to strengthen supply and expand access to the medicine across the region, he said. High demands Mr Ghebreyesus warned that demand for the drug is currently exceeding supply, as orders placed by countries through donors had fallen short of the growing need. He said the WHO is working with national governments, international donors and pharmaceutical manufacturers to scale up production and ensured sufficient supplies reached countries introducing the medicine. HPV Vaccination Mr Ghebreyesus also highlighted HPV vaccine as another powerful public health tool helping countries move closer to eliminating cervical cancer through vaccination, screening and early treatment. He noted that Wednesday marked HPV Awareness Day, celebrated under the theme One Less Worry, raising awareness about viruses responsible for several cancers, including cervical cancer. He recalled launching a global call in 2018 to eliminate cervical cancer, followed in 2020 by a global strategy targeting 90 per cent vaccination and 90 per cent screening coverage. The strategy also aims to ensure 90 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer or precancerous lesions receive treatment by 2030, significantly reducing global mortality from the disease, he said. Mr Ghebreyesus said nearly 60 countries had introduced HPV vaccination programmes since the initiative began, while 162 countries now includes the vaccine in national immunisation schedules. He highlighted progress in India and South Africa, describing both countries as making major strides toward eliminating cervical cancer through expanded vaccination campaigns and national programmes. In February, India launched the largest free HPV vaccination campaign in history, targeting nearly 12 million 14-year-old girls every year to protect them against cervical cancer, he said. More than 127,000 women in India are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, while about 80,000 die from the disease each year, according to global health estimates. (NAN) The recurring blackout at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has once again drawn public attention to the fragility of critical infrastructure in Nigerias health sector, with patients, students and Nigerians on social media lamenting the implications for patient care at one of the countrys foremost teaching hospitals. The development has also triggered fresh labour unrest at the facility. On Tuesday, The Nation newspaper reported that the hospital had been plunged into darkness following a five-day warning strike declared by its labour unions over alleged electricity rationing by the management. The Council of UCH Union Leaders (CUUL), a coalition of 11 unions within the hospital, called the action to highlight the persistent power crisis at the facility. Union leaders said the situation had disrupted service delivery, endangered patients and exposed staff to operational risks. In a statement signed by the councils co-chairpersons, Oladayo Olabampe and Uthman Adedeji, the unions said that although the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) restored power supply to the hospital in February, the management continued to ration electricity across departments. The power crisis at the federal tertiary facility has persisted for months, disrupting medical services, triggering protests by students and industrial actions by doctors, while fuelling wider concerns about the sustainability of Nigerias public healthcare system. Years in the making The electricity challenge at UCH did not begin recently. PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that the hospital has been grappling with persistent power outages linked to unpaid electricity bills owed to IBEDC. The situation escalated on 26 October 2024 when IBEDC disconnected the hospital from the national grid over outstanding debts. Hospital management confirmed that the disconnection was triggered by an unpaid electricity bill of about N400 million, which formed part of an accumulated electricity debt estimated at N3.1 billion in 2019. The outage plunged large sections of the hospital into darkness, severely affecting clinical operations and forcing staff to rely on generators and other emergency power sources to sustain essential medical services. For weeks, several departments reportedly struggled to maintain routine services, while patients and relatives complained about deteriorating conditions within the hospital complex. Protests, disruptions in hospital operations The power outage earlier triggered protests among students of the University of Ibadan who rely on the hospital for clinical training. PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that students staged demonstrations demanding urgent government intervention to restore electricity to the facility after weeks of disruption. The protests came as the hospital had already spent more than three months without stable electricity following the disconnection from the national grid. According to reports, the hospital had endured over 100 days of electricity disruption in early 2025, significantly affecting clinical training, research activities and healthcare delivery. Following this, the crises led to labour unrest. Resident doctors at the hospital later embarked on an indefinite strike, citing the prolonged blackout and inadequate water supply as key issues affecting working conditions and patient care. Healthcare workers warned that persistent power outages could compromise critical medical procedures that depend on stable electricity supply. At the time, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, convened a meeting with the management of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and officials of IBEDC to address the electricity crisis affecting the facility. Following the meeting, Mr Adelabu assured that electricity supply to the hospital would be restored within 24 to 48 hours, describing the situation as unacceptable for a major tertiary healthcare institution. Although, electricity was restored at the time, the hospital has once again been plunged into darkness. Public reactions The situation has triggered widespread reactions online, with Nigerians expressing concern about the state of healthcare infrastructure. Many noted that the prolonged power outages at a leading hospital can disrupt patient care and undermine public confidence in the health system. A user identified as Dante.M.A.D (@whypeecloze) lamented the implications for patients seeking treatment. Firstly, UCH is not affordable to everyone, secondly you fit dey on emergency make them tell you doctors are on strike. They really get us in this country. Another user, Temitayo Felix Ilori (@TeeMento), questioned Nigerias long-standing electricity challenges. Bro, I still cant wrap my head around the fact that in 2026, Nigeria still cant boast of steady electricity. A whole UCH Ibadan on strike and protesting for no light and water in this century? Similarly, a user identified as AAA (@GraciousGod22) described personal observations at the hospital. UCH resumed from strike two weeks earlier and embarked on another one on Monday. Truly, there is no water or light Of my 10 hours of staying there not once was light restored. A medical professional, Olawale Ogunlana (@doctorwalesmd), reflected on the hospitals past reputation. UCH once treated the King of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Royal Family Today, its operations are grounded because of lack of water and electricity supply. Another user, OmoYeni (@OmoyeniSalami), shared personal experiences caring for a relative at the hospital. Surviving UCH is by the Grace & Mercy of God against all odds my aged Dad survived Covid . I was with him in hospital 24/7. After he was discharged, the Lead consultant basically told me to keep doing whatever I was doing!. On Instagram, users also expressed frustration over the conditions at the hospital. A user identified as @biggielarry recounted the death of a relative, alleging delays in care. If you see the way people died there now eh? My cousin died there last year in AugustThey bring people in and no bed, some die eventually inside the ambulance and their cars while in the premises. He remain small make cousin beat a nurse just because of the way they neglected people anyhow. A lot is wrong there. I am still traumatized myself. In everything you do this life, dont have a life threatening issue biko. Another user, @mz_tiana2, criticised Nigerias inability to provide basic infrastructure. A country like Nigeria cant boost of basic amenities in its major cities. Its a shame, Nigerian leaders should be walking in full shame both nationally and internationally. Similarly, @adabelcay said the situation disrupted medical appointments. This is so sad. My Dad was scheduled to see a specialist on Tuesday, but we couldnt. What if its an emergency situation? I just pray this strike get called off and no emergency situation?. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed 13 attacks on health facilities in Iran since the outbreak of the ongoing US/Israel-Iran war, warning that the escalating violence is threatening healthcare delivery across the Middle East. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus disclosed this in a statement posted on his X account, where he raised concern about the public health consequences of the war. According to Mr Ghebreyesus, the violence has already killed more than 1,000 people, displaced over 100,000 others and affected at least 16 countries across the region. He said WHO has verified 13 attacks on healthcare facilities in Iran and one in Lebanon, stressing that targeting health infrastructure violates international humanitarian law. Attacks on health care violate humanitarian law, Mr Ghebreyesus said, calling on all parties involved in the war to uphold international law and protect hospitals, health workers and patients. The WHO chief warned that beyond the immediate casualties, the war poses serious risks to health systems across the region. Threat to health systems WHO said the ongoing hostilities are disrupting healthcare services in several countries, as insecurity spreads across the Middle East. The organisation noted that the war is already affecting the delivery of medical care and humanitarian support. As part of the disruptions, operations at WHOs Logistics Hub for Global Health Emergencies in Dubai have been temporarily put on hold due to the deteriorating security situation. The Dubai hub is one of WHOs key global supply centres used to dispatch emergency medical supplies, medicines and laboratory materials to countries responding to health crises. WHO said it is working closely with its country offices across affected countries to monitor how the war is affecting the delivery of health services and to provide assistance where necessary. Earlier attacks on health workers The latest update comes amid growing concern over the safety of health workers responding to casualties in the war. Earlier this week, Mr Ghebreyesus condemned the killing of three paramedics and the injury of six others in southern Lebanon while they were attempting to rescue victims following explosions in the Tyre district. The WHO chief described the incident as deeply troubling and warned that more health workers could become casualties if attacks continue. He emphasised that paramedics, doctors and nurses must be allowed to carry out their life-saving duties, particularly during crises when health services are most needed. Call for restraint WHO has urged all parties involved in the war to exercise restraint and prioritise the protection of civilians and health services. Mr Ghebreyesus said safeguarding healthcare systems must remain a priority even during armed conflict. I call on all parties to uphold international law, protect health facilities, health workers and patients, he said. The WHO chief also reiterated his call for peace, saying it remains the most effective way to protect lives and prevent further humanitarian suffering. Peace is the best medicine. Only the brave choose peace, he added. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has alerted Nigerians to the heightened risk of cerebrospinal meningitis as the country moves through the peak of the dry season. In a public health advisory signed by the Director-General, Jide Idris, the agency urged residents, particularly those in states within the African meningitis belt, to remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures to reduce transmission. According to the agency, meningitis cases occur more frequently between December and April when dry and dusty weather conditions, overcrowding and poor ventilation increase the likelihood of the disease spreading. The NCDC said surveillance and response activities are ongoing nationwide, with laboratory testing currently being conducted at the state level while national laboratory capacity continues to be strengthened. Cerebrospinal meningitis Cerebrospinal meningitis is a serious infection that affects the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The disease is most commonly caused by bacteria, particularly Neisseria meningitidis, and can progress rapidly if left untreated. The NCDC warned that bacterial meningitis can become fatal within hours, but noted that early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic treatment significantly improve survival rates and reduce the risk of complications. The infection spreads through respiratory droplets during close contact, especially in overcrowded or poorly ventilated environments. Symptoms The agency urged Nigerians to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear, stressing that early treatment can save lives. Common symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache and neck stiffness. Other possible symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion or altered consciousness and seizures. In infants and young children, symptoms may include a bulging soft spot on the head, irritability, refusal to feed and excessive sleepiness. Although the disease often affects children and young adults, the NCDC said people of all ages can become infected. It also warned Nigerians not to automatically assume that fever and headaches during the dry season are caused by malaria. Fever and headache during the dry season should not automatically be assumed to be malaria. Seek immediate medical evaluation, the advisory stated. People most at risk According to the agency, children and young adults are among the most vulnerable groups. Others at risk include individuals living in overcrowded environments, people exposed to dry and dusty conditions, and those with weakened immune systems. The NCDC also warned that crowded institutions such as schools, boarding facilities, universities, religious centres, internally displaced persons camps and correctional facilities face a higher risk of outbreaks. It advised administrators of such facilities to ensure adequate ventilation and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities. Preventive measures To reduce the risk of infection, the NCDC urged Nigerians to seek early medical care and avoid self-medication. It warned against relying on herbal remedies and emphasised that immediate antibiotic treatment at a health facility is essential once symptoms develop. The agency also advised the public to avoid overcrowded spaces where possible, ensure good ventilation in homes and public places, cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoid sharing drinking cups or utensils. Vaccination also remains one of the most effective preventive measures, the agency said. The NCDC encouraged eligible individuals to receive meningitis vaccines and urged communities to participate in state-led vaccination campaigns when announced. Ongoing response The public health agency said it is working with state ministries of health to monitor meningitis trends through the national surveillance system and support laboratory confirmation of suspected cases. It added that rapid response teams may be deployed to affected areas when necessary, while efforts are ongoing to strengthen case management and treatment capacity across the country. The NCDC urged Nigerians to seek emergency medical care immediately if fever is accompanied by neck stiffness, seizures, confusion or rapidly worsening symptoms. The agency also encouraged members of the public to report suspected cases and obtain more information through its toll-free line, 6232, or its official communication channels. A Nigerian-Canadian medical doctor, Kika Otiono, has received the Orleans Leading Women, Leading Girls Recognition Award in Canada as part of activities marking International Womens Day. Member of Parliament for Orleans, Marie-France Lalonde, presented the award at a ceremony held in Ottawa on 6 March, according to a statement on Friday. The annual recognition honours women and girls for their achievements and contributions to community development in the Orleans community. This years event featured a womens breakfast and the presentation of certificates to 31 honourees, alongside other activities celebrating womens achievements. Academic, community contributions Ms Otiono, a third-year surgical resident in the Division of Urology at the University of Ottawa, earned her medical degree from McMaster University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Health Professions Education from the University of Saskatchewan. An alumna of Carleton University, she graduated with a Senate Medal and was later profiled by the institution for her academic achievements. Her work spans clinical medicine, advocacy, mentorship and community engagement. During her time at Carleton University, she founded the Black Women in Medicine and Health group and served as the inaugural director of advocacy and representation for the Black Medical Students Association of Canada. Her work in these roles focused on advancing conversations around equity and inclusion in medical education. Recognition for community impact Ms Lalonde said the award recognises women whose contributions continue to strengthen the Orleans community. In a letter accompanying the award, the lawmaker commended Ms Otiono for her dedication and contributions to the community. It said the award was presented in recognition of the passion and dedication you have shown, and the positive impact you have made in our community. Speaking after the ceremony, Nduka Otiono, Ms Otionos father and Director of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University, expressed pride in her achievements. Twelve days before his short life came to a tragic end, Muhammad Usman was about to graze cattle around Maraban Dare in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, on a Sunday morning in early November. Wearing a yellow T-shirt under a navy-blue jacket, the slim young herder cut a forlorn figure of grief and fear. Born in 2008, Usman endured a harrowing childhood marked by recurring deadly attacks in the north-central Nigerian state. Things got worse after his father was gruesomely murdered in an ambush. He used to provide for the family, Usman recalled. He was killed in 2017 while riding a motorcycle and his body taken away. My mum used to tell me and my siblings, as little children, that we would see him tomorrow whenever we asked after him. As the first child, Usman picked up the pieces as fast as he could. He went into herding to support his poor mother and siblings. The family was gradually weathering the storm when gunmen struck a grazing field one afternoon and killed all the 30 heads of cattle in his herd. Afterwards, he abandoned school to work for other pastoralists in the community for a pittance. I wanted to continue my education, but had to quit after primary school due to a lack of support. We used to sell cattle to buy food and pay school fees. My mother, siblings, and I are really suffering because theres no one to support us, he said. My prayer is to have money so I can enrol my siblings in school, he continued, unaware of the worst tragedy in the offing. Twelve days after this interview in early November 2025, Usman, while grazing cattle on a field, was caught in gunshots fired by soldiers said to be pursuing hoodlums who reportedly burnt harvested crops at Gero community in Jos South. The incident brought a cruel closure to Usmans 17 years on earth. Peace was an elusive privilege he craved until he breathed his last, with his aspirations and hopes perishing with him. Many like Usman have paid the ultimate price for the clashes that have engulfed the state and neighbouring Benue in at least the last two decades. For others lucky to survive the death campaigns, todays trauma, deprivations, unending cycles of threats, attacks, anxieties, and educational disruptions trap them and their futures in uncertainties. Unending life shattering violence Plateau State was jolted by a horrible ethno-religious crisis on September 7, 2001 seven years before Usman was born in Jos North. The violence, which claimed hundreds of lives, spread to other local government areas of the state in 2002, triggering decades of unrest that has claimed thousands of lives and property, including houses, farms and cattle. The spread of violence to the hinterlands and villages has further strained relationships between farmers who are largely Christians and herders, mainly Muslims, giving the crisis an ethno-religious slant. The two groups had in the past enjoyed peaceful coexistence particularly in the six local government areas of Bassa, Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu. At least 11,749 people lost their lives between 2001 and 2025, according to a fact-finding committee set up by the government in May 2025 to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis. The committee also disclosed that no fewer than 420 communities were attacked during the period. Like Plateau, its neighbour, Benue, is in the grip of violence over land, water, grazing and ethnic issues. Thousands of lives have been lost to the attacks over the years. One landmark episode is the Agatu massacre which began in 2012, notably in Okokolo and surrounding riverine villages such as Odejo, Odugbeho, Egba and Aila in which over 80 mourners were killed on a single day at Egba. Successive attacks followed in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021. In 2021, for example, armed invaders killed over 40 persons in Odugbeho. In Kwande, at least 6,000 people have been reportedly killed since the crisis started in 2011 while thousands of people have equally been killed in Ado over the troubled years. Statewide, over 900 people were reportedly murdered in the first half of last year alone, including 200 locals massacred at Yelwata in June. At least we have lost 400 people to the attacks in my village alone, said a community elder, Emmanuel Jacob, of Okokolo village in Agatu. In the 2013 invasion of Agatu, the attackers raided our village more than three times. The same thing has been recurring. The Benue NGOs Network (BENGONET) identified key drivers of the crisis in Kwande LGA as territorial disputes between the Turan in Benue and the Jukun in Taraba, as well as open grazing conflict. Lazarus Mom, BENGONET Coordinator, noted that a recent field visit to Kwande revealed that over 5,700 lives had been lost since 2011, with more than 150,000 people displaced. And at least 36,844 children are currently living in camps established for crisis-torn communities according to the states Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde. Mr Kunde, who spoke through the Programme Manager for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Zege Gaius, told our correspondent that the figures were registered by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with SEMA. Broken childhood Usmans plights bear a striking semblance with the fate of thousands of youths grappling with a broken childhood roiled by unending violence. Thirteen-year-old Sekegh Ahen has hardly known peace all his life. He was about a year old when armed invaders first stormed Tse Uno in Utange Council Ward of Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue. One Sunday afternoon in March 2022, Sekeghs father, Mr Ahen, had just returned from a church conference. Still dressed in his church uniform, he stepped into a small provision shop in the community to buy something. As he entered the store, gunshots echoed through the village. Armed men descended on the settlement, shooting anything in sight. He was running for dear life when a bullet hit him from behind. Mr Ahens murder fractured his family. His wife, Sekeghs mother, struggled alone for years to care for the children. Eventually, she made a painful decision. She handed young Sekegh to a trusted community member, Orsaa Ortserga, and left with Sekeghs siblings for Taraba State to farm and cater to them. When the Orsaa family took in Sekegh, he was 11 years old and deeply affected by the instability he had grown up in. Mercy Orsaa, who now looks after Sekegh, remembers those early months clearly. It was difficult to handle him, she said. Sometimes he refused to eat. Other times he would cry. There were days he would not talk to anyone. The family later understood Sekegh was overwhelmed by suffering he could not explain. The loss of his father, the displacement from home and the absence of his mother left deep emotional wounds. Mercy often felt helpless. Sometimes I was frustrated because I did not know what to do to make him happy, she said. Sekegh lives with the Orsaa family at a settlement along the Zaki Biam Tor Donga road. The camp is filled with internally displaced persons who fled the same violence that reshaped his childhood. It was afternoon on 24 October 2025. The sun was still strong as the ground glowed with the deep red Benue soil. The compound consists of four round mud huts with thatched roofs darkened by years of rain and smoke from cooking fires. The structures sit close together, separated by narrow paths where children run barefooted and women cook in open spaces. The signs of hardship are everywhere, but that is all the Orsaas can afford. Sekegh emerged from the alleyway wearing a fading yellow school uniform and sky blue shorts that hung loosely around his waist. Dark in complexion, frail and smaller than most boys his age, years of poor feeding was written all over him. He stood quietly gazing into space for a moment before he broke the silence. I miss my home. I used to play anywhere without fear. But here, I cant, Sekegh intoned, reflecting on the terror that wrecked his family. I miss my father. I want to go to heaven and see him, he said, teary-eyed. Mercy placed a hand on his back; other children watched quietly as he sobbed uncontrollably. Sekegh is not just a grieving boy. He carries the emotional burden of a long and violent conflict, one that continues to shape the lives of thousands of children across Benue State. Sometimes I dream that my siblings are being killed. Sometimes I am scared of what will happen next. Disrupted education From Benue to Plateau, dozens of war children, some of whom have now grown into adolescents and adults, told our correspondents how a cycle of violence has limited their access to education and confined their career ambitions to mere shadows. Ongoing attacks in severely affected communities have forced many children out of school. Some said the crisis prevents them from working to support their education. Without education and any skill acquisition programme for the children, the system sets them up for an uncertain future, compounding the states burden of unproductive population. Born at the onset of the Plateau crisis in 2001, Joshua Yakubu of Rim community had dreamed of joining the military, but his ambition was stuck midway at secondary school due to incessant attacks. He was planning to return to school and sponsor himself from the proceeds of farming when gunmen struck again early in 2025, inflicting a life-threatening injury on him and killing five of his friends. I was shot in the stomach. Luckily the wound had healed after treatment, 24-year-old Mr Yakubu said, pointing at the injury spot. I am no longer healthy enough to continue farming, which is my source of income that can support my education and enable me to achieve my dream. This crisis is not strange to me again, he continued, I was born and grew up in it. There was a period when we were being attacked every week. Ive never really enjoyed peace. I am only pained that it [violence] has killed my ambition. Like Mr Yakubu, 23-year-old Yahaya Muhammad, a resident of Maraban Dare, rued what is left of his lofty dream to be a banker after a bullet wound he sustained during grazing sometime in 2020 halted his education. I used to go to school but since after the incident, I stopped attending classes due to lack of financial support. I left school at SS2. I can no longer feed my family, let alone continue schooling. If not for the fact that I lost my cattle to the attack, I would have almost concluded my degree programme by now. I wanted to read accounting. My prayer now is to have money to go back to school and actualise my dream, he said. The out-of-school children crisis reflects not just the sheer number of school age children that have fallen victim or schools that have been shut or destroyed during the incessant attacks in the areas. The crisis mirrors how much the unending wave of violence has scuttled dreams. Sekegh attends King David Academy in Zaki Biam, where he is in Junior Secondary School 1. He dreams of becoming a medical doctor, but academic challenges are standing between him and his vision. While Mercys husband, Orsaa Ortserga, teaches to support the family, she engages in small-scale trading. Their income is meagre, but they stretch it to cover not only their four biological children, but also Sekegh and two others who lost a parent or both. At the time our reporters visited the family, it had been more than a month since schools resumed, yet the couple had not been able to pay the childrens fees. They attended classes with uncertainty, waiting for the day the school might send them home. We cannot begin to talk about the relatives we lost in the conflict because they are too many. We struggle to feed the family and pay the childrens school fees, she said, her voice tinged with sadness and disbelief. Thirteen-year-old Gloria Jacobs ordeal is close to Sekeghs. She was barely an infant when violence first struck her village in Agatu. Since then, school, home, normal childhood all grew distant. She now lives with his parents at an IDP camp in Wadata, Makurdi. At a point, we were sleeping in the bush. My siblings and I also stopped going to school. My dad decided to take us away from the village and brought us here (Wadata), she explained. Though Gloria has returned to school, her attendance is tied to whether she realises enough money from hawking to pay school fees. Sometimes we dont go to school. They chase us away because of school fees. Other times, we dont even go to school, we help our mother to hawk and many times we dont eat all day until evening, she added. Marriage replaces school For many in their school age, marriage simply replaced school. Dina Fater is a middle-aged woman from Azege in Tombo Council Ward, Logo LGA of Benue State. She has been living in the Anyiin camp since 2018. She remembers when the first attack began in 2014 and how life steadily deteriorated until they could no longer carry on as they had. The invaders would come with cattle and arms. At first, they only fired shots in the air, Mrs Fater said, sitting beneath a patch of corrugated metal that keeps the sun off her face. In 2018 they started killing people. She fled with seven children. Five of her daughters were married while they were still living in the camp. Mrs Fater described those weddings not as celebrations but as decisions born of hunger, fear and a loss of hope. All of them got married while we were still in the camp because I could not afford to take care of them or pay their school fees, she said. I always wanted to send my daughters to school. I trained them, but when I was displaced, I left everything behind. My daughters were helpless and so they decided to marry. The family kept moving from one community to another and attempting to return when it felt safe. Each time they thought the danger had passed, the invaders came again. Children began school in new places only to have the term cut short by another attack. They sewed 10 uniforms for different schools, but they could not finish any because of the repeated attacks, Mrs Fater said. Despite entreaties from a civil society organisation that visited them in the camp, many of her daughters had already made the choice to marry because they could no longer see a future in education. When they turned 18, they married because they had no hope of going back to school, she said. I did not force them. They decided on their own because they were hopeless. Aid and scholarship programmes have offered help to a few girls. Mrs Fater acknowledged those efforts but said they remain a drop in the ocean. Most young girls in this camp will get married if there is no sustainable way to help them, she declared. The camp school is only for small children. There is no support for grown-up girls. Parents do not have steady work. Some women who go to farm are raped by the attackers. If they are not helped, more girls will be married off just as my daughters were. In Maraban Dare, Aisha Shehu, a 17-year-old girl, said she and her two female siblings gave up on school and were married off in the heat of attacks that continually stoke horror and tension. The attacks disrupted our studies. We couldnt finish secondary school. Our father married us off due to the constant crisis. I dont have peace of mind, Im always in fear. In a month, it is either someone is killed or cattle are stolen. Theres no peace, she explained. Generations of war-wrecked children As the Plateau crisis clocks a quarter century, many adults who have rarely experienced peace since birth now bear children of their own into the same grisly violence. At Riyom, Grace Emos, 20, one of the several young parents interviewed for this report, grew up amidst deadly attacks and had given birth to a baby boy. There is no peace of mind. We cant go to farms. Our husbands cant farm or mine (minerals) to earn a living for fear of attacks. We were born into violence, and today we are giving birth to babies in the midst of the crisis, she remarked grimly. Gloria recalled a day when attackers stormed the community while she was four months pregnant. We were running helter-skelter, looking for a place to hide. It was God who saved me and my unborn baby. Mr Yakubu, 24, a survivor of the Rim attack, got married about five years ago and has three children. He said it is unfortunate nothing has changed as he and his children still witness violence. They are also experiencing it, and it will continue to affect us all, he lamented. For Aisha Shehu of Maraban Dare, who got married last year and gave birth to a baby girl, the bloodbath has become the order of the day. We were told this violence is more than 20 years old, and Im just 17 with a baby. I was born in it and now my children are witnessing it too. There is nothing more precious than peace, she said, looking downcast. Pushing through despite chaos The journey from the abandoned homesteads of Gwer West to the busy edges of Makurdi leads to another phase of the crisis, one found in Guma Local Government Area. Here, the children shaped by violence are not only those who fled with their mothers. Some have grown into adults inside the displacement camp. Others, like 19-year-old Tersoo Ata from Yelwata, Guma, LGA, have spent nearly all their years working for survival. Across George Akume Way, Makurdi, Benue State Capital, opposite the Ultra-Modern International Market, a long row of timber shades stretches under the sun. This is where Tersoo works. At night, he sleeps in the overcrowded makeshift camp that now hosts more than 4,000 displaced people. By morning, he returns to the timber market, moving through the rows of wood in search of his daily wage. He earns between N1,500 and N3,000 daily. It is never certain the amount he will go home with and the difference often decides whether he will have three meals a day or skip one. Dust particles rend the air each time the machine bites into a plank. The grating noise notwithstanding, Tersoo with a fair-complexioned face coated in powdery sawdust that also stuck to his neck, arms and hair stays close to the machine to do the work that keeps him alive. He also helps load heavy timber into customers vehicles. Before displacement became the story of his life, Tersoo lived with his family in Yelwata. The community sits near the boundary between Makurdi and Nasarawa and has experienced repeated waves of violence. He remembered that the conflicts around Yelwata began when he was about nine years old. What he did not know then was how long the danger would follow them. Life has never been easy for me and my family, he said. Apart from going to school, I was also running a small phone charging business. In June 2025, he completed secondary school, passed his examinations and was admitted into a polytechnic in Otukpo to study fine arts. His dream was simple. He wanted to become an artist. He loved drawings and designs. But after the Yelwata settlement was overrun by armed men, his dream froze. Tersoo described the night of June 13 and 14. I was in my shop that night. I suddenly heard gunshots. I could not go home because the attackers were moving very fast. I ran away and everything was destroyed, including peoples phones. The next morning, he learned the truth he had feared. His father, Ata, had been killed while trying to escape with his two-year-old daughter, Nadoo. He carried my younger sister and was running with her, but he was shot from the back. The bullet pierced through his body and hit my sister. Both of them died, he recalled, looking down at the pile of wood shavings at his feet. Sometimes I dream about how my father and my younger sister were killed. They were killed like they were not human beings. I am very angry and sad about everything. Tersoo now lives with his mother who cannot afford to send him to school. His aspiration to study fine arts remains suspended, tucked somewhere between grief and daily hunger. This is not what I want to do, he quipped, his eyes grew wet, but he did not look away from the machine. For now, he remains caught in the same rut that defined his childhood a cycle of violence, fear, and survival that threatens to shape the destinies of thousands of young people in Benue State who have known nothing else other than chaos. Mental cost of lingering violence Friday Philip, an associate professor and consultant psychiatrist at Jos University Teaching Hospital, said exposure of children to violence affects brain development and behaviour and could lead to depression. He stressed that its psychological effect could significantly distract schoolchildren from paying attention to teachers or details, thereby affecting their emotional stability. Above all, if the emotions are affected, their behaviour is affected and they may likely become violent to society, Philip noted. A psychosocial therapist at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, Ukeh George, corroborates Mr Philips standpoint, saying the continued effect of violence on children can make them grow up to become the monsters they dread. The generational consequences of todays forced and violent displacement on the social and mental health of Benue and Nigerian children are that they grow up to be future agitators, sadist and bandits. This is the danger that must be stopped now to save future, Mr George, who is the Benue State Chairman of Nigeria Association of Social Workers, warned. A clinical psychologist, Joy Enewa, said the prolonged camping and loss of parents or loved ones have more than just the passing effects on the young survivors in the two states. According to her, the situation may be setting up the states for an unending cycle of violence if urgent actions are not taken. When a child loses their parents, loved ones, especially mother, they lose love, they dont see reasons to love or to be loved and this in turn might affect the society because they begin to see that there is nothing in life to love about, life is about violence, after all my parent or loved ones were violently taken away, they lost their lives in a pool of blood. Then the child sees blood shedding as a normal thing It is more like a circle, the bandits take these children and keep them away from their normal life, they become vulnerable looking for peace but the bandits keep attacking their peace, and then also recruiting them, luring them with what they have stolen away from them. It is just a circle. She also said prolonged camping of children, restricting them and cutting them off from the normal life they had enjoyed, impairs their development. When a child is not in a conducive environment that allows them to play and do what they enjoy to do, when you place them with children that are in a conducive environment, the difference will be clear, she added With the childrens prolonged sadness, she said, they become vulnerable to the manipulation of ill-intentioned people who can easily influence them with little acts of calculated kindness. In search of lasting solutions Over time, various measures have been taken to address the crisis, with little result achieved. The Benue State Anti-Open Grazing Law of 2017, though hailed as a bold and proactive step, has suffered from poor enforcement and lack of federal support. Several committees have also been set up over the years, including presidential panels and state peace committees, but their recommendations appear to have been left to gather dust, leaving the people to grapple with the same challenges year after year. Several military operations such as the Exercise Ayem Akpatuma 1& II (Cat Race) and Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) were introduced. State-owned community policing outfits, such as the Benue State Civil Guards (BSCG), now rechristened the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG), was another attempt to strengthen local security. However, the outfit has remained largely ineffective, as its personnel are poorly equipped to match the sophistication of the armed groups. In Plateau State, the government said it had taken decisive steps to tackle the menace. One of those steps to start with is the revitalisation of Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), said Governor Caleb Mutfwangs special adviser on security and homeland safety, Gakji Shipi. Mr Shipi, a retired brigadier-general, added that the agency was established to intervene when we see those triggers, adding, They intervene with processes like mediation, dialogue and other sort of intervention to make sure the situation does not degenerate. In addition to that, we have always interfaced with federal security agencies to ensure that they do what they ought to do to restore law and order. He also said the state government has reactivated the state security agency which intervenes when there is a problem in communities, emphasising that the governor has given all they need to intervene to ensure that the lingering crisis situation is resolved. The agency intervenes by getting early warning signals in terms of intelligence and getting boots on the ground where there are attacks so that things do not go wrong that could lead to loss of lives and properties. In doing all of these so many things are being done like capacity building, interfacing with people, bringing in technologies, stakeholders meeting, Mr Shipi said. A retired senior officer of the State Security Service (SSS), Orgem Angulum, warned that the situation could worsen if urgent action was not taken. He raised concerns over children who have spent years in displacement camps, saying, Many arrived as children and are now adults raising families in unstable conditions. If this trend continues, some of these youths may turn to crime to survive, he added. Mr Angulum urged the federal government to convene a national peace and security summit to adopt practical strategies for tackling insecurity across the country. We cannot continue like this. Security is too important for lip service. Action must be taken before another generation grows up knowing only fear, he warned. A retired Comptroller of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the military to clear the Benue area of bandits for farmers to return to their farms while the internally displaced persons go back to their ancestral homes. Mr Ihagh, who is also President General of Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), an umbrella body of the Tiv people worldwide, said the only way out from the present insecurity in the state was for the federal government to direct security agents to drive invaders away. He insisted that the violence has persisted because the federal government had not paid needed attention to nip the trend in the bud. Im also an IDP; our five council wards in Turan land were ransacked and taken over by invaders. For over 10 years now, we have no access to my village in Moon. Even when my wife died recently, we couldnt take her body there. Mr Mom of BENGONET called on the government and all relevant stakeholders to act on the organisations recommendations which include the need for a high-level dialogue between the Benue and Taraba state governments with the National Boundary Commission to resolve the long-standing boundary disputes. It also called for a review of the anti-open grazing law to ensure better protection of rural communities, establishment of a permanent security outpost within Turan to serve as a deterrent, rebuilding community trust and construction of access roads to improve security logistics and community connectivity. Mr Mom further urged support for community vigilante groups with logistics and training, under the supervision of formal security agencies, to enhance grassroots security. From Usman whose life began and crumbled in violence to Sekegh who endures a broken childhood and helpless teenage mum Aisha whose existence and that of her baby are fraught with unrest, the violence has hit really hard, threatening to produce generations stripped of peace, sanity, education and opportunities to reach their potential if left unresolved. Additional report by Ademola Popoola This report is jointly produced by PREMIUM TIMES and DAILY TRUST. The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), confirming a PREMIUM TIMES report that an announcement was imminent. The Head of Protocol and Public Affairs of PSC, Torty Kalu, announced the promotion in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He said the senior officers were promoted to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of eight DIGs who previously occupied their strategic offices. The retirement of the eight DIGs follows the appointment of Olatunji Disu, an AIG, as the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Mr Kalu said the new DIGs were promoted based on merit, seniority, record of service and performance in a written examination and oral interview conducted by the PSC. He said the process was part of efforts by the commission to strengthen the leadership cadre of the Nigeria Police Force. Mr Kalu listed the newly promoted DIGs as Zachariah Achinyan, Zango Baba, Isyaku Mohammed, Margaret Ochalla, Mohammed Sulaiman, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, and Umar Nadada. This latest round of promotions follows the recent elevation of Mr Fayoade Adegoke, an AIG, to the substantive rank of DIG. He will now join the Force Management Team, he said. Mr Kalu said the Chairman of the PSC, Hashimu Argungu, had congratulated the newly promoted DIGs and urged them to live up to the expectations in their new offices. He enjoined the officers to prioritise national security and foster a cordial and productive working relationship with the PSC to ensure the continued development of the Nigeria Police Force. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the eight DIGs, who retired following Mr Disus appointment as the IGP, had vacated their offices. They are Frank Mba, Bzigu Kwazhi, Sadiq Abubakar, Mohammed Gumel, Adebola Hamzat, Adebowale Williams, Basil Idegwu and Dankwara Mohammed. This newspaper also reported that PSC had invited seven AIGs for promotion interviews earlier on Friday morning. The Nigeria Police Force is structured into eight key departments, each headed by a DIG and operating under the command of the IGP. The IGP will determine which of the new DIGs occupies which position. Irans President, Masoud Pezeshkian, announced on Saturday that Iran would no longer target neighbouring countries unless the United States or Israel attacks from there. Al Jazeera reports that Mr Pezeshkian said this resolution was reached by Irans interim council on Friday, a further confirmation that the country is still undergoing regular governance despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes. In remarks carried out by Iranian media, the president also apologised to the neighbouring countries for the strikes that took place in the past days, Al Jazeera reports. Since the US and Israel launched an unprovoked war on Iran last Saturday, Iran has fired missiles at Israel and American interests in the Middle East, including bases, hotels and oil infrastructure. Some of the countries Iran has targeted include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The attacks have grounded airports, businesses and public gatherings in these countries and have led to a spike in global oil prices. While Iran now seeks to stop attacks on its Gulf neighbours, it continues to ensure no ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it targeted an oil tanker, Prima, in the Gulf with a drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC Navy regarding the prohibition of traffic and the unsafe nature of the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera quotes the Iranian Tasnim news agency as saying. The report said the incident against the offending tanker occurred on Saturday morning. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said earlier that no fewer than 3,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers were stranded in the Middle East due to the ongoing war by the US and Israel against Iran. The crucial Strait of Hormuz global shipping corridor marking the entrance to the Persian Gulf, is essentially closed due to the threat of strikes from Iran and elsewhere, the IMO declared. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, warned of the global knock-on effect from the closure of the sea lane responsible for 20 per cent of the worlds oil. Mr Dominguez disclosed that the Strait of Hormuz was closed after a tugboat assisting another vessel in the strait on Friday morning was struck killing four seafarers. An investigation panel set up by Nigerias Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has praised the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Simon Ortuanya, and a former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Oguejiofor Ujam, for exposing the then-Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnajis certificate forgery. The seven-member investigative panel was constituted on 23 November 2025 in response to Mr Nnajis petition to the education minister, following a painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES earlier in October last year, which revealed that the then-minister forged his university degree and NYSC certificates. The panel submitted its investigative report to the education minister in December 2025. PREMIUM TIMES obtained the report exclusively after months of searching for it. The petition and setting up of the panel In the petition dated 14 October 2025, Mr Nnaji alleged unethical disclosure, document tampering, and political manipulation of his academic records by senior UNN officials. The former minister also accused the UNN Vice-Chancellor, Mr Ortuanya, a professor, and a former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Mr Ujam, also a professor, of issuing forged or unauthorised correspondence, improperly accessing his academic file, and facilitating media publications that misrepresented his academic history. Mr Nnaji alleged that Mr Ortuanyas response to PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FOI) Requestin which the vice-chancellor confirmed that the then-minister did not graduate from the institution or receive a university degree certificateconstituted an unauthorised disclosure of his confidential academic data. The former minister particularly raised concerns about whether the vice-chancellor exercised due process, followed proper approval channels, and complied with internal controls governing record confidentiality, and whether any political or external influences shaped the issuance of the correspondence to PREMIUM TIMES. The panel, set up to investigate the allegations, was chaired by Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, the director of the University Education Department in the ministry. James Ocheido, the deputy director of the department in the ministry, served as its secretary. Members of the panel included Ejeh Ejeh. A. U, the director of Polytechnics and Allied Institutions Department in the ministry; the director of the ministrys Colleges of Education Department, U. C. Uba; and Mohammed Ayuba, a representative of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The Director of Human Resources Unit of the education ministry, Yusuf Saeed, and his counterpart in the ministrys Legal Services Unit, Foluso Akinlonu, were also panel members. The panel stated it adopted documentary review, interviews, verification, and technical audit as its methodological approach in the investigation. It said during the investigation, members physically visited UNN, engaged with the institutions officialsincluding its vice-chancellor and former acting vice-chancellorand reviewed necessary documents and the university records. The UNN officials interviewed during the investigation were the universitys Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ortuanya; a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ujam; the Registrar, Celine Nnebedum; Records Unit officials; and other staff members involved in handling academic records. The panel said that during the investigation, it also accessed and inspected Mr Nnajis academic files and internal correspondence including the 2023 and 2025 letters issued by UNN. It added that it examined UNNs historic academic records, registry movement logs, Senate lists, convocation archives, electronic access logs, and other relevant documentation, including Mr Nnajis transcript request, as well as the verification of the provenance and authenticity of letters issued by the university to media organisations and government agencies. The members of the panel arrived (UNN) in Nsukka on Sunday, being 23rd November, 2025. On Monday, 24th November, the panel paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya and availed him with the purpose of the visit and proceeded to the venue the university provided for panel to use, the report stated. What the panel found on Nnajis allegations The panel found that contrary to Mr Nnajis claims, Mr Ortuanyas response to PREMIUM TIMES FOI request followed a documented internal approval workflow after seeking legal advice from the director of legal unit who informed the vice-chancellor that he was legally mandated to respond to this newspapers request in line with the FOI Act 2011. There is no evidence of external directives, political influence, unauthorised inputs, or bypassing of procedural steps. The approval process complied with internal procedures, FOI obligations, and legal advice. All steps were documented and traceable, the panel said. It also said there was no evidence that the internal drafts or the vice-chancellors response to PREMIUM TIMES were leaked or altered or that the documents were transmitted outside statutory procedures. The letter reached Premium Times through a formal, lawful FOI transmission and not through any unauthorised or clandestine channel, it stated. Therefore, (the transmission) does not constitute a breach of confidentiality. Praise for VC, ex-acting VC Recall that, on 21 December 2023, the university registrar, Ms Nnebedum, falsely informed Peoples Gazette newspaper that Mr Nnaji graduated from the institution in July 1985. Mrs Nnebedum was responding to the newspapers enquiry about the then-ministers academic records. However, in response to another enquiry from the Public Complaints Commission on the matter, the registrar recanted via a letter dated 23 May 2025. In the letter, she told the commission that the university searched its graduation records for the 1985 session but could not find Mr Nnajis name. Mr Ujam was the acting vice-chancellor of UNN when the institution responded to the Public Complaints Commissions request, while Mr Ortuanya, who took over as the universitys vice-chancellor in August 2025, responded to the PREMIUM TIMES enquiry in October of that year. Meanwhile, the federal governments panel praised Messrs Ujam and Ortuanya for helping to expose the former ministers certificate forgery and correcting the inconsistency in the two contradictory letters from the UNN official. These two officers should be commended for their dogged ability to protect the truth of restoring the dignity of man, which is the motto of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the panel said of Messrs Ujam and Ortuanya. More findings PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the panel also confirmed that Mr Nnaji indeed forged his UNN degree certificate. The probe panel stated in the report that it conducted a thorough review of the Senate-approved graduation list of 1985 and the personal student file of Mr Nnaji and found, among other things, that his name was not in the 1985 graduation list. It stressed that it obtained several correspondences dated from 8 November 1985 to 19 May 1986 between Mr Nnaji and the universitys Registry Department regarding his failed course MCB 431 Virology, which were documented from pages 55 to 69 of the former ministers personal file. According to the report, Mr Nnaji, in his handwritten correspondence dated 19 May 1986 and titled Application to take course, 431AB in September, explained that he could not write the exam scheduled for 21 April 1986 due to ill health, and attached a supporting medical report. The panel was unable to find any record of him (Nnaji) having taken the failed course, the report read. The panel then wondered how Mr Nnaji obtained the purported certificate of graduation dated July 1985, which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu for appointment and to the National Assembly for his ministerial confirmation. The panels findings on Mr Nnaji align completely with this newspapers report, which exposed the then-ministers criminal and unethical certificate forgery. 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 Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023. He had claimed that he obtained the degree certificate from UNN, where he claimed to have graduated from 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, Mr Ortuanya, from releasing his academic records. Apart from the UNN and its vice-chancellor, the minister of education, the NUC, the universitys registrar, a former UNN Acting Vice-Chancellor, Mr Ujam, and the Senate of the university were listed as defendants in the suit. But before the minister filed the suit, Mr Ortuanya had responded to PREMIUM TIMES FOI letter in which he confirmed that Mr Nnaji forged his UNN degree certificate. The UNN registrar would, shortly after, corroborate Mr Ortuanyas position, indicating that although Mr Nnaji was admitted into the university in 1981, he neither graduated nor was issued any certificate. NYSC authorities, in response to a separate FOI letter from PREMIUM TIMES, had disowned the discharge certificate in the then-ministers possession. 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. Many Nigerians called for Mr Nnajis prosecution, maintaining that his resignation was inadequate given his violations of various Nigerian laws, including the Criminal Code Act. Last week, a legal practitioner, Liborous Oshoma, criticised the Nigerian government for failing to prosecute Mr Nnaji, over the certificate forgery scandal, maintaining that people like the former minister should be prosecuted and banned from holding public office to serve as a deterrent to others. PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported in February that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had begun an investigation into Mr Nnajis certificate forgery scandal. Insiders had told this newspaper that the former minister could be prosecuted if the investigation shows that he truly forged his credentials. Benjamin Hundeyin, an assistant commissioner of police (ACP), has been removed as the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) and replaced by Anthony Okon Placid, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP). Although an official announcement has not been made, sources at the police headquarters in Abuja confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES. Also, the sources said a new department named the New Media Office has been created with Ali Giwa, a chief superintendent of police (CSP), appointed to head the office. An official statement about the development is expected to be issued later. Sources with direct knowledge of the matter said Mr Hundeyin had been relieved of the position since Thursday and had informed some of his close associates. He told people close to him that he had been asked to leave, one source said. But no announcement has been made since that day. Mr Hundeyin was appointed police spokesperson in September 2025 by the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. At the time of his appointment, he held the rank of CSP but was later promoted to ACP. Before becoming the force spokesperson, Mr Hundeyin served as the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command and had also worked at the Zone 2 Command Headquarters in Lagos. In 2020, he was part of Nigerias contingent to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan. Mr Hundeyin holds a degree in English from Lagos State University and a masters degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan. His removal comes amid an ongoing reshuffle within the police hierarchy following the appointment of Olatunji Disu as the new Inspector-General of Police. Eight Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), who were senior to Mr Disu, have also retired from the service in line with efforts to maintain a clear chain of command within the force. On Friday, seven AIGs were promoted to DIGs to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of the DIGs. President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Disu as acting IGP on 24 February following the resignation of Mr Egbetokun. He was subsequently confirmed as the 23rd substantive Inspector-General of Police by the Nigeria Police Council on 2 March. The Nigerian Army has buried the soldiers killed in recent attacks by terrorists in Borno State. The terrorists attacked military bases in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok late on Thursday and early Friday. Reports said the attackers came in groups from different directions to confront the bases. Although the military said many of the insurgents were killed during the attack and that the troops also recorded casualties, it did not give exact figures. However, sources said more than 40 soldiers were killed. Among them was S.I. Iliyasu, a lieutenant colonel and the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion in Konduga. Some soldiers were also reported missing. Some of the fallen soldiers were buried on Friday at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri. In a statement, the army spokesperson in the region, Sani Uba, said the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, Abdulsalam Abubakar, attended the burial. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Abubakar, a major general, said the event was a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers. He said the dead soldiers showed courage, dedication and loyalty while defending the country. According to him, their deaths are a loss not only to their families but also to the Nigerian Army and the nation. He added that the soldiers fought bravely to protect the country and their sacrifices would not be forgotten. Mr Abubakar also assured the families of the deceased soldiers that their benefits would be paid and that the military would support them. The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Security Trust Fund, Mustapha Yabe, also attended the ceremony. He expressed sympathy to the military and the families of the soldiers, describing their deaths as a painful loss to the country. He also promised that the state government would continue to support the military and the families of the fallen soldiers. In recent weeks, Borno State has witnessed a new wave of attacks, including kidnappings for ransom. The latest attacks came after a deadly assault in Ngoshe, in Gwoza Local Government Area, where several soldiers and civilians were killed and many people were abducted. The Nigerian Army later said it killed more than 50 insurgents after the attack. Meanwhile, an unknown group has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks and threatened to carry out more assaults on communities. The group also said it would enslave some of the people abducted and take over the affected communities. Also on Saturday, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, a lieutenant general, arrived in Maiduguri for an operational visit with other senior military officers amid growing security concerns in the region. Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has urged the Ijaws and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to sustain the agitation for the creation of additional states. Mr Diri made the call on Friday at the 2026 INC National Convention held at Ijaw House in Yenagoa. He appealed to his kin not to relent in the demand for two additional states out of the three earlier proposed by the ethnic group. The governor also said he had no preferred candidate among the five contestants for the INC presidency. Mr Diri reiterated his advocacy for true fiscal federalism, describing Nigerias current structure as unitary federalism. He argued that states, including Bayelsa, would develop faster if they controlled all their resources and paid taxes to the federal government. We have tried. Today we have one state, Bayelsa. The INC, under Chief Joshua Fumudoh, requested three states: Oil Rivers, Bayelsa, and Toru-Ibe. This means we still have two additional states to pursue as the Ijaw nation and the INC. So, it is not yet Uhuru. This is a struggle we must continue and, if we cannot achieve it in our time, we will hand it over to our children. Our land and waters have nourished this nation and fuelled its economy, yet we have endured environmental damage and social disadvantage. Economic inequities, environmental degradation and infrastructural neglect remain pressing challenges requiring both local and national resolve. The challenges are formidable, but our sons and daughters possess the resilience and indomitable spirit to overcome them, he said. Mr Diri urged contestants in Saturdays election to place the collective interest of the Ijaw nation above personal ambitions. He commended the outgoing INC President, Benjamin Okaba, and his executive for their leadership and collaboration with the government. The governor noted their efforts toward securing formal admission of the Ijaw nation into the United Nations Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation. He charged the incoming leadership to revive Ijaw cultural values and language while pursuing the dreams of the founding fathers. Outgoing presidents remarks In his address, Mr Okaba, a professor, called for stronger global engagement in the Ijaw struggle, saying the ethnic nationality remained Nigerias economic backbone. He urged a shift from protest-driven advocacy to strategic international engagement and described the convention as a milestone for leadership renewal. Mr Okaba said that despite contributing significantly to Nigerias oil economy, the Ijaw nation still faced environmental degradation and infrastructure neglect. He announced new initiatives, including a Territorial Mapping Project to digitally document Ijaw ancestral lands for environmental monitoring and resource negotiations. Mr Okaba added that the INC had registered 15 affiliate groups to strengthen unity and amplify the Ijaw voice nationally and globally. (NAN) GUEST INTERVIEW: Celonis evangelist Rudy Kuhn argues that without process intelligence, AI agents are flying blind - and that composability, not another three-year transformation program, is the real key to enterprise survival. There is a question haunting the enterprise AI conversation that few people seem willing to ask out loud: if artificial intelligence is supposed to be transformative, why are so many AI projects failing to deliver real value? Forrester has a prediction for 2026 that cuts to the heart of the matter. The analyst firm believes that process intelligence will rescue - not merely improve, but rescue - thirty percent of all failed AI projects. That is a staggering claim, but after a wide-ranging conversation with Rudy Kuhn, Evangelist at Celonis, it is one that starts to feel not only plausible but obvious. Kuhn is not your typical enterprise software evangelist. Born in the Czech Republic during the communist era, he and his family escaped the Iron Curtain via Yugoslavia in 1980, arriving in Germany as refugees. A career that began digitizing manual processes at IBM eventually led him to co-found ProcessGold, a process mining pioneer he sold to UiPath in 2019. Today, after a circuitous journey that saw him go from Celoniss earliest implementation partner to self-described public enemy number one and back again, he sits at the centre of one of enterprise technologys most consequential conversations. The video interview on which this article is based is embedded immediately below, after which the article continues please read on! From Spaghetti Monsters to Living Digital Twins The concept of process mining, as Kuhn explains it, is deceptively simple. Every digital activity in a business - creating a purchase order, approving an invoice, shipping a product - leaves behind a digital footprint. Process mining extracts that data from enterprise systems and reconstructs the actual workflows as they truly occur, not as they were designed on a whiteboard. The result is often what Kuhn affectionately calls the spaghetti monster: a chaotic visualisation of every variation, exception, and detour that real processes take. It is messy, sometimes alarming, but it is the truth. And truth, in enterprise operations, has been in remarkably short supply. You can ask people, Why does the process look like this? instead of asking, How does it look? Believe me, theres a completely different discussion you will have. Rudy Kuhn, Evangelist, Celonis But the field has evolved. Process mining has matured into what is now called process intelligence, and the distinction matters. Where mining provided visibility, intelligence adds business context, identifies root causes, predicts outcomes, and increasingly recommends or triggers actions. It is the difference between an X-ray and a doctor who can both diagnose the problem and prescribe the treatment. The ultimate expression of this is what Celonis describes as a living digital twin of operations: a real-time, connected representation of how a business actually functions, capable of simulation, intervention, and continuous optimisation. When a segregation-of-duty violation occurs in an invoice approval process, for instance, the system can immediately apply a payment block in the ERP system and route the case to a human reviewer - all before the cheque is cut. Composability: The Architecture of Survival In January 2026, Kuhn wrote an article for Diginomica titled Most Enterprises Arent Ready for AI. Whats Needed Is Composability. It is a word that rarely appears in the breathless discourse around artificial intelligence, and that is precisely the problem. A composable enterprise, as Kuhn defines it, is one in which business capabilities become modular building blocks - like Lego bricks that can be combined, replaced, and orchestrated without breaking the whole structure. This is fundamentally different from simply having a modern tech stack. Many companies already have cloud platforms, APIs, and sophisticated software, but their processes remain trapped inside monolithic systems and siloed applications. Adaptability is evolution. Evolution is survival. And the most adaptable company is a composable enterprise. The implications are profound. In a monolithic setup, a single supplier disruption can cascade through procurement, finance, production planning, and customer delivery simultaneously. The entire machine grinds to a halt. In a composable architecture, orchestration reroutes workflows dynamically: alternative suppliers activate automatically, approval paths adjust, and customers are informed proactively. The failure is contained locally rather than becoming a company-wide crisis. The analogy that comes to mind is the original design philosophy of the internet itself. DARPA built a network that could route around damage, ensuring that the destruction of any single node would not bring down the system. Composable enterprises operate on the same principle, applied to business operations. But Kuhn is emphatic that composability is not just an IT architecture pattern. Culture matters. Governance matters. Leadership must accept transparency. As he puts it, process intelligence removes comfortable assumptions - and not every organisation is ready for that. He recalls approaching companies in the past where middle managers openly told him they could not be the ones to introduce this level of transparency into their organisations for fear of the political consequences. This infographic created by Gemini Nano Banana 2 - the article contines below, please read on! Visibility First, AI Last: Why Sequencing Matters Perhaps Kuhns most provocative argument is about sequencing. He advocates a specific order of operations: visibility first, then automation, then orchestration, and only then AI. It runs counter to the prevailing instinct of many enterprises, which are rushing to bolt AI onto broken processes in the hope that intelligence will compensate for chaos. If you hire the most intelligent person in the world, straight from university with no experience - you wouldnt make them CEO from day one. Theyre intelligent, but not smart. AI is the same. The logic is compelling. AI amplifies whatever environment you give it. If processes are broken or inconsistent, AI scales confusion faster. Visibility creates a shared truth about how work actually happens. Automation stabilises repeatable, rule-based tasks. Orchestration - which Kuhn likens to a conductor in front of an orchestra - connects bots, systems, APIs, and people across boundaries to create end-to-end coherence. Only then does AI have something reliable to reason about. Kuhn draws a sharp distinction between task automation and process automation that many vendors blur. Copying data from an Excel sheet into an SAP form may be a repetitive activity worth automating, but it is not a process - it is a task. True process orchestration operates at the level of purchase-to-pay or order-to-cash, connecting every step end to end. He also introduces a framework he calls ESSA: eliminate, simplify, standardise, and only then automate. It is a corrective to the impulse that reaches for robotic process automation as a first resort. As he wryly observes: Who wants to automate fraud? If a process contains errors, inefficiencies, or compliance violations, automating it simply encodes those problems at machine speed. Where Humans Stay - and Why That Matters The question of human-AI boundaries is one that Kuhn navigates with nuance and a healthy scepticism of fully autonomous operations. He cites a German insurance company that uses AI to process all claims. When AI approves a claim, it is paid without human review - the company accepts that one or two percent may be incorrect, because the efficiency savings dwarf the cost of those errors. But when AI flags a claim as suspicious and recommends non-payment, the case is immediately routed to human experts for careful review. The pattern is elegant: let AI handle the expected outcomes autonomously, but ensure human judgment governs exceptions, ambiguity, and any decision that could damage customer trust or the companys reputation. It is a model that acknowledges both the power and the limitations of current AI systems. The standard, the boring, the repetitive work and rule-based decisions will be made by AI. Humans will stay where judgment, ethics, ambiguity, or customer trust really matters. This is where Celoniss concept of agent mining becomes particularly relevant. Just as process mining observes and reconstructs human workflows from system data, agent mining applies the same technology to monitor what AI agents are doing within business processes. It provides the transparency layer that makes agentic AI enterprise-ready rather than experimental. Without it, deploying autonomous agents that decide, act, approve, and change data is, in Kuhns assessment, quite risky. From Seven Days to Four Hours: A Case Study in Operational Clarity The theoretical arguments for process intelligence find concrete validation in real-world deployments. Kuhn describes the case of Vinmar, a multi-billion-dollar chemicals shipping company based in Texas, where process intelligence revealed a massive hidden inefficiency. Customer orders were taking seven days to progress from receipt to shipment. The reason was invisible to management but immediately obvious once the process was mapped: every order required staff to manually contact carriers for tenders, wait for responses, compile the results in spreadsheets, compare options, select a carrier, and then individually notify the carrier, customer, and warehouse. The entire chain was held together by emails and Excel - functional, but painfully slow. The solution was an orchestration layer that automated the entire carrier selection workflow. When an order arrived, an HTML form was generated automatically and carriers received email notifications with a link to submit their tenders within a defined window. After the deadline, an AI system compared the responses, selected the optimal carrier, and triggered notifications to all parties. The result: what had taken seven days was now accomplished in two to four hours. It was so transformative that Vinmars CEO personally appeared at Celoniss Celosphere conference to discuss the impact - an unusual level of executive endorsement that speaks to the magnitude of the operational improvement. This infographic created by Gemini Nano Banana 2 - the article contines below, please read on! Continuous Transformation: DevOps for Operations Traditional enterprise transformation follows a familiar and often painful pattern: a multi-year program is launched, the organisation freezes while redesign happens, and by the time the transformation is complete, the market has moved on. Kuhn argues that composability makes transformation continuous rather than episodic. The analogy he draws is to software DevOps - the practice of releasing improvements incrementally rather than in monolithic deployments. Applied to operations, this means teams monitoring processes constantly and adjusting workflows weekly rather than every five years. Because the underlying capabilities are modular, change becomes routine rather than disruptive. Kuhn also invokes the Japanese concept of kaizen - continuous improvement through small, steady changes - as a philosophical touchstone. Evolution, he notes repeatedly, does not happen with a big bang. It happens step by step, continuously, until you end up with something fundamentally different. The Five-Year Horizon: Self-Steering, Not Self-Driving Looking ahead to approximately 2030, Kuhn envisions organisations moving toward what he calls self-steering and self-optimising operations - though he is careful to distinguish this from fully autonomous enterprises, a concept he has written about but does not believe will or should become reality. Certain functions, he suggests, lend themselves to near-complete automation. Accounting, for instance, is heavily determined by law and regulation, making much of the work rule-based and therefore ideal for AI. He foresees a future of autonomous accounting where only the five percent of exception cases require human expertise. But the competitive advantage of the future, Kuhn argues, will not be who has AI. It will be who understands their operations well enough for AI to act safely and effectively within them. This is the core thesis of Celoniss positioning: there is no enterprise AI without process intelligence, or as the companys tagline puts it, no artificial intelligence without PI. The competitive advantage will not be who has AI. It will be who understands their operations well enough for AI to act safely. The Human Element: Why Culture Eats Architecture for Breakfast Throughout our conversation, Kuhn returns to a theme that transcends technology: the human dimension of transformation. Process intelligence removes comfortable assumptions, and not everyone welcomes that. The data can prove you right or wrong, and some organisations are not culturally prepared for that level of transparency. He invokes a famous aphorism: Without data, you are just another person with an opinion. If organisations treat composability as merely another IT architecture trend, they will fail. If they treat it as operational clarity combined with accountability, it becomes transformative. For some people, of course, the data vindicates what they have been saying all along. As Kuhn notes, the most common reaction to a process mining engagement is not surprise at the findings, but surprise at the scale. People knew there were problems; they just could not prove it. Now they can. The Bottom Line We are now well into the third year of the current AI revolution, and the gap between AI hype and AI value continues to widen for most enterprises. The prevailing narrative focuses on model capabilities, agent frameworks, and the race toward artificial general intelligence. What Kuhn and Celonis are arguing - persuasively, and with growing analyst support - is that the real bottleneck is not intelligence at all. It is understanding. Enterprises cannot meaningfully deploy AI into processes they do not understand, cannot observe, and have never properly mapped. They cannot build composable, adaptive organisations on top of monolithic systems glued together by Excel spreadsheets and human middleware. And they cannot achieve continuous transformation through episodic, multi-year programs that are obsolete before they finish. Process intelligence offers a different path: one that starts with seeing reality as it is, builds modular capabilities around that truth, and creates the operational foundation on which AI can genuinely deliver value. It is less glamorous than the promise of sentient machines, but it may be the thing that actually makes AI work in the real world. As Kuhn puts it with a smile: When processes work, everything works. People thrive, value is created, and Monday sucks a little less. It is hard to argue with that. +++ As youll see in the video interview, Rudy Kuhn recommends reading: AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan, as an accessible guide to the long-term implications of artificial intelligence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, could spiral beyond anyones control. All the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region, Mr Guterres said. The UN chief also warned that the crises pose a grave risk to the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people. The situation could spiral beyond anyones control. It is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations. The stakes could not be higher, Mr Guterres urged. Military strikes and counter-strikes are continuing across the Middle East as the US and Israel wage war on Iran. The crisis has entered its seventh day, with continued strikes and counter-strikes across the region. UN Relief Chief Tom Fletcher has also warned that the world is in a moment of grave peril. Mr Fletcher said staggering amounts of money were funding the war, while politicians continue to boast about cutting aid budgets in greatest need. UN High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCR) has declared the escalating crisis a major humanitarian emergency, requiring an immediate regional response. UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned that the conflict is spreading beyond the initial parties and urged States to take urgent steps to de-escalate. Meanwhile, the Permanent Representative for Iran, Amir Iravani, said his country was not seeking war or escalation but Iran will never surrender its sovereignty. Mr Iravani said his country would take all necessary measures to defend itself, its territory and independence. The Iranian ambassador called on all Member States to condemn this criminal war against the Iranian people. He called on the Security Council to act now, firmly, clearly and without delay, warning that, failure to act will have catastrophic consequences. Today it is Iran, tomorrow it could be any other member state. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, warned that the widening conflict in the Middle East could trigger far-reaching humanitarian consequences well beyond the region. He reiterated his call for renewed commitment to international law and protection for humanitarian workers, stressing that aid teams will continue supporting civilians caught in the escalating violence. Mr Fletcher warned that the world is facing a moment of grave peril as conflicts escalate and humanitarian crises become increasingly interconnected. He said the consequences of the fighting risk spiralling beyond the control of those instigating it. The UN relief chief called for an urgent shift towards diplomacy and restraint. What we need is de-escalation and immediate cessation of hostilities, genuine dialogue and negotiations in line with the Charter of the United Nations. We need calmer heads to prevail. He regretted that vast resources were being poured into warfare even as humanitarian aid budgetsweree cut. Mr Fletcher cautioned that the crisis risks diverting attention and resources from other major emergencies, from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Ukraine. (NAN) President Bola Tinubu on Friday assured Nigerians and members of the Armed Forces that the nation will ultimately prevail against all forms of insecurity, emphasising that the sacrifices of the countrys brave servicemen and women will never be in vain. President Tinubu gave the assurances during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the Armed Forces at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He reaffirmed his administrations commitment to the welfare of officers and men on the frontlines. I have listened to the Chief of Army Staff on my recent approvals to the Nigerian Armed Forces. My duty is to thank all of you on behalf of a grateful nation, knowing fully well that many times you are without your families and that you stay away from them. Some of you are facing attacks by bandits and terrorists. I commend your courage, sacrifice, and professionalism as you put your lives on the line in defence of Nigerias sovereignty and the safety of its citizens. He noted that the gallant efforts of the security forces have continued to degrade the capabilities of terrorist groups and bandits operating in various parts of the country. You have been working to serve the country deeply and protect our sovereignty. This nation will always be grateful to you, and your sacrifices will not be in vain, I assure you. He assured them of continued investment in modern equipment, intelligence, and logistics to enhance their operational effectiveness. The president thanked Nigerians for their endurance during the economic reengineering. I am happy to inform you that your sacrifices and that of fellow citizens, all the sacrifices are not in vain. We are now out of the dark tunnel, the President said. President Tinubu also used the opportunity to extend his heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of Borno State over the recent terrorist attack in the state. Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, Oluwafemi Oluyode, represented by the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, commended the president for various approvals which had enhanced their welfare and operational efficiency. I want to appreciate the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces for the auspicious opportunity of marking the breaking of fast for both faiths. This unique period offers us the opportunity to renew our service and our commitments to our fatherland. I want to most sincerely thank our indefatigable President for the various approvals for the upward review of salaries of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the upward review of allowances of the Brigade of Guards. These various approvals also extend to the areas of equipment procurement as well as the provision of decent accommodations for the members of the armed forces. These laudable approvals will go a long way in enhancing our operational efficiency, and I assure you that they are well-received by all members of the armed forces, the CDS said. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) March 6, 2026 Ministers and economic stakeholders have said Nigerias ambition to lead intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will depend largely on unlocking the productive capacity of women-led enterprises and integrating them into formal trade systems. They made the assertion on Friday at a colloquium in honour of womens role in industry, trade and investment held at the National Assembly Library Complex in Abuja with the theme Positioning Nigeria to Lead Intra-African Trade. Participants stressed that expanding womens access to capital, markets and incentives would strengthen Nigerias competitiveness and enable the country to maximise the opportunities presented by AfCFTA. In her keynote address, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said Nigerias industrialisation strategy must confront the reality that women remain a critical but underutilised force in the economy. She noted that while AfCFTA has created a $3.4 trillion market of about 1.4 billion people, the largest free trade area in the world by participating countries, trade agreements alone cannot guarantee prosperity. Let us be clear: markets do not create prosperity. Production does. Trade agreements do not industrialise nations. Competitive enterprises do, she said. According to her, real economic transformation will depend on building productive and competitive enterprises capable of manufacturing, processing and exporting at scale. Nigerias ambition under AfCFTA is not to be a passive consumer market. It is to become a production hub; manufacturing, processing, innovating and exporting at scale, she said. Ms Oduwole explained that manufacturing currently contributes about 13-14 per cent to Nigerias gross domestic product, far below the 20-25 per cent typical of industrialised economies. ALSO READ: IWD: Shinkafi, Aisha Buhari, others named among 2026 Women of Impact in Africa She said bridging the gap represents the countrys broader industrial policy goals. The minister said women already dominate key segments of Nigerias real economy, particularly in retail trade, textiles, agribusiness processing and light manufacturing. According to her, Nigeria has more than eight million women-led micro, small and medium enterprises generating over $15 billion annually. Despite their economic contribution, she noted that women-owned businesses still face major structural barriers. They account for over 40 per cent of MSME employment, yet receive less than 20 per cent of formal MSME financing. Over 90 per cent operate informally, and fewer than 15 per cent have access to structured digital training, she said. She also noted that fewer than five per cent of such enterprises operate formal governance systems, a factor that limits their growth and access to institutional financing. Ms Oduwole added that the federal government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Bank of Industry, is working with private-sector partners to strengthen investment readiness and scale up women-led enterprises. The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, also emphasised that Nigerias economic transformation must be inclusive if the country hopes to compete effectively in African trade. She noted that women form a large share of the nations workforce, particularly in agriculture and informal commerce. Women account for about 70 per cent of Nigerias agricultural labour force, yet they own less than 14 per cent of agricultural land and access less than 10 per cent of formal agricultural credit, she said. According to her, the imbalance shows that many women perform critical economic roles but are not adequately integrated into formal trade structures. She cited international studies indicating that women-led businesses are more likely to reinvest earnings into communities, education and local supply chains. Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim said closing gender gaps in economic participation could significantly expand global and national economic output. Supporting womens participation in trade is not simply a matter of social equity; it is a strategic economic imperative, she added. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said Nigerias ability to lead intra-African trade would depend on both effective policy frameworks and the empowerment of economic actors. She noted that women constitute a substantial proportion of Nigerias entrepreneurial base and that expanding their participation in manufacturing, commerce and cross-border trade would strengthen national competitiveness. Mrs Walson-Jack said the federal civil service remains committed to implementing policies that promote inclusive economic growth and create an enabling environment for businesses and investors. Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nura Rimi, said AfCFTA has introduced several forward-looking frameworks to support inclusive trade. He cited the Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade as mechanisms designed to expand market access and financing opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs. Mr Rimi explained that the protocol aims to ensure that opportunities created by AfCFTA translate into equitable economic growth across African countries. He added that the memorandum of understanding signed at the event seeks to strengthen collaboration and support the growth of women-owned enterprises participating in continental trade. Its purpose is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA translate into tangible and equitable economic growth across the continent, he said. The Nigerian Army have said its troops have rescued 12 kidnapped victims in Ette Community, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias South-east. In a statement posted on its X handle on Saturday, the army said the rescue operation was conducted on Friday. It said the operation was conducted by troops of the 82 Division Garrison under Operation Eastern Sanity in response to receipt of a distress call about the kidnap of the victims. The army said the troops carried out the operation in collaboration with police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch who jointly advanced to the camp of the kidnappers. Upon arrival, the troops commenced aggressive search and fighting patrols across the general area in an effort to track down the kidnappers and secure the victims release. Overwhelmed by the rapid response and superior combat readiness of the troops, the kidnappers abandoned their captives and fled the scene. The troops immediately pursued the fleeing criminals while securing the area. During the exploitation of the location, all the 12 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued unharmed, the army narrated. Arrest of suspects The army stressed that the troops, during the operation, arrested two suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping of the victims It said the arrested suspects were currently being interrogated to aid ongoing efforts to track down other fleeing members of the kidnapping gang The army added that the troops have intensified aggressive patrols and surveillance across the area to ensure public safety. The successful rescue further demonstrates the troops sustained operational pressure and unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property while restoring lasting security and public confidence across communities in the region, it said. Increased cases of kidnapping There have been growing attacks by kidnappers across Nigeria, especially in the southern part of the country. Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the country lately. Last Sunday for instance, gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, abducted and then killed Francis Igwe, father of a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State. Police, on Friday, announced the arrest of some of the suspects in connection with the abduction and killing of the victim. Meanwhile, kidnapping has been illegal in Nigeria since May 2022. The countrys authorities enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022) which outlawed all forms of kidnapping. The Act prescribes death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life. It was an amendment to the now defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013) which had prescribed a 10-years jail term for kidnapping. The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnap victims. Several persons have been convicted for kidnapping across Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned four defendants for an alleged N2 billion oil fraud at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos. According to a statement shared by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Saturday, the accused appeared before a trial judge, Rahman Oshodi, on Friday. The defendants are Babatunde Olukunle Oyefolu, Babayemi Isaac Olatunde, Ezekiel Abaki, and Plural Oil Marketing Limited. They face charges of conspiracy, theft, and possession of stolen property. The defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge of alleged conspiracy, theft, and possession of stolen property involving 894,111 litres of base oil valued at N2,000,000,000 (Two Billion Naira), he stated. In one of the counts, EFCC stated that the defendants, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to unlawfully convert 894,111 litres of base oil, property in which Providus Bank holds a special interest. Another count alleged that they dishonestly retained in Plural Oil Marketing Limiteds Keystone Bank account the sum of N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira), being funds fraudulently converted. The statement said all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following the plea, prosecution lawyer Z. B. Atiku requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the accused in a correctional facility pending trial. But the defence lawyer, Suleiman Usman, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that bail applications had been filed and served on the prosecution. He urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms and undertook to ensure the defendants presence at all subsequent proceedings. Bail granted Mr Oshodi granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20 million each, with one surety. In the ruling, the court held that the surety is required to provide evidence of means of livelihood. The court also ordered the second defendant to deposit his passport, while the third defendant must submit a valid passport photograph and sign an undertaking not to travel outside Nigeria during the pendency of the trial. The prosecution was directed to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The judge granted interim bail pending perfection of the bail conditions and directed the defendants to be produced in court on the next adjourned date. The trial is scheduled to commence on 29 April. Over the years, the EFCC, established in 2003 as a major anti-graft agencies responsible for investigating financial crimes, including fraud and money laundering, has prosecuted several high-value financial crimes. Some of such cases include alleged N1.9 billion forex fraud and recovered $2 million in ongoing trials linked to a former Central Bank of Nigeria governor. The EFCC has also handled large-scale oil and petroleum-related frauds, spotlighting the prevalence of economic crimes in the sector. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved amendments that will enable the National Medical College of Nigeria to award doctorate degrees. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the education ministry has worked with the Attorney General of the Federation to propose amendments to the National Postgraduate Medical College Act before forwarding it to the National Assembly for passage. Mr Alausa disclosed this on Wednesday after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. The minister has also clarified that the proposal was not to make medical fellowships an equivalent of PhDs. In a Thursday statement by the spokesperson for the education ministry, Folasade Boriowo, the minister explained that the proposed bill intends to empower the medical college to seek accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to award PhDs in relevant medical and research disciplines. The minister emphasised that a PhD would not replace or be considered equivalent to a medical fellowship. Mr Alausa clarified that medical fellowship remains a distinct professional qualification in clinical practice, awarded to physicians who complete rigorous residency training and postgraduate medical education required for specialist practice, the statement said. The reform simply expands the Colleges academic mandate. Alongside awarding fellowships, the institution may now offer PhD programmes upon accreditation by the National Universities Commission. Proposed amendment Mr Alausa acknowledged that medical professionals in the universities face a struggle to become a professor or vice-chancellor of a university when they do not possess a PhD. Theres been some problems in our universities that, for you to be a vice chancellor, for you to be a professor, you need to have a PhD. So this set of people in the medical field has spent more than the years than the average candidate spent getting a PhD. So we need to harmonise that, he said. We need to remove the dichotomy of doctors, who spent almost 16 years from medical school, and their residency, and doing their fellowship, becoming specialised. The PhD/Medical Fellowships Row Medical professionals have long argued that post-doctoral medical fellowships should be equivalent to a PhD in the academic environment. They argued that the content of a medical fellowship from the National Medical College of Nigeria (NMCN), West African Postgraduate Medical College (WAPMC) or other recognised foreign postgraduate medical colleges was already over-represented in depth and research. The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and NUC, which regulates university education, resolved in 2020 that a PhD is not a compulsory qualification requirement for the career progression of clinical consultants. According to the agreement, the non- possession of a PhD will not hinder clinical lecturers from being promoted from one rank to another up to the level of Professor in the Nigerian University system. However, MDCAN still alleges discrimination against medical professionals with medical fellowships and without a PhD, especially during the recruitment of university vice-chancellors, which usually requires a PhD. Nigerian graduates seeking to register for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must now present a certificate issued by the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD), authenticating their certificates. In August, the Nigerian government directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to comply with the NERD policy introduced. The policy introduced the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) and the National Credential Number (NCN) for all certificates issued by Nigerian tertiary institutions to verify and authenticate academic certificates of staff and new hires in all government organisations. The policy directed the MDAs to, from 6 October 2025, begin to use the NCVS to verify academic certificates of prospective NYSC corps members, staff and new hires in all government organisations. However, it was temporarily waived for prospective NYSC members last year as it fell within the transitional period and their mobilisation processes had started before the deadline (was) set. Mandate Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for representatives of tertiary institutions in Abuja on Thursday, the Education Minister, Tunji Alausa, said all graduates now require an NERD certificate to register for the NYSC. It is important to clarify that the Nigerian education repository and data path compliance is now a prerequisite for participation or exemption from the National Youth Service for efforts to promote NYSC, Mr Alausa said. The minister has also made compliance by Nigerian tertiary institutions a prerequisite to access funds and other services from agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). Mr Alausa explained that the national credential service component will maintain a national digital footprint of every academic award obtained in accredited Nigerian institutions. We will aggressively enforce compliance and credentials for diversification and eliminate disputes over academic records. To our Nigerian education officers, record officers and determination officers, you are custodians of institutional legitimacy. The diligence between you and your work includes uploading records determined by trusted employers, foreign institutions and regulatory bodies at Nigerian institutions, he said. Workshop The workshop brought together officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, NUC, NBTE, NCCE, universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Mr Alausa said the training was convened to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of the Nigeria Education Integrity and Data Programme. The Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank is not merely a technology platform. It is a structured national infrastructure designed to secure, standardise, digitise, and authenticate academic records across post-secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria, he said. It represents the federal governments firm commitment to education data ownership, zero tolerance to academic fraud, and the preservation of our national academic history. He emphasised the need for accurate record-keeping to understand the challenges facing the education sector as well as implement effective solutions. Data is the lifeblood of effective governance, he said. Without data, we are flying blind, and thats not what this government is about. Mr Alausa noted that NERD, through a collaboration with the Nigeria Digital Engineers, has established over 1,000 digital service centres across the country and created over 3,000 jobs in the process. The minister commended also the Chief Executive Officer of the NERD, Olatunji Ariyomo. READ ALSO: Nigerian govt approves medical fellowships as PhD substitute for medical professionals Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Ariyomo said the NERD initiative is about preserving the historical and economic data of the country. Countries that preserve their data, 1,000 years ago, today, are able to layer on and cascade that information. If you dont have that as a nation, then you dont have a nation, he said. Over 133,000 students enrolled The minister said more than 133,000 students and 6,800 lecturers have successfully enrolled in the NERD platform. He added that over 800,000 academic projects by students have been uploaded to the NERD portal four months since enforcement began. Mr Alausa said over 250 universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education have also been onboarded for real-time credential verification. A non-profit organisation, Gatefield, has urged the Nigerian government to strengthen laws, policies and institutions that support womens economic participation across the country. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, the group said persistent legal and policy gaps continue to restrict women from fully participating in the economy, particularly outside Lagos. Gatefield noted that while Nigeria has made progress in enacting gender-related legislation, weak institutional frameworks, poor enforcement, inadequate budgetary allocations and limited supportive infrastructure have prevented many women from turning legal rights on paper into tangible economic opportunities. What the report says The call comes amid the release of the Women, Business and the Law 2026 report by the World Bank Group, which exposes a significant gap between Nigerias legal frameworks and the systems required to implement them effectively. According to the report, Nigeria scores 50.0 out of 100 on legal frameworks for gender equality but only 21.7 out of 100 on the supportive policies, institutions and infrastructure necessary to enforce those laws. The findings show that fewer than a quarter of the mechanisms required to make gender equality laws effective are currently in place. The report highlights wide disparities in gender equality protections across Nigerian states, creating an uneven playing field for women depending on where they live and work. One of its most striking findings is Nigerias 0 out of 100 score on the Parenthood indicator. The country lacks federal legislation mandating at least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave, or explicit legal protections against the dismissal of pregnant workers. Across states, there are virtually no clear provisions guaranteeing access to affordable and quality childcare. It also points to restrictive provisions in Sections 55, 56 and 57 of the Nigerian Labour Act, which limit womens employment in certain industrial sectors and at night. In addition, there is no comprehensive legal mandate for equal remuneration for work of equal value. On safety, while the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act exists, the report notes that supportive frameworks remain underfunded and weakly enforced. The report further reveals stark regional disparities. Lagos and Oyo lead in legal gender equality indicators, with Lagos operating specialised family courts and services for survivors of gender-based violence. However, northern states such as Bauchi and Kano record significantly lower scores, with some states scoring as low as 25.0 out of 100 on legal frameworks, particularly in areas affecting marital and inheritance rights. Investment Omei Bongos, a public health expert at the organisation, said the findings highlight the urgent need for the Nigerian government to move beyond legal commitments and invest in functional institutions. She said the report should serve as a critical call to action, urging authorities to strengthen systems that ensure women are protected from violence, have access to childcare, and can access entrepreneurship opportunities and decent work. The report reveals that in Nigeria, legal and policy gaps limit womens economic participation, particularly outside Lagos, she said. Ms Bongos added that without deliberate investment in supportive frameworks, legal rights would remain largely symbolic. Implementation challenge Also shedding light, Farida Adamu, Research Lead with Gatefield, said the data confirms long-standing concerns about weak implementation of gender-related laws. Ms Adamu noted that even states that perform relatively well in legal scoring still struggle with delivering practical support systems for women. Even Lagos, which scores highest among the states studied for Legal Frameworks, shows near-zero scores on supportive frameworks for pay, childcare, and parenthood, she said. She added that while legal commitments exist on paper, the institutions required to deliver them largely do not, noting that scores decline further in northern states such as Kano and Bauchi, which confirms that implementation and service delivery have long remained the key challenge. Empowerment issues Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Lead of the organisation, described Nigerias 0 out of 100 score on parenthood as evidence that legal progress is being undermined by the absence of institutional backing. Ms Ewang said closing the 21.7 out of 100 supportive framework deficit is critical, particularly as Nigeria prepares for a surge in young people entering the workforce over the next decade. The data is clear, our legal progress is being severely undermined by a lack of institutional backing, reflected in our 0 out of 100 score on the Parenthood indicator, she said. Ms Ewang called on policymakers and private sector leaders to adopt concrete family-friendly policies, including a minimum of 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, 14 days paid paternity leave, and robust childcare infrastructure. Until these support systems are in place, empowering Nigerian women remains an illusion, and economic growth will be constrained, she added. Global data In a global context, a PREMIUM TIMES report shows that Nigerias challenges are part of a larger global pattern. Women worldwide enjoy barely two-thirds of the legal rights afforded to men, and laws guaranteeing equal economic opportunities are enforced only about half the time. On average, countries score 67 out of 100 on the adequacy of laws enabling economic equality but drop to 53 on enforcement and just 47 on the systems needed to implement those rights. Only four per cent of women globally live in economies that provide near-full legal equality. The report also highlights gaps in safety from violence, access to childcare, entrepreneurship support and employment protections, showing that the struggle for economic equality extends far beyond Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu on Friday assured members of the Armed Forces that his administration would prioritise their welfare and continue supporting military operations against terrorism and banditry across the country. The president gave the assurance in Abuja during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the armed forces and senior government officials, where he commended soldiers for their sacrifices in defending Nigerias sovereignty. Im standing before you to say thank you for responding to this invitation for interfaith breaking of fast together reflection the complexity and diversity of our nation, Mr Tinubu said, adding God has ordained this period to coincide with one another for self-integration and self actualization and interfaith peace is very, very laudable that We can celebrate and just break bread together. He also referred to remarks earlier made by the Chief of Army Staff, saying government support for the military remains a priority. Ive listened to the Chief of Army Staff, so your remark didnt pay for the dinner. However, I take it that the recent approvals and commitment weve given to the army is well placed, he said. Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges for over a decade, including insurgency in the North-east, banditry in the North-west and parts of the North-central, as well as communal violence and kidnapping in several regions. The insurgency led by extremist groups, mainly Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has displaced millions and killed tens of thousands, while bandit attacks and mass abductions have continued to strain security resources. In response, the military has launched several task force operations in these areas, with operational gains being reported every week. On Friday, the president praised soldiers for serving the country despite the personal sacrifices involved. My duty is to thank all of you on behalf of a grateful nation, knowing fully well many times you are without your families. You stay away from them, he said. He added: Some are facing attacks from bandits and terrorists, working hard together, whether in the office or in the medical section. Youve been working to serve the country deeply and protect our sovereignty. This nation will always be grateful to you, and your sufferings will not be in vain, I assure you. Mr Tinubu said Nigerias diversity remained a source of strength and unity, particularly at a time when the armed forces were battling various security threats. We reflect our diversity, which is the hallmark of the progress and solidarity of our country. Im so grateful to all of you, particularly the leadership of the armed forces, working so hard to protect this country from marauders and keep our sovereignty, he said. The president pledged that the welfare of soldiers and their families would receive priority attention from his administration. I assure you, well do everything possible, collectively, to ensure that you have no regrets, the welfare and many other opportunities that should be extended to your families will take first priority in our decisions, he said. He also acknowledged the shortage of military housing and other welfare challenges. I understand from COAS the shortage of accommodations and everything, were struggling with it collectively, the president said. Economy stabilised The president also said Nigerias economy, which faced significant challenges at the start of his administration, had begun to stabilise. When we first started, we had a rough ride and ran into very serious turbulence, but I can say, as Im standing before you now, that weve stabilised, Mr Tinubu said, adding Nigeria is out of the dark tunnel. We are seeing daylight and bright light ahead of us, he added. Mr Tinubu also expressed sympathy to the victims of a recent incident in Borno State and said he had reached out to the state governor, Babagana Zulum. Nigeria has always prevailed anytime that we are challenged, we have always come together, pulled together, think and sympathise with one another. My sympathy goes to the Vice President and the entire country, and the people of Borno for the incident that occurred. I made a call to Zulum to share the pain with him. (Addressing the Vice President) If you talk to him too, please remember to reinforce our love and our sincere concern and commitment that freedom, yes, could be difficult and challenging at this period, we appreciate all the people who are facing the challenges of terrorism and banditry. We will win, Nigeria will prevail. Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, thanked the president for approving an upward review of the salaries of military personnel and allowances for the Brigade of Guards. Mr Shaibu said the approvals also covered procurement of equipment and provision of improved accommodation for soldiers, which he noted would enhance operational efficiency. He reaffirmed the loyalty of the armed forces to the president and pledged the militarys commitment to defending Nigerias democracy. He said the armed forces remain the defenders of our democracy, and will do all that it takes to safeguard it. The US had claimed that its current invasion of Iran is over nuclear talks, but these fell apart given the contradictory statements by Trump and leading members of his administration. These include claims that the talks were stalling, which was a lie, to claims that Iran had developed a nuclear capacity to strike US. The lie in the latter is in the fact that the same US claimed in June, 2025 that it had destroyed Irans nuclear programme. The on-going invasion of Iran by the United States (US) and Israel, coupled with the zeal of the European Union and Britain to appease President Donald Trump as he turns the international world order upside down, reminds me of Adolf Hitler. After the First World War in 1917 in which about 20 million died, the leaders of the human race vowed that such carnage would not be allowed to repeat itself. They developed a world order with emphasis on peace, international rules of engagement, social justice, and the sovereignty of peoples. These were contained in the 28 June, 1919 Treaty of Versailles and they led to the establishment of the League of Nations. However, when Hitler, the democratically elected president of Germany, began to violate these international rules, the world powers merely watched and made excuses for him. Then on 12 March, 1938, he annexed Austria, and the world merely continued to watch. Seven months later, he seized Sudettenland, a border region of Czechoslovakia, and excuses were still made for him. Then, on 23 March, 1939, he took the whole of Czechoslovakia, and Europe thought the best thing to do was to appease him. That same day, he marched on Memel, a region of Lithuania, and his fellow European leaders merely watched. It was when Hitlerite Germany, on 1 September, 1939, invaded Poland, that other European countries, conscious that unless confronted, Hitler would overrun and colonise them, decided to stand up to him. But it was too late to stop the catastrophe. Over 60 million human beings were killed in the resultant Second World War, before international order could be restored. So, the international world order in place today, including the United Nations which Trump has weakened and threatens to replace with a nebulous Board of Peace, cost humanity some ninety million lives. But, Hitler was no Devil strutting around like a huge monster, trampling the earth. He was a human being who, like all others, walked not on his head, but on two feet. The Cornell Law Library, in publishing the summary of a personality profile on Hitler stated: Adolf Hitlers personality was characterized by extreme narcissism, intense paranoia, and a volatile, authoritarian nature, combining charismatic public leadership with a private tendency toward cruelty, rage, and social withdrawal. He was deeply insecure yet possessed an unshakable self-belief in his messianic destiny. If in reading this ninety-year character sketch, you replace the name Adolf Hitler with Donald Trump, you get a perfect match. I may also add: you get the same politics of appeasement, rationalisation and duplicity by Britain, France and leading European countries, with the exception of Spain. Even Germany, which produced Hitler and his fascist movement, and is also the ancestral home of Trump, pretends not to know better than appease him. The US had claimed that its current invasion of Iran is over nuclear talks, but these fell apart given the contradictory statements by Trump and leading members of his administration. These include claims that the talks were stalling, which was a lie, to claims that Iran had developed a nuclear capacity to strike US. The lie in the latter is in the fact that the same US claimed in June, 2025 that it had destroyed Irans nuclear programme. Canada is a country threatened by Trump and should ordinarily be worried about his administration. But its Prime Minister, Mark Carney, would rather blame the victim and praise the aggressors as the liberators of humanity. Carney declared: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the worlds worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons. The fact is that Iran was invaded as international negotiations proceeded with announcements of progress made, including far-reaching compromises by Iran on its nuclear programme. Two countries, without declaring war, decided to obliterate another member of the human community. Two countries, for no coherent reason, decided to murder Ali Hossein Khamenei, the 87-year old leader of a sovereign state, along with his wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, and all what civilised Western Europe could say is that Iran has no right to self-defence. On 28 February, families of over eighty elementary school children in Tehran, bathed their wards and sent them to school, only for the adult leaders of the US and Israel to target their school and turn it into rubbles, with the children buried underneath. Yet, civilised Europe has no nerve to condemn such barbarism. All it does is to chorus that Iran should not have retaliated by attacking US targets and Middle East countries providing military bases to the invaders. In fact, some European countries, rather than work for ceasefire, are adding petrol to the raging fires by sending combat aircraft to the region. They blame Iran for its retaliatory attacks, rather than try to stop the US and Israel from further attacks. The invasion of Iran is not an isolated one. Since last year, the US has attacked at least six countries, including Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and Syria. The US had claimed that its current invasion of Iran is over nuclear talks, but these fell apart given the contradictory statements by Trump and leading members of his administration. These include claims that the talks were stalling, which was a lie, to claims that Iran had developed a nuclear capacity to strike US. The lie in the latter is in the fact that the same US claimed in June, 2025 that it had destroyed Irans nuclear programme. if the US attacks against Iran have been planned for decades, the talks about nuclear weapons are a pretext. The White Houses reasons for this invasion includes an American revenge for the November 1979 Iranian students seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran, which led to a 444-day standoff. This kind of childish reason is as silly as Israel today going to bomb Germany for the Holocaust of the Second World War. The White House has come out with what it says are the real reasons for the attacks. It stated that: For nearly half a century, the Islamic Republic of Iran the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism has killed and maimed American citizens and service members through its own forces and proxy militias. More Americans have been killed by Iran than any other terrorist regime on Earth. President Donald J. Trump is doing what Presidents over the last five decades have refused to do eliminate the threat once and for all. So, if the US attacks against Iran have been planned for decades, the talks about nuclear weapons are a pretext. The White Houses reasons for this invasion includes an American revenge for the November 1979 Iranian students seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran, which led to a 444-day standoff. This kind of childish reason is as silly as Israel today going to bomb Germany for the Holocaust of the Second World War. Clearly, the Trump administration, which is declaring wars without constitutional Congress approval, disregards judgements of the US Supreme Court, is turning the international order upside down, is unhinged and a danger to the human race. European countries like France and Britain, which, as usual, are playing the ostrich may, as in the case of Hitler, become the main victims of Trumpism. Given human development, the rule of might over right and a descent to anarchism will do incalculable damage. Collectively, we, including the US citizenry, have a duty to return the world to order so we do not again, sacrifice tens of millions in order to restore sanity in the international system. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. The next generation of students sitting in anatomy classrooms should learn the full story, not as a footnote during Black History Month, but as part of the standard account. They should understand that modern cardiac surgery bears the imprint of Vivien Thomas as surely as it bears the imprint of the surgeons whose names became the shorthand. More than three decades have passed, yet his figure remains vivid in my memory. Professor Singh, whose middle name now escapes me, was tall, almost gaunt, animated in gesture, and generous in spirit. He stood before us in our second year Human Anatomy class and lectured on this congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. He spoke with the confidence of a man who believed Medicine is not merely a science but a civilisational inheritance. At the time, many Indian physicians had migrated to Nigeria, teaching in medical schools such as mine, while running private clinics to supplement their modest academic salaries. He had been seconded to us from the University of Calabar, his place of primary institutional affiliation. Prof was clearly one of our favourites, not simply because of his pedagogical competence, but because he humanised Medicine. He always found a way of wrapping science in history lessons and witty anecdotes, as he delivered his lectures in a manner that made them unforgettable. In his heavily Indian accented English, he eulogised Alfred Blalock and Helen Taussig, two white doctors at Johns Hopkins University, who developed a revolutionary surgery that saved children afflicted with blue baby syndrome, a phrase commonly used to describe Tetralogy of Fallot in laymans parlance. We scribbled notes furiously. We were in awe of the brilliance of modern Medicine and of the names attached to its triumphs. That was the version of history handed to us. Fast forward to 2026. Last week, during Black History Month, a younger colleague forwarded to me an article published by the American Heart Association honouring a man I had never heard of. His name is Vivien Thomas. I read the article slowly. Then I read it again. The narrative I had inherited was not false, but it was partial. I do not fault Professor Singh. It is entirely possible he, too, had received a truncated version of events. I first met the colleague who sent me the piece several years ago. He too is a physician writer, and when Black Grit and White Knuckles was first published, he reached out to say he was interested in it. I remember feeling genuinely honoured. There is something deeply affirming about knowing that your work has crossed invisible boundaries you did not even realise you had drawn. Yet, if I am honest, there was also a flicker of curiosity. Why would a book centered on the Black Renaissance resonate with a white man? At the time, it did not even register in my mind that his last name is Blalock. But I digress. Vivien Thomas, a Black man in Americas Jim Crow South, was not a medical doctor. Officially, he was classified as a janitor, a polite title for someone hired to clean offices and perform sundry tasks. That was what he was initially hired to do at Johns Hopkins. He had no medical degree. He was the grandson of an enslaved person in a segregated America that rationed opportunity along racial lines. Yet he became the principal architect behind the surgical technique that corrected Tetralogy of Fallot, the procedure later known as the Blalock-Taussig shunt. Thomas designed the experimental model. He performed hundreds of laboratory surgeries to perfect the technique. When the first human operation was attempted in 1944, he stood on a step stool behind the operating surgeon, Dr Blalock, quietly guiding each movement. He was the mind behind the innovation but not the name attached to it. Recognition came decades later, cautiously and partially. By then, the institutional narrative had already solidified. Thomas life is not merely a tale of delayed gratitude. It is a case study in authorship, in who gets named and who becomes a footnote. His story forces a larger truth into view. For centuries, anonymous was Black. This is not hyperbole but pattern recognition. When a people are systematically excluded from academies, patent offices, endowed chairs, and capital markets, their contributions often emerge without durable attribution. Access to ecosystems, funding, mentorship, publication, and institutional endorsement determines whose genius is amplified and whose is absorbed anonymously. Across civilisations and epochs, Black labour, intellect, and ingenuity have shaped the architecture of the modern world, often without proportional acknowledgment. When we speak of progress, we frequently invoke inventors, industrialists, monarchs, and magnates. Rarely do we interrogate the invisible scaffolding beneath their achievements. When we remember the Industrial Revolution, that great pivot point in human history, we celebrate steam engines, spinning jennies, railroads, and the genius of European enterprise. It is a flattering narrative that locates modernity in workshops and laboratories in Britain and continental Europe. But the Industrial Revolution did not run on steam alone. It ran on cotton. By the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, textile mills in Manchester and Liverpool demanded staggering quantities of raw cotton. Machines had multiplied production capacity, but machines cannot invent raw materials. The cotton came largely from the American South, harvested by Africans and their descendants under a regime of chattel slavery. The cotton gin accelerated profitability. Plantations expanded. By the mid-nineteenth century, cotton constituted more than half of United States export earnings, and the majority of Britains cotton imports came from slave plantations. The fibre fed looms. The looms fed markets. The markets fed banks and insurers. Capital accumulated at unprecedented speed. Cotton wealth did not remain in the fields. It circulated through the arteries of Atlantic capitalism. Would industrialisation have occurred without slave grown cotton? Possibly. Human ingenuity is resilient. But would it have unfolded at the same pace, scale, and profitability? Unlikely. Affordable raw materials are foundational to industrial takeoff. The affordability of cotton was not natural. It was coerced. The modern world was not built in abstraction. It was built in fields. Yet when the story is told, enslaved Black labour often appears as a tragic sidebar, rather than as the central engine. The triumph of machinery eclipses the suffering that made the machinery economically viable. When a people are systematically excluded from academies, patent offices, endowed chairs, and capital markets, their contributions often emerge without durable attribution. Access to ecosystems, funding, mentorship, publication, and institutional endorsement determines whose genius is amplified and whose is absorbed anonymously. The task before us is to ensure that anonymity is no longer the default setting of our story, and that future generations inherit not fragments, but the full, unvarnished architecture of truth. For centuries, anonymous was Black. The time to change the narrative is now. We understand this intuitively in Medicine. Outcomes follow upstream conditions. Deny oxygen and cyanosis ensues. Deny access and disparities follow. For centuries, Black communities were denied consistent access to the very institutions that convert brilliance into legacy. Vivien Thomas did not collapse into resentment. He trained generations of surgeons. He refined techniques. He built something lasting even when the spotlight bypassed him. His dignity was not contingent upon applause, though applause was overdue. His life is instructive. It teaches that brilliance does not ask permission to exist. It works. It builds. It innovates. The moral burden lies not on genius to shout, but on institutions to see. If we are serious about reclaiming narrative, then investment in history must become structural. We must fund scholarship, archives, documentaries, museums, and digital repositories. We must teach children not only stories of suffering but stories of agency, invention, and resilience. We must encourage interdisciplinary research that situates Black contributions within the broader sweep of global civilisation, rather than isolating them as niche addendums. No one else but us will do this with the same urgency. Narrative is power. A Black renaissance, therefore, must be intellectual as much as economic. It must include historians alongside entrepreneurs, archivists alongside activists, educators alongside legislators. It must insist on completeness, not to erase others, but to integrate the full truth. When I think back to Professor Singh, I do not blame him. He taught what he had been taught. He passed on the narrative institutions had codified. That is precisely how historical omissions persist, not always through malice, but through inheritance. Which means correction must also be intentional. The next generation of students sitting in anatomy classrooms should learn the full story, not as a footnote during Black History Month, but as part of the standard account. They should understand that modern cardiac surgery bears the imprint of Vivien Thomas as surely as it bears the imprint of the surgeons whose names became the shorthand. The task before us is to ensure that anonymity is no longer the default setting of our story, and that future generations inherit not fragments, but the full, unvarnished architecture of truth. For centuries, anonymous was Black. The time to change the narrative is now. Osmund Agbo is a medical doctor and author. His works include Black Grit, White Knuckles: The Philosophy of Black Renaissance and a fiction work titled The Velvet Court: Courtesan Chronicles. His latest works, Pray, Let the Shaman Die and Maam, I Do Not Come to You for Love, have just been released. He can be reached through: [email protected]. The 210 trillion discrepancy claim does not align with Nigerias fiscal realities, the governance structure of NNPC or the financial mechanics of joint venture accounting. What initially appears as a monumental financial scandal quickly dissolves into a phantom figure, one that sits more comfortably in political rhetoric than in verifiable financial records. Nigeria deserves serious oversight backed by evidence and competence. In Nigerias already fragile information environment, numbers have enormous power. When a public official declares that 210 trillion has gone missing, the figure is large enough to shock citizens, dominate headlines and inflame public anger. That is precisely why such claims must be handled with care and responsibility. Unfortunately, Senator Ahmed Wadadas allegation of 210 trillion discrepancies in the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) collapses under even the most basic scrutiny. Once the arithmetic, institutional structure and financial context are examined, the claim begins to look less like forensic oversight and more like a case of political theatre designed to play to the gallery. A Number That Defies Economic Reality Lets start with the number itself. 210 trillion is not just large. It is astronomical within the context of Nigerias economy. Between 2017 and 2020, Nigerias entire federal budget ranged roughly between 7 trillion and 10 trillion annually, only rising significantly in later years. Even in recent budgets, national spending has struggled to cross 20 trillion. In simple terms, the allegation suggests that a single government company somehow misplaced an amount several times larger than Nigerias annual national budget for multiple years combined. For such a claim to hold water, NNPCL would have had to generate, move and lose sums of money exceeding the fiscal capacity of the Nigerian state itself. That is not oversight. That is arithmetic that simply does not add up. Anyone familiar with Nigerias public finance architecture would immediately recognise that the figure fails the most elementary plausibility test. A Misreading of NNPCs Structure Beyond the questionable numbers, the allegation betrays a deeper misunderstanding of how the national oil company operates. The entity referenced in the senators remarks, formerly NAPIMS, now NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services Limited (NUIMS), is not an independent financial authority operating outside the supervision of NNPC headquarters. NUIMS is an internal investment management arm responsible for administering Nigerias upstream joint venture interests. Its financial activities operate within multiple layers of governance, including NNPC corporate approvals, joint venture partner oversight, approved work programmes, budget authorisations and regulatory supervision. There is simply no operational pathway through which NUIMS could independently disburse tens or hundreds of trillions of naira outside corporate control and international partner scrutiny. To suggest otherwise is to imply that global oil companies, auditors, regulators and boards somehow failed to notice the disappearance of funds larger than Nigerias national budgets. That is a scenario that belongs in fiction, not financial analysis. Turning Joint Venture Accounting Into Headlines Another pillar of the allegation appears to revolve around joint venture cash calls. For decades, Nigeria funded its share of joint venture oil operations through annual cash calls. While the government reformed the structure in 2016 to reduce funding arrears, the financial obligations tied to joint venture operations did not vanish overnight. Oil and gas accounting involves long financial cycles including multi-year project financing, legacy liabilities, reconciliation of earlier commitments, capital programme carryovers and production cost recoveries. These entries frequently span several fiscal years. Taking cumulative accounting adjustments and presenting them as mysterious new expenditures is not forensic discovery. It is a misinterpretation of complex financial records dressed up as a scandal. The 5 billion Name Change Narrative Perhaps the most curious part of the allegation is the claim that 5 billion was spent simply to change the name from NNPC to NNPCL. That assertion betrays a superficial understanding of what actually occurred. The transition from NNPC to NNPCL was not merely cosmetic branding. It was the institutional transformation required under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which turned the national oil corporation into a commercially structured limited liability company. Such a transition involved wide ranging corporate and operational changes. In addition to legal and structural adjustments, the rebranding exercise covered a comprehensive global rollout that included a new corporate identity, logo redesign, global brand alignment, billboards across major cities, advertising campaigns, signage changes, corporate materials and digital transition across platforms worldwide. For an oil company of NNPCLs scale and global partnerships, such an exercise is standard practice. Reducing a full scale corporate transformation and international brand rollout to just a name change is misleading. Playing to the Gallery What is troubling is that this is not the first time Senator Wadada has made sweeping allegations about the national oil company without presenting concrete evidence. In the past, dramatic claims have surfaced from similar quarters regarding NNPC operations, often accompanied by eye catching figures and accusations. Yet, many of those allegations faded once subjected to technical scrutiny. This pattern raises a legitimate concern that some of these claims are less about financial accountability and more about political optics. In other words, playing to the gallery. Oversight Requires Discipline Legislative oversight is a critical pillar of democracy. Lawmakers must interrogate public institutions and ensure accountability. But oversight must be grounded in facts, technical understanding and evidence. Throwing around massive figures without context does not strengthen accountability. Instead, it risks turning serious legislative scrutiny into headline driven political theatre. In a sector as sensitive as Nigerias oil industry, reckless narratives can distort public perception, erode institutional credibility and unsettle investor confidence. The Bottom Line The 210 trillion discrepancy claim does not align with Nigerias fiscal realities, the governance structure of NNPC or the financial mechanics of joint venture accounting. What initially appears as a monumental financial scandal quickly dissolves into a phantom figure, one that sits more comfortably in political rhetoric than in verifiable financial records. Nigeria deserves serious oversight backed by evidence and competence. What it does not need are spectacular numbers untethered from facts, deployed in ways that inflame public sentiment while obscuring the truth. Kingsley Ade Adegbite is an accounting scholar, and a former business development manager, sub-Saharan Africa, for BP. In many communities across Zamfara State, the fasting season is a time of reflection, faith, and shared sacrifice. But for thousands of families facing economic hardship, it can also be a period of increased strain. This year, relief came in a tangible, heartfelt, and memorable form. TMDK Group, through its coordinated community outreach initiative, distributed 7,000 bags of rice and 10,000 bags of maize flour to residents within the Talata Mafara LGA in Zamfara State. The distribution was designed to support vulnerable households during the fasting season, ensuring that families could observe the period with dignity and reduced financial pressure on the community. The initiative was not framed as charity; to TMDK, it was a responsibility. With just 100 Bags back in 2006, this outreach was created by the TMDKs Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, a proud native of Zamfara State, whose connection to the land and its people runs deeper than business interests. For him, the gesture reflects something personal; an enduring commitment to the well-being of the communities that shaped him. Giving back to Zamfara is not optional, a representative of the Group noted. It is part of who we are. The relief materials were distributed in coordination with community leaders to ensure transparency and equitable allocation. Beneficiaries included widows, elderly residents, low-income families, and households identified as most in need. For many recipients, the support eased what would otherwise have been difficult weeks, and they appeared very appreciative. Community leaders described the initiative as timely and impactful, particularly amid rising food costs. Beyond the immediate benefit, they noted the symbolic importance of indigenous entrepreneurs reinvesting in their home states. TMDK Group has increasingly aligned its corporate activities with broader social responsibility efforts, particularly in states where it has operational or historical ties. The Zamfara outreach reinforces a philosophy the company prides itself on, which is that; sustainable business must exist alongside social contribution. While industrial expansion and economic development remain core to the Groups strategy, its leadership has maintained that community support, especially during culturally significant periods, remains equally important. In Zamfara this fasting season, that philosophy translated into 17,000 bags of food and thousands of families able to observe the period with greater peace of mind. The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Akutah Pius Okeyima has described the Gateway International Airport as a critical piece of infrastructure capable of addressing the challenges associated with cargo movement within Nigeria and across the West African sub-region. Mr Akutah made this known when he led a delegation of officials from the Council on a courtesy visit to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The Shippers Council boss, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of development in the state, said the airport would serve as a strategic hub for cargo movement within Nigeria and across the West African sub-region. According to him, the cargo airport represents a significant milestone in strengthening the countrys transportation infrastructure and improving the movement of goods. He said: The state cargo airport is one of the critical infrastructure for transportation and for the movement of cargo in and out of Nigeria. The commissioning and utilisation of this airport represents another milestone in the development of infrastructure around cargo transportation within and outside the country. Today, the movement of cargo around West Africa is very challenging due to the lack of an effective intermodal transport system within the sub-region. However, the development of this cargo airport presents enormous potential for progress in facilitating cargo movement to West Africa and beyond. Mr Akutah noted that Ogun State remains the nations industrial hub, making seamless cargo movement essential for economic growth. He commended the state government for developing two dry ports simultaneously, noting that the projects are progressing at an impressive pace. He also explained that the Council chose Ogun State to host the fourth edition of its retreat because of the conducive environment, adding that the gathering would provide members with the opportunity to deliberate on key issues affecting cargo movement and proffer workable solutions. We have a lot to discuss for the progress of the Nigeria Shippers Council. We have several projects, and one of them is located here in Ogun State. Our concern this year is to expand critical infrastructure for services in Nigeria to ensure that cargo movement through and from the country is faster and that the ease of doing business is enhanced. Ogun State is a great partner in this regard with the simultaneous development of two dry ports. We specifically chose to come here to demonstrate our solidarity with the government, which is working very hard to help decongest the seaports through the development of these critical infrastructure projects, he said. Mr Akutah also praised the rapid pace of development across the state, attributing the increasing number of industries to the governments commitment to infrastructure development and the creation of a conducive business environment. Within the last two years that we have been visiting, there has been remarkable progress. The governor is clearly committed to excellence, and his touch can be seen in the transformation taking place across the state, he added. Speaking, Governor Abiodun disclosed that the state government is also developing a Deep Sea Port to further accelerate economic growth, noting that the project would help ease congestion at the Lagos ports and enhance cargo movement across the country when completed. The governor commended the Nigeria Shippers Council for its role in facilitating seamless cargo movement through effective handling, processing and regulation, urging members to use the retreat to deliberate on strategies that would further strengthen the Councils efficiency and service delivery. He also appreciated the Council for choosing Ogun State as the venue for its retreat, reiterating that his administration has been deliberate in creating a peaceful and conducive environment for people to live, work and do business in the state. Governor Abiodun assured the Council of the continued support of the Ogun State Government in its efforts to improve cargo movement and strengthen Nigerias logistics and maritime sector. NEW YORK, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE: BBWI) between June 4, 2024 and November 19, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 16, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline. So What: If you purchased Bath & Body Works securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the Bath & Body Works class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50622 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 16, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, and that defendants failed to disclose that: (1) Bath & Body Works' strategy of pursuing "adjacencies, collaborations and promotions" was not growing the customer base and/or delivering the level of growth in net sales touted; (2) as Bath & Body Works' strategy of "adjacencies, collaborations and promotions" faltered, it relied on brand collaborations "to carry quarters" and obfuscate otherwise weak underlying financial results; (3) as a result, Bath & Body Works was unlikely to meet its own previously issued financial guidance; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Bath & Body Works' business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Body & Body Works class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50622 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. By Gomez Trial Attorneys Wire EL CAJON, Calif., March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Civil Rights and Trial Attorney John H. Gomez announced last week that Gomez Trial Attorneys filed a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit on behalf of former Dehesa School Principal Natoshia Bartley, alleging she was terminated after reporting what she believed were serious violations of California law. Gomez made the announcement during a press conference held outside the Dehesa School District headquarters in El Cajon, where he stood alongside Bartley, fellow attorneys, and supporters to outline the allegations contained in the lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court. Bartley alleged that after stepping into a leadership role at Dehesa School, she began uncovering compliance failures, safety concerns, and attendance reporting practices that she believed violated state law and jeopardized public funding. "Whistleblowers will be protected and those who retaliate against them will be held accountable," Gomez said during the press conference. According to the complaint, Bartley was hired by the district in August 2024 as an assistant principal and was quickly elevated to principal. After assuming the position, she said she began identifying issues related to student safety and regulatory compliance. The lawsuit alleged that Bartley raised concerns about a variety of issues, including missing safety protocols, insufficient health office documentation, and failures to comply with state education requirements. One of the most significant concerns involved attendance reporting practices tied to public school funding. According to the lawsuit, Bartley reported what she believed to be fraudulent attendance recordkeeping that allegedly resulted in approximately $950,000 in improper state funds for Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Under California's public education funding system, school districts receive funding based in part on student attendance data. The lawsuit alleged that inaccurate or fabricated attendance records could improperly inflate funding received from the state. Bartley also alleged that she participated in an investigation into attendance discrepancies and cooperated with inquiries related to the district's reporting practices. According to the complaint, after she raised concerns and participated in the investigation, the district's leadership began marginalizing her and undermining her authority. The lawsuit alleged she was eventually placed on administrative leave and later terminated. The lawsuit claims these actions constituted retaliation under California Labor Code 1102.5, which protects employees who report suspected violations of law or refuse to participate in unlawful conduct. During the press conference announcing the lawsuit, Gomez emphasized the importance of protecting whistleblowers in public institutions, particularly in school systems responsible for student safety and taxpayer funds. Bartley also spoke publicly about her experience, saying she believed her duty as principal required her to address compliance issues and report concerns when she discovered them. Supporters, including former students and community members, attended the press conference and spoke about the importance of transparency and accountability within public schools. Attorneys for Bartley said the lawsuit seeks to hold the district accountable and ensure that employees who report concerns about safety or misuse of public funds are protected under the law. The lawsuit seeks damages and a jury trial. The Dehesa School District had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of the press conference. SOURCE Gomez Trial Attorneys Motion Filed by Plaintiffs for Summary Judgment in Lawsuit to Restore National Endowment for the Humanities Previous Function and Funding NEW YORK, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) used a flawed ChatGPT process to identify "DEI programs" and inform decisions to terminate grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This development was revealed in discovery documents made available as part of a motion for a summary judgment filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Friday, March 6, 2026. The filing by the plaintiffsthe American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA)included depositions by two key members of the DOGE team, as well as Adam Wolfson (NEH Assistant Chair for Programs) and Michael McDonald (NEH General Counsel and Acting Chair of the NEH from March 2025 to January 2026). Depositions reveal that DOGE team members made the decisions about fundingdespite having no legal authority to do so; document the use of Signal by DOGE and NEH staff to communicate about their process in violation of the Federal Records Act; and make clear that some grants were terminated despite NEH staff concluding that they did not conflict with new policies coming from the Trump Administration. Discovery in this lawsuit has uncovered egregious and illegal actions that affect organizations and residents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) led the termination of previously awarded grants. The acting chair, Michael McDonald, ceded his authority over this process to DOGE , writing to DOGE staffer Justin Fox, "as you've made clear, it's your decision on whether to discontinue funding any of the projects on this list." Michael McDonald cut out any Congressional role and asserted the authority of the Executive Branch to end funding. Grants representing hundreds of millions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funds were cancelled without statutory authority. McDonald and key members of the DOGE team bypassed authorized record preservation requirements and violated the Federal Records Act by conducting official government business regarding the cuts using Signal, a messaging application unauthorized for federal employees, and intentionally set to automatically delete messages. DOGE fed grant descriptions into OpenAI's ChatGPT generative artificial intelligence chatbot, asking it to decide if grants were "DEI." They then entered ChatGPT's responses into a spreadsheet compiling all NEH grants, including its "DEI rationale" and "Yes / No DEI?" replies. This ChatGPT-generated list was used in place of the list created by NEH staffers to identify which grants to cut. Projects Grants that were flagged as "DEI" and then terminated included a documentary sharing the story of Jewish women's slave labor during the Holocaust; an archival project on the lives of Italian Americans; a project to digitize photograph collections of Appalachian residents; and multiple projects to preserve endangered Native American languages and cultures. DOGE staffers violated the Federal Equal Protection Clause of the 5th Amendment by flagging grant descriptions as "DEI" solely because they included "BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)," "homosexual," "LGBTQ," and "Tribal," among other terms. DOGE staffers also flagged grants that NEH leaders concede had no connection to DEI, including grants that had been awarded for collections management after a natural disaster, preservation training, and improving HVAC systems. including grants that had been awarded for collections management after a natural disaster, preservation training, and improving HVAC systems. After the termination of previously awarded grants, Michael McDonald asked an NEH staff member to solicit the Tikvah Fund's application for a single-source award; the NEH ultimately granted it $10 million. In the motion, the plaintiffs present three claims: violations of the First Amendment; violations of the Equal Protection Clause; and violation of the separation of powers, as DOGE carried out the termination of the grants, not the NEH Chair, and without approval from Congress. Their case, which has been joined to a similar case brought by the Authors Guild, seeks a judgment restoring the unlawfully terminated funding to their constituents, whose research and livelihoods have been threatened by the cancellation of their grants. "The principle that knowledge of history, literature, religion, philosophy, and the arts is necessary to sustain a strong and resilient nation drove Congress to establish the NEH," said ACLS President Joy Connolly. "Our lawsuit reveals this administration's contempt for that principle and for public investment in research for the common good. DOGE employees' use of ChatGPT to identify 'wasteful' grants is perhaps the biggest advertisement for the need for humanities education, which builds skills in critical thinking." "The manner in which NEH grants were terminated is in direct opposition to the agency's founding legislation, which asserted that 'it is necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to help create and sustaina climate encouraging freedom of thought, imagination, and inquiry,'" said AHA Executive Director, Sarah Weicksel. "Terminating the grants of scholars and institutions for reasons ranging from the nature of the questions posed to the race or gender of the historical figures they intended to study, quashes freedom of thought, stifles imagination, prevents inquiry, and thereby threatens the study of history and the humanities more broadly." "The facts in this case have exposed the administration's total disregard for the democratic process and for the value of the humanities that the NEH exists to promote," said the MLA's executive director, Paula M. Krebs. "Through this lawsuit, we have been able to document in detail the haphazard and unlawful actions of DOGE as these unqualified agents undermined the separation of powers and denied the American people access to vital public programming and research." Established in 1965, the NEH has been a cornerstone investor in the advancement and accessibility of humanities knowledge and programs, providing funding to museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, and scholars. In April of 2025, the NEH eliminated grants, grant programs, much of its staff, and entire divisions. The ACLS, AHA, and MLA filed a lawsuit on May 1, 2025, seeking to reverse these actions, which affect access to humanities programming, resources, and research for millions of Americans across the United States. The plaintiffs, represented by the Jacobson Lawyers Group, are associations represented on the National Humanities Alliance executive committee. The Phi Beta Kappa Society is also contributing to this effort. More information about the lawsuit is available online. Visit the ACLS, AHA, and MLA websites to view the original complaint, FAQs about the case, and more. About the American Council of Learned Societies Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting its commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship. About the American Historical Association Founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies, the American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. The association defends academic freedom, develops professional standards, supports innovative scholarship and teaching, and helps to sustain and enhance the work of historians. As the largest membership association of professional historians in the world (nearly 11,000 members), the AHA serves historians in a wide variety of professions and represents every historical era and geographical area. Learn more at historians.org. About the Modern Language Association The Modern Language Association of America and its 20,000 members work to strengthen the study and teaching of languages and literature. Founded in 1883, the MLA provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. The MLA sustains a wide-ranging print and electronic publishing program that includes books, journals, style guides, and an international bibliography. More information on MLA programs is available at www.mla.org. SOURCE American Council of Learned Societies NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. ("ELF" or the "Company") (NYSE: ELF). On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research reported a myriad of allegations against the Company, including that: (i) it had materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters; (ii) in Q2 FY24, it realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built; (iii) it then began reporting inflated revenue and profits resulting in its reported inventory also appearing materially inflated; and (iv) the Company concealed its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true cause of insufficient sales. Then, on February 6, 2025, the Company released its fiscal Q3 2025 results and provided fiscal 2025 outlook that confirmed the weaknesses identified in the report, including softer consumption trends and slower new product launches. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether e.l.f. Beauty's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of e.l.f. Beauty shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-elf/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg. TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner [email protected] 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedIn SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC NEW ORLEANS, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until April 13, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. ("Kyndryl" or the "Company") (NYSE: KD), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between August 7, 2024 and February 9, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Get Help Kyndryl investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-kd/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Kyndryl and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On February 9, 2026, the Company disclosed that it would be unable to timely file its Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 and that "the Company anticipates reporting material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting for the period covered in the Quarterly Report, as well as for the full fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, and the first two fiscal quarters of fiscal year 2026, which are expected to include, but may not be limited to, the effectiveness and strength of certain functions at the Company, including with respect to controls related to information and communication and tone at the top," as well as the departure of its C.F.O and General Counsel. On this news, the price of Kyndryl's shares fell $12.90 per share, or 55%, to close at $10.59 on February 9, 2026. The case is Brander v. Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 26-cv-00782. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler NEW YORK, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Nidec Corporation (OTC: NJDCY) resulting from allegations that Nidec Corporation may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Nidec Corporation securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=47559 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On September 3, 2025, after market close, CNBC published an article entitled "Nidec shares plunge 22% as China unit probe finds accounting issues tied to management." The article further stated that shares of Nidec fell "after the company announced a probe into allegations of improper accounting in its group. This marks the largest one-day drop in the Japanese electronics components manufacturer's shares." On this news, Nidec American Depositary Receipts' ("ADRs") fell 22.7% on September 4, 2025. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, Mexico, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Tourism Showcase organized by ANATO (Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies) and held in Bogota from February 25-27, Sunset World Group presented its new commercial strategy aimed at diversifying its distribution channels and strengthening its presence in the international tourism industry. This process is being led by Mauricio Leyva, who joined the company in November 2025 as Corporate Commercial Director with the mission of spearheading the transition to a more balanced marketing model open to new strategic sectors. Sunset World Anato For more than three decades, the company has consolidated its position in the vacation club niche in the Mexican Caribbean. However, in recent years it has begun a process of evolution to expand its reach through collaboration with tour operators, agencies, and online distribution platforms, while maintaining the strength of its original model. As part of this new phase, the company is also working on creating a Commercial Department designed from the ground up, focused on strengthening alliances with key industry players and expanding its presence across various sales channels. According to Leyva, the market has responded positively to this initiative, which represents a strategic step toward consolidating the company's growth in the short and medium term. Complete Renovation of Hacienda Tres Rios As part of this transformation, the company is also continuing the comprehensive renovation of Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa & Nature Park, Grupo Sunset World's flagship hotel located in the Riviera Maya. The project involved a remodeling of approximately 96% of its facilities, including guest rooms, the lobby, and restaurants, with the goal of enhancing the experience for members and guests and strengthening its competitiveness within the all-inclusive segment. Currently, the company has six hotels in the Mexican Caribbean: four in Cancun, one in the Riviera Maya, and one in Playa del Carmen, all operating under the all-inclusive concept and primarily focused on the family market. With this strategy, Grupo Sunset World seeks to consolidate its position in the tourism industry, strengthen its commercial alliances and continue expanding the reach of its hotels in international markets. Sunset World Group is a Mexican family business founded by some of the pioneers of Cancun who helped turn it into the most sought-after tourist destination worldwide. Sunset World Group has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and a sincere passion for environmental conservation, which is why it implemented an Energy Efficiency Program by substituting supply technologies in its six hotels in Cancun and The Riviera Maya. In addition, all Sunset World hotels are supplied with clean and renewable energy produced at Mexican wind farms and geothermal plants, which has considerably reduced the company's carbon footprint. The activity and gastronomy programs in all six hotels are updated and expanded constantly for the enjoyment of all family members, since Sunset World Group always focuses on providing the best vacation experiences for its members and guests. SOURCE Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences Research from UMIP Inc. outlines the Infrastructure Identity Gap and proposes Persistent Infrastructure Identity as a structural solution for maintaining lifecycle continuity across infrastructure systems. DALLAS, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UMIP Inc., a Dallas-based infrastructure research and technology company founded by Trevor Vick, has introduced the Persistent Infrastructure Identity Framework, a model designed to provide infrastructure assets with a persistent digital identity capable of maintaining lifecycle documentation across stakeholders, systems, and ownership transitions. The framework was developed in response to what the company describes as the Infrastructure Identity Gap, the structural absence of persistent identity systems for infrastructure assets. While vehicles carry Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and aircraft maintain registration identifiers throughout their operational lifecycle, buildings, homes, and infrastructure assets have historically operated without a comparable identity framework capable of maintaining continuity across their lifecycle. According to research conducted by UMIP Inc., this absence may be contributing to significant inefficiencies across the global built environment. Infrastructure assets generate extensive documentation throughout their lifecycle, including engineering design records, construction documentation, insurance underwriting reports, maintenance data, renovation histories, and ownership records. However, because these records are typically distributed across independent stakeholders and technology platforms, lifecycle documentation associated with infrastructure assets frequently becomes fragmented over time. This fragmentation forms the basis of the Infrastructure Identity Gap. Trevor Vick, Founder of UMIP Inc. and architect of Persistent Infrastructure Identity, began examining the problem after observing how other major asset classes rely on persistent identity systems to maintain lifecycle continuity. "Every major asset class eventually adopted an identity framework," said Trevor Vick. "Vehicles have VIN numbers. Aircraft have registration identifiers. Financial securities have global identifiers." "But infrastructure assets despite representing one of the largest asset classes in the global economy never received an equivalent identity system." To address this structural gap, Vick and UMIP introduced the concept of Persistent Infrastructure Identity, which proposes assigning infrastructure assets a permanent digital identifier capable of maintaining continuity across the lifecycle of the asset. Under this framework, documentation generated across engineering systems, construction platforms, insurance databases, operational technologies, and renovation processes can remain anchored to the infrastructure asset itself. Rather than replacing existing infrastructure technologies, the framework proposes a structural identity layer capable of connecting lifecycle documentation across systems. UMIP refers to this concept as the Infrastructure Identity Layer. The Infrastructure Identity Layer describes a foundational digital layer through which infrastructure assets maintain continuity of identity across their lifecycle, enabling data generated across different systems to remain connected to the asset itself. According to the research released by UMIP Inc., the absence of persistent identity systems for infrastructure assets may be contributing to substantial lifecycle inefficiencies across the built environment. The company's economic analysis suggests fragmented infrastructure documentation may contribute to: approximately $300 billion annually across commercial infrastructure assets approximately $400 billion annually across residential infrastructure assets in the United States more than $2 trillion annually across the global built environment These inefficiencies can emerge across multiple areas of the infrastructure lifecycle, including insurance underwriting verification, real estate transaction due diligence, infrastructure condition assessments, maintenance diagnostics, and documentation reconstruction during renovation projects. Because infrastructure assets often exist for decades, records generated during early stages of the asset lifecycle frequently become disconnected from the asset as ownership structures, operational platforms, and stakeholders change over time. Persistent Infrastructure Identity proposes a structural framework capable of maintaining continuity across these records. Interest in the concept has begun emerging across several sectors connected to infrastructure systems, including engineering firms, insurance carriers, infrastructure investors, and digital infrastructure technology providers. UMIP Inc. has also begun exploratory discussions with infrastructure stakeholders regarding potential pilot programs designed to evaluate how persistent infrastructure identity systems could be implemented across real-world infrastructure environments. These discussions include early conversations with stakeholders in the DallasFort Worth region, including public sector infrastructure agencies, insurance carriers, and select construction firms involved in large-scale development projects across the region. According to Trevor Vick, collaboration across infrastructure stakeholders will be essential in evaluating how persistent identity systems may be implemented across the built environment. "Engineering firms, builders, insurance carriers, infrastructure owners, and public agencies all interact with infrastructure assets at different stages of their lifecycle," said Vick. "Persistent infrastructure identity systems provide a framework that could allow these stakeholders to maintain continuity of infrastructure records across decades of ownership, operation, and renovation." The Persistent Infrastructure Identity Framework and the concept of the Infrastructure Identity Layer were introduced by Trevor Vick through research conducted at UMIP Inc., where the company began outlining a model for assigning infrastructure assets a persistent digital identity capable of maintaining lifecycle documentation across stakeholders, systems, and ownership transitions. About UMIP Inc. UMIP Inc. is a Dallas-based infrastructure technology and research company focused on developing frameworks for Persistent Infrastructure Identity. The company's research explores how identity systems may serve as a foundational digital layer connecting infrastructure lifecycle data across stakeholders, systems, and ownership transitions. Learn more at https://umipinc.com Media Contact Trevor Vick Founder & Architect of Persistent Infrastructure Identity UMIP Inc. Dallas, Texas [email protected] https://umipinc.com SOURCE UMIP Inc. BEIJING, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: More and more travelers to Southwest China's Yunnan province are choosing to stay there longer and longer, and run their own businesses, attracted by the province's distinctive industries and comfortable living environment, said Wang Ning, secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature. This photo shows the beautiful scenery of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in Yuanyang county, Yunnan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The province welcomed 53 million tourist visits during this year's Spring Festival holiday. Over the past year, about 5.5 million tourists, known as "sojourners" locally, have chosen to stay in Yunnan for more than two weeks at a time, official statistics showed. "What delights us even more is that a growing number of people are settling in Yunnan to pursue entrepreneurship. Attracted by Yunnan's unique charm, they aspire for a better life," Wang said, adding that Yunnan's charm lies in its "purity, beauty, novelty and uniqueness". "Pure nature nourishes simple hearts, which nurture pure dreams. The sea of clouds on Ailao Mountain, the tea forests in Jingmai Mountain and the blue waves of Fuxian Lake, as well as the conversations by the fire pit, the smiling faces at the market and the mutual help in the villages, all help people reconnect with their original dreams and the very purpose they started with," he said. Besides, Yunnan's picturesque landscapes, magnificent scenery and rich culture provide an endless source of inspiration for entrepreneurs, he said. Time-honored crafts, such as the Yi embroidery of Chuxiong, the purple pottery of Jianshui and the silverware of Heqing, have been revitalized by many young entrepreneurs at their workshops. Wang added that every year Yunnan witnesses new changes that bring new opportunities. In just three to four years, the output of the province's coffee industry has grown from less than 10 billion yuan ($1.45 billion) to nearly 100 billion yuan. Many sojourners in Yunnan have gone on to open coffee shops, run coffee plantations and sell coffee via livestreaming. Yunnan's climate, which is neither severely cold in winter nor unbearably hot in summer, is a huge draw, "offering great potential for the health and wellness tourism and outdoor sports", he added. The province also occupies a unique geographical location as a frontier opening up to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The China-Laos Railway has been reporting large passenger and cargo volumes. "Everyone with a dream and the courage to explore can find their own place in Yunnan," Wang said. In recent years, the province has become a magnet for entrepreneurs and expatriates seeking a blend of culture and business opportunities. After 10 years of the fast pace in Shanghai, Zhang Yu and his wife moved to Dali in Yunnan in 2019, as he believed that as a place welcoming all, Dali was diverse, inclusive and gave newcomers a strong sense of belonging, along with beautiful mountains, waters, ancient towns and ethnic customs. In April that year, the couple rented a courtyard near Dali Ancient City and converted it into an apartment with rooms available for renting. Their business later expanded to eight courtyards and about 100 rooms, each equipped with a kitchen, stove and refrigerator. "In the beginning, we just wanted to cover our daily expenses. Later, we found that Yunnan has a very good business environment," Zhang said. Chen Yuxin used to sojourn in Dali every year while working in Beijing. In 2023, she moved the headquarters of her company, Wonder Wander Coffee, to Dali to better connect with the source of the products. Chen said that she has hired many good locals, and is invited to tea parties hosted by the local government routinely to share resources and solve problems. Her company has been growing fivefold every year. "I met a British couple who had sojourned in Dali for a year. With their help, I'm promoting Yunnan coffee beans in London," she added. French traveler and cook Vincent Aguesse has lived in Kunming, the provincial capital, since 2015, married a local woman and opened a French restaurant. For him, Yunnan's wild mushrooms are the most unique gift of the land and climate. Every August and September, he combines fresh wild mushrooms with French cooking techniques to create fusion dishes, including chicken braised with wild chanterelles in white wine. "Food has helped me get to know, adapt to and integrate into life in Yunnan. But my exploration of this land has only just begun," he said. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn Kodal Minerals PLC (AIM:KOD) CEO, Bernard Aylward, talked with Proactive about the companys latest operational progress at the Bougouni Lithium Project in Mali, ongoing shipments to China, and the newly announced arbitration process relating to a $15 million payment connected to a 2024 agreement with the Mali government. Aylward explained that Kodal Minerals PLC has entered arbitration following discussions with joint venture partner Hainan Mining Co. Ltd regarding an indemnity claim under the existing financing agreement. He stated that the parties hold diametrically opposed views and said the company is comfortable allowing a third party to reach a decision while discussions continue during the arbitration process. Despite the dispute, Aylward emphasised that the underlying partnership remains strong, with both parties committed to advancing Bougouni, including planning for stage two development and a significant 2026 work programme involving drilling and engineering studies. Operationally, Bougouni is performing well. The company recently completed its second shipment, receiving an initial 95% payment of just under US$24 million for nearly 20,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate. A third shipment is anticipated in late March or early April. Aylward stressed, were selling into a very high price, lithium market, and our product is in strong demand, noting that Hainan Mining is keen to secure as much product as possible. He added that mining, processing, and logistics are progressing smoothly, with product being transported to port, shipped to China, and generating revenue. Proactive: Bernard, very good to speak with you. You've announced you've entered arbitration over the $15 million payment to the government of Mali. This dates back to 2024. Can you tell us the latest? Bernard Aylward: Good morning, Stephen. The announcement went out today clarifying that we have had several discussions between ourselves and Hainan Mining Co. Ltd relating to this indemnity claim from Hainan, relating to the MoU signed with the Mali government for the transfer of the mining licence to our mining company in Mali. Hainan has claimed an indemnity under our financing agreement. Our position was that the indemnity did not apply in this situation. Our discussions haven't led to a resolution, and we are happy to see it go to a third party for a decision. We know the arbitration process can take a lengthy period, and we expect during this process to continue discussions with Hainan Mining regarding the indemnity claim. Proactive: Kodal Mining UK (KMUK) is 51% owned by Hainan and 49% by Kodal. How has this dispute affected the relationship with your joint venture partner, and is the underlying partnership still strong? Bernard Aylward: You see this in lots of situations where there are disputes within a joint venture, but the underlying partnership remains strong. Both parties are dedicated to the advancement of the Bougouni Lithium Project. We are working very hard to make sure the project operates at its best capacity. At our recent board meeting, we discussed at length the project plan for the stage two development and the significant work programme for 2026, where we intend to continue drilling, engineering studies and planning. The partnership for the development and operation at Bougouni remains very strong. The arbitration reflects that we have two parties with diametrically opposed views, and we need a third party to help resolve that. Proactive: Give us an update on what's happening on the ground at the Bougouni Lithium Project at the moment. Are shipments still continuing? Bernard Aylward: On site, we are continuing with mining and processing. We are reaching nameplate production, although we were slightly short in January and February. The operation has been going very well. Blasting and mining has improved, and we are building up the ROM stockpile to stay ahead of the wet season. We are trucking product to port. Our second shipment left in early February. We received the initial 95% payment of just under US$24 million for just under 20,000 tonnes loaded onto that vessel. It is expected in Singapore within the next week and then on to Hainan shortly after. That side of the business is going very well, and we anticipate a third shipment in late March or early April. We are selling into a very high-price lithium market, and our product is in strong demand. Our partner Hainan Mining is very keen to take all the product it can get. At Bougouni, it is running well. We are transporting to port, shipping to China, receiving income and operating well. Proactive: Bernard, I hope you'll continue to keep us updated with your progress. Thank you very much for taking the time today. Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB, OTC:CBBHF, FRA:COH) earlier this week reported an important technical milestone for its Kwinana Cobalt Refinery project in Western Australia after confirming that cobalt sulphate samples produced using its proprietary refining process meet strict battery precursor material specifications required by a prospective Japanese customer. Business development manager Joel Crane said the company had produced the cobalt sulphate samples at its Broken Hill Technology Centre before sending them to potential Japanese partners for testing. According to Crane, the material successfully met stringent trace metal purity and physical specifications required by battery precursor and cathode manufacturers. Crane noted that Japanese battery producers are known for maintaining some of the toughest material specifications in the global battery supply chain. He said achieving qualification represented a significant milestone for the company and for any emerging battery raw material producer. Key interview highlights Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd confirmed its cobalt sulphate samples met strict Japanese battery precursor specifications. The samples were produced at the Broken Hill Technology Centre using the companys proprietary refining process. Meeting the specification represents a major milestone toward a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery project in Western Australia. Japanese battery manufacturers are known for having some of the most demanding trace metal purity standards globally. The qualification forms part of a pre-FID consortium with a Japanese partner. Cobalt Blue is supplying Australian-made cobalt sulphate to the Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant in Western Australia. The facility is operated in collaboration with CSIRO, Curtin University and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia. The project supports the development of domestically produced NCM batteries. Cobalt Blue is also collaborating with CSIRO on an R&D project to recover graphite from recycled battery materials (black mass). The companys proprietary refinery technology is attracting increasing industry interest. Development remains focused on the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery, with the company funded through the end of the year. Proactive: Welcome back to Proactive Investors. Ladies and gentlemen, Im your host Kerry Stevenson. Joining us is Joel Crane, Business Development Manager for Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd. Joel, its good to see you. Some news out today. And by the way, ladies and gentlemen, the company is a leading metals processing company and Australia needs this processing capability. I really like what youre doing. Whats the news today? Joel Crane: Thanks for that introduction, Kerry. We released an announcement today covering a couple of key developments. Most importantly, we produced a sample of cobalt sulphate back in September and sent it to prospective Japanese clients. They recently informed us that it meets their very strict trace metal purity and physical specifications. The Japanese tend to have some of the strictest requirements among precursor and cathode producers worldwide. Meeting this specification is a major milestone and an important step toward a final investment decision. This qualification is required as part of the pre-FID consortium we have with our Japanese partner. Proactive: I want to understand that a little more. You said the specifications are very strict. Was there a lot of processing required to meet those standards? Joel Crane: Yes. Every battery material product contains small amounts of trace metals, and each battery company has its own specifications. Japanese producers tend to require extremely low levels of these trace elements. We had to go through several processing steps to reduce those trace metals to the required level. After producing several batches, we finally achieved one that met the specification, so were very pleased. Proactive: Is that a significant hurdle to overcome? Is this a big step forward for the company? Joel Crane: Yes, it is. It would be for any prospective battery raw material producer. These materials must meet strict specifications so that batteries remain safe and reliable. Battery makers are very particular about the materials used in their products. Meeting those requirements is a major milestone. Proactive: I also understand you have a couple of projects with CSIRO. Can you tell us about those? Joel Crane: Yes. Another item in todays announcement is that we were asked to provide cobalt sulphate produced at the Broken Hill Technology Centre to the Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant in Western Australia. This facility is a collaboration between CSIRO, Curtin University and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia. They are producing an NCM battery and we are providing the cobalt sulphate component. In other words, we are supplying Australian-made cobalt sulphate that will go into a cathode used to produce one of the first domestically produced batteries. Proactive: Thats exciting. Is that the main project youre working on with them? Joel Crane: Thats one of them and its relatively straightforward because were supplying material weve already produced. Theres another project as well. CSIRO approached us a few months ago to assist with an R&D project aimed at developing a process to recover graphite from recycled battery material, known as black mass. They supply the black mass and we work together to find ways to extract graphite from it. The goal is to enable domestically produced graphite from recycled batteries. Proactive: One final question for our investor audience. Why should people be paying attention to ASX:COB right now? Joel Crane: Our key advantage is our patented refinery capability. As highlighted in the announcement, both the Japanese customer qualification and the collaborations with CSIRO demonstrate that the technology is attracting significant interest. Organisations are approaching the company to work on projects beyond our main goal of developing the Kwinana Cobalt Refinery in Western Australia. So investors should stay tuned for more announcements as further collaborations emerge. Proactive: And the company is fully funded until the end of the year, so its certainly an exciting time for Cobalt Blue. Joel Crane, thanks for joining me today. Joel Crane: Thanks, Kerry. Its been great. Provaris Energy Ltd (ASX:PV1, OTC:GBBLF, FRA:WS90) earlier this week outlined how a newly completed capital raise will support the next phase of development across the companys hydrogen and CO transport programs. Managing director and CEO Martin Carolan told Proactive the company had secured firm commitments to raise $1.325 million through an oversubscribed placement, with funds earmarked for key technical milestones in the lead-up to potential commercial outcomes. Carolan said the capital would primarily support the companys hydrogen prototype tank development and associated Class Approval workstreams, as well as operating costs linked to its Robotic Innovation Centre in Norway. He explained that Provaris Energy Ltd was progressing two parallel programs designed to enable the transport of green fuels across emerging energy supply chains. Interview highlights Provaris Energy Ltd has raised $1.325 million through an oversubscribed placement. Funds will support the companys 2026 development work program. Capital will primarily advance the hydrogen prototype tank and Class Approval program. The company is also progressing a liquid CO (LCO) transport program. The LCO FEED and Class Approval workstreams are funded by partner Yinson. Technical milestones for both programs are expected around mid-year. Provaris Energy Ltd is targeting commercial milestones and potential licensing opportunities by 2026. The companys hydrogen supply chain concept focuses on transport routes from the Nordics to Germany, limiting geopolitical exposure. Rising energy prices and supply security concerns are renewing investor focus on alternative fuels such as green hydrogen. The company expects to transition from development costs toward potential revenue opportunities next year. Proactive: Welcome back to Proactive Investors. I'm your host Kerry Stevenson. I've asked Martin Carolan, Managing Director and CEO of Provaris Energy Ltd, to join us. The company is developing green hydrogen and CO solutions, and energy is very much at the forefront of everyone's minds right now. Martin, it's been about a month since we last spoke and a lot has happened. Can you give us an update? Martin Carolan: Thanks Kerry. Firstly, we are delighted to have raised capital which continues the funding of our technical program. We have two streams underway. One is the final stages of our prototype tank for hydrogen carriers and the corresponding Class Approval process. That continues through to technical milestones around mid-year. From there we expect to start seeing conversion into commercial events by the latter part of 2026. At the same time, our CO program is progressing through front-end engineering design (FEED) and related cost approvals. That project is funded by our partner Yinson, so that workstream is fully funded. Overall we now have two programs moving forward with technical milestones expected mid-year and commercial milestones to follow, which gives investors a clearer line of sight on licensing and revenue opportunities. Proactive: Just for viewers who may not be familiar, FEED stands for front-end engineering design. What will the funds from the latest capital raise be used for? Martin Carolan: The funds will be directed mainly toward the hydrogen program, which we fully fund and where we own the outcomes of the development work. On the CO side we have partner funding from Yinson, which we jointly work on. So we have the right technical and commercial partners in place as well as funding assistance for that workstream. Proactive: Both hydrogen and CO transport relate to lower-carbon technologies. With energy prices rising again, particularly in Europe, does that increase pressure to accelerate development? Martin Carolan: If we look back to 2022 when the war in Ukraine broke out, energy prices surged and there was a strong focus on energy security. Over the last couple of years gas prices have eased, but the underlying issue remains that supply disruptions will continue for decades. As a result, access to alternative fuels such as green hydrogen becomes increasingly important. Gas prices in Europe have increased significantly again over the past year, which brings renewed attention to the sector. When there are concerns about supply security and price volatility, the relevance of greener fuels comes back into focus for investors. Proactive: Were investors asking questions about geopolitical risks when you were raising capital this week? Martin Carolan: Yes, some investors asked whether our shipping routes had exposure to the Middle East. Our supply chains are focused on transporting hydrogen from the Nordics to Germany, so they are contained within Europe. That means we are not exposed to areas like the Strait of Hormuz, which helps from a regional risk perspective. Proactive: And Europe is certainly in need of additional energy supply. Martin Carolan: Absolutely. Our focus has been on developing solutions that reduce capital expenditure and operating costs for hydrogen transport. If we can lower costs within those supply chains, it makes the solutions more competitive in markets where fossil fuel prices are rising. We expect completion of key technical milestones around mid-year, with commercial events potentially following later. We are also nearing the end of our development cost phase and looking toward revenue opportunities next year. Proactive: It sounds like 2026 could be a pivotal year for the company. Martin, thanks very much for joining us. Martin Carolan: Thanks Kerry. ACG Metals Ltd (LSE:ACG, FRA:Y9C, OTC:ACGAF) CEO, Artem Volynets, talked with Proactive about the companys progress toward commissioning its sulfide processing plant at its copper-gold project in Turkey and the preparations underway ahead of planned production later this year. Volynets explained that the company continues to focus on building a low-cost production profile for key metals, including copper and gold, noting that market volatility often shifts investor attention toward high-quality assets. The company is advancing its sulfide project expansion with commissioning expected in the second quarter and commercial production targeted by mid-year. Joining the discussion was Vice President of Processing Yaya Hamadou, who outlined the operational preparation taking place ahead of startup. Hamadou brings more than 25 years of international experience in flotation concentrator operations across multiple commodities, including copper, zinc, gold and silver. His background includes leadership roles with companies such as Glencore, Imperial Metals and Core Mining, where he led commissioning and ramp-ups of several processing plants. Hamadou said the project remains on schedule and on budget, with the team currently focused on the final phase of operational readiness. This includes operator training, strengthening plant leadership, optimising metallurgical performance and implementing disciplined operating procedures and a metal accounting system. As Hamadou noted, the project remains on schedule and on budget with planned commissioning in the second quarter. Volynets added that the company expects to reach around 70% of nameplate capacity initially before ramping up to full production. For 2026, the company is guiding toward 20,000 to 22,000 tonnes of copper equivalent production, including roughly 14,000 ounces of gold equivalent in the first half of the year. He emphasised that the immediate priority is delivering steady-state production and demonstrating the value of the companys high-grade polymetallic asset in Turkey before considering potential mergers and acquisitions. Proactive: Artem, it's good to see you again. How are you? Proactive: Also joining us is the vice president of processing, Yaya Hamadou. Yaya, good to see you as well. Proactive: Artem, maybe it's a great opportunity to update our viewers and investors on where the company stands. You have a key project in Turkey and some metallurgical work underway. Tell us where things stand and what you hope to achieve over the next couple of months. Artem Volynets: In this time of geopolitical uncertainty, it's good to go back to basics. We believe low-cost producers of key metals such as copper and gold will benefit when market volatility settles and the focus returns to quality stories that benefit from the commodity price environment. We have seen increases in gold and copper prices. We are very proud that we continue to progress on our sulfide project expansion, where we plan to achieve production by the middle of the year. Only a few months remain before commissioning starts. I thought it would be good to speak with Yaya, our chief metallurgist, about how he is preparing to start the sulfide plant and commission it. Proactive: Yaya, tell me about your background. Yaya Hamadou: I bring more than 25 years of international experience in flotation concentrator operations across copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, gold and silver processing. I have worked across Canada, the United States, Australia and West Africa. I held senior processing leadership roles with Glencore, Imperial Metals and Core Mining, where I led commissioning, start-up and ramp-up of several multi-commodity flotation plants and delivered sustainable operational performance. I also worked on optimising tier-one assets operated by companies such as Teck, Newmont, Hudbay Minerals and Centra, improving throughput, metallurgical recovery and operational stability. That experience provides the foundation for the successful start-up and ramp-up of the ACG sulfide project. Proactive: You have done a lot of work since joining the company to improve efficiencies and reduce bottlenecks to get the process flowing. Yaya Hamadou: The main work now is preparing for the sulfide process plant. The project remains on schedule and on budget with commissioning planned for the second quarter. We target commercial production at about 70% of nameplate capacity by mid-year, followed by a structured ramp-up to full operating capacity. In parallel, we are completing the final phase of operational readiness. That includes strengthening plant leadership, operator training, optimising blending and metallurgical performance, and implementing disciplined operating procedures and a robust metal accounting system. This preparation positions the operation for safe commissioning and a controlled ramp-up to steady-state production. Proactive: Artem, it must be valuable having someone with Yayas experience on the technical team. Artem Volynets: Yes. When Yaya joined us in the spring of last year, within about three months he significantly increased recoveries from our oxide operation, which continues to produce. He has also prepared the team for commissioning of the sulfide project. The key for us is building a team with the experience required to commission the project on time and on budget. Among the projects Yaya has worked on previously, this is probably the smallest and simplest operation, but we still plan to start commissioning in the second quarter and reach full commercial production by mid-year. Our guidance for 2026 is 20,000 to 22,000 tonnes of copper equivalent, including about 14,000 ounces of gold equivalent produced in the first half of the year. Thanks to Yaya, we are very much on track to reach our goals. Before pursuing any M&A strategy, we want the market to fully appreciate the value of the asset in Turkey, which is a high-grade copper-led polymetallic deposit with a 2.3% copper equivalent grade. Proactive: It sounds like the next six months will be very busy with plenty of news flow. Gentlemen, great to see you both. Coinsilium Group Limited (AQSE:COIN, OTCQB:CINGF, FRA:5CT) CEO, Eddy Travia, and CFO, Ben Proffitt, talked with Proactive about the companys latest strategic update, expansion into prediction markets, the upcoming Yellow Network token listing, and its current financial position. Proffitt explained that Coinsilium is not a pure play Bitcoin treasury company, reinforcing that the companys core business remains its accelerator and venture development model. While the Bitcoin treasury function provides financial strength, the focus is on actively creating shareholder value rather than waiting for Bitcoin price appreciation. As he stated, the goal is not to just sit around and wait for the price of Bitcoin to increase, but to leverage the companys expertise, venture portfolio and strategic assets to generate growth. Travia outlined the companys expansion into prediction markets, describing the sector as a fast-growing and natural extension of its digital asset focus. He highlighted the role of blockchain technology in providing transparency and tokenisation within platforms such as Polymarket, and confirmed Coinsilium is in negotiations to acquire a significant stake in a venture within the space. The interview also covered the upcoming Yellow Network token listing event scheduled for March 8. Travia described Yellow as a decentralised clearing network focused on reducing counterparty risk and improving liquidity across trading venues through off-chain order matching and on-chain smart clearing. Proffitt added that, following last years 17 million equity raise and Bitcoin accumulation, the company has well over a year of runway with no near or medium-term funding requirements. Proactive: Eddy, Ben, very good to speak with you. Could you give us a summary of the strategic update you released yesterday and what the key message is for shareholders? Ben Proffitt: The key message is that the company is not a pure play Bitcoin treasury company. The core business has always been that of an accelerator and venture developer, and that remains the case today. The company is seeking to refocus on that core business activity, supported by the financial firepower that the treasury function provides. In terms of shareholder value creation, the company is not going to just sit around and wait for the price of Bitcoin to increase in order to deliver value. The company wants to leverage its expertise in the sector through the venture business, its portfolio of strategic assets and the treasury function to create new shareholder value alongside any appreciation in the price of Bitcoin. The company continues to believe in the long-term value prospects of Bitcoin, which is why the treasury function is entirely focused on Bitcoin. However, shareholder value creation is driven through the core business, not just Bitcoin price appreciation. Proactive: Eddy, can you explain more about your expanded focus on the digital assets sector and what this means for the business? Eddy Travia: In the update, the company began discussing prediction markets, a sector that has seen tremendous growth recently. There is significant use of blockchain technology in prediction markets, particularly on successful platforms such as Polymarket, which use blockchain technology throughout their structure. Blockchain enables transparency and tokenisation of markets, allowing traders to operate faster and access opportunities within these markets. The company views this as a natural expansion because it remains close to the crypto space while going beyond previous activities. The company also announced it is in negotiations regarding a specific venture in which it would like to acquire a significant stake. Proactive: Ben, what is the current financial position of the company and its funding needs over the near to medium term? Ben Proffitt: While specific unpublished numbers cannot be disclosed, shareholders are aware that during the last year the company raised around 17 million in equity finance and deployed approximately 15 million into Bitcoin for the treasury. Taking this into account, alongside previously reported cash positions and corporate burn rate, the company has well over a year of runway to fund operations. There are no near or medium-term funding requirements, and the company has a variety of options available. It is not reliant on any single source of funding. Proactive: Eddy, something shareholders are keenly awaiting can you give us some updates on the upcoming Yellow Network launch and how the Yellow ecosystem will work? Eddy Travia: The Yellow token listing event is scheduled for March 8. Yellow positions itself as a decentralised clearing network rather than another exchange or blockchain. It focuses on solving the clearing and counterparty risk layer between exchanges, brokers and trading venues. Through off-chain order matching, trades can be executed without immediate on-chain settlement, similar to a bar tab analogy. Final settlement occurs on-chain through what Yellow calls smart clearing. Collateral remains within a controlled framework via smart contracts. Yellow helps remove liquidity silos, allowing traders to access liquidity across venues through the Yellow Network. Additionally, new platforms are using the Yellow SDK to build their own solutions, contributing to the development of a broader ecosystem. The company is also in discussions with the Yellow team to become more involved in the ecosystem as it continues to attract talent and entrepreneurs. Proactive: Lots to look forward to. Thank you both for speaking with us today. Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE, OTCQB:XCELF) CEO, Scott Ellam, talked with Proactive about the companys strong first-half performance, IPO milestone, and innovative Bitcoin treasury strategy. The company reported a 20% increase in net fee income during the first half of FY26, driven by higher average fees and continued demand for senior-level placements across global consulting, professional services, logistics, environmental services and AI intelligence businesses. Ellam explained that growth came despite senior leadership preparing for the IPO, highlighting the strength of the underlying recruitment team and operating model. He said the public listing on the Aquis Exchange, alongside the companys OTCQB trading in the United States, is central to scaling the business. According to Ellam, the PLC structure combined with a Bitcoin treasury strategy enables Connecting Excellence Group Plc to attract high-performing executive recruiters using performance-based share incentives. Discussing the Bitcoin strategy, Ellam said investors are backing a growing operating business and cash flowing business, but on the upside, they are using all surplus cash to buy more of the Bitcoin, which is compounding at a significant growth rate. The company currently holds more than 52 Bitcoin and has launched XCE Bitcoin bonds to access additional capital markets funding. January marked the strongest recruitment month in the companys history, with senior placements across AI supply chain intelligence, professional services, environmental compliance and IoT data solutions. Proactive: Scott, very good to speak with you. The first half of full year 26 saw a 20% increase in net fee income and higher average fees. What's driving this growth and how are you choosing which mandates to focus on? Scott Ellam: The results posted cover mid-2025 to the end of 2025, which was when we were preparing for the IPO. The senior team was focused on IPO preparations, so the performance reflects a recruitment team concentrating on individual markets and clients, driving revenues forward. We expect to exceed those results this year. Growth has come from clients across business advisory and global consulting firms, professional services firms, integrated services businesses, environmental services, logistics, and AI intelligence companies looking for senior-level talent. Our consultants identify candidates suitable for vice president, director and C-level roles, manage the shortlist process, negotiate salaries acceptable to both candidate and client, and complete placements at senior levels across those industries. That is where the revenue comes from. Proactive: You mentioned the IPO on the Aquis Exchange and trading on the OTCQB in the United States. How has going public changed your approach to growth and investor engagement? Scott Ellam: Going public is key to scalable growth. Combining PLC status with an active Bitcoin treasury strategy and an experienced capital markets team drives operational revenue growth and cash flow. Being public allows us to leverage our status and Bitcoin balance sheet to attract high-billing executive recruiters from competitors. We can offer performance-based share options alongside salary and commission to attract ambitious revenue-generating staff and strengthen operating cash flows. We recently began trading on OTCQB in the US and attended Strategy World in Las Vegas, meeting investment banks and venture capital firms operating in the Bitcoin treasury sector. The structure combines executive recruitment revenue with a Bitcoin capital markets strategy, enabling us to build relationships with both investment and hiring partners. We have also opened a division to meet demand for talent in the Bitcoin and digital asset space. Proactive: You hold over 52 Bitcoin and have launched a Bitcoin bond. What role does Bitcoin play in your long-term financial strategy, and how have clients and investors reacted? Scott Ellam: For clients, we are running the same service as always. They have been supportive and see the structure as innovative. Clients in the Bitcoin and digital asset sector align closely with our strategy. From an investor perspective, they are investing in an executive recruitment firm that has delivered 35% compound annual growth over four years. We plan to accelerate that growth. Investors see exposure to a growing operating and cash-flowing business, while surplus cash is used to acquire more Bitcoin. We can access capital markets through equity raises in the UK and overseas, as well as XCE Bitcoin bonds. Over the next three to five years, we want a balance sheet positioned with low or beneficial debt and a significant Bitcoin holding to strengthen the company and enable future acquisitions. Proactive: January marked your strongest month ever for recruitment activity. How do you plan to maintain momentum, and what should shareholders look for? Scott Ellam: On New Years Eve, we signed XCE Bitcoin bonds and issued an invoice for a senior US placement. January exceeded expectations from a revenue perspective following the IPO in December. Placements included a US sales director for an AI supply chain intelligence company, a UK managing director for a facilities management firm, a US director for a global business advisory company, a US managing director for a professional services consultancy, a vice president in environmental monitoring and compliance, and a European account director in IoT data solutions. We made international placements across multiple sectors uncorrelated to Bitcoin. We believe this is the first traditional business that will grow directly as a result of a well-executed Bitcoin treasury strategy supporting the balance sheet. Proactive: Scott, thank you for speaking with us. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Washington, March 7 : The White House released a "Cyber Strategy for America," outlining a broad plan to strengthen US cyber defences, counter digital threats from rivals and deepen cooperation with global partners. Washington, March 7 (IANS) The White House released a "Cyber Strategy for America," outlining a broad plan to strengthen US cyber defences, counter digital threats from rivals and deepen cooperation with global partners. The strategy says the United States will work with allies, industry, and government agencies to protect digital networks and maintain technological leadership. Officials say the goal is to ensure that the United States "remains unrivaled in cyberspace." The plan calls for unprecedented coordination across government and the private sector to defend networks and protect critical infrastructure. "Over the past year, the United States has shown the entire world that we have the most powerful, sophisticated, and technologically advanced military on earth and it is not even close," President Donald Trump wrote in the strategy. The document stresses that cybersecurity will increasingly depend on partnerships across borders. Washington says it will work with allies and industry to shape global cyber norms and strengthen digital resilience. "Working with allies across the globe, we will promote US interests and security," the strategy says. The policy blueprint comes as governments around the world face a surge in cybercrime, espionage, and digital sabotage. Hostile actors and criminal networks are increasingly targeting businesses, governments, and critical infrastructure. "Our cyber tools and operators are the best in the world and we are empowering them to defend America by disrupting and disorienting our adversaries, and denying them a safe haven," Trump said. The strategy warns that cybercriminals and adversaries are targeting healthcare systems, financial networks, food supply chains, and water utilities. These attacks can disrupt services and impose heavy economic costs. "Freedom and safety in cyberspace, however, cannot be taken for granted," the document says. The plan outlines six major policy pillars to guide US cyber policy. These include shaping adversary behavior, promoting "common sense regulation," modernizing federal networks, protecting critical infrastructure, sustaining technological superiority and building a stronger cyber workforce. The strategy also emphasises modernising federal systems and deploying advanced cybersecurity tools. These include post-quantum cryptography, zero-trust architecture and artificial intelligence-driven security technologies. Another major focus is protecting critical infrastructure such as energy grids, financial systems, telecommunications networks, hospitals and water utilities. Officials say digital supply chains must also be secured. The strategy also highlights the importance of innovation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and secure digital infrastructure. Officials say these technologies will play a key role in defending networks and maintaining US technological leadership. The document also warns against foreign technologies that enable censorship, surveillance and manipulation of information. US officials say digital platforms and infrastructure must reflect democratic values and protect free expression. "We will act swiftly, deliberately, and proactively to disable cyber threats to America," the strategy says. Cybersecurity has become a central national security priority for Washington as governments and companies face increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. New York, March 7 : A Pakistani man has been convicted of plotting with Iran to assassinate US President Donald Trump in a verdict handed down coincidentally while Washington and Tehran are locked in a war. A Federal jury on Friday found Asif Merchant guilty of trying to hire hitmen to kill Trump and, possibly, other politicians, under the direction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The 47-year-old Pakistani faces life in prison when he is sentenced. The plot was to have taken place in 2024 during the presidential campaign, but was foiled because a fellow Pakistani he approached for help with the plot was an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "The FBI and our partners stopped that deadly plot," the agency's Director Kash Patel said after the verdict. "This was not the first attempt by Iran to harm our citizens on US soil; the other efforts also failed", he added. Merchant was arrested in July 2024 as he was leaving the US and charged in the case the next month. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the US killed the Iranian mastermind of the plot, but did not identify the person. The dates for the trial that started last week in a Brooklyn Federal court in the city were set long before the Iran conflict. The judge presiding over the trial, Eric Komitee, remarked about the coincidence, "This trial is happening in interesting times". During the trial, Merchant admitted to participating in the plot, claiming it was because of threats by Iran against his family in that country. He said that he received spycraft training from the IRGC and was also given two other names besides Trump for possible attacks -- President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, the Indian American politician who initially pursued the Republican Party presidential nomination. Merchant had two wives, one in his homeland, Pakistan, and another in Iran, which he visited often and where he was recruited by the IRGC. The prosecution said that he began working for the IRGC in Pakistan in 2022 or 2023, and by his own admission, was sent later in 2023 to the US to look for IRGC recruits. 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". He told the court that his mission was changed the next year and sent back to the US to hire "Mafia" members to steal documents, organise protests, and arrange the assassination of one of the three politicians who were targeted. According to the prosecution, he contacted an acquaintance in New York identified as Nadeem Ali to help with the plot. Ali, who was an FBI informant, notified the agency, and undercover officers came on board pretending to be hitmen for hire, according to the prosecution's case. Merchant gave the undercover officers a $5,000 down payment to carry out the assassination, and he was recorded sketching out the plot on a napkin in a New York hotel room. In a secret recording of a meeting with the undercover agents played in court, Merchant told them, "Maybe you can, say, kill someone". And he added, "Maybe it's some political person". The prosecution said that he searched the internet for places where Trump was holding rallies. In another coincidence, totally unrelated to Merchant's plot, a day after his arrest, a man tried to assassinate Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, missing him by inches, with the bullet grazing his ear. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the passing of Govind Parmar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from the Umreth constituency in Gujarat's Anand district, who died a day earlier while undergoing treatment at a hospital. Parmar was 82. He had been unwell and was receiving treatment at the hospital in Anand, where he breathed his last, according to party leaders. Taking to X, PM Modi said, "I am saddened by the news of the passing of Shri Govindbhai Parmar, a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He was always dedicated and committed to social welfare activities." "Prayers for the peace of the departed soul and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved familya Om Shantia!!" he added. Born in 1943, Parmar came from a modest background and was regarded as a grassroots political figure with strong links to rural communities in the Charotar region. He studied up to Class 7 before dedicating his life to public service and politics. Parmar was elected to the Gujarat Legislative Assembly from the Umreth constituency in the 2017 elections, defeating Congress candidate Kapilaben Chavda by a margin of 1,883 votes to secure his maiden term in the House. He retained the seat in the 2022 Assembly elections as the BJP candidate, defeating Jayant Patel of the Nationalist Congress Party by 26,717 votes after polling 95,639 votes. The Umreth Assembly constituency in Anand district had earlier witnessed frequent shifts between political parties and was considered to be a tough one before Parmar's victory in 2017. Parmar's political career was marked by his association with grassroots politics and his close engagement with local communities. Party workers in Anand district and the Umreth area mourned his death and paid tributes to the late legislator. He is survived by his family. His death leaves the Umreth Assembly seat vacant. Mumbai, March 7 : In connection with the case involving the recovery of live cartridges from a hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay campus, the Powai Police on Saturday arrested the second accused. The accused, identified as Prashantraj Yadav (24), was apprehended from Ujjain while he was returning from a religious tour. Yadav, a resident of Bihar, works as a real estate agent. According to the police, he allegedly shared photographs of weapons with the earlier accused who had already been arrested by the Powai Police in the case. The incident dates back to February 19, when five live 7.65 mm cartridges were found in the room of Apurv Mishra, a first-year B.Tech student at IIT Bombay. Mishra was reportedly friends with Sarvottam Chaudhary, who had been arrested earlier in the case. Mishra had earlier told investigators that the cartridges were brought by Chaudhary. According to the Powai Police, during interrogation it was revealed that Mishra had kept the cartridges in order to impress fellow students and gain attention, and not with any intention of harming anyone. Police investigations further revealed that Chaudhary and Yadav had also discussed the possibility of purchasing a weapon. However, the deal did not materialise. Earlier, on February 22, five live 7.65 mm cartridges were recovered from the bag of a student at the IIT Bombay in Powai during a security check inside the hostel premises. The recovery followed a minor dispute over money between students. Acting on a complaint filed by a campus security officer, the Powai Police registered an FIR and launched a detailed investigation into the matter. According to the police, a security officer on night duty was alerted at around 1:30 a.m. on February 19 by the Quick Response Team regarding a dispute between two students on the ground floor of Hostel No. 1. When the security officer reached the spot, it was found that a verbal argument had broken out between Suraj Dubey, a first-year B.Tech student residing in Room No. 93, and Aman, a resident of Room No. 89. The dispute was reportedly related to a financial transaction between the two students. The hostel security team intervened and managed to calm the situation. During their interaction with the students, the security staff allegedly detected the smell of alcohol on Suraj Dubey and his friend Apurv Mishra. Since alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited inside the hostel premises, the authorities decided to search their rooms in accordance with institutional regulations. While inspecting Suraj Dubeyas room, hostel security personnel checked a black bag kept inside the room. From the front compartment of the bag, five live yellow-metal cartridges bearing the marking aKF 7.65a were recovered. When questioned about the ammunition, Suraj Dubey reportedly claimed that the bag did not belong to him but to his friend Apurv Mishra. During further questioning, Mishra allegedly disclosed that the cartridges belonged to his acquaintance, Sarvottam Anand Satishchandra Chaudhary (23), a resident of Samastipur in Bihar. According to Mishra, Chaudhary had visited the IIT Powai campus on February 12 and had placed the live cartridges inside the bag during his visit. Senior officials were immediately informed about the development. On February 19, when Sarvottam Chaudhary returned to the campus, he was detained for questioning. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to having purchased the 7.65 mm cartridges from Munger in Bihar. At around 10 p.m. the same night, Security Sub-Inspector Amod Karanje handed over the five live cartridges to the police station. Subsequently, a case was registered against Sarvottam Anand Chaudhary under relevant sections related to the illegal possession and transportation of ammunition. The recovery of live ammunition from the hostel of one of the countryas premier technical institutions has been viewed as a major security concern. The seizure has also raised the possibility of an illegal ammunition supply network, which the police are currently investigating. Sydney, March 7 : Five people were rescued, and patients have been evacuated from a hospital amid major flooding in the Australian state of Queensland and the neighbouring Northern Territory (NT). Flood warnings were in place for rivers and catchments across most of Queensland as of Saturday morning due to heavy rainfall from a slow-moving tropical storm that made landfall on the state's northeast coast on Friday afternoon local time. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the tropical low was moving west across central Queensland on Saturday and is forecast to bring heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that five people were rescued from floodwaters in central Queensland overnight, including three people who were found clinging to a tree in fast-moving waters after escaping a stranded vehicle. In the NT, a major flood warning has been issued for the small town of Katherine, 270 km southeast of Darwin, due to a separate tropical storm. The BoM said that rapid rises in river levels were occurring along the Katherine River on Saturday morning. It said the river has surpassed major flood levels in central Katherine and is expected to continue rising through Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. The 21 patients who were at the Katherine Hospital, including 20 pregnant women, were evacuated on Friday to other hospitals in case the town is cut off by floodwaters. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro flew into the town on Friday night and said it was critical that people heed emergency warnings. On March 6, a severe weather warning for dangerous flash flooding was issued in Australia's Queensland as a tropical low storm system approaches the state's northeast coast. The BoM had said in the warning that the tropical low was expected to bring intense rainfall to a 350-km stretch of coast in Queensland's tropical far north from Friday morning. The warning area included the northeast coastal cities of Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cooktown, which have a combined population of around 255,000 people. Seoul, March 7 : A chartered plane to evacuate South Koreans from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take off this weekend amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Saturday. The ministry said it is arranging a 290-seat Etihad Airways chartered flight, set to depart from Abu Dhabi at noon on Sunday (local time). Starting early Saturday, the South Korean Embassy in the UAE will receive applications from South Korean nationals wishing to board the plane, with priority given to critically ill patients, people with severe disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly and infants. The planned departure comes as Seoul seeks to bring home some 3,000 nationals stranded in the UAE due to flight disruptions amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States. Earlier in the day, South Korean nationals stranded across the Middle East in the wake of a regional crisis are continuing to evacuate to safer areas with assistance from local diplomatic missions. According to the ministry, 65 South Koreans who had been staying in Qatar safely moved to neighboring Saudi Arabia from Tuesday to Friday. In Jordan, where commercial flights remain in operation, 41 South Korean short-term visitors departed the country from Thursday to Friday. The South Korean Embassy in Jordan dispatched a support team to an airport in Amman to assist with departure procedures. In Kuwait, 14 South Korean nationals and one foreign spouse also traveled to Saudi Arabia with the support of the embassy. The ministry said it has also supported South Koreans in other parts of the region, helping 25 people in Iran, 113 in Israel, 14 in Bahrain and five in Iraq move to neighboring countries so they can return home, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier, on March 6, more than 370 South Koreans returned home aboard the first direct flight from Dubai since last week's US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. The Emirates flight arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, around 8:25 p.m., carrying 422 passengers, including 372 South Koreans, the officials had said. It was the first direct commercial flight to head for Incheon from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s Dubai since the war on Iran began last weekend. The government earlier said it had consulted with the UAE government to enable the safe return of South Koreans from the Middle East on direct flights. Around 18,000 South Koreans are currently believed to be in 14 Middle Eastern nations, including 4,900 short-term travelers, of whom 3,500 are stranded due to canceled flights, according to the government. Returning travelers embraced with family members at the airport, with some wiping tears of relief following days of uncertainty. Others also told similar stories of hearing loud bangs from drone interceptions and bombing. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 7 : State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Saturday raised the prices of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders, with household cooking gas becoming costlier by Rs 60 and commercial cylinders by Rs 114.5, amid rising global energy prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Indian Oil Corporation, the price of non-subsidised domestic LPG used by most households has been increased to Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in New Delhi -- up from Rs 853 earlier. This marks the second price hike in less than a year for domestic LPG cylinders. Commercial LPG cylinders -- typically used by hotels, restaurants and other businesses -- have also seen an increase of Rs 114.5 per unit. According to industry officials, the recent surge in global energy prices follows the escalation of military tensions in the Middle East. The conflict has disrupted energy market sentiment and raised concerns over supply stability in key global oil and gas routes. The rise in LPG prices comes amid broader volatility in energy markets, with crude oil prices climbing in recent weeks as geopolitical tensions intensify in the region. Meanwhile, PSU oil marketing companies have also confirmed that fuel stocks remain adequate amid rumours of petrol and diesel shortages. Both Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) on Friday dismissed rumours of fuel shortages, calling them "completely unfounded" and "baseless". In a post on its X handle, BPCL said India's energy supply remains reliable and resilient, with ample petroleum reserves and uninterrupted supply chains. "There have been some rumours about shortages of petrol and diesel in certain areas, which are completely unfounded," the company said, adding that there is no reason to be alarmed about fuel availability. "BPCL is fully operational and steadfast in ensuring a smooth fuel supply for all customers," it added. Meanwhile, IOCL said reports on social media suggesting a shortage of petrol and diesel are baseless. "India has sufficient fuel stocks, and supply and distribution networks are functioning normally," it said. "IndianOil is committed to maintaining uninterrupted fuel supply across the country. Citizens are requested not to panic or crowd fuel stations and to rely only on official sources for accurate information," the company added in a post on its X handle. Shares of oil marketing companies Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation on Friday ended in the negative zone, with BPCL falling nearly 2 per cent to Rs 352.95 and IOCL declining about 2 per cent to Rs 168.10 on the National Stock Exchange of India. Los Angeles, March 7 : Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis says she that her attitude towards relationships has evolved during the course of her career in showbiz and that she has no time to waste on toxic people. "I turned 60 and realised I was going to die sooner than later. And that understanding meant I have no effing time to waste. No time to waste on toxic people, on relationships that don't serve me," She told AARP. The actress, whose parents were Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, has long been aware of the industry's harsh treatment of older performers, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Jamie said: "I've been self-retiring since I was 30, saying, 'I'll get out of this,' because the industry I'm in is a cruel, cruel industry, particularly with ageing. There's a dismissal of people. I watched it very much with my parents. So I have just decided to embrace that." The actress changed her approach after she turned 60 and started to embrace her new-found "freedom," reports femalefirst.co.uk. She said: "Accepting my crepey skin and showing it anyway that's freedom. I understand what I look like. I look in the mirror. I get it. And there's no need for me to alter it." Meanwhile, Jamie Lee previously claimed that the "filter face is what people want". The actress has been an outspoken critic of the "cosmeceutical industrial complex" and she believes that the ever-increasing influence of AI technology has actually exacerbated the problem. The Hollywood star told the Guardian newspaper: "I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human (appearance). The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers there's a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances. And it is aided and abetted by AI, because now the filter face is what people want. "I'm not filtered right now. The minute I lay a filter on and you see the before and after, it's hard not to go: 'Oh, well that looks better.' But what's better? Better is fake. And there are too many examples I will not name them but very recently we have had a big onslaught through media, many of those people." --IANS dc/ Seoul, March 7 : SK On, a major South Korean battery manufacturer, has laid off nearly 1,000 workers at its US battery plant in Georgia amid slowing electric vehicle (EV) demand, a company filing showed on Saturday. SK Battery America, SK On's US unit, dismissed 968 employees at its battery manufacturing facility in Commerce, Georgia, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice posted on a Georgia state website. The layoffs reportedly account for about 37 per cent of the plant's total workforce of around 2,500 employees, reports Yonhap news agency. The company said the workforce reduction was part of restructuring efforts prompted by slowing EV sales and changing market conditions. The decision was also made to adjust operations while maintaining its commitment to the state of Georgia and efforts to build a strong U.S. supply chain for advanced battery manufacturing. The Georgia plant has been supplying EV batteries to automakers including Germany's Volkswagen and South Korea's Hyundai Motor. It also supplied batteries for Ford Motor's F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, though profitability was affected after Ford canceled production plans for the model. SK On is currently building a second battery plant in Georgia to supply batteries to Hyundai Motor, with production scheduled to begin in the first half of this year. Another plant in Tennessee is expected to begin production in 2028. In October last year, Governor Brian Kemp of the state of Georgia met with the head of South Korean battery maker SK On to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and strengthen business ties. Kemp and his delegation visited SK On's headquarters in central Seoul earlier in the day and had talks with Lee Seok-hee, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Korean battery manufacturer, according to the sources. The two previously met in June 2024 during Kemp's visit to Seoul. SK On operates a 22 gigawatt-hour battery plant in Commerce, Georgia, through its U.S. unit, SK Battery America, and is building another facility jointly with Hyundai Motor Group in Bartow County. a"IANS na/ Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 : A political row has erupted over waste management in the aftermath of the Attukal Pongala, with Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Saturday asserting that the state government would step in wherever necessary, even as the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation faces criticism over the slow pace of post-festival cleaning. It was on Tuesday the famed pongala festival attached to the Attukal Temple in the state capital city took place where an estimated four million women from the state and outside took part. The main ritual during the festival is when these women cook dishes sitting on either side of the roads in a 10 sq km radius of the temple. Incidentally, the reason for the controversy is this is the first time in the history of the state capital city that the BJP is ruling the Corporation after ousting the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front that ruled for the past more than four decades. Responding to the controversy, Sivankutty said the government stood above the Corporation and had the responsibility to intervene in matters affecting the public. His remarks came amid sharp criticism from the Mayor V. V. Rajesh, a senior BJP leader who had earlier said the Minister should confine himself to his own department. The exchange has escalated into a fresh confrontation between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the handling of waste generated during the festival, which draws millions of women devotees to the capital city every year. Sivankutty said he had directed officials to examine complaints that garbage remained uncleared in several areas days after the festival. "I received phone calls from people raising concerns and also saw reports in the media. The government has a responsibility to ensure that necessary work is carried out. There is no need to create a dispute over that," he said. He added that the government was aware of the issues in which it should intervene and would act accordingly. At the same time, the Minister said it should also be examined whether there had been any deliberate attempt to shift the blame onto the government. The issue has also sparked protests on the ground. Activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India staged a march to the Attukal councilor's office demanding immediate removal of waste from several parts of the city. The youth organisation warned that if garbage was not cleared from interior roads and areas around the temple, its activists would step in to carry out the cleaning themselves. However, the Corporation has dismissed the criticism, accusing the CPI(M) of attempting to politicise the issue and claiming that the cleaning operations were progressing in phases. The continuing exchange has turned the post-Pongala sanitation drive into a political flashpoint in the capital. Ottawa, March 7 : A social media account linked to extremist Khalistanis has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Canada-based online personality critical of their movement, whose house had earlier been hit with arson, according to media reports. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said on its website, "A social media account promoting Sikh extremist views is claiming responsibility for the stabbing of a woman in the southwestern Ontario town of LaSalle". Police identified the victim as Nancy Grewal, 45, who lived in Windsor. CBC said the extremists' post in Punjabi said in a caption over her photo, "This woman was saying bad things about religion and Khalistan. And she got the result of that." It added a warning, "If anyone says something against our community and Khalistan like this, they will meet the same fate", according to CBC, the government-financed public broadcaster. Windsor Star reported that Grewal had suffered an arson attack earlier when petrol had been poured on her front door and it had been set on fire. It said that in a social media post about the incident she wrote, "I know who this person is. This person belongs to Khalistan." "I feel scared. He tried to give me a warning. 'Shut your mouth. Don't raise your voice about this topic'," she said. LaSalle Police Chief Michael Pearce indicated that the killing on Tuesday was a targeted attack and not random. He said, "Investigators are confident this was not a random act of violence. Ms. Grewal's murder is being investigated as an intentional act against her. All information is being considered." He declined to give any further information saying, "We will not share information that will compromise the investigation, including leads, tips, and investigative avenues." The member of Parliament representing the area, Harb Gill, said on Facebook, "Having served many years with the LaSalle Police Service, I know investigations like this take time and must be guided by facts and evidence." "I have faith and trust in my former colleagues at LaSalle Police Service", he said. He said he was saddened to hear of her death and added, "Ms Grewal was a visible voice online, and it's clear from the reaction on social media that many people around the world followed her commentary." CBC said that Grewal, who was born in India, "had a prominent social media presence in the local and international Punjabi communities". "She was known particularly for her anti-Khalistan views" as she often posted on social media her thoughts on South Asian news and politics, CBC said. Windsor Star said Grewal worked as a personal caregiver and was alone on an appointment at a client's LaSalle home when she was attacked. The news outlet quoted Windsor South Asian Centre's Programme Director Nandini Tirumala as saying the Grewal's death has been "disturbing" to the community. "Shocked, saddened to see that one of the members of our South Asian community has been so brutally stabbed," she said. Windsor Star added that Tirumala "did not want to comment on Khalistani politics". Mumbai, March 7 : The Shiv Sena(Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Saturday raised a stern alarm regarding the state's "deteriorating" financial health. "Maharashtra is currently grappling with a massive debt estimated between Rs 9.5 to Rs 10 lakh crore," the party said. While Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dedicated the annual budget presented in the state Assembly on Friday to former Deputy Chief Minister late Ajit Pawar and lauded his strict financial discipline, it claimed that such discipline is notably absent from the current fiscal plan. The Thackeray camp in the party mouthpiece Saamana editorial said, "The habit of 'celebrating festivals on borrowed money' has disrupted the state's economic discipline. With the state treasury reportedly depleted, questions persist regarding how grand announcements will be funded. While the Chief Minister showered the state with promises - akin to a 'rain of announcements' - the reality of the crumbling economy suggests that this budget may lead more to disillusionment than development. Fadnavis outlined a vision to build Maharashtra's development "infrastructure" by the year 2047. The long-term focus serves more as a 'mirage of dreams' rather than addressing the immediate economic realities of 2026." The editorial said that there is a famous saying: "When the Lord gives with a thousand hands, how much can you take with only two?". Looking at the Chief Minister's budget speech, which rained down schemes, proposals, and declarations, one wonders if the people of Maharashtra will fall short of hands to receive them. However, the state treasury is empty, it said. It asked where the state government will raise the funds for this "rain of announcements". According to the editorial, the government spends a massive Rs 64,000 crore interest payment. "Comparing the total debt to the population, every citizen of Maharashtra carries a debt burden of Rs 82,000. The state appears to be heading toward economic bankruptcy day by day. The habit of 'celebrating festivals on borrowed money' has broken the state's economic discipline," the Thackeray camp said. "In these circumstances, this budget has proven to be a disappointment in terms of shaping a crumbling economy. While the Chief Minister promised the creation of millions of jobs through the 'Invest Maharashtra' platform, the government should provide an objective 'report card' of these jobs and employment opportunities," remarked the Thackeray camp. However, the editorial said that one satisfying aspect of the budget was the announcement of loan waivers for farmers. Fulfilling a campaign promise, the Chief Minister announced a loan waiver scheme in the name of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar. "However, this is not a complete debt buyout. The nature of the scheme is a waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh for farmers whose crop loans were overdue as of September 30, 2025, and an incentive subsidy of Rs 50,000 for farmers who pay their loans regularly. While this is a good announcement, the government must ensure that officials do not keep farmers dangling with 'eligible' and 'ineligible' criteria during implementation," it added. The Shiv Sena(UBT) referred to the Chief Minister's statement that the government has identified four pillars to boost Maharashtra's development: Progressive, Sustainable, Inclusive, and Good Governance but took a swipe at him terming it as a "carrot." March 07 : Lucknow: "For the first time in democracy, law and order became an issue in an election and the result was that for the first time after independence a government returned to power after completing its five-year term. Since 2017, police department has transformed a disorderly, riot-affected and curfew-prone state into a 'Safe Uttar Pradesh'. The journey of transforming Uttar Pradesh from a 'BIMARU state' into the growth engine of Indias economy begins with strong security. Security is the first condition for development and the UP Police has proven this". These remarks were made by CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday at the Lok Bhavan auditorium. On this occasion, he flagged off 50 Quick Response Team (QRT) vehicles. Chief Minister appreciated Honda India Foundation for providing 50 QRT two-wheelers to Uttar Pradesh Police, stating that this initiative will further strengthen the states security system. The event symbolizes trust and cooperation through which government, administration and industry are jointly strengthening development and security in the state. CM said, "Several reforms and initiatives were taken to change the perception of Uttar Pradesh and the results are visible today. In 2017, there were 9,500 PRV vehicles in the state, today the number has increased to more than 15,500. Similarly, the number of police two-wheelers has increased from 3,000 in 2017 to more than 9,200 today. This increase has significantly reduced police response time during emergencies, which builds public trust and ultimately leads to transformation." Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified three important pillars of model policing, 'Infrastructure, Technology and Mobility'. Before 2017, police departments budget struggled to reach 16,000 crore and even that could not be fully utilized. Many districts had been created years earlier, but district headquarters and police lines had not yet been built. Under such circumstances, police had outdated weapons, no facilities and almost no infrastructure. Personnel were forced to live in dilapidated barracks. Today, in 55 districts, the tallest buildings are police barracks with improved residential facilities. Model police stations and model fire stations are also being developed across the state to modernize policing and disaster response. Chief Minister said, "When the government began large-scale police recruitment in 2017, training capacity in UP was very limited. Only around 3,000 personnel could be trained at one time. Since there had been no recruitment for a long time, youth were eager to join, but limited training capacity posed a challenge. Completing a recruitment cycle took nearly nine months". State government then contacted other states for support, two to three states agreed to cooperate. Discussions were also held with the Army and paramilitary forces, which extended assistance. Through these efforts, training capacity was first increased to 17,000-20,000 and later with help from other states and military training centers it reached around 30,000. Today the situation has completely changed. 60,244 police constables have been recruited and all are being trained within UP itself due to newly developed training centers and improved infrastructure. CM also mentioned that three new criminal laws were implemented in the country in July last year, making forensic evidence mandatory in cases with punishment of more than seven years. Before 2017, UP had only two forensic laboratories, but now the number has increased to 12. A world-class State Forensic Institute has also been established under the UP Police. This institute runs degree, diploma and certificate courses to train both police personnel and youth interested in forensic science. Additionally, six A-grade forensic labs are under construction in every district and two mobile forensic units have been deployed in each district to collect evidence and assist investigations directly at crime scenes. Several new units have also been created to strengthen security, including Special Security Force (SSF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). For the first time, women battalions have been formed in the PAC, with three battalions already established and three more in progress. Chief Minister said, "Continuous efforts have been made to strengthen infrastructure, technology and mobility in policing. When technology and transformation work together, results are visible and public trust increases. Today major investors from across the country and the world are eager to invest in UP due to state governments policy of zero tolerance and zero corruption". He added that women feel safe in the state and traders can conduct business confidently, contributing to economic growth. Over 2.19 lakh police personnel have been recruited in the state, which is a historic achievement. Earlier there was a shortage of police personnel, making it difficult to tackle major challenges, but today the situation has changed completely. The demand for Uttar Pradesh Police and PAC personnel is now seen in other states as well. On this occasion, Chief Secretary S. P. Goyal, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, DGP Rajeev Krishna, ADG (Logistics) Ram Kumar, ADG Law and Order Amitabh Yash and Honda India Foundation Vice President (Corporate Affairs) Piyush Mittal were also present. March 07 : Agra/Mathura: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be on an important visit to the historic city of Agra and the religious city of Mathura today. During the visit, he will present a major boost to healthcare services and also conduct a detailed review of development works and religious projects in the Braj region. CM will begin his tour from Agra and is expected to arrive there at around 10 am. He will attend a program at Hotel Amar on Fatehabad Road. After this, he will inaugurate Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, located on National Highway 19. The 250-bed tertiary care hospital is equipped with modern medical facilities. Advanced treatments and complex surgeries such as cardiac care, neurosurgery, liver and kidney transplants and critical care services will be available under one roof. With expert doctors and quality nursing services, the hospital is expected to become a major healthcare center for Agra and nearby districts. After completing the Agra program, CM will leave for Mathura. There, he will chair an important review meeting of Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad at the regional office auditorium of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. The meeting, expected to last about an hour, will review the progress of development projects, beautification works and facilities for pilgrims in the Mathura-Vrindavan area. After reviewing the development works, CM will visit Annapurna Rasoi located near Jaipur Temple on Mathura-Vrindavan road. This two-storey facility, built by Braj Teerth Development Council with support from 'Mangalmay Parivar Nyas', provides free satvik meals and prasad to pilgrims. CM Yogi will review the arrangements and inspect the quality of food served to devotees. In the final phase of his visit, CM will visit Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, where he will perform traditional darshan and pooja in the 'Garbhagriha' and 'Keshav Dev Temple'. After completing the religious rituals, CM is scheduled to depart for Lucknow by government helicopter at around 5 pm. Riyadh, March 7 : Saudi Arabia on Saturday cautioned Iran against engaging in what it described as "misguided calculations" as tensions across the West Asia region continue to intensify amid an expanding conflict. Iran has directed retaliatory missile and drone strikes toward Israel and US military positions, while also launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones toward Arab states across the Gulf. These attacks have targeted energy infrastructure, civilian locations, and US military bases spread across the region. Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud issued the warning following a meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. After the discussions, the minister expressed hope that Iran would "act with wisdom and reason" and refrain from taking steps that could further inflame the already volatile situation, urging Tehran to avoid "misguided calculations." Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reported that its air defence systems successfully intercepted another incoming attack. The Kingdom said a ballistic missile aimed at a military facility southeast of the capital was neutralised before reaching its target. "A ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base was intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi Defence Ministry said in a post on X. Saudi officials also disclosed that multiple aerial threats had been neutralised in recent days. According to the Defence Ministry, four drones were shot down on Friday (local time), including three in the eastern areas of Riyadh and another to the northeast of the capital. Authorities further said that a cruise missile was intercepted over the city of Kharj. Earlier in the week, Iranian drones also targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said two drones struck the compound, causing what it described as "limited fire" and only minor structural damage. Following the incident, the US Embassy urged American citizens to avoid visiting the compound as a precautionary measure. Saudi Arabia's key energy infrastructure has also been targeted during the ongoing attacks. The Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the Kingdom's major crude processing facilities, came under a drone assault as well. However, Saudi air defences managed to bring down the incoming aircraft before they could cause damage, a military spokesperson told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The Ras Tanura refinery has a production capacity of more than half a million barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the most significant oil processing sites in the country. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Kolkata, March 7 : A man has been arrested on charges of strangling his lone specially-abled son to death and burying him in West Bengal's Burdwan, police said on Saturday. The incident took place in Memari of East Burdwan district. The aaccused, identified as Sonalal Mandi, was arrested on Friday night. Mandi lives in Mandalgram under Memari police station area. The tragic incident has created a panic in the area. According to the police, his son Surya Mandi was blind since birth and could not move his hands and feet normally. Since the child was specially-abled, the family was having difficulty taking care of him. Surya's mother left him and her husband within a few months of his birth. After that, he was with his maternal grandmother for a few days. But after his maternal grandmother's death, the responsibility of the child fell on his paternal grandmother. Police said that since then, the father, Sonalal Mandi, started considering the child a burden. Police have learned from local residents that he initially tried to send his son to an orphanage.When that did not work, he finally planned to kill him. "Last Wednesday, Sonalal took his son to the banks of Kaldighi (lake) in Barapalashan area of aaMemari. He strangled his son to death and buried him. The next morning, local residents saw the body of the child lying on the bank of the water body as water from the lake washed away the grave," said a senior officer of East Burdwan district police. Soon locals informed the Memari police station. The police reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it to the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital for autopsy. During the investigation, the police detained Sonalal Mandi and interrogated him. The accused confessed to the murder and was arrested soon after. The police have registered a case against Mandi. March 07 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute on Saturday to former Union Home Minister and the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, on his death anniversary. The Chief Minister offered floral tributes at his statue located at Lok Bhavan and described him as a great son of Mother India, a renowned freedom fighter, an accomplished lawyer, and an able administrator. CM Yogi said, "The works of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant are a source of inspiration for all of us and continue to guide our path. He took several steps during his time for the development and reform of Uttar Pradesh." The Chief Minister said, "Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was born in present-day Uttarakhand, which at that time was part of the United Provinces. Responding to the call of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, he left his legal practice and joined the freedom struggle. When the country was under British rule, he was chosen as the Premier of the United Provinces in 1937. Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant is remembered by all as the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh." CM Yogi said, "As Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Pant laid the foundation of development and presented a vision that continues to guide the state. Following that vision, Uttar Pradesh today has become a major pillar of Indias economy." He added, "Whatever Uttar Pradesh is able to achieve today is rooted in the thinking of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant. During his tenure, he took several important steps for the development and reform of the state." The CM added, "As Union Home Minister, Pant rendered invaluable services to the nation. He also played an important role in promoting and expanding the use of Hindi as the official language. In recognition of his invaluable contribution to Indias freedom and his distinguished service to Uttar Pradesh and the nation, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1957. The works of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant continue to guide us even today." On this occasion, Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, MLAs Jai Devi and Amresh Kumar, and Member of the Legislative Council Mukesh Sharma, among others, were present. New Delhi, March 7 : Major Swathi Shantha Kumar, a Bengaluru-based officer serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has been honoured with the UN Secretary-General's Award 2025 in the gender category for her project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'. Speaking to IANS, the Indian Army officer shared her experiences during the mission, her key responsibilities on the ground, and the challenges she faced while serving in the conflict-affected region. Major Swathi Kumar said the recognition reflects the collective effort of her entire team of Indian women peacekeepers who were deployed in South Sudan for the mission. "I have recently received the UN Secretary-General's Award for 2025 in the gender category for gender-inclusive peacekeeping. This award signifies the effort my team has put in because we were a team of 20 women soldiers from India. It was the first time we were participating in the UN mission in South Sudan. This recognition reflects the work my team has done and the guidance we received from our battalion, the Army Headquarters in Delhi, and the Indian Army," she told IANS. Major Swathi Kumar further added that although the soldiers were deployed on the ground in South Sudan, they constantly received guidance and support from India. "Even though we were the soldiers on the ground, we were always guided by our battalion and Army Headquarters in Delhi. That support helped us move forward and carry out our responsibilities effectively," she said. Speaking about her role in the mission, Major Swathi Kumar said her primary responsibilities involved operational planning and conducting various types of patrols to ensure the safety of civilians and maintain peace in the region. "My primary responsibilities included carrying out operational activities. We were mainly involved in planning patrols because, as a battalion deployed in the UN mission, we conduct different types of patrols. These include short-distance and long-distance patrols. We also conduct river and air patrols," Major Swathi Kumar said. She added that the terrain and weather conditions in South Sudan often made movement extremely difficult. "During the wet season, many roads become inaccessible due to flooding and heavy rainfall. Because of this, we had to adopt different approaches to reach remote areas and far-off payams. Conducting river and air patrols helped us ensure that we could still reach communities in those regions," she added. Talking about the challenges faced during the mission, Major Swathi Kumar said that while Indian Army personnel are trained to deal with difficult situations, serving in a completely new environment required adaptability. "As military personnel in the Indian Army, we are trained to overcome challenges. However, the environment there was entirely new because we were serving in a different country and interacting with different communities. We had a specific mandate to execute, and within that mandate, the protection of civilians was the top priority," she said. Major Swathi Kumar also spoke about the motivation behind her award-winning project 'Equal Partners, Lasting Peace'. According to her, the project reflected the work and engagement carried out by her team during the mission. "This project represents the actions we undertook during the mission. When we went there, we realised that women soldiers and peacekeepers needed to be more involved in operational activities and community engagement," she said. Major Swathi Kumar added that her team also identified a communication gap between the local community and the UN mission, which encouraged them to take more proactive steps. "When we reached the mission area, we realised that there was a small gap between the community and the UN mission. We started engaging with the people through operational patrols and community interactions. These activities helped us build trust and improve communication between the mission and the local population," she said. Highlighting the values that guide Indian Army personnel, Major Swathi Kumar said the principle of "service before self" remained central to their work during the mission. "The ethos of the Indian Army is 'service before self'. Throughout our training and our deployment, both in India and abroad, we follow this principle. When we participate in peacekeeping missions and interact with people there, we understand that we are also representing our nation," she said. She also had a message for women serving in peacekeeping roles. "For every woman serving in such missions, it is important to believe in the mission because the mandate itself clearly states what needs to be done. Every community and every mission has its own challenges, so it is important to find innovative approaches and trust one's own process," she said. Major Swathi Kumar further emphasised the importance of empowering women in society. "Empowering women does not mean empowering just one individual; it means empowering an entire family. When women are given education, economic stability, and opportunities, it benefits the whole community," she added. Srinagar, March 7 : Life returned to normal after six days on Saturday in Kashmir Valley as authorities lifted all restrictions and people started their day-to-day routine as usual. Shops, private transport, other businesses, public transport, banks, post offices and government offices started working as usual in the entire Valley. Deployments of police and the security forces continued to remain on ground to keep a close watch on the situation as people came out to buy essentials of life. 5G Internet services and call facility on prepaid mobile phones were restored yesterday evening in the entire Valley. These had been brought down to prevent miscreants and anti-national elements from uploading objectionable content on the social media. Schools, colleges and universities in the Valley had been ordered to remain closed till March 7 and these will re-open on Monday. All exams scheduled till Saturday had been postponed by the Kashmir University and the central university of Kashmir. Officials said new dates would he announced for these exams by the university authorities soon. Private transport and pedestrian movement also resumed in city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar. In order to enforce restrictions, security forces had erected barricades and used coils of concertina wire to block passage inside the city centre during the last five days. Protests had broken out in the Valley last week after the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran. Protesters clashed with the security forces at a number of places during those those protests. The protesters were more aggressive in Shia Muslim dominated areas. Authorities had imposed restrictions to protect civilian life and property in the Valley. Despite keeping heightened vigil on the situation, police and the security forces showed exemplary patience and professionalism in dealing with the situation. In order to instill confidence among the people, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah interacted with the members of the civil society including representatives from religious, social, business communities and prominent citizens on Wednesday. Omar appealed people to observe their grief with dignity and discipline without doing anything to disturb the law and order situation. He had got positive response from the civil society members during that interaction. Kolkata, March 7 : The BJP alleged on Saturday that West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee's indefinite anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) sit-in protest in Kolkata that started from Friday afternoon is yet another ploy to protect the illegal infiltrators in the voters' list of the state. Although the Trinamool Congress leadership, led by the Chief Minister, began the sit-in protest on Friday afternoon at Esplanade East in central Kolkata, it has not given any indication of how long the protest will continue. However, considering the size of the protest dais and the arrangements made there, it seems that the protest programme will continue for some time. "Yesterday, in the presence of Mamata Banerjee at Dharmatala, a play was staged to save illegal infiltrators," claimed the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, in a statement issued through his official social media handle on Saturday morning. In his statement, the LoP had also pointed out the approach of the state's ruling party towards the victims of the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in the state when the latter went near the Chief Minister's sit-in protest demonstration dais to voice their genuine demands on the school-job fiasco. "But when the deprived assistant teachers of West Bengal went in front of that play's stage to protest for their just demands, instead of listening to them, they were told, 'You're doing all this because of what the BJP says'. They were even sarcastically told about the posters in their hands, 'Go show these to Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar'. Even the fourth pillar of democracy, the media, was labeled as the BJP's agents," claimed the LoP. Referring to that incident, Adhikari had also raised the question of whether people of West Bengal had the right to air their legitimate demands. "Is there not even a shred of right for anyone to protest? As soon as they protest, the protesters become agents of someone or the other. Will the voices of the deprived assistant teachers be suppressed like this year after year?" he questioned. According to him, since the people of West Bengal are watching and understanding everything, they will give a fitting reply to the state's ruling party at the right time. "To answer injustice and deprivation, they must say - 'We need a change, we want a BJP government'," he said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, March 7 : In the Faridabad module case, investigators found that the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had managed to infiltrate a medical institute and rope in doctors to carry out attacks in India. The white collared module had managed to procure over 2,500 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and had planned on carrying out a series of attacks in and around Delhi. The Intelligence agencies have now learnt of another plot whereby the JeM has planned on infiltrating colleges and schools in a bid to radicalise the students. Through its propaganda content, the outfit is trying to recruit some boys who in turn would spread the ideology among their friends. The purpose of having such modules involving school and college going students is part of a long term plan of the JeM, an official said. Such strategies have been adopted by both the JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and currently it wants to execute the same in India. Picking students of such young ages and radicalising works for these groups in the long run. By the time these students turn 20 or 25 they would be so highly radicalised that they will be ready to execute attacks across the country, the official added. The Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) had earlier this week, arrested a student from Mumbai after it was learnt that he was allegedly part of a JeM module. Ayan Shaikh, the accused had been in Mumbai for six months. He was in touch with several young people and had been trying to radicalise as well as recruit them into the JeM. He had managed to radicalise two students and had even convinced them to travel out of the country and undertake training to carry out terror attacks, the probe found.The ATS, however, managed to scuttle the plot. An Intelligence Bureau official said that such attempts are being made in various states. The JeM realises that students do not come under the radar easily. Moreover, this is a long game that the outfit is playing and it wants to build up an army of highly radicalised terrorists. The official explained that the outfit seems to be in no hurry to recruit a large number of students. It is trying to do so gradually and is planning for the next five to ten years ahead. This way it would at any given time have a considerable number of recruits to carry out strikes in the country. Another official said that the idea is not to have a bunch of students sit in one place and plan attacks. The plan is not to have a dedicated module comprising a certain number of recruits. In the Faridabad case, the JeM realised that too many persons being part of a module proved to be risky. If there are over three persons in a module, then their communication gets tracked. There is also a chance of one of the module members acting irrationally which would eventually lead up to it getting busted. In the student module, the outfit would like them to either operate individually as lone wolves or as buddy pairs. This lessens the risk of the members getting exposed to the security agencies. Ideally, the outfit would be pushing for a lone wolf system. Either the lone actor acts on his own by picking the target or he would be instructed by a handler on what he should be doing. Officials said that preventing this is very crucial. If the outfit manages to set up an army of students over the years, then it would be a dangerous situation. Since there would be no urgency for these recruits to act immediately, the outfit gets more time to radicalise them. If they are radicalised for three to five years, then it is impossible to break such recruits and their commitment levels would be extremely high, another official said. United Nations, March 7 : Ongoing military confrontations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have triggered significant internal displacement, with an estimated 118,000 people forced from their homes amid the recent escalation in hostilities, according to recent reports from a UN refugee agency. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that around 115,000 individuals have been displaced on the Afghan side of the border, while about 3,000 have fled their residences in neighbouring Pakistan. The displacement figures underscore the deepening humanitarian toll of the cross-border violence, reports Xinhua news agency. In a parallel development, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan issued a statement expressing profound apprehension over the ongoing clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces. The mission urged both parties to immediately cease hostilities, adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, and take all necessary measures to prevent further civilian casualties. The statement issued on Tuesday said that from late evening on February 26 to March 2, UNAMA recorded at least 146 civilian casualties in Afghanistan, including 42 killed and 104 injured. Women and children were among the victims. The clashes have mainly affected multiple provinces in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan. According to a preliminary assessment by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, about 16,400 families have been displaced by the fighting. Some families who had previously fled their homes due to earthquakes are once again facing emergency relocation. UNAMA said the continued hostilities have severely restricted movement, making it difficult for humanitarian organisations to access the worst-affected areas. UNAMA called on all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue, ensure the protection of civilian lives, and create a safe and unhindered environment for humanitarian assistance. Seoul, March 7 : South Korea's Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong issued on Saturday an apology to former sex workers whose rights were violated in now-defunct brothels built around American military bases, marking the government's first official apology. "As the gender minister dealing with gender equality and women's rights, I offer my sincere apologies to the victims for the state's actions that violated their human rights at the Gijichon," Won said in a message marking International Women's Day, which falls on Sunday. "We will make every effort necessary to ensure that the history of human rights violations suffered by the victims is not forgotten and that they live the rest of their lives with dignity and fully restore their damaged honour," she added. The apology came more than 3 1/2 years after the Supreme Court in 2022 ordered the state to pay between 3 million and 7 million won (US$2,086-$4,866) in compensation each to a total of 95 former sex workers from such brothels at villages around US military bases, known as "base villages" or "Gijichon" in Korean, reports Yonhap news agency. The victims filed the suit in 2014, claiming the government had abetted such practices by systemically designating such areas, allowing establishments to operate and thus virtually allowing prostitution. Last month, the National Assembly passed a bill that would punish spreading misinformation concerning victims of sexual slavery by Japan during World War II with up to five years in prison, the gender ministry said. The amendment to a law protecting the victims of wartime sexual slavery was approved during a plenary session, according to the ministry. Under the bill, those who spread misinformation across various media and platforms, such as newspapers, broadcasts, exhibits and rallies, will face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won (US$34,100). However, such acts for artistic, academic, research and news-reporting purposes will be exempted as legitimate exercises of freedom of expression. The revised bill also includes an article requiring authorities to conduct checkups on statues and symbols commemorating the victims. "The amendment will serve as an opportunity to clearly set social standards to correct historical distortion and denial, as well as insults against the victims," Gender Minister Won Min-kyong said The revised law will take effect three months after promulgation. Washington, March 7 : The US State Department said that it has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of munitions and related support services, including 12,000 aerial bombs. The deal is worth about 151.8 million US dollars, the department said in a statement. Israel has requested to purchase 12,000 BLU-110A/B general purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the US State Department statement. "The Secretary of State (Marco Rubio) has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defense articles and defense services is in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act," it said. "The proposed sale will improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats," it added. The package also includes US government and contractor engineering, logistics, technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support, said the statement. The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on February 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US assets across the region. As tensions sharply escalated between the United States, Israel and Iran, the conflict entered its eighth day, with Israel carrying out a fresh round of strikes while explosions were reported at one of Tehran's main commercial airports. The confrontation, which began on February 28 with a strike in Tehran, has steadily widened in scope. What initially appeared to be a series of aerial exchanges has now expanded into a broader theatre of conflict, including drone attacks taking place across the Gulf region. US President Donald Trump adopted a hardline stance on the crisis, stating that there would be "no deal" with Iran unless it offered what he described as "unconditional surrender". He further suggested that after such a capitulation, Iran should move toward selecting a new leadership that would be acceptable to his administration. Paris, March 7 : A leading international press freedom organisation expressed grave concern over a new wave of repression targeting Afghan refugees, including exiled journalists across Pakistan. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that the escalating clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which Islamabad declared an "open war" on February 27, are being used as a pretext for the crackdown. According to the organisation, the "Afghan journalists who have taken refuge in Pakistan are being arrested and threatened with deportation -- and face a high risk of deadly reprisals if they are sent back to the Taliban regime". The RSF highlighted that multiple exiled Afghan journalists have been arrested in Pakistan over the past week amid rising military tensions between the two countries. Held in detention centres, it said, they add to the nearly 20 arrests recorded by RSF since the beginning of 2026. At least six journalists supported by RSF have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan in the last 15 days, bringing the total number recorded by the group to nine since January. Stressing that several media professionals have shared their concerns, the RSF quoted one of the journalists as saying: "Since February 27, the police have been conducting repeated checks and operations against Afghans in our area." Many others, the RSF said, also spoke about the extortion by Pakistani forces, outside any legal framework. "After spending a full day in a Pakistani police detention centre, I was forced to pay 115,000 PKR (about 400 USD) to avoid deportation and secure my release. The next day, my landlord asked me to leave the premises," said one of the journalists interviewed by RSF. The RSF noted that these media professionals have all left Afghanistan because of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime, which is closing down media and persecuting those who still dare to report the news. "The current explosive situation must not be used as a pretext for arbitrary arrests and expulsions. These reprisals are all the more unacceptable because they target media professionals who fled Afghanistan precisely because they were threatened by the Taliban. Arresting them and sending them back to their country amounts to delivering them to obvious dangers: arrest, violence, and worse," said Celia Mercier, Head of the RSF South Asia desk "RSF calls on the Pakistani authorities to immediately stop arresting and deporting Afghan journalists, to guarantee their effective protection and to respect the principle of non-refoulement," she added. This intensification, RSF said, is part of a broader policy of expelling Afghan refugees by the Pakistani authorities that started in 2023, against a backdrop of tensions with the Taliban regime. --IANS scor/sd/ New Delhi, March 7 : The Nepal to Sri Lanka route via India to smuggle drugs has come under the scanner of the agencies. The route which had gone relatively quiet has once again become active and is being used to smuggle Hashish oil and Charas. The multi-state operation that was launched by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) units of Chennai and Hyderabad Zonal units had led to the seizure of Hashish oil and Charas to the tune of Rs 10 crore. The operation was carried out as part of the Modi governmentas initiative, aNasha Mukth Bharat.a An official said that there is a very high demand for Hashish in Sri Lanka apart from Charas. Sri Lanka has been flagging the rise in the number of cases relating to drug abuse in the country. There has been a huge demand for drugs and hence these narcotic cartels have increased supply into the country. Further Sri Lankaas location in the Indian Ocean has made it a strategic waypoint to smuggle drugs. An official said that drugs into Sri Lanka are not just being brought from Nepal. Narcotics which originate from Afghanistanas Golden Crescent are being transported through Pakistan and also Iran. The official added that these smugglers have made South India a transit point for these drugs. All the drugs that are smuggled either reach Thoothukudi or Koddikarai. There is a dedicated network of people who meet their Sri Lankan counterparts midway where the consignment is transferred. An official said that these landing points are not new and have been in operation for long. Earlier, drugs such as opium would land in these ports and the smugglers from Sri Lanka would pick up the same in exchange for beedis. Officials in the NCB have identified Trincomalee, Halle and Colombo are the entry as well exit points. Officials say that the trade value has gone up multi-fold. There was a time when two cases would be busted in a span of two to three months. Today the volume is so high that just in the year 2024, Sri Lanka reported 35,000 drug busts. Another official said that drugs being smuggled into Sri Lanka are not restricted to Marijuana, Hashish or Charas. Since 2019, Sri Lanka has seen a massive demand for methamphetamine. Once the drugs land in Sri Lanka, the smugglers collaborate with some locals, who include criminals, fishermen and organised groups. These persons packs the narcotics before distributing to other parts of the country. Intelligence Bureau officials say that the Nepal to Sri Lanka route is being used a lot in recent months. This is owing to high security along the borders with Pakistan at Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. The route is not new and has been used for long. However the worry is that this route is being used more extensively today. The Indian agencies are coordinating closely with their counterparts both in Nepal and Sri Lanka to curb the menace of narcotics smuggling. The Indian Coast Guard, too, is playing a key role in intercepting fishing trawlers, which set out from South India once the drugs land. Another official said that the racket from Nepal is being controlled by a Sri Lankan national. He coordinates with operatives in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal and then arranges for it to be brought into South India. He also has managed to set up a network in Tamil Nadu to ensure that the drugs are moved into Sri Lankan waters seamlessly. It is an ongoing operation and the agencies are identifying all possible loopholes that these smugglers are using to further their trade, the official also said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, March 7 : A.N.S. Prasad, spokesperson for the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has said that the United States granting a temporary waiver allowing Indian refiners to access certain Russian crude shipments demonstrates the success of India's diplomatic and energy strategy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The waiver, issued on March 6 for a 30-day period, enables Indian refiners to secure stranded Russian crude supplies amid disruptions in global energy markets linked to tensions in West Asia and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. According to Prasad, the move highlights India's growing strategic importance in global energy security and reflects the strength of its multi-aligned foreign policy. Prasad said the development reinforces Indiaas position as a key global partner and underscores the country's ability to maintain balanced relationships with major powers while protecting its economic interests. He noted that India has consistently pursued a diversified energy procurement strategy, importing oil from multiple sources including Russia, the United States and Middle Eastern countries. "This waiver clearly shows that India's independent approach to energy security is being recognised internationally. The government has ensured that the countryas energy needs are met without compromising on national interests," Prasad said. The BJP spokesperson also argued that the decision counters criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which had earlier questioned Indiaas decision to purchase discounted Russian crude following geopolitical tensions and shifting sanctions regimes. According to Prasad, India's diplomatic engagement with global powers has expanded cooperation across several sectors, including defence, technology and trade. He said the recognition of India as an important partner in maintaining stability in global energy markets demonstrates the country's growing influence in international affairs. Prasad further criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures for what he described as attempts to portray India's oil procurement policies in a negative light. He said such criticism ignores the broader economic and strategic benefits of maintaining diversified energy sources. Over the past few years, India has steadily increased its energy engagement with different suppliers around the world in an effort to stabilise domestic fuel prices and strengthen long-term energy security. Prasad said the latest waiver reflects the effectiveness of India's diplomatic outreach and its commitment to safeguarding the country's economic and strategic interests in an increasingly complex global energy environment. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, March 7 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday attended the National Convention of Women Thought Leaders titled 'Bharati - Nari to Narayani' at Vigyan Bhawan, where she highlighted the growing role of females in shaping the country's future and encouraged women to pursue opportunities across all fields. Speaking at the event, organised in connection with International Women's Day, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of recognising women's contributions and empowering them to achieve their aspirations. "This is exactly the opportunity to celebrate. That is why we can celebrate this International Women's Day, to recognize that we, as sisters, are moving steadily in the direction we should be. We have begun setting our own goals. I don't want to speak of very big matters from this stage. I want to say something simple" she said. Highlighting the everyday sacrifices made by mothers, Gupta said many women prioritise their families over themselves. "How many times do I see mothers, who feed not just their own children but countless others as well. The mothers sitting here can feed the entire family, but when their own turn comes, if there isn't enough food left for themselves, they may skip their own meal or make do with scraps. Why is this? Because you are part of the family" she said. Encouraging women to pursue leadership roles and professional success, the Chief Minister said women have the ability to excel in every field. "I want every sister in our country to move forward and make her mark in every field. Whether she becomes a Wing Commander, like our sisters Vyomika or Sophia, or reaches the highest levels of politics, business, or heads an institution as a principal, women have the ability to achieve anything" she added. Addressing mothers specifically, Gupta urged them to ensure that the next generation of girls receives better opportunities. "When someone asks me what message I have for the women of the country or Delhi, I say that my message is especially for mothers. Whatever opportunities, resources, or positions you did not have, you must ensure that your daughters receive them, the freedom to make their own decisions, the chance to move forward, and a sky full of possibilities" she said. The Chief Minister also spoke about various initiatives aimed at empowering women. "Similarly, through numerous initiatives, whether opening bank accounts, providing Mudra loans, giving houses in women's names, granting 33 per cent reservation in politics, or giving opportunities to daughters like me, the government, the country, and the Prime Minister have opened new horizons for us sisters" she said. Emphasising the need for a safe and enabling environment for working women, Gupta said the government had taken steps to remove restrictive regulations. "I want the women of Delhi to feel safe and have a good environment. One day, while I was reading the rules related to businesses, I saw that women were not allowed to work at night. I was shocked, how could this be? If a woman wants to work and has the opportunity, who in this day and age should stop her? Immediately, I got that rule removed" she said. The convention brought together women leaders, professionals and thinkers from across the country to discuss empowerment, leadership and opportunities for women in various sectors. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed If Christians Are Forced to Leave Again They Will Not Return: Cardinal Sako Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. As the war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with the spectre of a broader regional conflict looming, the Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, has voiced his alarm. "As Patriarch, I am deeply concerned. No one knows where this war will lead," he told Vatican News today. Like much of the Middle East, Iraq has come under rocket and drone attacks from Iran over the past week, following Israeli-American strikes on Iran. Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, has borne the brunt of the assaults, but the entire country, from oil fields in the southern city of Basra to Baghdad's airport, has been targeted. Recalling the chaos, disorder, vengeance, and attacks that followed the 2003 US invasion, Patriarch Sako stressed that "we have lived through this before." While Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq have so far remained largely on the sidelines, Patriarch Sako warned of the risks facing Iraqi society, where Shiites make up nearly 60% of the population. "We are afraid because we are neighbours with Iran, and many Iraqis are Shiite. There is a double concern." "We fear a further escalation that could drag us into a large-scale regional war," the cardinal continued, noting that strikes have also hit Gulf states, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. "War is not the solution," he stressed. "Diplomacy is what can resolve these problems." The head of the Chaldean Church also said he was following with concern the situation of Iraq's Christian communities, especially in their historic heartland of the Nineveh Plains, which was occupied by ISIS a decade ago. "We Christians are very worried, because if they start attacking the Nineveh Plains, where there are 50,000 Christians, these people will leave their homes-and this time, they will not return," the Cardinal warned. "I have asked Christians to pray for peace at every Sunday Mass, to be cautious, and not to lose courage or hope," Cardinal Sako said. He also called on Iraq's other religious leaders to help ease tensions. "I have asked Muslim leaders to raise their voices for peace and fraternity, as Pope Francis did during his visit to Iraq and his meeting with Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani." That historic encounter in the holy city of Najaf on March 6, 2021 remains a landmark moment for interfaith coexistence in Iraq. "It was a very important meeting," recalled Cardinal Sako. "Al-Sistani said 'We are part of you, and you are part of us', which is exactly what Pope Francis also said: 'We are brothers.'" On March 4, as bombs continued to fall across the region, Ayatollah Al-Sistani issued a statement expressing his own fears of a widening war. He renewed his call "to all influential international actors and to the countries of the world, especially Islamic countries, to make every possible effort to bring an immediate end to the conflict and to find a just and peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, in accordance with international law." New Delhi, March 7 : After the price of domestic LPG cylinders was increased by Rs 60, residents from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra on Saturday expressed concern over the rising cost of living, saying the hike would significantly affect their household budgets and daily expenses. Many residents said that cooking gas is an essential commodity and that the increase in prices would make it difficult for middle-class and lower-income families to manage their expenses. Anupama, a resident of Delhi, said global developments might be influencing the rise in prices but hoped the government would find a solution. "As wars are going on in different parts of the world, it is impacting many countries. Gas is largely exported from Gulf countries, so it is natural that the price may increase. I hope the government will come up with some solution. During this difficult situation, we should stand with the government," she said. Another resident of Delhi, Ashu Sharma, highlighted the importance of LPG in daily life. "LPG cylinders are a basic necessity. It is essential for cooking food in every household," he said. A local resident in Delhi also expressed concern over the financial burden on middle-class families. "We are very troubled. We belong to the middle class, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage our livelihood," the resident said. In Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur, a businessman said the continuous rise in prices was creating difficulties for people. "The war is ongoing and prices are continuously rising. This is causing serious problems in people's lives. Incomes are low while expenses are increasing," he said. Residents in Ayodhya also voiced similar concerns, saying the hike in LPG prices was adding to their financial challenges. "There are many difficulties. Things are not running smoothly, and people are facing many problems, including issues related to gas availability and rising prices," a local resident said. Another resident in Ayodhya said using cooking gas was unavoidable despite the price increase. "The rising gas prices make things very difficult. Prices keep increasing, but what can we do? We cannot manage without gas because it is a necessity," the resident said. A third local said that even a small increase in prices creates a noticeable impact on household expenses. "If the price increases significantly, it definitely becomes a problem. But we still have to buy it because we have no other option. Even small tasks at home become more expensive," the resident added. Another resident urged the government to support economically weaker sections. "With the rising prices of cooking gas, common people are struggling financially. The government should help the poor. Prices of everything are increasing, and it is becoming very difficult to manage," the person said. In Mumbai, Maharashtra, a woman said the price hike would make it harder for families already facing financial challenges. "If we are not getting regular wages, how will we run our household? It has been two to three months and we have not received payment for our work. How will we cook at home or manage our family expenses when the prices of vegetables, LPG cylinders, and other daily necessities are constantly rising?" she said. Kathmandu, March 7 : The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is sweeping the elections under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, is also performing strongly under the proportional representation system, securing over 56 per cent of the total votes counted so far. If the current FPTP leads translate into victories and the trend continues under the proportional system, the party could single-handedly secure two-thirds or close to two-thirds of the seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. According to the latest vote count under the proportional electoral system as of Saturday, 1 p.m., the RSP has secured 79,261 votes out of a total of 141,079 votes counted, accounting for just over 56 per cent of the votes. Never before has any political party received such a commanding lead under the proportional representation system since it was introduced in Nepalas constitutional and legal framework, beginning with the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007. In the 2022 elections, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxista"Leninist) (CPN-UML), led by K.P. Sharma Oli, secured the highest number of votes. The party received 2.84 million votes, accounting for nearly 30.69 per cent of the total valid votes, according to the election body. According to the latest tally under the proportional system, the Nepali Congress is a distant second with 22,766 votes, accounting for just over 16 per cent of the total. The CPN-UML is third with 14,209 votes, followed by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party with 7,726 votes, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), led by former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, with 5,304 votes. Under the FPTP system, the RSP a" led by former media personality Rabi Lamichhane and its prime ministerial candidate Balen Shah a" has already secured victory in 36 out of the 165 constituencies and is leading in another 83 seats. Party president Lamichhane has already won from Chitwan-2, while Shah is far ahead of former Prime Minister Oli in Jhapa-3, the latteras traditional stronghold, according to the latest vote tally released by the Election Commission of Nepal. Chennai, March 7 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin met R. N. Ravi on Saturday in Chennai and congratulated him following his appointment as the new Governor of West Bengal. The meeting, held at the Governor's official residence in Guindy, marked a formal and courteous interaction between the two leaders despite their past political differences. According to official sources, the Chief Minister visited the Raj Bhavan in Guindy to extend his greetings to Ravi after the Union government announced his transfer to West Bengal. During the meeting, Stalin honoured the Governor with a ceremonial shawl and presented him with a statue of the classical Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar as a gesture of goodwill and respect. The meeting assumes significance in the context of the strained relationship that had existed between the Tamil Nadu government led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Governor Ravi during his tenure in the state. Over the past few years, the two sides had been engaged in several disagreements on administrative and legislative matters. One of the major flashpoints was the delay in granting assent to several bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The state government had accused the Governor of withholding approval for key legislation and raised concerns about what it described as interference in the functioning of the elected government. The dispute eventually escalated to the legal arena, with the Tamil Nadu government approaching the Supreme Court seeking directions regarding the Governoras role in clearing bills passed by the Assembly. Despite these differences, Saturday's meeting was viewed as a diplomatic gesture marking the end of Ravi's tenure in Tamil Nadu before he assumes his new responsibilities in West Bengal. The development follows the resignation of C. V. Ananda Bose on March 5, which created the vacancy for the gubernatorial post in the eastern state. Subsequently, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Ravi as the new Governor of West Bengal. In a related announcement, the President also stated that R. V. Arlekar would hold additional charge as the Governor of Tamil Nadu until further arrangements are made. Political observers say the brief meeting between Stalin and Ravi symbolises a moment of courtesy and transition, bringing to a close a chapter marked by frequent constitutional debates between the Raj Bhavan and the state government. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 7 : The BJP has strongly criticised the alleged allocation of Rs 100 crore for constructing an official residence for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with party leaders accusing the state government of misusing public funds and having misplaced priorities. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo launched a sharp attack on the Chief Minister, questioning the government's priorities. "Chief Minister Hemant Soren calls himself the son of tribal people and claims that this government is for the poor, for the welfare of tribals, and to uplift the underprivileged" Shah Deo told IANS. He alleged that the project involves constructing a lavish residence while the government continues to portray itself as working for tribal communities and economically weaker sections. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also commented on the controversy, saying that while official residences are necessary for public officials, there must be clarity on standards and expenditure. "It is certainly necessary to have an official residence or office to carry out our daily responsibilities and duties. However, what that residence should be like and what standards such offices should follow must be clearly defined" Khandelwal said. The controversy comes after the BJP alleged that around Rs 100 crore has been allocated for constructing a new official residence for the Jharkhand Chief Minister. According to party leaders, the proposed project involves demolishing a heritage building at the existing Chief Minister's residence and replacing it with a new structure. BJP leaders have termed the proposed project a 'Sheesh Mahal,' claiming that it represents an unnecessary and extravagant use of public money. The issue has also drawn comparisons with similar allegations previously raised by the BJP against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the revamping of his official residence in Delhi. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Shah Deo said that while the Jharkhand government presents itself as representing tribal communities and the poor, the approval of a Rs 100-crore project for the Chief Minister's residence contradicts that narrative. He further alleged that the project demonstrates misplaced priorities and questioned the need for such a large expenditure from the state exchequer. The Jharkhand government has not yet issued a detailed response to the allegations. The issue is likely to intensify political debate in the state, with the BJP accusing the ruling administration of financial extravagance. Kolkata, March 7 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, accusing the saffron party of using its allies and appointees for political gain before abandoning them. Speaking at the site of her indefinite protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Central Kolkata, Banerjee cited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the recently resigned West Bengal Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, as prime examples of this "exploit and discard" strategy. "Poor Nitish Kumar! He encouraged OBC-related politics before the Bihar Assembly elections. And now, after the elections, he is all set to be a Delhiite. Whoever falls into the trap of the BJP receives the same fate. You saw how C.V. Ananda Bose was removed. He was forced to resign. BJP used people till their purpose is served," Banerjee said from the dais of the protest, which began on Friday. The Bengal chief minister also criticised national economic policies, alleging that they place West Bengal at a disadvantage. "Because of such national policies, coal produced in our state is taken away, and we are given a bad name in connection with coal smuggling. Coal is not within our jurisdiction but under the Union government. It is handled by Coal India Limited and the Central Industrial Security Force," she said. Banerjee further alleged that a deliberate campaign was underway to undermine the state's investment potential. She highlighted ongoing development projects and industrial growth in the state. "Six economic corridors are being built in the state. Two thermal power plants of 1,600 MW each are coming up in Salboni. The state is number one in the field of Information Technology. More people work here in this sector than in Bengaluru. A total of 200 new companies have come up. Those who defame Bengal should know that we are number one in the country in the small and medium enterprises segment. We employ 15 million people. Seven and a half lakh people work in the leather hub," she claimed. Banerjee also spoke about employment trends in the state, stating that the unemployment rate had fallen significantly over the years. "We have introduced special schemes for job-related training for the youth. We also have schemes for migrant workers who want to return to West Bengal," the Chief Minister said. New Delhi, March 7 : With its demographic scale, expanding industrial base and ambition to assert a stronger global role, India offers the European Union (EU) both economic opportunity and geopolitical relevance, a new report has said. The article in EU Reporter says that one of the clearest indicators of this shift is the acceleration of EUIndia relations. According to it, the resumption of negotiations for a long-delayed free trade agreement, expanding cooperation on supply chains, digital governance, green technologies and critical infrastructure, "as well as the EU's growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific, signal a structured strategic choice rather than a symbolic diplomatic gesture". The successful conclusion of the negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes against the backdrop of the dramatic shift in the global strategic environment, which led to a stepping up of efforts by the two sides to recalibrate the bilateral economic partnership. Moreover, Europe's strategic turn toward India reflects recognition of a changing world order. "Its success will depend on whether the Union can combine external engagement with internal stability. Europe can diversify its partnerships, but without institutional cohesion, strategic credibility will remain fragile," the report stressed. The EU's strengthened cooperation with Israel in research, cybersecurity and Eastern Mediterranean energy initiatives reflects the same logic underpinning engagement with India. "Brussels is seeking to reinforce networks in critical technologies and regional balances. These partnerships are not substitutes for existing alliances, but complementary layers of resilience," the report mentioned. Engagement with India can be interpreted in two ways. It complements broader Western efforts to balance China's influence in the Indo-Pacific. Simultaneously, it reflects Europe's effort to develop strategic optionality the capacity to diversify partnerships without undermining alliance commitments, said the report. The EU-India relationship also illustrates the broader challenge facing Europe. The report mentioned that deepening economic engagement with a rising power must be balanced with the Union's regulatory priorities, sustainability commitments and internal political alignment. --IANS na/ Aizawl, March 7 : Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeastern region has been placed at the centre of India's development narrative, reflecting the government's strong commitment to the region's growth and integration with the national mainstream. Addressing the 20th Convocation of Mizoram University in Aizawl, the Vice President noted that improved connectivity, including the recently inaugurated Bairabia"Sairang railway line, along with initiatives such as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) and PM-DevINE (Prime Ministeras Development Initiative for North East Region), are accelerating development and bringing the people of the region closer to new opportunities. Emphasising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Radhakrishnan urged the youths to move beyond seeking jobs and instead focus on creating opportunities. He highlighted the immense potential of the Northeast in sectors such as tourism, bamboo-based industries, organic agriculture, handicrafts and digital services. Expressing concern over the menace of narcotic drug abuse among youth, he called upon young people to stay away from narcotics and lead disciplined, purposeful lives. The Vice President also advised students to use technology and social media responsibly, urging them to become masters of technology rather than its servants. Highlighting Mizoram's rich natural heritage and high literacy, he praised the stateas strong tribal traditions and environmental consciousness. Commending Mizoram University for operating substantially on solar energy, Radhakrishnan urged the youth to play a leadership role in promoting environmental sustainability. The Vice-President congratulated the graduating students, urging them to play a key role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Noting the scenic beauty of the campus, he remarked that Mizoram University is among the most beautiful campuses and stands as a symbol of what education can achieve when it is rooted in peace and purpose. The convocation was attended by Mizoram Governor and Chief Rector of Mizoram University, General (Retd.) Vijay Kumar Singh; Chief Minister Lalduhoma; and the Vice-Chancellor of Mizoram University, Prof. Dibakar Chandra Deka, along with faculty members, distinguished guests, parents and graduating students. After addressing the eighth convocation ceremony of Nagaland University in Kohima, Vice-President Radhakrishnan arrived in Mizoram's capital Aizawl on Friday afternoon on his maiden visit to the state since assuming office. Upon arrival at Lengpui Airport, Vice-President Radhakrishnan was warmly received by Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh (retired), along with School Education Minister Vanlalthlana and other senior officials. On Saturday, the Vice-President Radhakrishnan will leave for Tripura to attend the 14th convocation of Tripura University as the chief guest on March 8. In Agartala, Vice-President Radhakrishnan will also meet several 'Lakhpati Didis' and members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) at the International Trade and Fair Centre in Hapania, on the outskirts of the city, on Sunday. He will also pay tribute at the Albert Ekka Memorial Park at Lichubagan. Chennai, March 7 : In a fresh development in the ongoing marital dispute involving actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, his wife Sangeetha Sornalingam has approached a court in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, seeking legal protection and the right to reside in their house in Neelankarai. According to the petition filed before the Chengalpattu court, Sangeetha alleged that she has been prevented from staying in the Neelankarai residence and is currently left without a home. She requested the court to issue an order directing Vijay to allow her to continue residing in the property. In the plea, Sangeetha also claimed that she has been facing threats from Vijay's legal representatives. She alleged that the actions of the actor's counsel have effectively barred her from accessing the house, despite her claim that she holds an equal share in the property. The petition further stated that the Neelankarai house is jointly owned and that she is entitled to 50 per cent ownership. Based on this claim, she has urged the court to recognise her right to live in the residence until the legal proceedings between the couple are resolved. Sangeetha has also sought financial support for herself and their children, requesting that Vijay provide alimony proportionate to his income. The petition maintains that the actor should ensure adequate maintenance for the family, considering his earnings and financial standing. The legal move comes shortly after Sangeetha filed for divorce in the Chengalpattu family court. In her earlier filing, she accused Vijay of being involved in an extramarital relationship and alleged that he had refused to agree to a mutual separation. According to the divorce petition, Sangeetha stated that Vijay's conduct had caused severe emotional distress to both her and their children. She claimed that the circumstances surrounding their relationship had led to significant mental stress within the family. The matter is expected to be taken up for hearing in the Chengalpattu court in the coming days. Legal experts say the court may examine issues related to residence rights, property ownership, and interim financial support while the divorce proceedings continue. The case has drawn considerable attention due to Vijay's prominent public profile as one of Tamil cinemaas leading actors and the founder of TVK, a political party that has recently been gaining visibility in Tamil Nadu politics. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Islamabad, March 7 : Pakistan's Balochistan province reflects more than a regional crisis, exposing the structural weaknesses of the Pakistani authorities and underscoring the risk of militarising politics. By projecting Balochistan solely as a security problem, Islamabad's approach is proving increasingly short-sighted, with peaceful forms of dissent from marches by families of the disappeared to student protests suppressed through arrests, media blackouts, and intimidation, a report has highlighted. "Balochistan is not simply sinking into violence; it is being methodically pushed outside Pakistan's political body. In recent years, Islamabad has replaced governance with military management, recasting a profound political crisis as a technical problem of security. The systematic downplaying of military casualties, persistent allegations of enforced disappearances, and the collective criminalisation of the Baloch population are not collateral damage but elements of a deliberate strategy of control," Dimitra Staikou, a Greek writer, wrote in 'Eurasia Review' recently. "As long as the Pakistani state refuses to acknowledge the political and social roots of the insurgency, it deepens alienation and legitimises rupture in the eyes of local communities. If this trajectory continues, Balochistan risks following a familiar historical path: from an 'internal security issue' to a violent separation a new Bangladesh, this time produced by Islamabad's own choices," she added. Staikou highlighted that the insurgency in Balochistan is neither recent nor primarily driven by external interference, but represents the continuation of a decade-long conflict that began with the province's incorporation into Pakistan in 1948. "Since then, Baloch communities have consistently argued that they are denied political autonomy, economic participation, and control over their own natural resources. Their grievances have been met with a predominantly military response. Heavy-handed security operations, extensive troop deployments, and widespread accusations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have entrenched a cycle of violence," she stressed. According to the report, each Pakistani military operation described as "restoring order" strengthens perceptions of occupation and fuels recruitment into armed separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The decadelong conflict in Balochistan has now assumed a critical economic and geopolitical dimension, Staikou mentioned. "Balochistan lies at the heart of China's investments in Pakistan through the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is also central to Islamabad's recent attempts to attract US capital into the mining sector. The province's vast reserves of copper, gold, coal, and gas have become central to Pakistan's economic recovery narrative. Yet the state struggles to guarantee even basic security for heavily guarded infrastructure projects. Persistent attacks signal that militarisation has failed to create sustainable stability," it mentioned. The report further said, "As long as Pakistan's military leadership prioritises image management over confronting reality, Balochistan will remain an open wound not only for its people or for Pakistan's future, but for an international system that can no longer afford to treat such crisis as distant, localised affairs without global consequences." New Delhi, March 7 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday stated that India's rise would benefit the Indian Ocean region, describing it as "a lifting tide", emphasising the strategic significance of the wider region. Speaking alongside Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on 'Heart of the Seas: Future of the Indian Ocean', EAM said, "I do want the rest of the Indian Ocean to appreciate that India, in a way, India's rise is a lifting tide. With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean stand to benefit. Those who work with us, obviously, will get more benefits. And in a way, it's a trend." "I'm not saying there are no challenges to India's rise; there are. But the direction of India's rise, I think, is very clear. In a way, it's unstoppable. The rise of countries is determined by the countries. The rise of India will be determined by India. It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others," he added. EAM highlighted India's efforts to rebuild connectivity through initiatives like India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor, aiming to expand the country's trade links across Asia and beyond. "The Indian Ocean, perhaps much more than many other parts of the world, is in the process of a recovery and a rebuilding. It is individual states that are doing that, but the whole region. In a way, if you look today at the restoration of trade patterns and connectivity, we are trying to rebuild our connectivity towards the east, through Myanmar to Southeast Asia. We are rebuilding our connectivity to the west, through IMEC into the Arabian Peninsula and further through the International North-South Transport Corridor to Iran and through Iran into Eurasia." Stressing that India has consistently stepped in to support regional partners during difficult periods, EAM Jaishankar cited assistance extended to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, along with the rapid disaster relief efforts following Cyclone Ditwah in November last year. "There'll be the good periods when you can plan and do it. There'll be times of stress. Sri Lanka, for example, went through a severe economic crisis. And the fact was, finally, the most substantive and the fastest support really came from India. Recently, they had this, the cyclone, Ditwah; we were there within twenty-four hours," EAM said. "If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or spirit or identity, call it what you will, it's not just about broadcasting it or stating it, it's-- it has to be backed up with resources, with work, with commitments, with practical projects so that people know that you are actually serious about it," he noted. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Seoul, March 7 : South Korea's industry minister and trade chief visited the United States this week to coordinate responses to tariff issues and other pending trade matters between Seoul and Washington, the industry ministry said on Saturday. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met separately with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Friday (U.S. time) to discuss pending bilateral trade issues. The visit was arranged to ease uncertainty surrounding tariff policies following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down reciprocal tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and to advance the implementation of a bilateral trade agreement, according to the ministry, reports Yonhap news agency. During his meeting with Lutnick, Kim shared Seoul's progress in implementing the trade agreement, including legislation for a special law to support investment in the United States, and discussed ways to strengthen strategic investment cooperation. Kim also stressed that previously agreed tariff arrangements between the two countries should be effectively guaranteed, as Washington pursues tariff policies under laws such as Section 122 of the Trade Act and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act following the Supreme Court ruling. Separately, Yeo and Greer discussed plans to implement non-tariff measures outlined in a joint fact sheet issued by the leaders of the two countries and agreed to hold a joint committee meeting on the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement at an appropriate time. Yeo also conveyed Seoul's position that a petition filed by U.S. investors in e-commerce firm Coupang Inc. seeking a Section 301 investigation should not negatively affect bilateral trade relations. Meanwhile, the average prices of gasoline and diesel in Seoul have exceeded 1,900 won (US$1.29) per litre amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, government data showed, while the government continued to warn against any illegal practices, such as price collusion. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), President Lee Jae Myung issued a fresh warning to domestic oil refiners over potential collusion in raising fuel prices, while instructing officials to consider a price cap during a Cabinet meeting the previous day. Canberra, March 7 : The ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan marks a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties that have simmered since the Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021. Islamabad has previously carried out significant airstrikes targetting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Afghanistan, notably in December 2024, a report has highlighted. "On 26 February, Afghan troops launched major attacks on a dozen Pakistani border posts, which, according to the Afghan government, were in retaliation for Pakistan airstrikes on Pakistan Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), hideouts in Afghanistan earlier in February. Islamabad responded by bombing 22 cities and military targets in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika provinces," a report in Australia-based think tank Asialink mentioned. Citing official Pakistani military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the report noted that 274 Taliban personnel have been killed and over 400 injured, while 73 Afghan posts along the PakistanAfghanistan border have been destroyed and 18 seized. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that the hostilities between the two countries had escalated into an "open war". According to the report, the last major military clash between the two countries occurred in October 2025 and concluded with a ceasefire mediated by Turkey and Qatar. However, despite subsequent negotiations, the two countries failed to reach a lasting peace agreement. In the latest assaults, it said, Pakistan's air force targetted Taliban military facilities in Kabul, reflecting Islamabad's hardline stance over the Taliban's refusal to expel the TTP from its territory. "In addition to its military might, Pakistan has other tools in its State kit. It could further tighten movement across its 2600-kilometre border. The critical border controls at Torkham and Chaman provide about 40 per cent of Afghanistan's customs revenue. By imposing further tariffs on top of the existing 10 per cent and greater import restrictions, it would make it more costly economically for the Taliban to continue to support the TTP," the report detailed. "Pakistan could increase the number of Afghan refugees it forcefully repatriates to Afghanistan, creating more economic hardship for the country. In 2025 alone, 930,000 Afghans were repatriated, 67 per cent of them forcefully," it added. The report stressed that there appears to be no determined effort by third countries to initiate peace talks between the two countries. "Saudi Arabia and Qatar did offer to help mediate a ceasefire, but as these two countries were the targets of Iranian retaliation in its war with Israel and the US, their focus is now on their home front. However, as with the previous attempt at mediation in 2025, the likelihood of finding a lasting solution to this latest clash between these two countries is remote, at best," it noted. Patna, March 7 : The Bihar Vigilance Department on Saturday raided multiple locations linked to a Block Development Officer (BDO) in the state in connection with a disproportionate assets case. According to Vigilance Department officials, the raids targeted the premises of Krishna Ram, the BDO of Sursand block in Sitamarhi district. Vigilance teams simultaneously searched several locations linked to the officer as part of the investigation. Sources said that the raids were conducted at Krishna Ram's rented residence in the Rajabazar area of Motihari as well as his ancestral home in Tikaita village. Teams from the Vigilance Department also carried out searches at other suspected properties linked to the officer. During the operation, officials examined documents, bank records, property papers, and other important files to verify allegations that the officer had accumulated assets beyond his known sources of income. Officials said the department had been receiving complaints about the officer amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. After a preliminary inquiry reportedly found substance in the allegations, the Vigilance Department obtained a search warrant from the court and initiated the raids. Investigators are now assessing the extent of the officer's movable and immovable properties and comparing them with his legitimate income during his government service. The search operation was still underway at the time of reporting, and officials expect the recovery of several important documents related to the case. The Bihar Vigilance Department stated that the full details will emerge after the investigation is completed. If the allegations are proven, further legal action will be taken against the officer. The raids have created a stir within administrative circles, with many officials closely watching the developments. The Bihar Vigilance Department is conducting regular raids against government officials who were allegedly involved in bribery cases of disproportionate assets cases. According to an official, 28 cases were registered against officials involved in graft charges in the first two months of this year. Patna, March 7 : Political activity in Bihar has intensified ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, with alliance partners engaging in consultations over strategy. Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the latter's residence in Patna on Saturday. Janata Dal (United) National Executive President Sanjay Jha was also present during the meeting. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kushwaha said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is confident of winning all five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar. He said discussions among alliance partners are underway regarding the election strategy and that his meeting with the Chief Minister was part of that process. Responding to questions about the possible political entry of Nishant Kumar, the son of Nitish Kumar, Kushwaha said he was the first leader to publicly suggest that Nishant should join politics. According to him, Nishant Kumar's entry into public life could prove to be a positive development. Commenting on Nitish Kumar's nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, Kushwaha said people in Bihar might feel a sense of loss if the veteran leader becomes more active in national politics. "Until now, he has been active in Bihar politics. If he spends more time in Delhi after entering the Rajya Sabha, people here will certainly feel his absence," Kushwaha said. Nitish Kumar's nomination for the Rajya Sabha has fuelled speculation in political circles about a possible leadership change in the state. The electoral arithmetic for the Rajya Sabha polls in Bihar is also drawing close attention. The NDA currently has around 202 MLAs in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, which makes it certain to secure four seats comfortably. However, the contest for the fifth seat is expected to be more competitive. Kushwaha may require the support of additional MLAs to strengthen his chances. When asked by journalists how he would arrange support if a few more MLAs were needed, Kushwaha responded in a lighter vein, saying he might even request journalists themselves to help arrange the required numbers. Political observers believe Kushwaha's prospects for the fifth seat could depend on possible cross-voting from the opposition camp. --IANS ajk/skp Mumbai, March 7 : Actress Dia Mirza has once again voiced her concern over the ongoing environmental degradation, and said that her "almost five-year-old understands that when trees are cut down, "we are not clearing land, we are erasing life." Mumbai, March 7 (IANS) Actress Dia Mirza has once again voiced her concern over the ongoing environmental degradation, and said that her "almost five-year-old understands that when trees are cut down, "we are not clearing land, we are erasing life." Sharing a strong message on her social media account, the actress shared a series of images highlighting the importance of preserving nature. Alongside the carousel, she captioned the post as, "More Green Please." She further wrote, "Our trees are not martyrs. They were never meant to be."In a longer note accompanying the post, the actress elaborated on the ecological crisis facing Mumbai. She wrote, "Mumbai is losing the very life systems that allow us to breathe in Aarey, along our mangrove belts, across hills, creeks and forests that have quietly protected us for generations. Old growth trees that hold biodiversity, regulate climate, absorb floods and give us oxygen cannot simply be 'replaced.' A sapling planted somewhere else does not equal a living forest." She added how even her little son also understands the impact of deforestation and wrote, "My almost five-year-old understands this instinctively. He knows that when we cut down trees, we are not clearing land we are erasing life. And yet we continue to call it development." She added, "If progress demands the destruction of the very systems that sustain us, then we must ask ourselves: progress for whom? Because the comforts of a few cannot come at the cost of a future that becomes unlivable for all." She added that Mumbai deserves development that protects the city."Mumbai deserves development that protects its forests, mangroves, hills and rivers not one that replaces them. @mybmc we the citizens of Mumbai will work with you and offer you solutions to ensure we make progress and protect nature." The carousel featured a lot many visuals of the actress along with her son and his friends celebrating the beauty of nature. In one picture, Dia is seen standing beside a tree while her son clings to its trunk. Another picture shows another child hugging a tree from below, while several other frames capture sprawling banyan trees, flowering branches, birds perched on the trees. One of the pictures also shows the Mumbai skyline with construction cranes looming in the background. Dia Mirza has been a vocal advocate for environmental protection and sustainable living for years. Apart from her fun life moments, she is seen using her platform to raise awareness about climate change, biodiversity and conservation. IANS rd/ Navsari, March 7 : Asmita Patel, from Soldhara village in Chikhli Taluka of Navsari district, has established a profitable rural enterprise that earns an annual income of Rs 10.20 lakh and provides employment to 10 other women from her community. Her work, which spans honey production, pickles, ragi (finger millet)-based products, baked goods, and natural food items, demonstrates the potential of rural self-reliance and women's empowerment. Born into a farming family, Asmita learned agriculture and animal husbandry from a young age. While pursuing an Art Teacher Diploma, she lost her father. Support from her progressive in-laws and her own determination allowed her to continue her education, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. "Even in difficult times, I knew that knowledge and self-improvement could open new opportunities," she said. Faced with limited income from farming, Asmita sought alternative livelihoods. In 2010-11, she completed a bee-keeping course and began producing honey at home for local markets. In 2014, she enhanced her skills by completing a bakery course at Navsari Agricultural University, further diversifying her capabilities. In 2015, with guidance from rural development officials, Asmita founded the aSahyadri Sakhi Mandala with 10 women. Initially, the group produced mango, lemon, and karonda (carissa carandas) pickles, along with seasonal products. Funding through the Mission Mangalam scheme, which provided a revolving fund of Rs 15,000, enabled them to expand production to include ragi-based products, papad, biscuits, and flour. Later, a business loan of Rs 2,00,000 allowed the purchase of turmeric processing and grinding machinery, facilitating production of organic turmeric powder. At present, the Sahyadri Sakhi Mandal's members divide responsibilities according to their skills. Some handle honey packaging and processing at home, while others produce pickles, amla candy, ragi wafers, and bamboo handicrafts. Their products are sold locally and displayed at state and national-level agricultural fairs. Reflecting on the journey, Asmita said: "Just as the strength of a tree lies in its roots and its branches expand when given opportunities, our group has grown strong today." She added that the success of her self-help group is a result of combining traditional knowledge, natural resources, and community collaboration. Her achievements have received national recognition. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Asmita has been commended for promoting rural self-reliance and women's empowerment. She has had the honour of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi three times and has been awarded the Krushi Ratna Award by the Gujarat government. In 2015, she also received the Atma Award from the District Agricultural Technology Management Agency. Notably, Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) will be held in Surat in April this year, which aims to connect local women's self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs with broader markets. The platform will provide opportunities for women entrepreneurs like Asmita to showcase their skills and access new business avenues. Today, Asmita is widely regarded as a respected and guiding figure in her village and community. She credits her success to the support provided under Mission Mangalam and the efforts of the government to extend benefits to women in rural areas. Islamabad, March 7 : Pakistan's military establishment behaves not simply as a "State sponsor of proxies", but as a proxy force baked by its own state apparatus - using civilian governments as diplomatic packaging while the army maintains strategic control. Islamabad, March 7 (IANS) Pakistan's military establishment behaves not simply as a "State sponsor of proxies", but as a proxy force baked by its own state apparatus using civilian governments as diplomatic packaging while the army maintains strategic control. When granted international validation, the military regime translates that legitimacy into operational freedom intensifying coercion against Afghanistan, violating its sovereignty, and causing recurring civilian casualties documented by global media outlets and organisations, including the United Nations, a report detailed. "Pakistan's military establishment has spent decades turning Afghanistan into a managed battlefield an arena to be penetrated, pressured, and periodically punished so that no Afghan government can fully control its sovereignty or pursue an independent regional policy. That doctrine is usually packaged in the language of 'strategic depth,' 'counterterrorism', or 'Line of Control (LOC)/Durand Line security'," a report in 'Eurasia Review' detailed. "In practice, it has looked like a repeatable cycle: build proxies, weaponise instability, sell 'solutions' to outside powers, and then reset the crisis whenever Afghanistan begins to slip outside Pakistan's control," it added. According to the report, the recent escalations marked airstrikes, drone attacks, and cross-border violence reflect this pattern. "What makes the latest phase distinct", it said, is the "recurring pattern of Washington validation followed by Afghan bloodshed" - moments when Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and "self-declared" Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are publicly praised by President Donald Trump, "followed soon after by Pakistani attacks inside Afghanistan that Afghans and UN-linked reporting describe as involving civilian casualties." "Timing alone does not prove causation. But when timing repeats in the same political rhythm praise, photo-ops, diplomatic uplift; then bombs over Afghan territory it becomes a pattern that deserves documentation, not dismissal," the report noted. According to the report, Pakistan's military leadership does not require an explicit written "green light" to act, arguing that global politics often functions through signals such as "who is welcomed, who is praised, who is treated as indispensable, and who is publicly framed as a 'partner'." When Pakistan's top military leadership receives strong validation in Washington particularly during heightened regional tensions Rawalpindi may interpret it as diplomatic cover to act more aggressively against Afghanistan while still projecting itself as a cooperative partner. The report further said, "Trump's public praise of Sharif and Munir is not only symbolism; it shapes the narrative environment. It positions Pakistan as a valued partner while Afghanistan is framed primarily as a source of militancy and disorder. That asymmetry praise for Islamabad, suspicion toward Kabul makes it easier for Pakistan to violate Afghan sovereignty, kill civilians and still claim legitimacy as a counter-terror actor." New Delhi, March 7 : India's billionaire figures have risen to 308 -- an increase of 24 from last year -- which indicates strong wealth creation and sustained economic momentum, according to the Hurun Research Institute's 'Hurun Global Rich List 2026' released on Saturday. New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) Indiaas billionaire figures have risen to 308 -- an increase of 24 from last year -- which indicates strong wealth creation and sustained economic momentum, according to the Hurun Research Instituteas aHurun Global Rich List 2026a released on Saturday. The increase pushed India to the third position globally in terms of the number of billionaires, behind the United States and China. The total wealth held by Indian billionaires rose 10 per cent year-on-year to Rs 112.6 trillion, with 199 individuals seeing an increase in their fortunes. However, 109 billionaires experienced a decline in wealth or saw their net worth remain unchanged. Women accounted for 7 per cent of Indiaas billionaire population. According to the Hurun report, Indiaas billionaire class is expanding beyond traditional industries, reflecting the broad base of economic growth across sectors. The healthcare sector produced the largest number of new billionaires, with 53 entrants, followed by industrial products with 36 and consumer goods with 31 new additions. Despite fewer entrants, the energy sector commanded the largest share of wealth, generating Rs 18.3 trillion from just eight billionaires, accounting for about 16 per cent of Indiaas cumulative billionaire wealth. Mumbai remained Indiaas top billionaire hub with 95 billionaires, although it lost its position as Asiaas billionaire capital to Shenzhen, which now hosts 133 billionaires. The Indian financial capital added 15 new billionaires, surpassing additions in New York City (14) and London (9). Globally, New York led the ranking of billionaire cities with 146 billionaires, followed by Shanghai with 120, Beijing with 107, and London with 102. Indiaas billionaires are relatively older than the global average, with an average age of 67, compared with the global average of 65, the report noted. Meanwhile, 23 Indian women billionaires together hold a combined wealth of Rs 9.8 trillion, said the report. Kathmandu, March 7 : India was the first country to extend assistance to Nepal for conducting the national election held on Thursday, following the political upheaval last year that forced former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign after widespread protests led largely by younger citizens. In an interview with IANS, retired Justice Anil Sinha, a senior minister in the interim government led by Sushila Karki, said Nepal sought logistical help from India during the election preparations. "We have to maintain good relations with all our neighbours," Sinha said. "In the run-up to the election, India was the first country to come forward and offer help. We asked New Delhi to help us with logistical requirements, mainly for the poll process." According to the minister, India provided around 310 vehicles and other election-related supplies to Nepal in January in two initial tranches. These included SUVs and pickup vehicles. A third tranche delivered in February included more than 270 additional vehicles, among them 50 trucks meant for the Nepali Army, along with other supplies. Sinha added that China later extended financial support for the election process. "Later, China came forward with financial support for conducting the election. Thus, the neighbours were keen to see the democratic process continue and that a constitutional government be formed," he said. "At the same time, there are other countries with which we have friendly diplomatic relations. They too gave full support and asserted that relations will not be affected by what has happened in the past," he added. The interim cabinet will continue to function until a new government assumes office. In September 2025, when Ramchandra Paudel, President of Nepal, approved the interim cabinet recommended by Prime Minister Karki, Sinha was assigned several key ministries, including Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. "Later, I urged the Prime Minister to shift the last portfolio since my hands were full, and she complied but asked me to look after Civil Aviation, Culture and Tourism," Sinha said. "Then one minister resigned to run for Parliament, and PM Karki decided to continue with the team she had rather than add more ministers for a short period. Thus, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation came to me again. At one point, I was holding four ministries, which included 12 departments," he said with a laugh. Discussing challenges before the incoming government, Sinha pointed to deep-rooted institutional issues. He said sections of the bureaucracy, intelligence agencies and security forces had become politicised. "Except the army," he stressed. He also criticised the previous government for excessive spending on politically driven projects. "There was hardly any money in the treasury. The coffers were empty. There were unnecessary expenses, some incurred on projects with political aims," he contended. Sinha alleged that appointments and promotions in security agencies had often been influenced by political considerations over the past two decades. "Every time, when appointing the chief of security agencies or granting promotions, there were many manipulations that we heard about in the last two decades," he said. "Even their investigations were politically influenced. Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force need to be independent of political interference." He also accused the previous regime of politicising the intelligence apparatus, which he said had affected its functioning. However, he claimed that the interim government had begun restoring institutional independence. "In less than two months after the regime change, the system started restructuring itself," Sinha said. "And soon credible information started flowing in." "Now there is excellent coordination among the security agencies and also with the government," he added, asserting that the security system was now functioning more efficiently and without political interference. As vote counting continues, early trends suggest a strong performance by the relatively new Rashtriya Swatantra Party, raising expectations for political change in the Himalayan nation. Mysuru : , March 7 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that he will present two more Budgets during the remaining tenure of the government if the party high command permits him to do so. He made the statement in response to a question on whether he would present two more Budgets as the Congress-led government has two more years remaining in its term. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke to the media on Saturday after receiving a guard of honour from the district administration at the Pillahalli helipad in Varuna hobli of Mysuru. When asked again whether he was confident of presenting two more Budgets, Siddaramaiah said, "People across the state want that. But what decision the high command takes is what matters." When asked whether he was confident about it, Siddaramaiah said, "I have confidence. I will be committed to the decisions of the high command. Breaking records in terms of presenting Budgets is not important. If people give an opportunity, it is possible." Responding to another question on whether he had confidence in the party high command, Siddaramaiah said, "We always have confidence in the high command." "If not the high command, should I have confidence in you?" the Chief Minister said, pointing towards media persons. "No matter how you twist and ask questions, my answer will remain the same. The high command has to take a decision. If the high command wants me to continue, I will continue. If they do not want me to continue, I will not," Siddaramaiah maintained. Speaking about the Budget, he said, "This is my 17th Budget. I have presented the highest number of Budgets in the state." Responding to a question on the increase in LPG cylinder prices, Siddaramaiah said, "Do you know what the price of LPG was before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power? After the BJP came to power, the prices increased. The media never writes about it." Later, Siddaramaiah participated in and performed the consecration of the Kumbha Kalasha as part of the 'Dandimaramma Temple Pratishtapana Mahotsava' organised by the Sri Dandimaramma and Siddappaji Seva Samiti. Members of the Legislative Council Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Thimmayya and Shivakumar, Vice-Chairperson of the Guarantee Implementation Committee Pushpa Amarnath, and District Congress President Vijaykumar, along with several other prominent leaders, were present. Mumbai, March 7 : After his unopposed re-election to the Rajya Sabha, former Union Minister and NCP-SP President Sharad Pawar, on Saturday, issued a heartfelt letter expressing his deep gratitude toward the people of Maharashtra. Due to ongoing health concerns and medical advice to rest, Sharad Pawar noted that personal meetings are currently not possible, leading him to share his sentiments through this written message. The letter was shared on social media platform X by his grand nephew MLA Rohit Pawar. The re-election comes after a period of intense national and state-level speculation regarding whether the veteran political leader would seek another term due to his health. Ultimately, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) finalised Sharad Pawar's candidacy. With Sharad Pawar's consent, his application was submitted from his residence. In the letter, Sharad Pawar reflected on his extensive political journey that began in 1967. He highlighted that his political career has remained uninterrupted for more than five decades solely due to the unwavering trust of the public. "Since first being elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1967, this political journey has continued without pause because of the faith the people have placed in me," the NCP-SP President said. He acknowledged his tenure in various capacities, including serving as a Minister, Chief Minister, and Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra. He noted his service at the Centre as the Union Defence Minister and his ten-year tenure as the Union Agriculture Minister. Sharad Pawar credited the success of his developmental work for both Maharashtra and the country to the strength provided by public support. He thanked the citizens and allied parties for granting him another six-year term to serve. The NCP-SP President clarified that direct interaction is currently restricted as per doctors' orders, but underscores his deep-rooted connection with the state. "The love, trust, and support given by Maharashtra are the true sources of energy in my life," Sharad Pawar said, affirming his resolve to continue working honestly to meet public expectations. Despite being in the twilight of his political career, the letter makes it clear that Sharad Pawar remains as committed and enthusiastic about public life as ever, further cementing his legacy in Indian politics. Agartala, March 7 : Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan arrived in Agartala on Saturday as part of his maiden visit to three Northeastern states -- Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura -- and will address the 14th convocation of Tripura University on Sunday. After addressing the 20th convocation ceremony of Mizoram University in Aizawl, the Vice-President reached Tripura's capital Agartala on Saturday afternoon on his maiden visit to the state since assuming office. Upon his arrival at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala, Vice-President Radhakrishnan was warmly received by Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, State BJP President and Rajya Sabha member Rajib Bhattacharjee, State Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, and Director General of Police Anurag. Vice-President Radhakrishnan was also accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at Lok Bhavan in the capital complex on the outskirts of the city. During his stay in Agartala, before addressing the convocation on Sunday, the Vice-President will meet several 'Lakhpati Didis' and members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) at the International Trade and Fair Centre, located on the outskirts of the city. He will also pay tribute to martyred soldiers at the Albert Ekka Memorial Park. Police authorities have put in place elaborate security arrangements for the Vice-President's visit to Tripura. A university official said that the convocation ceremony could not be held over the past two years -- 2024 and 2025. During the ceremony, certificates, degrees, gold medals and PhD degrees will be conferred on eligible students. As many as 283 students from various departments will receive gold medals, while 149 research scholars will be awarded PhD degrees at the convocation. Vice-President Radhakrishnan will inaugurate the ceremony at the university campus in Suryamaninagar, on the outskirts of Agartala. Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha and the university's Chancellor Ahmad Javed will also address the gathering. Tripura University was established in October 1987 and was upgraded to a Central University on July 2, 2007, under the Tripura University Act, 2006, enacted by the Parliament. At present, 64 colleges are affiliated with the university. On the first leg of his visit to the three Northeastern states -- Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura -- the Vice-President addressed the eighth convocation ceremony of Nagaland University in Kohima on Friday. --IANS sc/khz -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 7 : A court at Delhi's Patiala House on Saturday ordered the release of Siddharth Avdhoot in connection with the shirtless protest during the AI Impact Summit and later issued an order for his release from prison. New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) A court at Delhias Patiala House on Saturday ordered the release of Siddharth Avdhoot in connection with the shirtless protest during the AI Impact Summit and later issued an order for his release from prison. Avdhoot was granted bail on March 5 after spending 9 days in police custody. He was arrested by the Delhi Police from a resort in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, in connection with the case. According to the Delhi Police, Avdhoot played a key role in the protest, allegedly designing the T-shirts worn by demonstrators and arranging their printing for the event. During the hearing, Delhi Police produced the accused before the court and sought 14 days' judicial custody. However, Duty Magistrate Charan Salwan granted bail to Avdhoot after considering submissions from both sides. The court allowed bail on a bond of Rs 50,000, with a surety bond of the same amount. Advocates Nandita Rao, Roopesh Singh Bhadauria, Chitwan Godara, Sumit Rawat, and Rishabh appeared before the court on behalf of the accused and argued in favour of granting bail. The defence counsel submitted that Avdhootas role in the alleged protest was not as serious as that of other accused persons in the case. They pointed out that at least 10 other accused individuals were involved, and some had allegedly more serious roles than Avdhoot. The defence argued that he should be granted bail on the grounds of parity, since the court had already granted relief to other co-accused in the case. Delhi Police, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastava, opposed the bail plea. The prosecution told the court that the accusedas earlier bail application had already been rejected and the present request should not be allowed. The defence counsel countered the prosecutionas arguments and said that the circumstances in the case had changed. They told the court that several co-accused had already been granted bail and that the investigation into Avdhoot had been completed. The defence submitted that the accused was not a flight risk and should be granted bail. According to the defence lawyers, Avdhoot is a resident of Delhi and has strong roots in society. APP Atul Shrivastava opposed the submissions again, arguing that the accused should not be granted bail merely on the ground of parity. He told the court that serious allegations had been made against Avdhoot in the case. The prosecution alleged that the accused had designed the T-shirts used during the protest and arranged for them to be printed through other individuals involved in the plan. Delhi Police informed the court that two other accused persons in the case were still absconding. According to the prosecution, Avdhoot played a major role in organising the protest. Police told the court that the accused had allegedly visited Bharat Mandapam on February 17 to conduct a reconnaissance of the venue. During this visit, he allegedly identified the location of the protest, specifically the area near the Google stall at the event venue. The police argued that the protest had been planned in a manner that could damage the countryas international reputation, as it occurred during a high-profile global event. The defence opposed these claims, arguing that the allegations against Avdhoot were limited mainly to arranging the printing of the T-shirts used during the protest. The defence pointed out that the offences alleged in the case carry a maximum punishment of up to five years, and the accused deserved bail. After hearing detailed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the court granted bail to Siddharth Avdhoot and ordered his release from prison. Jammu, March 7 : On the occasion of International Women's Day, several women in Jammu expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday for implementing various schemes aimed at empowering women across the country. They said that such initiatives have provided women with better opportunities and platforms to move forward and achieve their aspirations. Many women said that earlier they had limited opportunities to showcase their talent or start their own ventures, but now government support and awareness programmes have helped them become more confident and financially independent. They also highlighted that India is rapidly advancing in the startup sector, where women are actively contributing across fields such as handicrafts, Basohli painting, Basohli shawls, Khadi, jute-based products, and other forms of entrepreneurship. According to them, the government is encouraging such initiatives and providing a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several women said his government has taken significant steps to strengthen women's participation in economic and social development. They added that many women are now starting their own businesses and contributing to the growth of their families and communities. Speaking to IANS, Prabha Khurana, a resident of Jammu, said that while governments in the past also worked for society, there has been a greater focus on women's progress in recent years. "The government was good earlier, too, but it has now become more progressive. Women today are not only managing their households but are also running businesses. Earlier, many women were unaware of their rights, but awareness has increased. Some women are involved in mushroom farming, while others are doing embroidery and running small businesses. Women are becoming more empowered under this government," she said. Another woman, Seema, said that several government schemes are helping women grow as entrepreneurs. "The government is introducing many schemes that are very beneficial for women's empowerment. As an entrepreneur, I feel happy to see women working and becoming independent. I request everyone to support the women and sisters in their lives," she said. Another woman entrepreneur also shared her experience, saying that government support has helped her expand her work. "The Modi government is helping us. In the coming years, I want to move further ahead in my life and achieve more. At present, around 20 women are working with us. I feel fortunate that we are working and running a business. I would like to encourage all women to step out and do something they truly love," she said. International Women's Day, celebrated every year on March 8, honours the achievements of women and raises awareness about gender equality and empowerment. The day recognises the contributions of women in social, economic, cultural, and political fields while promoting equal opportunities and rights for them. The day also commemorates the efforts of countless women who fought for equal rights, spoke out against discrimination, and demanded equal opportunities in society. --IANS jk/dan -- Syndicated from IANS Bengaluru, March 7 : Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the Karnataka government has taken stringent measures to curb cybercrime and ensure digital safety for citizens. HM Parameshwara was speaking on Saturday after inaugurating the third annual Cyber Crime Investigation Summit titled 'CIDECODE', organised by the CID and the Cyber Crime Investigation Training and Research Centre at a private hotel in Bengaluru city. HM Parameshwara said Karnataka is not just a state but a global brand. "When the world looks at Bengaluru, it sees the future of innovation. We have one of the best and most secure digital systems," he said. He said the state government has taken strict measures to tackle cybercrime by establishing specialised cybercrime units equipped with the skills, training and technology required to investigate cyber attacks and collect digital evidence. The government has set up 43 Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police stations across all districts and major cities in Karnataka. "Our government is committed to ensuring cyber safety for our citizens," HM Parameshwara said. HM Parameshwara added that the government has created a favourable environment for a cyber security innovation ecosystem by collaborating with a diverse range of companies specialising in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, cloud computing, cyber security compliance and risk management. He said initiatives undertaken in partnership with the private sector and international organisations would help enhance digital security for citizens. Dialogues and knowledge-sharing platforms like the summit would help address the rapidly-evolving cyber threat landscape, including issues such as dark web activities, cryptocurrency tracking, prevention of financial fraud and strengthening digital forensic laboratories. HM Parameshwara said the establishment of the Cyber Crime Investigation Training and Research Centre (CCITR) in the state has significantly strengthened cybercrime investigation, enhanced research capabilities and helped equip police officers with advanced technical skills. Research publications and capacity-building initiatives emerging from the CCITR have made meaningful contributions to the cyber policing system, he added. He said the CCITR has trained more than 62,000 people, including police officers and staff from Karnataka as well as members of various state and central agencies. "Cybercrime is not confined to any geographical region. It is borderless, technology-driven and constantly evolving. From financial fraud and cryptocurrency-related crimes to dark web-based drug networks and data breaches, the scale of threats is increasing rapidly. These challenges must be addressed not only with technological capability but also by strengthening legal frameworks," he said. Director General of Police M.A. Saleem, Cyber Command DGP Pranav Mohanty, Infosys Foundation Trustee Sunil Kumar Dhareshwar and Data Security Council of India CEO Vinayak Godse were present at the event. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, March 7 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Saturday, greeted women across the state on the occasion of International Women's Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, and reaffirmed the DMK government's commitment to strengthening women's rights, welfare and economic independence. In his message, the Chief Minister praised the resilience, strength and contributions of women in every sphere of life and said their progress is central to the development of society. Chief Minister Stalin said the Dravidian movement had long championed the cause of gender equality and social justice. He recalled that social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy played a pivotal role in challenging patriarchal structures and questioned the historical subjugation of women through his famous work "Pen Yen Adimaiaanaal?" (Why did women become slaves?). According to Chief Minister Stalin, Periyar's ideas helped ignite a broader social awakening on women's rights and dignity. Chief Minister Stalin also paid tribute to former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for carrying forward those reformist ideals through progressive legislation. He noted that Karunanidhi's government enacted laws granting equal property rights to women and implemented reservation for women in government employment, steps that significantly improved women's access to economic and social opportunities. He said the present DMK-led state government continues to follow these ideals through what it calls the "Dravidian Model" of governance, which focuses on inclusive development and social justice. According to the Chief Minister, empowering women through education, employment and financial security remains a central priority of his administration. Chief Minister Stalin listed several welfare initiatives introduced by the current DMK government to improve the lives of women across Tamil Nadu. These include the Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme providing free bus travel for women, the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) offering financial assistance to women heads of families, and the Pudhumai Penn scheme encouraging girls to continue their education. He also highlighted the establishment of Thozhi hostels for working women, concessions in registration fees for properties registered in women's names, a free HPV vaccination programme for girls aged below 14 years, the Nannilam land ownership scheme for Adi Dravidar and tribal women, and the appointment of women Odhuvars in temples. Looking ahead, the Chief Minister said that women would remain at the centre of Tamil Nadu's development agenda. He expressed confidence that their participation and leadership would play a crucial role in shaping the state's economic future and in achieving the state government's broader vision for sustainable growth and social progress. Reaffirming the state government's commitment, Chief Minister Stalin said that further initiatives aimed at strengthening women's financial security and opportunities would continue to be implemented. He emphasised that the progress of women is inseparable from the progress of Tamil Nadu and that empowering them will remain a key priority of the state government in the years ahead. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, March 7 : Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has unveiled its next-generation Blade Battery 2.0, a new EV battery technology that promises a driving range of more than 1,000 kilometres along with ultra-fast charging and improved safety features. According to the company, the battery can deliver a driving range of more than 1,000 kilometres under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle. This marks a significant improvement compared with the first-generation Blade Battery, which typically offered a range of about 600 kilometres under similar conditions. One of the most important features of the new battery is its ultra-fast charging capability. BYD said its "flash charging" system can charge the battery from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in just five minutes. A charge from 10 per cent to 97 per cent can be completed in about nine minutes under normal conditions, as per the company. The battery also performs well in extreme weather. Even after being exposed to temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius for 24 hours, the battery can recharge from 20 per cent to 97 per cent in around 12 minutes, according to the company. Wang Chuanfu, chairman and CEO of BYD, said the new battery has been designed to deliver faster charging speeds even in extremely cold environments. "The battery uses higher energy density technology, enabling longer driving ranges for future electric vehicles," he added. The company said vehicles equipped with the Blade Battery 2.0 can recharge between 30 per cent and 50 per cent faster than most current electric vehicles. Wang explained that charging to 97 per cent is recommended so that the remaining battery capacity can be used through regenerative braking while driving. Safety remains a key focus of the Blade Battery design. BYD said the battery has passed rigorous safety tests, including nail penetration and bottom impact tests, and meets safety standards that exceed China's latest national requirements. The first vehicle expected to use the new battery will be the Yangwang U7, a luxury electric sedan from BYD's premium brand Yangwang. According to product director Zheng Yu, the car will deliver a pure electric range of around 1,006 kilometres under CLTC conditions when equipped with a 150 kWh battery pack. New Delhi, March 7 : Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to contribute $135.6-$149.9 billion to the value creation journey of manufacturing MSMEs by 2035 - under a scenario where MSMEs account for 50 per cent of India's gross manufacturing value added, a report showed on Saturday. New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to contribute $135.6$149.9 billion to the value creation journey of manufacturing MSMEs by 2035 under a scenario where MSMEs account for 50 per cent of India's gross manufacturing value added, a report showed on Saturday. According to the joint report by PwC India and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), if India succeeds in increasing manufacturing's share of GDP to 25 per cent, and MSMEs raise their contribution to India's manufacturing from 35.4 per cent in FY 202324 to 50 per cent by 2047, they stand to unlock growth opportunities in the range of $3.13$3.21 trillion by 2047. "AI is no longer the preserve of large enterprises. Deployed as a copilot not a replacement it can help MSMEs break out of the lowproductivity trap and compete on quality, speed, and innovation, while strengthening jobs and supplychain resilience," said Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India. "We are keen to advance thought leadership that underscores a humancentric, ecosystemled approach one that makes AI accessible, affordable, and actionable for businesses of every size. Used as an enabler of people and productivity, AI can help MSMEs leapfrog structural constraints and integrate more meaningfully into global value chains" he added. The report highlights AI's potential to transform MSMEs across the manufacturing value chain from predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, and visionbased quality control on shopfloors, to AIenabled credit assessment, multilingual customer engagement, compliance automation, and generative design. By lowering capability barriers and reducing the cost of scale, AI can help small firms improve consistency, meet global standards, and expand output faster. With large investments expected in data centres and semiconductor ecosystems, MSMEs could participate by supplying nontechintensive capital goods such as harnesses, cooling equipment, and industrial components opening a $100$150 billion manufacturing opportunity over time. "India's AI moment will be defined not by frontier breakthroughs alone, but by how deeply and equitably AI diffuses across its industrial economy. MSMEs sit at the heart of this transformation. Our work with PwC India offers a pragmatic, bottomup roadmap that aligns policy, industry, and civil society to ensure AI adoption strengthens competitiveness, preserves employment, and advances inclusive growth," said Samir Saran, President, ORF. Raipur/Durg, Chhattisgarh : In a swift move amid rising political controversy, the BJP has suspended its leader Vinay Tamrakar from the party. a The action follows allegations of illegal opium (poppy) cultivation on his farmland in Durg district. a According to party sources, the suspension was ordered by BJP State President Kiran Singh Deo after videos and photos of the alleged cultivation went viral on social media. a A formal letter was issued on Saturday (March 7) for tarnishing the party's image. Tamrakar, who served as the State Coordinator of the BJP's Rice Mill Processing Project under the Kisan Morcha, was also removed from that position by State General Secretary Dr Naveen Markandey. a The controversy erupted on March 6, when a police and administrative team, acting on a written complaint, raided Tamrakar's farmhouse in Samudra village, Durg district. a Authorities reportedly discovered illegal opium poppy cultivation spread over more than one and a half acres of land. The incident quickly escalated into a major political row, with the opposition Congress party launching sharp attacks on the ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh. a Videos and images from the site circulated widely online, prompting Congress leaders to accuse the party of protecting individuals involved in serious illegal activities. a Adding fuel to the fire, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel visited the site on March 7 along with local Congress leaders to inspect the area and highlight the issue. This move is expected to intensify political tensions in the state in the coming days. a The BJP's prompt suspension appears aimed at damage control, distancing itself from the allegations. Party officials have emphasised that such actions undermine the organisation's reputation and public trust. The case remains under police investigation, with potential legal proceedings expected against those involved in the illegal cultivation. a Opium poppy farming without proper authorisation is a serious offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in India. a This development has sparked debates across Chhattisgarh about accountability within political ranks and the broader issue of illicit crop cultivation in rural areas. a Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 : The Sivagiri Mutt on Saturday urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to ensure that candidates from backward communities are fielded in winnable constituencies in the upcoming Assembly elections. The demand was raised when the Congress leader visited the mutt and paid homage at the samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri. This marked the second consecutive day of Rahul Gandhias participation in programmes associated with the Sivagiri Mutt. On the previous day, he attended the centenary celebrations of the Guru-Gandhi Samagam held in Kollam. Following that event, he visited the mutt on Saturday morning. Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by K. C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary and MP, and Adoor Prakash, UDF convenor, among others. The leaders first visited the Mahasamadhi of Sree Narayana Guru and offered floral tributes. The Congress leader was received by Swami Sachchidananda, president of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust. After paying respects at the samadhi, Rahul Gandhi visited the Vaidika Mutt, the place where Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore had earlier come to meet Sree Narayana Guru. He later visited the Sarada Mutt within the Sivagiri complex. Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi held discussions with the swamis of Sivagiri Mutt at the guest house. During this interaction, the mutt formally submitted a written request seeking adequate representation for backward communities in the upcoming Assembly elections. According to Swami Sachchidananda, the mutt specifically demanded that candidates from backward communities be allotted constituencies where victory prospects are strong. Rahul Gandhi reportedly responded that the request would be examined. The visit of a key Congress leader to Sivagiri assumes significance in the backdrop of the approaching Assembly elections. The programme in Kollam was jointly organised by the Sivagiri Mutt and the Rajiv Gandhi Study and Research Centre of the KPCC. Political observers view Rahul Gandhias visit as part of the Congress partyas broader effort to strengthen ties with the Ezhava community through the Sivagiri Mutt ahead of the elections. The Hindu Ezhava community in Kerala is the single largest community, edging out the Hindu Nairs to second place. Out of the 22 sitting Congress legislators, there is only one MLA who belongs to the Ezhava community, and hence this written request from the mutt assumes significance. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Internal medicine physician Shiv K. Goel discusses his article Claude for Healthcare vs. administrative burden: a physicians review. Shiv contrasts the two hours he spent fighting a prior authorization with the promise of Anthropics new Claude for Healthcare, an AI system designed to handle claims and verify coverage in minutes. The conversation explores the race between Anthropic and OpenAI to dominate medical AI and the potential for these tools to liberate physicians from paperwork. Shiv warns, however, that without physician input, these efficiencies could simply be used to increase patient quotas rather than improve care. Discover whether the AI administrator is the solution to burnout or a new threat to the profession. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Lets work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended Transcript Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome back Shiv K. Goel, internal medicine physician. Todays KevinMD article is Claude for health care versus administrative burden: a physicians review. Shiv, welcome back to the show. Shiv K. Goel: Thank you. Thank you for having me, Kevin. Kevin Pho: So today we are going to talk about Claude for health care. It is the new product from Anthropic, which is one of the large language models. I know ChatGPT also has ChatGPT Health. So they are going into the health care space. Tell us for some context, for those who arent familiar, what Claude for health care is and why you decided to write this review on KevinMD. Shiv K. Goel: Claude for health care is a large language model by Anthropic that has been adapted for health care tasks like summarizing the chart, helping draft documentation, and supporting insurance and revenue cycle workflows such as prioritization and appeals. In my article Claude for health care versus administrative burden: a physicians review, I walked through how this tool performs when pointed directly at the real bottlenecks physicians face, like eligibility checks, prior authorization narratives, appeal letters, and clerical chart work, rather than abstract AI demos. For example, I take common high-friction admin tasks from our internal medicine practice and evaluate how Claude generally saves time and cognitive load and where it risks adding steps or errors. I present a scenario in which Claude drafts strong, payer-friendly justifications in seconds. But I also warn that if health systems simply treat this as free labor, they may use it to stack more visits or tasks onto already overextended clinicians and overburdened doctors. Kevin Pho: So how does it work? For those who are familiar or didnt watch the demos, you mentioned that example with prior authorization. Tell us about the step-by-step approach about how it worked. Shiv K. Goel: They havent launched the model they have developed yet, but they have announced what we need to do. Before, it used to take hours and hours on the phone with the people at the insurance company to get a prior authorization, whether it was for a procedure or for medications. You kept faxing them details. Now with Claude, you have all the information on the cloud. You submit it to the system and they are the ones who take care of it in the background. If they need anything, they automatically create everything in it and send it to the insurance companies. Because the large language model has been trained on exactly how each insurance company wants it, and every insurance company has its own criteria that keep changing, they have every possible outcome in mind. So instead of us taking so long and being on the phone, the AI does it in the background. They have a collaboration with the average insurance company, and now a lot of them are using AI assistants. So as long as it meets their criteria and the clinicians are submitting the documents, it creates the authorization in seconds. Kevin Pho: So Claude would have access to the patients chart, or you would have to upload the patients chart to Claude. In the background, it will take whatever is relevant from that patients chart to process the pre-authorization. It could be for an imaging study or a drug, and automatically send it in the background to the insurance company. Is that having that right? Shiv K. Goel: Yes. Yes, exactly. Kevin Pho: Do they have any success rates in the demo or the pilot projects that show how much more successful an AI prior authorization tool would make a clinician? Shiv K. Goel: Right now, I havent personally used it because they just launched it, but it looks very promising. If it can be done, they have to navigate HIPAA laws and regulations, but it seems like an easy process to get it done as long as we are mitigating it through the right tools. My reason for writing the article is not about whether AI is making our life easy, because it definitely is, or if it is going to replace physicians. I dont think it can replace physicians. It is about what happens after we implement all those things and our administrative burden is much less so that doctors can work as doctors. A physicians mind is more valuable than just working on admin stuff. I wonder if that leads to more workload on physicians. Would the hospital systems or the big bureaus want you to see more and more patients because they think now you have more time? Or would they have you do other work? That is something I wanted to prioritize. Are we really thinking about whether it is making our life easy or is it making our life more tough? Kevin Pho: I think that this topic has come up in the past, especially with those ambient AI scribes. They have been shown to decrease the cognitive burden, and physicians are already so burnt out. But exactly as you said, when it comes to these administrators, they only see the numbers. They see physicians spending less time in a chart and maybe having less cognitive burden, and they are going to think: Why dont we just load up on more patients? It is important and I would say imperative for health care administrators not just to look at the numbers but to realize that their physician workforce is already burnt out. The answer for this increased productivity gain that AI gives them isnt simply to load them with more patients. Shiv K. Goel: Yes, exactly. I think this impact will also depend on the governance and the workflow design. It depends on whether physicians really have a voice in implementation. It feels like every tech company, whether it is Claude or ChatGPT, is creating tools for health care and for physicians without them having a say in the system. The main reason why physicians were burning out is because of so much documentation and admin work while seeing 20 to 30 patients on top of that in order to make a living. Now if AI is there to take away that administrative burden, they should have more time to talk to the patients. This will really help in health care because a lot of times we can hardly spend five minutes with the patients. In the background before and after, we are spending almost 30 to 40 minutes just on the administrative tasks for that patient. So instead of increasing the load, which doesnt lead anywhere because patient outcomes suffer. I have worked in the inpatient setting for a long time, around 15 plus years, and have worked in outpatient settings for almost six years now. I have worked in a university academic setting as well, and I have seen it everywhere. It is the same thing. We are doing just a band-aid approach to the health care system. It is most likely a triage system. A patient comes with symptoms like uncontrolled diabetes, and we give them extra insulin or increase the dose. But we never have the time to really address the issue of why their diabetes is uncontrolled or why they have diabetes to begin with. We ask if there is something we can do and then we refer to the primary care physician. We think the primary care physicians are going to take care of the preventative disease, but they are also overburdened. They have hired two, three, or four nurse practitioners who take care of those patients and who basically just keep refilling the same script again and again. So the main question is how we can navigate this. Why dont physicians have a voice in creating the systems that are for them? Instead of creating something that is just imposed on us, we should be voicing our opinions in creating it. The second issue is the health care system itself. We must focus on the root cause issues of the problem so patients can really get benefits, which can result in a decreased hospital admission rate, lower ER rates, and decreased morbidity and mortality. If the AI can save us 40 minutes per patient, even if we spend 20 minutes with the patient finding out what is causing the issue, educating the patients, and giving them handouts, it helps. AI can help us generate educational handouts we can give to them. We can not just save 20 minutes for ourselves, but we will also improve the health care system in general. People will benefit and we will not feel overburdened and burned out. Kevin Pho: We have to be careful that we dont let what happened to us with electronic medical records happen again. Physicians didnt have a say, and you had all these systems just imposed on us that didnt really take into account clinical workflow. I agree with you exactly that physicians need to be involved, especially with this AI boom. So how can we physicians do that? How can physicians get involved with all these new AI tools? Shiv K. Goel: I think this is where we all have to unite and voice our concerns. I have seen that there are so many companies that are so-called consulting physicians for this. It is not about consulting a physician who is just in a studio or advertising their own supplement company. They need clinicians who are working day and night and who understand the problems that are happening. Development should go side by side. Those tech companies are not going to come to us. They are not coming to us asking what we think and what we want to create. We have to voice it. Until we all stand up and voice it, it is not going to change. Otherwise, we can just sit and have something come to us and direct us what to do. Kevin Pho: Is there anything that worries you about this increasing reliance on large language models like Claude for health care, for instance, regarding hallucinations or misinformation? Even these insurance companies are using their own AI tools as well, and you are just going to have a fight between AI models in the background. Shiv K. Goel: Yes, actually. AI should only be used as a tool to provide possible outcomes, not for making the diagnosis. It should not be saying that this is what it is. I recently saw the Trump administration launch AI agents. According to them, in six months they are going to get FDA approval and in three years they would be for cardiovascular diseases. They are not consulting; they are telling us what to do. That is where a real problem lies. We have seen recently so many cases where a teenager killed himself because he asked the AI how to kill himself. He fell so much in love with that AI that he felt heartbroken. There are so many other cases that have been happening. AI is not a human. AI is basically collecting all that data and providing it to you. It is a good tool that can make your administrative work or reading work or creating scripts for many things easy for you. We need to use it as a helper. AI cannot replace physicians. People have a fear inside them. The more fear they have, definitely it is going to replace the ones who have the fear. It cannot, and we shouldnt even let this happen. AI is not a human. It cant read the emotional healing part of the patient. A lot of times it happens when a patient walks into the room, or I walk into a patients room, it is not just what the patient is saying, it is what the whole picture is telling me. The space in between the silence and the patients emotional resonance give me more ideas about what might be the real problem. If your patient says: Yes, I am OK, but the whole response sounds like I am not really OK, but I am saying I am OK, that is telling. There are a lot of things that we have to consider. Plus, it is not always about symptoms. It is more about how we understand the patient. A physician who has spent 20 plus years seeing thousands and thousands of patients from different cultural backgrounds, different ethnicities, and different takes on life understands their belief systems. We understand how and why they do things, why things affect them, and why things dont affect them. Ten different people with the same symptoms will have ten different diagnoses. That is where clinician judgment is needed to see what exactly I should be doing and if I should be prescribing this patient. Those large language models shouldnt be touched by technology companies all the time because they could change the whole system. That is the point. If we create AI as agents to implement things, that means we are telling the doctors what to do. If we dont voice our concerns, then those AI agents will be telling us what to do. If the doctors feel that we are too busy with our work to make a living, then we will be working under an AI. At the end, who will be suffering? The patients. People are the ones who are going to suffer because it is a revolution that is happening. The race is not between two AIs. The race is between who will be the next AI God and who will control health care. Because health care is everything. Health is related to your mind, body, and even spiritual health, your social health, and your emotional health. If we take up mental health, psychiatry is now going into AI as well. So while at the same time people feel excited, like I felt so excited that day when I heard a tool could get prior authorizations done in seconds, it also made me feel that we need to wait a second and ask what is going to happen then. Kevin Pho: We are talking to Shiv K. Goel, internal medicine physician. Todays KevinMD article is Claude for health care versus administrative burden: a physicians review. Shiv, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Shiv K. Goel: Yes. AI like Claude for health care will not fix medicine by itself, but it can be a powerful tool if physicians stay at the center of how it is designed and deployed. The goal isnt to make us faster typists. It is to remove the administrative noise that keeps us from thinking, listening, and connecting with patients. If we pair these tools with thoughtful leadership and strong boundaries, we can claim time, reduce burnout, and build a care system that serves both patients and clinicians far better than what we are living with now. But we have to stand up and voice our opinions. Otherwise, the same system that is designed for us will be designing us. Kevin Pho: Shiv, as always, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming back on the show. Shiv K. Goel: Thank you for having me, Kevin. Vrindavan, March 7 : In a major step towards blending tradition with technology, the revered Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple in Vrindavan has started the official LIVE broadcast of the deity's darshan through its verified social media platforms. With this system operational, devotees across the world are allowed to witness the divine presence of Banke Bihari Ji online for the first time. The initiative has been made possible by Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd., a technology-driven organisation that provides digital communication and media solutions for temples, gurus, and spiritual institutions. According to a statement issued by the company, this marks the first time in the temple's history that devotees can access the darshan through a structured digital platform. According to information, the authorities of the temple launched the LIVE service on the auspicious occasion of Rangbhari Ekadashi. This is a spiritually significant day for devotees. According to the statement, the move is aimed at helping millions of followers, who are unable to travel to Vrindavan, experience the sacred darshan remotely while preserving the sanctity and traditions of the temple. Bhavya Srivastava, associated with Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd. and founder of Religion World, described the development as a landmark moment for devotees worldwide. "This is a historic and deeply spiritual moment. For centuries, devotees have travelled to Vrindavan for a glimpse of Shri Banke Bihari Ji. Through this initiative, we are humbled to help extend the divine presence of Thakur Ji to devotees worldwide while maintaining the sanctity, traditions, and spiritual dignity of the temple," Srivastava said. K. Deepa, Partner at Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd., said that the organisation has been working to connect faith with modern digital tools in a meaningful and respectful manner. "Suyogya Media has been working with spiritual leaders, temples, and religious institutions to bring faith and technology together in a meaningful way. We are grateful to the temple administration for trusting us with such a sacred responsibility. Our aim is to create digital bridges so that devotees everywhere can remain connected with their faith and spiritual traditions," she said. Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd. has developed into a specialised organisation that supports religious and spiritual institutions through services such as live streaming, digital media management, social media outreach, and devotional content distribution. Mumbai, March 7 : Rapper Badshah, who has been facing a lot of backlash for his latest track, "Titiri," finally broke his silence in the matter, saying that he himself is a proud Haryanavi and did not wish to show any child or woman in a bad light through his song. He further pointed out that he comes from the Hip-Hop genre, where the lyrics are often meant to bring down the opponent. Badshah uploaded a video on his Instagram account saying, "My new song, Titiri, has been released, and I see that in one part of it, because of the lyrics and the visual representation, the message that has been conveyed, several people, especially my own people from Haryana, have had their sentiments hurt. First of all, I want to say that I am from Haryana. Those who know me know that my language, my food, my lifestyle, and my identity are all associated with Haryana. I am a very proud Haryanvi. I never intended to talk badly about any child or woman of Haryana." He further went on to explain, "I am from the hip-hop genre, where lyrics are often used to compete and bring down the opponent. The lyrics were never for any woman or child, nor will I ever do that. I have always tried to take Haryana's culture and language with me wherever I can, as much as I can." Towards the end of the clip, Badshah apologized in case he had hurt anyone. "I hope that you will consider me as a son of Haryana, as your own son, and forgive me," he concluded. Badshah was recently served a notice by the Haryana State Women's Commission, asking him to appear before them on March 13 to record his statement. The notice was issued after the complaint of Savita Arya, president of Nari Tu Narayani Sanstha, Panipat, and Shiv Kumar, head of Shiv Aarti Foundation. In the complaint, they objected to the line "Aaya Badshah doli chaddhane, in sabki ghodi banane", claiming that the song used filthy language and featured minor girls in school dress boarding a Haryana Roadways bus and throwing school bags. New Delhi, March 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a strong defence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, describing him as a leader totally dedicated to the Constitution with complete loyalty to the parliamentary system. The Prime Ministeras remarks come just 48 hours before the Lok Sabha is expected to deliberate on an Opposition-led resolution seeking the Speakeras removal over allegations of a "partisan approach." Delivering a video message during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Kota airport and the launch of several drinking water projects, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Speaker transcends party lines. "Today, he is not a member of any party. When I see him in the House, I feel that perhaps it is the influence of coming from a city of education; despite being the Lok Sabha Speaker, he acts as a good leader, taking everyone along," PM Modi said. In a veiled critique of the Oppositionas conduct, the Prime Minister compared the Speakeras role to that of a patient teacher. "He handles all our members very well. Even if some arrogant, spoiled students from high-class families refuse to give up their rude behaviour, he still manages everyone as the head of the House. He doesn't insult anyone and even tolerates everyone's harsh words," the PM added, noting that Birla maintains a "smile on his face" despite the provocations in the House. The political confrontation intensified as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a three-line whip on Friday to all its Lok Sabha MPs. The directive, signed by Chief Whip Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, instructs members to be "positively present" on March 9 and 10 to support the Governmentas stand on "very important legislative business." The Oppositionas move to seek Birla's removal gained momentum following a fierce face-off in Parliament concerning former Army Chief General MM Naravaneas unpublished memoirs. Critics allege the Speaker exhibited bias during the discussions, a claim the treasury benches have vehemently denied. As the second phase of the Budget Session commences on Monday, the House is bracing for a high-stakes showdown. The Prime Minister reiterated that the Speaker "respects the members immensely" and remains "above any side," setting the stage for a contentious debate on the motion. New Delhi, March 7 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said that in all trade deals, the country has protected its national interests, adding that we have secured the best trade deal with the US compared to other nations. Speaking at the 'Raisina Dialogue 2026' here, the minister said India has emerged as a self-confident nation in the last decade and New Delhi and Washington share a very powerful' relationship. "US President Donald Trump has always had the best of things to say about India as a country, and about Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi. We have fantastic relations with our counterparts there," said Goyal. "I think it's a very, very powerful relationship that the US and India share. And we got the best deal amongst all the nations with whom we compete," the minister added. "We have a large responsibility cast on both our nations. They are the world's largest economy, $30 trillion economy, nobody can wish them away," he said. "We are creating a World Wide Web of trade partnerships," Goyal highlighted, adding that the India-US relationship is strong and multi-dimensional. He recently said that India would go in for a rebalancing of the proposed trade agreement with the United States, if required, to protect its interests, in view of the changed situation following the US Supreme Court annulling the tariff hikes announced earlier by the Donald Trump administration. "Given the evolving situation on US tariffs, we will wait and watch and ensure India's best interests are protected," Goyal said at an event late last month. "It's an evolving situation. The Trump administration has made some comments; they have other tools that they can use. Next week, they can increase tariffs to 15 per cent. Various dialogues are going on. I had said that if the circumstances change, the deal will be rebalanced." The minister pointed out that the "India-US joint statement says that should circumstances change, the deal will be rebalanced". He further stated that bilateral trade discussions with the United States are continuing amid the changing situation. He reiterated that sensitive dairy and farm sectors have been protected in the proposed arrangement. He further stated that despite the global headwinds, India's exports are poised to increase this year. Islamabad, March 7 : A leading international human rights organisation has expressed grave concerns over the deaths of at least 26 people during protests that erupted across Pakistan following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, last week. Amnesty International has called for a thorough, independent, impartial and effective investigation into the deaths, injuries and the use of force deployed by security personnel during the March 1 protests. Citing reports, the rights body stated that as many as 10 people were killed and 96 injured outside the US Consulate in Karachi after protesters breached the premises. Several reports, it said, indicate that gunfire was used against protesters, with many of those taken to hospitals having gunshot wounds. According to Amnesty International, at least two protesters were killed and over 30 injured near the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad, as protesters reported the use of kinetic impact projectiles and tear gas canisters. Additionally, the rights body said, 14 people, including a soldier, were killed in the Skardu region of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) where the protesters also set fire to the office of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), a school and some municipal offices. Condemning the incidents, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, said, "The killing of protesters and reports of the use of lethal ammunition by security forces against these assemblies raise serious concerns about unlawful use of force. Protesters have a right to gather peacefully and express dissent, even in moments of heightened tension. During such crises, security forces must demonstrate their commitment to protecting life and safeguarding peaceful assembly. "Even in instances where some protesters turn violent, law enforcement must assess the situation on a case-by-case basis, exercise restraint, and use force only where absolutely necessary. Any force must be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and legitimate objective, and used solely against those engaged in violence," he said. Highlighting that lethal force may only be used as a last resort and only be targetted against those posing an imminent threat to life, Pant further said that the Pakistani authorities must act with restraint to avoid further serious injury and loss of life during future protests. "Further, they must take all measures to fulfil their positive obligation to facilitate the right to freedom of peaceful assemblies," he noted. Calling for a comprehensive investigation into the incidents, Pant said, "The families of those killed and the people injured have the right to a remedy." Kochi, March 7 : Two journalists from a leading national TV channel were arrested in Kochi on Saturday for attempting to capture visuals of an Iranian warship docked near the Mattancherry Wharf, with police warning of strict legal action against anyone photographing or filming vessels anchored along the Kerala coast due to national security concerns. Along with the arrested journalists, the driver of the boat in which they travelled to approach the vessel has also been taken into custody. According to officials, the journalists attempted to record visuals of the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan, which is currently docked off the Kochi coast. Earlier, the media team had approached personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who are guarding the area, seeking permission to obtain visuals of the vessel. However, the request was rejected, citing security concerns. Police said the journalists later hired a boat from Marine Drive and attempted to approach the warship to capture footage. Their presence inside the restricted zone was noticed by CISF personnel on duty. The security personnel detained them and subsequently handed them over to the Kochi Police. The camera used by the journalists has also been taken into custody as part of the investigation. The three accused were arrested for entering a prohibited area and will be produced before a court, police said. Meanwhile, Kochi Police issued a public advisory stating that strict restrictions are in place on photographing, filming or circulating visuals of ships anchored off the Kerala coast. The directive has been issued keeping national security considerations in mind. Authorities have also directed that any visuals of such vessels already circulating on media platforms or on social media should be removed immediately. Officials warned that violations could attract strict legal action, including heavy fines and possible imprisonment. Security agencies have intensified monitoring of coastal areas, and officials have urged the public and media organisations to fully cooperate with the restrictions. Jaipur, March 7 : A video message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was played during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport and the launch of major drinking water projects on Saturday. Jaipur, March 7 (IANS) A video message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was played during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kotaa"Bundi Greenfield Airport and the launch of major drinking water projects on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a new milestone of hope and achievement for the Hadoti region. He added that he had recently visited Rajasthan and from the sacred land of Ajmer, laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees aimed at accelerating the state's progress. On that occasion, appointment letters were also distributed by Prime Minister Modi to more than 21,000 youths from Rajasthan. The Prime Minister noted that the launch of two major development initiatives in Rajasthan within a single week reflects the rapid pace of development in the state. Prime Minister Modi described the occasion as a day of new hope and a significant achievement for the entire Hadoti region, including Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar. Highlighting Kota's importance, the Prime Minister remarked that Kota is not only a centre of education but also a centre of energy. He also referred to the region's well-known products and heritage, including Kota Kachori, Kota Doria, Kota Stone, sandstone, and several important religious sites in and around Kota. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Saturday that the people of the region had long demanded the establishment of a greenfield airport. Efforts toward this objective had been made over many years under different state governments, Speaker Birla added. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the promise made in Kota in 2023. Speaker Birla also recalled that Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had assured during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that the long-standing dream of an airport in Kota would be realised, and that promise has now been fulfilled. He emphasised that Kota already enjoys strong road and rail connectivity, and the addition of air connectivity will further accelerate development in the region. The region, Speaker Birla said, is blessed by the Chambal river, has abundant water resources, and is one of the largest producers of electricity in the country. The Lok Sabha Speaker also told that Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Limited has set a target to develop nearly 600 hectares of land near the proposed airport, which is expected to open new opportunities for industrial development in the region. Looking ahead, Speaker Birla expressed confidence that Kota will emerge as a major IT hub in the future. "Over the next two years, significant growth is expected across sectors such as industry, agricultural processing, and tourism, paving the way for rapid development and making the Hadoti region one of the fastest-growing regions in the country." The Kotaa"Bundi Greenfield Airport will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,507 crore (nearly $180 million). The airport will have a passenger handling capacity of 1,000 passengers at a time. It will feature a 20,000-square metre terminal building, a 3,200-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway, and seven apron bays for parking Airbus A321 aircraft. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the airport is expected to be completed within the next two years. He added that the terminal building will reflect the cultural heritage of the Hadoti region so that visitors arriving in Kota can experience the region's identity and hospitality from the moment they arrive here. Chief Minister Sharma also reiterated the BJP-led Rajasthan government's commitment to ensuring water for every farm and safe drinking water for every household in the state. Tehran, March 7 : Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) hit an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the official news agency IRNA reported. The report said the "violating" oil tanker, sailing under the commercial name 'Prima', was struck by a drone after it failed to pay attention to frequent warnings issued by the IRGC's Navy about the prohibition of movement across the Strait of Hormuz due to security reasons, Xinhua news agency reported. The report quoted the IRGC as saying that the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been "under control" for eight days since the beginning of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and oil tankers and commercial vessels allied with the "hostile states" are not allowed to pass through it. On Friday, Iran said that it has no plan to close the Strait of Hormuz and denied reports claiming that the country has fully blocked the strategic waterway. According to a report by Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a senior officer of IRGC said in an interview with state TV that claims by some media outlets that Iran had closed the Hormuz strait were inaccurate. "We have been accused by some of closing the strait, but in fact Iran has not shut down this waterway," the officer said, adding that Iran would handle shipping in the area in accordance with international navigation rules. Iran's state TV quoted a military source as saying on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, but warned that any vessels belonging to the United States or Israel would be considered military targets. Also on Friday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told an international conference in New Delhi that Iran had not closed the Strait of Hormuz and had no immediate plan to do so. "If Iran decides to close the strait, it will make an official announcement," he said. On Thursday, several Iranian media outlets quoted an Iranian military officer as saying that Iran had not closed the Hormuz strait. The officer said Iran treats transiting vessels in accordance with international agreements and only intercepts warships disguised as commercial vessels. But the IRGC reiterated that in times of war, Iran has the right to control navigation through the strait and that vessels belonging to the United States, Israel and European countries were prohibited from passing through it. The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on February 28, killing Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targetting Israel and US assets across the region. New Delhi/Gwalior, March 7 : Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday wrote to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, requesting that major cities in his parliamentary constituency of Guna in Madhya Pradesh be connected to the proposed 'Madhya Bharat Vikas Path'. The 'Madhya Bharat Vikas Path', also referred to as the 'Nagpura"Bhopala"Gwalior Green Corridor', is a major proposed 746-km expressway in Madhya Pradesh designed to connect Betul to Morena, passing through areas such as Bhopal and Gwalior, to enhance regional trade, tourism and logistics. In his letter, Scindia noted that major cities in the Guna Lok Sabha constituency, such as Ashoknagar, Mungaoli and Chanderi, are not directly connected to any national highway. He said that linking these cities to the proposed expressway network would not only improve transportation facilities but also generate new investment, industry and employment opportunities in the region. He stated that improved road connectivity would provide a new impetus to economic activity in the Gwaliora"Chambal division and surrounding areas, enabling the region to embark on a new path of development. The proposed Madhya Bharat Vikas Path is currently in the preliminary survey phase, which is expected to be completed in the next four to five months. The survey is also examining the possibility of connecting Chanderi, Ashoknagar and Mungaoli to this corridor. Scindia said that the aMadhya Bharat Vikas Patha is a crucial component of the new expressway network proposed in the state under the Government of India's aVision 2047a. This approximately 746-km-long corridor will begin in Morena, extend through the Gwaliora"Chambal region and continue to Nagpur. It will not only facilitate travel between major cities but also provide improved connectivity to important tourist destinations such as Chanderi and Orchha. The corridor is also expected to strengthen connectivity between Nagpur and Hyderabad. Scindia stated that in order to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modias vision of a aDeveloped Indiaa, the proposed new expressways in Madhya Pradesh -- such as the Narmada Pragati Path, Vindhya Expressway and Malwaa"Nimar Vikas Path -- will provide new impetus to the stateas economic and social progress. He expressed confidence that the implementation of these projects would accelerate infrastructure development in Madhya Pradesh and provide better connectivity, investment and employment opportunities to citizens of the region. Mamallapuram, March 7 : Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay announced a series of welfare promises aimed at women, children and senior citizens while addressing a large gathering at a Women's Day celebration organised by the party at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu. Speaking at the event, Vijay said that the empowerment, safety and economic security of women would be among the top priorities of his party if it comes to power in Tamil Nadu. He unveiled a range of initiatives that he said were designed to improve the quality of life for women and strengthen family welfare across the State. As part of the proposed measures, Vijay announced that a separate government department dedicated to women, children and senior citizens would be established. He said the department would function under his direct supervision to ensure that welfare schemes are implemented effectively and transparently. In a major financial support proposal, Vijay promised that all women aged 60 and above would receive a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500. However, he clarified that women employed in government service would not be eligible for this benefit. The TVK leader also announced the "Annapoorna Super Six" scheme, under which each family would receive six free LPG cylinders every year. The scheme, he said, is intended to reduce the financial burden on households and support women who manage family kitchens. In addition, Vijay promised that mothers or guardians of students studying from Class 1 to Class 12 would receive an annual scholarship of Rs 15,000. The aim of the programme, he said, is to prevent school dropouts and ensure that children complete their education. Highlighting women's mobility and safety, Vijay said that under the "Vetri Yatra" initiative, women would be allowed to travel free of cost in all government buses across Tamil Nadu. To strengthen women's security, he announced the formation of a special force called the "Rani Velu Nachiyar Sena." According to him, around 500 teams will be created across the State to ensure the safety of women in public spaces. He also promised 100 per cent subsidy loans of up to Rs 5 lakh through self-help groups to support women entrepreneurs and improve economic independence. In another welfare initiative, Vijay announced the "Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme," under which gold rings will be given to newborn children in Tamil Nadu, symbolising support for families and the well-being of infants. Vijay said these initiatives reflect his party's commitment to building a society where women are safe, economically empowered and given equal opportunities. Chennai, March 7 : The AIADMK, on Saturday, announced a protest against the DMK government, accusing it of neglecting the demands of workers employed in Tamil Nadu's state-run transport corporations. AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, said on Saturday that Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai, the party's transport workers' wing, will organise a protest in Chennai on March 13. According to the announcement, the protest will be held in front of Pallavan Illam, the headquarters of the state's Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The protest will be led by senior AIADMK leader and former Minister D. Jayakumar. In a statement, Palaniswami alleged that the DMK government had failed to address several long-pending demands raised by transport corporation workers in Tamil Nadu. Among the key demands are the implementation of the wage revision agreement and the provision of surrender leave benefits for employees in the state. The AIADMK General Secretary said that the transport corporation workers had been repeatedly seeking these benefits, but the DMK-led state government had not taken adequate steps to resolve their grievances. Palaniswami accused the DMK of ignoring the concerns of thousands of transport workers, who play a vital role in maintaining public transport services across the state. The AIADMK leader also recalled that during the administrations led by former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, as well as during his own tenure as the Chief Minister, the demands of transport workers and other sections of the working class were given due consideration. According to Palaniswami, several welfare measures and benefits were implemented during those periods to support government employees and labourers. He also alleged that the DMK had made numerous promises to workers and government employees during the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, despite being aware that many of those commitments would be difficult to fulfill. He claimed that after coming to power in the state following the state polls, the DMK government had failed to honour many of its assurances, leaving transport corporation workers dissatisfied. The planned protest, Palaniswami said, is intended to highlight these issues and press the state government to take immediate steps to address the workers' demands. AIADMK leaders said the protest is expected to draw participation from transport workers and party functionaries from different parts of the state. They added that the protest will aim to exert pressure on the DMK government to resolve the grievances of transport corporation employees at the earliest. Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday unveiled a set of five welfare "guarantees" for Kerala, promising expanded social protection and employment support if the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) returns to power in the state. Addressing the valedictory function of the statewide yatra led by Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan, Gandhi said the proposed guarantees were aimed at providing economic security to ordinary families and addressing unemployment among the youth. The guarantees include free travel for women in buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, a Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for college-going girl students, and increasing welfare pensions to Rs 3,000 per month. He also announced a comprehensive health insurance scheme offering coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh for every household, which will be named after former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Another key proposal is a Rs 5 lakh loan facility for youth to start businesses, along with the creation of a dedicated ministry for senior citizens. Gandhi said a UDF government would prioritise job creation by supporting small and medium enterprises and creating conditions that would encourage young Keralites working abroad to return home. Launching a political attack on the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Gandhi alleged that the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party were working in tacit coordination in the state. He also questioned why central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation had taken action against opposition leaders but not against the Kerala Chief Minister despite allegations. Speaking emotionally about his bond with the state, Gandhi said Kerala had stood by him during difficult times. "In the worst times, Kerala was not just my friend but also my protector. I am ready to do what is good for Kerala and for all of you. Forever, I am a soldier of the people of Kerala," he said. Calling for unity within the UDF, he urged leaders of the alliance to work together, saying the people of Kerala wanted the opposition to act collectively to bring about political change in the state. "All of the UDF leaders should dance together," Gandhi said. New Delhi, March 7 : Even after the recent Rs 60 increase in domestic LPG prices, India continues to have one of the lowest LPG cylinder prices in the region, according to government sources on Saturday. Data showed that cooking gas in India remains significantly cheaper than in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Government sources said the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in Delhi is currently around Rs 613 as of March 2026. In comparison, the same cylinder costs around Rs 1,046 in Pakistan, about Rs 1,241 in Sri Lanka and roughly Rs 1,207 in Nepal. Officials said this reflects the governmentas effort to keep cooking fuel affordable for households despite fluctuations in global energy prices. The Rs 60 increase in domestic LPG prices has created the impression of a sharp burden on consumers. However, officials said the revision needs to be seen in the context of global LPG price movements and Indiaas dependence on imports. India imports more than 60 per cent of its LPG requirement, and domestic prices are linked to international benchmarks such as the Saudi Contract Price. International LPG prices have seen major fluctuations in recent years. Government sources noted that the Saudi Contract Price rose from about $415 per metric tonne in 2020-21 to $712 per metric tonne in 2022-23. Despite the sharp increase in global prices during that period, the government ensured that the full impact was not passed on to domestic consumers. To support this effort, the government compensated oil marketing companies around Rs 22,000 crore in the financial year 2022-23 to cover losses incurred from selling LPG at lower prices than international levels. Officials said the companies also absorbed significant losses during 2024-25, estimated at around Rs 40,000 crore, while the government approved Rs 30,000 crore in compensation to ensure uninterrupted supply. Officials also pointed out that even after the recent price revision, domestic LPG cylinders are still being sold below market-linked prices. In March 2026, the market-determined price of a 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi was estimated at around Rs 987, while consumers were paying about Rs 853, nearly Rs 134 less than the market price. Although calculations suggested that a price increase of about Rs 134 per cylinder was required, the government approved only a Rs 60 hike, absorbing the rest of the cost to protect consumers. Bhopal, March 7 : The Congress in Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government of failing to "fully spend" the budget allocated from the Central government for several public beneficiary schemes. Addressing a press conference, the State Congress President Jitu Patwari said that the BJP government in the state is proving to be extremely negligent in budget management and planning. "The situation is so dire that the state government is unable to fully spend even the budget allocated for centrally funded schemes. The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has completely ruined the state's agriculture and rural development departments," Patwari alleged. The veteran Congress leader alleged that failure (spending fund) of the BJP government reflects not only administrative weakness but also the BJP government's indifference to the state's rural development. "If the budgets for schemes funded by both the Central and state governments are not being spent on time, it is clear that the Madhya Pradesh government lacks a clear plan and the will to implement them effectively," Patwari said during the press conference. The State Congress President claimed that the Central government had allocated a budget of Rs 27,745.18 crore for rural development in the year 2025a"26, but as of March 7, 2026, only Rs 11,457.66 crore has been spent. "This means only 41.3 per cent of the total budget has been utilised. This clearly shows that the state government's priority is not rural development, but only announcements and publicity," he said. Patwari alleged that the state government even failed to fully utilise funds allocated and those includes Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Janman Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission, and several others. The veteran Congress leader also claimed that even crucial rural development schemes have received very little expenditure, which reflects the state government's serious negligence. He alleged that due to state government's negligence, financial mismanagement, and increasing corruption, development schemes in Madhya Pradesh are collapsing before they could be implemented on the ground. Patwari said that the reports show that the Madhya Pradesh government is merely making announcements in the name of rural development, while serious negligence is being shown in the implementation of the welfare schemes. "If there is no expenditure on rural development schemes, how will employment increase in villages, how will roads be built, how will the poor get housing, and how will the rural economy be strengthened," the veteran Congress leader asked? Kolkata, March 7 : The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Parivartan Yatra is continuing to receive a strong response from people in West Bengal, as party leaders accuse the Trinamool Congress government of corruption, misgovernance and administrative failures. At a Parivartan Yatra programme in the Midnapore division of West Midnapore district, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya addressed the gathering and sharply criticised the state government. He stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had once promised to remove the fear created during the CPI-M regime, but claimed that people in West Bengal are once again living in an atmosphere of insecurity. He alleged that corruption has reached such a level that money is being demanded for recruitment in colleges. "At a time when unemployed youth need jobs, the Trinamool Congress government is talking about allowances rather than creating employment opportunities," Bhattacharya said. He further stated that the Trinamool Congress has become a "tested and rejected" political force. According to him, the party had come to power promising to restore democracy and remove fear from society, but instead it has turned the state into an open market where fundamental rights are being trampled. Bhattacharya also referred to alleged irregularities in voter lists, stating that during verification processes there have been instances where the age difference between a father and son is barely ten years. He called upon people to say "No to TMC" and urged citizens to participate in the Brigade Rally in Kolkata on March 14, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a public gathering. Meanwhile, the Parivartan Yatra in Phulbari of South Dinajpur district was attended by Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, MP Khagen Murmu and other BJP leaders and workers. Sukanta Majumdar said BJP workers are standing in the scorching heat to ensure the success of the programme. He added that if it had been a Trinamool Congress programme, biryani packets would have been needed to keep the crowd intact. He said the BJP is committed to bringing real change by creating jobs, improving healthcare infrastructure and protecting West Bengal from emerging demographic challenges. At a Parivartan Yatra programme in the Mongalkote Assembly constituency in East Burdwan district, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari accused the Trinamool Congress government of pushing West Bengal towards decline through corruption and appeasement politics. He stated that the BJP-led Central government has provided over Rs 10 lakh crore to West Bengal, significantly more financial assistance than previous Congress governments. Meanwhile, the Yatra also witnessed enthusiastic participation in the Sreerampur Assembly constituency in Hooghly district, where Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw joined the roadshow. As the Yatra continues to move across districts and divisions of the state, it is witnessing increasing public participation and support, BJP leaders claimed. Aizawl, March 7 : A joint team of the Assam Rifles and Police has arrested a Myanmar national and seized 19 air rifles along with 75,000 pellets during an operation in southern Mizoram's Siaha district, officials said on Saturday. a Aizawl, March 7 (IANS) A joint team of the Assam Rifles and Police has arrested a Myanmar national and seized 19 air rifles along with 75,000 pellets during an operation in southern Mizoramas Siaha district, officials said on Saturday. a An official said that a Myanmarese was apprehended after security forces seized a large cache of air rifles and ammunition during a vehicle checkup in Siaha district, which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar. a According to the official, the operation was carried out following specific intelligence inputs. A Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was jointly established by Assam Rifles and personnel of the Mizoram Police at the Lungbun Police outpost in the Niawhtlang area. a The joint team intercepted a Tata Yodha driven by a Myanmar national. a During a thorough search of the vehicle, security personnel recovered 19 air rifles, including 18 NX200 (4.5mm) and one PX100 (4.5mm), along with 75,000 pellets, contained in 150 boxes of Excite brand. Other items seized include a telescope for an air rifle, a nitro piston, a spring for an air rifle, and a Redmi 15C mobile phone. a The driver was identified as Khar Lian (36), a resident of Matupi in neighbouring Myanmar. a He was immediately taken into custody. The apprehended individual and the seized items have been handed over to the Siaha Police Station for further investigation and legal action. a Mizoram shares a 510-km-long unfenced international border with Myanmar and a 318-km-long porous mountainous border with Bangladesh, making the mountainous state particularly vulnerable to cross-border smuggling and illegal movements. a Myanmar's Chin State is considered a major hub for the smuggling of various narcotics, arms and ammunition, exotic wildlife, foreign-made cigarettes, Myanmar areca nuts (betel nuts), and other contraband through six districts of Mizoram -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. a Chandigarh, March 7 : Marking a significant success in ongoing efforts to track and bring back offenders evading justice overseas amidst the ongoing 'Gangstran Te Vaar' campaign launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, most-wanted gangster Amritpal Singh, alias Amrit Dalam, has been detained at the Moldova border, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Saturday. a Chandigarh, March 7 (IANS) Marking a significant success in ongoing efforts to track and bring back offenders evading justice overseas amidst the ongoing 'Gangstran Te Vaar' campaign launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, most-wanted gangster Amritpal Singh, alias Amrit Dalam, has been detained at the Moldova border, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Saturday. The fugitive Amritpal Dalam was detained on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice (Red Corner Notice) issued at the request of Punjab Police in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Interpol, and other central agencies. Pertinently, on the directions of Chief Minister Mann, the Punjab Police has recently established Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), headed by Inspector General of Police (IGP-Counter Intelligence) Ashish Choudhary, to reach out to the criminals sitting abroad and expedite their extradition process to bring them back to Punjab to face legal action. According to information, Amritpal Singh, alias Amrit Dalam, a native of Dalam Nangal village in Batala, was closely aligned with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and had fled abroad using a fraudulent passport. He has been actively making extortion calls targeting individuals and business owners, particularly in the Amritsar region. DGP Yadav said that Amritpal Singh is wanted in multiple serious criminal cases, including drug smuggling, murders, attempted murders, etc., in Punjab and had been absconding abroad for a considerable period. "His (Amrit Dalam's) detention follows sustained international coordination and persistent follow-up by Punjab Police agencies," he said, while adding that legal and diplomatic procedures are now underway to secure his extradition or deportation to India so that he can face the law. The DGP said that the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of the Punjab Police is currently pursuing various criminals who are hiding abroad. Kabul, March 7 : The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarm over Afghanistan's hunger crisis, warning that millions are facing acute food insecurity amid the escalating border conflicts with Pakistan. The agency stated that without sufficient funding, it may also struggle to provide aid to refugees fleeing Iran and Pakistan, as well as those internally displaced due to conflict along the border. "Afghanistan remains one of the world's most severe hunger crisis, with one in three Afghans 17.4 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," said John Aylieff, WFP Afghanistan Representative and Country Director. According to Aylieff, the cross-border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified since February 26, displacing approximately 20,000 Afghan families across the eastern, southeastern and southern regions. He stressed that across the Afghan provinces, including Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Paktika, Paktya, Khost, Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, WFP has been forced to temporarily suspend emergency, social protection, school feeding and livelihood activities, affecting nearly 160,000 people. Highlighting that on Afghanistan's western border, violence in Iran is sparking fears of a surge in returnees, Aylieff said, "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." "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," he added. Aylieff stated that for the winter response in 2026, the WFP was able to provide food assistance to a fraction of those in need, while cautioning that funding for emergency operations will run out in the next month, putting millions at risk of losing critical support in Afghanistan. "Our funding needs for the next six months stand at US$313 million. WFP urges the international community to honour their commitment and not abandon Afghanistan in its hour of greatest need," he noted. Bengaluru, March 7 : The Karnataka Lokayukta Police on Saturday conducted search operations in connection with a disproportionate assets case registered against a Range Forest Officer attached to the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), and allegedly unearthed properties worth Rs 3.19 crore. According to an official statement, the searches were carried out in connection with a case registered at the Lokayukta Police Station, Bengaluru City-1, against the accused government officer identified as Dalesh A.L. Simultaneous raids were conducted at more than four locations, including the residences, office and premises of relatives of the accused officer. During the searches, the Lokayukta Police allegedly found movable and immovable assets disproportionate to the known sources of income of the officer. Officials said the searches revealed immovable properties worth about Rs 2.70 crore and movable assets valued at Rs 48.85 lakh. The immovable properties include three sites, two houses, one commercial building and about 17.20 acres of agricultural land. The movable assets include Rs 1.35 lakh in cash and gold ornaments worth around Rs 13 lakh. Further investigation into the case is under way, the statement added. In another case, a woman official of the Hubballia"Dharwad Municipal Corporation was caught by Lokayukta police on Saturday while allegedly accepting a bribe for issuing a licence to run a roti shop. The accused has been identified as Heena Kausar, an officer attached to the corporationas Zone-1 office. She was caught red-handed by Lokayukta officials while receiving the bribe amount. According to officials, Maleppa Talwar had applied for a licence to start a roti shop. It is alleged that Heena Kausar demanded a bribe of Rs 4,500 to process and issue the licence. Sources said she had earlier received Rs 1,000 as an advance from the complainant. On March 7, when she was allegedly accepting the remaining Rs 3,500 from Maleppa Talwar, Lokayukta officials conducted a trap operation and caught her with the cash. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Siddalingappa. Officials said the accused was taken into custody and further legal action has been initiated. Mysuru : , March 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday expressed strong concern over the state Budget and questioned how the Karnataka government was utilising borrowed funds. "The Congress-led government's new borrowing is Rs 1.32 lakh crore and the state's total debt now stands at Rs 8.24 lakh crore," the Union Minister said. Speaking at the 397th Aradhana of Sri Guru Budiswamiji, the 63rd Pramathara Pooja and the inauguration of a new building at Sri Ukkinakante Mutt in Madahalli village of Hunsur taluk in Mysuru district, Kumaraswamy said merely printing statistics in the Budget document would serve no purpose. "What will you achieve by showing only statistics? The aspirations of the people must be fulfilled," he said, warning the state government to take decisions cautiously. "I want to clearly tell the Chief Minister that the coming days could be difficult. Do not forget that and make decisions carefully," he added. Addressing Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who was present on the dais, Kumaraswamy said: "I want to tell my sister one thing. I have no objection to the Rs 2,000 Gruha Lakshmi assistance being given to women through your department, nor do I oppose the scheme." He said that over the past three years the government might have spent around Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 75,000 crore under the scheme. "But where are you bringing this money from?" he asked. Kumaraswamy claimed that the state's total debt has now reached Rs 8.24 lakh crore and that the government plans to borrow an additional Rs 1.32 lakh crore this year. "If you are borrowing such huge amounts, where is that money going? There is no capital expenditure and no creation of government assets. Then what exactly are you doing with all the borrowed funds?" he asked. He urged Lakshmi Hebbalkar to advise the Chief Minister, warning that otherwise the state's financial condition could deteriorate. Kumaraswamy also recalled that he had served as Chief Minister twice for a short period and had promised to waive farmers' loans. "Many mocked me saying there was no money and asked how I would waive loans. But I managed to implement the loan waiver without borrowing," he said. Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji of Suttur Mutt, Siddalinga Mahaswamiji of Siddaganga Mutt and ambasadashiva Swamiji of Ukkinakante Mutt were among the seers who graced the event. Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, former minister S.R. Mahesh, MLA G.D. Harish Gowda, former MLA and Mysuru Rural district JD(S) president Ashwin Kumar, MLC C.N. Manjegowda and several other prominent leaders were present. Kolkata, March 7 : Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after President Droupadi Murmu expressed displeasure over the state government allotting a smaller venue for the 9th International Santal Conference at Gossaipur in Darjeeling district, where she was the chief guest. Using his X handle, Adhikari said, "The farce unfolding in West Bengal today is a damning verdict on Mamata Banerjee's crumbling empire; a brazen assault on Constitutional sanctity and Tribal dignity." Earlier in the day, the President's event was initially scheduled to be held at Phansidewa in the same district. However, the organisers had to shift the venue at the last moment to a smaller location at Gossaipur after the state administration reportedly denied permission for the programme at Phansidewa on security grounds. President Murmu expressed displeasure over the last-minute change in the venue. She also pointed out that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or any of her Cabinet colleagues did not meet her during her visit to the state, which she said was against established traditions and protocols whenever the President visits a place. Extending his support to the President, Adhikari said, "In a spectacle that shatters every norm of protocol, our esteemed President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji was left to voice her rare and justified dismay over the shoddy arrangements and glaring snubs during her Siliguri visit. No Red Carpet of respect, no state machinery in sight, just the hollow echoes of TMC Govt's disdain." Further attacking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the development, the BJP leader said, "Worse still, the Mamata Banerjee Administration stonewalled the International Santhali Conclave; an event graced by the Hon'ble President herself as the Chief Guest. Permission denied? Or simply sabotaged through neglect? A deliberate erasure of Santhali voices and heritage. And where was Mamata Banerjee or her Cabinet Ministers? Nowhere to be seen, no protocol observed, no courtesy extended. The Highest Office of the land, reduced to an afterthought." According to him, this was not an oversight rather an orchestrated contempt. "Peel back the layers, and it reeks of Mamata Banerjee's unmasked Anti-Tribal venom. Remember how she queued up in the Vidhansabha to cast her vote against Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji in the Presidential polls? She couldn't stomach it then and still can't now, that for the first time since Independence, a resilient Tribal Woman has claimed the pinnacle of our Republic," he added. Adhikari said that West Bengal's Chief Minister has "devolved into Bengal's divider; Anti-Tribal to her core, allergic to accountability, and architect of institutional anarchy. Time for change. Time for dignity." Islamabad, March 7 : A Christian minority worker in Pakistan's Punjab province was allegedly tortured to death by his Muslim employers, who then staged the murder to look like suicide by hanging, a report highlighted on Saturday citing allegations made by the victim's younger brother. According to Dilshad Masih, the 21-year-old deceased, Marcus Masih, had worked for five years at a cattle farm run by Muhammad Mohsin Kharal and Muhammad Basharat Kharal in Sargodha district of Punjab. Dilshad said that Basharat called him on the morning of March 4 to inform him that his brother had hanged himself from the ceiling of a cattle shed, Christian Daily International-Morning Star News reported. "Two relatives and I immediately went to their village, where we saw Marcus's body hanging from the ceiling. They told us they had no idea why he would take his own life," Christian Daily International quoted Dilshad as saying. Dilshad further said the family grew suspicious after hospital staff handed over the body following a post-mortem examination. He claimed that lawyers connected to the Muslim employers pressured them into placing their thumbprints on a blank sheet of paper, saying it was necessary for sending the body for autopsy. "We were in deep shock and grief and did not question them. But when the body was returned to us, we saw severe bruises and burn marks. That is when we realised Marcus had been tortured," he said. The report noted that in the wake of the incident, dozens of Christians held a protest by placing the body on the main highway and obstructing traffic, demanding that a criminal case be filed. Police later lodged an FIR, said Dilshad Condemning the killing, Asher Adeel, a Sargodha-based human rights advocate, called for an impartial investigation. "The visible injuries suggest severe torture. If the allegations are true, the accused not only killed him but attempted to disguise the crime as suicide and coerced the family into signing blank papers. Authorities must ensure that no one is above the law," Christian Daily International quoted Adeel as saying. Dilshad added that the family is seeking legal aid and has urged provincial authorities to conduct a transparent investigation. "We just want the truth. My brother deserves justice," he stressed. Citing Christian rights groups, the report said that the case "reflects broader vulnerabilities faced by religious minorities in rural Pakistan, where impoverished Christians often work in low-paid, informal sectors under influential landowners." Kolkata, March 7 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over President Droupadi Murmu's displeasure earlier in the day regarding the West Bengal government allotting a smaller venue for the 9th International Santal Conference at Gossaipur in Darjeeling district, where the President was the chief guest. Addressing a sit-in protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at Esplanade East in central Kolkata, which began on Friday, CM Banerjee accused the BJP of exploiting the office of the President to defame West Bengal. "Where has the BJP taken the Constitution today? We feel ashamed to say that. We respect the Hon'ble President. Now she has also been sent to promote the BJP's politics and fulfil the BJP's agenda. I am sorry, Madam. I have the utmost respect for you. But you have fallen into the BJP's trap," the Chief Minister said. Claiming that the President had accused the West Bengal government of deliberately preventing people from attending the International Santal Conclave, the Chief Minister said such allegations were baseless, as the state government was not the organiser of the event. "It was not a state event. The state government was not even aware of the event. We get information about when she will come and when she will go. We try to make arrangements as far as possible. But if someone comes every day, how can I attend every time? Don't we have work to do? Do we have to be on your tail all the time? Come once a year, I will go and receive you. If you come 50 times a year, I do not have that much time to attend every time," Banerjee said. She also said that she could not receive the President as she was participating in the anti-SIR demonstration in what she described as the larger public interest. "You might be the priority for the BJP. But my priority is the common people," the Chief Minister said. CM Banerjee also reacted to the President's concerns earlier in the day over the lack of development for the tribal community in the state and questioned why the President remained silent when atrocities were taking place against tribal people in Manipur. "Why didn't you protest then? You remain silent when atrocities take place against tribal people in other states. Why is West Bengal always the target?" the Chief Minister asked. Washington, March 7 : More than 28,000 American citizens have safely returned to the US from the Middle East since late February, the State Department said on Saturday, as Washington continues large-scale evacuation and assistance efforts across the region. In a statement, Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said the US government had been coordinating flights, ground transport, and emergency assistance to help Americans leave the region amid ongoing security concerns. "Since February 28, more than 28,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East," Johnson added. He said that the data does not include Americans, who have travelled to other countries in the region or those still in transit on their way back to the US. "These figures do not include the many Americans who have safely relocated to other countries or those who have left the Middle East but are still in transit back to the US," the statement said. The US State Department said that it had organised special charter flights to move Americans out of areas affected by instability. "Additionally, the Department of State has completed more than a dozen charter flights and has safely evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East," Johnson said. Officials said the evacuation effort continues even as commercial aviation links across the region begin to stabilise. "While commercial flight availability across the region continues to improve, Department of State charter flight and ground transport operations continue to ramp up, as security conditions allow," the statement said. The State Department's emergency task force has also been coordinating assistance requests from American citizens across multiple Middle Eastern countries. "Through the State Department's 24/7 Task Force, we have directly assisted more than 16,000 Americans abroad, offering security guidance and travel assistance," Johnson added. US officials said American citizens in several Gulf countries and Israel, who require help leaving the region, should contact the department through its crisis system. "American citizens in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in need of travel assistance should complete the Crisis Intake Form," the statement said. The State Department emphasised that assistance efforts will continue for as long as Americans remain in need of help leaving the region. "The State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen who wishes to leave the Middle East to do so," Johnson said. Officials also urged Americans seeking help to contact the department's emergency hotline. "Americans in the Middle East who need assistance can call the US Department of State, 24/7, at +1-202-501-4444," the statement said. The evacuation effort comes as tensions across parts of the Middle East have escalated in recent weeks, prompting Washington to advise American citizens to reconsider travel and review security conditions in several countries. The US government has in the past organised large-scale evacuations of citizens during crises in conflict zones or regions facing sudden instability, often coordinating charter flights, military transport and diplomatic assistance through Embassies and Consulates. New Delhi, March 7 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday condemned Aam Aadmi Party's city convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj for making a "baseless" allegation against the Delhi government over management of a Rs 1,000 crore loan. New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday condemned Aam Aadmi Party's city convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj for making a "baseless" allegation against the Delhi government over management of a Rs 1,000 crore loan. Sachdeva said that for state governments, taking loans either from the Central government, the Reserve Bank of India, or from financial institutions or the open market with the RBI's permission for long-term or short-term needs is a normal administrative practice. Even the Arvind Kejriwal government sought loans from the Central government in 2020 and 2022, and the Atishi government had also sought a loan of Rs 10,000 crore from the National Small Savings Fund of the Government of India in November 2024, before the elections, to spend on electoral schemes. After 11 years in power, the AAP government in Delhi left behind a debt of Rs 1,20,000 crore according to the Delhi government's own figures for 202425. The Delhi BJP chief said that while the Rekha Gupta government has proposed a loan of only Rs 1,000 crore in its first year in power for development works, the "AAP government" had proposed taking a loan of Rs 10,000 crore just two months before the elections for electoral freebies. Sachdeva said that before commenting on the Delhi government, Bharadwaj should have also looked at the loan demands of his own government and the fact that his party's Punjab government had taken loans worth Rs 50,000 crore in its very first year, and today, Punjab has a debt of more than Rs 4 lakh crore. In another development, Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has said that the statements made by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party leaders regarding the increase in cooking gas charges are politically motivated. Leaders of the Congress and AAP, who engage in petty and opportunistic politics, should understand before speaking that nearly three-fourths of India's gas supply comes from Central Asian countries. Kapoor said that for quite some time, prices of gas and other fuels in the international market have remained unstable and have been continuously rising. The situation has become even more concerning after the ongoing war in Central Asia, from where India receives three-fourths of its gas supply, he said. The cost of ensuring the supply of gas coming from Central Asia through new routes has increased significantly, and the present increase in gas prices will only compensate for that cost, he added. Washington, March 7 : U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday the creation of a new multinational military alliance aimed at destroying criminal drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere.a Washington, March 7 (IANS) U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday the creation of a new multinational military alliance aimed at destroying criminal drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere. Speaking at the inaugural Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump said the new initiative would unite governments and militaries in a coordinated campaign against organised crime networks. "On this historic day, we come together to announce a brand new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels in our region," Trump said. He said the partnership would be known as the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition. "We're calling this military partnership the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition," Trump said. Trump said leaders across the region had agreed that the threat posed by cartels had grown too serious to ignore. "Every leader here today is united in the conviction that we cannot and will not tolerate the lawlessness in our hemisphere any longer," he said. The president argued that military power would be necessary to dismantle heavily armed criminal groups. "The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries," Trump said. "We have to use our military. You have to use your military." Trump said many cartels had developed capabilities rivaling national armed forces. "Many of the cartels have developed sophisticated military operations," he said. "In some cases, they say they're more powerful than the military in the country." The coalition will bring together countries from across the Americas, with the United States providing intelligence and military leadership. "In many cases, our forces have already been working closely with yours," Trump said. "The United States looks forward to deepening and expanding that cooperation in the months ahead." Trump also warned that cartel violence threatens regional stability and security. "These brutal criminal organisations pose an unacceptable threat to national security," he said. He added that cartels also create opportunities for rival global powers to gain influence in the region. "They provide a dangerous gateway for foreign adversaries in our region," he said. U.S. officials said representatives from 17 countries had already joined the new coalition initiative. Transnational criminal organisations operating across Latin America have long been responsible for large-scale drug trafficking, violence, and corruption. Their operations supply narcotics to North American markets and often destabilise governments in parts of Central and South America. Washington, March 7 : US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American forces have inflicted severe damage on Iran's military infrastructure, claiming Tehran's naval and air capabilities had been crippled during the latest phase of fighting. Speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida, Trump said the US military operations had achieved sweeping battlefield results. "Tremendous progress has been made, as you've probably been watching," he added. "I built the military and rebuilt it and made it really strong in my first administration." Trump said that American forces had rapidly dismantled key Iranian assets. "We've knocked out 42 Navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of the Navy," he added. He also claimed Iran's communications network had been disabled. "We knocked out their Air Force, we knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications are gone," Trump said, adding: "I don't know how they communicate, but I guess they will figure something out." The US President described the operation as necessary to counter a nuclear threat. "They (Iran) were very close to a nuclear weapon," Trump said, adding: "They would have had one if we didn't do our B-2 hit 'Midnight Hammer'." He said the operation was aimed at preventing a larger global crisis. "We did the world a favour," Trump said, adding: "They (Iran) are crazy, and they would have used it." The US President also praised the strength of the US Armed Forces. "There's no military like it on Earth, not even close," he said. Trump added that the military campaign had been effective but acknowledged the human cost of war. He said he would travel to Dover to meet the families of American service members killed in the conflict. "I'll be leaving for Dover. Very sad situation to greet the families of the heroes coming home from Iran," Trump added. "There's always, when it comes to war, there's always that, but we're gonna keep it to a minimum." Trump framed the campaign as part of a broader effort to stabilise the Middle East and deter future threats. "It's gonna be something, a service that we're really providing, not for the Middle East, but for the world," he said. Mauganj, March 7 : A decomposed body of an unidentified man was recovered from a raw drain surrounded by bushes along the National Highway in Mauganj district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday evening, police said. According to Mauganj Police Station Officer Sandeep Bhartiya, the body was found in a severely decomposed state and in very poor condition, suggesting that it may have been dumped around 10 to 15 days earlier. He confirmed that the deceased was a male, estimated to be between 30 and 35 years of age. The body was found when a truck driver, who had halted briefly near the highway, noticed a strong odour emanating from a nearby area. On investigating, he spotted the body lying approximately 15 metres away from the National Highway that connects Rewa to Mirzapur-Banaras in Uttar Pradesh via Mauganj. The driver immediately informed a nearby shop owner, who then alerted the police through Dial 112. The body was subsequently sent for postmortem examination. Sandeep Bhartiya stated that the Mauganj police are making all possible efforts to identify the deceased. He said that the information has been circulated to nearby police stations, and complaints regarding missing persons in Mauganj as well as neighbouring districts of Rewa and Sidhi are being checked. "We are currently investigating missing persons reports filed with nearby police stations, and efforts are underway to identify the young man. As the body is highly decomposed, identification is very difficult. We have to wait for the autopsy report or for someone else to make a claim," he told IANS. He said that the area where the body was recovered is agricultural land located along the national highway outside Mauganj city, with only a few roadside stalls and food carts visible during the day. Bhartiya said it would be premature to conclude how the body reached the site, but did not rule out the possibility that the crime may have occurred elsewhere and the body was disposed of at another location to conceal evidence. "The matter is being investigated from various angles, and we are hopeful that the autopsy report will give some more clarity," he added. Bengaluru, March 7 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday extended his greetings to women across the state on the occasion of International Women's Day and reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening women's empowerment through various welfare initiatives. Bengaluru, March 7 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday extended his greetings to women across the state on the occasion of International Women's Day and reiterated the governmentas commitment to strengthening womenas empowerment through various welfare initiatives. In a message to the people of the state, the Chief Minister conveyed his wishes to all women, including mothers, sisters and daughters. He said the purpose of International Womenas Day is to create awareness about womenas empowerment, equality and dignity, while recognising their achievements in social, economic, educational, cultural and political spheres. Siddaramaiah said the role of women in society has undergone significant change in modern times, both within families and in the public sphere. He noted that women have overcome numerous social and physical challenges and have excelled in various fields, from domestic responsibilities to achievements in areas such as science and space exploration. However, he observed that despite this progress, gender inequality, domestic violence and physical and mental harassment at workplaces continue to persist, which he described as unfortunate. The Chief Minister said that in earlier periods, when the influence of Manusmriti was deeply rooted in society, equal opportunities for women were difficult to achieve. He pointed out that the 12th-century social justice movement led by Basavanna and other Sharanas not only opposed the caste-based system but also promoted gender equality. Inspired by this movement, several women, including Akka Mahadevi, played a significant role in the path of social reform. He said that although the arrival of the British and the spread of Western education led to some improvement in the social status of women, complete equality remained elusive. After Independence, the implementation of the Constitution drafted by Dr B.R. Ambedkar provided constitutional safeguards against gender discrimination and exploitation, while opening new opportunities for women. Siddaramaiah said women have effectively utilised these opportunities and have often excelled in education and professional fields. Referring to the recent Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) results, he said more than 25 candidates from Karnataka were selected, including several women who secured excellent ranks. He congratulated the successful candidates and expressed hope that their achievements would inspire more young women to pursue careers in civil services such as the IAS and IPS. Highlighting the governmentas efforts, the Chief Minister said the state administration has created a new chapter in womenas empowerment over the past two and a half years. He said several of the governmentas guarantee schemes, including Gruha Lakshmi, Shakti and Gruha Jyothi, are aimed at supporting women. According to him, the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel for women, has enabled them to travel independently for education, employment and health-related needs without depending on the head of the family. He said the initiative has contributed to a 23 per cent increase in womenas participation in employment in Bengaluru, with other regions of the state also witnessing notable improvement. He added that the Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi schemes have helped reduce the financial burden on women managing households. The Chief Minister also said Karnataka is the first state to implement mandatory paid menstrual leave for women aged 18 to 52 working in certain government and registered establishments. Siddaramaiah said the state government has allocated Rs 94,663 crore for women-oriented programmes in the 2026a"27 state Budget, reflecting its commitment to ensuring equal progress for women. Describing women as a unique and essential force in society, he said they play multiple roles as mothers, sisters and partners while contributing equally to the workforce. He said International Womenas Day is an occasion to remember and honour the sacrifice, service and dedication of women. The Chief Minister once again extended his greetings to all women in Karnataka on the occasion of International Womenas Day. Business ShipConsole Enhances Shipping Solutions for Microsoft Dynamics Users In many companies, shipping still involves jumping between systems. An order is created in the ERP system, but the actual shipment is processed on a carrier website. Rates are checked manually. Labels are printed from another screen. It gets the job done, but it slows things down and leaves room for mistakes. ShipConsole brings those steps together. Order details move directly from Microsoft Dynamics into the shipping process. Teams dont have to re-enter information or double-check that data matches across systems. Everything stays connected. With the updated system, users can: Compare carrier rates while working on the order Choose parcel or LTL services in the same flow Print labels and shipping documents right away Handle both domestic and international shipments This keeps the process moving from order entry to shipment without unnecessary delays. Shipping shouldnt feel separate from the rest of the order process, said a ShipConsole spokesperson. We wanted to make it easier for Dynamics users to manage shipments without adding new systems or extra work. The platform supports parcel and LTL carriers and helps generate the paperwork needed for international shipments. Businesses with more than one warehouse can use the same shipping approach across locations while still selecting carriers that best fit their needs. Another advantage is visibility. Instead of checking multiple carrier portals, teams can see shipment details, costs, and performance information in one place. That makes it easier to respond to customer questions and keep an eye on transportation spending. The updates are built for companies that ship dailywhether that means steady parcel volumes or regular freight movement. The idea is not to change how businesses run their ERP systems, but to improve shipping within them. As delivery expectations rise and shipping costs remain unpredictable, companies are seeking practical improvements. ShipConsole gives Microsoft Dynamics users a straightforward way to simplify shipping without overhauling their existing setup. For more information, visit: https://shipconsole.com/microsoft-dynamics-shipping-software/ About ShipConsole ShipConsole is a multi-carrier shipping software solution for ERP users. ShipConsole helps businesses ship their parcels and freight more efficiently and achieve greater visibility into their shipping activities. ShipConsole helps businesses with multi-modal shipping, freight quotes and rate shopping, international shipping with paperless invoicing, customs and hazmat documentation, analytics, a centralized document repository, and out-of-the-box integration with Microsoft Dynamics, among other things. The journalists God Forgives, Brothers Dont spotlights troubling ways that military schools have shaped American masculinity. You paint military schools as having been very successful at convincing Americans that men are naturally unemotional, violent creatures. When America was founded, there was a lot of skepticism toward the military, but eventually the practical work of building an empire and securing new territories came up, and America had to abandon that skepticismabandon those dark memories of living under British occupation. We can see that a lot of Revolutionary-era figures who were open to gentler interpretations of what manhood was abandoned them pretty quickly. A lot of what you describe happening at military schools is hazing of the in-groupwhite male cadets, usuallyand then some of it is exclusionary: violence and harassment against women and Black cadets. Black and women cadets understand that they are outsiders. They know they are going to face roadblocks. However, I found that what Black and women cadets have ended up experiencing is far more intensely negative than many of us have imagined. I mean just really deep, sustained abuse and domination. When we talk about American masculinity, we often talk about rugged individualism. So its interesting that you write about how American masculinity, as defined by these military schools, is characterized by hierarchy and obedience. The American masculine ideal contains many contradictions. At military schools, rugged individualism is channeled for state aimsfor conquest, expansion. Plus, theres also long been a promise at the heart of military education that if you make it through this gauntlet of abuse, you will be set up for success outside the military. And in some ways, individualism is winning out. Early in the 20th century, the militarys individualism and its collectivism were playing off each other, but after Vietnam and the profound loss of trust in the government, the noble ideal of collectivism was brushed off for a harder-edged, soldier-of-fortune mentality. Its almost a mercenary mindset, seen especially in todays special ops forces, who do one-off missions and dont have to conform to uniform regulations and so on. Do you think military schools can be reformed? There was a brief period during the Biden administration when it seemed like there was going to be a meaningful grappling with these issues. But now, of course, the top man installed at the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, embraces a very aggressive, violent mentality. Hes purged the military of Black and female leaders. So its hard to see any hope for a reckoning. In 2021, in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vanessa Hua witnessed something unusual in her Bay Area neighborhood. There was a coyote running down the streetbeing chased by two deer, she says via Zoom from her home office, which is in the house she grew up in during the 1980s and 90s. I couldnt believe my eyes. I was like, has the world gone totally off-kilter? It could be a sign of nature healing, or that things had gone deeply off-balance. The moment sparked the idea for her latest book, Coyoteland, set to publish in May from Flatiron. The novel follows four very different families in the close-knit but fraught El Nido neighborhood in the hills east of Berkeley, Calif., during the pandemic, as a sequence of shocking incidentsincluding coyote attacksrocks their community. It was right after a summer of protests against police brutality, and we were at a real inflection point. There was hope that the change could be for the better, Hua says. But then we saw the pendulum swing in the other direction with book bans, the anti-trans bill, the cancellation of DEI programs. I think what this book reflects is that theres still a will to survive, to resist, to fight, to make a better life for your children. We all want that. But maybe we are still asking the questions: How do we get along with our neighbors in times that are so divided? How can we live in community? How can we be good neighbors? These are questions Hua has been wrestling with since she first started writing, way back in elementary school. She grew up the middle child of a structural engineer dad and a research scientist mom, both of Taiwanese descent, who settled in the East Bay area in the 1970s. Hua describes herself as a very curious child and a voracious reader from the start, making friends with Laura Ingalls, Anne Shirley, and Jo March as a childall spirited young girls who became writers. By fourth grade, Hua recalls receiving a genius writer award from her teacher. It made an impression. I still have it, she says. I have this Garfield notebook full of stories. It even had a title page with a logo. Hua wrote throughout high school and studied English with an emphasis on creative writing at Stanford, graduating with both her BA and MA in media studies in 1997. While there, she started writing for the school paper and cut her teeth as a cub reporter at the Los Angeles Times, where she worked in the Minority Editorial Training Program, and then at the Hartford Courant in Connecticut. I loved being able to follow my curiosity out into the world, she says. Just getting out there and asking questions. By 1999, Hua had moved back to the Bay Area and started writing for the San Francisco Examiner, covering immigrant and diaspora communities and technology. It was right when the dot-com boom was taking off, so I covered digital culture a lot, she says. I convinced them to send me to Burning Man. All the while, she was still writing short stories and working with writers groups because the dream of being a fiction writer still lingered. I realized to make it happen Id have to dedicate myself to creative writing, she says, in a much more meaningful way. In 2007, as journalism was rapidly becoming what she calls a burning building sliding off a cliff, Hua took a buyout and got a full ride to the MFA creative writing program at UC Riverside, graduating in 2009. She then moved back to the Bay Area again, joined the San Francisco Writers Grotto, and found a community. People here just show up for each other, she says. Together, we celebrate and commiserate. I definitely have writer friends I call and say, Im not fishing for compliments, but please help me feel better about my life choices today. In 2016, she started writing a long-running column for the San Francisco Chronicle and published a short story collection, Deceit and Other Possibilities. She followed this up with A River of Stars (2018), which she describes as if Thelma and Louise were pregnant in the 1960s, and didnt drive off that cliff. She began the book while pregnant with twins, who are now in their teens. It started as a short story, but it felt unfinished, like it was just tugging at me, she says. After that came Forbidden City (2022), a Northern California Book Awardnominated coming-of-age story that follows a 15-year-old peasant girl through the Cultural Revolution in China as she becomes a protegee and lover of Chairman Mao. I had interviewed this couple in San Francisco who lived through the Cultural Revolution, Lau says. That granny racing down the street in Chinatownyou never know how many lives she may have lived. In Coyoteland, Hua deftly explores questions of race and class as tensions rise in El Nido amid the pandemic. White and well-off Blair Belle prickles when Jin Chang and his family move in next door with plans to flip the house, which will jeopardize her real estate investments. Meanwhile, Blair sends her housekeeper to spy on her daughters swim team rival. And Jins daughter Jane develops a friendship with Tashaone of the only Black girls at schooland the pair plans to expose the neighborhoods scandals as raging wildfires threaten to burn everything down. As she prepares for Coyotelands publication, Hua is already wrapping up her next book: a personal narrative about her own journey as a forager, which began as a pandemic pastime. She says the experience of learning to identify plants, and how to use them in everyday life, has brought her closer to her roots in many ways. Living in her hometown, its a familiar landscape, but Ive got to know it in a different way, she says. It shapes my consideration of time, of cycles, of seasons. So the book is about foraging, but its also about the natural world, about midlife, about caregiving. Many of those ideas are also woven into Coyoteland. Its about resilience, she explains. And joy. And embracing our landscape, even if its running a little wild. The question for me is, What kind of neighbors are we going to be? To each other? To wildlife? It feels like were all so busy claiming our territory. Hua says she hopes Coyoteland will find the right readers, just like the books she discovered when she was a kid with a pen and a notebook. I always talk to younger writers, and they ask what success looks like as a writer, she says. For me, its always the hope, you know, that your books reach someone at exactly the time they needed it in their life and that it can open the way for more. Sona Charaipotra is a journalist, an editor, and the author of six books. For the first time in a decade, the Texas Library Association returns to Houston for its annual conference, to be held March 2931. TLA leaders anticipate welcoming 4,500 attendeesincluding library professionals, 200-plus authors, and more than 220 exhibitorsto the George R. Brown Convention Center. The city of Houston is incredibly excited for us to be coming, says TLA executive director Shirley Robinson. Were partnering with Houston Public and Harris County Public Libraries, as well as many of the other library organizations. She adds that the gathering brings members from far and wide, and provides an economic boost to its host city. Were lucky in Texas that were able to move the conference around to four or five major metropolitan areas. Valerie Prilop, TLAs 20252026 president, is thrilled to bring the show back to her home citys walkable downtown area, close to light rail. Houston has a reputation of being car centric, but theres a lot within blocks of the convention center, she says. When the weather is glorious, the park is full of people picnicking and playing, so its a nice part of the city for people to see, especially if they dont get to Houston very often. Prilop collaborated with conference planning cochairs Kate McNally Carter and Brandi Grant to develop 2026s slogan, Cultivating Community, Thriving Together. Texas is huge and diverse, and our members are in small communities, urban communities, different-sized schools and universities, and special libraries, she says. Regardless of where theyre coming from, their careers, or their identities, she wants convention-goers to find courage and joy and celebration and comfort in the conference and in being with each other. For the branding, the conference team envisioned a mosaic representing Texas and a branching tree grounding attendees. People are learning and growing, or need support and strength, Prilop says. The tree has deep roots, its strong, and it offers shade and comfort, so its a beautiful reflection of the theme. From the more than 400 submissions received during the call for presentations, conference planners selected 240 education sessions representative of that variegated membership. Were aligning those topical areas with who our members are, in terms of percentages of library types and specializations, Robinson says. Weve created a broad array of content through that approach, looking at it from the lens of our membership composition. The programs that made it into the final program latched onto the theme of community and thriving, Prilop adds. TLA will also offer meet-and-greet opportunities for all, including a Caffeinated Connections social on March 29 to orient first-timers, in response to positive feedback on the 2025 conventions networking sessions. Education will address AI policies, collection development, vendors filling the void left by the closure of Baker & Taylor, and Texas legislation. In December, the Supreme Court declined to hear Little v. Llano County, leaving patrons First Amendment rights suspended in public libraries across the Fifth Circuits Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi jurisdiction. In addition, Texas Senate bills 12 and 13 have gone into effect, requiring libraries to review books for indecent content before purchase, clearing the way for school library advisory councils, and vacating policies of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Robinson contends that Texas librarians are by nature resilient, yet says SB 12 and 13 have been massively disruptive. She adds, Some school districts havent been able to order books yet for the school year, and theres confusion about the most effective way to incorporate the bills. Some school districts have systems in place, Prilop notes. But in smaller or more rural ones, its been difficult for the librarians to know what process they should use to get books on the shelves or how their administrators would like to handle things. Robinson says TLAs conference is well-timed, taking place in the interim between legislative in Texas. Were doing data collection to gather not only the anecdotal stories of the challenges but also hard facts about the differences between the time before these laws passed and the current state. Above all, Houston will provide a space for educating our members and making sure that theyre connecting and supporting each other, she notes. Valerie and her cochairs and conference planning committee have worked so hard, and were excited to see it all come togetherits going to be great. Read more from our TLA preview feature. Program Picks Dont Make Me Shush You: PW Talks with Kate Quinn Sunday, March 29 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Texas Bluebonnet Award Speed Dating This event introduces 15 of the childrens authors and illustrators whose books made the 20262027 award list. Each year, thousands of young readers in Texas vote for a Bluebonnet winner, and the 2026 award went to The Girl Who Figured It Out, a nonfiction picture book written by Indian American polio survivor and wheelchair triathlete Minda Dentler, and illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. Dentler will not be at TLA. Ticketed event. (Room 361) 11 a.m.noon Understanding First Amendment Rights in Texas The roundtables of TLAs Black Caucus, Queers and Allies, and Retired Librarians zoom in for a closer look at intellectual freedom in Texas. This panel features advocate Leila Green Little, whose legal battle in Little v. Llano County has galvanized right-to-read organizations. (Room 342B) 12:301:30 p.m. The Power of Story The TLA Childrens Round Table will host a multigenre panel of childrens authors including Avi, Tracey Baptiste, Nikki Grimes, and Jasmine Warga, with moderator DAnne Mosby. (Room 370AD) 12:301:30 p.m. Step into Story: Building Community Connection Through StoryWalks Librarians and early-childhood specialists will explain practical, affordable ways to combine reading and walking in a variety of outdoor settings. (Room 370C) 12:301:30 p.m. Using AI Ethically and Safely: What Libraries and Communities Need to Know As libraries help patrons navigate new technologies, they must navigate issues of data privacy, fair use, and information accuracy. This session covers the risks of and best practices for AI use among library staff and patrons. (Room 352A) 68 p.m. Evening with the Authors Dinner Moderated by Bobby Finger, author of We Are Gathered Here Today (Putnam, June), this event will spotlight Sarah Beth Durst, May Cobb, Jean Kwok, Lindsay Linton Buk, and Patrick Ness. Ticketed event. (Room 320) Monday, March 30 8:159:15 a.m. General Session: John Leguizamo Leguizamo will open the show with a talk about his picture book, Kiki and the Can, illustrated by graffiti artist John Crash Matos and Liz Casal (Orchard, Aug.). The actors debut for young readers celebrates Latinx creativity through the story of a young muralist. (Grand Ballroom) 1011 a.m. Capitol Update: Texas Legislator Shares Insights on Library Issues Senator Carol Alvarado gives a preview of whats to come for librarians in the 2027 legislative session. (Room 342A) 1011 a.m. Cultivating Comunidad: Thriving Library Spaces for Latine Students Texas is among the states with the highest concentration of colleges and universities federally designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions. This session explores how academic librarians can develop inclusive programming. (Room 380C) 1011 a.m. Reality? BRB, Im Turning the Pages and Tuning Out Neurodiverse YA authors will discuss fiction shaped by ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other ways of experiencing the world, for neurodiverse teens and all readers. This panel will feature Soman Chainani, horror author Codie Crowley, debut fantasy author F.A. Davidson, astronaut Leland Melvin, and Randy Ribay. (Room 352D) 1011:30 a.m. Black Caucus Round Table Award and Author Session This session will feature actor Karyn Parsons, creator of the Sweet Blackberry picture book series, and Keenan Jones, author of the 2025 picture book Saturday Morning at the Shop, illustrated by Ken Daley. Jones, a former elementary educator who founded the educational nonprofit Literacy for Freedom, will be honored with the 2026 Ashley Bryan Award. Ticketed event. (Room 320) 10 a.m.noon Texas Tea with the Authors This speed-dating round will feature 25 YA creators including Shannon Hale, Jordan Ifueko, and Michael Mendez Guevara. Ticketed event. (Grand Ballroom JK) 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. The Struggle Is Real: Marginalized Teens in Young Adult Literature YA authors Rebeca Fox, Gume Laurel, Marcia Argueta Mickelson, Jessica Parra, and Elle Gonzalez Rose will discuss literary representations of teen identities. (Room 351AD) 12:151:30 p.m. Opening Awards and Author Session The annual TLA Benefactor Award, which is given to honor a substantial donation, will include appearances by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson, author of Dad (Balzer + Bray, May), and Maria Semple, author of Go Gentle (Putnam, Apr.). Ticketed event. (Room 310) 12 p.m. Building Essential Advocacy Skills with the Texas FReadom Fighters FReadom Fighters cofounders Becky Calzada and Carolyn Foote will discuss how librarians can effectively engage with the legislative process. (Room 351AD) 12 p.m. Wired Differently: Empowering Neurodivergent Girls with MG and YA Stories Authors Sarah Allen, Jackie Khalilieh, Meg Eden Kuyatt, and R.L. Toalson will discuss writing neurodivergent female characters with moderator Courtney Walker of Libraries for All. (Room 352B) 2:303:30 p.m. Advocacy in the Off Season: Preparing for the 2027 Legislature Authors and librarians will share strategies for political participation and promoting core library values. (Room 342B) 2:303:30 p.m. Letters About Literature Texas Middle grade and YA author Jasmine Warga will copresent at this session in which fourth through 12th graders will read their prize-winning letters to favorite authors. (Room 342C) 2:303:30 p.m. Truth in Verse: The Power of Real Stories About Real People Authors Jeannine Atkins, Chris Baron, Rajani LaRocca, and R.L. Toalson will talk about representing historical events in verse form for young readers. (Room 352B) 45 p.m. General Session: Kate Quinn Quinn headlines the second general session, where shell talk about The Astral Library (Morrow, out now). Most of Quinns feminist fiction, from the Empress of Rome series to accounts of Renaissance Italy and 20th-century global conflict, mines history. Her latest, set in a magical library among uncannily lifelike books and paintings, is a passionate defense of storytelling and the core values of librarianship. (For PWs q&a with Quinn, see p. 26.) (Grand Ballroom) Tuesday, March 31 89 a.m. Borders, Books, and Belonging: A Latinx Perspective Author Gume Laurel and librarian Margarita Longoria will speak in support of the nearly three million Latinx public school students across the Lone Star State and their access to inclusive books. (Room 352A) 89 a.m. Impact of Book Challenges on Librarian and Student Well-Being Kimberly Kinnaird and Elizabeth Gross of Sam Houston University, who interviewed school librarians and students coping with book challenges, will share the results of their qualitative study, suggestions for advocacy, and ideas for consulting with school counselors. (Room 370AD) 9:3010:30 a.m. Flourishing in the Academic Library: Fostering Student Belonging, Confidence, and Connection Kate Langan and Juliana Espinosa will discuss their new edited collection, published by the Association for College and Research Libraries. (Room 332A) 12:301:30 p.m. Building Resilience in Challenging Times Librarians and a mental health professional will assess stressful situations, unsupportive environments, and the safety of underrepresented groups. (Room 370AD) 2:153:15 p.m. General Session: Kate Bowler In TLAs third and final general session, the Duke Divinity School professor will introduce her lifestyle title, Joyful, Anyway (Dial, Apr.). Bowlers literary career took off with Everything Happens for a Reason and No Cure for Being Human, in which she reflected on her stage IV colon cancer diagnosis and her recognition of mortality, with a through line of seizing the day. (Grand Ballroom) This article was first published 19 years ago W hen you decide to adapt anything by William Shakespeare, what you need is a lot of courage. You are, to begin with, working with material over 400 years old -- tales that have been told and retold in all known corners of the globe. To take this familiar work, then, and give it new life, calls for that kind of courage. Vishal Bhardwaj is certifiably a courageous man. Apart from taking control as the director of Omkara -- his much-publicised and flaunted adaptation of Othello -- Bhardwaj has written the screenplay and dialogues, and also composed the music. It is an enormously difficult task, considering his tale of choice has been reworked by many in this century alone. There was a silent German adaptation in 1922, a big budget Orson Welles version in 1952, a Russian one in 1955 and even a 2001 Hollywood production simply titled O. Bhardwaj isn't even the first Indian to adapt it; the now popular Malayalam director Jayaraj gave us Kaliyattam in 1997. So, given the odds stacked up against him, does Bhardwaj give Othello life? Yes. He definitely does. There are no changes in the play's structure. In the original, Othello elopes with the fair Desdemona. Convinced by his wicked aide Iago that she has been having an affair with his lieutenant Cassio, he murders her. When Iago's wife Emilia reveals that Desdemona's affair was faked, she is murdered by her husband while Othello kills himself. Bhardwaj's version takes the same players and situations, but sets them in Uttar Pradesh. He gives his characters names that either begin with the same letter as the originals, or sound like those names. Then, with a few tweaks to the plot, he makes the story his own. In a nutshell, Omkara Shukla (Ajay Devgan) is a revered chieftain of a gang of outlaws. Prominent among the members of his group are the wily Ishwar 'Langda' Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan) and lively Keshav Upadhyay or Kesu (Vivek Oberoi). When Kesu is appointed chief lieutenant to Omkara, Langda jealously decides to involve Omkara's fiancee Dolly Mishra (Kareena Kapoor) in an illicit affair with Kesu, with the help of a little insinuation and a great deal of lies. The consequences are, of course, tragic. By the time Omkara realises his mistake, it is too late. Bhardwaj has made few changes. His Othello-Omkara is less trusting; his Iago-Tyagi, more wily. The dialect obviously helps recreate what is familiar territory for most readers, but it is the choice of characters that really helps make this a new experience. It takes them from their established milieus and sets them down in strange terrain -- after all, few of our actors can claim to have read Shakespeare even in an abridged format. Like children learning the alphabet, they tackle this brand new subject with gusto. The production team does a commendable job, although the star is Tassaduq Hussain, who makes his Bollywood debut as director of photography. He manages to give the desolate landscape of Maharashtra's Wai and Satara a sense of romance, which -- as anyone who has visited either place will know -- is no mean task. As a man stricken, in turns, by jealousy and love, Ajay Devgan is admirable. Saif and Kareena prove they really need a good director to shine, so can the rest please stop offering them ghastly boy-meets-girl roles and recognise their potential? Konkona Sensharma, who plays Langda's wife Indu, is her usual efficient self, as is Naseeruddin Shah in his role of the politician Bhaisaab. Bipasha Basu plays a nautch girl called Billo Chamanbahar, and does nothing of any interest, largely because she has managed to learn just three dance moves and insists on repeating them. Vivek Oberoi stands around and smiles, failing to raise sympathy, failing to understand just how unlucky his character really is. He plays a guitar though, which must count for something. In the end, what you take away from Omkara is the knowledge that a classic script always has the power to move us, provided it is handled by a director who knows his craft, and actors who understand their job. Shakespeare would have smiled. In a region increasingly shaped by competition and coercion, such collaboration strengthens security without confrontation, builds capacity without dependency and promotes order without domination, points out Dr Kumar. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar welcomes Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi, in New Delhi, January 16, 2026. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo Key Points During his India visit, Motegi Toshimitsu described India-Japan relations as entering a 'new golden chapter', reflecting deeper geopolitical alignment amid Indo-Pacific tensions. The partnership has moved beyond rhetoric like the Free and Open Indo-Pacific to practical defence engagement, including the joint military exercise Dharma Guardian. Both India and Japan recognise the risks of overreliance on distant or politically conditional supply chains, making co-development and co-production central to long-term security. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu's recent visit to India earlier this year assumed added strategic significance in the wake of Japan's landslide electoral verdict, which has reinforced Tokyo's political stability and sharpened its external posture, particularly toward China. In his article released by Japan's ministry of foreign affairs during the visit, Motegi described India and Japan as entering 'a new golden chapter in a mutually complementary relationship.' In the present geopolitical context, that phrase carries greater weight than diplomatic optimism. It reflects a convergence shaped by political mandate, strategic clarity and shared concern over an increasingly assertive regional environment. At a time when the Indo-Pacific is witnessing intensified geopolitical contestation, the India-Japan partnership has decisively moved beyond shared values and declaratory visions, such as the Free and Open Indo-Pacific. It is now anchored in operational cooperation and defence preparedness, exemplified by the joint military exercise Dharma Guardian, which underscores deepening interoperability between the two forces. Yet both Tokyo and New Delhi recognise that exercises alone cannot secure long-term stability. Sustainable regional balance requires resilient defence production networks, trusted supply chains and collaborative capability development. With firm and stable governments in both India and Japan, the relationship now appears to be maturing, with a deeper strategic understanding in both capitals that Indo-Pacific stability must be reinforced not only by coordination at sea or on land, but also by robust defence industrial partnerships that enhance regional capacity while avoiding overt escalation. Defence Industry as a Strategic Imperative Motegi's articulation of India as a rising global power with strong technological and innovation capabilities reflects Japan's evolving strategic calculus. Japan today faces a deteriorating security environment in East Asia, while India confronts persistent challenges along its land borders and growing responsibilities in the Indian Ocean. Both countries are acutely aware that reliance on distant or politically conditional defence supply chains carries strategic risks. Defence industrial cooperation offers a solution that is both economic and strategic. Japan brings advanced capabilities in naval systems, sensors, electronics, propulsion technologies and quality manufacturing standards. India brings scale, cost efficiency, operational experience across diverse theatres and a rapidly expanding defence manufacturing ecosystem supported by policy reforms and export orientation. The emphasis during the visit on defence equipment and technology cooperation, including communication systems and industrial collaboration, signals a move beyond transactional procurement. Instead, it points towards co-development and co-production models that allow both sides to leverage comparative advantages while retaining strategic autonomy. IMAGE: The 7th annual joint military exercise Dharma Guardian between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force being held at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, March 3, 2026. Photograph: ANI Video Grab From Bilateral Cooperation to Regional Impact While bilateral India-Japan defence cooperation is important, its true strategic value lies in its potential regional impact. The Indo-Pacific's central challenge is not the absence of military power but the uneven distribution of credible, affordable and interoperable capabilities among regional states. Nowhere is this more evident than in Southeast Asia. The countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations sit at the geographic and strategic heart of the Indo-Pacific. They are custodians of critical sea lanes, chokepoints and maritime commons, yet many face constraints in maritime surveillance, coastal defence, logistics and domain awareness. At the same time, ASEAN states remain cautious about overt alignment with major powers, preferring inclusive, non-coercive approaches to security. This creates space for a trilateral framework involving India, Japan and ASEAN, centred on defence industry collaboration and capacity building. Such a framework would not resemble a military alliance. Instead, it would focus on enabling regional states to strengthen their own capabilities in line with ASEAN centrality and strategic autonomy. Why a Trilateral Model Makes Strategic Sense A trilateral defence industrial collaboration among India, Japan, and ASEAN offers several strategic advantages. First, it addresses capability gaps without importing great power rivalry into Southeast Asia. By focusing on defensive, stabilising and dual-use capabilities, the framework can enhance security while remaining politically acceptable across the region. Second, it allows for tailored solutions. Japanese technology, combined with Indian manufacturing and integration expertise, can produce platforms tailored to Southeast Asian operational environments, from shallow waters and archipelagic conditions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief requirements. ASEAN participation ensures that systems are demand-driven rather than supplier-imposed. Third, it contributes to supply chain resilience. Diversifying production and maintenance across India and select ASEAN States reduces overdependence on a narrow set of suppliers. This is particularly relevant in an era in which economic and national security are increasingly intertwined. Stabilising the Indo-Pacific Without Escalation IMAGE: Toshimitsu Motegi lays a wreath to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, January 17, 2026. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo One of the most pressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific strategy is how to enhance deterrence without fuelling militarisation. Defence industry collaboration offers a nuanced response. Strengthening indigenous and regional capacities raises the threshold for coercion while avoiding the optics of forward deployment or force concentration. Capabilities such as coastal surveillance radars, patrol vessels, communication systems, logistics platforms and unmanned maritime systems improve situational awareness and resilience. They support law enforcement, search and rescue and disaster response alongside defence roles. This multifunctional character aligns well with ASEAN's security priorities and India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, while complementing Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision. Motegi's emphasis on mutually complementary strengths is particularly relevant here. Complementarity allows cooperation without hierarchy, an essential condition for acceptance in Southeast Asia. Norm Building Through Defence Cooperation Beyond material outcomes, a trilateral defence industrial framework would contribute to norm-building in the Indo-Pacific. It would reinforce principles of transparency, reliability and respect for sovereignty in defence cooperation. This stands in contrast to opaque financing arrangements and politically leveraged arms transfers that have generated concern across the region. India and Japan, as long-standing democracies with strong institutional frameworks, are well placed to offer an alternative model. One that prioritises local capacity, long-term sustainment and strategic trust over short-term influence. Such cooperation also signals that regional security need not be driven by exclusionary blocs. Instead, it can emerge from inclusive partnerships anchored in shared interests and practical outcomes. Challenges and the Road Ahead IMAGE: A glimpse from Dharma Guardian. Photograph: ANI Video Grab The promise of Japan-ASEAN-India (JAI) defence industrial cooperation should not obscure the challenges it poses. Regulatory differences, export control regimes, intellectual property concerns and industrial standards require careful harmonisation. ASEAN's diversity means that cooperation must be flexible and modular rather than uniform. Political commitment, however, appears to be converging. Motegi's visit and the articulation of a 'new golden chapter' suggest that Tokyo sees India not merely as a strategic partner but as a production and innovation partner. India's growing confidence as a defence exporter and system integrator reinforces this alignment. Institutional mechanisms, including dedicated defence industry dialogues, private-sector participation, and pilot projects with select ASEAN partners, will be essential to translating intent into outcomes. Conclusion In view of the reappointment of Motegi Toshimitsu as foreign minister, the significance of his earlier visit to India lies not in ceremonial diplomacy, but in the strategic trajectory it reinforces. Defence industrial cooperation between India and Japan is steadily emerging as a central pillar of their partnership, reflecting a convergence backed by political continuity and strategic resolve in both capitals. When extended through a trilateral framework with ASEAN, this cooperation offers a credible and timely pathway to Indo-Pacific stability. In a region increasingly shaped by competition and coercion, such collaboration strengthens security without confrontation, builds capacity without dependency and promotes order without domination. If pursued with strategic patience and sustained political clarity, it has the potential to shape the Indo-Pacific's security architecture for decades to come. With inputs from Assistant Professor (Dr) Jasmeet Kaur, DPG College, and Professor V S Rawat, IIT Ropar. Dr Kumar is a Research Scholar who has extensively researched the 1962 India-China conflict, the Cold War dynamics and the Indo-Pacific region. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Pakistani security forces neutralised 15 terrorists in Balochistan during intelligence-led operations, underscoring the ongoing fight against insurgency in the region. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters Key Points Pakistani security forces conducted two intelligence-based operations in Balochistan, resulting in the deaths of 15 terrorists. The operations targeted militant hideouts in Harnai and Basima districts of Balochistan province. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the slain terrorists during the operations. The Pakistani government accuses the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of carrying out attacks in Balochistan. Balochistan has been facing a low-level insurgency, with militants frequently targeting security forces and government infrastructure. Pakistani security forces have killed 15 terrorists in two separate intelligence-based operations in the restive Balochistan province, the army said on Saturday. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted on Thursday after the reported presence of militants. The first operation was carried out in Harnai district of the province. During the conduct of the operation, the troops effectively engaged the 'Khawarij' hideout, the army said, adding that after an intense engagement, 12 terrorists were killed. The Pakistan government in 2024 notified the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as "Fitna al-Khawarij", a reference to a group in earlier Islamic history which was involved in violence. Basima District Operation In another intelligence-based operation conducted in Basima district, the forces tracked the presence of terrorists and effectively engaged them using mixed calibre weapons. After an intense fire exchange, three terrorists were killed, the army said. It added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the slain terrorists. Balochistan has been facing a low-level insurgency and militants frequently target the security forces and government infrastructure. The Pakistani government accuses the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and TTP of these attacks. After nearly a decade on the run, a suspect in a 2017 Karnataka murder case has been apprehended in Bengaluru, bringing a long manhunt to a close. Key Points Sufiyan alias Kotreshi, wanted in connection with the 2017 murder of Sapnan in Surathkal, has been arrested in Bengaluru after nearly nine years on the run. The victim was abducted, assaulted, and murdered, with his body disposed of in a forest area near Agumbe. Sufiyan evaded arrest by moving across multiple locations and assuming a new identity as Mohammed Sufiyan Hussain in Bengaluru. The accused has a prior criminal record, including a 2012 arrest for murder during a chain-snatching attempt. A man who had been absconding for nearly nine years in connection with a 2017 murder case was arrested by Mangaluru crime branch police in Bengaluru, officials said on Saturday. The accused, Sufiyan alias Kotreshi (31), was apprehended near Shyampur Railway Gate in Bengaluru, they said. Police said he was allegedly involved in the abduction and murder of Sapnan in Surathkal in 2017. According to police, the victim was abducted, assaulted and later murdered by the gang, which subsequently disposed of the body in the forest area near Agumbe in Shivamogga district. Sufiyan had been absconding since the incident and moved across several places, including Ballari, Mumbai and parts of Andhra Pradesh to evade arrest, investigators said. Police said the accused later settled in Bengaluru under a changed identity as Mohammed Sufiyan Hussain and allegedly obtained documents such as an Aadhaar card, passport and driving licence in that name. He had earlier been arrested in 2012 by the Brucepet Police Station in a murder case registered for allegedly killing an elderly woman during a chain-snatching attempt. Police said the accused had spent around four years in jail in that case before securing bail. Four criminal cases, including murder, extortion and theft, are registered against him, police said, adding that he has been handed over to Surathkal police for further investigation. The Army's Southern Command is spearheading drone innovation and defence technology advancements through a collaborative initiative, uniting military, academic, and industry experts to address modern warfare challenges. Key Points The Army's Southern Command is fostering collaboration between the armed forces, industry, and academia to advance defence technologies. The initiative focuses on drone innovation, skill development, and emerging technologies for modern military operations. Experts emphasised the importance of unmanned systems and counter-drone technologies in modern warfare. The interaction aims to strengthen industry-academia partnerships to develop indigenous defence technologies. The Battle Axe Division of the Army's Southern Command organised an academia-industry interaction on drone innovation here as part of the Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) initiative. The interaction brought together more than 50 representatives from the tech industry, academic institutions and the Army, a defence spokesperson said. The programme aimed at promoting collaboration between the armed forces, industry experts and academicians to support development of emerging defence technologies. Focus on Drone Technology and Modern Warfare Discussions during the interaction focused on advancements in drone innovation, skill development and emerging technologies relevant to modern operational requirements, the spokesperson said. Participants also deliberated on aligning regional talent, research capabilities and industrial innovation with the evolving technological needs of the armed forces, he added. Experts highlighted the growing importance of unmanned systems, counter-drone technologies and multi-domain operational capabilities in the changing nature of warfare. Strengthening Partnerships for Indigenous Defence The meeting also explored ways to strengthen industry-academia partnerships, and encourage innovation that could contribute to the development of indigenous defence technologies. Nepal's political landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift as the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by Balendra Shah, is set to form the government in Nepal. IMAGE: Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for RSP, shows a congratulation message to his supporters as he celebrates after winning the election, in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Key Points The Rastriya Swatantra Party, formed in 2022, is achieving a landslide victory in Nepal's general elections, signaling a shift in the political landscape. Balendra Shah, the RSP's prime ministerial candidate, has garnered significant support, particularly in the Madhesh province and Kathmandu Valley. The RSP's success reflects a growing public desire for change, good governance, and an end to corruption, resonating with the Gen Z population. India is closely monitoring the Nepal elections, hoping for a stable government to strengthen bilateral relations and developmental partnerships. Rastriya Swatantra Party's Balendra Shah on Saturday defeated four-time PM K P Sharma Oli by a huge margin and set to form the next government in Nepal, decimating traditional political parties in the first general elections since last year's violent Gen Z protests demanding generational change and corruption-free regime. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah 'Balen,' the prime ministerial candidate of the RSP defeated Oli, the chair of Nepal's legacy party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) -- CPN-UML -- by a huge margin of about 50,000 votes in Jhapa-5 constituency. Balen, 35, secured 68,348 votes against 74-year-old Oli's 18,734, the Election Commission (EC) said. The RSP, which was formed in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane, has won 70 seats out of the 87 seats for which results have been declared by 8:30 pm, according to the Election Commission (EC). RSP's seats include a clean sweep in all 10 constituencies of Kathmandu district even as it is leading in 52 seats across the country, the EC data showed. Legacy parties were far behind in convincing voters for whom the major issues included fighting corruption and an end to nepotism apart from a generational change in political leadership of the Himalayan nation. The Nepali Congress won ten and was leading in nine seats; the CPN-(UML) won just three seats and is leading in eight; the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) won two seats and is leading in five, the Shrama Shakti Party (SSP) was leading in three seats, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party won one seat, the EC data showed. Among the winners is one independent. Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives. The counting of votes started late Thursday night and as of 5 pm Saturday, counting was in progress in 162 constituencies, the Election Commission said. Modi congratulates Nepal govt, people for successful polls The election was being closely watched by India, which is hoping for a stable government in the politically fragile Himalayan nation to take forward the developmental partnership between the two sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the people and government of Nepal for the successful conduct of elections. "It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly. This historic milestone is a proud moment in Nepal's democratic journey," Modi said in a post on X. Modi also said that as a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people of Nepal and its new government to scale new heights of shared peace, progress and prosperity. "Balen babu, congratulations for the victory," Oli wrote in his social media post. Oli, who too was projected as the PM face of the CPN-UML, wished Balen for a full five year tenure for his government in the Himalayan nation that has seen 14 governments in the last 18 years. "I wish your five year tenure be trouble free, successful and hearty congratulations," Oli said as he attached a 2022 photo showing him gifting a tabla to Balen after the rapper-turned-politician won Kathmandu mayor's election as an independent. 'Ab ki bar Balendra Sarkar' The RSP, which projected Balendra Shah 'Balen' as its prime ministerial candidate and had organised its first election campaign in Janakpur in Madhesh, is heading towards a clean sweep of the province. 'Balen', as he is popularly known, projected himself as the "son of Madhesh" during the campaign, with the party launching the campaign with 'Ab ki bar Balendra Sarkar' (This time there will be Balendra's government) tagline. Of the total 32 seats in eight districts of Madhesh province, the RSP has won eight and is leading in 22 other constituencies, the EC said. The party is also making a clean sweep in the Kathmandu Valley winning all 10 seats of Kathmandu district and two in Bhaktapur and one in Lalitpur district. The party is also leading in the remaining two seats of the Kathmandu Valley with a huge margin, possibly as a result of a massive road show led by Balen in all 15 constituencies on the last day of the election campaign. The 35-year-old engineer-turned-rapper-turned-politician is expected to be the next prime minister of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of rejection of established parties. Nepal has had 14 governments in the last 18 years. RSP chairman Lamichhane won with a huge margin from Chitwan-2 constituency, marking his third consecutive victory with 54,402 votes against his nearest rival NC's Mina Kumari Kharel, who received 14,564 votes. According to the Election Commission, former prime minister and NCP leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda won from Rukum Purba district by securing 10,240 votes against his rival Lilamani Gautam of CPN-(UML), who got 3,462 votes. RPP's Gyanendra Shahi won from the Jumla constituency of Karnali province by defeating his closest rival Naresh Bhandari of the NCP and became the only candidate of the pro-monarchist RPP to have secured a seat in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the RSP is also leading in proportional voting system with the party bagging 474,266 votes followed by Nepali Congress with 160,384. The CPN (UML) has received 127,841, Nepali Communist Party 65,363, the RPP 34,154, and Shrama Shakti Party 17,437 votes till now. Out of a total of 275 members of the Parliament, 165 are being elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 through a proportionate method. Around 3,400 candidates were vying for 165 seats under direct voting, and 3,135 candidates for 110 seats through proportionate voting. Gen Z's Role in Political Change The Gen Z youth, through their two-day intensified protests on September 8 and 9 last year, ousted Prime Minister Oli of the CPN-(UML), who was heading a coalition government with the backing of Nepali Congress that enjoyed nearly two-thirds majority support. Though Balen was a popular choice to lead the interim government after Oli's ouster , he declined to lead the interim administration, saying he would prefer to contest the parliamentary election for a full term. In January, he joined the RSP and was soon declared the party's prime ministerial candidate. The major issues raised by Gen Z before and during the election campaign were anti-corruption, good governance, an end to nepotism, generational change in political leadership, etc. The Karnataka Budget 2026-27 receives a thumbs-up from the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce for its strategic focus on boosting MSMEs, enhancing infrastructure, and driving economic growth across the state. Key Points The Karnataka Budget 2026-27 is praised for its balanced approach to fostering economic growth and supporting MSMEs. Financial incentives and skill development programs aim to strengthen the MSME sector and create employment opportunities in Karnataka. Investments in infrastructure, including roads and industrial parks, are expected to support sustainable growth and competitiveness. The budget's emphasis on IT, AI, and innovation is set to solidify Karnataka's position as a leading hub for startups and the digital economy. Cybersecurity measures are crucial to support Karnataka's digital ambitions, requiring dedicated budget allocations. The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Saturday welcomed the Karnataka Budget 2026-27, recognising its balanced approach towards fostering economic growth, supporting MSMEs, and enhancing infrastructure development. K Ravi, Senior Vice President, BCIC and Chairman, International Business Committee. appreciated the government's commitment to strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector through targeted financial incentives, skill development programs, and ease of doing business reforms. "These measures are expected to boost manufacturing capabilities and create significant employment opportunities across the state," he said, in a statement. According to him, the budget's focus on infrastructure, including investments in road connectivity, urban development, and industrial parks, tourism and hospitality aligns with BCIC's vision of a robust industrial ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and competitiveness. Industry Applauds Focus on IT and Innovation BCIC also applauded the emphasis on IT, AI, technology and innovation, which it said will drive Karnataka's position as a leading hub for startups and digital economy initiatives. While the budget presents ambitious welfare schemes and agricultural support, BCIC said it encourages continued dialogue between industry stakeholders and the government to ensure effective implementation and maximise impact. BCIC further said that it remains committed to collaborating with the government to facilitate a conducive business environment that promotes investment, innovation, and inclusive growth in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented his record 17th budget with a total outlay of Rs 4,48,004 crore. Cybersecurity Concerns Addressed Reacting to the state budget, Karmendra Kohli, CEO, SecurEyes said it sends a strong signal on digital responsibility. He said in a statement that the proposed social media ban for children under 16 is a timely step but its success will hinge entirely on robust digital identity verification and enforcement mechanisms, which are inherently cybersecurity challenges. Similarly, the establishment of the Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone and AI Centers of Excellence is exciting, but every AI platform is a potential attack surface, Kohli said. "As Karnataka accelerates its digital ambitions, cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought; it must be embedded from the ground up. We look forward to the state building on its Cybersecurity Policy 2024 with dedicated budget allocations that match the scale of its tech aspirations," he added. A Karnataka forest officer is under investigation after authorities discovered disproportionate assets worth Rs 3.08 crore during raids, raising serious questions about corruption and abuse of power. Key Points Karnataka Lokayukta Police raided properties linked to Dalesh A L, a Range Forest Officer with the Bengaluru Development Authority, over disproportionate asset allegations. The searches uncovered immovable assets valued at approximately Rs 2.70 crore, including sites, houses, a commercial building, and agricultural land. Movable assets worth over Rs 48 lakh were recovered, including cash, gold, silver ornaments, and vehicles. The total value of assets detected during the raids amounted to Rs 3.08 crore, prompting further investigation into the official's wealth. Karnataka Lokayukta Police on Saturday conducted simultaneous searches at more than four locations linked to a government official accused of possessing disproportionate assets and unearthed properties worth about Rs 3.08 crore, officials said. The searches were conducted at the houses, office and premises of relatives of Dalesh A L, a Range Forest Officer working with the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), they said. The search operations were carried out in connection with a disproportionate assets case registered against him at the Lokayukta police station here, officials added. Details of Assets Discovered During the searches, immovable assets valued at around Rs 2.70 crore were found, including three sites, two houses, a commercial building and agricultural land, a senior Lokayukta police official said. Movable assets worth over Rs 48 lakh were also recovered. These include Rs 1.35 lakh in cash, gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 13 lakh, and vehicles valued at about Rs 34 lakh, the official said. Overall, assets worth Rs 3.08 crore were detected during the raids, they added. Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accuses the West Bengal government of blocking central funds for key social welfare schemes, impacting farmers and the poor. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Suvendu Adhikari alleges West Bengal is withholding central funds for schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM Awas Yojana. The BJP leader claims 1.9 million farmers were excluded from central welfare projects due to their caste. Adhikari criticised the state's Public Distribution System, alleging substandard wheat distribution despite central funding. He promised increased housing unit allocations and Ayushman Bharat implementation if the BJP comes to power. Adhikari accused the TMC government of renaming and shelving the Yuvashree project, failing to provide jobs for 2.15 crore unemployed individuals. Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that the West Bengal government had deliberately withheld central allocations for social welfare projects like Ayushman Bharat and PM Awas Yojana, depriving lakhs of people. Addressing a 'Poriborton Yatra' rally at Manngalkot in Purba Bardhaman district, the leader of opposition said the names of 19 lakh farmers were not forwarded by the state to the Centre for the social welfare projects to help them financially. "Of the 54 lakh deserving recipients for PM's social welfare project for farmers, names of 19 lakh were left out as they belonged to tribal, lower caste Hindu and backward caste Hindu communities. This state government is anti-farmer," he alleged. He said once the BJP government comes to power, every woman will get Rs 3,000 monthly. Criticism of State Government Schemes In a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee government, Adhikari alleged that 7.11 crore people are being supplied substandard, soiled wheat under the Public Distribution System (PDS), despite the Centre spending Rs 10,000 crore to provide high-quality wheat to the poor. Referring to the state's Banglar Bari project, he said the allocation of Rs 1.2 lakh per housing unit is inadequate and vowed to hike it substantially if the BJP comes to power. "We will also implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is accepted across India, and not the Swastha Sathi scheme, which is not accepted in most hospitals," he said. Allegations Regarding Employment Schemes Adhikari said by introducing Yuva Sathi, the TMC government has stealthily shelved the Yuvashree project conceived earlier and "renamed the project as Yuva Sathi before the votes. They are cheating the 2.15 crore unemployed and failed to give them jobs." Thousands of BJP supporters participated in the Poriborton Yatra, covering a distance of three km in Purba Bardhaman. Party supporters waved flags with BJP symbols as Adhikari and other leaders waved to the crowd from a flower-decked bus. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces a new unemployment allowance of Rs 1,500 per month for young, educated job seekers, aiming to boost support ahead of upcoming assembly elections. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points West Bengal to provide Rs 1,500 monthly unemployment allowance to young job seekers aged 21-40 with secondary education. The unemployment allowance scheme, called Yuva Sathi, aims to support approximately 1 crore individuals not benefiting from other schemes (excluding scholarships). West Bengal government claims a 40% decrease in unemployment rate through skill training programs like Utkarsha Bangla. The state government is investing in infrastructure projects, including six economic corridors and power plants, to boost employment. West Bengal highlights its leadership in small and medium-scale industries and self-help groups as key employment drivers. Ahead of the assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that from Saturday unemployed young job seekers, having passed secondary examination (class 10), will receive Rs 1,500 allowance every month to help them move towards a self-reliant future. The TMC supremo made this announcement - on the eve of International Women's Day on March 8 - during her speech at the sit-in against large-scale deletion of names of voters by the Election Commission during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll exercise. She said young men and women - aged 2140 years - who have passed the secondary exams - will receive Rs 1,500 per month from March 7. Bannerjee said while the assistance was originally scheduled to begin in April, it will now start immediately. "In the case of Yuva Sathi, all those who are still studying and are not beneficiaries of any schemes other than scholarships will receive the amount. We had earlier stated that the money would be given on April 1. But since tomorrow is International Women's Day, as a gift, we have changed the payment date from April 1 to today (March 7)," she said. All those aged between 21 and 40 years, numbering around 1 crore people, have applied for this scheme, she said, pointing out these are people who are not beneficiaries of any other schemes except scholarships. Government Initiatives and Employment Generation Claiming that her government has generated employment opportunities to a great extent, Banerjee said, "The unemployment rate in Bengal has decreased by 40 per cent. We have provided skill training to at least 40 lakh people, out of which around 10 lakh are already employed. "This has also happened because we have linked the websites of industrialists with those who have received skill training through Utkarsha Bangla. If migrant workers are interested, they will also be given opportunities. Recently, I heard that around 10,000 people are being trained in the jute industry, and they will also be absorbed into jobs," she said. The CM said the state is giving Rs 10,000 to farmers every month. "Even those with just one cottah of land used to receive Rs 4,000 earlier. Now we have also announced Rs 4,000 for landless farmers," she said. Infrastructure and Economic Development Banerjee said in Bengal, six economic corridors are being constructed to connect the entire state. "Apart from that, two power plants of 1,600 megawatts (800 megawatts each) are being built in Salboni. We are also number one in IT. More people are employed here than in Bengaluru. Around 200 new companies have also come here. "Those who defame the state should know that we are number one in small and medium-scale industries. Around 1.5 crore people work in small-scale industries. Units from across the country have come here. In Bengal's leather hub in Bantala, at least 7.5 lakh people work there. Our self-help group women are doing really well. We have created around 12 lakh self-help groups," she said. Banerjee said around one lakh people will be employed in the large coal reserve in Deucha Pachami in Birbhum district and for the next 100 years, there will be no power cuts in the state. Bengal's GSDP is the highest even after "repaying Rs 6 lakh crore of debt and paying interest on it and despite Rs 2 lakh crore of central funds still pending," the CM said. "From GSDP to revenue generation, we are the highest," she claimed. A deadly blast in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province targeting a peace committee member's shop has resulted in multiple casualties, prompting investigations into potential terrorism and raising security concerns. Photograph: Screen grab/X Key Points A blast at a battery shop in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan, killed two people, including a member of a peace committee, and injured eight. Authorities are investigating whether the explosion was caused by an IED or a quadcopter attack. In a separate incident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two police officers were killed and 18 civilians injured by an explosive device at a supermarket. Security has been tightened in the area, and investigations are underway following the blasts. The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has condemned the attacks and ordered a detailed report. At least two persons were killed and eight injured in a blast at a battery shop owned by a member of a peace committee in Pakistan's northwestern Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Saturday, police said. The blast occurred at a battery shop of Shoaib Khan, a member of a peace committee, at Manjiwala Chowk in Lakki Marwat district. Several people were present in the shop at the time of the incident. Initial reports said that around 10 people, including Khan, sustained serious injuries in the blast and were shifted to a nearby hospital. However, Shoaib Khan and one more person succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital, authorities said, adding that the condition of two of the injured is critical, while the others are receiving medical treatment. The police and security forces cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence. A police official said investigations are underway to determine whether the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) or a quadcopter attack. Security agencies have launched a full investigation into the incident, while security in the area has been tightened. Government Response to the Attack Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the incident. He directed the Inspector General of Police to submit a detailed report. The chief minister termed the loss of two lives in the incident deeply tragic and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims. He also directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery. Afridi said cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the government and the people. He also prayed for the departed souls and patience and strength for the bereaved families. Second Blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Meanwhile, in a separate incident, at least two police personnel were killed and 18 civilians injured when an explosive device detonated at the main gate of a supermarket in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday. According to DSP Asghar Ali Shah, the blast occurred in Wana's busy Rustam Bazaar after explosive material planted near the gate of a supermarket went off. Wana is the administrative headquarters of the South Waziristan district, bordering Afghanistan. He said two police officials were killed while four other policemen were injured in the explosion. A total of 18 civilians, including children, also sustained injuries in the blast. Tensions rise in Himachal Pradesh as Hindu organisations protest after a minor allegedly desecrated an idol in a Chamba temple, prompting a police investigation and community appeals for calm. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A protest was held by Hindu organisations in Himachal Pradesh after an alleged idol desecration incident. A minor boy is accused of setting fire to a cloth covering an idol in the Jalpa temple in Chamba district. Local residents have demanded strict action against the accused, submitting a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. Police have registered a case and are currently investigating the incident, considering all possible angles. The family of the accused has apologised to the villagers, assuring that such an incident will not occur again. Members of Hindu organisations staged a protest after a boy allegedly set fire to a cloth covering an idol in the Jalpa temple in Himachal's Chamba district on Saturday. Enraged over the incident, some local residents submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner seeking stringent action against the accused. The police have registered a case, and an investigation is underway, officials said, adding that they will look into all aspects of the incident. However, the family members of the minor boy apologised to the villagers, saying that the incident would not be repeated in future. The situation is under control, police said. An ex-serviceman and his brother were tragically found dead inside a parked car in Faridabad, prompting a police investigation into the cause of their deaths. Key Points Two brothers, including a retired army personnel, were discovered dead inside a car in Faridabad. The deceased, originally from Bihar, had been living in Faridabad for approximately 10 years. Family members reported the brothers missing after they failed to return home on Friday. Police are investigating the cause of death, with an autopsy scheduled to provide further details. The vehicle has been seized as part of the ongoing investigation into the brothers' deaths in Faridabad. Two brothers, including a retired army personnel, were found dead inside a parked vehicle in Faridabad's Naveen Nagar area, police said on Saturday. According to the police, the deceased, Kundan Kumar, 44, an ex-serviceman, and Ranjan Kumar, 38, a handicapped person, are natives of Bihar's Chhapra district, who had been living in the Roshan Nagar area for around 10 years. According to family members, the brothers left home in their car on Friday morning. When they did not return until late in the evening, the family launched a search, they said. The police received information from local residents regarding a car parked for a long time on Agwanpur Road in the Naveen Nagar area, they added. "Local residents said that the car had been parked there since around 10 am," Faridabad Police spokesperson Yashpal said. Acting on the information, police reached the spot and took the bodies into custody, and sent the bodies to the mortuary for postmortem, police said. The exact cause of death will be determined after an autopsy, he said, adding that the police have seized the car and the investigation is underway. A Chennai police constable has been suspended and is under investigation after allegations of trespassing and misbehaviour towards a woman, raising concerns about police conduct. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A Chennai police constable, Surya, has been suspended following allegations of trespassing and misbehaviour at a woman's residence. The constable allegedly entered the woman's house in an inebriated state, prompting her to raise an alarm and alert neighbours. A formal complaint led to a preliminary inquiry and the constable's immediate suspension by the Commissioner of Police. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the law, including the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated. A police constable attached to a police station here has been suspended following allegations of trespassing and attempting to misbehave with a woman at her residence in Royapettah. The constable, identified as Surya, allegedly entered the house of a 32-year-old woman in an inebriated state during the early hours of March 6. According to police sources, the woman raised an alarm and alerted her neighbours, prompting the constable to flee the premises. Following a formal complaint lodged by the victim, senior officials of the Chennai City Police conducted a preliminary inquiry into the incident. Based on the findings, the Commissioner of Police issued an order placing the constable, attached to the Ice House police station, under immediate suspension. Legal and Disciplinary Actions The Ice House police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the law, including the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act. A departmental inquiry has been initiated to further investigate the breach of conduct. Authorities confirmed that the suspension was enacted to facilitate a transparent probe into the charges. Police are investigating a possible murder-suicide after a married couple was found dead at a sewage treatment plant in Meerut, India, amidst reports of ongoing marital disputes. Key Points A married couple was discovered dead at a sewage treatment plant in Modipuram, Meerut, prompting a police investigation. Police suspect the husband, Pradeep, may have killed his wife, Madhu Yadav, before hanging himself. The couple had reportedly been experiencing marital issues for at least two months prior to their deaths. No suicide note was found, and CCTV footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation into the Meerut incident. Post-mortem reports are pending to determine the exact cause of death for both individuals in the suspected murder-suicide case. The married couple was found dead at a sewage treatment plant in the Modipuram area on Saturday, with police suspecting that the husband killed his wife before hanging himself. Pradeep, 34, a native of Hardoi district, worked as an operator under a contractor at a sewage plant in Pallavpuram Phase II, they said. He lived in a rented house in the N-Pocket area of Pallavpuram with his 30-year-old wife, Madhu Yadav, and their son. Family members said the couple had gone to their native village to celebrate Holi and returned to Meerut on Saturday. Instead of going home, Pradeep reportedly went to the plant with his wife and said they would rest in a room there, while their son played with other children at a nearby plant. The deaths came to light in the evening when another operator, Ramkarn, reached the plant and found the door of the room open. Upon entering, he saw Pradeep hanging from the ceiling, while Madhu lying still on the bed. The police rushed to the spot with a forensic team and collected evidence. No suicide note was found in the room. CCTV footage from the plant premises is being examined. Investigation Details During questioning, Madhu's brother Shivshankar told police that the couple had been fighting over some issue for the past at least two months. Pallavpuram Police Station SHO Mahesh Singh said preliminary investigation suggests that there was a dispute between the couple, and Pradeep may have killed his wife before taking his own life. The post-mortem reports are awaited for exact cause of deaths. Delhi Police have successfully apprehended three individuals, including a jewellery trader's employee, for their involvement in a Rs 54 lakh theft in Chandni Chowk, recovering a significant portion of the stolen money. Key Points Delhi Police arrest three men involved in the theft of Rs 54 lakh from a jewellery trader in Chandni Chowk. The main accused, an employee of the trader, confessed to planning the theft with his friends. Police recovered Rs 27 lakh from the employee and smaller amounts from his accomplices, along with deposit receipts. The accused were apprehended based on information about their plan to distribute the stolen money. Three men, including a jewellery trader's employee who allegedly fled with Rs 54 lakh entrusted to him for a transaction in north Delhi's Chandni Chowk, have been arrested by the Delhi Police, an official said on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Rupesh Kumar (24), Sachin alias Vikas (24) and Pawan Kumar (21), all residents of Sonia Vihar in northeast Delhi. "The case was registered on February 6 after a bullion trader in Chandni Chowk alleged that his employee Rupesh had absconded with Rs 54 lakh that he was asked to deliver in the market on February 5," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam said. Acting on specific information that some suspects involved in the theft would assemble in northeast Delhi to distribute the stolen money, police laid a trap near Khazoori Khas Flyover on March 5, police said. Two accused, Rupesh and Sachin, were apprehended from the spot, while their associate Pawan was later arrested from Sonia Vihar, they said. Confession and Recovery During interrogation, Rupesh told police that he worked for the bullion trader and handled the collection and delivery of payments in the market. He confessed to hatching a plan with his friends to flee with the money after noticing large cash transactions handled by his employer. Police said that on February 5, when he was handed Rs 54 lakh to purchase silver from another trader, he decamped with the cash and went into hiding with his associates. During the operation, police recovered Rs 27 lakh in cash from Rupesh, Rs 2.5 lakh from Sachin and Rs 2 lakh along with deposit receipts worth Rs 8 lakh and a car from Pawan. Delhi Police dismantle a major interstate drug network, arresting two individuals and seizing narcotics worth over Rs 2 crore, highlighting their commitment to combating drug trafficking. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi Police busted an interstate drug supply network, arresting two men. Narcotics worth over Rs 2 crore were seized during the operation. The accused, Sarthak Tyagi and Kulpreet Singh, were involved in procuring and distributing narcotics. The operation was based on specific intelligence regarding drug trafficking activity. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the drug supply chain. The Delhi Police has busted an interstate drugs supply network with the arrest of two men and seized narcotics worth over Rs 2 crore in the illegal market, an official said on Friday. The accused have been identified as Sarthak Tyagi (30), a resident of Moti Nagar, and Kulpreet Singh alias Sunny (29) from Ashok Vihar. "The operation was carried out following specific intelligence about drug trafficking activity. Acting on the input, a team conducted a raid at Tyagi's residence in Moti Nagar on February 21 and apprehended him from his room on the first floor of the premises," a senior police officer said. During the search, the team recovered multiple narcotic and psychotropic substances, including 1.016 kg of marijuana, 1.112 kg of charas, 17 grams of MDMA, 1 gram of ecstasy tablets and 4 grams of psychedelic mushrooms. Investigation and Arrests During interrogation, Tyagi disclosed that he was involved in procuring and distributing narcotics through an interstate supply network, police said. Based on the information provided by him, the police identified and arrested Kulpreet Singh, who is suspected of being one of the suppliers in the network. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and further investigation is underway to identify other members of the supply chain. Accused's Previous Criminal Records Police said Tyagi has previous criminal involvement in two cases registered at Moti Nagar police station, including one related to an attempt to murder. They added that Kulpreet Singh's involvement in an NDPS case in Mandi is also being verified. A Delhi woman's solo trip turned into a nightmare as she escaped an alleged rape attempt by a taxi driver in Uttarakhand, leading to his arrest and a renewed focus on tourist safety. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A woman travelling from Delhi to Nainital was allegedly assaulted and nearly raped by her taxi driver. The woman escaped into a forest and hid overnight, injured and without her mobile phone, to avoid the attacker. Police have arrested the accused, Deepak Singh Bora, and recovered the stolen mobile phone and the taxi. The accused was driving someone else's taxi, prompting warnings to taxi owners about verifying driver paperwork. Nainital police emphasise tourist safety and promise strict action against perpetrators of such crimes. A solo trip turned into a night of terror for a woman from Delhi who spent the entire night hiding in a forest in Uttarakhand, injured and with no mobile phone, to escape an allegedly rape attempt by her taxi driver. On Thursday, the 31-year-old woman arrived in Kathgodam from Delhi via Dehradun and hired a taxi for Nainital. On the way, around 1.30 am, the taxi driver diverted the vehicle towards a deserted road in Patwa Dangar near the lake city, police said. When the woman raises objection, the driver stopped the vehicle and began abusing and assaulted her, the police said, adding that he also snatched her mobile phone and attempted to rape her. To save herself, the woman ran towards the woods and hid in a forest overnight. She somehow managed to reach Patwa Dangar village on Friday morning, and with the help of locals, filed a police report. Police Action and Arrest The police immediately swung into action. They collected evidence and sent the woman for a medical examination of the victim, the police said. Based on the woman's complaint, a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to punishment for rape, robbery and abduction was registered, they said. Using CCTV cameras, the taxi's number, and its GPS system, police tracked the accused driver, identified as Deepak Singh Bora (39) from Pines Bhawali Road. The victim's stolen mobile phone was recovered from Bora, a resident of Haldwani, the police said, adding that his vehicle has also been seized. Police Statement on Tourist Safety Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manjunath TC said the safety of tourists and the general public is a top priority in Nainital, and that strict legal action will be taken against those who commit such crimes. He also warned taxi owners and urged them to verify their the paperwork before handing their vehicles to over to drivers. Non compliance of orders will result in strict action against them. Manjunath added that the accused involved in the incident was also driving someone else's taxi. A tragic accident at a Delhi pickle factory resulted in the deaths of the owner and his son after they fell into a well while attempting to rescue an unconscious worker, highlighting concerns about factory safety. Key Points A factory owner and his son died after falling into a well at their pickle manufacturing unit in Nangloi, Delhi. The incident occurred when a labourer fell unconscious inside the well, prompting the owner and his sons to attempt a rescue. The factory had multiple wells used for processing and storing pickles, each approximately 10 feet deep. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of suffocation and whether safety protocols were followed at the factory. Two others, a labourer and another son, were rescued and regained consciousness after the incident. A factory owner and his son died after falling into a well at a pickle manufacturing unit in outer Delhi's Nangloi area on Saturday evening, police said. The police were informed by a caller that two to three people had fallen into a well meant to process pickle at a factory in Rao Vihar. The manufacturing unit operated from the ground floor of a residential building, while its 60-year-old owner, Anil, lived on the first floor with his family. During the inquiry, it was learnt that the factory had four to five wells of around 10 feet depth where pickles were processed and stored. Details of the Incident "On Saturday, a labourer entered one of the wells for work but reportedly fell unconscious due to suffocation," an officer said. Seeing the labourer collapse, the factory owner and his two sons, Neeraj and Sandeep, aged 32 and 28, too, went down the well to rescue him. However, they too fell unconscious due to the lack of oxygen, the officer said. All four were pulled out of the well by Anil's brother, Subhash, and other locals who rushed after the commotion. While the labourer and Sandeep regained consciousness, Anil and his son Neeraj remained unresponsive, the police said. They were taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where doctors declared them both dead. Investigation Underway An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of suffocation and whether safety protocols were followed at the factory. Bona fide victims would be compensated by banks within five days of receiving the complaint. Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes. Bank customers losing up to Rs 50,000 in digital frauds may soon get relief, with the Reserve Bank of India proposing compensation of up to Rs 25,000 as a one-time measure, even if the loss occurred due to the customer's negligence, provided the complaint is lodged within five days of being defrauded. Key Points RBI proposes Rs 25,000 compensation for victims of small-value digital frauds up to Rs 50,000. Relief available even if customer was negligent, provided the fraud is reported within five days. RBI will bear 65 to 76 per cent of the compensation, with the rest shared by banks. Banks must send instant SMS alerts for electronic transactions above Rs 500. RBI Proposes Rs 25,000 Fraud Compensation In draft norms issued on Friday, the regulator said only bona fide victims involving individuals would be compensated by banks within five days of receiving the complaint. The compensation will be shared between the Reserve Bank of India (and banks, with the central bank bearing the bulk of the payout in the range of 65 to 76 per cent. During the monetary policy press meet last month, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra had said the customer will be compensated up to Rs 25,000 as a one-time measure, 'no question asked'. RBI to Bear Bulk of Compensation The move comes against the backdrop of a rising number of digital fraud cases, with customers increasingly losing hard-earned savings to such incidents. More than two-thirds of fraud cases are of small value, though they account for about 15 per cent of the total fraud value. The draft on limiting customer liability in fraudulent digital transactions proposes that the norms will come into effect from July 1, 2026. New Rules to Start July 2026 'The digital payments and banking landscape has evolved considerably since the issuance of the existing instructions on limiting customer liability in unauthorised electronic banking transactions in 2017,' the RBI said. The draft makes it mandatory for banks to send instant SMS alerts to customers for all electronic banking transactions of value more than Rs 500. Banks Must Send Instant SMS Alerts Following a review, the central bank said it has decided to issue revised instructions to banks that expand the scope of the existing framework to cover additional categories of fraudulent electronic banking transactions, reduce the time taken by banks to process related complaints, and introduce a compensation mechanism for small-value fraudulent electronic transactions. RBI has invited comments from stakeholders by April 6. The draft said the compensation mechanism will be in force for one year from the effective date of these directions. "This will be reviewed on the basis of the experience gained with an objective of enhancing the share of the banks and reducing/eliminating the share of RBI in the compensation paid to the victims", the central bank said. The compensation is subject to the loss being established as bona fide, as per the internal processes covered in the bank's policy, and the victim having reported the fraudulent electronic banking transaction on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930), and to the bank within five calendar days of its occurrence. According to the guidelines, in cases where the loss amount is less than Rs 29,412 and compensation of 85 per cent of the net loss is paid, the RBI will bear 65 per cent of the payout, while the customer's bank and the beneficiary bank will contribute 10 per cent each. For fraud involving losses of Rs 29,412 or more but up to Rs 50,000, where the maximum compensation of Rs 25,000 is paid, the RBI will contribute Rs 19,118, while the customer's bank and the beneficiary bank will contribute Rs 2,941 each. 'The bank shall seek reimbursement of the applicable amount from the Reserve Bank on a quarterly basis,' the draft said. The draft directions also provide for adjustments in cases where funds are recovered after compensation has been paid. In such situations, the customer's bank will be required to recalculate the compensation based on the revised net loss and make any additional payment due to the customer after adjusting for excess compensation already paid, if applicable. The RBI, last month, had said that it may use the Deposit Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund for the compensation that is being proposed, as there is adequate surplus parked in the fund. According to the proposed guidelines, banks will bear the burden of proving customer liability in complaints involving fraudulent electronic banking transactions. They will be required to examine and classify each complaint under the relevant categories of electronic banking transactions as defined in the directions. Customers will be entitled to zero liability and reversal of the transaction in cases where the fraud occurs due to negligence or deficiency on the part of the bank, irrespective of whether the transaction was reported by the customer. Zero liability will also apply in cases of third-party breaches, provided the customer reports the unauthorised transaction to the bank within five calendar days of its occurrence. Additionally, banks will be required to put in place a mechanism for periodic reporting of complaints related to fraudulent electronic banking transactions to their board or a designated committee. Such reports must include the number of cases, the total value involved, and a break-up across different transaction categories, including card-present transactions, card-not-present transactions, internet banking, mobile banking and ATM transactions. The board or its committee will be required to periodically review these complaints, the action taken on them, and the functioning of grievance redressal and compensation mechanisms, and take necessary steps to strengthen systems and procedures, the RBI said. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Two women employees of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation in Gujarat allegedly committed suicide, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding their tragic deaths. Key Points Two Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation employees, Sejal Patel and Ripal Rawat, allegedly committed suicide. The women jumped into the Nabhoi canal, prompting a police and fire brigade search. Authorities are investigating the reasons behind the alleged suicide, with no suicide note found. Both women were recent recruits to the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and residents of Ahmedabad. Two women employees of the civic body in Gujarat's Gandhinagar allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a canal, police said on Saturday. The deceased, Sejal Patel (26) and Ripal Rawat (24), both residents of Ahmedabad, had been recently recruited by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, an official said. One of the women had informed her family that she was going to commit suicide with her friend before they jumped into the Nabhoi canal around 8 pm on Friday, Inspector L D Odedara of Adalaj police said. He said that the families had tried contacting the women, but their mobile phones remained switched off. The police, with the help of the fire brigade, recovered the bodies, which were handed over to the families after post-mortem, the official said. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the reason for the extreme step is yet to be ascertained, he said. The National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) is set to transform India's health insurance landscape by standardising and simplifying claims processing, creating a seamless digital infrastructure for patients, hospitals, and insurers. Photograph: Kind courtesy Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.com Key Points The National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) aims to address the complexities of health insurance claims processing in India. NHCX seeks to create a unified digital infrastructure for seamless exchange of health claims data between hospitals, insurers, and patients. The NHCX Hackathon promoted innovation in building interoperable and standards-based solutions for India's digital health insurance infrastructure. The long-term vision for NHCX is to establish a reliable and seamless digital public infrastructure, similar to UPI, for health insurance claims. The NHCX Innovation Meet brought together key stakeholders to advance the adoption of interoperable health claims solutions under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The CEO of National Health Authority (NHA) has highlighted the complexity of health claims as one of the most persistent pain points in India's health insurance ecosystem and underscored the role of National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) in bringing standardisation and interoperability to a process that affects millions of citizens. In his address at the NHCX Innovation meet held at IIT Hyderabad on March 6-7, CEO Sunil Kumar Barnwal said, "The National Health Claims Exchange is not limited to hospitals and insurance companies alone; it is a platform designed to serve the entire healthcare ecosystem, including patients, healthcare providers, insurers, and technology innovators." "The long-term vision for NHCX is similar to digital public infrastructure like UPI, where people may not know the underlying institution running the system, but they trust the platform because it works seamlessly and reliably for them," he added. The two-day event also marked the grand finale of the NHCX Hackathon, conducted from February 22 to 28, the health ministry said in a statement. The NHA conducted the NHCX Hackathon organised under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to promote innovation around NHCX. The winning teams presented their solutions at the NHCX Innovation meet where their solutions were showcased and recognised. Simplifying Health Insurance Claims with NHCX The NHCX is one of the three gateways under ABDM, built to simplify and standardise health insurance claims processing across the country. It provides a unified digital infrastructure for seamless exchange of claims data among hospitals, insurance companies, and patients. The hackathon witnessed participation from across the healthcare, insurance and technology ecosystem, reflecting growing interest in building interoperable and standards-based solutions for India's digital health insurance infrastructure. Participants included health-tech startups, insurtech companies, insurers, TPAs, hospitals including PMJAY-empanelled hospitals, HMIS vendors, academic institutions, developers, students and technology innovators, reflecting a diverse and collaborative innovation ecosystem, ministry stated. The NHCX Innovation Meet brought together regulators, state governments, industry leaders, technology innovators and academic institutions to advance the adoption of interoperable, standards-aligned health claims solutions under ABDM. The event brought together leaders from government, healthcare institutions, insurers, technology organisations and academia to discuss the future of digital health claims infrastructure in India, the statement added. Rahul Gandhi reveals his passion for aviation and his alternate career choice as an aerospace entrepreneur, highlighting his family's flying history. IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks with the Information Technology Fraternity at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. Photograph: @INCIndia/X Key Points Rahul Gandhi reveals he would likely pursue entrepreneurship in the aerospace sector if not in politics. Gandhi cites his background as a pilot and his family's history in aviation as reasons for his interest. He believes that labels like 'politician' or 'engineer' are limiting and that curiosity and an open mind are essential. Gandhi emphasised the importance of connecting the dots and being curious about everything. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that if he was not in politics, he would probably be doing some entrepreneurship in the aerospace world. Rahul was responding to a query during a dialogue with the Information Technology Fraternity at Technopark in Thiruvanathapuram. He said he has been defined as a politician by many, but he actually does a lot of other things. Rahul, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said he was of the view that calling someone a politician, technocrat, techie or engineer were "constricting definitions". Gandhi's Aerospace Aspirations "If I was not working for a political organisation, I would probably be doing some entrepreneurship, probably in the aerospace world. I am a pilot, so was my father and also my uncle. So, we have that little strain," he said. "We should be curious about everything. You should have an open mind to everything and that is when you start to connect the dots," the LoP, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, added. The IRGC said the barrage targeted several US military facilities in the region, including bases at Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, Juffair in Bahrain, Ali al-Salem in Kuwait and Al Azraq in Jordan. IMAGE: Smoke rises after a drone attack set fire to offices and warehouses belonging to US firms Halliburton and KBR at a compound housing foreign oil company employees, according to security sources, in Basra, Iraq, on March 7, 2026. Photograph: Mohammed Aty/Reuters Key Points Iran launched the 23rd phase of 'Operation True Promise 4', targeting US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan with missiles and drones. Rocket attacks hit bases near Baghdad, while Israel carried out fresh airstrikes on Hezbollah and IRGC-linked sites in Beirut. Saudi Arabia intercepted 16 drones and missiles targeting the strategic Shaybah oil field and Prince Sultan Air Base. The conflict has spread across West Asia following US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering widespread retaliatory attacks. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli-linked locations across West Asia, even as hostilities spread to several countries in the region. According to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, the IRGC initiated the 23rd phase of its military campaign, titled 'Operation True Promise 4', on Friday, deploying a combination of drones and new-generation solid-fuel and liquid-fuel missiles against what it described as high-priority targets. In a statement, the IRGC said the barrage targeted several US military facilities in the region, including bases at Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, Juffair in Bahrain, Ali al-Salem in Kuwait and Al Azraq in Jordan. Iranian state media also reported that the operation struck sites in Be'er Sheva in southern Israel, which Tehran described as housing technology, cyber and military support facilities. Iranian broadcasts said the strikes involved missiles such as the Khorramshahr-4, Kheibar and Fattah systems. The IRGC claimed the offensive demonstrated that its missile capabilities remained intact despite continued US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. The escalation follows the widening conflict after joint US-Israel strikes on February 28 killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior figures, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks across the region. Rocket attack targets US diplomatic facility in Iraq Meanwhile, Iraqi security officials said a rocket attack targeted a military base housing a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport. Iraqi military sources also reported that two Katyusha rockets struck the Taji Military Base north of Baghdad. Israel continued its military operations as well. The Israeli Defence Forces said its air force carried out a new round of strikes in Beiruts Dahiyeh district, targeting what it described as command centres linked to the IRGC Air Force and Lebanon-based Hezbollah group. Humanitarian agencies also reported damage to Iranian Red Crescent facilities during the ongoing hostilities. The expanding conflict has prompted concern from global leaders. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all sides to halt attacks and pursue diplomacy, warning that the situation risks spiralling beyond control and could have severe consequences for civilians and the global economy. Tensions have also spread to the Gulf region. Saudi air defences neutralise 16 drones Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 16 drones launched in four waves targeting the strategic Shaybah oil field early Saturday. Saudi officials also reported intercepting a ballistic missile and a cruise missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base near Al-Kharj, while another drone was shot down east of Riyadh. Regional security reports indicate a sharp rise in aerial attacks, with the United Arab Emirates intercepting more than 125 drones and six ballistic missiles within the past 24 hours. The escalation has triggered strong reactions from Gulf states. The Gulf Cooperation Council has affirmed the right of member nations to defend their territories against attacks, while Saudi Arabia has said it reserves the right to respond to threats targeting its energy infrastructure and population centres. The conflict continues to intensify across multiple fronts, raising fears of a broader regional war. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar affirms India's self-determined and 'unstoppable' rise, emphasising the nation's strategic growth and role in the Indian Ocean region amid evolving global dynamics. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Jaishankar speaks at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar/X Key Points External Affairs Minister Jaishankar asserts India's growth trajectory is 'unstoppable' and will be determined by its own strengths. Jaishankar addressed concerns about the US not repeating 'mistakes' made with China in enabling India's economic development. India is increasing its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region, balancing its responsibilities with regional realities. India approved urgent docking for an Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Lavan, in Kochi, demonstrating its humanitarian approach. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of adhering to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Indian Ocean region. Days after a United States submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka's coast, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has underlined India's position on the events in the Indian Ocean. Jaishankar described the sinking of IRIS Dena as unfortunate and said India took the humane approach when the Iranians send out a request for another Iranian frigate, IRIS Lavan. Jaishankar lay out sequence of event Speaking at the 2026 Raisinia Dialogue in New Delhi, Jaishankar outlined the sequence of events involving the Iranian ships. "You had these ships, and we got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships, which presumably was closest to us -- to our waters at that point of time, wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems. And so, my recollection is this was on the 28th, and on the 1st, we said, "Okay, you can come in." And it took them a few days to sail in, and then they docked in Kochi. And the ship is there. And obviously, the people on the ship, a lot of them were young cadets -- that is my understanding. They have disembarked; they are, you know, in a nearby facility," Jaishankar said. "When they set out and came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review, and then they got, in a way, caught on the wrong side of events. So for us, when this ship wanted to come in, and that too in difficulties, I think it was the humane thing to do. And I think we were guided by that principle. And in a sense, of the other ships, one obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, and they took the decision which they did, and one unfortunately didn't make it. So I think where really approached it from the point of view of, in a sense, of humanity, of other than, you know, whatever the legal issues were. And I think we did the right thing," the minister added. Jaishankar explains the 'realities of Indian Ocean' Jaishankar also highlighted India's growing role in the Indian Ocean as a net security provider but at the same time noted that it doesn't override the realities of the region. In that context, he mentioned the military bases of Diego Garcia, Djibouti and Hambantota. "There are a lot of social media debates going on over this.... Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades. The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period," the Minister said. Jaishankar further highlighted that India has invested in the development of the region and with India's growth countries in the region stand to benefit. "Indian Ocean Region is an ecosystem. Indian Ocean, much more than other parts of the world, is in the process of recovery and rebuilding. Individual states are doing that, but the whole region as a whole, restoration of trade patterns, connectivity...This whole rebuilding process of the Indian Ocean needs to be recognised... A lot of this requires hard work. In the last decade, Indian diplomacy has invested a lot in this process," he said. The comments come in the context of three Iranian naval vessels that found themselves at the centre of the escalating war between Iran, the United States, and Israel in the first week of March. India allows Iranian warship to dock in Kochi The ships -- IRIS Dena, IRIS Lavan, and IRIS Bushehr -- had been operating in the Indian Ocean and had participated in the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026 exercises hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam earlier in February. The Indian Navy approved the request to dock the ship, IRIS Lavan, days before the US torpedoed and sank Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, killing 80 people on board. IRIS Lavan docked at Kochi on March 4. The vessel remains in Kochi with its 183 crew members currently being accommodated at Indian naval facilities on humanitarian grounds. Jaishankar also emphasised the need to follow the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). While analysing the situation in the Indian Ocean region as well as the India growth story, Jaishankar said, "Those who work with us obviously will get more benefits; I'm not saying there are no challenges to India's rise, there are." "But the direction of India's rise is very clear. In a way, it's unstoppable," he said. An investigation has been launched into a Jharkhand hospital following allegations that a parent was forced to carry his dead newborn in a box after being denied an ambulance, raising serious concerns about healthcare negligence. Key Points Jharkhand health department initiates probe into Chakradharpur hospital over allegations of denying ambulance for dead newborn. Parent claims he was forced to carry his dead newborn in a box due to the hospital's refusal to provide transportation. Hospital in-charge denies the allegations, stating the parent did not request an ambulance. The health department has promised action against anyone found involved in the alleged negligence. Jharkhand health department has initiated a probe into allegations of Chakradharpur Sub-Divisional Hospital not providing an ambulance to a parent to carry his dead newborn, forcing him to take the body in a box, an official said on Saturday. "We are aware of the allegation about the incident in Chakradharpur Sub Divisional Hospital. We will start a probe, and action will be taken against anyone found involved," Additional Chief Secretary (health) Ajoy Singh told PTI. Ramakrishna Hembrom, a resident of Bangarasai village under Keraikela Police Station limits, said he had admitted his pregnant wife Rita Tiriya to the hospital earlier this week. According to him, his wife delivered a baby boy on Saturday, but the newborn died allegedly due to negligence. He also claimed that the hospital did not provide an ambulance to transport the body. Hembrom alleged that he had to carry the body back to his village in a wooden box for the last rites. Hospital's Response to Allegations However, hospital in-charge Anshuman Sharma denied the allegation and said Hembrom did not request an ambulance. "He did not demand an ambulance and took the body and left the hospital. The newborn had serious medical complications," Sharma said. He added that the hospital arranges free ambulances through the 108 ambulance service in such cases, if requested. A headmaster in Jharkhand has been suspended after a controversial dance video with students went viral, prompting swift disciplinary action and raising concerns about school conduct. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A headmaster in Garhwa, Jharkhand, has been suspended after a video emerged of him and two assistant teachers dancing with students. The dance occurred during a farewell function at an upgraded middle school in the Meral block. The Garhwa district administration initiated a probe after the video went viral on social media. The headmaster has been suspended under Jharkhand government service rules, and departmental action is directed against the assistant teachers. The District Education Officer emphasised the importance of maintaining discipline and morality in schools, stating that such incidents will not be tolerated. A school headmaster in Jharkhand's Garhwa district was suspended and departmental proceedings initiated against two assistant teachers for allegedly dancing with students on a "vulgar" song, an official said on Saturday. The action came after a purported dance video went viral on social media, in which the headmaster and two assistant teachers are seen dancing with students, including girls of class 8, during a farewell function. The incident happened at an upgraded middle school, Sohbaria, in Meral block of the district on March 1. Garhwa district administration took cognisance of the video and initiated a probe, the official said. Suspension and Investigation Details District Education Officer Kaiser Raza said, "Prima facie, the allegations were found serious. Based on it, the school's headmaster in charge, Kundan Kumar Ranjan, has been suspended with immediate effect under the Jharkhand government service rules 2016." During the suspension period, his headquarters has been designated as the regional education office, Garhwa, and he is required to register his biometric attendance at the headquarters, according to a press release issued by the Garhwa education department. In this case, the conduct of assistant teachers Purushottam Pandit and Subeshwar Ram has also been deemed inappropriate. The District Education Officer has directed for departmental action against them under the Jharkhand Assistant Teacher Service Conditions Rules, 2021, the release added. Raza said maintaining discipline, morality, and the dignity of the educational environment in schools is a top priority, and such incidents will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Indian Customs officials have cracked down on a sophisticated car smuggling operation, arresting five individuals involved in illegally importing high-end vehicles from Bhutan using forged documents and fraudulent registrations. Photograph: PTI Photo Key Points Five individuals from West Bengal and Assam have been arrested for smuggling high-end used cars from Bhutan into India. The smuggling operation involved the use of forged documents to illegally register vehicles, including foreign-made cars and Indian-made vehicles smuggled back into the country. An investigation revealed that 460 vehicles were registered using forged documents, implicating a District Transport Officer (DTO) from Assam. "Operation Numkhor" was launched to combat the illegal smuggling of used vehicles, particularly high-end SUVs, from Bhutan. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) found thousands of vehicles with duplicate chassis and engine numbers registered across multiple northeastern states. The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate has arrested five persons from West Bengal and Assam in connection with the smuggling of high-end used cars from Bhutan, officials said. In a statement, Customs said the arrested persons were Biswadip Das (35) of Jaigaon in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, Dipak Patowary (57) of Paltanbazar in Kamrup district, Ayub Ali of Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district, MD Mostafa Ahmed (35) of Boladmari in Goalpara district and Jalal Mandal (31) of Chapar in Dhubri district. All four belong to Assam. Customs officials said Patowary was the District Transport Officer (DTO) of Bongaigaon in Assam. The arrests were made following a widespread investigation conducted in Assam and West Bengal, with the assistance of police and Customs formations in the northeastern states, officials said. Details of the Smuggling Operation "During an investigation by Assam Police, they were found to have registered 460 such vehicles using forged documents. The vehicles include foreign-made cars as well as Indian-made vehicles that were exported earlier and later smuggled back into the country without payment of Customs duties. These were then illegally registered using forged documents," Customs said. The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi, launched "Operation Numkhor" last year after it was found that used vehicles, mostly high-end SUVs from Bhutan, were being illegally smuggled into India, re-registered in various states, and sold to buyers who claimed they were legally imported. Last year, Customs seized several vehicles, including some belonging to film actors in Kerala, which had been sold to them by persons involved in the illegal smuggling of vehicles from Bhutan. The Customs statement said Das, who was arrested on February 22 and is an employee of a major IT firm, was the mastermind behind the smuggling of vehicles from Bhutan. He was apprehended near the India-Bhutan border and later brought to Kochi on a transit warrant before being remanded in judicial custody. Customs will soon approach the court seeking the custody of the arrested persons for further investigation, officials said. CAG Report Highlights Widespread Irregularities According to Customs, a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) found that 15,849 vehicles with the same chassis and engine numbers were registered in multiple northeastern states. Jamie Lee Curtis refuses to waste time on "toxic people". Jamie Lee Curtis refuses to indulge toxic people The 67-year-old actress admits that her attitude towards relationships has evolved during the course of her career in Hollywood. She told AARP: "I turned 60 and realised I was going to die sooner than later. And that understanding meant I have no effing time to waste. No time to waste on toxic people, on relationships that don't serve me." The Halloween star whose parents were Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh has long been aware of the industry's harsh treatment of older performers. She explained: "I've been self-retiring since I was 30, saying, 'I'll get out of this,' because the industry I'm in is a cruel, cruel industry, particularly with ageing. There's a dismissal of people. I watched it very much with my parents. So I have just decided to embrace that." The Freaky Friday actress changed her approach after she turned 60 and started to embrace her new-found "freedom". The movie star said: "Accepting my crepey skin and showing it anyway that's freedom. I understand what I look like. I look in the mirror. I get it. And there's no need for me to alter it." Meanwhile, Jamie Lee previously claimed that the "filter face is what people want". The actress has been an outspoken critic of the "cosmeceutical industrial complex" and she believes that the ever-increasing influence of AI technology has actually exacerbated the problem. The Hollywood star told the Guardian newspaper: "I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human [appearance]. "The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers theres a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances. And it is aided and abetted by AI, because now the filter face is what people want. "Im not filtered right now. The minute I lay a filter on and you see the before and after, its hard not to go: Oh, well that looks better. But whats better? Better is fake. And there are too many examples I will not name them but very recently we have had a big onslaught through media, many of those people." A lawyer in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, was critically injured in a shooting allegedly stemming from a protracted land dispute, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns among the legal community. Key Points A lawyer in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, was critically injured after being shot, allegedly due to a land dispute. The victim, Chandresh Verma, claimed he was ambushed and shot in the abdomen by six to seven people. Verma alleged a long-standing land dispute with relatives, claiming fraudulent transfer of land. Police are investigating the incident and suspect the involvement of the victim's uncle's sons. Lawyers gathered at the district hospital, prompting assurances of a thorough investigation by the police. A 32-year-old lawyer was seriously injured after he was shot at allegedly over a land dispute in a village here, police said on Saturday. The injured man, identified as Chandresh Verma, was taken to the district hospital, but due to his critical condition, he was referred to the trauma centre in Lucknow, Emergency Medical Officer Pushparaj Rana said. Police said Verma is a native of Veer Balpurwa village in the Safdarganj area, but currently resides in Mohari Purwa locality under Kotwali Nagar. Verma told police before being referred to Lucknow that he had returned home from court on Friday evening and had gone to a nearby field when six to seven people allegedly ambushed him. The attackers first assaulted him and later shot him in the abdomen, police said. Details of the Land Dispute Verma alleged that he had a long-standing land dispute with his relatives and claimed the attack was linked to the ongoing case. About eight bighas of land in his father's name had been fraudulently transferred by the opposing party, Verma alleged and said that he was pursuing the matter legally. Police Investigation and Response Meanwhile, a large number of lawyers gathered at the district hospital after receiving information about the incident. Additional Superintendent of Police Vikas Chandra Tripathi reached the hospital and assured the lawyers of a thorough investigation. Tripathi said the injured lawyer has a land dispute with his uncle's sons, and police are conducting a detailed probe to identify and arrest those involved. Fueled by the West Asia conflict, India's domestic LPG prices have spiked, impacting household budgets and commercial operations, even as Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries retain their subsidy. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Domestic LPG prices in Delhi increased to Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder, marking the second hike in under a year. The price surge is attributed to rising global energy costs due to the ongoing military conflict in West Asia. Commercial LPG prices also saw a significant increase of Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder, impacting businesses. Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries will continue to receive a subsidy of Rs 300 per cylinder for up to 12 refills annually. Despite the increase, cooking gas prices in India remain relatively low compared to neighbouring countries. The prices of domestic LPG and commercial cylinders were hiked by a steep Rs 60 and Rs 114.5, respectively, amid rising energy costs linked to the West Asia conflict. Non-subsidised LPG, the one that common household users other than the Ujjwala beneficiaries use in their kitchens, will now cost Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi as against Rs 853 previously, according to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) website. This is the second increase in prices in less than a year. Industry officials said the increase follows a steep rise in global energy prices since the breakout of military conflict in West Asia. Despite the price increase, cooking gas in India is priced at the lowest when compared with neighbouring countries, they said. Price rise effective from March 7 The price increase, the website showed, is effective from March 7. This is the second increase in rates in 11 months. Prices were last hiked by Rs 50 in April last year. In Mumbai, non-subsidised LPG now costs Rs 912.50, Rs 939 in Kolkata and Rs 928.50 in Chennai, according to the IOC website. Rates differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. Ujjwala beneficiaries to get subsidy Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries, the over 10 crore poor who have got free LPG connections since the scheme was launched in 2016, will continue to get a subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills in a year. The price of commercial LPG, the one used by establishments such as hotels and restaurants, was increased by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder. It now costs Rs 1,883 in Delhi. This increase comes on top of the Rs 28 per 19-kg cylinder increase on March 1. Commercial LPG rates have risen by Rs 302.50 this year. BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty sharply criticised the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal over high fuel taxes, deteriorating law and order, and alleged negligence in border security, particularly concerning illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Key Points Mithun Chakraborty accuses the West Bengal government of charging higher fuel taxes compared to other states. He criticises Mamata Banerjee for protesting cooking gas price hikes, citing the impact of the West Asia conflict on global energy prices. Chakraborty claims that women's safety is a major issue in West Bengal and promises a secure environment if the BJP wins the assembly polls. He alleges a decline in law and order in West Bengal, with increased criminal activities. Chakraborty raises concerns about illegal immigration from Bangladesh due to the unfenced border, accusing the TMC government of not providing land for border fencing. Accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of charging higher taxes on fuel compared to several other states, BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty on Saturday said that she was trying to make an issue of cooking gas price hike despite knowing the pitfalls of the war situation in West Asia. The price of domestic cooking gas was hiked on Saturday by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder as oil companies factored in increased energy prices in view of the West Asia conflict. Asked about the TMC supremo announcing protests by the TMC's women's wing owing to cooking gas price hike, the actor-politician accused her of trying to make an issue of a war situation in the oil and gas-rich West Asia, for which every country is facing problems. Maintaining that prices of petrol and diesel may also rise owing to the war situation involving the USA, Israel, Iran and several other Gulf countries, he asked, "Why are petrol and diesel costlier in West Bengal compared to other states?" He questioned why the Mamata Banerjee dispensation was not reducing taxes levied by her government on fuel, like in several other states. Concerns Over Women's Safety and Security Addressing a press conference at the state BJP office here, Chakraborty said that the main issue in assembly poll-bound West Bengal is the security of people, especially women. Accusing Banerjee of advising women not to venture out at night instead of ensuring proper security and law and order, he promised a safe and secure environment for women if the BJP wins the assembly polls. "BJP will ensure women's security when it comes to power in Bengal," he said, assuring, "everyone will be secure". The actor-politician alleged that there is "no pause" in criminal activities in the state, with incidents taking place every now and then. "It is amazing that West Bengal has sharply come down the graph regarding law and order issues compared to previous times when women could freely move around even after midnight," he said. Border Security and Illegal Immigration Maintaining that over 400-km length of porous frontier with Bangladesh in West Bengal is leading to unbridled infiltration from the neighbouring country, Chakraborty accused the TMC government in the state of not providing land for border fencing. "Lakhs of people are travelling illegally, taking advantage of the unfenced border, who are voting for the TMC in Bengal and for the Jamaat-e-Islami on the other side," he said. Maintaining that "a radical transformation " is taking place owing to illegal immigration, the BJP leader said, "We would have felt secure if the border fencing could have been completed in the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ignited a political firestorm by accusing President Droupadi Murmu of acting on the BJP's instructions and neglecting tribal welfare issues in other states, escalating tensions ahead of the assembly elections. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points Mamata Banerjee accuses President Murmu of acting on BJP's advice and questions her silence on tribal issues in BJP-ruled states. President Murmu raised concerns about the pace of development among tribal communities in West Bengal during a recent visit. Banerjee defends her government's efforts for tribal welfare, citing recognition of the Ol Chiki script and various welfare schemes. The political clash intensifies the tribal outreach battle between the TMC and BJP ahead of upcoming elections. Banerjee alleges irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming tribal voters have been unfairly deleted. Escalating her confrontation with constitutional authorities in the run-up to the assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused President Droupadi Murmu of speaking "on BJP's advice", questioning her "silence" on "atrocities" against tribals in states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh. Banerjee's unusually sharp remarks came hours after Murmu, during a visit to north Bengal, questioned the pace of development among tribals in parts of the state, and wondered whether the CM was "upset" as neither she nor any state minister was present to receive her. The exchange has injected a fresh political edge into the tribal outreach battle between the ruling TMC and the BJP ahead of the polls, with Banerjee linking the controversy to the ongoing row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "It's unfortunate that politics is being played by using the Hon'ble President on the advice of the BJP, and by alleging that no work has been done for tribals," Banerjee said. "I feel ashamed to even say this. We respect the Hon'ble President. But, she too, has been sent to sell politicsa I am sorry, madam. I have great regard for you, but you are being guided by BJP policies and BJP instructions," she said, addressing a gathering in Kolkata. The CM also rejected the allegation that the state government had not sent representatives to Murmu's programme, claiming the information conveyed to the President was incorrect. In a post on X in the evening, Banerjee said the President's Secretariat was informed by district officials that the organiser appeared inadequately prepared. "The President's Secretariat advance team visited on March 5, was apprised of the lack of arrangements, yet the programme continued as scheduled," she said. The CM also said that Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was present at the programme, which was not organised by the Bengal government. Banerjee said the timing of Murmu's visit coincided with an intense political phase in the state. "If you come once a year, I can welcome you. But, if you come repeatedly during election time, how is it possible for me to attend everything? "Are we supposed to keep following you all the time? Should we roam around with a spool like someone flying a kite? Kites are flown during Vishwakarma Puja, once a year," the TMC supremo said. Banerjee said she was focused on safeguarding voters' rights amid alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, which has triggered a major political confrontation between the TMC and the Election Commission. "I am sitting on a dharna for the people over the SIR issue. What should be my priority? You may be the BJP's priority, but the public is my priority," she said. Banerjee alleged that several tribal voters had been deleted from the electoral rolls during the revision process. Earlier in the day, addressing tribals near Siliguri, Murmu said Banerjee was like her "younger sister", but wondered whether the CM was upset over her visit as neither she nor any minister was present during the programme. Highlighting continuing challenges faced by tribals, the President said she was unsure whether Santals and other adivasis in the region were benefiting from development. Banerjee Defends Tribal Welfare Initiatives Countering the remarks, Banerjee listed several welfare measures undertaken by her government for tribal communities, particularly in the Jangalmahal region. "Do you know that Santalis are organised here? Among tribals, there are not only Santalis, but also Lodhas, Shabars, Mundas and many others," she said. She claimed that the state government had given official recognition to the 'Ol Chiki' script used for the Santali language, and introduced it in education and competitive examinations. "In areas where tribals live, Ol Chiki has been recognised as an official language. In the WBCS examination, candidates can write in Santali. We have established schools, colleges and even a university," Banerjee said. The CM also said tribal students receive financial assistance while staying in hostels, and welfare schemes ensured food security in tribal-dominated regions. "Tribals in Jangalmahal receive the maximum quantity of free rice. This has been happening since 2011," she said. Banerjee also pointed to cultural recognition measures undertaken by her government. "We have declared holidays on the birth anniversaries of Birsa Munda and Raghunath Murmu, just as we have done for Matua leader Harichand Thakur and for Chhath Puja," she said. Banerjee Questions BJP's Record on Tribal Welfare Banerjee also questioned the BJP's record on tribal welfare in states governed by it. "When tribals were facing atrocities in Manipur, why were you (President Murmu) silent? When atrocities occur against tribals in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh, why do you not protest?" she said. Referring to the troubled past of the Jangalmahal region during the Maoist insurgency years, Banerjee said peace and development returned only after her government assumed power in Bengal. "When blood was being shed here in the name of the Naxalite movement, where were you and where was the BJP? Now that the situation is peaceful, the BJP has arrived," she said. "You occupy the highest constitutional position. Please do not play politics, especially during elections on the advice of the BJP," the CM said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee escalates tensions ahead of assembly polls by accusing President Droupadi Murmu of political bias and criticising her stance on tribal welfare, sparking a major controversy. IMAGE: A heated exchange broke out between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and President Droupadi Murmu after the latter expressed dissatisfaction over a change in the venue of 9th International Santhali Conclave in West Bengal, and the absence of chief minister and other ministers at the event. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Mamata Banerjee accuses President Murmu of acting on BJP advice regarding tribal development in West Bengal. Banerjee questions Murmu's silence on alleged atrocities against tribals in BJP-ruled states. PM Modi accused the TMC government of 'insulting' President Murmu. President Murmu had earlier questioned the pace of tribal development in West Bengal and the absence of state representatives at her event. Escalating her confrontation with constitutional authorities in the run-up to the assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused President Droupadi Murmu of speaking "on BJP's advice", questioning her "silence" on "atrocities" against tribals in states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh. Banerjee's unusually sharp remarks came hours after Murmu, during a visit to north Bengal, questioned the pace of development among tribals in parts of the state, and wondered whether the CM was "upset" as neither she nor any state minister was present to receive her. The exchange has injected a fresh political edge into the tribal outreach battle between the ruling TMC and the BJP ahead of the polls, with Banerjee linking the controversy to the ongoing row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "It's unfortunate that politics is being played by using the Hon'ble President on the advice of the BJP, and by alleging that no work has been done for tribals," Banerjee said. "I feel ashamed to even say this. We respect the Hon'ble President. But, she too, has been sent to sell politicse. I am sorry, madam. I have great regard for you, but you are being guided by BJP policies and BJP instructions," she said, addressing a gathering in Kolkata. Modi accuses TMC govt of 'insulting' President Murmu Accusing the West Bengal government of insulting Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was "shameful and unprecedented" and the TMC dispensation has "truly crossed all limits". Modi said that the office of the President is above politics and its sanctity should always be respected. He expressed the hope that better sense will prevail among the West Bengal government and the ruling TMC. "This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened," Modi said in a post on 'X' The prime minister said that the pain and anguish expressed by the President, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India. "The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President," he said. Modi said it is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal government. Mamata claims Prez playing politics at BJP's behest The CM also rejected the allegation that the state government had not sent representatives to Murmu's programme, claiming the information conveyed to the President was incorrect. "It is wrong information that there was no one from the state to attend your programme," Banerjee said. Responding to Murmu's observation that the tribal community's annual programme had been shifted from Bidhannagar to Goshaipur, she said the event was not organised by the state government. "We did not even know about it. I don't know who organised it, who attended it or who funded it," she claimed. Banerjee also said the timing of Murmu's visit coincided with an intense political phase in the state. "If you come once a year, I can welcome you. But, if you come repeatedly during election time, how is it possible for me to attend everything? "Are we supposed to keep following you all the time? Should we roam around with a spool like someone flying a kite? Kites are flown during Vishwakarma Puja, once a year," the TMC supremo said. Banerjee said she was focused on safeguarding voters' rights amid alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, which has triggered a major political confrontation between the TMC and the Election Commission. "I am sitting on a dharna for the people over the SIR issue. What should be my priority? You may be the BJP's priority, but the public is my priority," she said. Banerjee alleged that several tribal voters had been deleted from the electoral rolls during the revision process. "Do you know how many Santali-speaking people were deleted from the voter list in Bardhaman? Do you know how many names of tribals were removed? Please find out about this as well," she said. Earlier in the day, addressing tribals near Siliguri, Murmu said Banerjee was like her "younger sister", but wondered whether the CM was upset over her visit as neither she nor any minister was present during the programme. Highlighting continuing challenges faced by tribals, the President said she was unsure whether Santals and other adivasis in the region were benefiting from development. Mamata Banerjee Defends Tribal Welfare Initiatives Countering the remarks, Banerjee listed several welfare measures undertaken by her government for tribal communities, particularly in the Jangalmahal region. "Do you know that Santalis are organised here? Among tribals, there are not only Santalis, but also Lodhas, Shabars, Mundas and many others," she said. She claimed that the state government had given official recognition to the 'Ol Chiki' script used for the Santali language, and introduced it in education and competitive examinations. "In areas where tribals live, Ol Chiki has been recognised as an official language. In the WBCS examination, candidates can write in Santali. We have established schools, colleges and even a university," Banerjee said. The CM also said tribal students receive financial assistance while staying in hostels, and welfare schemes ensured food security in tribal-dominated regions. "Tribals in Jangalmahal receive the maximum quantity of free rice. This has been happening since 2011," she said. Banerjee also pointed to cultural recognition measures undertaken by her government. "We have declared holidays on the birth anniversaries of Birsa Munda and Raghunath Murmu, just as we have done for Matua leader Harichand Thakur and for Chhath Puja," she said. Banerjee Questions BJP's Record on Tribal Welfare Banerjee also questioned the BJP's record on tribal welfare in states governed by it. "When tribals were facing atrocities in Manipur, why were you (President Murmu) silent? When atrocities occur against tribals in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh, why do you not protest?" she asked. "Why is Bengal being singled out?". Referring to the troubled past of the Jangalmahal region during the Maoist insurgency years, Banerjee said peace and development returned only after her government assumed power in Bengal. "When blood was being shed here in the name of the Naxalite movement, where were you and where was the BJP? Now that the situation is peaceful, the BJP has arrived," she said. "You occupy the highest constitutional position. Please do not play politics, especially during elections on the advice of the BJP," the CM said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accuses the central government of forcing the Governor's resignation and attempting to install a BJP cadre to influence the upcoming assembly elections, escalating political tensions in the state. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points Mamata Banerjee alleges the Centre pressured West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose to resign. Banerjee claims incoming Governor R N Ravi is a BJP cadre appointed to influence West Bengal politics. The Chief Minister accuses the BJP-led central government of attempting to convert Lok Bhavan into a political outpost before the assembly elections. Banerjee criticises the Centre for undermining constitutional institutions and not allowing governors to complete their terms. Banerjee frames the upcoming elections as a fight to protect West Bengal's autonomy from BJP interference. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that incoming Governor R N Ravi is a "BJP cadre" and claimed that the sudden exit of C V Ananda Bose from Lok Bhavan was the result of pressure from the Centre. Addressing supporters at her ongoing dharna against deletions in voter rolls, Banerjee accused the BJP-led central government of attempting to convert Lok Bhavan into a political outpost in the run-up to the assembly elections in the state. "Have you seen how C V Ananda Bose was removed? I know everything. He was threatened. They want to distribute money from Lok Bhavan. They want Lok Bhavan to be converted into a BJP party office. But everybody may not agree to such whims and fancies of Delhi," she alleged. Banerjee's Criticism of R N Ravi Without citing specific instances, the Trinamool Congress supremo also took a swipe at Ravi's tenure in Tamil Nadu, claiming that the governor had faced "many comments" from the Supreme Court. "The person who is coming to West Bengal now, I heard that he had to face many comments from the Supreme Court. He is a cadre of the BJP. But remember, West Bengal is a different place. You may have done whatever you wanted in Tamil Nadu, but here you can't do that," Banerjee said. Escalating her attack on the BJP-led Centre, the chief minister accused it of undermining constitutional institutions and not allowing governors to complete their tenures. "The Centre is not letting anyone finish their term. You did the same thing with Jagdeep Dhankhar," she said, referring to the former West Bengal governor who later became vice president. Banerjee said those ruling at the Centre were behaving "worse than Muhammad bin Tughlaq", invoking a phrase often used in the Indian political discourse to describe arbitrary or whimsical governance decisions. "If you try to threaten us, we will ensure the fall of the BJP government at the Centre," she said. Political Context and Implications Banerjee's remarks come amid a fresh political storm triggered by Bose's sudden resignation earlier this week, just days before the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the West Bengal assembly polls. In a dramatic development on Thursday evening, Bose stepped down from his post in New Delhi, setting off intense political speculation in the state. Soon after the resignation, Banerjee said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed her that Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi would take over as the governor of West Bengal. Ravi, however, is yet to assume charge. The developments have added fuel to the already tense political climate in the state, where the Trinamool Congress and the BJP are locked in a fierce battle ahead of the assembly elections, with the Lok Bhavan often emerging as a flashpoint during Banerjee's confrontations with the Centre. Banerjee's latest remarks also signal a renewed attempt by the ruling TMC to frame the upcoming polls as a fight to "protect West Bengal's autonomy" from what it calls interference by the BJP-led central government, a narrative the party has repeatedly deployed in past electoral contests. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is protesting alleged voter roll manipulation, accusing the BJP of conspiring to divide the state and disenfranchise Bengali voters ahead of upcoming elections. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of conspiring to divide West Bengal by manipulating voter rolls and deleting names of Bengali-speaking people. Banerjee alleges the Election Commission is complicit in the voter deletion process, claiming lakhs of names have been removed from the electoral rolls. The Chief Minister claims the BJP aims to turn parts of West Bengal into a union territory by disenfranchising voters. Banerjee vows to fight against the alleged voter roll manipulation and protect the rights of Bengali voters. Banerjee highlights West Bengal's progress in women's representation in politics, contrasting it with the BJP's promises. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that voter deletions in the post-SIR electoral rolls were aimed at dividing the state. Addressing a gathering during her demonstration against the alleged arbitrary deletions, Banerjee accused the BJP of depriving Bengali-speaking people of their voting rights. The CM continued her protest for the second consecutive day on Saturday, after she spent the night at the sit-in site at Metro Channel in central Kolkata. "Their (Election Commission and BJP) intent is to divide Bengal. The BJP is planning to take away votes by dividing Bengal and turn parts of the state into a union territory. They (BJP leaders) are subjecting Bengali-speaking people to harassment in other states and are conspiring to deprive Bengalis of their voting rights," Banerjee alleged at the protest site. The chief minister claimed that she saw in a tweet a day ago that Bengal and Bihar could be divided to form a union territory. "Let them touch Bengal if they have the guts. This is their conspiracy. They did it once in Bihar by creating Jharkhand, and now they are trying to do it again," she said. Allegations Against the Election Commission Slamming the Election Commission for allegedly deleting lakhs of names in the post-SIR electoral rolls, Banerjee said 36,000 votes were deleted from a single assembly constituency, like Dinhata. "In my own constituency, 60,000 votes have been deleted. I challenge you to delete the entire voter list," she said while asking several women from her Bhabanipur constituency to come on the stage and show their documents. "Are they not the citizens of the country? Don't they have the right to vote?" she said, accusing the Election Commission of "looting votes". "You want to divide Bengal, but first deal with Epstein. Remember, the more you attack us, the stronger the retaliation will be," she said, referring to the Epstein Files row, but did not elaborate about the link. "We respect all religions in Bengal and see everyone in society equally, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. And remember that the Bengali language was recognised long before Independence. I have an old Rs 10 currency note in which the amount is written in Bengali," she said. On the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8), thousands of women will hit the streets in the city on Sunday to protest against the deletion of women's names from the voter list and the hike in LPG prices, the TMC supremo said, adding that the protesters will wear black clothes. "Beware BJP. You cannot divide Bengal by deleting votes. And if you cross the limits, your Delhi government will be toppled," she said. Banerjee on Women's Rights Banerjee also claimed that the BJP never executes its electoral promises of equal rights and empowerment of women, while "the TMC-led Bengal executes these in letter and spirit". "Bengal is the only state that has 37 per cent elected women representatives in Parliament, and they (BJP leaders) talk about 33 per cent reservation for women! In panchayats and municipalities, we already have 50 per cent reservation for women. We also have parental leave. Employed women receive around 735 days of leave. They (BJP leaders) only give Rs 10,000 to voters ahead of elections and then come with bulldozers after the polls," she said. The TMC supremo had begun the demonstration in central Kolkata on Friday, accusing the Election Commission of conspiring with the BJP to "disenfranchise Bengal voters" ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The protest comes just days before the full bench of the Election Commission is scheduled to visit West Bengal, amid rising political tensions over the voter list revision ahead of the assembly polls. According to official data released on February 28, as many as 63.66 lakh names - around 8.3 per cent of the electorate - have been deleted since the SIR process began in November last year, reducing the voter base from about 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. In addition, over 60.06 lakh electors have been placed under the "under adjudication" category, meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks, a process that could further reshape constituency-level electoral equations. In a post on X, Banerjee on Friday alleged, "BJP has made it their life's mission to dismantle Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution brick by brick, tearing apart India's democratic fabric." She also claimed, "Obsessed with their fascist fever dream of 'One Nation, One Man, One Party', these Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars are conspiring to rob Bengal's people of their sacred right to vote." Banerjee said Bengal is "no easy prey to be bullied into submission". "Our Maa-Mati-Manush will not be harassed, intimidated, or coerced into silence. We will not be erased by your deletions, your deceit, or your Delhi diktats. I will go to any length, fight every battle, to safeguard their rights and dignity. This is our solemn oath," the chief added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticised President Droupadi Murmu, accusing her of political bias and acting at the behest of the BJP to undermine the state government's image regarding tribal development ahead of upcoming elections. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points Mamata Banerjee accuses President Murmu of acting on behalf of the BJP to malign the West Bengal government. Banerjee defends her absence from presidential events, citing focus on voter rights and electoral roll revisions. President Murmu questioned the pace of tribal development in West Bengal and the change of venue for a tribal community event. Banerjee criticises the BJP's record on tribal welfare in states governed by the party, referencing the violence in Manipur. The Chief Minister asserts her priority is safeguarding voter rights and addressing irregularities in electoral rolls. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hit out at President Droupadi Murmu for questioning the pace of development among tribals in the state, accusing her of indulging in politics ahead of the assembly polls "at the behest of the BJP". Reacting sharply to Murmu's comments during her visit to north Bengal, Banerjee alleged that the BJP was using the President's office to malign the state government. "BJP has stooped so low that they are using President Droupadi Murmu to malign the state," the CM said at a protest site in Kolkata. She also said that information conveyed to the President about the absence of state representatives at her programme was incorrect. Banerjee said it was not always possible for her to attend such programmes in the run-up to elections. "I can welcome you if you come once a year, but if you come during elections, it won't be possible for me to attend your programmes as I am busy with people's rights," she asserted. Earlier in the day, addressing a gathering of tribals at Bidhannagar near Siliguri, President Murmu said Banerjee was like her "younger sister", but wondered whether the chief minister was "upset" as neither she nor any state minister was present to receive her during the visit. Murmu also questioned the shifting of the tribal community's annual programme from Bidhannagar to Goshaipur near Bagdogra airport, suggesting that the change of venue might have reduced the turnout. Banerjee said that safeguarding the rights of voters and addressing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were currently her priority. "I am busy with people's rights and the SIR; these are my priority," she said. Banerjee Questions BJP's Record on Tribal Welfare The chief minister also questioned the BJP's record on tribal welfare in states ruled by the party. "Are you (President Murmu) aware how the saffron party is snatching away the rights of tribals in BJP-ruled states?" she asked. Referring to the ethnic violence in Manipur, Banerjee said questions should be raised about how tribals were treated in BJP-governed states. "President Murmu is talking about tribals, but why were you silent when tribals in Manipur and other BJP-ruled states were tortured?" the TMC supremo said. A man wanted for the 2016 murder of his daughter in Jammu, India, over paternity suspicions, was arrested in Delhi after years on the run, highlighting the collaborative efforts of law enforcement. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Ramesh Kumar, wanted for the 2016 murder of his daughter in Jammu, has been apprehended in Delhi. Kumar allegedly killed his daughter, suspecting she was not his biological child. The accused had been absconding for years and living under a false name in Delhi. Delhi Police acted on a request from Jammu and Kashmir Police to trace and arrest Kumar. A man accused of killing his 10-year-old daughter in Jammu, over the suspicion that she was not his biological child, was apprehended from southeast Delhi, police said on Saturday. The accused, Ramesh Kumar, a native of Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, was wanted in a 2016 murder case registered at Gandhi Nagar Police Station in Jammu, they said. Following his detention, the accused was handed over to the investigating officer from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who formally arrested him in the case. Details of the Crime According to the police, Kumar was working as a construction labourer in Jammu when he allegedly hit her daughter on the head with a stick, suspecting that she was not his biological child, a senior police officer said. The girl later succumbed to her injuries during treatment, the officer said. Fugitive on the Run According to the police, after committing the crime, the accused fled Jammu and remained absconding for several years. He later started living under the false name "Rajveer" in Delhi. The arrest came, following a request from the Jammu and Kashmir Police to trace the accused in the decade-old case, they said. Acting on the inputs regarding his stay in the Sanjay Colony area of Bhati Mines, the Delhi Police apprehended him, officials said. A social media influencer in Thane, Maharashtra, became the target of a shooting, prompting a police chase and the arrest of one suspect, as authorities investigate the motive behind the attack. IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Key Points A social media influencer's home in Thane, India, was targeted in a shooting incident. Police apprehended one suspect, Shahabad alias Shambhu Munna Shamshad Qureshi, after a chase. During the chase, the suspect fired shots, injuring two bystanders. The shooting damaged the influencer's car and included a shot fired in the air. Police are investigating the motive behind the attack and searching for a second suspect. Miscreants opened fire at the housing society of a businessman and social media influencer in Maharashtra's Thane district in the early hours of Saturday, with police later apprehending one of the accused after a chase that left two bystanders injured, an official said. The police nabbed Shahabad alias Shambhu Munna Shamshad Qureshi (28), who fired five shots as the police team chased him on the streets of Shil Daighar, and injured two bystanders, the official said. Hours earlier, Qureshi and another accused had fired at the housing society, where Nadeem Moinuddin Khan (45), alias Baba Khan, a businessman and social media influencer, lived in the Kausa area of Mumbra, he said. Two bullets damaged Khan's car, and one round was fired in the air, the officer said. Immediately after the spot panchnama, the investigation team, acting on a tip-off, tracked Qureshi. When they were attempting to nab him, he fired five bullets, injuring two persons present at the scene, he said. Qureshi was eventually overpowered and taken into custody, and the police recovered the firearm along with four magazines, he said. "Proper security arrangements have been made at the spot, and the situation in the area is currently calm," the police stated. Ongoing Investigation Further investigation is underway to trace the second suspect and determine the motive behind the attack. A recent security operation in Manipur led to the arrest of five individuals, including militants from various banned organisations, and the seizure of weapons and explosives, highlighting ongoing efforts to maintain regional stability. Photograph: PTI Photo Key Points Five individuals, including four militants from banned outfits, were arrested in Manipur. An active cadre of NRFM was apprehended at Imphal International Airport. A UNLF (Pambei) cadre and an associate were arrested, with a 9 mm pistol seized. Two militants were arrested in Bishnupur district, leading to the recovery of an HK-33 rifle, ammunition, and IEDs. The arms and explosives were recovered from the Takmu lakeside area. Security forces arrested five people, including four militants belonging to different banned outfits in Manipur, a police statement said on Saturday. One active cadre of NRFM was apprehended from Imphal International Airport on Friday. Arrests and Weapon Seizures A UNLF (Pambei) cadre and his associate were arrested from his residence at Khurai Sajor Lairou Pukhri Mapal in Imphal East district on Friday. One 9 mm pistol with magazine was seized from his possession, the statement said. Two cadres of two different banned outfits were arrested on Thursday from Bishnupur district, it said. Police said upon their disclosure, one HK-33 Rifle with magazine and 38 live rounds, three IEDs were recovered from the Takmu lakeside of the Ithing playground of the district, the statement added. In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Meghalaya Police seized narcotics worth over 51 crore and arrested two individuals from Mizoram, exposing an interstate drug syndicate. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Meghalaya Police seized narcotics worth over 51 crore in East Jaintia Hills, the largest drug haul in the state. Two individuals from Mizoram were arrested in connection with the drug seizure, indicating an interstate drug trafficking operation. The seized contraband included heroin and crystal meth (methamphetamine) tablets, which are banned in India. The operation involved a coordinated effort between the police and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). An investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the drug trafficking syndicate and its connections. The Meghalaya Police seized drugs worth over 51 crore, the biggest haul of narcotics in the state so far, in East Jaintia Hills district and arrested two Mizoram-based persons in this connection, a senior officer said on Saturday. The seizure was made during a coordinated naka-checking conducted by the police and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) personnel in the Ratacherra area on Friday, he said. During the operation, a vehicle with three persons, including the driver, on board was intercepted and searched in accordance with due legal procedures. Upon checking, 19 plastic soap cases, containing suspected heroin weighing 203.7 grams, were recovered from the possession of one of the three persons, the officer said. The search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a blue-coloured trolley bag belonging to another occupant of the vehicle. Suspected crystal meth (methamphetamine) tablets weighing 10.145 kilograms were found in the bag, the police officer said. 'Meth' tablets are banned in India. Two of the three occupants of the vehicle were arrested, and a preliminary investigation suggested that they are part of an interstate and cross-border drug trafficking syndicate, the officer said. Details of the Drug Seizure "The total value of the seized contraband is estimated to be around 51.13 crore", ANTF chief Vikash Kumar told PTI. The arrested persons hail from Mizoram, he said. A case has been registered at the ANTF police station, and an investigation is underway to establish the forward and backward linkages related to the seizure, the officer added. Two minor brothers have been arrested by Delhi Police for a stabbing incident in Jahangirpuri, following a confrontation sparked by an alleged slapping incident involving one of the victim's sons. Photograph: Niek Verlaan/Pixabay Key Points Two minor brothers, aged 15 and 17, have been apprehended by Delhi Police for allegedly stabbing two men in Jahangirpuri. The stabbing occurred after one of the victims confronted the brothers for allegedly slapping his son. The victims, Mukesh and his brother, sustained knife injuries during the confrontation. Police investigation suggests the attack was motivated by an attempt to establish dominance in the area by the accused minors. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigations are underway. The Delhi Police has apprehended two minor brothers for allegedly stabbing two men after one of the victims confronted them for slapping his son in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri area, police said on Saturday. The police apprehended the two accused, aged 15 and 17, both residents of Jahangir Puri, on Friday, who were on the run since February 6 after carrying out the attack, they said. According to the police, the incident occurred when the victim, Mukesh, who lived in the neighbourhood, returned home from work and was informed by his son that the two boys had allegedly slapped him without any provocation. Mukesh, along with his brothers, went to question the boys near their shanty, during which an argument broke out. During the confrontation, the two allegedly threatened the family and attacked them with knives with the intent to kill, police said. Mukesh suffered a knife injury on his right palm, while his brother sustained stab injuries on his shoulder and stomach, they added. The juveniles had studied up to Classes 8 and 6 and have three more brothers. Their father works as a labourer in Delhi. The accused have studied up to Class 8 and 6 and their father works as a labourer in Delhi. Police have registered a case under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, they said, adding the initial probe suggests they carried out the attack to establish dominance in the area. Amritpal Singh, a most-wanted gangster involved in Punjab extortion cases, has been detained in Moldova following an Interpol Red Notice, marking a significant victory for Punjab Police's efforts to combat overseas crime. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Most-wanted gangster Amritpal Singh, linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, has been detained at the Moldova border. Amritpal Singh was wanted for making extortion calls to businessmen in Punjab and is connected to multiple criminal cases. His detention followed an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Punjab Police, highlighting international cooperation. Punjab Police has established an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) to expedite the extradition of foreign-based gangsters like Amritpal Singh. Amritpal Singh faces charges in at least four separate cases involving drug smuggling, murder, and attempted murder in Gurdaspur. Amritpal Singh, a most-wanted gangster linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and involved in making extortion calls to businessmen in Punjab, was detained at the Moldova border, a top police officer said on Saturday. His detention came on an Interpol Red Notice issued on the request of Punjab Police in coordination with central agencies, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam is wanted in multiple serious criminal cases in Punjab and has been absconding abroad for a considerable period, Yadav said. His detention follows sustained international coordination and persistent follow-up by the police agencies, he said. Legal and diplomatic procedures are now underway to secure his extradition to India so that he can face the law, the DGP said. "Amrit Dalam's detention marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to track and bring back offenders evading justice overseas," Yadav said. Amritpal, a foreign-based gangster, was closely aligned with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria network. He has been actively making extortion calls targeting individuals and business owners, particularly in the Amritsar region, the police said. Amritpal hails from village Dalam Nangal under Qila Lal Singh police station in Gurdaspur's Batala. He faces charges in at least four separate cases involving drug smuggling, murder, and attempted murder. These cases are registered in Gurdaspur. Punjab Police Efforts to Extradite Gangsters Punjab Police have also identified 61 foreign-based gangsters who are operating from abroad while executing criminal activities in Punjab through their local associates. Amritpal is one of them. To expedite their extradition, the Punjab Police has set up an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), and it is currently pursuing these fugitive gangsters hiding abroad. The OFTEC is headed by Deputy Inspector General (Counter Intelligence) Ashish Choudhary. In November, police arrested two associates of Amritpal, who were tasked by him to carry out target killings. Following a violent clash during an anti-hawker drive in Mumbai's Kandivli area, five individuals have been arrested for allegedly assaulting Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Five individuals were arrested for allegedly assaulting BMC officials during an anti-hawker drive in Mumbai's Kandivli area. The incident occurred when BMC officials were evicting illegal street vendors in the Lokhandwala Circle area. The driver of an earthmover used in the anti-encroachment drive was also reportedly assaulted. A case has been registered under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) at Samta Nagar police station. Five persons were arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting civic officials during an anti-hawker drive in Kandivli area of Mumbai a day before, police said. A team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials was evicting illegal street vendors in the Lokhandwala Circle area on Friday night when some individuals allegedly chased and assaulted them. A video of the incident has gone viral. Police said the driver of an earthmover machine deployed for the anti-encroachment drive was also assaulted by the mob. Following the incident, a case was registered at Samta Nagar police station under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and five persons were arrested. They are identified as Kuldeep Singh (27), Mahendra Singh Chudavat (31), Shaurya Shailesh Charla (29), Jas Hitesh Charla (25) and Aslam Imtiaz Shaikh (27). President Droupadi Murmu's concerns about tribal development in West Bengal have ignited a political firestorm, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaging in a heated exchange ahead of upcoming elections. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points President Murmu voiced concerns about the lack of development progress among Santal and Adivasi communities in North Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused President Murmu of acting on the BJP's advice and questioned her silence on tribal issues in BJP-ruled states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the TMC government for allegedly insulting the President during her visit to West Bengal. The controversy highlights the intensifying political battle between the TMC and BJP to gain support from tribal communities in West Bengal. The Vice President described lapses in President Murmu's event in West Bengal as unfortunate. A fierce political slugfest erupted in poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday, after President Droupadi Murmu flagged lack of development among tribals in north Bengal, drawing an angry retort from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the TMC of insulting the President. The exchange quickly escalated into a three-cornered political controversy involving the President, Banerjee and the PM, injecting fresh heat into the tribal outreach battle between the ruling TMC and the BJP ahead of the assembly polls. Addressing the 9th International Santal Conference near Bagdogra, Murmu expressed concern that Santals and other adivasi communities in north Bengal were yet to fully benefit from development despite their contribution to the nation, triggering a sharp reaction from the TMC. Banerjee accused the President of speaking "on the advice of the BJP", and questioned her silence on alleged atrocities against tribals in states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh. Wading into the controversy, the PM accused the West Bengal government of insulting the President during her visit, calling the episode "shameful and unprecedented", and alleging that the TMC dispensation had "truly crossed all limits". In her address, Murmu said, "I do not think that Santals and other adivasis in this area are fully progressing. The benefits of development have not reached you as they should." Later, while speaking to reporters at Phasidewa where the programme was scheduled to be held, Murmu voiced dissatisfaction over the low turnout at the event. She questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar near Siliguri to a location close to Bagdogra airport, suggesting the move made it difficult for tribal participants to attend. Murmu also noted the absence of Banerjee and state ministers during her visit. "Generally, when the President is coming, the CM should be welcoming her and other ministers should be present. But, she did not come," Murmu said, adding that Banerjee was like her "younger sister" and that she herself was "a daughter of Bengal". The remarks prompted a sharp political response from Banerjee, who accused the BJP of using the President's office to attack the state government ahead of elections. Escalating her confrontation with constitutional authorities, Banerjee said politics was being played "using the Hon'ble President on the advice of the BJP" and by alleging that "no work has been done for tribals". "I feel ashamed to even say this. We respect the Hon'ble President. But she too, has been sent to play politicsa I am sorry, Madam. I have great regard for you, but you are being guided by BJP's policies and instructions," she said, addressing an anti-SIR dharna in Kolkata. The CM also rejected the claim that the state government did not sent representatives to the event, saying Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was present, and the programme was not organised by the Bengal government. "That was not a state government programme. I do not know who organised it, who attended it or who funded it," Banerjee said. Linking the controversy to the ongoing political battle over the SIR of electoral rolls, she alleged that tribal voters were being targeted during the revision process. "Do you (President Murmu) know how many tribals were deleted from the voter list in Bengal? Please find out about that as well and speak up against it," she said. Banerjee also questioned the BJP's record on tribal welfare in states governed by it, citing alleged atrocities against tribals in Manipur, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. "When tribals were facing atrocities in Manipur, why were you silent? Why is Bengal being singled out?" she said. The controversy drew a strong reaction from the PM, who said that the office of the President is above politics and its sanctity should always be respected. He expressed hope that better sense will prevail among the West Bengal government and the ruling TMC. "This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened," Modi said in a post on X. He said that the pain and anguish expressed by the President, who herself hails from a tribal community, has caused immense sadness in the minds of the people of India. "The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President," he said. Modi said it is equally unfortunate that a subject as important as Santal culture is treated so casually by the West Bengal government. Meanwhile, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan described "lapses" in President Murmu's event in West Bengal as unfortunate, saying the high constitutional office must always get the dignity it deserves. Reacting to the PM's remarks, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP-led establishment of ganging up against West Bengal. "People of West Bengal vs BJP+ECI+ED+IT+CBI+NIA+CAPF+Governor+20 Union Ministers+10 CMs+Prime Minister+Respected Rashtrapati Ji+Godi Media. When the entire establishment lines up against Bengal, Bengal stands stronger. Bring it on!" he said on X. The TMC and the BJP have been intensifying outreach among tribal communities in north Bengal and the Jangalmahal belt, a politically significant bloc in a state where 16 assembly constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and tribal voters influence outcomes in at least 15 more. Nagaland's Minister C L John champions women's empowerment by urging stronger collective action to combat gender-based violence and promote equal opportunities at the International Women's Day celebration. Key Points Nagaland Minister C L John emphasises the need to address gender-based violence and unequal opportunities as major barriers to women's empowerment. Nagaland acknowledges the crucial role of women in shaping society, from agriculture to governance. The Nagaland State Commission for Women is actively promoting women's empowerment and gender equality through various initiatives. Nagaland recognises women achievers through the NSCW Awards, inspiring younger generations and promoting gender equality. Despite being considered a safe state, Nagaland acknowledges the increasing crimes against women and girls, urging collective action to end gender-based violence. Nagaland Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change C L John on Saturday called for stronger collective efforts to address gender-based violence and unequal opportunities, stating that such issues remain major barriers to women's empowerment. Speaking at the state-level celebration of International Women's Day in Kohima under the theme "Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls", the minister said the day is not only about celebration but also about recognising the sacrifices, struggles and achievements of women in every sphere of life. The programme was organised by the Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland, in collaboration with the Nagaland State Commission for Women, Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Directorate of Women Resource Development and the Kohima Municipal Council. John highlighted that Naga women have always played a crucial role in shaping society, describing them as the backbone of families, villages and communities. From agricultural fields to marketplaces and from classrooms to hospitals, he said, women continue to contribute tirelessly to the progress of the state. He also noted encouraging progress in women's participation in governance and leadership, pointing out that Nagaland currently has two women members in the state assembly and one representing the state in the Rajya Sabha. The minister also recalled the contribution of pioneer leader Rano M Shaiza, the first woman Member of Parliament from Nagaland, whose leadership paved the way for future generations. Addressing Gender-Based Violence At the same time, John stressed that issues related to gender-based violence must be addressed urgently, stating that such acts are violations of human rights and obstacles to gender equality. He urged society to create an environment where every girl child in Nagaland can grow with confidence, dignity and equal opportunity. Advisor for Social Welfare, Wangpang Konyak in his address said the theme of the 2026 celebration calls for concrete steps to advance women's rights and remove barriers to progress. He said the Nagaland State Commission for Women has been actively promoting women's empowerment and gender equality by engaging with various institutions and stakeholders since its inception. He also highlighted that the Commission instituted the NSCW Awards in 2021 to recognise women achievers who have made significant contributions towards the upliftment and empowerment of women in Nagaland. The awards aim to recognise excellence, inspire younger generations and promote gender equality across different sectors. While noting that Nagaland has often been cited as one of the safest states for women according to the National Crime Records Bureau, Konyak acknowledged that crimes against women and girls have been increasing over the years. He therefore called upon society to confront the reality of violence, encourage the involvement of men and boys, and work collectively to end gender-based violence. Delivering the keynote address, Social Welfare Secretary, Limawabang Jamir said that the One Stop Centre in the state has handled more than 1,800 cases related to violence against women since 2016, many of which remain underreported due to stigma and lack of support systems. He also highlighted initiatives under the Mission Shakti scheme aimed at ensuring women's safety, security and empowerment. The programme also featured felicitation of Self Help Group achievers under the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, as well as municipal and Anganwadi workers for their service, along with the presentation of the NSCW Achievers Awards to women who have contributed significantly to society. In Odisha, police rescued a young girl who escaped her residential school after reporting sexual harassment by a teacher, prompting an investigation and raising concerns about student safety. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo Key Points Odisha police rescued a class 7 student who fled a residential school after alleging sexual harassment by a teacher. The girl reportedly escaped by scaling the school's boundary wall and sought shelter in a nearby village. Police have detained the accused teacher, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, following a complaint filed by the girl's father. The FIR alleges the teacher molested the girl in January and attempted to assault her again the night she fled. Odisha Police on Saturday rescued a girl of a central government-run residential school in Bhadrak district after she ran away following alleged sexual harassment by a teacher, officials said. The class 7 student reportedly escaped by scaling the boundary wall of the school, taking shelter at the house of an elderly woman in a nearby village within Kasia marine police station limits. She sustained bruises on her hands and legs while scaling the wall, locals said, demanding stringent action against the accused teacher. The girl was provided with necessary medical assistance, police said. Investigation and Arrest Kasia marine police station in-charge Kunu Besra said the accused teacher, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was detained after the girl's father lodged a written complaint. According to the FIR, the teacher molested the girl on January 30, and made an attempt on Friday night by dragging her hand. Later that night, the girl fled the residential school by scaling the boundary wall. Police said the girl, visibly shaken, recounted the incident to the elderly woman, who informed other villagers and contacted the girl's father early Saturday morning. Police said that the teacher also lives on the same campus. About the School The school is a central government-run, fully residential, co-educational institution affiliated with CBSE (Class 6-12), which offers free education, boarding, and lodging to meritorious students from rural areas. Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, Pakistan's defence chief visited Saudi Arabia to discuss regional security and the mutual defence pact between the two nations, focusing on de-escalation strategies. IMAGE: Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir meets Saudi Arabia Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. Photograph: @kbsalsaud/X Key Points Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces met with Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister to discuss regional security amidst rising tensions. The meeting addressed the mutual defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in light of recent attacks on Saudi Arabia. Discussions focused on ways to de-escalate tensions and ensure regional stability, urging Iran to exercise restraint. Pakistan has been actively engaging with both Saudi Arabia and Iran to promote dialogue and prevent further escalation. Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir travelled to Saudi Arabia and met Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss the security situation. Saudi Arabia has come under attacks by Iran, putting in cross hairs the mutual defence pact signed between Islamabad and Riyadh last year. The countries are bound by the agreement to come to the defence of each other in case of attack by a third country. The defence pact faced its first test after the Afghan Taliban attacked Pakistan on February 26, and Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said it was "open war" between the two countries, while Iran reportedly launched drones and missiles against the kingdom following the joint strikes by the US and Israel. Questions were being asked if Pakistan would stand up in the defence of Saudi Arabia if a formal war began with Iran. Discussions on Regional Stability Prince Khalid bin Salman in a statement posted on X early Saturday said his meeting with CDF Munir focused on ways to stop the attacks, which he said "do not serve the security and stability of the region". He added that there is hope that the Iranian side will prioritise wisdom and reason and refrain from "wrong calculations". "We discussed the Iranian attacks on the kingdom within the framework of the joint strategic defence agreement between our two brotherly countries, and ways to stop these attacks, which do not serve the security and stability of the region, hoping that the Iranian side will prioritise wisdom and reason and refrain from wrong calculations," he said. Pakistan has not so far commented on the visit of CDF Munir to Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic Efforts The two sides have been in contact since the start of the war against Iran and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had talked to his Saudi counterparts more than once. Dar told the media during the week that he also contacted the Iranian foreign minister and urged him not to target Saudi Arabia. A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced 47 PTI leaders to 10 years in jail for their involvement in the May 9, 2023, protest violence following Imran Khan's arrest, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the former ruling party. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters Key Points An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced 47 PTI leaders to 10 years imprisonment for vandalism and violence during the May 9, 2023 protest. The protests were triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, leading to widespread unrest and attacks on government property. The convicted PTI leaders were charged with arson, attacks on police, and damaging government property, including attacks on the GHQ gate and Army Museum. The court also imposed a fine of PKR 5,00,000 on each convict, with additional imprisonment for non-payment, and ordered the confiscation of their properties. Imran Khan and other PTI leaders are also facing charges related to the May 9 incidents, highlighting the ongoing legal challenges for the party. An anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced 47 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and supporters to 10 years imprisonment and a PKR 5,00,000 fine each in absentia for vandalism and violence during the May 9, 2023, protest. The countrywide protest was launched by workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the arrest of former premier and party founder Imran Khan in Islamabad. A group of protesters also tried to storm the General Headquarters, the seat of the army chief, in Rawalpindi, resulting in vandalism of the properties. The case was registered at the RA Bazar Police Station, Rawalpindi, soon after the incident. The PTI supporters were charged with arson, siege, vandalism, attacks on police, and damaging government property, specifically in connection with attacks on the GHQ gate, Hamza Camp, the Army Museum, and Sixth Road Metro Station. Court Verdict and Penalties The anti-terrorism court (ATC) Rawalpindi judge, Amjad Ali Shah, issued the verdict against the 47 who had already been declared as proclaimed offenders. The court found them guilty and sentenced each of them to 10 years imprisonment, along with a fine of PKR 5,00,000 per convict and the confiscation of their movable and immovable properties. In the event of non-payment of the fine, the convicted accused will be required to serve additional imprisonment. Key PTI Leaders Convicted Among the convicted PTI leaders are Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, Shahbaz Gill, Zulfi Bukhari, Murad Saeed, Zartaj Gul, Hammad Azhar, Kanwal Shauzab, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Ejaz Khan Jazi, Shaukat Ali Bhatti, Usman Saeed Basra, Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, Rai Hassan Nawaz, and Rai Muhammad Murtaza, among others. According to the court's written verdict, the convicted accused were found involved in the conspiracy behind the May 9 incidents, with a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) identifying them as key suspects in the planning of the violent protests. The 47 individuals were tried separately under Section 21 L of the Anti-Terrorism Act, as they had been absent from court proceedings and were declared proclaimed offenders. Broader Prosecution and Imran Khan's Situation The May 9 GHQ attack case is part of a broader prosecution in which a total of 118 accused, including PTI founder Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were also indicted, with charges formally framed against all 118 in December 2024. Khan is currently in Adiala Jail, facing multiple cases which were instituted against him after his government was removed in April 2022. A Pakistani man with ties to Iran has been convicted in the US for plotting to assassinate Donald Trump and other US politicians. IMAGE: Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man with alleged ties to Iran, appears on charges in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a US politician or government officials, in a courtroom in New York, on September 16, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/File Photo/Reuters Key Points Asif Raza Merchant, linked to Iran's IRGC, was convicted in the US for plotting to assassinate Donald Trump and other US politicians. Merchant admitted the IRGC sent him to the US in 2024 to arrange political assassinations, including targeting Trump, Biden, and Nikki Haley. The assassination plot was motivated by revenge for the death of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, killed in a 2020 US airstrike. Merchant contacted individuals he believed were hitmen, who were actually undercover US law enforcement officers, to carry out the assassinations. Merchant paid the undercover officers an advance for the assassination plot before being arrested in July 2024. A Pakistani man with ties to Iran has been convicted in New York for plotting to assassinate United States President Donald Trump and other American politicians to avenge the death of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020. Asif Raza Merchant, 48, was convicted by a federal jury in a Brooklyn court Friday of murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Merchant faces up to life in prison. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Merchant came to America with a plot to kill Trump. The US Justice Department said in a statement that Merchant was a trained operative of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and he had admitted at trial that in 2024 the IRGC sent him to the United States to arrange for political assassinations. Targets could include Trump, former President Joseph Biden, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Merchant stated he understood the 'target would be Trump', the Justice Department said. Merchant arrived in the United States in April 2024, met with purported hitmen in June-who were undercover US law enforcement officers in New York-and was placed under arrest before leaving the country in July 2024. "This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump - instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement," Bondi said. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said that Merchant plotted to assassinate a United States politician or government official on American soil at the direction of the Iranian regime. "This foiled scheme, motivated by vengeance for US actions against the Iranian regime, sought to strike at the heart of our democracy. May today's conviction illustrate the FBI's resolute commitment to protect the homeland from the Iranian regime's craven efforts to wage terror on the American people," he said. Merchant's Ties to the IRGC and the Assassination Plot Merchant began working for the IRGC in late 2022 or early 2023, when he received training in intelligence tradecraft, including countersurveillance. Later in 2023, he was sent to the United States to look for potential IRGC recruits in the country. Merchant testified that he knew that the IRGC was a designated terrorist organisation and, throughout this period, he repeatedly travelled to Iran to meet with his IRGC handler. Merchant testified that in 2024, he was sent back to the United States with a new mission of recruiting hitmen to arrange the murder of one of three specific US government officials and politicians. He admitted that he was tasked by the IRGC to kill a US government official or politician to avenge the death of Soleimani, who was killed in January 2020 by a US airstrike ordered by Trump. To that end, Merchant contacted an acquaintance in New York who he thought could help him with his scheme. That person instead reported Merchant's conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source. Details of the Conspiracy In early June 2024, Merchant met the source in New York and explained his assassination plot, telling him that he had an ongoing opportunity for him and then made a 'finger gun' motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be 'targeted here' in the United States. Merchant instructed the source to arrange meetings with individuals whom he could hire to carry out these actions. At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the source on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the source to explain how the target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the source that there would be 'security all around' the person. Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States, and he would communicate with the source from overseas using code words. The source asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified 'party' back home with whom Merchant was working. He responded that he had and that the party back home told him to 'finalise' the plan and leave the United States. Merchant would later testify that the 'party' was his IRGC handler, the Justice Department said. How undercover officers trapped Merchant In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover US law enforcement officers in New York. Merchant advised the undercover officers that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies and for them to kill a 'political person' in the United States. Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill after Merchant had departed the United States. Throughout this period, Merchant performed internet searches for the locations of political rallies and sent a report back to his IRGC handler regarding security protocols at rallies. He then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the undercover officers as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, 2024, Merchant met with the undercover officers in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance, after which one of the undercover officers stated, 'now we're bonded', to which Merchant responded 'yes'. The undercover officer then stated, 'Now we know we're going forward. We're doing this,' to which Merchant responded 'Yes, absolutely.' Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States in July 2024 when law enforcement agents placed him under arrest before he could leave the country. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is demanding an apology from West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee after accusing her government of failing to follow protocol and showing disrespect during President Droupadi Murmu's recent visit. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav condemns West Bengal government for alleged protocol breach during President Murmu's visit. Yadav demands an apology from Mamata Banerjee for not welcoming President Murmu appropriately. The controversy arose after Banerjee accused Murmu of speaking on BJP's advice during a visit to north Bengal. Yadav asserts that the President's position is above politics and deserves respect from all state governments. The incident has sparked a political row, with Yadav calling Banerjee's actions a display of 'despicable mentality'. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday condemned the West Bengal government for not following protocol on the issue of welcoming President Droupadi Murmu and sought an apology from Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee on Saturday accused Murmu of speaking "on BJP's advice" after the President, during a visit to north Bengal to attend the 9th International Santal Conference, questioned the pace of development among tribals there. The President had also expressed surprise at the event not having any representative of the WB government. A controversial situation arose during the visit of President Murmu to West Bengal when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government did not follow protocol, Yadav said in a statement. When the President arrived in Bidhannagar near Siliguri to address a gathering of tribals, neither the Chief Minister nor any minister was present to welcome her, he said. Yadav's Strong Condemnation "The behaviour of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the visit of President Murmu to Bengal is totally condemnable. The position of the President, who holds the highest position in democracy, is above politics for all of us. At a time when the President is on a state visit, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should have taken full care of the President's dignity," Yadav said. Terming it as an example of a "despicable mentality", Yadav said creating any situation that disrespects the position of the President of India is unbecoming of the CM any state. "I condemn this in the strongest terms. It is sad that the President's visit is being dragged into local and party politics, which is an example of a despicable mentality. I hope Mamata Banerjee will take this matter seriously and apologise immediately. The situation that has arisen is extremely shameful for the Bengal government," he added. In Jammu, the Jammu and Kashmir Police successfully dismantled a prostitution racket, rescuing three girls and arresting three individuals involved in the illegal operation. Key Points Jammu and Kashmir Police dismantled a prostitution ring operating within Jammu. Three teenage girls were rescued from a house in the Greater Kailash area. Three individuals, including a woman, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the racket. The house was reportedly used for trafficking, where women were procured and forced into prostitution. A case has been registered under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act at Police Station Channi Himmat, Jammu. The Jammu and Kashmir Police rescued three girls after busting a prostitution racket allegedly operating in Jammu, and arrested three persons, including a woman. The action followed information about immoral activities allegedly being carried out at a house owned by Amreek Singh in the Greater Kailash area of the city, a police spokesman said. He said a police team conducted a raid at the location and rescued three teenage girls from the premises. Three persons were also apprehended for their alleged involvement in the illegal activities, the spokesman said, adding that further legal proceedings under the relevant provisions of law have been initiated. Details of the Trafficking Operation According to the preliminary information, he said the house was allegedly being used for carrying out trafficking activities, where women were being procured and induced into prostitution. Certain individuals present at the scene were allegedly engaging the girls in prostitution instead of money, the spokesman said. He further informed that a case under relevant Sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act has been registered at Police Station Channi Himmat, Jammu. The data is believed to contain details about the positions and movements of US personnel, naval vessels and aircraft deployed across the region. IMAGE: An Iranian missile with cluster munitions flies towards Israel, on March 5, 2026. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Key Points US intelligence reports say Russia shared satellite-based intelligence with Iran on American military assets. It is the first sign of Moscows possible involvement in the ongoing conflict. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is monitoring the situation and is 'not concerned'. The US operation against Iran involves over 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers. Russia has shared intelligence with Iran that could help Tehran target American warships, aircraft and other military assets in the region, according to United States intelligence assessments cited by media reports, marking the first indication of Moscow's possible involvement in the ongoing conflict. Officials familiar with US intelligence findings said a significant portion of the shared information reportedly includes imagery from Russia's network of surveillance satellites. The data is believed to contain details about the positions and movements of US personnel, naval vessels and aircraft deployed across the region. However, it remains unclear whether any specific Iranian attacks have directly relied on the Russian intelligence. The development comes amid heightened tensions after reports that an Iranian drone strike on a temporary facility in Kuwait recently killed six US service members. Several Iranian drones have also targeted areas where American forces were stationed. Putin speaks to Iranian President Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said. Putin expressed condolences over the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and civilian casualties resulting from what Moscow described as US and Israeli 'armed aggression'. During the call, Putin reiterated Russia's support for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for its solidarity with the Iranian people and briefed him on the latest developments in the war, according to the Kremlin. US downplays Russia-Iran intel sharing US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth downplayed concerns over the reported intelligence sharing. In an interview with CBS programme '60 Minutes', scheduled to air on Sunday, he said Washington, DC was closely monitoring the situation and remained confident in its intelligence capabilities. "Our commanders are aware of everything. We have the best intelligence in the world. We're aware of who's talking to whom," Hegseth said, adding that the US military was factoring such developments into its operational planning. He said President Donald Trump was being kept informed and warned that any illicit cooperation between foreign powers would be 'confronted strongly'. US officials have also indicated that China may provide Iran with financial support, equipment parts and missile components, though Beijing has so far avoided direct involvement in the conflict. The US military campaign against Iran currently involves over 50,000 troops, around 200 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers, with officials saying the primary objective is to dismantle Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. A Special Armed Force constable in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, is under investigation after allegedly shooting his uncle following a family dispute, highlighting the potential for violence in domestic conflicts. Key Points A SAF constable in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly shot his uncle after a minor argument. The constable used a country-made pistol, seriously injuring his uncle's thigh. The incident stemmed from a family dispute, with the father and uncle of the accused recently separated. The injured uncle was referred to Gwalior for advanced treatment. Police are investigating the shooting and plan to arrest the accused constable. A Special Armed Force (SAF) constable allegedly shot his uncle using a country-made pistol following a minor dispute in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, leaving him seriously injured, police said on Saturday. The injured man received primary treatment at the district hospital on Friday before doctors referred him to Gwalior for advanced treatment. Police said the accused, Ravi Gurjar, is a constable posted with the SAF's 5th Battalion in Morena. "He and his uncle Raju Gurjar had an argument in the Sumawali area on Friday morning, prompting the constable to fire a round using a country-made pistol. The bullet hit Raju Gurjar in the thigh," police said. The accused fled the scene, while his uncle was taken to Morena district hospital and was subsequently referred to Gwalior, police said. According to police, the father and uncle of the accused constable had separated recently after a dispute in their family. A Sumawali police station officer said the injured man's statement is being recorded at the Gwalior hospital. "After recording his statement, a case will be registered. We will also inform the SAF battalion and arrest the accused soon," he added. The school was located next to a walled compound associated with the IRGC that included several buildings linked to its naval brigade. Additional satellite photos showed multiple buildings in the Guard compound struck by munitions, leaving craters and severe structural damage. IMAGE: A satellite image, annotated by Reuters, shows the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school and other structures damaged after being struck, in Minab, Hormozgan Province, Iran on March 4, 2026. Photograph: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters Key Points An explosion at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School on February 28 killed over 165 people, mostly children. Satellite imagery and expert analysis suggest the blast was likely caused by a US airstrike targeting a nearby IRGC compound. Photos show the school reduced to rubble and multiple buildings in the IRGC compound struck, indicating precision air-to-surface strikes. Iran accused the US and Israel, while the UN and rights groups condemned the attack and warned it could violate international humanitarian law. Satellite imagery and expert analysis suggest that a deadly explosion at a school in southern Iran last week was likely caused by a United States airstrike that also targeted a nearby compound linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to media reports. The February 28 blast at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the city of Minab killed more than 165 people, most of them children, making it the deadliest civilian incident reported since the ongoing conflict began, Iranian state media said. Satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press show the school building largely reduced to rubble, with damage patterns consistent with a precision airstrike, experts said. The school was located next to a walled compound associated with the IRGC that included several buildings linked to its naval brigade. Additional satellite photos showed multiple buildings in the Guard compound struck by munitions, leaving craters and severe structural damage. Proximity to IRGC facility likely caused targeting of school Analysts said the clustered pattern of destruction indicated targeted strikes using air-to-surface weapons. The United States and Israel have both been accused by Iran of carrying out the attack, though neither country has accepted responsibility. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the incident was under investigation, adding that the US does not intentionally target civilian locations. The strike has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations and international human rights groups, which warned that attacks on schools would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. Analysts say the proximity of the school to the Revolutionary Guard facility may have contributed to a possible targeting or intelligence failure during the operation. The Open Quantum Institute, a collaboration between GESDA and CERN, is striving to make quantum computing accessible to everyone, ensuring that its benefits are shared globally and its societal impacts are addressed proactively through international cooperation. Key Points The Open Quantum Institute (OQI), a collaboration between GESDA and CERN, aims to democratise access to quantum computing. GESDA emphasises the importance of science and diplomacy working together to positively influence each other for societal benefit. The OQI's initiative, 'Quantum for All', promotes inclusive access to quantum computing and its applications for the benefit of humanity. India plays a key role as a member of the OQI's advisory committee, addressing the societal implications of quantum technologies. GESDA's Science Breakthrough Radar highlights quantum computing as a next frontier science with transformative potential. The idea behind setting up the Open Quantum Institute by Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) along with CERN, is to make sure that when quantum computing is out in the future, it will be "accessible to all", the Switzerland-based foundation said. GESDA's director general, Marilyne Andersen, who is currently visiting India to take part in the Raisina Dialogue here, also said that science and diplomacy have to work together, in the sense that they "influence positively" each other, or are needed by each other. In an interview with PTI at the Swiss Embassy here on Friday, she spoke about the vision of the foundation set up in 2019, and its mission to anticipate emerging scientific discoveries and translate them into concrete actions for the benefit of society. Andersen, trained as a physicist, has been conducting pioneering work at the interface between science and engineering, design, society and culture. The Convergence of Science and Diplomacy Illustrating how science and diplomacy can come together in a meaningful collaboration, she cited the establishment of CERN in the 1950s as a premier global institution for research on particle physics. "There is an example that probably everybody knows already, which is not related to GESDA directly, but it's a partner of GESDA, CERN. CERN was born out of international cooperation, bringing all the scientists and all the science together to look at the origins of the universe and understand where humanity comes from in the broadest sense. So, this is a very strong and powerful example of a successful merge of science and diplomacy," Andersen told PTI in an interview. She said at GESDA, they were actually currently working with CERN in the field of quantum. "So, this is the next frontier of information encoding, which will work hand in hand with artificial intelligence, which is something that is very much talked about, and is in a very quickly rising trend as well. And quantum has this very special nature... quantum computers don't exist formally yet, but lab experiments are being run. There are industries and businesses working on quantum computing already," Andersen said. But that means one can still work with the diplomacy sector to prepare for what this will mean for the world later, she said, and cited GESDA's motto -- "Use the Future to build the Present" -- to buttress her point. "And this is what we incubated at GESDA in the name of the Open Quantum Institute together with CERN. It's supported by the private sector, through UBS, the Swiss bank. The idea there is to make sure that when quantum computing is out, it will be accessible to all. There will be enough effort to build the capacities to embrace it. And also that it will bring around the table all the actors that are needed," she underscored. Anticipatory Leadership and Quantum for All The embassy on Friday evening hosted an 'Anticipatory Leadership Lab' in collaboration with the GESDA and the office of the principal scientific advisor to the Government of India. It brought together around 60 leaders from the fields of science, governance, diplomacy, business and civil society in a structured, multi-stakeholder dialogue to strengthen their collective capacity to anticipate and govern emerging scientific and technological breakthroughs, officials said. The GESDA Science Breakthrough Radar -- an annual report that maps the research advances expected to transform society and the planet over the next five, 10 and 25 years -- was also discussed at the event. Andersen said quantum computing as a next frontier science is highlighted in GESDA's Radar. The Open Quantum Institute (OQI) is part of GESDA's initiative "Quantum for All". It is a multilateral governance initiative that promotes global and inclusive access to quantum computing and the development of applications for the benefit of humanity, according to the website of the foundation. Born at GESDA and supported by UBS, the OQI is hosted at CERN for the pilot phase (2024-2026). "Recognising the urgent need to align quantum innovation with societal impact, GESDA convened world-leading scientists, diplomats, private sector partners, and multilateral institutions to co-design the OQI. Today, GESDA's commitment continues through GESDA's strategic guidance in the institute's governance, co-chairing its Advisory Committee, and leading the diplomatic engagement," it said. The statement also underlined that India has played a "pioneering role" as a member of the advisory committee of the OQI - GESDA's anticipatory governance initiative designed to address the societal implications of quantum technologies before they reach full maturity and widespread deployment. Andersen said science can provide the "evidence-based foundation" for decisions to be made or for what is important to look at, either now or in the future. "Just that we look more into what is coming next, in terms of emerging science. But for that, decisions now already also have to account for this. And this merging of the two worlds is also important, or its reverse, is that science benefits from international cooperation and from different countries working with one another, or different sectors working with one another. "So, it is a mutually beneficial relationship that has to sort of flourish through evidence-based grounding of policymaking," she said. GESDA was established by the Federal Government of Switzerland, the Republic and Canton of Geneva, and the City of Geneva to ensure that Switzerland and Geneva remain a prime location for multilateralism. Inspired by the long-standing tradition of International Geneva as a hub for diplomacy, science, and multilateral cooperation, GESDA operates at the intersection of science, diplomacy, and societal impact. A 24-year-old security guard was found dead in his rented Delhi room in a suspected suicide, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his tragic death. Photograph: ANI on X Key Points A 24-year-old security guard was discovered deceased in his rented room in Asola village, South Delhi. Police are investigating the death as a suspected suicide, with no immediate signs of foul play. The deceased, Dileep Kumar Bairwa, had recently moved into the room and was found by the landlord after concerns were raised by his brother-in-law. Bairwa, originally from Rajasthan, worked as a security guard in Delhi. A 24-year-old man working as a security guard was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a rented room in south Delhi's Asola village, police said on Saturday. A PCR call was received on Friday at the Maidangarhi police station regarding a suspected suicide in the area, they said. The caller, Harimohan, along with his son, informed the police that the deceased, identified as Dileep Kumar Bairwa, had shifted to the rented room about three days ago, they added. According to the police, the matter surfaced after Bairwa's brother-in-law contacted Harimohan's son to ask whether Dileep was present in the room, as his mobile phone was switched off. Harimohan and his son went to the room and knocked on the door, but received no response. They found the door locked from the inside. Suspecting something amiss, they forced open the door and found Bairwa hanging from the ceiling fan with a nylon rope, a police officer said. The police were informed, and a team rushed to the spot. A crime team was also called to inspect the scene and collect evidence. Dileep was a native of the Karauli district in Rajasthan and had been working as a security guard in the city, the police said. The body was later shifted to a hospital for a post-mortem examination and further legal proceedings. Prima facie, no foul play is suspected, the police said. A social media influencer in Thane, India, is under police protection after his house was attacked in a shooting, raising concerns about online personalities' safety. IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Key Points Unidentified individuals fired shots at the home of social media influencer Nadeem (Baba) Khan in Mumbra, Thane. No injuries were reported, but Nadeem Khan's car sustained minor damage during the shooting incident. Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act and are investigating the attack. Nadeem Khan claims he previously reported threats to his life to the police, alleging no action was taken; police are verifying these claims. Unidentified persons opened fire at the house of a social media influencer in Maharashtra's Thane district in the early hours of Saturday, police said. There were no reports of injury in the firing, which occurred around 4 am in Mumbra town, but a car belonging to Nadeem (Baba) Khan, a social media influencer, was slightly damaged, an official said. "Miscreants fired a couple of rounds at Khan's house, but no one was injured. We have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act," a senior official of the Thane City police said. Investigation and Claims A video has surfaced on social media in which Khan can be seen shouting at the miscreants. In the clip, he is also seen alleging that he had previously submitted a memorandum to the police regarding threats to his life, but no action was taken. "We are currently verifying his claims and scanning CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify the shooters," the official added. Sri Lanka is set to repatriate the bodies of Iranian sailors killed on the IRIS Dena, allegedly sunk by a US submarine, while also addressing concerns about food security and fuel supplies amidst ongoing global tensions. IMAGE: All photographs: Ramesh Menon Key Points Sri Lanka will repatriate the bodies of Iranian sailors killed on the IRIS Dena, reportedly sunk by a US submarine. Eighty-four bodies of Iranian sailors were recovered after the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Galle. The Sri Lankan government is addressing potential impacts on the supply of essential commodities and food security. Sri Lanka is maintaining strategic stockpiles of essential food items to ensure food security. Fuel supplies are assured until the end of April, and alternative sources for food items are being explored. Sri Lanka will repatriate the bodies of the Iranian sailors who were killed on IRIS Dena, the first Iranian ship that was torpedoed by the US, the Deputy Defence Minister said on Saturday. Sri Lanka said on Wednesday it had recovered 84 bodies of Iranian sailors after the US submarine attack sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Galle on the island's southern coast. The ship had been returning to Iran from Visakhapatnam, India, where it had participated in a naval fleet review exercise. "The bodies are kept under refrigeration and action will be taken to send them back to Iran," Minister Aruna Jayasekera told reporters answering a query here on Saturday. The government maintains that the situation has not improved yet to try sending them by air or by sea. The magisterial inquiry and the post-mortem on 84 bodies were concluded in the southern port town of Galle on March 5. Eighty of the 84 were identified by the survivors. Addressing Food Security Concerns The government announced on Saturday that at the Food Policy and Security Committee meeting, attention was given to the potential impact on the supply of essential commodities and food security from the war situation. It was decided to maintain strategic stockpiles of essential food items. Speaking in the north central town of Anuradhapura, the Food Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said, "Until the end of April, we are assured of continued fuel supplies". He said that certain food items of Iranian origin might be replaced by those from Thailand. "We have no big issues with food supplies. Our exports will get impacted, and we are in the process of taking action to overcome them," Samarasinghe said. The Trinamool Congress is set to support the opposition's no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging partisan conduct and sparking a debate on parliamentary impartiality. IMAGE: Lok Sabha has listed for March 9 a notice by opposition members to move a resolution to remove Om Birla as the speaker. Photograph: Sansad TV Key Points Opposition MPs accuse Speaker Om Birla of acting in a partisan manner. At least 118 opposition MPs have submitted a notice to remove the Speaker. The Lok Sabha will consider the motion on March 9, requiring at least 50 members to support it for it to be admitted. The ruling BJP is expected to defeat the resolution due to its majority in the Lok Sabha. The Trinamool Congress would support the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla listed to be taken up when the Budget session of Parliament resumes on Monday, party leaders said. A senior TMC leader said the party was "always on board" with the no-trust motion sought by several opposition members of Lok Sabha. At least 118 opposition MPs have submitted a notice to move a resolution to remove Om Birla as the speaker of the Lower House for allegedly acting in a "blatantly partisan" manner. TMC MPs had previously not signed the notice. "We were always on board with the no-confidence motion. We didn't want it to be rushed and that's why in the last half of the Budget session, we said submit it after three days," the TMC leader told PTI. Almost all TMC MPs, "except those who are unwell", would be present in Lok Sabha when the notice is considered on Monday, the leader said. TMC leaders are also in touch with other INDIA bloc leaders over the issue. Lok Sabha has listed for March 9 a notice by Opposition members to move a resolution to remove Birla as the speaker. The resolution is the only item listed as the business of the day. Modi praises Om Birla Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described Om Birla as an outstanding Member of Parliament and "excellent" Speaker of the Lok Sabha, praising him for functioning above party lines and carrying everyone along while presiding over the House. The prime minister's comments came two days ahead of the Lok Sabha taking up a motion of no-confidence moved by opposition parties against Birla. "Om Birla ji is as outstanding a Member of Parliament as he is an excellent Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He is fully dedicated to the Constitution, and he maintains complete allegiance to parliamentary procedures. "Today, he is not a member of any one side; he is completely above party lines when it comes to ruling side and opposition," Modi said during his virtual address at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Kota airport. The prime minister said that when he sees Birla in the House, he feels that perhaps it is the influence of coming from the city of education, Kota, that as Lok Sabha Speaker, he stays in the role of taking everyone along like a good head of the family. "And all our Honourable MPs present in the House, he handles them very well; he greatly respects their feelings and their requests. He is such a speaker who has the nature of giving the utmost respect to the MPs," he said. Birla is a three-time MP from the Kota-Bundi seat and is serving his second successive term as Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Modi said even when some arrogant, troublemaking "students" from prominent families (bade gharana) come in, who just won't give up their habit of creating a ruckus, even then, he handles everyone like the head of the House. "He does not humiliate anyone; he tolerates everyone's bitter words as well. And you must have noticed, he smiles every time; a sweet smile always remains on his face. Perhaps that is also a reason why he is universally loved in the House," he said. BJP, Congress issue whip to LS MPs Once 50 members of the House stand up upon being called by the Chair on Monday, the notice will be considered as admitted. Then the resolution will be discussed and voted upon. If 50 members do not stand in support of the notice, the resolution cannot be moved. Both the ruling BJP and the principal opposition Congress have issued a whip to their respective Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House when the issue comes up for consideration. The numbers are heavily stacked in favour of the government, which will ensure that the resolution is defeated. The Constitution allows the speaker, in this case Birla, to be present in the House. He can defend himself and vote on the resolution but cannot chair proceedings when the matter is being discussed. Grounds for the No-Confidence Motion The proposed resolution against Birla questioned the conduct of the speaker in disallowing the leader of the opposition and other opposition leaders to speak and in "making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition". It also referred to the suspension of opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of "public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs". It further alleged that the opposition felt Birla has ceased to maintain "an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House". Following a deadly Holi clash in Delhi's Uttam Nagar, police have apprehended seven individuals as tensions rise amidst protests and calls for justice. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Seven individuals, including a minor, have been apprehended following a fatal clash between two families in Delhi's Uttam Nagar during Holi. The clash stemmed from a long-standing dispute between the families, exacerbated by a Holi-related incident involving coloured water. Tensions escalated after the death of a 26-year-old man, leading to protests and property damage in the area. Police have deployed additional personnel and are warning against spreading rumours or attempting to incite communal unrest. Authorities are taking action against those disrupting law and order, with the situation currently under control. Seven persons, including a minor, have been apprehended so far in connection with the death of a 26-year-old man in a clash between two neighbouring families with long-standing disputes, during Holi celebrations in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar, police said on Saturday. The incident, which took place on March 4, sparked tensions in the area with several vehicles damaged and set ablaze amid protests over past two days, prompting heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel. According to police, Uttam Nagar police station was informed about a quarrel between neighbours belonging to different communities in JJ Colony area, around 11.09 pm on Wednesday. The two neighbouring families apparently knew each other for the past five decades, and had persistent issues over parking and garbage disposal among other things, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said. Police said the two families have known each other for nearly five decades. "Both the families are originally from Rajasthan. Earlier they used to live in the Rajendra Nagar slum and shifted here after 2004," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said, adding that there were persistent issues between the two families over parking spaces and garbage disposal, among other things. Police said during initial inquiry, it emerged that the dispute began after a water balloon thrown by a girl from one family accidentally splashed coloured water on a woman from the other, following which members of both families gathered on the street and exchanged blows. Police said eight people sustained injuries in the clash -- three from one side and five from the other -- and most were discharged from hospital the same day, while Tarun (26), was admitted with serious injuries. An FIR was initially registered under sections 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and police arrested four people and apprehended one minor. "On March 5, Tarun (26) succumbed during treatment, following which the section related to murder was added to the case," the officer said. With the arrest of two more accused, the total number of people held in this connection has risen to seven, including six adults and a minor, they said. The accused have been identified as three brothers Umardeen (49), Jummadeen (36) and Kamruddin (36), along with Mustaque (46), Muzzafar (25), Tahir (18) and a minor. Police appealed to residents not to believe rumours and maintain peace in the locality. Authorities also warned that action would be taken against anti-social elements attempting to give the incident a different colour or disturb law and order, adding that the situation in the area is under control. Protests and Aftermath Tensions escalated in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar on Friday as a car and a motorcycle were set on fire, and a protest by Hindu political outfits blocked traffic for several hours, in protest of the young man's death. According to police sources, members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged a protest under the Uttam Nagar East metro station, blocking the main road and bringing traffic to a standstill, as they demanded strict action against those involved in the killing. Police sources said mild force was used to disperse the protesters after repeated appeals failed to convince them to vacate the road. Additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure to prevent any escalation of the situation. Following a fatal clash during Holi celebrations in Delhi, seven individuals have been apprehended, prompting investigations into the underlying family dispute and community tensions. Key Points Seven individuals, including a minor, were apprehended after a 26-year-old man died following a clash between two families in Delhi during Holi. The clash stemmed from long-standing disputes between the families, escalating after a water balloon incident during Holi celebrations. Tensions rose in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, after the incident, leading to protests, property damage, and the deployment of police and paramilitary forces. Provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been added to the FIR following the man's death. Police have warned against attempts to incite unrest or misrepresent the incident, emphasising the importance of maintaining law and order. Seven people, including a minor, were apprehended in connection with the death of a 26-year-old man in a clash between two neighbouring families with long-standing disputes during Holi celebrations in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar, police said on Saturday. Provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also added to the FIR on Saturday, they said. The incident, which took place on March 4, sparked tensions in the area with an angry mob damaging several vehicles and setting them on fire. Protests over the past two days prompted heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel in the area. On Wednesday, around 11.09 pm, a call was made to the Uttam Nagar Police Station, reporting a quarrel between neighbours belonging to different communities in the area's JJ colony. The two families had known each other for the past five decades and got into rows over parking and garbage disposal, among other things, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said. "Both families are originally from Rajasthan. Earlier, they used to live in the Rajendra Nagar slum and shifted here after 2004," Singh said. An initial inquiry revealed that the dispute began after a girl from one family accidentally threw a water balloon that hit a woman from the other. Soon, both parties came to blows. The police said eight people sustained injuries in the clash - three from one side and five from the other a and most were discharged from the hospital the same day. Tarun, 26, however, was admitted with serious injuries. An FIR was initially registered under sections 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and police arrested four people and apprehended one minor. "On March 5, Tarun succumbed during treatment, following which the section related to murder was added to the case," the officer said. With the arrest of two more accused, the total number of people held in this connection has risen to seven, including six adults and a minor, they said. The accused have been identified as Umardeen, 49, and Jummadeen and Kamruddin, both aged 36. Besides the juvenile, the other three were Mustaque, Muzzafar, and Tahir, aged 46, 25, and 18. The police warned of action against anti-social elements attempting to give the incident a different colour or disturb law and order. Rising Tensions and Protests On Friday, tensions rose in the area when a car and a motorcycle were set on fire, and a protest by Hindu political outfits blocked traffic for several hours, demanding justice for Tarun. According to police sources, members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad gathered under the Uttam Nagar East Metro Station, blocked the main road, and shouted slogans. The police used mild force to disperse them after repeated appeals failed to convince them to vacate the road. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw predicts a BJP victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, promising development, improved women's safety, and an end to the TMC's alleged vote-bank politics. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw claims the BJP will win the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, ending the TMC's 15-year rule. Vaishnaw accuses the TMC of engaging in vote-bank politics and neglecting the safety and security of women in West Bengal. The BJP promises unprecedented development in West Bengal, focusing on infrastructure and job creation. Vaishnaw alleges the TMC government is hindering development projects, including the Kolkata Metro Railway. Shrirampur railway station will be redeveloped to reflect the city's cultural heritage under a BJP government. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday asserted that change is inevitable in West Bengal after the upcoming assembly elections, maintaining that the BJP will form the government, bringing an end to the 15-year uninterrupted rule of the Trinamool Congress. Lambasting the TMC, he said those who had won the trust of the people of West Bengal some years ago have now launched a vicious attack on the state's pride. "Change is inevitable this election," he said, maintaining that a BJP government will ensure unprecedented development in West Bengal. "We have to save West Bengal's pride, it is in peril," Vaishnaw said while addressing a Poriborton Yatra rally at Shrirampur in Hooghly district. Stating that the people of West Bengal have seen governments run by the communists, the Congress and the TMC, he urged the people of the state "to give a chance to the BJP". Alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress indulges in vote-bank politics, the minister said, "Question is arising in the minds of West Bengal's people whether in future, they would be able to celebrate Durga Puja and Kali Puja." "We will not allow such an eventuality," he asserted, maintaining that West Bengal's pride is being hurt by allowing infiltration into the state. Vaishnaw claimed that while a huge allocation has been made for madrasa education, a much smaller amount has been given for technical education in the state Budget. He said recruitment scams took place in the state during the TMC regime, affecting West Bengal's jobless youth. Pointing to incidents of crimes against women at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, South Calcutta Law College and some other places in the state, he claimed that law and order has reached its nadir under the TMC rule. "It is shameful that despite having a woman chief minister, women in the state are asked not to venture out at night," Vaishnaw said. "This assembly election, the people of West Bengal must unite to ensure the youth's future and women's security and throw out those who indulge in vote-bank politics from power," he said. The Union minister lamented that while earlier people used to come to West Bengal for jobs, now the youths of the state are going outside in search of work. He said the Narendra Modi government has allocated a lot of funds for West Bengal's infrastructure development, ranging from railways, roads, airports to telecommunications. "But lack of cooperation by the TMC government is hampering development projects, including the Kolkata Metro Railway," he said. Stating that the TMC government is creating impediments on one pretext or another, he said, "It seems they do not want Kolkata Metro Railway's development." Vaishnaw also claimed that the TMC supremo, who had led the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram in 2007, was now not allowing development of railway connectivity for the town in Purba Medinipur district. Shrirampur Railway Station Redevelopment Vaishnaw also announced that Shrirampur railway station would be redeveloped, keeping in mind the city's centuries-old culture and historical identity, an official said. He said the construction and development plan for the railway station will be designed with Shrirampur's rich cultural heritage in focus, ensuring that the station's appearance reflects the historical identity of the region, the Eastern Railway official said in a statement. Shrirampur railway station, established in 1854, was part of the first passenger train service in eastern India that ran from Howrah to Hooghly. It is one of the busiest stations on the Howrah-Bardhaman line of the Eastern Railway. The ER official said that emphasis will be placed on Shrirampur's connection to ancient landmarks like the Jagannath temple in the city. In a tragic incident in Surat, Gujarat, two young women were found dead in a temple bathroom, prompting a police investigation into a possible suicide pact involving anaesthesia and online searches via ChatGPT. IMAGE: All photographs: Kind courtesy Canva Key Points Two women, aged 18-20, were discovered dead in a temple bathroom in Surat, Gujarat. Police found anaesthesia injections at the scene, suggesting a possible suicide method. The women had searched 'how to commit suicide' using the AI tool ChatGPT before their deaths. CCTV footage showed the women entering the temple bathroom before they were found unconscious. An investigation is underway to determine the reasons behind the women's decision to take their own lives. Two women in the 18-20 age group were found dead inside the bathroom of a temple in Gujarat's Surat city, with police on Saturday stating they had recovered anaesthesia injections from the site and that the duo had searched AI-powered conversational tool ChatGPT about "how to commit suicide". The two collegians were missing since Friday afternoon and were found dead later that night in the bathroom of Swaminarayan Temple in Saniya village, Assistant Commissioner of Police NP Gohil said. "Their kin had informed Dindoli police station after they went missing. Their phones were active but the two were not answering calls. After the location of the phones was traced, a police team went to Saniya village and searched the fields. We found their scooter near the temple," he said. CCTV footage showed the two had walked towards the temple's bathroom, the door of which was then broken down, the official said. "The two were found unconscious. One of them was rushed to civil hospital and the other to SMIMER Hospital. They were declared dead on arrival by doctors at the two facilities," he said. Investigation Details The search of the bathroom revealed certain anaesthesia injections, while some photographs related to suicide were found in the gallery of the phone of one of the deceased, the official said. The two, studying in different colleges here, were good friend since school, police said. A probe is underway to find out why the two took the extreme step, police added. Police in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, are investigating the brutal murder of a young man found in a field with his throat slit, sparking a search for the perpetrators and motives behind the crime. Key Points Mithun Rawat, a resident of Durin Purva village, was found murdered in a field in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. Police investigation indicates the youth was attacked with a sharp object, resulting in a nearly severed neck. Authorities have launched a murder investigation and are actively searching for clues in the Kursi police station area. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination as part of the ongoing investigation. The body of a youth was found with his throat slit in a field here, police said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Mithun Rawat, a resident of Durin Purva village. According to police sources, Rawat left his home on Friday but did not return. His body was found in the field in the Kursi police station area by villagers on Friday night. They informed police about it on Saturday morning, police said. Investigation Details Preliminary investigation suggests that the assailants repeatedly attacked the youth with a sharp object, nearly severing his neck, they said. "We have taken the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem. The matter is under active investigation, and we expect to crack the case soon," said Circle Officer, Fatehpur, Jagat Kanaujia. Police teams are currently combing the area where the body was found for clues, he said. The war in Iran is widening across the Middle East and beyond, with incidents stretching from the Persian Gulf to the South Caucasus and raising fears the conflict could escalate into a broader regional confrontation. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile fired toward a base housing US forces on March 7, while Azerbaijan accused Iran-linked operatives of plotting sabotage targeting a major oil pipeline and Jewish sites. Heavy air strikes were reported in Iran overnight and early on March 7, with Tehran's Mehrabad Airport and the nearby town of Ekbatan both being hit, among other targets. At the same time, cross-border strikes between Israel and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon continued and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had attacked a Maltese-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz using an "explosive drone" as Tehran looks to broaden its response to the US-Israeli military campaign. The string of developments underscores how a war that began with coordinated US-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28 is rippling across neighboring regions, threatening energy infrastructure and raising the possibility of new fronts as the war enters its second week. Analysts say Tehran's strategy appears aimed at raising the cost of the conflict for Washington. "The region is likely to experience an ongoing Iranian retaliation campaign for as long as there are missiles and launchers there," Sascha Bruchmann, a military and security affairs analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told RFE/RL. But Iran also appears to be moving to quell any regional backlash. In a rare apology on March 7, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said in a video message that he would like to "personally apologize to neighboring countries that were affected by Irans actions" as he urged them not to join the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. He said Iran's temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes on Iran originated from their territory, but hours later the IRGC Navy launched a drone attack on the US al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE, according to the Tasnim news agency, a semiofficial news agency associated with the IRGC. The report claims that a US satellite communications center and early-warning and fire-control radars were hit, but RFE/RL was unable to independently verify the attack. The UAE's Defense Ministry said it responded to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran but has not confirmed the attack on the US airbase. Pezeshkian also rejected US President Donald Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender," saying that "the Americans can take their demand of a surrender of the Iranian people to their graves." Shortly afterward, Trump announced in a message on his social media that the US military is considering expanding the range of targets inside Iran, including areas and individuals, or "complete destruction and death." Alleged Iranian Plot To Target Oil Pipeline Azerbaijan said it had thwarted a plot linked to the IRGC to attack several targets inside the country. According to a statement from Azerbaijans State Security Service released late on March 6, the alleged plan included attacks on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Israeli Embassy in Baku, an Ashkenazi synagogue, and a prominent member of Azerbaijan's Mountain Jewish community. Authorities said two Iranian citizens and one Azerbaijani national were involved in smuggling more than 7 kilograms of C-4 explosives into the country under instructions from the IRGC. Investigators said international arrest warrants had been issued for four suspects. Iran hasn't publicly responded to the accusations but said earlier this week, after a drone incident, that it isn't seeking to target Azerbaijan. Any disruption to the pipeline could tighten global energy supplies already rattled by the expanding war. Tehran has threatened to "set ablaze" any Western tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which provides a vital trade route for about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. At least nine vessels have been attacked since US-Israeli strikes began, according to Lloyds List, a maritime intelligence firm. The BTC pipeline runs through Georgia and Turkey and transports Caspian crude to Mediterranean export terminals, supplying European markets. The route also accounts for roughly a third of Israel's oil imports. The plot follows another incident earlier this week that heightened tensions between Baku and Tehran. Azerbaijani officials said Iranian drones struck infrastructure in the countrys Nakhchivan exclave on March 5, injuring civilians and damaging an airport. As Tehran denied responsibility for the attack, the United States condemned it, describing the strikes as a "needless escalation" of aggression. Attacks Ripple Across The Middle East Saudi Arabia said on March 7 that it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired toward Prince Sultan Air Base southeast of Riyadh, which hosts US military personnel. The Saudi Defense Ministry said the missile was destroyed before reaching its target. In a separate attack, Saudi air defenses shot down six drones targeting the Shaybah oil field near the border with the United Arab Emirates, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Officials said the drones were intercepted over the Empty Quarter desert in the south of the country. The attacks follow several earlier drone strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure this week, including attempted attacks on the Ras Tanura refinery on the kingdoms eastern coast. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman warned Iran against further miscalculations, saying such actions threatened regional security and stability. The rising attacks have rattled global energy markets. Brent crude prices surged more than 8 percent in a single day this week and have climbed nearly 30 percent since the conflict intensified. Elsewhere, Israel has continued to exchange fire with Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon as Tehran's network of regional allies -- often referred to as the "axis of resistance" -- weighs how far to escalate the confrontation. Iran itself has responded to the US-Israeli strikes by launching waves of drones and missiles at Israeli targets and striking US military facilities across the region, including in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia have all reported drone and missile attacks over the past week. Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has decentralized its command-and-control structure, handing junior ranks more power to respond to the massive US-Israeli aerial bombardment of the Islamic republic. The joint air campaign that began on February 28 has killed numerous senior military and political leaders, including IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had the final say on all matters of the state. With its leadership decimated, Iran has activated a so-called mosaic defensive strategy, which is designed to empower local IRGC commanders during wartime. While boosting the resilience of Iran's armed forces, the strategy also raises the risks of miscalculation, experts say. "It is designed to help the local provincial IRGC and their accompanying Basij elements to defend against an outside invading force," said Farzin Nadimi, a defense specialist at the Washington Institute. The IRGC, the elite branch of Iran's armed forces and the backbone of the country's theocracy, is believed to have around 150,000 troops, with army, navy, and air units. It also commands the volunteer Basij paramilitary force, which is estimated to have around 1 million members. Decentralization has been a key part of the IRGC's doctrine since around 2009, when the force was reorganized. Each of Iran's 31 provinces has its own IRGC headquarters, command-and-control structure, and chain of command. "Every province is a mosaic, and the commanders have the ability and power to make decisions," said Nadimi. "So, when they are cut off from their command in Tehran, they can still be able to function as a cohesive military force." Speaking to Al Jazeera TV, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on March 1 that "our military units are now independent and somehow isolated, and they are acting based on instructions -- general instructions -- given to them in advance." Doctrine Holding For Now The approach appears to be working for now. Iran has responded to heavy US and Israeli bombardment by firing unprecedented barrages of ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones at Israel, US military and diplomatic facilities across the Middle East, and critical energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. "That implies the command-and-control system is still functioning, at least for now," said Sascha Bruchmann, a military and security affairs analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. "The region is likely to experience an ongoing Iranian retaliation campaign for as long as there are missiles and launchers there." But it is unclear if the IRGC can maintain cohesion as the United States and Israel strike the country's military infrastructure, including its stockpiles of short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles, and target mid-ranking provincial commanders. If the IRGC runs out of missiles or if most of its facilities are damaged or destroyed, the force has "few capabilities beyond their strategic deterrents," said Bruchmann. Iranian forces rely heavily on missiles and drones, and "with their production facilities above ground hit, the capacity to replenish stocks is at least in doubt," he added. 'Double-Edged Sword' Iran's mosaic strategy is designed to make the IRGC more resilient. But the decentralized command-and-control structure could also fuel chaos, experts say. "Decentralized military units will be more difficult to find and finish off" for the United States and Israel, said Colin Clarke, executive director of the Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank. "But they will also be less impactful because they won't achieve critical mass." "Some of the more disciplined and elite units will be able to stay in the fight, while other, less experienced units will fall victim to confusion and disorder," added Clarke. "I would also suspect that the US and Israel are waging a psychological operations campaign that will exacerbate this issue for the IRGC." US President Donald Trump has demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" and called on the country's armed forces to lay down their weapons or face "certain death." He said those who surrendered would be granted immunity. Experts warn that the decentralized wartime conditions increases the risk of uncoordinated drone and missile strikes and navigation errors that could trigger unintended escalation. That could help explain Iranian missiles and drones hitting civilian areas like hotels and shopping malls in the Persian Gulf, analysts said. NATO-member Turkey said it intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile in its border region on March 4. Another of Iran's neighbors, Azerbaijan, accused Tehran of firing drones at an airport in its Nakhchivan region on March 5. In both cases, the head of Iran's armed forces issued unusually direct denials. TEL AVIV -- Driving past the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown Tel Aviv, a huge video billboard catches the eye as the advertisement switches from groceries to a giant portrait of the US president with the caption: "Thank you, God and Donald Trump!" The tribute bears witness to Israeli gratitude for America's role in the military strikes on Iran. Israeli officials have repeatedly stressed that the two countries are in lockstep. "The cooperation is historic between the US military and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and between the Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 6 in an example of how the two countries are on the same page. There is indeed extremely close military and political coordination. But there are also areas where priorities differ. When Does This End? For years, Netanyahu has pushed the idea of regime change in Iran and still appears committed to that aim. "Our aspiration is to enable the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny," he said on March 9. But most analysts believe regime change cannot be achieved quickly, so Trump's statement later that day, that the war could be over " very soon," raised the question: What if America's choice of an end date is earlier than Israel's? "The United States is the one who leads when it comes to that end date. Israel is willing to continue these attacks against the Islamic regime. We're also engaged against Hezbollah, an Islamic regime proxy in Lebanon. We would like to continue that. But we'll stop when the US says we need to stop," Miri Eisin, a former deputy head of the Israeli military's Combat Intelligence Corps, told RFE/RL on March 10. "There were very clear aims of regime change, and you're not seeing that. But let's be realistic about it. There's the rhetoric of politicians and there's the reality of the military. For the military, every additional day [means] more targets. For the politicians, they make their own decisions," added Eisin, now a fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University in Tel Aviv. War Aims In fact, it is not entirely clear whether regime change is even one of the US objectives. When US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listed US war aims a few hours after RFE/RL spoke to Eisin, he didn't even mention it. "One: Destroy their missile stockpiles, their missile launchers, and their defense industrial base, missiles and their ability to make them. Two: Destroy their navy. And three: Permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever," Hegseth said as he went through the goals of the conflict. Trump has spoken of "unconditional surrender" and said regime change would be "the best thing that could happen." He said on March 10 that he was "disappointed" that the Iranian regime chose Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his late father as supreme leader but declined to say what the United States might do about it. RFE/RL has spoken to a number of US congressional aides focused on national security in Washington who have voiced concern about a potential disconnect on this and other issues. "One government appears to be pursuing regime collapse," a Republican aide said on condition of anonymity. "The other says it isn't -- except when it does. And that's the rub. On key objectives, we're not entirely in sync." In any war, the timeline usually depends on the aims being pursued. Following the three objectives listed by Hegseth, victory can be declared without regime change. Some analysts argue the United States may prefer an earlier end to operations than Israel if oil prices rise too much because the two countries have a different pain-tolerance level in this regard. Sarit Zehavi, head of Tel Aviv think-tank Alma, said Iran's war strategy -- and its attacks on the Gulf states -- was focused on just this. "The interest was to create a situation that America will not finish the job. To create a situation that the Gulf countries will ask Trump to stop," she said. Oil There have also been some hints of divergence on military targets, with Washington reportedly unhappy at an Israeli strike on an Iranian oil facility which showered Tehran in black rain a few days ago. Asked about this on March 10, Hegseth said hitting the oil sites "wasn't necessarily our objective." But he rejected the idea that Israel was pulling the United States into operations that go against Washington's interests: "We're not getting pulled in any direction. We're leading, the president is leading." On Capitol Hill, another aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned: "Destroying oil fields can spiral energy markets. Israel sees it as crippling Iran's ability to fund war, but for the US there's a risk we drag the global economy into the conflict. It's a tactical win with strategic costs." On March 9, influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham spelled it out in a social media post. "Please be cautious about what targets you select," he wrote, adding that the oil economy would be crucial for Iran's reconstruction. But Yoel Guzonsky, a former member of Israel's National Security Council, said his country's strikes on Iranian oil facilities had in fact been a calibrated warning shot. "Both the US and Israel are being very careful not to hit the main oil installations with Iran because they know that Iran's retaliation might be in the Gulf states, and then we'll see a different scenario," he said, referring to the danger of future Iranian strikes on Gulf-state oil industry targets. "Iran didn't even scratch the oil fields and the gas fields in the Gulf," he added. "Perhaps Iran is saving itself another escalatory step toward a longer war." Hezbollah The issue of Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization the United States, also suggests Israel and the White House have slightly different priorities in this war. For Washington, hitting Iran is top of the agenda. In Israel, Hezbollah is a threat that's much closer to home. "People don't think about the fact that I drive up north, and I live up north, and you can be 100 meters, let alone a kilometer or two, from these different sites that Hezbollah is firing from. So, for us, that's a very near and present danger," Eisin told RFE/RL. There have been numerous Israeli media reports and analyst predictions in recent days that a much larger ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon may be being prepared. But, Eisin added, this was not diverting Israel's attention from the war with Iran. Eisin said Israel was mostly using different kinds of forces in Lebanon and was also attacking Iranian targets there. "Israel openly attacked a few days ago, at the heart of Beirut, an Islamic regime Quds force. So, you see that combo here. We're attacking the Islamic regime, different types of terror army capabilities, both in Lebanon and in Iran," she said. But for Washington, the calculus is different. "From a US perspective, Hezbollah is a proxy problem, rather than a direct existential threat," one congressional aide said. Iran's Assembly of Experts is set to meet to select a new supreme leader, one of its members said on March 7, as the White House said it was looking for an "acceptable" candidate to lead the country. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed on the first day of a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran on February 28, it is the first time in 36 years that Tehran finds itself having to pick a new supreme leader. According to Fars, a semiofficial news agency that is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hossein Mozafari, a member of the 88seat Assembly of Experts, said he had "strong hope" that a decision would be made within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, the United States has voiced its interest in being involved in the selection, with President Donald Trump saying the next leader should be "GREAT & ACCEPTABLE." "I know there are a number of people that our intelligence agencies and the United States government are looking at, but I won't go any further than that," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House on March 6. Leavitt's comments came after Trump ruled out Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei -- a hardliner who has been considered a favorite to succeed his father -- as a successor and suggested that the only acceptable outcome of the US military campaign in Iran would be its "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER." "What the President means is that when he, as Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America, and the goals of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realized, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not," Leavitt said. "Frankly, they don't have a lot of people to say that for them," she added, saying the Untied States and Israel killed at least 50 leaders of the Iranian regime since the beginning of its military campaign a week ago. On March 7, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has rejected Trump's demand saying that "the Americans can take their demand of a surrender of the Iranian people to their graves." Shortly afterward, Trump announced that the United States is considering expanding the range of targets inside Iran, including areas and individuals. "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time," he wrote on social media. In a fact sheet published later on March 6, the US military said that during the first week of the war it struck over 3,000 Iranian targets, including Tehran's command-and-control centers, air defense systems, missile sites, ships, and submarines. Now, Washington expects its achievable objectives in Iran to be completed in four to six weeks, Leavitt said, adding that the United States is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Iranians cross the border into Armenia as air strikes pound Tehran and other parts of the country. After entering Armenia, one woman said Iranians had "lost everything" amid the destruction and dwindling resources. TEL AVIV -- Israel has made an impressive start to military operations against Iran but may be not much closer to its goals than a week ago, former Knesset member Ksenia Svetlova told RFE/RL in an interview at her home in Tel Aviv on March 6. Svetlova, who is now executive director of an NGO called ROPES (Regional Organization for Peace, Economics, and Security), said there were few examples of "regimes that fall just as a result of air strikes" and was skeptical of the idea that Iraqi Kurdish militias would want to get involved in the fight. RFE/RL: We are almost a week into the conflict. From an Israeli perspective, where are we? How do things stand after a week? Ksenia Svetlova: In a military sense, the IDF [Israeli Defense Force] briefs us regularly that there are fantastic achievements and that there is less [Iranian] rocket potential, that a lot of the launching stations were destroyed. And, actually, we do see less fire, less volume of fire here in Israel. I am absolutely sure they are achieving the goals that they put ahead of them, in the military sense. Whether that will bring us to the ultimate goal [as far as] Israel is concerned, the ultimate goal is the downfall of the regime. There is nothing else there. No agreement will be good enough. No alternative Iranian regime will be good enough within the frame of the Islamic republic. Are we closer now to this goal than the week before? I'm not sure of that at all. RFE/RL: What gives you pause then? What makes you hesitant about that? Svetlova: I know a little bit about the history of trying to collapse regimes. There is some confusion here about the nature of the Iranian regime. I'm not sure if this confusion derives from the lack of expertise currently in the American administration or some other reason, or perhaps some hubris that, with this amazing armada and this firepower, what else can happen? They are [bound] to fall. But the Iranian regime, from what we know -- and again, I'm not an Iran expert, but it's a multilayered, very well-structured revolutionary regime that prepared for this moment for 47 years. And we have very [few] examples of regimes that fell as a result of just air strikes. And even a ground invasion doesn't always promise this kind of outcome. That's why we hear from the White House right now mixed signals about the possibility of some ground operation there, because they understand that they cannot achieve this very specific goal of collapsing the regime as we speak. For now, the Iranian regime [is] probably weakened by the strikes, but they're firing like crazy, involving more and more states every single day. They are still controlling the streets, from the little, scarce information that we get from Iran. Here, from Israel, looking at Iran, I do not see yet any signs of collapse of the regime. RFE/RL: The Israeli government launched these air strikes. Those air strikes were the first thing we heard about this war. Does the Israeli government have a strategy to bring down the regime beyond air strikes? Svetlova: This is a combination of Israeli prowess and expertise and firepower and American might. It's not an Israeli operation per se. While the Israelis definitely know how to do the first strike and to overwhelm completely the systems there and to assassinate who was assassinated there -- this is of course a great achievement. But rather than that, I think that the war is being planned in the Pentagon, not in Israel. Whether Israel has its own plans for collapsing the regime, that I don't know. RFE/RL: What's the hope, then, in Netanyahu's government that the Pentagon's planning to do? Svetlova: I think they hope the war will first of all last long enough, that it will not end in five days or in six days, because it will definitely take much more if you want to completely destroy physically the basis of the regime. You cannot destroy the institutions per se, but you can destroy the Basij bases and the police stations and all of that. So they're doing it right now, every single day. Then there will be, maybe, the beginning of a civil war in Iran, between the various minority militias and Basij forces, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps). Of course, the Iranian protests will resume, and then the regime will have to fight on many fronts rather than just on the military front. Eventually it will be so weak that it will just collapse with perhaps some push from some security agencies here and there. That's the hope, realistically. Whether it's achievable or not [is] yet to be seen. But at least for now, if somebody thought -- and this is perhaps a bit of a bold comparison, to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's hope to take over Kyiv in three days, which didn't happen, obviously, and he's there for four years. If anybody thought that just as a result of air strikes, and I think that in Israel at the level of the public, there was this kind of hope -- well, they are hitting them so hard, how could they not collapse? And also Trumpwas astonished, like, wow, they're not raising the white flag. Well, I think that anybody who deals with the Middle East understands exactly why it's not happening. RFE/RL: What, then, are the implications of all this for the broader region, the Persian Gulf in particular? Svetlova: Specifically for the Arab countries, it's the loss of security. They bill themselves as this safe hub, a wonder, a miracle in the desert. They've practically positioned themselves as not so much a part of the Middle East: We are something else, we are something different. And yet the Middle East came to them, to their doorstep. If it continues, the implications will be very broad for energy markets, of course, but also for the positioning of these countries as safe hubs. They attracted so much human capital and also financial capital, under the promise thatthey will be safe. They are not safe anymore. And if the Iranian regime survives -- and there are significant chances that they will survive -- they will continue to terrorize these states, not only through drone attacks and so on, but also physical terror. We heard yesterday that the Saudi officials are cutting their interviews and public appearances and so on for fear being targeted. This is something they did not experience for a long, long time. It's like going back to the '80s, beginning of the '90s in this sense. Israel is much more prepared for that, but the broader Middle East is not. Europe is not prepared for that at all, for the halt of supplies of gas, LNG in Qatar and so on. The Middle East cannot tolerate this international crisis. It's not a Middle Eastern crisis. RFE/RL: Can't tolerate it -- but can't do anything about it. Svetlova: I don't know what they can do. I'm looking at the Gulf states, with all the brand-new weapons they acquired from the US and Europe and other countries. They don't much have an army, a real army. So they can join or not join Donald Trump. It will be perhaps significant symbolically, but not in any other sense. What can they do? Can the US right now be pushed through the UN Security Council? No, the answer is no. So then, what can anybody do about that? When Donald Trump will feel that he [has realized] some of these goals, then it will stop, but not before that. RFE/RL: One of the things that's being discussed quite a lot over the last couple of days is the idea of Kurdish militias from Iraq being the ground forces, effectively. When you were a member of parliament, you were involved in outreach, in contact with Kurdish organizations and Kurdish communities, including in Iraq. How do you rate the likelihood of such a scenario? Svetlova: We have to differentiate between the two things. You can support Kurdish independence, the right to self-determination. I support the Palestinian right to self-determination. I also support the Kurdish right to self-determination, just like I support for my own people, the Jewish people, the right for self-determination. How can it be achieved? For now, Kurds were disappointed time and again, cooperating with the United States. Many Kurds will be hesitant about engaging in something like this, which might be extremely risky, given the regime is not collapsing yet. It's a very different thing, arming and participating in the armed struggle when you have the first signs that the regime is almost done -- you need a little push, but then it will be gone. This is not the case with the Iranian regime yet. This is first. Second, I don't think that only by arming the ethnic minoritiesthe West will be able to have an advantage significantly in overwhelming the Iranian regime. I think it will actually give the Iranians more pretense to use this rally around the flag thing. And given the rising nationalism among the Iranians who are Persians, it can actually distract them from struggling with this regime because they will say, well, these are not our goals. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Niamh O'Donoghue A man has walked free from court on a suspended sentence for an unprovoked and ferocious assault outside MMA fighter Conor McGregors pub. John Griffiths (41) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault with intent to cause bodily harm at the Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road on September 4th, 2021. Griffiths, who has an address at Iveagh Trust, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, but lives in the US, has no previous convictions. Judge Martina Baxter said it was a ferocious assault and handed down an 15-month sentence, suspended it in full. The judge noted a sum of 5,000 was available as a token of remorse which the injured party was willing to accept. She said although there was no victim impact statement, the effect on the injured party can be inferred. Garda Claire Young gave evidence that gardai were on mobile patrol at around midnight on the night in question when they were alerted to an assault outside the Black Forge Inn. Gda Young told David Perry BL, prosecuting, that the injured party was visibly upset and confused. He had facial injuries and his nose was bleeding heavily. He had red marks on his face, a laceration to his lip and swelling to his right eye. His T-shirt and jeans were covered in blood, the court was told. CCTV The court heard the victim was on a work night out and didnt really interact with anyone outside of his group. When Griffiths was interviewed, nothing of evidential value arose. CCTV of the incident was played to the court and showed the injured party being assaulted by two men, which continued after he was knocked to the ground and was unconscious. Keith Spencer BL, defending, told the court Griffiths suffered a tragic event when his brother took his own life in 2021. His client had been using alcohol as a crutch and was intoxicated on the night. Spencer said his client previously had a window-washing business but is now looking for work. He moved to California when he was 17 where his daughter and two grandchildren live and counsel said he provides financial support to them. Counsel said he sublets apartments in Los Angeles and in Ireland, and that he has a modest income. Counsel said Griffiths has a green card and a conviction would be devastating. The court will appreciate the situation, said Spencer. Counsel asked the judge to leave him without a conviction". However, Judge Baxter said she had considered deferring sentence, but she said she was not satisfied it could be applied in this case. Judge Baxter handed down a 15-month sentence and suspended it in its entirety for a period of 15 months. The judge said probation supervision was not appropriate as Griffith lives outside the jurisdiction. High Court Reporters A company which provides motor inspections and salvage management services for insurers claims a firm which provides storage for salvaged vehicles is preventing it from accessing vehicles to do the inspections, the High Court has heard. Motor Assess Ireland (MAI) Ltd, which has a national network of more than 40 engineers, is seeking orders against SDSI Ltd, which, until March 2025, provided MAI with salvage and storage services at its licensed "end-of-life vehicle" facilities spread across the country. Ballincollig, Co Cork-based MAI seeks to restrain the defendant from preventing access to vehicles it needs to inspect on behalf of insurer clients. The court heard there is a dispute between the parties over what the defendant says is money owed to it by MAI. That claim is denied. On Friday, Justice Brian Cregan granted Ian Boyle Harper BL, for MAI, permission for short service of the proceedings on the defendant. The application was with only the MAI side represented, and the case was put back to next week. Aisling Deasy, MAI's chief operating officer, said in an affidavit that since March 2025, MAI had moved to a new salvage sub-contractor following a dispute between the parties over increases in salvage management fees. The defendant was not satisfied with what MAI said were improved conditions, which had been negotiated with two big insurers and in December 2024 indicated it intended to withdraw its services, she said. The contract continued, on increased terms, until March 2025, when MAI engaged a new sub-contractor. In April 2025, Allianz Insurance replaced MAI with the defendant directly for salvage management. In December 2025, the defendant threatened winding up proceedings against MAI over the disputed debt, and since then, MAI engineers have been denied access to vehicles in a number of SDSI facilities, Ms Deasy said. These actions constitute unlawful interference with the business and contractual relations of MAI, she said. A Castlerea native has been appointed to the role of advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) in oncology at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe. In her new role, Sarah Ennis from Cloonfower, Castlerea, is responsible for the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients receiving oral anti-cancer therapies. She provides care to patients with a wide range of cancers, including breast, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, lung, brain and neuroendocrine cancers, and works closely with two consultant medical oncologists in dedicated medical oncology clinics. The hospitals oncology department operates as a fully nurse-led service and continues to expand its capacity to meet growing demand. As the departments second advanced nurse practitioner, Sarah practises independently as part of an experienced multidisciplinary nursing team, including a clinical nurse manager, clinical nurse specialists and staff nurses. Sarah graduated in General Nursing from Dublin City University in 2014. She began her career as a staff nurse at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, before gaining extensive oncology experience on the oncology ward at University Hospital Galway. She later worked for two years at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, across the chemotherapy day unit, medical day assessment unit and clinical trials. On returning to Ireland, she worked at St Jamess Hospital, Dublin, on the Denis Burkitt Stem Cell Transplant Unit, and with TCP Homecare. She joined Portiuncula University Hospital in 2023 as a candidate advanced nurse practitioner in oncology, having completed postgraduate studies in oncology nursing at University College Cork. During her two-year candidacy, she undertook advanced training in clinical assessment, diagnostics and medication management. This included completion of a Professional Diploma in Prescribing of Medication. She subsequently achieved a Master of Science in Advanced Practice (Nursing) at University College Dublin, enabling her to register and practise as an advanced nurse practitioner. Commenting on her appointment, Sarah said: Advanced nursing practice demonstrates the impact highly skilled nurses can have when working autonomously to deliver expert, patient-centred care. My goal is to develop a nurse-led early breast cancer survivorship clinic, enabling patients to access high-quality follow-up care closer to home, in line with national and international guidelines. As an advanced nurse practitioner, I practise independently to diagnose, treat and support patients, while managing the side effects and toxicities associated with cancer and its treatment. Providing this level of care locally can make a real and meaningful difference for patients and their families. It is also essential to remain engaged with international research and developments in oncology. Attending the recent ESMO Congress in Berlin allowed me to bring the latest evidence and best practice directly to our patients, ensuring our care remains progressive and aligned with current standards. Director of nursing at the hospital Mary Mahon welcomed the appointment. She said: Sarahs appointment is a significant addition to our nurse-led oncology service. Advanced nursing practice plays a vital role in improving patient access, continuity of care and clinical outcomes, and Sarahs expertise will further strengthen the comprehensive oncology services available at Portiuncula University Hospital. As ONS Finserv continues to expand its footprint across global financial hubs, the firm remains dedicated to the belief that female-led leadership is not just a demographic fact, but a competitive advantage. Through the combined pillars of technical integrity, collaborative mentorship, and innovative operational culture, ONS Finserv is proving that in the world of high finance, what you give to your team is exactly what you gain in institutional strength. For Preety, the Give to Gain theme is personified through the constant cycle of learning. Whether its mentoring a colleague through a complex fund structure or introducing efficiencies in fund administration, I provide guidance while encouraging independent problem-solving. The result is a team that feels empowered to innovate thoughtfully, knowing that our commitment to precision and excellence remains unwavering. By creating a safe space for ideas, team members feel confident proposing improvements or alternative approaches, knowing their input is valued. However, I also emphasise process clarity. When team members experiment with new methods or tools, I guide them to align innovations with operational standards, ensuring risk is managed effectively. Preety identifies three key principlescollaboration, transparency, and continuous learningas the drivers of this culture. She believes that by giving employees a safe space to voice ideas, the firm gains improved processes and shared ownership. Managing high-stakes financial operations requires a careful balance between precision and agility, Preety notes. In my role leading the Funds and Corporate Administration team at ONS Finserv Mauritius, I foster a culture where the team feels empowered to innovate while maintaining our gold standard of service. Cultivating Innovation: The Balance of Precision and Agility Rounding out the leadership perspective is Preety, her focus is on the cultural architecture of the firmensuring that the high-stakes nature of financial operations does not stifle the innovation required to stay competitive. The process required coordinating due diligence documentation, reviewing the business plan, and ensuring full regulatory compliance under tight deadlines. By walking a new colleague through the FSC checklist and sharing practical insights, they developed both capability and confidence. By the time of submission, they were independently liaising with the regulator and responding to queries with clarity. This experience illustrates that mentorship in fund and corporate administration extends beyond technical guidance; it strengthens the resilience and effectiveness of the entire team. Jeveena highlights that the most significant gain in mentorship is the transition from individual effort to collective excellence. She cites a recent success involving a Special Licence application with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) as a prime example of this empowerment in action. In the fast-paced financial landscapes of Dubai and Mauritius, one of the most rewarding outcomes of mentoring a colleague is the sense of shared growth and trust it builds within the team, Jeveena says. Stepping inwhether by guiding a colleague through a complex fund structure, reviewing regulatory filings, or explaining operational processesconsistently strengthens team performance. Operational Leadership: Mentorship as a Catalyst for Resilience While Srishti sets the strategic compass, Jeveena focuses on the practical application of the Give to Gain philosophy within the teams daily operations. In the fast-paced markets of Mauritius and Dubai, Jeveena views mentorship as the primary tool for mitigating operational risk and building team resilience. For me, Give to Gain means creating pathways, not just profits. Growth at ONS Finserv isnt measured only in assets under administration or new jurisdictions. Its measured in opportunity creation. We ensure women on our team are not confined to back-end execution; they sit in structuring calls, engage with regulators, speak to clients, and understand the commercial side of fund administration. Confidence comes from competence, and competence comes from access. Reflecting on the 2026 IWD theme, Give to Gain, Srishti views the concept as a strategy for sustainable growth. By giving opportunity and access, the firm gains a more robust, capable leadership pipeline. Srishtis approach to leadership rejects the idea of proving a point in favour of setting a standard. She emphasises that in the world of fund structuring and regulatory compliance, there is no substitute for depth. If I had to choose one non-negotiable value that shaped our journey, it would be credibility, Srishti explains. In a highly regulated and traditionally male-dominated industry, especially across jurisdictions like Mauritius and Dubai, credibility is everything. From day one, we made a conscious decision to compete on substance, not perception. The Founders Vision: Credibility as the Ultimate Currency At the helm of ONS Finserv is Srishti Dixit, whose journey as a founder has been defined by navigating highly regulated jurisdictions and traditionally male-dominated boardrooms. For Srishti, scaling a firm in the cross-border investment space required a steadfast commitment to a single, non-negotiable value. Bridging the sophisticated financial corridors of Mauritius and Dubai, ONS Finserv is utilising this milestone to spotlight the internal culture of mentorship, technical precision, and unwavering integrity that defines the firm. By sharing the insights of its leadership teamSrishti Dixit, Founder and Managing Director; Jeveena M. Nepaulsing, Senior Executive Corporate & Fund Administration and Preety Seetaram Ramcharain, Executive Corporate & Fund Administration the firm aims to provide a blueprint for women navigating the complexities of modern fintech and global fund administration. Alors que la communaute financiere mondiale celebre la Journee internationale des femmes (IWD) 2026, ONS Finserv, une societe de services financiers et dadministration de fonds de premier plan dirigee par des femmes, est fiere dannoncer sa campagne dediee sous le theme mondial Give to Gain (Donner pour recevoir). Passerelle entre les centres financiers sophistiques de Maurice et de Dubai, ONS Finserv sappuie sur cette etape importante pour mettre en avant la culture interne de mentorat, de precision technique et dintegrite sans faille qui caracterise lentreprise. En partageant les idees de son equipe de direction Srishti Dixit, fondatrice et directrice generale ; Jeveena M. Nepaulsing, cadre superieure Administration des entreprises et des fonds, et Preety Seetaram Ramcharain, cadre Administration des entreprises et des fonds , lentreprise vise a fournir un modele aux femmes qui se frayent un chemin dans les meandres complexes de la fintech moderne et de ladministration mondiale des fonds. La vision de la fondatrice : la credibilite comme valeur supreme A la tete dONS Finserv se trouve Srishti Dixit, dont le parcours en tant que fondatrice a ete marque par sa capacite a naviguer (par la traversee de juridictions) dans des juridictions hautement reglementees et des conseils dadministration traditionnellement domines par les hommes. Pour Srishti, developper une entreprise dans le domaine des investissements transfrontaliers exigeait un engagement indefectible envers une valeur unique et non negociable. Si je devais choisir une valeur indispensable qui a faconne notre parcours, ce serait la credibilite , explique Srishti. Dans un secteur hautement reglemente et traditionnellement domine par les hommes, en particulier dans des juridictions comme Maurice et Dubai, la credibilite est primordiale. Des le premier jour, nous avons pris la decision consciente de rivaliser sur le fond, et non sur lapparence. Dans son approche du leadership, Srishti recuse lidee de prouver quelque chose au profit de celle d etablir une norme . Elle insiste sur le fait que dans le domaine de la structuration de fonds et de la conformite reglementaire, rien ne peut remplacer la profondeur. La credibilite se traduit par une solide expertise technique, une fiabilite constante et une integrite sans compromis. Quil sagisse de structuration de fonds, de conformite reglementaire ou de conseil transfrontalier, nous abordons chaque discussion avec une preparation minutieuse et une grande clarte. Lorsque vous faites preuve de profondeur et de discipline, votre auditoire vous prete attention. Se penchant sur le theme de la Journee internationale des femmes 2026, Donner pour recevoir , Srishti considere ce concept comme une strategie de croissance durable. En donnant des opportunites et un acces, lentreprise recoit un vivier de dirigeants plus solide et plus competent. Pour moi, Give to Gain consiste a creer des opportunites, et pas seulement des profits. La croissance chez ONS Finserv ne se mesure pas uniquement en termes dactifs sous gestion ou de nouvelles juridictions. Elle se mesure en termes de creation dopportunites. Nous veillons a ce que les femmes de notre equipe ne se limitent pas a lexecution en arriere-plan ; elles participent aux appels de structuration, dialoguent avec les regulateurs, interviennent aupres des clients et comprennent laspect commercial de la gestion des fonds. La confiance vient de la competence, et la competence vient de lacces. Leadership operationnel : le mentorat comme levier de resilience Alors que Srishti definit la strategie, Jeveena se concentre sur lapplication pratique de la philosophie Give to Gain (donner pour recevoir) dans les activites quotidiennes de lequipe. Sur les marches en constante evolution de Maurice et de Dubai, Jeveena considere le mentorat comme un outil essentiel pour attenuer les risques operationnels et renforcer la resilience de lequipe. Dans les environnements financiers en constante evolution de Dubai et de Maurice, lun des resultats les plus gratifiants du mentorat dun collegue est le sentiment de croissance partagee et de confiance quil instaure au sein de lequipe , explique Jeveena. Intervenir, que ce soit pour guider un collegue dans une structure de fonds complexe, examiner des documents reglementaires ou expliquer des processus operationnels, renforce systematiquement les performances de lequipe. Jeveena souligne que le gain le plus significatif du mentorat est le passage de leffort individuel a lexcellence collective. Elle cite une reussite recente concernant une demande de licence speciale aupres de la Commission des services financiers (FSC) comme un excellent exemple de cette autonomisation en action. Le processus exigeait de coordonner la documentation relative a la diligence raisonnable, dexaminer le plan daffaires et de garantir la conformite reglementaire totale dans des delais serres. En accompagnant un nouveau collegue dans la verification de la liste de controle de la FSC et en partageant des connaissances pratiques, celui-ci a developpe a la fois ses capacites et sa confiance. Au moment de la soumission, il etait en mesure de communiquer de maniere independante avec lautorite de reglementation et de repondre clairement aux questions. Cette experience montre que le mentorat dans le domaine de ladministration des fonds et des entreprises va au-dela des conseils techniques ; il renforce la resilience et lefficacite de toute lequipe. Cultiver linnovation : lequilibre entre precision et agilite Preety complete cette perspective de leadership en se concentrant sur larchitecture culturelle de lentreprise, veillant a ce que la nature a haut risque des operations financieres netouffe pas linnovation necessaire pour rester competitif. La gestion doperations financieres a haut risque necessite un equilibre minutieux entre precision et agilite , note Preety. Dans le cadre de mes fonctions a la tete de lequipe Fonds et administration dentreprise chez ONS Finserv Mauritius, je favorise une culture dans laquelle lequipe se sent habilitee a innover tout en maintenant notre niveau de service exemplaire. Preety identifie trois principes cles la collaboration, la transparence et lapprentissage continu comme moteurs de cette culture. Elle estime quen offrant aux employes un espace sur pour exprimer leurs idees, lentreprise gagne en termes damelioration des processus et de partage des responsabilites. En creant un espace sur pour les idees, les membres de lequipe se sentent en confiance pour proposer des ameliorations ou des approches alternatives, sachant que leur contribution est appreciee. Cependant, jinsiste egalement sur la clarte des processus. Lorsque les membres de lequipe experimentent de nouvelles methodes ou de nouveaux outils, je les guide afin daligner les innovations sur les normes operationnelles, en veillant a ce que les risques soient geres efficacement. Pour Preety, le theme Donner pour recevoir se concretise a travers un cycle dapprentissage constant. Quil sagisse daccompagner un collegue dans la mise en place dune structure de fonds complexe ou dintroduire des gains defficacite dans ladministration des fonds, japporte mes conseils tout en encourageant la resolution autonome des problemes. Il en resulte une equipe qui se sent capable dinnover de maniere reflechie, sachant que notre engagement en faveur de la precision et de lexcellence reste inebranlable. Tout en poursuivant son expansion dans les centres financiers mondiaux, ONS Finserv reste fidele a sa conviction que le leadership feminin nest pas seulement une realite demographique, mais aussi un avantage concurrentiel. Grace a ses piliers combines que sont lintegrite technique, le mentorat collaboratif et une culture operationnelle innovante, ONS Finserv demontre que dans le monde de la haute finance, ce que vous apportez a votre equipe se traduit directement par une force institutionnelle accrue. Four agricultural shows in County Roscommon are to receive funding of 34,400 between them under a package announced today by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD. Castlerea, Elphin and Roscommon Agricultural Shows are to receive 8,400 each while Strokestown Show will receive 9,200. This funding will support the work of each of the show committees as they prepare for the upcoming show season. Minister Calleary made the announcement as the Irish Shows Association (ISA) launches its 2026 Yearbook in Athlone. Making the announcement, Minister Calleary said: Our agricultural shows are a great social event where lifelong friendships have been made and fostered. There is a huge amount of work and planning required in the weeks and months leading up to these shows. This does not happen by chance. I want to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the ISA management and regional teams, the show committees, stewards, volunteers, and sponsors. Without your support this 200-year tradition of hosting these shows would not be possible. I would encourage everyone to go along and support their local show. These events are special and attendees will see the agricultural show has something to offer everyone," Minister Calleary concluded. By Rebecca Black, Press Association The Taoiseach has condemned a reckless attack on a United Nations interim force (Unifil) base in southern Lebanon. Micheal Martin said all Irish personnel serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the country close to the border with Israel remain safe and accounted for. According to RTE, the headquarters of Ghanas peacekeeping battalion in southern Lebanon was hit by missile attacks, leaving two soldiers critically injured. Oglaigh na hEireann can confirm that all Irish personnel deployed in Southern Lebanon are well and accounted for. Irish troops and bases were not targeted in the attack today on UNIFIL personnel. All necessary force protection measures continue be to observed. We condemn any pic.twitter.com/5LaJAXOXi2 Oglaigh na hEireann (@defenceforces) March 6, 2026 In a statement, the Irish Defence Forces said Irish troops and bases were not targeted in the attack today on Unifil personnel. All necessary force protection measures continue to be to observed, they said. We condemn any attack on Unifil personnel and remind all parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. Martin echoed the condemnation, saying he strongly condemns the reckless strike on a Unifil base in southern Lebanon. The role of peacekeepers is sacrosanct and all should go above and beyond to prevent them from coming into harms way, he said in a statement on the social media platform X. I would like to pay tribute to the courage, resilience and professionalism of the Irish peacekeepers who came to the aid of their Ghanaian colleagues today. I have been briefed on the latest situation, and all Irish personnel serving in Lebanon remain safe and accounted for. From Filaret Street to 11 June Street Exhibition The exhibition at the Bucharest Municipality Museum offers a documented and visual foray into the history of one of the oldest thoroughfares of the Capital Expozitia De la Ulita Filaret la Strada 11 Iunie (sursa foto: Calin Cotoiu, 07.03.2026, 03:00 The exhibition at the Bucharest Municipality Museum offers a documented and visual foray into the history of one of the oldest thoroughfares of the Capital, tracing its urban, social and architectural transformation from the 19th century to the present. At the end of September 2025, the exhibition From Filaret Street to 11 June Street opened. The exhibition is open in the house that is home to the Ligia and Pompiliu Macovei Art Collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum (MMB), on 11 June Street in the capital, near the Metropolitan Hill, on which the headquarters of the Romanian Patriarchate are located. The exhibition traces the transformation of an old Bucharest street into an important thoroughfare of the city, through documents, images and period testimonies. It can be visited until March 29. We spoke to the museum curator at the BMM Florentina Limban about the exhibition: This exhibition is an attempt to bring back to life a page from the past and present history of 11 Iunie Street, its architectural-urban and historical values. 11 Iunie Street starts under Dealul Mitropoliei and ends in the square at the entrance to Carol I Park, connecting Regina Maria Boulevard with this park. The previous names of the street were Strada Noua, meaning New Street, and Strada Filaretul. What is the history of the name of this street in the capital? Its name recalls the events that took place on June 11, 1848. At the call of the leaders of the revolution, the people of Bucharest gathered in the center of the capital, where the Proclamation of Islaz was read. Since 1848, Filaret Square is called Freedom Square. The crowds walked Filaret Street, which, starting in 1878, would be called June 11 Street. In the exhibition you can admire paintings and engravings with the faces of some of the revolutionaries of the 1848 revolutionaries, as well as printed documents supporting the actions of these personalities. The name of the street also recalls the political measure taken 100 years later, on June 11, 1948, when the Grand National Assembly voted Law 119 on nationalization: the transfer of private property to state ownership. This was also the fate of many buildings on the June 11 street. Maybe thats why the street name was preserved even during the communist period. Florentina Limban gives us some examples of what visitors can see in the exhibition: The exhibition presents the topographic plans made by Major Baron Rudolf Arthur von Borroczyn in the period 1846-1852, Lieutenant Colonel Dimitrie Papazoglu in 1871, and G.M. Mumuianu in 1895. The plan from 1895 includes private buildings with the names of their respective owners, public buildings, the distribution of urban property, and the number of inhabitants. It represents an important document for historians, geographers, economists, and statisticians. In the exhibition you can admire four creations by the painter Theodor Romanati, made in 1932. They are colored ink on paper and present the architectural and landscape transformations of Dealul Mitropoliei over time. The exhibition also presents Silaghis creation from 1929. It is a drawing in ink and with pen and watercolor, and presents a holiday celebration at the foot of the Metropolitan Hill. It also holds 2 church books: The June Minstrel, printed in 1780, and a Liturgy printed in 1784. Both religious books are written in Cyrillic letters, in Romanian. We also talked about the area where 11 Iunie Street is located, and about one of the most beautiful parks in Bucharest: On Filaret Hill is Carol I Park. The park was designed between 1900 and 1906, according to the plans of the French landscape architect Edouard Redont, and was inaugurated in 1906, on the occasion of the celebration of 40 years of the reign of King Carol I, and 25 years from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Romania. The exhibition presents photographs of monuments from Carol Park. At the end of our discussion, museographer Florentina Limban told us a few words about the significance of this old Bucharest street: 11 Iunie Street presents the transformation of Bucharest from a peripheral slum into an important urban area. Initially inhabited by craftsmen, greengrocers, merchants, over time it became the space of an urban middle class, made up of civil servants, teachers and workers from the south of the city. The street also preserves buildings from the 19th century, as well as boyar and merchant houses from the 20th century. March 6, 2026 UPDATE A roundup of local and international news. March 6, 2026 UPDATE Newsroom, 06.03.2026, 19:55 Repatriation. In a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday, Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan requested support for the safe repatriation of Romanian citizens. According to a press release from the Government in Bucharest, Bolojan expressed his solidarity with the Emirati people in the context of the current security developments in the Middle East. At the same time, the Prime Minister thanked the Sheikh and the local authorities for the support provided to Romanian citizens who live, work or holiday in the Emirates. In this context, the Romanian foreign ministry said Romanian students who were stranded in Dubai due to the conflict in Iran arrived in the country on an evacuation flight organised by Romania through the European Unions civil protection mechanism. The aircraft, with 127 Romanian citizens on board, including 95 minors, took off from Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, to Bucharest. 39 European citizens were also on board, under the European civil protection mechanism. Two other flights from Dubai, operated by FlyDubai, arrived in Bucharest on Friday. Since the beginning of the conflict in Iran, 1,000 Romanian citizens have arrived in Romania on scheduled flights or evacuation flights, and another 15,000 have requested assistance from Romanias diplomatic missions, the foreign ministry said. Iran. The United States said it will intensify its aerial offensive against Iran and that missile and drone fire has significantly decreased following the bombing of Iranian military installations. The US has only just begun to fight, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said after President Donald Trump warned that the big wave of airstrikes is yet to come. Both Hegseth and Trump provided assurances that ammunition reserves are sufficient, despite warnings that the rapid use of Americas most advanced bombs and missiles risks depleting stocks. Meanwhile, Israel said 80% of Irans anti-aircraft systems and 60% of its launchers were destroyed and that it is moving to the second phase of the offensive, focusing on well-protected bunker targets. For its parts, Iran has threatened to attack its adversaries anywhere in the world. Recent Iranian strikes targeted the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, the largest US base in the Middle East. Economy. The government discussed on Friday the stage of implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Reform and investment projects in areas such as energy, transport, agriculture, development, healthcare and the environment were analysed in detail and solutions were identified so that they could be implemented within the deadlines agreed with the representatives of the European Commission. Each ministry coordinating the reform is to send the Ministry of Investments a timeline for their implementation, so that the government can have an updated situation at any time, given that the deadline for complying with the commitments is the end of August. It was decided that in the case of reform projects involving the adoption of legislation by Parliament, the relevant ministries are to submit them to government by May, so that they can then be sent to Parliament for debate and approval in an emergency procedure. In the case of reforms that require adoption through other types of legislation, the ministries will collaborate closely so that they are also approved within the agreed deadlines. Romania has so far absorbed about 10.7 billion euros, which accounts for just over a half of the total value of financing under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Education. Romanian teachers will boycott the mock exams for the national assessment and the baccalaureate, said the leader of the Spiru Haret Federation of Trade Unions in Education, Marius Nistor. The announcement comes amid dissatisfaction with the austerity measures adopted by the government and the lack of a real dialogue with the authorities, Nistor explained. He said that teachers voted overwhelmingly to boycott these exams in a referendum. If the mock exams are not held at the established date, the actual exams will be rescheduled. The education ministry said in response that it understands the teachers dissatisfaction and expresses its confidence that all those involved will act in the best interest of pupils. The mock exams for the national assessment are scheduled between March 16 and 18, and those for the baccalaureate between March 23 and 26. Price cap. The Romanian government decided on Thursday to maintain a cap on natural gas prices for household users until April next year. According to Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, the best time to liberalise prices on this market will be when supply is sufficient. He noted that next year, Romania will become the largest producer of natural gas in the European Union as extraction is set to begin in the Neptun Deep perimeter in the Black Sea. The Prime Minister also said that given the current developments in the Gulf, Romanians must be protected from fluctuations on the external market. Electricity. Romania is to receive 150 million euros from the European Commission to support electricity storage, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. According to Brussels, this is the first request submitted by Bucharest under the European framework on state aid in the context of the Clean Industrial Deal. The Commission said the aid scheme will be financed from the Modernisation Fund, and the measure will contribute to the large-scale integration of energy from renewable sources into Romanias energy mix. (CM) March 7, 2026 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 07.03.2026, 13:55 Romanians repatriated from the Middle East 127 Romanians, including 95 students stranded for nearly a week in Dubai due to the war in the Middle East, arrived home on Friday. This was the first of five flights announced by Romanian authorities, organized via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The aircraft took off from Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, and landed in Bucharest. Romania and other European states activated this mechanism to repatriate their citizens from conflict-affected zones 39 citizens from other European countries were also on board. In total, since the outbreak of the conflict in Iran, over 1,000 Romanians affected by the war have managed to return to Romania via commercial or evacuation flights organized by the Bucharest authorities. USA snubs deal with current Iran leadership US President Donald Trump said he would not conclude any agreement with the current leadership of Iran, other than unconditional surrender. In an online message, Trump said that after selecting an acceptable leader, the US and its allies would work tirelessly to pull Iran back from the brink, including by providing economic stimulus to the country. The American leaders message comes after his counterpart in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian, claimed that certain countries have begun efforts to mediate the conflict. In turn, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi warned EU member states intending to join the US and Israeli attacks on Iran that they would become legitimate targets for Iranian armed forces. France, Greece and Italy have sent warships to the Middle East, though most EU countries have called for an end to the conflict and a diplomatic solution. War in Iran drives up fuel prices International fuel prices remain high amid tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude, primarily extracted from the North Sea, was quoted on Friday at $94 per barrel, the highest level in three years. The effects are also being felt in Romania. In the capital, Bucharest, a liter of standard gasoline sold between 8.16 and 8.31 Lei, according to the Price Monitor app. A liter of standard diesel sells between 8.57 Lei and 8.70 Lei. Premium gasoline is sold for slightly over 9 Lei, while premium diesel has reached 9.25 Lei. However, both products can be purchased at some stations for just under 9 Lei per liter. Protests announced in education Teachers in Romania will boycott the national and Baccalaureate mock exams, Marius Nistor, leader of the Spiru Haret Education Trade Union has announced. The announcement comes amid accumulated dissatisfaction with the austerity measures adopted by the government and a lack of real dialogue with the authorities, Nistor claims. He stated that teachers voted overwhelmingly in a referendum against taking part in these exams. If the mock exams are not held during the originally announced period, they will be rescheduled. On the other hand, the Education Ministry stated that it understands the teachers grievances and expresses its confidence that everyone involved will act in the best interest of the students. The national mock exams are scheduled for March 1618, while the Baccalaureate exams are scheduled for March 2326. Record-high solar energy production Romania recorded a record solar energy production on Friday. At midday, photovoltaic parks generated over 2,000 Megawatt-hours, providing nearly 30% of total nationally produced energy. The abundance of power led to spot market prices hitting 0 RON for six hours, a first for a weekday in 2026. Simultaneously, the massive surplus turned Romania into a net exporter, sending over 2,600 Megawatt-hours to neighboring grids. With a 45% increase in installed capacity in the last year alone, Romania holds the top position in Europe for the pace of solar panel expansion. Growing tensions between Ukraine and Hungary Tensions are escalating between Ukraine and Hungary. Kyiv secured the release of 7 employees of a Ukrainian bank in Budapest who were transporting valuables from Austria to Ukraine in two armored vehicles. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of taking the 7 hostage, claiming that the transport was in compliance with international regulations and applicable European customs procedures. Conversely, Hungarian tax authorities confirmed the opening of a money laundering investigation, and the Hungarian Foreign Minister hinted that it might involve money from the Ukrainian war mafia. The latest episode comes in a context where Budapest accuses Kyiv of refusing to resume Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline. A portion of this pipeline, which crosses Ukraine, was damaged by a Russian attack in January. In retaliation, Hungary is blocking the European Unions 90 billion loan to Ukraine and the adoption of a new package of sanctions against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the oil flow will not be restored, as it represents a source of income that Moscow uses to fund military aggression against Ukraine. Meanwhile, 7 people were killed last night in Russian drone and missile attacks targeting several regions of Ukraine. (VP) The Week in Review 1-7 March, 2026 A roundup of the main developments this past week The Week in Review Daniela Budu, 07.03.2026, 14:00 Romania and the Middle East Crisis Romanian authorities announce they are on alert with respect to the conflict in the Middle East. The foreign minister Oana Toiu says the repatriation of Romanian nationals from conflict zones is done exclusively based on the emergency criteria defined by consular teams. For now, however, only a few hundred Romanians out of the several thousand who announced their presence in the Middle East after the conflict started have returned to Romania. The foreign ministry promised it is permanently monitoring the situation of Romanian nationals in the area and stays in contact at all times with Romanias diplomatic missions and consular offices in the region. According to the minister, these are also coordinating with the consular network of other EU states, in order to be able to jointly provide assistance to Romanian and European citizens. On Thursday, Oana Toiu discussed with her counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Oman the situation of the Romanians stranded due to the war, their protection and assistance, the opening of airspace, as well as collaboration regarding commercial flights from the area to Romania and Europe. In fact, the foreign ministry announced that options are being sought for the repatriation of Romanian citizens from the Middle East, provided that the airspace is open. In addition, the ministry convened a meeting of the special task force in charge with the issue, and the government convened a meeting on this topic. The charge daffaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bucharest, Javad Karimi, was summoned to the foreign ministrys headquarters 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. Security talks in Warsaw While in Warsaw for an official visit on Thursday at the invitation of his counterpart Karol Nawrocki, president Nicusor Dan emphasized in his turn that the priority for the authorities is to have the Romanian citizens caught up in the Gulf conflict back home. He mentioned that he will not convene the Supreme Defence Council, as long as the events do not pose an immediate danger to Romania. In fact, since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, the head of state has vowed that Romania is completely safe and is not under any direct threat. The talks in Warsaw focused on the situation in the Middle East, but also on the direction in which the European Union is heading. Romania and Poland remain reliable partners and allies within NATO and the EU, Nicusor Dan added. We reaffirmed the sound strategic partnership of our nations. In a complex global context, unity within NATO and the EU and strengthening the Eastern Flank are vital for our common security and for our entire Europe, the Romanian official explained. Romania is the strategic partner of the Republic of Poland, president Karol Nawrocki emphasized in his turn. He said that, as far as security is concerned, the talks focused on the North Atlantic Alliance, the EU and Polands cooperation with Romania and the US. Nicusor Dan also discussed with PM Donald Tusk about defence collaboration and the shared responsibility of Romania and Poland for strengthening security on our continent and the future of the European project. On the occasion of the Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day, the Romanian diplomacy chief Oana Toiu also travelled to Warsaw on Tuesday, and stated that Bucharest wants cooperation in the Romania-Poland-Turkey and Bucharest 9 (B9) formats. Our collaboration is vital for the regions priorities to be at the centre of European policies, for transatlantic cooperation and security on the Eastern Flank, Oana Toiu said after a meeting with her counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski. And in Brussels, the Romanian defence minister Radu Miruta had a meeting with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who, according to the defence ministry, reconfirmed the common commitment to strengthening European security and defence, in an international context marked by complex and dynamic challenges. Nominations for the major Prosecutors Offices In Bucharest, the justice minister Radu Marinescu made public the nominations for the top posts in the major prosecutors offices, after four days of interviews. Nineteen candidates took part in the selection process held between January 8 and March 2. The head of the Iasi Anticorruption Directorate, Cristina Chiriac, was nominated for prosecutor general. One of the current deputies, Viorel Cerbu, has been nominated to take over the helm of the National Anticorruption Directorate, and Codrin Horatiu-Miron, who currently heads the Timisoara Regional Division, is the nominee for chief of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Offences. The candidates will be interviewed between March 10 and 17 by the Higher Council of Magistrates, whose opinion is required under the law. Subsequently, the president of Romania will appoint the candidates to office or reject them, in which case the procedure will be resumed. New ambassadors in Bucharest Two new ambassadors have officially begun their terms in office in Romania, after presenting their credentials to president Nicusor Dan. The US Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg, who was sworn in in February, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the nearly 30 years of sound bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence, security, intelligence exchange, law enforcement and economic partnership. The US official emphasised that the relationship between the US and Romania is based on shared interests, a firm commitment to the rule of law and a shared vision for a secure and prosperous future. The head of state also received the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Mitu, who presented his credentials. The parties stressed that the development of joint projects directly contributes to the modernisation of the Republic of Moldova and to its further European integration. (AMP) With the new E base trim, Toyota Rumion has narrowed the pricing gap with its sibling, the Maruti Ertiga To make the Rumion more attractive for budget-oriented buyers, Toyota has introduced a new E base trim. With this trim, Rumions starting price has effectively reduced by almost Rs 1 lakh. Prices of the other trims remain unchanged. Lets take a closer look at this new base variant. Rumion new E base variant Available features and missing items Positioned essentially as a no-frills option, the new E base variant of Rumion focuses on basic features. It gets halogen projector headlamps and steel wheels with full caps. Other highlights include chrome surround front grille, front bumper with chrome garnish and LED tail lamps. It misses out on features such as ORVM-integrated turn signals, rear wiper and washer, rear defogger and front and rear mudguards. Inside, the equipment list for Rumion E variant includes an MID with colour TFT, gear shift indicator, tachometer, fuel consumption display and a digital clock. Also included are features like adjustable headrests in all 3 rows, cabin lamp and premium dual tone interiors. Rumion E variant has manual AC, twin cup holders, 12V socket, power windows and power and tilt steering. Features missing on the new E base variant but available on higher trims of Rumion include auto AC, rear AC vents, engine push start/stop with smart key, remote keyless entry, Type-C charging ports, day & night adjustable IRVM, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVM, cruise control, auto headlamps with follow me home function and PM 2.5 filter. Rumion E base variant does not get an infotainment system. It also misses out on wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, audio screen with touch buttons, Bluetooth connectivity, speakers and tweeters, USB and AUX connectivity, and steering mounted audio and calling controls. Comprehensive safety package On the safety front, the new E base variant of Rumion gets almost all the features available with higher variants. It has 6 airbags, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold, ABS with EBD and brake assist, rear parking sensors and central locking. Also included are engine immobilizer, seat belt reminder, 3-point ELR for all seat belts, high speed alert system and speed sensing auto door lock. Safety features missing on the E base variant include security alarm, rear parking camera, front fog lamps and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Powertrain Rumion E base variant is available with only a 5-speed manual transmission. It is a petrol-only variant and misses out on CNG option. Rumion has the CNG option with only the S trim, which was the previous base variant prior to the launch of the new E trim. The 1.5-litre petrol engine powering the Rumion generates 103 PS and 139 Nm of torque. The MPV is also offered with a 6AT transmission with higher variants. It has to be noted that Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, on which Rumion is based, still undercuts the Toyota Rumion by a significant margin. Kenyas flower industry is facing significant export disruptions as tensions escalate in the Middle East, according to industry officials. The development threatens one of the countrys key foreign exchange earners, which relies heavily on international air freight to deliver fresh flowers to global markets. Speaking to Xinhua on March 5, Clement Tulezi, chief executive officer of the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), said the Middle East remains a crucial market for Kenyan flowers, accounting for about 10 to 15 percent of the countrys total exports. Major destinations include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Tulezi noted that the industry depends on reliable air cargo services due to the highly perishable nature of flowers. With disruptions affecting shipments to the Middle East, exporters have been forced to divert consignments to alternative markets, a move that has resulted in lower prices and increased logistical costs. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the flower industry is among the countrys leading sources of foreign exchange, alongside diaspora remittances, tourism, tea and coffee exports. Industry estimates indicate that the disruption has already led to losses or delays in flower exports valued at between 1.6 million and 1.8 million U.S. dollars over the past five days. The Kenya Flower Council said it is working with exporters, airlines, freight operators and government agencies to identify alternative cargo routes and implement temporary relief measures to minimise the impact on the sector. Signed bills Signed bills Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed the following bills passed during the 2026 legislative session so far: House Bill 1: The feed bill funding the legislative session. Senate Bill 1: The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act, making it easier for out-of-state doctors to work in New Mexico. SB 2: Authorizes up to $1.5 billion in roadwork bonds. SB 3: Makes changes to civil commitment procedures making it easier for judges to order involuntary mental health treatment. HB 4: Health care affordability fund distributions; reduces the distribution of the health insurance premium surtax to the health care affordability fund from 100% to 95% and distributes the remaining 5% to the behavioral health program fund. HB 7: Amends the statutory annual distribution from the workforce development and apprenticeship trust fund. HB 9: The Immigrant Safety Act, banning local governments from contracting to hold federal immigration detainees or enforce immigration laws. SB 19: School Finance Unit Value Reset; reallocates the state equalization guarantee distribution to public schools. SB 20: Makes changes to the Prior Authorization Act regulating pharmaceutical benefits. SB 21: Amends the Medicare Supplement Act to require issuers of Medigap policies to offer an annual open enrollment period for eligible policyholders 65 and older. SB 30: Repeals a law requiring the reporting of abortions to the state. HB 34: Changes school nurse licensure provisions. HB 38: Wheelchair insurance coverage; requires coverage for wheelchairs and prosthetics. SB 38: Extends a fee on pet food used to spay and neuter animals. SB 40: Limits sharing of driver data gathered by license plate cameras. SB 41: Lifts the statute of limitations for certain acts of child sex abuse. HB 43: Updates the Public Employees Retirement Act. SB 43: Makes changes to parole procedures for inmates serving life sentences. SB 48: Authorizes the issuance of revenue bonds by the State Fairgrounds District to redevelop the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. SB 50: Social work licensure interstate compacts; lets out-of-state social workers practice in New Mexico. SB 58: Changes the extended property tax exemption period for metropolitan redevelopment projects. HB 61: Increases penalties for some instances of aggravated battery on a police officer. HB 63: Authorizes funding for 113 water projects. HB 64: Appropriates $13.3 million from the public project revolving loan fund to other grants and infrastructure funds. HB 95: Adds one new judgeship each in the Santa Fe- and Albuquerque-area First and Second judicial districts. HB 99: Medical malpractice changes; capping settlement in medical malpractice cases. SB 101: Repeals the sunset date of the Health Care Delivery and Access Act, which imposes assessments used as matching funds for federal health care funding. HB 108: Amends the Watershed District Act to clarify governance, appointment procedures, and taxing authority related to watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts. HB 109: Amends the Water Project Finance Act to temporarily allow the New Mexico Finance Authority to award funds to qualifying water projects without authorization from the Legislature for specific projects. HB 111: Raises the maximum penalty for water law violations. SB 111: Makes more driver data confidential. HB 128: Makes it easier for firefighters to get compensation for work-related cancers. SB 132: Amends the Department of Information Technology Act to let the department use its equipment replacement revolving fund for software purchases. SB 143: Increases some agricultural fees. SB 152: Establishing the Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program to help pay for broadband. HB 154: Expands the definition of advanced energy products that qualify for tax credits. HB 156: Repeals the sunset date on a vaccination law passed during a 2025 special session; gives the state indefinite oversight over vaccination policy in New Mexico. HB 165: Amends the Improvement Special Assessment Act to clarify who pays special assessments imposed under the act. HB 184: Makes several technical fixes to the conservation legacy permanent fund. HB 200: Appropriates $25 million for the newly created New Homes for New Mexico Program giving loans to eligible homebuyers. HB 253: Makes changes to distance learning regulations. HB 255: Establishes a grant program to recruit and retain public safety employees. HB 270: Amends the Public Works Apprentice and Training Act, to remove the exclusion road and other public works projects from projects that require employers to make contributions to apprentice and training programs. HB 285: Modifies the disabled veteran property tax exemption. HB 291: Makes numerous changes to state tax code. HB 306: Sets limits on charging facility fees to medical patients. Ghana has formalised a bilateral debt restructuring agreement with Belgium, marking a significant step in the countrys ongoing negotiations with external creditors following the economic crisis that led to default between 2022 and 2023. Concluded in Accra on March 5, the accord is part of a broader programme aimed at restoring fiscal stability and easing Ghanas external debt burden after the crisis severely strained public finances. At the signing ceremony, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson reflected on the severity of the financial challenges the nation faced during the crisis. Ghana experienced a very difficult period in 20222023, which necessitated the unprecedented step of declaring a debt default. Today, we are witnessing recovery and implementing measures to prevent a recurrence, he said. Dr Forson highlighted that the debt restructuring process was nearing completion, with Belgium now the eighth creditor to finalise a bilateral agreement under the programme. He commended the Belgian government and people for their cooperation, describing their partnership as vital to Ghanas macroeconomic stabilisation efforts. Belgiums Ambassador to Ghana, Carole van Eyll, reaffirmed her countrys commitment to supporting Ghanas recovery, noting optimism about the nations economic trajectory and the prospects for strengthened cooperation in the years ahead. The agreement forms part of wider negotiations with the Official Creditor Committee, designed to reduce Ghanas debt burden and create fiscal space for sustained economic growth. During the Middle Ages, a devastating plague wiped out roughly one third of Europe's population. The disease spread through fleas that carried the bacterium Yersinia pestis. These fleas passed the infection from rats to humans, fueling the catastrophe known as the Black Death. But the history of plague goes back even further. An earlier form of Y. pestis appeared about 5,000 years ago during the Bronze Age. This ancient strain infected people across Eurasia for nearly two millennia before disappearing. Unlike the medieval plague, however, this earlier version could not be transmitted by fleas. For years, scientists have struggled to understand how the disease managed to spread across such a vast region without that transmission pathway. Ancient Sheep Provides a Critical Clue Researchers have now uncovered an important piece of the puzzle. An international team that includes University of Arkansas archaeologist Taylor Hermes identified the first evidence of Bronze Age plague in a nonhuman host. The scientists detected Y. pestis DNA in the remains of a domesticated sheep that lived about 4,000 years ago. The animal came from Arkaim, a fortified settlement in the Southern Ural Mountains of present day Russia near the border with Kazakhstan. The finding suggests that livestock may have played a role in the spread of plague during the Bronze Age, helping explain how the disease traveled so widely across Eurasia. The research was published in Cell under the title "Bronze Age Yersinia pestis genome from sheep sheds light on hosts and evolution of a prehistoric plague lineage." The international collaboration includes researchers from Harvard University and leading institutions in Germany, Russia and South Korea. Searching Ancient DNA for Clues Hermes co leads a major research project that studies ancient livestock DNA. By examining genetic material preserved in bones and teeth, his team is tracing how domesticated animals such as cattle, goats and sheep spread from the Fertile Crescent across Eurasia. These movements helped shape the rise of nomadic cultures and early empires. "When we test livestock DNA in ancient samples, we get a complex genetic soup of contamination," Hermes said. "This is a large barrier to getting a strong signal for the animal, but it also gives us an opportunity to look for pathogens that infected herds and their handlers." Working with ancient DNA is challenging and time consuming. Scientists must separate the DNA of the animal from many other sources found in the sample. Microorganisms living in the soil where bones were buried leave behind their own genetic traces. Researchers can also accidentally introduce DNA from their own skin cells or saliva. The fragments recovered from ancient remains are extremely small. Many pieces measure only about 50 base pairs. For comparison, the full human genome contains more than 3 billion base pairs. Animal remains also tend to be less well preserved than human remains, which are usually carefully buried. Animals were often cooked and eaten, and their bones discarded in waste piles where exposure to heat and weather gradually breaks down genetic material. The Moment of Discovery While studying livestock remains excavated from Arkaim in the 1980s and 1990s, Hermes and his colleagues noticed something unexpected. One sheep bone contained DNA belonging to Yersinia pestis. "It was alarm bells for my team. This was the first time we had recovered the genome from Yersinia pestis in a non-human sample," Hermes said. "We were extra excited because Arkaim is linked to the Sintashta culture, which is known for early horse riding, impressive bronze weaponry and substantial geneflow into Central Asia." How Did Bronze Age Plague Spread? Researchers have previously found identical Bronze Age plague strains in human remains located thousands of kilometers apart. The question has been how the disease managed to travel such long distances. "It had to be more than people moving. Our plague sheep gave us a breakthrough. We now see it as a dynamic between people, livestock and some still unidentified 'natural reservoir' for it, which could be rodents on the grasslands of the Eurasian steppe or migratory birds," Hermes said. A natural reservoir is an animal species that carries a pathogen without becoming sick. In the Middle Ages, rats served as the reservoir for Y. pestis, while fleas acted as the vector that spread the bacterium. Today, bats often fill this role for viruses such as Ebola and the Marburg virus. Lessons From an Ancient Epidemic Hermes recently received a five year grant from Germany's Max Planck Society worth 100,000 Euros to continue excavations in the Southern Urals near Arkaim. His team will search for additional human and animal remains that may contain traces of Y. pestis. The Bronze Age was a period when the Sintashta culture began managing larger livestock herds while also becoming skilled horse riders. Increased interaction with animals and expanding travel across the steppe may have exposed people to disease reservoirs in the environment. Although these events happened thousands of years ago, Hermes believes the findings carry an important message today. Expanding economic activities into natural environments can disrupt ecosystems and increase the risk of disease spillover. "We should appreciate the delicate inner workings of the ecosystems we might disturb and aim to preserve the balance," Hermes said. "It's important to have a greater respect for the forces of nature," he said. Lisa Rinna is able to laugh off speculation about her marriage. Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna have been married since 1997 The 62-year-old reality star has rubbished various online rumours about her 29-year marriage to actor Harry Hamlin including social media theories that he's been unfaithful. In her new memoir, You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It, Lisa says: "There are some cave-dwelling internet trolls who live to tear us down and start rumours. I get that. It's way more fun to see fights than cuddles." Lisa who has Delilah Belle, 27, and Amelia, 24, with Harry actually finds the speculation to be more amusing than hurtful. She explained: "So I just laugh when I read that we don't live together anymore, he's having multiple affairs in Canada, and he's gay. Go Harry F****** Hamlin!" Lisa confirmed that their "sex is still great" and that the foundation of their relationship is built on a deep mutual trust. She wrote: "I don't ever worry about Harry. I am not jealous. He's not jealous. I always thought the affair rumours were so strange because that was certainly not something I ever even contemplated. I would be shocked if I found out he was having an affair." Earlier this year, Lisa acknowledged that marriage takes "a lot of work". Speaking on the Dinner's on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson podcast, Lisa shared: "We're human, and I think it's super important to show your humanity. "Where I am in my life right now, I think it's really important for people to hear that it's not easy to be married for all these years. It's not easy to raise a family anywhere, let alone Hollywood, California." Lisa also admits that there's much more to married life than many people realise. The TV star said: "There's so many things that you don't know what's behind the curtain. "When you see people, you don't know what they're dealing with in their lives. And I think it's important to share that. I thought it was important to share all of that." President Faustin-Archange Touadera of the Central African Republic (CAR) has credited Russia for helping to ensure the successful conduct of the countrys elections held in December 2025. Speaking during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, Touadera said Russia played a key role in providing security for the electoral process. The CAR leader noted that four different elections were conducted during the period and expressed gratitude to Moscow for its support. According to him, Russias security assistance made it possible for the elections to proceed, despite ongoing challenges within the country. Touadera also used the meeting to highlight difficulties facing the countrys energy sector, describing the situation as challenging. He appealed for further Russian support, stating that assistance from Moscow had already helped address some of the countrys economic difficulties. In response, Putin congratulated Touadera on his re-election, saying the outcome of the vote reflected public support for the Governments policies aimed at strengthening political stability, security and economic recovery. He also thanked the CAR leader for promoting the Russian language in the country. Putin further revealed that both countries are considering establishing an intergovernmental Commission on trade and economic cooperation to deepen bilateral relations. Meanwhile, the security situation in the Central African Republic is gradually stabilising, although some armed groups remain active in border regions, partly due to the spillover from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, while more than 6,000 former combatants have disarmed under an ongoing peace process. In accordance with the instructions of King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema oversaw the official opening of the Mohammed VI Mosque in NDjamena on Friday. The opening of this important religious infrastructure is part of strengthening historical spiritual, scientific, and fraternal ties between Morocco and Chad, and enshrines the noble mission of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, dedicated to serving the values of Islam and promoting religious and scientific cooperation among ulema across the African continent. Covering an area of approximately 33,000 m2, this religious and cultural complex includes spaces dedicated to prayer that can accommodate more than 3,000 worshippers, as well as an integrated cultural complex with a conference room, a scientific library, meeting rooms, and administrative offices, making this infrastructure a vibrant religious and cultural hub that contributes to the formation, supervision, and dissemination of the values of peace, tolerance, and dialogue. Technical explanations were provided to the guests about the various rooms and components of the mosque, before the unveiling of the commemorative plaque marking its official opening. The first Friday prayer was then performed in the presence of a large crowd of worshippers who had arrived early in the morning to attend the opening of this new religious building. The ceremony was attended by a large Moroccan delegation, including several ulema, experts, and media professionals, led by Secretary General of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema Mohamed Rifki, the Foundations Financial Director Othmane Sqalli Houssaini, as well as El-Yazid Er-Radi, Mohamed Derkaoui, and Mohcine Koujim, representatives of the Kingdoms Supreme Council of Ulema. Mumbai Polices Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has unearthed an alleged housing scam to the tune of Rs 150 crore where home possession documents earmarked for at least 1,000 slum rehabilitation residents were sold off to third party buyers. The firm at the centre of the alleged racket that stretches well over a decade is the Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) Group, with the EOW probe hinting at the involvement of HDILs top bosses something that the firms lawyers have denied to Mirror. The EOW filed its chargesheet in the court on Thursday naming HDIL promoters the Wadhwans and their associates, even as it awaits the response of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to pursue leads in the investigation. A key statement in the case was made by Chandrashekhar Dinappa Gowda (46), a former HDIL staffer who worked as an Officer on Special Duty at the companys Bandra office. According to his statement, HDIL had undertaken redevelopment of around 3,000 slum structures across nine societies in Bharat Nagar. Of these, nearly 2,000 huts were vacated during the project. The company allegedly purchased document files of around 1,500 shanties from occupants including those who were eligible, ineligible, or whose names did not appear in official annexures. Gowda told investigators that these files were stored in the companys accounts department and that from around 2011, they began to be sold for Rs 15-16 lakh each and that the money collected from buyers was handed over to HDIL chairman Rakesh Wadhawan. In some instances, buyers allegedly brought blank cheques with only the amount filled in, which were then passed on to senior company officials. Buyers were subsequently issued possession letters permitting them to stay in transit accommodation meant for the original residents. These occupants were issued possession letters, though the document reportedly carried a note stating that permanent rehabilitation would be granted only subject to eligibility confirmation. Individuals purchasing the files would approach him with the documents, Gowda said, following which he would verify the sale with the accounts department before issuing an HDIL possession letter for rooms in buildings 5 and 6 of the Kurla Premier transit camp among the most prime real estate parcels in Mumbai. According to investigators, HDIL had constructed 30 buildings in 2009 at the Kurla Premier compound specifically meant for the rehabilitation of slum residents displaced by airport construction work. Officials said the company had taken 1,336 transit flats in buildings 5 and 6 on lease from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for three years to temporarily house project-affected residents from Bharat Nagar. Gowda told investigators that around 1,200 residents were shifted to the transit camp. However, a probe later revealed that many original beneficiaries were untraceable, and several units were allegedly occupied by unauthorised persons who had purchased hutment document files from the Wadhwans. We are investigating if the Wadhwans gave any money to the original slum dwellers whose papers were sold upfront, said an EOW officer on condition of anonimity. Additionally, it was discovered that HDIL had allegedly defaulted on rental payments between August 2014 and March 2016, leading to dues of nearly 44 crore. Following mounting complaints, a case was registered on March 4, 2025, at Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station under sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy. The probe was later transferred to the Mumbai EOW, which examined project documents, financial records and statements of more than 60 witnesses before filing the chargesheet. However, former HDIL managing director Sarang Wadhawan and former chairman Rakesh Wadhawan denied the allegations in their statements to investigators. They stated that while the company had purchased document files of huts belonging to Bharat Nagar residents for redevelopment purposes, they had no direct role in the alleged sale of such files to third parties. According to them, the project was handled by designated officials, and they were not involved in day-to-day transactions. Investigators are also scrutinising financial records and company transactions, noting that HDIL later faced financial distress, with insolvency proceedings initiated before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also conducted a separate probe into the companys financial dealings. Harshad Nimbalkar, lawyer for Rakesh Wadhwan and Sarang Wadhwan, denied all the allegations. He said, Accusations regarding the sale of 1,000 shanties have been made. Let the police present the evidence before the court. We will firmly put forward our side there as well. Advertisement NationalCourts NSW man jailed for 26 years over depraved and cruel child abuse Amber Schultz March 7, 2026 1:45pm 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 A NSW man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for more than two dozen child abuse charges, which were described by a judge as depraved, cruel and degrading. Kyle Davies, 29, pleaded guilty to 26 charges, including 10 charges of child rape, five counts of touching a child under 10 and two counts of using a child to make child abuse material. A NSW man has been jailed for 26 years over what the judge described as depraved child abuse offences. Appearing via video link from Bathurst Correctional Centre on Friday, Davies hung his shaved head and barely looked up as his charges were read. Judge Ian Bourke described the child abuse material, which contained images of abuse involving newborns, as depraved. He described children and babies being placed in cruel and degrading situations. The man also filmed himself abusing children. Advertisement The abuse is too graphic to detail and at times it seemed it was difficult for Bourke to read through. Davies sent messages online soliciting abuse material, telling others he liked babies and had gotten away with perpetrating abuse. In admitting the abuse to the victims parent, Davies said: Youre going to hate me my life is f---ing over. Davies, who had abused alcohol since his early 20s, initially denied his offending to police. To the court, he expressed shame and disgust about his offending. In sentencing, Bourke noted his significant risk to the communitys ongoing safety. The potential sentence for Davies aggregate charges, both state and federal, totalled over 100 years. Advertisement Bourke said this sentence would be inappropriately crushing and sentenced him to 26 years. Davies will be first eligible for parole in May 2046. Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said child protection investigators had worked tirelessly to identify and prosecute those who preyed on children. Child protection investigations are confronting and distressing, but the AFP will not waver in its commitment to find and prosecute child abusers, he said. The abhorrent crimes of this nature have no boundaries, and our investigations do not end when the cuffs are put on. Children are some of our communitys most vulnerable and if you offend against them, it is only a matter of time before police come knocking on your door. Anyone needing support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14, and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalNSWCrime 500 teenagers gatecrash 16-year-olds Sydney birthday party, three arrested Kayla Olaya March 7, 2026 8:44pm 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 About 500 teenagers gatecrashed a 16-year-old girls birthday party in Sydneys south, prompting a police response that ended with three arrests and a helicopter deployed to disperse the crowd. Emergency services were called about 7.15pm on Friday to a home on Bounty Avenue in Kirrawee, where local police initially tried to disperse the gathering. Reinforcements were quickly called, with public order and riot squad officers and PolAir the police helicopter unit working for more than an hour to manage the out-of-control party. About 500 teenagers gatecrashed a 16-year-old girls birthday party in Sydneys south on Friday night. Nine News Police arrested three 16-year-old boys before releasing them without charge pending further inquiries. Advertisement One of the boys allegedly threw a full can of alcohol at an officer, who deployed capsicum spray before arresting him. During the arrest police will further allege that the boy resisted officers, NSW Police said in a statement. The boy was taken to Sutherland police station and later released into the custody of a responsible adult. Police said the matter is expected to be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act. No injuries were reported by either the boy or the officer. Loading CCTV footage obtained by Nine News shows crowds of teenagers surrounding the suburban home before the situation escalated. Advertisement Police are seen in the footage pushing members of the crowd as onlookers yell, while one officer lunges at a reveller. CCTV footage obtained by Nine News shows crowds of teenagers surrounding the suburban home before the situation escalated. Nine News One witness told Nine that she saw multiple people arrested. It was very chaotic, she said. Another witness, Aedan Byrne, said he saw partygoers jumping over neighbours fences to leave the event. When asked whether the amount of force deployed was necessary, police said they are trained to deploy several tactical options to carry out an arrest. The decision as to what options are utilised [is] made on a case-by-case basis by the individual officers, NSW Police said in a statement. Advertisement Police have launched an investigation and are urging anyone who was in the area and has information including phone, dashcam and CCTV footage to contact Sutherland police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive NationalNSWCrime Get this done ASAP: Texts reveal womans horrific kidnap over secret tobacco codes Clare Sibthorpe March 7, 2026 1:30pm 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 It began as a routine job for a low-level illegal tobacco dealer. Two years ago, a 37-year-old woman followed orders from her boss to sell $3000 worth of cigarettes to a customer in Sydneys north-west. A Sydney woman involved in the illegal tobacco market has been kidnapped, tortured and injected with a date rape drug. Artwork: Matthew Absalom-Wong Just minutes after arriving at the Epping house she was assaulted by a group of men, blindfolded and taken to a house in nearby Eastwood. There, she was beaten and injected with a potent date-rape drug. The gangs aim? To steal the code to two tobacco storage sheds in the south-western suburb of Belfield. The traumatised victim negotiated her escape and the men fled to Victoria, where they were caught and extradited to Sydney to face justice. One man Yanyu Mu has been jailed for up to eight years. Advertisement The womans terrifying kidnapping and torture is a window into the alarming violence of Australias illegal tobacco trade one of the worlds most lucrative markets. While the war has centred on Melbourne, the harrowing case shows Sydney is not immune. A fake tobacco deal and suburban kidnapping The victim, who this masthead has chosen not to name, migrated from China to Australia in 2018. Her sole income was the sale of illegal tobacco, which police suspected was imported through the Chinese messaging app WeChat. The Eastwood street where the woman was held hostage. Google Maps As the keeper of codes to the Belfield sheds, rented at the direction of her overseer, she would occasionally open them for people to transport boxes suspected of hiding black market tobacco products. Advertisement While she went about this underground work, a group of men from Melbourne devised a vicious plan involving a fake tobacco deal, court documents state. On April 16, 2024, Victorian man Mu travelled to Sydney to rent a house with a garage in Eastwood, paying $1800 for a two-night stay. The 31-year-old told the property agent it was needed for business purposes. Items found during a police raid of the Eastwood property. NSW Police Four days later Mu sat inside a parked white Lexus on a quiet street in Epping. Nearby, two men and the victims customer waited in a Toyota Camry, having organised to buy $3000 worth of cigarettes. The womans ordeal began when she met her customer on the street, and the two men jumped out of the Camry, dragged the victim into the car and drove away. Advertisement A desperate friend of the victim who witnessed the kidnapping called the police, and a hunt began. Get this done ASAP When the Camry arrived at the rented Eastwood home, the men pulled the frightened and blindfolded woman up a set of stone stairs and onto a bed. Panicked WeChat messages were exchanged between the men at the house and Mu, who was not yet there. They were concerned police had been called and that the victims friend may run to the warehouse. Mu asked the men to have people ready at the warehouse, texting: Get this done ASAP. Need to finish really fast, otherwise things may go wrong. Advertisement [If] people find the plate, find the car everything will just blow up, Mu wrote. After exchanging a series of frantic messages with Mu, the men bound the victims hands and covered her eyes and mouth. One kidnapper told the woman they would release her if she paid them $300,000. Otherwise they would hit her. She tried to say no through her covered mouth and would not reveal the storage unit codes. Frustrated, the kidnappers conversation turned to injecting the woman with butanediol, commonly known as bute. The Australian Federal Police have increasingly seen the drug which dangerously slows the nervous system linked to sexual assaults and overdoses, as well as criminal gangs selling it for nefarious uses. There is no suggestion the victim was sexually assaulted. Advertisement Chilling texts and a terrifying injection With Mu still on his way to the Eastwood home, he exchanged WeChat messages with two co-offenders about the bute. One man told him he was going to give an injection, soon expressing this was difficult. Hold on giving the injection, the man responded. Mu asked if she was getting high after the injection and said to hit her if it doesnt work. One man placed a pillow over the victims face while another held her legs while a needle was injected into her elbow and hand. The agreed statement of facts tendered to court state the woman felt a rush of heat all over her body before she started to lose consciousness. Advertisement While knocked out, she was repeatedly struck in the head. Once she awoke, she told one of the men shed rather pay $200,000 than tell them about the warehouse. Police say butanediol is increasingly being sold by criminals. Picture is from a separate raid unrelated to the Eastwood kidnapping. NSW Police Eventually, the victim cracked and gave the code to Mu and another man. The pair rushed to the storage facility at 3:30am and entered the code five times, but access was denied as the womans entry was restricted to 5am-10pm. Meanwhile, the victim promised another co-accused to pay him money if she was released. He untied her and drove her to a friends house. The near-naked and emotional woman said shed been kidnapped and begged her friend for money. The friend gathered $6000 shed saved up for rent and gave it to the man, who drove away. The victim was left with bruises and cuts across her body, and later went to hospital. Advertisement By the next day, Mu and one alleged co-offender had fled back to Melbourne. However, they were in the sights of detectives, who had already seized his phones at a friends house in Sydney. NSW police shared intel with their Victorian counterparts, who soon arrested them and extradited them to Sydney. Yanyu Mu was arrested in May 2024. NSW Police Ringleader jailed as others yet to learn fate Mu pleaded guilty to kidnapping in company with intent to gain an advantage and occasion actual bodily harm, as well as using an intoxicating substance to commit an indictable offence. Detectives extradited Mu from Melbourne to Sydney for his role in the kidnapping. NSW Police Advertisement He was sentenced in the District Court to eight years jail with a non-parole period of four years and eight months. With his sentence backdated for time spent in custody, he will be eligible for parole in February 2029. The Crown conceded that, although Mu was at the property during the victims detention, it could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he was inside the relevant room while she was detained. Neither could it be proved that he assisted in the Bute injection, but he gave encouragement via text message to the use of an intoxicating substance to the victim, the agreed facts state. Mus alleged co-offenders remain before the courts and cannot be named for legal reasons. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalQueenslandWeather Brisbane braces for heavy rain, with severe storms possible Dominique Tassell March 7, 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 Brisbane is set for a wet weekend, with significant falls bringing the chance of flash flooding. [Sunday] and into Monday, were likely to see some pretty significant falls, meteorologist Daniel Hayes said. Loading A low crossed the North Queensland coast on Friday, drenching the region. That night, there was significant rainfall along the coast from Mackay down to Wide Bay. Thats pulled down the monsoon trough and a lot of moisture into parts of central Queensland and to the east, Hayes said. Advertisement An upper-level trough moving over southern Queensland on Sunday may kickstart heavier showers and thunderstorm activity, he said. So we could see some severe storms through the Brisbane area [on Sunday] as that moves on through and we see all that moisture being pulled down. The heaviest rain could fall on Sunday as the weather system being experienced up north moves south into Brisbane. Julius Dennis Most people will probably see 10 to 20 millimetres of rain from widespread showers. Those heavier showers or thunderstorms could push some of the totals in excess of 50 millimetres anywhere from 50 to 100 millimetres is possible. Advertisement Related Article City life Decision close on shade for Brisbane bridge, where temps soar to 54 degrees These heavier falls will be much more isolated, but Hayes urged people to keep an eye out for severe thunderstorm warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology. Brisbane City Council has also encouraged residents to monitor the bureaus website and prepare for severe weather. When we see those severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, flash flooding is a definite risk, Hayes said. He said the heavy rain can quickly overwhelm drainage systems, and creeks, rivers, dams, floodways, drains, all those sorts of things, can back up and cause that flash flooding and flooding in places where people dont necessarily expect it. Advertisement Sandbags are available from five locations across the city at any time. Related Article Extreme weather Australia makes list of 2025s costliest climate events On the southside, residents can pick them up from 9 Redfern Street in Morningside, Herbert Street in Lota, and 38 Shamrock Road in Darra. On the northside, sandbags are available at 66 Wilston Road in Newmarket, and 33 Jennings Street in Zillmere. The showers and thunderstorms could persist into Tuesday, but would likely be more isolated and much less active, Hayes said. Advertisement By the mid-week period, were back to just a slight chance of a few showers, primarily around the coast. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive NationalVictoriaCrime Some of the worst: Dozens charged as police bust online paedophile ring Melissa Cunningham March 7, 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 Warning: distressing content Thirty-five men across Victoria and NSW are facing more than 1000 criminal charges after police spent a year infiltrating and dismantling a secret paedophile network in one of Australias most significant online child sexual abuse investigations. Members of the online encrypted group allegedly shared collections of child sexual abuse material and texted each other about depraved fantasies, including their desire to find children and infants in real life. Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Jason Regan was part of one of the most significant online child abuse investigations in Australian history. Jason South The material depicted the sexual abuse, torture and murder of infants and young children and bestiality. Advertisement Twenty-six men have been arrested and charged as a result of the investigation in Victoria, and another nine have been arrested in NSW. Police said no newly generated material involving Australian children was identified during the investigation, and it was believed the offending in the material being shared occurred offshore. The year-long undercover investigation by the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Polices Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) began in late 2023 after Queensland police shared intelligence about the group. Police examined more than 300 hours of distressing video footage and 65,000 unique images as part of the operation. Investigators said the men mistakenly believed the apps encryption would shield them from detection by authorities. Advertisement As part of the operation, a team of investigators went undercover posing as members of the group so they could infiltrate the online network and gather evidence to identity and arrest the men. Related Article Exclusive Crime More than 7.4 million images of child abuse circulating in Victoria Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Jason Regan worked on the operation, and has been a police officer in the child exploitation space for more than eight years. It was very horrific sex offending, he said. It was some of the worst stuff weve ever dealt with. It was a group that we were able to infiltrate, but also in that space, we also had to speak like them. Advertisement Regan said the undercover investigators faced the difficult task of maintaining conversations with the members for almost a year, while trying to identify the offenders. Youre just trying to get some little piece of information ... any snippet of their life that you can to work on and try and identify them, he said. The investigation also sparked a major international manhunt. Nineteen referrals were made to Australian and international agencies. We had so many offenders identified, not just in Victoria, but also in NSW and overseas as well, Regan said. He said that after every arrest, an offenders devices would be searched. Advertisement Investigators would find out who they were talking to and sharing material with. Police then arrested those alleged offenders and examined their devices, triggering a cascade of arrests. Its like a pyramid scheme that just starts with one person and then just spreads out, he said. Were getting a lot more offenders based on the information or intelligence were able to gather from peoples devices. Dozens of police from investigations, covert operations, digital forensics and victim identification worked on the operation known as Jac Beau. Advertisement More than 30 search warrants were executed all over Melbourne and homes were raided in suburbs including Ascot Vale, Flemington, Greenvale, Wollert, Reservoir, Kingsbury, Chirnside Park, Cranbourne West, Clyde, Kew, Richmond, South Melbourne, Williamstown and Footscray. Search warrants were also executed in Bendigo. Police seized about 100 electronic devices during the raids. The 35 men were charged with a range of offences including possession, accessing, transmission, solicitation and production of child sexual abuse material. A 46-year-old Melbourne man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was identified as the groups creator and administrator. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in September 2024 at the Victorian County Court. Advertisement A Central Victorian man, who also cannot be named, was charged with more than 250 offences including transmitting, accessing, producing and soliciting child abuse material. Related Article Courts Accused childcare rapist Josh Brown back in court in April as defence press for resolution He was sentenced to six years imprisonment in December last year. Several other alleged perpetrators are still being prosecuted, while others have been sentenced and jailed. After years policing organised crime, Regan said moving into child exploitation investigations had been challenging, but he was motivated to protect children through investigations such as Jac Beau. Advertisement He recalled that at the end of a different investigation, a mother had asked to take a photograph of him so when her son was old enough she could show him the person who had saved his life. Those sort of things stay with you forever, he said. Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Bernard Geason said the material uncovered in the operation was so abhorrent and extreme it had shaken even the most seasoned child protection investigators. This investigation has stopped people sharing violent abuse material and disrupted an online market of misery, but there is a tidal wave of this material on the internet and constant demands for more, he said. Each of the men charged during this investigation likely thought they were cloaked and hidden behind layers of encryption. Let this be a reminder that law enforcement is everywhere. Advertisement Australian Federal Police Sergeant Cassandra Barlee, who also worked on the investigation, said the material was among the worst she had ever seen in her years working in victim-based crime. The victims are extremely vulnerable, being young children, she said. Related Article Melbourne childcare crisis The red flags childcare regulators may have missed in the Joshua Brown case As an investigator in that space, I feel extremely passionate about it because we are protecting children, and were providing those children with a voice. Investigators continue to assist global efforts to identify the children in the videos and images, and all material that was uncovered has been added to the International Child Sexual Exploitation database. Advertisement This will help overseas law enforcement to piece together clues, which could identify victims, their locations and offenders. Barlee said the rapid evolution of technology, including end-to-end encryption, has increased risks of child exploitation and expanded the reach of offending. She urged parents to closely supervise their childrens use of social media and understand who they were communicating with and which platforms or applications they were using. They should also familiarise themselves with the safety features and built-in protections available on those platforms. Extra welfare measures were introduced to support police who shared the workload of operation Jac Beau. Advertisement Barlee said the toll of working on such a harrowing operation never left investigators. After the completion of Jac Beau, she decided to take a break from working in the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team. When you work in crime types like this, you lose a sense of the innocence of the world, she said. Investigators have completed their investigation and the online group has been shut down. More information and resources on how parents and guardians can protect children is available on the eSafety website. Advertisement The Australian government has funded an expanded child sexual abuse prevention service by Jesuit Social Services called Stop It Now! It offers free, anonymous support including a helpline and online resources for anyone concerned about sexual thoughts involving children. Sexual assault support lines: 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732 Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114 Bravehearts counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831 Advertisement NationalWAWhats on Chronicling four decades of a Perth street press stalwart Cameron Myles March 8, 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 For years, the hot pink masthead screamed out to punters at bars, clubs, cafes and concert venues across Perth, offering a weekly free guide to the citys bustling live music scene. X-Press Magazine was a stalwart of Perths street press, and played a role in launching the careers of some of the wests biggest musical names, including Eskimo Jo, The Waifs, and John Butler. Three-time X-Press Magazine editor Bob Gordon has written a book covering four decades of the street press magazine. Selena Geyer/Supplied A move to digital saw the final print edition roll off the presses in 2016, but the magazine still holds a special place in the heart of many music-lovers across town including three-time editor Bob Gordon. And now, Gordon has written a book chronicling four decades of the beloved street press magazine, from 1985 to 2025. Advertisement The early days of X-Press saw it take the form of an exercise book-sized magazine, cobbled together by enthusiasts, rather than writers Gordon said. But that had changed by the early 90s, when Gordon first got involved as a second-year media studies student at Edith Cowan University. When a regular local music writer set sail for Melbourne, Gordon was offered the gig, interviewing not just local acts like an early Eskimo Joe then playing gigs as Freuds Pillow but also international musicians like Jeff Buckley or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. [Local bands] would come in with a handwritten kind of press release and a photo that someone took of them, a friend who had a decent camera took of them in their backyard sort of thing, he said. John Butler came in one day for his first interview, and he was busking still. Advertisement Central to X-Press appeal was the gig guide a weekly whats on covering all the best shows in Perth, from pub rock bands to techno DJs playing late at the Northbridge clubs. It was simpler times, Gordon recalls. Nowadays, you can look up anything at a moments notice. But also, if you dont know what youre looking for, you dont necessarily find it, Gordon said. On a Thursday morning or afternoon, you could get it, and this stuff would be there; this is what happened on the weekend, this is what you can go to this weekend. It was definitive, in a way, it was confirmed. This is what happened, and this is also whats going to happen. Advertisement Kav [Temperley, Eskimo Joe frontman] used this expression; if you got the cover of X-Press Magazine and sold out the Grosvenor Hotel for your launch, that was going gold in Perth. Editor's pick Opinion Vale Growing up, Dennis Cometti was my hero. In the flesh, he was the main event Gareth Parker Columnist There were controversies. One edition featured the band Holy F--- on the cover uncensored. Gordon viewed it as part of the edgy nature of street press. Advertisers, and a fair few complainants, disagreed. The furore made Gordon realise the magazine had become more popular not quite mainstream, but part of the fabric of Perth regardless. Advertisement Temperley said X-Press was a way to feel connected to the broader Australian music scene in the isolated western capital. In the 90s, Perth and WA felt cut off from the rest of Australia, bar the touring acts that would roll through town and the only way youd even hear about those tours was through X-Press Magazine, he said. It was a huge deal in the local scene. If you landed the X-Press front cover, you were instantly world-famous in Perth. Gordons 200-page coffee table book is being launched at the Astor Theatre where else? later this month. On the billing is a number of Perth artists whose careers have been shaped by the magazine, including Temperley, Gyroscope, Cal Kramer from the Southern River Band, Dave Hole, Katy Steele and Carla Geneve. Advertisement For Gordon, the retrospective was a chance to be reminded that, among the chaos of print deadlines, interviews and gigs, the team at X-Press did a good job of taking the pulse of Perths music, arts and culture scene. Everyone was really invested in it, and everyone also had a very good time, because if you worked at X-Press, you did get all the invites, he said. To all who sailed in that ship, it was important to us. And looking back, I think, you know, we did a pretty good job of highlighting what was happening. Rewind 40 Years of X-Press will be held at the Astor Theatre on Wednesday, March 18. Advertisement NationalWACrime Its frightening: The online blind spots challenging WA Police Michael Philipps March 8, 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 The rise of social media has made it far easier for people to connect on a range of platforms, allowing like-minded people to come together and bond over their shared interests. However, with WA Police arresting two people in the space of two months over alleged terrorism charges, and questions remaining over whether they acted alone or as part of a group, it becomes more difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend those suspected of plotting terrorist attacks. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said policing online activity is an issue for law enforcement agencies across the world. WAtoday Last month, 20-year-old Jayson Joseph Michaels, from the town of Bindoon north of Perth, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court,, facing five charges, including acting in preparation for a terrorist act. The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team charged Michaels following an investigation into his online activities and the execution of a search warrant at his home. Advertisement The charges against the 20-year-old come just weeks after Liam Alexander Hall, 32, was accused of throwing a homemade bomb into a crowd of Invasion Day protesters, and was later charged with committing a terrorist act. It is not alleged Halls charges are linked to those levelled against Michaels. Associate Professor of Criminology at Murdoch University Dr Mark Briskey said identifying a lone-wolf terrorism suspect is far more difficult than finding a radicalised member of a group. If we have a particular person whos up to some point is self radicalised, and then they decide they want to join up with some like-minded people, usually, as soon as they connect with that organisation, theyre pinged by ASIO or the police because those organisations are already being looked at, he said. So it becomes much easier to then identify them when they join that spider web, whereas with individuals who may quietly develop this intense, intense dislike, intense focus on what they see as the iniquities of the government, politicians, the police and others, its extremely difficult to find that out unless someone actually contacts the police. Advertisement Briskey said the two recent arrests in Western Australia appear to be examples of lone-wolf operators. Related Article Police Man arrested over alleged white supremacist ideology terrorist plot So I would envisage that, both with this one from Bindoon and the one on Australia Day, that very soon we might see an increase in public awareness announcements being sponsored by both the federal and state governments about this, he said. These particular two incidents, and other things around Australia and current events included, have the potential to ignite further incidents across a continuum of terrorism ideologies. The current conflict in the Middle East has the potential to ignite another lone-wolf attack - on both sides of the spectrum - both for and against. Advertisement Speaking on ABC Mornings Perth this week, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said policing online activity is an issue for law enforcement agencies across the world. It is very well hidden in many spaces, and police simply do not have access to the internet of the world, if you will, and whats going on there, he said. Most of our, if not all of our intelligence is peoples behaviours in the community, in the home when they commit offences, but whats happening online is very much a black spot, not only for police, but for parents, for service providers. We dont know whats happening on there, and then when we see it, its frightening. WA Premier Roger Cook echoed Blanchs sentiments at a press conference earlier this week. Advertisement I know what the police have highlighted is that there has been a growth in people who have been radicalised online, in isolation to the rest of the world, often in isolation even to their own families, he said. So the opportunities to have intelligence with regards to their radicalisation process is very challenging. Associate Dean for Engagement in the Humanities at Murdoch University Dr Sam Teague said the social upheaval of the COVID lockdowns normalised online behaviour for many Australians. COVID normalised people working from home, or working hybrid or working from distance, he said. It normalised studying from home, studying from distance. Advertisement Teague said that level of isolation allows people to have a stronger connection with online services and social media, rather than direct contact with people. Related Article WA courts What we know about the man accused of throwing a homemade bomb at Perths Invasion Day rally You get people now, in some instances, more likely to seek out AI for health advice around their mental health than going and seeing a clinician, he said. You get a layering of isolation that breeds no structure and that sort of floating around, particularly for young men, is what makes people ripe for being picked up or captured by these ideas. Whether theyre radical or in the middle thats the end point when theyre in that online forum, but theres probably seven, eight or nine social norms and behaviours before then that reinforce that moment and lead up to it in a way. Advertisement Teague said social isolation, in a small percentage of instances, can lead to a darker place, particularly in males. Therell be the percentage where the isolation and loneliness and fragmentation leads to extreme behaviour, he said. A lot of these young men who are disconnected and isolated ... sometimes the tendency is towards anarchy and chaos. Teague believes there is a growing awareness of the issues surrounding isolation and ways to combat it. Do they need to be more top down, like the social media ban? he said. Advertisement An intervention that is designed to look after you whether you think its right or wrong? Or does it need to be more community driven? Theres no rule book for how we maintain community and solidarity, whilst also celebrating the advances in technology that are good. However, Blanch still believes in the inherent good of the WA community. I think we amplify the minority who are expressing extremist views, and thats who we should be concerned about, Blanch said. So Im not underplaying the seriousness, but I will say almost all of our community are good people, going about their business, enjoying life in Western Australia. I think we have to always keep that in context. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Crime Police Michael Philipps is a producer and reporter with WAtoday. Cortina: Iran will not compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics after its only athlete was forced to withdraw hours before the opening ceremony. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) issued a statement saying that two-time Paralympian Aboulfazl Khatibi could not safely travel to Italy amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Khatibi was set to compete in para cross-country skiing. Russia is allowed to bear its flag at a Paralympic Games for the first time since 2014. Credit: Getty Images Since the conflict began ... the IPC and [the] Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee have been working tirelessly behind the scenes with [Iran] and [its] national ski federation to find alternative routes for the safe passage of the Iran delegation to the Games, the committees president, Andrew Parsons, said. However, with the conflict ongoing across the Middle East, the risk to human life is too high. China hits back at claims of 'unsafe' encounter with Australian forces Beijing called it a "complete distortion of the facts" after the ADF claimed a Seahawk had to take "evasive action" when a Chinese aircraft moved too close. Shockwaves from the escalating war in West Asia are now rattling Mumbais hospitality industry, with several hotels and restaurants reporting disruptions in commercial cooking gas supply across parts of the city. According to industry body AHAR, supply cuts have already been reported in areas such as Dadar, Jogeshwari and Andheri, triggering concern among restaurant owners. AHAR officials told Mumbai Mirror that the hospitality sector could face a major crisis if cooking gas supply is halted entirely. Nearly 8,000 hotels and restaurants in Mumbai are associated with AHAR, an official said. If supply is cut 100 per cent, the industry will be in grave danger. The official added that Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had instructed Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum to stop commercial and industrial supply. AHAR members have reported that trucks carrying cooking gas cylinders did not arrive on Thursday and Friday in areas including Dadar, Jogeshwari and Andheri. We received an email from Mahanagar Gas Limited on Wednesday warning that global geopolitical tensions are creating uncertainty in the availability of LNG supplies, the official said. The MGL email to AHAR stated: This is to inform you that, in view of the prevailing geopolitical developments affecting global energy markets, there is an increased level of uncertainty in the availability of LNG supplies. While we are currently maintaining normal PNG supplies, the evolving situation may potentially impact gas sourcing and logistics. As a result, there is a possibility of partial curtailment or complete stoppage of PNG supply to industrial and commercial consumers should the situation worsen beyond our control. This communication is being issued purely as a precautionary advisory to enable you to take necessary preparatory measures to safeguard your operations. AHAR is now planning to write to the Union government. We are writing to Civil Supplies Minister Pralhad Joshi and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging them to look into the crisis, AHAR president Vijay Shetty told Mirror. If the situation persists, sourcing of LPG, its logistics and supply will be hampered. The consequences could be partial curtailment or complete stoppage, Shetty said. Though we keep some LPG stock, it can last only one or two days. There has been no supply of commercial gas cylinders in the past couple of days, so businesses may have to shut. Shetty said about 8,000 restaurants in Mumbai and 65 associations across Maharashtra are affiliated with AHAR, collectively providing employment to nearly 20 lakh people in the state. Any halt in gas supply to commercial and industrial establishments, he said, would directly affect their livelihoods. In Mumbai, around 60 per cent of officegoers depend on hotels and restaurants for their meals. A ban on gas supply to commercial establishments will severely impact the hospitality industry, he said. With kitchens already running low on fuel in several parts of the city, restaurant owners fear Mumbais bustling food scene could grind to a halt if the supply crunch deepens. We request the government not to impose a blanket ban but to curtail supply by around 20 per cent instead, Shetty said. When contacted, an Andheri-based distributor of Hindustan Petroleum said, We have been instructed not to supply gas cylinders for commercial and industrial use. We are following the directives of the petroleum ministry. An MGL spokesperson said: In view of the prevailing geopolitical developments affecting global energy markets, there have been speculations regarding possible curtailment of gas supplies by MGL to its customers. Currently, no reduction in gas availability is being faced by MGL, and it continues to maintain normal CNG and PNG supplies across its operational areas. It may be noted that MGL receives 100 per cent of the gas required to meet domestic household supplies from domestically produced gas. Similarly, a large majority of gas required for our CNG supply is also domestically produced. In case gas supplies to MGL are curtailed due to problems in LNG imports, there could be some impact on gas supply to MGLs industrial and commercial customers. However, this would be mitigated as almost all these customers have recourse to alternative hydrocarbon fuels such as FO, LSHS, LDO and LPG. AHARs Shetty added, I have a restaurant, Udupi Srikrishna, in Lower Parel, and there has been no supply of gas cylinders in our area. If cylinders are not supplied, we will have no option but to pull the shutters down. Ravikiran Naik, owner of Sion-based Anuman Hotel, said many establishments rely entirely on gas cylinders because piped gas has not reached them. Not only mine, but many hotels and restaurants are facing massive disruption due to these ongoing geopolitical developments, he said. Another hotelier, Shailesh Shetty, whose establishment New Punjab is in Matunga, said, How can we run the business without cooking gas? The situation is worsening and the government should look into it so that the hospitality industry is not hampered. His brother-in-law Shivanand Shetty, who runs Haryali Bar and Restaurant in south Mumbai, said that although his establishment uses PNG, many hoteliers are reporting difficulties. Many hoteliers in Mumbai have been sharing messages in our groups about how the crisis is hampering their businesses, he said. Saudi Arabia says intercepted attacks at air base, oil field Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base which houses US military personnel, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf. "A ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base" southeast of the capital Riyadh was "intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X. In a separate incident, the official Saudi Press Agency quoted a defence ministry spokesperson saying a drone attack targeting a major oil field near the Emirati border had been thwarted. "Attempted attack on the Shaybah field; six drones intercepted and destroyed," the agency reported. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at Israel and Gulf states since the war began with a wave of US-Israeli strikes against the Islamic republic on February 28. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, reported at least two drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east. War in the Middle East: latest developments Washington, United States, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Friday: - Saudi Arabia intercepts attacks - Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said Saturday it intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base, and the Gulf nation's state news said it thwarted a drone attack of an oil field near the Emirati border. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, reported at least two drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east. - Russia feeds Iran intel, US 'aware' - The White House downplayed a report Friday that Russia is helping Iran target US forces in the Middle East, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth telling CBS News's "60 Minutes" program that "our commanders are aware of everything." The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the intelligence, said Russia has provided Iran with the locations of US military assets, including ships and aircraft. - Israel launches 'broad-scale' strikes - The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched a "broad-scale wave of strikes" on targets in Tehran, as the Iranian state broadcaster reported an explosion in the western part of the capital. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier it had detected another round of Iranian missile fire headed towards Israel after a series of explosions were heard in the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv following the Iranian launches. - Iran rejects Trump's succession overtures - Iran's ambassador to the United Nations on Friday condemned US interference after President Donald Trump insisted that he should be involved in selecting the successor of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference," Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters in New York. - US to boost weapons production - Major US defense companies have agreed to quadruple production of advanced weapons, Trump said on the seventh day of his war against Iran. The United States struck more than 3,000 targets during the first week of the conflict, the military said. - Oil prices surge - Crude prices surged on mounting fears about oil supply disruption as the US-Israel strikes and Tehran's retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region upend the world's energy and transport sectors. The international benchmark oil contract, Brent North Sea crude, jumped to $92.69 per barrel, up 8.5 percent for the day and nearly 30 percent for the week. - Rockets target Baghdad airport complex - Rockets targeted the Baghdad airport complex that hosts a military base and a US diplomatic facility. A shadowy group called Saraya Awliyaa al-Dam (Guardians of Blood), which claims to be part of the Tehran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said it was behind the attack on the base. - Trump to attend return of dead troops - Trump said Friday he will attend the arrival of the remains of six soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait, the first US dead from the Middle East war. The troops "returning home for the last time," as Trump put it, were killed when a drone struck a key US command center in Kuwait's southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba. - UN peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon - Several Ghanaian members of a United Nations peacekeeping were wounded when their base was hit in southern Lebanon, state media reported, without specifying the source of the attack. Israel has been hitting southern Lebanon in its battle against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. - Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' - Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" as the only acceptable outcome to end the Middle East war, promising to help rebuild the country's economy if it complied. His new stance appeared to be a major expansion of US aims for the war, which Washington has previously said was focused on Iran's missile program and naval forces. - UN chief slams 'unlawful attacks' - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned "unlawful attacks" across the Middle East and warned that the war could spiral out of control. Guterres said the crisis was causing "tremendous suffering and harm" and posed a "grave risk" to the global economy. - Only nine commercial ships navigate Hormuz - Just nine oil tankers, cargo and container ships have been recorded passing through the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, according to MarineTraffic data analyzed by AFP. Nearly 20 percent of the world's crude oil and about 20 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually transit the waterway, but the conflict has virtually shut it down. - France deploys helicopter carrier - France has sent a helicopter carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the war, the French military told AFP. Paris decided to deploy its flagship aircraft carrier and a frigate earlier in the week. burs-bgs/sla/ksb Vibes war? Trump pitches Iran conflict on 'feeling' Washington, United States, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Donald Trump has plunged the United States into its most significant conflict in decades over a "feeling." It's not his political opponents saying this, but the White House itself. Throughout the first week of the war with Iran, the US president has prioritized impulse and emotion over explanations and reasoning. "I hope you're impressed," Trump, a former reality TV host, told an ABC News reporter on Thursday. "How do you like the performance?" Official government accounts are posting clips on social media that present the military operation like a video game, often with sharp captions that would suit a blockbuster war film. "This could be the first war ever launched based on vibes," joked American comedian and talk show host Jimmy Fallon this week. Journalists on Wednesday bombarded White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt with questions about what motivated US military intervention -- which Trump oversaw from his luxury Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. She replied that the president had acted because he "had a good feeling that the Iranian regime was going to strike United States assets and our personnel in the region." - 'Incoherent, immoral, arrogant' - Experts said the Trump administration has taken a new approach in how it has sought to justify and communicate the military action to the public. Sean Aday, a public relations professor at George Washington University, said he has "never seen worse messaging in wartime from a US administration." "It's been a combination of incoherent, immoral, arrogant, amateurish, and at times trafficked in outright fabrication," he told AFP. Aday contrasted it with ex-president George W. Bush's attempts to justify the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, whose administration spent "nearly a year and a half trying to persuade the public it was necessary." Richard Haass, a former US diplomat, pointed to how Trump has largely ignored formal national security processes, "having spent the better part of the last year hollowing out the national security apparatus." The National Security Council, a body that helps the president shape his diplomatic and military strategy, has been significantly downsized since Trump returned to power in January 2025. Marco Rubio now combines the roles of secretary of state and national security adviser -- positions that were previously separate. - Contradictory comments - Trump has been vague about both the reason for entering a war with Iran and the objectives being pursued. Instead of holding press conferences he has given several short phone interviews with reporters, producing a mosaic of contradictory comments. And while his cabinet members state Washington is not seeking regime change, the US president has insisted that he should be involved in choosing Iran's next supreme leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump has also brushed aside economic concerns from the conflict which has driven up the price of gasoline -- a potential vulnerability for his Republican party ahead of midterm elections this year. A poll released Wednesday by NBC shows that 52 percent of US voters oppose the military action in Iran. By contrast, the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001 was met with strong approval, and the public initially supported the offensive launched in Iraq. But on both Afghanistan and Iraq, negative opinions grew as the conflicts dragged on. Hezbollah says fighters clash with Israeli troops on Lebanon-Syria border Beirut, Lebanon, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Lebanese official media reported on Saturday that clashes had erupted as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, with militant group Hezbollah saying its fighters were involved. The state-run National News Agency (NNA), citing the Lebanese health ministry, said Israeli strikes on Nabi Sheet killed at least three people and wounded 16 others. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has launched numerous strikes and sent ground troops into Lebanon since Tehran-backed group Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. If confirmed, the latest reported raid would be the deepest Israeli forces have reached inside Lebanon since special unit troops apprehended Hezbollah operative Imad Amhaz from the northern city of Batroun in November 2024. The NNA said that "clashes are taking place on the eastern mountain range along the Lebanese-Syrian border... to repel Israeli landing attempts." It gave the location as Nabi Sheet, in the eastern Baalbek district where Hezbollah holds sway. Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters had "observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction". After landing, advancing troops "were engaged by a group" of Hezbollah fighters as they reached the Nabi Sheet cemetery, Hezbollah said, noting the use of light and medium weapons. "The clash escalated after the enemy force was exposed," it added, saying the Israeli troops launched intense strikes and began to evacuate. A separate statement said Hezbollah fighters had fired rockets as the Israeli forces withdrew. Footage shared on social media showed waves of gunfire in the air. Nabi Sheet was the target of at least 13 Israeli air strikes on Friday, according to the NNA, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting at least nine people killed. Explosion over Dubai airport: witness to AFP Dubai, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 An explosion was heard over Dubai airport on Saturday followed by a cloud of smoke in the air, a witness told AFP, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf. The Flightradar24 tracking website showed planes circulating above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. Limited flights resumed from Dubai's main airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, on Monday despite daily drone attacks on targets in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai Media Office described "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception" in a post on X, but also denied reports circulating about the airport in the same post. Four staff were injured and a concourse damaged at Dubai airport last Saturday, as war erupted following US-Israeli strikes against Iran. Dubai Airports said at the time that the incident was "quickly contained", without giving further details. Iranian attacks have also hit Abu Dhabi airport, the upmarket Palm Jumeirah development and the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel, while drone debris caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday. Israel says over 80 fighter jets struck Tehran, central Iran Jerusalem, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Israel's military said more than 80 fighter jets completed a wave of strikes on Iranian military sites, missile launchers and other targets in Tehran and central Iran on Saturday. "Over 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... completed an additional wave of strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Iranian terror regime," the military said in a statement. In one of the biggest raids announced by Israel since the regional war began on February 28, the statement said that jets hit a military academy of Iran's Revolutionary Guards which "was being used as an emergency asset". It said the facility was being used for military operations, making it "a lawful military objective". Other targets included an underground command centre and missile storage facility as well as launch sites, "in order to reduce the scope of fire directed at the territory of the State of Israel", the statement said. When Israel joined the United States in a massive wave of strikes on Iran at the start of the war, the Israeli military said 200 fighter jets took part in the raids, calling it the largest in the air force's history. War in the Middle East: latest developments Washington, United States, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Saturday: - 'To their graves' - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country will not surrender to Israel and the United States. "The enemies must take their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," said Pezeshkian, in a speech broadcast on state TV. He apologised to neighbouring countries for Iran's attacks. - Oil tanker targeted - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf in their conflict with Israel and the United States. "This morning, an oil tanker with the trade name Prima was hit by an exploding drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC naval forces regarding the prohibition of traffic and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency. The Guards earlier said they were "waiting" for US forces to escort ships through the strait. - 'Crush them' - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they have targeted three locations of "separatist groups" in Iraq's Kurdistan region. "If separatist groups in the region (of Kurdistan) make any move against Iran's territorial integrity, we will crush them," said the Guards in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency. - Israeli 'broad-scale' strikes - Israel's military said more than 80 fighter jets completed a wave of "broad-scale" strikes on Iranian military sites, missile launchers and other targets in Tehran and central Iran on Saturday. Israel's military said jets hit an academy of Iran's Revolutionary Guards which "was being used as an emergency asset". Israeli and US attacks on the central province of Isfahan killed at least eight people on Saturday, a provincial official said. Iran's army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the UAE and Kuwait. - Arab League meeting - Foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss "Iranian attacks on the territories of several Arab countries", the bloc's assistant secretary-general told AFP. The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Hossam Zaki said. - Blast over Dubai airport - Emirates said it was suspending all flights to and from Dubai until further notice, after an explosion was heard over Dubai airport on Saturday, with a witness describing a cloud of smoke in the air to AFP. The Flightradar24 tracking website showed planes circulating above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. Limited flights resumed from Dubai's main airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, on Monday. Dubai Media Office described "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception" in a post on X. - Blasts in Dubai, Manama - AFP journalists heard explosions in Dubai and Bahrain's capital, Manama, on Saturday, one week into Iran's retaliatory attacks on targets around the Gulf. A warning siren sounded in Manama, with Bahrain's interior ministry urging residents in an X post to "head to the nearest safe place". - Clashes on Lebanon-Syria border - Lebanese official media reported on Saturday that clashes had erupted as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, with militant group Hezbollah saying its fighters were involved. The state-run National News Agency (NNA), citing the Lebanese health ministry, said Israeli strikes on Nabi Sheet killed at least three people and wounded 16 others. - US approves weapons to Israel - The US State Department approved the "emergency" sale of 12,000 bomb casings to Israel on Friday the war escalates. "The proposed sale will improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats," the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs said. - Israel responding to missile attacks - The Israeli military said that air defences were responding to Iranian missile attacks on Saturday that sparked air raid alerts across the country. - Saudi Arabia intercepts attacks - Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Saturday it intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base which houses US military personnel, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf. The oil-rich nation's state news agency said it thwarted a drone attack on an oilfield near the Emirati border, following at least two reported drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east. burs-ach/st My girl was trapped under the rubble and crying for help after the slab collapsed. The authorities saved her life, and we are grateful, said the parent of an 11-year-old girl who was rescued after a ceiling slab collapsed inside a tuition class in Navi Mumbais Koparkhairane. The child was among five students trapped beneath the debris when the slab of a residential building suddenly gave way on Wednesday afternoon. For anxious parents waiting outside, the rescue felt painfully slow as teams worked carefully to avoid hurting the trapped children. My daughter was under the rubble for nearly 20 minutes. She was crying and in shock when she was pulled out. Since then, she has barely spoken, the parent said, requesting anonymity. Routine class turns into tragedy The incident occurred around 4 pm on March 5 at Vidya Bhavan building, where several children had gathered for a tuition class on the ground floor. According to police, a slab from a living room on the first floor collapsed onto the ground floor, trapping students inside. A living room slab collapsed onto the ground floor, and five children were trapped under the debris. One 13-year-old child died in the incident. An Accidental Death Report has been registered, and the matter is under investigation, said Unmesh Jadhav, Senior Police Inspector of Koparkhairane police station. The deceased has been identified as 13-year-old Manish Mhaske. Police said some students managed to escape moments after the slab gave way, while others remained trapped until rescue teams cleared the debris. Families rushed to the spot Parents said they rushed to the building after receiving calls about the collapse. Relatives of the deceased child said the tragedy has devastated the family. We were told that five students had managed to run out when the slab collapsed. The building was poorly maintained, and this incident happened because of that, said a relative of Manish Mhaske, speaking on condition of anonymity. The family initially struggled to accept the loss. We had refused to claim the body at first because we were in shock. Later, we felt that Manish deserved a final farewell. His last rites will be conducted in Karjat. His parents are inconsolable, the relative said. Past warning signs Residents in neighbouring societies said the building had faced structural issues in the past. According to Vinit Aggarwal, a member of the Aggarwal Terrace society nearby, a similar slab collapse had occurred earlier. About three years ago, another slab had collapsed in the same building. There have been recurring problems, but repairs were never taken seriously, Aggarwal said. Police also confirmed that an earlier slab collapse incident had been reported. We have sought a report from the municipal corporation. Based on the findings, we will decide whether legal action should be initiated, an officer said. Following the incident, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has ordered a structural audit of the Vidya Bhavan building. Officials said the building received its Occupation Certificate (OC) in 1998, making the structure nearly 30 years old. The Koparkhairane police said further legal action will depend on the findings of the municipal corporations report. Iran president says country will not surrender to Israel, US Tehran, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would never surrender to Israel and the United States, as Middle East war entered its second week. Iran's enemies "must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV. Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on February, 28 killing the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a regional conflict. Iran has since responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US interests in regional countries, mainly in the Gulf. Pezeshkian is among three members of an interim leadership council that has been in charge of Iran since Khamenei's killing. During the speech, Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for Iran's attacks across the region, saying that they would not be targeted unless attacks originated from them. "I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," he said. "The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries." Dubai airport suspends operations after interception Dubai, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, suspended operations on Saturday after an aerial interception in the area during attacks from Iran. "For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended," the government's Dubai Media Office said in a social media post. The announcement came shortly after the aerial interception of an object near the airport, with a witness telling AFP of a loud explosion followed by a cloud of smoke. The Flightradar24 tracking website earlier showed planes circling above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. Flights from Dubai's main airport had partially resumed on Monday despite daily drone attacks targeting sites in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, also announced on Saturday that it was suspending all its flights to and from Dubai until further notice. "Please do not go to the airport," the airline said. The Dubai government said in a post that there had been "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception", which caused no injuries. It also denied "information circulating on social media regarding incidents at Dubai International Airport", without elaborating. "The air defences of the United Arab Emirates are currently responding to missile and drone threats coming from Iran," the Emirati Ministry of Defence said, without specifying the targets of the attacks. Last Saturday, four employees were injured and a terminal was damaged at Dubai airport as war broke out in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Operator Dubai Airports said at the time that the incident had been "quickly brought under control", without providing details. Iranian attacks have also hit Abu Dhabi airport, the upmarket Palm Jumeirah development and the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel, while drone debris caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday. Saudi minister warns Iran against 'miscalculation' after attacks Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged Iran to "avoid miscalculation" on Saturday, following missile and drone launches against the kingdom. In a series of statements, the Saudi defence ministry said it had thwarted repeated missile launches at an air base which houses US military personnel and drone attacks at a major oil field. Iran is pressing attacks across the Gulf, a week since US-Israeli strikes against the Islamic republic triggered regional war. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, reported at least two drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east. Prince Khalid posted on X after meeting with Pakistan's military chief that the pair had "discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them". "We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation," he added. The defence ministry earlier posted on X that "a ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base" southeast of the capital Riyadh was "intercepted and destroyed". The official Saudi Press Agency later reported another missile attack at the same base, saying it was also intercepted, quoting a defence ministry spokesperson. The news agency also reported at least 17 drone attacks targeting the Shaybah oil field near the Emirati border. The drones were "intercepted and destroyed", it said. In a separate incident, two drones were intercepted east of Riyadh, according to the defence ministry. bur-ami/cms/dc/axn Iran says launched 'massive' drone strikes at Israel, US bases Tehran, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Iran's army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as the regional war raged into its second week. "The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks," the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency. It said the targets included the UAE's Al-Minhad base and another in Kuwait, as well as a "strategic facility" in Israel. Later, the Revolutionary Guards said their forces also targeted Al-Dhafra air base in the UAE. "In this attack, the American terrorists' air warfare centre, satellite communication centre, early warning radars, and fire control radars were hit," the Guards said in a statement, according to Tasnim news agency. War across the Middle East erupted after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, killing the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has since responded with drone and missile attacks against Israel as well as US interests in the region. Air raid sirens sound, blasts heard in Jerusalem: AFP journalists Jerusalem, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists said, as the US-Israeli war with Iran entered a second week. AFP journalists heard three blasts in the sky over Jerusalem shortly after the military said its air defence was working to intercept projectiles from Iran. The Israeli authorities gave the all clear shortly afterwards and the country's first responders agency Magen David Adom said no injuries were reported in the immediate aftermath. Overall the Israeli military said it detected 11 launches from Iran towards Israel in the past 24 hours. Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said on Friday that there had been a "real decrease" in the number of launches from Iran after almost a week of barrages. He added that more than 60 percent of Iranian launchers had been destroyed in the US-Israeli bombing campaign. The Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran last week has provoked waves of retaliatory Iranian missile fire and rocket fire from Lebanon's Hezbollah. Israeli military says found no remains of missing airman in Lebanon operation Jerusalem, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Israel's military said Saturday it had carried out an operation in Lebanon to find remains of airman Ron Arad, but failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986. "As part of IDF activities in Lebanon, IDF special forces operated overnight in an attempt to locate findings related to the missing navigator Ron Arad. No IDF injuries were reported," the Israeli army said in a statement. "No findings related to him were located at the search site." Hezbollah said earlier Saturday it had confronted Israeli troops that infiltrated an east Lebanon town overnight by helicopter, with Lebanese authorities reporting at least 16 killed in Israeli strikes on the area. Air force navigator Arad has been missing since he was captured after he ejected from his combat jet over Lebanon in 1986 as the aircraft went down. Arad is presumed dead, though his remains have never been returned. The Israeli army said in its statement that it "will continue to operate relentlessly, day and night, out of a deep commitment to bringing all of Israel's sons, the fallen and the missing, back home to the State of Israel." After news of the Israeli operation emerged, Arad's wife Tami thanked the military but said the lives of soldiers should not be put "at risk" in the hunt for traces of her husband, Israeli media reported. In its statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had "observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction". After landing and disembarking, the advancing troops "were engaged" by a group of Hezbollah fighters as they reached a cemetery in the east Lebanon town of Nabi Sheet, Hezbollah said. "The clash escalated after the enemy force was exposed," it added, saying the Israeli troops launched intense strikes before evacuating. A Hezbollah official in the Bekaa region, where Nabi Sheet is located, told AFP that the cemetery the Israelis raided belonged to the Shukr family. Last month, Lebanese authorities charged four people with kidnapping Ahmad Shukr -- whose brother Hassan is suspected of involvement in the capture of Arad -- on behalf of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. An AFP correspondent in the area heard warplanes and intense gunfire throughout the night. Lebanon's east, where Hezbollah holds sway, was subjected to heavy Israeli strikes on Friday, particularly Nabi Sheet, which was struck at least 13 times, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA). The Lebanese health ministry said at least 16 people have been killed in strikes in the area, with 35 wounded. In a separate statement, Hezbollah said it targeted using rockets an "evacuation area" for the Israelis outside Nabi Sheet. Israel has launched numerous strikes and sent ground troops into Lebanon since the Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. burs-del/lba/rh UN chief condemns attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon Geneva, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned an attack a day earlier on a UN base in southern Lebanon that seriously wounded three Ghanaian UN peacekeepers. The Lebanese president has accused Israel of targeting them and the UN peacekeeping force has said it will investigate. "The secretary-general condemns the incident on Friday March... in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, amidst heavy firing," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "The secretary-general underscores that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times, and that those responsible must be held accountable. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected by all." The attack occurred during an exchange of fire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The international UN peacekeeping force has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. On Friday, the UN demanded swift investigations into waves of fatal Israeli strikes across Lebanon. Dujarric said the UN urged the parties to the conflict "to de-escalate immediately and fully adhere to their obligations under (UN) Security Council resolution 1701". The UN resolution was designed to end a conflict in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. It served as the basis for a ceasefire agreement in 2024 between Hezbollah and Israel. War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Saturday: - 'Bad behavior' - President Donald Trump suggested on Saturday the United States would hit Iran "very hard" and threatened to expand strikes to include new targets. "Today Iran will be hit very hard!" Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform. "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time." - Jordan, UAE accusations - Jordan accused Iran of targeting key sites while the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones on Saturday. Jordanian military spokesman Brigadier General Mustafa Hayari said 108 of the Iranian projectiles had been intercepted. UAE's defence ministry said air defence systems on Saturday "detected... 16 ballistic missiles, of which, 15 were intercepted and destroyed" and one fell into the sea. "Air defence systems also detected 121 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), of which 119 were intercepted, while two fell within the territory of the UAE." - Lebanon warned - Israeli Defence Minister Israel Ketz warned Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah or "pay a very heavy price", as the Israeli army told residents of a district in Tyre to evacuate before strikes. Lebanon's army said three soldiers were killed in Israeli shelling during commando operations in the country's east. - Sirens in Jerusalem - Explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists said. At least three explosions were heard, while over the past 24 hours at least six air raid alerts have been issued across Israel. - Missing aviator - Israel's military said Saturday it had carried out an operation in Lebanon to find remains of airman Ron Arad, but failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986. - New strikes on Tehran - Israel began a new wave of air strikes on the Iranian cities of Tehran and Isfahan Saturday after an overnight blitz that involved 80 fighter jets. Israel's military earlier said jets hit an academy of Iran's Revolutionary Guards which "was being used as an emergency asset". Israeli and US attacks on the central province of Isfahan killed at least eight people on Saturday, a provincial official said. - Hezbollah sites hit - Israel's military said Saturday it had struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon's south and east, killing commanders from the Lebanese armed group, and hitting military sites including command centres. The Israeli military said it had "completed an additional wave of strikes targeting rocket launchers, weapons storage facilities, and additional military sites belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in various areas in southern Lebanon and in the Beqaa valley". - Dubai airport reopens - Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, suspended operations Saturday before partially resuming services, after an air defence interception in the area during attacks from Iran. "We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC," it said, referring to Dubai's main airport as well as the city's Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International. - Saudi warning - Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged Iran to "avoid miscalculation" on Saturday, following missile and drone launches against the kingdom. In a series of statements, the Saudi defence ministry said it had thwarted repeated missile launches at an air base which houses US military personnel and drone attacks at a major oil field. - 'To their graves' - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country will not surrender to Israel and the United States. "The enemies must take their wish for the surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," said Pezeshkian. He apologised to neighbouring countries for Iran's attacks, adding "no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries." - Oil tanker targeted - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf in their conflict with Israel and the United States. "This morning, an oil tanker with the trade name Prima was hit by an exploding drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC naval forces regarding the prohibition of traffic and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency. The Guards earlier said they were "waiting" for US forces to escort ships through the strait. - 'Crush them' - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they have targeted three locations of "separatist groups" in Iraq's Kurdistan region. "If separatist groups in the region (of Kurdistan) make any move against Iran's territorial integrity, we will crush them," said the Guards in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency. Iran's army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the UAE and Kuwait. burs-ach/st UN chief, Ghana condemn attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon Geneva, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Ghana condemned on Saturday an attack a day earlier on a UN base in southern Lebanon that seriously wounded three Ghanaian UN peacekeepers. Ghana said it had lodged a formal complaint with the UN. It demanded "that those responsible be identified and held accountable, as the attack constitutes a grave violation of international law, amounts to war crime and affronts the protections afforded to United Nations peacekeeping personnel". The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, has accused Israel of targeting them, and the UN peacekeeping force has said it will investigate. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres "condemns the incident on Friday March 6 which resulted in three Ghanaian peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) being injured inside their position in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon". "The secretary general underscores that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times, and that those responsible must be held accountable. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected by all." In its formal complaint to the UN, the Ghanaian government called for a "full, immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on personnel deployed in the service of international peace and security". It said the officers' mess building inside UNFIL base had been burned to the ground in the strike. The attack occurred during an exchange of fire between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah. The international UN peacekeeping force has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. On Friday, the UN demanded swift investigations into waves of fatal Israeli strikes across Lebanon. Dujarric said the UN urged the parties to the conflict "to de-escalate immediately and fully adhere to their obligations under (UN) Security Council resolution 1701". The UN resolution was designed to end a conflict in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. It served as the basis for a ceasefire agreement in 2024 between Hezbollah and Israel. Trump threatens to escalate bombing as Iran vows no surrender Tehran, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the bombing of Iran on Saturday as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that he would never surrender, despite a fresh blitz of US and Israeli air strikes that set a Tehran airport ablaze. Israel confirmed some of the biggest raids since the aerial bombardment of Iran began last Saturday, with a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage facility named as targets. Pre-dawn AFP photos showed fire and smoke billowing from Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, one of two that serve the capital. "Today Iran will be hit very hard!" Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform. "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time." Iranian President Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone in a speech broadcast on state TV in which he appeared to address Trump's demand on Friday for "unconditional surrender". Iran's enemies "must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," Pezeshkian replied. Iran also hit back on Saturday, demonstrating that it retains the ability to launch missiles and drones despite the relentless targeting of its military infrastructure over the last seven days. There were air raid alerts and explosions heard above Jerusalem as well as Gulf cities Dubai, Manama and near Riyadh -- where Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base housing US military personnel. The UAE said it had intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones on Saturday, but video footage showed one projectile crashing into Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic in usual circumstances. An explosion took place next to an airport building and parked planes close to a passing train, mobile phone footage authenticated by AFP showed. Jordan also accused Iran of "targeting vital installations" inside the country with 119 missiles and drones over the last week, according to military spokesman Mustafa Hayari. Pezeshkian issued an apology to his Gulf neighbours, which host major US military bases, saying that they would only be targeted if their territories were used as launch sites for attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said they had fired at the oil tanker Prima in the Gulf as it attempted to cross the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global shipping that Iran has effectively closed. - Human cost - Now entering its second week, the war was sparked by joint Israeli and US airstrikes last Saturday that killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict has since widened to war-battered Lebanon, as well as Cyprus in the EU, Turkey and Azerbaijan -- and reached as far as waters off Sri Lanka where US forces sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo. Inside Iran, damage to infrastructure and residential buildings is mounting, while residents of the capital report growing anxiety and a heavy presence of security forces on the streets. "I don't think anyone who hasn't experienced war would understand it," a terrified 26-year-old teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity. "When you hear the bombs, you have no idea where they will hit." The Iranian health ministry put the civilian death toll at 926 on Friday, with around 6,000 injured -- numbers that AFP could not independently verify. Israel has also intensified its air strikes on Lebanon, repeatedly bombing and ordering the evacuation of Beirut's densely populated southern suburbs, where the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah holds sway. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Saturday warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that his country would pay a "very heavy price" if it failed to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli commandos also launched an unsuccessful mission overnight to try to retrieve the remains of a navigator lost in 1986. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 217 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes over the last week, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has warned a "humanitarian disaster is looming". The consequences of the conflict reach far beyond those in the immediate firing line, however. Global stock markets have slumped, while crude oil prices have surged, with analysts warning that there appears to be no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials have suggested could last a month or more. Trump, who has given varying reasons for starting the war, has spurned fresh talks with Tehran, and said on Truth Social on Friday that "there will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER". - Defiance - Trump has also promised to help rebuild the country's economy if Tehran installs someone "acceptable" to him to replace Iran's late supreme leader. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States would have no role in selecting Khamenei's successor. "The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference," he added. Though Iranian retaliation has been inflicted widely across the Middle East, US rivals China and Russia have stayed largely out of the fray despite their ties to the Islamic Republic. Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support for an "immediate" ceasefire during a phone call with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, the Kremlin said. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States is "not concerned" about reports that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran on US troop positions and movements. The war has killed six US service members and Trump is to attend the return of their bodies at a transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. burs-adp/dc The Trump administration, bracing for further US casualties and weighing whether to deploy troops on the ground in Iran, has begun reaching out to Tehrans domestic opposition as potential allies to foment an uprising against the regime. In calls this week to Kurdish minority leaders in Iran and neighbouring Iraq, President Donald Trump offered extensive US air cover and other backing for anti-regime Iranian Kurds to take over portions of western Iran, according to people familiar with the effort. The American request to the Iraqi Kurds is to open the way and not obstruct Iranian Kurdish groups mobilising in Iraq, while also providing logistical support, said a senior official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of two main political parties governing Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Trump was clear in his call on Sunday to PUK leader Bafel Talabani. He told us the Kurds must choose a side in this battle, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. A senior official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), whose leader Masoud Barzani also received a call from Trump, confirmed the account but said the key factor was internal support within Iran rather than militia strength. Trump also spoke on Tuesday with Mustafa Hijri, head of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), the oldest Iranian Kurdish opposition party. In a statement on Wednesday, the party urged all [Iranian] soldiers and personnel especially in Kurdistan to abandon their bases and withdraw support from the regimes armed and repressive forces. The Iraqi Kurds, who have long provided refuge to their Iranian counterparts on the condition they do not plot against Tehran, risk undermining a fragile peace with the Iranian regime if the US and Israeli war efforts fail. Far more organised and powerful than Iranian Kurdish groups, Iraqi Kurds control their own region and economy despite internal rivalries and ongoing tensions with the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. Like their Iraqi counterparts, Iranian Kurds have historically focused more on regional autonomy than on secession or regime change. Representatives of the Iranian Kurdish coalition denied reports late Wednesday that they had begun an invasion from Iraq. Those rumours prompted what Iranian state media described as a pre-emptive strike targeting sites in Iraqs Kurdish region. Peshawa Hawramani, spokesman for the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), said the administration are not part of any campaign to expand the war and tensions in the region. Trump has publicly urged anti-regime Iranians to rise up against their government, though he has also suggested that cooperative elements of the current system could remain once its leadership is removed. Asked about reports that the CIA might arm Iranian Kurdish groups, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump had spoken to Kurdish leaders regarding US bases in northern Iraq but denied that any such plan had been approved. The CIA declined to comment. A US official cautioned that Kurdish cooperation with Washington remains uncertain, given a long history of the United States enlisting Kurdish support in conflicts before abandoning them. Could there be opportunities to work together and align interests? Absolutely, the official said. But Kurds on both sides of the Iraq-Iran border are likely to wait to see which way the wind is blowing in the ongoing war. The Kurds in Iran, numbering about 10 million across five western provinces, are among the largest minorities across Iraq, Syria and parts of Turkey. Yet they have often felt abandoned by Washington. Most recently, the US withdrew support from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces as the Trump administration shifted its approach towards engagement with the new regime in Damascus. Despite forming a coalition, Iranian Kurdish opposition groups have frequently been divided among themselves and with other opponents of Tehran, raising doubts about whether they could cooperate in forming a new government. Only one among them PJAK, the Kurdistan Free Life Party is believed to be significantly armed, largely through links with the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The challenge here is that the Iranian Kurdish fighters are limited in number and unlikely to receive broader support in non-Kurdish areas of Iran, said Victoria Taylor of the Atlantic Council. It seems like a recipe for ethnic discord. Gareth Stansfield, a professor of Middle East politics at the University of Exeter, said even the perception of US backing could make Kurdish regions a target. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have heavily targeted Iranian police and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities in the countrys western Kurdish regions, while US strikes have focused on missile launchers, airfields and other military targets in the south. Henri Barkey, a Kurdish expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Israels strikes in Kurdish areas appeared deliberate. They have done enormous damage to Iranian military capability there, he said. For Iraqi Kurdish leaders, the decision on whether to become directly involved remains fraught. Last year they signed an agreement with Tehran pledging to safeguard their section of the Iran-Iraq border against outside incursions. As the conflict widens, strikes launched from Iran and allied militias inside Iraq have already targeted the Kurdish capital, Erbil, apparently to deter support for Iranian opposition forces. We are in a very delicate position, the PUK official said. If this Iranian Kurdish ground offensive fails, we do not know what Irans reaction against the Kurdistan region of Iraq would be. Salim reported from Baghdad. Adam Taylor also contributed to this report. CORRECTED: India to push ahead with Russian oil imports: government source New Delhi, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 An Indian government source said Saturday that New Delhi was pushing ahead with imports of Russian oil, after a temporary US waiver to import crude from Moscow due to war in the Middle East. But India insists it did not need Washington's permission to do so, the source added. The US-Israel campaign against Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have upended the world's energy and transport sectors, causing a surge in global oil prices. Washington temporarily eased economic sanctions against Russia on Thursday to allow Russian oil stranded at sea to be sold to India. But India is not dependent on "a short-term waiver" for such purchases, the government source in New Delhi said. "India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil," they added. "India is still importing Russian oil even in February 2026, and Russia is still India's largest crude oil supplier." Washington rolled back a 25 percent duty on Indian exports in February as part of an interim trade deal after what it described as New Delhi's "commitment" to stop buying Russian oil. But this purported promise finds no mention in the joint statement and has neither been confirmed nor denied by the Indian government, which has maintained its oil procurement is guided by national interest. The government source said India was "well stocked" with more than 250 million barrels of crude and petroleum products to "handle short term disruptions". However, India on Saturday raised the price of household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders used for cooking by seven percent. Globally, crude soared 8.5 percent on Friday and was up nearly 30 percent for the week after President Donald Trump said only the "unconditional surrender" of Iran would end the Middle East war. Earlier in the week, India's petroleum ministry ordered refiners to ramp up LPG output, asking for propane and butane streams to be utilised for production. India is the world's second-largest LPG buyer and purchases more than 90 percent of its supply from the Middle East, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. Strike hits Iraqi Hashed al-Shaabi base near Mosul: PMF sources Mosul, Iraq, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 A strike targeted a military base belonging to the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi in northern Iraq on Saturday, two Hashed sources told AFP. "An airstrike, likely American, hit a Hashed base south of the city of Mosul," an official said. Another source confirmed the strike took place. The Hashed al-Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), is an alliance of factions now integrated into the regular army. Bases belonging to Hashed al-Shaabi have been hit several times since the start of the war in the Middle East, with strikes hitting Tehran-backed armed groups. Pro-Iran factions have brigades that operate within the Hashed al-Shaabi, but have a reputation for acting on their own. They are also part of the loose alliance of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq that has vowed not to stay neutral in the war and has been claiming attacks against US bases in Iraq and the region. Iraq, long a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, had said it did not want to be dragged into the conflict engulfing the Middle East, but it has not been spared. It was drawn into the war from the outset, with strikes blamed on the United States and Israel targeting Iran-backed groups. Failed Israeli commando operation to find airman remains kills 41 in Lebanon Nabi Sheet, Lebanon, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 An Israeli special forces operation that failed to find the remains of airman Ron Arad, captured in Lebanon in 1986, killed 41 people and wounded 40 in eastern Lebanon. Gutted buildings, torn-off roofs, munitions scattered on the ground surrounded a large crater in Nabi Sheet, the town that witnessed the operation which involved air strikes and clashes. "The sounds of the explosions were like something out of a movie," Nabi Sheet resident Mohammed Mussa, 55, told AFP during a media tour organised by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. "We later understood that there was a commando operation underway." The operation was met with "resistance", he said, referring to Hezbollah fighters in the area, adding that it had "escalated into clashes and attacks against the Israelis". The explosions were powerful enough to send a car onto a building's second floor. Another damaged home showed the shredded remains of posters of Hezbollah leaders. The strikes on Nabi Sheet and its surroundings killed 41 people and wounded 40, Lebanon's health ministry said. The Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings for the area at noon on Friday. "With this warning, we prepared and evacuated the children from the town to protect them," Nabi Sheet mayor Hani Moussawi said. Israel's military said Saturday it had carried out an operation overnight in Lebanon to find Arad's remains but had failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986. "No findings related to him were located... No IDF (military) injuries were reported," the army said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said later that while the operation did not yield any traces of Arad, Israel's commitment to tracking down all its missing servicemen remained "absolute and permanent". Lebanese military chief Rodolphe Haykal said the Israeli soldiers wore military uniforms similar to those of the Lebanese army and used military vehicles and ambulances similar to those of the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority. Haykal added that Israeli attacks targeting Lebanon were hindering the implementation of the army's plan to disarm Hezbollah. - 'Infiltration' - Hezbollah said earlier Saturday it had confronted Israeli troops that infiltrated an east Lebanon town overnight by helicopter. The group said its fighters had "observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction". After landing and disembarking, the advancing troops "were engaged" by Hezbollah fighters as they reached a cemetery in Nabi Sheet, it added. "The clash escalated after the enemy force was exposed," Hezbollah said, adding that Israeli troops launched strikes before evacuating. An AFP correspondent in eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah holds sway, heard warplanes and intense gunfire throughout the night. Lebanon's military said it witnessed a commando operation by Israeli forces, adding that "three soldiers and a number of civilians were killed as a result of the violent enemy shelling" that accompanied the attack. Arad has been missing since he was captured after he ejected from his combat jet over Lebanon in 1986 as the aircraft went down. He is presumed dead, though his remains have never been returned. Arad's wife Tami thanked the military but said the lives of soldiers should not be put "at risk" in the hunt for traces of her husband, Israeli media reported. - 'Resist' - In the town's cemetery, an AFP journalist saw a hole that looked like a dug-up grave, surrounded by other tombstones. Earlier on Saturday, a Hezbollah official in the Bekaa region, where Nabi Sheet is located, told AFP that the cemetery the Israelis raided belonged to the Shukr family. Last month, Lebanese authorities charged four people with kidnapping Ahmad Shukr -- whose brother Hassan is suspected of involvement in Arad's capture -- on behalf of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. As the Israelis withdrew after the failed operation, mayor Moussawi said "the bombing became indiscriminate and very heavy, resulting in destruction in dozens of locations". "It cost a great deal: infrastructure, destruction and the blood of our sons," he added, insisting however that "as long as Israel exists, we will continue to resist it". Israel has launched numerous strikes and sent ground troops into Lebanon since Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Lebanon's health ministry on Saturday said Israeli attacks on the country had killed nearly 300 people since Monday. burs-del/lba/nad/amj/rh War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Saturday: - Trump hails war progress - US President Donald Trump told Latin American leaders at a Florida summit: "We're doing very well in Iran, and you see the result." Repeating his claim that Iran had been close to having a nuclear weapon, he added: "They're crazy and they would have used it. So we did the world a favour." Earlier, in a post on his Truth Social Platform, he warned the United States would hit Iran "very hard" and threatened to expand strikes to include new targets. - IRGC aircraft targeted - Israel said it hit 16 military aircraft belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in overnight strikes on Mehrabad airport, in Tehran. The airport was hit as part of a wave of Israeli strikes on the Iranian cities of Tehran and Isfahan. Israeli and US attacks around Isfahan killed at least eight people, a provincial official said. - Strike hits base near Mosul - A strike, thought to be American, hit a military base of the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi in northern Iraq Saturday, two Hashed sources told AFP. The Hashed al-Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), is an alliance of factions now integrated into the regular army. It has pro-Iran factions within it, said to act on their own. Bases belonging to Hashed al-Shaabi have been hit several times since the start of the war in the Middle East. - Dubai airport briefly closed - Dubai briefly closed its main airport -- a key global transport hub -- after an unidentified object was intercepted nearby. The UAE said it was targeted with 16 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones on Saturday. - Qatar intercepts missile - Qatar's defence ministry said Saturday its forces intercepted a missile, shortly after AFP journalists heard explosions and sirens sounded in central Doha. - US uses UK bases - Britain's government said the US had started using UK bases -- one in England, the other the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean -- for operations against Iran. Its defence ministry said the US flights from the bases were for "specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region". - Iran targets Iraqi Kurdistan - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they were targeting "separatist groups" in Iraq's Kurdistan region, which hosts bases operated by several Iranian Kurdish militant groups and which lies across the border from Iran's own Kurdish region. - Israeli warns Lebanese - Israel's military on Saturday warned the remaining residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway, to evacuate immediately in an Arab-language post on X. Earlier Israel ordered residents in a district of Lebanon's southern city of Tyre to evacuate ahead of strikes, saying it would "soon" target Hezbollah sites there. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah -- which has joined in Iran's retaliation against Israel -- or "pay a very heavy price". - Missing aviator - Israel's military said it had carried out an operation in Lebanon to find remains of airman Ron Arad, but failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986. - Saudi warning - Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman urged Iran to "avoid miscalculation", following missile and drone launches against the kingdom. In a series of statements, the Saudi defence ministry said it had thwarted repeated missile launches at an air base which houses US military personnel and drone attacks at a major oil field. - Iran apology - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would not surrender to Israel and the United States and apologised to neighbouring countries for Iran's attacks. "No more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries," he said. - Oil tanker targeted - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they had targeted another oil tanker in the Gulf with a drone. The Guards earlier said they were "waiting" for US forces to escort ships through the strait. burs-jj/rmb Iranian body to meet within a day to choose next supreme leader: local media Tehran, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 A member of Iran's Assembly of Experts said Saturday the body would meet within a day to choose the country's next supreme leader, Iranian media reported. "With divine assistance, this session will occur within the next twenty-four hours," said Hossein Mozafari, one of the assembly's 88 members, cited by the Fars news agency. The statement came a week after the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack. Mozafari also urged Iranians to "refrain from any speculation and the spreading of rumors regarding this matter" as the assembly has not yet convened for a session. US slams Iran strikes on Azerbaijan as 'needless escalation' Washington, United States, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 The United States on Saturday condemned Iran's drone strikes earlier this week on an Azerbaijan border region, describing the attack as a "needless escalation" of aggression by Tehran during the Middle East war. The State Department said Thursday's "unprovoked drone attack" targeted an airport and school in Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan bordering Iran, and that innocent civilians were injured. "These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and a needless escalation of Iran's aggression," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement, adding that attacks on American partners in the region "are unacceptable and will be met with resolute US support for those partners." Protesters come out for Iran, against war in spots across the globe Paris, France, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Lion-emblazoned flags of pre-revolution Iran fluttered in cities across the world on Saturday as demonstrators took to the streets a week after the start of the war in the Middle East. Some protesters came out in support of Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of the country's late shah, while others denounced the option. Others demonstrated against the war and some in support of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first US-Israeli strikes of the conflict. Paris saw two demonstrations: one supporting the son of the late shah to head up a transition, and another denouncing that scenario. "I support Pahlavi who is calling for a revolution," Masoud Ghanaatian, 35, a student, told AFP at a protest in southern Paris, where participants carried photos of the late shah's son and waved US, Israeli and pre-revolution Iran flags. "He's a democrat. He can oversee a transition and promises to organise elections." Hundreds of pro-Pahlavi demonstrations also gathered in Stockholm, holding up pictures of him and his late father. But farther north, protesters wearing yellow vests reading "Free Iran" showed off stickers on their hands that read "No Shah, no Mullah". In Amsterdam protesters snaked along one of the city's canals, holding up Israeli, American and pre-revolution Iran flags, as they called on the government to invite Pahlavi to the country and to close the Iranian embassy. Shortly after dawn in Britain, anti-war protesters gathered at the entrance of an air force base in Fairford, southwest of England, holding signs reading "Hands off Iran," "Peace" and "Yanks go home". A demonstrations against the war also took place in Cyprus. In South Africa -- which has dragged Israel to International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide during the Gaza war, a charge Israel denies -- dozens gathered in front of the US consulate in Johannesburg, holding up photos of Khamenei, the Islamic republic's flag and signs bashing Israel. In Cape Town, Iranian pro-democracy activists and supporters of Israel waved Israeli flags and chanted slogans in the Albert Waterfront shopping mall. Several counter-protesters carried signs denouncing Israel and in support of the Palestinians. burs/yad/rmb Turkey may deploy F-16s to north Cyprus amid Mideast war Ankara, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Turkey is considering the possibility of sending F-16 fighter jets to Northern Cyprus as a security measure, a Turkish defence ministry source said Saturday, days after the island was targeted by a drone attack. "In light of recent developments, phased planning is being carried out to ensure the security of the TRNC," the source said, referring to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a territory which is only recognised by Ankara. "The deployment of F-16 aircraft to the island is among the options being considered." Cyprus, a European Union member that currently holds the bloc's rotating presidency, has been directly affected by retaliatory attacks following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with an Iranian-made drone hitting a British base on the island on Monday. Nicosia said the drone was probably fired by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and not from Iran itself. Following the incident, several European countries pledged assistance to Cyprus, sending air defences and other military assets. With the conflict raging across the Middle East, Turkey's Defence Minister Yaser Guler said there was a "very low" chance of any direct conflict between Turkey, a NATO member, and Israel, one of Washington's closest allies. Turkey has frequently clashed with Israel over a range of issues, notably the Gaza war and Israeli intervention in Syria, but Guler played down fears of any confrontation between the two regional powers. - 'Very low' chance of Israel clash - "Mounting tensions in the Middle East and the Mediterranean have significantly affected relations between Turkey and Israel in recent years," he told Turkey's Posta newspaper on Friday. "Although there is a risk of direct military conflict, we currently see the likelihood of this as very low. To prevent undesirable situations, communication channels have been set up to reduce misunderstandings on the ground." He also reiterated calls for Turkey to be readmitted to Washington's F-35 fighter jet programme, saying it was important "for strengthening Turkey-US ties and NATO security". Washington booted Ankara out of its F-35 programme over its purchase of an S-400 Russian surface-to-air missile defence system, saying the system could allow the Russians to spy on the stealth jet's capabilities. Both NATO allies appear keen to end the dispute, but Washington wants Turkey to get rid of the system. "The S?400 is a system we procured to meet our air defence needs at the time.. we informed our US counterparts of our intention to use it as a self-contained system, without integrating it into NATO systems," he said. "For this reason, we still consider this option to be the most reasonable solution." One fighter killed in strikes on Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi Mosul, Iraq, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 An Iraqi fighter was killed Saturday in airstrikes on military bases belonging to the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi in the country's north, authorities said. The government's security media cell said that "at 18:10 (1510 GMT), unidentified aircraft struck the 40th brigade of the Hashed al-Shaabi", or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), and that a second strike hit another base in the northern Nineveh province. One fighter was killed and three others wounded, the media cell said, without specifying in which of the strikes. Earlier, a PMF official told AFP that "an airstrike, likely American, hit a Hashed base" housing the 40th brigade south of the city of Mosul, and later said that there were casualties. The Hashed al-Shaabi is an alliance of factions now integrated into the regular army. Bases belonging to Hashed have been hit several times since the start of the war in the Middle East, with strikes hitting Tehran-backed armed groups. Pro-Iran factions have brigades that operate within the Hashed al-Shaabi, but have a reputation for acting on their own. They are also part of the loose alliance of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq that has vowed not to stay neutral in the war and has been claiming attacks against US bases in Iraq and the region. Iraq, long a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, had said it did not want to be dragged into the conflict engulfing the Middle East, but it has not been spared. It was drawn into the war from the outset, with strikes blamed on the United States and Israel targeting Iran-backed groups. Iran security chief says US, Israel seeking 'disintegration of Iran' Tehran, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Iran's security chief Ali Larijani said on Saturday that the United States and Israel were seeking to break the Islamic republic apart. "Their issue was... the fundamental disintegration of Iran," said Larijani in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV. On February 28, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a war in the Middle East. Iran responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as US interests across the region. Larijani said the US was seeking to replicate in Iran a scenario similar to Venezuela, where interim president Delcy Rodriguez has cooperated with it under threat of violence after Washington ousted her boss, Nicolas Maduro. "I think the most important problem the Americans have is that they do not understand the context of West Asia, especially Iran," said Larijani. "Their perception was that it would be like Venezuela -- they would strike, take control and it would be over -- but now they are trapped." Larijani reiterated warnings against inciting Iranian Kurds after US President Donald Trump said he backed a Kurdish offensive in the Islamic republic. "The armed forces had clearly told these groups (Kurds), 'if you make a mistake, we will bring you to account'," he said. Sonora, CA Find out how to live with fire through a new series of meetings that teach how to live with fire and reduce potential losses from wildfires. The Tuolumne Fire Safe Council and the League of Women Voters of the Mother Lode are sponsoring the Living with Fire series through March, hosted by Columbia College and Black Oak Casino. It consists of meetings that educate participants on coexisting with fire and minimizing potential wildfire losses. There will be films, speakers, panel discussions, and audience participation activities at the meetings. Each meeting will last for four hours. Forest officials provided this list of meetings: Session 1: Fire RiskHow did we get here? What now? Saturday, March 7, 9 am-1 pm at Columbia Colleges Dogwood Forum Building. Session 2: Reducing Risk and Building Resilience, Saturday, March 14, 9 am-1 pm at Black Oak Casino Resort Conference Center Session 3: Community Prevention & Individual Responsibility, Saturday, March 21, 9 am-1 pm at Black Oak Casino Resort Conference Center The three series sessions are all on Saturdays, free to attend, and no registration is required. For more details, click here. Iran military warns Azerbaijan to expel Israeli presence Tehran, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Iran's military called on its neighbour Azerbaijan to "expel the Zionists" from its territory on Saturday in order to preserve its security, a day after Baku accused Tehran of plotting attacks on its territory. Israel is a close ally of Azerbaijan's and a key arms supplier, while Tehran has long accused Israel of using Azerbaijani territory for intelligence operations. "We declare to Iran's neighbouring country, the Republic of Azerbaijan, as a Muslim country, to expel the Zionists from that country in order to prevent the spread of insecurity in the region and not to endanger the security of its people and Islamic Iran," a military spokesman said in a statement. Azerbaijan on Friday said it had foiled a series of planned Iranian terrorist attacks on its territory including on a key oil pipeline, a synagogue and Jewish community leaders. Iran did not comment on the accusations. On Thursday at least four drones crashed into Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan, including one that hit an airport, with Baku blaming Tehran. Tehran denied the allegation and accused Israel of trying to stage a provocation. Trump rejects deployment of UK aircraft carriers to Gulf war Dover, United States, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 US President Donald Trump said Saturday that "two aircraft carriers" from Britain are not needed "any longer" to aid his war in the Middle East -- his latest critique of London's stance. The United Kingdom "is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer," Trump posted to his Truth Social account. "But we will remember," he said. "We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!" Trump posted the message shortly after attending the return of the first six US service members killed in the Middle East war, at Dover Airforce Base in the northeastern state of Delaware. British media reports say the Royal Navy is preparing the HMS Prince Wales, an aircraft carrier currently at Portsmouth in southern England, for possible deployment to the Middle East, but no final decision had been made. Trump has said he is "not happy with the UK," mocking Starmer by saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with." Starmer initially refused to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which started a week ago, on February 28. Starmer later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose." US starts using UK bases for 'defensive' Iran operations Fairford, United Kingdom, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 The United States has started using British bases for certain operations against Iran during the Middle East war, the UK government announced Saturday. Britain's defence ministry said the US had begun using the military sites for "specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region". Later Saturday, US President Donald Trump rejected what he said were British plans to possibly send two aircraft carriers to the region -- hours after having mocked Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his initial reluctance to get involved in the conflict. Starmer annoyed Trump for initially refusing to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28. He later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose". Those bases are Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwestern England, and the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. A US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber landed at Fairford on Saturday, an AFP photographer saw. An American C-5 Galaxy plane could also be seen on the runway of the base, as anti-war protesters demonstrated outside. - Trump's broadside - Earlier in the week, Trump had said he was "not happy with the UK" and mocked Starmer, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with". Then in a post late Saturday on his Truth Social platform he dismissed what he said were British plans to possibly send two aircraft carriers to the region. "The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East," he posted. "That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer -- But we will remember," he said. "We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!" Earlier Saturday, the BBC and other UK media speculated that the HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain's two aircraft carriers, could be deployed to the Mediterranean, though the reports said no decision had yet been taken. A defence ministry spokesperson said: "HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment." Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, has defended his initial decision by saying any British action "must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan". He has also insisted he was right to change that position because Iran's retaliation with missiles and drones to the US-Israeli strikes had threatened British interests and allies in the region. Lawmakers in Starmer's ruling Labour party remain haunted by former prime minister Tony Blair's disastrous support for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. A Survation poll of 1,045 Britons published Friday found that 56 percent of respondents believed Starmer was right not to involve Britain in the initial strikes. Only 27 percent said he was wrong. Several thousand people, many waving Iranian flags, marched through central London to the US embassy on Saturday to protest against the war. Some demonstrators waved placards with slogans including "Stop Trump's Wars" and "Stop Arming Israel". burs-jj/js Strikes on Iranian opposition groups in Iraq's Kurdistan Erbil, Iraq, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Several strikes hit Kurdish Iranian militants in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on Saturday, officials from the exiled groups told AFP. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday morning they had targeted "separatist groups" in Iraq's Kurdistan, as the war against Israel and the United States entered its second week. The autonomous region hosts camps and rear bases operated by several Iranian Kurdish militant groups that have repeatedly come under Iranian fire since the war began. On Saturday morning, an official from an exiled opposition group told AFP that drones had struck positions belonging to three Iranian Kurdish parties in the Erbil region without causing casualties. The parties included the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and the Komala party. Then in the night, attacks hit positions belonging to the Komala party, killing one fighter and wounding three, in the Sulaimaniyah region, an official from the group said. After midnight, an AFP correspondent reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke rising from an area where UN offices are located in the city of Sulaimaniyah. Drones were hovering over the city, the AFP correspondent said. Earlier, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency: "Three locations of separatist groups in the Iraqi region (of Kurdistan) were hit... this morning." "If separatist groups in the region make any move against Iran's territorial integrity, we will crush them," the Guards added. Tehran threatened to target "all the facilities" of Kurdistan if militants were allowed to enter the Islamic republic. The Iraqi government and the autonomous region said Friday that Iraq must not be a launchpad for attacks against neighbouring countries, following reports that militants might attempt to cross into Iran. Iraq's border guard commander Mohammed Sukar said Saturday that the Iraq-Iran border was secure, and there had been no attempt to infiltrate Iran, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). burs/cbg-rh/jj The Government has been heavily criticised for not sending a warship more swiftly to defend Cyprus, where RAF Akrotiri has been hit by a drone strike, with HMS Dragon not due to arrive in the region until several days after military vessels from France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands get there. It read: In 2003, hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq, and we were ignored, but we are here today to say loudly and clearly: do not drag Britain into another illegal war. One reason it is taking some time to prepare the Type 45 destroyer is because it is being equipped to remain at sea for several months if required, rather than rushed into the eastern Mediterranean for a short period. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Mr Carney said: I certainly think his actions are deplorable and have caused him to be stripped of his royal titles, certainly merit, if thats the word necessitate is a better word his removal from the line of succession. Six Nations permutations: How France and Ireland can now win title on Super Saturday How France and Ireland can now win Six Nations title on Super Saturday MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Charles Sonny Burton said no one was supposed to get hurt during the 1991 AutoZone robbery that landed him on death row, and he only learned later that another man in the group of robbers had shot and killed a store customer. I didnt know anything about nobody getting hurt until we were on the way back. No, nobody supposed to get hurt, Burton said in a telephone interview last month from Alabamas Holman Correctional Facility. Burton, 75, is scheduled to be put to death on March 12 for the killing of Doug Battle, a 34-year-old Army veteran and father of four. He will be executed by nitrogen gas, a method the state began using in 2024. No one disputes that Battle was shot and killed by another man, Derrick DeBruce. DeBruce was initially sentenced to death but a federal court vacated the death sentence after finding he had inadequate counsel. He was resentenced to life imprisonment and died in prison. Burtons supporters and family members have urged Gov. Kay Ivey to consider clemency for him. Multiple jurors from Burtons 1992 trial are among those urging his life be spared. Battles daughter sent a letter to Ivey urging clemency, asking how does it legally make sense to execute Burton. The Associated Press was unable to reach other members of Battles family. Even people who are strongly in favor of the death penalty recognize that this situation is wrong, said Matt Schulz, an assistant federal defender who represents Burton. Even by the states evidence here, Mr. Burton did not kill anyone. Mr. Burton did not order anyone killed. He wasnt even in the building. Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola said Friday that the governor reviews each execution case and, at this time, as previously noted, Governor Ivey has no plans to grant clemency. A jury convicted Mr. Burton of capital murder and unanimously recommended a sentence of death. Over the past 33 years, his conviction and sentence has been reviewed at least nine times, and no court has found any reason to overturn the jurys decision, Maiola wrote in an email. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls office has opposed the clemency request. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the execution of non-triggermen under certain circumstances, including participating in a felony where someone was killed. Robin M. Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said the group has documented at least 22 cases where the person executed participated in a felony during which a victim died at the hands of another participant. She said she believes most people would agree the death penalty should be used only for people who actually kill someone. The shooting occurred Aug. 16, 1991, during a robbery at an auto parts store in Talladega. Court testimony indicated that after Burton and other robbers had left the store, DeBruce shot Battle. Battle had entered the store as the robbery was winding down and exchanged words with DeBruce. Burton said he never heard the gunshot and didnt know about it until later. DeBruce told me one man got shot, that he shot him in the rump. I said, Man you didnt tell me you done shot someone. I was angry. I was really angry. I was angry, Burton recalled. He later learned that the man died. Prosecutors at trial portrayed Burton as the ringleader of the robbery and culpable for Battles death. He disputes that assessment. Burton said he wants to apologize to Battles family. Im so sorry. If I had the power to bring him back, I would. Im so sorry, Burton said. He said he is grateful that one of Battles children has offered him forgiveness. He also said he is hopeful that the governor will change her mind. I hope and pray to God that you will grant me clemency. Allow me to reach out to the young people in the street, Burton said. Burtons daughter, Lois Harris, last month held signs outside the governors mansion reading, Save My Daddy and Clemency for Sonny. Its not fair that he gets the death penalty and the killer gets life. It is just so wrong, Harris said. By KIM CHANDLER Associated Press Think of all of the flavors youd be missing the spices, the textures, the techniques, the people if Austin had remained a fairly one-dimensional food world, a place defined exclusively by the cuisines already rooted here. Immigrant chefs have imbued our culinary world with personal narratives baked into the recipes of their homes, of their families. The restaurant scene in Austin, and throughout the United States, owes much of its excitement and richness to the diverse community of chefs and restaurant owners who have arrived from abroad, armed with stories to tell and dishes to share. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In honor of International Womens Day, we asked six women chef-restaurateurs from around the world about sharing the food of their native countries with Austin. Lakana Trubiana, chef-owner of Dee Dee Country Style Thai Chef Lakana Trubiana operated Dee Dee Thai as a trailer for a decade before moving her operation to a permanent home at Leona Botanical Cafe and Bar in Sunset Valley. PROVIDED BY STAR CHEFS Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, savory, toasty, floral, herbaceous, umami you will encounter almost every flavor profile imaginable, sometimes in one bite, at Lakana Trubianas Thai concept that translates to Good Good. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She operated Dee Dee as a trailer with husband, Justin Trubiana, for almost a decade before their bucolic Leona Botanical Cafe and Bar opened in Sunset Valley. The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin. Its an act that bonds her to home. Roasted chicken with Thai marinade, jim jeow sauce and sticky rice from Dee Dee. PROVIDED BY DEE DEE /PROVIDED BY DEE DEE Through food I am able to stay connected with them, and I love that I get to share such an important part of my life with people in Austin, Trubiana said. A little bit of home, in my new home, Texas. It's really special seeing people enjoy something new they've never had before and being able to help recreate that experience from my childhood. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 6405 Brodie Lane, deedeeatx.com. Iliana de la Vega, chef-owner of El Naranjo Chef Iliana de la Vega (center) works with her daughter, chef Ana Torrealba (left), at El Naranjo and with her daughter Isabel Torrealba (right) on a culinary tourism business called Culinary Traditions. PROVIDED BY TANYA CHAVEZ The unofficial matriarch of the modern Mexican movement in Austin and 2022 James Beard winner of Best Chef: Texas, Iliana de la Vega operated her restaurant in Oaxaca from 1997 to 2006 before bringing her exquisite moles to Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The complex sauces at her minimalist but handsome restaurant range from the rich, deep notes of a mole negro, well suited for duck breast, to a bright, herbaceous mole verde pooled around seared halibut. The Mexico City native and former Mexican Cuisines Specialist at the Culinary Institute of America opened El Naranjo on Rainey Street in 2012 with husband Ernesto Torrealba before moving it to South Lamar in 2019. She recently named her daughter, Ana Torrealba, chef de cuisine. Mole negro with duck at El Naranjo. MATTHEW ODAM/AMERICAN-STATESMAN Historically and traditionally, women created Mexican cuisine. The techniques, tools and knowledge that make our countrys recipes were passed down generationally from one woman to the next. Because of this, our cuisine is only taught in family kitchens. You cant learn it in culinary school. I learned to cook from my mother and aunt, and for me it is an honor to share this generational knowledge, our culinary heritage, not only with Austin, but also with my own daughters, said de la Vega, whose daughter Isabel helps her run culinary tourism operation, Culinary Traditions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 2717 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite 1085, elnaranjorestaurant.com. Laila Bazahm of El Raval and Siti Chef Laila Bazahm opened her second Austin restaurant, Siti, a Southeast Asian restaurant honoring the food of her Filipino heritage and her time working and living in Singapore, in 2025. PROVIDED BY MACKENZIE SMITH Laila Bazahm has done double duty with her hospitality vision in Austin. She created El Raval as a way to transport the bar and tapas culture of her adopted Barcelona to South Austin and later tapped into her childhood in Southeast Austin to create Siti. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The East Austin restaurants menu includes everything from the claypot adobo of her Filipino heritage and the rendang of Indonesia, where she later lived and worked, to the aromatic laksa associated with nearby Malaysia. Siti serves dishes that represent that colorful flavors of Southeast Asia. PROVIDED BY MACKENZIE SMITH "Siti is my heritage and my homage to Southeast Asian women. I even chose the name Siti, the honorable Malaysian word for lady, to honor my childhood growing up and cooking with my mother, sister, grandmother and eight aunts, Bazahm said. Getting to recreate the dishes I grew up making and really missed eating in Austin from living in Asia makes me happy to share them with our guests, who've maybe never heard of them before. 1500 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite 150, elravalatx.com; 1123 E. 11th St. sitiatx.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Daniela and Rosa de Lima Hernandez, chef-owners of La Santa Barbacha Sisters Daniela and Rosa de Lima Hernandez of Statesman Top Taco offering La Santa Barbacha earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Best Chef: Texas. MATTHEW ODAM/AMERICAN-STATESMAN Sisters Daniela and Rosa de Lima Hernandez, natives of Queretaro, Mexico, grew up serving barbacoa with their father on Sundays outside of the church in their hometown. With support from their mother, the sisters bring that same familial spirit and reverence for the maguey-wrapped, slow-cooked beef to their two Austin locations. The juicy beef is the star of the menu here, and you can amp up the indulgence with a taco slapped with a coat of melted cheese. The tacos, including a colorful vegetarian version studded with nobs of cauliflower, are served on some of the citys best corn tortillas, some blushed with pink from beets or green from the soft steel of spinach. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tacos at La Santa Barbacha. MATTHEW ODAM/AMERICAN-STATESMAN We are so proud of our culture, roots and people. When we moved here from Mexico, we didn't want to forget where we came from, Rosa said. As Mexican women, chefs, owners and sisters, we come from a deep history of powerful, creative and beautiful women, and we hope we can continue honoring them in our cuisine, cooking with love and pride for everyone, creating unforgettable memories. When people visit La Santa Barbacha we want them to feel like home, like they are visiting our house in Mexico with our whole family. 2806 Manor Road. 1212 W. Sixth St. lasantabarbacha.com. Woinee Miriam, chef-owner of Taste of Ethiopia Woinee Mariam operates two locations of Taste of Ethiopia in the Austin area. PROVIDED BY TASTE OF ETHIOPIA Few people in the Austin area welcome diners with the care exuded by Woinee Miriam, who opened the first Taste of Ethiopia with her husband, Solomon Hailu, in Pflugerville in 2009. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That familial warmth is mirrored in Ethiopian dining, where you might tear a spongy piece of injera to scoop some of the split lentils, collard greens and stewed string beans from my vegetarian sampler, as I reach for the berbere-and-ginger-buzzed cubes of beef tibs on yours. Many dishes at Taste of Ethiopia are served on a round of injera. MATTHEW ODAM/AMERICAN-STATESMAN I credit my mom for teaching me the essence of cooking. This is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I get to meet people from all walks of life, Miriam told the American-Statesman after opening her first restaurant. There is nothing more satisfying than to see people come and dine and leave satisfied. I enjoy serving the first-timers who never had Ethiopian food. I see the skepticism in their eyes and hear it in their tone of voice. Then, I comfort them and explain the traditions and the food. 3801 S. Congress Ave. 512-814-4131; 1100 Grand Ave. Pkwy, Pflugerville, 512-251-4053, tasteofethiopia.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Janelle Romeo, chef-owner of Twin Isle Janelle Romeo opened her Twin Isle in East Austin in the summer of 2025. PROVIDED BY JESSICA ATTIE Janelle Romeo moved to Austin from Trinidad and Tobago as a child and says she didnt realize how much the absence of her cultural heritage had affected her until later in life. That longing created in her a mission to share her culture and bring a deeper understanding of it to Austin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The counter-service cafe glows with shiny service and a buzz of curried spices enveloping chicken, goat, chickpeas and more. The doubles fried flatbreads stuffed with chickpeas and tangy and cool chutneys, which are served only on the weekends and the crunchy and gooey cubes of macaroni pie are Caribbean-accented culinary comfort. Chef Janelle Romeo's Twin Isle serves flavors of her native Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. PROVIDED BY JESSICA ATTIE When guests dine at Twin Isle, I want them to feel a sense of home the moment they walk through the door. Every detail, from what I serve to how its served, is intentional. Caribbean culture is rooted in warmth and togetherness. We gather, we share, we welcome, Romeo said. There is so much beauty in what we can share culturally, and food is one of the most powerful ways to begin understanding who we are in Trinidad and Tobago. 1401 Rosewood Ave., Suite A-1, twinislerestaurant.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More international women-owned restaurants in Austin Arlo Grey. Modern-American cuisine tinged with influences of Top Chef winner Kristin Kishs Korean heritage inside the Line hotel. 111 E. Cesar Chavez St. thelinehotel.com/austin. Buenos Aires Cafe. This restaurant from chef Reina Morris and daughter Paola Guerrero-Smith has been serving up Argentine classics for more than 20 years. 1201 E. Sixth St. buenosairescafe.com; 13500 Galleria Circle, Suite U-120, Bee Cave, buenosairescafegalleria.com. Comadre Panaderia. Mariela Camacho, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, opened her Mexican bakery in 2023 and was named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine in 2025. 1204 Cedar Ave. comadrepanaderia.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad El Alma. Moles, enchiladas, grilled fish with garlic ancho butter and almost a dozen tacos are on the menu at the two locations of executive chef Alma Alcocer-Thomass restaurants. 4521 West Gate Blvd., 1025 Barton Springs Road. elalmacafe.com. Ensenada. The mother-daughter team of Liz Everett and Stephanie Everett Martin longed for the seafood flavors of their home in Baja, so they brought some of the best seafood tacos to Texas. 1108 E. 12th St. Instagram.com/ensenadaatx. Gabrielas Group. Michoacan, Mexico native Gabriela Bucio co-founded a hospitality group that is now an empire, with properties including Gabrielas, Taquero Mucho and Seareinas. Instagram.com/gabriela.atx. Kiin Di. Panyada Chaikantha and Bee Ruengphanits Thai trailer was so good it launched a brick-and-mortar restaurant on South Lamar Boulevard. 2414 S. Lamar Blvd. Suite A, Instagram.com/kiindiatx. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kome and Uroko. Kayo Asazu and her husband transformed the Sushi A Go Go trailer into Kome and are also partners in the handroll and omakase spot Uroko. 5301 Airport Blvd., Suite 100, kome-austin.com; 1023 Springdale Road, Bldg 1., Suite C, urokoaustin.com. Le Calamar. Korean-American restaurateur Claudia Lee and husband Richard Hargreave evolved their Korean-inspired Underdog into a French-Texan bistro, Austins best new restaurant of 2025. 1600 S. First St., Suite 100, le-calamar.com. Lima Criolla and Brasas Peruanas. Susana Vivanco shares the flavors of her native Peru with diners at her Austin and Round Rock restaurants. 6406 N. I-35, limacriolla.com; 206 N. Mays St., Round Rock, brasasperuanas.us. Nixta Taqueria. Iranian-American Sara Mardanbigi and husband Edgar Rico operate one of the best restaurants in Austin, with Persian influences showing up in the occasional dish and pop-up event. 2512 E. 12th St. nixtataqueria.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Qi, Ling Kitchen, Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum and Ling Wu. Fuzhou native chef Ling Qi Wu guides a modern Chinese empire that runs from dim sum bar (Lin Asian) to fine dining tasting menu (Ling Kitchen). Qi: 835 W. Sixth St, Suite 114, qiaustin.com; Ling Kitchen: 8423 Research Blvd, lingkitchen.com; Lin Asian: 1203 W. Sixth St., linasianbar.com; Ling Wu: 2625 Perseverance Dr., 7415 Southwest Pkwy lingwuatx.com. Thai Fresh and Gati. Bangkok native Jam Sanitchats soups, curries, salads and vegan desserts have made the restaurant she and partner Bruce Barnes opened in 2008 a staple in South Austin for almost 20 years. Her Gati is a globe-hopping homage to her travels. 909 W. Mary St., thai-fresh.com; 1512 Holly St., gatiatx.com. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old college student at Babson College, was detained by ICE while trying to make a surprise trip to see her family in Austin. Within about 48 hours of her arrest, the agency deported her to Honduras. Courtesy of Todd Pomerleau A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by an Austin college student who was deported to Honduras, ruling that his Massachusetts court no longer had jurisdiction over her case after she declined to board a court-ordered flight back to the United States last week. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman at Babson College near Boston, was detained by immigration officials in November while traveling to surprise her Austin-based family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Authorities later transferred her to Texas before deporting her to Honduras, despite a federal court order directing the government not to deport her. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Federal attorneys later said the deportation was a mistake, but argued the Massachusetts court lacked authority because Lopez Belloza had already left the state by the time the order was issued. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns initially ordered the federal government to facilitate her return to the U.S. while the case proceeded. Officials arranged a flight for Lopez Belloza to return last week, but she declined to board the plane after learning immigration officials intended to detain her upon arrival and potentially deport her again, according to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau. In a Friday order, Stearns said Lopez Bellozas decision not to board the plane effectively ended the courts ability to continue hearing the case. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this courts only remaining basis for jurisdiction, the judge wrote in an electronic order dismissing the petition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lopez Bellozas attorneys had argued the case should remain in Massachusetts federal court because immigration officials moved her quickly between detention centers, complicating efforts by her attorneys to file legal challenges. Stearns rejected the argument, saying there was no evidence the government deliberately concealed her location from lawyers. Court records show Lopez Belloza was listed in the immigration detention system as being held in Massachusetts for a full day before she was transferred to Texas, he wrote, giving her legal team time to file a petition there. The judge also wrote that if Lopez Belloza had returned to the U.S. on the arranged flight last week, she would have likely been held in the Southern District of Texas, where she could have filed a new legal challenge while a court order preventing her removal remained in place. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Instead, Stearns ruled, the governments compliance with the order to facilitate her return resolved the remaining dispute. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to the American-Statesmans request for comment. Lopez Bellozas attorney said his team filed a notice of appeal just 30 minutes after the judge issued his ruling. The case will now go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston. Were confident we have a very good legal issue, Pomerleau said Friday. The problem is, Anys not a legal issue. Shes a person. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pomerleau told the Statesman that Lopez Belloza has been taking online courses to continue her degree path at Babson while in Honduras, but he doesnt anticipate her returning to campus until fall semester, at the earliest. He said she was worried that she would be detained if she boarded the court-ordered flight, potentially missing school and jeopardizing her studies. If she came back last week, she wouldve been in jail, he said. She mightve been deported from the country again by now. Lopez Belloza was subject to a removal order issued in 2017. She first entered the U.S. with her mother when she was 8 years old, and the family eventually settled in Austin. Lopez Bellozas legal team has begun a new case for legal status through a visa, which is currently in progress. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Rep. Greg Casar said he would continue supporting the effort to bring Lopez Belloza back to the U.S. through this hurdle, as well. Police responded to a mass shooting on West Sixth Street in downtown Austin on Sunday, March 1, 2026, with ambulances ensuring all patients were en route to the hospital within about 25 minutes. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman At 1:59 a.m. Sunday, Austin-Travis County EMS paramedics headed to the scene of the shooting on West Sixth Street even before being formally dispatched. They were part of two rescue strike teams, each with two Austin police officers and two counter-assault strike team paramedics. The teams are stationed downtown for high-danger calls. Police dispatch them as soon as the 911 calls came in, even before the extent of injuries is known. A fifth paramedic from a counter-assault strike team, or CAST, also was working overtime downtown and responded. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The first paramedics arrived at Buford's 57 seconds later at 2 a.m., and by 2:01 had reached injured people and were treating them. "We had CAST paramedics in the bar doing patient care when the shots rang out (that killed the suspect)," said Austin-Travis County EMS Division Chief Paul Mallon. "The scene was very active." EMS quickly dispatched five ambulances, five commanders and five single-unit responders in cars, as is protocol for an active attack call. They also sent five units of whole blood for transfusions. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source In and around the bar, paramedics saw people who were staying by their injured friends. Some bystanders had applied makeshift tourniquets or packed wounds or applied pressure on wounds, providing the best first aid they knew. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Within about 25 minutes, all 14 patients three critical and 11 noncritical patients were in ambulances heading to hospitals or had already arrived, Mallon said. "That's blazing fast, given the number of patients," he said. An Austin police officer guards the scene on West Sixth Street at West Avenue after a mass shooting on Sunday. Paramedics embedded with police, along with hospital coordination and drills, helped to improve the emergency response. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman Traditionally, in many cities, paramedics must wait until police had cleared the scene of any danger before treating patients, Mallon said. But Austin-Travis County EMS and the Austin Police Department created the rescue strike teams in 2010 and embedded CAST paramedics in them, to avoid delays in care. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The counter-assault strike team paramedics receive specialized training to handle active or hazardous scenes. They wear ballistics vests and helmets, as well as eye protection and gas masks. "We ask them to risk a lot to save a lot," Mallon said. "They are heavily invested in keeping us safe, and we are heavily invested in keeping them safe." Austin-Travis County EMS paramedics Sam Yarrington and Sean Perry, right, assess a patient's vital signs in 2024. EMS now can dispatch whole blood to the scene of a trauma and do blood transfusions in addition to other patient care they do. Cross Harris/American-Statesman Deciding where to send patients Once patients are loaded into ambulances, EMS had to decide where to send them. Ambulances have a system that shows the status and census of each hospital emergency department. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We try to load balance to not overload our health care system," Mallon said. It would not have worked to send all the patients to Dell Seton Medical Center, the closest hospital, which is also Austin's only Level I trauma center. EMS sent the most critical patients there. Dell Seton took in eight patients, half of whom were released quickly. Two patients were sent to Ascension Seton Medical Center and were released. Five were sent to St. David's Medical Center and four were released. One from St. David's was later transferred to St. David's South Austin Medical Center, which has a higher level of trauma care than the main hospital. St. David's South had three patients hospitalized. Police have confirmed there were a total of 19 people shot. Some arrived by private vehicle and not by ambulance. On Thursday, police said there were only two patients still in a hospital. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If there were more patients, EMS could have spread them throughout the region, called in ambulances from nearby cities or contacted the state for more help. Austin-Travis County EMS did not have to pull in any support that was not already working that night. Rescue paramedics assigned to the Austin police bomb squad also were on scene as police checked checked the gunman's SUV for explosives. Those paramedics respond to any SWAT or bomb squad incident. An ambulance prepares to transport patients during the school bus crash on Nameless Road in Leander last August. This event underscored the importance of distributing patients to multiple hospitals for Austin-Travis County EMS. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Learning from these experiences Austin-Travis County EMS is reviewing the response and will hold after-action meetings to determine if there are any improvements needed in training for active scenes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lessons from other incidents informed the response to the Sixth Street shooting, Mallon said. A bus crash at the beginning of the school year on Nameless Road in northwestern Travis County that injured 15 children and the driver helped EMS affirm the way it distributes patients throughout the hospital system. Some parents were mad that their children went to Dell Children's Medical Center in East Austin instead of the closer North Austin children's hospitals, Mallon said, but the most critical students needed to go to the higher level of trauma center in East Austin and could be quickly taken there by STAR Flight helicopter. EMS also needed to spread out the patients among the other children's hospitals to not overwhelm any one hospital. Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin last August. When there is an active shooting scene, Austin-Travis County EMS will send specific paramedics who have the training to handle an on-going situation. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police, EMS and fire departments train together and plan responses based on different scenarios. Every incident is different as far as accessibility to location, the number of patients and types of injuries, making it difficult to plan for every scenario. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "In a mass-casualty event, there's not a lot of rules," Mallon said. The situation whether natural disaster, shooting, multi-victim car crash or riot will dictate what needs to happen. Hospitals hold their own trainings. Ascension Texas did not respond to questions about trainings, but St. David's HealthCare said it trains throughout the network for these scenarios and can tap into its network of emergency departments, both in its hospitals and stand-alone centers, in an event like a shooting. "Our teams conduct regular drills, practice emergency communications systems, and review and update emergency response protocols," the hospital system said in a statement. "This enables us to rapidly scale operations and care delivery when patient volume increases, including in scenarios requiring triage and rapid clinical decision-making." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hospitals, EMS, fire and police also train and work with the Capital Area Texas Regional Advisory Council, which coordinates emergency response services around Central Texas. The council holds regular trainings and simulations for potential threats to strengthen communication and coordination. NEW YORK (AP) A Pakistani business owner who tried to hire hit men to kill a U.S. politician was convicted Friday in a trial that showcased allegations of Iran-backed plotting on American soil. As the Iran war unfolded in the Mideast, Asif Merchant acknowledged in a U.S. court that he sought to put an assassination in motion during the 2024 presidential campaign a plot that was quickly disrupted by American investigators before it had a chance to proceed. A jury in Brooklyn convicted Merchant on terrorism and murder for hire charges. He faces up to life in prison. The verdict after only a couple hours of deliberations followed a weeklong trial that included remarkable testimony from Merchant himself. Merchant told the jury he was carrying out instructions from a contact in the Islamic Republics powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. According to Merchant, the handler never specified a target but broached names including then-candidate Donald Trump, then-President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who was also in the race for a time. The Iranian government has denied trying to kill U.S. officials. The nascent plot fell apart after Merchant showed an acquaintance what he had in mind by using objects on a napkin to depict a shooting at a rally. He asked the man to help him hire assassins. Instead, he was introduced to undercover FBI agents who were secretly recording him, as had the acquaintance. Merchant told the supposed hit men he needed services that could include killing some political person and paid them $5,000 in cash in a parked car in Manhattan. This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement released after the conviction. Merchants attorney, Avraham Moskowitz, didnt immediately reply to a message seeking comment. Merchant, 47, worked for Pakistani banks for decades before going into clothing and other businesses. He has two families, in Pakistan and Iran, and he sometimes visited the U.S. for his garment business. Merchant testified that he met a Revolutionary Guard intelligence operative about three years ago. The contact gave him countersurveillance training and assignments including the assassination scheme, Merchant said. He maintained that he had to do his handlers bidding to protect loved ones in Iran. The defendant said he reluctantly went through the motions but thought hed be arrested and explain his situation to authorities before anyone was killed. I was going along with it, he said, speaking in Urdu through a court interpreter. Prosecutors emphasized that Merchant admitted taking steps to enact the plan on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. considers a foreign terrorist organization, and he didnt proactively go to authorities. Instead, he was packing for a flight to Pakistan when he was arrested on July 12, 2024, a day before an unrelated attempt on Trumps life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials said it appeared the Butler gunman acted alone but that they had been tracking a threat on Trumps life from Iran, a claim that the Islamic Republic called unsubstantiated and malicious. When Merchant subsequently spoke to FBI agents to explore the possibility of a cooperation agreement, he didnt say he had acted out of fear for his family. Prosecutors argued that he didnt back up a defense of acting under duress. Merchant sought to persuade jurors he simply didnt think the agents would believe him because they seemed to think that I am some type of super-spy, which he said he was absolutely not. By JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information as the U.S. and Israel continue their bombardment and Iran fires retaliatory salvos at American assets and allies in the Persian Gulf. Still, its the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. Russia is in the rare club of countries that maintains friendly relations with Tehran, which has faced years of isolation over its nuclear program and its support of proxy groups that have wreaked havoc in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Trump on Friday evening berated a reporter for raising the matter when he opened the floor to questions from the media at the end of a White House meeting about how paying student-athletes has recalibrated college sports. I have a lot of respect for you, youve always been very nice to me, Trump said to Peter Doocy, the Fox News reporter. What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time. Were talking about something else. White House officials downplayed the reports, but did not deny that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. targets in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday told reporters that it clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a CBS 60 Minutes interview on Friday said the U.S. is tracking everything and factoring it into battle plans, when asked about the reports Russia was aiding Iran. The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of whos talking to who, he said. And anything that shouldnt be happening, whether its in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly. Leavitt declined to say if Trump had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the reported intelligence sharing or whether he believed Russia should face repercussions, saying she would let the president speak to that himself. Asked whether Russia would go beyond political support and offer military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been no such request from Tehran. We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue, he said Friday. Pushed on whether Moscow has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the Iran wars start, he refrained from comment. Russia has tightened its relationship with Iran as it looked for badly needed missiles and drones to utilize in its four-year war against Ukraine. The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory. The former U.S. administration also accused Iran of transferring short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Details about the U.S. intelligence were first reported by The Washington Post. Asked whether the revelation had shaken Trumps faith in Putins ability to cut any peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, Leavitt said, I think the president would say that peace is still an achievable objective with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are seeking Ukraines expertise in countering Irans Shahed drones. Tehran has been supplying Russia with Shaheds for its war on Ukraine and are now utilizing them in retaliatory attacks throughout the Gulf. Zelenskyy says that hes spoken to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation. Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night, said Ukraines ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help. Trump, who has struggled to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war, has had an up-and-down relationship with Zelenskyy. Hes frequently pressured the Ukrainian leader to heed Russian demands, including that Kyiv concede Ukrainian territory still in its control. With the Pentagon facing questions about whether the Iran war is depleting U.S. stockpiles, Trump this week grumbled that former President Joe Biden provided billions in high-end weaponry to Ukraine and failed to replenish U.S. reserves. ___ Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report. By SEUNG MIN KIM and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press A B-1B Lancer prepares to land at RAF Fairford, England, Oct. 27, 2023, for a hot-pit refueling. (Emma Anderson/U.S. Air Force) The United States has begun using British military bases to support its airstrikes on Iran, the U.K.s Defense Ministry said Saturday. The ministry said in a post on X that the defensive operations were aimed at preventing Iran from firing more missiles across the region. So far, the United Kingdom is the first, and only, European country to openly allow the United States to use its bases in the bombing campaign against Iran that the U.S. and Israel began Feb. 28. Tehran has responded by firing missiles and drones at countries and U.S. military installations in the Middle East. The decision gives U.S. forces a staging point in Europe for long-range bomber operations against Iranian missile sites. The ministry did not specify which British bases the United States was operating from. However, British media, including the BBC, reported Saturday that the U.S. was using RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for strikes and had moved at least four B-1B Lancer bombers to the base. Reuters on Friday published a photo of a U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber preparing to land there that evening. RAF Fairford hosts a small permanent U.S. Air Force support presence led by the 420th Air Base Squadron, part of the 501st Combat Support Wing, and is frequently used to support U.S. strategic bomber deployments. The United States has already been using its B-1 bombers based elsewhere to strike Iran. In a post on X on March 2, U.S. Central Command said the bombers struck deep inside the country to degrade Iranian ballistic missile capabilities. Were going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground, the post said. The 146-foot B-1B Lancer is a long-range U.S. Air Force bomber designed to deliver large quantities of conventional weapons at high speed over long distances. Introduced in the 1980s, the aircraft can fly faster than the speed of sound and carry up to about 75,000 pounds of ordnance, one of the largest payloads of any U.S. bomber, according to the U.S. Air Force. Moving aircraft like the B-1 to RAF Fairford provides the option to scale up the air campaign rapidly should the U.S. administration decide to do so, Christoph Bergs, an airpower researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, told Stars and Stripes in an email Saturday. However, because Britain has limited the use of its bases to defensive operations, the number of sorties flown from the U.K. may remain modest unless that policy changes, Bergs said. For now, they will likely focus on Iranian long-range missile forces, he added. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions about the use of British bases when contacted Saturday. The 501st Combat Support Wing said RAF Fairford is routinely used to host transient U.S. military aircraft and personnel, but directed all questions to U.S. Central Command. Confirmation by the U.K. that the United States has begun using British bases to strike Iran follows a March 1 statement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that said his government would allow American forces to use its bases for defensive airstrikes against the country after a request from Washington. The BBC initially reported that Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, located on British territory but operated by the U.S. military, could also be used in the strikes. Starmer said the United Kingdom had no intention of joining the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. But we will continue with our defensive actions in the region, he said. The Defense Ministry post on Saturday also said RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets have continued air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus and the wider region in defense of national interests and allied forces. A British Merlin helicopter was also on its way to the region to provide additional airborne surveillance, according to the post. Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators opposed to the move gathered outside RAF Fairford on Saturday afternoon holding signs that read Stop illegal bombing and Not in our name, no to war. Flames rise from an oil storage facility south of the capital Tehran as strikes hit the city during the U.S.Israel military campaign, Iran, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early Sunday, including targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Irans Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. The Israeli military said in a statement that it would not allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory. The latest strikes in Lebanon followed an Israeli attack Saturday on an oil storage facility in Tehran, which sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime at the site that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north. Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when the Gulf country was hit by a swarm of missiles and drones. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. No other details were available. Israeli airstrikes killed eight people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, and local media reported that an Israeli drone hit a hotel in Beirut, killing four and wounding 10 others. The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian president apologizes for attacks Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized Saturday for attacks on neighboring countries, even as his countrys missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehrans war strategy would not change. A rift between politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting Iranian statements came from two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the wars opening airstrikes. Pezeshkian, who is a member of the council, also dismissed U.S. President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. He described the ongoing U.S. operations in Iran as an excursion and said issues such as rising gas prices and the safety of Americans would improve once the conflict ends. Iranian leaders have limited power over Revolutionary Guard Pezeshkians message underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Pezeshkians statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and from now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. The U.S. strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region. Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue, he posted on X. Irans U.N. mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on nonmilitary sites may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems. Late Saturday, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani asserted in an address carried by state media that our leaders are united on this issue and have no disagreements with one another. Trump says the Kurds wont be involved In other developments, Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the war, even though Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government. The war is complicated enough without having ... the Kurds involved, Trump told reporters. Days ago, Kurdish officials told the AP that Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Irans military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The wars stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. Missile lands at US Embassy compound in Iraq Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties. It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a terrorist act carried out by rogue groups. Strikes target other Gulf countries Hours after Pezeshkians apology, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed a driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Sirens sounded earlier Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces. In Kuwait, authorities said a wave of drones targeted critical infrastructure, including fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport and a government building in Kuwait City. At least two people were killed by strikes in Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Magdy from Cairo, Egypt. Associated Press journalists Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo, Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting. An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of U.S. Army Reserve soldier Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, of White Bear Lake, Minn., who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, past President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during a casualty return, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. President Donald Trump on Saturday joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base at the dignified transfer for the six U.S. soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East. The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was the toughest thing I have to do as president. Its a very sad day, Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was glad we paid our respects. He said the relatives of the deceased are great people, great parents, wives, family and said that the parents were so proud. Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were present for the transfer, as were their spouses. A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote in a social media post Friday of an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied; Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, past President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during a casualty return, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) From right, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine say a prayer before a casualty return for the soldiers who were killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of a soldier who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, during a casualty return Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida. Those killed in action were Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. As is protocol, Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about a half hour. The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. They died just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle to take them to the mortuary facility at the base. There, the service members are prepared for their final resting place. Amors husband, Joey Amor, said earlier this week that she had been scheduled to return home to him and their two children within days. You dont go to Kuwait thinking somethings going to happen, and for her to be one of the first it hurts, Joey Amor said. OBrien had served in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years, according to his LinkedIn account, and his aunt said in a post on Facebook that OBrien was the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid youd ever know. He is so missed already. Marzans sister described him in a Facebook post as a strong leader and loving husband, father and brother. My baby brother, you are loved and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart, Elizabeth Marzan wrote. The Pentagon identified the last two names of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a Kuwait attack: Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa, on right, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento. (U.S. Army) A composite of images shows the four Army Reserve soldiers who died in Operation Epic Fury on Sunday. From left to right, Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor and Sgt. Declan J. Coady. (U.S. Army) Coady was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, his father, Andrew Coady, told The Associated Press. He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier, Coady said. He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone. Khorks family described him as the life of the party who was known for his infectious spirit and generous heart and who had wanted to serve in the military since childhood. That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was, according to a statement from his mother, Donna Burhans, his father, James Khork, and his stepmother, Stacey Khork. Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local churchs gym. Tietjens cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate unimaginable loss. Trump most recently traveled to Dover in December to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in an ambush attack in the Syrian desert. He attended dignified transfers several times during his first term, including for a Navy SEAL killed during a raid in Yemen, for two Army officers whose helicopter crashed in Afghanistan and for two Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire. Kim reported from Washington. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's lifestyle brand has ended its partnership with Netflix. The Duchess of Sussex has her own lifestyle brand The 44-year-old royal launched As Ever in 2025, and the venture was initially supported by the streaming giant, but the two companies have now ended their formal partnership. In a statement shared with CNN, a spokesperson for As Ever said: "As Ever is grateful for Netflixs partnership through launch and our first year. "We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and cant wait to share more." Netflix has also released a statement, confirming that it will cease to provide financial support to As Ever. The streaming giant said: "Meghans passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life. "As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world." Meanwhile, Ted Sarandos, the CEO of Netflix, previously claimed that the Duchess is "underestimated in terms of her influence on culture". The royal has starred in the Netflix series Harry and Meghan and With Love, Meghan, and Ted believes the public are "fascinated" by the duchess. Speaking to Variety in 2025, Ted explained: "I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture. "When we dropped the trailer for the 'Harry and Meghan' doc series, everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermes blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. "People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed." The Superior Court of California in Sacramento County is seen in this undated photo. The family of a Vietnam War veteran on Feb. 27, 2026, filed a lawsuit in the court against medical institutions they say failed to notify them of the veterans death. (Superior Court of California) SAN FRANCISCO (Tribune News Service) Vietnam War veteran Charles Wesley Harvey died at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, Calif., on June 2, 2022. His family says they did not learn about his death for more than three years. Harveys sister Nancy Louks and his son Jacob Harvey on Feb. 27 filed a class-action lawsuit against CommonSpirit Health, Dignity Health, Mortuary Support Services of Northern California and funeral director Michael Robert Lofton on behalf of themselves and the survivors of other deceased Dignity patients. The complaint, filed in Sacramento County Superior Court, accuses the defendants of not notifying families when patients died and improperly storing bodies for months or years. Over the course of at least the past five years, and likely longer, Dignity has engaged in a pattern and practice of egregiously failing to perform myriad post-death responsibilities related to patients who died in the care and custody of its hospitals, the suit alleges. According to the complaint, hospital staff never informed Harveys relatives of his death or issued a death certificate within the time frame required under California law. The hospital, run by Dignity Health, allegedly released Harveys remains to Mortuary Support Services of Northern California the same day he died, sending his decomposing body to a Sacramento facility for storage. Without a death certificate or required reporting, Harveys death was never registered in official databases that would typically trigger notifications to authorities and family members, the complaint further states. It wasnt until the Sacramento County coroner contacted relatives on Nov. 28, 2025, that Harveys family finally learned of his death. By then, the complaint states, Harveys body had deteriorated to the point that he was unrecognizable, allegedly due to the mortuary company storing the unembalmed body while failing to maintain legally required refrigeration temperatures for human remains. His body had to be cremated because an open-casket funeral was impossible. According to the complaint, Harveys case is one of many. The lawsuit alleges that hundreds of deceased patients who died at Dignity-run hospitals may have been affected by similar failures to notify families, issue death certificates or properly handle remains. The suit also references a 2024 audit of Dignity conducted by the California Department of Public Health found repeated problems with family notification and delays in death certificates. Sixty-one bodies were found stored off-site for extended periods, including remains dating back several years. The lawsuit requests a jury trial and seeks damages on behalf of Harveys family and other plaintiffs. 2026 SFGate, San Francisco. Visit www.sfgate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. From the moment he stepped into my American Experience classroom, I knew Godo Yannick Seri was a man on the move, said Mount St. Marys University Professor of English Peter Dorsey, Ph.D., because he was deeply curious, transparently honest, totally engaged and full of Mount Spirit. Members of the Mounts student life team similarly saw Seris, C'12, potential: they detected in me, he explained, the light of leadership the first semester of my first year and continued to power the engine. That year, he founded and launched the Global Leaders Alliance, became a Mount delegate for the Model Arab League, and began his three-and-a-half-year journey as a resident assistant. Thats the beauty of the Mount, Dorsey added. If you want to get involved, if you want to develop your skills, there are plenty of opportunities to jump right in. But Seri was just getting started. In his junior year, he tutored his fellow Mount students in economics and French and joined the Mounts Federal Reserve Board Challenge Team. In his senior year, he received the Mount St. Marys Leadership Award. By then, he had made a lasting, distinctive mark on the universitys culture and its students. But he had help. Seri is particularly grateful to both Alejandro Canadas, Ph.D., and John Larrivee, Ph.D., both professors of economics from the Richard J. Bolte, Sr., School of Business. I engaged with them for hours, Seri remembered, debating one-to-one and developing ideas whether in class or during office hours. Somehow, they always made time for me. Seri enjoyed the benefits of two majors: economics, from the Bolte School, and international relations, with a concentration in international politics, from the Mounts College of Liberal Arts. He credits his academic advisor, Kristen Urban, Ph.D., from the political science department, for being the architect of his ambitious program. She helped me to craft forward and enroll in the specific classes needed to finish well and on time, he said. The Mount paved the way for me to thrive. And thrive he has. After graduating in 2012, he immediately completed a masters degree in international affairs and international economic relations at American University. Soon after, he took his talents to the U.S. Census Bureaus Department of Commerce, which uses its vast statistical data to help the U.S. and other countries identify, address, and solve problems collaboratively. Confident of the skills he strengthened at the Mount to go anywhere and speak to anyone, Seri worked his way up from being a survey statistician, to an international programs analyst, to a programs coordinator and analyst. During this journey, he transitioned from the Decennial Directorate to the International Collaboration Program Staff (ICPS), which over the years managed the Census Bureaus international efforts within the U.S. statistical system and with the international statistical community, especially with nations categorized as More Developed Countries (MDCs). Working with other federal agencies, especially the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Seri creates and manages MOUs with many organizations, coordinates with Global Program Visitors, and administers the International Travel Authorization system. He also developed, implemented and oversees the Global Collaboration Portal (GCP), a database that compiles statistical, diplomatic, economic and geographical information about more than 150 countries. Reflecting on his career journey, Seri describes a great adventure with new opportunities and greater challenges that lead to growth and happiness. Inspired by the Mounts versatile core curriculum, Seri loves books, libraries, and ideastheir sources, their evolution, and the means by which they become tangible extensions of the human self. Ideas and dreams can become reality, he believes, it is just a matter of action and perseverance. His fascination with the ways ideas meet reality also contributed to a growing passion for photographyfor capturing natures beauty and its unstoppable metamorphosis. In June of 2023, he found he had over 10,000 photographs in his digital collection. Included were images captured on trips to Canada (2013), Jamaica (2015), St. Lucia (2016), Washington, D.C., states up and down the east coast, and Maryland cities like Bowie, Silver Spring, Waldorf, and Damascus. What will I do with all these pictures? he asked himself. One of his favorite Bible passages is, No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house (Matt. 5:15). Inspired by this truth, Seri wanted to share his photographs with the world and dreamed of designing and building a physical gallery to exhibit his work, but he knew he must wait for the means to do so. His solution was to create an interactive virtual museum, the Samuel Ralphian Seri (S.R.S.) Explore! Nature Virtual Museum, which exhibits his stunning photographs in categories such as aquatic and non-aquatic birds, flowers and plants, rabbits and hares, reptiles, insects, rodents, wildlife spaces, and much more. By conducting beta tests with Mount alumni, other friends and colleagues, as well as professors and family members in several states and internationally, Seri gained valuable feedback and plans to officially launch his Museum this year. In this virtual environment, one can gather with classmates, friends, family members, colleagues and others, globally and locally. There are opportunities to talk, chat, and even hold videoconferences. The Museum also provides key facts, trivia questions and various music genres to keep visitors engaged as they explore and learn. It even has a souvenir shop that allows visitors to purchase copies of his work along with mugs, mouse pads, wall decorations, and more. Seris goal is to immerse visitors in a dream that has become a reality and to inspire others to realize their own talents. On Monday, March 9, at 4 p.m., Seri will visit the Mounts Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship to deliver a talk entitled, Yannick Seri Globalizes the Museum, describing the process by which he developed his vision. His talk will take place in room 323 in the Knott Academic Center. Directed by Garth Patterson, Ph.D., the Palmieri Center provides Mount students the opportunity to innovate and implement their creative ideas. Two more of Seris many favorite Mount professors are philosophers Richard Buck, Ph.D., and Michael Miller, Ph.D., whose patience and teaching artistry gave Seri a deep understanding of the philosophical roots of todays world and the political DNA of modern society. Their use of Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics prompted him to develop his own philosophy of happiness. The key, he said, is to reach within oneself and bring to the world the gifts God implanted, some obvious, others a little hidden. These are inspiring words, but there is little hidden about the light he shines upon the Mount. In Finland, kids take hovercraft to school over frozen Baltic Sea Pargas, Finland, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 Skipper Sampsa Jalo greets three young children on their way home from school as they board an unusual amphibious vessel docked and humming at a wooden pier on the frozen Baltic Sea. Due to unusually thick ice this winter, a hovercraft called "Snovit" ("Snow White") has replaced the ferries that normally transport 12-year-old Hugo Wickstrom, nine-year-old Julia Jalkanen and eight-year-old Nils-Johan Ostman to the islands where they live in southwestern Finland's Pargas archipelago. This is only the third time in 15 years that hovercrafts have been brought in because of thick ice in Finland's archipelagos. More than 81,000 islands dot the Nordic country's 1,100-kilometre (680-mile) coastline. Here in the Pargas archipelago, 107 islands are inhabited year-round by nearly 3,000 residents. As the cushions under the vessel filled with air, the hovercraft lifted off the icy surface and set out across the frozen sea. In the back seat, the three children agreed their school commute was "very exciting". "Especially when it drifts like this," said Wickstrom, showing how the hovercraft glides sideways on the ice. "It moves very fast," Jalkanen said with a little smile. State-owned ferry operator Finferries replaced some of its regular vessels with six hovercrafts when freezing temperatures in February led to the formation of unusually thick ice. "The ships can handle the ice but it's so slow and expensive because it uses a lot of fuel," Jalo explained. A trip with a commuter ferry or vessel that normally takes an hour now takes "five or six hours to cover the same distance" due to the current ice conditions, he explained. By hovercraft, "the same journey can be completed in 10 minutes". Behind the windows of the vessel, which has room for five to seven people, forest-covered islands slid by. Soon it was time for Ostman to disembark. Jalo said piloting the hovercraft required "constant concentration" as wind conditions, fog and snowfall all posed challenges when manoeuvring through the landscape at a speed of 30 knots. "The weather conditions change rapidly here... Let's say it is both challenging and fun," he said, smiling. This winter was the second time since 2009 that he had the chance to sit behind the wheel of a hovercraft. "This is the kind of device you don't normally see in the archipelago," he said. Even sea eagles and a wolf had come up close, "as the animals don't know to be afraid of it". - Unusual conditions - This year's ice cover in the Baltic Sea was unusual, researcher Mika Rantanen at the Finnish Meteorological Institute told AFP. Peaking on February 20, "the ice cover has been the most extensive in the entire Baltic Sea region since 2011", he said. In Finland, winters with long cold periods are becoming increasingly rare due to climate change, Rantanen noted. Of the world's coastal seas, the Baltic -- surrounded by Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the three Baltic states -- is warming the fastest. "Our winters are becoming milder and warmer," Rantanen said. "In the long term, the maximum winter ice cover in the Baltic Sea is shrinking, and that is due to climate change," he said. The lowest ice cover level ever recorded was in 2020. When the hovercraft stopped briefly at a sandy beach, Wickstrom climbed out in his snowsuit and thick winter hat, waving goodbye as pine trees swayed behind him in the wind. In the morning, he would be picked up again, gliding towards the mainland where a taxi would drive him to school about 30 minutes away. Soon, migrating birds will return and the sea ice will melt completely, transforming the quiet archipelago. Ship traffic will then resume as normal and Finns who live on the mainland will start heading out to their summer cottages on the islands, often rustic and without running water. In the Pargas archipelago, there are 9,000 second homes on 1,070 islands, according to Pargas' head of archipelago affairs, Benjamin Donner. "Ice is melting really quickly now," Jalo noted, looking at the thin layer of water covering the ice, before starting the engine and heading back to shore. Flash floods in Nairobi kill 23: police Nairobi, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 At least 23 people were killed in flash flooding overnight in Nairobi, police said Saturday, amid search and rescue operations and widespread devastation. Torrential rains lashed the Kenyan capital late Friday, turning major streets into rivers and flooding thousands of homes and businesses. Rescue teams were still pulling out bodies and rescuing trapped residents on Saturday, while AFP reporters saw heavily damaged roads and infrastructure from the city's vast slums to upmarket areas like Parklands. "We are seeing devastation... A huge number of areas in the city were affected, but also counties all over the country," Kenyan Red Cross spokesman Munir Ahmed told AFP. Police said they had rescued at least 29 people overnight and "remain fully deployed, actively responding to distress calls and continuing with search and rescue missions". Multiple studies have tracked the increasing frequency of extreme wet and dry periods in East Africa in the last 20 years, including one on rainfall variability published by Scientific Reports in 2024. AFP reported on emergency-level drought in northeastern Mandera county last month that had killed large numbers of livestock. Neighbouring countries like Somalia and Ethiopia are also affected. Following Friday's rains, there was anger online at Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja, who had vowed to deal with drainage and road infrastructure when he took office in 2022. "Sakaja should be in jail not in office," said well-known activist Nelson Amenya on X. "There's no storm water drainage system... I haven't seen any active flood management or even preparation for it by the county of Nairobi," he said. "Yesterday's flood situation was an indictment," added Nairobi opposition senator Edwin Sifuna on X. "We need a comprehensive review of how the city drains because the piecemeal interventions are not working." Kenya Airways said they had been forced to divert several flights away from Nairobi to Mombasa due to the rains. The Kenyan Red Cross said hundreds of households in neighbouring counties had also been affected, and vast swathes of farmland destroyed. "I would call for joint efforts between the government humanitarian agncies to deal with this problem, and to understand why we are having this havoc," said Ahmed of the Red Cross. Flash floods in Nairobi kill 23 Nairobi, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 At least 23 people have been killed in flash flooding in Nairobi, police said Saturday, as search and rescue operations continued amid widespread devastation. Torrential rains lashed the Kenyan capital late Friday, turning major streets into rivers and flooding thousands of homes and businesses. Rescue teams were still pulling out bodies and rescuing trapped residents on Saturday, while AFP reporters saw heavily damaged roads and infrastructure from the city's vast slums to upmarket areas like Parklands. "The river banks broke as the rains continued and cars were swept off and water flowed into our shops destroying property for many people," said Frederick Wasonga, who sells car accessories in the city centre. Derrick Juma, a panel beater in the same area, said two of his neighbours had died. "One person was electrocuted... Another one was heavily rained on and as he took cover outside a restaurant, he died out in the cold," Juma told AFP. Police said they had rescued at least 29 people overnight and "remain fully deployed, actively responding to distress calls and continuing with search and rescue missions" as more rain started to fall late Saturday. "We are seeing devastation... A huge number of areas in the city were affected, but also counties all over the country," Kenyan Red Cross spokesman Munir Ahmed told AFP. President William Ruto said he had ordered the deployment of an emergency response team to coordinate rescue efforts. "We recognise that these floods once again highlight the urgent need for lasting solutions to the perennial challenge of flooding in our urban areas," he said on X. There was widespread anger at Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja, who had vowed to deal with drainage and road infrastructure when he took office in 2022. "Sakaja should be in jail not in office," said well-known activist Nelson Amenya on X. "There's no storm water drainage system... I haven't seen any active flood management or even preparation for it by the county of Nairobi," he said. Multiple studies have tracked the increasing frequency of extreme wet and dry periods in east Africa in the last 20 years, including one on rainfall variability published by Scientific Reports in 2024. AFP reported on an emergency-level drought in northeastern Mandera county last month that had killed large numbers of livestock. Neighbouring countries like Somalia and Ethiopia are also affected. Kenya Airways said they had been forced to divert several flights away from Nairobi to Mombasa due to the rains. The Kenyan Red Cross said hundreds of households in neighbouring counties had also been affected, and vast swathes of farmland destroyed. "I would call for joint efforts between the government humanitarian agencies to deal with this problem, and to understand why we are having this havoc," said Ahmed of the Red Cross. The first time I ever had my tarot cards read was almost 40 years ago, when I was 24. The tarot reader had the usual black lace skirt and silver jewellery, and said her name was Sian, but I could call her the High Priestess of Clapham. It was 11 September 1986, and I was living in a squat in Hackney, trying to write poetry. I sought her out for the usual reason: despair over a relationship ending. Also, I secretly wondered if I was having a nervous breakdown. Sian turned over the Tower (things falling apart) the Death card (endings, of course); the Hermit (a period on my own); the Devil (addicted to Bad Love); the Hierophant (a magical helper). Not sure I trusted her interpretations, I wrote back then. Im going to learn the tarot and read the cards for myself. And, for the longest time, thats what I did, teaching myself by turning over a card each day, using the Motherpeace deck designed by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble, which was popular in the 1980s. But the deck most people visualise when they think of tarot is the Rider-Waite deck: the yellow Moon gazing down at the dog and the wolf in the Moon card; Death as a skeleton astride a white horse; the Fool stepping off the precipice of a cliff, his little dog leaping beside him. Like many, I had never really thought about the artist who had drawn those images. The artists name, it turned out, is Corinne Pamela Colman Smith. In her book Waking the Witch, Pam Grossman writes of Smith and her tarot: Its hard to say which is more galling: the paltry sum she received, or the repeated lack of credit for her designs. Pamela was born in Pimlico, London, in 1878, to American parents; her mother had been an actress in Brooklyn Heights, her father was a failed businessman and an artist. As a child, Pamela travelled extensively, living in London, Manchester, New York and Jamaica. She studied at the Pratt Institute in New York, and was its youngest student at just 15 years old, but never graduated, and it was noted from the start by her tutors that she was determined to do things her own way. open image in gallery In 1901, Smith was invited to join the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society of occult study and ritual magic where esoteric scholar Arthur Edward Waite commissioned her to illustrate the tarot deck ( Supplied ) After the deaths of both her parents in her early twenties, Pamela was taken up by the actress Ellen Terry, who gave her the nickname Pixie, presumably for the mischief and rebellion she expressed. Terry commissioned Pamela to design programmes, costumes and sets, and introduced her to a world of art, poetry and theatre whose inhabitants included WB Yeats, the actress Florence Farr, Henry Irving and Bram Stoker. (Pamela was rarely impressed, describing Yeats as a rummy critter.) Not content with her prodigious work for the Lyceum, where Irving produced plays and Terry played great heroines, Pamela also edited her own magazine, wrote and illustrated childrens books, had a sell-out show of her music pictures in New York, created a miniature theatre, and performed shows at her own salon in Chelsea, where she was described by writer Arthur Ransome as goddaughter to a witch and sister to a fairy. In 1901, she was invited to join the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society of occult study and ritual magic. There she met the esoteric scholar Arthur Edward Waite, who commissioned her to illustrate the tarot deck. In his memoir, he described her as a draughtswoman who produced under my supervision the coloured cards he spoon-fed her. We know from some of the similarities that occurred that she must have studied the Sola Busca drawings newly available for study at the British Museum. Tarots origins are much disputed: many claimed it arose in ancient Egypt; most now suggest that it developed from a 15th-century Italian card game. open image in gallery Feminism has done much to uncover artists, including Pamela Colman Smith, who have not been given their due ( Bloomsbury ) Pamela also did her own research, making her sketches in London and Smallhythe, Kent, the home of Ellen Terry, where she sometimes illustrated key figures in the cards with the faces of her friends, and added her own idiosyncratic details, such as a little dog that belonged to Terrys son, Teddy Craig, on the Fool card. The deck and book, published in 1910 by Rider, were reviewed with characteristic disdain by fellow magus Aleister Crowley: Mr Waite has written a book on fortune telling, and we advise servant-girls to keep an eye on their half-crowns... Pamelas contribution was sidelined in favour of continuing Crowleys beef with his rival Waite. He spelled her name incorrectly, an error repeated over the years. He does concede: Pamela Coleman [sic] Smith has done some very beautiful and sympathetic designs. The cards did not make her rich or famous. In a letter to her champion, the photographer Alfred Stieglitz, she wrote: Ive just finished a big job for very little cash! A set of designs for a pack of tarot cards 80 designs... some people may like them! Indeed, many did. The cards went on to sell over 100 million copies in 20 countries, loved by artists and writers from TS Eliot to Madonna, but this was not until later. In her lifetime Pamela was largely invisible, her name unknown. She died in Bude, Cornwall, in 1951, leaving everything she owned to Nora, her life-partner; most of her belongings were sold off to pay what she owed to the Inland Revenue. open image in gallery The life of Pamela Colman Smith is the subject of novelist Jill Dawsons new book, Pixie ( Supplied ) Feminism has done much to uncover artists who have not been given their due. The Pratt Institute in New York had a phenomenally successful show of Pamelas work in 2018, and the curator told me that the immense interest blew them away. Since my first foray 40 years ago, there has been an explosion of love for tarot, especially among twentysomethings. Recently I studied a Jungian approach to tarot, and the respect for Pamela in that group, and joy for the way the designs on her cards turn up surprises (such as the snail in the Nine of Pentacles), was paramount, her name well known. Pamela is being honoured at the UK Tarot convention this October, and most tarot readers now call it the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Her work is everywhere; you might slip it in a pocket, or hold it in your hand. Will I ever publish a novel? I asked the High Priestess of Clapham, all those years ago. I wish I had written down the card she drew in answer to that one. This month, I publish my 12th: a book about the life of Pamela Colman Smith. Pixie by Jill Dawson is published by Bloomsbury on 12 March Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ben Stiller has hit out at the White House after a clip from his film Tropic Thunder was used as part of a montage in a pro-war social media video. The 42-second clip includes footage of recent strikes on Iran edited between scenes from a number of movies, including Iron Man 2, Gladiator, and Braveheart. The Tropic Thunder scene shows Tom Cruise dancing in character as Les Grossman. On X, Stiller wrote: Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie. The video ends with footage of a U.S. strike on an Iranian ship, followed by a clip of an animated character saying, Now end this! The White House logo then flashes on the screen, as a voice says Flawless Victory in reference to the video game series Mortal Kombat. The clip is captioned: JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. Brandon T. Jackson, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder ( DreamWorks ) The video was posted online a day after the White House faced widespread backlash on Wednesday for sharing a video of real missile strikes edited together with scenes from the video game franchise Call of Duty. This criticism hasnt deterred the White House, which shared another video Friday that combined strike footage with an infamous clip of a character from the Grand Theft Auto video game series saying, Ah s***, here we go again. After each strike, the word wasted flashed across the screen, referencing the message Grand Theft Auto players see when their character dies. When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent: Under the decisive leadership of President Trump, Americas heroic warfighters are meeting or surpassing all of their goals under Operation Epic Fury. The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Militarys incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Irans ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time, she added. The Iranian government has said at least 1,230 people have been killed in the attacks so far, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Military investigators have also found its likely U.S. forces were responsible for a strike that hit a girls school in southern Iran, Reuters reported Thursday, citing two U.S. officials. Iranian officials have said more than 175 people were killed, including 150 students. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Wednesday that officials were investigating the incident and said the U.S. would never target civilian targets. When asked that same day whether the deaths were the result of a U.S. strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, Not that we know of. Leavitt also told Reuters, While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Stephen Hibbert, a British actor and TV writer, best known for his portrayal of The Gimp in Quentin Tarantinos Pulp Fiction, has died. He was 68. Hibbert died unexpectedly Monday, March 2, in Denver, Colorado, his family confirmed in a recent statement. Our father, Stephen Hibbert, passed away unexpectedly this week, the actors three children said, according to TMZ. His life was full of love and dedication to the arts and his family. He will be dearly missed by many. A family member said that Hibbert had died of a heart attack, though they are still waiting for the autopsy report for further details. Hibbert was born in Fleetwood, England. He jump-started his career in the industry as a writer on Late Night with David Letterman from 1984 to 1986. He also went on to write episodes of Darkwing Duck, Animaniacs, Mad TV and Boy Meets World. open image in gallery Stephen Hibbert starred as The Gimp in 'Pulp Fiction' ( The Nerd Soapbox/YouTube ) open image in gallery Hibbert co-starred in Pulp Fiction with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson ( Miramax ) In 1994, he co-wrote the slapstick comedy Its Pat: The Movie with his then-wife, Julia Sweeney, who led the film as the titular eccentric, androgynous character, a role she originated on Saturday Night Live years earlier. That same year, Hibbert landed the role of The Gimp in Tarantinos 1994 crime-thriller Pulp Fiction, featuring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman. In a 2024 interview with AARP, Hibbert shared that he and Sweeney, who also starred in Pulp Fiction, first met Tarantino at the Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. He would guest with the improv show on Thursday nights, the actor recalled of the two-time Oscar-winning director. He was pretty much the same then as now, hilarious, endlessly curious and passionate about film. Quentin, Julia and I were moviegoing buddies and sometime collaborators already, so he asked us to audition for Pulp Fiction. His standout performance as the tortured victim of criminals Maynard (Duane Whitaker) and Zed (Peter Greene) earned him an eager fanbase that would bombard him with dozens of messages on his answering machine. Almost all from guys telling me they really enjoyed my performance and would I like to meet them for coffee? Yikes! he said. These fellas had to wait for the end credits to see who played the Gimp, then find a pay phone, call L.A. 411 and snag my number. I quickly changed my number and became unlisted. As an actor, Hibbert also appeared in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), The Cat in the Hat (2003), and several episodes of the Keke Palmer-led TV series True Jackson, VP. Hibbert is survived by his three children: Ronnie, Rosalind and Greg. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Netflix is parting ways with Meghan Markles lifestyle brand, As Ever, months after the streamer signed a multi-year TV and film contract with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Meghan initially launched As Ever in April 2025 in partnership with Netflixs Consumer Products division. Alongside the brand, which sells products like wine, tea and jams, Meghan debuted her Netflix cooking series, With Love, Meghan. In a surprising new update, spokespeople for As Ever told The Independent that the lifestyle brand will continue independently. As Ever is grateful for Netflixs partnership through launch and our first year, they said. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth, and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and cant wait to share more. In a separate statement, a Netflix spokesperson said: Meghans passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life. open image in gallery Meghan Markle launched her As Ever brand in partnership with Netflixs Consumer Products divsion in 2025 ( Netflix ) open image in gallery Meghan appeared on two seasons of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan ( Netflix ) As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world, they added. Meghan who, along with her husband, Prince Harry, stepped down as senior working members of the British Royal Family in March 2020 has been busy growing her lifestyle brand. During its first few months, As Ever experienced multiple sell-outs. You guys are doing it again, were nearly sold out on everything and I cant believe it, Meghan said in an Instagram video last June. In connection with her brand, Meghan debuted her critically panned Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. The first season, which premiered in March 2025, was described as queasy and exhausting in a one-star review by The Independents Katie Rosseinsky. open image in gallery Prince Harry and Meghan in the trailer for With Love, Meghan ( Netflix ) It failed to break into the streamers top 300 shows in its first half of the year on the platform. At the time, speculation swirled that Netflix would not renew its contract with Meghan and Prince Harry, who released the low-rated 2024 docu-series, Polo, on the streamer in December 2024. However, in early August, ahead of the release of the second season of With Love, Meghan, Netflix announced it had signed a multi-year contract with the couple to create thoughtful content. Were proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand, Meghan said in a previous statement shared with The Independent. My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Scott Patterson has spoken out about his exit from Sullivans Crossing ahead of season four despite his characters central role in the drama series. Following a statement from the CW series showrunner and executive producer, Roma Roth, the Gilmore Girls alum acknowledged his departure Thursday in a Facebook post. Every actor knows what its like to fall in love with a character and a story. I fell in love with Sully and have nothing but fondness for him, Patterson began. The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue. The actor then seemingly addressed other claims made about his disappearance from the series, which led to him wanting to speak out. Its unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise, Pattersons statement continued. Scott Patterson recently shared a statement on Facebook addressing why he will not be in the upcoming fourth season of Sullivans Crossing ( Getty Images ) I was not intending to make any statement, but the fans of the books and the show deserve to know the truth, as I have always been respectful of those who support this industry by watching and loving these characters we are so dang lucky and blessed to portray and bring to life. He concluded as he expressed his love for Sullys character and thought the fans of the show and the books written by Robyn Carr deserved better than the implications that it was his decision to leave the show. In the end, were all fans of these characters and stories, and Ill always support and defend the truth, Patterson wrote. Sullivans Crossing follows the story of neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan played by Morgan Kohan who comes back to her hometown and reconnects with her estranged father, Sully, while dealing with a medical lawsuit. According to Roth, season four which premieres April 20 on the CW will directly follow the events of the previous season. Season three of Sullivan's Crossing ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, beginning a new chapter in his life. Season four picks up the next day, with Sully still overseas, Roth revealed in a statement to People. While he isnt physically present in this season, the character remains an important part of the world with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Krispy Kreme is offering customers a special pick-me-up on Monday after losing an hour of sleep because of Daylight Saving Time. At 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 8, the clocks will be jumping forward an hour, making the actual time 3 a.m. While an hour of sleep is lost this weekend, Americans can expect longer evenings, filled with more hours of sunlight, in the days and weeks to come. The day after the clocks change, Krispy Kreme is giving customers something to look forward to. Guests who purchase any dozen doughnuts Monday will get a free original glazed dozen. Because if youre losing an hour, you might as well gain a dozen, the brand noted in a press release. The deal will be available in Krispy Kreme shops while supplies last. Customers can also place orders on the doughnut shops app, using the promo code SPRING at checkout to get the deal. Krispy Kreme is offering a free dozen glazed doughnuts when customers order any dozen Monday ( Getty Images ) Daylight Saving Time can leave people running on one less hour of sleep, Alison Holder, Krispy Kreme Chief Brand and Product Officer, said in a statement. Were helping everyone bounce back in one of the sweetest ways we know how a free Original Glazed dozen when guests buy any dozen. Last month, Krispy Kreme celebrated Friday the 13th by giving away 13,000 12-count boxes of original glazed donuts to customers at random across participating locations in the U.S. Winners of the giveaway received a coupon that could be redeemed at a later date for one free dozen. However, coupons were only valid for a limited time, with winners having 13 days to claim their free dozen donuts, starting February 15. Aside from freebies, Krispy Kreme launched its new OREO Cookie Collection Doughnuts last week, but only for a limited time. The line-up features three new treats, including the Golden Oreo, which is the brands iconic glazed doughnut topped with Golden OREO flavored buttercream, Golden OREO cookie crumbles and rainbow sprinkles. Theres also the Chocolate Oreo Dream a glazed doughnut dipped in chocolate icing and crushed Oreo cookie pieces, before being topped with Chocolate flavored Kreme and an OREO wafer cookie and the Oreo Cookie and Kreme doughnut, which is filled with Cookie and Kreme filling, dipped in chocolate icing, and topped with Oreo cookie pieces and a drizzle of white icing. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Jessi Ngatikaura has expressed regret over her recent plastic surgery. Earlier this year, the reality star revealed that she underwent an upper and lower blepharoplasty and facial fat grafting in addition to other cosmetic procedures. However, while doing press for the upcoming new season of SLOMW, she explained that she was rightfully receiving negative comments about the way her face looks. I want to tell everyone that I am extremely unhappy with my results and I didnt quite understand what I was getting into, she said Thursday in a TikTok video. This last surgery ruined my life I look f***ing hideous in season five. Its ruined my career, an emotional Ngatikaura said. I went in for a lower bleph, and then I asked about an upper bleph and ended up getting that. Did not want that [fat] grafting, to be honest, she continued, adding that she didnt fully understand what it was, what it was going to do, what the results were gonna be, what the recovery was gonna be. Jessi Ngatikaura expressed regret over her series of cosmetic procedures, telling her TikTok followers that she would never touch her face again outside of Botox ( Getty Images ) Ngatikaura admitted that she did not have enough information on facial fat grafting at the time, and was originally told it would be a replacement for filler. She also noted that the grafting went in her lips, which she did not ask for [and] didnt want. Its made my lips really lumpy, she added. I have one that dips. Im getting a lot of comments about my lip filler, and I agree, it looks awful. My face looks terrible. The influencer and hair salon owner said in her TikTok that she did try to remove some of the fat in her face by receiving Kybella injections, which was making her look swollen. Im really insecure, Ngatikaura said, starting to tear up. I understand that I look really different and I hate it. I look back at how I used to look [and] I watched season four and Im like, Damn. I looked really good. I wish I could have seen that. Im gonna cry talking about it. Reflecting on her cosmetic procedure, the reality TV star said she would not be making any changes to her face outside of Botox. After posting, one of Ngatikauras SLOMW co-costars, Miranda McWhorter, commented, expressing how proud she was of her friend for being honest about her experience. Jessss. im so proud of you for consistently being so transparent and authentic regardless of how you felt about the results, McWhorter wrote. You are beautiful then and now. I love you. SLOMW season four will be available to watch March 12 on Hulu. Rapper Balendra Shah's party leads in Nepal election Rastriya Swatantra Party supporters celebrate in Damak, Jhapa district, after election officials announce that it is leading. Photo: Reuters Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ive got a lot of mum friends who say, I want to get divorced so we can live like you Lauretta Gavin is talking about her living situation, which, in the UK at least, is considered fairly unique. Shes a single mum residing with her 16-year-old daughter, Florence so far, so standard but the pair share their home with Laurettas sister, Sharon, and her 13-year-old son, Carter. The sisters have been cohabiting, and co-parenting, for the past 12 years. The arrangement was initially a product of circumstance. Sharon was a new mum who was going through a divorce while struggling with an autoimmune disease. I was really poorly I couldnt cope on my own, recalls Sharon. The move was out of necessity, adds Lauretta: She needed somewhere to live, she was very unwell and she had a small baby; she moved in with me so that I could help her and look after her. However, as Sharons health improved and they found their feet, settling into life as a quartet, they realised there were numerous benefits to this unconventional arrangement. Financially, its been hugely advantageous, while the cousins have gone from being only children to developing a strong sibling dynamic. Theres another adult to consult, too, whenever one sister is unsure of a parenting decision theyve made. It got better and better and better, and then, before we knew it, we were like, Oh my God, this is so good!, says Sharon. We have such a lovely home, and the kids are so much fun. It became this really lovely family unit. They may not have planned it, but as a Plan B, its bloody good, she adds. Perhaps best of all, the sisters are aligned on their parenting styles and have a low-conflict home as a result. With a husband and wife, there are agendas; theres things going on between them, says Sharon. That doesnt happen in a sister relationship. There are no games. Its very, very simple and straightforward. open image in gallery Lauretta and Sharon have been living together with their children for the past 12 years ( Rii Schroer ) The setup makes more sense for the Gavins than it does for most; theyve always been incredibly close, feeling more like twins than regular siblings. The pair even work together, running a wellness brand that incorporates retreats, mushroom coffee and a podcast. But theyre not the only ones choosing to raise children outside of the standard nuclear family model. Though the idea can feel counter-cultural in Britain, an increasing number of single mothers in China are teaming up to cut costs and offer each other support. Social media posts from women looking for like-minded parents are on the up at the same time as divorce rates are soaring, the latter more than tripling from 0.96 divorces for every 1,000 people in 2000 to 3.10 in 2020. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, divorces jumped by 25 per cent. There are an estimated 30 million single mothers in China, and they get custody of the children in around 80 per cent of family breakdowns. Experts have observed a noticeable rise in women seeking out alternative support networks and living arrangements as a result, reports The Guardian. There are no games. Its very, very simple and straightforward Sharon Gavin For example, one post on social media platform Rednote reads: Im hoping to find another single mom to share an apartment with, so we can take care of each other. If our children are around the same age, that would be even better they can be companions. Those raising kids alone know how tough it is; sometimes youre so busy you barely have time to eat. Jiang Mengyue, 31, now lives with her three-year-old daughter alongside another single mum and daughter pairing after answering an ad on social media. Mengyue commends the arrangement for similar reasons to those cited by the Gavin sisters: This kind of relationship feels purer and simpler than marriage. Elsewhere, tools have sprung up to forge connections and help parents create this new type of blended family. In the US, for example, CoAbode is a housesharing service that matches single mothers who want to combine households. It offers a simple solution to a growing problem: single-earner households with children have more than doubled in the States, while housing costs have increased by more than 1,000 per cent since 1970. The benefits are wide-ranging, enabling women to share costs between two disposable incomes and offer day-to-day support with child-rearing. There are numerous success stories: Heather and Carrie in Florida met and moved in together with their kids after reading about the CoAbode concept in a magazine. Its a match made in heaven for us, says Heather. Our kids get along great. Emotionally, its been great to have someone thats going through the same experience that you are My new roommate and I sit up at night after the kids fall asleep and laugh and joke about some of the trials and tribulations we go through, and dont feel so alone. open image in gallery There are two million single-parent families in the UK, 89 per cent of which are headed up by single mothers ( Getty/iStock ) Meanwhile, Shawn in Washington DC highlights the value of having another child in the house alongside her own after moving in with Darcie, saying: Because our sons are both only children, its been good for them to have brotherly attention and learn that they are not the centre of the universe. And then theres the co-parenting help: Recently, Darcie picked up my son from school, fed and bathed him and put him to bed. And we trade off like that constantly, which makes life less stressful for both of us. This it takes a village mentality is something thats been emulated in a more casual capacity by Brooke Maddison, a writer and editor who now lives in Brisbane. Her son was born in London before she and her ex moved to Australia, where Brooke hails from originally. By the time their child was six, the couple had separated. I had some old friends, but I initially didnt have a lot of community around me, she says. Then I found it happened really organically when my son started school. There were a lot of other parents around who were either doing it solo or who were queer or part of non-traditional family structures. They tended to gravitate towards each other. We built up this informal community before we realised what we were doing, explains Brooke. And it was like, OK, what can we do intentionally to perhaps welcome other people in and go out of our way to support each other? On a day-to-day level, support can be ad hoc perhaps someone needs to work late and asks a fellow parent to do school pick-up and provide dinner or scheduled in. Brooke has previously hosted an open invitation weekly dinner for parents and kids: Its with that intention of being community, she says. Ill cook up a massive batch of something, and then even be sending people home with tupperware containers of extra food so theyve got an easy dinner for the next night. We built up this informal community before we realised what we were doing Brooke Maddison On the flipside, Brooke doesnt drive; now, she has a strong network of fellow parents who can take her grocery shopping or give her a lift in an emergency. This quid pro quo arrangement has even evolved into taking annual group holidays together. Not only does it mean there are other adults to have a drink with and chat to once the kids have gone to bed of an evening, but sharing transport and accommodation also reduces the price significantly. Brooke recommends proactively building a community of like-minded parents for anybody, but particularly those who are raising children alone. Sometimes its just having someone to talk to if you need to call someone in the middle of the night, or if youve had a really tough day with the kids and need to vent, she says. Sometimes a friend will ring me up for a chat, and well just talk about some of the difficulties that were facing and really support each other emotionally. We also need to expand our idea of what a family should look like in 2026, she argues, and not get stuck in perpetually heteronormative narratives that insist parents must be comprised of a mother and father in a romantic relationship. Broadly in society, that is still the expectation of how people live; we dont see alternatives modelled that much, she says. But I think things are changing. open image in gallery Brooke (right) with her friend, Jeni, and son, Malachi ( Brooke Maddison ) Brooke is right: things are starting to change. Several fertility networks have sprung up for people who want to have a baby and are seeking platonic co-parents to partner up with. Theres Pollen Tree, CoParents.co.uk and The CoParenting Agency, for example, all of which match prospective co-parents with one another. Modamily, meanwhile, is an online community that also enables people keen to date with purpose those whose express intention is to start a family to find one another. Perhaps we need to broaden our understanding of what a family looks like in the modern world. Statistically, the nuclear family is becoming increasingly outdated; around one in four families with dependent children in the UK (totalling two million) are headed up by a single parent, according to data from single-parent charity Gingerbread. Some 89 per cent of these are single-mother families. And, in Laurettas opinion, weve long put far too much emphasis on romantic love when it comes to child-rearing. Theres so much focus on, you need to find the one. That comes from the messages that were fed by movies, by films, by books, she says. Theres not enough attention on the love of a friendship, particularly female friendship. That love is often dismissed or undervalued but its just as powerful. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Charles "Sonny" Burton, 75, is scheduled to be executed in Alabama next month, despite his claim that he was unaware anyone would be harmed during the 1991 AutoZone robbery that led to his death row conviction. Burton, who is due to die by nitrogen gas on 12 March a method the state began using in 2024 maintains he only learned of the fatal shooting of Doug Battle, a 34-year-old Army veteran and father of four, after the fact. "I didnt know anything about nobody getting hurt until we were on the way back. No, nobody supposed to get hurt," Burton stated in a telephone interview last month from Holman Correctional Facility. Crucially, no one disputes that Mr Battle was shot and killed by another man, Derrick DeBruce. DeBruce was initially sentenced to death, but a federal court later vacated this sentence, citing inadequate legal counsel. He was subsequently resentenced to life imprisonment and died in prison. Burtons supporters and family members have urged Gov. Kay Ivey to consider clemency for him. Multiple jurors from Burtons 1992 trial are among those urging his life be spared. Battle's daughter sent a letter to Ivey urging clemency, asking "how does it legally make sense" to execute Burton. The Associated Press was unable to reach other members of Battle's family. Even people who are strongly in favor of the death penalty recognize that this situation is wrong, said Matt Schulz, an assistant federal defender who represents Burton. Even by the states evidence here, Mr. Burton did not kill anyone. Mr. Burton did not order anyone killed. He wasnt even in the building." Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola said Friday that the governor reviews each execution case and, at this time, as previously noted, Governor Ivey has no plans to grant clemency. A jury convicted Mr. Burton of capital murder and unanimously recommended a sentence of death. Over the past 33 years, his conviction and sentence has been reviewed at least nine times, and no court has found any reason to overturn the jurys decision, Maiola wrote in an email. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls office has opposed the clemency request. open image in gallery This 2025 photo provided by Matt Schulz shows Charles Sonny Burton, who is facing execution in Alabama for a 1991 murder during a robbery, in which he was not the triggerman, at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala. (Matt Schulz via AP) The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the execution of non-triggermen under certain circumstances, including participating in a felony where someone was killed. Robin M. Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said the group has documented at least 22 cases where the person executed participated in a felony during which a victim died at the hands of another participant. She said she believes most people would agree the death penalty should be used only for people who actually kill someone. The shooting occurred Aug. 16, 1991, during a robbery at an auto parts store in Talladega. Court testimony indicated that after Burton and other robbers had left the store, DeBruce shot Battle. Battle had entered the store as the robbery was winding down and exchanged words with DeBruce. Burton said he never heard the gunshot and didn't know about it until later. DeBruce told me one man got shot, that he shot him in the rump. I said, 'Man you didnt tell me you done shot someone. I was angry. I was really angry. I was angry, Burton recalled. He later learned that the man died. Prosecutors at trial portrayed Burton as the ringleader of the robbery and culpable for Battles death. He disputes that assessment. Burton said he wants to apologize to Battle's family. Im so sorry. If I had the power to bring him back, I would. Im so sorry, Burton said. He said he is grateful that one of Battles children has offered him forgiveness. He also said he is hopeful that the governor will change her mind. I hope and pray to God that you will grant me clemency. Allow me to reach out to the young people in the street, Burton said. Burtons daughter, Lois Harris, last month held signs outside the governors mansion reading, Save My Daddy" and Clemency for Sonny. Its not fair that he gets the death penalty and the killer gets life. It is just so wrong, Harris said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice When he was supposed to be slinging hash at a sheriffs barbecue, a Florida prisoner instead slinked off to have sex with a woman in a portable toilet, according to police. Hartley Elliot Sanchez, 35, is now facing a felony prisoner escape charge after police said he wandered away from his duties for a secret dalliance, according to an arrest report from the Indian River County Sheriffs Office obtained by The Smoking Gun. Sanchez a Vero Beach resident who was awaiting trial on drug possession and theft charges was assigned to serve food at the sheriffs annual barbecue on March 4 when things took a turn. The inmates brought in to assist with the event, described as trustees, had been expressly forbidden from leaving their work area without permission, and bathroom visits required an escort. Despite this, Sanchez left the serving area at around 5:30 p.m., according to the report. open image in gallery A Florida prisoner had sex with a woman in a porta potty after sneaking away from his work duty at a sheriff's barbecue, according to an arrest report ( Indian River County Sheriff's Office ) A few minutes later, surveillance footage showed him talking to two unknown women nearby. One of the women then entered into a porta-potty about 150 feet away from the serving area, and Sanchez followed her inside after checking if the coast was clear. Shortly after, both exited the portable restroom separately. When Sanchez was questioned by police, he allegedly spontaneously, openly and freely admitted to having sex with a woman in the bathroom, telling police to look at the video. open image in gallery The alleged incident took place at the Indian River County Sheriff's Office's annual barbecue fundraiser on March 4 ( Indian River County Sheriff's Office ) However, the inmate refused to identify the woman. But, according to police, surveillance footage clearly showed her face, and they recognized her as Elizabeth Greer, a former inmate, who is on probation until 2027. She was not charged. Sanchez was charged with prisoner escape or attempt escape, a felony charge, which could land him in prison for 15 years. He is set to be arraigned next month. Aside from the alleged porta-potty incident, the fundraiser appeared to be a success. A large crowd of people attended, and $63,000 was raised, according to the sheriffs office. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A New Jersey inmate screamed for help as he was beaten to death inside his prison cell but his attorney says no one opened the door for nearly two days. When correction officers finally entered the cell at Northern State Prison in Newark, 28-year-old Melvin Rivas Inoa was dead. An autopsy found he had suffered severe blunt force trauma to his face, head and neck. Inoas cellmate, 29-year-old Abdul J. Bryant, has since been charged with murder, according to court documents. The killing is now raising questions about supervision inside the facility after investigators said the victim could be heard screaming for help. The Essex County Prosecutors Office and the New Jersey Department of Corrections have launched an investigation into the incident. open image in gallery NJ inmate Melvin Rivas Inoa was beaten to death inside his prison cell in January, but correction officers did not check on him until nearly two days later, his attorney claimed in new court documents ( Getty/iStock ) According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC New York, Inoa was last seen alive around 7 p.m. on January 20. His body was not discovered until about 7:05 a.m. on January 22, when correction officers finally opened the cell door. An inmate who was in a neighboring cell told investigators he heard loud banging and kicking noises coming from the cell and later heard a toilet flushing and a sink running through the night and into the next day, NJ.com reported. The witness also told investigators Bryant told him that he assaulted the victim and subsequently 'washed him up' to appear he wasnt injured, according to the criminal complaint. Inmates in New Jersey state prisons are not allowed to be confined to their cells for more than 20 hours a day under a 2019 law signed by then-Gov. Phil Murphy. But Brooke Barnett, an attorney representing Inoas family, told NJ.com this rule was ignored along with the victims pleas for help. Ive spoken to other witnesses, and theyll all come to light, but (Inoa) was begging for his life, Barnett said. For two days screaming, banging, the other inmates were banging on the cell doors, telling the officers to help him, to get him out of there and they just did nothing. Whether you wanna say thats murder or conspiracy to commit murder, at a minimum its official misconduct. Barnett said Inoa and Bryant had been housed in an administrative segregation unit and had been cellmates for less than two weeks. They heard my client Melvin screaming for help asking to save him from death, Barnett added. Inoas family, who live in the Bronx, told NBC New York that they were devastated to learn he had died just weeks before he was expected to be released. Inoa served about two and a half years on a gun conviction. We thought he was protected and come to find out he wasnt, his sister, Leslie Rivas Inoa, told NBC. He would tell my mom, Mommy I am coming home soon. But the family said that Inoa had recently told them that he feared for his safety. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections told NBC New York that staff members are required to conduct formal counts and security checks throughout every shift. When asked by NBC New York whether any correction officers had been disciplined, the Department of Corrections said it is cooperating with prosecutors and that all allegations of staff misconduct are documented and investigated. Northern State Prisons restrictive housing unit has faced criticism in the past. A 2024 report by the Office of Corrections cited inmate complaints about access to health care, staffing shortages, and problems with heating, cooling and plumbing. Inoas attorney said: The level of violence that goes on behind those four walls at Northern State Prison isnt shocking. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Bangladeshi man, accused of exploiting teenage girls online by coercing them into sending sexually explicit images and then threatening to disseminate them, has been brought to Alaska to face federal charges of child sexual exploitation. Zobaidul Amin, 28, entered a not guilty plea during his initial court appearance in Anchorage on Thursday. His transfer to US custody followed his apprehension by the FBI in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he had been studying medicine and reportedly facing related charges. US prosecutors detailed the case in a detention memorandum. Amin delighted in sexually abusing hundreds of minor victims over social media, the document said. He bragged about causing victims to become suicidal and engage in self-harm. He shared hundreds of nude images and videos of minor victims all over the internet and encouraged other perpetrators to do the same. A federal grand jury indicted Amin in 2022 on charges including child pornography, cyberstalking and wire fraud. He adopted false identities, often posing as a teenager, to trick victims into sending him explicit images, prosecutors said. The investigation began when a 14-year-old Alaska girl reported her abuse to law enforcement, saying that after she had stopped communicating with him, he followed through on his threats by sending pornographic images of her to her friends and followers. open image in gallery FBI agents escort Zobaidul Amin to an airplane in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, for transport to Anchorage, Alaska, where he faces charges of child pornography and exploitation. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP) In executing dozens of search warrants and subpoenas, investigators eventually learned his identity and realized he had done similar things to hundreds of minor victims, prosecutors wrote. The only way to get him to stop demanding more images, Amin told the girls, was to recruit other victims, the document said. Because he was in Malaysia and his victims were primarily in the U.S., Amin viewed himself as untouchable by law enforcement, prosecutors wrote. In one conversation, he told a minor victim that the cops wont do anything, and the cops wont track me down because I live no where near u. Efforts to extradite Amin to face charges failed, but with the assistance of the FBI, Malaysian authorities brought charges, the Justice Department said. He was released on bail during the proceedings, and eventually the U.S. succeeded in having him expelled from Malaysia. The FBI took him into custody and flew him to Alaska. The FBIs commitment to protecting our children from exploitation doesnt change whether an offender is here in the United States or overseas, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a news release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle Reardon on Thursday ordered that Amin remain in custody while his case proceeds. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Ted Cheeseman has spent a lifetime studying whales and been to Antarctica 30 times, but what he saw last week left him gobsmacked. As the research fellow at University of California, Santa Cruz, and former Antarctic expedition leader sailed into the main krill fishing area in the South Orkneys, he saw more whales than he had ever seen before. Over seven days so far, Cheeseman and his fellow scientists have logged about 1000 whales, mostly humpbacks but also fin whales and other species. Literally, as the krill vessels came into sight, we started seeing whales everywhere, says Cheeseman, speaking from Sea Shepherds ship Allankay. Its mostly humpback whales but also fin whales in genuinely stunning numbers. Every time we approach the krill fishery, the number of whales goes very high and that makes sense because theyre all targeting the exact same thing. Both the whales and ships are hunting krill, a tiny crustacean that is the keystone species of Antarctica one already under threat from climate change. Without krill, many species of whales, penguins, seals and fish would starve and the ecosystem would collapse. The whales come down to Antarctica every summer to get fat on krill before returning to warmer waters to breed. Yet krill is also prized for its commercial value increasingly used in health supplements, fish feed including for the farmed salmon industry, and pet food. Advertisement Every year there are new and bigger fishing vessels sucking up Antarctic krill the addition of a new Chinese super-trawler this year brought the total fleet to 15 and better technology to locate the krill swarms. Last year the fishery hit the catch limit of 620,000 tonnes for the first time and shut down three months early. Environmental groups are mobilising to fight krill fishing, arguing that it is unsustainable, a claim the industry hotly contests. Viewers of the Animal Planet channel in Australia from 2009 to 2016 may recall Whale Wars, a weekly reality show produced by Discovery in the US that followed conservation activist group Sea Shepherd, then led by founder Paul Watson, as it took on Japanese whaling. Now, in 2026, prepare for the krill wars. The Captain Paul Watson Foundation split off from Sea Shepherd in 2022. The breakaway organisation has 22 activists, including nine Australians, on board ice class vessel the Bandero somewhere in the South Pacific after departing Eden on the NSW South Coast last week. The ship will pick up more crew in Chile and should arrive in Antarctica within a fortnight. Captain Paul Watson Foundations ship The Bandero at Port Anthony in Victoria shortly before its March 2026 voyage to Antarctica. Captain Paul Watson Foundation The foundations communications manager Charlotte Kanter says the plan is to disrupt krill fishing, particularly the Norwegian fleet since Norway is pushing to expand the catch limit to 1.2 million tonnes. (The change would need consensus by all member nations in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or CCAMLR, and this is unlikely.) Advertisement Captain Paul Watsons entire history is on direct action, says Kanter, speaking from the ship. He believes that if you want to get anything done, that it is aggressive direct action. While Kanter did not give away operational plans, some of the tactics in the Whale Wars era included getting in the way of fishing vessels and opportunistically interfering with their nets. Kanter says the organisation believes it has legal justification for its actions, but will consider the risk of arrests when deciding where to return to port. Watson, who spent five months in prison in Greenland in 2024 while the Japanese unsuccessfully tried to get him extradited, is not on board. The Norwegian company in the activists sights is Aker QRILL, which has three krill trawlers and a support ship. Communications director Tormod Sandst says the company has made a standing offer to provide a support vessel for the Captain Paul Watson Foundation to safely observe the fishery. Scrutiny around Antarctica is welcome, Sandst says. It keeps everyone sharp. What we push back on is the idea that disrupting a tightly regulated fishery somehow protects the ocean. It doesnt. Neither does it do anything to CCAMLRs ability to find consensus solutions between 27 member states. Sea Shepherd is also in Antarctica with five Australians among the crew, applying pressure by documenting the krill fishing and supporting scientific research. Captain Peter Hammarstedt, director of campaigns, says the group takes direct action against illegal fishing, but the krill harvest is legal and requires a different approach. Humpback whale fluking in front of Sea Shepherds Allankay with a krill super-trawler behind it. Sea Shepherd Advertisement Sea Shepherd has spent the past few Antarctic summers shadowing the krill fleet, including capturing footage that was used in David Attenboroughs influential documentary Ocean. It has also successfully lobbied British-based pharmacy chain Holland & Barrett to cease stocking krill supplements by April this year. Hammarstedt says Sea Shepherd was inspired to return to Antarctica after the Whale Wars era by reports of an aggregation of 1000 fin whales amid several massive krill trawlers. What weve seen over these years is that this is a daily occurrence, that every day these massive super trawlers with lengths of up to 138 metres pull nets that are big enough to swallow a jumbo jet right through feeding frenzies of whales, Hammarstedt says. This fishery is very lightly regulated, and it would shock most people to learn that its perfectly legal to drag a massive net through a feeding frenzy of endangered whales. This month, Sea Shepherd is hosting an independent scientific team led by Matthew Savoca, a research scientist at Stanford University. The scientists, including Cheeseman, are trying to put hard data around the conflict between whales and humans over krill. Each boat you could consider to be consuming roughly 200-300 humpback whales worth of prey or 100-200 fin whales worth of prey every day, Savoca says. If you have three of these boats fishing tightly with each other, that would be the equivalent of 1000 whales moving through the ecosystem, sucking up krill. It means weve just added another predator to the ecosystem that doesnt actually give back to the system in the way that whales do, so it definitely sets up a situation for conflict. Advertisement Sustainability certification Another front in the krill wars opened up last week when the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and WWF lodged formal objections to the recertification of the Antarctic krill fishery as sustainable under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) program. This certification is jointly for Aker QRILL, Chilean and South Korean vessels, while Russian, Chinese and Ukrainian operations sit outside the program. In 2024 slightly more than half the Antarctic krill catch was certified, MSC figures suggest. ASOC says the growing pressure from fishing is compounding the impacts of climate change and pollution on krill in the planets last true wilderness. A famous 2004 Nature paper found the Southwest Atlantic where the krill fishing occurs had more than half the Antarctic krill, but stocks there had plummeted by about 80 per cent between the mid-1970s and early 2000s. More updated research has found that krill abundance has declined most dramatically in the northern parts of the Southern Ocean because of warming and reductions in sea ice, but is still strong close to the South Pole where the fishing occurs. This is all the more reason not to mess with it, says Stanfords Savoca. We are still learning and working to conserve these last strongholds of Antarctic krill in the high latitudes of the Southern Ocean. The krill industry points to a 2025 United Nations report that describes the krill catch in the Southern Ocean as under-exploited, and a 2021 paper in the Journal of Crustacean Biology that says the fishery location has a standing krill biomass of 63 million tonnes. This means the catch limit is less than 1 per cent of the krill biomass. Advertisement Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Save this video for later Add videos to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Advertisement Exclusive PoliticsWARoger Cook Roger Cook to move closer to Perth to beat Kwinana freeway traffic Hamish Hastie March 7, 2026 9:11pm 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 Self-styled Dad from Kwinana Premier Roger Cook is moving away from his electorate because of the lengthy commute from his home to the CBD. In a message to Kwinana Labor branch members on Saturday afternoon, Cook said he was moving from his Wellard home with his wife Carly Lane closer to Parliament House in West Perth, blaming the time spent in the car on the Kwinana Freeway. WA Premier Roger Cook. Photo Ross Swanborough As you know I have committed to the role as Premier beyond the next election. I think its important for Labor. I think its important for the state, he said. To do the job with the level of energy and commitment I believe it deserves, I need to spend more time in the community and less time travelling in the car. Advertisement Carly and I have made the difficult decision to move to the city...so we can apply ourselves 100 per cent to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Kwinana Freeway is one of the most congested stretches of road in the state during peak hour, particularly south of Russell Road, where it drops to two lanes. Construction is expected to start on a $700 million widening of the freeway later this year. The upgrade will include a new lane in each direction between Russell Road and Mortimer Road as well as new ramp signals on the northbound side of the freeway between Safety Bay Road and Roe Highway, to smooth the flow of traffic on the freeway at busy times. Cook said Wellard was still their home, and they would rent out their house. Advertisement I look forward to continuing to work with you to provide the people of Kwinana with the best possible representation, he said. In the meantime, my [electorate officer] team and I will maintain our profile and work hard to keep delivering for our community. State MPs dont have to live in their electorates in Western Australia. Cook leaned heavily on his roots in Kwinana during the 2025 election campaign, often referring to himself as a dad from Kwinana at public events and on social media. Cooks predecessor Mark McGowan created headlines when he moved from his beachfront home in Rockingham. McGowan was told by authorities to leave his well-known home due to safety concerns that arose throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement TechnologyAI Retailers will be held responsible for what their chatbots tell you Tim Biggs March 8, 2026 6:00am 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 Retailers turning to generative chatbots for customer service could find themselves in breach of consumer law, with lawyers and regulators warning that companies are responsible for the information their AI provides to customers. Many Australian retailers still rely on basic chatbots that funnel users down a flowchart of responses for support, order status and to organise returns. But some, including Woolworths, Kmart and Bunnings, are beginning to employ generative chatbots that can behave in a more charismatic and creative fashion. Retailers install guardrails to keep bots on topic and safe, but the nature of the technology means this isnt always guaranteed. Retailers considering generative AI for their online support need to balance convenience with the technologys infamous unpredictability. Most recently, Woolworths chatbot Olive drew the ire of shoppers by rambling about its fictional mother in chats, before the supermarket adjusted its underlying instructions. This masthead also revealed it got the prices of some items wrong. Last year, Bunnings had to add extra warnings and restrictions to its chatbot, after it provided instructions for an electrical repair that would have been illegal for the customer to perform unless they were licensed and qualified. In Canada, an airline lost a tribunal case after its chatbot wrongly promised a customer he could access a bereavement discount. It was ordered to pay damages and fees. And a small business owner in England recently complained on Reddit that the AI chat on his website had offered a customer a 25 per cent discount on an order worth thousands of pounds, which the customer then negotiated up to 80 per cent. The owner said the customer was threatening to take them to court if the discount wasnt honoured. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Supermarkets Woolworths forced to rein in chatbot that claimed to have angry mother The primary question in these cases is whether information provided by the chatbots is subject to the same rules and regulations as information published by the companies on their websites. Matthew McMillan, who leads the digital economy practice at law firm Lander & Rogers, said it was. If a chatbot gives incorrect or misleading information, the retailer can be liable for breaches under the Australian Consumer Law. They cant shift the blame to the chatbot and claim AI acted independently, he said. The law focuses on the effect of the conduct on consumers, not whether the message was delivered by a person or a machine. So for example if a chatbot clearly stated the wrong price, and if a reasonable consumer relied on it, that could constitute misleading or deceptive conduct. A chatbot saying something offensive could open the retailer up to discrimination complaints, defamation claims or privacy breaches. Advertisement There is no suggestion that the retailers mentioned in this piece have breached the rules, only that the growing prevalence of chatbots designed to mimic human characteristics could expose the sector to increased risk. McMillan said the highest risk was in refunds and returns, where a chatbot could put a retailer in breach if it mishandled a query about returning a faulty item. The Bunnings AI displays a solid grasp of the consumer guarantee, but chatbots are notorious for giving different answers depending on context. Consumers have clear rights under the Australian Consumer Law, and retailers can face serious penalties if those rights are misrepresented, he said. The ACCC has previously taken enforcement action and issued penalties against companies that downplayed or misstated refund entitlements. Advertisement In recent years, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has fined several companies millions of dollars each for practices or claims that breach the guarantees of the law. That includes Valve, Sony and Booktopia for their claims about refunding purchases, Mazda for pushing repairs over refunds, and The Good Guys for failing to provide refunds. In 2024, Qantas was fined more than $100 million for its booking practices. A spokesperson for the regulator said retailers would be held accountable for information given by chatbots, and that customers who felt theyve been misled should take it up with the companies or escalate it to their local consumer protection agency. Editor's pick Analysis AI Absolute nightmare: The social network where AI chatbots exchange ideas and gossip about humans Businesses using artificial intelligence, or any other technologies, need to assess the risk of their systems or processes providing misleading information and ensure all the technologies they use are fit for purpose, the spokesperson said. Businesses should also implement systems to provide recourse for consumers in the event misleading information is provided through their use of artificial intelligence. Advertisement Bunnings chief information officer, Genevieve Elliott, said the companys AI helped customers more quickly plan projects, find products, check stock availability and track orders. We continuously monitor customer feedback and chatbot behaviour to make sure the experience is helpful and reliable, she said. Since launching, its supported thousands of customer conversations. Kmart did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Woolworths said customers were advised when they opened a chat with Olive that the system might make mistakes, that it was popular among customers for quick 24/7 customer service and instantaneous refunds, and that it operates within controlled parameters using preprogrammed responses, with safeguards in place. Advertisement McMillan said that a disclaimer accompanying the chatbot, indicating that it may get things wrong, was unlikely to protect a company if something went wrong. Under the law, intention isnt the key issue. What matters is whether a reasonable consumer was likely to be misled, he said. If the chatbot gives clear, confident but incorrect information, a small disclaimer in the background wont necessarily undo that risk. In testing this week, chatbots at Myer, David Jones, The Iconic, JB Hi-Fi and other companies either refused to answer questions about pricing and returns, or offered to pass the chat over to a human staff member. The Bunnings bot was happy to enter into long conversations about door hinges but all pricing information was taken directly from live listings. Its responses to questions about returns carefully included nods to consumer guarantees. Kmarts bot appeared to be malfunctioning, replying only with error codes or canned responses. Get news and reviews on technology, gadgets and gaming in our Technology newsletter every Friday. Sign up here. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaExtreme weather Its lifting houses! At least six dead as suspected tornadoes hit Michigan, Oklahoma Dave Collins , Steve Karnowski and Mike Householder Updated March 8, 2026 9:55am ,first published 9:45am 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 Hartford, Connecticut/Minneapolis: Authorities are searching through rubble and debris in southern Michigan after suspected tornadoes tore through the region and killed four people, including a 12-year-old boy, during powerful storms also blamed for two deaths in eastern Oklahoma. First responders from agencies in the Union Lake area near Union City were looking for more possible victims and working to clear roads, authorities said. Photos and videos posted on social media showed flattened homes and downed trees in a lakeside neighbourhood. Severe thunderstorms that began in northern Indiana appeared to spawn multiple tornadoes in southern Michigan the previous day, said meteorologist Lonnie Fisher of the National Weather Service (NWS), which sent teams to the region to evaluate the damage and confirm tornadoes. Most likely there were three distinct tornadoes, but we wont know 100 per cent for sure until they finish the survey, Fisher said, adding that the storms intensified rapidly in southern Michigan after hitting northern Indiana. Advertisement The threat of severe weather continued across the nations midsection, with strong thunderstorms possible from Texas, north-east to Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and New York. Later on Saturday (US time), the NWS said an initial assessment confirmed that an EF3 tornado with winds of at least 241km/h struck the Union Lake area. Surveys in other damaged areas were pending. Tornado watches were posted in the afternoon for eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania and New York. The NWS said an initial assessment confirmed that an EF3 tornado with winds of at least 241km/h struck the Union Lake area. AP Three people were killed and 12 were injured in the Union Lake area, according to the Branch County Sheriffs Office. It was the second tornado to hit Union City in two years. An EF1 tornado with 153km/h winds touched down briefly in May 2024 and destroyed a machine shed. Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and recorded a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed, then dropped towards the ground on Friday. Trees were torn from their roots, and debris flew into the air. Advertisement Its lifting houses! she said. As the devastation continued, she exclaimed: Oh, my heart is pounding. Oh, I hope theyre OK. Dan Taylor raced home to Union City from his cleaning job at a nearby hospital that day to find his brother and two dogs safe. But a tree fell on his home of 20 years, and portions of the roof of a house across the street blew into his yard. Damage is seen to vehicles after a reported tornado in Three Rivers, Michigan. AP I didnt know what to say. I was lost for words, he said Saturday. Im just thankful that my brothers all right, my dogs, because it could have turned bad. Were not guaranteed of anything. About 81 kilometres south-west of Union Lake, a 12-year-old boy died and several other people were injured during a possible tornado, the Cass County Sheriffs Office said. Sheriff Clint Roach said in a Facebook post that Silas Andersons parents found him injured and provided first aid, but he later died at a hospital. Advertisement Disaster relief workers went door to door in the Union City and Three Rivers areas to offer meals and clean-up supplies. Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she would declare a state of emergency in the Branch, Cass and St Joseph counties. In Beggs, about 50 kilometres south of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a tornado was blamed for the deaths of two people in a house on Friday, the Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office said. Two others were taken to a hospital. Volunteers work to clear branches in Union City. AP The tornado cut a roughly 6.4-kilometre path of damage in Okmulgee County, including Beggs, said Jeff Moore, the countys emergency manager. Large trees toppled and power outages were reported. Suspected tornadoes also were reported in northern parts of Tulsa, where a building at the Tulsa Tech Peoria campus was damaged. Advertisement Related Article Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Explainer Meteorology How do we predict the weather? Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency in several counties to free up support and resources. The Oklahoma deaths came a day after storms killed a 47-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter in their vehicle in Fairview, in the western part of the state. The spring storms come near the start of what many call tornado season, which generally begins at various times in different parts of the US. Experts recommend a few simple safety steps to take before tornadoes hit, including having a weather radio and a plan for where to take shelter. In parts of the South, the weather pattern was expected to usher in extremely warm temperatures for this time of year by the weekend. Advertisement AP 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 More: Extreme weather USA Tragedy Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaEpstein fallout Missing Epstein files with Trump allegations finally out in the open Mark Berman March 7, 2026 12:24pm 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 US Justice Department has publicly posted additional records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including some that include allegations against President Donald Trump, following sharp criticism of the agencys handling of the issue. The agency said the files, which include details from FBI interviews with a woman who told authorities she had been sexually assaulted by Trump and Epstein, had not been previously released because they were incorrectly determined to be duplicates of other records. The Justice Department has posted millions of pages of Epstein-related records online, including investigative materials, following the passage of a law last year mandating their release. Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in 1997. Getty Images The woman, who was interviewed by the FBI in 2019, accused Trump of sexually assaulting her decades earlier when she was a minor. No evidence has emerged publicly to corroborate that accusation. The White House called the allegations against Trump completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence. Advertisement The additional records were posted as Trump and his administration have struggled to combat controversies involving the release of files connected to Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while facing charges of sex-trafficking and abusing girls. Editor's pick Epstein fallout Clinton evidence raises new questions about Trumps falling out with Epstein The Justice Department has faced particular criticism over its response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a measure passed by Congress last year that demanded the agency make public a wide array of records by mid-December. While the agency did release more than 100,000 pages by that point, it did not make public most of its files until weeks later, well after the deadline. Lawmakers have faulted the Justice Department for missing the deadline, failing to redact some information related to victims identities and redacting other information. Last month, after multiple media outlets reported that summaries of the womans account had not been included, the Justice Department said it was examining whether it wrongly withheld records containing allegations against Trump, who had been friends with Epstein for years before they had a falling out. As we have said countless times, President Trump has been totally exonerated by the release of the Epstein Files. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Advertisement On Thursday, the Justice Department said in a social media post that it had discovered that 15 documents were incorrectly coded as duplicative. Among these records were notes from multiple FBI interviews with the woman, who spoke to authorities following Epsteins arrest in 2019. Related Article Good Weekend I went to the USs peak MAGA conference to gauge the state of movement. Heres what I found According to the interview notes, the woman told investigators that she had been sexually assaulted by Epstein and Trump during separate incidents in the 1980s, when she was a minor. The Washington Post has been unable to corroborate these allegations or reach the woman. Though summary reports of three of her FBI interviews were not included in files previously released by the administration, the Justice Department had already posted a report on one of the interviews as well as a summary file referencing the womans allegations against Trump. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, pushed back against the allegations in a statement Friday. Advertisement The total baselessness of these accusations is also supported by the obvious fact that Joe Bidens [Justice Department] knew about them for four years and did nothing with them because they knew President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong, Leavitt said. As we have said countless times, President Trump has been totally exonerated by the release of the Epstein Files. The Justice Department this week said it had not deleted any files from the library, and a spokeswoman called it the most transparent Department of Justice in history. US lawmakers have voted to subpoena Attorney-General Pam Bondi before a congressional committee over her handling of the release of the Epstein files. AP In addition to the FBI interviews, the Justice Department said on Thursday that federal officials in South Florida had separately concluded that five prosecution memos initially marked as privileged could be released while still protecting the privileged materials. Those were also released, the agency said. Advertisement The release of the FBI interviews and other documents came a day after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to subpoena Attorney-General Pam Bondi, escalating tensions between Congress and the administration. Bondi, testifying last month before Congress, said the Justice Department spent thousands of hours painstakingly reviewing millions of pages to comply with Congresss law. It was not clear how Bondi intends to respond to the subpoena, which compels her to appear before the committee for a closed-door deposition about the Justice Departments release of the Epstein records. Washington Post 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 More: Epstein fallout Donald Trump Jeffrey Epstein JOHANNESBURG, March 6, 2026 -- On March 3, LEPAS, Chery Group's new brand, unveiled the highly anticipated LEPAS L4 at a launch dinner in Johannesburg. Local mainstream media, industry representatives, partners, and invited guests gathered to witness the milestone event. The launch not only marked the official debut of the LEPAS brand in the South African market but also injected new momentum into Africa's growing new energy mobility sector. As a global brand created by Chery Group, LEPAS is built around its core values of Leopard Aesthetics, Elegant Driving, and Exquisite Space, delivering refined mobility experience for drivers worldwide. Positioned as the"Free-Style Urban Life Creator," the LEPAS L4 carries the brand's core value proposition of "Always Freedom." It reflects the lifestyle philosophy of "Be Yourself, Be Free," combining "Leopard Aesthetics" exterior design with refined interior craftsmanship. Equipped with advanced connectivity technology and intelligent driver assistance systems, the model offers South African consumers an elegant and intelligent driving experience. Tony Liu, CEO of Chery Group South Africa, noted: "The launch of the LEPAS L4 is a significant milestone in our South African business. It combines sophisticated design, intelligent technology, and accessible luxury, demonstrating our commitment to delivering world-class quality and innovation to local consumers." Jay Jay Botes, General Manager of LEPAS South Africa, also expressed confidence in the market outlook: "This launch is not only about introducing a new vehicle but also about presenting an elegant lifestyle. The LEPAS L4 integrates fashionable design, outstanding performance, and exceptional value, and we believe it will set a new benchmark in its class." The LEPAS L4's product strength highlights its interpretation of elegant mobility. Inside the cabin, a 13.2-inch 2K touchscreen, wireless charging, and a 540-degree panoramic camera system provide seamless connectivity and convenience. In terms of safety, aircraft-grade aluminum anti-collision beams and a high-strength body structure offer reliable protection. Meanwhile, the Cloud-Feel seats, featuring a three-layer cooling ventilation system and multi-layer structure, ensure exceptional comfort for long-distance travel. Orders for the LEPAS L4 in South Africa are now officially open. The brand also provides comprehensive after-sales support, including a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and a ten-year/1 million km engine warranty, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the market. RIO DE JANEIRO, March 6, 2026 -- In a landmark move for Brazilian aviation, GOL Linhas Aereas has officially announced the launch of its first-ever long-haul route, signaling a robust new phase in the airline's international expansion strategy. Starting on July 8, 2026, the carrier will begin operating direct, non-stop flights connecting RIOgaleao Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. This highly anticipated service will feature three weekly frequencies and was developed through a strategic partnership with the Rio de Janeiro City Hall. This major operational milestone follows the company's recent strategic decision to incorporate wide-body aircraft into its growing fleet, enabling the airline to cover longer distances and offer enhanced comfort for intercontinental travel. GOL's commitment to the city of Rio de Janeiro is substantial. The airline has made expressive investments totaling approximately US$ 1.2 billion in local assets. Currently, GOL operates more than 30 domestic and international routes originating from Rio de Janeiro. These operations play a crucial role in the local economy, significantly contributing to the generation of highly qualified jobs and driving broad economic benefits. By establishing a direct link between two of the most vital tourism and business hubs in South and North America, GOL is successfully solidifying its strategy for overseas growth. This connection opens up a wide array of new options and opportunities for customers throughout the entire continent. The exciting news was formally revealed during a high-profile press event held on March 6 at RIOgaleao. The ceremony featured the presence of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, Vice Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, ABRA's CEO Adrian Neuhauser, GOL's CEO Celso Ferrer, alongside various other authorities. Ban on social media for kids below 16 yrs in Ktaka BENGALURU : KARNATAKA Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced a ban on use of social media for those under the age of 16 years, aimed at preventing its adverse effects on children. Though a cross-section of parents welcomed the move, they are wary of the practicality of its implementation. With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16, Siddaramaiah said while presenting the state Budget for 2026-27 here. However, he did not elaborate on how this will be implemented. In January this year, Karnataka Minister for Electronics, IT/BT Priyank Kharge had informed the Legislative Assembly that the State Government was holding consultations regarding measures to be put in place for responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and social media, especially among children. The Central Governments Economic Survey tabled in Parliament in January this year said age-based access to online platforms should be considered while also cutting down online teaching to avoid digital addiction. Manohar N H, a resident of Jalahalli in Bengaluru who has two school-going children - a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl - said that restricting social media for children below 16 may be good in some ways, but implementing it would be difficult. These days, teaching in many schools and colleges happens through apps. For instance, SSLC and PUC students-especially those in second PUC-already rely heavily on apps for classes and communication. Controlling social media use will be very challenging, particularly in government schools and colleges. The rule may be introduced, but I doubt it will succeed; the success rate may be only around 10 per cent, he said. Appreciating the move, Dr Saritha Nagaraj, Consultant Psychology and Child Development, Motherhood Hospital here said with this the risk of poor mental health among children and teenagers - including symptoms of depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and body image issues arising from unhealthy comparisons, which can further lead to disordered eating - will be reduced. Their cognitive performance and emotional regulation are also likely to improve. Exposure to dangerous content will decrease, and this could help improve attention span as well as academic performance, she added. Dr Rakshay Shetty, Clinical Director, Pediatric Services Head, Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Rainbow Childrens Hospital said that while there are a lot of disadvantages of excess use of mobile devices in children, considering its ill-effects on their psychology, at the same time it provides a lot of practical utility for parents, teachers and children. Andhra Govt to ban social media for children under 13 within 90 days AMARAVATI, Mar 6 (PTI) ANDHRA Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said social media will be prohibited for children below 13 years of age within the next 90 days. Addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister said they are actively debating whether to extend this ban to children between 13 and 16 years of age. Definitely, we will make sure that within 90 days those below 13 years of age are not able to use social media, said Naidu. The CM said his Government will take a call on banning social media for teenagers between 13 and 16 years. Last month, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha had told the Assembly that the Government is considering a legislation to bar school students from using social media. She stated that the sub-committee has met twice so far and discussed various issues at length. Chitrangi SDOP Saiyaam receives cash reward for outstanding work in Anti-Naxal operations Our Correspondent Singrauli : Chitrangi Rahul Kumar Saiyaam is among 34 police officers and employees who have received cash reward for their outstanding contribution in Anti-Naxal operations. Director General of Police (DGP), Madhya Pradesh, Kailash Makwana, has approved total cash reward of Rs 15 lakh for presenting cash reward to the best performing police officers and employees during Anti-Naxal operations. Among them, Rahul Kumar Saiyaam, SDOP, Chitrangi, was awarded cash reward of Rs 1,00,000 for his outstanding contribution. On August 21, 2023, MP Police achieved significant success in apprehending Ashok Reddy (resident of Telangana), Mass Organisation Incharge of the North Bastar and RKB Division of banned Naxalite organisation, the Communist Party of India (Maoist), and DK Special Zonal Committee Member and Kumari Potai alias Remati (resident of Chhattisgarh), an Area Committee Member. The teams of Madhya Pradesh ATS and Hawk Force demonstrated a high degree of dedication, courage and excellent professional competence in apprehending the absconding and wanted Naxalites. To encourage a total of 34 police officers and employees who played a significant role in this crucial operation, cash reward has been approved by DGP Kailash Makwana. Citys Flt Lt Duragkar killed in fighter jet crash in Assam Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar. (File photo) Staff Reporter : He was a role model for many young minds of his school and a good friend of all his Prahari friends. His poster, standing beside a fighter aircraft, hangs in the hall of fame of South Point School, reminding every student that this should be the ultimate goal of everyone. With this dream, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar left everyone and maneuvered to another world on Thursday. Purvesh, 27, died when an Indian Air Force Sukhoi 30MKI fighter jet crashed in a remote hill area of Assams Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission, killing both pilots on board. Purvesh was always soft spoken and he was in contact with us even after his commissioning in IAF. He was an average student till Class 8 but in Class 9, he got the goal of his life. Ravindra Duragkar, in black, being consoled as he mourns after his son, along with another IAF pilot, was killed when a Su-30 MKI fighter jet crashed in Assams Karbi Anglong district, at their residence. He wanted to be a fighter pilot and after Class 9 he never turned back and cleared all exams in first attempt, Mrunal Dasture, Principal, The South Public School told The Hitavada. When he was commissioned, he visited the school. Around three years ago, we invited him as the chief guest for our Independence Day function as part of our tradition of inviting alumni, said Dasture. Flight Lieutenant Shivali Deshpande (Retd), Secretary of Prahar Samaj Jagurti Sanstha and Director of Prahar Defence Academy, said, Purvesh was a extremely dedicated and determined towards his goal. He was soft spoken and he believed one principlelive your life to the fullest. As a Prahari, Purvesh always liked to guide young ones and his friends in the Academy. The day of his commissioning in Indian Air Force in 2022 was the happiest day in his life and his interview was also published in The Hitavada, said Purveshs mentor Flt Lt Deshpande. The news of his death reached his family in Nagpur late on Wednesday, leaving relatives and well-wishers in deep shock and grief. A resident of Mahalaxmi Nagar in South West Nagpur, Purvesh completed his BSc. in Computer Science from Dr Ambedkar College. During his school years he had scored 88 per cent in Class 10 and 70 per cent in Class 12. He had represented Maharashtra in six national NCC camps and also represented the Maharashtra Directorate in aero-modelling competitions. He later trained at the Defence Services Academy (DSA), Shahapur in Bhandara near Nagpur. His father, Ravindra Duragkar, is a transport inspector in Central Railway and his mother, Sandhya Duragkar, is a home maker. His sister is settled in United States of America. As per the information received, the rescue teams later located the wreckage of the fighter jet and recovered the bodies of the two pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. In a statement, the Indian Air Force confirmed the deaths. IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief, the statement said. As per the family members, the mortal remains are likely to arrive city on Saturday morning. Took part in Op Sindoor, had family get-together 10 days ago, says father Ravindra Duragkar could only recall memories of his son, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, the most vivid being their phone chat on Wednesday and his visit home ten days ago for a family get-together. We had spoken on Wednesday. His Group Captain got in touch with us and informed us about the accident, said Ravindra, his eyes welling up. His 28-year-old son had taken part in Operation Sindoor. Ravindra said Purvesh was originally posted in Tezpur, Assam, but was operating from Jorhat as work was being carried out on the Tezpur runway. A neighbour told PTI that Purvesh is survived by his parents and a sister settled in the US. Purvesh and his sister, an IITian, had come home ten days ago for a family get-together, the neighbour said. Ravindra also recalled the family function. My son was extremely proud to be part of the Indian Air Force. He would sometimes share his experience of flying fighter planes and the speeds that IAF jets achieve. He held his colleagues in high regard, he said. (PTI) Govt sets up control rooms in Bhopal, New Delhi for those stuck in war zone Staff Reporter : Taking a stand on the current unpredictable circumstances prevailing in Middle-East nations, the Madhya Pradesh Government has initiated formal measures to assist its residents currently staying in the Gulf region. To ensure safety and coordination of citizens engaged in education, employment, business and tourism, dedicated control rooms have been established in both New Delhi and Bhopal. A 24x7 operational help desk has been institutionalised at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan, New Delhi. This facility serves as a primary liaison point, coordinating directly with the Government of India and relevant international agencies to provide necessary assistance to those affected. Intense Israeli strikes hit Iran, Lebanon, Bombardment will surge dramatically: US; Iran death toll 1,230, Lebanon 120 DUBAI : INTENSE Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon on Friday as the United States apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea in its unrelenting campaign against the Islamic Republics fleet of warships. Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end of a full week of bombardment, which US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned was about to surge dramatically. Israels military said on Friday morning it had begun a broad-scale wave of strikes on Tehran, Irans capital. Witnesses described the Israeli airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area. Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah in an area that is home to multiple missile bases. The Israeli military said strikes have already destroyed most of Irans air defences and missile launchers. The war has escalated to affect countries across the Middle East and beyond. Early Friday, Iran fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, all countries that host US forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties. In Lebanon, where the war has rekindled fighting between Israel and Iran-allied Hezbollah militants, Israel launched a series of airstrikes late on Thursday into Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas. Motorists jammed roads trying to flee or seek shelter. The US and Israel have battered Iran with nationwide strikes, targeting their military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. In addition to Israel, Irans attacks have targeted their Arab neighbours, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. The US military said early on Friday that it struck an Iranian drone carrier, setting it ablaze. The US militarys Central Command released black-and-white footage of the burning carrier. The Iranian military did not immediately acknowledge the attack. The drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, is a converted container ship with a 180-metre-long (yard) runway for drones. The vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports, reports said at the time of its 2025 inauguration. In brief remarks at the White House, US President Donald Trump again urged the Iranian people to help take back your country. This time he promised the US would grant them immunity amid the war and ongoing dangers under the current Iranian regime. So youll be perfectly safe with total immunity, Trump said, without giving any details about what that meant. Or youll face absolutely guaranteed death. Under cover of darkness on Friday morning, B-2 stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000 pound penetrator bombs on deeply buried ballistic missile launchers inside Iran, Cooper said. US SHUTS DOWN ITS EMBASSY IN KUWAIT AS IRAN WAR ESCALATES: THE US Embassy in Kuwait shut down after retaliatory Iranian strikes on the country, becoming the second American diplomatic mission to fully halt work as the war in Iran escalates. Kuwait is also where six American soldiers were killed by an Iranian drone on Sunday. Iran slams US attack on unarmed vessel returning from India NEW DELHI : TWO days after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lankas coast, Iran on Friday warned that the attack on an unarmed ship cannot go with impunity. The Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was returning home after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack, which marked a major escalation in the conflict between the US and Iran outside of the Persian Gulf. Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who is visiting India, emphasised that the IRIS Dena was in a non-combat configuration, returning from the Milan naval exercises and the US action against it was a serious violation of international law. This is a very sad, very unfortunate incident. That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends, attending an international exercise. It was ceremonial. It was unloaded. It was unarmed, he said It is very unfortunate. Many of the young Iranian sailors who were attending these exercises lost their lives. It cannot go with impunity for those who actually did that, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue. IRIS Dena was part of Indian Navys premier multilateral maritime exercise Milan. The warship had also featured in the International Fleet Review in Vishakapatnam last month. Khatibzadeh, blasting the US for killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said cherry-picking of international law cannot be acceptable. Unfortunately, principles of international law have been attacked, and we have to stand together against these atrocities. Americans have assassinated the head of another state. If it is the new norm, then nobody, no country on earth can actually have diplomatic normalisation with other countries, he said. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said Tehrans priority now is to exercise ultimate resistance against the aggressor. We are under attack, under invasion by Americans and Israelis, and they are trying to impose maximum damage to Iran. As we are speaking, my fellow citizens are under constant attack, he said. Tehran is under constant attack, and we have no option but to resist to the last bullet that we do have and to the last soldier that we have. This is a very heroic, very nationalistic battle for us, and we have to stop the aggressor, he said. Khatibzadeh also responded to a question on Indias position on the West Asia crisis. Iran and India have all civilisational roots with each other. We are Indo-Persian culture and civilisation and it is very much in line with this cultural civilisational heritage, and we attach great importance to Iran-India relations, he said. The Iranian deputy Foreign Minister described Irans fight against the US and Israel as resistance for the history, for the region, for the world, for the principles of international law. We are going to resist, and this is for the record of history. Iranians are sacrificing because rogue, reckless behaviour is happening against Iran. This is what we are doing. I think the moment they stop the aggression, we are going to have a new dynamism in the region, he said. The Iranian Supreme Leader was killed in an Israel-US strike on February 28. India on Thursday condoled the killing of Khamenei against the backdrop of scathing criticism of the government by opposition parties for its silence on the assassination as well as on sinking of the Iranian ship by the US off the Sri Lankan coast. Jashpur bids farewell to Mahavir Prasad Jain Staff Reporter : Veteran social worker, former MISA detainee and noted democracy fighter Mahavir Prasad Jain passed away in Jashpur at the age of about 93, leaving behind a legacy associated with the struggle for democratic rights during the Emergency era. Family members, including his son Devendra Jain and grandson Naman Jain, along with members of the Jain community, expressed deep grief over his demise. News of his passing spread rapidly across the district, drawing a steady stream of people from Jashpur town and surrounding areas who gathered to pay their final respects. Jain was widely known in the region as a committed democracy activist who had resisted authoritarian measures during the Emergency imposed in the mid-1970s. For raising his voice in defence of democratic principles, he was detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). Despite the hardships of imprisonment and the political climate of that period, he remained steadfast in his commitment to democratic values and civil liberties. Beyond his political convictions, Jain was also regarded as an active social figure in Jashpur district. He regularly participated in community initiatives, religious events of the Jain society and various public welfare activities. Residents recalled his efforts to maintain social harmony and strengthen community bonds through constructive engagement and guidance. The final rites were performed at the Teejki cremation ground with State honours. The ceremony was attended by local residents, representatives of social organisations and members of the Jain community. During the cremation, slogans of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai echoed as people paid tribute to the departed leader. Police personnel accorded a ceremonial guard of honour to Jain. As part of the tribute, officers presented arms and fired three rounds in the air in recognition of his role as a democracy fighter. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed condolences, stating that Jains struggle during the Emergency to uphold democratic values would always remain memorable. Jashpur SSP Lal Umed Singh also conveyed condolences, describing him as a respected figure whose contributions would be remembered with honour. JD(U) leaders convey anguish to Nitish PATNA : JANATA Dal (United) legislators in Bihar on Friday conveyed their anguish to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his decision to move to Delhi as a Rajya Sabha MP, but drew solace from the imminent political entry of Nishant, the party chiefs only son. Members of the party in the bicameral legislature, as well as both Houses of Parliament, who had been taken aback by the sudden move of the JD(U) President, got an opportunity to interact with him at a meeting held in the evening at the Chief Ministers residence. Lawmakers of the party were assured by the CM that he decided of his own accord and not under any pressure. He also assured that he would keep himself available to party workers in the State for guidance, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary told reporters. Replying to another query, he said, Yes, the Chief Minister has given the green light for Nishants entry. He is likely to join the party in a day or two. Asked about what post Nishant was likely to hold in the party and whether he was likely to join the new Government that will be formed after Kumar steps down as Chief Minister, Chaudhary quipped, For some things, you should wait a little (kuchh cheezon ke liye kuchh intezaar kar leejiye). Kumar, who has been the States longest serving CM, on Thursday caused a flutter by filing his nomination papers for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats which the JD(U) is contesting in the biennial elections, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others, minutes after announcing the decision on social media. Second-term JD(U) MLA Shalini Mishra told PTI video, Nitish Kumar has always said he has no lust for power. His latest move will silence even his most strident critics. He has given so much to Bihar. His name will be written in golden letters, like his idols Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan and Karpoori Thakur. Another senior minister Shravan Kumar, who has been a close aide of Nitish Kumar since the 1990s, said, We told the CM that we are anguished, but out of respect, we shall be with him in whatever decision he has taken. We also underscored the need for bringing in Nishant, whose presence will energise the party. JD(U) MLC and spokesman Neeraj Kumar told reporters, It is wrong to say a section of party workers are angry at the decision. They are in pain and this was conveyed to the CM at todays meeting. He said I am there (main hoon na). The remarks came in the backdrop of protests by party workers, especially at the JD(U) office, where they blackened posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, alleging that their leader was being made to step down as part of a conspiracy hatched by the BJP, a decades-old ally. On the entry of Nishant, the JD(U) MLC said, It will be in a day or two. The exact date and time shall be conveyed to all by the party. Man dies after falling through gap at new BMC HQs Staff Reporter : Public entry to the newly-constructed Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters on Link Road No. 2 was restricted for several hours on Friday following the tragic death of a 60-year-old man. The incident has cast a spotlight on critical engineering flaws and construction negligence within the Rs 40 crore building, even before its formal inauguration. According to TT Nagar police, the deceased, Shyam Sundar Saxena, a resident of Kokta Multi-Floor under the Housing for All (HFA) scheme, had visited the office for administrative work. He reportedly fell through a 1.5 to 2-foot gap in the boundary wall of the front porch on the first floor. Saxena succumbed to his injuries late Thursday night during treatment. A site visit revealed multiple hazardous conditions within the eight-storey structure. An open area adjacent to the emergency staircase remains completely uncovered, lacking both protective walls and safety nets. Furthermore, issues with basic infrastructure were observed, including water dripping down the staircase from the eighth floor due to an overflowing rooftop tank. Despite the building being an active construction site with ongoing electrical and furniture work, several key departments, including Central Workshop, HFA, Civil, and Public Relations, have already been shifted to the premises. The incident triggered a massive protest by Congress workers led by Abhinav Baroliya. Protesters staged a demonstration at the headquarters, accusing the administration of prioritising shifting over safety. They alleged that poor engineering and technical lapses are responsible for the life-threatening conditions and demanded a high-level investigation into the construction quality. Responding to the tragedy, BMC Executive Engineer Pramod Malviya inspected the premises. While questioning how the victim reached the porch area when the HFA office is located on the seventh floor. We are identifying all open and dangerous areas within the headquarters. Directions have been issued to lock all balcony gates and rectify structural flaws within a week, Malviya stated. Rajnath calls for Indian maritime leadership amid West Asia crisis KOLKATA : IN THIS era of changing geopolitics, oceans have once again come to the centre of the worlds power balance and it is Indias responsibility to provide leadership with confidence and capability, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, referring to the escalating conflict in West Asia. The unfolding developments in West Asia are highly unusual and the situation in the region could adversely impact the global economy, he said addressing an event here. What is happening in West Asia is highly unusual. It is difficult to make any firm comment at this stage on the direction in which conditions in West Asia might proceed going forward, he said. If we look at the Strait of Hormuz or the entire Persian Gulf region, it is an extremely important area for the worlds energy security. When there is disturbance or disruption in this region, it directly impacts the supply of oil and gas, he said. Not only that, today we are witnessing supply chain disruptions not just in the energy sector, but in other sectors as well. The direct impact of these uncertainties falls on the economy and global trade, he said. Singh said the current situation has once again reflected the importance of oceans. In this era of changing global geopolitics, oceans have once again come to the centre of the worlds power balance. At such a time, as a major maritime nation, it is Indias responsibility to provide leadership with confidence, capability, and a clear vision, he said. The Defence Minister, however, did not make any direct or indirect reference to the US sinking an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka two days back. The Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was returning home after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack, which marked a major escalation in the conflict between the US and Iran outside of the Persian Gulf. The US launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following the military offensive, Iran 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. In the last three days, the conflict has widened significantly with attacks and counter-attacks by both the sides. BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (NYSE:BBAR Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have assigned a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $17.6667. A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of BBVA Banco Frances from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. UBS Group initiated coverage on BBVA Banco Frances in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. They set a hold rating and a $18.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised BBVA Banco Frances to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of BBVA Banco Frances in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Get BBVA Banco Frances alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on BBAR Institutional Trading of BBVA Banco Frances BBVA Banco Frances Price Performance Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BBAR. Ping Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in BBVA Banco Frances by 40.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,050,500 shares of the banks stock valued at $8,740,000 after buying an additional 304,600 shares in the last quarter. Channing Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of BBVA Banco Frances in the second quarter worth $419,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda purchased a new stake in shares of BBVA Banco Frances in the third quarter valued at $918,000. Fourth Sail Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of BBVA Banco Frances during the second quarter valued at $29,399,000. Finally, OCONNOR A Distinct Business Unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC purchased a new stake in BBVA Banco Frances during the 2nd quarter worth about $3,168,000. NYSE:BBAR traded down $0.43 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $13.84. The companys stock had a trading volume of 637,428 shares, compared to its average volume of 655,272. BBVA Banco Frances has a 52-week low of $7.76 and a 52-week high of $23.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.12. The businesss 50-day moving average is $17.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.69. The company has a market capitalization of $2.83 billion, a PE ratio of 16.67 and a beta of 1.10. BBVA Banco Frances (NYSE:BBAR Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, March 4th. The bank reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.34 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $337.36 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $874.92 billion. BBVA Banco Frances had a return on equity of 6.55% and a net margin of 3.70%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that BBVA Banco Frances will post 1.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. BBVA Banco Frances Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 19th were paid a $0.0357 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 19th. This is a positive change from BBVA Banco Francess previous monthly dividend of $0.03. BBVA Banco Francess dividend payout ratio is currently 44.21%. About BBVA Banco Frances (Get Free Report) BBVA Banco Frances is one of Argentinas leading financial institutions, operating as a subsidiary of the global banking group BBVA. The bank provides a full range of retail and commercial banking services to individuals, small and mediumsized enterprises, large corporations and institutional clients. Its product suite spans deposit accounts, mortgages, personal and auto loans, credit and debit cards, transactional banking and digital solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of customers in both urban and regional markets. Founded in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century, Banco Frances has developed a longstanding presence in Argentinas financial sector. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BBVA Banco Frances Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BBVA Banco Frances and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Central Japan Railway Co. (OTCMKTS:CJPRY Get Free Report) passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $14.31 and traded as high as $14.4050. Central Japan Railway shares last traded at $13.97, with a volume of 56,210 shares trading hands. Central Japan Railway Stock Performance The stocks 50 day moving average price is $14.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.92. The company has a current ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The company has a market capitalization of $26.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.31 and a beta of 0.19. Get Central Japan Railway alerts: Central Japan Railway (OTCMKTS:CJPRY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $3.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.25 billion. Central Japan Railway had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 27.40%.Central Japan Railway has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.681-1.681 EPS. Analysts expect that Central Japan Railway Co. will post 1.35 earnings per share for the current year. Central Japan Railway Company Profile Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) is a major Japanese passenger rail operator best known for running the Tokaido Shinkansen highspeed rail line, which connects the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka corridors. The companys core activities center on intercity highspeed transport as well as conventional commuter and regional rail services across the Chubu and Tokaido regions of central Japan. JR Central operates and maintains rolling stock, station facilities and the infrastructure necessary to deliver frequent, highcapacity passenger service on one of the busiest rail corridors in the world. Beyond train operations, JR Central derives revenue from a range of railwayrelated businesses including station retail and commercial leases, real estate and property development around major stations, hotel and travel services, and peripheral retail and restaurant operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Central Japan Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Central Japan Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of City of London Investment Group Plc (LON:CLIG Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 382.43 and traded as high as GBX 409. City of London Investment Group shares last traded at GBX 394, with a volume of 115,515 shares changing hands. City of London Investment Group Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of 185.93 million, a P/E ratio of 9.03 and a beta of 0.29. The businesss 50-day moving average is GBX 389.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 382.42. The company has a quick ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 74.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.30. Get City of London Investment Group alerts: City of London Investment Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) City of London Investment Group PLC is a United Kingdom-based asset management company, consisting of two wholly owned subsidiaries that invest primarily in closed-end funds for the benefit of their respective clients. The Company, through its subsidiary City of London Investment Management Company Limited (CLIM), historically specialized in Emerging Markets and has expanded its range to International, Opportunistic Value and Frontier strategies, for primarily institutional clients. The Company, through its subsidiary Karpus Investment Management (KIM), provides closed-end fund strategies across all asset classes to wealth management clients in the United States. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for City of London Investment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for City of London Investment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ferrellgas Partners (OTCMKTS:FGPR) executives used the companys fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings call to highlight improved profitability, continued operating efficiencies, and a significant capital structure step involving its Class B Units. Get alerts: Capital structure: Class B cash distribution and planned conversion Chief Executive Officer Tamria Zertuche said the company announced after the market close the prior day that its board declared a cash distribution to the Class B Units of $82.32 per Class B Unit, or approximately $107 million in aggregate. The distribution is payable on or about March 13, 2026. Zertuche said that upon making the distribution, the partnership will have achieved the, which allows it to elect to convert the Class B Units into Class A Units. She added that the board approved the conversion of alloutstanding Class B Units into Class A Units, at aratio after the distribution is paid. Management framed the move as a simplification that reflects the companys cash flow performance and supports future growth initiatives. Zertuche also cited strategic partners PGIM and Ares, as well as the bank group led by administrative agent J.P. Morgan, as supporters of the companys post-restructuring capital structure. Q2 operating backdrop: late winter and shifting resources Zertuche said the company was very pleased with second-quarter results and pointed to disciplined execution focused on customer growth, margin performance, and efficiency. She noted that winter weather arrived later than usual after unseasonably warm conditions in November and December, particularly across the western half of the U.S. During warmer conditions, she said the company leaned into tank sets and growth initiatives. She also referenced Winter Storm Fern, describing significant snow and ice that created hazardous driving conditions, including downed trees and unplowed roads. Zertuche emphasized that Ferrellgas national footprint allowed it to reposition drivers and equipment from the West to the East to meet elevated demand, calling that flexibility a differentiator. Safety and technology initiatives Safety was a recurring theme in prepared remarks. Zertuche said OSHA recordables improved 10% quarter-over-quarter, and slips, trips, and falls were down nearly 4% year-over-year despite challenging weather conditions. She also pointed to continued progress with telematics and in-cab cameras and said stronger integration with Samsara AIthe provider of its telematicswas contributing to fewer safety events, improved driver performance, and measurable gains in fuel efficiency and fleet productivity. Financial results: higher EBITDA and net earnings despite lower propane pricing Vice President and Corporate Controller Nick Heimer said overall gross profit increased by $3 million, or about 1%, from the prior year. Heimer noted propane prices at Mont Belvieu were down roughly 22% versus the prior year, which contributed to about a $28 million decline in revenue. However, he said product costs fell by about $31 million, offsetting the revenue pressure. Heimer reported adjusted EBITDA increased $9.1 million, or about 6%, to $166.1 million. He said preparation work done in the prior quarter helped the company respond as winter demand picked up, driving a $7.1 million improvement in retail gross profit. He described wholesale results as softer, attributing that to the absence of hurricane-related activity that had boosted volumes in the year-ago period. On operating metrics, Heimer said margin per gallon increased about 6% due to fewer unproductive deliveries and reduced skipped stops, which translated into roughly a 13% increase in operating income per gallon. Heimer also reported net earnings increased $3.3 million to $102.2 million, primarily driven by higher gross profit and cost control. He said: General and administrative expenses declined by $4.6 million , largely due to lower personnel and legal costs. declined by , largely due to lower personnel and legal costs. Operating lease expense declined by $1.6 million after the company refinanced several operating leases into finance leases during the quarter. Heimer said the company remained optimistic about the third quarter, noting that winter was not over yet. Q&A highlights: Eddystone closure, CFO search, and macro headwinds In responses to previously submitted questions, Zertuche said the company made the final payment related to the Eddystone litigation in January and that the matter is closed. She said Ferrellgas is no longer incurring legal costs and that there is no outstanding litigation related to the Bridger transactions. Regarding leadership, she said hiring a new CFO remains a priority and that the company continues its search, taking time to find the right fit. She added that Andy Safran continues to serve as an advisor, including on capital structure and improvements to the investor relations program. On potential third-quarter headwinds, Zertuche said the company is monitoring the conflict in Iran for its potential impact on costs, and also watching developments around tariffs. She said the company took positions in the first and second quarters to secure favorable pricing and expressed optimism that Ferrellgas can mitigate potential unfavorable impacts. Looking ahead, Zertuche said the Class B conversion reduces the companys cost of capital to better match its business performance and strengthens its ability to pursue growth. She pointed to opportunities in power generationincluding for businesses such as data centersand the companys expanding autogas business, including school buses. She also said Ferrellgas views itself as experienced in acquisitions and intends to continue simplifying and improving its capital structure. Addressing questions on capital expenditures and cash use, Zertuche said Ferrellgas has generated healthy cash flow and has continued to invest in the business, maintain debt, and address capital structure items. She said that over the past four and a half years the company paid $250 million to Class B Units (rising to $357 million with the upcoming distribution) and $125 million to Eddystone, while also investing in operations with annual capital expenditures of $70 million to $90 million. About Ferrellgas Partners (OTCMKTS:FGPR) Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTCMKTS:FGPR) is a master limited partnership that operates as the retail propane distribution arm of Ferrellgas, Inc, one of the largest retail propane providers in the United States. Headquartered in Liberty, Missouri, the partnership was formed in 1997 to acquire and manage propane assets and inventory in support of Ferrellgass nationwide network. The companys primary business activities include the procurement, transportation and distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. Recommended Stories Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Free Report) had its target price lifted by The Goldman Sachs Group from $40.00 to $44.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning,MarketScreener reports. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a buy rating on the oilfield services companys stock. A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on HAL. Zephirin Group downgraded Halliburton from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $30.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Halliburton from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Halliburton from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Halliburton from $30.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on Halliburton from $33.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $35.38. Get Halliburton alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on HAL Halliburton Price Performance Shares of HAL traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $34.11. 18,528,634 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,594,022. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 2.04. The company has a market cap of $28.57 billion, a PE ratio of 22.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.73. Halliburton has a 52-week low of $18.72 and a 52-week high of $37.03. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $33.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.95. Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 21st. The oilfield services company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.14. Halliburton had a net margin of 5.78% and a return on equity of 19.77%. The firm had revenue of $5.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.73 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Halliburton will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current year. Halliburton Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 4th. Halliburtons dividend payout ratio is presently 45.03%. Insider Transactions at Halliburton In related news, EVP Van H. Beckwith sold 54,348 shares of Halliburton stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.96, for a total transaction of $1,900,006.08. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 344,535 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,044,943.60. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Margaret Katherine Banks sold 2,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.17, for a total value of $88,842.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 14,043 shares in the company, valued at $479,849.31. This trade represents a 15.62% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 328,148 shares of company stock worth $11,199,000. 0.56% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in Halliburton by 7.5% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 92,754 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $2,353,000 after purchasing an additional 6,507 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP increased its holdings in Halliburton by 39.0% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 73,341 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $1,861,000 after purchasing an additional 20,583 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth raised its position in Halliburton by 25.0% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 52,045 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $1,320,000 after purchasing an additional 10,408 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Halliburton by 309.1% in the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 68,946 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $1,749,000 after buying an additional 52,092 shares during the period. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Halliburton in the 1st quarter valued at about $895,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.23% of the companys stock. About Halliburton (Get Free Report) Halliburton is one of the worlds largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, offering a broad portfolio that supports the lifecycle of oil and gas reservoirs from exploration and drilling through production and abandonment. Founded in 1919 by Erle P. Halliburton as an oil-well cementing company, the firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has developed into an integrated oilfield services company serving upstream operators globally. The companys activities encompass drilling and evaluation, well construction and completion, production enhancement and well intervention. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Halliburton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Halliburton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust (NYSEARCA:FXA Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $66.15 and traded as high as $69.71. Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust shares last traded at $69.42, with a volume of 24,059 shares. Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust Trading Up 0.2% The companys 50-day simple moving average is $68.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $66.19. Get Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust alerts: Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were issued a $0.0604 dividend. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 2nd. This is a positive change from Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.05. Institutional Trading of Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust Company Profile A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in FXA. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust by 246.0% during the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 865 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 615 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust by 147.0% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 877 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the period. Clearstead Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust in the third quarter valued at $83,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $203,000. (Get Free Report) Guggenheim CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust, formerly The CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of Australian Dollars and distributes Australian Dollars in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of Australian Dollars plus accrued interest, if any, less the expenses of the Trusts operations. The Shares are intended to offer investors an opportunity to participate in the market for the Australian Dollar through an investment in securities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of New Zealand Energy Corp. (CVE:NZ Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$0.27 and traded as high as C$0.29. New Zealand Energy shares last traded at C$0.27, with a volume of 51,611 shares. New Zealand Energy Stock Performance The company has a 50-day moving average of C$0.27 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.27. The company has a current ratio of 3.36, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.83. The firm has a market capitalization of C$17.88 million, a P/E ratio of -0.70 and a beta of 4.01. New Zealand Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) New Zealand Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in New Zealand. It holds interests in three petroleum mining licenses, one petroleum mining permit, and one petroleum exploration permit. The company has interests in TWN Petroleum Mining Licenses comprising Waihapa/Ngaere, and Tariki; Copper Moki petroleum mining permit; and Eltham Petroleum exploration permit. It also operates midstream assets. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in New Plymouth, New Zealand. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for New Zealand Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Zealand Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR Get Free Report) shares fell 3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $11.75 and last traded at $12.16. 19,720,788 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 30% from the average session volume of 28,189,205 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.54. Key Stories Impacting NuScale Power Here are the key news stories impacting NuScale Power this week: Get NuScale Power alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on SMR shares. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their target price on NuScale Power from $55.00 to $20.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Bank of America raised NuScale Power from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $28.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, January 9th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of NuScale Power from $45.00 to $15.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. TD Cowen lowered shares of NuScale Power from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of NuScale Power in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, NuScale Power currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.42. NuScale Power Trading Down 3.9% The stock has a market cap of $3.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.05 and a beta of 2.19. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.30. NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported ($0.80) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.10) by ($0.70). The firm had revenue of $1.81 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.76 million. NuScale Power had a negative net margin of 1,130.26% and a negative return on equity of 55.23%. On average, equities analysts predict that NuScale Power Corporation will post -0.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at NuScale Power In related news, CTO Jose N. Reyes, Jr. sold 25,951 shares of NuScale Power stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.22, for a total value of $317,121.22. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer directly owned 268,081 shares in the company, valued at $3,275,949.82. This trade represents a 8.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Carl M. Fisher sold 22,197 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.22, for a total transaction of $271,247.34. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 140,141 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,712,523.02. The trade was a 13.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 675,610 shares of company stock valued at $9,085,239. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On NuScale Power A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SMR. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in NuScale Power by 623.4% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 457,276 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,475,000 after acquiring an additional 394,065 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of NuScale Power by 37.4% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 37,614 shares of the companys stock valued at $533,000 after acquiring an additional 10,244 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of NuScale Power during the 1st quarter valued at $390,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in shares of NuScale Power by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 16,793 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,000 after purchasing an additional 1,394 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in shares of NuScale Power by 1,220.7% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,845,116 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,705,411 shares during the period. 78.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. NuScale Power Company Profile (Get Free Report) NuScale Power Corporation, trading on the NYSE American under the ticker SMR, is a pioneering developer of small modular nuclear reactors. Established in 2007 as a spinout from Oregon State University, the company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. NuScales mission is to deliver zero-carbon baseload power through scalable modular reactor technology, aiming to transform traditional nuclear energy deployment. At the core of NuScales offering is the VOYGR small modular reactor design, featuring 77-megawatt electric (MWe) modules with passive safety systems. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for NuScale Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NuScale Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC boosted its position in shares of Fidelity Total Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:FBND Free Report) by 38.4% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 161,242 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 44,764 shares during the quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLCs holdings in Fidelity Total Bond ETF were worth $7,456,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new stake in Fidelity Total Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Fidelity Total Bond ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Fidelity Total Bond ETF by 378.5% during the 3rd quarter. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 823 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 651 shares in the last quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Fidelity Total Bond ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Fidelity Total Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $49,000. Get Fidelity Total Bond ETF alerts: Fidelity Total Bond ETF Stock Performance FBND stock opened at $46.17 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $46.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.31. The firm has a market cap of $24.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.94 and a beta of 0.28. Fidelity Total Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $44.30 and a 1 year high of $46.86. Fidelity Total Bond ETF Increases Dividend About Fidelity Total Bond ETF The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 26th were given a $0.161 dividend. This is an increase from Fidelity Total Bond ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.15. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 26th. (Free Report) The Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Bond index. The fund is an actively managed broad market bond fund that uses the Barclays US Universal Bond Index to guide its sector allocation and duration exposure. FBND was launched on Oct 6, 2014 and is managed by Fidelity. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FBND? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fidelity Total Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:FBND Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fidelity Total Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fidelity Total Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC boosted its position in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF (NYSEARCA:ALAI Free Report) by 249.2% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 184,629 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 131,752 shares during the quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLCs holdings in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF were worth $6,924,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ALAI. Arkadios Wealth Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF by 31.5% in the 3rd quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 716,904 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,884,000 after purchasing an additional 171,705 shares in the last quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $22,294,000. Mirae Asset Securities USA Inc. acquired a new stake in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF in the third quarter valued at about $8,438,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF in the second quarter valued at about $5,866,000. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its position in Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF by 113.3% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 146,058 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,477,000 after acquiring an additional 77,591 shares during the last quarter. Get Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF alerts: Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Trading Down 2.1% ALAI stock opened at $33.54 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $276.03 million, a P/E ratio of 29.71 and a beta of 1.95. Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF has a 12 month low of $20.03 and a 12 month high of $39.26. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $35.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.15. Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Dividend Announcement Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Company Profile The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 18th were paid a $0.5411 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 151.0%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 18th. (Free Report) The Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF (ALAI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in stocks based on a particular theme. The fund is actively managed, investing in firms benefiting from developing, integrating or enabling artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The fund seeks long-term capital growth through fundamental research ALAI was launched on Apr 4, 2024 and is issued by Alger. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALAI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF (NYSEARCA:ALAI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pitcairn Co. reduced its holdings in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 40.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 4,003 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 2,671 shares during the quarter. Pitcairn Co.s holdings in American Express were worth $1,330,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of American Express by 1.3% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,425,262 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $14,808,730,000 after purchasing an additional 581,369 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in American Express by 11.1% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,487,316 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $4,282,984,000 after purchasing an additional 1,349,746 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in American Express by 1.7% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 8,881,546 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $2,950,095,000 after purchasing an additional 146,586 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in American Express in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,897,335,000. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its stake in American Express by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 4,620,873 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,473,966,000 after buying an additional 133,439 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: American Express Stock Performance American Express stock opened at $300.83 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $350.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $349.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. American Express Company has a twelve month low of $220.43 and a twelve month high of $387.49. The company has a market capitalization of $206.55 billion, a PE ratio of 19.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.14. American Express Increases Dividend 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). The company had revenue of ($17,139.00) million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.91 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 33.49% and a net margin of 15.00%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.04 EPS. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. Research analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from American Expresss previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 2nd. American Expresss payout ratio is currently 21.31%. American Express News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AXP has been the topic of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $420.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $425.00 target price on shares of American Express in a research report on Monday, January 12th. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $395.00 target price on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Evercore set a $393.00 price target on American Express in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered American Express from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, November 9th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, American Express has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $352.73. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on American Express Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Anna Marrs sold 27,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.01, for a total value of $9,599,024.25. Following the transaction, the insider owned 20,394 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,138,103.94. This trade represents a 57.35% 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 hyperlink. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 8,134 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $346.73, for a total transaction of $2,820,301.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,433 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,270,704.09. The trade was a 46.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About American Express (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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Best Buy (NYSE:BBY Free Report) had its price target cut by Telsey Advisory Group from $95.00 to $80.00 in a research note released on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the technology retailers stock. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on the company. Wall Street Zen lowered Best Buy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Best Buy from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the company from $99.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. UBS Group boosted their price target on Best Buy from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Best Buy from $81.00 to $77.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Best Buy from $73.00 to $66.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Best Buy has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $76.20. Get Best Buy alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Best Buy Best Buy Stock Performance BBY opened at $66.48 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $66.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.77. Best Buy has a 52-week low of $54.99 and a 52-week high of $84.99. The company has a market cap of $13.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.19, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Best Buy (NYSE:BBY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The technology retailer reported $2.61 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.13. Best Buy had a net margin of 2.56% and a return on equity of 49.17%. The business had revenue of $13.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.96 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.58 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Best Buy has set its FY 2027 guidance at 6.300-6.600 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Best Buy will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Best Buy Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 24th will be paid a $0.96 dividend. This is a boost from Best Buys previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 24th. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.8%. Best Buys dividend payout ratio is 75.40%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Woodline Partners LP boosted its holdings in Best Buy by 40.1% in the 1st 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 last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System raised its position in shares of Best Buy by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 73,103 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $4,907,000 after buying an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Best Buy by 110.4% during the 2nd 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 period. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Best Buy by 32.5% in the second quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC now owns 4,509 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $303,000 after acquiring an additional 1,107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Best Buy by 7.7% in the second 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 last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.96% of the companys stock. 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Best Buy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Best Buy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vinci (OTCMKTS:VCISY Get Free Report) was upgraded by Erste Group Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report issued on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on VCISY. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Vinci in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Vinci in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Vinci from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy. Get Vinci alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Vinci Vinci Trading Down 1.6% Vinci Company Profile Shares of VCISY stock traded down $0.61 on Wednesday, reaching $37.60. 135,903 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 132,624. Vinci has a 1 year low of $29.03 and a 1 year high of $42.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $37.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $35.57. (Get Free Report) Vinci (OTCMKTS: VCISY) is a France-based integrated concessions and construction company that develops, finances, builds and operates infrastructure and facilities. The groups activities span large-scale civil engineering and building projects, operation of transport infrastructure, and specialist energy and technical services. Vinci serves public and private clients with capabilities across the full project lifecycle, from design and construction to long-term asset management and operation. Vincis principal business lines include construction (building, civil engineering and major projects), energy and information & communication technology services, and concessions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vinci Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vinci and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adam Rickitt claims his father stole his soap fortune. Adam Rickitt claims father stole his soap earnings The 47-year-old former actor and popstar first shot to fame as Nick Tilsley on Coronation Street in the late nineties and went on to release the 1999 single I Breathe Again and Adam alleged his earnings were all taken by his father, leading to a 15 year feud. Speaking about his father who is now deceased Adam told Vanessa Feltz: If you google Adam Rickitt net worth it comes up with a figure, its not that figure because [my dad] stole all my money. And he did it three times. So, even though I was 18 years old and did Corrie and did the pop music and money was coming in, it kept just going to him and he kept losing it. And then, when he made money my dad was a very successful merchant banker he was pulling in millions of pounds a year himself. But, he was also a flaming alcoholic. I kept lending him money, he kept wasting it, but then he would make money. And rather than paying me back, hed go and spend it on his friends. Hed never spend it on his family or pay me back. So, we ended up falling out for 15 years. Adam who is married to presenter and journalist Katy Rickitt and now owns a craft beer pub Dexter and Jones in Cheshire added that he and his father eventually reconciled. Meanwhile, back in 2022, Adam revealed that he had been scammed out of "tens of thousands of pounds" in a bank fraud. The former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks star took to Instagram to share that he has been the victim of a sophisticated scam, where fraudsters impersonated staff from Barclays bank. He wrote on Instagram: "CONFESSION TIME! "I know a lot of people will laugh at me for this...but I want to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else. "I got completely scammed this week by some fraudsters impersonating @barclaysuk "I was 100 per cent sure it was the bank, that they were helping me and that I wasn't even transferring funds or giving any details away. "Alas the former wasn't true..they managed to duplicate everything I thought to be safe...they knew EVERYTHING about me and my history with the bank... "I know we all think we know what to do or how to react...but honestly I have never known the stress it created over the course of the scam... "...and now the embarrassment I feel. "I can't even begin to suggest how to protect yourself as I thought I was doing everything right...but please just be aware there's people out there who know exactly how to play the system. "Be safe x" Adam explained that the scammer made him believe he had been a victim of identity fraud, in order to trick him into cooperating with them and they eventually managed to take his money from his account. He said: "So I got very nervous. "They said what they needed me to do was do a dummy payment, and what it would do is trigger a member of the fraud department. I said no I didnt want to. "They said they would have to shut down the account, so I went back on to my account and sure enough the money was gone." remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. In Greek mythology, the Hydra was a monstrous serpent with many heads. Cut off one, and two more would instantly sprout in its place. That ancient symbol now fits Irans fightback with eerie precisiona beast that grows stronger and more dangerous the harder it is struck. Today, Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion complete their first full week. Since February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel have unleashed repeated, precision strikes on Irans top leadership, command centres, missile silos, air-defence networks and IRGC naval assets. On the surface, the regime appears to be cracking like an anvil under a sledgehammer. Beneath that surface, however, it is hardeningspawning fresh threats that are rapidly spreading chaos across the Middle East. Different goals, same high stakes Washington and Jerusalem share the same ultimate aimneutralising the Iranian threatbut their priorities differ. Under President Donald Trump, the United States seeks regime change. The goal is total: dismantle Irans ballistic-missile arsenal, sink its navy, block any path to nuclear weapons, and shatter the proxy network that has strangled the region for decades. Trump frames this as the final chapter of a 47-year conflict. He intends to install a new, cooperative government in Tehranone that guarantees safe Gulf oil flows and delivers him a historic political victoryall without committing American ground troops. This is similar to Japans unconditional surrender in August 1945. Israels objective is more immediate and existential. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demands the complete elimination of the direct and indirect threat from Tehranwhether Iranian missiles or Hezbollah and Houthi rockets. He hopes that sustained pressure will finally trigger an internal uprising by Irans exhausted population, a hope already echoed by Iranian exile groups protesting in Los Angeles and Washington. Field victories mask political risks The US/Israeli air campaign is built on effects-based operationsprioritising strategic impact over simple body counts. The results are impressive. US and Israeli forces now enjoy total air supremacy. B-52s and B-1 bombers operate unchallenged after all S-300 batteries and early-warning radars were systematically destroyed. More than 300 Iranian ballistic launchers have been wiped out, cutting attack volume by 90 per cent. The IRGC navy has been crippleddozens of fast-attack boats and at least one warship sunk by torpedoes and drones. Overnight raids have hammered command hubs in Tehran and Isfahan and multiple IRGC bases. CENTCOM commanders have described the operation as ahead of schedule. Yet these tactical successes conceal serious political vulnerabilities. The assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei produced a temporary council that continues to issue defiant orders. No popular uprising has materialised inside Iran; instead, external attacks have triggered a surge in national pride. Hezbollah continues to probe Israels northern border. Nuclear sites have not been verifiably eliminated. And President Trumps pledge of no time limits is already showing signs of strain as the campaign stretches on without toppling the regime. The risk is turning into a classic trap: impressive charts on briefing slides, but no decisive political outcome. Irans strategy: Spread the fire Tehran understands it cannot win a conventional air war. Its response is therefore asymmetric and expansive. Operation True Promise IV has unleashed waves of missiles and drones against Israel, US bases, and Gulf partnersQatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. The clear objective: fracture the US-Israel-Gulf coalition and force America to fight on multiple fronts simultaneously. Most alarming is Irans blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Tanker traffic has plummeted 80 per cent, four vessels have already been hit, and insurance rates have soared to prohibitive levels. The Strait carries roughly 20 per cent of global oil and gas. Prices have spiked, hammering Asian economies and rattling Europe. The manoeuvre is shrewd: it compels US aircraft and ships to divert resources to escort duties and base defence instead of striking Iranbuying Tehran precious time. The Gaza parallel reveals the trap The two-year Gaza campaign of 2023 to 2025 offers a sobering lesson. Even against a tiny 365-square-kilometre flat territory with just two million people, air power alone proved insufficient; ground forces were ultimately required. Iran is an entirely different proposition: 1.65 million square kilometres, 89 million people, rugged mountains, vast deserts, and deeply buried facilities that shrug off airstrikes. Unlike Gazas fractured factions, Iranians are now uniting against foreign attack; nationalism is overriding long-standing discontent with the regime. Any US or Israeli leader contemplating ground troops faces a political poison pillbody bags returning home and collapsing domestic support. Without boots on the ground, however, the Hydra simply keeps growing new heads. Anvil holds, Hydra keeps growing After one week, the battlefield scorecard favours the US and Israel: unchallenged air dominance, sharply reduced missile barrages, and a shattered Iranian navy. Yet the central political objectiveregime collapse or surrenderstill remains elusive. Choked sea lanes and proliferating side conflicts are buying Iran time. History is clear: air campaigns can win battles, but achieving lasting strategic goals usually demands ground forces and sustained political will. With sirens still sounding from Haifa to Doha, any talk of outright victory at this stage would taste like ash. India has handled the fall out of the imposition of protectionist trade tariffs by the US in mid 2025 and the subsequent developments with strategic patience and without confrontation. The next round of trade weaponisation against India is more likely to come not from the US, but from our arch-rival China. This is since at least 95% of India's trade by volume and around 72% by value is carried by sea. China today is the undisputed global leader in civil maritime capabilities- including fleet size, infrastructure and technology. This asymmetry carries severe implications for India. A serious limitation that India faces is that about 95 percent of her trade goes in foreign owned or flagged ships including Chinese vessels, which is a strategic and economic concern. This is since India has a rather small merchant marine; with a share of just 1.2 percent of the global merchant fleet. China meanwhile has one of the largest merchant fleets globally, aggregating about 1416 percent of the world total in gross tonnage. This is a strategic vulnerability for India, especially in times of war; when foreign ships may avoid Indian waters, refuse to carry Indian cargo, charge hefty insurance premiums- thereby disrupting our supply chain reliability. Moreover, our adversaries, China and Pakistan could either independently or in tandem, target the few Indian flagged vessels, especially crude oil carriers, in a bid to affect Indias war waging capability, since we import almost 80 percent of our crude from overseas. While India has an impressive record as far as building of warships is concerned; the same cannot be said of the merchant shipbuilding. Decades of inadequate strategic focus have left India with less than one percent of the global merchant shipbuilding market. China on the other hand, is the worlds largest commercial shipbuilder, routinely accounting for around 5060 % of global shipbuilding orders by gross tonnage, followed by South Korea and Japan. Until India can build competitive capability and capacity for large commercial ships, many Indian companies will continue to turn to established shipyards abroad including China. Similarly India imports about 90 percent of her shipping container requirements from China, creating vulnerability in export logistics and trade infrastructure .This was driven home effectively during the Covid -19 induced delays and the country has now embarked on a mission to produce containers domestically. Significantly, 70 percent of India's trade is trans-shipped at foreign ports such as Colombo, Singapore, Port Kelang and Dubai, often in Chinese operated terminals. India lacks the adequate trans-shipment ports in the south of the country. This has several strategic, economic, and logistical implications for a maritime country like India. The inauguration of the Vizhinjam port in Kerala is a welcome step towards overcoming this lacunae .The strategic International Container Trans-shipment Port being built at Galathea Bay in the Great Nicobar Island , is at least a decade away , if not more, before limited operations begin . Chinese-made cranes dominate most of the Indian ports owing to their cost effectiveness and ready availability in comparison to the ones manufactured in Europe or elsewhere. Estimates suggest that India has about 280 Chinese cranes at its ports. In recent times, however, countries such as the US have raised concerns that Chinese-made port cranes could contain embedded software and could be used to carry out cyber attacks to disrupt critical supply chains. Maritime cyber attacks have risen sharply over the last few years. For instance, in May 2020, Irans Shahid Rajaee port experienced a serious cyber attack, possibly by Israel, that disrupted port computer systems controlling traffic and logistics, causing significant backlogs. Therefore India while not banning Chinese cranes is encouraging imports from diverse sources through tax incentives. India is the worlds third-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing nearly 12 percent of the global maritime workforce, after China and the Philippines. They are a major pillar of our civilian maritime strength. However, there have been instances earlier when Indian vessels or vessels with Indian crew experienced delays in berthing and loading / unloading cargo in Chinese ports; though not conclusively established. Beijing had naturally rejected such reports attributing it to Covid -19 related delays or operational reasons. However in the event of a crisis situation, China could very well adopt such a tool kit to stop foreign shipping companies from hiring India seafarers, with attendant problems. Many of our maritime shortcomings stem from a mix of historical neglect, structural constraints, financial limitations and policy factors. Nevertheless, the Centre is fully seized of the strategic and economic vulnerabilities and is transforming the civil maritime sector through various Aatmanirbhar projects such as the Sagarmala Programme, the Rs 69,725 crore shipbuilding incentive package , Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the Rs 25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, infrastructure status for shipbuilding and five new maritime bills enacted in 2025, to boost ease of doing business, aiming to position India among top shipbuilding nations in the years ahead . Further, the centre has recently re-designated the DG Shipping as DG Maritime Administration (DGMA) with some changes to its charter. Unfortunately it continues to be headed by officers of the IAS or IRS who lack specialist maritime domain knowledge, something which has been commented upon by strategic and security experts for several years now. India needs domain experts such as officers from the Indian Coast Guard or the Indian Navy to tenet this position since the role of DGMA is highly technical and strategic, not just administrative. Unfortunately the country continues to be afflicted by sea blindness. Even as China consolidates its dominance in the global civilian maritime sector, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (Navy) - now numerically surpassing the US Navy- has been making a surge in to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in recent years. Chinas so called string of pearls strategy and connectivity projects in the IOR are well documented. If India is to ensure strategic autonomy, it must adopt a whole-of-nation approach and work in close coordination with friendly maritime countries to take on the Dragon at sea. (The writer is a former Principal Director Naval Intelligence and has served as a Director in the Cabinet Secretariat) (The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.) On March 6, the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments moved to ban social media for children under the ages of 13 and 16, respectively. Meta responded immediately, stating that such bans are ineffective and could drive children toward unregulated, unsafe websites. There is truth to this concern: children frequently circumvent age restrictions by inflating their age or using their parents' credentials. However, Meta stating that kids could try to access unsafe websites may not be entirely accurate, because they often circumvent the ban by inflating their age and other means. Australia was the first country to implement a social media ban for children under 16. However, conclusive studies verifying the effectiveness of such measures have yet to come out. However, the clamour for banning social media for children has been gathering momentum because there is growing evidence that social media companies, including Meta, serve highly engaging and potentially addictive content. This happens because the algorithms are designed to maximise engagement. A 2025 study titled Social Media Algorithms and Teen Addiction found that recommendation systems optimise content to maximise screen time, creating a feedback loop that stimulates the brains reward system. These so-called dark patterns or addictive design features include infinite scrolling feeds, frequent push notifications, variable reward systems, and algorithmic personalisation that tailors content to individual behaviour. Scholars often describe these techniques as addictive design or dark patterns, arguing that they are intended to maximise user engagement and strengthen platforms market dominance. These studies are not specific to Meta, but apply to social media platforms in general. However, a trove of internal documents leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen in 2021 revealed that Metas own research had identified significant risks associated with its platforms, particularly Instagram. Internal documents showed that Meta knew Instagram could worsen body image issues among teenage girls and contribute to broader mental health problems among young users. The studies also indicated that the platforms algorithms could amplify harmful or polarising content. Critics said Meta did not fully disclose these findings to the public or policymakers. The revelations were widely reported and became known as the Facebook Files. A later internal Meta study, reported by Reuters, suggested that the platforms recommendation systems could expose vulnerable teenagers to more harmful material. Teens showing body-image concerns were recommended nearly three times more eating-disorder-related content. For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH Harmful material made up about 10.5 per cent of their feeds, compared with 3.3 per cent for others. Risky or disturbing themes accounted for about 27 per cent of their feeds versus 13.6 per cent for others. The findings suggested the algorithm could detect vulnerability signals and continue recommending similar content. However, Meta is not the only player, as similar patterns have been observed across social media platforms. Getting back to the states ban, Metas statement also noted that the company does not allow children under 13 to access its platforms. Metas policies say that users below 13 years of age require parental consent, mainly to comply with the US Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which restricts companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. However, Metas platforms largely rely on self-declared date-of-birth information, making the system easy to bypass. When THE WEEK contacted him, Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh countered Metas narrative. How are they doing with age verification? There are no safeguards, he said. The important question is whether Meta really intends to implement effective age-based access controls. The answer seems to be largely no. If age limits must be enforced, platforms should adopt stronger verification mechanisms instead of relying solely on self-declared dates of birth. For instance, Lokesh suggested that in India, Facebook and Instagram could use facial recognition and Aadhaar authentication to verify users age, creating a form of two-factor age verification. However, Meta wouldnt prefer such safeguards because they could either slow down or reduce the acquisition of new users; hence, platforms always prefer simpler self-declaration methods. The IT minister said there is a need to find an effective and enforceable solution to this problem. He said he is scheduled to meet with the compliance officers of social media firms soon. Hopefully, he could discuss the effective solutions with them. The real solution, therefore, lies in forcing platforms to implement robust age verification and safer design standards. Studies suggest that Meta and other social media companies could address the issue through a combination of measures: stricter age verification systems, mandatory parental authorisation for minors, ensuring age-appropriate content, reducing addictive design features such as infinite scrolling and excessive notifications, encouraging educative content and building safer platform architecture for young users. No single measure may be sufficient, but a regulatory framework that compels platforms to adopt a combination of safeguards could make social media significantly safer for children without pushing them into unregulated corners of the internet. In a setback to the CBI, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday acquitted the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the Chhatrapati murder case. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagi and Justice Vikram Aggarwal pronounced the judgment on the appeals filed against the conviction. While pronouncing the judgment, the Bench upheld the conviction and life sentence of the other three accused - Kuldeep, Nirmal, and Krishan Lal. Earlier, the CBI court had convicted all four accused in the case and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The CBI court in 2019 held the self-styled godman Ram Rahim and three others guilty of the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in 2002. Chhatrapati was shot dead in October 2002 outside his home after his newspaper 'Poora Sach' published the sexual exploitation of women by Ram Rahim at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. The case was handed over to the CBI in 2006. Presently, Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female disciples. In 2024, the High Court acquitted him in the murder case of Dera manager Ranjith Singh. Ram Rahim had accused the CBI and challenged the conviction before the HC, claiming that he had been falsely implicated by the officials in this case. The counsel for Dera chief said in the affidavit that, "It is a matter of fact that the appellant was not at all named in the first charge sheet filed by the State Police in 2002. Krishan Lal was tortured by the CBI officials. The name of the Dera chief was thereafter included as an accused by way of revenge. The eyewitness version of the conspiracy was created by senior CBI officer, M Narayanan, for the present case in the form of Khatta Singh." The HC had reserved its verdict in the matter in September last year. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday acknowledged the attack on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in a speech at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Without explicitly naming the vessel, he called the sinking of the Moudge-class frigate "unfortunate", and said that it got "caught on the wrong side of events". He also confirmed that there had been two other Iranian naval vessels that had come to India under a "totally different" situationas guests for the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 at Visakhapatnam in mid-February. VIDEO | On US attacking Iranian warship, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) says, "Iranians ships were on fleet review but got on wrong side of events; we allowed Iran ship to enter due to humanitarian concern, we did the right thing." (Full video pic.twitter.com/ZRpUHLVQPv Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 7, 2026 However, he did not name the other two vesselsthe IRIS Lavan, which was allowed to dock in Kochi on humanitarian grounds, and the IRIS Bushehr, which was allowed to dock in Sri Lanka. "I think we did the right thing," he added in the discussion where he also mentioned that India fully supported UNCLOS and international law. What happened to the three Iranian vessels? US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on March 4 confirmed that Washington was responsible for torpedoing the IRIS Dena about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka's Galle, as a part of Operation Epic Fury, its name for the coordinated joint strikes with Israel on Iran. The IRIS Lavan did not suffer the same fate. Jaishankar confirmedwithout naming itthat it had sought permission on February 28 to dock in Kochi after developing technical faults. Owing to humanitarian concerns, he added that the docking was approved on March 1, and on March 4the day the IRIS Dena was attackedthe IRIS Lavan arrived in Kochi and its young sailors were housed at naval facilities. The IRIS Bushehr took a bit longer to receive approval to dock in Sri Lanka, but it eventually did so. However, while Sri Lankas decision on the IRIS Bushehr was termed by a few stakeholders as a courageous act against American and Israeli pressure, it also set off a political debate in the Sri Lankan parliament. Iran's reaction to the IRIS Dena attack Iran's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saeed Khatibzadehwho was also present at the Raisina Dialoguereiterated that the attack was a "sad, unfortunate" incident. Delhi: Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies, says, "This is a very sad, very unfortunate incident. That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends attending an exercise, an pic.twitter.com/alSPfKtLOt IANS (@ians_india) March 6, 2026 "Americans are exercising the practice of Nazi Germany when they attacked a ceremonial, unarmed and unloaded vessel" that had come "by invitation of our Indian friends", he told reporters at the event. Delhi: Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies, says, "I had a brief meeting with the Foreign Minister of India and a brief encounter with others here... Unfortunately, the principles of pic.twitter.com/jsV12lnnH7 IANS (@ians_india) March 6, 2026 He added that he had spoken to EAM Jaishankar about the attack, and noted that the "principles of international law have been attacked and we have to stand together against these atrocities". "We dont want anybody to kill anyone in the name of an ideology or duty, because every life is valuable, and every person is important to their family members. Above all, Gandhi ji has shown we can achieve anything with peace," said Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. He was addressing a press conference at the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad on Saturday, marking the surrender of 130 leaders and members of CPI (Maoist) along with 124 weapons. We are ready to give them their cash rewards, houses and all other benefits and ensure that the mainstreamed Maoists could lead a dignified life, the chief minister reiterated. The government will soon make a decision on a financial rehabilitation package, he said. The CM also proposed to constitute a committee to review the cases against the Maoists and withdraw them to the possible extent. The judiciary wont allow us to withdraw all the cases. We will sincerely consider the possibilities and try to give legal reprieve, he explained. He invited CPI (Maoist) former secretary Muppala Laxman Rao alias Ganapathy to join the mainstream. He appealed to Ganapathy, saying, I am told your health is not in great condition. We will take care of you. Please come and join us. Appealing to the other holding out Maoist leaders, including central committee members, to surrender, Reddy said they should join the mainstream and take part in the reconstruction of Telangana. Vijay Kumar, state intelligence chief, described the chief ministers call to ensure peaceful surrenders in his speech on Police Martyrs Day on November 26 as the cornerstone of the police approach. The Revanth Reddy government has reaped the benefits of a surrender policy that preferred life and persuasion over killings and encounters. Most significantly, out of the 130 Maoists, 125 are from Chhattisgarh, and most of them are young women. Scribes pointedly asked the CM, DGP and other officials if the surrendering Maoists were preferring Telangana over Chhattisgarh due to the fear of encounters. Though the CM and the police officials refused to draw any comparison between the states, the intelligence officials indicated that Chhattisgarh has become the least preferred choice due to fear of possible police retribution. The surrendered members included leaders and cadres from the first battalion of Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and personal staff of central committee members. The First Battalion was led by Devuji, the recently surrendered leader who was supposed to become the partys general secretary. Addressing the conference, Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy said the Maoists have lost the PLGA, the most important of its three Magic Weapons. He appreciated the work of the intelligence wing and the Special Intelligence Bureau for playing a key role in the surrender. Referring to proposals submitted by surrendered Maoist leaders such as Devji and Damodar on converting the Maoist party into a legal entity, the chief minister said he had brought the matter to the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing the Maoists, the chief minister stressed that democratic means were the only durable solutions. The ballot is more powerful than the bullet to solve problems. India strongly believes that challenges must be addressed through peaceful and democratic means, he said, adding that violence cannot be a solution to every issue. Be it the LTTE or any other violent movements, most of them had a sad ending. So, we better not go down that path, he added. A scribe who specialised in Maoist party reporting told THE WEEK that, Devuji and other senior leaders surrendered in Telangana due to the safety of life offered to them by Telangana police. He could have been killed in Chhattisgarh. THE WEEK could not verify this claim independently. On day two of Mamata Banerjees dharna on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue, the tone may be repetitive as she echoes her concerns over the voter revision exercise, where around 60 lakh voters are under adjudication and 63 lakh voters face deletion of their names ahead of announcement of the Assembly election dates. However, the intent behind her body language is clear: that she is the fierce leader of righteousness and stands up for people whose fate as legitimate voters hangs in the balance. She stands her ground in terms of political messaging and for the masses, which are her vote bank, which will be impacted by the voters under adjudication. The West Bengal CM is also attempting to portray her government as people-centric ahead of the Assembly elections. Since tomorrow is International Womens Day, on this occasion we will change the date from April 1st for implementation of Yuva Saathi scheme and money will go into their accounts today itself. Those in the 21-40 age group bracket, 90 lakh to 1 crore people have signed up for this scheme and are not part of any other scheme apart from scholarships, she said from the site of the SIR dharna. The increase in the amount of the other welfare scheme for women of rural households, Lakshmir Bhandar, has already been implemented since February. CM Banerjee went on to speak about tie-ups with industrialists to bring in jobs for the youth, two 1,600 MW mega power plants in Salbonifor which 800 acres land have already been allocated with another 800 to be given. She also spoke about Bengal being number one in the IT sector. We are number one in the IT industry and new 200 companies coming into West Bengalthose who demean Bengal should know this. Bengal is number one in small and medium scale industries in India, we are number one in the skill industry, Mamata said while also talking about other industries trying to portray Kolkata as an industry-friendly state. Mamata lashed out at the BJP, calling them babus without taking names while mentioning a social media message by an unknown person. I dont have a name for those who torture others, I call them nameless or anonymous, they have definitely been influenced by someone. They will divide Bengal and Bihar and make them union territories. Touch Bengal and see. They want to divide Bengal. They divided Bihar once into Bihar and Jharkhand. They now also want to divide Bihar. I say this clearly, wherever there is a double engine government, they will loot the region, this is their only work. They tell lies while looting, she added. The CM also went on to speak about the increase in price of gas by Rs 60 and the prices of cylinders and questioned the move to book gas cylinders three weeks in advance. If there is no gas in your house, will you eat their head or my head 21 days in advance? How will people eat? Did they not think about this? questioned CM Banerjee while referring to the BJP-leaning supporters as nameless comrades and asked whether the saffron party had been sleeping all this while, and in the process, sold the country. She also hit out at the BJP over the increase in prices of commodities. The plan is to cut votes to divide Bengal. If people are unable to protest, the plan is to stop them. Remember, the more you try to stop them, the more backlash you will face. Even if everyone is scared of you, we are not those to put our tail in between our legs and run away. We were, are and will be there and we will remove your mask, she declared. Dharamtala, where Banerjee is sitting on a protest is the same site from which the West Bengal CM's fight against the Tata Nano car plant on land took place, that was acquired forcefully in Singur from farmers, which set the tone for her 26-day hunger strike in 2006, leading to the exit of the small car factory from the state in 2007 and the subsequent exit of the erstwhile Left Front government from West Bengal. It was then Mamatas turn to rule the roost and with the current SIR dharna, it is a reminder for her of her efforts to stay consistent in her messagingthat she is a leader who would not bow down from her protest against SIR and the BJP-led Centres alleged bulldozing tactics to bad-mouth her state. As Vijays Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) was getting ready to celebrate Womens Day with much fervour, a fresh legal fight has left its leader unnerved. In a new petition, actor and TVK leader C. Joseph Vijays wife, Sangeeta, has moved the Chengalpattu District Court, seeking orders to protect her rights to continue as a resident at her matrimonial home in Neelankarai, on the scenic East Coast Road near Chennai. The fresh affidavit filed by Sangeeta comes at a time when their divorce petition is pending in court. The affidavit has become a huge embarrassment for Vijays fans and followers on social media, who were celebrating their matinee idol as he prepares for his maiden electoral fight. The interlocutory petition was filed by Sangeeta in connection with her main original petition seeking dissolution of marriage under Sections 27(1)(a), (b), and (d), read with Sections 36 and 37 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The interlocutory petition is supported by an affidavit dated 22 February. While seeking the dissolution of the marriage solemnised on 25.08.1999 in Chennai, along with the payment of fair and reasonable permanent alimony, the interlocutory petition seeks "the grant of her right of residence in the matrimonial home, situated at No. 36, Casuarina Drive, Sri Kapaleeshwarar Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai-600 115, until the disposal of the main petition or until an equivalent alternative accommodation, commensurate with the status of Vijay (respondent), is provided." 48-year-old Sangeeta states in her affidavit that she has been a dutiful wife to Vijay for 26 years and devoted herself to managing the household and raising their two childrenJason Sanjay, 25, and Divya Shasha, 20. She has also said that she took care of Vijay while he took good care of the family and provided a comfortable lifestyle in accordance with his standard of living. The affidavit also notes that she made several sincere efforts to secure a dignified and amicable dissolution of marriage by mutual consent, considering various factors relating to Vijay's professional and political circumstances. According to the affidavit, all her efforts for an amicable resolution did not materialise. The petition states that Vijay, through his advocate, made it clear that she will not be permitted to reside in the matrimonial home if she chooses to approach the court for a legal separation. While acknowledging Vijays public identity as the leader of the political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, recognised by the Election Commission of India and describing him as a prominent and successful actor in the Tamil film industry, the petition notes that she has been constrained to file the present petition before the court, primarily seeking dissolution of the marriage and other ancillary reliefs under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Upon filing the main original petition seeking divorce, the petition notes that it has created an apprehension that she could be denied residential accommodation. She says that she currently does not have any alternative residence commensurate with the respondents (Vijay) status, as she is a citizen of the United Kingdom. Sangeetas application, therefore, seeks an interim order under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, permitting her to continue to live in the Neelankarai residence, with the rights, amenities, and facilities presently available to her, pending disposal of the main original petition. The petition notes that she will be subjected to considerable hardship and difficulty otherwise. On the other hand, the petition also notes that if such an ad-interim order is granted, no prejudice will be caused to the respondent (Vijay) in any manner. It is therefore respectfully submitted that the balance of convenience lies in favour of the petitioner (Sangeeta). While this is the second petition leaked to the mediaafter her main original petition seeking divorce came to light a few days agothe legal fight could lead to significant damage to Vijays public image, with just two months left until the assembly general election. Furthermore, the Neelankarai residence of Vijay also carries political significance beyond the marital dispute between Vijay and his wife. As the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran enters its second week, President Donald Trump has declared that he will accept nothing less than Irans unconditional surrender. He has gone further than outlining battlefield objectives, openly stating that he intends to be personally involved in the selection of Irans next supreme leader to ensure that the country does not pursue policies that could provoke another war. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, Trump sketched out his vision of a post-war Iran in which the United States and its allies would facilitate the emergence of GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s) and help rebuild the countrys economy. Borrowing from his signature political slogan, he coined a new phrase for the project: MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!). For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East The president later clarified that his use of the term unconditional surrender should not necessarily be interpreted as a formal capitulation by Tehran. Rather, he suggested it could mean the complete destruction of Irans military capacity to fight, leaving the country unable to threaten the United States, Israel or their allies. In discussing who these acceptable leaders might be, Trump has explicitly ruled out the possibility that Mojtaba Khamenei, the conservative son of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, could assume power. Mojtaba, who has close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was described by Trump as an unacceptable option. At the same time, the president indicated that he would be willing to work with moderate Shia religious figures and even maintain Irans clerical system of governance, provided the leadership proved fair to the United States and Israel. In Trumps formulation, the goal is not necessarily to dismantle the Islamic Republics political structure but to ensure that those running it align with American strategic interests. Trump has repeatedly compared his approach in Iran with what he describes as his administrations strategy in Venezuela, where he claims US forces removed former president Nicolas Maduro and allowed his deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, to govern as long as she complied with American demands regarding oil access. Despite the vast political, demographic and strategic differences between Venezuela and Iran, Trump has insisted that engineering leadership change in a country of more than 90 million people is going to work very easily. Yet even as the president speaks openly about shaping Irans future leadership, the broader US military strategy articulated by his senior officials appears far more limited in scope. According to the White House, the military phase of the operation is expected to last roughly four to six weeks. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated that the principal US objectives are the annihilation of Irans naval forces, the elimination of its ballistic missile threat, the permanent destruction of its nuclear weapons programme and the severe weakening of its regional proxy networks. There is a noticeable disconnect between Trumps rhetoric about selecting new leaders in Tehran and the messaging coming from key members of his cabinet. Both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have sought to distance the administration from the idea of regime change. Their caution reflects a deep awareness of American public fatigue with large-scale military interventions after the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth has explicitly dismissed the notion of embarking on another project of nation-building. Rubio has also told Arab foreign ministers that Washingtons official objective is not regime change, although the United States would prefer to see different figures ultimately running the country. For now, Rubio emphasises, the military focus remains strictly on dismantling Irans missile infrastructure. That includes destroying launchers, stockpiles and production facilities. Any diplomatic engagement with the current leadership in Tehran, he argues, would risk undermining these ongoing military operations. The American gameplan appears to be using overwhelming military pressure to degrade Irans capabilities and ensure that it will not be able to pose a significant threat. Yet, Irans leadership is ready to fight on. For instance, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has categorically rejected Trumps surrender demands, insisting that the Irans future will not be dictated by Washington. Meanwhile President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Tehran remains committed to defending Irans sovereignty, even as international mediation efforts begin to emerge. On the battlefield, the conflict has already inflicted heavy damage. Massive airstrikes on Tehrans Mehrabad airport have reportedly destroyed air defence systems and helicopter manufacturing facilities. The war has also widened beyond Irans borders. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 200 people and displaced lakhs of people. The conflict has also drawn in external powers. Vladimir Putin has held discussions with Pezeshkian and offered condolences over the casualties, while urging a diplomatic resolution. US officials say Moscow has also provided Tehran with intelligence, including satellite imagery tracking American warships and military aircraft in the region. Despite these developments, officials in Washington insist that the Iranian military is already suffering devastating losses. According to US assessments, roughly 60 per cent of Irans missile launchers and stockpiles have been destroyed. The impact has been immediate: Iranian missile attacks have reportedly fallen by about 90 per cent since the start of the campaign, underscoring the scale of the pressure now being exerted on Tehran. Eight Israeli soldiers, including the son of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, were wounded in a Hezbollah rocket attack in northern Israel on Friday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. The condition of five soldiers is serious, Israeli media reports said, citing the military. The struck IDF personnel were stationed close to the Lebanon border. The IDF warning systems were able to give the ground units a heads-up before the rockets struck, but it was too little, too late. According to a preliminary probe by the IDF, the rocket landed before the soldiers could find cover. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East The affected soldiers were attached to the Givati Brigade, an infantry brigade assigned to the 162nd Armour Division of the Israeli Southern Command. Finance Minister Smotrich's son was listed among the three who suffered minor injuries in the incident, the Times of Israel said in a report. Meanwhile, Lebanon's state-run news agency reported that local fighters clashed early Saturday with an Israeli force that landed near the town of Nabi Chit, a Hezbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon. There was no word on casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to the AP's request for comment. Israel has carried out waves of airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Lebanon's Health Ministry said 217 people had been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and 798 wounded. Roads in the Lebanese capital were choked with evacuating traffic as smoke rose over the city's southern districts. Two hospitals evacuated patients and staff. Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has said that neighbouring countries will no longer be attacked unless an attack on Iran originates from there. Pezeshkian also apologised to the neighbouring countries for the strikes that took place in the past few days. His five-minute statement was pre-recorded and covered a wide range of recent developments. Iranian President Pezeshkian: The temporary leadership council approved yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighboring countries and no missile launches, unless an attack originates from those countries against Iran. pic.twitter.com/dulk95xOEO Ragp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) March 7, 2026 The temporary leadership council approved yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighbouring countries and no missile launches, unless an attack originates from those countries against Iran, he said in the statement. He said in the statement that residential areas, schools and hospitals were being attacked, breaching international law. The Iranian president also called for unity and solidarity among the people to defend the sovereignty of the country. He also rejected US President Donald Trumps call for Iran's "unconditional surrender" and said that the Americans have to "take their wish to their graves." He apologised for the attacks on the regional countries and insisted that Tehran would stop them, suggesting that they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. Earlier Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had stated that IRGC was operating independently on prior orders given by the supreme leader before his death. However, even as the statement was aired, an interception was heard over Doha. Qatars defence ministry confirmed the interception moments later. Many Gulf countries reported that they were intercepting ballistic missiles and drones early on Saturday. Meanwhile, Irans Fars news agency reported that about 6,668 civilian units were targeted by the US and Israel in airstrikes after the war began on February 28. The report said that 5,535 residential units, 1,041 commercial units, 14 medical centres, 65 schools and 13 centres affiliated with the Iranian Red Crescent Society were targeted. Israeli airstrikes have targeted Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport and several key locations across the capital. Following the strikes, massive explosions were reported, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the airport grounds as the citys air defences were activated. Footage posted on social media showed strikes and large fires at the capital's busiest commercial airport. Eyewitnesses said that planes on the tarmac were burning after explosions. BREAKING: Massive explosions reported at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. Videos show large fires and thick smoke rising from the airport area. pic.twitter.com/mKFJQUZbb9 SILENT BRIEF (@SilentBriefHQ) March 7, 2026 Israel confirmed it has launched 'broad-scale' strikes against high-priority targets in Tehran. Simultaneously, Iranian state media acknowledged a massive explosion in the western part of the capital, as residents reported a series of deafening blasts. Footage shows a plane engulfed in flames at Tehrans Mehrabad international airport after it came under a series of strikes in the early hours of Saturday. pic.twitter.com/5tlbW8CZkf Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) March 7, 2026 According to reports, Israel's 'intense' airstrikes shook homes and sent huge smoke rising in the area. There were also reports that explosions took place around the Iranian city of Kermanshah, which is home to several missile bases. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East With no aim of backing down, US President Donald Trump's administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel. Trump had said that he would not negotiate with Iran without its "unconditional surrender." While Iran's UN ambassador said that the country would "take all necessary measures" to defend itself. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview that the "biggest bombing campaign" of the war was still to come. The escalation in the West Asia tensions followed after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iran, which killed the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other senior leaders. In retaliatory strikes, Iran has also launched a wave of drone and missile attacks on multiple Arab countries. US President Donald Trump said Irans apology to neighbouring countries in the Middle East on Saturday came only because of the relentless attacks by the United States and Israel. His remarks came after Irans President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Tehran would no longer target the Gulf countries unless attacks on Iran originate from their territories. Pezeshkian also apologised to those countries for the strikes that took place in recent days. Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack, he claimed. Trump further alleged that Tehran had been attempting to take control of the Middle East and said it was the first time in thousands of years that Iran had lost to its surrounding countries. They have said, Thank you, President Trump, I have said, Youre welcome, he added. Trump also said Iran was no longer the bully of the Middle East but had instead become the loser of the Middle East. The president warned that Iran could continue to face heavy attacks and that more officials in Tehran might become targets in the conflict. Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time, he wrote. Earlier in the day, the Islamic Republic issued an unusual apology to neighbouring states for its actions, apparently seeking to calm regional anger over Iranian strikes on civilian targets in Gulf countries. I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Irans actions, President Pezeshkian said. Emirates has resumed its flight operations after temporarily suspending its services to and from Dubai International Airport on Saturday. In an update posted on X, the airline advised that only passengers with confirmed bookings for departures scheduled later today should proceed to the airport. Our post from 11:08am Dubai time regarding operational status is no longer current, and has been deleted to avoid causing unnecessary confusion. Emirates has resumed operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This pic.twitter.com/j6niNfBCoI Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 7, 2026 "This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating," said the airline. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East The airline advised passengers to check the upcoming flight schedules and seat availability before proceeding to the airport. Following unconfirmed reports of an explosion and plumes of smoke near Dubai International Airport, the scheduled flight operations were delayed. There were also reports of 'loud bangs' heard in Abu Dhabi. Later, authorities in Dubai confirmed that a 'minor incident' involving falling debris was successfully contained. Due to safety concerns, Emirates cancelled all its flights to and from Dubai until further notice, but later resumed operations. Major carriers, including Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia, have resumed limited flight operations from Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports as a relief to the stranded passengers in the Middle East. The airlines are also offering flexible rebooking and refund options. Airports across the UAE, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, are functioning with limited flights. Meanwhile, due to the closure of Qatari airspace, Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended its flight operations. However, a limited number of repatriation flights will be operating from Hamad International Airport on March 7 to select European destinations after receiving authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. According to the airline, the repatriation flights will depart for London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Frankfurt. India's heavy reliance on foreign vessels for international trade represents a significant strategic vulnerability, warned Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday, Sanyal noted that the domestic fleet is currently insufficient to protect the economy from potential global supply chain disruptions or targeted boycotts. Sanyal explained that the vast majority of India's goods trade is handled by international shipping lines, leaving the nation's economy exposed to external pressures. He stated, "90 to 95 per cent of all our goods trade is carried by foreign ships. So, if you really want to get India into trouble, all you really need to do is to get three or four of the largest shipping lines to boycott India for some reason. And this would really cause serious... severe stress to the Indian economy." The current scale of India's merchant fleet is a primary concern, with Sanyal pointing out that the country possesses only a small fraction of the necessary vessels. He noted: "India only has 480 functioning, seagoing vessels. I'm not taking fishing trawlers into account, but proper tankers and other things, just 480." Beyond the lack of ships, Sanyal highlighted a massive global imbalance in shipbuilding, where production is almost entirely concentrated in Northeast Asia. India currently accounts for a negligible portion of global construction. He said: "55 to 60 per cent of all the ships currently under construction or newly constructed were done in... China, another 20 per cent Japan, another 20 per cent South Korea. So if you combine those three countries in Northeast Asia, 95 per cent of all the ships currently under construction are in that one region. Rest of the world combined is 5 per cent, of which we are less than 0.5 per cent." To counter this, the government has begun a "huge reorientation" of maritime policy, including a significant financial package and infrastructure status for the sector. Sanyal mentioned: "In the last two or three years, we have taken this very, very seriously. We have changed all our shipping, ship flagging and ownership rules just a year ago. We have given a 70,000-crore package for ship building. We have given ships infrastructure status." Sanyal argued that India is uniquely positioned to become a global shipbuilding hub due to its steel production, design capabilities, and labour force. He emphasised that the sector is now attracting international attention: "In the last year and a half, I'm pleased to say we are not only getting Indian orders, we are also getting foreign orders, serious foreign orders. And some of the world's largest shipbuilders like Hyundai, Mitsubishi, etc, they're looking to shift some of their... shipbuilding activities to India." While high-tech sectors often dominate the headlines, Sanyal insisted that maritime independence is a top-tier national priority. He concluded: "People tend to think of all the high-tech stuff, you know, AI and chips and all that. But I would argue that shipbuilding is just as much a big priority area that India is pushing." Mehul Pandya, MD & Group CEO of CareEdge Group, also attended the event, and he spoke on the importance of the summit, stating: "It's an excellent initiative by ORF. The Raisina Dialogue is one of the premier conferences. There is an intense learning experience. The developments which are taking place are impacting every economy." (ANI) There has been growing speculation that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Esmail Qaani was executed by Iran for spying for Israel. Tehran has not confirmed the reports. Arab Media however, has been reporting that Qaani was arrested and possibly executed on suspicion of espionage. Emirati outlet The National reported that the claims were appearing on social media. The reports have come after years of rumours surrounding the Quds Force general. Qaani earned the reputation of being the man with nine lives for repeatedly surviving and escaping about nine suspected assassination attempts that killed top leaders around him. Most recently, Qaani was not among those who were killed in the strikes that led to the death of Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior regime figures. Unverified reports claim that he left the site minutes before the attack happened. This is not the first time Qaani escaped death. Suspicions grew as he was close to several of the figures who were killed during multiple US-Israeli strikes over the years. In October 2024, he was declared dead, then interrogated and then appeared on TV. In 2025, during the 12-day war, he was declared dead by several outlets. He then appeared again on national TV. Qaani had somehow convinced interrogators of his innocence after mysteriously leaving sites which were struck by Israeli missiles unharmed. More rumours came about when an insider agent recruited by Mossad reportedly sent a video of Khamenei's body to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In 2025, Mossad published a photo from a secret meeting held by the general with a person whose identity was redacted. The attached caption implied that Qaani had ties with Israeli intelligence. The photo followed another round of speculation that Qaani was killed in Israeli action. The general, however, dismissed the claims, saying that it was an attempt by Israel to determine his location. A social media account linked to Mossad claimed that same year that Qaani was not a spy, Now reports say that after Israel took out Hezbollah's leadership, Iran launched a formal investigation into possible security breaches. Social media accounts then began circulating claims that Qaani was executed by the IRGC after being taken into custody for being a Mossad agent. Tehran has reportedly denied the claims Jfeed reported Qaani became the head of the IRGCs Quds force in January 2020 after the US assassinated his predecessor Qassem Suleimani. Tova Noel, one of Jeffrey Epstein's prison guards, had looked up the notorious sex offender on Google just minutes before he was reportedly found dead in his cell, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday. Noel had also received a mysterious $5,000 cash deposit just 10 days before the sex offender's alleged suicide, the DOJ added, as per a New York Post report. JUST IN: New DOJ documents show Jeffrey Epsteins Metropolitan Correctional Center guard Tova Noel googled latest on Epstein in jail at 5:42 a.m. and again at 5:52 a.m. on August 10, 2019 less than 40 minutes before her colleague found him dead by hanging at 6:30 a.m. pic.twitter.com/hIXH1OUn3o Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) March 7, 2026 She is one of two prison officersapart from Michael Thomasat the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), who had been accused of falsely claiming that they had checked on Epstein as per routine at the time of his death back in August 2019. The guards were fired amid the criminal case that followed Epstein's death, which was later dropped. The two guards who discovered Jeffrey Epsteins body are Tova Noel and Michael Thomas. Thomas said, Breathe, Epstein, breathe, and, Were going to be in so much trouble. He also defended Noel later, telling a lieutenant, Its not her fault, we f***ed up. Noel said when https://t.co/6wUXZngP8j pic.twitter.com/K9sBLf97zg Paul Bond (@WriterPaulBond) February 6, 2026 According to an FBI record of Noel's search history on the night of Epstein's alleged death, as revealed by the DOJ, she had googled 'latest on Epstein in jail' twice that nightonce at 5:42 AM and then again at 5:52 AM. Less than 40 minutes later at about 6:30 AM, Thomas reportedly found Epstein had hung himself in his cell. Prosecutors have once more alleged that 37-year-old Noel's internet history also showed that she had shopped for furniture online and had fallen asleep on the job, missing some of her routine 30-minute checks on Epstein. They added that Thomas had been looking at motorcycles on his phone. I dont remember doing that, she claimed, according to a transcript from her 2021 statement to the DOJ. She also alleged that FBI records were not accurate". "I dont recall looking him up, she had added at the time. Apart from the bizarre search term flagged by the FBI, Noel's banking company, Chase Bank, had also flagged a cash deposit of $5,000 into her account, which it claimed was part of a set of seven cash deposits between December 2018 and July 2019, totalling $11,880, as per the DOJ files. She had not been questioned about the cash deposits in the 2021 deposition, the DOJ files showed, as the investigation continues and Noel denies any involvement in the death of the notorious sex offender. Two days after an American submarine sank the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, approximately 19 nautical miles off Sri Lankas southern port city of Gallekilling dozens of sailorsthe United States is reportedly pressing the island nation's government not to repatriate the survivors from the ship. According to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters on March 6, 2026, America has also warned Sri Lanka not to repatriate the 208 crew members evacuated from Irans naval auxiliary vessel IRIS Booshehr, which was docked at the Trincomalee port. The attack on the Iranian ship, coupled with the presence of a second vessel at Trincomalee port, has created an unprecedented situation, with fear gripping the streets of Colombo as the country slowly emerges from its economic crisis. Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Sri Lankas Deputy Minister of Public Security, Sunil Watagala, said the country is going through a wartime-like situation, despite the Iranian ship attack in the Indian Ocean being an undesirable development. He said Sri Lanka is now facing an unprecedented scenario, unlike anything seen in recent history and warned that it is impossible to predict who might become victims or how people could be affected under the current uncertain circumstances. We cannot predict when, how, or who else will have to take on responsibilities like the one that Karapitiya hospital suddenly had to take on. We cannot estimate in advance the impact such a situation could have on the lives of the people of our country. In this war-like situation, it took only a day for Karapitiya hospital, thousands of miles away, to be filled with corpses. That is why we must be prepared. That is why we must adopt preventive measures. Imposing a state of emergency will not give us an Iron Drome, but it will provide us with the opportunity to prepare as much as possible, Watagala noted. Sri Lankas opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, while speaking at the international healthcare exhibition held at the Bandaranaike international conference hall in Colombo, said that a war-like situation has risen in Sri Lanka due to the breakdown of trust and that Sri Lankas national aspiration should be to protect the 2.2 billion people. We believe that we must act in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Premadasa said. Meanwhile, Sri Lankas Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, speaking at a session titled Heart of the Seas: The Future of the Indian Ocean at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, said the country would treat the Iranian sailors rescued from IRIS Dena in accordance with international law. While answering a question about whether there is international pressure from the US to not repatriate the Iranians, he replied, saying We have taken all the steps according to international laws. He also said Sri Lanka was caring for 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in accordance with its international treaty obligations. Earlier Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had said that his country would follow the Hague Convention, which requires a neutral state to hold combatants of a warring state until hostilities end. Dissanayakes statement was a clear message to international pressure. However, sources in the Sri Lankan bureaucracy told THE WEEK that the government is in talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross to decide on the next course of action in dealing with the survivors of IRIS Dena. They also said that the wounded survivors could be repatriated to Iran at their request, making note that the international humanitarian law applied to the survivors of IRIS Dena. According to the bureaucracy circles in Colombo, the Iranian diplomats in Colombo have already approached the government to take the remains of the 84 sailors killed in the IRIS Dena attack back to Iran. Nepal stands at a politically significant moment. The House of Representatives election on March 5 came after months of instability, anger, grief, and public distrust following the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9, 2025. Those protests did not emerge in a vacuum. They came from years of frustration with corruption, weak governance, broken promises, and an increasingly widening distance between the people and the political class. The early election itself was a result of that rupture. The early trends from vote counting suggest a major political shift. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has taken a strong lead in the proportional vote and has also won or led in a large number of first-past-the-post constituencies, especially in Kathmandu Valley, indicating that many voters have chosen change over continuity. These are still developing results, but the signal is already clear: a large section of the Nepali public has punished older parties for underperformance and turned toward newer political alternatives with hope and urgency. Jasmine Ojha This election must therefore be read not only as a contest for power, but as a democratic message. For years, many people in Nepal voted for traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Maoist Centre, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, expecting governance, development, accountability, and national vision. But repeated failures, internal power games, and unfulfilled commitments weakened public trust. The rise of newer forces reflects not only dissatisfaction but also a demand for a more transparent, organised, and stable government. As a Gen Z leader, I see this election as both a democratic correction and a moral test. I welcome the peoples mandate because I believe in the Constitution of Nepal and in the principle that sovereignty ultimately rests with the people. Democracy cannot be meaningful unless the peoples will is respected. The preamble and spirit of our Constitution make clear that the state must reflect the aspirations, dignity, and authority of its citizens. An election, then, is not merely procedural; it is an expression of democratic ownership. But while Nepal moves forward electorally, the wounds of September remain open. We are still waiting for the Karki Commission report on the Gen Z protests. That delay itself has become part of the crisis of trust. The commissions term was extended multiple times, and rights groups have publicly called for the report to be released. At the same time, public concern has grown over possible impunity for those involved in vandalism and arson, even before the full truth has been officially established. For many of us who were part of that moment, this is not an abstract issue. It is deeply personal. We were not in favour of destruction, vandalism, or chaos. We believed the movement should remain peaceful. We expected peaceful transformation, not violent escalation. We wanted democratic pressure, not disorder. But somewhere between the aspiration of protest and the tragedy that followed, that movement was pushed into a horrifying direction. Young people were injured. Some lost their lives. Families lost their children, friends lost their companions, and a generation lost a part of its innocence. That is why accountability matters. Those responsible for the violence of September 8 and September 9, 2025 must be identified and punished not selectively, not politically, but justly. Those who killed protesters must be held accountable. Those who turned a public movement into a scene of destruction must be held accountable. Those who allowed the country to drift toward a state of institutional collapse and fear must also be held accountable. Nepal cannot build a stable democracy on top of silence, selective memory, or impunity. The new government, whatever coalition or leadership finally emerges, must understand this clearly: electoral victory alone is not enough legitimacy. Legitimacy must now be earned through conduct. People will expect at least five things. First, they will expect stability. Nepal has suffered too long from fragile coalitions, constant bargaining, and governments that focus more on survival than on service. Analysts had already warned before the vote that no single party was likely to secure an outright majority, which means coalition politics may continue. That makes political maturity even more important. Second, people will expect transparency. Public trust has collapsed not only because promises were broken, but because decisions were too often opaque, elite-driven, and insulated from accountability. Any new government must communicate honestly, govern cleanly, and restore the credibility of public institutions. Third, the people will expect organisation and delivery. Nepal does not need another government that speaks in slogans and performs in fragments. It needs functioning institutions, policy coherence, timely decisions, and visible public service. Fourth, the public will expect justice. That includes releasing the Karki Commission report, acting on its findings, and ensuring that no one, whether from the state or from any group involved in violence, is above the law. Fifth, the people will expect respect for democratic citizenship. The September protests showed that young people in Nepal are no longer willing to remain symbolic participants in democracy. They want to be heard, represented, and taken seriously. The political system must now respond to that reality. The strong support for RSP shows how much hope people have invested in a new political force. But hope is not immunity. If RSP indeed becomes central to the new governing order, it too will be judged not by its rhetoric, but by its integrity, competence, and courage. The old parties were rejected because they failed to deliver on their own words. The new force must not repeat that cycle. The country is watching closely. As someone from the younger generation who has stood in the middle of protest, democratic aspiration, and national uncertainty, I do not see this election as the end of a struggle. I see it as the beginning of a harder responsibility. Voting was only the first step. Governing well is the real test. Justice is the real test. Listening to the people is the real test. Nepals democracy will not be saved merely by changing faces. It will be strengthened only when the state becomes accountable, when violence is not hidden behind political convenience, and when the peoples mandate is treated not as a tool for power, but as a duty of service. This is what we expect from the new government: stability, transparency, order, constitutional commitment, and justice. And above all, we expect truth. Because a democracy that asks young people to vote, but denies them justice when they bleed, is a democracy in danger. Jasmine Ojha is a Gen Z activist, lawyer, and youth leader from Nepal. She is the founder of Mission Smile Nepal and works to advance human rights, gender justice, civic participation, and inclusive policy change through grassroots advocacy. On February 28, when the military attacks of Israel and US began on Iran, it sent fear among those in Colombo. For the people of this island nation who have overcome the long, serpentine queues in front of fuel stations and empty supermarket shelves, a war in west Asia translates directly into economic trouble at home. The fear doubled in the streets of Colombo on March 4, when an American submarine torpedoed the Iranian ship IRIS Dena. The next day, when the Sri Lankan government docked the second ship in the Trincomalee Port and evacuated the crew, it set off a political debate in the Sri Lankan parliament. In a televised address on Thursday, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared: No person should die in a war like this. Every life is equally precious. We are not taking sides, but while maintaining our neutrality, we are taking action to save lives. Like the IRIS Dena, torpedoed by America, the second vessel, IRIS Bushehr, which had been part of the same Iranian naval contingent at the MILAN 2026 naval exerciseis a logistics replenishment ship. Dissanayake also revealed that on February 26, the government of Iran had formally requested permission from Sri Lankas Ministry of Foreign Affairs for three Iranian naval vessels to enter Sri Lankan ports between March 9 and 13. At least 87 sailors were killed after the US attack on the 'IRIS Dena', an Iranian Moudge-class frigate, that was on its way home after participating in the Indian Navy's IFR 2026. (hegseth iran warship iris dena lavan kochi, sri lanka israel trump)https://t.co/E7JZDhMSsA THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) March 6, 2026 According to him, Sri Lanka had not yet granted approval to the ships on those dates and that the request was presented as a goodwill visit and a tour meant to enhance cooperation. He had noted that genuine goodwill visits required extensive procedural arrangements, and when Sri Lanka reviewed the situation, it found that the vessels had stayed just beyond Sri Lankas national maritime boundary, although close to it. A goodwill visit does not occur in such a manner, Dissanayake pointed out in his televised address. While Sri Lankas decision on the IRIS Bushehr is termed by a few stakeholders as a courageous act against American and Israeli pressure, in reality, the island nation limited the rescue efforts to humanitarian aid and evacuation of the crew to safety. There was no open port welcome and the second ship was not allowed to dock for a long time since the government did not want to antagonise America. However, the attack by America and the Sri Lankan government allowing the second ship to be docked at the Trincomalee Port for disembarking have sparked intense political debate in Sri Lanka. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa declared that military action within Sri Lankas Exclusive Economic Zone raises serious questions about national sovereignty. If a submarine had entered our waters 40 nautical miles from Sri Lanka, did we not have the technology to detect it? Do we not have surface radars? Sonobuoys or underwater sonar networks? Do we not have towed sonars or satellite surveillance? At a time when our national security was at its highest level, a submarine entered our Exclusive Economic Zone and carried out an attack. This alone shows the level of our national security, Premadasa said in the parliament. The Exclusive Economic Zone is meant for economic activities, not military operations, he added. Former MP Wimal Weerawansa questioned whether US pressure influenced the governments handling of Iranian naval vessels near Sri Lanka. He also alleged that the American officials had pressured the authorities to not allow an Iranian ship to dock in Colombo, though the government has not confirmed these claims. For Sri Lanka, which maintains diplomatic ties with both America and Iran for over many decades, the conflict has forced a perilous neutral stance. Sri Lanka hoped the neutral stance would satisfy both sides, but it has only invited the wrath of both nations. Inviting the wrath or any disturbance in the relationships with both Tehran and Washington will only add more difficulties to Sri Lanka, as it has the majority of its diaspora in these two countries. On the other hand, any regional volatility can blow up Sri Lankas economy, which is slowly recovering from the rippling effect caused by the national crisis a few years ago. Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man, was convicted of planning to kill US President Donald Trump and other politicians on Friday. He was accused of colluding with Iran and attempting to recruit people in the US to carry out the plot, the Department of Justice said. US prosecutors claimed that Irans IRGC was involved with the merchant after the assassination of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Merchant was, according to the DOJ, targeting Trump in retaliation for the killing, AP reported. In 2024, he also reportedly targetted then president Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, who ran against Trump that year. He was convicted of "murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries," directed by the Iranian authorities, the DOJ said in a statement. The week-long trial, which came amid the US-Israel war with Iran, took place in Brooklyn. One of Merchants lawyers said that the there are still "complex and significant legal issues yet to be decided". He is facing life in prison. The DOJ said that Merchant was a trained operative of the IRGC. He arrived in the US from Pakistan in April 2024 after spending time in Iran. In June, he contacted a person whom he believed would help him carry out the assassination. The person, however, reported him to the police. He then met with undercover law enforcement officers who posed as hitmen. He was arrested in July. Merchant admitted that he was sent by the IRGC to arrange political assassinations during the trial. He said that he did so to protect his family in Tehran. He also said that he was never ordered to kill a specific person, however his handler named three people during conversations. Taranjit Singh Sandhu entered the 2024 Lok Sabha election with plans to transform Amritsar, the holy city from where he chose to begin his political career. After a long career in the Indian Foreign Service, capped by his stint as Indias Ambassador to the United States, Sandhu joined the BJP and contested the parliamentary seat. Politics, however, can be unforgiving. With the BJP fighting the election without its long-time ally Shiromani Akali Dal, the Congress retained the constituency. Sandhu comes from a prominent Sikh family that played a role in the formation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the elected body that manages gurdwaras, and the state-run Guru Nanak Dev University. His defeat in Amritsar may have closed one political door, but another has opened in the national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now entrusted Sandhu with a key administrative role in Delhi. Despite having an elected government, the Lieutenant Governor remains central to the functioning of the capital. The post requires political judgement as well as administrative experience, qualities the government believes Sandhu brings after decades in diplomacy. The choice also reflects a broader trend. Modi has often turned to technocrats and former officials for Raj Bhavans. Alongside Sandhu, Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retired) has been appointed Governor of Bihar, replacing Arif Mohammad Khan. The change comes at a moment of transition in the state, where the chief minister and speaker have also changed. The appointments suggest the BJP is keen not only to strengthen its administrative presence in Bihar, a state where it has often depended on alliances, but also to move with greater speed so that the impact is visible, otherwise the Bihari electorate can be unforgiving. Another shift saw R.N. Ravi, a former IPS officer, moved to a new gubernatorial assignment in West Bengal after serving in Tamil Nadu. Several other Raj Bhavans have also seen new occupants, many of them senior BJP leaders. Unlike the President, who is elected, governors are appointed by the Union government. The office has always carried political weight, but its role has become more visible in recent years. Governors are now more active in engaging with state issues and highlighting the policies of the Union government. A change was also reflected as Raj Bhavans were rechristened as Lok Bhavans by the Union government. In Punjab, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, a veteran BJP leader from Rajasthan, recently undertook a state-wide campaign against the drug menace. The initiative addressed a serious social problem but also carried political undertones in a state where the BJP is trying to rebuild its base. This assertiveness has often led to friction with elected state governments, particularly those run by Opposition parties. When R.N. Ravi was appointed to West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly objected to the move. The governor and the Tamil Nadu government were also at loggerheads over several issues. With crucial assembly elections approaching in the state, many in the BJP argue that a firm administrator is needed to ensure peaceful and fair polls. The reshuffle of governors may also signal changes at the Centre. Political circles in Delhi expect a Cabinet reshuffle in the Modi government in the coming weeks, especially with the election of a new BJP president. The appointments could also have longer-term significance. In recent years, the offices of President and Vice-President have both been filled by leaders who had earlier served as governorsboth Ram Nath Kovind and Droupadi Murmu were governors when they were picked for the highest office. The next presidential election is due in 2027, when the question of who will succeed President Murmu will arise. Even the last two vice-presidents were also governors. It may be too early to draw conclusions. Yet in Delhis political circles, the roles played by the newly appointed governors in the coming months will be watched closely. In a system where constitutional offices often intersect with political calculations, todays gubernatorial appointment can sometimes become tomorrows national elevation. PHINIA Inc. (NYSE:PHIN Get Free Report) VP Neil Fryer sold 624 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.75, for a total transaction of $45,396.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 18,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,322,595. This trade represents a 3.32% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. PHINIA Stock Performance PHINIA stock traded down $2.32 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $67.22. 401,896 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 440,491. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.86 and a quick ratio of 1.36. The firms fifty day moving average is $70.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.07. PHINIA Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $36.25 and a fifty-two week high of $81.11. The company has a market capitalization of $2.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.68 and a beta of 1.36. Get PHINIA alerts: PHINIA (NYSE:PHIN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.35 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $889.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $843.59 million. PHINIA had a net margin of 3.73% and a return on equity of 12.56%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.71 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that PHINIA Inc. will post 4.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. PHINIA Increases Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth 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 $0.30 dividend. This is an increase from PHINIAs previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. PHINIAs payout ratio is currently 33.23%. A number of research analysts have recently commented on PHIN shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded PHINIA from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Sunday, February 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of PHINIA in a report on Monday, December 29th. Freedom Capital downgraded PHINIA from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. UBS Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $76.00 price objective on shares of PHINIA in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Northland Securities set a $93.00 target price on shares of PHINIA in a report on Friday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.33. Get Our Latest Report on PHIN Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in PHINIA by 151.5% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 425 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. EMC Capital Management bought a new stake in PHINIA during the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. boosted its stake in PHINIA by 350.0% in the 2nd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 900 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the period. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec boosted its holdings in PHINIA by 2,500.0% in the 4th quarter. Federation des caisses Desjardins du Quebec now owns 780 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of PHINIA by 34.4% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 868 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.94% of the companys stock. PHINIA Company Profile (Get Free Report) PHINIA Inc engages in the development, design, and manufacture of integrated components and systems that optimize performance, increase efficiency, and reduce emissions in combustion and hybrid propulsion for commercial and light vehicles, and industrial applications. The company operates through Fuel Systems and Aftermarket segments. The Fuel Systems segment provides advanced fuel injection systems, including pumps, injectors, fuel rail assemblies, and engine control modules; fuel delivery modules; canisters; sensors; and electronic control modules. Read More Receive News & Ratings for PHINIA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PHINIA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has officially denied reports circulating on social media regarding a partial shutdown of its facilities, asserting that its operations remain fully functional despite speculation of feedstock shortages. The state-controlled refiner issued a formal clarification on Saturday, following a post by OilPrice.com on X (formerly Twitter). The viral post had suggested that the 300,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery was shutting down units because Middle Eastern crude oil supplies were "stuck in the Gulf" due to regional tensions. MRPL has categorised these claims as factually incorrect, maintaining that the refinery is running as scheduled and has secured its supply chain for the foreseeable future. In an official statement, the company said, "we hereby clarify that, MRPL denies the aforesaid rumour/tweet which is factually incorrect and herby confirms that MRPL is operating normal and it has lined-up adequate quantities of crude oil to sustain operations" The refinery is operating at its normal capacity without any reported unit shutdowns. Contrary to rumors of a shortage, the company has "lined-up adequate quantities" of crude oil. The company has requested that the public take this denial on record to prevent market misinformation. "'We request you to kindly take the above on record." Indian Oil Corporation also faced similar rumours. The company rubbished reports on social media suggesting a shortage of petrol and diesel, and termed them as baseless. "India has sufficient fuel stocks, and supply and distribution networks are functioning normally. IndianOil is committed to maintaining uninterrupted fuel supply across the country. Citizens are requested not to panic or crowd fuel stations and to rely only on official sources for accurate information," IndianOil posted on X. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on Friday said there is no shortage of energy in India and there is no cause of worry for its energy consumers. The minister discussed various aspects of India's uninterrupted energy imports despite geopolitical challenges with the media. "Our priority is to ensure availability of affordable and sustainable fuel for our citizens, and we are doing it comfortably. There is no shortage of energy in India and there is no cause of worry for our energy consumers," the minister posted on X. (ANI) Next (OTCMKTS:NXCLF Get Free Report) and Smith Douglas Homes (NYSE:SDHC Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership. Risk & Volatility Next has a beta of 0.05, indicating that its stock price is 95% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Smith Douglas Homes has a beta of 1.04, indicating that its stock price is 4% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Next alerts: Profitability This table compares Next and Smith Douglas Homes net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Next 21.21% 11.09% 7.28% Smith Douglas Homes 1.13% 0.12% 0.10% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Next 0 0 0 0 0.00 Smith Douglas Homes 3 5 1 0 1.78 This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Next and Smith Douglas Homes, as reported by MarketBeat. Smith Douglas Homes has a consensus target price of $16.60, suggesting a potential upside of 18.83%. Given Smith Douglas Homes stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Smith Douglas Homes is more favorable than Next. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Next and Smith Douglas Homess revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Next $188.62 million 0.81 $35.62 million ($0.37) -3.24 Smith Douglas Homes $975.46 million 0.74 $16.07 million $1.25 11.18 Next has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Smith Douglas Homes. Next is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Smith Douglas Homes, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Smith Douglas Homes beats Next on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Next (Get Free Report) LIFULL Co.,Ltd. provides real estate information services in Japan and internationally. It offers LIFULL HOME'S, a site of real estate and housing information; LIFULL Revitalize Rural Japan that suggests new lifestyles to people in Japan based on the refurbishment of abandoned houses; LIFULL Move, which provides rankings and reviews of moving companies; LIFULL Nursing Care, a special care facility searching web service; and LIFULL Investment, a money lending website. The company also provides LIFULL FaM that enables working mothers balance childcare with work while pursuing a career; LIFULL Storage, a storage space searching web service; LIFULL HUB, a shared office; LIFULL Fab for design and craftsmanship; and LIFULL Table, a gallery and open space for photography, exhibitions, press releases, and workshops. In addition, it offers LivingAnywhere Commons, a community to live; instant house products; Trovit, an aggregation website providing information on items, including real estate and housing, used cars, recruitment, and mail orders; and Mitula, a site that provides information in real estate and housing, used cars, recruitment, and fashion. The company was formerly known as NEXT Co., Ltd. and changed its name to LIFULL Co.,Ltd. in April 2017. LIFULL Co.,Ltd. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. About Smith Douglas Homes (Get Free Report) Smith Douglas Homes Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in the southeastern United States. It also provides closing, escrow, and title insurance services. The company sells its products to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for Next Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Next and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ITT Educational Services, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ESINQ Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.0001. ITT Educational Services shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 8 shares traded. ITT Educational Services Price Performance Get ITT Educational Services alerts: ITT Educational Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) ITT Educational Services, formerly the parent company of ITT Technical Institute, was a for-profit higher education provider based in Carmel, Indiana. The company operated campus-based and online programs focused on career-oriented training across fields such as information technology, electronics, drafting and design, business management, and health sciences. ITT Educational Services aimed to prepare students for entry-level positions through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on lab work, and career services support. Founded in 1969 as ITT Technical Institute and later spun off as a publicly traded entity in 1994, the company expanded steadily throughout the United States over several decades. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ITT Educational Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ITT Educational Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (TSE:CP Get Free Report) (NYSE:CP) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$104.33 and traded as high as C$120.67. Canadian Pacific Kansas City shares last traded at C$118.41, with a volume of 1,883,427 shares trading hands. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have commented on the company. Scotiabank raised their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$119.00 to C$124.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. National Bank Financial lowered shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$126.00 to C$132.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. TD Securities decreased their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$116.00 to C$112.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$127.00 to C$124.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Canadian Pacific Kansas City currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$119.57. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on CP Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Down 3.4% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 50.54, a current ratio of 0.49 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$106.93 and a 200 day moving average price of C$104.41. The company has a market cap of C$101.16 billion, a PE ratio of 24.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.14. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP Get Free Report) (NYSE:CP) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The company reported C$1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$3.92 billion during the quarter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 27.46% and a return on equity of 8.90%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited will post 4.3438583 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider John Kenneth Brooks sold 14,845 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$103.53, for a total value of C$1,536,902.85. Also, insider Cassandra P. Quach sold 4,135 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$102.35, for a total value of C$423,217.25. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Canadian Pacific Kansas City (Get Free Report) With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and Mexico, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf Coast to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. (NYSE:NCDL Get Free Report) VP John Mccally acquired 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $13.30 per share, with a total value of $26,600.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the vice president directly owned 7,430 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,819. This trade represents a 36.83% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Trading Down 0.8% Shares of NYSE NCDL traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $13.20. The stock had a trading volume of 201,247 shares, compared to its average volume of 278,349. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. has a 1-year low of $12.54 and a 1-year high of $17.59. The company has a market capitalization of $651.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.08 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $13.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.24. Get Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending alerts: Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending (NYSE:NCDL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $26.36 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.60 million. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending had a return on equity of 10.48% and a net margin of 31.57%. On average, analysts predict that Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Corp. will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current year. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Cuts Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.9%. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lendings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 137.40%. A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on NCDL shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Wall Street Zen cut Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Zacks Research raised shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.40. View Our Latest Report on NCDL Key Headlines Impacting Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Here are the key news stories impacting Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending this week: Positive Sentiment: Multiple insiders are buying stock including CEO Kenneth J. Kencel (10,000 shares at ~$13.04), Director Kenneth Miranda (3,000 shares at $12.83), Jason Strife (7,690 shares at $13.40), VP John McCally (2,000 shares at $13.30) and Director Mat Linett (2,000 shares at $13.05) signaling management confidence at current levels. SEC Filing (Jason Strife) Multiple insiders are buying stock including CEO Kenneth J. Kencel (10,000 shares at ~$13.04), Director Kenneth Miranda (3,000 shares at $12.83), Jason Strife (7,690 shares at $13.40), VP John McCally (2,000 shares at $13.30) and Director Mat Linett (2,000 shares at $13.05) signaling management confidence at current levels. Positive Sentiment: Institutional investors have been active: Invesco materially increased its stake in the 4Q, and other funds (Virtu, NewEdge, VARCOV, Almitas) adjusted positions a sign of interest from larger holders. MarketBeat: Insider & institutional details Institutional investors have been active: Invesco materially increased its stake in the 4Q, and other funds (Virtu, NewEdge, VARCOV, Almitas) adjusted positions a sign of interest from larger holders. Neutral Sentiment: Quarterly EPS marginally beat (reported $0.44 vs. $0.43 est.), which is supportive for income investors, but the beat was slight and leaves forward guidance/credit performance the focus area. Earnings summary Quarterly EPS marginally beat (reported $0.44 vs. $0.43 est.), which is supportive for income investors, but the beat was slight and leaves forward guidance/credit performance the focus area. Neutral Sentiment: The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 (annualized $1.44; ~10.9% yield). While yield is attractive to income buyers, the funds payout ratio is high (137%), making the dividends sustainability an open question. Dividend & DPR details The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 (annualized $1.44; ~10.9% yield). While yield is attractive to income buyers, the funds payout ratio is high (137%), making the dividends sustainability an open question. Negative Sentiment: Several analysts cut price targets and trimmed expectations this week (Wells Fargo to $13.00; Truist lowered its prior target and reduced expectations; KBW trimmed its target) increasing near?term selling pressure and lowering the stocks perceived upside. Wells Fargo price target cut Truist note Several analysts cut price targets and trimmed expectations this week (Wells Fargo to $13.00; Truist lowered its prior target and reduced expectations; KBW trimmed its target) increasing near?term selling pressure and lowering the stocks perceived upside. Negative Sentiment: Revenue in the quarter materially missed consensus ($26.36M reported vs. ~$49.6M expected), suggesting weaker origination/fee activity or timing effects a key negative for a credit-focused closed?end fund. Quarterly revenue miss Revenue in the quarter materially missed consensus ($26.36M reported vs. ~$49.6M expected), suggesting weaker origination/fee activity or timing effects a key negative for a credit-focused closed?end fund. Negative Sentiment: High dividend payout ratio (137%) and headlines indicating a dividend cut or reset increase uncertainty around future distributions a central driver for valuation of yield?focused CEFs. Dividend concerns Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings 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 worth $33,000 after buying an additional 1,573 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending by 33.0% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 4,511 shares of the companys stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 1,118 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending in the third quarter worth $80,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending during the third quarter valued at $85,000. Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Company Profile (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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Churchill Direct Lending and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:RYU Get Free Report) crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $77.79 and traded as high as $83.52. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF shares last traded at $82.99, with a volume of 66,504 shares traded. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF Trading Up 0.5% The stock has a market cap of $270.35 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.42 and a beta of 0.55. The firms 50-day moving average is $78.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $76.95. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (RYU) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in utilities equity. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of S&P 500 utilities companies. RYU was launched on Nov 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) (OTCMKTS:SVCBY Get Free Report) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $18.20 and traded as low as $18.20. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) shares last traded at $18.20, with a volume of 800 shares trading hands. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of $11.61 billion, a PE ratio of 8.27 and a beta of 0.67. The businesss 50 day moving average is $18.20 and its 200 day moving average is $18.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Get Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) alerts: Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) Company Profile (Get Free Report) Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) is a Sweden-based forest products company that manages one of Europes largest private forest estates. Its operations encompass the cultivation, harvesting and sustainable management of forest land, alongside the production of market-grade pulp, sawn timber, solid-wood products and containerboard packaging solutions. The companys integrated value chain leverages renewable raw materials to supply a broad array of industries, from paper and packaging to construction and furniture manufacturing. Originally founded in 1929, SCA has evolved through strategic restructurings and a focus on core forest-based activities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DK Get Free Report) Director Shlomo Zohar sold 7,343 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.00, for a total transaction of $315,749.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 41,018 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,763,774. The trade was a 15.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Shlomo Zohar also recently made the following trade(s): Get Delek US alerts: On Thursday, March 5th, Shlomo Zohar sold 22,029 shares of Delek US stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.83, for a total transaction of $987,560.07. Delek US Trading Down 5.4% Delek US stock traded down $2.44 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $42.35. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,747,393 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,588,294. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $32.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $33.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.89, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.58. Delek US Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $11.02 and a 12 month high of $45.74. The stock has a market cap of $2.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -121.00 and a beta of 0.75. Delek US Dividend Announcement Delek US ( NYSE:DK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 27th. The oil and gas company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.63. Delek US had a negative return on equity of 13.55% and a negative net margin of 0.21%.The firm had revenue of $2.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.55 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($2.54) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Delek US Holdings, Inc. will post -5.5 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.255 dividend. This represents a $1.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Delek USs payout ratio is -291.43%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Delek US from $28.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Delek US from $42.00 to $38.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Delek US in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Delek US from $37.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Scotiabank set a $34.00 target price on Delek US in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.46. View Our Latest Analysis on DK Institutional Investors Weigh In On Delek US A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of DK. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new position in Delek US in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its position in Delek US by 95.6% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 884 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Delek US by 173.4% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 968 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 614 shares during the period. Torren Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Delek US in the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth bought a new position in shares of Delek US in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 97.01% of the companys stock. About Delek US (Get Free Report) Delek US Holdings, Inc (NYSE: DK) is an independent downstream energy company engaged in the refining, logistics, and marketing of petroleum products. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, the company operates a network of inland refineries, storage terminals and pipelines, and convenience store locations. Delek US focuses on converting crude oil into a variety of finished products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt and renewable fuels, serving wholesale and retail customers across the United States. In its refining segment, Delek US owns and operates four inland refineries located in Texas and Arkansas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Delek US Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delek US and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBDO Get Free Report) and BBVA Banco Frances (NYSE:BBAR Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and risk. Risk & Volatility Banco Bradesco has a beta of 0.58, meaning that its share price is 42% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BBVA Banco Frances has a beta of 1.1, meaning that its share price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Banco Bradesco and BBVA Banco Francess revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Bradesco $41.79 billion N/A $4.24 billion $0.39 8.38 BBVA Banco Frances $4.96 billion 0.57 $396.45 million $0.95 14.57 Banco Bradesco has higher revenue and earnings than BBVA Banco Frances. Banco Bradesco is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than BBVA Banco Frances, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Banco Bradesco and BBVA Banco Frances, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Bradesco 0 0 1 0 3.00 BBVA Banco Frances 0 3 2 2 2.86 BBVA Banco Frances has a consensus target price of $17.67, indicating a potential upside of 27.65%. Given BBVA Banco Frances higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe BBVA Banco Frances is more favorable than Banco Bradesco. Profitability This table compares Banco Bradesco and BBVA Banco Frances net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Bradesco 9.85% 13.78% 1.11% BBVA Banco Frances 3.70% 6.55% 0.97% Dividends Banco Bradesco pays an annual dividend of $0.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. BBVA Banco Frances pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Banco Bradesco pays out 5.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. BBVA Banco Frances pays out 44.2% 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. About Banco Bradesco (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Banco Bradesco S.A. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Osasco, Brazil. About BBVA Banco Frances (Get Free Report) Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. provides various banking products and services to individuals and companies in Argentina. The company provides retail banking products and services, such as checking and savings accounts, time deposits, credit cards financing, consumer and pledge loans, mortgages, insurance, and investment products to individuals; and small and medium-sized companies products and services, including financing products, factoring, checking accounts, time deposits, transactional and payroll services, insurance, and investment products to private-sector companies. It also provides corporate and investment banking products and services, such as global transaction services; global markets solutions comprising risk management and securities brokerage; long-term financing products, including project finance and syndicated loans; and corporate finance services comprising mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets advisory services to corporations and multinational companies. The company was formerly known as BBVA Banco Frances S.A. and changed its name to Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. in July 2019. Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. was incorporated in 1886 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SWEDISH ORPHAN/S (OTCMKTS:SWTUY Get Free Report) passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $24.38 and traded as low as $24.38. SWEDISH ORPHAN/S shares last traded at $24.38, with a volume of 200 shares. SWEDISH ORPHAN/S Stock Performance The stock has a market cap of $6.64 billion, a PE ratio of 48.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.81. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $24.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $24.38. Get SWEDISH ORPHAN/S alerts: SWEDISH ORPHAN/S Company Profile (Get Free Report) Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SWTUY) is a Stockholm-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapies for rare diseases and specialty care. The companys portfolio spans treatments in hematology, immunology and metabolic disorders. Its research and development efforts focus on addressing unmet medical needs by advancing both proprietary and in-licensed drug candidates through clinical and regulatory pathways. The companys flagship offerings include clotting factor products for hemophilia, enzyme replacement therapies for lysosomal storage disorders and targeted immunomodulators for inflammatory conditions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for SWEDISH ORPHAN/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SWEDISH ORPHAN/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Berkeley Group Holdings PLC Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:BKGFY Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Hold from the seven research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. BKGFY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Zacks Research upgraded Berkeley Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an underperform rating on shares of Berkeley Group in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Berkeley Group in a research report on Monday, November 24th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Berkeley Group in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Berkeley Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Get Berkeley Group alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Berkeley Group Berkeley Group Trading Down 2.6% Berkeley Group Company Profile Berkeley Group stock opened at $10.61 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $11.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.61. Berkeley Group has a fifty-two week low of $9.03 and a fifty-two week high of $12.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 3.54 and a quick ratio of 0.65. (Get Free Report) Berkeley Group Holdings plc is a leading UK residential property developer specializing in urban regeneration and new-build communities. Founded in 1976 by Tony Pidgley, the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality homes in London and the surrounding regions. Its core operations encompass land acquisition, planning, design, construction and sales, with an emphasis on creating mixed-use neighborhoods that integrate housing, public spaces and community amenities. Over the decades, Berkeley Group has completed numerous landmark projects, including large-scale schemes at Kidbrooke Village, Royal Arsenal Riverside and Elephant Park in east London. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Berkeley Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Berkeley Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PNN New Delhi [India], March 7: International Women's Day is a global celebration of the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women across industries and communities. As the world continues to evolve, women leaders are playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the future through innovation, vision, and purpose-driven leadership. From entrepreneurs and changemakers to professionals transforming their respective fields, these inspiring women are breaking barriers and creating new opportunities for progress. International Women's Day 2026: Inspiring Women Leaders Shaping the Future highlights a remarkable group of women who are leading with courage, redefining leadership, and making a meaningful impact while inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and lead with confidence. 1. Anuradha Gupta: Co-Founder and CEO of Amantya Technologies Anuradha Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Amantya Technologies, is an accomplished technopreneur shaping the evolution of intelligent telecom networks. With over two decades of experience in telecom engineering and digital innovation, she founded Amantya in 2018 with a handful of determined engineers. Today, the bootstrapped company has grown into an 800+ strong global organization, working with telecom operators, enterprises, and Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Under her leadership, Amantya is advancing 5G, AI-driven network automation, edge computing, and cloud technologies, helping build more intelligent and resilient digital infrastructure. The company is actively contributing to the development of next-generation telecom solutions and expanding its presence across global markets, supporting enterprises and operators in their digital transformation journeys. Her journey reflects resilience, a strong belief in indigenous innovation, and people-first leadership. Recognized with the Bharat Telecom Export Excellence Award 2025 (TEPC) and the Globalisation Excellence Award 2025 (ISAN), Anuradha continues to champion greater participation of women in engineering and technology leadership. 2. Neha Kumari: Founder and CEO of Carret For me, ambition began with a simple belief: where you start should never define how far you can go. As a teenager, I left my home in a small village in Bihar to pursue my education. I went on to become the first girl in my village to crack IIT-JEE, and later the first woman in my family to start my own business. That journey taught me the importance of believing in your potential and being truly independent in your thoughts. Because every step we take is part of a story others are quietly watching. You never know who might find courage in it. Today, as the Founder and CEO of Carret, Neha is building her entrepreneurial journey with the same determination and vision that shaped her early years. Under her leadership, Carret has scaled to 1,000Cr+ transaction volume and has presence in India, the UAE, and the Singapore region. Recognised among ET Inspiring Women Leaders, her story reflects resilience, self-belief, and the courage to challenge traditional boundaries. 3. Prachi Singh: CEO of Dharohar Land Corporation Prachi Singh, CEO of Dharohar Land Corporation, approached real estate from an unusual entry point--global corporate rigor. With post-graduation from Canada and an overseas career across Mercer, Manheim, and Xerox Holdings, she spent years working within systems built for scale and accountability. None of it pointed to real estate, and that distance offered clarity. She saw what insiders often missed: an industry where unclear titles, opaque documentation, and informal networks routinely erode trust before transactions even begin. That insight shaped what came next. Dharohar was founded on the premise that real estate shouldn't begin with price; it should begin with trust. Today, she leads that philosophy into every aspect of Dharohar, from land acquisition and development to sales and channel integration. Recognized among India's 40 Under 40 Women business leaders, Prachi reflects an emerging archetype--global fluency translated into meaningful local impact. 4. Puunam G Kaushik: Founder & CEO of Meteoric Cosmeceutiicals Pvt. Ltd. Dy Managing Director & Chief -Corporate Affairs, Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd Puunam G. Kaushik is a multi-faceted businesswoman with over 20 years of diverse industry experience. She has played a pivotal role in strengthening Meteoric's global footprint. Her focus on operational excellence and innovation has positioned the company as a trusted partner for biopharma and most recently into biocosmetic solutions. She is deeply committed to social impact. As the Founder & Managing Trustee of VISHALWIN FOUNDATION, she has led initiatives supporting children with special needs and intellectual disabilities, promoting higher education for underprivileged youth, and creating road safety awareness across India. Starting her professional journey at the young age of 17 in her family business, she has gained extensive expertise across industries including Stock & Commodity Derivatives, Chemicals, Bullion, and Biopharmaceuticals. Her proficiency spans business development, financial management, corporate communication, media relations, brand management, human resources, and consulting. An ardent leader, she is known for accelerating organizational growth while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical business practices and social responsibility. Her visionary approach continues to shape industries and communities, reinforcing her reputation as an influential entrepreneur and changemaker. 5. Dr. Richa Raj: CEO of Ritzy Technology Dr. Richa Raj stands at the forefront of technological innovation, redefining how artificial intelligence and applied sciences shape modern industries. Through her pioneering work in agentic AI, she has enabled companies across the globe to automate complex processes, enhance decision-making systems, and scale intelligent operations with unprecedented efficiency. A computer scientist and AI researcher, Dr. Raj continues to push the boundaries of applied science, developing technologies that bridge research with real-world implementation. Her work spans intelligent systems, advanced computing frameworks, and next-generation technological infrastructures that empower businesses and institutions alike. Beyond innovation, she is deeply committed to creating opportunities through education and greater access to technology. Through her initiatives and thought leadership, she encourages the responsible use of artificial intelligence to drive progress and inclusion. As a visionary leader, Dr. Raj represents a new era of women shaping the future of science, intelligence, and global technological progress. 6. Rucchi Awasthi: Founder and Director of TAREO Rucchi Awasthi is the Founder and Director of TAREO, a people strategy advisory firm focused on helping organizations build resilient teams and capable leaders. With over two decades of experience across recruitment consulting and corporate HR, she brings a deep understanding of how businesses grow through people and leadership. Her career journey spans both consulting and in-house HR roles, giving her a balanced perspective on the challenges organizations face while building strong leadership pipelines. Through TAREO, she works closely with leadership teams to strengthen talent strategy, develop emerging managers, and build sustainable people practices that support long-term organizational growth. Rucchi is a strong advocate for developing first-time managers early, believing that confident leaders are the foundation of high-performing organizations. Through her work, she continues to guide businesses in creating leadership cultures that empower individuals, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful progress. 7. Sheeda Banu: Director of Paprsky Services Private Limited Across the world, women leaders are redefining industries by bringing fresh perspectives, resilience, and bold thinking to the forefront. Among them is business leader Sheeda Banu, whose leadership reflects the growing influence of women in sectors traditionally dominated by men. Through her company, Paprsky Services Private Limited, she has expanded the brand Paprsky onto international platforms, establishing it as a recognized name in industrial and renewable energy solutions. Known for her ability to think beyond conventional boundaries, Sheeda has focused on building global partnerships and exploring new markets. Her efforts include expanding operations in the United States, strengthening brand presence in Europe, and developing manufacturing initiatives in Saudi Arabia to support the region's rapidly growing renewable energy sector. Her work is closely aligned with global sustainability values. As a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and a signatory to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEP), she actively promotes responsible business practices, gender equality, and ethical leadership. 8. Sonam Garg Sharma: CEO and Co-founder Medical Linkers True leadership is defined not just by business milestones, but by the lives it transforms. As the Founder and CEO of Medical Linkers, Sonam Garg Sharma perfectly embodies the spirit of celebrating the power of women leaders. Navigating the complex, high-stakes landscape of global healthcare, Sonam demonstrates how empathetic, women-led initiatives can drive meaningful systemic change. Through Medical Linkers, she has built a global bridge of hope, connecting vulnerable patients to life-saving treatments with transparency, compassion, and unwavering advocacy. Her work reflects a strong commitment to making healthcare more accessible while building trust among patients and medical professionals across borders. Beyond her visionary entrepreneurial success, Sonam is a passionate champion for female ambition. She actively encourages women to stop waiting for the "perfect moment" and boldly step into their power. Her journey proves that when women lead with purpose and compassion, they don't just build successful companies--they create lasting impact and change lives. 9. Surbhi Bhatia: Founder and CEO of The Mom Store Surbhi Bhatia, Founder and CEO of The Mom Store, is a shining example of how personal experience can fuel impactful entrepreneurship. Launching her venture in 2019 from Bengaluru, Surbhi transformed her own motherhood journey into a mission to fill the gaps she noticed in the Indian market for quality mother and baby products. With a background that includes stints in retail and a PGPM from IIM Kozhikode, she combined corporate acumen with heartfelt insight to create a brand that truly celebrates motherhood, from pregnancy to early parenting. More than just a retail platform, The Mom Store fosters a supportive community where young mothers share their stories and experiences, making it a trusted companion for modern moms. Surbhi's leadership reflects a blend of professionalism and warmth, embodying the spirit of today's empowered women who balance ambition with empathy. Her journey is a testament to the power of women leaders who build businesses with heart and purpose, inspiring many this International Women's Day and beyond. 10. Taniya Dhirasaria: Founder of Mamalife Taniya Dhirasaria is an entrepreneur, brand builder, and an emerging voice in India's postpartum nutrition ecosystem. As the Founder of Mamalife, she is building a science-backed nutrition brand dedicated to supporting mothers through postpartum recovery and early motherhood--an area historically underserved despite its profound impact on families and communities. A two-time entrepreneur, Taniya has spent over a decade building and scaling consumer brands. Her entrepreneurial journey gained national visibility with an appearance on Shark Tank India Season 2, and her work has earned multiple recognitions, including selection for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative. Her venture has also been recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, while YourStory has acknowledged her brand as a Challenger Brand (2022) in India's startup ecosystem. She was also invited as a speaker to share insights on entrepreneurship at the G20 Summit in 2023. An alumna of NIFT Kolkata and MICA Ahmedabad, Taniya continues to invest in lifelong learning through executive programs at IIM Bangalore and the Indian School of Business. Passionate about giving back, she regularly visits schools to inspire young students to embrace entrepreneurship and creativity. As a founder and mother of two, she strongly believes in building ambitious companies while maintaining a healthy balance between work and family. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) Gabelli Funds LLC grew its stake in TXNM Energy, Inc. (NYSE:TXNM Free Report) by 18.3% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 855,464 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 132,491 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLCs holdings in TXNM Energy were worth $48,376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new position in shares of TXNM Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $547,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in TXNM Energy by 12.4% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 297,350 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,902,000 after purchasing an additional 32,776 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement System raised its position in TXNM Energy by 3.2% in the second quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 22,289 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,255,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in TXNM Energy by 2.8% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,225,977 shares of the companys stock worth $69,047,000 after purchasing an additional 32,959 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in TXNM Energy by 1,307.0% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 605 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 562 shares in the last quarter. 91.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get TXNM Energy alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen raised TXNM Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 21st. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of TXNM Energy in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $59.30. TXNM Energy Trading Down 0.1% Shares of TXNM stock opened at $58.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 0.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $59.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $57.96. TXNM Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $47.21 and a fifty-two week high of $59.52. TXNM Energy (NYSE:TXNM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $533.23 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $593.29 million. TXNM Energy had a return on equity of 7.54% and a net margin of 7.27%.During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.30 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that TXNM Energy, Inc. will post 2.73 EPS for the current fiscal year. TXNM Energy Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be given a dividend of $0.4225 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. This represents a $1.69 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. TXNM Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 115.75%. About TXNM Energy (Free Report) TXNM Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides electricity and electric services in the United States. It operates through Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) segments. The PNM segment engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The segment owns and leases communications, office and other equipment, office space, vehicles, and real estate. It generates electricity using coal, natural gas and oil, and nuclear fuel and waste, as well as solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage energy sources. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TXNM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TXNM Energy, Inc. (NYSE:TXNM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TXNM Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TXNM Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gabelli Funds LLC reduced its position in Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Free Report) by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 776,350 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 19,900 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLCs holdings in Eversource Energy were worth $55,230,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH raised its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 7.9% in the second quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 419,251 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,673,000 after acquiring an additional 30,641 shares during the period. Alps Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 386,853 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,521,000 after acquiring an additional 19,795 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,652,661 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,904,422,000 after acquiring an additional 691,165 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 31.1% in the 2nd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 39,391 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,506,000 after purchasing an additional 9,350 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Synergy Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 287.7% in the 3rd quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 160,322 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $10,783,000 after purchasing an additional 118,971 shares in the last quarter. 79.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eversource Energy alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ES has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group lowered their price target on Eversource Energy from $78.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Bank of America restated a buy rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a research report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an underperform rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded Eversource Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $79.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Eversource Energy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $71.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.90. Eversource Energy Stock Up 1.0% ES opened at $74.58 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $28.00 billion, a PE ratio of 16.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.76. Eversource Energy has a twelve month low of $52.28 and a twelve month high of $76.41. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $70.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $69.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The utilities provider reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.02. Eversource Energy had a return on equity of 11.18% and a net margin of 12.49%.The company had revenue of $3.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.01 EPS. Eversource Energys revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Eversource Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.800-4.950 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Eversource Energy will post 4.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Eversource Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 5th will be paid a $0.7875 dividend. This is a boost from Eversource Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 5th. Eversource Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 68.93%. Insider Transactions at Eversource Energy In other Eversource Energy news, EVP John M. Moreira sold 7,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.90, for a total value of $576,420.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,269 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,197,579.10. This trade represents a 15.27% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider John Y. Kim sold 6,000 shares of Eversource Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.57, for a total transaction of $441,420.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 12,339 shares in the company, valued at approximately $907,780.23. This trade represents a 32.72% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 16,381 shares of company stock valued at $1,211,079 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.41% of the companys stock. Eversource Energy Profile (Free Report) Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) is a publicly traded, regulated energy company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The companys core business is the delivery and transmission of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers across parts of New England. Eversource operates transmission and distribution networks, maintains electrical infrastructure, responds to outages and storms, and manages natural gas pipeline and distribution systems in the regions it serves. Eversource serves customers primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, operating through locally regulated utility subsidiaries that administer customer service, billing, meter reading and localized operations. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eversource Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eversource Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gabelli Funds LLC decreased its stake in Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV Free Report) (TSE:FNV) by 8.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 261,536 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 25,687 shares during the quarter. Gabelli Funds LLCs holdings in Franco-Nevada were worth $58,275,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Franco-Nevada during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Franco-Nevada by 600.0% during the 2nd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 196 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Franco-Nevada by 78.3% in the 2nd quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 205 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the period. CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its holdings in Franco-Nevada by 590.9% in the 2nd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 228 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the period. Finally, City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in Franco-Nevada in the third quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.06% of the companys stock. Get Franco-Nevada alerts: Franco-Nevada Price Performance FNV opened at $259.83 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.10 billion, a PE ratio of 54.47, a P/E/G ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 0.45. The firms fifty day moving average price is $245.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $216.50. Franco-Nevada Corporation has a 12-month low of $140.03 and a 12-month high of $285.67. Franco-Nevada Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business 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 $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 12th. This is an increase from Franco-Nevadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Franco-Nevadas payout ratio is presently 31.87%. A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Franco-Nevada from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $225.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $228.00 price target on shares of Franco-Nevada in a report on Sunday, December 7th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Franco-Nevada from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $310.00 price objective on shares of Franco-Nevada in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group cut shares of Franco-Nevada from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $254.38. Read Our Latest Research Report on FNV Franco-Nevada Profile (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FNV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV Free Report) (TSE:FNV). Receive News & Ratings for Franco-Nevada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franco-Nevada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL decreased its stake in shares of St. Joe Company (The) (NYSE:JOE Free Report) by 2.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 634,410 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 16,100 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET ALs holdings in St. Joe were worth $31,391,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cresset Asset Management LLC grew its position in St. Joe by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 4,876 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $241,000 after purchasing an additional 373 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of St. Joe by 54.7% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 407,438 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $20,160,000 after buying an additional 144,121 shares during the period. Lumbard & Kellner LLC lifted its holdings in shares of St. Joe by 10.7% during the 3rd quarter. Lumbard & Kellner LLC now owns 16,986 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $840,000 after buying an additional 1,635 shares during the period. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co purchased a new position in shares of St. Joe in the 3rd quarter worth $947,000. Finally, Nkcfo LLC purchased a new position in shares of St. Joe in the 3rd quarter worth $495,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.67% of the companys stock. Get St. Joe alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at St. Joe In related news, major shareholder Bruce R. Berkowitz sold 87,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.51, for a total transaction of $5,745,227.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 16,165,024 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,058,970,722.24. The trade was a 0.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 229,900 shares of company stock worth $15,201,327. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on JOE shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of St. Joe in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen cut St. Joe from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, St. Joe currently has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Our Latest Report on JOE St. Joe Trading Down 1.7% Shares of St. Joe stock opened at $68.87 on Friday. St. Joe Company has a 1-year low of $40.19 and a 1-year high of $73.54. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $66.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $58.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 2.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.96 billion, a PE ratio of 34.44 and a beta of 1.30. St. Joe (NYSE:JOE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $128.89 million during the quarter. St. Joe had a return on equity of 15.23% and a net margin of 22.52%. St. Joe Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. St. Joes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.00%. St. Joe Profile (Free Report) The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) is a leading real estate development and asset management firm focused on Northwest Florida. Headquartered in Jacksonville, the company owns and manages approximately 171,000 acres of land across Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Walton counties. St. Joes core businesses include residential community development, commercial real estate, and hospitality, with an emphasis on master-planned neighborhoods, office and retail campuses, resort hotels and mixed-use town centers. Founded in 1936 as a paper manufacturing company, St. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JOE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for St. Joe Company (The) (NYSE:JOE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for St. Joe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for St. Joe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Neo Ivy Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 37.3% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 15,058 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,094 shares during the quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Managements holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $2,792,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 51,876 shares of the companys stock worth $7,502,000 after purchasing an additional 6,332 shares during the last quarter. United Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 110.7% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 9,279 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,539,000 after acquiring an additional 4,876 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 13.4% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,863 shares of the companys stock worth $896,000 after acquiring an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 12.8% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Group Ltd. now owns 1,482 shares of the companys stock worth $226,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares during the period. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. lifted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 9.8% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 73,680 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,255,000 after purchasing an additional 6,584 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.55% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Johnson & Johnson News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: Positive Sentiment: FDA approval of TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma approval was based on strong Phase 3 results showing significant improvements in progression?free and overall survival, and J&J positions the combo as a potential new standard of care as early as second line. This materially expands the companys oncology commercial opportunity and is the main catalyst lifting sentiment. PR Newswire: J&J FDA approval FDA approval of TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma approval was based on strong Phase 3 results showing significant improvements in progression?free and overall survival, and J&J positions the combo as a potential new standard of care as early as second line. This materially expands the companys oncology commercial opportunity and is the main catalyst lifting sentiment. Positive Sentiment: Inclusion in dividend lists / dividend?aristocrat coverage recent articles cite JNJ among Dividend Kings/Aristocrats, reinforcing its appeal to income and defensive investors given decades of payout growth. That supports demand from dividend?focused funds and conservative investors. 24/7 Wall St.: Dividend Kings Inclusion in dividend lists / dividend?aristocrat coverage recent articles cite JNJ among Dividend Kings/Aristocrats, reinforcing its appeal to income and defensive investors given decades of payout growth. That supports demand from dividend?focused funds and conservative investors. Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target from $225 to $250 but kept a neutral rating the PT lift signals modest analyst upside recognition of recent catalysts, though the unchanged rating tempers near?term conviction. Benzinga: JPMorgan price target JPMorgan raised its price target from $225 to $250 but kept a neutral rating the PT lift signals modest analyst upside recognition of recent catalysts, though the unchanged rating tempers near?term conviction. Neutral Sentiment: Direct?to?consumer website launch J&J rolled out a site to sell certain drugs directly to U.S. patients who are uninsured or pay out?of?pocket; potential to improve access and margin over time, but impact on revenue is unclear near term. Reuters: direct-to-consumer site Direct?to?consumer website launch J&J rolled out a site to sell certain drugs directly to U.S. patients who are uninsured or pay out?of?pocket; potential to improve access and margin over time, but impact on revenue is unclear near term. Negative Sentiment: $65 million Tracleer antitrust settlement two J&J units agreed to pay $65M to resolve a class action alleging overcharges for the pulmonary hypertension drug; materiality is modest relative to J&Js scale but it is a headline legal expense. Reuters: Tracleer settlement $65 million Tracleer antitrust settlement two J&J units agreed to pay $65M to resolve a class action alleging overcharges for the pulmonary hypertension drug; materiality is modest relative to J&Js scale but it is a headline legal expense. Negative Sentiment: Near?term price volatility / recent pullback a few market reports noted a day?over?day decline ahead of the approval news; investors should be prepared for swings as the market digests launch timing, uptake and reimbursement dynamics. Zacks: recent decline Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance NYSE:JNJ opened at $240.57 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $228.36 and a 200-day moving average of $204.01. The firm has a market cap of $579.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Johnson & Johnson has a twelve month low of $141.50 and a twelve month high of $251.71. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $24.28 billion during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 28.46% and a return on equity of 33.04%. Analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be given 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 2.2%. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 47.06%. Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total value of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at $5,598,700.17. This trade represents a 21.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 1,322 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.66, for a total transaction of $324,762.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 25,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,251,310.02. This trade represents a 4.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 30,142 shares of company stock valued at $7,360,528. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have commented on JNJ. Bank of America restated a neutral rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Monday. Argus boosted their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $210.00 to $240.00 in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Wall Street Zen lowered Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Guggenheim raised their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $227.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Wolfe Research lifted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $225.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $234.87. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on JNJ Johnson & Johnson Profile (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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Campari Group (OTCMKTS:DVDCF Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $7.10, but opened at $7.50. Campari Group shares last traded at $7.30, with a volume of 3,897 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Barclays upgraded shares of Campari Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Campari Group currently has an average rating of Buy. Get Campari Group alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Campari Group Campari Group Stock Performance Campari Group Company Profile The business has a 50-day moving average of $7.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $6.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 2.32. (Get Free Report) Campari Group is an Italian-based global beverage company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of premium spirits and wines. Founded in Milan in 1860 by Gaspare Campari, the company has built a diversified portfolio of iconic brands that span various categories, including aperitifs, liqueurs, vodka, whiskey, rum, gin and ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails. The companys flagship product, Campari, is a bright red, bittersweet aperitif known for its distinctive taste and versatility in classic cocktails such as the Negroni and Americano. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Campari Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Campari Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Neo Ivy Capital Management increased its position in CVR Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVI Free Report) by 165.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 65,340 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 40,721 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Managements holdings in CVR Energy were worth $2,384,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVI. Icon Advisers Inc. Co. grew its stake in CVR Energy by 39.2% during the 3rd quarter. Icon Advisers Inc. Co. now owns 110,000 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,013,000 after purchasing an additional 31,000 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of CVR Energy by 2.9% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 21,329 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $778,000 after purchasing an additional 596 shares during the last quarter. Kennondale Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of CVR Energy by 10.2% during the third quarter. Kennondale Capital Management LLC now owns 36,235 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,322,000 after purchasing an additional 3,348 shares during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in CVR Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $226,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its position in CVR Energy by 3,180.1% in the third quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 139,406 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,086,000 after buying an additional 135,156 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.88% of the companys stock. Get CVR Energy alerts: Insider Activity In other news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn purchased 275,012 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $21.41 per share, with a total value of $5,888,006.92. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 71,201,875 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,524,432,143.75. This represents a 0.39% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 783,404 shares of company stock valued at $16,445,044. Insiders own 0.01% of the companys stock. CVR Energy Stock Down 0.9% CVR Energy stock opened at $26.83 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $23.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95. The firm has a market cap of $2.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 103.20 and a beta of 1.12. CVR Energy Inc. has a 52 week low of $15.10 and a 52 week high of $41.67. CVR Energy (NYSE:CVI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.80) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.84) by $0.04. CVR Energy had a negative return on equity of 14.31% and a net margin of 0.38%.The company had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.13) earnings per share. CVR Energys revenue for the quarter was down 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that CVR Energy Inc. will post -0.12 earnings per share for the current year. CVR Energy Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 9th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of CVR Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, February 21st. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of CVR Energy from a hold (c) rating to a sell (d) rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and five have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CVR Energy currently has an average rating of Strong Sell and an average price target of $29.25. Read Our Latest Research Report on CVR Energy About CVR Energy (Free Report) CVR Energy, Inc is an independent downstream energy company engaged primarily in petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer production in the United States. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, CVR Energy operates through two reportable segmentsPetroleum Products and Nitrogen Fertilizersleveraging its refining expertise and distribution network to serve both wholesale and retail markets across key regions in the U.S. In its Petroleum Products segment, the company owns and operates the Coffeyville, Kansas refinery, which has the capability to process various grades of crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVR Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CVR Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVR Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC lowered its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Free Report) by 49.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 38,162 shares of the companys stock after selling 37,995 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF accounts for approximately 2.3% of Hibernia Wealth Partners LLCs holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $3,631,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in USMV. Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 13,315,040 shares of the companys stock worth $1,249,883,000 after purchasing an additional 191,453 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.3% in the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 6,831,899 shares of the companys stock worth $650,670,000 after buying an additional 156,234 shares in the last quarter. Millburn Ridgefield LLC DE lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 5.4% in the third quarter. Millburn Ridgefield LLC DE now owns 3,752,960 shares of the companys stock worth $357,057,000 after buying an additional 190,646 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 18.5% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,892,840 shares of the companys stock valued at $271,634,000 after acquiring an additional 452,184 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 26.3% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 2,142,277 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,096,000 after acquiring an additional 445,896 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance USMV stock opened at $96.65 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a fifty-two week low of $83.99 and a fifty-two week high of $98.07. The company has a market capitalization of $24.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.90 and a beta of 0.72. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $95.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $94.59. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding USMV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 1,584,714 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $40,379,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Peak Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 1.4% in the second quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC now owns 28,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $697,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas raised its holdings in Pfizer by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 66,841 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,703,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 12,915 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares during the period. Boltwood Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Boltwood Capital Management now owns 58,274 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,485,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC now owns 27,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $712,000 after purchasing an additional 421 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Key Pfizer News Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week: Pfizer Stock Up 1.7% PFE stock opened at $27.07 on Friday. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $20.92 and a twelve month high of $27.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market cap of $153.93 billion, a PE ratio of 19.90 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day moving average of $26.30 and a 200 day moving average of $25.47. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.09. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.48% and a net margin of 12.42%.The business had revenue of $17.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.93 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.63 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 126.47%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen reissued a hold rating on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $27.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Guggenheim reissued a buy rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Zacks Research upgraded Pfizer from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. They set an underperform rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $28.05. Get Our Latest Report on Pfizer Pfizer Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas. Pfizers portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI Get Free Report) and American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO Get Free Report) are both mid-cap retail/wholesale companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and dividends. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Levi Strauss & Co. and American Eagle Outfitterss gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Levi Strauss & Co. alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Levi Strauss & Co. $6.28 billion 1.22 $578.10 million $1.46 13.42 American Eagle Outfitters $5.50 billion 0.57 $329.38 million $1.12 16.49 Institutional & Insider Ownership Levi Strauss & Co. has higher revenue and earnings than American Eagle Outfitters. Levi Strauss & Co. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than American Eagle Outfitters, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. 69.1% of Levi Strauss & Co. shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 97.3% of American Eagle Outfitters shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Levi Strauss & Co. shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.7% of American Eagle Outfitters shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Dividends Levi Strauss & Co. pays an annual dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. American Eagle Outfitters pays an annual dividend of $0.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Levi Strauss & Co. pays out 38.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. American Eagle Outfitters pays out 44.6% 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. Levi Strauss & Co. has increased its dividend for 4 consecutive years and American Eagle Outfitters has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Levi Strauss & Co. is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Risk & Volatility Levi Strauss & Co. has a beta of 1.28, indicating that its share price is 28% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Eagle Outfitters has a beta of 1.39, indicating that its share price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Levi Strauss & Co. and American Eagle Outfitters, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Levi Strauss & Co. 0 3 12 0 2.80 American Eagle Outfitters 2 11 1 1 2.07 Levi Strauss & Co. presently has a consensus target price of $26.69, suggesting a potential upside of 36.25%. American Eagle Outfitters has a consensus target price of $21.75, suggesting a potential upside of 17.76%. Given Levi Strauss & Co.s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Levi Strauss & Co. is more favorable than American Eagle Outfitters. Profitability This table compares Levi Strauss & Co. and American Eagle Outfitters net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Levi Strauss & Co. 9.20% 25.08% 8.19% American Eagle Outfitters 3.49% 16.76% 6.61% Summary Levi Strauss & Co. beats American Eagle Outfitters on 13 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks. About Levi Strauss & Co. (Get Free Report) Levi Strauss & Co. engages in the design, marketing, and sale of apparel products. The company offers jeans, casual and dress pants, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear, and related accessories. It operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded by Levi Strauss in 1853 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. About American Eagle Outfitters (Get Free Report) American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally. The company provides jeans, apparel and accessories, and personal care products for women and men under the American Eagle brand; and intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections under the Aerie and OFFLINE by Aerie brands. It also offers menswear products under the Todd Snyder New York brand; and fashion clothing and accessories under the Unsubscribed brand. The company sells its products through own and licensed retail stores; concession-based shops-within-shops; and digital channels, such as www.ae.com, www.aerie.com, www.toddsnyder.com, and www.unsubscribed.com. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Receive News & Ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PNN New Delhi [India], March 7: On International Women's Day 2026, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of women leaders who are shaping the future through innovation and progress. Across industries--from technology and business to science and the arts--women are breaking barriers, challenging norms, and driving transformative change. Their vision, resilience, and creativity not only inspire the next generation but also redefine what leadership looks like in the modern world. As digital media continues to amplify diverse voices, this day serves as a reminder of the power of inclusivity and the vital role women play in shaping a more equitable, dynamic, and forward-thinking global society. 1.Ananya Grover, Founder & CEO of HealCycle Wellness At 23, Princeton-educated technologist Ananya Grover is the founder behind HealCycle, an AI-powered platform transforming how women navigate their reproductive and mental health. A leading voice in menstrual health, Grover's TED Talk on period positivity has inspired over 1.8 million viewers, and she is now turning that advocacy into action. Driven to demystify conditions like PCOS, PMDD, and perimenopause, Grover built HealCycle to provide the data-driven clarity women often lack. With Google for Startups as a strategic partner, the app empowers thousands of users to sync with their cycles and optimize their mood, energy, and productivity through personalized recommendations and an intuitive AI companion. "For too long, menstrual and mental health have both been stigmatized and dismissed," says Grover. "HealCycle is about breaking that silence--giving women the tools and knowledge to reclaim their rhythm and feel their best every day." Today, her vision is accessible to women worldwide via the iOS and Android platforms, marking a new era in personalized wellness. 2. Dr Fareha Khatoon, MS(OBGYN), FMAS, DRM, FRM, Diploma in Cosmetic Gynaecology , Director Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cloudnine Hospital, Lucknow Dr. Fareha Khatoon is ssociated at Cloudnine Hospital,Lucknow as Director ,Obstetrics & Gynaecology,and a distinguished specialist known for her expertise in women's health, high-risk pregnancies, and advanced gynaecological care. With years of experience dedicated to supporting women through every stage of life, she strongly believes in empowering women with knowledge, compassion, and quality healthcare. International Women's Day is not only a celebration but also a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and determination that define women across the world. As an obstetrician and gynaecologist, she is privileged to witness the extraordinary courage of women every day--whether it is bringing new life into the world, balancing multiple responsibilities, or breaking barriers in their chosen fields. Women leaders today are transforming healthcare, science, education, and society with vision, compassion, and unwavering determination. Their journeys remind us that challenges are not limitations but opportunities to rise stronger. True progress comes when women support and uplift one another, inspire the next generation, and continue to push boundaries with confidence and purpose. On this International Women's Day, she encourages everyone to celebrate the power of women who dare to lead, dream without limits, and shape a future filled with equality, innovation, and hope. 3. Geetika Singh, Director of Aakaro Consulting Pvt Ltd On the occasion of International Women's Day, the journey of Geetika Singh reflects the growing role of women leaders in shaping modern workplaces. She is the Director of Aakaro Consulting Pvt Ltd, a consulting firm focused on strengthening people practices and leadership capability within organizations. Aakaro Consulting partners with companies across sectors to design and deliver corporate training programs and provide structured HR advisory services. Many growing organizations work with the firm on a monthly HR retainership model, gaining access to strategic HR expertise without the need for large in-house teams. The company delivers corporate training through both face-to-face sessions and its own online learning platform, offering a wide range of high-quality professional courses for working professionals and organizations. Through Aakaro Consulting, the vision is to help organizations align people, performance, and culture to build stronger and more sustainable businesses. 4. Harita Mehta, Founder of Mehar Legal Services With a deep-rooted sense of justice, Harita has shaped her journey across both law and entrepreneurship with a singular purpose: empowering those who are often unheard. As a lawyer, she has built her career defending the marginalised and standing up for the underprivileged, consistently challenging systems that perpetuate inequality. Her legal practice extends beyond courtrooms--she has launched initiatives aimed at empowering women and uplifting disadvantaged communities, using the law as a catalyst for structural and social reform. As the CEO of The Nest Salon, Harita has translated this philosophy into the entrepreneurial space, building far more than a beauty destination into an inclusive haven. It is a space where dignity and self-worth are restored as much as appearances. Its doors remain open throughout the year to acid attack survivors, offering not just services but compassion, confidence, and a reaffirmation of identity. Whether championing gender justice through the law or creating spaces that nurture resilience, Harita's work is unified by a larger vision: transforming societal constructs that endorse inequality. 5. Dr. Pooja Babbar, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Fortis Manesar (Excellence in Advanced Cancer Care), Gurgaon Every year on March 8, the world celebrates International Women's Day, a day dedicated to honoring the achievements, strength, and leadership of women across the globe. In 2026, the focus is on inspiring women who are shaping a brighter and more inclusive future through their dedication and vision. Among these inspiring personalities is Dr. Pooja Babbar, a Medical Oncologist, whose commitment to empowering communities and promoting positive change makes her a true role model. Through her work and leadership, she continues to motivate women to pursue their dreams, break barriers, and create a meaningful impact in society. Women leaders like Dr. Babbar represent resilience, compassion, and innovation. Their contributions remind us that empowering women is essential for building stronger families, communities, and nations. This International Women's Day 2026, let us celebrate the achievements of women leaders and encourage the next generation of girls to lead with confidence, courage, and determination. 6. Pooja Sharma, CEO & Founder of Skinkaanti Ayurveda Pooja Sharma, Founder of Skinkaanti Ayurveda, is redefining India's natural skincare manufacturing landscape through purpose-driven entrepreneurship and a strong commitment to Ayurvedic authenticity. With over two decades of professional experience across institutions such as NIIT, Aptech, KN Modi University, and the Ministry of Skill Development, she built a solid foundation in leadership and management before stepping into entrepreneurship. Founded in 2021, Skinkaanti Ayurveda emerged from a simple yet powerful realization--the growing demand for natural beauty products needed manufacturers who could combine Ayurvedic authenticity with high-quality, scalable production. What began as a small home-based soap-making experiment has today grown into one of India's largest handmade soap manufacturing units, capable of producing up to two lakh soaps per day. Based in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, Skinkaanti Ayurveda partners with more than 30 brands across India, offering third-party and white-label manufacturing of natural skincare products. With a workforce that is over 95% women, the company stands as a powerful example of women-led growth and conscious manufacturing. 7. Dr Priya R Nair, Psychiatrist at Neya Psychiatric Clinic This International Women's Day 2026, we celebrate women leaders who are redefining healthcare with integrity and innovation. At Neya Psychiatric Clinic, Dr. Priya R. Nair exemplifies leadership rooted in evidence-based clinical practice and compassionate care. With a strong foundation in modern psychiatry, Dr. Nair integrates scientifically validated treatments into her approach, including structured psychotherapies, medication management guided by global clinical protocols, and individualized care plans tailored to each patient's psychological and biological profile. Her work emphasizes thorough assessment, accurate diagnosis, and measurable treatment outcomes, ensuring that care is both ethical and effective. Recognizing that women often face unique mental health challenges influenced by hormonal, social, and occupational factors, Dr. Nair adopts a holistic yet framework. From anxiety and depressive disorders related conditions and stress management, her interventions are grounded in internationally accepted psychiatric guidelines. By combining decisions with deep empathy, Dr. Priya R. Nair continues to lead with clinical excellence, proving that science and compassion together create transformative mental healthcare. 8. Dr. Shweta Bansal Secretary, Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO) Chapter Indian Academy of Pediatrics HOD Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist & BMT Physician at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Reserach Center GIrgaon Mumbai This International Women's Day 2026, we honor women leaders whose vision, dedication, and resilience are transforming communities and inspiring the next generation. Dr. Shweta Bansal, Secretary of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO) Chapter at the Indian Academy of Pediatrics and HOD Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist & BMT Physician at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Research Center, Girgaon, Mumbai, is a shining example of such leadership. With extensive experience in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation, Dr. Bansal has made a significant impact on patient care, research, and medical education. Beyond her clinical excellence, she actively mentors young healthcare professionals and promotes awareness for early diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive care for children with blood disorders and cancer. On this day, Dr. Bansal celebrates the courage, innovation, and leadership of women everywhere, inspiring others to pursue their dreams, break barriers, and make meaningful contributions to society. 9. Vaishali Mutalik, CEO of Shieldbyte Infosec Pvt Ltd On International Women's Day 2026, we recognize the extraordinary impact of women leaders who are shaping resilient institutions, driving innovation, and strengthening global economies. Vaishali Mutalik represents a new generation of purpose-driven leadership--combining strategic vision, technological excellence, and an unwavering commitment to integrity. In the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, she has demonstrated how women can lead high-growth AI-driven cybersecurity enterprises while maintaining strong governance and ethical standards. Her journey reflects a broader movement: women stepping confidently into executive roles, boardrooms, and entrepreneurial ventures, transforming challenges into measurable achievements. True empowerment lies in creating access to education, mentorship, capital, and leadership opportunities. When women lead, organizations benefit from diversity of thought, balanced decision-making, and sustainable growth. This Women's Day, the call is clear: invest in women, amplify their voices, and build ecosystems where leadership is defined by capability and vision--not by gender. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI Get Free Report) had its price target increased by equities research analysts at UBS Group from $24.00 to $25.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock. UBS Groups target price suggests a potential downside of 41.15% from the stocks current price. Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a sell (d-) rating on shares of Intrepid Potash in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wall Street Zen cut Intrepid Potash from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Intrepid Potash currently has an average rating of Sell and an average target price of $25.00. Get Intrepid Potash alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Intrepid Potash Intrepid Potash Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:IPI opened at $42.48 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $32.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.50. The company has a market capitalization of $570.51 million, a PE ratio of 49.98 and a beta of 1.53. Intrepid Potash has a 52 week low of $22.55 and a 52 week high of $44.16. Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 4th. The basic materials company reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.23. Intrepid Potash had a net margin of 3.75% and a return on equity of 3.93%. The company had revenue of $75.88 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $65.25 million. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Intrepid Potash will post -0.17 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Intrepid Potash Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Gate City Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Intrepid Potash by 338.6% in the 4th quarter. Gate City Capital Management LLC now owns 914,026 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $25,346,000 after acquiring an additional 705,638 shares in the last quarter. Azarias Capital Management L.P. increased its holdings in Intrepid Potash by 64.9% during the 3rd quarter. Azarias Capital Management L.P. now owns 259,788 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $7,944,000 after purchasing an additional 102,266 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in shares of Intrepid Potash in the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,441,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Intrepid Potash by 12.6% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 726,027 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $22,202,000 after purchasing an additional 81,121 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Intrepid Potash by 350.2% in the third quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 86,945 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,659,000 after purchasing an additional 67,631 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 56.13% of the companys stock. More Intrepid Potash News Here are the key news stories impacting Intrepid Potash this week: Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat IPI reported adjusted EPS of $0.49 vs. $0.26 consensus and revenue of $75.9M (up ~36% YoY), driven by strong Trio and potash pricing/volumes, which underpins near-term earnings momentum. Intrepid Potashs Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Up Y/Y Q4 beat IPI reported adjusted EPS of $0.49 vs. $0.26 consensus and revenue of $75.9M (up ~36% YoY), driven by strong Trio and potash pricing/volumes, which underpins near-term earnings momentum. Positive Sentiment: 2026 production guidance management expects ~7% Trio production growth next year, signaling higher volumes and improving unit economics; the company is delaying a decision on its AMAX asset, keeping focus on incremental Trio expansion. Intrepid projects 7% Trio production growth for 2026 while deferring AMAX decision 2026 production guidance management expects ~7% Trio production growth next year, signaling higher volumes and improving unit economics; the company is delaying a decision on its AMAX asset, keeping focus on incremental Trio expansion. Positive Sentiment: Lithium upside an updated Technical Report Summary confirms viability of the White Silver Lithium Project (target ~5,000 tpy battery?grade lithium carbonate from industrial brine), offering a potential new high-value revenue stream over time. White Silver Lithium Project Clears Key Technical Milestone Lithium upside an updated Technical Report Summary confirms viability of the White Silver Lithium Project (target ~5,000 tpy battery?grade lithium carbonate from industrial brine), offering a potential new high-value revenue stream over time. Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call color management highlighted record Trio sales volumes, rising pricing and steady demand; cost/operating commentary is positive but not tied to a formal long-term guide beyond 2026 outlook. Investors should watch pricing trends and unit costs for sustainability. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Earnings call color management highlighted record Trio sales volumes, rising pricing and steady demand; cost/operating commentary is positive but not tied to a formal long-term guide beyond 2026 outlook. Investors should watch pricing trends and unit costs for sustainability. Negative Sentiment: Analyst stance UBS raised its price target slightly but kept a sell rating, implying significant downside relative to the current share price; this divergent analyst view could cap upside or add volatility. UBS price target note Intrepid Potash Company Profile (Get Free Report) Intrepid Potash, Inc is a leading U.S.-based producer and marketer of potash and related specialty fertilizer products. The companys primary business centers on potassium chloride, a key nutrient used in agricultural applications to enhance crop yield and quality. In addition to potash, Intrepid Potash produces magnesium chloride and sodium chloride, which serve a variety of markets including de-icing, dust control and industrial chemical production. Intrepid Potash operates through a combination of solution mining, solar evaporation and conventional underground mining techniques. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Intrepid Potash Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intrepid Potash and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Guardian Capital LP boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 412.6% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 11,636 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,366 shares during the quarter. Guardian Capital LPs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $8,878,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% during the third quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 0.7% LLY stock opened at $990.58 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $934.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $623.78 and a 1-year high of $1,133.95. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $1,045.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $939.25. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.48 by $0.06. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 102.94% and a net margin of 31.66%.The company had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.85 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.32 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue was up 42.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.73 per share. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 30.15%. Key Headlines Impacting Eli Lilly and Company Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth LLY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an outperform rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday, December 19th. HSBC reiterated a hold rating and issued a $1,070.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. National Bank Financial set a $1,286.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, December 1st. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating and set a $1,300.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $950.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,229.59. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on LLY Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the eleven research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $382.3333. A number of research analysts recently weighed in on LAD shares. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Lithia Motors from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, February 28th. Evercore increased their target price on Lithia Motors from $440.00 to $500.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Lithia Motors in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Lithia Motors from $358.00 to $355.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Lithia Motors from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $335.00 target price for the company. in a report on Friday, February 20th. Get Lithia Motors alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Lithia Motors Lithia Motors Trading Down 2.7% Shares of NYSE:LAD opened at $259.89 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $315.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $319.48. Lithia Motors has a 1 year low of $256.98 and a 1 year high of $360.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.26. Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $6.74 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $8.09 by ($1.35). The company had revenue of $9.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.19 billion. Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 12.76% and a net margin of 2.18%.The businesss revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $7.79 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Lithia Motors will post 34.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lithia Motors Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. Lithia Motorss payout ratio is currently 6.85%. Insider Activity In related news, Director Congdon Stacy Loretz sold 75 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.00, for a total value of $27,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 1,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $651,600. This trade represents a 3.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.87% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Lithia Motors Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 13.9% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 8,474 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,487,000 after buying an additional 1,032 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in Lithia Motors by 67.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 113,346 shares of the companys stock worth $33,272,000 after acquiring an additional 45,716 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lithia Motors by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 93,170 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,349,000 after purchasing an additional 13,407 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 16.9% during the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 276 shares of the companys stock worth $93,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Lithia Motors by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 27,656 shares of the companys stock worth $9,343,000 after purchasing an additional 792 shares during the last quarter. Lithia Motors Company Profile (Get Free Report) Lithia Motors, Inc is an American automotive retailer headquartered in Medford, Oregon. Founded in 1946 as a small auto body and glass shop, the company has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest automotive retail networks in North America. Lithia operates dealerships across the United States and Canada, offering a broad portfolio of new and pre-owned vehicles from more than 40 different manufacturers. The companys core business activities include vehicle sales, financing, insurance, parts and service. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lithia Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lithia Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE (OTCMKTS:UNBLF Get Free Report) fell 6.9% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $112.9225 and last traded at $112.9225. 2 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 98% from the average session volume of 132 shares. The stock had previously closed at $121.34. Analysts Set New Price Targets UNBLF has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in a report on Monday, December 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy. Get Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNBLF Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Stock Performance Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Company Profile The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $112.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $107.35. (Get Free Report) Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is a leading global commercial real estate company specializing in the ownership, development and management of flagship shopping destinations, office spaces and convention centres. Formed in 2018 through the merger of European shopping centre specialist Unibail-Rodamco and Australia-based Westfield Corporation, the company brought together two long-standing retail property platforms to create one of the worlds largest listed commercial real estate firms. The companys core business activities are centered on premier retail real estate, with a portfolio that includes high-footfall shopping centres, mixed-use urban developments and experiential retail venues. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Mobius Investment Trust plc (LON:MMIT Get Free Report) traded up 0.3% on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 146.50 and last traded at GBX 143.50. 413,577 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 60% from the average session volume of 258,555 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 143. Mobius Investment Trust Stock Performance The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 142.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 142.25. The stock has a market capitalization of 93.28 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -39.12 and a beta of 0.74. Get Mobius Investment Trust alerts: Mobius Investment Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Mobius Investment Trust plc (MMIT) is a closed-ended investment company listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE: MMIT). MMIT provides investors with access to a high conviction portfolio of 25-30 small to mid-cap companies, across emerging and frontier markets. The London listed investment trust will be managed by MCP Emerging Markets LLP (MCP), an investment manager launched in May 2018. The Portfolio Manager is Carlos Hardenberg who has 25 years of investment experience and previously acted as the lead manager of the Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust (TEMIT). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mobius Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mobius Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. St. Joe Company (The) (NYSE:JOE Get Free Report) major shareholder Bruce Berkowitz sold 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.50, for a total value of $102,900.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 16,094,724 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,182,962,214. This trade represents a 0.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. St. Joe Trading Down 1.7% Shares of NYSE JOE traded down $1.19 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $68.87. The stock had a trading volume of 367,984 shares, compared to its average volume of 177,120. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 2.68 and a current ratio of 2.68. St. Joe Company has a 1 year low of $40.19 and a 1 year high of $73.54. The firm has a market cap of $3.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.44 and a beta of 1.30. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $66.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $58.44. Get St. Joe alerts: St. Joe (NYSE:JOE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. St. Joe had a net margin of 22.52% and a return on equity of 15.23%. The business had revenue of $128.89 million during the quarter. St. Joe Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. St. Joes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.00%. Several brokerages have commented on JOE. Wall Street Zen downgraded St. Joe from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of St. Joe in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Our Latest Research Report on St. Joe Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of JOE. Blackhawk Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of St. Joe in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,535,000. River Road Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of St. Joe by 86.0% in the 2nd quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 186,830 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $9,435,000 after purchasing an additional 86,365 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc bought a new position in shares of St. Joe during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,224,000. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in St. Joe by 1.0% during the second quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 555,891 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,516,000 after buying an additional 5,552 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in St. Joe by 182.7% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 58,227 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,777,000 after buying an additional 37,632 shares in the last quarter. 86.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. St. Joe Company Profile (Get Free Report) The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) is a leading real estate development and asset management firm focused on Northwest Florida. Headquartered in Jacksonville, the company owns and manages approximately 171,000 acres of land across Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Walton counties. St. Joes core businesses include residential community development, commercial real estate, and hospitality, with an emphasis on master-planned neighborhoods, office and retail campuses, resort hotels and mixed-use town centers. Founded in 1936 as a paper manufacturing company, St. Read More Receive News & Ratings for St. Joe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for St. Joe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE:TEN Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.93, Zacks reports. Tsakos Energy Navigation had a return on equity of 13.36% and a net margin of 15.97%.The business had revenue of $182.96 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $162.84 million. Here are the key takeaways from Tsakos Energy Navigations conference call: Get Tsakos Energy Navigation alerts: TEN reported strong 2025 results with $161 million net income (EPS $4.45), adjusted EBITDA of $416 million , and $298 million cash on hand, driving a material improvement in profitability versus 2024. (EPS $4.45), adjusted EBITDA of , and cash on hand, driving a material improvement in profitability versus 2024. The company has a secured revenue backlog of over $4 billion and record-high fleet utilization (~97%), leaving most near-term cash flows contracted and reducing short-term revenue volatility. and record-high fleet utilization (~97%), leaving most near-term cash flows contracted and reducing short-term revenue volatility. Management says 22 vessels (9 spot, 13 profit-share) meaningfully benefited from the surge in spot rates, generating about $27 million of profit-share income in Q4 and expecting further upside in early 2026 as rates remain elevated. of profit-share income in Q4 and expecting further upside in early 2026 as rates remain elevated. TEN has accelerated fleet renewalselling older tonnage and adding modern VLCCs, shuttle tankers and LNG units at attractive prices with financing largely in place, keeping net debt-to-cap around 47% and lowering long?run breakevens. and lowering long?run breakevens. Geopolitical turmoil (Red Sea/Strait of Hormuz) raises operational and safety risks and pushed war?risk insurance sharply higher (management cited ~500% increase), creating uncertainty that could disrupt voyages or increase costs despite charters currently absorbing much of the premium. Tsakos Energy Navigation Price Performance Shares of NYSE TEN traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $34.70. The company had a trading volume of 588,289 shares, compared to its average volume of 458,514. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The stock has a market cap of $1.05 billion, a PE ratio of 10.91 and a beta of -0.27. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $27.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.66. Tsakos Energy Navigation has a 1-year low of $13.40 and a 1-year high of $37.61. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tsakos Energy Navigation Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in Tsakos Energy Navigation in the 2nd quarter worth about $672,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its stake in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 91.1% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 29,880 shares of the companys stock valued at $573,000 after buying an additional 14,242 shares in the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund purchased a new stake in Tsakos Energy Navigation during the second quarter valued at about $761,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 312.3% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,311 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 993 shares during the period. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation in the second quarter worth approximately $296,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.24% of the companys stock. Several equities research analysts have commented on TEN shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Clarkson Capital began coverage on shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation in a research note on Monday, December 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a $24.00 target price on shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation in a report on Thursday, November 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Tsakos Energy Navigation presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $29.50. View Our Latest Analysis on TEN Tsakos Energy Navigation Company Profile (Get Free Report) Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. (NYSE: TEN) is an international shipping company specializing in the transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Founded in 1993 by Nikolas P. Tsakos, the company has built a reputation for operating a modern, well-maintained fleet of double-hull tankers. Tsakos Energy Navigation is organized around both ownership and technical management of vessels, offering chartering, commercial operations and crew services under one umbrella. The companys fleet consists primarily of very large crude carriers (VLCCs), Suezmax and Aframax tankers, as well as medium-range (MR) and Handy product carriers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thomson Reuters Co. (TSE:TRI Get Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) has earned a consensus rating of Buy from the eleven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and five have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$181.83. A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on TRI shares. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$275.00 to C$165.00 in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Thomson Reuters from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. National Bank Financial dropped their target price on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$190.00 to C$175.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$285.00 to C$175.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reduced their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$183.00 to C$140.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Get Thomson Reuters alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters Stock Up 1.2% TRI stock traded up C$1.86 on Friday, reaching C$151.44. 978,118 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 968,822. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$149.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$189.92. The company has a market cap of C$67.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of -0.02. Thomson Reuters has a one year low of C$109.20 and a one year high of C$299.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.82, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.52. Thomson Reuters (TSE:TRI Get Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported C$1.47 EPS for the quarter. Thomson Reuters had a return on equity of 12.42% and a net margin of 20.08%.The business had revenue of C$2.76 billion for the quarter. Research analysts anticipate that Thomson Reuters will post 5.6395803 earnings per share for the current year. About Thomson Reuters (Get Free Report) Thomson Reuters is the result of the $17.6 billion megamerger of Canadas Thomson and the United Kingdoms Reuters Group in 2008 and the 2018 carve-out of its finance and risk business, Refinitiv, in which it holds a 45% stake. In 2019, the company agreed to exchange its 45% stake in Refinitiv for a 15% stake in LSE. Since the divestiture, the company is more concentrated on selling its flagship legal data and software, WestLaw, and its tax accounting software, OneSource. In addition, the company does hold a significant investment in the publicly traded Tradeweb, which operates a fixed income exchange. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Thomson Reuters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thomson Reuters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF (NYSEARCA:ACTV Get Free Report)s stock price were up 0% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $33.15 and last traded at $33.1450. Approximately 852 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 13,008 shares. The stock had previously closed at $33.14. LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF Stock Performance The stocks fifty day moving average price is $33.14 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.23. The firm has a market cap of $8.29 million, a PE ratio of -51.79 and a beta of 0.96. Get LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF stock. Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF (NYSEARCA:ACTV Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 12,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $423,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC owned 5.01% of LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF at the end of the most recent quarter. 26.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF Company Profile The LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF (ACTV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund actively selects US equity securities that are the target of shareholder activism. ACTV was launched on Oct 27, 2020 and is managed by LeaderShares. Read More Receive News & Ratings for LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LeaderShares Activist Leaders ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. William Blair reissued their market perform rating on shares of Zealand Pharma A/S (OTCMKTS:ZLDPF Free Report) in a research report report published on Friday morning, MarketBeat reports. Several other equities analysts have also recently commented on ZLDPF. BTIG Research upgraded Zealand Pharma A/S to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Zealand Pharma A/S in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Zealand Pharma A/S in a research note on Friday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy. Get Zealand Pharma A/S alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Zealand Pharma A/S Zealand Pharma A/S Stock Down 30.7% Shares of OTCMKTS ZLDPF traded down $17.72 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $39.95. 83,428 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 822. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 14.10 and a current ratio of 14.10. Zealand Pharma A/S has a 52-week low of $35.93 and a 52-week high of $101.29. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $64.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.84 billion, a PE ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.75. Zealand Pharma A/S (OTCMKTS:ZLDPF Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The company reported ($0.81) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($1.34) by $0.53. Zealand Pharma A/S had a return on equity of 49.76% and a net margin of 70.06%.The firm had revenue of $10.79 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.69 million. Analysts forecast that Zealand Pharma A/S will post -2.19 EPS for the current year. Trending Headlines about Zealand Pharma A/S Here are the key news stories impacting Zealand Pharma A/S this week: Zealand Pharma A/S Company Profile (Get Free Report) Zealand Pharma A/S is a Denmark?based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, design and development of peptide?based therapeutics. Utilizing proprietary peptide engineering platforms, the company focuses on metabolic and endocrine disorders, including diabetes and rare gastrointestinal diseases. Zealand employs a rational design approach to optimize stability, selectivity and dosing profiles of its candidates, aiming to improve patient outcomes where current treatment options are limited. Among the most advanced assets in Zealands pipeline is dasiglucagon, a stable glucagon analog designed for the emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Zealand Pharma A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zealand Pharma A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Amid a severe energy crisis currently unfolding in the Middle East, Government sources have revealed that Qatar has provided specific guarantees regarding supply continuity, noting, "We are assured by Qatar that they will start supplying to India on the very first minute once the route is open." This is complemented by a global interest in supplying the Indian market, as officials said that "We have surplus stock of LNG" and "We have got offer of LNG from a large number of countries." The supply route from Qatar is effectively paralysed because the Strait of Hormuz--the narrow but vital shipping corridor that connects the Persian Gulf to the open sea--has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Government sources also gave a positive update on the cargo movements, saying that the "cargo movement near the Strait of Hormuz may start soon." "This comes after Iran pledges not to target neighbours unless attacked from their territory," the sources added. Addressing concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities, the government has successfully reduced its reliance on the volatile Strait of Hormuz by diversifying its import routes. Sources explained that India has redirected a significant portion of its procurement to ensure a steady flow of oil, noting that "India has ramped up 10 per cent of its crude imports from sources other than the Strait of Hormuz." This strategic shift is reflected in the overall import data, with officials highlighting that "60 per cent of crude oil import, which was sourced from other than Straits of Hormuz, has now increased from 60 per cent to 70 per cent." Government sources also assured domestic consumers about energy prices by explicitly ruling out any immediate increase in the cost of transport fuels. Sources confirmed that "petrol and diesel prices will not increase." To reinforce this commitment to the public, they reiterated their stance, saying, "Today we again assure that prices of Petrol and Diesel will not increase." Talking about energy stock in the country, government sources have noted that the nation's stock levels are on an upward trajectory despite the volatility in West Asia. Officials indicated that recent assessments have provided the administration with a much-needed cushion, stating that "Energy stock position of India is improving" and that "As the situation is improving, that is giving us greater confidence." This positive trend was further emphasised during high-level internal evaluations, with sources adding that "In our review meetings, we are getting the sense that our energy stocks are getting better." The government also took the opportunity to address political allegations regarding the pricing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), dismissing claims of a price hike as a misinterpretation of official statements. Sources clarified that their previous assurances regarding price freezes were never intended to cover cooking gas, stating that "Their allegation is completely baseless. This was only said for petrol and diesel. It was not in reference to LPG." Furthermore, they noted, "At one stage we were concerned for our LPG Stocks, but now we are at better situation." (ANI) Minera Alamos (CVE:MAI Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus to a strong-buy rating in a research report issued on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports. Minera Alamos Trading Up 1.7% Shares of CVE:MAI traded up C$0.11 during trading on Wednesday, reaching C$6.74. 434,644 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 608,531. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$5.93 and its 200 day moving average price is C$4.68. Minera Alamos has a 12-month low of C$2.90 and a 12-month high of C$7.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.24, a quick ratio of 3.89 and a current ratio of 4.26. The firm has a market cap of C$728.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.77 and a beta of 1.77. Get Minera Alamos alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Minera Alamos In other Minera Alamos news, insider David Rodger Stewart bought 1,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$43.50 per share, with a total value of C$52,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 4,450 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$193,575. This trade represents a 36.92% increase in their ownership of the stock. Company insiders own 5.11% of the companys stock. Minera Alamos Company Profile Minera Alamos Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties in Mexico. The company explores for gold, silver, molybdenum, and copper deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Santana project consists of 9 mining claims covering an area of approximately 3,100 hectares located in the east-southeast of Hermosillo, Sonora; the Cerro de Oro project that includes an area of 6,500 hectares situated in Zacatecas, Mexico; and the La Fortuna project covering an area of approximately 6,100 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico, as well as the Los Verdes property located in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Minera Alamos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Minera Alamos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI Free Report) had its price target upped by Barclays from $144.00 to $148.00 in a research note published on Friday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on SUI. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Sun Communities from $139.00 to $135.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Sun Communities from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $145.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Sun Communities in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Citigroup increased their price target on Sun Communities from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Sun Communities from $126.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has 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 $140.86. Get Sun Communities alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Sun Communities Sun Communities Trading Up 0.2% Sun Communities stock traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $136.97. 846,326 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 914,479. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.75, a PEG ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.88. Sun Communities has a 12 month low of $109.22 and a 12 month high of $137.85. The company has a quick ratio of 4.43, a current ratio of 4.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $128.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $126.83. Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $515.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $509.40 million. Sun Communities had a net margin of 61.86% and a negative return on equity of 0.04%. The companys quarterly revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.41 EPS. Sun Communities has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.030 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.240-1.320 EPS. Analysts forecast that Sun Communities will post 6.77 EPS for the current year. Sun Communities Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 31st. Sun Communitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.73%. Insider Activity at Sun Communities In other news, Director Clunet R. Lewis sold 3,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.15, for a total transaction of $435,680.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gary A. Shiffman sold 156,875 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.53, for a total value of $19,378,768.75. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 163,875 shares of company stock valued at $20,331,287. Corporate insiders own 1.77% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SUI. CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sun Communities by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 2,228 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $276,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in Sun Communities by 9.1% during the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 1,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Sun Communities by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,902 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $360,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Sun Communities by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 773 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $96,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. raised its stake in shares of Sun Communities by 55.7% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 271 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. 99.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Sun Communities Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sun Communities, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, ownership and operation of manufactured housing communities, recreational vehicle (RV) resorts and marinas. The companys portfolio spans more than 500 manufactured housing communities and over 160 RV resorts, offering affordable, long-term housing as well as short-stay recreational lodging. Through professional on-site management and amenity-rich community designs, Sun Communities serves a diverse customer base that includes retirees, workforce families and vacationers. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Sun Communities has grown organically and through strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest operators in its sector. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sun Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Hongqiao Group Limited (OTCMKTS:CHHQF Get Free Report) shares were up 4.2% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $5.00 and last traded at $5.00. Approximately 1,472 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 14% from the average daily volume of 1,293 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.80. China Hongqiao Group Stock Performance The company has a fifty day moving average of $4.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.76. Get China Hongqiao Group alerts: About China Hongqiao Group (Get Free Report) China Hongqiao Group Limited is one of the worlds leading producers of primary aluminum and related products. The company operates an integrated production chain spanning bauxite mining, alumina refining, primary aluminum smelting and power generation. Leveraging access to low-cost hydroelectric power and in-house alumina capacity, Hongqiao has established a position as a cost-competitive supplier in the global aluminum market. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Binzhou, Shandong Province, China Hongqiao Group has grown through vertical integration and strategic expansion. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for China Hongqiao Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Hongqiao Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN Free Report) had its price objective cut by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $159.00 to $151.00 in a report released on Friday,MarketScreener reports. They currently have a hold rating on the stock. Several other research firms also recently commented on MTN. Barclays set a $140.00 price objective on Vail Resorts in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley set a $150.00 target price on shares of Vail Resorts in a report on Friday, January 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Vail Resorts in a research report on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $169.00 price target on shares of Vail Resorts in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Vail Resorts from $168.00 to $172.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vail Resorts currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $172.82. Get Vail Resorts alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTN Vail Resorts Stock Down 0.8% Vail Resorts stock traded down $1.07 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $139.18. The companys stock had a trading volume of 979,762 shares, compared to its average volume of 733,599. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.52, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.54. Vail Resorts has a 12 month low of $126.15 and a 12 month high of $175.51. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $137.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $145.33. The company has a market capitalization of $4.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.51 and a beta of 0.78. Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, December 10th. The company reported ($5.20) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($5.23) by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $271.03 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $273.35 million. Vail Resorts had a net margin of 8.94% and a return on equity of 32.51%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($4.61) EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vail Resorts will post 7.62 earnings per share for the current year. Vail Resorts Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 30th were issued a dividend of $2.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 30th. This represents a $8.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Vail Resortss payout ratio is presently 130.21%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vail Resorts Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. World Investment Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Vail Resorts during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,118,000. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its position in Vail Resorts by 376.3% during the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 16,584 shares of the companys stock worth $2,553,000 after acquiring an additional 13,102 shares during the last quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Vail Resorts by 317.0% during the third quarter. Blume Capital Management Inc. now owns 9,703 shares of the companys stock worth $1,451,000 after acquiring an additional 7,376 shares during the last quarter. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vail Resorts by 11.4% during the third quarter. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC now owns 115,724 shares of the companys stock worth $17,309,000 after acquiring an additional 11,809 shares during the period. Finally, Confluence Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vail Resorts in the third quarter valued at approximately $8,160,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.90% of the companys stock. Vail Resorts Company Profile (Get Free Report) Vail Resorts, Inc is a leading mountain resort company that owns and operates an integrated network of ski areas, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets. The companys signature Epic Pass program offers skiers and snowboarders season?long access to its portfolio of resorts, while ancillary services such as ski and snowboard schools, equipment rental and retail drive additional revenue. Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, Vail Resorts was formed in 1997, building on the legacy of Vail Associates, which opened the Vail ski area in 1962. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vail Resorts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vail Resorts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Get Free Report) and Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBD Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends and risk. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and Banco Bradescos gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft $68.84 billion N/A $7.84 billion $3.43 9.12 Banco Bradesco $41.79 billion N/A $4.24 billion $0.39 9.44 Insider & Institutional Ownership Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has higher revenue and earnings than Banco Bradesco. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Banco Bradesco, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. 27.9% of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Banco Bradesco shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and Banco Bradescos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft 10.02% 7.49% 0.43% Banco Bradesco 10.19% 13.78% 1.11% Risk & Volatility Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has a beta of 0.94, indicating that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Banco Bradesco has a beta of 0.53, indicating that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and Banco Bradesco, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft 1 5 4 1 2.45 Banco Bradesco 0 0 4 0 3.00 About Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Get Free Report) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, a stock corporation, provides corporate and investment banking, and asset management products and services to private individuals, corporate entities, and institutional clients in Germany, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through Corporate Bank, Investment Bank, Private Bank, and Asset Management segments. The Corporate Bank segment offers cash management, trade finance and lending, trust and agency, and securities services, as well as risk management solutions. The Investment Bank segment provides debt origination, merger and acquisitions, foreign exchange, and equity advisory and origination platform services. The Private Bank segment offers payment and account services, and credit and deposit products, as well as investment advice products, such as environmental, social, and governance products. This segment also provides banking, wealth management, other financial, and postal and parcel services; and supports in planning, managing and investing wealth, financing personal and business interests, and servicing institutional and corporate needs. The Asset Management segment offers investment solutions, such as alternative investments, which include real estate, infrastructure, liquid real assets, and sustainable investments; and various other services, including insurance and pension solutions, asset liability management, portfolio management solutions, and asset allocation advisory to individuals and institutions. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. About Banco Bradesco (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Banco Bradesco S.A. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Osasco, Brazil. Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS Free Report) in a report released on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $67.00 target price on the stock. A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on BROS. TD Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $73.00 price target on shares of Dutch Bros in a report on Friday, February 13th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Dutch Bros from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an overweight rating and set a $76.00 price target on shares of Dutch Bros in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. KeyCorp reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Dutch Bros in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Dutch Bros in a research note on Monday, February 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $76.71. Get Dutch Bros alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Dutch Bros Dutch Bros Trading Down 5.6% Shares of NYSE BROS traded down $3.07 during trading on Friday, hitting $51.44. 4,854,158 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,072,213. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $56.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $58.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.46 billion, a PE ratio of 80.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 2.54. Dutch Bros has a 12-month low of $46.52 and a 12-month high of $77.88. Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.07. Dutch Bros had a net margin of 4.87% and a return on equity of 9.56%. The firm had revenue of $443.61 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $424.44 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.07 EPS. Dutch Bross revenue was up 29.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Dutch Bros will post 0.57 EPS for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dutch Bros Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dutch Bros during the first quarter worth approximately $318,000. Empowered Funds LLC grew its holdings in Dutch Bros by 15.9% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 33,843 shares of the companys stock worth $2,089,000 after acquiring an additional 4,633 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in shares of Dutch Bros by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 305,714 shares of the companys stock worth $18,875,000 after purchasing an additional 22,323 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank increased its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 33.6% in the second quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 8,524 shares of the companys stock valued at $583,000 after buying an additional 2,143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sigma Planning Corp raised its position in shares of Dutch Bros by 19.0% during the second quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 6,641 shares of the companys stock worth $454,000 after purchasing an additional 1,061 shares during the period. 85.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Dutch Bros Company Profile (Get Free Report) Dutch Bros Coffee, trading on the NYSE under the ticker BROS, is an American drive-through coffee chain known for its quick-service model and community-focused brand. Founded in 1992 by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma in Grants Pass, Oregon, the company began as a single coffee stand and has since expanded its footprint across numerous U.S. markets. Dutch Bros specializes in handcrafted espresso drinks, drip coffee, cold brew, energy drinks, smoothies, teas, and a variety of signature Dutch Freeze and Dutch Frost blended beverages. The company operates a mix of company-owned and franchised locations, placing a strong emphasis on speed and customer engagement. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Dutch Bros Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dutch Bros and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clariant AG (OTCMKTS:CLZNY Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $9.76 and traded as low as $9.75. Clariant shares last traded at $9.75, with a volume of 1,025 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Clariant from a buy rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. UBS Group cut Clariant from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Citigroup lowered Clariant from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Clariant from a hold rating to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Reduce. Get Clariant alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Clariant Clariant Trading Down 2.5% About Clariant The firm has a fifty day moving average of $9.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.49. (Get Free Report) Clariant AG is a Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company that traces its roots back to a spin-off from Sandoz in 1995. Headquartered in Muttenz near Basel, the firm develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of chemical solutions for industries worldwide. While its primary listing is on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Clariants shares also trade OTC under the symbol CLZNY, reflecting its global investor reach. The company operates through three core segments: Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Clariant Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clariant and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Power REIT (NYSE:PW Get Free Report) and Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, risk, institutional ownership and earnings. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Power REIT and Medical Properties Trust, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Power REIT alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Power REIT 0 0 0 0 0.00 Medical Properties Trust 2 2 2 0 2.00 Medical Properties Trust has a consensus target price of $6.75, suggesting a potential upside of 23.18%. Given Medical Properties Trusts stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Medical Properties Trust is more favorable than Power REIT. Insider and Institutional Ownership Earnings & Valuation 14.6% of Power REIT shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 71.8% of Medical Properties Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 22.4% of Power REIT shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.3% of Medical Properties Trust shares are held by 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 Power REIT and Medical Properties Trusts gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Power REIT $2.08 million 1.39 -$14.37 million ($1.38) -0.62 Medical Properties Trust $972.02 million 3.37 -$277.05 million ($0.46) -11.91 Power REIT has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Medical Properties Trust. Medical Properties Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Power REIT, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Power REIT and Medical Properties Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Power REIT -752.26% -215.55% -39.65% Medical Properties Trust -28.50% -5.87% -1.85% Risk & Volatility Power REIT has a beta of 1.6, indicating that its stock price is 60% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Medical Properties Trust has a beta of 1.39, indicating that its stock price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Medical Properties Trust beats Power REIT on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Power REIT (Get Free Report) Power REIT, with a focus on the Triple Bottom Line and a commitment to Profit, Planet and People is a specialized real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns sustainable real estate related to infrastructure assets including properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation. Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its real estate portfolio related to Controlled Environment Agriculture in the form of greenhouses for the cultivation of food and cannabis. About Medical Properties Trust (Get Free Report) Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023. Since the end of the third quarter, the Company has sold four facilities and now owns approximately 43,000 licensed beds in nine countries across three continents. MPT's financing model facilitates acquisitions and recapitalizations and allows operators of hospitals to unlock the value of their real estate assets to fund facility improvements, technology upgrades and other investments in operations. Receive News & Ratings for Power REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Power REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Despite the Rs 60 increase in the Domestic 14.2 kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder, LPG prices in India remain lower than in several neighbouring countries, people familiar to the matter told ANI. On Saturday 14.2 kg cylinder prices were increased by Rs 60, costing about Rs 913 in Delhi compared with around Rs 1,046 in Pakistan, Rs 1,241 in Sri Lanka and Rs 1,207 in Nepal. People familiar with the matter said the latest hike translates to an increase of about 80 paise per family per day, or roughly 20 paise per person per day for cooking expenses. The revision comes amid fluctuations in global LPG prices and is part of what officials describe as a calibrated adjustment aimed at balancing consumer protection with the financial sustainability of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). Person familiar to the matter said that despite the recent revision, domestic LPG prices continue to remain below market-linked levels. The market determined price of a 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi on March 6, 2026 was around Rs 987, while it was being sold to consumers at Rs 853, roughly Rs 134 lower than the market price. The pricing calculations indicated that the required increase could be around Rs 134 per cylinder, yet the government approved only Rs 60, absorbing the rest to protect consumers. For Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries, the impact on household cooking expenses remains modest. The estimated cost of cooking per day using LPG for a PMUY household has increased from about Rs 7.31 to Rs 8.11, an increase of less than Rs 1 per day. India imports more than 60 per cent of its LPG requirement, making domestic prices closely linked to international benchmarks such as the Saudi Contract Price (CP). Global LPG prices have witnessed sharp volatility in recent years, rising from around USD 415 per metric tonne in 2020-21 to USD 712 per metric tonne in 2022-23, though the government has not passed on the full impact of these increases to consumers. Despite elevated international prices, the government and OMCs have absorbed substantial losses to keep household LPG affordable. OMCs incurred losses of around Rs 40,000 crore during 2024-25 while maintaining lower domestic prices, with the government approving compensation of about Rs 30,000 crore to ensure uninterrupted supply and protect consumers. The Government compensated OMCs Rs 22,000 crore in FY 2022-23 to cover under-recoveries arising from keeping domestic LPG prices lower than international levels. (ANI) A late night shooting claims another life as the local homicide count continues to ramp up and Midtown violence escalate . . . Early into 2026 the KCMO homicide remains relatively constant over the past 5 years despite claims of "progress" from city hall and other officials. Here's the overnight report police are sharing with local media: Homicide 3900 Block of Baltimore This morning just after 2am officers were dispatched to the area of the 3900 Block of Baltimore on a sound of gunshots call. The call was later updated to a shooting call behind the apartment building there. On arrival officers were led to the back parking lot of the apartment buildings where they located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive. EMS responded a short time later and declared the victim deceased. Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators are now at the scene canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence. Preliminary information indicates the shooting took place in the back parking lot of the apartments after the victim had an interaction with one or more suspects that led to gunfire. If anyone was in the area or in the apartment 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 link . . . Kansas City, Missouri, police investigating shooting death behind Westport apartment Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating a homicide in the 3900 block of Baltimore. They found a man with gunshot wounds who died shortly after. Man killed in overnight Midtown Kansas City shooting A man was killed in an overnight Midtown Kansas City shooting. Developing . . . Thank you for signing up! Youll soon be getting your Toronto scoop in your inbox. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. A total of 300 citizens of Azerbaijan have arrived in Azerbaijan from Iran by land, the statement of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says, Trend reports. According to the statement, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has adopted a decision and given instructions to relevant state agencies to ensure unimpeded passage of Azerbaijani citizens in Iran to their country by land. The statement added that the situation in the region is closely monitored, and necessary measures are taken to evacuate the citizens of Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. The drone attacks on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic carried out by Iran on March 5 targeted civilian infrastructure rather than military sites, striking the Nakhchivan International Airport and an area near a school, injuring four civilians, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend. The analyst pointed out that the attacks lay bare the real essence of Irans regional strategies and showcase the two-faced and antagonistic nature of the Iranian regime. "On the same day, the Security Council convened under the chairmanship of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The head of state unequivocally classified the incident as a terrorist act. In his address, President Ilham Aliyev stated: 'Today, a terrorist act was committed by Iran against the territory of Azerbaijan and the state of Azerbaijan. The territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic came under fire from unmanned aerial vehicles launched by the Iranian state. The targets of the attack were civilian facilities, including the Nakhchivan International Airport and its terminal building, a school, and other civilian sites, all treacherously struck by Iran,' These words fully capture the gravity of the incident, as the strikes in Nakhchivan were deliberately aimed at civilian infrastructure, a blatant violation of international law, humanitarian norms, and basic human values," he said. Garayev highlighted that Iran's decision to target Nakhchivan was not a matter of chance. "The mullah regime is well aware that land connections between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have long been restricted. As a result, the region is primarily connected to the rest of the country by air. By targeting the Nakhchivan airport, Iran has effectively attempted to sever this link. This tactic is not new to the region. In the 1990s, Armenia employed a similar method in an attempt to blockade Nakhchivan. Irans repetition of this strategy cannot be ignored and exposes the hypocrisy of its claims regarding regional stability and cooperation," he added. The analyst also pointed out that right after the drone attack, the spotlight was on the orchestrated maneuvers in the information realm, featuring the dissemination of falsehoods and efforts to twist the truth about the incident. "Immediately following the incident, a wave of coordinated disinformation began circulating across the information spaces of Iran, Armenia, and, to some extent, Russia. False reports that distorted the nature of the attack and sought to shift responsibility were widely shared on social networks, particularly on Telegram and X channels, as well as on certain media outlets. The primary goal of this campaign was to obscure the facts of the attack and mislead international public opinion. On some platforms, claims falsely attributed the strikes to unknown forces, while others outright denied any Iranian involvement. Another stream of disinformation attempted to distort the incident further, promoting baseless assertions that Azerbaijan was allegedly exaggerating the situation. Such information manipulation is far from accidental. In modern conflicts, large-scale information warfare often runs parallel to military operations. The aggressor employs these tactics to influence international perception, evade accountability, and minimize the political repercussions of its actions. The coordinated spread of misleading content after the Nakhchivan attack clearly illustrates this strategy. Many of these campaigns also aimed to create confusion within Azerbaijani society, manipulate public opinion, and cast doubt on the real causes of the incident. However, timely statements from official authorities, factual reporting from the scene, and supporting evidence quickly exposed these manipulations. This episode once again underscores that, in times of regional tension, threats to information security are just as critical as military ones," he said. Garayev highlighted that Azerbaijan has maintained a steady and responsible stance in the face of ongoing regional tensions. The nation has consistently upheld its commitment to not permit its territory to be utilized against other states, a principle that has been reiterated through various official statements. "President Ilham Aliyev also emphasized this stance during the Security Council meeting, stating: 'On numerous occasions, particularly following last years clashes, we informed the Iranian side that Azerbaijans territory would not be used against any neighboring state. We will not allow this, and we have never allowed it. ' This position has remained consistent for many years. Baku has consistently demonstrated that it is a champion of cooperation, not confrontation, in the region. Yet, despite this, the Iranian side has persistently leveled groundless accusations against Azerbaijan and taken provocative actions," the analyst said. Garayev pointed out that one of the most striking features of the Nakhchivan attack is the backdrop of earlier happenings. "Very few heads of state in the world have taken an official step regarding the death of Iran's supreme religious leader. President Ilham Aliyev personally went to the Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan to offer condolences. This step represents one of the rare gestures in international diplomacy. The head of state did this not merely as part of diplomatic protocol, but as a sign of respect for neighborly relations. He also stated that Azerbaijan is ready to provide assistance in other matters where Iran may face difficulties. President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech: 'I demonstrated my position by personally visiting their embassy to offer condolencesno other head of state has visited an Iranian embassy elsewhere for this purpose.' This fact once again demonstrates that Azerbaijan pursues a sincere and open policy in its relations. However, Iran's response to this was a drone strike against civilian objects," the political scientist said. According to him, Azerbaijan did not limit itself to diplomatic gestures alone. As President Ilham Aliyev noted in his speech, Baku also agreed to assist in the evacuation of Iranian diplomatic staff remaining in Lebanon. "The head of state recalled this episode as follows: 'I must also inform you that this morning, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran called Baku, requesting Azerbaijans assistance in evacuating Iranian embassy personnel remaining in Lebanon due to a lack of resources. I was briefed and immediately instructed that assistance be provided, with an aircraft dispatched. They even offered to cover the costs, which I declined - if we do not help in times of difficulty, when should we help?' These words clearly demonstrate Azerbaijan's policy, which is based on humanitarian principles and good-neighborly relations. However, at the same time, they also reveal the contradiction between Iran's behavior and this policy," he said. Garayev noted that Iran's hostile position toward Azerbaijan is not limited to recent events. "Some time ago, the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran was also subjected to a terrorist attack. An armed man entered the embassy and opened fire on Azerbaijani citizens. As a result of the incident, one person lost his life, and another was seriously injured. What drew particular attention was that, despite the prolonged nature of the attack, Iranian security forces did not immediately intervene. This fact naturally raised serious questions within Azerbaijani society. President Ilham Aliyev, recalling this incident in his speech, said: 'At that time, we had no doubt that the Iranian state was behind the attack.' This incident caused serious tension in relations between the two countries, and the activities of the Azerbaijani embassy were suspended," he said. The analyst pointed out that the seeds of Iran's stance on Azerbaijan were sown long before, tracing back to the days of the Karabakh conflict. "Although Iran officially claimed neutrality during the nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, the facts suggested a different reality. There was extensive information about construction materials from destroyed cities and villages in the occupied territories being exported to Iran. The dismantling and sale of stones and other building materials from those areas became widely discussed at the time. In addition, Armenia maintained close economic and logistical relations with Iran. These ties created an imbalance in the region. Iran's behavior during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 also caused serious dissatisfaction in Azerbaijan. Reports circulated about fuel and other resources being sent to Armenia during the war. At the same time, Iranian officials made statements about "red lines" and criticized Azerbaijan regarding developments in the region. Such remarks raised serious concerns at a time when Azerbaijan was restoring its territorial integrity," he said. Garayev pointed out that even with all these changes, Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its role as a champion of stability in the region, while also having all the tools at its disposal to safeguard its security. "President Ilham Aliyev clearly emphasized this in his speech: 'We will not tolerate this unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan.' This statement reflects Azerbaijan's firm and uncompromising position on national security issues. The Azerbaijani state has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness to take all necessary measures to protect the safety of civilians. The drone attack on Nakhchivan can be seen as a new stage in Iran's policy toward Azerbaijan. This incident once again highlighted the serious contradiction between official Tehran's statements about peace and cooperation in the region and its actual actions. Azerbaijan, despite all the difficulties, remains committed to international law and the principles of good neighborliness. President Ilham Aliyev's visit to the embassy to express condolences and demonstrate sincerity in diplomatic relations is a clear example of this. However, steps such as attacks on civilian infrastructure undermine trust in the region and seriously damage relations. History shows that Azerbaijan has always been and will continue to be determined to protect its security and sovereignty," the analyst concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, has departed for a working visit to Istanbul,Turkiye, Trend reports, citing the ministry. The visit will include Bayramovs participation and speech at the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). During the trip, the Azerbaijani foreign minister is also expected to hold a series of high-level meetings. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) UN experts today expressed grave concern at the continued lack of justice for survivors of the so-called comfort women system established and controlled by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, along with his son Anant Ambani, hosted the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, for a warm and gracious afternoon at their Mumbai residence. The gathering reflected a spirit of friendship, meaningful conversation, and the strengthening of ties through shared values. Earlier, the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugrated the eleventh edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, on Friday. Opening the proceedings, Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), stated that throughout its eleven years, the Dialogue has remained steadfast in its "aim of unpacking the present to help shape the future. "He pointed out that its theme in 2026, Samskara, captures a world in which "nations are asserting their identity, asserting their dialogue, and advancing through refinement." On Saturday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb asserted that the global trajectory is shifting significantly towards New Delhi, declaring that "the future is Indian" due to the country's demographic and economic strength. Speaking during an interview with ANI, the President offered a bold prediction for the coming decade, stating, "First of all, I think the future is Indian. And I don't say this only because I'm in India, and I'm not trying to be openly diplomatic. I think demography, economy and history speak in your favour."The President described his high-level engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "wonderful", following a three-hour meeting that underscored the deepening ties between Finland and India during his ongoing state visit."It has been wonderful. I felt very warmly welcomed. I spent three hours with PM Modi and then spoke at the Raisina Dialogue and had meetings with political leaders," he noted. Reflecting on the country's rapid transformation since his previous trip, he remarked, "Last time I was here was in 2013. Now, just seeing the development, the infrastructure, the roads and the buildings, it is always nice to be back in India."Addressing the strategic importance of bilateral agreements, the President highlighted the mutual benefits of newly signed protocols. "I think these MoUs will help us have better exchanges when it comes to labour mobility. I think it is going to be a two-way street," he said. During his visit to Mumbai, President Stubb also paid a sombre tribute to the victims of the 26/11 attacks at the Taj Palace Hotel."Terrorism is always a menace everywhere. The attacks on 26 November 2008 were horrific. It was my great honour to pay respects to the victims," he stated. Discussing India's role in a shifting global landscape, he explained that the current global transition necessitates a move away from outdated power structures."A world order changes ever so often. And I think we're now seeing a transition of the world order. I would prefer it to be multilateral in other national institutions, rules and norms, not multipolar, which for me is often about pure interests, deals and transactions. Reality is probably going to be somewhere in between," he added. The Finnish President urged Western nations to recognise India's leadership."I am happy that the largest democracy in the world, India, is taking the lead. And my argument to my Western friends is that if we want to save multilateralism, we're going to have to give agency, in other words power, a seat around the table to the countries that matter today," he said. He further argued that international bodies must reflect the current era rather than the post-war period of 1945."We don't live in a world of 1945, so the institutions should not reflect that either. They should reflect the world of 2026. That's why I have called, for instance, for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for India," he stated. Drawing from his own scholarship on the subject, Stubb maintained that India's leadership is pivotal for the future of the international community."I wrote a book about it called The Triangle of Power, where I really think that the Global South is going to decide where we're going to go, and India leads it." (ANI) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, held a telephone conversation with Saqr Ghobash, Chairman of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the parliamentary press service told Trend. The discussion focused on ongoing developments in the region. During the call, the speakers expressed serious concern over the groundless attacks carried out by Iran against the territories and civilian populations of both countries and strongly condemned such actions. The sides emphasized that the peoples of both Azerbaijan and the UAE support peace and stability, noting that attacks targeting civilians are unacceptable. Ghobash stressed that, in light of the recent events, the UAE stands in solidarity with Azerbaijan, its leadership, and its people, highlighting the importance of unity and cooperation between the two friendly nations. Speaker Gafarova expressed her gratitude for this position. During the conversation, the speakers also underscored the importance of refraining from steps that could further escalate tensions. They noted that parliaments representing their peoples play a unique role in promoting dialogue and mutual understanding. The sides further emphasized the importance of respecting states' sovereignty, adhering to the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations (UN), and strengthening cooperation and solidarity among friendly countries to maintain security and stability in the region. They also stressed the importance of enhancing coordination and consultation among friendly nations to safeguard regional security and stability. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini for his principled position and solidarity following Iran's drone attacks on Nakhchivan, Trend reports. The post, shared on the President's X social media account, reads: Sincere gratitude to the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, for his principled position and solidarity following recent drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on civilian infrastructure in Nakhchivan. Immediate support by Azerbaijan in the evacuation of Slovak diplomatic staff from Tehran is a clear manifestation of the high-level and strategic relations between our countries, and an expression of our commitment to international cooperation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held a telephone conversation with Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) told Trend. The sides discussed issues arising from drone attacks carried out by Iran against the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. During the call, Bayramov provided detailed information about the drone strikes. He noted that the attack carried out against the territory of Azerbaijan constitutes a violation of the norms and principles of international law and contributes to rising tensions in the region. It was also emphasized that Iran is expected to provide an explanation regarding the attack within a short period of time. The Turkmen minister, in turn, expressed concern over the current situation. The ministers also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest during the conversation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. About 1,000 Azerbaijani citizens from five countries have applied for evacuation, the statement of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says, Trend reports. According to the statement, immediately after the closure of the airspace of the Gulf countries as a result of the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, urgent measures were taken to evacuate citizens of Azerbaijan who remained in those countries. The statement noted that a census of the citizens for evacuation was carried out based on the instructions given to diplomatic missions in the Gulf countries. According to the preliminary census results, approximately 1,000 citizens of Azerbaijan in five countries applied for evacuation (490 from the UAE, 220 from Saudi Arabia, 200 from Qatar, 23 from Bahrain, and 26 from Kuwait). As a result of negotiations between the Consulate General of our country in the UAE, and especially in Dubai, which is one of the main tourist destinations for citizens of Azerbaijan, and the FlyDubai airline, flights in the Dubai-Baku direction began to be carried out after the limited opening of the UAE airspace. A total of 755 Azerbaijani citizens returned to the country with flights carried out on March 3-5 in the mentioned direction. Currently, considering that the UAE airspace is closed again, necessary planning is underway to return the remaining Azerbaijani citizens to our country. On March 4, 2026, a special flight of Azerbaijan Airlines from Saudi Arabia, the second main destination in need of evacuation, evacuated 193 Azerbaijani citizens (in addition, nine Azerbaijanis who are citizens of Georgia and five Azerbaijanis who are citizens of Russia), thus, totaling 207 people, from Jeddah to our country. Besides, our citizens registered in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia were transported to Jeddah by appropriate buses organized by our diplomatic missions, and 203 people (including two Azerbaijanis who are citizens of Russia and one Azerbaijani who is a citizen of Georgia) were evacuated on March 7, 2026, and returned to our country by AZAL's Jeddah-Baku flight. The Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has adopted a decision and given instructions to relevant state agencies to ensure that our citizens in Iran can pass through our country by land without obstacles. So far, 300 citizens of Azerbaijan have arrived in Azerbaijan from Iran by land. We are closely monitoring the situation in the region and are taking necessary measures to evacuate our citizens," the statement added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. President of the Republic of Albania Bajram Begaj made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on March 7, Trend reports. Bajram Begaj said that he condemns Irans drone attack on Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the call and for Albania's open and resolute stance. The heads of state welcomed the successful development of bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of high-level reciprocal visits and contacts in further advancing cooperation. The sides exchanged views on matters included in the bilateral agenda. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. On March 7, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, in Istanbul on the sidelines of the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. According to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, the meeting included an exchange of views on the current security situation in the Middle East and the escalation observed in the region. The drone attacks carried out from the territory of Iran against Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic were strongly condemned. They noted that such actions contradict the norms and principles of international law and contribute to rising tensions in the region. The sides also emphasized the particular importance of strengthening solidarity and coordination within the Organization of Turkic States amid growing geopolitical tensions and the evolving international security environment. The meeting also included discussions on other issues of mutual interest. 17:26 (GMT+) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has discussed the current regional security situation, including Irans drone attacks against Azerbaijan, during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Kubanychbek Omuraliev, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its X page, Trend reports. The parties exchanged views on the importance of further strengthening coordination and advancing practical cooperation among the Turkic States. On March 5, a drone attack took place at the Nakhchivan International Airport. The drone flying from Iranian territory crashed into the airport building and exploded near the secondary school in Shakarabad village, Babek district. Four civilians were injured as a result of the incident. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the incident, demanding Iran clarify the issue in a short time, provide an explanation, and take the necessary urgent measures to prevent such cases from recurring in the future. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Dermichilou, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where a strong protest was conveyed to the Iranian side. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. On March 7, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Istanbul on the sidelines of the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. The meeting included an exchange of views on the current security situation in the Middle East and the military escalation observed in the region. During the talks, solidarity with Azerbaijan was expressed in connection with the drone attacks launched from the territory of Iran against the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which resulted in damage to civilian infrastructure and injuries among civilians. The Azerbaijani side also expressed gratitude for the statements of support for Azerbaijan made by the Uzbek side, including by the President of Uzbekistan, immediately after the attacks. The ministers discussed issues arising from the AzerbaijanUzbekistan allied relations, the continuation of high-level contacts, and prospects for developing cooperation across various fields. They also exchanged views on other bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest. 17:42 (GMT+4) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has discussed the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East during a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its X page, Trend reports. The ministers also discussed topics related to the AzerbaijanUzbekistan strategic alliance, prospects for expanding cooperation in political, economic, and regional connectivity areas, as well as coordination within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Bayramov is on a working visit to Istanbul, Turkiye, to attend the informal meeting of the OTS Council of Foreign Ministers. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Within the framework of his working visit to Istanbul Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov had a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of brotherly Turkiye Hakan Fidan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its X page, Trend reports. Ministers discussed prospects of regional and international cooperation matters stemming from allied Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, post-conflict regional situation, as well as evolving regional security challenges. 16:53 (GMT+4) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its X page, Trend reports. The meeting took place within the Informal Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States. To note, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov is on a working visit to Istanbul. The visit will include Bayramovs participation and speech at the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov addressed the Informal Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. In his speech Minister Bayramov emphasized the growing importance of solidarity, coordination, and strategic vision among our countries amid rising geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty. He has highlighted the significant progress of the OTS in strengthening political dialogue, expanding economic partnerships, and advancing regional connectivity across the Turkic world. Minister raised serious concerns over the escalating security environment, including recent military developments in the Middle East, and strongly condemned the rocket launch targeting the territory of Turkiye as well as Irans drone attacks against Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Azerbaijans principled support for a just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law and the two-state solution was also reaffirmed. Minister also touched upon the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, reiterating Azerbaijans commitment to normalization and lasting peace in the South Caucasus following the Washington Summit of 8 August 2025, and reiterated the elimination of territorial claims against Azerbaijan that remain enshrined in Armenias constitution for the full normalization of relations and sustainable peace. Minister has outlined Azerbaijans priorities as Chair of the OTS, including strengthening institutional capacity, advancing the OTS+ format for cooperation with external partners, and promoting upcoming initiatives and events, such as the Second Meeting of the Prime Ministers/Vice Presidents of the OTS, 100th anniversary of the historic First Turcological Congress and etc., aimed at deepening cooperation across the Turkic world. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. The United States strongly condemns the unprovoked drone attack on March 5 by the Iranian regime against Azerbaijan, the U.S. State Department said in a statement, Trend reports. "The United States strongly condemns the unprovoked drone attack on March 5 by the Iranian regime against the Republic of Azerbaijan, targeting Nakhchivan International Airport and a childrens school, which injured innocent civilians and caused damage to critical civilian infrastructure. These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijans sovereignty and a needless escalation of Irans aggression. The United States stands in full solidarity with Azerbaijan against these threats. Attacks on the territory of our partners in the region are unacceptable and will be met with resolute U.S. support for those partners", the statement says. On March 5, a drone attack took place at the Nakhchivan International Airport. The drone flying from Iranian territory crashed into the airport building and exploded near the secondary school in Shakarabad village, Babek district. Four civilians were injured as a result of the incident. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the incident, demanding Iran clarify the issue in a short time, provide an explanation, and take the necessary urgent measures to prevent such cases from recurring in the future. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Dermichilou, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where a strong protest was conveyed to the Iranian side. For many who grew up watching Doordarshan in the 80s and 90s, some shows still remain fresh in the memory, the kind that bring a rush of nostalgia the moment you watch them again. Actor Neena Gupta recently stirred exactly that feeling when she shared a clip from her very first television serial, 'Dard,' taking fans on a heartfelt trip down memory lane. Taking to Instagram, Neena posted a video from the show and revealed that 'Dard' was not only the first serial she acted in, but also one she produced. The brief glimpse instantly struck a chord with viewers who remembered the era when Doordarshan dramas ruled Indian households. Take a look https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVkUBZFjDFx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Soon after she dropped the post, fans in no time chimed in the comment section with their nostalgic reactions. Many fans spoke about how shows from that period had a certain simplicity and emotional depth that still feels special today. One user wrote, "Can we have a channel only dedicated to 80s and 90s shows from Doordarshan. Miss the golden age." Another fan expressed a wish to see some of those classics return on modern platforms, commenting, "How I wish Dard n Saans be re-released on main OTT platform again... what masterpieces you all created back in those days." Moments like these are a reminder of Neena Gupta's long journey in Indian cinema and television. Even today, the actor continues to inspire her fans with her confidence and timeless presence on screen. At 66, Neena remains one of the most admired actors in the industry, often praised by fans for her bold personality and graceful ageing. Over the years, she has delivered memorable performances across films and streaming platforms. Her recent work includes acclaimed projects such as the popular web series 'Panchayat,' 'Masaba Masaba' and the film 'Uunchai.' The actor was also seen recently in 'Vadh 2,' which starred Sanjay Mishra. (ANI) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States issued joint statement on recent developments in Middle East, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Istanbul on 7 March 2026 and held extensive consultations on the regional and global developments, including the ongoing armed conflicts and hostilities recently hiked up in their surrounding area, which cause human suffering, loss of life and large-scale humanitarian challenges. The Ministers expressed their profound concern over the recent escalation of violence and its devastating consequences throughout the Middle East. They condemned all acts that endanger innocent lives and undermine stability in the region. It was reflected in the joint statement of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States regarding recent developments in the Middle East. The statement reads: The Ministers emphasized that any threats to the security of the Member States of the OTS are a matter of concern for the entire Organization and stressed the inadmissibility of the use of force and the need to uphold the universal principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ministers expressed their strong condemnation of the attacks targeting the Republic of Turkiye and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan including civilian facilities, carried out from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Ministers called for non-repetition of such reckless actions that further deteriorates the regional situation and risks the expansion of geography of tension. With this understanding, the Ministers expressed their strong support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Turkiye and the Republic of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed their full solidarity with the people and the government of both countries. They emphasized that stability in the Middle East is indispensable for the prosperity and well-being of the entire region and its peoples. The Ministers stressed the need for the resolution of disputes by peaceful means through dialogue in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter. They underlined the critical importance of diplomacy and constructive dialogue as the only viable path towards immediate de-escalation, cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution. They called upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, return to the negotiating table and engage in good-faith talks aimed at settling all disagreements through peaceful diplomatic means. The Ministers stressed that the continuation of hostilities poses a direct threat to regional peace and security. The Ministers further highlighted the global dimensions of the crisis. They noted that prolonged instability in this strategically vital area carries serious risks for international peace and security, including potential disruptions to global energy markets, trade routes, food security and migratory flows that could affect nations far beyond the region. They also renew their commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and pursue cooperation within international platformsaimed at bringing about such a just and lasting solution and addressing the humanitarian sufferings facing the Palestinian people, in particular in Gaza. Reaffirming their unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, the Ministers expressed the readiness of the OTS to support all genuine international efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. The Ministers agreed to remain seized of the matter and to continue close coordination within the OTS framework on this and other related issues of common concern. The Ministers stand firmly on the side of peace, dialogue and stability. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. A total of 673 people have been transported from Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan and Turkish Igdr and back, a source in the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency told Trend. According to the source, passenger transportation between the cities continues with specially allocated buses. "As it's known, flights at Nakhchivan International Airport have been temporarily suspended. Flights are being organized from Baku to Igdr to facilitate the travel of Azerbaijani citizens from the capital to Nakhchivan and back. The passengers are transported from Igdir to Nakhchivan and back by buses specially allocated by the agency, free of charge," the source explained. The source noted that transportation from Nakhchivan Bus Station to Igdr Airport and back is carried out by seven large-capacity buses. At the same time, backup vehicles have been allocated for transportation. A total of 19 trips have been operated since March 5. The process is ongoing. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The evacuation of foreign citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara border crossing point continued in the evening, Trend reports. Thirteen people from Germany and six diplomatic representatives from Spain were evacuated through the Astara border crossing. The evacuation process at the Astara state border crossing continues without interruption, and border crossings are carried out in accordance with existing procedures and under the supervision of the relevant agencies. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Azerbaijan's non-oil sector exports rose by 9% in January 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, reaching $268.4 million, Trend reports via the "Export Review" published by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. During this period, food product exports grew by 22.6%, totaling $103 million. In the first month of this year, the export of sugar increased by 169.3% compared to the same period last year, cotton yarn by 137.6%, plant and animal fats and oils by 90.8%, aluminum and aluminum products by 39.5%, fruits and vegetables by 32.1%, cotton fiber by 23.2%, tea by 20.9%, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages by 14.2%. Moreover, this January, exports of agricultural products grew by 32.6%, amounting to $85.7 million, while exports of agro-industrial products reached $21.9 million. In total, the combined export of agricultural and agro-industrial products grew by 23.8%, reaching $107.6 million. Gold ranked first with $33 million among the exported non-oil sector goods during this period. Shelled forest hazelnuts ($29.3 million) ranked second, and fresh dates ($22.3 million) came in third. In January 2026, non-oil sector goods worth $77 million were exported to Russia, $38.6 million to Switzerland, $31.6 million to Georgia, $31.5 million to Turkiye, and $15.2 million to Ukraine. The ranking of non-state exporters for January 2026 includes Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited Representative Office in Azerbaijan, AGRARCO LLC, Prime Cotton LLC, Baku Steel Company JSC, Prime LM LLC, KHAN-EL LLC, Azerbaijan Sugar Production Union LLC, AFA Export LLC, P-AQRO LLC, and Mors Trading LLC. AzerGold JSC leads the list among the state-owned companies involved in non-oil sector exports. It's followed by SOCAR Polymer LLC, the Marketing and Economic Operations Department of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Azeraluminum LLC, Azerpambig Agro-Industrial Complex LLC, Nakhchivan Energy LLC, Sanayejihaz Scientific-Production Enterprise, SOCAR CAPE LLC, Garadag Glass Plant OJSC, and Azerkhalcha OJSC. In January 2026, the Azerbaijan Space Agency (Azercosmos) exported satellite telecommunication services worth $1.5 million to 32 countries. The revenue from Azercosmos' service exports accounted for 65% of its total income. During the reporting period, the top five countries for satellite telecommunication services exports were the UK with $348,500, Luxembourg with $283,000, Sweden with $187,200, Turkiye with $72,400, and Pakistan with $69,600. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 7. Uzbekistans trade turnover with Russia reached $1 billion in January 2026, marking a 25.3% increase compared to $797.8 million recorded during the same period of 2025. Data obtained by Trend from Uzbekistans National Statistics Committee show that Russia remained the second-largest trading partner of Uzbekistan, accounting for 18,5 % of Uzbekistans total foreign trade. During the reporting period, Uzbekistans exports to Russia amounted to $325.8 million, making Russia the largest destination for Uzbek exports. Meanwhile, imports from Russia totaled $765.2 million. At the same time, Uzbekistans overall foreign trade turnover reached $5.8 billion in January 2026, increasing by $1.32 billion, or 29.2%, compared to the same period of 2025. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide a credit line of up to $40 million to Credo Bank JSC to support financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Georgia, Trend reports, citing the EBRD. According to the bank, the senior unsecured credit line, denominated in local currency, will be issued for a three-year term and disbursed in two tranches under the Financial Intermediaries Framework (FIF) program. The funds will be directed to lending private SMEs, specifically Credo Bank clients operating across the country. The project is set to bridge the ever-present financing gap for MSMEs by rolling out medium-term loans in local currency. The funding is anticipated to enable Credo Bank to spread its wings in regional territories and reel in fresh clients beyond Tbilisi. "Project support also focuses on improving financial inclusion: a significant portion of funds will be allocated to enterprises owned or managed by women, as well as businesses in underserved rural areas," the bank stated. The EBRD emphasized that the initiative promotes competitive and inclusive development, improving MSME access to medium-term financing in local currency and supporting the expansion of small business lending across Georgia, particularly in regional areas. Credo Bank JSC is a private commercial bank in Georgia specializing in MSME financing with a broad regional presence. As of the end of 2025, the bank ranked fifth in the country by assets, holding around 3.6% of total assets, 4.3% of the total loan portfolio, and 2.6% of deposits. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 7. Turkmenistan and the European Union held the 9th interparliamentary meeting in Brussels, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen government. The Turkmen delegation, led by Maksat Kulyyev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations, met with EU representatives headed by MEP Giuseppina Princi, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Central Asian countries (DCAS). The meeting focused on political and economic cooperation, regional developments in Central Asia, international issues, and topics related to the rule of law and social policy. Participants emphasized the importance of regular interparliamentary contacts as a tool for strengthening trust and mutual understanding. EU deputies highlighted the growing significance of EU-Central Asia cooperation amid ongoing global tensions and expressed interest in expanding practical areas of partnership, including economic, energy, educational, and scientific exchanges. The Turkmen side presented national initiatives in sustainable development, energy, environmental protection, and renewable energy, while underscoring the countrys transport connectivity and strategic role in international transit and logistics routes, including the potential of the Turkmenbashi International Sea Port as a key regional hub. Regional stability and connectivity in Central Asia were also discussed, alongside humanitarian and social cooperation. Participants praised the substantive and constructive nature of the dialogue and agreed to hold the next meeting in Ashgabat early next year. As per the report, Tarantino has written an "old-fashioned British farce", which aims to open in the West End, bringing together a troupe of actors in the physical comedy vein of 'Noises Off'. The play is likely to open next fall, stated an industry source, as per Variety. In August last year, Quentin Tarantino teased about his play, stating that he was planning to dedicate a "year and a half to two years" to make it happen. On the work front, the filmmaker-actor was recently seen in Jamie Adams' 'Only What We Carry', co-starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Simon Pegg, Sofia Boutella, Liam Hellmann, and Lizzy McAlphine. Speaking about his performance, director Jamie Adams described him as a "naturally gifted" actor, further adding, "He loves actors. He loves cinema history. Being in France making something that felt inspired by Rohmer excited him." The filmmaker was also in headlines following rumours about his death during the Israel-Iran conflict. 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. Notably, Quentin Tarantino is known for dividing 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. (ANI) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 7. Turkmenistan and Belgium discussed economic cooperation, trade, and development of key sectors of Turkmenistans economy, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen government. The talks were held during an interparliamentary meeting in Brussels. The Turkmen delegation, led by Maksat Kulyyev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations, met with Belgian parliamentarians headed by Senator and former President of the Belgian Senate, Stephanie DHose. The meeting highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations and provided an overview of Turkmenistans socio-economic reforms, parliamentary activities, and national priorities in sustainable development, digitalization, industry, environmental protection, and international cooperation. Belgian participants, including representatives of the Flemish Senate, expressed interest in Turkmenistans economic growth, key industries, and prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation. They welcomed efforts to strengthen trade relations between Belgium and Turkmenistan and supported the development of direct contacts between business communities of the two countries. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 7. A total of 14,944 Uzbek citizens have been evacuated to Uzbekistan since February 28 through special flights operated from the airports of Medina, Jeddah, and Dubai, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan. According to the ministry, 63 flights were operated from the airports of Medina and Jeddah, while 9 flights were carried out from Dubai, delivering 1,401 citizens to Uzbekistan. Foreign airlines also took part in the evacuation. Flynas operated five flights on the routes Jeddah-Tashkent and Jeddah-Namangan, while flydubai carried out three flights on the DubaiTashkent route. These flights transported a total of 1,365 passengers, including 990 citizens of Uzbekistan. According to the statement, organizational measures are currently underway to evacuate Uzbek citizens who remain in Qatar, with plans to arrange their return via Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia. 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. Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 7. Hungarys OTP Bank discussed plans to launch a new mobile banking platform in Uzbekistan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan. The issue was reviewed during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Laszlo Wolf, Deputy CEO and Member of the Board of OTP Bank. According to the bank, the new platform is aimed at expanding digital banking services in Uzbekistan and improving customer convenience through modern mobile solutions. During the talks, the parties also discussed OTP Groups plans for the further implementation of the privatization project of Ipoteka-bank, which was acquired by the Hungarian banking group as part of Uzbekistans banking sector reform program. Particular attention was given to the implementation of a poultry cluster project in the Syrdarya region. It was noted that the project is expected to strengthen food security, develop modern agro-industrial infrastructure, and create efficient agricultural value chains. Following the meeting, the sides confirmed their mutual interest in expanding investment cooperation and implementing new joint projects in Uzbekistan. OTP Group is a banking and financial group headquartered in Hungary. The group operates 1,656 branches, serves more than 17 million clients, and employs around 41,000 people. Its total assets amount to 102 billion euros, with a market capitalization of about 12.4 billion euros and a return on equity of 9.8%. In December 2022, OTP Bank signed an agreement in Tashkent to acquire 100% of shares of Ipoteka-bank from the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan, which owned 97% of the banks total share package. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 7. President of Kazakhstan KassymJomart Tokayev has welcomed a statement by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which he announced that the interim leadership council has decided to refrain from carrying out attacks on neighboring countries, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president. Tokayev said he views this decision as an important measure aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East and promoting regional stability. This escalation followed the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, held in Geneva on February 26, 2026. Conducted under the administration of President Donald Trump, the negotiations were perceived as a final opportunity for a diplomatic resolution; however, no agreements were reached. Two days later, on February 28, the U.S. and Israel initiated a coordinated military campaign targeting Iran's strategic military assets and government leadership. Israel referred to the operation as "Operation Lion's Roar," while the U.S. labeled it "Operation Epic Fury." The attacks affected vast regions of Iran, including major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drone strikes on February 28 and the following days, targeting Israeli and U.S. military bases across the region, including facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq. 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. On March 1-5, the conflict escalated to encompass various countries in the Middle East; Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones, and the U.S. and Israel struck new military targets in Iranian territory. On March 4, a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, signaling that the conflict had entered a naval phase. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that it carried out missile strikes against positions of separatist groups in the Kurdish semi-autonomous region (KRI) of Iraq, Trend reports via the IRGC. According to the statement, three locations belonging to separatist groups in the KRI were targeted with missiles early in the morning at around 04:30 (GMT+4). 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. From 1 through 5 March, the conflict escalated across multiple countries in the Middle East, with Iran deploying hundreds of missiles and drones, while the United States and Israel targeted new military installations within Iranian territory. On 4 March, a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, marking a significant escalation as the confrontation entered a naval phase. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has admitted responsibility for the drone attacks on Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan in a televised address today, Trend reports. According to him, after the Supreme Leader and senior military commanders were killed in Iran, the armed forces opened fire on the territory of neighboring countries in an uncontrolled manner. Pezeshkian said that at a meeting of the Supreme Leadership Council, the Iranian Armed Forces were instructed not to launch any attacks or missiles on countries that didn't attack Iran, and the nations that are launching attacks will be the only ones targeted. The Iranian president expressed his apology to neighboring countries that were attacked by his country. Although the Iranian Armed Forces denied the drone attack on Nakhchivan, Pezeshkian's statement practically, once again, shows that the attack on Nakhchivan was carried out by Iran. On March 5, a drone attack took place at the Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan. The drone flying from Iranian territory crashed into the airport building and exploded near the secondary school in Shakarabad village, Babek district. Four civilians were injured as a result of the incident. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the incident, demanding Iran clarify the issue in a short time, provide an explanation, and take the necessary urgent measures to prevent such cases from recurring in the future. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Dermichilou, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where a strong protest was conveyed to the Iranian side. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. The members of the Council of Experts are expected to meet within the next 24 hours to elect Iran's Supreme Leader, Council of Experts member Hossein Mozaffari told local media, Trend reports. According to him, the Council of Experts has not yet held any meetings and there have been no elections. Muzaffari noted that the Council of Experts will try to select a suitable Supreme Leader to govern the country at a higher level. 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. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has fired a large a number of UAVs at the U.S. Al Dhafra military base in the UAE, the IRGC statement says, Trend reports. According to the statement, several targets, including radars and a satellite communications center, were hit at the base, which is considered one of the most important U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. 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 7. Israel has launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, the Israeli army press service says, Trend reports. "The Israeli Air Force has launched large-scale strikes against Iranian regime targets in Tehran," the statement said. 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. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Actors Naga Chaitanya and Rashmika Mandanna have won big at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025, taking home the Best Actor and Best Actress trophies for their respective performances in 'Thandel' and 'The Girlfriend'. In a heartfelt Instagram post, 'The Girlfriend' director, Rahul Ravindran gave a major shoutout to Rashmika and expressed immense pride. "Mikaaaaaaaa! Our girl wins The Telangana State Award! Many more to come @rashmika_mandanna. So damn proud of you! #GaddarAwards #TheGirlfriend," the director wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/DVk5RglDc1q/ Rashmika also reacted with much delight as she commented, "Dreams are finally coming true." Taking to her X handle, Rashmika Mandanna expressed her joy on receiving the award. She also thanked the Telangana government for the recognition. "Feeling truly grateful and happy to receive the Best Actress award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 for #TheGirlfriend. 'Bhooma Devi' is so very very close to my heart and I'll always be grateful to @23_rahulr, @GeethaArts, @DheeMogilineni, #Vidya akka and the whole team of 'The Girlfriend'.. Thankyou to the Telangana Government. My sincere thanks to @revanth_anumula garu, Deputy CM @Bhatti_Mallu garu, Cinematography Minister @KomatireddyKVR garu, This truly means a lot. #TheGirlFriend #GaddarTelanganaFilmAwards Congratulations to all the winner," she wrote. https://x.com/iamRashmika/status/2030238975785644248 Her 'The Girlfriend' co-star Dheekshith Shetty also celebrated the feat and wrote, "Very proud!!! Congratulations @rashmika_mandanna," to which Rashmika responded, "We did it." On the other hand, Naga Chaitanya was honoured with the Best Actor trophy for his performance in 'Thandel'. https://x.com/GeethaArts/status/2030197611945394672 "'THANDEL RAJU' conquered hearts, earned accolades, and now receives the top honour. Yuvasamrat @chay_akkineni wins the BEST ACTOR award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 for his spectacular performance in #Thandel," Geetha Arts wrote. Megastar Chiranjeevi was honoured with the prestigious NTR National Film Award. "Many congratulations to all the winners of the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025. It is always a joy to celebrate the hard work and passion of our film fraternity. My sincere thanks to the Government of Telangana, CM @revanth_anumula garu, @Bhatti_Mallu garu and the entire jury for honouring me with the NTR National Film Award. Receiving an award named after NTR garu is truly a great honour. Deeply grateful for the love and support that have been my greatest strength throughout my journey," Chiranjeevi wrote on X. http://x.com/KChiruTweets/status/2030272239724294555 The Telangana Gaddar Film Awards were announced on Saturday, recognising fine works across the Telugu film industry. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, Stubb revealed having watched the film on his son's recommendation. "Before I came to India, my son suggested that I should watch Dhurandhar and I did. I was one part of the narrative of that film. Happy to fight against terrorism and I look forward to the sequel," he said. The high words of praise come at a time when the makers have dropped the trailer for 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Dhurandhar 2) on Saturday. Running 3 minutes and 25 seconds, the trailer signals a darker and more intense continuation of undercover agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi's mission. Ranveer Singh reprises his role as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who in the sequel is fully embedded in the criminal underworld under the alias Hamza Ali Mazari. The footage suggests that following the death of gangster Rehman Dakait, played in the first film by Akshaye Khanna, Hamza has risen to power in Lyari, Karachi, emerging as "Lyari ka Badshah." While the first film focused on Rangi's personal infiltration into a crime network, the sequel shifts toward a broader national security threat. The trailer shows Hamza manoeuvring through the ranks of a terror syndicate in an attempt to dismantle it from within, with Major Iqbal, portrayed by Arjun Rampal, emerging as a central target of the mission. Sanjay Dutt appears as the tough law enforcement officer SP Chaudhary Aslam, while R Madhavan plays Ajay Sanyal. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVklHniDMI1/ Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19, 2026. The film will open during the festive window of Eid, Gudi Padwa and Ugadi, positioning it for a major box-office debut. In line with its pan-India ambitions, the spy action film will release in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. (ANI) Russia is providing Iran with information for attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East. This indicates that another major adversary of the United States is participating in the war, even if indirectly. The Washington Post reports this in an article, according to Ukrinform. According to three officials who spoke to the newspaper, since the start of the military operation by the U.S. and Israel, Russia has been supplying Iran with data on the locations of American military facilities, including warships and aircraft. "It does seem like it's a pretty comprehensive effort," one of the sources said. Two officials added that China does not appear to be helping Iran's defense, despite the close ties between the two countries. Analysts say the intelligence sharing corresponds with the pattern of Iranian strikes on U.S. forces, including attacks on command-and-control infrastructure, radar systems, and temporary facilities, such as in Kuwait, where six American service members were killed. A Central Intelligence Agency station at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was also attacked in recent days. According to Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian armed forces at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Iran is carrying out very precise strikes on early-warning or over-the-horizon radar systems. "They're doing this in a very targeted way. They're going after command and control," Massicot said. She added that Iran has only a few military satellites and does not possess its own satellite constellation. This suggests that satellite imagery may have been provided by Russia, which has far more developed space capabilities, especially since the Kremlin has improved its targeting tools during the years of war in Ukraine. The full extent of Russia's assistance to Iran in missile targeting remains unclear. Officials said Iran's ability to locate U.S. forces had deteriorated less than a week after the start of hostilities. The report notes that despite the strike against one of its closest partners, the Kremlin may see advantages in a prolonged war between the United States and Iran, including higher oil revenues and a major crisis that diverts the attention of America and Europe away from the war in Ukraine. As previously reported, on February 28 the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes against regime facilities in Iran. After that, Iran launched attacks on American bases in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan. On March 5, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, said his country expects a possible ground invasion by U.S. forces and is ready to resist. Photo: AI-generated Operators of unmanned aerial systems from the Pentagon battalion of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment of the Ukrainian Ground Forces destroyed a Russian fiber-optic FPV drone crew in the Huliaipole sector of the front. According to Ukrinform, the unit reported this on Facebook. An enemy FPV drone crew has been destroyed in the Huliaipole sector, the statement said. The military said reconnaissance units had identified the precise location where the crew was operating. The team had been launching fiber-optic FPV drones and regularly exerting pressure on the regiments positions. After the coordinates were confirmed, pilots from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment struck the target. Enemy FPV crews create constant tactical pressure on our units, so such targets are considered a priority, the military emphasized, adding that after the crew was hit, the pressure from enemy FPV drones in that sector decreased. As reported earlier, servicemen of the 5th Border Guard Detachment released footage showing successful strikes on Russian military equipment and personnel in the Sumy region. Illustrative photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Oschadbank of Ukraine will take legal steps to reclaim the property and valuables that were illegally detained in Hungary on March 6. This was reported by the bank on its Facebook page, according to Ukrinform. "After the illegal seizure in Hungary on March 5, 2026, of seven Oschadbank employees, two armored cash-in-transit vehicles, and the valuables they were transporting, the Ukrainian citizens have returned home. However, the vehicles and valuables remain illegally held," the bank emphasized. Oschadbank noted that further protection of its rights in addressing the Hungary incident will proceed along two lines. "First: challenging the decision regarding restrictive measures that prevented the banks cash-in-transit employees from remaining in the EU, which were unjustly imposed by the Hungarian migration authorities. The matter of the employees rights being violated during detention held for over 24 hours without access to legal assistance or consular support will also be thoroughly examined," the bank said. "Second: taking legal steps to recover the banks property two cash-in-transit vehicles and valuables totaling USD 40 million, EUR 35 million, and 9 kg of bank gold," Oschadbank stressed. The statement emphasized: "Oschadbank is fully confident in the legality of its actions. Complete documentation and supporting information have been submitted to the National Bank of Ukraine. To further confirm its legal position, the bank will consult a leading international firm for an independent audit of the processes and contractual relationships among all parties involved in the transport of the funds and valuables." Facts regarding the Hungary incident, according to Oschadbank: The transport of cash and valuables was carried out under an international agreement between Oschadbank and Raiffeisen Bank Austria. The shipment complied with international transport regulations and European customs procedures. Oschadbank holds a valid license for international transport issued by the State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety. During the full-scale war, banks conduct cash transports exclusively by land. Such shipments occur on average weekly. The cash-in-transit team included seven regular employees with between 3 and 21 years of experience at the bank. Traditionally, one of the heads of the cash collection department accompanies international deliveries; this time, the team was led by the deputy director of the department. The money being transported from Vienna to Ukraine belonged to Oschadbank. These funds were entrusted to the bank by Ukrainian citizens and businesses for further circulation and to supply the countrys cash market. Packaging of money and valuables was carried out according to all regulatory and transport requirements. "Oschadbank demands the return of its cash-in-transit vehicles and valuables in full," the statement concluded. As previously reported by Ukrinform, on the night of March 6, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said that Hungarian authorities in Budapest had taken seven Ukrainian Oschadbank employees hostage and seized the cash they were transporting. The seven employees were traveling with two bank vehicles in transit between Austria and Ukraine as part of regular servicing between state banks. Later that day, the Hungarian tax authority confirmed the detention of the seven Oschadbank cash-in-transit staff and two vehicles carrying cash from Austria to Ukraine, stating that a criminal investigation was underway on suspicion of money laundering. In the evening, Sybiha announced that Ukraine had secured the release of the seven Ukrainians held in Budapest they had already crossed the Ukrainian border. The National Bank of Ukraine advised banks to adjust transport routes and avoid countries where there is a risk of shipment blockages. On March 7, the National Bank stated that the illegal seizure of Oschadbanks cash-in-transit vehicles in Hungary could create temporary logistical difficulties in delivering foreign currency from abroad. The National Bank confirmed that it is ready to support bank cash reserves with foreign currency if needed. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski described Hungarys detention of Ukrainian cash collectors as part of an election campaign in which hostility toward Ukraine has become a central theme. He said this on Saturday in Warsaw, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Sikorski noted that he did not want to go into the details of the incident but said he trusted his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, who had written on social media that the case involved a routine transfer to a Ukrainian state bank. Ultimately, the fact that the Hungarian authorities have already released these individuals would indicate that this was a mistake and probably an element of a political election campaign, the main theme of which, unfortunately, has become hostility toward Ukraine from the Hungarian side. And this hostility, as we know, unfortunately, is not only propaganda but also real, the Polish top diplomat said. According to him, Hungary has for years blocked payments from the European budget benefiting the armed forces of EU member states, including 2 billion zlotys (about 500 million) intended for the modernization of the Polish military. In addition, Hungary is blocking the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia. In this regard, Sikorski said he was shocked that the Hungarian government, which itself once experienced invasion, now has more sympathy for the aggressor than for the victim of aggression. As reported by Ukrinform, during the night of March 6, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that in Budapest Hungarian authorities had taken seven Ukrainian citizens employees of Oschadbank hostage and seized the money they were transporting. According to him, the seven employees were traveling in two bank vehicles in transit between Austria and Ukraine and were carrying cash as part of regular servicing between state banks. Later that day, Hungarys tax authority confirmed the detention of seven Oschadbank cash collectors and two vehicles carrying cash, stating that a criminal investigation had been launched on suspicion of money laundering. Subsequently, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said the seven Ukrainian cash collectors would be expelled from Hungary. That evening, the Oschadbank collectors returned to Ukraine. On March 6, Ukraines Foreign Ministry recommended that Ukrainian citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary following the abduction of the employees and the seizure of Oschadbank property in Budapest. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that further provocations from Hungary should be expected. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said the opposition CPI(M) is hoping for internal conflict within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is dreaming of returning to power by forming a Left Front government again. He said the current state government is working transparently for the welfare and development of the people and that Tripura continues to progress across multiple sectors. "Despite being a small state, Tripura is moving in the right direction in every parameter. Tripura has won 347 awards at the all-India level. However, the opposition is not able to see the real development of the state," said CM Saha. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the Yuva Shankhanad programme organised by the BJP at the BBI School Ground in Dharmanagar in North Tripura district. During his address, Saha also paid tribute to the late Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Bishwabandhu Sen, describing his death as an irreparable loss for the state. "My friend and Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, late Bishwabandhu Sen, passed away untimely. It is an irreparable loss for all of us. We will together complete the unfinished work he had started. He was also associated with Jatra and theatre and had dreamt of the overall development of Dharmanagar," he said. CM Saha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing peace and stability to Tripura and the Northeast region. "Earlier, people could not travel to Agartala without security escorts. Today, there is peace in Tripura and across the Northeast because of the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. The Chief Minister also alleged that opposition parties are focused on regaining power rather than working for the people. "The opposition is waiting for quarrels within the BJP and dreaming of removing us from power to form a Left Front government again. They have even joined hands with those with whom they had serious conflicts earlier. They spend sleepless nights thinking about how to come to power instead of focusing on public welfare," CM Saha said. Highlighting the state's achievements, CM Saha said, "Tripura has received 347 national-level awards and has ranked first in deregulation and compliance in the country." He added that Prime Minister Modi had praised the state's performance during a meeting of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi and urged other larger states to learn from Tripura. The Chief Minister also said Tripura was recently declared the third fully literate state in the country after Mizoram and Goa. He emphasised the importance of women's empowerment, noting that nearly half of the state's population comprises women. "Without the development of women, there can be no development of the state or the country," he said. CM Saha further said Tripura ranks second in the Northeast in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and per capita income, and that NITI Aayog has recognised the state as a "front-runner". (ANI) Congress MP and former Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Saturday said that the Centre could direct the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to withhold reporting Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels, exercising the powers granted by the policy guidelines drafted by the UPA government in 2014. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Friday directed BARC to suspend the reporting of TRPs for news channels for four weeks or until further notice, citing concerns over sensationalism and speculative content in coverage related to the ongoing West Asia conflict. In an X post, Manish Tewari said that before the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014, the television ratings industry was a "wild west." "It is I who, as Minister @MIB_India, issued the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies after getting Cabinet approval on January 16, 2014. That is the power @MIB_India is exercising today, & mind you, this was opposed tooth and nail by the Industry including the then monopolist interests in that sector/ genre. Before that, there was no policy architecture for Television Ratings. It was the Wild West that unfortunately, it still is. & what you were approaching me for was something entirely different, i.e. to take @ptcnews and @FastwayCableTV off the air that I refused to do by resorting to an arbitrary exercise of Ministerial powers," he wrote. https://x.com/ManishTewari/status/2030055693026480405 This comes after the I&B Ministry cited concerns over "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content", which may create panic among the general public, particularly for those with friends and family in the affected regions and directed BARC to withhold TRPs for news channels. The order references Clause 24.2 of the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, which requires companies to comply with directions issued by the Ministry. Accordingly, BARC has been instructed to immediately withhold TRP reporting to ensure responsible dissemination of news. Gaurishankar Kesarwani, Additional Director of BP&L, stated in the communication, "In the public interest, the Ministry directs M/s BARC to immediately withhold reporting the Television Rating Points (TRPs) for News TV Channels for a period of four weeks or until further directions, whichever is earlier." The development comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory killed its Supreme Leader, Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran. (ANI) Congress on Saturday slammed the Centre after United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that Washington DC has granted India the 30-day "permission" to purchase Russian oil, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" on the waiver. Calling the Prime Minister "weak" and the US's move "humiliation" for India, Congress sought an explanation from the Centre. Citing Scott Bessent's interview with Fox Business, Congress wrote on X, "'Indians have been very good actors. We asked them to stop buying Russian oil, and they did. Now we have given them 'permission' to buy Russian oil.' These are the words of the United States Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent. Permission? For India? A country of 1.4 billion people, waiting for Washington's approval. This is the cost of a compromised Prime Minister." In a strong-worded statement, the Opposition party said that India did not gain independence for a foreign nation to dictate its terms. "India fought for freedom so that no foreign power could dictate terms to us. Yet today, under a weak Prime Minister, the US is openly talking about giving India 'permission'. This is not diplomacy. This is humiliation. Indians are not actors in someone else's script. PM Modi, your silence on this statement is deafening. The people of India deserve an explanation," the X post read. This comes after Bessent yet again said, "The Indians have been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil. But to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept Russian oil. We may un-sanction other Russian oil." With the crisis in the Gulf severely hampering shipping routes that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States on Thursday (local time) allowed a 30-day waiver for India to purchase Russian Oil to meet its energy requirements. India sources nearly 40 per cent of its oil imports from West Asia, with a significant portion transported through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The US' "permission" statement has sparked heavy criticism from the Opposition parties. However, according to sources, India is reviewing its energy situation twice a day and is in a very comfortable position regarding its energy security. India's current stock position is also seen to be comfortable, with stock being replenished every day. As per the sources, there is no shortage of LPG or LNG, as well as crude oil, in the world. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri also said on Friday that there is no shortage of energy in India and there is no cause for worry for its energy consumers. "Our priority is to ensure the availability of affordable and sustainable fuel for our citizens, and we are doing it comfortably. There is no shortage of energy in India, and there is no cause of worry for our energy consumers," the Union Minister posted on X. The conflict in West Asia, which began with US-Israel joint strikes on Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, has entered its eighth day. Tehran has hit back by attacking Israel and US military bases in West Asian countries. (ANI) I write with profound regret to urgently draw your attention, and that of the members of the Security Council, to the manifest act of aggression and coordinated large-scale armed attacks perpetrated by the United States of America and the Israeli regime against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Today, 28 February 2026, the United States and the Israeli regime flagrantly violated the national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran by launching attacks against a number of defensive facilities and civilian sites in various cities across our country. The air strikes carried out by the United States and the Israeli regime constitute a clear violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations and amount to an open armed aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In responding to this act of aggression, the Islamic Republic of Iran is exercising its inherent and lawful right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will utilize all necessary defensive capabilities and means to confront this criminal aggression and deter the hostile acts. Accordingly, all bases, facilities and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives within the framework of Irans lawful exercise of self-defence. Iran will continue to exercise its right of self-defence decisively and without hesitation until the aggression ceases fully and unequivocally. The United States and the Israeli regime shall bear full and direct responsibility for all ensuing consequences, including any escalation arising from their unlawful actions. In light of the grave and far-reaching consequences of this armed aggression for regional as well as international peace and security, the Islamic Republic of Iran recalls the core responsibility of the United Nations and in particular, the Security Council, to take immediate action in response to this breach of international peace and security resulting from the flagrant military aggression of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran. Iran calls upon the Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council and the Security Councils members to discharge their duties without delay. In this context, the Islamic Republic of Iran urgently calls upon the members of the Security Council to convene, without delay, an emergency meeting of the Council to address the United States and Israeli regimes acts of aggression, a breach of peace which is a real and serious threat to international peace and security, and to take the necessary and immediate measures to halt this unlawful use of force and to ensure accountability. The Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon all States Members of the United Nations that bear responsibility for international peace and security to unequivocally condemn this act of aggression and to undertake urgent and collective measures to confront it, as it undoubtedly poses an unprecedented threat to regional as well as global peace and security. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council. I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the latest outrageous and criminal act perpetrated against the great nation of Iran by the United States and the Israeli regime. Failure to respond decisively to such conduct will not only embolden its perpetrators but will also inflict lasting and irreparable damage on the foundations of the international legal order for decades to come. On 28 February 2026, in the course of a new series of unprovoked and unjustified acts of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran in flagrant violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations the United States and the Israeli regime deliberately targeted the Highest Official of a sovereign Member of the United Nations, namely, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khameneei. This cowardly act of terror constitutes a direct assault on the very core principles of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force, the respect for sovereign equality and the inviolability and immunity of Heads of State. It represents a dangerous and unprecedented escalation that strikes at the most fundamental norms of statehood and civilized conduct among nations. Heads of State embody the sovereignty of their nations and, under international law, enjoy inviolability, respect and immunity indispensable for the independent performance of their official functions. The deliberate targeting of the Highest Official of the Islamic Republic of Iran, therefore, constitutes a grave and unprecedented breach of the most fundamental norms governing relations among States. Such conduct does not merely violate established principles of international law; it recklessly opens a dangerous Pandoras box, eroding the bedrock of sovereign equality and the stability of the international system. Moreover, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khameneei, is not only the Highest Official, but also a highly respected religious figure for tens of millions of Muslims in the region and around the world. Such an attack carries profound and far-reaching consequences, the full responsibility for which rests solely with the perpetrators. This is without prejudice to the inherent and unequivocal right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and people, in full conformity with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The aforementioned act was carried out in manifest disregard of binding principles of international law and customary international law, including those reflected in the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents. It engages the international responsibility of the wrongdoing States concerned, as well as the individual criminal responsibility of the President of the United States, the so-called Prime Minister of the Israeli regime, and all individuals involved in planning, ordering, authorizing, committing or otherwise aiding and abetting this criminal act. The foregoing is without prejudice to accountability for the ongoing war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression being committed by the agents of the United States and the Israeli regime. In light of the foregoing, and at a time when the normalization of grave violations of international law regrettably threatens the integrity of the international system, the Islamic Republic of Iran solemnly calls upon the Secretary-General and the Security Council to discharge their Charter-mandated responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security and take immediate, concrete and effective measures to ensure the full accountability of the United States and the Israeli regime for the aforementioned atrocious terrorist act. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of Gujarat BJP MLA Govindbhai Parmar, who passed away on March 6 at the age of 72. In an X post, PM Modi noted that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Parmar was dedicated to social welfare activities. "I am saddened by the news of the passing of Govindbhai Parmar, a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He was always dedicated and committed to social welfare activities. Prayers for the peace of the departed soul and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti!" the Prime Minister wrote. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2030110700123885616 Parmar was an MLA from Umreth in Gujarat and was popular among the public for his welfare approach. On Friday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed grief over his demise, calling the news "heartbreaking." CM Patel remembered him for his "endeavour of public service." Bhupendra Patel wrote on X, "The passing of Govindbhai Parmar, MLA of Umreth Constituency, is extremely heartbreaking. By remaining connected to the land, he had embodied the manly endeavour of public service. Through his service-oriented activities, he had attained remarkable popularity among the masses. May the supremely compassionate Supreme Being grant peace to his soul and bestow strength upon the bereaved family and supporters to endure this sorrow--such is my prayer. Om Shanti." https://x.com/BJP4Gujarat/status/2029954991327432830 Gujarat BJP also expressed shock over the death of party leader and wrote on X, "The news of the tragic demise of Govindbhai Parmar, the popular MLA of Umreth Assembly Constituency, is extremely shocking. His passing has caused an irreplaceable loss to the organisation and society. May the supremely compassionate Supreme Being grant a place at His feet to his divine soul and bestow strength upon the bereaved family and workers to bear this sorrow--such is our prayer." (ANI) Nishant Kumar, son of incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Saturday held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of the Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. Nishant Kumar will be officially joining the party on Sunday, JD(U) has confirmed. JD(U) leaders today discussed the party's future strategy and how to best move forward after party chief Nitish Kumar, in a historic move, is set to move back to the Centre with a seat in the Rajya Sabha. The timing of Nishant's entry into the party is directly linked to a major transition made by his father. On Thursday, March 5, Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, signalling the end of his record-breaking tenure as Chief Minister. Nishant's entry also marks a shift in Nitish's stance on dynastic politics; however, JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar informed that during the meeting at the CM's house, Union Minister and MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan) and MP Sanjay Jha made the suggestion to bring Nishant into state politics. "Union Minister Lalan Singh and MP Sanjay Jha suggested that Nishant Kumar should enter the party, and the party enthusiastically welcomed the suggestion. Hence, Nishant Kumar will be joining the party tomorrow. He has given his acceptance to the same and will be conducting a political tour in the state as well," the JD(U) Neeraj Kumar leader said on Friday without clarifying further on Nishant's role in the state politics. While Nishant has lived a low-profile life as a software engineer (BIT Mesra alumnus), there is intense speculation that he may be appointed as a Deputy Chief Minister in a new NDA government, or potentially take a leadership role within the party amid a vacuum, as now both Nitish and Sanjay Jha will represent JD(U) in the Upper House of Parliament. (ANI) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he would not seek a deal with Iran without the country's unconditional surrender as Washington warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign that officials said would be the most intense of the weeklong conflict. Israel said it began a broad wave of strikes on Tehran early Saturday, with Associated Press video showing explosions and large plumes of smoke billowing over the western part of the capital city. As Israeli warplanes bombed the Iranian capital and Beirut, Iran launched more retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the seventh day of the war. Many thunder-like booms rumbled over Jerusalem just past midnight local time as Israel said it was working to intercept missiles launched from Iran. The U.S. and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. Meanwhile, Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike the U.S. military, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. Russian President Vladimir Putin had a call Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing his condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Kremlin said. In other developments, evidence emerged suggesting that an explosion that killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regimes Revolutionary Guard. Qatars energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could bring down the economies of the world, predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to $150 a barrel. The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose above $90 on Friday for the first time in more than two years. Russia is providing information to Iran, officials say Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information. Still, its the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war. Trump says US will help rebuild Iran once it has ACCEPTABLE leaders In a social media post Friday, Trump said There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" After a surrender, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), he wrote, the U.S. and its allies will help rebuild Iran, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. Those comments were likely to raise further questions about the endgame of the war. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that some countries had begun mediation efforts, without elaborating. Trump has also told media outlets that he should be involved in choosing a replacement for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strikes of the war. Trump spoke dismissively of Khameneis son, Mojtaba Khamenei a front-runner to replace his father calling him a lightweight. Irans U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned Trump's statement and said Iran "does not accept and will never allow any foreign power to interfere in its internal affairs. Iranian state television reported Friday that a leadership council had started discussing how to convene the countrys Assembly of Experts, which will select the new supreme leader. Heavy strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks Israel's military said it had begun a broad-scale wave of strikes in Tehran. The military has said that over the past week, it has heavily bombed an extensive underground bunker that Iranian leaders had planned to use during the hostilities. Witnesses described Israeli airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area and sending columns of smoke rising. Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah, an area home to multiple missile bases. They spoke anonymously for fear of retribution. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview that the biggest bombing campaign of the war was still to come. In Israel, the sound of explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv throughout Friday after warnings about missiles incoming from Iran. Air defense systems worked to intercept the barrage. Five soldiers have been wounded in the fighting with Hezbollah, Israels military said. In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early Saturday in Bahrain as an Iranian attack targeted the island kingdom. Elsewhere, new information surfaced suggesting that a deadly Feb. 28 explosion at a school in the Iranian city of Minab, some 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Tehran, was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes. The information included satellite images, expert analysis, a U.S. official and public information released by U.S. and Israeli military forces. Iranian state media has said more than 165 people were killed in the blast, most of them of children. Iran has blamed Israel and the U.S. for the explosion. Neither country has accepted responsibility, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier in the week that the U.S. was investigating. Israel bombards Lebanon as death toll rises Israel has carried out waves of airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Lebanon's Health Ministry said 217 people had been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and 798 wounded. Roads in the Lebanese capital were choked with evacuating traffic as smoke rose over the citys southern districts. Two hospitals evacuated patients and staff. What can we do? We prayed here under the tree. During the night, we slept in the car because there is no place to stay, Jihan Shehadeh, one of the tens of thousands of displaced, said. One Israeli strike hit near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about the report. Hezbollahs military command on Friday urged its fighters not to relent and to defend the nation, casting the escalating war in religious terms and calling on them to kill them wherever you find them. Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, Rising from Bangkok and Abou AlJoud from Beirut. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Aamer Madhani and Michael Biesecker in Washington, Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Malak Harb, Abby Sewell and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. Case of separated mother and children sparks constitutional friction in Italy ahead of national referendum. Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday waded into a controversy surrounding a court ruling that separated the "forest family" who lived off-grid in the Abruzzo region. The LAquila juvenile court ordered the immediate removal of the mother from a protected facility and the subsequent separation of her three children into different foster care arrangements. The decision was ostensibly based on concerns regarding the mothers alleged non-compliance with social services and the perceived necessity of integrating the minors into conventional educational and social environments. Meloni reacts The ruling prompted a sharp rebuke from Meloni, who condemned the judicial action in a lengthy Facebook post. Characterising the courts decision as an unacceptable overreach, the prime minister accused the judges of "exceeding the limit" of their authority by breaking the fundamental bond between a mother and her children. Meloni said she was "speechless" over a decision that, she said, "inflicts further, extremely severe trauma on the children," and spoke of an "absurd sequence of decisions with a clearly ideological tone." The prime minister challenged the rationale behind the measure, reiterating that "children do not belong to the state" but to their mothers and fathers. Forest family Nathan Trevallion, a 51-year-old former chef from the UK, and Catherine Birmingham, a 45-year-old former horse riding instructor from Australia, had been living in a remote wooded area in Abruzzo with their three children: an eight-year-old girl and six-year-old twins. Their case came to light in late 2024 after all five family members were hospitalised after being poisoned by mushrooms. The children were taken into care last November, following the intervention of social services and a ruling by the juvenile court in L'Aquila. Until Friday they were housed in a protected facility, monitored by authorities, with Birmingham granted limited access to her children. Judicial referendum Friday's court ruling arrives at a sensitive political juncture, as Italy prepares for a landmark judicial referendum on 22-23 March. The referendum centres on constitutional reform of the justice system, including the separation of careers for judges and prosecutors, meaning they would no longer be able to switch between the two roles and must choose from the outset which career to follow. The government claims the flagship reform is necessary to bolster the impartiality of judges by separating their career path from that of prosecutors, arguing that this will prevent conflicts of interest and reduce the risk of alleged political factions within the judiciary. Meloni has long been at odds with Italys judiciary, regularly accusing magistrates of stymying plans by her government, from immigration to public works. Opposition The National Association of Magistrates (ANM) and centre-left opposition parties are fiercely opposed to the reform, claiming it will weaken the judiciary and accusing the government of seeking control over who investigates crimes. The forest family case has been seized upon by supporters of the legal reform as a prime example of "judicial activism" and the need for greater accountability within the magistracy. Meloni's remarks on Friday attracted strong criticism from within the centre-left opposition, amid claims that her rhetoric risks undermining the independence of the judiciary for political gain. "The prime minister is now shameless, spreading propaganda about the family in the woods, forcefully entering this matter with a very serious interference that smacks of intimidation, in defiance of the separation of powers," said Riccardo Magi, secretary of Piu Europa. Mayor hails new Urbos fleet as milestone for city's public transport network. Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Friday unveiled the first of 121 brand-new trams as part of a major overhaul of the city's public transport network. The dark red and black Urbos vehicles built by Spanish tram manufacturer CAF were purchased as part of a 457 million investment, the largest European tender in the sector, according to Gualtieri. An additional nine trams will arrive by June, followed by another 10 by the end of the year, to complete an initial supply of 20 vehicles. The new trams, 33.5 metres long, will be able to carry up to 215 passengers and will gradually replace the oldest vehicles currently in service, improving capacity and frequency of the service. The move represents the first upgrade of the capital's tram fleet in more than 20 years, in what Gualtieri described as "a concrete step toward more modern and efficient mobility for Rome". Nuovi tram per Roma. E arrivato il primo dei 121 nuovi tram realizzati da CAF, acquistati grazie alla piu grande gara europea del settore: 457 milioni di euro di investimento per rinnovare la flotta della citta. Entro giugno 2026 arriveranno altri 9 tram, seguiti da ulteriori pic.twitter.com/hhPHm0mClb Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) March 6, 2026 Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new Urbos trams are designed for high energy efficiency and can operate on sections of tracks without overhead catenary lines, utilising onboard energy storage. This technical feature is particularly important for Rome, as it allows the expansion of tramways into the historic centre without the need for intrusive electrical infrastructure that might detract from the city's architectural heritage. The arrival of the new trams comes after the city carried out massive infrascture works to upgrade the entire tram network, including the installation of new tracks and overhead power lines. "This is a historic day for Rome" - the capital's mobility councillor Eugenio Patane said - "since after 21 long years, a new tram has finally entered our city." Following a period of technical testing, the first Urbos is expected to enter regular service later this spring. Tree planting across Ireland continues to gain momentum, and the Social and Woodland Scheme (SWS) is playing an increasingly important role in helping landowners create sustainable, long-term woodland projects. Designed to encourage the establishment, maintenance, and protection of small woodlands, the SWS supports individuals, community groups, and farms who wish to enhance their land, while contributing to environmental improvement. Under the scheme, a wide variety of native species can be planted, including oak, birch, alder, hazel, holly, and rowan, each bringing its own ecological benefits. Native trees help restore biodiversity, improve soil health, encourage wildlife habitats, and strengthen local ecosystems. They also play a vital part in climate action by absorbing carbon dioxide and helping to regulate water levels in areas prone to flooding. Many participants in the SWS say one of the key advantages of the scheme is that it supports smaller parcels of land that might not qualify for larger forestry programmes. This has led to a significant increase in the establishment of pocket woodlands, shelterbelts, riparian buffers, and nature corridors. These smaller projects, when added together across communities, make a major contribution to Irelands environmental goals. The planting phase is straightforward, with guidance available on species selection, layout, and preparation. Once trees are established, ongoing maintenance such as protecting young saplings, controlling competitive vegetation, and ensuring proper spacing helps the woodland thrive. Support from the SWS makes this process more manageable, especially for first-time participants. Across the region, landowners involved in the scheme report a strong sense of satisfaction in seeing their newly planted areas take shape. What begins as a few rows of saplings quickly grows into healthy woodland that will benefit future generations. In addition to environmental gains, many value the aesthetic improvement to their land and the increased biodiversity that follows. The SWS is a reminder that even modest areas of planting can make a meaningful difference. With continued interest and local engagement, these small woodlands will become vital green spaces supporting wildlife, improving the landscape, and contributing to Irelands long-term sustainability goals. Chairperson of next COFORD Council appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD, has announced the appointment of the next COFORD Council, which will play a key role in providing scientific and forestry advice to assist in the delivery and implementation of Irelands Forest Strategy. Minister Healy-Rae stated: I am delighted to announce that Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain has agreed to be the next chair of the COFORD Council; she will bring a wealth of experience to this important role. "The wider membership of this Council, which I am appointing, is drawn from across a diverse field of scientific expertise in forestry, including ecology, carbon and timber." Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain is the Director of the Forestry undergraduate degree programme in University College Dublin. She brings considerable expertise in forestry and has led a wide number of scientific studies, which have provided outputs that have helped shape forest policy and the sector. The COFORD Council is appointed by the Minister of State at the Department and has been in existence for over 30 years. It has undergone many changes over the years, and this new Council will have a particular focus on scientific knowledge and research expertise. Its work will complement the work of the Forest Strategy Consultative Committee, which is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marines main forestry stakeholder platform. Minister Healy-Rae continued: The studies and reports published by COFORD are important for the development of the forest sector, for example, recent reports from COFORD on potential annual roundwood production, and indicative plant and seed supply, provide forecast information that supports the strategic development of the sector. "These types of reports are prepared by working groups of the COFORD Council and involve stakeholders from across the sector, as well as cross-border collaboration with counterparts in Northern Ireland. The new chairperson of the Council, Professor Aine Ni Dhubhain, stated: I am delighted to accept the Ministers nomination to chair this Council and look forward to working with my Council colleagues and with the Department to provide advice and to continue to connect science and policy. "I have worked for many years on previous Councils and know that, through collaboration, we can continue to produce studies that will support the sector and its stakeholders. Opening of Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme 2026 Minister Healy-Rae also recently announced the opening of the Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group (KTG) Scheme 2026. Announcing the scheme, the Minister said: The Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme gives forest owners practical, hands-on knowledge and the confidence to make informed decisions about their forests. The aim of the KTG Scheme is to promote active, sustainable forest management by building forest owners knowledge, awareness and decision-making capacity to support the management of their forests. Now entering its seventh year, the Forestry KTG Scheme has become a cornerstone of knowledge transfer in the sector. Since its introduction in 2018, the Department has supported almost 3,000 forest owners to participate in locally based groups, helping them build the skills and confidence to actively manage their forests and maximise their long-term value. The Minister continued: Groups are led by professional foresters and operate through field visits, demonstrations and peer-to-peer discussion, enabling participants to learn from both experts and fellow forest owners. These groups are about practical learning and real-world experience. They help owners to take a more active role in managing their forests. A key enhancement to the 2026 Scheme is the introduction of two dedicated Focus Areas, allowing organisers and participants to tailor learning to their specific needs. Focus Area A Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): Covering core silviculture, thinning, forest operations, forest health and resilience. Focus Area B Forest Management Plans (FMPs) and Forest Certification (FC): Supporting owners to prepare management plans and take practical steps towards certification and higher management standards. As Focus Area B is a new addition to the scheme, and in order to maximise uptake and support wider adoption of forest management planning and certification, all forest owners will be eligible to join a Focus Area B group, irrespective of whether they have participated in a Forestry KTG in previous years. This expanded access removes previous participation restrictions and ensures that any owner wishing to develop a Forest Management Plan or progress towards certification can do so through the scheme. Minister Healy-Rae continued: We want to make it easier for every forest owner to engage with planning and certification. Opening Focus Area B to all participants gives more owners a clear pathway to better management standards and stronger market opportunities. Recognising that forest owners may be unable to attend some meetings, the scheme also provides flexibility to ensure continued participation. Participants in this scheme may nominate a family member or joint owner to attend meetings on their behalf. The Minister concluded: The new focus areas and the option to nominate someone to attend on your behalf ensures that nobody misses out on the opportunity to build skills and knowledge on managing your forests. Hopes the Melleray monks would come back were dashed by the recent Cistercian announcement. The Our Lady of Silence community, comprising monks from Melleray, Roscrea and Mellifont, have spent the past 13 or 14 months together in Roscrea discerning their future. Theyve decided to relocate to Mellifont, Cullen, in Co. Louth, and near the Cistercian ruins of Old Mellifont, founded nearly 900 years ago. Though I wasnt a very regular visitor or guest, I have stayed for retreats and found the simple routine of rising early for morning prayer and Mass (I never braved the 4.30am prayers, too snug under the blankets!), sinking into the slower pace of the liturgy, free from pressure of parish expectation of a quick Mass. The old-style ringing of the large bell, which sent vibrations through the guesthouse and calling out over the farmland, robed monks and guests making their way to the draughty but peaceful choir chapel, was a call to live to the beat of a different drum. Food was unfancy, but wholesome, other guests, an unusual combination of personalities and backgrounds. Finance was never the focus, a guideline donation was a suggestion, not a charge. Addiction, more than affluence, was the backdrop for some guests. Always down to earth, there were no pretences but an open acknowledgement of our need of God and others. Sermons were never a performance, but a serious attempt to say something worthwhile and solid. Men like Fr Francis, the unofficial welcomer and greeter of visitors with a treasure trove of jokes and witty tales conveying a deep understanding and acceptance of our human foibles, or Portlaws Fr Kevin Fogarty, who shared a mystical experience while praying the only one in a long life of meditation and worship. Kevin, to me, a tiny, frail old man full of wisdom and warmth, focused to the core of being a good monk. He also gave me a friends anonymous reflection on the life of a monk, a breathtaking personal insight into a very different way of life, contemplating on the heart of human living and praying for the world. One monk, a few days ago, said, "I left Melleray 90% sure that Melleray would be chosen as our permanent location, but this is where we are now. Not easy for Melleray or Roscrea people but its not the end of the world. We are not without hope." In 1832 Bishop Abraham, from Clonea Power, laid the foundation stone in Melleray. Now the monastery is left for another purpose, a fresh beginning, while in the next year or two the monks make their way to Mellifont. A mhanaigh le meitheil a chothaigh an Sliabh, A mhuin scolairi is a ghriosaigh criostaithe. Go dte sibh slan go Maighe Lu agus Bru na Boinne Gui orainn ata fagtha faoi scail an bhroin. Farewell dear monks who made mountain into farmland Taught in class and cared for souls. Now to the plains of Louth Where once you farmed Newgrange, settle in lush land And smaller house. Pray for us, bereft in your wake. LETTERS, your voice, your view: Whether you agree or disagree with the views expressed or would like to have your own personal opinion aired in public, were waiting to hear from you. Send your letters to Editor, Waterford News & Star, Gladstone House, Gladstone Street, Waterford City or email maryfrances.ryan@waterford-news.com Advertisement BusinessCompaniesFashion retail Opinion Luxury retailers fashion spree defied auditors survival concerns Colin Kruger Senior business reporter March 7, 2026 2:00am March 7, 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 When Cettire executives fronted investors for its December half results last week, they poured cold water on the warnings from the luxury retailers auditors that its survival was in doubt. There are concerns the companys cash on hand may not be enough for it to pay its bills as they fall due over the next year, a fact that they acknowledged, while also saying the accounts were unqualified. This means the auditor thought the financial statements were in line with accounting standards. Consumer appetite for luxury fashion has waned for retailers being smashed by Donald Trumps new customers duties on their largest market: the US. Getty Images Lets just be very clear that we have an unqualified set of accounts out today and thats very clear from the report from the auditor. So I think thats very important for people to understand, chief financial officer Tim Hume told analysts and investors on a conference call. Advertisement If you look back at our accounts in June, there was a current asset shortfall in June and also a note in our annual report around going concern. The auditors concerns are just the latest problem for Cettire. There have long been worries from some about the companys business model, and lately it has suffered from tax changes in the US that have dampened demand. Its share price has plunged from $1 to a low of 25 over the past year - a bigger bargain than the Prada handbags on its website. Another part of the problem is that luxury fashion consumers are also suffering from buyer fatigue and investors have lost confidence in Cettires mysterious ability to be so much more successful than its rivals. Advertisement The auditors are specifically raising concerns over Cettires ability to pay its bills as they fall due if the company doesnt raise debt or more cash. The gap between Cettires short-term assets like cash, and its estimated bills due this calendar year has risen from more than $27 million in June to $51 million as of December last year. The company, founded by Dean Mintz, acknowledged it might need to either raise money from investors or from banks to meet the shortfall. It points to mitigation efforts like cost-cutting and focusing its resources on loyal customers and new markets that continue to grow very strongly and the fact the company has no debt. Mintzs confidence about Cettires future can be the only explanation for the audacious gamble that it did not reveal to investors at the groups financial results announcement last week. Advertisement Mintz had shrugged off Cettires potentially existential cash crisis and pursued purchasing a Canadian rival, Ssense, soon after it collapsed late last year. The Canadian company had failed in part due to the crisis that bedevils the entire sector, including Cettire: US President Donald Trumps decision to charge duties on all goods entering the US, with no exceptions. There was no requirement for Cettire to disclose its tilt at Ssense, but given its cash issues, it would have been an eye-opener for investors if the bid succeeded. All of a sudden, the luxury goods that Cettire and Ssense sell online to the massive US market are subject to duties. Luxury retailers have been battered by US President Donald Trumps tariffs and termination of de minimis customs duty exemptions. Getty Images Prior to the changes in the de minimis, the duties attachment rate in that market was a fraction of what it is today, Hume said. Advertisement All of this cost is passed through to customers, but it has sent Cettires large US business into reverse, as it did for Ssense, which collapsed within weeks of the duties being applied. But luxury fashion was suffering before this from consumer fatigue. Between the years of 2023 and 2025, consumer spending habits began to change and decline and Ssense began to face macroeconomic challenges. Ssenses sales deteriorated during this period, a report from EY said of the Canadian groups collapse. Cettire would not comment but it was one of the final bidders for the Ssense business, which was sold back to its founders for $C78 million ($81.8 million). It was Mintzs most audacious move since selling more than $300 million of his Cettire shares to investors, when the company was valued at up to $1.8 billion. Those investors have lost hundreds of millions of dollars as its shares plunged. Cettire is now near record lows and the entire company is barely worth $100 million. Advertisement Its a long way from when the Aussie start-up stormed the world of high-end fashion during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering the latest fashions online at a significant discount to the official retail channels of the luxury brands like Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, by getting discounted surplus stock from suppliers. The economics looked brilliant. The company receives shoppers money before it pays for the designer goods from its web of suppliers, which ensures it is always flush with cash, even if it is temporary cash that must soon be paid to suppliers. It holds no inventory and it needs only ensure the logistics of moving the goods from supplier to customer, taking care of any taxes and duties and customer support. Cettires reclusive founder Dean Mintz set up the business to be self-funding, meaning there have been no banks or lenders scrutinising his operating model. These are some of the factors that help explain why it is not in quite the same peril as its Canadian rival, which was once valued at $C5 billion. Ssense had a financially cumbersome model where it acquired the inventory it sold to customers. Advertisement This required much more staff and funding than Cettire. It is easy to see Cettires interest in dumping everything besides Ssenses large customer base and weaning them onto its much more efficient retail model. Related Article Retail Australias luxury success story is running out of cash and Trump is to blame But nothing explains how Cettire was going to pull off this deal given its own market valuation was back around record lows of $100 million, as well as its cash issues. Last year was a tough one for Cettire, which reported a loss and declining revenue throughout 2025 financials last June as it was crushed by competition and the first decline in the global luxury market outside of COVID in 15 years. What the numbers last week revealed is the start of the damage being introduced by Trump ending the de minimis exemption. Advertisement Falling sales mean the positive cash arbitrage between customer payments and delayed supplier payments is getting unwound, sending its cash balance to a low of $37 million in June last year. But that is not the only reason for its cash quandary. The IOUs are rising for its biggest creditor: the Italian government. Cettire sells predominantly Italian luxury goods, which means it pays value-added tax on these goods and needs to apply to the Italian government for refunds, given most of its sales are then exported to the US. One part of Cettires fiscal crisis is due to the $37 million in overdue VAT payments from the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Bloomberg More than $37 million worth of these VAT charges are classified as non-current, which reflects the fact that, in some cases, it takes a year for Cettire to get a refund. Advertisement Hume says: Certain governments in Europe are notorious for being slow around managing their own payables, if you will, and can be particularly slow for foreign companies. And so I think this is a very frustrating situation, but its a major priority for us to convert it to cash. Good luck with that. The current half year could be critical for Cettires survival, even if its founder doesnt think so. But then again, he is flush with more than $300 million in cash from selling his Cettire shares when investors drove the business to ridiculous valuations. It means he has more than ample funds to rescue the business if it all goes wrong, just like the founders of Ssense, who beat him to the punch and bought back their business last month. After months of uncertainty, the closing of the transaction marks an important milestone and affirms our ability to continue building Ssense for the long term, the founders said in a statement last month after the deal settled. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon. Advertisement Javier Blas March 6, 2026 2:35pm 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 CIA calls it the strategic commodity of the Middle East. But its not referring to oil or natural gas. What the US spy agency has in mind is far more prosaic: drinking water. Dont underestimate it, though, because if military hostilities continue to escalate, water could become the geopolitical commodity that decides the war between the US and Iran. The Persian Gulf is gifted with a fabulous hydrocarbon endowment, worth trillions of dollars. What its desertic countries dont have is water. From the 1970s onwards, the oil money bought a solution: desalination plants. Today, the region relies on nearly 450 facilities to stop everyone from going thirsty. The Persian Gulf relies on nearly 450 facilities to turn seawater into drinking water. They are now under threat. AFP The CIA has been briefing US policymakers for decades on the inherent risk of relying on those plants for such a crucial supply. In a secret assessment in the early 1980s, since declassified, the CIA said: Senior government officials in some of the countries perceive [water] as more important than oil to the national well-being. More than four decades later, not much has changed. Desalination remains a relatively cost-effective technology to transform seawater into drinking water. The downside is the vulnerability of the installations, and the oil and gas consumption required to fire the power generators that run the plants. About 100 million people live in the countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman all now under Iranian attack. Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE are, for all practical purposes, completely dependent on the desalination plants, particularly for metropolises such as Dubai. Saudi Arabia, and especially its capital, Riyadh, also relies heavily on them. Advertisement Under international law, the desalination plants are protected. But I have seen enough Middle Eastern wars to know the weight of the Geneva Conventions when missiles and bombs start flying. And they are: Iran has attacked a power station in Fujairah, UAE, that keeps one of the worlds largest desalination plants running. In Kuwait, debris from a drone interception caused a fire in one of the countrys plants. The risk is enormous. Take the Jubail desalination plant, located on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. It supplies Riyadh, via a roughly 500-kilometre-long pipeline system, with more than 90 per cent of its drinking water. Riyadh would have to evacuate within a week if the plant, its pipelines, or associated power infrastructure were seriously damaged or destroyed, according to a 2008 memo from the US embassy in the kingdom released by Wikileaks. The current structure of the Saudi government could not exist without the Jubail desalinisation plant, the memo says. Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE are, for all practical purposes, completely dependent on the desalination plants, particularly for metropolises such as Dubai. iStock Since the cable became public, the Saudis have reinforced their water network. Other countries have also built up redundancy. Still, all the water plants are equally vulnerable and all of them are within range of the Iranian missiles. The good news is that water is so strategic and so human that any Iranian direct attack on them would be considered a massive escalation, so perhaps a step too far for Tehran. Still, Iran doesnt have many options to prevail. Militarily, it cannot escalate against the combined Israeli-American war machine. Its only options are to hunker down, in the hope that a long-lasting conflict becomes economically too painful for its enemies, or go after so-called soft targets like energy sites, airports and water installations. From its actions, its clear the Islamic Republic has chosen to hit soft targets and hunker down, hoping to outlast the assault. Ultimately, the Islamic Republic sees surviving as winning even if victory comes with immense losses. Advertisement Attacking several of those desalination plants would put Persian Gulf countries in an impossible situation. Outside military circles, the Middle Eastern water desalination plants receive little scrutiny; its almost a taboo subject. It makes sense: Its difficult to believe that someone would deliberately target something so essential to human life. 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 But if we have learnt anything over the past few years, it is that the unthinkable happens. Remember Russia shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, the largest in Europe? Worse, perhaps, the history of the Middle East teaches us that the unthinkable has already happened when it comes to water supplies. In 1991, the Iraqi troops under Saddam Hussein deliberately opened the taps of a key Kuwaiti oil pipeline, spilling the crude into the Persian Gulf. The aim was twofold: hamper an amphibious landing by the US and its allies to liberate the country, and pollute the sea in the hope of damaging the nearby Saudi desalination plants. Lets hope the Islamic Republic, feeling cornered and fighting for its own survival, doesnt resort to the very same tactics its once archenemy Saddam used. But the risk is real whether by targeting desalination plants deliberately, or by accident due to a stray missile or drone. Oil is essential, but water is irreplaceable. Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement BusinessWorkplaceAI Future-proofing your career: Which degrees will survive AI disruption? Emily Chantiri March 7, 2026 2:01am 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 artificial intelligence continues to upend industry and jobs, choosing degrees that will withstand the disruption and prepare students for future jobs is becoming increasingly important. Monash Universitys faculty of information technology deputy dean, Professor Jean-Guy Schneider, said in the past few years, there has been a strong growth in demand for AI study, particularly at postgraduate level, as well as across undergraduate courses. Universities are developing new AI-centric degrees. Andrew Quilty Whats especially notable is the increasing interest in double degrees combining IT with disciplines from across the university, showing students recognise the jobs of the future will require deep technology skills alongside expertise in other fields, he says. Monash is developing a new applied AI degree that is designed to prepare graduates to implement AI beyond the classroom, from healthcare and finance to engineering and public services, where skills are already in critical demand. Advertisement Other popular degrees at Monash include bachelors degrees in science, engineering (honours), arts, business and biomedical. Macquarie Universitys deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Eric Knight, has seen a growing interest in courses that train teachers, including bachelor degrees in education and engineering. We have also seen a lot of interest in our growing range of health courses, including the bachelor of psychology and our new bachelor of health sciences. Macquaries other top enrolments include bachelor degrees in commerce, psychology, and media and communications. All degrees must include AI component Advertisement Global technology futurist, Dr Bruce McCabe, said every process in every job across every industry would be affected by AI. All aspects will be changed. What I see is that most people grossly underestimate whats coming in all parts of AI. What were seeing today is nothing compared to whats coming even in the next few years, he says. Editor's pick Opinion Jobs The five surprising skills youll need to get a promotion this year Tim Duggan Work columnist With this in mind, McCabe said every course at university needs to include a component that demonstrates how to best use AI in that field. Otherwise, we are selling the students short, he says. If youre doing a degree or even a course in carpentry, you need some sort of module to cover how to use AI in your industry, or you wont be competitive. Advertisement I dont predict a job apocalypse, but what I do predict is a marked increase in wealth disparity; those who are using the right AI tools to multiply their impact, will do well. Opportunities McCabe said some of the new opportunities are more specialised, such as data. He sees data training as a central feature of jobs in the future. Many businesses are going to need data curators, he says. These are employees who are literally only responsible for the companys information or data; maintaining inventory and looking at how it can be used to create value to train AI. He said professionals who were responsible for the quality control of that data would also be needed in businesses such as banks, insurance companies or airlines. An outbound AI customer service job is another potential role. Advertisement Think of AI customer agents or orchestrators who manage outbound communication, he says. Its no different to managing people. Someone has to assess what the customer experience has been like by listening to it, researching and managing it. McCabe said there was also a lot of AI interacting with AI in the business-to-business domain. Think of any supply chain, such as construction or automative parts or labour value chains. In all of these, the brokering of deals will increasingly involve machines talking to machines, he says. According to McCabe, the current jobs at risk include basic reporting, interpreting, technical writing, telesales, audio production, advertising in the traditional sense, and straightforward coding and programming. Get workplace news, advice and perspectives to help make your job work for you. Sign up for our weekly Thank God its Monday 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: AI Jobs China denounces Australia's provocative operations in Yellow Sea Xinhua) 12:31, March 07, 2026 BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday rejected accusations by Australia about an aircraft encounter over the Yellow Sea and expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition against Australia's distortion of facts. Responding to a media query, Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said that an Australian frigate recently dispatched its shipborne helicopters multiple times to conduct close-in reconnaissance against China in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea under the pretext of implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions. "These actions constituted continuous provocations and endangered China's national security," Jiang said. He added that the Chinese military responded swiftly and their operations were legitimate, reasonable, professional, and in full compliance with international law and practices. Jiang also said that U.N. Security Council resolutions do not authorize any country to deploy military forces in waters or airspace under another country's jurisdiction to conduct surveillance activities under the pretext of monitoring violations. China will not tolerate any acts that undermine its sovereignty and security in the name of implementing U.N. resolutions, he stressed. Jiang urged Australia to respect China's sovereignty and security concerns, stop spreading false information, strictly restrain the actions of its naval and air forces, and avoid risky provocations that could undermine regional peace and stability. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan) Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US Department of State will impose visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials for fuelling instability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Saturday slammed the Centre after United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that Washington DC has granted India the 30-day "permission" to purchase Russian oil. Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi "cowardly and compromised," Ramesh said that the US has given the NDA government a "certificate to follow US President Donald Trump's orders." Sharing Scott Bessent's interview with Fox Business, the Congress MP wrote on X, "The US Treasury Secretary has given the Modi government its certificate for faithfully following President Trump's orders! Does anything more need to be said about how cowardly and compromised the self-proclaimed 56-inch chest has become?" This comes after Bessent yet again said, "The Indians have been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil. But to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept Russian oil. We may un-sanction other Russian oil." With the crisis in the Gulf severely hampering shipping routes that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States on Thursday (local time) allowed a 30-day waiver for India to purchase Russian Oil to meet its energy requirements. India sources nearly 40 per cent of its oil imports from West Asia, with a significant portion transported through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The US' "permission" statement has sparked heavy criticism from the Opposition parties. However, according to sources, India is reviewing its energy situation twice a day and is in a very comfortable position regarding its energy security. India's current stock position is also seen to be comfortable, with stock being replenished every day. As per the sources, there is no shortage of LPG or LNG, as well as crude oil, in the world. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri also said on Friday that there is no shortage of energy in India and there is no cause for worry for its energy consumers. "Our priority is to ensure the availability of affordable and sustainable fuel for our citizens, and we are doing it comfortably. There is no shortage of energy in India, and there is no cause of worry for our energy consumers," the Union Minister posted on X. The conflict in West Asia, which began with US-Israel joint strikes on Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, has entered its eighth day. Tehran retaliates by attacking Israel and US military bases in West Asian countries. (ANI) The clerical body that will choose Irans next supreme leader, succeeding the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has more or less reached a majority consensus, Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri said on Sunday. The Mehr news agency quoted him as saying some obstacles still needed to be resolved regarding the process. Two members of the panel, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir and Ahmad Alamolhoda, said the assembly had chosen a successor, according to Iranian media. Heidari Alekasir said the candidate had been picked based on the late supreme leaders advice that Irans top leader should be hated by the enemy instead of praised by it. Even the Great Satan (US) has mentioned his name, the senior cleric said of the chosen successor, days after US President Donald Trump said Khameneis son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was an unacceptable choice for him. Reuters Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A This story is part of the March 7 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . Its 9pm in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and the city is overrun by loud, enthusiastic Donald Trump supporters. Young men in cheap suits are ambling across Central Avenue in and out of hotels, women with overly made-up faces are clacking their heels down the sidewalk. Make America Great Again caps and badges abound. This is the first night of AmericaFest, an annual festival of all things Christian and nationalist, run by Turning Point USA the creation of assassinated activist Charlie Kirk. Its only a week before Christmas, and the rest of the country is winding down and heading home after a chaotic year. But 30,000 conservatives have flocked to the desert to spend four days basking in their collective victory and debating Americas future. Ive come here to gauge the state of the MAGA movement after a year of Trumps return to the White House, at a time when the focus of many young foot soldiers is turning to what or who comes next. But sitting at the bar at Hannys, a dimly lit, upmarket joint a block from the vast convention centre where AmericaFest is held, Nora Christine warns me I might already be too late. I dont want to say Im part of MAGA because I think MAGAs kind of dead, she says. Christine, a conservative activist from Florida with a fledgling podcast, casts her eyes around the bar. Theyre not going to tell you that. The conservative coalition that propelled Trump back to the White House a year earlier has had a rocky few months. Some of it stems from people breaking with Trump over policy decisions; his bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities or his fraternising with regime change in Venezuela; his fondness for Big Tech and foreign worker visas, his initial reluctance to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in 2025 while answering audience questions at a campus. Shutterstock The Heritage Foundation, a large and important conservative think tank, imploded over its president Kevin Roberts decision to support broadcaster Tucker Carlson after he lent his massive online platform to young white supremacist Nick Fuentes. As well as prompting mass walkouts and resignations at Heritage, the episode put a spotlight on antisemitism in the MAGA movement, and sparked a debate about how wide the coalitions big tent could be. Lurking in the background is another question: can this hodgepodge collection of Trump Republicans, working-class and less-educated voters, evangelicals, young men, the online right and others stay united beyond Donald Trump? And who would be the best person to try to hold that bloc together? Advertisement Erika Kirk, who became chief executive of Turning Point after her husband Charlie was killed, answers that question emphatically in her opening address. We are going to get my husbands friend J.D. Vance elected for [president number] 48 in the most resounding way possible, she tells the cheering crowd. But back at the bar, Nora Christine isnt so sure. I think were too fractured, she says. Weve fractured over multiple issues, from Israel to [far-right populist politician] Marjorie Taylor Greene to even now with Erika Kirk and [conspiracy theorist] Candace Owens. I think were very, very fractured. With Trump in power and a country to run, it feels like there should be bigger fish to fry than the internecine squabbles between MAGA television personalities and online activists. But no. People are losing friendships over it, Christine says. It is pretty serious. On a street near the convention centre, two eye-popping vehicles are parked a block from one another. A van splashed in neon pink writing offers a QR code for Unmasking the Mark, a multipart film purporting that the COVID-19 pandemic was calculated to bring about the End Times. Up the road, a Tesla Cybertruck has been repainted as a monument to Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA. A Tesla Cybertruck in Phoenix, Arizona painted in support of Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated last year. Michael Koziol Inside, its a jungle. People cram onto escalators heading down towards the main ballroom, the exhibition hall and media row, where the nations myriad conservative networks and podcasters have temporary studios to broadcast to their niche but growing audiences. Fox Nation is here, as is The Daily Wire, One America News and Steve Bannons War Room. A fledgling brand called FourG Media also has a stand; the four Gs in question are: God, Gas, Guns and Glory. Advertisement To understand the contours of the MAGA movement, you first have to understand its magnitude. People come to it from any and all corners of this sprawling country, from Trump loyalists to old-school Republicans who drank the Kool-Aid, from TikTok influencers and grifters to the far-flung nooks and crannies of the conspiratorial alt-right. Plenty of them are here at AmericaFest. US political analysts talk constantly about the duelling Republican and Democratic coalitions: who is in them, and whether they will be motivated to show up to vote. In presidential elections, the coalitions can swing significantly depending on the individual; Joe Biden rallied support from black and Latino men, but they did not turn out for Kamala Harris, for example. A flyer for FourG Media, a conservative and Republican news website, at the Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference. Michael Koziol The MAGA coalition is a broad church. There is a theory among some conservative thinkers that the movement should have no enemies to our right that is, it should welcome, or at least not ostracise, fringe dwellers who deal in conspiracy theories, antisemitism and bigotry of many stripes. When Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts released a video defending Tucker Carlson for platforming a white supremacist, he said: The American people expect us to be focusing on our political adversaries on the left, not attacking our friends on the right. At AmericaFest, that assertion was directly challenged from the opening beat. Ben Shapiro, a high-pitched, fast-talking Jewish conservative who co-founded The Daily Wire and has more than eight million followers on X, told the capacity crowd they had an obligation to clarity, honesty, specificity in public debate and to condemn and call out people in the movement who failed to do so. The conservative movement is in serious danger from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracy and dishonesty, who offer nothing but bile and despair, he said. These people are frauds, and they are grifters, and they do not deserve your time. And they are something worse than that a danger to the only movement capable of stopping the left from wrecking the country wholesale. Shapiro went on to call Candace Owens pronouncements retarded and dismiss MAGA stalwart Steve Bannon as a man who was once a PR flak for Jeffrey Epstein. He shamed Tucker Carlson for giving a platform to Nick Fuentes, Andrew Tate and Nazi apologist Darryl Cooper: Hosts are indeed responsible for the guests they choose and the questions they ask those guests. Advertisement Carlson, who spoke later that evening, said he couldnt believe he was hearing calls for people to be denounced and de-platformed at a Turning Point USA event. I thought that was the whole reason we were against the left, he guffawed. We did everything we could to usher in a new time where you could have an actual debate. This kind of was the whole point of Charlie Kirks public life, and I think that he died for it. Kirk loved fielding questions from audience members; its what he was doing when he was shot and killed at a university campus in Utah in September. After Shapiros fiery speech, a young man in a blazer, crisp white shirt and jeans approached the microphone and asked why Shapiro considered Israels attack on the USS Liberty in 1967, during the Six-Day War, to be irrelevant to the USs modern-day relationship with Israel. Jewish conservative Ben Shapiro giving a speech condemning those who traffic in conspiracy. NYT The US government accepts that the attack, which killed 34 Americans, was a mistake caused by Israel wrongly identifying the ship. But it remains a staple of antisemitic conspiracies and one frequently cited by Fuentes on his livestreams. Shapiro pushed back, querying the mans motives for bringing up a six-decade-old incident. The young man didnt give a clear answer and disappeared into the crowd. But The Atlantic tracked him down his name was Nicky Rudd, a student from a Christian university in Texas, and he told the magazine that while he didnt agree with everything Fuentes said, To deny the influence of Nick Fuentes is to deny what millions of Americans are thinking. In a recent video on his Instagram, Rudd claims Americans have woken up to the reality that Israel is subverting our sovereignty. Shapiro, he says, is Israel First. Of the issues dividing the MAGA world, Israel is arguably the most potent particularly in the way it cleaves young from old. In August, a University of Maryland poll found about one in five Republicans aged 18 to 34 felt the Trump administrations policy was too pro-Israel, and that Israels actions in Gaza were genocide or akin to genocide. Another 14 per cent said Israel was committing major war crimes, but it did not amount to genocide. On both questions, another 30 to 40 per cent of young Republicans were uncertain. That is a potent audience for someone like Fuentes. The 27-year-old may not be a household name across middle America, but here in MAGA heartland, everyone knows him. He has branded his own army of fans, the Groypers, who unite around a reactionary, trolling, supposedly edgy blend of antisemitism, misogyny, racism and homophobia. Advertisement Candace Owens, another conspiratorial right-wing podcaster and influencer, has suggested the man charged with killing Charlie Kirk was not acting alone and could have been in cahoots with foreign entities such as the French or Israelis. Her unsubstantiated claims, made in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, have contributed much to the rift in the MAGA/conservative ecosystem since Kirks death. At Hannys bar, I meet 30-year-old Mark Lukridge, an articulate fintech guy from Dallas who, a few weeks after AmericaFest, becomes communications director for the Dallas Young Republicans. He says he listened to Nick Fuentes appearance on Carlsons show and reckons the young white supremacist doesnt come off that bad. But wait a minute: isnt this the same guy who reckons Hitler was awesome? Lukridge jumps right in. Oh, he loves Joseph Stalin and hes obviously an extreme misogynist. You listen to the guy speak, right OK, clearly I dont agree with what hes saying here, but he does command the attention of a lot of people who are just pissed off with mainstream politics of being politically correct, especially young white men. Thats why hes attracted such an audience because theres a space for that. Lukridge keeps a foot in both camps. He doesnt subscribe to the Candace Owens conspiracy about Mossad being involved in Kirks assassination; theres not enough evidence. But he likes Tucker Carlson, saying Carlson doesnt bow to the dogma to always praise Israel or that everything the US does should benefit Israel. Tucker Carlsons platforming of white supremacist Nick Fuentes (left) has caused ructions. If you really look at Israel and their objectives and truthfully, I dont know a lot about the Israeli movement and our core relationship with them but I stand firmly in the belief that we vote our officials in office to make decisions on behalf of us, Lukridge says. Id like to know that our tax dollars go toward decision-making that promotes us and has our best interests in mind, rather than a foreign nation. By contrast, Nora Christine, the woman who said MAGA was fractured and kind of dead, clearly believes the conspiracies around Kirks death. She wont tell me exactly what she thinks, but she makes a salient point: in right-wing circles, the advent of conspiracy theories has shaped a conspiratorial mindset. Advertisement A 42-year-old property dealer was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Chhawla area of Dwarka in the national capital on Friday, with police sources indicating that the role of gangster Kapil Sangwan, who had recently threatened the deceased, was being investigated. According to the Delhi Police, the victim was alone in his vehicle when the attackers opened fire from close range, resulting in his immediate death. "Unknown assailants shot and killed a property dealer in Chhawla of the Dwarka district. The attackers found the dealer alone in his car and shot him. A gangster living abroad had recently issued a threat to him. Police are investigating the matter," the Delhi Police said. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, on January 19, an active member of the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang was arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with an Arms Act case, officials said. According to the Delhi Police, the absconding accused has been identified as Manoj Rathee. The arrest was made by a team of the Special Cell of the New Delhi Range (NDR) of the Delhi police. The arrest was made under Section 25(8) of the Arms Act. The accused has been previously involved in two criminal cases, including a murder case of the year 2021 registered at Police Station Najafgarh. In February 2024, the accused absconded from the country, following which a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued against him and a Look Out Circular (LOC) was opened. Later, he was subsequently intercepted at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and arrested on January 9, 2026. (ANI) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) Drivers across Louisville may notice billboards urging people to report animal abuse. The message is simple if you see a dog, cat or any animal being mistreated, report it. But the billboards are not part of a city campaign. They are being paid for by one Louisville woman who says she wants to speak up for animals that cannot speak for themselves. Jenny Brown says the idea came after she recorded video showing dogs tied up outside and living in mud and standing water. She turned that video over to Louisville Metro Animal Services. "I want to animals are the most innocent beings among us, and they dont have a voice," Brown said. Some of us need to be their voice." Brown says she is not the leader of an organization or advocacy group just someone who cares deeply about animals. She has raised nearly $9,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to pay for the billboards. Each billboard costs about $1,200 a month to display, including the artwork. Brown volunteers with Louisville Metro Animal Services, and the phone number listed on the billboards connects directly to the agency. Animal Services officials say they support the effort. "Its awesome," one staff member said. "Ive been here ten years and I dont remember seeing billboards specifically about cruelty and neglect." Inside the shelter, several dogs are being cared for while they wait for homes. Many were found as strays. One dog named Henry is severely underweight something staff say they have been seeing more often. "I would say over the last three to four years weve definitely seen an increase in emaciated dogs," a staff member said. "Dogs that just arent being fed well." Brown says she is receiving a public service rate for the billboards and hopes to keep them up as long as possible to encourage people to report abuse and neglect when they see it. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MPs will support the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in accordance with the direction of the party chairperson, Mamata Banerjee. The development comes ahead of the second phase of the budget session, set to commence on March 9, where three Congress MPs are scheduled to move a resolution demanding the removal of Speaker Om Birla for disallowing Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House. Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi have accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of being partisan and of making "unwarranted allegations" against women MPs belonging to the opposition. They further pointed out that while opposition MPs have been suspended by Birla for the entire parliament session for raising issues concerning the public, the ruling party members have not been rebuked for making "derogatory" remarks against former Prime Ministers. "Having taken into consideration the conduct of the Speaker of the House as regards disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders to speak, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs, feels he has ceased to maintain an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House," the list of business for Lok Sabha read. The Congress MPs also accused Birla of "openly espousing the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters," stating that such conduct constitutes a danger to the proper functioning of the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress issued a 'three-line whip' to their Lok Sabha MPs, expecting their presence in the House from March 9 to 11. During the first leg of the budget session, the Congress moved a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, after which the Lok Sabha Speaker announced that he would not preside over the chair on moral grounds until the motion was disposed of. This was followed by a massive uproar in the Parliament after Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. Subsequently, eight opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session for violating the rules of the lower house. The first phase of the budget session witnessed constant adjournments due to massive uproars. (ANI) It is misleading to suggest that a grant application to complete the Canal House project in Belmullet was won at the expense of a proposal to develop Westport Harbour, a Mayo County Council management executive has stated. At a meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District last week, several councillors criticised the refusal of the Westport project while suggesting that management was responsible for Belmullet successfully being awarded a grant. However, Director of Services Joanne Grehan advised members it was wrong to conflate the two, adding that the Westport project could get funding in the future. "The approved project for Belmullet came from a Gaeltacht funding stream and had we not had any projects in for consideration under this stream, this municipal district would have been in receipt of no such project. The Gaeltacht stream is a new stream for the entire country. Every single Gaeltacht county had an opportunity to apply for one project. That is a fact. This county had two potential projects, one in Tourmakeady and one in Belmullet and our application in Belmullet was successful. Ms Grehan said there were two different fundings streams - the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) and the Gaeltacht stream of funding. "We did not know there was any issue with the Westport project and had no indication it would not be funded. The first we learned about it was when the list came out and we were shocked and very surprised. We asked for feedback straight away and the formal feedback was as per the letter attached to the report, which notes that all funding rounds tend to be oversubscribed and while the Westport Harbour application was not deemed successful, this does not preclude a future funding application for this or a similar project. She added: So we can look for another appropriate funding steam for that project, and the tourism team has committed to doing that. She also pointed out that over 20 million of funding had been won between Newport and Westport under the TVRS. Speaking through Irish, Belmullet councillor Sean Carey welcomed the grant for his hometown, telling the forum: Belmullet was lucky and rightly so. There was no other application from Belmullet, and this was the first time an application was looked for from the Gaeltacht." Cllr Gerry Coyle said nobody knew the Westport application would be turned down, adding: This was a Gaeltacht grant that came in for Belmullet and we agreed and will keep our word, that at the next round of TVRS grants, our efforts will go towards an application for Westport." Universities can use a lot of strange terms to describe what they do. Instead of classes, they have tutorials. They award degrees but call them bachelors. You study your course in bite sizes called modules. And as you work through your course towards your degree, you gain credits. And of course they have professors. In my day, a professor was a Gandalf the Grey type figure, powerful, mighty and rare. Nowadays there are a lot more people called Professor, though some of them are associate or assistant Professor. The most mighty of professors these days are distinguished by having a Chair. This is another example of where university terms can be confusing. No, its not something you sit in. A Chair is a very senior academic role, focused on some key area of research. So the news last week that the Irish state provided 4 million for a new Chair of Irish History at Cambridge University caught my eye. Cambridge is an incredible university, one of the very best in the world, and placing the study of Irish history at its heart with a prestigious Chair is a very interesting development. It is also an important and worthwhile one. All throughout the Brexit negotiations for example, it was a major problem for us that so few English people really understood Ireland and its history. This initiative will place the study of Irish history right at the heart of where so many of the British elite are trained. It is great value at the price. But what caught my eye almost as much was those in whose memory the Chair has been named. It is the Childers Chair of Irish History, named after Robert Erskine Childers and his son, Erskine Hamilton Childers. The Robert might throw you. Robert was better known in his life simply as Erskine Childers. He was Secretary to the Irish side at the Treaty negotiations, the Treaty he would in the end oppose. It was he who was executed during the Civil War, when he was arrested and found in a possession of a gun: a tiny gun given to him for his protection by Michael Collins. Many years later his son, Erskine Hamilton Childers, became our fourth President, succeeding Eamon de Valera. Whatever about the son, what an interesting and in many ways unusual choice the father is. To understand why it is called after him is something of a riddle - more of riddles later - and as we look at his life we might find some clues to solve it. Robert Erskine Childers was born in London, and led a privileged life, educated at public schools and - here our first clue - at Cambridge. He spent some time in Ireland as a child with his mothers relatives. But many people, friends and foes, considered him English. In his early life he was certainly a good imperialist. He went off to fight in the Boer War and made a name for himself in writing about the experience. He made his name in an even bigger way through one of his books, when in 1903 he wrote one of the first great spy thrillers. That novel, The Riddle of the Sands, was about a German plot to launch a sneak naval attack on England. Childers had a hit - and made a fortune - in writing about it. Childers during this time was a British liberal with Irish connections and so of course supported Irish Home Rule. That was a normal position for many of that outlook to hold, while still maintaining their devotion to the British Empire. But as the implementation of Home Rule was thwarted, so the views of Childers evolved. He became more and more radical. In 1914, horrified by the Ulster Volunteers smuggling in German arms, he played a key role in importing German arms into Ireland through Howth, on his yacht the Asgard, for the Irish Volunteers. To add to the complexity of the man, he could combine that importation of weapons in 1914 with serving the UK loyally during World War I. After it though, like many others in Ireland, he went from supporter of Home Rule to a committed republican. He became a propagandist for Sinn Fein at the Paris peace talks in 1919 and was very good at it. His move to the more radical position continued apace. Despite being a Secretary at the Treaty talks - some thought he was there as a spy for de Valera - he opposed the Treaty fully and completely. Collins, and Griffith especially, grew to despise him. He campaigned ferociously against the Treaty. He was captured by Free State forces in Wicklow in late 1922. His execution for carrying that tiny gun Collins had given him was considered a cold-blooded murder by the anti-Treaty forces. They had a point. Childers may well have fought in wars, and he certainly had imported weapons into Ireland, but by 1922 he was no soldier. His legacy is a complex one. Many thought him no Irishman. Many have never been able to fully figure out how he went from imperialist to republican in such a short time. To explain going from fighting for the Empire in the Boer War, to warning about German invasions, to importing German weapons for Irish nationalists is itself a riddle indeed. Perhaps his name was chosen for this Chair to show the complexity of the relationships between Britain and Ireland, and the reality that how people felt about them was never really straightforward. That would make some sense, but it would still make him an unusual choice. So maybe there is a simpler explanation and clue. Erskine Hamilton Childers was a much loved and well regarded President of Ireland, who died much too early and at the start of his term. He too was educated at Cambridge. Like his father, he was a Protestant, and he was considered a welcome representative of that religious tradition in the broad republican family. So perhaps father and son were picked because of that? Or maybe there is more to it. Robert Erskine Childers was anti-Treaty and a close associate of Eamon de Valera, who went on as we know to form a political party which continues to have some influence in the Ireland of today - and of which his son was a prominent and well-regarded member. While de Valera therefore might well be pleased at the naming of this new Chair, Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins would likely take rather a different view. So in solving the riddle of the name of this new Chair, perhaps we can conclude that Civil War politics, in historical terms at least, are not fully over. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday interacted with tea plantation workers in Kuttikkanam in Kerala's Idukki district. This comes amid Rahul Gandhi's Idukki visit ahead of the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections. Gandhi also visited the samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala. Earlier on Friday, he addressed the 100th anniversary commemoration of the historic meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt. Remembering social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, the Congress leader said that despite not possessing great wealth or physical strength, the saint philosopher was one of the most powerful figures in Kerala. "The British had force but no power. Gandhi ji had no force, but he had the truth, so he had power. Narayan Guru did not have strength or huge amounts of wealth, but he was easily the most powerful man in Kerala. Imagine his power that 100 years later, many from the political class have come to commemorate Narayan Guru today. There is a clear message to those who use violence from Gandhi ji and Narayan Guru ji - there is nothing to be gained from it, only to be lost," he said. Rahul Gandhi also criticised the use of cinema and media for political propaganda, referring to the debate around "The Kerala Story 2", asserting that films and media should unite rather than divide society. Sharing a video of his interaction with students of Marian College in Idukki on social media, Gandhi said cinema and media were increasingly being "weaponised" to vilify communities and create social divisions. Captioning the post, he wrote, "The real Kerala story - compassion, unity, and always standing by one another. Cinema and media should bring people together, not be weaponised to divide society or vilify communities." In the video, a student asked Gandhi whether cinema was increasingly being used as a political propaganda tool to shape public perception, referring to controversies around films such as 'The Kerala Story'. Responding to the question, Gandhi said that the public understands the social and cultural fabric of Kerala. "'The Kerala Story's' hall seems to be empty, and nobody's really watching it. And it shows you that there are people, the majority of this country, have an understanding of what Kerala is and Kerala's traditions and cultures," Gandhi said. He also reflected on his experience as the then Member of Parliament from Wayanad for five years and the lessons he learnt from the people of the state. Kerala will hold Assembly elections later this year, where Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) will look to stop the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Alliance (LDF) from securing a third consecutive term. (ANI) Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar on Saturday said that the Janata Dal (United) workers were upset with incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to move to the Rajya Sabha, but have resolved to stand by him and support him. Speaking to ANI, Shravan Kumar said that Nitish Kumar clarified his decision to the party leaders in a meeting on Friday. "In yesterday's meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar clarified all matters. This is his political (going to the Rajya Sabha) decision. Everyone is upset about this. But when a leader takes a political decision, it is the duty of their supporters or leaders and ministers around them to abide by the decision. All people have decided that we will stay with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and stand by him on every decision of his," the Bihar minister said. Addressing the Opposition's allegations of the BJP pressuring the JD(U) in making the decision to move to the Centre, Shravan Kumar said, "Where is the pressure? If there was pressure, he would have said so. He had expressed that he wanted to go to the fourth House. He has been to the Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, Lok Sabha and only the Rajya Sabha was left, so he filed the nomination." Shravan Kumar also welcomed the decision to induct Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, into the party. He said, "We had said that Nishant Kumar should come forward; he is young. Assessing the situation now, he should come forward, and we are talking about this." The JD(U) confirmed that Nishant Kumar will officially join the party on Sunday. Bihar Minister and BJP leader Dilip Jaiswal also said, "It was the wish of JD(U) leaders, workers, and many people, and respecting the emotional wish of everyone, Nishant Kumar's entry into politics will happen, and we welcome it." When asked about the new CM face for Bihar, Dilip Jaiswal said that Nitish Kumar and the Centre will decide on it. "Everything will be decided by Nitish Kumar and the central government," he said. Bihar minister Ramkripal Yadav hailed Nishant as an educated and "out of controversies" leader. He said that his entry into politics will bring "a new wave of enthusiasm" for JD(U). "Nishant is educated, and he has been out of controversies. He never did anything to bring disgrace to his father or the party. His entry into politics will bring a new wave of enthusiasm among the youth. Nishant will fulfil the gap left by Nitish Kumar, which is also the wish of the party workers. Nishant should take up the responsibility of the party," Ramkripal Yadav said. Earlier today, Nishant Kumar held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of the Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. JD(U) leaders today discussed the party's future strategy and how to best move forward after party chief Nitish Kumar, in a historic move, is set to move back to the Centre with a seat in the Rajya Sabha. The timing of Nishant's entry into the party is directly linked to a major transition made by his father. On Thursday, March 5, Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, signalling the end of his record-breaking tenure as Chief Minister. (ANI) The father of a 25-year-old man named Tarun, who was killed in a brutal attack, has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter on Saturday. The family alleged that the local police have not shared details of the arrests made so far and have failed to conduct a proper inquiry into the incident that took place in the national capital. Father of the deceased, while speaking to ANI, said, "We demand that our son should get justice... The police have not conducted any inquiry or asked us about him... They are saying that they have arrested 5-6 people... They did not show us who they have arrested. We want a CBI inquiry... We even went to the police station yesterday, but they closed the doors. When we went to the streets to hold a protest, they resorted to lathicharge... As soon as my son came, 15-20 people attacked him and killed him on the spot... All of them were roaming here, but the police did not arrest anyone..." Meanwhile, Security in the Uttam Nagar area of Delhi has been tightened after a 25-year-old man succumbed to injuries he sustained during a fight that broke out between neighbours from different communities during Holi celebrations earlier this week. The deceased, identified as Tarun, had been undergoing treatment after the altercation that reportedly occurred on March 4. According to Delhi Police, the dispute escalated during Holi celebrations in the locality, following which Tarun was injured. He later died while undergoing treatment. Police have arrested four individuals in connection with the incident, and further investigation into the matter is underway. Following the incident, the Delhi Police have intensified security arrangements in the area to maintain law and order and prevent any further tension. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Dwarka district, Kushal Pal Singh, said adequate measures have been put in place to ensure peace in the locality. "In view of the incident that happened on 4th March, we have made adequate security arrangements. We have divided the area into zones, sectors and sub-sectors. Our motorcycles and vehicles are continuously patrolling," the DCP said. He added that the police are also engaging with residents from both communities to ensure calm in the area. "We have also called people of both communities and appealed to them to maintain peace and order in the area. Apart from this, we also appeal to the people not to pay attention to rumours and not to support those who create trouble," Singh said. (ANI) Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Saturday demanded a parliamentary discussion on the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the 30-day "permission" from the United States to purchase Russian oil, as the Budget Session 2026 will resume on Monday. Speaking to ANI, Jairam Ramesh said that the Opposition is not seeking a mere statement from the Centre but a full debate on pressing geopolitical issues. Slamming the Centre over the United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's "good actor" remark, the Congress MP called India's 'silence' a "demonstration of cowardice." Ramesh said, "The second phase of the Budget Session will begin tomorrow. There are several formal businesses, including the Appropriation Bill, the Finance Bill and the works of several ministries, which will also be discussed. But the Opposition will raise several issues, including the West Asia conflict. Even in the Indian Ocean, an Iranian ship going back from Visakhapatnam was attacked. We have flagged the India-US interim trade deal. Farmers are upset. Even after a joint statement, the US has levied 126 per cent duty on solar modules, which we export to them." On the Russian oil issue, Ramesh said, "The US issued a statement announcing a 30-day waiver and calling India a 'loyal' friend because it agreed to what we (the US) say. They called us 'good actors', now where is the 56-inch chest? This is a demonstration of cowardice. Ministers issue statements, but we don't get a chance to seek clarification and ask questions on those remarks. Piyush Goyal gave a statement in the Parliament (on the India-US trade deal agreement), but no MP was allowed to ask a question. We want discussions... Why is the government silent on strikes against Iran?" he added. This comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business, "The Indians have been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil. But to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept Russian oil. We may un-sanction other Russian oil." With the crisis in the Gulf severely hampering shipping routes that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States on Thursday (local time) allowed a 30-day waiver for India to purchase Russian Oil to meet its energy requirements. Meanwhile, discussing the No Confidence Motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Jairam Ramesh recounted the motion of removal against the first Speaker GV Mavalankar and hailed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for asking the Chair to grant more time to the Opposition MPs to speak in the House. The Congress leader said, "The motion of removal was signed by 118 MPs. We did it as per the procedure. It has been seven years, and the Parliament doesn't have a Deputy Speaker. However, 118 MPs have expressed no confidence in the Speaker." "This is not happening for the first time. Even during the first Lok Sabha, when the Left-led Opposition had just 70 seats and 37 independent MPs, Pandit Nehru invited discussion on the No-Confidence Motion against Speaker GV Mavalankar. Former PM Jawaharlal Nehru said that this is a big issue for democracy and asked for more time for the Opposition to speak. We know that NDA has a majority, but this is our democratic right. Our LoP was not allowed to speak, and Nehru and Indira Gandhi were defamed, and no action was taken against the MP," he said. The second phase of the budget session will commence on March 9, where three Congress MPs are scheduled to move a resolution demanding the removal of Speaker Om Birla for disallowing Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House. Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi have accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of being partisan and of making "unwarranted allegations" against women MPs belonging to the opposition. TMC MPs, who earlier did not support the motion, have now extended their support to the Opposition parties. (ANI) The World Socialist Web Site is holding an emergency global webinar this Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. EDT to explain the origins of the US imperialist war against Iran, the social forces driving it and the strategy required to stop it. We urge all our readers to register to attend. 24/02/2026. London, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts his weekly Cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street. [Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street / CC BY 4.0 Leaked accounts of meetings of the National Security Council (NSC) have exposed the British Labour governments detailed advance knowledge of the US-Israeli assault on Iran. The revelations demolish the lies of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his ministers that Britain, supposedly committed to diplomacy, was taken by surprise by the US/Israeli bombardment of Iran on February 28. Published in the conservative magazine The Spectator by journalist Tim Shipman, the leaks confirm that British officials had been informed of the planned offensive 17 days in advance and were engaged in intense discussions with Washington over how the Labour government could assist. Far from opposing the war, Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey sought ways to support it, while senior British military figures worked directly with US officials to frame requests for British bases in ways that would circumvent legal objections. According to the leaked account, the US formally contacted British officials on February 11 requesting the use of two key basesRAF Fairford in England and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islandsto assist in the planned assault on Iran. Fairford was critical as the only European military base equipped to support US (B-52s, B-2s) heavy bombers. Diego Garcia has various advantages, including serving as a major port for nuclear submarines and being located 2,400 miles from Irans southern coastal citiesits relative proximity allowing those to be targeted more easily. Shipman notes the legal advice provided by the Attorney General Richard Hermer, who warned that the UK could be considered complicit in an illegal war if it facilitated pre-emptive strikes without a direct threat to Britain: Hermers rulingthat international law does not permit pre-emptive strikes unless there is an imminent threat to Britain was already established when the Americans contacted UK officials on 11 February to ask about the use of the bases17 days before the offensive began, 17 days in which Britain could have done much more to prepare. Shipman reports: It was the view of almost everyone that it was not legal for the UK to be involved in the initial attack because there was no imminent threat to the UK from Iran. As part of the broader effort to keep the public in the dark while a war on a sovereign state was being planneddisguised by official negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programmethe government delayed publishing the official summary of its legal advice until March 1, withholding the full contents from public view. This leak establishes that the Labour government knew well in advance that the assault being planned by Washington and Tel Aviv was illegal under international law. Yet the government, in order to ally itself with the Trump administration as its self-declared most reliable military security partner, spent the following weeks debating how Britain could eventually participate. This is more damning still in light of the fact, as confirmed by US and Israeli officials, that the assault was originally scheduled to begin on February 21 but was delayed a week. The reasons included poor weather, operational coordination between US forces and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the imperative to convince Iranian leaders that no strike was imminent as negotiations were ongoing. It means that Britains window of prior knowledge was even longer than the 17 days explicitly mentioned in the leaks. The leaks portray varying positions within the government, with opposition from some ministers to Starmer and Healeys initial plan to back the US-Israeli strikes outright. According to Shipman, at an NSC meeting held on February 27, the day before the bombing of Iran began, the Prime Minister was not able to carry his own cabinet. The NSC is a cabinet committee chaired by the prime minister and normally includes the senior ministers responsible for defence, foreign policy, security and the economy, along with top intelligence and military officials. Of Starmers position, Shipman writes that while he did not want Britain to join the military action, he did think there was a case for allowing Trump to use the bases at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to launch the attacks. This was opposed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoodall from various standpoints as to how quickly and openly they could back a war most of the population opposed. Starmer factored in that Iran would strike back after being attacked, providing him a pretext to then immediately support the US bombing in its aftermathas he did on the evening of March 1. Shipman writes that his source characterised Starmers position as: Once Iran starts firing missiles at its neighbours, we need to do everything we can to help prevent that. Using Diego Garcia allows the US to significantly enhance the rapidity with which they can hit targets. Politically revealing also is the role of Britains military leadership in coordinating war planning with their US counterparts. The Spectator notes that after the initial disagreements were aired inside the cabinet, military officials began working directly with US counterparts to reshape Washingtons request to use the bases in a form that could be approved by the government to sanction backing a war everyone knew was illegal. Shipman writes, On Sunday afternoon [March 1] there was a second NSC meeting in which Britains approach changed. The Americans had tabled an official ask on Saturday that the two air bases be used only to attack the missile sites, plus the manufacturing of the missiles and the command and control for the missiles. This request was shaped through discussions with UK Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton. Shipman revealed, That came after Knighton spoke to his American counterparts. Hes been working really hard to explain to the US what is legally possible and to help the US shape their request, a senior defence source says. [Attorney General] Hermer worked with [Knighton] to determine the art of the possible. And the request became the art of the possible. [UK Defence Secretary] Healey also repeatedly spoke to his opposite number, Pete Hegseth. In plain English, British government and military personnel at the highest levels were assisting the US administration to reframe its operations to allow the Labour government to claim they were defensive rather than offensive. The Labour governments attempt to portray its policy as guided by international law has rapidly unravelled. Within days of the wars outbreak, ministers began signalling that Britain could become directly involved in military operations against Iran. On Friday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told BBC Breakfast that British military strikes inside Iran could be lawful if carried out to stop attacks on British personnel or allies. He declared, It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances. Pressed on whether this could include striking Iranian bases in anticipation of Iran launching an attack on British targets, he added, It is my understanding that that would be legal. Workers and young people will recall that during Israels assault on Gaza, Lammy repeatedly insisted that the IDF was acting within international lawclaims widely denounced by legal experts and humanitarian organizationsas Gaza was reduced to rubble with tens of thousands slaughtered. The Starmer government is also using a single drone strike on the British airbase at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprusthat struck a hangar on March 2, causing only minor damage and no casualtiesto justify a major military build-up in the eastern Mediterranean around Cyprus, where Akrotiri is located. This is despite the drone fired at Akrotiri not coming from Iran, as confirmed by Britains Ministry of Defence, with its origin still not definitively established. Britain is sending the Type-45 air-defence destroyer HMS Dragon along with two Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet counter-drone missiles under the guise of protecting its base. Dragon is equipped with the Sea Viper air-defence system and advanced SAMPSON radar capable of detecting aerial threats hundreds of miles away and intercepting multiple missiles or drones simultaneously. Other NATO powers have also seized on this flimsy pretext as cover to send their own forces: France has dispatched its Languedoc frigate and anti-drone systems; Greece is deploying two frigates and F-16 fighter jets; while Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have announced additional naval deployments to the eastern Mediterraneanall with the justification of defending the base on Cyprus. On Friday evening, a B-1 Lancer strategic bomberone of the US Air Forces three long-range bomber types, capable of carrying up to 24 cruise missileslanded at RAF Fairford. Ulas Sevinc, chairman of the Sosyalist Esitlik Partisi Dorduncu Enternasyonal (Socialist Equality Party Fourth International), the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, released a video statement on Thursday opposing the US-Israeli war against Iran, drawing attention to the collaborationist position of Turkiyes ruling elite and calling for the building of an anti-war socialist movement based on the working class. We publish the text of the speech below. You can watch and share the video on X/Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. The World Socialist Web Site is holding an emergency global webinar this Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. EDT to explain the origins of the US imperialist war against Iran, the social forces driving it and the strategy required to stop it. We urge all our readers to register to attend. The war launched by the United States and Israel against our neighbour Iran is a war of imperialist aggression. The Sosyalist Esitlik Partisi Dorduncu Enternasyonal calls on workers and youth to take a stand and demand the immediate halt to the imperialist barbarism being inflicted upon Iran, an oppressed nation. The aim of this war is to bring Irans vast resources and strategically critical position under full imperialist domination and to install a puppet regime in the country. This is part of the preparations for war against China. Imperialism and colonialism stand before us in all their naked brutality. You are expected to believe the lie that US imperialismwhich has devastated the Middle East for 35 years in pursuit of total hegemonyand Zionist Israelwhich is carrying out a genocide against the Palestinianswill bring democracy and freedom to Iran. In truth, almost no one believes these lies. According to a recent poll, the overwhelming majority of the population in Turkiye is opposed to the war. As demonstrated by the ballistic missile incident that occurred on the southern border on Wednesday, Turkiye could quickly be drawn into this war. The reason is that the ruling class is bound umbilically to NATO and to imperialism, and is prepared to endanger millions of workers and youth for the sake of its own interests. The Sosyalist Esitlik Partisi opposes both Turkish and Kurdish nationalism. They both collaborate with imperialism. Imperialist aggression in Iraq and Syria, and collaboration with it, has brought nothing but disaster to all the peoples of the Middle Eastincluding the Kurdsand not peace, democracy or freedom. It is impossible to fight bourgeois reactionary regimes without opposing imperialist aggression. In Turkiye, neither the government nor the so-called opposition partiesdespite expressing concern about the manifest illegality of the attack on Iranare taking, or proposing, any concrete steps to end their ongoing collaboration with the United States, NATO or Israel. While bombs rain down on the Iranian population, while more than a thousand Iranians are being slaughteredincluding over 150 schoolgirlsis it not perfectly clear what purpose the bases in Turkiye available to the United States and NATO serve? Who does it benefit that oil flowing from Azerbaijan continues to transit through Turkiye on its way to Israel? These are policies that the overwhelming majority of the population sharply oppose, and they constitute complicity in imperialist-Zionist criminality. Despite all the claims of independence and a strong Turkiye, why does this alignment with a Trump administration that is reprising the war crimes of the Nazis persist? Why, far from taking measures to protect the Iranian people, are the eastern border crossings between Turkiye and Iran being closed in coordination with the European Union? Why arent the US forces, which have surrounded the Middle East, including Turkiye, being told to leave the country and the region? The US-NATO bases in Turkiye protect imperialist interests, not the people. Turkiyes ruling class is subordinate to those very interests. Above all, it fears the working class the class it ruthlessly exploits and oppresses alongside the imperialist powers. Neither the government nor the capitalist opposition parties, equally bound to NATO, are capable of pursuing a consistent anti-imperialist policy. Only the working class can do this. The workers who seized control of the Polyak mine in Izmir have demonstrated the social force that must be mobilised. The only way forward is for workersboth here and in the imperialist centersto build their own independent rank-and-file committees and take control not only of their workplaces but of the entire country. The lesson to be drawn from recent experiences is unambiguous: imperialism cannot be negotiated with; it must be overthrown through socialist revolution. The Sosyalist Esitlik Partisi, together with its sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in the United States, Europe and across the world, is fighting to build an international anti-war movement based on the working class and advances the following demands: The war waged by the US and Israel against Iran must be stopped immediately and unconditionally. All US armed forces in the Middle East must be withdrawn, and military bases, including in Turkiye, that serve as the infrastructure of imperialist domination must be closed. The NATO summit to be held in Ankara in July must be cancelled, Turkiye must leave NATO, NATO must be dissolved, and all resources spent on militarism and war must be reallocated in line with the needs of society. All sanctions and economic warfare against Iran and all other countries must end. All war criminals must be held accountable. Take action against the war. Contact us at sosyalistesitlikpartisi.org and join us in the struggle against imperialist war and for socialism. On Monday, March 2, the trial began at the Hanover District Court concerning the fatal accident on September 8, 2023 at the Hanover-Linden freight yard, when 19-year-old railway apprentice Simon Hedemann was run over and killed by a freight train. The very first day of the trial showed that national rail operator Deutsche Bahn is not prepared to take any responsibility for the senseless death, let alone face any consequences from it. Simon Hedemann A 37-year-old signal mechanic for Deutsche Bahn (DB) is on trial today. The public prosecutor accuses him of negligent manslaughter. The worker is alleged to have made an inadequate risk assessment and ordered so-called self-protection for the work on that day. The political and operational responsibility of Deutsche Bahn, on the other hand, remains in the dark. In reality, it is the management board and the government, which owns the railway, who belong in the dock. They are responsible for the fact that their employees, and even the apprentices entrusted to them, can be exposed to such an obvious danger to life and limb. The charge of negligent manslaughter should be directed against them. On that fateful Friday, a small squad from the former DB Netz AG (now DB InfraGo) was tasked with attaching QR tags to control boxes on the track. Instead of closing the tracks to carry out the work, however, it was the youngest, an inexperienced apprentice of all people, who was supposed to carry out the work while trains were running, while the other two workers were to warn him of approaching trains by shouting. Working under self-protection is the name of this murderous mission on an open track at a busy freight yard. When a freight train approached at a speed of around 90 km/h at 9:40 a.m., Simon Hedemann was unable to get to safety in time despite warning shouts from his colleagues; he was hit by the train and died at the scene of the accident. The very first day of the trial made clear how irresponsibly Deutsche Bahn has been acting for years, and how sloppily the investigation into the case has been conducted. DB has not ordered an external, thorough investigation into Simon Hedemanns death, nor has it drawn any consequences from it since to prevent further devastating fatalities. The responsible body, the Federal Railway Authority (EBA), refrained from carrying out an independent investigation. In response to a query from the Hannoversche Allgemeine, the EBA apparently replied that it had reviewed the documents. However, no discernible consequences were drawn from this. The Federal Bureau of Railway Accident Investigation (BEU) replied to a query from the WSWS that it had initiated no investigations into the accident you described, without providing further explanation. In court, a representative of the Federal and Railway Accident Insurance scheme spoke, whose assessment after the accident has apparently become part of the trial files, as there is no official expert report. The statement of this witness was unequivocal: due to the curved layout of the tracks, the railway workers could not see the trains in time at all from the place where they were working. The clear view of the approach route of a train of 670 metres was not given, the witness stated. As he explained, trains travel on these tracks at speeds of up to 120 km/h. Also, the distance between the two tracks where Simon had to work is only 4 metres, i.e., there was no adequate safety space into which he could have quickly retreated. For this work, both tracks should have been closed! Simons parents, Silke Hedemann and Steffen Rach, took part in the trial as joint plaintiffs. They brought with them a picture of their son who had been killed. As they told the WSWS, they considered the procedure followed by DB to be completely inadequate and therefore had brought in two independent experts. In the eyes of these experts (as in those of any reasonable observer), working under self-protection or personal protection at such a large and busy freight yard should be ruled out from the outset. However, their expert report was not discussed on the first day of the trial. Since the accident, DB has not changed any practical procedures whatsoever, nor has it introduced any stricter guidelines. In the trial, a DB district manager responsible for safety confirmed that no changes to operational procedures had been made after the accident. He answered this question with a clear No. The DB district manager stated that there were no specific instructions from the company as to where and how to secure, but rather all teams must decide this for themselvesa statement that makes any experienced railway worker balk. Years ago, practically every movement in railway traffic was dictated by a sophisticated set of rules; the maxim applied was Safety before punctuality and economy. But today it is supposed to be normal to send an apprentice to a main track while train operations are running. How did this come about? This can only be understood in the context of the constantly increasing stress in DB work processes. The decision as to whether the tracks should be closed was made that morning practically immediately prior to the execution of the work and fell under the pressure of not affecting the timetable. At the trial, the accused had his lawyer state that in everyday life, the existing rules stood in a tension with the demands of punctual train operations. Every closure of the tracks entailed delays in train traffic. The signal mechanic had verbally informed the responsible dispatcher of his intention, and the latter had not objected. The dispatcher, who also testified, asserted that he had not known that this involved work on the main track (where both suburban commuter trains and long-distance trains regularly pass through). There would have been the possibility to close the track, one does that quite often. As a rule, however, the dispatcher would only be informed of pending work at very short notice. The picture that emerges depicts a situation of intense work pressures, in which employees have to make life-and-death decisions practically on the fly, always under the burden of keeping to the timetable. Such a situation inevitably leads to even existing safety rules being hollowed out and compromised and even experienced railway workers simply disregarding the knowledge they have acquiredwith truly fatal consequences. Deutsche Bahn is responsible for this. It is not only the responsible employer, it also provides a central infrastructure of public services and, as such, is accountable to the population. The DB group is still owned by the federal government, which only last year approved a special fund of 500 billion for war-related infrastructure. But these funds are not being used to improve occupational safety and for the welfare of railway workers. They serve the governments plan to make the whole of societyincluding the railwaysfit for war as quickly as possible, and they also seep into private pockets. (The bonuses of the DB management board are notorious following the 1.2 million payment for former CEO Richard Lutz). The funds are used according to the logic of profit and efficiency, not for the welfare of society and railway staff. For reasons of profit, DB is even in the process of cutting up to 6,000 jobs in its freight division DB Cargo, which will once again exacerbate the pressure on staff considerably. The entire case is a clear example of the contempt with which the vital interests of railway workers and the entire working class are treated. Instead of seriously naming the systemic flaws and providing a remedy, an individual, the employee acting on the ground, is hung out to dry as a scapegoat. Nothing changes in the operational process, creating the conditions for new fatalities. Railway workers are being consumed like in a war, as a worker once told the WSWS. This is indicated by the increasingly frequent accidents on the railways. Last year alone, there were at least 12 fatal workplace accidents on the railways, including four fatal accidents in just four weeks last spring. At least nine other workers were severely injured. In 2023, only a few days after Simon Hedemanns death, a very similar accident occurred in Cologne-Kalk. On September 11, 2023, Ali Ceyhan, 33, was hit by a train and severely injured during track work at Trimborner Strasse in Cologne. He died just three days later. In Cologne, too, customary security specifications had not been adhered to. There, too, safe distances and visibility conditions for work on an active track were completely inadequate. Ali Ceyhans partner, Katharina Duarte, had also come to Hanover to attend the trial over Simon Hedemanns death. I am doing everything so that no one else ends up in the same situation as us, losing a loved one, Katharina told the WSWS. As was already becoming apparent on the first day of the trial, however, it is impossible to change conditions through a court case. What is necessary is the self-organisation of railway workers and all workers to enforce an external and public investigation. Only in this way can the deeper causes and responsibilities be uncovered and concrete changes proposed. This is the purpose of the initiative to build independent, democratically elected rank-and-file action committees. Since companies, authorities and trade unions like the EVG and GDL do not act, employees must become active themselves. Such action committees will document and publicise working conditions; they will collect information about accidents and warn colleagues. They will also seriously enforce protective measures such as the closure of tracks on which work is being carried out and take up the struggle to improve the working and living conditions of railway workersand not the profits of the shareholders. One example is the investigation into the death of Ronald Adams in Detroit, which the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) organised last July. Adams, an autoworker, had been crushed to death by an overhead crane at Stellantis. Around 100 workers, relatives, colleagues and experts took part in a hearing, which also received statements from international colleagues. This investigation was a strong prelude to the independent organisation of autoworkers in the region. At that hearing, which took place in Detroit on July 27, 2025, David North, international editorial board chairman of the WSWS, pointed to the important connection between the accumulating injuries and fatalities in the workplace and the capitalist profit system. He said: The term accident is often used, but is this term appropriate? If you walk across your room and trip, that might be an accident. But when we experience events that occur with astonishing regularity, then they are no longer mere coincidences in the conventional sense of the word. We see how it inevitably comes to this. ... It is the result of the system in which we live, not only in this country, but in all parts of the world. Our social life, our economic life is organised in such a way that it constantly produces these disasters, and they will continue unless a way is found to end the system that produces these disasters. The trial will continue on March 16. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player The World Socialist Web Site is holding an emergency global webinar this Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. EDT, Stop the War Against Iran! We urge all our readers to register to attend. A worker scans incoming items at a receiving station at the Amazon OXR1 fulfillment center in Oxnard, California. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes] While the criminal war against Iran rages in the Middle East, a parallel war is being waged by the American ruling class at home. The United States economy shed 92,000 jobs in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday, as the unemployment rate stands at 4.4 percent. The figure sharply reversed expectations of job growth and marked the third contraction in five months. Since April 2025, the US economy has lost jobs on a net basis, while layoffs announced by major corporations have surged to levels not seen outside a recession. US employers announced more than 1.2 million job cuts in 2025, according to monthly figures compiled by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the highest total outside a formal recession or the beginning of the pandemic since they began tracking layoffs in 1989. Hiring announcements plunged by 55 percent last month and have fallen to their lowest level since 2010. The scale of layoffs is vast. Oracle plans to cut up to 30,000 workers, Amazon has eliminated 30,000 corporate jobs since October and UPS is carrying out tens of thousands of layoffs after eliminating 48,000 positions last year. Block, the parent company of Square, fired nearly half its workforce in a single day. The Trump administration forced out 317,000 federal workers last year alone, and social programs on which tens of millions rely, including Medicaid, Medicare and food assistance, are being gutted. And this is just the start, as AI is being used to destroy huge sections of the workforce. Microsofts AI chief predicted that most, if not all, professional tasks will be automated within 18 months. Amazons internal plans envision automating 75 percent of its warehouse operations, eliminating the need for 600,000 jobs over the next several years. The resources ripped from the working class are being used for two purposes: the enrichment of the oligarchy, whose wealth has soared to the highest levels in history, and to fund imperialist war. The United States has already spent roughly $3.7 billion in the opening days of its bombing campaign against Iran, while the Trump administration is proposing a $1.5 trillion military budget. This would be a 50 percent increase over what is already the largest military budget in history. At the same time, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil prices up 35 percent in a week, sending shockwaves through global supply chains and raising the specter of a new stagflation crisis. It is the workers who will be made to bear the cost of this through price increases. The crisis is global. In Germany alone more than 250,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared since 2019 as soaring energy pricesdriven by the NATO war against Russia in Ukraineravage European industry. The same governments backing that proxy war are now rushing jets and warships to the Middle East in support of the US assault on Iran. Opposition to the war has emerged immediately. Polls and demonstrations show deep hostility among workers and youth toward another imperialist catastrophe, including among many who previously supported Trump. This widespread opposition finds no expression within the official political establishment. In Congress, both parties support the basic aims of the war and the massive expansion of military spending required to wage it. Within the corporate media the debate is confined to questions of strategy and effectiveness, not the legitimacy of the war itself. As the jobs massacre accelerates, the trade union apparatus is doing absolutely nothing to organize resistance. The unions representing federal and state workers, the Teamsters, the UAW and the rest of the labor bureaucracy have not lifted a finger to mobilize their members against layoffs, closures and the destruction of jobs by automation. In response to the first wave of struggles this yearincluding the nurses strikes in New York and on the West Coastthe union apparatus has worked systematically to isolate workers and prevent any broader fight from developing. This same apparatus has issued no call for opposition to the war. There has not been a single statement from the AFL-CIO, the UAW or any major trade union federation opposing the assault on Iran. Their silence reflects the social function of the union bureaucracy: suppressing the class struggle and enforcing the requirements of the corporations and the capitalist state. Just weeks before the bombing began, the United Steelworkers pushed through a concessions contract covering tens of thousands of refinery workers, guaranteeing uninterrupted energy production and the continued flow of profits as the war escalated. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) encourages the development of rank-and-file committees in every section of the working classindependent of the trade union apparatusto organize a coordinated offensive against the jobs massacre. This fight is inseparable from the fight against imperialist war. The working class is the decisive social force that can stop the war. The catastrophic economic consequences of the war, as well as the connection between it and the developing dictatorship within the United States, will demonstrate to millions of workers the need to force an end to the war, the dismantling of the US war machine and the downfall of the Trump administration. This must find an organized, politically conscious expression in a mass working class movement. The working class must oppose the war with the methods of the class struggle. Coordinated stoppages in the ports, shipping logistics, refineries, rail networks and military supply chains would directly disrupt the operations that sustain the war. The recent protests by Mediterranean dockworkers refusing to handle military cargo demonstrate the potential of such actions to impede the machinery of war. The vast resources now being funneled into militarism must be redirected to meet urgent social needs. The proposed military budget of more than $1 trillion should be scrapped and the funds used instead to create jobs and finance housing, education and healthcare. ICE and other agencies involved in domestic repression must be dismantled. The logic of such a movement points toward a general strike, that would draw behind it youth and progressive sections of the middle class. Such a movement cannot be carried out through the existing union apparatus. The IWA-RFC encourages and supports the construction of rank-and-file committees in workplaces, schools and neighborhoods, democratically controlled by workers themselves. These organizations must take the initiative out of the hands of a union bureaucracy that for decades has supported US imperialism. Above all, the fight against war must be conducted on an international basis. Workers in the United States have far more in common with workers in Iran and throughout the Middle East than with the billionaires and politicians who profit from war. The growing opposition to the war must be transformed into a conscious political movement of the working class against the capitalist system that produces war, austerity and dictatorship. By mobilizing its immense social power, the working class can halt the war and open the road to a socialist reorganization of society on the basis of human need, not private profit. The World Socialist Web Site is holding an emergency global webinar this Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. EDT to explain the origins of the US imperialist war against Iran, the social forces driving it and the strategy required to stop it. We urge all our readers to register to attend. An Iranian sailor, who was rescued from IRIS Dena warship by Sri Lanka's navy is transported on a gurney to a Judicial Medical Officer from the National Hospital, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 5, 2026. [AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena] The Labor government has confirmed that three Australian naval personnel were aboard the US nuclear attack submarine that torpedoed an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday. The attack without warning on the unarmed vessel, in international waters, was a monstrous war crime that claimed at least 140 lives. The Socialist Equality Party (Australia) unequivocally denounces this act of mass murder. The involvement of Australian personnel directly implicates the Albanese Labor government in an atrocity that violates international law and that recalls nothing so much as the lawless military operations of the Nazis. The SEP demands the investigation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other senior Labor leaders on charges of war crimes, along with the top Australian military command. Above all, we call on all workers and young people to condemn and oppose this war crime. Without even a semblance of public discussion, much less a mandate, the Labor government has joined not only the criminal attack in the Indian Ocean, but the broader war of which it is a part. That war is one of unbridled neo-colonialism. The US and Israel are virtually carpet-bombing Iran, a country of more than 90 million people, in an effort to terrorise the population through mass murder, decapitate its government and establish a puppet regime beholden to Washington. The presence of Australian naval personnel on the US submarine only concretises the craven and immediate support of the Labor government for the war launched by Israel and the US on February 28. Albanese was among the first world leaders to explicitly endorse this war of aggression and has declared that he fully supports these criminal US objectives. Labors involvement is inseparable from its role as a key partner of American imperialism, not only in the Middle East, but globally, particularly in the preparations for a catastrophic war against China. The Australian personnel were working on the US submarine as part of the militarist AUKUS pact between the US, the UK and Australia, directed against China. In the lead-up to Australias acquisition of a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines from the US under AUKUS, between 50 and 100 Australian naval personnel have been deployed throughout Americas own fleet of nuclear attack subs for training. The circumstances of the attack on the Iranian vessel are a chilling warning of what the Australian personnel are training for, not only against Iran, but against China. The sunken Iranian ship, the IRIS Dena, was in the region to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026 and the multinational exercise MILAN 2026, to which it had been invited by India, along with 73 other countries including the US and Australia. The rules of the exercise included the ships carry no munitions. Departing those events and sailing in international waters, the IRIS Dena was thus unarmed, as the US was well aware. It was a comparatively tiny frigate, which, the WSWS noted yesterday, displaced 1,500 tonsone-sixth the displacement of a single American destroyer. It was 94 meters long, powered by four domestically produced Iranian diesel engines. The vessel and its crew posed no threat to anyone. They were not engaged in hostilities or anywhere near the scene of armed conflict. The attack on them was an entirely cowardly assault by the worlds largest military superpower. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth boasted about the mass murder, declaring: This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while theyre down, which is exactly how it should be. Such statements and actions are indistinguishable from those of the Nazis. The cowardly nature of the attack has been matched by the cowardly response of the Australian government, which sought to hide its role. Albanese and its other leaders have said nothing about the vile character of the attack or its illegality. Albanese has repeatedly declared over the past week that the legality or otherwise of the war is simply a matter for the US and Israel. In plain terms, that means Australia supports the war of aggression against Iran that is in clear breach of international law, as well as all the associated US and Israeli war crimes. Labors immediate response to questions of Australian involvement was to declare it would not confirm where in the world Australian troops might be. The government only acknowledged the presence of three Australian personnel on the US submarine after leaks to the media. Now government representatives are claiming there are guardrails in place when Australian personnel operate aboard US vessels. Albanese absurdly suggested that the Australian personnel sequestered themselves in their quarters during the attack and did not participate. Even if true, this would change nothing. In this unlikely scenario: Australian sailors integrated into the American crew carry out vital work in the lead-up to the sneak attack, then repair to their bunks to cover their eyes and ears like the wise monkeys who see and hear no evil. Other questions arise. Australian personnel on US vessels are still formally under the command of the Australian military. That means that if the submarine was preparing to engage in hostilities that would directly implicate Australia in the war on Iran, they would have been obliged to contact their command. If that occurred, the military command and the Australian government was aware that a war crime was about to be committed before it occurred. If not, the Labor government has given carte blanche for Australian personnel to participate in whatever military operations the Pentagon decides, regardless of their criminality. The involvement of Australian military personnel in the sinking of the IRIS Dena under the Albanese government is another chilling demonstration of the Labor Partys blood-soaked history as an instrument of imperialist war and reaction. Workers and young people, horrified by the onslaught against Iran, must take up the most determined political struggle against the Labor government. Reject the arguments of the Greens, who criticise elements of the war, but present Labor as a hapless party being dragged along by the US. In reality, Labor is fully on board with the US-led war in the Middle East and preparations for war against China, as the means of prosecuting the interests of Australian imperialism. The Greens calls for a more independent foreign policy are a nationalist trap which goes hand-in-hand with its demands for the build-up of sovereign military capabilities such as Australian-made missiles and drones. The pseudo-left organisations, such as Socialist Alternative and Socialist Alliance, are no less politically culpable. They parrot the calls of the Greens for a more independent foreign policy, which represents the interests, not of workers, but of a minority of the ruling class fearful of the implications for Australian capitalism of the US plunge into war. And now, as they have throughout the Israeli genocide in Gaza, the pseudo-left groups call only for more protests, based on moral appeals to the very Labor government that is complicit in the US-Israeli mass murder in the Middle East and wider US imperialist thuggery. The pseudo-left, and the trade union bureaucracy for whom they cover, are seeking to corral workers and youth behind a political establishment hurtling towards imperialist barbarism and dictatorship. Their claims that Labor could be pressured to the left only serve to cover up its relentless march to the right, including its turn to police-state repression at home directed against opposition to the genocide and to war more broadly. The Socialist Equality Party, as the Australian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, insists that workers and youth must strike out on a new political path. The genocide and the war in Iran are not isolated developments. They are part of a developing Third World War, driven by the breakdown of the capitalist system itself. What is required is a political movement of the working class, independent of all of the pro-capitalist and nationalist parties. As the ICFI has elaborated, such a movement must be international in scope, must mobilise the vast social and political power of the working class, and be aimed at abolishing the profit system that is the source of war and reorganising society on socialist lines. We urge workers and young people to take up this perspective and contact the SEP to join it today. Contact the SEP: Phone: (02) 8218 3222 Email: sep@sep.org.au Facebook: SocialistEqualityPartyAustralia Twitter: @SEP_Australia Instagram: socialistequalityparty_au TikTok: @sep_australia The German-Turkish-French co-production Yellow Letters by Ilker Catak (The Teachers Room, 2023) received the main prize at this years Berlinale, the Golden Bear. The film is a powerful warning against the threat of censorship and state oppression, including in Germany and other countries. Tansu Bicer and Ozgu Namal in Yellow Letters Derya (Ozgu Namal) is an established actress at the Ankara State Theatre dedicated to her profession. After a politicians mobile phone rings irritatingly several times in the middle of a performance, she refuses his later request for a photo together and doesnt allow herself to be persuaded by the theatre director. The situation in the country is tense, with the Turkish army fighting alleged terrorists from the Kurdish minority. Anti-government activists are denounced as supporters of terrorism. Nevertheless, a peace demonstration attracts a large crowd. Deryas husband Aziz (Tansu Bicer), a scientist, lecturer and playwright, allows the few students who attend his lecture to leave. Sometimes, he says, you learn more outside the lecture hall. Shortly afterward, he and a number of colleagues are dismissed on flimsy grounds. His play at the State Theatre, which deals with Kurdish identity among other things, is also cancelled. Fellow actors blame Derya for rejecting the politicians photo op. Events pile up in quick succession. The couples landlord tells them he is concerned about his reputation. The police have inquired about terrorist activities in the building. Later, Derya receives a yellow letter in which the theatre informs her it is complying with her request to terminate her contract (in fact, she has never resigned). The university files a lawsuit against Aziz. There are also difficulties with a bank loan. In a short time, the family is isolated and destitute. To enable their teenage daughter Ezgi to make the transition to secondary school, the family moves to Istanbul to live with Azizs mother. But things are troubled here too. On the first day of school, a petition is launched by students, which Aziz immediately signs. Ezgi, however, wants nothing to do with it. The court date is not set for another seven months. Aziz, an atheist, follows his brother to Friday prayers at the mosque, where his brother introduces him to a taxi company owner. He takes a job as a driver. On one of his trips, Aziz ends up in front of a small theatre and finds a place there. Derya takes the lead role in Azizs new play Yellow Letters, which deals with the events of the last few months. Tansu Bicer in Yellow Letters The court ruling comes as a shock. Aziz receives a sentence of eight years in prison for allegedly spreading terrorist ideology. The defence appeals. Until the new decision, the family must continue to fight for their existence. Shortly before the premiere of the play, Derya suddenly pulls out of the role. Instead, she takes a lead role in a television soap opera, deleting some of her earlier critical posts on social media. Ironically, it is on a conservative television channel that previously panned her theatre work in Ankara. Aziz accuses his wife of betraying her ideals. Their daughter can no longer bear the tension in the family and flees to a musician friend The sensitivity to the various conflicts and questions of conscience, right down to the question What can art do? testifies to the directors strong sense of empathy. According to Catak, around 2,000 artists and scientists were suspended and brought to trial between 2016 and 2019 after signing a peace petition in response to government purges in Turkey. Among the signatories was Emin Alper, whose film Salvation (Kurtulus) won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale. Yellow Letters is a thoughtful film without pathos, but also without dark fatalism. The daughter, overwhelmed by the situation, is proud of her parents maxim that an artist must stand on his or her own two feet. Deryas alleged betrayal is a futile attempt to protect her daughters futureschool must be paid for. When her husband accuses her of betraying her ideals, she counters that Aziz is hiding behind his pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-feminist plays. In the end, he takes over her role at the premiere. A critical tone is also struck towards protest actions solely aimed at waving flags and merely persevering. A dismissed colleague accuses Aziz of betrayal because he does not participate in a University on the Street protest action. The fact that Aziz is facing serious charges in court does not seem to bother his colleague with a radical bushy beard and a face constantly contorted by indignation. Ilker Catak (Berlinale) At the end, Aziz, Derya and their daughter Ezgi meet and arrange to have dinner together. Derya criticizes the shallow series about a marital crisis, telling the family with a meaningful look that she still has to get rid of her blonde wig. Aziz waits for her and lies down on the back of a van. He stares at the ceiling and thinks. The ending is left open and poses the question: how can one conduct a serious fight against state censorship and oppression, which goes beyond mere protest? Two years ago, Andreas Dresens film In Liebe, Eure Hilde (With Love, Your Hilde) about the left-wing resistance fighter Hilde Coppi, who was executed by the Nazis, warned of the danger of a right-wing dictatorship in Germany. The avoidance of Nazi flags, uniforms and the usual cliches gave the film a haunting immediacy. Something similar is detectable in Yellow Letters. The film is set in Turkey. However, Berlin and Hamburg were deliberately chosen as shooting locales and named in titles as the two places where the action takes place: Berlin is Ankara, Hamburg is Istanbul. German words such as taxi appear, as do a German police car and a demonstration featuring German placards. Catak emphasized in an interview: If you look at our globalised world, a problem over there is rarely just a problem over there. ... Trump launched his campaign against universities, and the Israel-Palestine debate showed that even here, as academics and artists, we have to be careful what we say. Suddenly, Yellow Letters was no longer a story that only takes place over there. Meanwhile, Catak has also inevitably been drawn into the Berlinales own drama, as the German government relentlessly pursues its efforts to censor the festival and prevent critical films, especially those that expose the Israelis and their genocidal policies, from appearing or receiving awards. The government has permitted festival director Tricia Tuttle to stay on, after threatening her because of pro-Palestinian displays by certain filmmakers at the Berlinales awards ceremony, but under increasingly onerous and politically repressive conditions. According to Variety, the Berlinale confirmed Tuesday that Tuttle would remain as director following a supervisory board meeting during which the boardwhich finances the festivalissued a series of recommendations, including the creation of a code of conduct; training for staff dealing with politically sensitive content; as well as the launch of an independent advisory forum representing diverse social groups, including Jewish voices. In fact, this extraordinary and unprecedented proposal envisions Zionist outfits having veto power over the film selection process at one of the worlds leading film festivals. It is unlikely that a good number of the films already reviewed by the WSWS would have been shown at the Berlinale if these reactionary conditions had been in place. Tuttle will keep her position only as long as she does what German culture minister Wolfram Weimer tells her to do. In a statement to Variety, Catak commented that an international A-list festival like the Berlinale must never be subjected to recommendations or any form of external directive. Filmmakers and guests must also be free, he went on, to express everything they wish Anything else would constitute blatant state interference in the autonomous exercise of art. We would have to call it what it is: censorship. Previously, in response to reports that Tuttle would be fired, Catak remarked: Do they even realize that all of usand I certainly include myself in thatwould never submit another film to the Berlinale? The kidnapping of Nashville Noticias and Univision reporter Estefany Rodriguez Florez by the US immigration Gestapo has sparked outrage across Tennessee and throughout the United States. Estefany Rodriguez, reporter for Nashville News. [Photo: Nashville Noticias] Rodriguez Florez, a mother, wife and widely respected member of Nashvilles immigrant community, was seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on the morning of March 4 at approximately 7:15 a.m. while heading to the gym with her husband, Alejandro Medina III. According to eyewitness accounts, Rodriguez Florez was in her clearly marked press vehicle when she and Medina were surrounded by multiple unmarked vehicles carrying masked and heavily armed ICE agents, who detained the journalist and took her into custody. Rodriguez Florez is a Colombian journalist who earned her degree in journalism in her native country, where she worked in media before coming to the United States. She joined the Nashville Noticias news team in 2022, covering social issues, immigration, family matters and policing in Tennessees growing Latino community. Her reporting has included articles critical of ICE and the governments ongoing mass deportation operations, policies that target immigrant workers and threaten the democratic rights of the entire working class. The same methods now used against immigrants are being developed as tools of repression against the working class as a whole, including striking workers and opponents of expanding US wars abroad. According to The Guardian, which cited Rodriguez Florezs attorney, the journalist was arrested without a warrant. Her lawyers state that she has been living lawfully in the United States for the past five years, possesses a valid work permit and has applied for political asylum while also seeking legal residency through her husband, a US citizen. For several hours after the arrest, Rodriguez Florezs family and lawyers did not know where she had been taken. Her name briefly disappeared from the ICE detainee locator system, effectively leaving her unaccounted for. It was only late Friday evening that her name reappeared in the system, indicating that she had been transferred to Etowah County Jail in Alabama, hundreds of miles from her husband and her eight-year-old daughter. ICE officials have claimed that Rodriguez Florez was arrested because she was a flight risk, alleging that she had missed two scheduled appointments with immigration authorities. Her attorney, Joel Coxander, disputes this claim. According to Coxander, the first appointment referenced by ICE was canceled due to a winter storm that struck the region, while a second appointment disappeared from the agencys system after her husband visited the ICE office to confirm it. A follow-up appointment had already been scheduled for March 17. Press-freedom organizations have condemned the arrest. The Committee to Protect Journalists called for Rodriguez Florezs immediate release, describing her detention as part of a shameful and alarming pattern of the Trump administrations use of immigration authorities to clamp down on freedom of the press. A GoFundMe in support of Rodriguez Florez and her safe return has raised over $10,000. The detention of Rodriguez Florez is not an isolated case. The Trump administration has used the immigration police to target multiple journalists, including Texas photojournalist Yaakub Vijandre and Atlanta-based reporter Mario Guevara, both of whom have faced detention after covering protests against the Gaza genocide and the opposition to Trumps dictatorial ambitions respectively. Vijandre remains detained more than five months after being taken by agents at gunpoint after refusing to become an FBI informant. Guevara was arrested while covering the No Kings protest in June 2025 and later deported to El Salvador after being transferred to ICE custody despite the dismissal of local charges. US citizen journalists covering protests opposing the Trump administration have also been targeted with criminal charges. Prosecutors have brought charges against former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort over their reporting on an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church attended by a senior immigration official. The targeting of journalists is part of a broader assault on the democratic rights of the entire working class. As the Department of Homeland Security expands surveillance tools and databases to monitor immigrants, protesters and US citizens alike, reporters who expose the governments lies and violence are increasingly becoming targets themselves. While the Trump administration lies daily about everything from its war against Iran to anti-immigrant propaganda and racist smears directed at Somalis, Haitians and other immigrant communities, the falsehoods issued by the Department of Homeland Security to justify violence by immigration agents continue to collapse under minimal scrutiny. Body-camera footage obtained by CBS News, Newsweek and other outlets conclusively demonstrates that officials lied about the killing of 23-year-old US citizen Ruben Ray Martinez by an ICE agent in South Padre Island, Texas last March. Federal authorities initially claimed Martinez was shot because he had accelerated and intentionally ran over an ICE agent with his vehicle. But the video evidence contradicts these claims. Footage reviewed by CBS shows that no agent was struck and none were standing in front of Martinezs vehicle when he was shot multiple times through the open driver-side window. The circumstances closely mirror the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this year, where federal agents also claimed a vehicle posed a threat before video evidence confirmed ICE agent Jonathan Ross deliberately placed himself in front of Goods vehicle and leaned forward as he shot her, first through the windshield and then twice through her open window. The footage shows Martinez approaching an intersection after midnight where dozens of local and federal police had flooded the area. A voice can be heard instructing Martinez to keep going as he slowly drives forward. The video shows him stopping to allow pedestrians to cross. Moments later officers suddenly begin yelling for Martinez to stop after he has already passed them. Several officers on foot ran after the vehicle. Martinezs vehicle stops and slowly turns to the left. Three gunshots ring out as Martinezs brake lights flash red, indicating he was not accelerating toward agents when he was shot. The blue Ford Fusion then rolls slowly to a stop. Martinez, who had been out celebrating his birthday with his friend Joshua Orta, 25, was shot multiple times at point-blank range. As the vehicle came to a stop, a federal agent dragged the wounded man from the vehicle, threw him face-down on the ground and handcuffed him. Martinez being thrown to the ground by a police agent after he was shot multiple times. According to witness accounts and the video timeline, police waited several minutes before providing medical aid, greatly reducing Martinezs chances of survival. Orta, who was detained at the scene, later wrote that he and Martinez had become stuck in traffic and were attempting to turn around after officers directed them to do so. Orta died in a separate car accident last month in San Antonio just before he was slated to provide a formal eyewitness statement. The body-camera footage ends with Orta being taken into custody. You are not under arrest, an officer tells him. You are being detained right now until we figure out whats going on. Is my brother ok? Orta asks. I dont know. Im not going to lie to you man, I really dont know. Is he conscious? I dont know, the officer replies. With three Congress MPs scheduled to move a resolution demanding the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the second phase of the budget session, Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh on Saturday stated that the party was compelled to introduce the no-confidence motion. He claimed the Speaker repeatedly refused to allow Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi to speak in the House. Speaking to ANI, Suresh said, "On 9th March, the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament is starting. On the first day, the House will take up the no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. We had repeatedly requested the Speaker to allow the LoP to speak in the House, but he did not allow it. So we were compelled to give a no-confidence motion." The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MPs have also announced their support for the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla in accordance with the direction of the party chairperson, Mamata Banerjee. The three Congress MPs, Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi, have accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of being partisan and of making "unwarranted allegations" against women MPs belonging to the opposition. They further pointed out that while opposition MPs have been suspended by Birla for the entire parliament session for raising issues concerning the public, the ruling party members have not been rebuked for making "derogatory" remarks against former Prime Ministers. "Having taken into consideration the conduct of the Speaker of the House as regards disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders to speak, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs, feels he has ceased to maintain an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House," the list of business for Lok Sabha read. The Congress MPs also accused Birla of "openly espousing the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters," stating that such conduct constitutes a danger to the proper functioning of the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress issued a 'three-line whip' to their Lok Sabha MPs, expecting their presence in the House from March 9 to 11. (ANI) Mounting evidence points to a breakdown in hospital infrastructure and management in New South Wales (NSW), with serious maintenance failures in supposedly hygienic environments now linked to preventable infections, which caused two deaths last year. The dire conditions are being presided over by a state Labor government that has continued the chronic underfunding of the public health sector while enforcing onerous conditions and inadequate pay on staff who work in it. Nurses and midwives protest staffing cuts at RPA Hospital in Sydney on July 1, 2025 The most recent exposure concerns Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney, one of Australias oldest and most prestigious teaching hospitals. On February 27, a 7News report revealed that a cluster of aspergillus infections had occurred in the hospitals liver and kidney transplant ward. Six patients were infected. Two died in late 2025, with the fungal infection cited as a contributing factor. Aspergillus, a mould commonly found in soil and damp environments, is particularly dangerous for immunocompromised patients, including organ transplant recipients. The discovery of two infections within days of each other in early December alarmed clinicians, given that transplant wards use filtered air systems. Hospital staff installed additional air filters and administered antifungal medication while raising concerns with management who informed NSW Health. A subsequent review uncovered four other cases dating back to October. Health authorities identified the likely source as a major redevelopment project adjacent to the wards that began in October 2023. Construction is a known hospital risk factor, as it can release fungal spores into clinical areas. An expert panel convened by NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant in December reportedly acknowledged that recommended air monitoring procedures had not been routinely conducted during the construction period. A contractors review also identified visible mould on four hospital floors and aspergillus contamination in a plant room, possibly linked to water damage following heavy rain. While RPA clinicians acted to contain and eliminate the mould, senior NSW Health officials drafted a media statement which omitted any reference to patient deaths. Health Minister Ryan Park told the media last week that broader public notification was avoided to prevent unnecessarily scaring people, and that this decision was backed by the expert panel. Park later told parliament that although his office had been told about the aspergillus mould, he was not personally informed about the infection cluster and the deaths at RPA until early February. Attempting to deflect attention from the cover up, Park said a rapid system-wide review of the states hospitals had been conducted which identified 112 non-routine maintenance issues, including mould, asbestos, and pest infestations across various facilities. Seventy-four of these were resolved, he claimed, 32 were being rectified and six were subject to further investigation. The NSW Legislative Councils Health Committee has also initiated an investigation into serious mould problems and pest infestations at Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle. The inquiry, which is currently taking submissions, will begin public hearings on March 13. In January this year, one of Calvary Maters cancer units was closed after prolonged mould contamination in the hospitals air-conditioning system was detected. The facility has about 215 beds and serves as the regions major cancer care centre. It includes emergency, ICU, oncology, and research facilities. Unlike RPA, Calvary Mater operates under a public-private partnership between NSW Health and private contractors. The arrangement includes Calvary Health Care and the Novacare consortium, comprising Honeywell, Westpac, Medirest and AbiGroup. The consortium runs non-clinical servicescleaning, catering, maintenanceat the hospital. Beginning in the 1990s, state governments increasingly turned to public-private partnerships to reduce public expenditure and transfer responsibility for hospital management to corporate entities. The for-profit model has repeatedly seen a rundown in health services. Sydneys Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH), another such facility, was operated by Healthscope but is now being returned to government control this year after the company went into receivership. From the outset, clinicians reported systemic problems, including unsafe staffing, onerous work hours, poor rostering practices, inadequacies in the handling of adverse events and serious incidents, including the deaths of two infants in 20242025. At Calvary Mater, the aspergillus mould was detected in multiple areas. Documents reported by the Newcastle Herald indicate that Honeywell, responsible for maintenance, had been informed as early as October 2024 that air-conditioning ducts in the cancer ward required replacement but failed to act. Evidence that immunocompromised patients were exposed has led to a class action against Honeywell and Novacare. Lawyers allege that patients admitted for routine or short-term care developed pneumonia infections consistent with mould exposure during the period contamination was known to be present. Further reporting by NBN Television in January indicated that the mould problems were widely known among staff and patients long before 2025, with some accounts dating back to the mid-2000s, when the public-private partnership commenced. A Bureau of Health Information study released in October 2025 found that from mid-2021 to mid-2024, Calvary Mater recorded higher than expected pneumonia mortality at a time when statewide pneumonia deaths were declining. Just before the cancer ward was finally closed, maggots were reported falling from air vents onto a patients bed in the haematology ward. Mould had also been identified in the intensive care unit. Staff have raised maintenance concerns since at least 2017. An electrician interviewed anonymously by NBN stated that between 2019 and 2024 the hospitals electrical systems were substandard and posed electrocution risks. He further alleged that cost-cutting by Honeywell resulted in ignored safety concerns, rat infestations and ceiling cavities contaminated with rodent faeceslikely contributing to the maggot outbreak. Last weekend, Sydneys Sun-Herald newspaper reported pigeon infestations at public hospitals in Tamworth and Wollongong, as well as RPA, with patients and staff requiring treatment for bird lice. Pigeons were reported living in a ceiling cavity in the rehabilitation unit at Tamworth. At Wollongong Hospital, pigeon excrement had been found coming through the ventilation systems, and a room in the older persons mental health unit had become infested with pigeons and bird lice, according to the Sun-Herald. Mould issues were also identified at Cumberland, Wyong, Ryde and John Hunter hospitals. Irrespective of its outcome, the Cavalry Mater Hospital inquirylike Parks rapid system-wide reviewwill not address the underlying source of the unhygienic conditions in hospitals, which are the result of decades of serious underfunding and the increasing integration of for-profit corporations into public health by successive governments, working hand-in-glove with the health sector unions. Similar cost-cutting logic operates whether a hospital is fully public or run under a corporate partnership. Essential infrastructure maintenance is deferred, causing the deterioration of basic safety systems, combined with inadequate staffing levels and increased workloads. NSW nurses demand safe-staffing in Sydney during a one-day strike on March 31, 2022. Nurses and other health workers, who have suffered years of understaffing and successive cuts to real wages, are being forced to care for vastly greater patient numbers than safe standards permit. This leads to burnout and resignations, leaving remaining staff, such as inexperienced graduates and agency nurses, trying to fill gaps. Hospital emergency departments are strained to breaking point, a fact demonstrated by worsening ambulance rampingpatients left on stretchers in ambulances outside emergency departments for hours because there are no free beds or staff to receive them. Where nurses and health workers have attempted to change these brutal conditions and win pay rates to compensate for the rising cost of living, they have been blocked by the union bureaucracy. Opposed to unified industrial action, the unions have isolated them from their fellow workers and limited them to stage-managed stoppages and appeals to the very governments carrying out the attacks. Strikes by public sector nurses, midwives and doctors have been shut down by the health unions and diverted into protracted legal proceedings in the pro-business Industrial Relations Commission. The attack on health workers wages and conditions by the NSW Labor government is mirrored in every Australian state and territory and federally, with new social austerity measures being planned by the federal Labor government. The Albanese government is currently preparing its May federal budget which is expected to impose additional social spending cuts, including in aged care, disability and other vital health services. In late 2025, federal departments were directed to identify reductions of up to 5 percent of annual budgetsmeasures that will inevitably deepen staffing shortages and infrastructure neglect. To fight these attacks, health workers must mobilise independently of the unions. This requires the establishment of democratically controlled, rankandfile committees in every hospitallinking nurses, orderlies, paramedics, cleaners, allied health and ambulance crewsto expose the unsafe conditions and demand safe stafftopatient ratios, restoration of beds and services, an end to ambulance ramping and real wage increases indexed to cost of living. This means fighting on a socialist programi.e., a fully-funded public health system, freely accessible to all and based on the needs of society, not government budgets and the profit demands of the financial and corporate elite. Health service workers in Lorain County, Ohio have been on strike for 3 weeks, March 2026. Workers for the Lorain County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) in Ohio are in their third week of a strike for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The 140 workerscaseworkers, investigators, and social service employeesare members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2192. Striking workers told the World Socialist Web Site that they are fighting for better wages and health care and to ensure that they can provide better service to members of the community in need. Every picketer we spoke with this week described the connection between low wages and their ability to provide services to the community. Darlene Gray, a caseworker with 23 years of service, explained how low pay prevents JFS from retaining workers. We have employees that will start with the agency, she said. Theyre in training. Then they come out on the floor and realize the amount of work that have to do for the pay they are receiving so they quit. We love what we do, she added. We actually enjoy helping the community. Darlene Gray, a caseworker with 23-years service, explained how the low pay prevents JFS from keeping workers. The 140 caseworkers, investigators and social service workers walked off the job February 18 after working since last fall without a contract. Workers at the agency administer many benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, Medicaid, childcare assistance, Ohio Works First and Adult Protective Services. Massive cuts to SNAP, Medicaid and other social services enacted by the Trump administration and passed by Congress have eliminated benefits and placed additional burdens on the backs of the already overworked staff. Antionetta Russell has 31 years at JFS. She works in Adult Protective Services, investigating cases of adult abuse. The pay is low and the demands are high, she said. You cant keep the ratio of staff that we need. There is a lot of turnover, and the burnout is too high. Antionetta Russell, with 31-years service works in Adult Protective Services, investigating cases of adult abuse. The pay for staff is abysmal. Starting wages are just $15 to $18 an hour. A caseworker with over five years service told the WSWS that she makes only $21.26 an hour. This amounts to under $45,000 a year. We are on strike for better wages and health care, Antionetta continued. We havent gotten an increase for the past several contracts. The contract rolls over in September. Every time we get a [wage] increase, then in January they increase the medical, so we are always put behind the eight ball. We just want to be able to make a living wage and take care of our families. But we want to get back to work so we can take care of our community. The strike unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing and massive cuts carried out by both Democrats and Republicans at the local, state and federal levels, leaving millions without basic necessities. In 1996, the Clinton administration ended entitlement status for both food stamps and welfarewhat Clinton referred to as ending welfare as we know it. Their replacements, SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), came with time limits and work requirements, forcing millions off the programs. States were often given waivers to impose still further restrictions. Over the years, both Democratic and Republican administrations imposed further cuts while granting massive tax cuts and bailouts for the rich. During 2023 and 2024, the Biden administration ended the last of the COVID benefits. Last year, Congress refused to extend the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, forcing more than 2 million people off health care and millions more to pay skyrocketing premiums. Finally, last summer, Congress passed what is referred to as Trumps big, beautiful bill, which handed massive tax cuts to the rich and corporations while further cutting social programs for the working class and poor. These cuts placed further burdens on those receiving benefits, forcing tensif not hundredsof thousands of these vital programs in Ohio alone. The increased regulations are also placing massive burdens on the already overworked staff at the JFS offices in Lorain and throughout the state. The cuts affect the community, said Antionetta. We have to find the resources for food, housing, to pay their electric bill. A lot of people here dont make much money. A lot of people here qualify for benefits. It is a sad situation, and the medical costs keep increasing and increasing. Ashton Werling, a program specialist with over 10 years' service is concerned about program cuts and how they will hurt their clients. Ashton Werling, a program specialist with over 10 years service, spoke about her mother, who died less than two months ago after battling Long COVID for four years. She was placed on a ventilator December 10, 2021. My mom caught COVID in November 2021. She fought for four years. She passed away on January 14th. I researched what benefits there are, because obviously we dont have any money to pay for her expenses. With COVID and then her passing, we used all the resources we had. Im just scrambling trying to get everything together. She fought for so long and I wanted to see she was okay. Im still really emotional, and Im angry that she had to go through that because of COVID. I was really upset to find out that all the COVID support was cut. I remember giving stuff out for people to pay for funerals and things like that. But not anymore. One of the specific targets of the budget cuts of the Trump administration, approved by Congress, was the elimination of benefits for immigrant workers in the United States. Most undocumented immigrants who were not here legally were never allowed federal services, but under the bill immigrants who are here legally as refugees and asylum seekers can no longer receive SNAP, Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Family service workers on strike in Lorain County, Ohio, March 2026. It was really sad, said Ashton, describing having to tell clients they were being cut off of health insurance. We had several people calling in. People who were non-citizens, in the transition to becoming permanent and because of the changes overnight we had to tell them that they were no longer qualified for medical benefits. They already didnt qualify for food assistance, and now we had to tell them the medical coverage was over. We totally sympathize with all of those people. You dont want to take away their medical. We want everybody to have medical. That was really, really tough to deal with. I mean it was call after call after call. It was just one day, and the state just came in and just started shutting everything down. We are fighting everyone. Thats what it is, we are fighting everyone, is how Antoinette summed it up. Will Lehman, rank-and-file autoworker at Mack Trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania and candidate for UAW president, issued a statement on the strike. The strike by Lorain County Department of Job and Family Services workers is a warning and a call to action for the entire working class, he said. These workers are fighting not only for themselves, but for every family that depends on basic social servicesand for every worker being told to accept poverty wages while billionaires and corporations grow richer. Lehman underscored that the conditions described by JFS workers are the daily reality for workers everywhere, and that attacks on workers and attacks on the public are two sides of the same class policy. Lehman also pointed to the role of the union apparatus in blocking a broader fight: The UAW bureaucracy is isolating the strike and refusing to call for unified action by Jobs and Family Services workers across Ohio, including those organized by AFSCME, OCSEA and other unions. They wont mobilize broader support because they fear a movement of the working class that escapes their control. Lehman concluded that workers need rank-and-file committeesindependent organizations controlled by workers themselvesto link up across workplaces and industries and organize a unified counteroffensive in defense of social rights. The World Socialist Web Site is holding an emergency global webinar this Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. EDT to explain the origins of the US imperialist war against Iran, the social forces driving it and the strategy required to stop it. We urge all our readers to register to attend. On Sunday, the World Socialist Web Site is sponsoring an international webinar to outline a strategy and program to stop the brutal imperialist onslaught against Iran. The aim of this discussion is to place the struggle against the war in its necessary historical, political and social context. The webinar will cut through the endless stream of lying propaganda and disinformation pumped out by the White House, the corporate media and all the imperialist governments. What is unfolding before our eyes is a war of extermination against a country of over 90 million people. In one week, the United States and Israel have assassinated Irans supreme leader and dozens of senior officials, bombed a girls school in Minabkilling nearly 150 childrenand struck hospitals and civilian infrastructure across the country. An unarmed Iranian frigate was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean, sending 180 sailors to their death. More than 1,000 Iranians have been killed. The Trump administration boasts that this is the most lethal air bombardment in modern history. These are war crimes. And the war is expandinginto Lebanon and across the Middle East. French warships patrol the eastern Mediterranean. Washington is arming Kurdish separatists to foment civil war inside Iran. Every imperialist power has lined up behind this criminal enterprise. The United States has waged unrelenting aggression against Iran for over 70 yearsfrom the CIA overthrow of the bourgeois nationalist prime minister Mossadegh in 1953, to the bombing of Irans nuclear facilities last June. This war is inseparable from the genocide in Gaza, which served as both testing ground and political precedent for the methods now being applied on a vastly greater scale. This is not merely the product of the delusional megalomania of Donald Trump. It is the latest and most brutal of the wars launched by the United States, with the support of all imperialist governments, over the last 35 years, that is, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This war is being waged not only against the people of Iran. It is part of a violent global war against working people all over the world. Trump now declares that the war will end with the unconditional surrender of Iran. The task of the working class is to turn this war into an unmitigated and unconditional defeat and disaster for US and world imperialism. This war will not be stopped by appeals to imperialist governments and politicians. The defense of the Iranian people and the defeat of the war criminals require the political mobilization of the global working class against world capitalism. This can be achieved only on the basis of an international socialist strategy. The webinar will consist of a discussion and analysis of the war by an international panel of socialist experts on a wide range of historical, theoretical and political issues. The panelists will examine the causes of the war and its international dimensions. Register today at wsws.org/iranwebinar. Inform your coworkers, family and friends. This webinar will contribute to the building of a powerful movement to stop this criminal imperialist war. The World Socialist Web Site is holding an emergency global webinar this Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. EDT to explain the origins of the US imperialist war against Iran, the social forces driving it and the strategy required to stop it. We urge all our readers to register to attend. Iranian warship IRIS Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal during International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. [AP Photo] The US sinking of Irans naval frigate, IRIS Dena, off Sri Lankas southern coast in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday is a criminal act of mass murder. Some 140 Iranian sailors drowned at sea; 32 sailors were rescued, not, as required by the Geneva Conventions, by the US submarine that torpedoed it, but by the Sri Lankan navy. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka condemn this war crime and the illegal war of aggression by US imperialism and Israel against Iran. We condemn both the Sri Lankan and Indian governments for their complicity in this war. We call on the working class of South Asia to unite with their class brothers and sisters internationally to build an anti-war movement based on socialist policies to halt this war. In Washington, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth celebrated the mass murder, claiming: Yesterday in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters... Quiet death. IRIS Dena was not on a military mission but had been invited by the Indian government to take part in Indias International Fleet Review and the MILAN 2026 exercises at Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal. On February 17, Indias Eastern Naval Command welcomed the ship on social media via X, hailing long-standing cultural ties with photos of the vessel and crew. No comment followed the sinking of the vessel. The IRIS Dena was sunk in the full knowledge that it was unarmed. The rules of the Indian exercise included a prohibition on carrying ammunition. The US Navy, which also participated in the same drills, knew that it posed no threat. The atrocity once again demonstrates that Hegseths total war is a declaration of complete lawlessness by the fascistic Trump administration. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has maintained a criminal silence on the sinking. The Indian Navy claimed it responded to the distress call relayed by Sri Lanka by deploying maritime patrol aircraft and naval assets, but stressed that the IRIS Dena had already left Indian waters and that India bore no responsibility for the sinking. Since day one, New Delhi has neither criticized the war nor so much as mentioned its authorsthe United States and Israelbut has simply made empty calls for restraint. On the eve of the war, Modi made a two-day visit to Israel and was undoubtedly informed of the impending bombardment of Iran. New Delhis silence on the sinking of an Iranian warship, which was its guest just days before, confirms its full support for US imperialisms war of aggression. The Sri Lankan governments response is just as duplicitous. Its navy, in compliance with international maritime obligations, launched a search and rescue operation after receiving a distress call from the IRIS Dena. Of the 180 aboard, it managed to save just 32 Iranian sailors and recovered some 87 bodies. In a Thursday press conference, Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake made no criticism of the submarine attack or protested the criminal role of the United States. In a hollow posture of independence, he told the media: We do not act in a biased manner towards any state, nor do we submit to any state. The governments refusal to initially allow a second Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Bushehra supply ship that had accompanied the IRIS Dena in the Indian naval exercisesto take refuge in Colombo harbour on Thursday speaks to the contrary. After the sinking of the IRIS Dena, it was clearly another potential US target. Only after a flurry of diplomatic activity did the government take custody of the IRIS Bushehr on the basis of engine failure. Most of its crew of more than 200 were taken off the ship in Colombo and, while not formally detained, are being held at a naval camp. The vessel itself was then moved under Sri Lankan navy supervision to Trincomalee harbour on the other side of Sri Lanka. In coming to power for the first time in 2024, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) government abandoned what little remained of its socialistic and anti-imperialist demagogythat had in the past been directed against the United States. The Dissanayake governments response to the murderous US-Israeli war on Iran is no different to that of the far-right Modi government in India. The foreign ministry issued a statement of deep concern over the threat to regional stability and international peace and called for maximum restraint and de-escalation. It did not name the aggressorsthe US and Israelnor the victim of the unprovoked warIran. The government took the same stance over Israels US-backed genocidal war in Gaza against the Palestinians, issuing impotent calls for de-escalation, restraint and ceasefires, without naming the US and Israel. Dissanayakes claims to an independent foreign policy are a fraud. Since coming to office, his government has integrated Colombo even more closely into US war planning against China and strengthened ties with Israelcontinuing the policies of his right-wing predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Barely a week before US and Israel launched war on Iran, US Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, Pacific Fleet Commander, visited Sri Lanka on February 1921 for a second time, meeting with ministers and military commanders. Nominally about counter-piracy, humanitarian and disaster response, the timing reeks of a US mission to ensure Sri Lankan backing for the impending assault. Now, the war criminals in the US and Israel have assassinated Ayatollah Khamenei and all other top Iranian leaders. Thousands of innocent civilians have been slaughtered, including over 150 children in a targeted attack on a girls school. An unarmed Iranian naval vessel has been sunk approximately 40 nautical miles from the southern city of Galle in an act of mass murder. And the JVP leaders, who once shouted against US imperialism, cannot mouth the word United States let alone criticize or condemn its war crimes. The illegal US-Israeli war on Iran and its people has nothing to do with nuclear facilities, alleged internal repression or support for terrorism. US imperialism in its desperate attempts to reverse its historic decline, is intent on nothing less than the destruction of the Iranian state. The Trump administration regards the subjugation of Iran and its vast energy resources as an essential step in its preparation for war against Chinathe chief threat to US global hegemony. A catastrophic Third World War is looming. World Socialist Web Site chairman David North explained yesterday: The torpedo that sank the IRIS Dena did not only kill 140 sailors. It announced to the world, without apology, that the United States government is not bound by any law, any convention, or any standard of civilized conduct. The only imperatives that it recognizes are those dictated by the capitalist system and the accumulation of profit. Every day, every new crime adds increased urgency to the warning of Leon Trotsky: Without a socialist revolution, in the next historical period at that, a catastrophe threatens the whole culture of mankind. The working class in South Asia has a mighty anti-imperialist traditionfrom its struggles against British colonial rule to its opposition to US-led wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. That heritage must be revived in the fight to halt the US-Israeli war on Iran and the descent into a catastrophic new global conflict. Workers in India and Sri Lanka should denounce the sinking of IRIS Dena and their governments complicity in naked US-Israeli acts of colonial brigandage and war. They must unite with their class brothers and sisters across South Asia and internationally in an anti-war movement based on socialist policies to overthrow the capitalist system and its outmoded division of the world into rival nation statesthe root cause of war. Doug Burgum and Delcy Rodriguez meet in Caracas, March 4, 2025 [Photo: @delcyrodriguezv] The US State Department announced Thursday the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with Venezuela. The move follows the January 3 military assault on Caracas in which over 100 were killed in an operation to abduct President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, now jailed in the US and facing life in prison on fraudulent charges of narco-terrorism. Relations were severed in 2019 when the first Trump administration recognized CIA puppet Juan Guaido as the legitimate president as part of a failed regime change operation. The announcement follows a two-day visit by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to Caracas, where acting president Delcy Rodriguez, Maduros former vice president, announced deals handing oil and critical minerals over to Washington and US-based multinational corporations. As oil prices climb due to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, Rodriguez signed a deal with Shell, while Exxon Mobil executives have scheduled a trip in March, and Chevron said it would expand production in the country. A day prior to Burgum's arrival, the state oil company PDVSA announced a series of new sales contracts without providing details. US officials have indicated, however, that the US Treasury Department not only has full control over which firms are granted licenses to sell Venezuelan oil, but over the disbursement of the proceeds. While the initial $500 million in oil sales following the capture of Maduro were routed through Qatar, these are now going directly to accounts handled by the Treasury Department, with total discretion on whether to disburse the money to the Venezuelan government, or keep it as war booty. As an indication of its priorities, the regime in Caracas announced in mid-February the axing of seven social programs and organizations, including the so-called missions that provided limited social aid to some of the poorest layers of Venezuelan society. Burgum also signed an agreement with Venezuela's mining company to buy a thousand kilograms of gold, and Rodriguez announced a mining reform to open the sector to transnationals. The reform will be inspired by a hydrocarbons law passed in January that privatizes oil and cuts tax rates. There are vast deposits of rare earths, niobium and platinum group metals in Venezuela, especially in ecologically sensitive areas including Cerro Impacto in the Amazon rainforest. But the country remains largely unexplored. Days before his trip, Burgum said: That first wave is oil and gas and getting them the equipment, often US-made equipment, that we need to help them increase their production. So, both the technology, the equipment, and the people to help raise that up. And then the next wave is going to be on critical minerals, because there's a huge mining opportunity in Venezuela.' In a matter of weeks, Rodriguez has handed over control of the economy and shaken hands with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, SOUTHCOMs commander Gen. Francis Donovan, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other top US officials. Despite once decrying Trumps perverse plans of fascism, she now calls the would-be US Fuhrer her friend and partner and writes on social media: I thank President Donald Trump for his kind willingness... to work together. A joint pact with the Pentagon and CIA has been signed ostensibly against drug cartels, turning Caracas into an imperialist hub even as the Trump administration adds insult to injury almost daily after the January 3 assault waged explicitly to take all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets of Venezuela. Maduros lawyers have denounced Washington for blocking them from accessing money to pay for his defense, while Trump gloats in his State of the Union how Elite American warriors overwhelmed all defense in a colossal victory. According to US sources speaking to Reuters, Rodriguez faces a potential Miami indictment for corruption as leverage to ensure compliance, while Washington demands the arrest of other Maduro allies for extradition. This takes place in the context of extreme US sanctionswhich killed 100,000+ per ex-UN rapporteur Alfred de Zayas and drove 8 million into a mass exodus. Venezuelas refiner in the US, Citgo, faces auction to US financial vultures for debt. US bombings in the Caribbean/Pacific have killed 152 fisherman, including many Venezuelans, and thousands of Venezuelan migrant workers rot in US concentration camps. In this context, the subservience of the Socialist Party of Venezuela regime is only comparable to semi-colonial regimes such as Porfirio Diazs Mexico, Juan Vicente Gomezs Venezuela, the Somozas Nicaragua and Augusto Pinochets Chile, all of which combined savage repression and torture with extreme inequality and corruption. The Chavista leadership is doing everything possible to demonstrate that it can oversee US interests in Venezuela as effectively as the openly fascist CIA-financed opposition led by Maria Corina Machado. The White House has repeatedly pointed to Venezuela as a case study for the Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which in turn is being framed ever more openly as the establishment of a hemispheric launchpad for global war. At the Americas Counter Cartel Conference with representatives from US-aligned regional countries on Thursday, Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller roared: We are NOT going to cede an INCH of territory in this hemisphere to our enemies or adversaries! This was echoed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who threatened a unilateral onslaught to secure US domination: America is prepared to take on these threats and go on offence alone if necessary. Globalization and financialization since the 1980s have intensified the drive of imperialism to gain control over strategic minerals, fuels and global production networks through recolonization and war. The response by all factions of the national ruling elites to globalization has been to subordinate all considerations to the vying for investments. Chavez and Maduro were not exceptions but simply sought to gain better terms with imperialism by leveraging close economic and political ties with other powers, mainly China and Russia. Having come to power on the heels of major popular uprisings against inequality and dictatorship marked by the 1989 Caracazo, Chavez used surplus income from booming oil prices driven by Chinese growth to pay for limited social assistance programs. But, as soon as the commodity boom ended, the Chavistas themselves began major cuts. Today, bourgeois nationalists find it increasingly impossible to exploit the opportunities once provided by rivalries between major powers as they face growing pressure of imperialism from above and the resistance of the working class from below. The relinquishing by the Chavista leadership of economic, political and territorial sovereignty and the overall accommodation by nominally left governments across the region to Trumps threats demonstrate that bourgeois nationalism is, without exception, a counter-revolutionary agency of imperialism. The Socialist Party of Venezuela achieved a significant influence among broad layers of workers and the middle class. Now, the pink tide, 21st century socialism and the other Chavista slogans promising equality, sovereignty and regional integration against fascism and imperialism are exposed as mere demagogy. While Stalinists and pseudo-left groups internationally climbed on the bandwagon, peddling illusions in and joining these governments, now these forces attack the WSWS arguing that the Chavistas have a gun to their head. What else are they to do? Such is the demoralization of the petty-bourgeois layers that these tendencies speak for. But the current explosion of US imperialism is rapidly radicalizing workers, amid a global leftward lurch. The issue is not how best the Chavista government can respond to conditions it helped to create, but rather mobilizing workers and youth to overcome these nationalist betrayals and politically arming them for the overthrow of capitalism, independently of all nationalist and pro-capitalist political forces. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, on Saturday, said that the electors in Kerala will be allowed to carry their mobile phones till the gate of the polling station, and EVMs will carry a colour photo of candidates. Addressing a press conference in Kerala following two days of poll preparedness, CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that postal ballots will be counted two rounds before EVMs and there will be mandatory counting of VVPAT slips in case of a mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data. Noting new initiatives by the Election Commission for "ease of voting," he said, "Electors will be allowed to carry their mobile phones till the gate of the polling station. In order to enable the electors to select candidates without any doubt, colour photos of candidates will be available for the first time in Kerala. The Presiding Officer will directly upload voter turnout data on the ECINET app every two hours." "To reduce pressure on returning officers, the postal ballots will be counted 2 rounds before EVMs. Mandatory counting of VVPAT slips in every case of mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data," he added. Following meetings with political parties, CEC Kumar said that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll was taken with a clear objective, that "no eligible voter is to be excluded while no ineligible person should be included." Describing the poll preparedness review, he said, "We had meetings with the entire state election machinery and detailed interactions with all political parties. We also met the youth, the icons, who are going to vote in the upcoming elections. I also appreciate the Literacy Club. I also acknowledge the hard work by our booth-level officers for successfully completing the SIR in Kerala. Democracy is not new to Kerala; in fact, Kerala has taught it to many parts of the country and the world. Kerala also made the first code of conduct in 1960, which was later adopted by the ECI in consultation with all parties." "Pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of democracy. The SIR undertaken had a clear objective, that no eligible voter is to be excluded while no ineligible person should be included," he added. He also announced that all polling stations will have 100 per cent web casting. The CEC said, "100 per cent webcasting will be at all polling stations. The commission had taken the decision to give more facilities to electors. There shall not be more than 1200 electors in any booth. There will be 397 women-managed polling booths and 790 model polling stations." "We have 2.43 lakhs Divyang voters and more than two lakh senior citizens with age above 85 years, and they will have an optional voting at their homes. We have 1571 electors who are more than 100 years of age. To ensure that young voters participate, there will be 138 dedicated AEROs to campaign in colleges," the CEC said. Kerala is set to hold Legislative Assembly elections later this year. During the review visit, the Commission interacted with representatives of recognised national political parties, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian National Congress (INC). The Commission also met representatives of recognised state political parties such as Communist Party of India (CPI), Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party and sought their suggestions. According to a press release, several parties urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to keep in mind upcoming local festivals while finalising the dates of the elections. (ANI) The Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India hosted a Special Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) Meeting which began today and would conclude on March 9 in the North Indian hill town of Dharamshala. Over 120 participants from 32 countries across the world are attending the 3-day event to show their support for the cause of Tibet. The meeting focuses on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, human rights violations, and colonial boarding schools in Tibet, featuring leaders from the Tibetan government-in-exile and international supporters. Speaking to ANI at the inaugural session, national convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India RK Khrimey said, "The most important issue in front of us is the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and then another issues are colonial boarding schools and violation of human rights in Tibet. We have invited Tibet support groups from 37 countries, but 32 countries could arrive here to attend the conference." Member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Thubten Wangchen emphasized that this event serves as a way to reiterate that "Tibet was never a part of China and we want to have dialogue with China". Many supporters of the cause also echoed these sentiments as Damenda Porage, a supporter from said, "We hold various programmes in Sri Lanka also about the commitments of the Dalai Lama that is love, peace, compassion and kindness. I appeal to the government of China to respect Tibetans' rights. An Australian supporter Zeo Bedford also highlighted the importance of adressing Tibet issues. "So that they can have freedom like us," said Bedford. Earlier on Tuesday, thousands of Tibetans gathered at the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglagkhang, on the first full moon day of the Tibetan New Year to celebrate the 15th day of Losar on Tuesday and offer prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama and for global peace. The occassion considered highly auspicious in Tibetan Buddhism, marks the culmination of Losar festivities. Devotees assembled for special prayers amid a spiritually significant full moon day. (ANI) NEW ORLEANS, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until March 23, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help BellRing investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-brbr/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit BellRing and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 6, 2025, the Company disclosed that "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand, which is expected to be a mid-single-digit headwind to our third quarter growth," and that "[w]e now expect Q3 sales growth of low single digits." On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $14.88 per share, or 19%, from $78.43 per share on May 5, 2025, to close at $63.55 per share on May 6, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. Then, on August 4, 2025, post-market, the Company reported its fiscal 3Q 2025 financial results, disclosing a disappointing new 2025 sales outlook, stating "BellRing management has narrowed its fiscal year 2025 outlook for net sales to [a] range between $2.28-$2.32 billion," due to "several other competitors" gaining space to sell their products with a large retailer and that "it is not surprising to see new protein RTDs enter[ed]" the convenient nutrition market. On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The case is Denha v. BellRing Brands, Inc., No. 26-cv-00575. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler As the nation celebrates International Women's Day on March 8, the journey of Asmita Ashok Patel of Soldhara village in Chikhli taluka of Gujarat stands as an inspiring example of self-reliance and determination. Truly embodying the saying, "Women's power is the true strength of society," she has transformed her aspirations into action. Coming from a farming family, she has not only established her own enterprise but has also enabled 10 other women to become self-reliant alongside her. Her efforts reflect the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Notably, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) South Gujarat will be held in Surat in April 2026. The conference will focus on connecting local women's self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs with global markets. This platform will provide new opportunities for women entrepreneurs like Asmitaben to showcase their capabilities. Asmitaben Patel was raised in a farming family and learned farming and animal husbandry from an early age. While pursuing her ATD (Art Teacher Diploma), she lost her father. With the support of her in-laws and her own determination, she continued moving forward. After marriage, she also completed her BA degree and continued her journey of learning and self-development. With limited income from farming and difficulty in managing household expenses, she completed a beekeeping course in 2010-11 during challenging times. She began honey production at home and started selling it in the market. In 2014, she also completed a bakery course from Navsari Agricultural University. This enthusiasm and determination gradually became her identity. In 2015, with the guidance of rural development officials, Asmitaben formed the 'Sahyadri Sakhi Mandal' with 10 women. Initially, the group started making pickles from mango, lemon and karonda, along with other seasonal products. With a revolving fund of Rs 15,000 under Mission Mangalam, they began producing ragi (Nagli)-based products, papad, biscuits and flour. These products were displayed and sold at local, district and regional agricultural fairs. Later, they received a business loan of Rs 2 lakh and purchased a turmeric processing and grinding machine to produce natural turmeric powder. Today, Asmitaben and the women of Sahyadri Sakhi Mandal produce natural and handmade food products. Some women manage honey packing and processing from their homes, while others prepare and sell pickles, amla candy, ragi wafers and bamboo handicrafts. Their products are sold in local markets and are also showcased at state and national level SARAS fairs. As of today, Asmitaben's annual income is Rs 10.20 lakh. She is not just a "Lakhpati Didi," but also a respected and guiding woman in her village and community. She credits her success to the Mission Mangalam scheme and the efforts of the Prime Minister to empower women in rural areas. Under the NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission), Asmitaben's work has received several recognitions. She has had the privilege of meeting the Prime Minister three times. She has also received the "Krishi Ratna Award" from the Government of Gujarat and the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Award at the district level in April 2015. The journey of Asmitaben Patel is not just a story of personal success; it is an example of rural development, women's empowerment and sustainable livelihoods. Through Sahyadri Sakhi Mandal, she has created employment opportunities by using local raw materials, traditional skills and natural resources. Asmitaben proudly says, "Just as a strong tree grows from united roots and spreads its branches when given opportunities, our group too stands strong today." Her journey of self-employment shows that when women come together, their progress can extend from their homes to society and beyond. On the occasion of International Women's Day, tribute is paid to "Lakhpati Didis" like Asmitaben, whose efforts are creating new opportunities and contributing to positive transformation in society. (ANI) Celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich has certainly led an inspiring life, but not without its blemishes one of which is incredibly disturbing. In 2011, a $5 million lawsuit was filed against Bastianich alleging what amounts to human trafficking and enslavement (via The New York Post). Maria Carmela Farina an Italian woman who was in her early 50s at the time of the incident was reportedly tricked into working for Bastianich for six years without pay. Speaking with the New York Daily News, Farina's lawyer, Paul Catsandonis, said that his client could only speak Italian and therefore had no one to turn to for help during the course of her six years working for Bastianich. She was allegedly allowed no vacation time, was cut off from her family, and was expected to provide 24/7 care for Bastianich's associate. According to the New York Post story, the suit claimed that Bastianich's family went so far as to call Farina "il shiavo di lusso" ("the golden slave") behind her back, implying intentional mistreatment. The shocking allegations haven't seemed to have much of an impact on Bastianich's career since, which wasn't the case for other celebrity chefs sued by former employees. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Here's What Taylor Swift Really Eats In A Day Allegations in the lawsuit against Bastianich Lidia Bastianich giving a cooking demo at Eataly - John Lamparski/Getty Images Court papers filed in 2014 give a detailed summary of Maria Carmela Farina's accusations against Lidia Bastianich. In 2005, Farina, then residing in Venice, was approached about a job managing Bastianich's television shows and restaurant kitchens, and was promised payment of no less than $600 a week. Farina's visa applications, sponsored by Bastianich via Tavola Productions, appeared to confirm the agreement, citing both the work she was meant to do and her salary. Upon arriving in the U.S., however, Farina was instead made to work as a live-in caregiver for one of Bastianich's associates, Luigia Crespi. Her duties included cooking, cleaning, and bathing the elderly Crespi. Instead of receiving the salary she was promised, the money reportedly went towards healthcare insurance for Farina, free meals and boarding, and visa fees handled by Bastianich and her company. The work she was made to do was allegedly due to an arrangement between Bastianich and Crespi, who in 1996 had previously agreed to deed Bastianich her home for $10 as long as Bastianich would care for her in her old age. The arrangement ended in 2011, when Crespi passed away. Bastianich's daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali, reportedly told Farina she was being evicted from the home shortly after Crespi died, giving her a one-way ticket to Italy and a promise of $10,000 in unpaid wages upon her arrival (via Gothamist). Farina opted not to take the offer, instead staying in the United States to pursue legal action. What happened to the lawsuit filed against Bastianich? Lidia Bastianich signing a copy of her book - Bobby Bank/Getty Images Lidia Bastianich's legal team responded by filing for a dismissal of Maria Carmela Farina's lawsuit. According to a document filed in 2012, the New York Supreme Court granted the dismissal of the suit on all 11 counts within, citing insufficient claim for some, while arguing others did not meet certain legal thresholds. Additionally, claims of misrepresentation had gone beyond the three-year statute of limitations by the time the case was filed in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement According to the 2014 court documents, however, Farina's legal team successfully appealed the reinstatement of two counts. It was ruled that Farina did, in fact, have a case to expect reasonable income based on the services she provided to Luigia Crespi in good faith. The court also ruled that Farina had sufficient grounds to continue with her allegations that Bastianich was "unjustly enriched" by her services. Aside from getting the rewards of Farina's services without paying for them, Bastianich was found to have benefited from Farina's work considering it was one of the conditions under which Crespi agreed to sell Bastianich her home. There have been little, if any, public updates on the case since the 2014 reinstatement of two of Farina's claims, aside from her getting into a separate dispute with her then legal team, according to court papers from 2020. Bastianich, on the other hand, continues to be as successful as ever; her net worth as of 2021 sits at an impressive $16 million. For more food and drink goodness, join our newsletter and add us as a preferred search source. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on Mashed. A newly circulated list purporting to show the 2023 membership list of the Bohemian Club includes several A-list celebs. Paul Newman, Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black and Eric Church were named on the list obtained by an independent journalist. If authentic, the 2023 list provides a rare snapshot of who might be a part of one of the country's most exclusive networks. 'Members Only: Palm Beach' Star Slams Nasty Rumors That She's Being Kicked Out Of Mar-a-lago Paul Newman and Jimmy Buffett were both listed on the Bohemian Club's roster. Newman died in September 2008, and Buffett died in September 2023. (Getty Images) Independent journalist Daniel Boguslaw published the list he allegedly got from a member online, and the list was confirmed by another alleged member to The San Francisco Standard. Advertisement Advertisement "I went to this persons office for a week straight," Boguslaw told the outlet about his strategy to obtain the ultra-secret membership list. Read On The Fox News App The San Francisco Standard was able to reach an unnamed member, who confirmed the list was real. Newmans inclusion, despite his death in 2008, suggests the list may reference former members or historical records. Fox News Digital has reached out to the celebrities mentioned for comment. Conan O'Brien was one of the actors listed on the Bohemian Club membership list. (Reuters) Like What Youre Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News The Bohemian Grove is a private, 2,700-acre compound located in Sonoma County. The Bohemian Club, which meets in a San Francisco clubhouse, hosts a two-week private retreat at the property, according to the New York Post. Advertisement Advertisement The recently revealed membership list from 2023 features around 2,200 names of business executives, high-profile politicians, actors and musicians. The list is divided into categories, with a number of members falling under each one. A Bohemian Club spokesperson told The San Francisco Standard the club does not keep member lists due to the nature of the secret society. Eric Church was included on the 2,200-person list. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter The road leading to the exclusive Bohemian Club in California The Bohemian Club is said to have been founded in San Francisco in 1872 by a group of journalists, artists and musicians who sought a place to gather and celebrate the arts. Over time, the club seemingly expanded to include prominent business leaders and public officials, gradually shifting from a primarily artistic circle to a broader network of influential figures. Advertisement Advertisement Its annual summer encampment at Bohemian Grove in Sonoma County reportedly began in the late 19th century and evolved into the private retreat known today. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Original article source: Paul Newman and Jimmy Buffett among elites named in alleged secretive Bohemian Club membership list Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts divorce was only settled in 2024, but the former Hollywood it-couple has been officially separated for nearly 10 years now. In that time, Brad Pitt has found a new girlfriendwith rumors that hes planning on making Ines de Ramon his wife pretty soonbut according to an insider, Angelina Jolie hasnt been in a relationship since ending things with Brad. Keep reading for more information. angelina jolie Angelina Jolie 'Hasn't Had A Boyfriend' Since Brad Pitt After their very public break up and the lengthy divorce process, it's not surprising that Jolie has taken a step out of the spotlight. "Angie has been extremely busy and focused for the past few years. Dating hasn't been important to her. She hasn't had a boyfriend," a source speaking to People explained. "She's pretty much been a single mom since the divorce, so that's where most of her focus has been." Jolie and Pitt share six children together, Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 19, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. "[Angelina] loves being a mom and always wants to make sure that everyone thrives," the source continued. "She seems to be doing great." Advertisement Advertisement Upon hearing the report, many fans aren't surprised that Jolie has taken a step back from dating. "Who needs a man!" one person wrote on Instagram. "Stay single and happy!" "This is called healing!" another person agreed. "Life is better single!" "I'm not surprised one bit," another fan said. "Angie has bigger and better things on her mind." brad pitt ines de ramon Brad Pitt On The Verge Of Proposing Meanwhile, Brad Pitt, 62, has been in a serious relationship with jewelry designer Ines de Ramon, 33, for three years now, and some reports are claiming he's thinking of taking the next big step with her. The couple recently took a romantic trip to the Greek island of Hydra and were spotted gazing lovingly at one another. Advertisement Advertisement According to the National Enquirer, Pitt may be close to popping the question. "Brad has been talking about his future a lot more lately and what he wants the next few decades of life to look like," a source dished. "More and more Ines is front and center when he talks about how he envisions his life." "Everyone is well aware that Ines wants to take the next step and Brad has been the hold-up," the source continued. "Hes admitted that marriage is the right thing to do and lately hes started saying he thinks hes ready." Stella McCartney has been named a Chevalier de la Legion dhonneur, Frances equivalent of a knighthood, recognising her contribution to fashion, sustainability, innovation and animal welfare. The designer was granted the honour by French president Emmanuel Macron in a ceremony on Thursday at the Elysee Palace. The event took place a day after her star-studded catwalk show during Paris Fashion Week. McCartney invited a high-profile group of friends and family to witness the ceremony, among them her father, Sir Paul McCartney, Anna Wintour, Bianca Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Watts, Baz Luhrmann, and Monegasque royal Charlotte Casiraghi. Also present were her husband, Alasdhair Willis, her siblings and two of their children, according to Vogue. From the left: Gayle King, Paul McCartney, Anna Wintour, Stella McCartney and Oprah Winfrey - BFA Speaking about the honour after her show, she said: I forget that Im one of the few women designers. I want to feel like Im actually really embracing women through these collections and I wanted people to enjoy it and I dont want the planet to suffer because of it. Advertisement Advertisement McCartney, who founded her brand in 2001, has long been an activist for animal welfare and cruelty-free fashion. Her own label is known for its commitment to producing luxury goods without the use of leather, fur, feathers and exotic skins. She has also championed innovations such as mushroom leather and Fevvers (a plant-based alternative to feathers). What makes it all so convincing is that shes married those values with Savile Row tailoring and a firm grasp of what her women want to wear. McCartney with Naomi Watts - BFA The designer has spent much of her career in France, beginning with an internship at Christian Lacroix. She was creative director at Chloe from 1997 to 2001. She launched her namesake label with the support of French luxury conglomerate Kering, before entering a strategic collaboration with LVMH in 2019. Last year she re-acquired LVMHs minority stake, although she continues to advise LVMHs leadership on environmental strategy. McCartney is not the first British designer to receive the Legion dhonneur. In January, Victoria Beckham was also awarded the honour. Sir Paul Smith was a recipient in 2016, and former Fendi and Dior Homme artistic director Kim Jones was awarded it last year. 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. Jamie Lee Curtis' Tess Coleman smiles as she covers her microphone in Freakier Friday - Walt Disney Studios Jamie Lee Curtis isn't just one of the great horror actors and an all-around Hollywood legend; it seems she's also some kind of clairvoyant. Back in 2001, Curtis worked with an at the time 10-year-old Daniel Radcliffe on the spy thriller "The Tailor of Panama," and noticed his look was similar to that of a certain juvenile wizard. "The Tailor of Panama" is an adaptation of John le Carre's 1996 novel of the same name. Le Carre helped write the screenplay alongside Andrew Davies and director John Boorman, who ultimately created one of the best spy movies of all time. While Pierce Brosnan's unscrupulous MI6 sleuth was busy forcing Geoffrey Rush's ex-con into spying on the Panamanian government, Jamie Lee Curtis was playing Rush's wife, who was oblivious to the whole thing. Radcliffe played the couple's son in what was his feature film debut. Yes, before he played Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe appeared in a forgotten Brosnan spy movie. But it seems even back in 2001, there was talk of the youngster one day portraying the Boy Who Lived. Not only was his mother in talks with Warner Bros. about the 10-year-old starring in the "Harry Potter" movies, but Curtis also noticed that he had exactly the right look for the role without even knowing he was up for the part. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 15 Massive Leaks That Spoiled Marvel Movies Jamie Lee Curtis called Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter casting before he knew about it Jamie Lee Curtis' Louisa Pendel kisses Geoffrey Rush's Harry Pendel as Daniel Radcliffe's Mark Pendel watches and Lola Boorman's Sarah Pendel eats cereal in a kitchen in The Tailor of Panama - Sony Pictures 25 years after witnessing one of Pierce Brosnan's best performances first-hand, Jamie Lee Curtis and Daniel Radcliffe reunited on Today. There, Curtis revealed that while filming "The Tailor of Panama," she'd told the young actor how much he looked like Harry Potter. According to the actor, she and Radcliffe were shooting a scene by the pool when she noticed the resemblance. "I remember he was sitting by the pool," she said, "and I looked up at him at one point, and I went, 'Wait, you know, you look like that kid who's on the cover of that book.'" At the time, four "Harry Potter" books had been published, with the first, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (or "Sorcerer's Stone" in the United States), debuting in 1997. As such, the series was already popular, and it seems Curtis was well aware of it at the time she was shooting "The Tailor of Panama." The very first film based on "Philosopher's Stone" also debuted in 2001, but when Curtis and Radcliffe worked together, the young star hadn't yet been cast. As such, it seems Radcliffe had no idea that he would play the wizard when Curtis made her observation. His mother, casting director Marcia Jeannine Gresham, however, was already in talks with Warner Bros. "[Daniel's] mom was a casting director," continued Curtis, "and she said, 'Yes, they've already called us.'" But Radcliffe had yet to learn about it. "At that point, it was to sign on for seven films," he said. "I don't think I knew about it. I think my mom was like, 'No, no, don't mention it to him." Six months later, Radcliffe was cast as Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe almost missed out on Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe holds an owl on his arm in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Warner Bros. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" debuted in November 2001, eight months after "The Tailor of Panama." It launched Daniel Radcliffe to megastardom, but he almost missed out on the lead role. As director Christopher Columbus told The Independent, "Harry Potter was by far the hardest role to cast. We looked through thousands of auditions, but nothing was quite right." Once he happened to catch Radcliffe in the two-part BBC drama "David Copperfield," however, Columbus knew he'd found his Harry. "He was only in it for a few minutes," said the director. "But I thought, 'This is Harry Potter'. I told the casting director that I'd found Harry, but she told me I'd never get him as his parents were in the industry and they don't want him to be overexposed." Advertisement Advertisement According to Columbus, it was only when producer David Heyman came across Radcliffe and his father in the audience at a West End production that they finally convinced the family to let the young actor audition. It must have been at some point between that meeting and Radcliffe's time shooting "The Tailor of Panama" that Warners and his mother were in talks. Both parents were reluctant to let their son accept the role, due to their own experiences in the industry and the fact Warners wanted to sign Radcliffe to a seven-film deal. When Jamie Lee Curtis made her observation, Marcia Jeannine Gresham hadn't yet confirmed the deal her son eventually signed, which initially committed him to two films instead of seven. Of course, we eventually saw Radcliffe star in all seven of the "Harry Potter" films, and now we'll see a new generation portray Harry, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley in the definitely necessary "Harry Potter" HBO series. If you're looking for the easiest way to keep up with all the major movie and TV news, why not sign up to our free newsletter? You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashFilm. Savannah Guthrie recently made her way back to the Today show via an off-camera visit, as she slowly begins to resume her daily life amid the ongoing search for her missing mother. During her visit, the co-anchor reportedly assured her colleagues that she will definitely be returning and thanked them for their continued support and prayers. Savannah Guthrie Confirms She Has Every Intention Of Coming Back During Today Visit MEGA Per The Hollywood Reporter, Guthries March 5 visit to the Today show set was filled with emotion, as the co-anchor saw the shows staff for the first time since her mother Nancy Guthrie disappeared on February1. Advertisement Advertisement During the unplanned visit with the show's staff, Guthrie reportedly thanked them for caring about my mom as much as I do, among other kind words. I wanted you to know that Im still standing, and I still have hope and Im still me. I dont know what version of me that will be, but it will be, she continued. Guthrie also used the impromptu meeting to confirm that she will indeed return to the show, as the investigation into her mothers disappearance continues. I have every intention of coming back. I dont know how to come back, but I dont know how not to. Youre my family and I would like to try, Guthrie said, per the outlet. Today Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer Reportedly Led A Staff Prayer With Guthrie MEGA In a show of support for Guthrie's heart-breaking ordeal, Dreyer led the shows staff in a group prayer that was said to be highly emotional. Advertisement Advertisement Were here holding hands as a family, in a place where we dont understand why this is happening. It is not too bold to ask God for the biggest miracles every day, he said. It felt like the right moment for all of us, Dreyer revealed during the broadcast on Friday, March 6. When I feel helpless, I pray We asked for that miracle. Fellow Today show anchor Carson Daly also shared how meaningful Guthries visit was. She came into the middle, no speech, spoke from the heart. Said the most perfect words you could ever imagine and looked every one of this family in the eyes, Daly said on the show. Yesterday was one of the most special days not just in our lives professionally but personally. Guthrie Recently Visited The Set, But Her Return Date Has Not Been Confirmed ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA According to PEOPLE, on Thursday, March 5, Guthrie stopped by the studio to be with and thank her 'Today' colleagues," a show spokesperson said via statement, per the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Although her visit to the show does not mean that a return date for Guthrie has been set, she will reportedly be back on-air at some point. "While she plans to return to the show on air, she remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home," the statement continued. Her Set Visit Follows Her Decision To Leave The Arizona Search And Return To New York MPI28/Capital Pictures / MEGA After posting an Instagram video on February 25 announcing she was increasing the reward for her mother's return to $1 million, Guthrie reportedly decided to leave Arizona, where her mother lives and disappeared, to return to her home base in New York. According to the Daily Mail, an inside source shared the details behind the decision. Advertisement Advertisement She cant stay in Arizona forever. Her kids and her life are in New York City, the source told the outlet. The family is coming to terms with the fact that this might take years. Prior To Her Arizona Departure Guthrie Visited A Memorial For Her Mother Instagram | Savannah Guthrie On Monday, March 2, Guthrie, her sister Annie, and her brother-in-law Tommaso were seen gathered outside a memorial in front of Nancy Guthries Arizona home. The family was photographed embracing each other as they laid flowers at the memorial for their mother. Per TMZ, other well-wishers also laid bouquets and notes at the memorial site. Despite the investigation yielding no substantial results, both the FBI and the Pima County Sheriffs Department remain optimistic they will bring Nancy Guthrie home. Newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, on Saturday affirmed his focus on development, saying that the national capital should compete against capitals across the world. Speaking to ANI, Taranjit Sandhu said, "Delhi is our capital, and we have to compete and compare with all the capitals of the world. We have to move ahead along with everyone. The focus is and should be on development." Sandhu, earlier in the day, offered prayers at Gurudwara Moti Bagh Sahib in South Moti Bagh and Uttara Swami Malai Mandir in RK Puram. Earlier on Friday, former Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah after he was appointed the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG). In an X post, Sandhu said that he is committed to serving the people in the national capital with dedication and humility. "I express my heartfelt gratitude to the most revered Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has provided me the opportunity to serve the people of Delhi as Lieutenant Governor. His leadership and visionary guidance have always been a source of inspiration. I am also grateful for the trust and guidance of the Home Minister Amit Shah. I am committed to serving the people of Delhi and the nation with dedication, loyalty, and humility," Sandhu wrote. President Droupadi Murmu has effected a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. In the reshuffle, Taranjit Singh Sandhu replaced VK Saxena, who has now been appointed as the Ladakh LG. Taranjit Sandhu was also a BJP candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, senior leader Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed as Nagaland Governor, and Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain has been named Governor of Bihar. In other key changes, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has been named Governor of Telangana, while Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has been transferred to serve as Governor of Maharashtra. Furthermore, Kavinder Gupta, the outgoing Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, has been appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will discharge the additional functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. (ANI) Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was fired on Thursday, and Seth Meyers is pretty worried for her. Not for her political future or anything, the NBC host is just concerned for her costume budget. To kick off his A Closer Look segment on Thursday night, Meyers picked out the four issues that Trump voters likely cared most about when they voted for him, including immigration. Meyers then noted that the president has struck out on all four issues, but immigration in particular has been so mad that he fired Noem for it. What? Kristi Noem is out? Meyers worried. But where is she going to get the money for all her wonderful costumes? At that, a collage appeared on screen on 10 different outfits Noem has wore to public appearances, ranging from a firemans uniform, to her cowboy hats, to army fatigues and more. Advertisement Advertisement We were only months away from her showing up as both leads from Wicked,' Meyers lamented. The Late Night host then turned his attention to Noems replacement, Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin. Meyers was certain that Mullin is more qualified, considering the very cogent interview he gave CNN last week about Irans nuclear arsenal. When pressed on how Iran could even have an arsenal, considering Trump claimed the U.S. obliterated it last summer, Mullin claimed they were rebuilding it, just like how people obliterate their bones in car accidents but can rebuild them with metal. At that, Meyers needed a few seconds just to try and process what Mullin had said. I mean, are you sure you dont want to make him Secretary of Health? Meyers questioned, stifling a laugh. You know, people get their bones obliterated in car accidents, and then we put metal back in and we turn them into Wolverine!' Advertisement Advertisement You can watch Seth Meyers full A Closer Look in the video above. The post Seth Meyers Worries for Kristi Noem After Her Firing: Where Is She Going to Get the Money for All Her Wonderful Costumes?! | Video appeared first on TheWrap. NEED TO KNOW A Friend, a Murderer premiered on March 5 on Netflix The true crime docuseries tells the true story of three friends who were unknowingly close to a killer Philip Patrick Westh was convicted of murdering a 17-year-old girl in 2016 In A Friend, a Murderer, members of a social circle discover one of their closest is a killer. The new three-part Netflix documentary tells the true story of Philip Patrick Westh, a predator who stalked a quiet town in Denmark. Years later, three people Amanda, Nichlas and Kiri learn they were friends with the killer in the same time period when he was committing the crimes. Advertisement Advertisement "You think you know everything about a person, and it turns out, he's someone else. Nothing makes sense anymore ... I was completely fooled," Kiri said in episode 2 of A Friend, a Murderer. After Philip murdered a girl in 2016, the case quickly went cold. That was until, he was caught years later when he was arrested for another crime. "For years, I feared the perpetrator was still out there and that I could be the next victim. When I realised it was one of my closest friends, my world shattered," Amanda said, per Netflix. "Ive come to realize that even the people you trust the most can hide a dark side, and that feeling safe isnt something you can always take for granted." So, where is the killer from A Friend, a Murderer? Here's what to know about Philip Patrick Westh's life after his secret was discovered. Who is the killer mentioned in A Friend, a Murderer? "A Friend, a Murderer" on Netflix Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Philip Patrick Westh is the killer spoken about in A Friend, a Murderer. Advertisement Advertisement He was charged with the murder of a 17-year-old girl named Emilie Meng, according to The Copenhagen Post. She went missing in Korsr, Denmark, in July 2016, and her body was discovered six months later in December 2016. Emilie's identity is kept anonymous in the documentary. How did the subjects in A Friend, a Murderer know Philip Patrick Westh? Amanda in 'A Friend, a Murderer' Credit: Courtesy of Netflix A Friend, a Murderer features interviews with several people, including three individuals Nichlas, Amanda and Kiri who were close with Philip, and never suspected he was responsible for the disappearance of Emilie. The group of friends spent a lot of time together, especially Nichlas, who was best friends with Philip for 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement "I've spent more time with Philip than I have with anyone else in my adult life," he said in episode 3 of the documentary. How was Philip Patrick Westh caught? Nichlas in 'A Friend, a Murderer' Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Philip was caught in 2023, when he was arrested for kidnapping a 13-year-old girl. According to the Manchester Evening News, DNA collected during the investigation linked Philip to the murder of Emilie, and to the kidnapping and attempted rape of another girl, who was 15. On Philip's computer, police found his "kidnapping planning list," containing the names of girls, their ages, addresses and bus schedules, per episode 3 of A Friend, a Murderer. During the court case, the prosecution claimed that Philip intentionally hit the 13-year-old girl with his car while she was riding her bike. He then took her back to his home in Korsr where he held her captive. What was Philip Patrick Westh charged with? Kiri in 'A Friend, a Murderer' Credit: Courtesy of Netflix In June 2024, Philip was found guilty of multiple crimes, according to The Copenhagen Post. Advertisement Advertisement He was convicted of murdering Emilie, and also the abduction and attempted rape of a 15-year-old girl in 2022, and the abduction and rape of a 13-year-old in 2023. Where is Philip Patrick Westh from A Friend, a Murderer now? Jane in 'A Friend, a Murderer' Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Philip was found guilty in June 2024. Per The Copenhagen Post, he was sentenced to life in prison. He was 33 at the time of the verdict. "The killer we've been afraid of for so many years now is finally being held accountable," Amanda said in episode 3, recalling how she felt after Philip's sentencing. "The relief doesn't outweigh the grief. The grief is too profound. That was my friend." A Friend, a Murderer ends with the text, "Philip Patrick Westh has been informed by his lawyer of the criticism raised against him in the documentary. He has made no comments." Read the original article on People Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro tore into fellow political pundit Piers Morgan for platforming what he described as America haters on his show, calling the right-wing Brit the Jerry Springer of political television during Wednesdays episode of his own YouTube series. The Daily Wire co-founder was left fuming over Morgans Tuesday edition of Piers Morgan Uncensored, in which comedian-turned-commentator Dave Smith slammed the U.S. and Israels joint attack on Iran and called the U.S. arguably the worst terrorist organization in the world, given the number of civilians killed in U.S. military operations over the last 25 years. Accusing Morgan of making a mockery of the entire industry by putting on screen whatever dregs are still willing to go on screen, Shapiro compared the Brit to infamous tabloid talk show host Springer, then blasted Smith as unfunny and ill-informed about foreign policy. Ben Shapiro, here in 2024, fumed at fellow political pundit Piers Morgan for having "America hater" Dave Smith on his show this Tuesday. Connecticut Post/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro, a staunch defender of Israel and its allyship with the U.S., seethed as he told viewers, Im sorry, but you hate the country if you say America is the worst terrorist organization in the world. You just do. To make that argument, you have to deliberately obscure the difference between actual terrorists who actually are seeking deliberately to kill innocent people in the name of politics, not collateral damage, deliberately seeking to kill innocent people and nation-states who are seeking to avoid civilian casualties, often while fighting those actual terrorists, he continued. Shapiro then speculated that Smith was probably thrilled to even be mentioned by him, and called the idea of debating trolls a waste of time. Piers Morgan, here at London's BBC studios last November, hosted a panel Tuesday in which comedian-turned-political podcaster Dave Smith argued that the U.S. might be "the worst terrorist organization in the world." Carl Court via Getty Images Hours after Shapiros criticism went live, Morgan shot back a reply in a Thursday morning post on X. Advertisement Advertisement If people are curious why @benshapiro has suddenly turned on me, this may explain it he said while retweeting a January video from his show. The guy just cant take anyone criticizing Israels govt. Prior to their apparent falling-out, Shapiro had made several appearances on Morgans show, including for a 2025 debate about Israeli and Palestine. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Mar. 7Editor's note: The Elkettes will not be responsible for the annual event in the future. The Elkettes are available to volunteer. JAMESTOWN Larry Knoblich didn't expect the annual Runnin O' the Green to grow and become what it is now when the event began in 1979. The Runnin O' the Green started with 23 participants. "When we started this thing, it was based on how fast you could drink your beer and get out of the place and go to the next bar," Knoblich said. "We don't do that any more." Advertisement Advertisement Knoblich, who turned 90 in October, said the Jamestown Elkettes will volunteer for the annual event in the future. Knoblich said he is hoping people will continue supporting the event in Jamestown that raises funds for Elks Camp Grassick near Dawson, North Dakota, and individuals with cancer. "Not one single cent of it goes to administrative fees. None of it goes into my pocket or anyone else's," he said. "All of the money goes to ... Elks Camp Grassick and (people with cancer)." The 47th annual Runnin O' the Green returns to Jamestown on Saturday, March 14. The annual pub crawl starts with participants going down the hill just north of Frontier Fort and 17th Street Southeast. Participants then go through McElroy Park to the next stop Buff Bar & Lounge before heading to Main Street. Participants then stop at the following bars in order along the route: Club 1883, Elks Lodge #995, Jonny B's Brickhouse, Corner Bar & Grill, Fred's Den, The Wooly, All Vets Club and Shady's Bar and Lounge. Advertisement Advertisement Last year, approximately 800 people registered for The Run, The Jamestown Sun reported. Participants pay a $10 fee that goes to help Elks Camp Grassick and cancer patients. Knoblich said the goal is to raise $30,000 for Elks Camp Grassick and $10,000 for local cancer patients. He said local cancer patients each receive $500. "Please find it in your heart to come and support a good thing," he said. Elks Camp Grassick is a summer camp for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities and is located near Dawson, North Dakota. Since 2008, almost $360,000 has been donated to Elks Camp Grassick, and $116,800 has been donated to cancer patients. Advertisement Advertisement Knoblich said the bars along the route donate a majority of the money for Elks Camp Grassick and cancer patients. "It's a fun day. Carry a little extra cash in your pocket to enjoy a beverage at one of the pubs," he said. "They appreciate you stopping in." Knoblich said The Run helps fill hotels and keeps restaurants busy in Jamestown. "They generally show up on Friday and participate on Saturday, and most of them stay over on Saturday too," he said. Early registration is available at Wildside Creation, Cork & Barrel Liquor and Elks Lodge #995. Individuals registering early at Wildside Creations for $30 get a T-shirt and $10 is donated to Camp Grassick. Wildside Creations makes the Run-themed T-shirts for the event. Knoblich said the T-shirt commemorates National Pi Day on March 14 the same day as The Run and includes a shamrock with the pi symbol in the center and "3.14.26" for the date. Advertisement Advertisement "The big registration is hopefully Friday night, March 13, at the Elks," Knoblich said. "We will have a full group of volunteers down there to register people (from 4 to 8 p.m.)." On March 14, participants can also begin registering at noon at Frontier Fort. To honor the founder of The Run, an endowment for the Larry Knoblich Scholarship was started with Dollars for Scholars. The scholarship is $2,000, and recipients receive $1,000 per year for two years. The scholarship is awarded to a Jamestown High School student who is attending the University of Jamestown. Dwaine Heinrich and his wife, Joyce, made donations to the endowment for the Larry Knoblich Scholarship. He said around $30,000 has been raised for the $40,000 goal. Advertisement Advertisement Knoblich was a longtime teacher in Jamestown who attended Jamestown College, now known as the University of Jamestown. To donate to the endowment, send checks with "Larry Knoblich Award" in the memo to: Jamestown Dollars for Scholars PO Box 269 Jamestown, ND 58402 Get ready to sport your best green and wish for good luck, St. Patrick's Day is just over a week away. St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, March 17, and whether you're eager to embrace your Irish heritage or just looking to celebrate, the holiday offers lively festivities. In Michigan, expect parades, festivals and parades filled with all things green, Irish cuisine, cold beer and lively Gaelic music. Parades across Michigan are slated for either Saturday, March 14, or Sunday, March 15, this year, including Detroit's 68th annual event. Advertisement Advertisement The holiday began in the 17th century as a Catholic saint's day in Ireland, honoring its namesake, St. Patrick, with a morning Mass and afternoon feast, according to History.com. Born in Roman England, Saint Patrick was a fifth century Catholic bishop known for spreading Christianity to Ireland, leading him to become the nation's patron saint. Modern-day celebrations are largely secular, focusing on Irish heritage, though Catholic communities globally continue to observe the holy day. Here's what to know about St. Patrick's Day. When is St. Patrick's Day in 2026? St. Patrick's Day is March 17, 2026. How is St. Patrick's Day celebrated? Present-day St. Patrick's Day festivities often include parades, shamrocks, Irish cuisine, music, wearing green, enjoying corned beef and cabbage, and drinking alcoholic beverages. Advertisement Advertisement A common symbol of St. Patrick's day and Irish culture is the shamrock, representing spring's onset and Irish pride, History.com noted. Another holiday staple are leprechauns, mischievous cobbler fairies in Celtic folklore, typically depicted as little bearded men dressed in green. The holiday is green-themed, the color reflecting Irish identity dating back to 17th century Irish nationalism, according Time magazine. Before then, blue was the standard color for Ireland and St. Patrick. Today's St. Patrick's Day celebrations prominently feature green, from green clothing and accessories, to shamrock shakes, shamrocks, green beer, leprechauns, and even Chicago's green-dyed river. Irish foods traditionally eaten on the day include corned beef and cabbage, though corned beef was adopted by Irish Americans for the holiday in the early 20th century. In Detroit, the 68th annual St. Patrick's Day parade is slated for 1 p.m. March 15 in Corktown. Other St. Patrick's Day parades are slated for Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, Grand Ledge, Bay City, Holland, Kalamazoo and Muskegon, among other cities. What are the holiday's origins? Modern St. Patrick's Day celebrations vary across North America, Ireland and Irish and Catholic communities globally, celebrating Irish culture with a mix of secular and religious elements. Advertisement Advertisement In Michigan, festivities typically include masses at Catholic churches, but also parades, parties and festivals featuring Irish meals, beer, music and dancing. Early celebrations in North America can be traced to 17th century Spanish colonists in present-day Florida and 18th century Irish settlers in Boston, according to History.com. By the 20th century, the holiday was embraced by all Americans as a festive day, yet maintained its solemn religious observance in Ireland for several more decades. Who was St. Patrick? Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was a fifth century Christian bishop from England, known for spreading Christianity in Ireland, per Catholic Online. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What day is St. Patrick's? Date, parades, history Urban Hills executive chef Nick Zocco is becoming somewhat of a food legend in Utah. The first thing that earned him legendary status? Beating Bobby Flay on his Food Network show Beat Bobby Flay. When he got invited to the show, he was a bit hesitant at first. Zocco worked in Flays signature kitchen the Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, Nevada, for six years, so going on the show was a reunion of sorts. I kind of had to take a day to think about it. Im nervous, Zocco told me. But why not? Why wouldnt I do this? Youre going to go back and meet up with a chef you worked for and whatever happens, happens. Advertisement Advertisement The show was filmed in January 2025, but the episode didnt air until July 2025. So he had to keep a big secret for about seven months. I had to keep my mouth shut and put on my poker face essentially, Zocco said. For the first round, the show pits two chefs against each other to compete for a chance to compete against Bobby Flay. In Zoccos episode, he and another chef created a delicious dish centered around ground pork. He won the judges over with a pork albondigas on a smoky tomato sauce and creamy polenta. Beating Bobby Flay Next, he had to beat Flay with a signature dish. The dish of choice: chile relleno. In the show, Flay and the competing chef craft their own version of a signature dish to wow and woo the judges. While Zocco worked in Flays kitchen, he made chile relleno thousands of times. Advertisement Advertisement I went for the jugular, Zocco joked. Urban Hill Executive Chef Nick Zocco plates the dish he cooked on Beat Bobby Flay, a lump crab chile relleno, at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News He knew if he could do something a little bit different and lean into his own style, it could provide him an advantage. And it worked. The chef crafted a dish with lump crab and corn stuffed into a chile served with New Mexican red chile, black bean paste with pickled onion and chile, crema and cilantro served on top. The judges loved what he created, and he ultimately won the major prize and earned the pride of beating Bobby Flay. Now that dish is on the menu at Urban Hill and has become its own monster, jumping to No. 1 on both the brunch and dinner menus. Advertisement Advertisement If you want to tune into the episode with Zocco, its on Season 39, Episode 7, streaming on HBO Max. Becoming a James Beard Award semifinalist Executive Chef Nick Zocco deep-fries a chile relleno as he prepares his Beat Bobby Flay winning dish, a lump crab chile relleno, at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News That isnt the only major recognition Zocco has received lately. He was recently named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for best chef in the Mountain region. Its the third time in three straight years that hes been a semifinalist. He became a finalist for the award within the first year of opening Urban Hill. Im just extremely happy for our team, Zocco said. Being part of a group of people that really care and are passionate about the hospitality industry means a lot. I cant do any of this without my team. Thats what it comes down to. Its great to represent Salt Lake and Utah. The finalists are announced March 31. The rise of an award-nominated chef Executive Chef Nick Zocco prepares his Beat Bobby Flay winning dish, a lump crab chile relleno, at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Growing up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Zocco was fascinated with cooking. While most kids were tuning into cartoons after school, 7-year-old Zocco was watching chefs on PBS. Advertisement Advertisement One of his favorites was about a Chinese chef called Yan Can Cook. He was just really funny, just a funny guy. He only used a Chinese cleaver, Zocco said. One dish he remembers working on perfecting was his moms chicken noodle soup recipe with dumplings. It had some technique to it where each time I made it, it got better and better, Zocco said. But it wasnt some super technical dish, its just one dish I remember starting when I was learning to cook. As he became a teenager, he started to think that being in a kitchen was something he really wanted to do, so as he got closer to graduating high school, he reached out to a chef in Santa Fe to see if there were any opportunities in his kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement They offered me a job, Zocco said. This was one of the best restaurants in Santa Fe at the time, and they were just like, the fact that youre interested, well teach you. He worked his way around Santa Fe for about seven years and decided he needed something new, so he jetted off to Las Vegas to learn more and really elevate his cooking to the next level. While in Vegas, he worked at a few different restaurants learning new techniques and skills to build on his career at each one. He landed a position at Bobby Flays Mesa Grill where he worked as a line cook for three years and then three more years as the sous chef. It was really cool to see Bobby in the kitchen and to see his food and his style, Zocco said. I put six years in there. It was so fast. Six years blew by. It was a lot of fun. Advertisement Advertisement After six years, he moved on to work at the SW Steakhouse at the Wynn Resort, which was a really fun job and an intense job. Mesa Grill and SW taught me a sense of how do you do fine dining at volume and consistency, Zocco said. Thats basically what Ive learned to do here high volume, large restaurant but keep things tight, consistent, delicious, over and over each night." Why he chose Utah Urban Hill Executive Chef Nick Zocco smiles as he walks through the kitchen at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News After being in Vegas for a while, Zocco and his wife decided they wanted a change of scenery. Zocco grew up in New Mexico, but he was born in Utah and grew up visiting the Beehive State to see family and always felt a connection to the area. They packed up for Salt Lake City, and Zocco got a job at Tupelo in Park City. Advertisement Advertisement After a couple years, the owners of Hilltop Hospitality reached out to see if he would be interested in opening Urban Hill, a chic new restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. They wanted me to be involved from the beginning and give me the opportunity to kind of feel out what its like to open a restaurant from the ground up, Zocco said. Three years later, business at Urban Hill is booming, with new clients showing up every night. The menu centers around a lot of seafood dishes, which happens to be Zoccos favorite thing to cook. Although Utah is a landlocked state, Zocco pointed out that with todays technology, the seafood you get in Utah could potentially be just as fresh as what you get in a coastal city. Advertisement Advertisement Times have changed. I could get some of the freshest seafood in the world shipped to me within a couple of days, Zocco said. I dont think theres enough information to the public that accentuates that opportunity. My oysters are probably just as fresh as the guy thats in New York City with the harbor 2 miles down the road. Building the food community in Salt Lake City Executive Chef Nick Zocco picks up a lump crab stuffed chile as he prepares his Beat Bobby Flay chile relleno at at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News The Utah food scene excites Zocco so much so that he decided to put together some chef collaboration dinners to celebrate what some of the other chefs are doing around the state. Being involved in the community is amazing, and Im trying to do more of that as I grow in my position, Zocco said. For the dinners, Zocco will reach out to a chef he respects and have them come create a menu together, and then the two chefs put on a meal for 40 to 45 people at Urban Hill, providing guests a way to experience a meal from two chefs that are doing cool food. Advertisement Advertisement Its also a fusion style because you take each others styles and melt them together and youve created something special, Zocco said. The effort is a means to engage more with his fellow hospitality industry folks while also offering a unique culinary experience for those who attend. I think its important that we have more good restaurants in this city, because truly great cities create truly great restaurants, Zocco said. The more restaurants we have here that are top-notch, quality, really inspiring places where people can eat and eat diverse food, the better. What I ordered I stopped by Urban Hill after work on a Tuesday to try out some of the dishes I had been hearing about. Heres what I tried. Chile relleno: I had to try the Bobby Flay-defeating dish, and Ill tell you that it lived up to the hype. The lump crab was a luxurious touch, with the classic Oaxacan cheese reminding you that youre still eating a chile relleno. The black bean paste was also a star in that dish. Asian sea bass: This dish was also incredibly delicious. The outside was crispy and charred in the best way, leaving the inside to be a juicy and flavorful fish dish. The coconut rice offered a sweet taste alongside a little crunch from the cashews. Bananas foster basque cheesecake: This dessert was decadent and scrumptious. It comes with a caramelized banana ganache, rum-caramel sauce and banana chips. Its creamy and sweet and a great way to end the night. The service at Urban Hill was excellent, and I will rave about the food to anyone who will listen. It might be a little pricier, but its worth it for the experience, in my opinion. If you want a celebration experience, come to Urban Hill, Zocco said. Im just so grateful for all the support Ive been shown. Its pretty remarkable. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Future Tight groin and hip muscles can contribute toward back pain, which is why it is important to target the muscles surrounding your back, like the glutes, hips and hamstrings, rather than just stretching your lumbar spine. There's an exercise tucked neatly away among the yoga community, and it is the gold standard of hip exercises for melting away tension and releasing tight muscles. It's called frog pose, and I am completely, utterly obsessed with it. Advertisement Advertisement It gets met with a groan every time I introduce it to my clients' sessions, but if you suffer from a tight lower body or symptoms of sciatica, this could help. While I use it with my clients, I would recommend anyone trying this for the first time to clear it with a qualified medical professional when dealing with any health conditions, pregnancies, or injuries, as what might be suitable for some may not be for others. Translating as Mandukasana in Sanskrit, the popular yoga pose packs benefits beyond relieving tension in your hips. It also stretches the adductors and groin and can help relax your lower back. Below, I cover four of my favorite frog pose variations that you can get more familiar with. Grab one of the best yoga mats and read on. How to do frog pose and 4 variations to try Start in a tabletop position on hands and knees Shift your weight forward and slide your knees to the sides, hugging your inner knees into the mat Gently move your feet outward so they align with your knees, with the inner sides of your feet hugging the mat or ground Rest on your hands, then gently push your hips backward toward your feet If you can, lower onto your elbows and relax your neck. Advertisement Advertisement Frog pose is uncomfortable, looks a bit strange and can feel almost unbearable at times (what a sell), but it's great for developing healthy hips. If you struggle with the intensity, reduce your range of motion by slightly bringing your knees or ankles closer together. Most importantly, it shouldn't cause pain, sharp sensations, or pinching. Once you feel comfortable with static frog, try the other variations I demonstrate above. The first variation after your static frog is a "backbend" frog, which basically means resting on your hands and slightly leaning back to help stretch your lower back more. It can feel intense, so only move to a place that feels doable to hold for at least 30 seconds. Frog pose is uncomfortable, looks a bit strange and can feel almost unbearable at times (what a sell)... Next, we have a dynamic frog, which involves shifting the hips forward and backward, adding gentle movement into the pelvis; this turns frog into more of a hip mobility exercise, but don't push your hips too far, as you'll find this painful. Instead, exhale as you push your hips back and meet your end range, then inhale as you counter-stretch by shifting your weight forward. Advertisement Advertisement Last up is my favorite of all: cat-cow frog. Cat-cow is a popular spinal mobilizer used in yoga to help stretch the front and back of the body while bringing gentle movement into your back. From a frog position, it can feel more challenging to find much movement, but it's a great way to bring dynamic movement into your spine while stretching your hips. Focus on generating most of the movement from your mid to upper back rather than arching your lower back, creating a soft shift up and down with the hips. The stretch relies on external hip rotation on both sides of your body, coupled with a gentle push backward. It can feel mentally and physically challenging, but done regularly, it can counteract weak hip flexors and the negative impact of sedentary lifestyles. Take long and deep breaths and use your exhale to deepen the pose. I strongly recommend focusing on your breath and closing down your eyes to help you stay grounded and drown out the external noise telling you to give up! Advertisement Advertisement Yoga teachers call the hips the "seat of emotions," and refer to them as a storage place for stress and anxiety. The psoas (a hip flexor muscle) can also be known as the fight-or-flight muscle, tightening in response to stress or sudden action. Hip stretches have long been associated with releasing trapped emotions in yoga, but whether or not this is backed by definitive research is still up for debate. Some studies show that slower-paced Yin yoga can relieve stress and improve sleep due to its meditative nature and breathwork focus. From my perspective, I experience a huge release of emotion when performing a frog pose for several minutes. Try to stay with it, and let us know how you get on in the comments. Google News Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. A new study by NeoMam Studios has revealed the highly variable pricing of McDonalds new Big Arch Burger across the United States. The Big Arch Is McDonald's Biggest Burger On Tuesday, March 3, McDonalds launched the Big Arch burger in stores nationwide. The chain promises that its the most McDonalds McDonalds burger yet, bigger than any other sandwich on the menu. The sandwich is made with two quarter-pound beef patties, three slices of white cheddar, crispy onions, and a new tangy "Big Arch Sauce" sandwiched between two sesame buns. McDonald's (McDonald's) NeoMam Studios analyzed the cost of the Big Arch burger across states, and the price varies widely. The most expensive city in which to purchase a Big Arch Burger is Lewiston, ME, where the sandwich will cost you $12.99. The most expensive state in which to purchase the Big Arch is Alaska, where the average price is $10.32. In general, Alaska proved to be an expensive state for McDonalds lovers. The second most-expensive city in which to purchase a Big Arch is Juneau, AL, where the burger costs $11.49. Advertisement Advertisement Washington ($10.19), Maine ($10.03), Hawaii ($10.00), and Arizona ($9.96) rounded out the top five most expensive states for a Big Arch. Pearl City, HI ($11.29); Spokane, WA ($11.29); and Tucson, AZ ($10.52), rounded out the top five most expensive cities. "The data shows that the price of the new Big Arch burger varies drastically across the U.S. On a city level, price differences are even more drastic across the U.S., with the price of the Big Arch varying from $7.46 to $12.99. That represents a 74 percent increase from the lowest to the highest priced city," Taylor Tomita, Research and Outreach Specialistat NeoMam Studios, told Men's Journal. "Average local salaries should be taken into account when calculating the affordability of food in relation to earnings." Cheapest Cities Located Mostly in the Midwest As for the cheapest cities and states, most of those are situated in the middle of the country. The cheapest state in which to purchase a Big Arch is Oklahoma, where the average cost is $8.05. The cheapest city is Columbia, SC, where a Big Arch will run you $7.46. Texas ($8.08), Indiana ($8.15), West Virginia ($8.17), and Ohio ($8.19) rounded out the top five cheapest states. Milwaukee, WI ($7.66); Lexington, KY ($7.69); Fort Worth, TX ($7.69); and Gulf Port, MI ($7.79) rounded out the list of least-expensive cities. "In January 2025, McDonalds acknowledged the need for a bargain with its new McValue menu, a standard offer across its domestic locations. But the new Big Arch marks a move into the premium market, giving consumers an option of a bigger meal along with the higher price tag," Tomita told Men's Journal. "For consumers feeling priced out, there are other budget-friendly options alongside this move to diversify the McDonalds menu." Advertisement Advertisement You can locate your nearest McDonalds here to try the Big Arch for yourself. This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The butterfly effect is no joke, but sometimes, life goes by so quickly we don't stop to watch the cause-and-effect. Recently, I wrote an article sharing people's stories about the decisions they've made that they thought were small at the time but completely changed their lives later. In response, even more people told stories of their own; so, I decided to share. Here are some of the best: 1. "I had my dog Buffy for 14 years, and last year I learned she had liver cancer. By the time we received the diagnosis, it was already terminal, and I was beyond devastated. She was beautiful, with the most gorgeous hair and a spunky, joyful personality. She brought me so much happiness, and watching her slowly decline was one of the hardest things Ive ever experienced. After she passed, the silence in the house was deafening." Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images "Not long after, I heard about a brother-and-sister pair of chihuahuas who needed a home, and we decided to rescue them. I felt so guilty bringing other dogs into the house so soon after losing Buffy that I would hide upstairs just to cry over her. Then one day, while I was crying in another room, Lucy slowly walked over, put her paws on my leg, and looked into my eyes like she truly understood. In that moment, I felt as though Buffy had sent Lucy to comfort me." Gk Hart / Getty Images "Lucy has become my sidekick, and I feel so blessed she came into my life when she did. Rescuing Lucy and Linus is one of the best decisions Ive ever made. If their original owner is reading this, please know they are deeply loved, safe, and well cared for." Anonymous, Massachusetts Related: These 19 Internet Posts Are So Wholesome They Actually Restored My Faith In Humanity For Like Five Minutes 2. When I was entering college, freshmen were encouraged to take a 'freshman seminar.' I was curious about Eastern religions, and selected 'Non-Western Concepts of Self' as my first choice. We had to pick three choices and rank them. I was planning to major in political science, so my second choice was an offering from that department. I had also been wrestling with whether I was a Christian, so my third choice was 'The World: A Christian View.' I thought to myself, 'Well, if I end up in this one, at least I can decide whether I believe or not.' I wound up in my third choice. This led me to wrestle even more with my faith. To make a long story short, I recently retired after 36 years in Christian ministry. My faith and career were all the result of my getting my last choice for a freshman seminar!" Pop TV / CBC Television jealousraptor958 3. "I was downsized from my job and was devastated. I had an interview lined up at a law firm for a marketing role. They told me it was just a formality because I had worked with them on a successful project. I would have immediately accepted the job. I left a message for my previous employer so I could use them as a reference. The law firm had to postpone the interview because the attorney I was interviewing with had to have a root canal. In the meantime, my former employer reached out and offered me a job at a higher level than when I left them five years earlier. I accepted and ended up working there for 30 years, and I was able to retire early. All because of an attorneys root canal." quizzytooth843 4. "I went to college to be a special education teacher, and my last semester of student teaching was roughI taught at an elementary school in a rural area where the kids were amazing, but the school administration and the parents of the students were awful (some were abusive). I was just barely 21 at the time, and I came home one afternoon ready to quit school and go work at SeaWorld or something. My mom talked me out of it and mentioned that she knew of an internship with the Department of the Air Force for scholars with exceptional grades. So, I applied and got the internship before Id even graduated." Halbergman / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement "Fast forward 25 years, and Im now a Program Director in Washington, DC at the highest grade in civil service. I'm in the process of applying for disability retirement because I have multiple chronic illnesses and pain management issues (Im only 45). I've been sick since my early 20s, and I honestly never thought Id make it this far in my careerBut I did it at the expense of my health. It's been a tough decision to leave behind everything Ive worked for, including the pay; however, Im looking forward to being able to focus more on my physical and mental health.I went from considering quitting college to having a solid career and making six figures because of that one decisionsometimes, when youre at a low point, things just work out. " typhers1980 5. "I got an audition for a prestigious conservatory in the UK. The audition was in SF (I lived in LA). My mom met me in the Bay Area to support me. We went to the theater and found out I had mixed up the dates. The guy doing the scheduling there told me I could audition for a school in NYC. I did the audition and showed up the following week for the original audition. I ended up getting into the school in NYC and loving it. If I hadnt gotten the dates mixed up, I might still be waitressing in Ventura, not acting in New York." Sdi Productions / Getty Images Anonymous, 29, Female, NYC 6. "I gave my son a bicycle for Christmas. Coming home from work the next day, I remembered a public service announcement about borrowing an engraving tool at your fire station, so if it were stolen and recovered, you could identify it. I drove right past a fire station, so I stopped and requested a loan. I filled out the card, went home, marked the bike, and returned it on my way to work the next day. I was surprised a few days later when I got a call from one of the firefighters asking me out for coffee. I agreed, and we have been married for 43 years." ABC Anonymous, Judy, 80, Oklahoma Related: 26 People Who Had Overwhelming Gut Instincts They Couldn't Ignore...And Were Right 7. "In my 20s, I was struggling to find a path for myself, working a string of unsatisfactory retail jobs. One day I saw a post in a Facebook group for geeky women in my city that basically asked: 'Are there any bored [people with my language degree] here?' On a complete whim, I replied. It turned out she worked in IT at a large, international ad agency that was hiring new interns. I got in, and it kick-started something I never even considered. Now, nearing 40, I'm a high-level specialist in copywriting and online marketing, and I've trained many others. One vague online post completely changed my life." Ekaterina Goncharova / Getty Images Anonymous, 37, Female, Poland 8. "I was a barista going on 10 years and was desperate for a job change. My boyfriend at the time said his chiropractic office was looking for desk help, so I applied and got the job. A few months in, my boyfriend and I broke up. I was working one day, and a massage therapist asked me to call a client because he had left some belongings in the room after his appointment. When he came to collect his items, he asked me out. Six years and two kids later! Wild to think it's all because my ex told me about a job at a place I'd never heard of, and someone's forgetfulness." Universal Pictures Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous, 33 Female, Washington 9. "When I was 25, I was single and not in a good place in my life. I was struggling with intense anxiety and depression, just trying to make it through each day. I was spiraling and, at my lowest point, even planning to end my life. I felt beyond miserable, and none of the medications or therapy seemed to help. As a huge introvert, I never went out alone at night, but one Saturday, a friend asked me to meet her and her new girlfriend at a bar, and I went by myself, which was unheard of for me. That night I met one of my friend's friends. We exchanged numbers, hit it off immediately, and were married a year later. We've now been married for 20 years. He helped me get my life back on track and supported me in getting the help I truly needed. If I hadn't met him, I honestly dont think I'd be here today." Maskot / Getty Images Anonymous, Female, Massachusetts 10. "I was 19 years old when I left college after my first semester. I was struggling with alcohol and drugs, and blew a four-year scholarship. I got a job as a stablehand at our local horse track and loved working with the horses. Winter came, and the racing season came to an end. The more experienced stablehand was asked to go to Florida by the trainer of the horses, who was taking them to Hialeah Park to race during the winter. That man did not want to go, so begrudgingly, the trainer took me." Rebeka Williams / Getty Images "The trainer had a family member who worked in racetrack management and often came out to the barn. We became friends, and that relative realized I would make a good racing official. He made some calls in Chicago so that when I returned in the spring, I had an office job. I loved it and soon got free of the alcohol and drugs. I rose up the ranks fast, and at the age of 26, I was named Director of Racing." Related: 23 Absolutely Hilarious Posts That Have Nothing To Do With Politics And Everything To Do With Making You Laugh "I would go on to have that title at multiple race tracks over my career. I was able to enjoy financial stability, which allowed me to go back to school to get my master's degree. I quit the racing profession and entered the mental health field in the court system with my education. A woman I worked with and I decided to have a child. 18 years later, he is an amazing young man who is giving me an incredible experience being a father. That decision to go to Florida without two nickels to rub together changed my life trajectory." Stockseller_ukr / Getty Images Anonymous, 62 11. "Went to a church festival at 25. I was divorced with a young child. I met a single man who lived in a different state. We seemed to get along great, but he was a very country farm boy, and I was city, and after he visited me a few times I didn't think we were a good match, so I ended it. Several years later, I started thinking of him very positively, so I called him, not knowing whether he had married. He was still single so I invited him to attend another church festival with us. We dated for a year and have been married 47 years, best decision I ever made. He is a wonderful man and father." Anonymous, 75, Female, Texas 12. "When I bought my house, my husband and I wanted to get a dog. We picked a dog at an adoption event, and we went home to get a few things ready. When my husband went back to adopt him, another person had already picked him up, so my husband let her adopt the dog. We went back the following weekend, and my husband saw a dog and said he thought he'd be the one. The foster had me hold him, and he put his head on my shoulder, and Rico lived as our best friend until he died at 16. He was the best boy in the whole world." Oleh_slobodeniuk / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous, 56 Oakland, CA 13. "It started with one pair of Hoka sneakers. I was working at a laundry facility when I was 22, mandatory 10-hour shifts. I had suffered from severe knee pain my entire working life until that point, and no matter what I did, nothing worked to alleviate it for more than about a week. It was so bad that I would limp in the door every night after work and immediately have to sit down, unable to do basic tasks because of the pain. I was taking four to five prescription-level doses of ibuprofen every day just to get through a shift." Mourizal Wisnu Zativa / Getty Images "Someone in my life recommended I go to a local running store where they fit you for the right kind of shoes. They warned me it would be pricey, but worth it in the long run. I went in, a shoe fitter watched me walk, and she said that I overpronate. I had no idea what that was at the time, and no idea that my body even did that. It turned out that not having adequate support for my overpronation was what was causing my knee pain (I would later discover that I'm hypermobile and that overpronation is common in hypermobile people). The shoe fitter put me in a Hoka Arahi 6, a stability shoe, and I went on my way." "Several months later, I had burned out and quit on the spot from the laundry facility, and I'd been jobless for a couple of months. All of a sudden, while scrolling through Indeed, the name of the running store where I bought my shoes came up. They were looking for active people to become shoe fitters. I had never run in my life at that point, but fuck it, I needed a job, and I was willing to do anything, so I applied. Got an interview, thought I bombed it, but I got a call a few days later from one of the owners who offered me the job for $2/hour more than what I was making at my previous job. I immediately said yes. When can I start?" Related: 21 Funny, Wholesome, And Absolutely Adorable Posts From This Week That Lowkey Restored My Faith In Humanity "My first day working at the running store was Valentine's Day 2023. That running store has turned out to be the best job I've ever had, a paragon in today's job market. I have reasonable hours, am never expected to go over 40 hours/week, and don't have to work through my breaks. I am actually paid what I'm worth, and the owners are lovely people who have done so much for me. They even invited me to a conference in Texas with them, my first year working there, so I could learn more about other brands." "They saw nothing but potential in me and have supported me every step of the way. Because I showed up, was willing to work hard, and learned everything I could, they promoted me to shift lead. Last year, I signed a contract to become the official store manager for the location where I work. I'll have been there three years as of Valentine's Day, and I can't imagine having a better job. I've watched the store grow from having just myself and the owners as employees to having and leading a team of seven (which is decent for us; it's a small store, so we don't need much more than that). Advertisement Advertisement Because I came to the store and bought one pair of sneakers, I got an amazing job helping people, and I gained enough knowledge to keep me mostly pain-free (about a 95% reduction from before). The lack of stress from a better environment and better pay also led me to drop about 45 pounds without trying much, and for the first time in my life, I feel like this is how my body is actually supposed to look and feel." "I actually started running because of the job, and all of my coworkers, who are more avid runners, had the best advice for me to follow and never sneered at me being a beginner. I'm close enough with the owners now that they're invited to my wedding later this year, along with several of my current and former coworkers. I found a true work family and a wonderful side of my community I never knew existed. It's been an absolute dream compared to my old life." Sirbouman / Getty Images, Channel 4 / BBC Two Anonymous, 26, Genderfluid 14. And finally: "I was born and grew up on the East Coast. My church was the source of my wonderful friend group. Just as I was falling for a lady in the group, I needed a job. I found one on the West Coast. It was temporary by design; it ended in 18 months. Right as it ended, the lady called me...to announce her engagement to another friend in the group. I was crushed. Then my next job took me back East, which was the LAST place I wanted to be. 'Why, God, why?' I said. But it turned out that a few years later, I met my future wife. We were married for over 20 years, until death parted us. I'm still at the same East Coast job (40 years). My lady friend who broke my heart is still married to the same guy, and their son just got married. If you think you know God's plan, youre probably wrong. I certainly was!" Serhii Hordiienko / Getty Images Anonymous, 60-plus, Delaware So, what do you think? What small decision ended up completely changing your life? Tell me about it in the comments! Or, if you want to write in but prefer to stay anonymous, feel free to use the anonymous form below. Who knows your comment could be included in a future BuzzFeed article! Please note: some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity. You Might Like: Works Like Magic: 27 Feet Products With Results Pics You Have To See To Believe You Might Like: I Bet You Cant Scroll Through This List Of Amazons "Most Wished For" Products Without Feeling A Twinge Of FOMO Also in Internet Finds: "It Still Gives Me Chills": 22 Scary Unexplained Real-Life Stories That Will Make Me Sleep With The Lights On Tonight Read it on BuzzFeed.com Cold Noses, The Florida Times-Union's weekly pet column, features dogs and cats available for adoption at area government-run animal shelters and information on area adoption events. The Jacksonville Humane Society will offer $38 adoptions 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7 and 8 in honor of Daylight Savings Time, which begins March 8, or 3/8, and the approach of spring. Every adopted pet will go home spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines. To view pets and get more information, go to jaxhumane.org. Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, 2020 Forest St. Call (904) 630-2489 or email jaxpets@coj.net. To view available animals, go to coj.net/pets or facebook.com/jaxanimalcare. Interested adopters can also check out the animals using the shelter's new PawFinder App at jacksonville.gov/categories/mobile-apps/jaxpawfinder. Sugarplum Rook Lyric Popeye Sunny Girl Cheerio Honeybun Yoshi Dogs and cats up for adoption at Jacksonville-area shelters 1 of 8 Sugarplum Sunny Girl is a 10-year-old, 39-pound female mixed-breed dog (A1474607). She is a sweet senior who still has some pep in her step. She loves toys, snuggles, trying new treats, meeting new people, long walks and naps in the sun. Advertisement Advertisement Cheerio is a 2-year-old, 11-pound female domestic shorthair cat (ID No. A1476048). She is a gentle, sensitive soul whos always observing, scouting the best hiding spots in a room and watching the world go by from a distance. She loves to take in her surroundings. Clay County Animal Services, 3984 W. Florida 16, Green Cove Springs. Call (904) 269-6342 or email clayadoptions@claycountygov.com. To view available animals, go to claycountygov.com/community/animal-services or facebook.com/ClayCtyAnimals. Sugarplum is a 3-year-old, 40-pound female mixed-breed dog (ID No. A0059887080). She is nervous at first but blossoms once she feels safe. She is gentle, affectionate, loyal and house-trained. She gets along with other dogs, but not cats, and loves Kongs. Sugarplum Rook is a 1-year-old, 8-pound, male domestic shorthair cat (ID No. A0060277851). He is sweet and affectionate and thrives on love and attention. He loves feather toys and anything else that lets him show his playful side. Hes the perfect mix of cuddly and fun. Advertisement Advertisement St. Johns County Pet Center, 130 N. Stratton Road, St. Augustine. Call (904) 209-6190 or go to sjcfl.us/departments/animal-control. To view available animals, go to petfinder.com/member/us/fl/st-augustine/st-johns-county-animal-control-pet-center-fl751. Friends of the St. Johns County Pet Center has shelter cats available for adoption Saturdays at PetSmart, 1779 S. U.S. 1 in St. Augustine, facebook.com/fosjcpc. Lyric is a 5-year-old female terrier mix dog (ID No. 63507). She is sweet, loving, gentle, loyal and housebroken. She adores people and thrives on human companionship. She would prefer to be a home's only pet. She is starting heartworms treatment soon. Popeye is a 10-year-old male domestic shorthair cat (ID No. 82510). He is sweet, low-key and calm, all about tranquility, routine and comfort. He prefers to be a home's only pet. He thrives in a calm environment, with naps, affection and being near his human. Popeye Nassau County Animal Services, 86078 License Road, Fernandina Beach. Call (904) 530-6150. To view available animals, go to nassaucountyfl.com/845/Animal-Services or facebook.com/NassauCountyAnimalServices. Kittens are available for adoption at Petco stores at 463713 Florida 200 in Yulee and 11900 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville; Tractor Supply Co., 463184 Florida 200 in Yulee; and Pet Supplies Plus, 6500 Georgia 40, St. Marys, Ga. Advertisement Advertisement Honeybun is a 3-year-old, 72-pound female mixed-breed dog (ID No. 59369541). She is resilient, big-hearted, overflowing with personality and a shelter play group rockstar. She needs a foster home with love and attention while is undergoing heartworms treatment; the shelter will cover all medical care until she tests negative. Yoshi is a 1-year-old, 63-pound male mixed-breed dog (ID No. 59826816). He is social, people-friendly and dog-friendly. He has lots of energy and a big personality. He loves to run, play and make new friends. He shines in shelter play groups. Adoptable animals are also available at Putnam County Animal Services, which recently moved into a new location at 122 Orie Griffin Blvd., Palatka. Call (386) 329-0396 option #1. To view available animals, go to putnampals.com, bit.ly/2EKoICq or bit.ly/34NqoGB. Adoptable cats are also available at PetSense at 113 Town and Country Drive in Palatka. bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: These cats and dogs are yearning to be adopted in Jacksonville area In a historic development for millions of devotees across the world, the revered Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple, Vrindavan, has begun the official LIVE broadcast of the divine darshan of the deity through its verified social media platforms, the release said. This significant initiative has been enabled by Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd., a pioneering company dedicated to providing technological and digital communication solutions to gurus, temples, and religious-spiritual organisations. With the pious blessings of Shri Banke Bihari Ji, Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd. has successfully taken the deity LIVE, marking the first time in the temple's history that devotees can experience darshan through a structured digital platform. This historic step, taken by the temple authorities and administration, thoughtfully adapts a long-standing tradition for the benefit of devotees who are unable to visit Vrindavan in person. The LIVE darshan service was initiated on the auspicious occasion of Rangbhari Ekadashi, opening a new chapter in how sacred traditions can respectfully embrace modern technology to serve the global devotee community. Bhavya Srivastava, associated with Suyogya Media Pvt Ltd and Founder of Religion World, said, "This is a historic and deeply spiritual moment. For centuries, devotees have travelled to Vrindavan for a glimpse of Shri Banke Bihari Ji. Through this initiative, we are humbled to help extend the divine presence of Thakur Ji to devotees worldwide while maintaining the sanctity, traditions, and spiritual dignity of the temple." K Deepa, Partner at Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd., added that, "Suyogya Media has been working with spiritual leaders, temples, and religious institutions to bring faith and technology together in a meaningful way. We are grateful to the temple administration for trusting us with such a sacred responsibility. We aim to create digital bridges so that devotees everywhere can remain connected with their faith and spiritual traditions." Suyogya Media Pvt. Ltd. has emerged as a unique organisation in India dedicated to supporting gurus, temples, and spiritual institutions with advanced technological solutions, including live streaming, digital media management, social media outreach, and devotional content distribution. The company's initiatives aim to preserve sacred traditions while enabling wider access for devotees through responsible and respectful use of modern technology. (ANI) During the American Revolution, the capital of New Hampshire moved to Exeter to pull away from the royalist sentiments residing in Portsmouth. The January 5th Constitution created the Legislature (called the General Court) that consisted of the Provincial Assembly (or House of Representatives) and the Provincial Council (similar to the Senate). When this body met in Exeter, laws and resolutions were passed, but the day-to-day work was passed on to the Committee of Safety. A receipt from the NH Committee of Safety signed by House President Meshach Weare, requesting funds be sent to the Selectmen of Concord to pay troops fighting in the Rhode Island expedition. Dated March 13, 1779. The Committee of Safety was appointed by the General Court and usually consisted of only a few members. This enabled it to make decisions quickly. New Hampshire had a long history of self-governance. Sure, the British Crown had ultimate control, but most towns were responsible for making decisions about tax rates, road maintenance, commerce, and parish tolls. As dissent grew with Great Britain in the 1770s, New Hampshire was encouraged by its neighbor, Massachusetts, to create committees to oversee the enforcement of boycotts, public safety, and surveillance of suspected loyalists. Advertisement Advertisement Many towns followed Portsmouths lead by creating their own committees of safety. In many ways, New Hampshire was well-positioned for independent governance when, in 1775, the royal government largely withdrew. One of the first tasks of the newly formed New Hampshire government in January of 1776 was to form a state Committee of Safety. Originally, the intent was for the committee to serve when the General Court was not in session. But historian Jere Daniell noted that, New Hampshires Committee of Safety virtually ran the government after the summer of 1779. It controlled the militia, settled claims against the state, issued permits to privateers, regulated trade, administered tax collection, and once on its own initiative appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress. More: New Hampshires Independence Hall? It was here somewhere in Exeter. Part of the job was approving and paying its own bills. In April of 1776, the committee submitted a bill to be paid to Samuel Folsom for refreshments totaling one pound sixteen for a lengthy list of punch & flip as well as cheary toddey. The Exeter News-Letter was amused to reprint the bill in 1854 as a way of humanizing our Revolutionary forebears and their tippling habits. Advertisement Advertisement But most of the time, the work was important but rather mundane. Receipts, such as those in the collections of the Exeter Historical Society, indicate that the Committee of Safety was primarily engaged in the work of keeping the war for independence moving forward. In Committee of Safety, Exeter May 22, 1777. Nicholas Gilman Esq. Treasurer, Pay to Isaac Webster five pounds and four shillings it being the full balance of his account for hauling public stores, from Exeter towards Ticonderoga. By orders of the committee, M.Weare, Chair. In Committee of Safety May 11th, 1778 to Nicholas Gilman. Let Leut Johathan Leavitt have out of the Treasury ninety pounds to pay bounties to men he enlists for Col Stephen Peabodys Regiment for which he is to be accountable. M.Weare, Chairman. Ensuring that troops were raised, paid, and supplied was the primary role of the Committee of Safety. Most of the time, the committee met at the home of Joseph and Rebecca Gilman, which stood in the town square on the site of the current Exeter Town Hall. After the war, Joseph served on another committee one that paid any residual bills. His own finances collapsed after the lumber trade faded in the early 19th century. His home was moved to Franklin Street in 1855 to make way for the Town Hall. There it lingered into the 20th century, truncated and decaying, before it was razed in the 1940s. Advertisement Advertisement The Committee of Safety, once an important part of the state bureaucracy, was eliminated with the creation of the 1784 New Hampshire Constitution. Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The Revolutionary-era committee that met in Exeter and kept NH running We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share subtle signs that a man is red-pilled or right-wing. Here's specifically what women had to share: 1. "A red flag is if he believes in the 6/6/6 rule, which is when he believes that all women want is the man with 6-pack abs, who's 6 feet tall, and has a 6-figure salary." Anonymous, Megan, 57, Illinois HBO 2. "When a guy treats your appearance or personal choices as if theyre up for his approval. For example, if you have short hairlike a pixie cutand he feels the need to tell you that you 'should grow it out,' thats usually a sign." Anonymous, 31, Female, USA 3. "Beware of men who still talk about the 'friend zone.'" Anonymous, 39, Female, UK Related: 17 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Dark And Tragic Things I Just Learned About That Should Honestly Be Illegal To Know 4. "If he says that he is a 'high value man,' that's a sign." Anonymous, 30, Female, California HBO 5. "When a man follows questionable male influencers and says it's 'just as a joke.'" Anonymous, 24, Female, Belgium 6. "If a man has his politics listed as 'moderate' on a dating app, hes almost certainly right or far right. They absolutely know that most women dont find red-pilled, trad wife dynamics attractive, so they get no dates, so they identify themselves as conservative. I used to think this applied to the US only, but I went on a date with a 'moderate' while traveling in Europeand the man admitted to my face that he only lists moderate because no woman wants to date a conservative. " Anonymous, Allie, Philadelphia 7. "If a man says 'pause' or 'no homo,' hes probably red pilled." Anonymous, 45, Female, NYC HBO 8. "If he refers to a woman's husband or boyfriend as a 'Chad.'" altenbas Related: Most Adults Have No Idea What Half These Animals Are - Do You? 9. A huge sign is if he says, 'Are you on your period?' When he deems you as 'disagreeable.' coolorc62 10. "When men say they want a 'traditional relationship' to me, that just means they want all the control and money in the relationship." Anonymous, 31, Female HBO Advertisement Advertisement 11. "A red flag is when a man openly refers to women as 'bitches' behind your back. Its an obvious red flag when he does it to your face, but its even more alarming when he clearly understands that its wrong (at least insofar as he thinks youll 'overreact' if he says it around you), but simply doesnt care enough to change his behavior across the board. Its a sign he has a very narrow idea of what a 'good woman' ought to be, and chances are, as soon as you become a 'bad' one in his eyes, youll be the next 'bitch' he complains about to all his buddies." Anonymous, 21, Female, USA 12. "If a man has to tell you hes a 'good guy,' chances are hes absolutely NOT a good guy." Anonymous, 31, Female, Boston 13. "Unprompted generalizations of women are signs a man is red-pilled. I used to watch a horse-training channel on YouTube and realized every three or so videos, the trainer would take a jab at women completely unprompted. 'People take foals away from their mothers to bottle feed them when its unnecessaryMostly WOMEN do this.' Like, what? Thats so pointlessly gendered and inflammatory. It added nothing to the discussion. I realized this is just his general disdain for women creeping out into unrelated subject matter. Hes not the only one Ive seen do this. Anyone who pointlessly genders an issue or criticism is absolutely hiding an agenda." Anonymous, 31, Female, USA Related: Just A Few WTF Facts That Shattered My Brain Into A Million Pieces This Week 14. "A sign a guy is red-pilled is if he says the phrase 'real men.'" Anonymous HBO 15. "A sign is if a guy says 'If we got married, you wouldn't have to work anymore.'" Anonymous, 36, Female, Michigan 16. "One indicator is if he talks about the future with you in the context of having children only." Anonymous, 34, Female, Toronto, Ontario HBO 17. "One sign is if they don't take 'No' for an answer when they ask you out. One way they'll do this is by offering an alternate date idea instead of just accepting that you're not interested." Anonymous, 33, Female, USA 18. "One indicator is if they ask a woman, What do you bring to the table?'" Anonymous, 37, Female, London 19. "A subtle sign when dating is that they present themselves in terms of value (because theyve been told thats what they think women care about). I once dated a guy who dropped the fact that, although hes living with his parents to care for them as they age, their home will be a great asset for his future spouse after they pass. The same guy described his work to me in terms of disposable income and expected me to get excited that Id have access to $XX more a month if we were to get serious. It was an early sign because later, we broke things off after he was weirdly quiet during a discussion of the show Adolescence and then admitted that he agreed that men are persecuted by women who reject them. It was all there at the beginning, just subtle and disguised." Anonymous, 43, Female, Georgia Netflix Related: I Curated The Hardest "Would You Rather" Questions Submitted By Real People Now You Have To Choose 20. "A red-pill indicator is if they call women 'females' instead of, you know, women!" Anonymous, 38, Female, Canada 21. "One sign is how they react when conversations of gender come up. I go to a large university in the Midwest. The university tends to be more liberal-leaning; however, its location in a red state makes it a diverse mix of political views. Since I studied to be a teacher, some of our classes involved learning how to teach a diverse set of students, whether it be immigrants, ELLs, or people with disabilities. One thing that came up in multiple classes was gender and how to make sure your classroom is open and comfortable for any and all genders. I would always look around and see some male classmates either narrow their eyes at the professor or disengage for the rest of the lesson." Anonymous, 22, Female 22. "A sign a man is red-pilled is if he immediately assumes a woman is gay after she turns him down." abourque HBO Advertisement Advertisement 23. "A sign of red-pilled men is if they assume a woman is less passionate or knowledgeable about her interests or that she's into them for the 'wrong reasons.' This is especially prevalent in nerd-related subcultures like gaming. Otherwise, seemingly nice guys have completely flipped on me when they learn that Im a gamer because they think Im inherently worse at the hobby or using it to get guys. No, dude, Ive been playing games since I was a kid, just like you. Youre just misogynistic." Anonymous, 20, Female, USA HBO 24. And finally, "A major red flag is if they don't consume art made by women. If they don't listen to any female musicians or read any female authors, it is a sign that they don't respect women generally." lilatrainor101114 Now I want to know, what are "secret signs" that a woman is far-right or a Republican? Tell us in the comments or use the anonymous form below: You Might Like: 26 Fun Versions Of Things You Probably Need To Buy Anyway You Might Like: 42 Things Thatll Make Your Home Your New Favorite Weekend Hangout Spot Also in BuzzFeed: Congratulations, If You Check 17 Items From This List You Are A Certified Hater Read it on BuzzFeed.com An Indiana State Police trooper vehicle was overturned following a police chase Friday night. According to ISP, at 8:15 p.m., a trooper attempted a traffic stop for a 2015 Chrysler 200 on northbound I-65 in Clark County for a missing license plate. The driver of the vehicle sped away before striking another vehicle a quarter-mile down the road. The after the initial collision, the vehicle struck the ISP troopers cruiser causing it to overturn. Advertisement Advertisement All three vehicles came to rest at the 4.4 mile marker of I-65, just north of Lewis and Clark Parkway. One suspect fled the Chrysler on foot, the ISP trooper was able to get out of the overturned cruiser and arrest the driver of the Chrysler, Lamyaa Johnson 22, of Louisville. Troopers and officers from multiple agencies continue to look the suspect who ran away. Two children from the car Johnson struck were taken to the hospital as a precaution, Johnson and the trooper were taken to Clark Memorial Hospital to be evaluated and released. Johnson was taken to the Clark county jail and is charged with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle resulting in bodily injury, obstruction of justice, reckless driving, assisting a criminal and aggressive driving. Advertisement Advertisement Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users. Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, or visit our Facebook page or X feed. Mar. 6Humane Society agents removed 137 animals, including dozens of guinea pigs and chinchillas, from a Dayton home due to neglect and poor living conditions. The Humane Society responded to the home on Thursday after receiving concerns about the animals' living conditions. Agents found the home had severe rodent and insect infestations and animals kept in filthy cages with inadequate food, water or sanitation, according to the Humane Society. Advertisement Advertisement Agents removed 137 animals, including: 92 guinea pigs 33 chinchillas Five cockatiels Four rabbits One frog One hamster One dog The conditions reportedly put the animals at a severe health risk. Multiple animals didn't have hay or proper nutrition, and several water bottles were completely dry, the Humane Society said. Agents removed 99 cages from the home. Several cages housed multiple animals. "This was an extremely challenging environment for any animal to live in," said Brian Weltge, president and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. "Our priority right now is ensuring each of these animals receive the care, nutrition and medical attention they desperately need." Advertisement Advertisement Multiple guinea pigs had lice infestations and severely overgrown nails and others had additional medical concerns. The Humane Society's veterinary team is evaluating the animals and treating them for immediate and long-term health issues. "This situation is heartbreaking for the animals involved, but cases like this often reflect something deeper than animal care alone," Weltge said. "Animal hoarding is frequently connected to underlying mental health challenges." The Humane Society has a licensed social work on staff to help. Anyone who may be struggling to care for multiple animals can call the Humane Society at 937-268-PETS (7387). "Our goal is not only to protect animals, but also to connect individuals with resources and support that can help them before a situation escalates to this level," Weltge said. Advertisement Advertisement A hearing is scheduled for March 17 in Dayton Municipal Court to determine permanent custody of the animals. In January agents rescued 33 animals, including 31 cats, a dog and a opossum, from a Old Orchard Avenue home. As of Friday, several of the rescued cats are still looking for a home, the Humane Society said. Anyone interested in adopting can visit hsdayton.org/adopt/. Florida deputies separately arrested two students, ages 10 and 11, after the boys allegedly made death threats against children and teachers at their schools. One of the boys, an 11-year-old at DeLand Middle School in DeLand, was arrested on Thursday, March 5, over allegedly using another student's online account to threaten seven teachers, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a post shared to Facebook. The boy is accused of writing imma shoot you, in messages received by the teachers, according to the sheriff. Advertisement Advertisement A video shared to Facebook by Chitwood shows a deputy taking the student into custody before he is handcuffed and led into a holding cell. This is the boys second arrest for making a written threat to kill since the fall, according to Chitwood. He was previously arrested in October at Southwestern Middle School, where he allegedly made a similar shooting threat, Chitwood said. The boy is accused of using another students account to send a group chat message, saying IM GONNA SHOOT YOU, according to Chitwood. Florida Authorities Charge Teens with Horrific Murder of Girl, Setting Her Body on Fire Advertisement Advertisement These idiotic threats disrupt our schools, eat up time and resources, and increase the chances a real threat slips through the cracks, Chitwood wrote in the Facebook post. If you can threaten to shoot 7 teachers, you can take a perp walk. Parents, discipline your kids and I won't have to. On Wednesday, March 4, the sheriff announced in another Facebook post that a 10-year-old student at Pride Elementary School in Deltona was arrested on a charge of a written threat to kill. The boy allegedly threatened to bring a gun to school in a message written on a whiteboard at the elementary school, according to Chitwood. He also placed a "list of people who i'm gunna kill" inside of a desk, Chitwood said. Advertisement Advertisement The list contained the names of three students, according to Chitwood, who said the students parents have been notified. In a video shared by Chitwood, a deputy is seen leading the 10-year-old into custody, with the boy handcuffed behind his back. Just like the other student who was arrested on March 5, the 10-year-old was put in a holding cell, according to the video. North Carolina Teen Arrested After Allegedly Killing Child, Injuring Another With a Hammer and Knife Chitwood wrote in the Facebook post that the 10-year-old student told deputies he didn't mean it and his parents said that the boy does not have access to any firearms. Advertisement Advertisement That doesn't change the consequences of his actions, Chitwood wrote. This is another reminder to talk to your kids and teach them this lesson before they learn it in the juvenile justice system. Us Weekly is not naming the two students because of their ages. Volusia County is located in Central Florida, on the states east coast. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man and woman were hit and pinned under a vehicle after the driver told police they were attempting to avoid a separate crash along the Las Vegas Strip, according to Las Vegas Metro police. The 49-year-old man and the 32-year-old woman were hit shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Friday in the 3400 block of Las Vegas Boulevard. Police said bystanders nearby had to help free the two people pinned under the vehicle. Evidence at the scene and surveillance video indicated that a 66-year-old female was driving a Toyota Camry and involved in a minor collision with another vehicle while exiting a private drive on Las Vegas Boulevard, south of Flamingo Road. Advertisement Advertisement The man and woman were walking northbound on Las Vegas Boulevard, south of Flamingo Road, on the sidewalk. The pedestrians were walking across the private driveway in a marked crosswalk. A crash occurred when the driver of the Toyota backed up to clear traffic congestion on Las Vegas Boulevard, police said. The Toyotas rear struck the man and woman, pinning them underneath the vehicle. Several bystanders assisted in removing the pedestrians trapped underneath the vehicle, police said. Both the man and woman were taken to a nearby hospital. By late Friday night, police said the woman had moderate injuries, and the man was in critical condition. The driver of the Toyota remained at the scene, cooperated with the investigation, and showed no signs of impairment, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement This collision remains under investigation by the LVMPDs Collision Investigation Section. 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 KLAS. The family of an aunt and her niece who were found dead on a Utah trail earlier this week said Friday that they cant comprehend why the women were slain in a pair of killings allegedly committed by a stranger in search of money. In a statement, a family spokesperson for Linda Dewey, 65, and Natalie Graves, 34, said the women were bonding over the beauty of a hike in one of their favorite places on Earth cherished by them and the community, considered to be a safe sanctuary. They were murdered, the spokesperson said. We cannot comprehend why this happened. Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have charged Ivan Miller, 22, with aggravated murder in their deaths Wednesday. He was charged with the same crime in the fatal shooting of Margaret Oldroyd, 86, who is not related to Dewey or Graves. Oldroyd's relatives could not be reached for comment Friday. The bodies of the three women were found at two locations in South Central Utah. Natalie Graves and Linda Dewey (Taylor Graves/Natalie Graves; Alan Dewey / via AP) Charging documents filed Thursday in Utah allege that Miller, of Blakesburg, Iowa, confessed to the killings. He allegedly told authorities that "he did it because he needed money" after hitting an elk in Loa, Utah, selling his truck to a local tow company and staying at a hotel for a few days, according to the documents. Miller said he shot Oldroyd in the head as she sat down to watch TV in her home in Lyman, then took her Buick but realized he didn't like the car, the documents allege. He drove to a nearby trail, where he encountered Graves and Dewey and shot them, the documents allege. Advertisement Advertisement Miller allegedly said he stabbed Dewey when she continued to move. He abandoned the Buick, according to the documents, and took a Subaru that belonged to Dewey or Graves. The husbands of Dewey and Graves later found their bodies near a trail head and called authorities, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. Miller was arrested hundreds of miles east, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, after authorities tracked the location of a stolen key fob, the documents state. Authorities conduct an investigation into the deaths of Linda Dewey and Natalie Graves by a trail head near Teasdale, Utah, on Thursday. (George Frey / AP) (George Frey) Scott Van Zandt, a public defender representing Miller, said during a court hearing Friday that his client does not want to speak to police or media, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement A representative for the Colorado State Public Defender did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment Friday night. In the family statement, Dewey was described as a wife, mother, grandmother and sister with a large extended family all over the world. She was loved deeply and loved her family deeply, the statement says. She was the heart of our family. Graves, a wife, daughter and sister, was adored by her many friends and extended family members. She was joy, sunshine and beauty embodied. We need time to mourn, love each other and be with our family and friends, the statement says. We are at a loss for words that can describe what we are feeling and cannot publicly express our sadness and devastation at this time. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A basking shark as big as a small bus recently showed up off Ventura, spotted from a boat headed from Ventura to the Channel Islands National Park. Basking sharks can grow up to 30-plus feet, making them the world's second-largest fish, next to whale sharks. Known as the seas gentle giants, they swim with wide-open mouths when they forage. Instead of big teeth, their massive mouths act as filters, sorting small crustaceans and other fish. Passengers and crew on an Island Packers boat watched as the roughly 20-foot shark swam nearby on March 3. The boat company that ferries people back and forth to the islands-based national park had left the Ventura Harbor, headed to Santa Cruz Island. Passengers and crew on an Island Packers boat spotted a roughy 20-foot basking shark on the way from Ventura Harbor to Santa Cruz Island on March 3. The boat stopped, and the shark swam up, its mouth open wide, before ducking underneath the vessel, said Andrea Mills, Island Packers' education coordinator. Advertisement Advertisement Local sightings of basking sharks that Mills described as "big and graceful" can be few and far between. There can be long stretches with no sightings, and Mills called their appearances a treat. "I'm always awestruck, because they are so unique," she said. Researchers have tried to fill in the many blanks on what is known about the elusive fish. But there are still a lot of unknowns, officials say. Basking shark numbers drop The sharks once numbered in the thousands off California. But sightings of the eastern North Pacific population plummeted after the 1960s. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classified the population as a species of concern in 2010. Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear exactly why the shark's numbers crashed or why sightings increased locally in spring 2019 before dropping again. The increase turned out to be more of a blip than a comeback for the massive fish, officials said. Year-to-year changes in basking shark numbers are far from unusual. Even before sightings declined, scientists say reports suggested they would show up some years and not others. Fishing the species is now prohibited in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. But in the mid-1900s, basking sharks were fished for their liver oil, fins and meat. They also were targeted by an eradication program in Canada. While the practice ended decades ago and the sharks garnered protection, the population failed to rebound. Experts don't know if the sharks moved elsewhere or if the numbers just remained low. Advertisement Advertisement Olivia Cleek, a graduate student at Oregon State's Big Fish Lab, has researched basking sharks for a year, tracking over a decade of reported sightings on social media and other platforms. That work could lead to future efforts for further study of the population. The sharks are incredibly migratory, likely swimming long distances between Canada and Mexico, according to Cleek. That's another reason why they can be challenging to study, because it is hard to say when and where they will show up, she said. Based on her findings from recent years, sightings tend to be reported around this time of year, between February and summer months. The shark spotted recently likely made an appearance because of environmental conditions that led to more plankton in the coastal waters, she said. Basking sharks tend to feed at the surface in coastal waters, mostly eating swarms of tiny plankton about the size of a grain of rice. Their gaping white mouths can create a sort of glow in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: A 20-foot basking shark, known as a gentle giant, shows up off Ventura A 62-year-old man is facing drug trafficking charges after he was found with more than 1,000 pounds of meth. The Drug Enforcement Administration says they found a tractor-trailer in Troup County and found 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the roof. The driver, Peguy Daniel Auguste, was arrested and booked into the Troup County Jail on a drug trafficking charge. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] DEA agents say the drugs have an estimated street value of $25 million. Advertisement Advertisement All the time, we see concealment methods, like inside trucks with produce vegetables, other goods, but in this case, the tractor-trailer itself was the concealment method because the entire roof was laden with methamphetamine, Michael Mayer, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, said. TRENDING STORIES: The DEA shared photos of the drugs with Channel 2 Action News that showed agents finding them hidden in a secret compartment. They say Auguste brought the truck from the Texas border with Mexico. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SHERWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) The tornado that tore through the Union Lake-area Friday, killing three and injuring at least a dozen more, was likely an EF3, a new report from the National Weather Service indicates. It was one of at least three reported tornadoes that ripped across Southwest Michigan Friday evening, killing a total of four people, including a child, and leaving a path of destruction in its wake from Edwardsburg to Three Rivers and Union City. The Union City-area twister may have reached wind speeds up to 150 mph, weather officials said Saturday. Photos and videos from viewers show a dark grey funnel cloud spinning near Union Lake, picking up and throwing debris. 4 dead, several injured Three people were killed when a tornado hit the Union City-area Friday, the Branch County Sheriffs Office said. The names of the dead were not immediately released, but MSP troopers confirmed Saturday that the deaths occurred near Tuttle Road on the north side of Union Lake. Advertisement Advertisement 4 dead, several injuries after Southwest Michigan tornadoes Two of the deaths happened in the same home, MSP said, with the third death happening in another residence. At least a dozen people were injured in the same area, including five who had to be hospitalized, according to Branch County Sheriff Fred Blakenship. Branch County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Miner said no one was in critical condition. Officials restarted the recovery effort around 8 a.m. with the goal of removing as much debris as possible from Union Lake. MSP told News 8 they had largely resolved their search and rescue efforts and they did not believe anyone else was missing in the area. Advertisement Advertisement County officials ask that if you know anyone who lives in the district path of the storm and have been unable to reach them, contact the Branch County Sheriffs Office or call 911. Sheriff: Edwardsburg-area boy, 12, killed in storm Friday A 12-year-old boy identified as Silas Anderson was killed and several others were injured near Edwardsburg Friday evening, Cass County officials said. THE RECOVERY PROCESS BEGINS In a press conference Saturday afternoon, Miner said the recovery mode process is still in its earliest stages and that K-9s, drones, divers and other first responders were working together. Homes, property items and more debris are believed to be in the water, according to Miner. Advertisement Advertisement Much of this property did go into the lake, along with houses that are adjacent to the shore line, he said. We are still working to complete search grids, there is still hazards located within this environment. In addition to assessing the damage and the ongoing recovery process, Miner said his main priority is to get in touch with locals and to begin providing them with assistance. As we look at things moving forward, our goal is to get local residents with a verified address in as soon as possible, so that they can assess their affected properties and begin to put their lives back together, he said. Miner listed unstable structures, gas tanks leaking and hazardous objects as dangerous items crews are on the lookout for and said that certain areas may still be unsafe. Advertisement Advertisement He estimated around 70 homes in the Union City area were damaged, ranging from light damage to homes being completely destroyed. We not only have to deal with the emergency side of this, we have to deal with the debris, Miner said. We have to get things kind of put back together. Then all these property owners have to do the same thing. So, its going to take time. Its going to take a long time. News 8 crews near Union City saw snapped trees and debris and branches crashed into homes around Tuttle Road. Union City officials reported significant storm damage around the lake and downtown. Village crews, emergency responders, and utility workers are actively working to assess damage and clear debris, city officials said in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Laci Pawlowski has lived on Tuttle Park Drive her entire life. The stretch of land along the lake has been owned by her family for generations. My family, my great grandparents and their family bought this property about 100 years ago so its very special to us, Pawlowski said. Seeing it like this is pretty hard. Her family and neighbors homes were destroyed, with some being reduced to rubble. Trees were snapped in half and debris scattered across yards and on the lake. Its so tragic, she said. Im still in shock. Its unbelievable to be in the middle of something like this. You see it on TV. It doesnt happen to you, right, but yesterday happened to us. Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, her street was filled with new faces, many of them strangers volunteering. Many arrived with chainsaws and excavators clearing debris. Some people dropped off food, water and supplies. Im grateful for all the people that are here, Pawlowski said. Our community is so good. Anytime theres a struggle, they come. Im so overwhelmed and filled with gratitude. People were asked to stay away from affected areas, including downed power lines and unstable buildings, to give crews room to work. Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Damage from a tornado that tore through Union City, killing three people and injuring at least a dozen more. (March 7, 2026) Drone footage shows extensive damage to southwest Michigan caused by multiple tornadoes that ripped through the region Friday. (Courtesy MSP) Drone footage shows extensive damage to southwest Michigan caused by multiple tornadoes that ripped through the region Friday. (Courtesy MSP) Storm damage in the Union City area on March 6, 2026. Storm damage in the Union City area on March 6, 2026. The high school is accepting donations and help from volunteers. On Saturday evening, Union Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick McKerr praised the communitys crisis team for their response time. Advertisement Advertisement What I saw is very clear at our high school, McKerr said. Our crisis team was in full blast mode since last night. When this is all over, we should have every school district across the state, coming to our school to evaluate how well our crisis team did on this. McKerr praised the teams communication, ability to find resources for students and families and securing donations all within the span of 24 hours. Union City Elementary School has been collecting donations and is offering to deliver water and other supplies to those in need. As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the school is at capacity and is not requesting additional donations. Our high school is overflowing with resources right now, McKerr said. We actually had to stop donations because we brought in so many from our community. Just an outpouring of love and support from the community that Ive never seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Those resources will be relocated to the districts fieldhouse, where lunch and dinner will be provided by local restaurants for families in the coming days. The American Red Cross and the Branch County Sheriffs Office Victim Services Unit, a volunteer organization dedicated to providing early support to victims of crime or other crises, are also supporting those affected by the storm in southwestern Michigan. The states Emergency Operations Center near Lansing was activated in the wake of the storm, the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division said. The agency said the operations center was monitoring the situation and prepared to respond if locals need help. 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. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday announced that 200 refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been granted citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, asserting that Hindu refugees have as much right to India as the Prime Minister. Adressing the "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal" event, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Today, around 200 people who have come here from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been granted citizenship. When I brought the CAA law, many people, including Congress, SP, BSP, Mamata and DMK, were opposing it. I want to again say today that Hindu refugees who have come here from Afghanistan and Pakistan have the same right to the country as PM Modi does," adding that "appeasement politics" had previously kept them deprived of their rights. He specifically challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stating that the government would proceed with granting citizenship regardless of protests. "Rahul Baba, no matter how much you protest against it, we will grant citizenship to such people," he remarked. Highlighting the divergence from the colonial era, the Home Minister also noted the transformation of India's justice system, emphasing that "old laws have been scrapped" in favour of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). "By the year 2028, there will be complete implementation of all laws," he declared. He further mentioned that the four-year mark of the Dhami administration coincides with nine years of BJP governance in the state. Shah took the opportunity to reflect on Uttarakhand's struggle for identity, praising the youth who fought for the state's culture while accusing the Congress and Samajwadi Party of "suppressing" those efforts during the statehood movement. He said, "There was a time when the state was fighting for its own identity and rights. To save the culture of Uttarakhand, its youth fought. At the time, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party suppressed the youth of the state. The then BJP ministers and PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee worked to created Uttarkhand." Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warmly welcomed and felicitated Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at the event, which marks the completion of four years of the state government. On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented the Union Home Minister with a memento and honoured him with a traditional cap symbolising the rich cultural identity of the state. (ANI) A 40-year-old man was arrested after an accidental shooting at a Kroger in Warren County on Friday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The shooting was reported at the Kroger in the 5000 block of State Route 48 around 7:30 p.m., according to a previous News Center 7 report. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, officers found two victims with minor injuries. They were hospitalized and are in stable condition. Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes said a preliminary investigation indicates the victims were injured inside the lobby, or vestibule, area of the store. The gunfire came from outside the store, likely from a nearby property. Hughes added that the shooting was accidental. On Saturday morning, the Hamilton Township Police Department announced on social media that 40-year-old Jayson Hall of Hamilton Township had been arrested in connection with the shooting. Hall was arrested on several charges, including: Advertisement Advertisement Two counts of Assault (fourth-degree felony) Two counts of Negligent Assault (third-degree misdemeanor) One count of Inducing Panic (fourth-degree felony) One count of Improperly Discharging a Firearm (first-degree misdemeanor) He is currently being held in Warren County Jail. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was requested to assist in this investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) also responded to assist. The shooting remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] NEED TO KNOW A 40-year-old mystery surrounding a skull found in 1986 was recently cracked in New Hampshire The remains have been identified as belonging to Warren Kuchinski, who disappeared before the grim discovery, according to officials The break in the case was in large part due to the DNA Doe Project In 1986, investigators found a human skull in a wooded area of New Hampshire. Now, nearly 40 years later, they've finally identified their "Cranium Doe." According to an official press release, the remains have been identified as belonging to Warren Kuchinsky. Although details are scarce, officials said he "was born in 1952 and was last known to be alive in the mid-1970s." Advertisement Advertisement The discovery was made thanks to a collaboration between investigators with the New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the New Hampshire State Police, the DNA Doe Project and the University of New Hampshire Forensic Anthropology Identification and Recovery Lab. This identification reflects the power of partnership and scientific advancement, said Attorney General John M. Formella in a press release. Though agents had unsuccessfully attempted to identify the victim in the '80s, the key to cracking the mystery came from the work of the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit dedicated to identifying John and Jane Does using investigative genetic genealogy. For their May 2025 retreat, the DNA Doe Project selected New Hampshire "Cranium Doe" as their sole case study. Advertisement Advertisement More than 40 volunteer genealogists from the United States, Canada, England, and Scotland working together were able to start cracking the case within 24 hours, according to the non-profit. 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. Further DNA testing of a surviving family member conducted by the New Hampshire State Police led to the positive identification. As the organization noted, Kuchinsky attended school about 10 miles from where the skull was found. Advertisement Advertisement "We truly hope that this identification brings long-awaited answers to Mr. Kuchinskys family, said DNA Doe Project Team Leader Lisa Ivany. No foul play is suspected in his death, according to investigators. Read the original article on People Mar. 6SUPERIOR The City Council is going to see change following the April 7 election. How much the council changes, however, will be decided by voters. At least two districts will get new representation when newly elected councilors are sworn in April 21. City councilors Ruth Ludwig in the 7th District and Mark Johnson in the 9th District decided not to seek reelection this year. Karly Caven, of 1402 N. 21st St., is the only candidate to step forward to replace Ludwig. Johnson's replacement will be decided by voters. Advertisement Advertisement With three incumbents facing challengers among the four contested races on the April 7 ballot, there is the potential for all five council districts to have new representation this year. Incumbent Nicholas Ledin, 44, of 5819 Oakes Ave., is facing a familiar challenge to represent South Superior. Weston Morris, 33, of 5518 Banks Ave., ran against him in 2024 as a write-in candidate; this time Weston's name will appear on the ballot. As a third-generation South Superior resident now raising the fourth generation in the neighborhood where he grew up, Ledin said he is committed to the city and cares deeply about its future. "I believe the city is moving in a positive direction, and I want to continue contributing to efforts that promote a safe, healthy and vibrant community for generations to come," said Ledin, a cook at the Northeast Regional Corrections Center. Advertisement Advertisement Ledin said he'd like council priorities to include outdoor recreation, which has seen significant investment in recent years. Morris, an electrical project manager, said he's running for council not as a political candidate, but as a practical neighbor who wants thoughtful, common-sense leadership to keep Superior strong for the next generation. "As a husband and father of two, raising our family in Superior, I'm very motivated by the future of this community," Morris said. "That means addressing aging infrastructure, supporting mental health and public safety and keeping taxes reasonable through responsible budgeting." Morris said he would like the city to focus on strengthening public safety, expanding affordable housing opportunities, improving public transportation, updating road infrastructure and attracting new economic development to create sustainable jobs that support the community, now and into the future. Advertisement Advertisement Among the issues the council will be considering in the coming months is whether the city should take over the utilities from Superior Water, Light & Power. "I support exploring this option," Ledin said. "If the city is serious about slowing the rising cost of utilities for residents, this is a logical step to evaluate. Removing the profit-driven model that contributes to increasing costs deserves careful consideration." Ledin noted the ultimate decision will rest with the voters who would cast a ballot in a citywide referendum required by state law. A decision of that scale would have long-term implications for residents, employers and the financial future of the city, and should be approached with careful planning and thorough evaluation, Morris said. Advertisement Advertisement "Some of the key considerations I thought about include acquisition costs, infrastructure needs, regulatory requirements, workforce impacts and overall, the financial effect on taxpayers," Morris said. As a union member, Morris said he's also mindful of Wisconsin's Act 10, adopted by the Legislature in 2011, to curtail bargaining rights of most public employees. "Any transition must prioritize maintaining a skilled, stable workforce to ensure safe and reliable service," he said. Incumbent Garner Moffat, 43, of 1702 N. 21st St., is seeking his second full term on the council; he was first elected in 2023 and started his first full term in 2024. Natasha Schumacher, 40, of 2434 John Ave., is running against him to represent the midtown district. Advertisement Advertisement Schumacher, a systems and digital services librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, said her reason for running was two-fold. During recent city discussions about converting Banks, Ogden and John avenues from one-way to two-way streets, she said she and her neighbors felt their concerns weren't really being heard. Then she had the opportunity to participate in Government Day with Leadership Superior-Douglas County. "That experience, you know, just kind of helped me realize that local government works best when community voices are part of the process ... so I just decided to run because I believe in transparent decision-making and community engagement," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Schumacher said the city needs to focus on strategic growth that strengthens the tax base, support large employers and small businesses to keep well-paying jobs, attainable housing and long-term planning. Since taking office three years ago, Moffat said he's taken on major structural issues like zoning reform, housing, infrastructure and utilities. He said his goal is to finish that work to ensure Superior is affordable, functional and focused on residents. "I've been involved in local policy, planning and organizing for over 20 years," said Moffat, who works as an administrative specialist for a mental health office. "I grew up in poverty and saw firsthand how public decisions shape whether families thrive or struggle. That perspective guides everything I do." Moffat said his priorities are straightforward keeping Superior affordable, modernizing outdated systems including zoning and infrastructure, expanding housing option across income levels, strengthening both downtown and neighborhood business districts and improving public safety and service delivery. Advertisement Advertisement A city-commissioned feasibility study is underway to determine the viability of the city taking over water, electrical and natural gas utilities from SWL&P. Moffat was one of the councilors who initiated exploration of acquiring the privately-owned utilities. "We absolutely need to know if we can provide safe, clean water to our residents without the constant rate increases," Moffat said. "I suspect that the city can do it better and cheaper, but we need to make decisions based on expert facts." After SWL&P commissioned a study of its own, which placed the acquisition cost between $274 million and $306 million numbers the mayor called inflated Schumacher said she would need independently-verified numbers and clear projection on how that would affect residents' rates before she could give a concrete answer about the feasibility of a takeover. Advertisement Advertisement "We need full transparency about the short- and long-term impact before committing taxpayers," Schumacher said. "I want to see numbers. Data is important. I think that's a big deal." Incumbent Brent Fennessey, 43, of 810 E. Third St., is seeking his sixth term. Joe Radtke, 68, of 603 E. Eighth St., is challenging that. Fennessey grew up in Superior. After moving to the Twin Cities with his wife for work, Fennessey said they realized how much they valued what Superior has to offer a good place to raise a family, community connections, Lake Superior and outdoor recreation. "That experience shaped my decision to run," said Fennessey, an insurance broker with Marsh McLennan Agency. "If Superior was going to be our home, I wanted to contribute to thoughtful decisions about our future ... After 10 years on the council, I've seen how city decisions affect a community for years to come, and that perspective guides how I approach the role." Advertisement Advertisement The city is in a stable financial position, and Fennessey said his priority is to keep it that way so the city can provide core services. Superior also has opportunities for housing, economic development and community improvement that the city can support with planning, infrastructure and responsible growth, he said. It's the council's responsibility to balance improvements with affordability, he said. Radtke moved to Superior in 1980 and went to work for Barker's Island Marina, where he was general manager from 1983 to 2014 before becoming a self-employed boat broker. "I found Superior to be a hardworking, generous and welcoming place, and my wife, Karen, and I feel fortunate to have made our home, careers and many good friends here, and I guess that gratitude has inspired me to continue serving the city that has given us this life." Radtke said the city needs to continue to improve the city's infrastructure to ensure that Superior is attractive to businesses and residents. Public spaces play a vital role in bringing people together, he said. He would also like to see the city build on its Vacant to Value program, which has resulted in new and rehabilitated housing in the city. Fennessey was the only councilor who voted against a $150,000 feasibility study to determine if the city should acquire the water, electricity and natural gas utilities; he did so after researching the challenges other communities faced when attempting to acquire just one of the utilities in those communities. "I'm not opposed to municipal ownership of the water utility in principle ... my concern is whether it actually benefits Superior residents financially," Fennessey said. "The discussion has largely centered on lowering rates, but acquiring the system would likely require hundreds of millions of dollars in long-term borrowing. The council's responsibility is making sure any potential savings for residents are not offset by debt payments and future infrastructure costs." Before moving ahead with a proposal, Fennessey said the council needs clear, verifiable financial projections showing a real long-term benefit for residents. As the only privately-owned water utility in the state of Wisconsin, Radtke said Superior residents pay some of the highest water rates in the state. "I do support the city exploring the feasibility of acquiring the utility," Radtke said. "I think the community should control this as necessary infrastructure if it's feasible. I don't think it should be controlled by BlackRock, whose primary focus is maximizing their return on investment at the expense of Superior's residents who have no other option." Two newcomers are vying for the district that represents the southern portion of the Billings Park neighborhood. Robert Hering, 43, of 3213 Elmira Ave., and Blake Sawle, 34, of 2722 Wellington St., are both vying for the seat. Hering, who works in part sales for Genesis Attachments during the week and runs fishing charters on Lake Superior on weekends during the summer, entered the race after learning Johnson wouldn't be seeking reelection. Being a farmer from southern Minnesota, Hering said his candidacy will add a little more ideological diversity to the council. Hering said while the city has done a good job adding small businesses, more needs to be done to bring in big businesses that employ large numbers of people. He said he'd focus on finding out what District 9 residents really want and being a voice for them. Sawle, a banker, said he's "always wanted to run for political office." "It's been something that I thought about over the years, several times," he said. "I just never really felt I was in a spot that I could do it, but now I am." Affordability will be one of Sawle's biggest focuses. He'd like to see the city look to other communities to see how they are controlling rents and limiting the corporate ownership of housing that drives up costs. Sawle is also concerned about the rising cost of utilities. He supports the city taking over the water utility and thinks that the city should look at taking control of all three utilities. "Bringing the utility into the public domain immediately eliminates executive salaries and shareholder benefits," Sawle said. "That is millions of dollars that immediately comes off the bottom line right away ... And the thing is, from my understanding, is the city doesn't need to operate the utility like a business to make a profit and make shareholders happy. All they need to do is operate it." Hering said based on his limited knowledge of the issue and the $300 million it could cost to acquire the utilities, he doesn't believe that it's a good choice for the city right now. "I'd like to see a lot more information on it, but that is where I am on it right now," he said. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Louisiana agents arrested a Texas man Wednesday in connection with a child sexual exploitation case. The states attorney generals office reported that Kyler Bradley Montelaro, 19, was charged with 12 counts of child sexual abuse material (Distribution) (Under the age of 13). He was booked into the Hardin County Jail after being found in Lumberton, Texas. He was later transported and booked into the Assumption Parish Jail in Louisiana. The case stems from Pierre Part. Authorities did not reveal details of the crime, only stating that Montelaro was sought after agents received a tip. Advertisement Advertisement An investigation is ongoing. Kyler Bradley Montelaro (Louisiana Attorney Generals Office) Keeping Louisiana kids safe online: Apps parents should know about 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. UPDATE (Saturday, 11:39 a.m.) Aiken County Sheriffs Office investigators have arrested and charged Lafone Owenby, 51, of Beech Island with Burglary First Degree and Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, for the incident on Connector Road. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is also charging Owenby with two counts of Assault & Battery in the 1st Degree and two counts of Resisting Arrest. Additionally, Owenby is charged with Grand Larceny from an unrelated incident. He is currently incarcerated at the Aiken County Detention Center. Jacob Harrison Craven, 32, of Warrenville, is still in an area hospital being treated for injuries sustained during this incident. When released from the hospital, Craven will be charged with Burglary 1st degree, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime for the incident on Connector Road and grand larceny from an unrelated incident. Advertisement Advertisement ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Graniteville. According to Major Jason Griffin with the Aiken County Sheriffs Office, it happened at the 100 block of Connector Road around 9 a.m. on March 6. Deputies responded to a call for a burglary in progress. When they arrived at the home, they found the rear door forced open. They encountered one suspect that was attempting to flee from the residence. That suspect was taken into custody, said Major Griffin. Advertisement Advertisement As the first suspect was being detained, deputies found a second suspect inside the home. Major Griffin said the man pulled a gun and pointed it at deputies. Thats when one of the deputies opened fire and shot him. The individual was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, but there is no word yet on his condition. No deputies were injured during the incident. NewsChannel 6 talked to a woman who said she is the homeowners mother at the scene. She said her son was on his way to work when he got an alert that there were intruders at his home. She told us he immediately called the police. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has been called to investigate the officer-involved shooting. ACSO is handling the criminal investigation on the burglary. Advertisement Advertisement The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave until SLEDs investigation is complete. Major Griffin said incidents like this can be hard on the officers that are involved. This is a critical incident. And when our deputies do go through these, theres resources that we offer, those that go to critical incident stress debriefs after a critical incident. And that will be no different for this one right here. Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Marty Sawyer released the following statement on the incident: Our deputies and community experienced a serious and difficult incident today. We are thankful that none of our deputies were injured during this incident. They are trained to make critical decisions in moments where lives-including their own and those of the public may be at risk. I stand behind the actions of our deputies involved in this incident as they worked to protect the community. This is a developing story. Count on WJBF NewsChannel 6 for more information as it becomes available. Photojournalist: Dania Alawir. 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 WJBF. Over the last seven days, we have watched a joint air campaign unlike what we have ever seen before. New capabilities and evolved threats have made headlines as the world watched much of the Middle East become a free-fire zone. At the same time, many questions surrounding how long the war will take and its true scope and goals grow louder. These calls for clarity are becoming more pronounced globally, as well, as the Strait of Hormuz is experiencing a heart attack of sorts, with energy shipments stopped on the strategic waterways northern edge. In This Article While missile and drone launches have decreased significantly, these weapons continue to score major hits. Beyond U.S. military-related sites in Gulf Arab states, Iran continues to pummel energy production infrastructure. There are real concerns about the ability to defend against these attacks over the long term as interceptor stocks dwindle. The London insurance market is willing and able to cover vessels looking to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to Gallagher https://t.co/rUogubsv6g Bloomberg (@business) March 5, 2026 JUST IN: Video shows ship traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/C6pBHI0W35 BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) March 6, 2026 All this is occurring while Iran is experiencing a power vacuum the likes of which it has never experienced. As the U.S. and Israel ramp up strikes across the country during the transition from standoff to direct attacks, what will come of Irans fractured government remains a total unknown. Fears are growing that the default control of Iran could fall to its most well-armed and fanatical arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a top possibility we laid out in our feature published before the strikes commenced. Advertisement Advertisement So much has happened in one week, and we were right there providing rolling coverage and breakouts nearly around the clock. Now, once again, we look at the present. Heres whats going on as we flow through day eight of the war. LATEST UPDATES We have concluded our rolling coverage in this piece. UPDATE: 4:29 PM EST- Check out our feature on the major alarm bells that should be ringing after Iran successfully targeted multiple missile defense radars in the region. Iranian Attacks On Critical Missile Defense Radars Are A Wake-Up Call Iran's successful targeting of prized missile defense radars in the Middle East highlights global vulnerabilities. Feature:https://t.co/CkleCjkKBB The War Zone (@thewarzonewire) March 7, 2026 More video has emerged from the dignified transfer of the remains of six soldiers killed in Kuwait on March 1. U.S. President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base of the 6 U.S. Army soldiers killed during an Iranian strike on their operations center. Capt. Cody Khork Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens Sgt. 1st Class Nicole pic.twitter.com/akSQntnUnM OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 7, 2026 Ali Larijani, Irans de facto wartime leader in the wake of the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, issued a direct threat against Trump via X. We will relentlessly avenge the blood of our of our Leader and our people. Trump must pay and will pay. #Trumpmustpay Ali Larijani | (@alilarijani_ir) March 7, 2026 Meanwhile, in Iraq, pro-Iranian members of parliament are shouting the long-familiar phrases America is the Great Satan and Death to America. Members of parliament from the pro-Iranian factions in the Iraqi parliament are shouting "America is the Great Satan" and "Death to America" https://t.co/78WrtfLsvK Guy Elster (@guyelster) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Iranian proxy group, is launching volleys of rockets at Israel. Non-Stop rockets being fired by Hezbollah pic.twitter.com/vZxHByDdo0 Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) March 7, 2026 UPDATE: 2:35 PM EST Trump arrived in Dover for the dignified transfer of six soldiers killed by an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait on March 1. .@POTUS and @SecWar arrive at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of the six American heroes killed in Operation Epic Fury pic.twitter.com/HLxCVVMB7D Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 7, 2026 Today, we honor six American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Capt. Cody Khork Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor Sgt. Declan Coady Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan May God hold them in His eternal pic.twitter.com/pNMHg7MdPz Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 7, 2026 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saturday that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Washington has no intention of arming Kurdish groups in Iran, a direct response to reports that have rattled Ankara as the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran enters its second week. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Rubio told him that the U.S. has no intention of arming Iranian Kurds. pic.twitter.com/9Jj23L34YP Clash Report (@clashreport) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Given the ambiguity of the situation, the Kurds say they are not rushing into Iran. "Certainly, we are staying neutral as Iraqi Kurds b/c there's no clarity for us on US policy," a KRG official said. "Our assessment is there can't be regime change w/o boots on the ground and that the US is not sending [them]." @BarakRavid, @MarcACaputohttps://t.co/kKj6GWOCHs Shalom Lipner (@ShalomLipner) March 7, 2026 To counter Iranian drone and missile fire, a U.S. Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system was activated near the American embassy in Baghdad. A Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) system was activated a short time ago in the area of the American embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, due to reported drone and missile fire. pic.twitter.com/f2VOtE1ZbU Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) March 7, 2026 U.S. IndoPacific Command took to X to dispute some claims about the recent sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a USN fast attack submarine. Iran claims IRIS Dena was unarmed FALSE Law of Armed Conflict authorized the use of force to target and destroy valid military targets TRUE U.S. forces planned for and Sri Lanka provided life-saving support to survivors in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict - pic.twitter.com/DdY5RNFUYf U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) March 7, 2026 The IDF said it is continuing to strike Iranian ballistic missile production sites. STRUCK: 2 main ballistic missile production sites in Parchin and Shahrud. Over the past week, hundreds of IAF fighter jets struck the Iranian regimes production industries, which are used for the development and production of missiles and weapons. Among the targets struck: pic.twitter.com/sF3rRCvWqb Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement The IDF launched strikes Saturday evening on Irans national oil facilities in Tehran for the first time since the start of the war, targeting dozens of fuel storage tanks, YNET News reported, citing Israeli officials. The attack was carried out under directives from the political leadership and with IDF support, marking a significant escalation in Israels campaign against Iranian regime infrastructure, the outlet explained. An Israeli security official says recent strikes targeted fuel tanks used by Irans regime, adding pressure on the government is increasing and it may soon struggle to provide citizens with basic necessities. We have not said the last word, the official said. N12 https://t.co/5yX69pUMl2 Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) March 7, 2026 The Israel Defense Forces says its demolished a majority of Irans ballistic-missile launchers, causing the number of missiles targeting Israel and other countries in the region to fall throughout the week, Bloomberg News reported. More than 60% of such launchers have been neutralized and destroyed, Eyal Zamir, chief of the general staff of the IDF, said in a televised statement on Thursday. Zamir did not say how many had been struck, but the IDF had cited the number as 300 earlier that day. Israeli assessments say Iran now has about 100 operational missile launchers remaining out of roughly 420 before the war. Around 150 launchers were destroyed, while another 150 were struck and buried in underground sites, leaving them currently unusable. pic.twitter.com/LnYpNdGIm0 Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 7, 2026 UPDATE: 1:45 PM EST We are getting new satellite images of bomb damage in Iran from Vantor. The images show the airport and port in the city of Bushehr, which sits along the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf. We also get a shot of the tunnel entrances at the underground facility in Natanz and what looks like a vehicle destroyed nearby, possibly a short-range air defense system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entrance to the naval base doesnt look to inviting anymore: Entrance to the Bushehr naval base, which was struck by recent strikes pic.twitter.com/KYkk9zEScT Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 7, 2026 We are also getting a satellite view of the destruction at Tehran International from the IAFs strikes there last night: Satellite imagery shows that at least 17 aircraft, most of which appear to be passenger planes, were destroyed in last nights US and Israeli attacks on Mehrabad International Airport. Credit: @planet pic.twitter.com/ov1OBa1Ks3 Farzad Seifikaran (@FSeifikaran) March 7, 2026 Another drone strike on a highrise tower in Dubai: An Iranian drone reportedly struck the 23 Marina tower in Dubai, UAE. pic.twitter.com/jtIJFAwpGI Clash Report (@clashreport) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement UPDATE: 1:20 PM EST Israel is now clarifying its attack on Irans international airport, stating they targeted aircraft used by the IRGC for weapons transfers to proxies. These aircraft are well known and include some of the countrys last airworthy 747s. STRUCK: 16 IRGC Quds Force aircraft used to transfer weapons to Hezbollah. The IAF conducted a wave of precise strikes in Tehran, targeting military infrastructure at Mehrabad Airport, a central hub used by the IRGC to arm and fund its terror proxies across the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/ZbZJMvikI6 Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 7, 2026 Looks like a lot of aircraft destroyed: Aftermath of the Israeli air raid that hit Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport last night, reportedly destroying 16 aircraft. Burnt out wrecks and plane parts can be seen scattered around. pic.twitter.com/l2yQGjXQez OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 7, 2026 South Korea is rushing deliveries of SAMs to the UAE as the interceptor crunch deepens: South Korea announced that it will send around 30 ballistic missile interceptors to the UAE via C-17 right tomorrow. It would appear that they brought ROKAF's reserves. Among the 10 batteries under contract, currently, two M-SAM-II batteries are operating in the UAE. The pic.twitter.com/WIA3bQE0oo Mason (@mason_8718) March 7, 2026 The scarcity of interceptors continues to raise alarms amongst allies around the globe: Bloomberg: "Several European Union states warned at a closed-door meeting in Brussels this week that there is a shortage of interceptors across the world, according to people familiar with the matter."https://t.co/UNB27op4nb Vivian Nereim (@viviannereim) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Another round of B-2 strikes appears to be on the way. It will be interesting to see if they recover in Diego Garcia this time instead of the United States: #GOLD41 flt (x4 B-2) making a quick call to Santa Maria on HF 11309 Thursday afternoon, heading east for further strikes on Iran. They flew back west for Whiteman AFB on Friday as #RAKER41. pic.twitter.com/RJsIwgGYuh EISNspotter (@EISNspotter) March 7, 2026 Emirati fighters are seen prowling over the Gulf Of Oman in search of Iranian drones to kill. Emirati Vipers and Mirages on counter-UAS patrols in vicinity of Fujairah Port and the surrounding oil infrastructure. These are also flown much farther out for forward intercepts. pic.twitter.com/6DQuvimTTO Abd (@blocksixtynine) March 7, 2026 More indications that the Kurds are going to go into Iran, but just how shallow those movements would be isnt clear. BREAKING: The Secretary-General of Khabat, a Kurdish organization based in Iraq, tells Al Jazeera that Kurdish fighters in Iraq will "likely" stage a ground operation in Iran, confirming communication with the US Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) March 7, 2026 The Iranian drone attack on Dubais international airport may have been targeting the air traffic control tower. It is possible that this radar is tied into the militarys air defense architecture, but even if it is not, it would be another blow to the economy of the country as it would impact air travel. UPDATE: Iranian Shahed-136 drone likely attempted to strike the air-traffic control radar at Dubai Airport but fell short of the target. Source: @MenchOsint https://t.co/8PUy8D0RDb pic.twitter.com/5n51oFwFPG Clash Report (@clashreport) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement An unconfirmed report states that the US warned the Iranian warship Dena to abandon ship multiple times before the Los Angeles class fast attack submarine sunk it via torpedo. This is supposedly coming from one of the sailors aboard that survived. An Iranian sailor who was killed when the warship Dena was struck by the US near Sri Lanka had called his father shortly beforehand, saying American forces had issued two warnings for the crew to abandon the vessel, a source close to the family told Iran International. The pic.twitter.com/ujm2NJej76 Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 7, 2026 UPDATE 12:25 PM EST Iran is going after the heart of Saudi oil production. Saudi Arabia says it intercepted and destroyed 16 drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field, one of the kingdoms largest energy sites producing about 1 million barrels per day. The defense ministry did not say where the drones came from.https://t.co/MuYLumDuPY Clash Report (@clashreport) March 7, 2026 There are additional indications that Americas involvement in this conflict will be longer than some anticipated: A joint letter from the Commanding General and Command Chief of the Air National Guard have published a letter to their subordinates indicating that their continued support will be necessary in the weeks ahead. This is following reports yesterday that CENTCOM is requesting the pic.twitter.com/bPJyMvvn0P TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) March 6, 2026 NBC News reports that Trump has a high interest in deploying ground troops for the war effort. BREAKING: President Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. troops on the ground inside of Iran, sources say NBC News https://t.co/wQq4sJAKHx pic.twitter.com/PaeZAOVIYV Faytuks News (@Faytuks) March 6, 2026 It appears that U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are active in countering Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq. Reported footage of a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter targeting Iranian-backed milita positions outside of Mosul, Iraq tonight. Seen here firing Hydra 70mm rockets. pic.twitter.com/HsZgPtJYuw OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 6, 2026 IAF states it has intercepted over 110 long-range drones launched from Iran since the war began. - -110 - . : pic.twitter.com/fxkhN8H53K Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 7, 2026 The Israel Defense Forces have posted a video from one of its aerial assets running down what it says are missile launch operators and bombing them: : . - . pic.twitter.com/sjMDUD2eSS | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) March 7, 2026 Israel also says the chief of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) just flew a combat mission over Iran. The head of Israels Air Force is actually flying bombing missions in Iran. https://t.co/eNU38Ohk7d Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) March 7, 2026 There are reports of additional US wounded from Epic Fury, but CENTCOM tells us that the tally still stands at six troops killed and 10 seriously wounded. This could be due to a delay in information or just erroneous reports, and we will keep you posted. What appears to be a HIMARS launcher firing a rocket (likely PrSM ballistic missile, the first of which was used operationally in this war) from the beach in Bahrain. It hasnt been clear where the United States is firing these weapons from, but it would appear that, assuming this video is authentic, Bahrain is one of those locales. It is just 125 miles from Bahrain to Iran, so PrSM would be able to reach nearly two hundred miles into Iran from this distance. Footage confirms a U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launching a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) toward Iran from Bahrain. pic.twitter.com/aQBubFQEYS Egypt's Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) March 7, 2026 Israel says it destroyed Irans central hub of its air defense efforts: The IDF dismantled the air defense situation room of the IRGC Air Force, responsible for the aerial situational assessment and to defend Irans airspace. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force struck air defense systems, a site used to manufacture & launch ballistic missiles, pic.twitter.com/DYNKhz03e3 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 7, 2026 B-1B bombers are now operating out of RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. This comes after the U.K. government denied US access to Fairford and Diego Garcia. We should expect bombers in Diego Garcia soon. These will likely include B-2 and possibly B-52s. Forward deploying the bombers will drastically increase sortie rates and put less stress on aerial refueling assets. USAF B-1B Lancer heavy bomber landing in Britain, following a mission that saw it take off from the U.S. and strike Iran. pic.twitter.com/idujAR9eeY OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 7, 2026 The first B-1B bomber arrived into RAF Fairford this afternoon it was 86-0120 EL, a bit misty out there! 2 min video at the link: https://t.co/B2CbFbJsKi #IranWar pic.twitter.com/b2axVxBwDr Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) March 6, 2026 A fairly unique bomber mission #FreeIran Operation EPIC FURY Yesterday, a total of 4x B-1B "Lancer" bombers departed the USA heading towards Europe. 1 airframe, which used the callsign "PIKE72" (86-0120 #AE6BFA) went to RAF Fairford, while the other 3 aircraft pic.twitter.com/XMFgf2mwFv DefenceGeek (@DefenceGeek) March 7, 2026 While Iranian launches have decreased, they certainly are far from stopping. Just overnight alone, Iran launched nearly 140 weapons at the UAE alone. Iran fired 16 ballistic missiles and 121 drones at UAE overnight. Fifteen of the missiles were shot down, one fell into the sea. All drones intercepted except two: MoD One drone slipped through and hit Dubais international airport. Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) March 7, 2026 Multiple MQ-9s have been lost over Iran in the conflict so far, but they have been extremely effective in taking out all types of Iranian targets, from missile launchers to drones to fighter aircraft to vessels. As we noted in our previous update, they are also far more expendable and less risky to deploy deep in Iran than crewed alternatives. But as we have explored in depth, air supremacy over Iran has not been achieved and wont for some time. Another US MQ-9 Reaper UCAV was shot down by IRGC Aerospace Force air defense over Hormozgan province. Some sources write that this is an Israeli Hermes-900, but this is clearly US MQ-9 with Hellfire missiles pic.twitter.com/7nvOEEoGUz Yuri Lyamin (@imp_navigator) March 7, 2026 Irans new leadership has stated that the country will stop attacking its neighbors if they do not participate in attacks on Iran. Iranian officials have also made clear that they see the basic act of hosting U.S. bases as contributing to the current campaign. The drones and missiles have continued to be launched at Arab Gulf states, regardless. This is a misinterpretation, btw, which the President's office corrected. "President Pezeshkian's message is clear: If the regional countries do not participate in US attacks on Iran, we will not attack them." https://t.co/cD18bCugv4 pic.twitter.com/H4S8e9YTWM Hassan Mafi (@thatdayin1992) March 7, 2026 #Irans President has issued a new video message: The idea of Iran surrendering unconditionally is a dream they will take to their graves Interim Leadership Council decided yesterday to end strikes on neighboring countries unless Iran is attacked from those territories. pic.twitter.com/TPyMSVPLWz Iran Nuances (@IranNuances) March 7, 2026 Some in the Iranian parliament are not pleased with even indicating the country may cease its retaliation efforts aimed at Arab countries across the Persian Gulf: Iranian parliament member is furious about the remarks made by Irans president, Pezeshkian, today. Iranian MP says: Mr. Pezeshkians weak, unprofessional, and publicly unacceptable televised address has made it the definitive duty of the Presidium and members of the Assembly https://t.co/D1tF98QV4D Arya (@AryJeay) March 7, 2026 U.S. intel agencies warned prior to Operation Epic Fury that favorable regime change in Iran is unlikely to occur regardless of the military operation used to achieve it, according to The Washington Post. NEW: A classified report by the National Intelligence Council, representing the collective wisdom of America's 18 intelligence agencies, found that even a large-scale assault on Iran would be unlikely to oust its entrenched military and clerical establishment John Hudson (@John_Hudson) March 7, 2026 The lack of preparedness by the Uited Kingdom in responding to the conflict is becoming an issue back home and internationally. EXC: The US first asked about the use of UK bases to attack Iran on February 11, SIXTEEN days before the first missiles flew. The first warship HMS Dragon will not sail until next week, by which point at least 26 days will have passed https://t.co/tXRyQ2Gq5A Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) March 5, 2026 Jordan was fucking furious, a former minister with friends in Amman says. The Emiratis, Kuwaitis, and even the Canadians are all asking, What the fuck are you doing? Whose side are you on? The Emiratis pointed out that Britain was failing to help protect the 240,000 British https://t.co/648pMme7C8 Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) March 7, 2026 The United Kingdom is moving ahead with its deployment of Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus to help in the counter-drone mission after a successful attack on the RAFs base there that originated in Lebanon. Godspeed to the men and women of @815NAS from @RNASYeovilton who have arrived with their Wildcats at @RAFAkrotiri courtesy of a @RoyalAirForce C-17 to bolster the aerial defence of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean against drones. https://t.co/LgS9tODwrmpic.twitter.com/ZUWc8sKVaR Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) March 7, 2026 The RAF has also shared imagery of Typhoon fighters operating in Qatar to help defend against drone attacks. Four RAF Typhoon aircraft have deployed from RAF Coningsby to Qatar, strengthening the UKs air presence in the Middle East. Operating alongside 12 Squadron and the Qatari Typhoon squadron, the aircraft will support Bahraini and Emirati air defence. pic.twitter.com/3rzhN7UMB0 Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) March 7, 2026 Turkey may also deploy fighters to Cyprus to defend against any possible drone attacks. BREAKING: Turkiye is considering deploying F-16 fighter jets to Northern Cyprus, according to a Defence Ministry source. Source: Reuters pic.twitter.com/u4wltMKRrb Defence Index (@Defence_Index) March 7, 2026 We could also be seeing the deployment of a Royal Navy carrier very soon. Latest news article: HMS Prince of Wales placed on five days notice to sail in response to Middle East crisis https://t.co/RFcPsAJPl9 pic.twitter.com/LDvNB3r1Le Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) March 7, 2026 Drones continue to hit civilian areas in the Gulf Arab states, including a drone attack on the UAEs international airport: Watch the moment a drone struck Dubai International Airports runway, forcing the suspension of all flights on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/uU2msQeSX1 Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 7, 2026 A stunning image of the destroyed AN/TYP-2 anti-ballistic missile radar, one of a number of prized radars that have been struck by Iranian weapons. We have a major story coming on this and its implications today. This is a scenario we have been warning about for years. Stay tuned. Photos have now confirmed the destruction of a AN/TPY-2 Forward Based X-band Transportable Radar operated by the U.S. Army, following an Iranian drone attack earlier this week targeting Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The AN/TPY-2 is the primary ground-based air surveillance pic.twitter.com/54QyQCxNVW OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 7, 2026 Another commercial vessel appears to have been attacked in the Persian Gulf: UKMTO WARNING 016-26 UPDATE 001 Click here to view the full Warning https://t.co/StHjL0zudq#MaritimeSecurity#MarSecpic.twitter.com/5Y6QqGD4Kq UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 7, 2026 Israel is back to fighting on two fronts, with major operations in Lebanon ongoing since Hezbollah broke the ceasefire in retaliation for Israels air campaign against Iran. Local sources tell me that the IDF have reportedly conducted an air assault near the village of Al-Nabi Shayth in Lebanons Beqaa Valley. Intense fighting underway. pic.twitter.com/3A0j42sVF2 GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) March 6, 2026 Reports state that China is working with Iran to get safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait. China has a high degree of dependence on energy resources from the Middle East. China in talks with Iran to allow safe oil and gas passage through Hormuz, sources say https://t.co/hJ1KsNsQ68 Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) (@mercoglianos) March 6, 2026 Trump again lauded the achievements of the air war so far, highlighting how the countrys conventional fighting capabilities have been wiped out. JUST IN PRESIDENT TRUMP ON IRAN: "Their army is gone. Their navy is gone. Their communications are gone. Their leaders are gone. Two sets of their leaders are gone. They're down to their third set. Their Air Force is wiped out entirely. Think of it." "They have 32 ships. pic.twitter.com/xxhdzYqHu1 Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 6, 2026 Irans attack on the CIAs station in Saudi Arabia appears to have put it completely out of action: CIAs station in Saudi Arabia is inoperableafter drone attack this week. It was a direct hit, a source directly familiar tells me. WaPo report said the extent of the damage wasnt immediately clear https://t.co/5NtXWE5ssU pic.twitter.com/5rfWstvM93 aida chavez (@aidachavez) March 6, 2026 Airstrikes overnight pummeled Iran, including its largest airport: Footage of extensive US/Israeli airstrikes hitting Mehrabad International Airport in Iran's capital, Tehran, tonight. pic.twitter.com/Vrpw4Pbs7i OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 6, 2026 Video from moments ago of air strike west of Tehran likely on the Mehrabad airport, Saturday Mar 7, 2026 at 1:52 am.pic.twitter.com/mGhrK24eBM Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) March 6, 2026 Massive cloud of smoke rising over the port city of Bushehr in southern Iran following American/Israeli airstrikes on Saturday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/Cf0AGhGtuy Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) March 7, 2026 Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com This fact is not in dispute: Charles Sonny Burton, 75, has never killed anyone. But on Thursday, Alabama is set to execute him. I shouldnt die for something I havent done, Burton told NBC News in a phone interview Monday from William C. Holman Correctional Facility, the site of the states execution chamber, where he has spent more than 30 years on death row. Burtons death sentence was possible because of a legal doctrine known as felony murder, which allows prosecutors to treat anyone involved in certain felonies, such as robbery or burglary, equally responsible for a killing that occurs during the crime, even if they did not commit the act themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Felony murder allows for everybody involved in the underlying offense to be treated by the legal system as if they committed an intentional murder, says Nazgol Ghandnoosh, director of research at The Sentencing Project, an advocacy group In 1991, Burton was one of six men involved in the robbery of a AutoZone store in Talladega that ended with the murder of a customer, Doug Battle. Burton admits to entering the store armed with a gun. He said he stole cash from a safe in the back room, then fled outside to wait by a getaway car. Inside the store, one of his accomplices, Derrick DeBruce, shot Battle, 34, in the back, killing him. The state acknowledged this fact in its response to Burtons application for a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement DeBruce hit Battle, knocking him to the floor, then fatally shot him in the back. Burton had already left the store when the shooting occurred, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall wrote. I didnt know a murder was going to happen, Burton told NBC News. I would have stopped that. Burton was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Prosecutors argued he had been the robberys ringleader, which Burton denies. I didnt assist nobody. I didnt aid nobody. I didnt tell nobody to shoot nobody, he said. DeBruce, who actually killed Battle, received a different fate. At first, DeBruce was also sentenced to death, but his punishment was later reduced to life in prison after a court ruled his attorney had provided ineffective representation during the penalty phase of his trial. Advertisement Advertisement For years, the two men lived alongside each other on death row. He got me with my life for something stupid that he did, Burton told NBC News, But I forgave him. When DeBruces sentence was overturned, he moved to another prison, leaving Burton behind on death row. DeBruce died in custody in 2020. Burtons sentence remained unchanged, even though he has amassed unlikely support. The victims daughter, Tori Battle, who was 9 years old when her father was murdered, recently published an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser urging Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to spare Burtons life. Mr. Burton remains on death row not because moral clarity demands it, but because procedural rules have blocked courts from correcting past mistakes, she wrote. When a mans life turns on technical barriers rather than the truth, that is not justice, but a failure of the system that does nothing to honor my fathers memory. Advertisement Advertisement Even many of the jurors who voted to end his life have come forward saying they regret their decision. In all, six signed affidavits asking Ivey to show Burton mercy. The death sentence is too harsh for someone that did not pull the trigger, juror Priscilla Townsend told NBC News. I dont see him as a bad guy anymore. I was young, and I made a poor decision, as he did in his youth. He made poor choices. I dont feel he should be sentenced to death for a poor choice, she said. Absent a grant of mercy from Ivey or an unlikely last-minute stay of execution from the Supreme Court, Burton will be the ninth person to be executed by nitrogen gas a method first carried out in Alabama in 2024 with the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, who had previously survived an execution attempt after a botched lethal injection. Witnesses have reported that people killed by nitrogen gas have taken anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes to die. Advertisement Advertisement The state argues Burtons execution is justified. His death sentence is long overdue, Alabamas attorney general wrote in the Supreme Court filing. Clemency is extremely rare; the Death Penalty Information Center estimates fewer than 1% of people on death row have had their sentences commuted since 1972. Ivey has commuted only one death sentence in her nine years as governor. When she signed Burtons death warrant last month, she said she currently has no plans to grant clemency in this case, but she retains the authority to do so at any time. Most recently, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted the death sentence of Tremane Wood in November. The felony murder rule has swept up thousands of defendants across the country. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Felony Murder Reporting Project, there have been more than 10,000 felony murder cases across the country, sometimes resulting in a mandatory sentence of life without parole or even death, like in Burtons case. Alabama is not an outlier. 48 states and Washington, D.C., have some sort of felony murder rule on the books. In 2019, six teenagers tried to break into a house in Illinois when the homeowner told them to leave, then fired a gun after they refused. The youngest of the group, 14, was killed. Under this rule, the other five teenagers, including four under 18, were charged with first-degree murder as adults for the death of their friend. Advertisement Advertisement In 2004, Ryan Holle was sentenced in Florida to life in prison for a murder he didnt commit and didnt know was going to happen. He lent his car keys to some men, who used it to drive to a home to commit a burglary where an 18-year-old, Jessica Snyder, was beaten to death. Holle, then 20, was at home and asleep when the killing happened. But prosecutors argued he shared responsibility because he loaned the car, knowing the group might commit a crime. Under Floridas felony murder law, that was enough for a conviction. I would have never have let them get the damn keys to my car if I thought they were serious, he says, about the group committing a robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison. After years of legal challenges and advocacy, Holle received an extraordinary and rare act of clemency. In 2018, Florida Gov. Rick Scott commuted his sentence to 25 years to life. Advertisement Advertisement Holle was released in December 2024. Hes now serving 10 years of probation. In Alabama, Burton says he is hoping for the same kind of mercy. Ill never lose hope, even when Im sitting in the chair with the [gas mask] strapped on my head, he said. I want people that listen to me to know that I didnt kill nobody. These are my last words, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com At the Alaska Beacon, were constantly trying to figure out where we should put our attention. Theres always more news than there are people to report it. Every Thursday, the Alaska Legislature publishes its committee schedule for the coming week. Public notices alert us to meetings and events. The governors office occasionally lets us know ahead of time that somethings coming down the pike, too. Heres what we know about for the coming week. If you know of something thats coming up that you should think we should pay attention to, email us at info@alaskabeacon.com. Advertisement Advertisement We cant cover everything on this list, but were interested in them and we think you should know about them in case youre interested in them, too. This list is ripped from our notebooks, and it is likely to change over the course of the week. Well update it when we can. Are you trying to keep track of when to testify on a bill? The Legislature has a website for that. Monday, March 9 Bid opening for the new National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska lease sale. (This was moved to March 18 because of an error.) 8 a.m. House Education Committee hears invited testimony on a bill that would raise per student state education funding by $630 and a resolution that would ask the Trump administration to waive visa fees for international teachers in Alaska 9 a.m. Senate Finance looks at major maintenance projects for Alaskas K-12 schools 10:30 a.m. House floor session (citations only) 11 a.m. Senate floor session, watch for supplemental budget vote 1:30 p.m. Senate-passed elections reform bill gets a hearing in House Finance 1:30 p.m. ISER and other invited testifiers talk about the pension bill in Senate Finance 3:30 p.m. Bipartisan, bicameral education task force looks at major maintenance with representatives from the Department of Education and Early Development, the Legislative Finance Division and the Coalition for Education Equity. Tuesday, March 10 Mariculture Conference of Alaska opens in Anchorage (it runs through March 12) 9 a.m. State school board meets to hear report on how well the Alaska Reads program is working 11 a.m. U.S. Rep. Nick Begich gives his annual legislative speech 1 p.m. Alaska Railroad CEO gives a status update to House Transportation 3:30 p.m. Planned Parenthood talks to Senate Health and Social Services Wednesday, March 11 Morning House and Senate floor sessions 7:30 a.m. Senate Finance Corrections Subcommittee considers the budget for the Department of Corrections 8 a.m. Joint House and Senate Education Committee meeting for the 2026 State Board of Education Report to the Legislature 9 a.m. Legislative Finance and Division of Retirement and Benefits talk about the pension revival bill with Senate Finance 9 a.m. Cook Inlet LNG talks to Regulatory Commission of Alaska about their plans for a floating natural gas import terminal 12 p.m. Lunch and Learn about Alaskas role in international energy stability 1 p.m. House Judiciary takes up an as-yet-unintroduced (as of Friday) resolution about voter privacy 1:30 p.m. Public testimony on the operating budget in House Finance 1:30 p.m. Where is state IT falling short? Theyll talk to Senate Finance 3:15 p.m. House Labor & Commerce Committee considers interstate health care licensing compacts that could unlock more federal money through the Rural Health Transformation Program 3:30 p.m. Big new public education funding and policy bill gets a hearing in Senate Education 3:30 p.m. Senate Resources gets an update on the Railbelt electric transmission upgrades and on the Port of Alaska 4:30 p.m. Budget public testimony continues in House Finance until 6:30 p.m. 5 p.m. House Education talks about their BSA increase bill Thursday, March 12 Public comments due on UAS plans for a shellfish seed farm in Sitka 9 a.m. House Finance has a hearing devoted to the elections reform bill 9 a.m. Real Estate Commission meeting 10:15 a.m. House Military and Veterans Affairs talks about a bill allowing patriotic organizations to sell alcohol 12 p.m. Lunch and Learn about efforts to track landslides in Southeast Alaska 1:30 p.m. More public testimony on the budget in House Finance 1:30 p.m. Senate Finance takes a first look at the new bill cutting the amount of money transferred from the Permanent Fund to the treasury each year 1:30 p.m. Senate Transportation learns about a fancy new way to de-ice roads 3:15 p.m. House State Affairs looks at an education tax 3:30 p.m. NCSL talks about the rural health transformation program, giving a national perspective Friday, March 13 Morning House and Senate floor sessions Estimated date for spring revenue forecast Deadline for public comments on new mining road near Herbert Glacier trail in Juneau 8 a.m. House Education talks about free school meals and a federal bill that would require ID for some internet use 1:30 p.m. Still more public testimony about the budget in House Finance 2 p.m. Federal court arguments in Metlakatla-state dispute over fishing 3:30 p.m. Senate Resources talks about natural gas and an income tax SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE All three members of Alaskas delegation to Congress showed their support for the new war with Iran this week, voting against resolutions intended to restrain President Donald Trump. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both Republicans, voted against a measure in the Senate on Wednesday, and Rep. Nick Begich III, also a Republican, voted against a similar House resolution on Thursday. Both resolutions failed to advance. Advertisement Advertisement The Alaska legislators votes were in line with their past actions. Last year, when Trump ordered a bombing campaign against Iranian nuclear facilities, all three said they supported the strikes. The current war is significantly larger than last years attacks, and Trump has said he is seeking Irans unconditional surrender and wants to have a role in picking its next leader. Neither he nor senior administration officials have given firm long-term plans, and they have not ruled out the deployment of soldiers on the ground in Iran. Begich issued a statement on Feb. 28 calling the war a necessary and targeted response and said he supports regime change in the country. Advertisement Advertisement The path forward cannot be centered on further appeasement but the removal of this corrupt, fanatical leadership that has brought suffering to the Iranian people and threatens our peace at home. In so doing, we can provide the people of Iran the opportunity to change leadership, reclaim their sovereignty, and chart a new course, the statement said in part. Begich is in the middle of a re-election campaign, and his two leading challengers issued statements opposing the war. By email, Democratic U.S. House candidate Matt Schultz criticized Begichs vote and suggested he would have chosen differently. Our tax dollars should build schools and hospitals here at home, not bankroll endless foreign wars. But Washington always seems to find billions for war while Alaskans pay the price with sky-high costs and watch investments in our future get delayed, downsized, or ignored, he said. Advertisement Advertisement The cost of war isnt just dollars and cents, its measured in human lives and suffering. As a pastor, I believe every life is sacred. Thats why the Constitution requires Congress to approve war: so no president can send Americans into conflict without a real plan and the support of the American people. A spokesperson for independent U.S. House candidate Bill Hill referenced that candidates posts on social media when asked about his position. Our leaders should be investing in lowering costs and making life better for working Americans, not putting American lives at risk in foreign wars without congressional approval, Hill wrote in a Wednesday post on Facebook. Six U.S. service members have died and billions of dollars have been spent in a matter of days. Meanwhile here at home, our schools are in crisis, healthcare costs keep rising, veterans are at risk of losing benefits, and everyday costs are just too damn high, he wrote. We cant afford a costly war with no end in sight. Advertisement Advertisement On the Senate side, Murkowski said the resolution presented to her this week would have required the removal of soldiers from hostilities, stopping military operations immediately. The abrupt cessation of all offensive operations would not leave any Americans soldiers, diplomats, or civilians in the Middle East in a safer position, her statement said in part. Murkowski said Trump has committed U.S. troops to active engagement in combat with an enemy that has targeted and killed Americans for decades. We have lost six soldiers in this fight with the potential for more casualties. What our troops need now is for our Congress, and this country, to know that they are supported. It is for this reason that I oppose Senator Kaines War Powers Resolution based on the practical implications of its passage. Sullivan has supported military action against Iran for years and told reporters on Feb. 28, Im not someone that, in general, would support kind of taking out world leaders, he said. But I think these guys, my belief is that theyre less world leaders than terrorists, right? Advertisement Advertisement He reiterated his position during a Congressional hearing days later, alluding to Iranian support for anti-American insurgents during the Iraq War and in terrorist actions before that. This countrys been at war with us for almost a half century, he said, referring to Iran, and theyve killed thousands and wounded thousands of our best and brightest. Sullivan is also facing a re-election campaign this year, but unlike on the House side, there isnt a bright line between the incumbent and his leading opponent on this issue. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola hasnt made any public statements about the Iran war, and her campaign social media accounts have been silent on the subject. When contacted Thursday, her campaign spokesperson said she had no comment. That makes it unclear whether she supports or opposes the war. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is, without a doubt, one of the most recognizable and accomplished American jet fighters ever to fly. First developed in the late 1960s before entering service in the early 1970s, the F-15 has now been in action for over 50 years, and despite its age, it continues to be an important combat aircraft not just for the United States Air Force but for a number of militaries around the world. During its decades of service, the F-15 has racked up over 100 air-to-air kills and has never once been lost in an air-to-air combat battle. It's an impressive record given how many conflicts the plane has seen action in, and while that distinguished record still stands, it will now have an asterisk next to it. Earlier this week, three American F-15E Strike Eagles were reportedly shot down in a friendly fire accident with a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet. The incident, which happened during the chaotic opening stages of the Operation Epic Fury conflict with Iran, is still being investigated and fortunately did not result in any deaths or serious injuries, with their crews able to safely eject. It nonetheless represents one of the stranger and more significant friendly fire incidents to happen to the U.S. Air Force in recent years and will be studied closely to determine exactly what went wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 13 Countries That Make Their Own Fighter Jets Hornet downs Eagles F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet in flight - Ethan Miller/Getty Images These days, when an American military plane is lost, it's usually the result of an accident or malfunction of some sort including Navy fighter planes falling off of aircraft carriers . These accidents can also include situations where another American or allied weapon inadvertently shoots down a friendly aircraft. Though rare, friendly fire does happen. In late 2024, for example, a U.S. Navy Super Hornet was accidentally shot down by a friendly guided missile cruiser. "One F/A-18 shoots down three F-15s," however, reads more like a fictional battle from an "Ace Combat" video game, but this one is real. Amateur video footage initially appeared of damaged F-15s falling from the sky over Kuwait, followed by footage of the American pilots who safely ejected from the aircraft. Later, United States Central Command confirmed that three U.S. Air Force F-15Es were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses, with all six of the crew members from the three planes being safely recovered. At the moment, few details have been revealed about how exactly the incident unfolded, but the accidental shoot-downs did happen under tense, wartime conditions, with the airspace over Kuwait being penetrated by significant Iranian drone strikes at the time. It's possible that specifics of the story could change once the investigation of complete, but as of now, analysis seems to back up reporting that all three F-15s were mistakenly downed by air-to-air fire from a single F/A-18. Chaos and confusion over Kuwait F-15s and F-16 over Kuwait during Gulf War - Mpi/Getty Images Based on the video footage, analysts have pointed out that damage to the F-15s doesn't appear significant enough to have come from larger ground-based, surface-to-air weapons, and the fact that all three crews were able to eject suggests tail hits from smaller, air-to-air missiles. Whatever the case, the investigation will surely focus on how and why the F-15s were targeted in the first place and whether their IFF systems were working to distinguish them as friendly aircraft on radar. Advertisement Advertisement The three American aircraft downed in the incident were F-15E Strike Eagle variant, which differs from the standard F-15 fighter in several ways to make it capable as a ground attack aircraft. As of March 3, CENTCOM confirmed that over 200 fighter aircraft like the F-15 and F/A-18 have been used in Operation Epic Fury, with larger U.S. Air Force bombers like the B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress also being deployed against Iranian targets. While the F-15 Eagle's perfect air-to-air combat record will hold regardless of these accidental shoot-downs, a handful of F-15s have been downed by enemy fire in the past, including during the Iraq conflicts of the '90s and 2000s. These losses, however, were from ground-based weapons rather than enemy aircraft. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. In the Indian political system, the Governor of a state is appointed by the President and, therefore, must submit their resignation directly to the President. "I hereby tender my resignation as the Governor of West Bengal. I am grateful to you, Hon'ble Rashtrapati Ji, Hon'ble Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Hon'ble Grih Mantri Shri Amit Shah Ji and the national leadership for the kindness and guidance given to me during my tenure as the Governor of West Bengal," read Bose's resignation letter dated March 5. He's shifting to Kerala, his home state, to work towards Viksit Bharat under the guidance of national leadership. He expressed gratitude for the love and affection he received during his tenure. "My innings in West Bengal is coming to a close. I am deeply indebted to the great people of Bengal for the affection and regards lavished on me. I am shifting to Kerala to work towards Viksit Bharat. I will work under the guidance of the national leadership for achieving the goals of this great mission and do my best to further the cause of our dear Keralam, which is my home state," Lok Bhavan, Kolkata posted in X. Bose also stated he will work under the "guidance of the national leadership," guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Murmu, and Home Minister Amit Shah. "I am highly grateful to the Hon'ble President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji, the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon'ble Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah ji for their kindness and guidance. I take this new mission as my solemn duty and as a gesture of gratitude to the people of Keralam, who, I would say, brought me up. I will work for the people, with the people, alongside the people," added Lok Bhavan, Kolkata. Bpse also wished RN Ravi, his successor. "I also extend my best wishes to Shri RN Ravi, my very dear friend and distinguished public administrator, who will be my illustrious successor. Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures anew." President Droupadi Murmu has effected a major administrative reshuffle of Governors and Lieutenant Governors across the country on Thursday, just ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. According to an official communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has been appointed as the new Governor of West Bengal, succeeding Dr CV Ananda Bose, who resigned earlier on Thursday. As part of the comprehensive administrative restructuring, Vinai Kumar Saxena has been transferred from his position as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, while former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. In other key changes, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has been named Governor of Telangana, while Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has been transferred to serve as Governor of Maharashtra. Additionally, senior leader Nand Kishore Yadav has been appointed Governor of Nagaland, and Lieutenant General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain has been named Governor of Bihar. Furthermore, Kavinder Gupta, the outgoing Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, has been appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will discharge the additional functions of the Governor of Tamil Nadu. According to an official communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, these appointments will take effect from the dates on which the respective appointees assume charge of their offices. (ANI) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard furiously warned in 2020 that President Donald Trump was taking the U.S. to the brink of war with Iran. Now that the one-time Democratic congresswoman has gone full MAGA and joined the second Trump administration as its intel chief, shes been noticeably silent on the presidents Operation Epic Fury. Gabbard was pictured with Vice President JD Vance inside the Situation Room at the White House as the U.S. launched its strikes on Saturday in an image released on social media. Advertisement Advertisement But apart from that one photo of Gabbard huddled with other top administration officials, the DNI has been absent. DNI Tulsi Gabbard pictured in the Situation Room of the White House with Vice President JD Vance, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as the U.S. launched strikes on Iran. / White House/X The Daily Beast asked her office about her whereabouts as the war rages and expands into a wider conflict in the Middle East, but her lack of public engagement has been stark. Gabbard frequently posts and reposts on X. She also regularly shares photos from her life on Instagram, and shes been known to defend the president in videos on YouTube. But the last time Gabbard posted to her personal account on X was the day after the presidents State of the Union address last Tuesday. Her other social media accounts have also been quiet. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was all smiles as she appeared at President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. / Tom Williams / Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The Office of the DNI account shared information from the State Department for Americans struggling to get out of the Middle East as drones and missiles flew overhead, but Gabbard is not publicly discussing the war. Advertisement Advertisement Her director at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Joe Kent, said the center has been operating at full capacity since the conflict began. But Gabbard has not weighed in on her offices crucial work since the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran. We are tracking developments in real time, assessing any potential risks to the homeland, identifying emerging threats, and providing timely, actionable intelligence to the White House, law enforcement, and interagency partners to detect and prevent attacks against the American people, Kent wrote on X. NCTC Director Joe Kent gave an update on the center's activities since U.S. began striking Iran. / X Addressing the conflict would put Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, in an extremely awkward position. The former Hawaii lawmakers past comments, deeply critical of the president and sounding the alarms over an Iran war, have resurfaced in the wake of the strikes launched this week. This president and his chicken-hawk Cabinet have led us to the brink of war with Iran, Gabbard said on the debate stage in June 2019. The American people need to know that this war with Iran would be far more devastating, far more costly than anything we ever saw in Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement In another 2019 video, she even laid out Trumps steps to war with Iran, and insisted: Weve got to stop Donald Trump from starting a war with Iran. Gabbard is not the only member of the second Trump administration whose past words have resurfaced in light of the escalating military operation against Iran. Vance once wrote an op-ed titled Trumps best foreign policy? Not starting any wars in 2023 and came into political prominence as another Iraq War veteran anti-interventionist. Vice President J.D. Vance walking into the West Wing of the White House on March 6, 2026 in Washington, DC. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Critics have observed the vice president largely remaining behind the scenes as the bombings have continued for nearly a week. Advertisement Advertisement The vice president was in the Oval Office when Trump met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and was spotted walking into the West Wing on Friday, but didnt speak with reporters. Perhaps its not completely surprising since the nature of Vances job is different from that of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has spoken to the media multiple times as he rushed to the hill to brief lawmakers, or Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has held multiple Pentagon press briefings this week. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth look on during a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House on March 03, 2026. / Win McNamee / Win McNamee/Getty Images But Vance has become known as somewhat of a keyboard warrior who has fiercely jumped in to defend the administration on social media since the president took office. When it comes to the war in Iran, the vice president has almost completely stopped engaging on the internet. The vice presidents personal account has only shared the presidents announcement video and a clip of himself appearing on Fox News, where he insisted Trump would not let the U.S. get into a multiyear conflict. The official VP X account has also stuck to reposting the rapid response team and White House. Advertisement Advertisement He saw that the Iranian regime was weakened, he knew that they were committed to getting on that brink of a nuclear weapon, and he decided to take action because he felt that was necessary in order to protect the nations security, Vance argued on Jesse Watters Primetime on Monday night. While the program is one of the most watched shows on a top viewed network, the vice president has not spoken publicly since his Monday TV appearance. The Arab League is set to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Iranian attacks across the region, including in the Gulf. The session, to be held via video conference, Assistant Secretary General Hossam Zaki told Egypts state television channel al-Qahera News on Saturday. Egypts state news site al-Ahram reported that the meeting was convened at the request of Saudi Arabia. Saudi state television also reported on the planned gathering. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has carried out attacks across the Middle East for the past week in response to US and Israeli military strikes inside Iran. The attacks have targeted US military bases as well as civilian sites such as airports and residential buildings. Since then, strikes have been reported in around a dozen Arab countries, with Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar reporting a particularly high number of incidents. The Arab League comprises 22 member states. While the bloc often issues joint statements on international conflicts, it rarely takes concrete action. Internal divisions among member states and the fact that its resolutions are generally non-binding are often cited as reasons. During major wars and conflicts in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen, the organization has frequently been criticized for exerting little influence and failing to present a unified position. The discovery of a mysterious vault beneath a popular British tourist town has launched an archaeological investigation regarding its origins, per BBC News. Mysterious Vaulted Located in Beneath Ancient Church Canterbury is an ancient city which was founded in 597 A.D. and is home to the famed Canterbury Cathedral, which is one of the oldest Christian sites in the country. The vault was unearthed beneath a former church in St. Mary Bredman Square as construction crews were carrying out routine street improvements. The church itself was demolished in 1900 after the city deemed it was no longer safe for occupancy. Archaeologists with the Canterbury Archaeological Trust were swiftly brought in to appraise the discovery, determining that it measured roughly eight by three feet. Jess Twyman, who works with the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, said that the vault could belong to Reverend John Duncombe. Duncombe lived in Canterbury during the 18th-century, and was a poet and vicar. We cannot say for sure that it is his vault, but its possible due to an inscription on the vault bearing Duncombes name, Twyman hypothesized. Duncombe authored A Historical Description of Canterbury Cathedral (1772) and several other well-regarded historical documents of the time. Canterbury Archaeological Trust (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) Canterbury Archaeological Trust (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) More Than a Dozen Vaults Unearthed Beneath the Square Duncombes prospective tomb was one of 14 vaults found beneath the square. A separate grave stone found at the sign depicts a traditional memento mori of the era in the form of a carved skull and a laurel wreath. The most important thing is understanding how people lived in the past, Twyman said. The church was once home to 25 parish houses, many of which were established in the late Saxon period. Advertisement Advertisement Though the discovery is remarkable, ancient and long-lost churches have long tended to spring up in Canterbury, according to Twyman. In the Roman era, the city was heavily occupied and known as Durovernum Cantiacorum. An investigation into the vaults origins is ongoing alongside the restoration efforts on the square itself. The city council plans to repave the area as well as add benches and plants; in addition to repositioning the graves and an ancient horse trough so that theyre easier for tourists to see. The city has also commissioned a mural which will depict the church in its heyday. This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Mar 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The original cutline for this photo as it appeared in the Valley Morning Stars March 7, 1973 edition: HES FOR HER Rio Hondo Mayor John Brodecky Jr. announced Tuesday (March 6, 1973) that he will not be a candidate for reelection April 7. Instead, he is recommending that the voters elect his wife, JuaNita, to the top post. Brodecky says she has the time to devote to government regulations that his business denies him. (Valley Morning Star archives) The first woman to serve as Rio Hondos mayor was JuaNita Brodecky a fierce community leader who would go on to serve three terms during the 1970s. Before she took office, though, her husband John Brodecky Jr. was serving as the citys mayor. Advertisement Advertisement However, 53 years ago today, John announced to the town council that not only was he declining to file for reelection, but that he encouraged JuaNita to run for the post instead. I know that she is qualified and has the experience and the time necessary to devote to the office of Mayor, John said on March 6, 1973. He also told the council that because his business requires him to be out of town during office hours, John wouldnt have the time to devote to his position. By that point, JuaNita had served for a few years as city secretary and even made an unsuccessful bid for the mayors post in 1967 (shed later say that she entered politics because she has always been nosey). Advertisement Advertisement She nevertheless ended up filing as a candidate, telling the Valley Morning Star during her announcement that she had no axe to grind but felt she had the knowledge, experience and time to be successful as mayor. Then, during the April 7, 1973 municipal election, JuaNita defeated Antonio Anguiano, who previously served on the town council and was a local grocer, by a vote of 140 to 116 to become the first woman to serve as Rio Hondos mayor. Former Rio Hondo Mayor JuaNita Brodecky is seen in this undated photo that appeared in the Valley Morning Stars July 17, 1977 edition. (Valley Morning Star archives) There is more controversy on issues than on my being a woman, JuaNita told the VMS in 1977. I just love my job. Its where all the action is. Advertisement Advertisement After JuaNita died Aug. 4, 2011 following a long illness, John remembered his late wife and told the VMS that year that JuaNita juggled her political career while simultaneously raising her three daughters. She was a wonderful wife in every way you can think of. We did everything together. We went everywhere together, John said in 2011. Politics was the biggest thing in her life. She loved the way it worked and she wanted to be involved to help the community and help the people. JuaNitas youngest daughter, Christine Heimrich, described her mother to the San Benito News as a hard-working woman with strong ethics and an even stronger sense of responsibility. She taught us a lot about self-responsibility and being tough, and not quitting. Quitting wasnt an option, Heimrich recalled to the News in 2011. Just strength of character is what she taught us. She loved us she always called us her jewels. I was the youngest and she always carried me around, so my sisters called me her monkey because I was always attached. Advertisement Advertisement JuaNitas impact is also seen through past officials such as former Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos, who remembered her as one of South Texas first community watchdogs. She was very passionate about politics, Cascos said. We got along very well but she wouldnt hesitate to chew on my ear if she didnt agree. I really respected her. She was a stickler for detail. Echoing similar sentiments was James Hartzog, who also served with Brodecky on the city commission, stating that she got results as she battled for her community. She was determined, Hartzog said. When she went after something, she got it. She would get things done. She didnt let grass grow between her toes. Advertisement Advertisement Heres the story of John announcing he wouldnt file for reelection, and instead encouraging JuaNita for the post, from the Valley Morning Stars March 7, 1973 edition: Mayor Suggests Wife Replace Him In Post Valley Morning Star (March 7, 1973) RIO HONDO Municipal politics took an unusual twist here Tuesday (March 6, 1973) when Mayor John Brodecky Jr. announced he would rather see his wife in the job. In a letter to the town council, Brodecky said: Due to the fact that my business requires me to be out of town during office hours, I am not able to devote the time necessary to take care of all the paper work required or to attend the many different official meetings that are necessary to keep the city in compliance with the many regulations that are required by the state and federal government agencies. Advertisement Advertisement For these reasons, Brodecky continued, I am not going to file for reelection. Instead, I have encouraged my wife, JuaNita, to file for the place of mayor of Rio Hondo. I know that she is qualified and has the experience and the time necessary to devote to the office of Mayor. Mrs. Brodecky served for some years as city secretary and made an unsuccessful bid for the mayors post in 1967. In announcing that she has filed as a candidate, Mrs. Brodecky said she has no axe to grind but feels she had the knowledge, experience and time to make a success of the job. In addition to the mayors term, those of Aldermen Mrs. George Kindinger and Marel Wilson expire in April. Advertisement Advertisement Wilson has filed as a candidate for reelection but Mrs. Kindinger is not expected to seek a new term. James Hartzog, a local supermarket operator, has also filed as a candidate for alderman. Council posts are contested at large. City secretary Harold Mallernee said prospective candidates may apply at the city hall through March 8. Mayor Suggests Wife Replace Him In Post as it appeared in the front page of the Valley Morning Stars March 7, 1973 edition. (Valley Morning Star archives) The post From the archives: Rio Hondos first woman mayor recommended to post by previous mayor, husband appeared first on MyRGV.com. Law enforcement in Poinsett County, Arkansas, is investigating after a shooting left a woman seriously injured and the suspect dead. According to the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office, deputies and officers with the Trumann Police Department responded to a shooting at a home on Tulot Road at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday. The sheriff's office reports that a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds was found outside the home. She was taken to a local hospital. Advertisement Advertisement According to the sheriff's office, while law enforcement was investigating the shooting scene, they found a man dead inside a vehicle near the home on Tulot Road. The man was reportedly identified as the suspect. The Poinsett County Sheriff's Office says the man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The sheriff's office reports that the shooting is still under investigation. Gulf nations reported on Sunday missiles and drone attacks, while Iran vowed to press on with strikes against neighbouring countries as the regional war entered its second week. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait all reported new attacks, after loud explosions were heard in Dubai and Bahrain's Manama a day earlier, and Kuwait's national oil company announced a "precautionary" cut to production. Qatar's defence ministry said on Sunday that the country was targeted a day earlier by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran, but most of them were intercepted and caused no casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Sunday it had intercepted and destroyed 15 drones that entered the kingdom's airspace, including six east of capital Riyadh. Kuwait's military also said Sunday that it had responded "to a wave of hostile drones that penetrated the country's airspace". Fuel tanks at Kuwait's international airport were targeted in a drone attack, the military added. It called the drone attack "a direct targeting of vital infrastructure". A separate statement said "some civilian facilities sustained material damage as a result of falling fragments and debris from interception operations". Advertisement Advertisement The attacks came despite Iran's president apologising to Gulf countries for earlier strikes. He had said they would no longer be targeted unless strikes were launched from their territory first. But hours later, Iran's judiciary chief said strikes would continue on sites in Gulf countries which were "at the disposal of the enemy". UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a rare televised address that the Emirates were in "a period of war" and "will emerge stronger" from it. Dubai authorities said Saturday that a a Pakistani national had been killed by debris from an "aerial interception". Advertisement Advertisement - Dubai airport - Earlier in the day, Dubai closed its main airport -- the world's busiest for international traffic -- after authorities said an unidentified object was intercepted nearby. The airport later partially resumed operations. A witness told AFP of a loud explosion in the area followed by a cloud of smoke, while footage verified by AFP recorded the sound of a drone followed by a loud explosion and plumes of smoke close to an airport concourse. The government said there had been "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception", without directly mentioning the airport. It said there were no injuries. Advertisement Advertisement The Flightradar24 tracking website earlier showed planes circling above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. In a statement since deleted from X, Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, had announced it was suspending all flights to and from Dubai until further notice, but later said it had resumed operations. The UAE, a US ally and home to American military installations, has been the most heavily targeted nation in the Gulf during the war. The defence ministry said 221 ballistic missiles were detected since the war began on February 28, with the number of drones surpassing 1,300. Advertisement Advertisement Iranian attacks have hit the Abu Dhabi airport, the upmarket Palm Jumeirah development and the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel over the past week, while drone debris caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday. - Saudi base - Elsewhere in the Gulf on Saturday, Bahrain said it has intercepted 92 missiles and 151 drones since the start of the "brutal Iranian aggression". AFP journalists heard an explosion Saturday night in Manama, Bahrain's capital, as authorities said one person was injured after rocket shrapnel fell in a street. In Saudi Arabia, the defence ministry said it had destroyed three ballistic missiles heading towards Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts American troops, as well as 17 drones over the Shaybah oil field in the southeast. Advertisement Advertisement Kuwait's national oil company also announced a "precautionary" cut to its production of crude due to Iranian attacks and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for Gulf hydrocarbons. gc-th/cms/axn/bou/jj/jfx/ami The Brief Woman files suit against Tesla, claiming the suspect in Sunday's 6th St shooting once violently attacked her at work last year Woman says she first learned the man's name while watching coverage of the shooting Tesla allegedly refused to tell her his name or provide any footage of the assault AUSTIN, Texas - A woman who works at the Tesla gigafactory said the man accused of carrying out the deadly 6th Street shooting once violently attacked her at work, just a few months before the tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement She is now suing the Austin-based company. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin 6th Street shooting: Bodycam video, 911 calls released by APD What they're saying The womans attorney said Tesla should have known of Ndiaga Diagnes "temperament and propensity for aggression" and should have maintained a safe work area for everyone. Sixty-five-year-old Lillian Mendoza Brady said the first time she learned the name of the man who attacked her at work, was while watching the news of the deadly Sixth Street mass shooting. "She was with her family and she literally yelled, that's the guy that assaulted me and that's the first she saw his name when that happened," personal injury attorney Bob Hilliard said. Advertisement Advertisement A lawsuit filed by Brady said back on Dec. 4, she was walking through a common area at Teslas factory when she saw another employee praying in a walkway. "Miss Brady wanted to be respectful, so she stopped and tried to figure out a way to get around him without disturbing him, so she started to walk around him to avoid him, and he suddenly jumped up, grabbed her, and threw her down. She didnt know him, he didnt know her," Hilliard said. Hilliard said Brady went straight to authorities at the Tesla facility to report what she believed was a felony assault, but claimed it was difficult to receive information about the man. "Tesla said, no, we're not giving you the name and you don't get the videotape," Hilliard said. "Was the delay, the refusal to cooperate with police officers, a contributing factor to him being free on that day, when he walked down 6th Street with that gun and started shooting kids." RELATED COVERAGE Advertisement Advertisement The case was investigated by the Travis County Sheriffs Office but has since been closed by exception because the suspect is now dead. Hilliard said Brady suffered injuries to her back, neck, and hips and was off from work for six weeks. She is seeking more than a million dollars in damages, claiming Tesla failed to protect her. "The lawsuit is really about Miss Brady's right to have a safe workplace, but it's also about what did Tesla know about this assailant before the assault and could they have prevented the assault itself," Hilliard said.. This lawsuit was filed on Thursday, after the shooting, but Hilliard said he was hired for the personal injury case before that. Big picture view U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) raised concerns on the House floor Thursday and said at one point Diagne was in violation of immigration law. Advertisement Advertisement "I think we've got to wrestle with some serious questions about who we allow into this country and why," Roy said. Roy said the gunman emigrated from Senegal in 2000 and overstayed his visa, then in 2006 he was given legal permanent residency status, then in 2012 he was given full citizenship. "This man didn't need to be in the United States, who does not share our values, clearly was interested in serving his convictions for Iran, radical Islamism more than his commitment to this country, peace, and our rule of law," Roy said. The other side Tesla has not responded to any requests for comment from FOX 7 Austin. The Source Information in this report comes from a lawsuit filed against Tesla, interviews by FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis, and U.S. House floor footage. The Environmental Protection Authority of Ghana seized 14 containers of illegal mining equipment at Tema Port in February, MyJoyOnline.com reported. What's happening? Kenneth Ashigbey, the convenor of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, called for more action. "We definitely need to know those who are behind this. We should not allow people to hide behind claims that the equipment is for agriculture," he said to JoyNews Pulse. Advertisement Advertisement Changfang, or changfan, machines are sometimes used in mining operations, and officials found them in the 14 seized containers. As Citi Newsroom reported, the EPA banned them from the country last year to discourage illegal mining activities. Why is illegal mining concerning? Officials have made certain mining practices illegal because of their impact on people's health and that of the environment. MyJoyOnline stated that illegal mining in Ghana, also known as galamsey, is linked to water pollution and environmental harm. That means fewer people have clean water to drink. Overall, pollution from mining can contaminate communities' air and soil as well. Young people in Ghana and across the Ghanaian diaspora, mostly in Canada and the United Kingdom, have been speaking out, the BBC noted. Israel Derrick Apeti, also known as Enil Art, has even used water from a polluted river to raise awareness. Advertisement Advertisement "What is art for?" Apeti said, adding that the water was "once so clean that you could see the fish and crocodiles that lived in it." People in Ghana are losing beautiful sights and their communities' well-being because of greed for gold and other minerals. This harmful behavior isn't limited to Ghana, however. Canadian mining company Barrick Gold dumped waste with cobalt concentrations up to 7,011% over the legal limit into Hedley Creek in British Columbia. And a court in Colombia ruled in favor of Indigenous people after gold mining caused mercury contamination in 30 communities. What's being done about illegal mining? Ashigbey emphasized that legal remedies should target people who import and pay for illegal mining equipment instead of on-the-ground operators. He also encouraged increased monitoring at Ghana's ports. Advertisement Advertisement A farmer who asked for anonymity also said that the people who control illegal mining should be the ones held responsible. "When I see arrests by the military in poor communities, it's just a symbolic gesture of appearing to maintain law and order. The people making big money out of it are in offices, not on the field," she said. 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. BAKU, March 7 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan said it had prevented several acts of "terrorist" sabotage planned by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including a plot to attack a major oil pipeline running through the South Caucasus to Turkey. The targets included the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan, an Ashkenazi synagogue, and a leader an ancient Jewish community in Azerbaijan called the Mountain Jews, according to a State Security Service statement cited by the Azertag state news agency late on Friday. Iran has not commented on the statement. Advertisement Advertisement The BTC pipeline travels via Georgia and Turkey and sends oil to Europe, and also accounts for roughly a third of Israeli oil imports. Any damage to its infrastructure could drive global energy prices even higher as the war in the Middle East enters its second week. The Azerbaijani statement came just a day after Baku vowed to retaliate for what it said was an incursion of four Iranian drones into its Nakhchivan exclave, which injured four people and damaged airport infrastructure. Iran flatly denied it sent the drones into Azerbaijan. Baku said an investigation found two Iranian citizens and an Azerbaijani national had colluded to bring over seven kilograms of the C-4 explosive into Azerbaijan on the instructions of the IRGC. Authorities have issued international arrest warrants for four people. On Friday Azerbaijan ordered the evacuation of its diplomats from Iran, citing safety concerns, amid already tense relations between the two countries over Baku's ties to Israel and Turkey. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) The post Biological Fallout: The African Swine Fever Outbreak in Collserola Boars appeared first on A-Z Animals. Quick Take Collserola boars have contracted African swine fever , which has a near 100% fatality rate . Local pig farms have been restricted from selling pork products to stop the spread of African swine fever . The cause of African swine fever in Spain has yet to be identified, but it is believed to be due to contaminated deli meat consumed by wild boars. The Georgia 2007 strain of African swine fever is believed to be related to the recent strain in Spain. In the United States, wild pigs are a problem. These hardy animals destroy crops, adapt to a variety of environments, and cause substantial economic costs to the agricultural industry. Worse still, they can spread disease to both livestock and humans. Advertisement Advertisement America isnt the only country affected by wild boars. Spain is in the midst of a biological fallout due to an African swine fever outbreak in Collserola boars. While the disease seems to be contained for the time being, biologists have not been able to determine the source of the outbreak, meaning it could easily appear elsewhere before it is eradicated. How Collserola Boars Became Infected with African Swine Fever In November 2025, Collserola boars in Spain began to test positive for African swine fever. Since that time, the Spanish government has been battling the outbreak, which, to date, continues to infect boars. Consequently, this has been labeled the worst outbreak of African swine fever in the country since 1994, which also marked the last outbreak of the disease in Spain. Collserola Natural Park is home to a significant population of wild boars. While their total population is unknown, their presence has led to a hunting season within the park between September and March each year. However, due to the outbreak of African swine fever, hunting has halted for the 2025 to 2026 season to stop the spread of the disease. Wild boars in Spain have contracted African swine fever from an unknown source. WildMedia/Shutterstock.com (WildMedia/Shutterstock.com) Just how African swine fever made its way into Collserola Natural Park is a mystery. One current working theory revolves around contaminated deli meat disposed of in a trash can. If one or more of the parks boars consumed this meat, it could have easily infected them. However, proving this theory is difficult, if not impossible. Advertisement Advertisement Another theory blames scientists working at the Animal Health Research Centre of the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA). This accusation raised questions about the integrity of the facility, those working there, and whether the outbreak was accidental or intentional. Were Fears the Outbreak Came from the IRTA Unfounded? After the new year passed, many still believed that the IRTA was to blame for the outbreak of African swine fever. For comparison, the organization provided strains of the specific African swine fever that they were studying. Those results finally came back in February 2026. It is unclear what the initial source of contamination was, but the IRTA was found not to be responsible for spreading African swine fever in Spain. Nick van den Berg/Shutterstock.com (Nick van den Berg/Shutterstock.com) As it turns out, the fears that the disease originated from IRTA were unfounded. The strains of African swine fever the government organization was working with differed from those in the samples taken from the 155 wild Collserola boars who have tested positive for the virus. There were no similarities other than both were strains of the African swine fever. Instead, it was discovered that the Georgia 2007 strain discovered in the Republic of Georgia shares sequencing similarities with the Collserola strain. Despite being erroneously blamed, the IRTA has been working with the Spanish government to find the link between previous strains and this most recent one. By doing this, many remain hopeful that the origin of the disease will eventually be identified. Advertisement Advertisement However, without vaccines for any of the African swine fever strains, the likelihood of another strain emerging is high. Controlling the disease as soon as it is identified is essential for stopping its spread as early as possible. What is African Swine Fever? African swine fever is a virus that affects both wild and domestic swine. This highly contagious disease generally leads to death. Fortunately, humans are not affected by African swine fever. If a person ate contaminated meat, it would not cause any ill effects. African swine fever was first discovered in Kenya in 1921. Slatan/Shutterstock.com (Slatan/Shutterstock.com) African swine fever was first discovered in Kenya in 1921. From there, the disease spread throughout Africa. By the 1960s, the disease had spread to the Iberian Peninsula, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and several European countries. It had truly become a pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Countries that have never had a documented case of African swine fever include the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries are determined to maintain this disease-free status, not only because the virus spreads so easily but also because its economic impact can be devastating. What Has Happened to Spains Economy Due to African Swine Fever? Spains leading export is pork. Annually, pork exports bring in S$5 billion. As pig farms continue to be restricted from selling products throughout the region around Barcelona, the countrys income will suffer. By just how much, remains to be seen. Pork farms located near the region where infected wild boars have been identified are not allowed to sell pork products. Piotr Krzeslak/Shutterstock.com (Piotr Krzeslak/Shutterstock.com) Pig farms located within approximately 13 miles of the infected region have been banned from selling pork products. Many may be unable to recover. Currently, only five pig farms operate outside the radius where infected boars were found, while 10 operate within the boundary. If the disease spreads beyond its current confines, the remaining working pig farms may have to halt operations as well. Consequently, the Spanish government is scrambling to ensure African swine fever does not spread, to mitigate financial losses from becoming too great, and affecting the economy at large. Signs That Pigs and Boars Have African Swine Fever Once swine, both domesticated and wild, contract African swine fever, signs of the infection appear rather suddenly. Unfortunately, infection is typically a death sentence for both pigs and boars, as African swine fever has a close-to 100% mortality rate. Infected swine with African swine fever show decreased appetite, weakness, red, splotchy skin, and more. Erik Mandre/Shutterstock.com (Erik Mandre/Shutterstock.com) Signs that swine have contracted African swine fever include: Advertisement Advertisement Decreased appetite Weakness Red, splotchy skin Skin leisons High fever Coughing Difficulty breathing Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Abortions Dying suddenly The only way to stop the spread of African swine fever is to contain it. It may seem counterintuitive that the disease is easier to contain in wild boar populations than in domestic pigs. This is due to proximity; people can spread the disease by coming into contact with infected pigs, and humans are far more likely to engage with domestic pigs over their wild counterparts. Wild boars live in more remote regions where contact with people is limited. However, since the virus is able to survive for one year after the last known infected boar, eradicating the disease can be difficult for either population. How African Swine Fever is Being Controlled in Spain Not knowing the origin of African swine fever within Collserola Natural Park has made it difficult to contain. The Spanish government is making significant efforts to stop the spread, given the devastating economic effects the disease has already had. The Spanish government is containing the wild boars, banning hunting until the threat of African swine fever has passed, and disposing of dead boars to keep the disease from spreading. Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com (Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com) Actions taken to stop the spread of African swine fever include: Advertisement Advertisement Containment of the region identified as being infected Searching for and disposing of dead boars Ban on hunting until it is proven African swine fever has been eradicated Monitoring pig farms for signs of outbreak Prohibited slaughter and transport of animals in and around infected regions By imposing these restrictions, the goal is to prevent the spread of African swine fever. To date, the virus has not been detected in domestic pigs. To keep it this way, the IRTA continues to work with the most recent strain to determine its behavior, enabling predictions of how it will continue to evolve. The more information scientists gather, the easier it will be to stop the spread of this costly disease. The post Biological Fallout: The African Swine Fever Outbreak in Collserola Boars appeared first on A-Z Animals. He was received at the airport by Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, and Tripura BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee. During his visit, the Vice President will attend the convocation ceremony of Tripura University. He will also interact with 'Lakhpati Didis' at the International Fair Ground in Hapania, Agartala. The visit is expected to focus on promoting women's empowerment initiatives and engaging with academic institutions in the state. 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) Shock waves are rippling through health care circles in southeastern Michigan as the news that a contract dispute between University of Michigan Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan could bump roughly 300,000 patients out of network with Michigan Medicine providers, clinics, health centers and hospitals as soon as July 1. Unless negotiations result in a new, five-year contract by June 30, hundreds of thousands of people could be hunting for new primary care physicians and specialists. It has sparked questions about whether other metro Detroit hospital systems will have the capacity to absorb that influx of patients many of whom have rare diseases, chronic and critical conditions and what it might mean for wait times for new appointments and medical services in this corner of the Mitten, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what you need to know: The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan sign and logo in front of their two office towers at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Who will lose in-network access on July 1? Without a deal by June 30, Michigan Medicine patients with commercial Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan insurance plans and Blue Care Network coverage will have to pay out-of-network prices starting July 1 if they seek nonemergency care at the following hospitals and health centers affiliated with U-M Health's academic medical center: University Hospital in Ann Arbor C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital in Ann Arbor D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion and Frankel Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor W.K. Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor Associated physicians and outpatient clinics, including the Briarwood Medical Group, the Livonia Center for Specialty Care, the West Ann Arbor Health Center, the Canton Health Center, the Chelsea Health Center, the Detroit Riverview Center, the Livonia Health Center, the Northville Health Center and the Ypsilanti Health Center. Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans are not part of the contract negotiations, nor is the U-M Health Plan that covers employees, faculty, staff, and retirees. Those plans are not affected. Advertisement Advertisement The dispute also does not affect U-M Health-Sparrow and U-M Health-West hospital systems, or the physician group U-M Health Partners. A University of Michigan flag flies outside Sparrow Hospital on Monday, April 4, 2023, in Lansing. Are UM students covered at campus health clinics? Unless an agreement is reached, students who have commercial Blue Care Network or Blue Cross Blue Shield plans will have to seek treatment elsewhere or pay for out-of-network care, said Gabby Abel, public relations manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. "As part of Michigan Medicines choice to terminate their contract with Blue Cross, University of Michigan students with a BCBSM or BCN plan will be directly impacted," Abel said. "If we are unable to come to a compromise, unfortunately, U-M students would lose in-network access to University Health & Counseling (UHC) services effective July 1. "We recognize how frustrating this can be, especially for busy students, and we are ready to help them find alternative care. Students with questions can receive help by calling the number on the back of their member ID card." What if I have a medical emergency in Ann Arbor? Can I go to a Michigan Medicine hospital? Yes. Emergency medical care will continue to be covered in-network for Blue Cross plan holders. Advertisement Advertisement "Even if we are unable to reach an agreement by July 1, emergency care will always be covered as in-network," said Mary Masson, senior director of public relations for Michigan Medicine, in a March 4 email message to the Detroit Free Press. Who qualifies for continuityofcare extensions? Some Blue Cross members will be eligible for a 90-day "Continuity of Care" extension of in-network coverage, Abel said. Examples of patients who would qualify for that are people with cancer, terminal illness, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer's disease, those who have had an organ transplant, or are pregnant. Blue Cross also will extend in-network coverage for 90 days for members who have a serious and complex condition, which is defined as: Advertisement Advertisement An acute illness serious enough to require specialized medical treatment to avoid the reasonable possibility of death or permanent harm. A chronic illness or condition that is life-threatening, degenerative, potentially disabling or congenital and requires specialized medical care over a prolonged period of time. Others also may qualify, such as patients who are: Undergoing a course of institutional or inpatient care from the provider or facility. Scheduled to undergo nonelective surgery from the provider, including receipt of postoperative care. Pregnant and undergoing a course of treatment for the pregnancy from the provider or facility. Is or was determined to be terminally ill (as determined under section 1861(dd)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act) and is receiving treatment for this illness. If you think you might qualify for continuity of care services, ask your medical provider to initiate a continuity of care request or call the number on the back of your member ID card to ask for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement "One of the reasons we began member notifications about Michigan Medicines decision to terminate is because the hospital system cares for people with very complex, life-threatening conditions and we wanted to give those people as much notice as possible," Blue Cross' Abel said in an email message to the Free Press. More: Michigan Medicine patients losing sleep over BCBSM contract dispute More: Blue Cross, Michigan Medicine dispute puts 300K patients in limbo "However, after those 90 days end, the provider or facility would then be out-of-network and alternative care would need to be arranged. As we continue to negotiate with Michigan Medicine, we encourage members to not wait it out, and to find care with an alternate in-network provider or facility to ensure the least amount of disruption as possible." What does outofnetwork mean for costs? If patients are treated at a hospital, clinic or by a medical provider who isn't operating under a negotiated contract with their health insurance plan, then it is considered "out-of-network" care, which usually comes at a much higher cost. Advertisement Advertisement How much higher is dependent on a number of factors, Abel said. "Usually, members using out-of-network providers or facilities can expect to pay double the usual in-network cost," she said. "For members with an HMO plan, they do not have any out-of-network benefits and would absorb 100% of the cost. For members with PPO coverage, they would pay their out-of-network benefit, which is usually double." If negotiations fail, is it a qualifying life event so I can change my insurance plan? Insurance companies consider some life events significant enough to allow participants to change their policies midway through a plan year. They're called qualifying life events, and can include a marriage or divorce, being fired or laid off from your job and having a child. Abel said, however, that if contract negotiations with Michigan Medicine fail, this would not trigger a special enrollment period for members. Advertisement Advertisement "Michigan Medicine choosing to leave the BCBSM/BCN network is not a qualifying life event," she said. Can other Michigan hospitals manage a surge of displaced patients? It's uncertain. Already, patients in the region report that it can take months to schedule appointments for certain services or to see specialty health care providers. The state also is in the midst of a primary care physician shortage. Shelly Weiss Friedberg, director of public relations for Tenet Healthcare, which owns the Detroit Medical Center, said it is ready to accept Michigan Medicine patients who could lose in-network care. "The DMC has capacity and the ability to expand access to our services to meet the needs of patients in our community," she said. "In addition, BCBS plan members will continue to have access to the highly specialized pediatric care offered at Childrens Hospital of Michigan with our high acuity capabilities." Advertisement Advertisement Corewell Health told the Free Press it's also preparing to do its part. The Childrens Hospital of Michigan Specialty Center in Detroit is shown on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. "Contracts between health care systems and insurance providers can be challenging," said spokesperson Mark Geary. "Corewell Health and other systems will always do whatever we can to help patients navigate insurance paperwork to provide high quality care to patients. " Trinity Health Michigan spokesperson Bobby Maldonado issued the following statement: Trinity Health Michigan regularly manages changes in patient volume, and we are committed to timely and high-quality access for anyone seeking care," he said. "With more than 400 sites of care and nine hospitals across Michigan, we operate an integrated statewide network, anchored by the Trintiy Health national system, designed to meet the needs of our patients and the communities we serve. Could the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services help to resolve this dispute? The state Department of Insurance and Financial Services says it does not have authority over contract negotiations between health systems and insurance providers. Advertisement Advertisement Its spokesperson, Chelsea Lewis, declined to comment on the Blue Cross-Michigan Medicine dispute, saying: "We do, however, encourage both parties to return to the negotiating table for the benefit of Michiganders. Patients should contact their insurer and review their policy terms to understand any potential impacts to their care or to begin an appeal if a coverage denial occurs," she said. "Under the Patients Right to Independent Review Act, Michiganders are entitled to a free, impartial, expert review of final health insurance claim denials to ensure they receive the health care services they are owed. "DIFS provides free assistance with these reviews, working with independent outside experts to help ensure Michiganders receive the medically necessary care they deserve." Anyone with questions or concerns about health insurance policies can contact DIFS at 877-999-6442 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays or go to Michigan.gov/DIFScomplaints. Will Michigan Medicine and Blue Cross reach a deal before July 1? Allan Baumgarten, an independent analyst and consultant who publishes the annual Michigan Health Market Review, said it that if past precedent is any guide, it is likely the two sides will come to an agreement. "Almost all of them do get resolved almost all of them in the 11th hour," he told the Free Press. That was the case for Trinity Health and Aetna when negotiations went down to the wire and settled just before a Dec. 31, 2024, deadline that would have bumped patients with Aetna insurance plans out-of-network across the Livonia-based health system's Catholic, nonprofit hospitals, clinics and providers in about two dozen states nationally. However, even though Baumgarten estimates about 90% of these disputes end in an agreement, some haven't fared so well that includes contentious negotiations between Corewell Health and United Healthcare. In January, a stalemate in contract negotiations between Corewell Health's legacy Beaumont hospitals in southeastern Michigan and United Healthcare terminated in-network coverage for patients at hospitals in Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton and Wayne. United Healthcare said in a post dated March 4 on its website that it continues to be "actively engaged in good faith discussions with Corewell Health (Corewell) to renew our network relationship. Our goal is to reach an agreement that is affordable for the people and employers we serve while maintaining continued, uninterrupted network access to the health system." If a deal cant be reached before May 1, Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital-employed providers could also become out-of-network for United Healthcare patients. And without a contract by July 1, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Corewell Health Troy Hospital and Corewell Health Grosse Pointe Hospital also would become out of network. In Florida, Baumgarten said, Blue Cross Blue Shield hit an impasse with two Broward County hospital systems: Broward Health and Memorial Health Care. "Both of them, as I understand it, have been out of network for several months now with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida," Baumgarten said. Here in Michigan, both U-M Health and Blue Cross say they are continuing discussions with an aim of making a deal. Because Michigan Medicine is the states only academic health system and the sole provider of many complex services in the state, Masson said, the health system is "fighting so hard to ensure patients continue to have the same level of access to these critical health services. Were asking BCBSM to agree to the reasonable and fair reimbursement terms weve offered. Patients deserve peace of mind." Andy Hetzel, vice president of corporate communications for Blue Cross, said in a statement: "We also stand ready to continue our contract negotiations and we are committed to finding ways to provide payment to the Michigan Medicine system that is responsible and affordable. Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Medicine vs. Blue Cross: What patients need to know now At least 33 people are injured following a grenade explosion at a nightclub in Peru. The Associated Press reported minors are among the wounded. The explosion happened in the pre-dawn hours at the Dali nightclub in the province of Trujillo. This is along the northern coast of Peru. Gerardo Florian Gomez, executive director of the Trujillo Health Network, told The Associated Press at least five of the injured are in serious condition. Gomez added some of the victims suffered amputations and shrapnel wounds and are undergoing surgery. Among the injured are three minors: one 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds. Less than a month ago another blast in the same city damaged 25 homes, but caused no injuries or fatalities. Advertisement Advertisement The AP reported extortion and illegal mining plague the region. In 2025, this same region experienced 286 explosions, 136 of which occurred in the city of Trujillo. In Saturday's attack it wasn't immediately know who was responsible or a motive. This a developing story. Straight Arrow News will update as more information becomes available. Related Links Brain-eating worms known as 'rat lungworm' have been found in San Diego County, the first time the parasitic worms have been found in any state west of Texas. According to new research from the CDC, the parasite, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, better known as rat lungworm, was first detected in a 7-year-old male parma wallaby at the San Diego Zoo in December 2024. The wallaby, according to the CDC, was experiencing neurological issues, including head shaking, blindness, and limb rigidity. The wallaby died 11 days following the diagnosis. Following the discovery, researchers began testing wild animals in and around the San Diego Zoo. From January 2025 through February 2025, researchers tested 64 dead wild rats at the Zoo. Three of the 64 rats tested positive for the lungworms. At the same time, wildlife rehabilitation programs contacted researchers, reporting illnesses in 10 Virginia opossums. The opossums were euthanized. Seven of the ten tested positive for the rat lungworm. Advertisement Advertisement The discovery in opossums and rats now leads researchers to believe the rat lungworms have a lasting foothold in San Diego County, with the potential to spread elsewhere. "Whereas [local infections] had not previously been documented in the United States west of Texas, identifying [rat lungworm] cases in wildlife in San Diego County provides support that A. cantonensis lungworm could now be considered endemic in this portion of southern California, with the potential to spread to other parts of the western continental United States," reads the CDC report. The CDC says rat lungworm can be fatal to humans and animals, but deaths are very uncommon. Researchers say the lungworm is typically contracted by animals or people who eat or handle frogs, small slugs, lizards, rats, and freshwater crabs and shrimp. Advertisement Advertisement The CDC recommends that residents wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly when rat lungworm is present. In a statement, a spokesperson from the California Department of Public Health said the agency did not participate in the CDC study and could not confirm the presence of rat lungworm in San Diego and throughout the state. The CDPH did, however, say the CDC findings show the presence of rat lungworm is possible. "The San Diego study affirms that the parasite can be introduced to California through movement of infected animals from endemic areas. Because some species of snails and slugs present in California are capable of serving as hosts for rat lungworm, and the presence of the parasite in other parts of the state is unknown, it is advised to take certain food safety precautions. Persons should not consume any raw or undercooked wild snails or slugs, and should thoroughly wash all produce before consuming," reads the CDPH statement to CBS 8. Advertisement Advertisement CBS 8 reached out to the County of San Diego for more information on the presence of rat lungworms in San Diego County. The article will be updated with the County's response. Watch: What is Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus) Disease? A Wyoming mother has been accused of child endangerment after police claim she left her toddler home alone to go out to a bar, where she allegedly was involved in a fight with another female patron. The February 18 dispute inside Laramie's Ranger Bar did not erupt in fisticuffs, but police claim the two women including mom Kayla Marie Clark had each other's hair firmly wrapped in each other's grasps. Police called to the bar arrived shortly after the other woman's son somehow managed to separate the ladies. Clark, according to Cowboy State Daily, was allegedly uncooperative while talking to police, and claimed the other woman put hands on her first. The report claims she was sitting in the bar's smoking room having a conversation when the other woman confronted her about an unrelated incident involving the son and her husband. Advertisement Advertisement Clark, 25, said to police the other woman began to put hands on me, so she began biting [the other woman on the head] out of self-defense and bit the top of her head, according to the affidavit, cited in the report. Clark also allegedly admitted she tried to knee the other woman in the face as they were tussling. The fight ended up disrupting the bar's karaoke night. Mom Allegedly Abandoned Special Needs Children For Days, 1 Was Found Trying to Eat Raw Meat While police were interviewing people in the bar, the other woman apparently told police she knew that Clark had a toddler, and that she leaves the child home alone on a regular basis. Advertisement Advertisement When questioned about the 2-year-old, Clark was allegedly evasive, according to the report, and "she repeatedly spoke about needing to call her babysitter or her husband about her 2-year-old. Then, her story started changing, according to the police. Clark allegedly gave multiple versions of where [the child] was and who was watching [the baby], all of which were eventually determined not to be true, the affidavit says, the site reported. Clark led officers to multiple inaccurate addresses intentionally, for the purposes of keeping law enforcement from locating [the child]. Clarks husband was contacted at work and provided the correct address and even conceded to police the child was likely all alone. He also said that Clark had left the 2-year-old unattended previously on numerous occasions and gave police consent to enter the home to check on the child. Once inside, the conditions were unbearable. Advertisement Advertisement Police heard "an excessively loud nursery rhyme tune coming from a bedroom with the door closed within the apartment" and emanating from a tablet hanging on the wall and the tune was on a loop." As they entered the bedroom, officers were met by a wall of "overwhelming heat," and determined it was "more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat and air had the odor of human feces. A space heater turned to max was also left on in the room, which was unequivocally a safety/fire hazard. A digital thermometer later confirmed the noted high temperatures. 10-Month-Old Drowned in Bathtub After Mom Passed Out While Drinking Crown Royal Apple Advertisement Advertisement The child was in the sweltering bedroom, "wearing a diaper with sweatpants over-top and a nappy over the sweatpants as if to restrict the child from accessing or removing the diaper, according to the affidavit. The sweatpants were wet and soiled. As for feeding the child, officers found several sippy cups in the room, along with a small mattress on the floor covered with stuffed animals. "All these facts indicated that [the child] had been left alone for a lengthy period and that Clark had taken measures to leave [the child] unattended for such a period, the affidavit says, according to the site. They also discovered "various suspected controlled substances and paraphernalia" along with marijuana. It appeared that with the presence of those items that drugs were being ingested in the household where [the child] resided, and due to their location were easily within reach, the affidavit says. Advertisement Advertisement Clark, who allegedly backhanded a cop while being processed, has been charged with felony interference with a peace officer and misdemeanor endangering children, battery possession of a controlled substance, and interference. She has posted an $80,000 cash bond for her release, records indicate. She has a preliminary hearing set for March 26, where she will likely be asked for pleas. March-like weather has returned to New Mexico, but the cooler stretch will be short lived. Temperatures begin warming again Sunday, with much warmer weather next week. It is noticeably cooler across New Mexico Friday, with high temperatures running 5 to 20 cooler than Thursday. A Pacific cold front moved through the state overnight, bringing a brief round of snow to northwest New Mexico. A dusting to around 1 fell early Friday morning, with a few lingering snow showers across the northern mountains and the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado. Strong winds also developed Friday morning, especially east of the Rio Grande Valley. While winds have eased slightly through the afternoon, it remains breezy across much of eastern New Mexico. Winds will diminish later this evening. Another backdoor cold front will move into the state from the northeast overnight. This will bring breezy winds again tonight and keep temperatures cooler across the eastern half of New Mexico Saturday. Western parts of the state will see slightly warmer temperatures, but overall highs will remain close to seasonal averages. Winds will also be lighter statewide Saturday. A few spotty sprinkles may develop across parts of southern New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Temperatures begin warming quickly again Sunday. Highs will climb back above average across much of New Mexico, with the warming trend continuing into early next week. Rain chances will also increase early next week, mainly across southern New Mexico. The first chance for showers arrives Monday, with the highest chance Tuesday for areas along and south of I-40. A few isolated thunderstorms will also be possible as moisture moves north. Drier weather returns Wednesday, but unseasonably warm temperatures will continue through the end of next week. 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. A British wildlife expert and a display pilot have been killed in a plane crash in the desert in Namibia, southern Africa. Prof Alan Wilson, who appeared in numerous BBC nature documentaries, and Neil Oakman died during an antelope-tracking flight on Wednesday. They were killed instantly when their light aircraft stalled and nose-dived shortly after take-off near the Gobabeb Research Station in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Advertisement Advertisement The academic specialised in the movement of big cats and Mr Oakman, 63, was an experienced pilot who flew Second World War Hurricanes for display from the former RAF Duxford. It is understood that the crash happened during the final flight of a two-week study of the Oryx, a large antelope, in the wilds of the Namib Desert. The mangled wreckage of the plane was discovered about a mile from the runway, 75 miles inland from Walvis Bay. A recovery team found the plane about a mile from the runway - Facebook/Erongo Prof Wilson, 62, was a world-renowned expert in animal locomotion and the head of the structure and motion laboratory at the Royal Veterinary College. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and had pioneered hi-tech tracking devices, including GPS collars, to study the speed and agility of wild animals such as cheetahs and lions. Advertisement Advertisement He appeared in BBC wildlife documentaries, including Cat Watch: 2014 and The Secret Life of the Cat. It is believed that the plane, a British-registered Groppo-Trail light aircraft, had been built from a kit by the professor himself to track big predators and antelopes. Judith Shomongula, a senior air accident investigator, said: On Wednesday, March 4, at about 5pm, Alan Wilson and Neil Oakman took off to look for collared antelope in the dunes of the Namib. At about 7pm, researcher John Lowe started getting worried about his colleagues who were late getting back to the research centre and a search of the area was started. Advertisement Advertisement They later discovered a crashed aircraft at the end of the Gobabeb airstrip. Police were informed and the bodies transported to the Walvis Bay police mortuary. We all extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. State-of-the-art tracking Prof Wilson and Mr Lowe had worked together for more than a decade, developing state-of-the-art tracking and motion collars for predators and antelope. They were leading a project for the UKs Royal Veterinary College studying the Oryx antelopes, which had been fitted with animal-borne sensors. A Gobabeb Training and Research Centre spokesman said staff were deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic accident, which has hit everyone at the facility extremely hard. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the Royal Veterinary College said: Alan was a world-leading researcher in biomechanics whose work transformed our understanding of locomotion in animals and humans. This is an enormous loss, and one that will be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. Mr Oakman was a retired airline pilot who had trained commercial pilots for Ryanair. He was the chief pilot of 501 Squadrons former Battle of Britain Hurricane VZ497 and flew it at displays. Neil Oakman was a retired airline pilot who had trained commercial pilots for Ryanair - Lightaircraftassociation.co.uk Ken Dirsch, a friend of the pilot, said: Neil was a very good friend and neighbour and an extremely competent pilot and flew all different types of aircraft, including a Hurricane fighter. Advertisement Advertisement He loved flying and was a brilliant engineer for anything mechanical this is such a tragic loss. The University of Glasgow School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine said: Our thoughts are with Anna and the rest of Alans family as well as his colleagues and friends. He was truly a world expert in his field and will be dearly missed by so many. Prof Wilson led the Locate project in Africa, which studied how predators and their prey achieve their speed and manoeuvring. With Mr Lowe, an electronics and software engineer, he designed GPS collars and cameras that worked together to capture data and dramatic footage of big cats hunting down prey. Advertisement Advertisement The camera fitted to Prof Wilsons light aircraft used GPS to synchronise with collars fitted to predators and antelopes to capture every twist and turn of a hunt. 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. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's removal from the royal line of succession, citing his "deplorable" links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The royal, stripped of his titles, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations he shared sensitive information with the financier while serving as the UKs trade envoy. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Mr Carney stated: "I certainly think his actions are deplorable and have caused him to be stripped of his royal titles, certainly merit, if thats the word necessitate is a better word his removal from the line of succession." Advertisement Advertisement The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand have previously supported UK Government plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession. Such a move would require an Act of Parliament and the agreement of all Commonwealth realms, including Canada. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the then Duke of York, arriving for the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent (PA) Mr Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, added: Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. He spent around 11 hours in custody in February as searches were conducted at his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and at his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, and released pending investigation Advertisement Advertisement Andrew served as the UKs special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. The UK Government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the Kings disgraced brother, the Press Association understands. An entrance to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has relocated following his departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor (Gareth Fuller/PA) In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing grave allegations, adding: Australians take them seriously. A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon, New Zealands prime minister, said: If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it. Advertisement Advertisement The UK Government has said any proposals would come after the police investigation concludes. Defence Secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown wrote to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein. Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing criticism at home as he tries to strike a balance on the US-Israeli military action in Iran, as Canada scrambles to get its citizens out of the region and faces the risk of being dragged into a widening conflict. Carney expressed strong support for the initial strikes when they launched a week ago, arguing for the value of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and its regime "from further threatening international peace and security". Days later, he said it was a position he took "with regret" because the strikes appeared "inconsistent with international law". Advertisement Advertisement Along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whom he was meeting, Carney called for a "rapid de-escalation" in the conflict. And while the Canadian prime minister's response after the initial strikes was more firm than that of the UK, France and Germany - who jointly condemned the Iranian regime, but called for a "resumption of negotiations" - he now appears to be trying to walk more a more narrow diplomatic path. He's not alone in that challenge. Since the joint statement by the UK, France and Germany, all three have shifted positions. France has increased its regional presence after an Iranian strike hit one of its bases in the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement The UK has agreed a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes. A US B-1 Lancer bomber capable of carrying 24 cruises missiles has landed in the UK on Friday. And German soldiers are ready for defensive measures if needed, though Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned of the danger of getting bogged down in "endless wars". Carney has also not "categorically" ruled out military participation in the region, saying Canada "will stand by our allies, when it makes sense". Advertisement Advertisement Members of his own Liberal Party have openly criticised his handling of the events. Lloyd Axworthy, who served as foreign minister from 1996 to 2000, said in an opinion piece published in the Toronto Star on Saturday that Carney's support for the strikes was a notable departure from Canada's position decades earlier, when it refused to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US. "We are embracing the very doctrine we used to reject," Axworthy wrote. Liberal MP Will Greaves said on social media that "Canada cannot endorse the unilateral and illegal use of military force... while also insisting that our sovereignty, our rights and our independence must be protected". Advertisement Advertisement This was an apparent reference to President Donald Trump's repeated comments about Canada becoming a 51st US state. Others, including the Conservative opposition, have said Carney's stance has been "contradictory" and "incoherent". Roland Paris, director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa and a fellow at Chatham House, told the BBC that Carney's stance had been "a bit hard to decipher". Carney met Australian PM Anthony Albanese this week [Getty Images] He added that the reaction sparked by Carney's position on the Iran war was a sign that the vision of clear-eyed pragmatism he laid out in a major speech in Davos, Switzerland, in January, while "sensible", is difficult to implement. Advertisement Advertisement In that address, which garnered global headlines, the prime minister urged middle powers like Canada to come together against "great powers". He also argued for a "principled" approach to foreign policy, consistent with values set out by the United Nations charter. The speech was widely interpreted as being directed at Trump, who at the time was talking about a US takeover of Greenland. Paris, the University of Ottawa expert, said it set out a "broad framework" for middle powers, but did not provide guidance on how countries can balance their values with real-world complexities. Advertisement Advertisement "It was going to be hard, no matter what, to reconcile the two elements of his Davos speech," he said. He added that he believes Carney eventually landed in "a better place" with his response - one that addresses Canadians' concerns about both the Iranian regime but also the risk of being dragged into an escalating war. Thomas Juneau, a professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, argued that Carney's stance is likely driven by his need to manage relations with Trump. Canada sells the bulk of its products to the US and is heading into high-stakes trade talks with the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement An "easily irritated Trump will not hesitate to penalise those who criticise or oppose him", wrote Juneau in the Globe and Mail on Thursday. "Critics are therefore not wrong to say that Canada has nothing to gain from endorsing his war... but they miss the reality that Canada has much to lose." On Friday, Canada's Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, made clear that Canada has "no intention to participate in Operation Epic Fury". She also said Canadian military officials were in contact with allies "in order to ensure that de-escalation and the protection of civilian life and civilian infrastructure is top of mind". Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Canada's top military commander, chief of the Defence Staff Gen Jennie Carignan, told media that "our Gulf partners may require defence and support". "This would be the type of military options that we could consider," she said. Anand also said that she and the prime minister welcomed the diversity of views within the Liberal Party, speaking ahead of a caucus meeting where they will discuss the conflict. "I have great respect for my caucus colleagues across the board, and very much look forward to hearing their viewpoints," she told reporters in a conference call on Friday, where she put forward Ottawa's plans to help Canadians seeking to leave the region. Advertisement Advertisement A poll of Canadians by Angus Reid after the US strikes on Iran suggests that people are divided on the issue, with 48% opposed or strongly opposed, and 35% in support. The remaining 17% say they are unsure. Fire trucks in Goffstown and Bedford. A plow truck in Hooksett. School repairs in Derry and Exeter. Playgrounds and the town pool in Milford. Bridge repairs in Amherst. Road work in Londonderry. What do all these things have in common, other than costing hundreds of thousands of dollars? Without capital reserve funds, paying for these essentials would be nearly impossible without enormous one-time property tax increases. By squirrelling away $100,000 here or $25,000 there with the approval of voters during March town meeting season, expensive infrastructure and equipment costs are spread out and managed. Advertisement Advertisement Think of capital reserve funds like a college savings account. Smaller and regular contributions add up. And they earn interest. Capital reserve funds are dedicated from the get-go for specific costs that dont come up every year as part of the town or school districts budget. Voters either have to approve raising taxes to contribute more money to the accounts, or they can ask voters to move money from the existing surpluses. If Goffstown had to buy a new fire truck without saving up first, it would raise the budget by $1.2 million, Select Board Vice Chairman Mark Lemay said. (That) $1.2 million will be pretty hard for us to deal with, so we take chunks of it every year and put it aside, so that if and when we do get that $1.2 million bill, it doesnt hurt our pockets, Lemay said during the towns deliberative session last month. Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Goffstown voters will be asked to pay for $750,000 total in town and school warrant articles by adding money to three separate capital reserve funds. Luckily for taxpayers, all of that money would come from the town and districts unassigned fund balances, which are surpluses from taxes and revenues collected in previous years. One of those warrant articles calls for using $50,000 from the towns surplus to establish a capital reserve fund to fix up the 117-year-old Goffstown Public Library. Bedford asks for $1.8 million Bedford is in a somewhat similar but much bigger boat this year with the town asking taxpayers to fund more than $1.8 million in capital reserve fund deposits. Unlike Goffstown, all of that money would come from new taxation and would raise the towns tax rate by 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, raising the annual tax bill for a home valued at $800,000 by $232. Advertisement Advertisement A separate petitioned warrant article asks Bedford voters to approve using $478,000 from the towns surplus to help fund an $800,000 skate park reconstruction. By using the surplus money, the skate park improvements wouldnt directly raise taxes, but that money could otherwise be used for rainy day emergencies or to lower taxes immediately. What is an unassigned fund balance? As mentioned earlier, unassigned fund balances are just the leftover money or surplus of taxes and revenues collected in previous years. Tammy Letson of the New Hampshire Municipal Association said unassigned fund balances are like having equity in your home you have added ability to pay off debt or emergency costs if you tap into them. Advertisement Advertisement Its fiscally responsible to have a fund balance, with the idea of being able to sustain cash flow, and not having to borrow money and spend taxpayer dollars on paying that money back. Its like a safety net, Letson said. A perfect example of that is how Merrimack was able to use more than $7.2 million of its surplus to pay off Merrimack Premium Outlets after the courts determined the town had overcharged the mall owners for property taxes. Without that reserve, Merrimack would have been scrambling to pay its debt. Merrimack Town Manager Paul Micali said hed rather use that money to reduce taxes as much as possible and the town will look to build up its surplus in the coming years. Election day Tuesday is the day most New Hampshire towns vote in their municipal and school district elections. Check your towns website for polling places and times. NEWTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Conover man will spend up to 11 years in prison this week after being convicted of more than 20 counts of property crimes across North Carolina. According to the Catawba County District Attorneys Office, Noah Daniel Garrett, 28, pleaded guilty to charges from Catawba, Avery, Mitchell, Iredell and Gaston counties that occurred between October 2023 and March 2025. Many of the offenses involved misappropriation of heavy machinery and fraudulent attempts to resell that machinery as well as fraudulent activity toward individuals affected by Hurricane Helene. His father Virgil also was charged in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Superior Court Judge Sherri W. Elliott from Catawba County imposed the sentence of eight to 11 years after the global guilty plea. Garrett entered pleas for: Felony obtain property by false pretense of more than $100,000, 16 counts of obtaining property by false pretense, Three counts of felony conversion, Two counts of felony larceny, Felony conspiracy and Felony possession of stolen goods. In addition to his incarceration, he also will be required to pay nearly $265,000 in restitution to various businesses and individuals. Some of that is joint and several with a co-defendant. Advertisement Advertisement Investigation of the cases was handled by multiple agencies in the counties where the offenses took place. 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. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday highlighted that a total of Rs 1 lakh crore worth of investment agreements were implemented last year. "Through the Global Investors Summit organised in 2023, investment agreements worth Rs 3,56,000 crore were made. We are proud that last year, we succeeded in implementing investment agreements worth Rs 1 lakh crore on the ground," Dhami said while addressing a gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of various developmental projects on the completion of 4 years of the Uttarakhand government. Dhami further praised the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for writing tales of development throughout the country. "Today marks the completion of 4 years of the BJP government's second term in Uttarakhand. On this occasion, we have received the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah. Today, the BJP is the world's largest political party, and we are scripting new tales of development in every corner of India. We have realised the dream of 'Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat' by abrogating Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Today, effective checks have been placed on terrorism and Naxalism in the country," he said. The remarks come at a grand event titled "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal" held in Haridwar to mark the completion of four years of the state government. The event was graced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He was welcomed by the Chief Minister at the Jolly Grant Airport before proceeding to Haridwar for the ceremony. The Chief Minister, in a post on X, praised Amit Shah for his contribution to the state's progress and national security, writing, "Heartfelt welcome and congratulations to the esteemed Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah ji on his arrival in the sacred land of Uttarakhand, the land of brave soldiers. Your leadership, dedicated to the nation's security, good governance, and development, has provided the country with a new direction and strength." On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented the Union Home Minister with a memento and honoured him with a traditional cap symbolising the rich cultural identity of the state. A massive crowd gathered in Haridwar for the ceremony marking four years of the state government. The event was also attended by Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, who addressed the gathering. The ceremony celebrates the completion of four years of the Dhami government in Uttarakhand, showcasing the state's developmental achievements and governance initiatives during this period. The Union Home Minister's presence at the event underscores the significance of the occasion and the central government's support for the state's development agenda. (ANI) When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. One of eight inscriptions left by a man named Cikai Korran in the Valley of the Kings. . | Credit: Ingo Strauch Roughly 2,000 years ago, one visitor to Egypt's Valley of the Kings graffitied his name Cikai Korran eight times in Old Tamil, an Indian language. The prolific tagger joined several others in leaving dozens of inscriptions in ancient Indian languages on the Egyptian tombs, scholars reported at a recent academic conference. The new discoveries add to growing evidence for the presence of people from South Asia in ancient Egypt. Roughly 30 inscriptions written in three Indian languages were found in six different tombs in the Valley of the Kings, where Egyptian pharaohs and powerful nobles were buried for centuries. Half of the inscriptions were written in Old Tamil, and Cikai Korran was responsible for many of those, researchers wrote in a paper published in a book called "Tamil Epigraphy: A four-day international conference 11-14 February 2026, Proceedings Volume 1" (Government of Tamil Nadu, 2026). The researchers presented their findings at a February conference in Chennai, India. New inscriptions While early Egyptologists had noticed these inscriptions, and in some cases recorded them, they did not know which language they were and were unable to translate them, according to the researchers.As part of a new investigation, the scholars dated the Indian inscriptions to between the first and third century A.D., when Egypt was a province of the Roman Empire and the Valley of the Kings "was a tourist destination, like today," Ingo Strauch , a professor in the Department of Slavic and South Asian Studies at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland who helped identify many of the texts, said during the presentation he gave at the conference.Visitors to the Valley of the Kings would write or inscribe texts on the walls of the tombs, often writing their name and sometimes more information on who they were. The visitors who came from India were no exception. One of the Sanskrit texts was written by a man named Indranandin, who claimed that he was a "messenger of King Kshaharata." In an email to Live Science, Strauch noted that the Kshaharata dynasty ruled part of India during the first century A.D. and it's not clear which specific King Kshaharata the messenger served. Since Egypt was ruled by the Roman Empire, Indranandin may have traveled through the Valley of the Kings on his way to Rome. "It is possible that Indranandin arrived by ship at Berenike [on the east coast of Egypt], perhaps together with other Indians, and from there continued inland to the Valley of the Kings," Strauch said. "Whether he later travelled on to Rome, however, is unknown."One prolific graffiti artist was a man named Cikai Korran, who wrote eight inscriptions in five different tombs. The Tamil inscriptions translate to "Cikai Korran came here and saw," the scholars wrote in the conference proceedings. Another inscription left by Cikai Korran. The inscriptions he left are written in Old Tamil. | Credit: Timothee Sassolas Charlotte Schmid , a researcher at the French School of the Far East who also identified many of the texts, said in a talk at the conference that Korran tended to write his inscriptions high up. In the tomb of Ramesses IX (who reigned circa 1126 to 1108 B.C.), Korran wrote his inscription 16 to 20 feet (5 to 6 meters) above the tomb entrance. Schmid said that it's unclear how he got up so high.In a tomb that belonged to two New Kingdom pharaohs named Tausert and Setnakhte, scholars found that Korran also left his signature by the tomb entrance. This is the only graffiti found on this tomb, which suggests that, at the time Korran was in Egypt, the interior of the tomb was closed off. Still, he was able to find the entrance and leave his inscription on it.It's not clear who Korran was. The language he wrote in suggests that he was from southern India, but little else can be known for sure. Schmid noted that Korran could have been a chief, a mercenary or a merchant, among other possibilities.Why Korran wrote his name so frequently and tried to write it as high as he did is also unclear. "It's weird, to be frank," Schmid said in the conference presentation. Scholars react RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement India's evolutionary past tied to huge migration 50,000 years ago and to now-extinct human relatives Thutmose II tomb discovery raises new mysteries: Where is his mummy, and why wasn't he buried in the Valley of the Kings? 3 ancient Egyptian tombs dating to the New Kingdom discovered near Luxor These "new discoveries by Strauch and Schmid, alongside both old and more recent findings from the Roman Red Sea ports of Myos Hormos and Berenike, are exactly the kind of evidence of visiting Tamil and Western Indian merchants that we would hope to find but have never previously been able to document on this scale," Kasper Grnlund Evers, an independent scholar who has studied ancient long distance trade but was not involved in the current research, told Live Science in an email.These newly found texts "prove not just the mere presence of Indians in Egypt, but also their active interest in the culture of the land," Alexandra von Lieven , an Egyptology professor at the University of Munster who was not involved in the research, told Live Science in an email. Further research may lead to more Indian language inscriptions being found at other sites in Egypt, such as temples, von Lieven said. Ancient Egypt quiz: Test your smarts about pyramids, hieroglyphs and King Tut The Cincinnati metropolitan area has seen the highest spike in gas prices nationwide since the U.S. entered a war with Iran a week ago. In the week since the war in Iran began on Feb. 28, gas prices in Greater Cincinnati have increased about 80 cents to an average of roughly $3.43 per gallon, according to data from GasBuddy, which tracks fluctuations in gas costs. That's the largest rise in prices of any other metropolitan area in the country. Dayton, Ohio, is listed as the metropolitan area with the second-highest increase, the data show. Gas prices are seen at an Shell station pump as the price of oil and gas has surged amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Global oil prices have jumped 16% since the war started, as the spreading conflict disrupted Middle East supplies, USA TODAY reported. Advertisement Advertisement The national average cost of gas has risen 27 cents since last week to $3.25 per gallon, according to AAA, a U.S. travel organization that tracks fuel prices. The current national average is 15 cents higher than a year ago. President Donald Trump touted a drop in gas prices in his State of the Union address last month and at a Texas rally focused on energy that took place just hours before the U.S. launched its air strikes. Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" in a social media post on March 6, insisting "there will be no deal" to end the war. The president previously outlined a four-to-five-week timeline for the military campaign against Iran. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on March 3, 2026. "I don't have any concern about it," he told Reuters when asked about the higher gas prices. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit." USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati area has highest gas prices spike in week since war in Iran Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., a longtime civil rights strategist who helped organize the campaign in Selma, Alabama that ultimately led to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, has died. He was 85. LaFayette died Thursday of a heart attack, according to an obituary published by Legacy Remembers. Born in Tampa, LaFayette was the oldest of eight children. At 7-years-old he watched his grandmother fall while trying to board a segregated trolley after the driver pulled away before she could enter through the back door, where Black passengers were required to sit, his obituary said. Advertisement Advertisement By 12-years-old, he had joined the NAACP, beginning what would become a lifetime of activism. According to the obituary, LaFayette later attended American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, where he roomed with future congressman John Lewis. While there, he joined the Nashville Student Movement and trained in nonviolent direct action alongside leaders including James Bevel and Diane Nash. Their work helped lead the sit-in campaign that made Nashville the first major Southern city to desegregate its downtown lunch counters. In 1961, LaFayette joined the Freedom Rides. When his group reached Montgomery, they were attacked by Ku Klux Klan members. LaFayette was later arrested and spent 40 days at the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman Farm). The obituary said he later became a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was assigned to lead voter registration efforts in Alabama. In 1963, he moved to Selma as director of the Alabama Voter Registration Campaign, where he spent months organizing and training local residents in nonviolent protest and civic engagement. Advertisement Advertisement On June 12, 1963, the same night civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated, LaFayette survived an attack outside his home. He was beaten and threatened with a gun before a neighbor intervened, his obituary said. In 1968, he became national coordinator of the Poor Peoples Campaign, an initiative launched by Martin Luther King Jr. LaFayette was at the Lorraine Motel the morning King was assassinated, and later said the leaders final words to him stressed the importance of building a permanent global movement rooted in nonviolence, according to his obituary. Following Kings death, LaFayette pursued higher education and earned both a masters degree and doctorate from Harvard University. He later served as president of American Baptist College from 1992 to 1999, directed the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island from 1999 to 2009, and served as Distinguished Senior Scholar in Residence at Emory University Candler School of Theology beginning in 2009. Read the original article on cleveland.com. Add cleveland.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer died Thursday from injuries sustained during a rescue at sea late last month. Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers was a rescue swimmer, a rate known in the service as an Aviation Survival Technician, assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Oregon. He suffered critical injuries, the Coast Guard said, during the rescue of a crewman on the Momi Arrow, a commercial freighter, 120 miles off the coast of Cape Flattery, Washington. Jaggers was the rescue swimmer on the crew of a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk sent to the ship to respond to a crewmember suffering from a stroke and in need of medical evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Aviation Survival Technician Jaggers represented the very best of our Service and the Aviation Rescue Swimmer community, Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, said in a statement. He demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of danger, upholding the highest standards of courage and excellence for Coast Guard operations. We honor his selfless actions and unwavering devotion to our highest calling: to save others. His family has our deepest condolences and steadfast support, and we continue to honor their privacy during this very difficult time. The Coast Guard did not release details on how Jaggers was hurt but rescue swimmers are routinely hoisted onto the deck of merchant ships to treat patients as their helicopters hover above, usually returning up the hoist after the patient is lifted in a steel litter or rescue basket. Coast Guard crews train relentlessly on hoisting swimmers in and out of helicopters, and the procedure is fairly routine in the service. But hoists onto a large ship are always particularly fraught with risk. With a swimmer clipped onto the hoists extended metal cable, winds and high seas can pull a swimmer many yards wide of a target. Even a momentary error by the pilot or hoist operator can be fatal as a swimmer swings among heavy steel walls, cables, and equipment of most commercial ships. Top Stories This Week News The Army hopes to lure civilian tech workers by letting some join as captains By Patty Nieberg News Senate authorizes Trump to award Recon Marine the Medal of Honor By Jeff Schogol News Air Guard and Reserve troops say new Air Force rules add to confusion over benefits By David Roza Advertisement Advertisement Jaggers was rushed to Victoria General Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and then transferred to Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington. The service said its investigating the incident that led to his fatal injuries. Jaggers joined the Coast Guard in 2022. He had been stationed at Air Station Astoria since 2024. After the rescue mission on Feb. 27, while in the hospital for his injuries, the Coast Guard promoted him to Petty Officer 2nd Class and awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions and heroism in aerial flight. WASHINGTON In ducking a vote on authorizing war against Iran this week, Congress ceded its constitutional responsibilities yet again, some lawmakers warned, empowering current and future presidents to launch large wars unilaterally, in a major break with the nations founding principles. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said that allowing President Donald Trump to wage an open-ended war in the Middle East without their explicit approval could set a dangerous precedent, ensuring that important decisions about war and peace are no longer made democratically after open debate, but rather behind closed doors and by a single person. Politics: Republicans In Disarray On Trumps Iran War There was a time, not too long ago, we voted to go into the Iraq war. We voted to go into the Afghan war, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told HuffPost, calling the lack of a vote on Iran a bad precedent. Advertisement Advertisement This is a Congress without ambition, he lamented. This is a Congress without a belief structure in defending legislative prerogative. They just are a rubber stamp for whatever a president tells them to do. Trumps administration and its allies on Capitol Hill have made the strained argument that the massive U.S. bombardment of Iran was necessary to respond to an imminent threat, even though theyve yet to present evidence of an imminent attack by Tehran against the U.S. Theyve also given a series of shifting explanations to further justify the war, ranging from regime change to taking out Irans nuclear program, its navy, and its ability to launch ballistic missiles. On Friday, Trump added another objective to the list: unconditional surrender by Irans government, seemingly rejecting any diplomatic solution to the military conflict that has so far left six U.S. service members and over 1,000 Iranians dead. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran, on March 2, 2026. AP Photo/Mohsen Ganji But while much about the war remains unclear, one thing is solidifying: Trumps second presidency will shift war-making powers further away from Congress, giving his successors a chance to deploy the military as they choose. Advertisement Advertisement No doubt about it, there will be a Democrat president someday, and he or she will do something that will make Congress go, how dare you assert [warmaking] power? And well go, Well, you know, youre laying the predicate right here [with Iran], Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) acknowledged in an interview with HuffPost. Politics: Foreign Minister Dodges Question Whether Iran Is Receiving Help From Russia To Locate U.S. Forces Still, nearly every Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill this week, including Tillis, voted against a war powers resolution that would have restricted Trump from using further military force in Iran at least until he sought and Congress passed an authorization to do so, as it did for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some Republican senators argued that Trump had the authority to act unilaterally and that halting hostilities in the middle of combat would be impossible right now. Advertisement Advertisement The train has left the station, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) told reporters. I think one of the most devastating things we could do is stop the train. It would be unfair to our troops, unfair to those who lost their life. And so its not really an option at this point. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said that Congress shouldnt take any vote on going to war at all right now because of how it might affect the morale of U.S. service members. Politics: Senate Republicans Block Effort To End Trumps Iran War I think the primary restraint on any president of the United States is public opinion. What you dont want to do in a terribly divided Congress is hold a vote that shows us divided, Johnson said in an interview with NPR. That would not be good in a war effort. It would not be good for our troops. It would not be good for, you know, success in the operations. Advertisement Advertisement Even Republicans who previously asserted Congress power of declaring war, like Sen. Todd Young (R-Indiana), said it was too late to challenge the president. Were at war, Young, a former U.S. Marine, explained to reporters. It would be dangerous to the American people and our national security to withdraw all military action involvement right now. Trump is far from the only president to bypass Congress when it comes to military action: modern presidents have rarely sought congressional approval before engaging in military action abroad, including Ronald Reagan, who sent troops to Lebanon in 1982, and Bill Clinton, who deployed U.S. troops to Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Kosovo as part of United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Politics: Oil Prices Hit Highest Since 2022, Trump Admin Won't Rule Out Boots On Ground In Iran: Live Updates In 2011, Barack Obama ordered military strikes against Libya under a U.N. Security Council resolution. Republican lawmakers many of them still in Congress now were livid that he did so without approval from Congress. They also rejected a resolution to authorize them in the House. Advertisement Advertisement But Trumps war in Iran like George W. Bushs wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been carried out on a much larger scale than the more limited military deployments ordered by their predecessors. More than 50,000 U.S. troops are involved in the operation, which has grown as Iran continues to retaliate with missile strikes against U.S. allies in the region. More importantly, the Trump administration has not taken the possibility of committing U.S. ground troops off the table. Senators, including some who otherwise supported Trumps engagements, also worried about how little effort was made to inform the U.S. public about the war, which is unpopular. Fifty-nine percent of Americans disapprove of the strikes against Iran, with 60% saying they do not think Trump has a clear plan for handling the situation and 62% saying he should get congressional approval for any further military action, according to a CNN poll. We should have been holding hearings and asking probing questions and making the case to get a greater measure of unity around this operation on the front end, Young said. Politics: Senate Votes Not To Rein In Trump's War Powers After Iran Strikes Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) said that briefing Congress in a classified setting on the details of the Iran war, as the Trump administration did earlier this week, actually makes it harder for lawmakers to do their jobs and inform the public about whats going on yet another way this administration has made the legislative branch basically irrelevant. Advertisement Advertisement Theres a place for classified briefings, but when they only do classified briefings with us, its essentially giving 535 members a gag order. They can go out and talk about whatever they want, but I cant say a word about what they said, Rosen said. How are we supposed to look our constituents in the eyes and send our sons and daughters into war if we arent willing to take this most solemn responsibility seriously? asked Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Related... Read the original on HuffPost A conservative Christian college in Michigan announced a big name for their 2026 graduation ceremony commencement speaker. Hillsdale College announced Friday that Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk will give the commencement speech during graduation on May 9. She is the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed during an appearance at a college in 2025. Charlie Kirk became a national and international sensation, and he built something amazing. At his memorial service were the great, the near-great, and tens of millions watching. We loved him because he was, at heart, a student who worked hard to get it right. Erika Kirk, brave and widowed, intends to carry on. And we will help her, College President Larry Arnn said. Advertisement Advertisement Erika Kirk received her bachelor's degree in political science and international relations from Arizona State University and a Juris Master in American legal studies from Liberty University. It is a great honor to be invited to speak at the Hillsdale College graduation ceremony. Charlie loved Hillsdale deeply and was often a grateful student of its online courses, learning from Dr. Larry Arnn and the remarkable faculty, who are so committed to truth and the pursuit of wisdom," Kirk said in a statement. Hillsdale represents something rare in our time a steadfast devotion to faith, learning, and the principles that sustain a free nation. I am sincerely grateful for the invitation and look forward to being there with all of you. God bless you. The commencement ceremony will be closed to the public, but will available to view on a livestream, the college said in a release. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Estefany Rodriguez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias and Univision 42, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Wednesday, March 4. According to her television station, she was with her husband outside a gym when several vehicles surrounded their marked news car and agents demanded she be taken into custody. Now the circumstances of that arrest are being argued in federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Three filings in the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee lay out two sharply different accounts of what happened and whether the arrest followed immigration law. PREVIOUS | Nashville journalist detained by ICE files emergency lawsuit, claiming warrantless arrest violated her rights The first filing came from Rodriguezs attorneys in what is known as an emergency petition for habeas corpus. In that filing, her lawyers argue the arrest should have never happened. They claim Rodriguez was detained without a warrant and asked a federal judge to order her immediate release. Her lawyers said Rodriguez entered the United States legally in 2021, later applied for asylum and has been seeking permanent residency through her U.S. citizen husband. Advertisement Advertisement Her attorneys also told the court that Rodriguez was not a flight risk and had a scheduled immigration check-in appointment later this month. On Friday, March 6, the federal government filed its response. In that filing, federal attorneys dispute the claims made in the petition and said Rodriguezs arrest followed immigration law. To better understand the legal questions raised in the filings, News 2 spoke with Lourdes Rodriguez, a retired immigration judge who reviewed the documents. She is not related to Estefany Rodriguez. The first question, if I were a sitting judge in that case, would be, What is the basis for the warrant?' she said. Advertisement Advertisement The government writes that Rodriguez is a citizen of Colombia who remained in the United States after her visa expired. In a statement to News 2, ICE said Rodriguez entered the United States on a tourist visa on March 10, 2021, which was valid until March 23, 2021. Federal attorneys said she never left the country and has been unlawfully present since September 2021. The government also directly rejects the claim that the arrest was warrantless. In this particular case, based on what I read, her asylum case appears to have been timely filed, said Judge Rodriguez. It does not seem like there is an outstanding removal order. I do not understand where this warrant to pick her up is coming from. Advertisement Advertisement Is ICE still eyeing Tennessee for a new detention facility? In the filing, federal attorneys state Rodriguez was arrested pursuant to a valid immigration arrest warrant issued two days before she was taken into custody. They also argue her detention is lawful under federal immigration law while removal proceedings move forward and ask the court to deny the emergency petition. Rodriguezs attorneys responded again later the same day. In a reply filed with the court, they challenged the governments description of the arrest and argue the governments own documents raise questions about the warrant. Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys claim the warrant was not served at the time Rodriguez was detained and argue that detail undermines the governments claim that the arrest followed proper procedure. In order for her to be released from custody, she needs to show she is not a danger to the community or flight risk, said Judge Rodriguez. The government has to show: did she violate the terms of her visa or removal order from the court? Following this case, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to News 2: ICE arrested Estefany Rodriguez-Florez, an illegal alien from Colombia, March 4 during a targeted enforcement operation. Rodriguez-Florez entered the United States with a tourist visa March 10, 2021, which was valid until March 23, 2021. She failed to depart the country and is in violation of the conditions of her visa and currently has no lawful immigration status. She will remain in ICE custody pending her immigration proceedings. Claims that ICE did not have a warrant are false. ICE officers had an administrative warrant at the time of the arrest and the officers issuing administrative warrants have found probable cause to issue the warrant. For decades, the Supreme Court and Congress have recognized the propriety of administrative warrants in cases of immigration enforcement. All individuals who violate U.S. immigration law are subject to arrest and detention, regardless of their criminal histories. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson also said in a statement to News 2: On March 4, ICE arrested Estefany Rodriguez Florez, an illegal alien from Colombia. She entered the United States on March 10, 2021, on a tourist visa, which required her to leave the U.S. by September 9, 2021. In violation of our nations laws, she never departed. She will receive full due process and remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of her immigration proceedings. A pending green card application and work authorization does NOT give someone legal status to be in our country. Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to use the CBP Home app to take control of their departure. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The case now sits before a federal judge. Advertisement Advertisement The court has ordered an expedited timeline in the case with additional filings due by March 9. Until the court decides the next step, Rodriguez remains in an immigration detention facility in Alabama. 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 WKRN News 2. By Parisa Hafezi and Angus McDowall DUBAI, March 7 (Reuters) - Iran's hierarchy is showing signs of fracturing over a war its leaders see as existential, with angry divisions between hardliners and more pragmatic factions laid bare by a row over President Masoud Pezeshkian's promise not to strike Gulf states. Fissures within Iran's ruling elite were long suppressed under the iron rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but his killing a week ago has allowed them to spill out into the open as U.S. and Israeli strikes pile pressure on Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement The unrelenting bombardment mortally imperils the Islamic Republic and has prompted its fiercest acolytes, the Revolutionary Guards, to seize a bigger role in strategy despite a decapitation campaign that has killed many top commanders. Sources close to Iran's leadership, speaking from inside the country, told Reuters the strains were starting to show among leading figures still alive after a series of killings in the U.S.-Israeli strikes. They spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter. In a sign of the growing stresses to the system, clerics are accelerating the appointment of a new supreme leader with a decision possible on Sunday - though it is far from clear if Khamenei's successor will wield enough authority to stamp out factional disputes. While his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is seen as a frontrunner backed by the Guards and his father's powerful office, he is untested, junior to most of Iran's senior ayatollahs, and has alienated moderates within the system. Advertisement Advertisement Other potential candidates could struggle to uphold the unquestioning obedience of the Guards required to maintain discipline within the system. "Wartime tends to clarify power structures, and in this case the decisive voice is not that of the civilian leadership but of the IRGC," said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, using an abbreviation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS ANGRY AT PEZESHKIAN STATEMENT Pezeshkian's apology to Gulf states for a week-long blitz of their territory - and his pledge to rein in such attacks - quickly prompted pushback from hardliners in the Revolutionary Guards and clerical elite, forcing him into a partial climbdown. Advertisement Advertisement In one of the most open criticisms of Pezeshkian - and a sign of internal division, hardline cleric and lawmaker Hamid Rasai addressed the president on social media, saying: "your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable." When the president later repeated his earlier statement on social media, he left out the apology that had so angered the Guards and other hardliners - an embarrassing retreat. To be sure, all senior figures within the hierarchy are steadfast in their commitment to defending the Islamic Republic and its revolutionary theocracy from U.S. and Israeli attacks, but there are clear splits over their strategic approach. Iran's leadership has sometimes played up differences between hardliners and moderates as a tactic in negotiations with the West, but the dispute over Pezeshkian's statement on Saturday revealed genuine divisions, two senior sources said. Advertisement Advertisement A hardliner close to Khamenei's office, which remains a central node in the hierarchy, told Reuters that Pezeshkian's comments had angered many senior commanders in the Guards. Another senior Iranian source, a moderate former official, said nobody would be able to fill Khamenei's shoes, describing the late leader as a formidable strategist who had led Iran through many difficult periods. With anxiety increasing in Iran's top ranks, senior ayatollahs began to publicly urge that the clerical body responsible for appointing a supreme leader accelerate its work. "It should expedite the process so that it leads to the disappointment of the enemy and the preservation of the unity and solidarity of the nation," Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani said in a statement carried by the semi-official Fars News Agency. Advertisement Advertisement STRAINS SHOWING EVEN IN TOP LEADERSHIP BODY In Iran's unusual system, an elected president, government and parliament are subservient to a clerically appointed ayatollah who wields ultimate authority as supreme leader and personally oversees the Revolutionary Guards and other powerful bodies of state. As leader for 36 years, Khamenei often played hardline and moderate factions within the ruling system against each other while retaining the ultimate say, allowing them to voice disagreements so long as they bowed to his writ. When he died, leadership formally passed to a constitutionally mandated interim council that included Pezeshkian, the clerical head of the judiciary and another cleric from a hardline body called the Guardian Council. Advertisement Advertisement In Khamenei's absence, strains are showing even inside that tight body, with the judiciary chief, noted hardliner Ayatollah Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, saying some regional states had allowed their territory to be used for attacks. "Heavy strikes on those targets will continue," he said, contradicting Pezeshkian's more conciliatory statement. Still, even though Khamenei did sometimes allow moderate or reformist voices to carry the day in disputes with hardliners, they were usually overruled when the system seemed to come under threat. (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Rod Nickel) A Connecticut man has been found guilty in the 2021 kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man, officials said. Timothy Lange, 36, of New Britain, has been found guilty by a jury in Tolland Superior Court on Thursday of my second-degree kidnapping, felony murder, and tampering with evidence, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Evidence presented at trial showed that Lange and murder victim, Jason Comes, 28, of Massachusetts, were at an East Windsor bar early on Aug. 4, 2021. Surveillance cameras showed Lange arriving with four men, and later Comes car leaving the bar behind Langes motorcycle. Comes car, Langes pickup driven by another man, and a fourth car followed the motorcycle through Enfield. Officials say all three then continued to an address on Moody Road. Advertisement Advertisement About six minutes earlier, another vehicle had entered that address. About 90 minutes later, two vehicles were seen leaving the property and heading east toward Somers, where cameras captured them traveling toward Durkee Road, according to officials. On Aug. 5, 2021, the owner of a plot of land located on Durkee Road contacted police stating that he found a car parked in a field on his property. The police arrived and found Comes lying unresponsive on the rear seat with a gunshot wound to his torso. His feet were bound with tape, and a belt was wrapped around his left wrist. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the CT Division of Criminal Justice. At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 5, 2021, the Woodbridge Volunteer Fire department was dispatched to 50 Woodfield Rd. for a vehicle fire. The Woodbridge Fire Marshal and the Woodbridge Police Department identified the vehicle as Langes pickup, the same truck that was seen on the cameras driving in the early morning hours of Aug. 4, 2021. Investigators found DNA evidence on the victims clothing linking the defendant to the kidnapping and subsequent death of the victim. After announcing the guilty verdict, Langes bond was increased to $3.5 million, according to officials. He is being held on bond while awaiting sentencing scheduled for May 29, at the Tolland Superior Courthouse in Rockville. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to defrauding Amazon out of more than $3.5 million. Ameer Nasir, 25, of Trumbull took a plea deal on Friday in federal court in Bridgeport where he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to pay restitution, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. According to federal officials, Nasir allegedly defrauded Amazon Logistics, an Amazon subsidiary, by registering 23 trucking businesses with the company and misrepresenting that he had completed numerous transportation assignments. Advertisement Advertisement Amazon frequently contracts with various interstate trucking businesses to transport both empty trailers and trailers containing heavy loads of freight between cities as well as between warehouses and fulfillment centers, authorities said. Of the nearly two dozen businesses Nasir registered, one was reportedly done in the name of his business, Pak Express Transport, LLC. The others, authorities said, were created fraudulently using the names and identifying information of other trucking or transportation companies without their knowledge. Between December 2019 and February 2021, Nasir used these accounts to sign up for more than 1,000 transportation assignments with Amazon Logistics, officials said. Authorities said he manipulated information in Amazons transportation management system to misrepresent that he had completed trailer movements when he had not, and submitted fraudulent invoices to Amazon Logistics that were paid out. Federal officials said that he defrauded the company out of more than $3.5 million through the scheme. Nasir is free on a $300,000 bond pending sentencing, when he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Part of the plea deal he took includes paying more than $3.5 million in restitution, officials said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday highlighted demographic challenges in South India and outlined the state's new Population Management Policy aimed at addressing declining fertility rates at the Raisina Dialogue held in the national capital. According to the Andhra Pradesh CMO, CM Naidu said, "Some countries are already facing an ageing problem. India still has the advantage of a demographic dividend, which will remain up to 2047. India's replacement fertility rate is 2.1, and currently it is around 2.2. But in South India, we are around 1.5 - far below the replacement level." He added, "For the first time, a state government has introduced a population management policy. If a family has a second child, the state government will give 25,000 cash on delivery. For the third child, we will provide 1,000 per month for five years for nutrition and child development." CM Naidu also spoke about parental support measures, stating, "We are giving maternity leave for one year. Even men will get one or two months of leave to look after the child. Raising children is a parental responsibility - both wife and husband have to share it equally." Furthermore, speaking to reporters after the Dialogue, CM Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh has been focusing on emerging technologies such as information technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies for several years, and that these sectors will play a key role in improving governance and strengthening the economy. "I've been working on technology since the beginning. IT, QUANTUM, AI. Andhra Pradesh is ahead in all these technologies. Through technology, we can provide better services in the future. And we can also build a better economy," he said. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the country currently has a strong government supported by effective public policy. ''Our Prime Minister is providing a very strong government and excellent public policy,'' he said. Highlighting demographic challenges, Naidu said that discussions in India have historically focused on population control, but the issue is now shifting towards concerns about declining population growth in certain regions, particularly in southern states. ''Recently, I introduced a population management policy. Until yesterday, we were all talking about population control. Now we're talking about how to increase the population. Now there's a problem in South India. Some countries are also facing the same problem,'' he said. Naidu noted that Andhra Pradesh has begun experimenting with a new population management policy aimed at addressing these demographic trends, describing the initiative as a major exercise that could serve as a model for other states. ''I raised that issue here as well. Andhra Pradesh is the first state where we're experimenting with population growth. This is the biggest exercise. Now, other states are also coming. If you can manage population management, no one can defeat India. It's going to happen,'' he said. The Chief Minister also referred to Friday's discussion in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on the ideal age cutoff for restricting social media usage among minors, stating that social media may be banned for children below 13 years of age. Naidu, on this today, said the state government is considering measures to limit access for younger users and is currently debating and examining the proposal. "We are also considering whether children under 13 can be prevented from using social media. We are working on this as well. We are debating and discussing this," he said. Meanwhile, amid rising concerns over excessive screen time among children, the government of Karnataka is also considering restrictions on social media access for minors. While presenting the 4,48,004 crore State Budget in the Assembly in Bengaluru on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that social media will be banned for children below 16 years of age in the state, saying the move aims to curb the growing impact of excessive mobile usage among youngsters. (ANI) Cuba has shuttered its embassy in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, after it was given 48 hours to withdraw its diplomatic personnel. In a communique published on Friday, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known by the acronym Minrex, criticised the 48-hour deadline as unfair and denounced the decision to expel its diplomats. The Cuban government deeply regrets the unilateral and unfriendly action of the Ecuadorian government, which undermines the spirit of respect and cooperation that has historically characterised bilateral relations between the two countries, it said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement The communique confirmed that the Quito embassy ceased operations at 10am local time (15:00 GMT). The closure marks an abrupt fracture in diplomatic relations between Cuba and Ecuador, as right-wing President Daniel Noboa takes a hardline stance on left-wing governments in the region. On Wednesday, in a letter to the Cuban embassy, Noboas government declared all Cuban diplomatic and consular personnel in Ecuador persona non grata. The letter explained that the government of Ecuador grants a period of 48 hours for Cuban Ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutierrez Garcia and his colleagues to leave the South American country. Advertisement Advertisement It included no explanation for the sudden request. Increasing pressure on Cuba The Cuban government, however, responded to the demand with outrage, though it ultimately complied. On social media, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel criticised Noboas government, though he added that the Ecuadorian people can always count on Cubas affection and support. We reject the unjustified, hostile, and unfriendly actions of the Ecuadorian government toward our diplomatic mission accredited to that nation, Diaz-Canel wrote. This unprecedented action damages the historic relations of friendship and cooperation between our peoples. He added that Cuba would continue to rally for the preservation of Latin American unity, despite Ecuadors clear policy of submitting to imperial interests. Advertisement Advertisement The remarks seem to be a reference to the tightening relations between Noboa and United States President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to see Cubas communist government fall. Just this week, Trump told the news outlet CNN that he planned to focus on regime change in Havana after he closes his current war with Iran. Cuba is going to fall too. They want to make a deal so badly, Trump told CNN host Dana Bash. Were really focused on this one right now, he said of Iran. Weve got plenty of time, but Cubas ready. In late February, Trump told reporters on the White House lawn that it was possible the US could end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba, though it was unclear what that might look like. Advertisement Advertisement He has also signalled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio a Cuban American who has been hawkish against Havanas government would lead efforts to transform the leadership on the Caribbean island. Trump and Noboa build relations Noboa has forged tight relations with Trump. Just this week, his government announced a joint operation with the US government to combat cartels in Ecuador, part of a widening anti-drug campaign under Trump. And this weekend, Noboa is travelling to South Florida to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, along with other right-wing Latin American leaders. They have called their meeting the Shield of the Americas summit. Already, Trump has launched deadly military operations in several parts of Latin America and threatened further involvement in countries like Mexico and Cuba. Advertisement Advertisement Since September, the US has conducted at least 44 air strikes on boats and maritime vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, accusing them of smuggling drugs, though no public evidence has been produced to justify that assertion. In January, Trump also authorised an attack on Venezuela to abduct its leader at the time, President Nicolas Maduro, and transport him to the US to face drug-trafficking charges. As part of his national security strategy, Trump has argued that the US should restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere. In a social media post earlier this year, the US Department of State put it more bluntly: This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened. Advertisement Advertisement Noboa has mirrored several of Trumps policy stances, as his own country struggles with an uptick in violent crime in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like Trump, for instance, he has repeatedly criticised the left-wing government in Colombia for failing to take more aggressive action against the illicit manufacture of cocaine within its borders. In recent weeks, Noboa also slapped 50 percent tariffs on Colombia, echoing Trumps own use of the import tax to enforce compliance with his foreign policy goals. A policy of isolation Noboas decision this week to expel Cuban diplomats coincides with Trumps push to further isolate the Caribbean island from other countries in Latin America. Advertisement Advertisement Since Januarys attack on Venezuela, Trump has severed the flow of oil and money between the governments in Caracas and Havana. Then, on January 29, Trump issued an executive order threatening economic penalties against any country that provides Cuba with oil, whether directly or indirectly. The policy, which critics describe as tantamount to an oil blockade, comes on top of a full trade embargo the US has imposed on Cuba since the 1960s. That Cold War-era embargo has been credited with weakening Cubas economy, and with the country cut off from the oil supplies that power its electrical grid, the United Nations has warned the island could be on the precipice of humanitarian collapse. Advertisement Advertisement The US, however, has justified the embargo as necessary to confront Cuba over its violations of human rights. Though Democratic President Barack Obama sought to ease the restrictions against Cuba in 2015, Trump reimposed the sanctions upon taking office for a first term in 2017. Noboa marked this weeks expulsion of the Cuban diplomats from Ecuador with a short social media video, showing an embassy worker dropping papers into a rooftop incinerator. He captioned the video with a short comment, describing the scene as a parrillada de papeles, or a barbecue of papers. California U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, the veteran Republican who has represented San Diegoarea districts in Congress for more than two decades, announced Friday that he is calling it quits, opening a newly redrawn House seat that now tilts toward Democrats. Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter. Issa, 72, said he decided not to seek reelection in Californias reconfigured 48th Congressional District after reflecting on his career in business and politics. Advertisement Advertisement This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didnt make it lightly, Issa wrote in a statement posted on X. But after a quarter-century in Congress and before that, a quarter-century in business its the right time for a new chapter and new challenges. Issa also endorsed Jim Desmond, a Republican county supervisor and Navy veteran, to succeed him. Jim is not only a personal friend, hes a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has a 20-year record of public service, Issa wrote. Related: This bisexual San Diego City Council member is fighting to replace Darrell Issa in Congress Advertisement Advertisement Related: Democrat under fire over campaign memo implying LGBTQ+ candidates arent electable in key California race Desmond has drawn criticism from some LGBTQ+ activists in San Diego County. In a February 2025 Facebook post, the group San Diego Drag March for Trans Rights accused him of backing efforts to have the county Board of Supervisors support federal legislation that would bar transgender women and girls from participating in womens sports. Issa said his campaign believed it could win another term, citing internal polling and support from President Donald Trump, but said it was time to step aside. The retirement reshapes the race for Californias 48th District, which spans parts of San Diego and Riverside counties. A voter-approved redistricting plan last year shifted the once-safely Republican district into one where Democrats now hold a roughly 4-point registration edge. Advertisement Advertisement The new map also added the liberal desert city of Palm Springs, known for its large LGBTQ+ population, altering the political coalitions needed to win. Issa first won election to Congress in 2000 and became a national Republican figure as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during investigations of the Obama administration. Earlier, he played a major role in financing the 2003 recall of California Gov. Gray Davis. Issas exit also throws open what had already become a crowded contest. More than a dozen candidates have filed to run in the district, the vast majority of them Democrats, reflecting the seats new political balance. Among them are Marni von Wilpert and Ammar Campa-Najjar. Campa-Najjar is married to U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs, an outspoken LGBTQ+ ally in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Other candidates include Stephen Clemons, an LGBTQ+ candidate whose campaign has focused on affordability, jobs, and housing in the region, Ferguson Porter, an LGBTQ+ Palm Springs entrepreneur, writer, and comic book retailer who has previously sought congressional office, and Brandon Riker, a gay technology entrepreneur and investor who has been active in Democratic politics and advocacy. Von Wilpert, who is bisexual, previously told The Advocate that her decision to challenge Issa was driven by concern that LGBTQ+ rights and other civil liberties were under threat nationally. If we want to keep our rights," she said, "I have to step up and fight." The district now becomes one of the Democrats most promising pickup opportunities in the fight for control of the House. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Darrell Issas retirement opens Palm Springsarea House race for queer Democrats RELATED Tax breaks for data center operators could soon be stripped from Washington state law. On Saturday, the House Finance Committee voted 8 to 6 to approve Senate Bill 6231. The bill next awaits a House floor vote. As it stands, data center operators in most Washington counties do not pay the 6.5% sales tax on server equipment. That equipment is typically replaced every three to five years, and current law exempts sales tax on purchasing new or replacing old server equipment. It also doesnt apply sales tax to labor hired to install the equipment. Advertisement Advertisement The proposal would eliminate a portion of those tax exemptions: the break for replacing or refurbishing older server equipment. It would leave in place the exemption for purchasing new equipment. Big tech companies and unionized electrical workers opposed the bill, arguing data centers have been economic powerhouses that help rural economies. Supporters of the bill say its time to stop exempting major corporations from taxes. Bill sponsor Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, asked lawmakers if the state should continue offering the tax preference to companies or raise revenue to help the states stretched budget. Advertisement Advertisement Thats the policy choice in front of us, she said during a House Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday. The proposal, requested by Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, is estimated to bring in over $140 million for the state budget every two years if it takes effect. Washington is already among the top 10 states with the highest number of data centers. Central Washington, in particular, with its cheap hydroelectric power coupled with the states tax incentives, has seen a threefold increase in data center leasing in 2024, according to a report a state AI task force released in December. We in Washington have this competitive advantage right now because we have clean hydroelectric power, we currently have no income tax, said Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, R-Puyallup, during the House Finance Committees meeting Saturday, ahead of the vote. We need these data centers. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Revenue offers only six tax exemption certificates to data center operators in urban counties every year, but there is no limit on exemptions in rural counties. Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, sponsored a 2022 bill that expanded the data center tax exemptions to urban counties. Berg chairs the House Finance Committee and voted yes on the proposal, which would essentially cancel her previous bill. I cant say I support this new proposal, but I do understand the need for it, Berg told the Standard, citing the states budget crunch. If the measure becomes law, data center operators would have until July 1 to take advantage of sales tax exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, the top Republican on House Finance, voted no on the measure. I think thats extremely unfair, he said during Saturdays meeting. Its going to send shockwaves to anyone whos looking to expand or relocate here. Orcutt is also concerned that contracts between data centers and electricians to install equipment might have to be renegotiated if the tax break ends. Another committee member, Rep. Shaun Scott, a socialist-Democrat from Seattle, strongly supports the rollback. Data centers are doing terrible things for the environment and driving up the cost of utilities for working families, Scott told the Standard. Tax preferences that we extend should go towards enterprises and endeavors that are good for the people of our state, he added. Right now, there are real concerns about whether or not data centers fit that bill. March 7 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the telephone. In 1918, Finland signed a peace treaty with Germany shortly after declaring independence from Russia. In 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered Nazi troops into the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles. In 1945, the U.S. 1st Army crossed the Rhine at Remagen, Germany after capturing the strategically important Ludendorff Bridge (also known as the Bridge at Remagen). World War II in Europe ended two months later. On March 7, 1965, civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., were turned back by police in what came to be known as Bloody Sunday. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI In 1965, hundreds of civil rights marchers trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., were turned back by state troopers and sheriff's deputies. Dozens of people were beaten and injured in what became known as "Bloody Sunday." Marchers voluntarily turned around on a ceremonial walk to the bridge two days later and, on March 21, with protection by federal and National Guard troops, the main Selma-to-Montgomery march began. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI On March 7, 2017, Malta's iconic Azure Window, a natural rock arch pictured in 2014, collapsed into the sea during a storm. File Photo by Domenic Aquilina/EPA In 1984, the U.S. Senate confirmed William Wilson as the first U.S. ambassador to the Vatican in 117 years. Advertisement Advertisement In 1985, "We Are the World," a song composed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and recorded by a series of high-profile music stars was released worldwide with the goal of generating funds for the USA for Africa charity. The song and related promotions eventually raised about $63 million. The Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine between Erpel (foreground, east side) and Remagen (background, west side) after it was captured by U.S. troops on March 7, 1945. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Signal Corps In 2010, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director for her film The Hurt Locker. In 2013, the U.S. Senate confirmed John Brennan as director of the CIA. On March 7, 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered Nazi troops into the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles. File Photo courtesy of NARA File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 2017, Malta's iconic Azure Window, a natural rock arch, collapsed into the sea during a storm. Kathryn Bigelow, director for the film "The Hurt Locker," appears backstage with her Oscar at the 82nd annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on March 7, 2010. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Sweden became the 32nd member of NATO after a longstanding policy of nonalignment. File Photo courtesy of the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office Does it feel like we are springing forward a little early this year? It should because daylight saying time is starting on its earliest possible date this year. Here's what to know about daylight saving time and springing forward. When does daylight saving time 2026 start? Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. March 8, 2026. At that time, your clocks should be moved forward one hour, making it 3 a.m. When is daylight saving time 2026?: Delaware law may make it permanent Why is daylight saving time early this year? Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March every year. Because March started on a Sunday in 2026, the second Sunday is March 8, making it the earliest possible date for springing forward. Advertisement Advertisement Next year, we won't spring forward until March 14, which is the latest possible day to start daylight saving time. How daylight saving time impacts overnight shift worker's pay With the time change moving forward from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., graveyard shift workers will impact time cards. If an employee works from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. with a one-hour lunch break, it's an eight-hour shift. When the time shifts forward, the employee didn't work the hour and they're still leaving at 8 a.m. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees should be paid for the hours they work. When the clock spring forward, employees work seven hours and should be paid for seven hours. When standard time returns and we fall back, the employee should be paid for nine hours of work. Are Delaware bars impacted by daylight saving time or standard time changes? Delaware bars, taverns, restaurants and taprooms are not impacted by daylight saving time. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Delaware Office of the Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control, while closing time is 2 a.m., alcoholic beverages cannot be sold in Delaware after 1 a.m. and by 1:30 all alcoholic beverages must be placed out of reach of patrons. In theory, when you fall back in November, you might be able to get one more round because the time goes back to 1 a.m., but that's about it. Do I need to check anything for daylight saving time? Along with moving your clocks ahead an hour, it's also a good time to do a couple of simple housekeeping items: Check or change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Change the direction of your ceiling fans. Check your home's air filters. 7 ways to adjust to daylight saving time? WebMD.com has a list of tips to help you adjust after daylight saving time begins. Here are some of the ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Get some sunshine: Get some sunshine soon after waking up. The sunlight helps you reset your internal clock. Take a nap: If you are sleepy, take a short nap in the afternoon, but not too close to bedtime. Also, avoid sleeping in during the morning. Get regular sleep: Be consistent when going to sleep and waking up each day including weekends. This will help your body regulate its sleep. Get exercise: Moderate exercise can help you sleep better, but don't exercise too close to bedtime. Relax before bed: Put the phone down, turn off the television. Stress and overstimulation make it difficult to sleep. Do something relaxing before bed like reading a book or taking a warm bath. Don't watch the clock: If you lie there for more than 20 minutes, get up, go to another room and do something relaxing. Watching the clock just causes more stress. Avoid alcohol and caffeine: Caffeine and tobacco should be avoided close to bedtime. Alcohol should be avoided four to 6 hours before bedtime. When does standard time 2026 start? Standard time will also start on the earliest day possible. We fall back on the first Sunday in November. In 2026, the first Sunday of November falls on Nov. 1. At 2 a.m. on Nov. 1 we will move the clocks back one hour to 1 a.m. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why is daylight saving time early in 2026? An Eastern Shore woman said proposed budget cuts to the Department of Disabilities Administration would devastate rural families who rely on home care for their family members. Shana Farlow has been caring for her two brothers, Nathan, 34, and Andrew Holland, 43, since their mother died five years ago. Both suffer from leukodystrophy, a degenerative disorder that attacks the brain and the spinal cord. They live in Stockton, a small community outside of Snow Hill, where access to care is difficult. She said they used to go to a care facility in Salisbury, roughly 45 minutes away, but her brothers didnt do well and the quality of care was questionable. Advertisement Advertisement Farlow described separate instances of stolen medication, and another when one brother suffered severe burns. They hated it. They had real trouble in a group setting, she said. Traditional care, Ill be honest with you, they do not pay their employees. They just want warm body there they dont care about people being qualified. Since their mother died, Farlow said Andrew and Nathan have remained in their childhood home, next door to her, using self-directed care that gives them each in-home and individual care. When I heard about self-directed, where they could each have their own one-on-one provider and I could oversee it, it made me happy. And since then, oh my gosh, Andrew and Nathan are thriving, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Farlow said thats now in jeopardy because of proposed cuts to the DDA, which administers self-directed care in Maryland that could total $150 million and also impact another $150 million in matching federal funds. State officials dispute the scale of the cuts described by advocates. The Maryland Department of Health has said the proposals are designed to slow spending growth and ensure compliance with federal Medicaid guidelines, warning that more than $1.5 billion in federal funds tied to those services could be at risk if the state falls out of compliance. These programs are wonderful programs. Theyve been in place for many years and never had an issue, Farlow said. But over the past two years, it has been a roller coaster up and down. Proposed cuts last year were scaled back, and programs werent impacted. Farlow is hoping thats the case again this year but until lawmakers reach a decision, its a waiting game for her and many other rural families. Advertisement Advertisement The crazy part about all this is that self-directed was made so people like Andrew Nathan can stay at home, but its also so much cheaper and to keep them at home and happy and healthy, Farlow said. Farlow said the proposed cuts could trim $15 to $16 worth of hourly wages for self-directed care providers. With the rates that theyre talking about, somebody can go to Starbucks and make more money than what theyre proposing, Farlow said. I already have a hard time finding staff at the good rates, because were so rural. And thats my concern I dont think Ill be able to find qualified, good people. For the first time in all these years, I am scared. Farlow said if the cuts do go through, Andrew and Nathan would not last very long back in traditional care. Advertisement Advertisement Thats scary, if Im forced to do something like that, she said. Farlow helped put together a Save Our Services rally last Saturday in Salisbury, with members of the Eastern Shore Delegation pledging support to reverse the proposed cuts. When all this started, my goal was to educate people who arent in our situation, she said. And I think Ive done that because people are like, What? This is what our taxpayer money is being taken away from? This doesnt make any sense. Have a news tip? Contact Eastern Shore bureau chief Josh Davis at jdavis@baltsun.com or on X as @JoshDavis4Shore. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A Hayward mother and her two young children were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in San Francisco this week and deported to Colombia, an immigration attorney told KRON4. One of the children is a 6-year-old boy who is deaf, has disabilities, and was a student at California School for the Deaf at Fremont, state public school officials said. The family was deported without the boys assistive hearing medical devices, the attorney said. The boy, his 5-year-old sibling, and their mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, were asylum seekers from Colombia who arrived in the U.S. four years ago. Advertisement Advertisement What happened to the family defies all logic and humanity, said attorney Niko De Bremaeker of Centro Legal de la Raza. The family was living in Hayward until ICE agents detained them at ICEs Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) office in San Francisco. De Bremaeker said Gutierrez had an order of removal, however, she had no criminal record anywhere in the world, and had a legal right to be notified prior to deportation. Gutierrez, 28, worked in child care. She was checking in at the immigration office when agents arrested her and her children, officials said. Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez smiles with her children in an undated photo. A family member went to an ICE detention center in SF to give the 6-year-old boy his hearing aid, which he relies on daily to communicate. ICE officials said no, and turned the family member away, according to De Bremaeker. Advertisement Advertisement This child has been dragged from detention center to detention center, to places that are not meant for children, the attorney said. They are definitely not built for children with severe disabilities. Its inhuman, illegal, and unconstitutional. De Bremaeker was first alerted Tuesday night about the mothers arrest. De Bremaeker said, even after speaking to ICE officials over the phone and searching the federal immigration system, attorneys were unable to locate the mother and childrens whereabouts for two days. On Thursday, he learned that they were deported from an Arizona detention center to Columbia without due process or access to an attorney, De Bremaeker said. The woman was not allowed to talk to her family until she was at an airbase and about to step onto a deportation flight, the attorney said. Its outrageous, he said. Its chaotic at best, and it feels intentional, at worst. Advertisement Advertisement ICE officials did not respond to KRON4s request for comment. Lawsuit details what happens to migrants detained by ICE in San Francisco While living in Hayward, the boy attended California School for the Deaf at Fremont for three years and he was making strong progress learning American Sign Language. Back in Colombia, educational services and opportunities for students with disabilities is limited. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond held a news conference Friday to publicly demand that Department of Homeland Security officials help find the deaf boy and return him to California. Advertisement Advertisement Thurmond said he was deeply disturbed that the boy was deported without access critical medical devices. Californias top education official said, This unnecessary cruelty must end. No child should be ripped from their home community and hidden in a detention center, especially not a deaf child who is being deprived of the ability to communicate and understand what is happening to him. I am calling on the federal government to return our student to his school community now. The DHS website states that the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program oversees undocumented immigrants compliance with release conditions while on ICEs non-detained docket. ISAP enables aliens to remain in their communities contributing to their families and community organizations and, as appropriate, concluding their affairs in the U.S. as they move through immigration proceedings or prepare for departure, officials wrote. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) The mother had followed her ISAP supervision order conditions fully. She was not told of any violations of this order. She has no criminal record anywhere in the world. The person should be given notice and space to plan, the attorney said. Within the past year, more than 3 million undocumented immigrants have left the United States, the Department of Homeland Security reported Friday. These numbers include an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations, a DHS spokesperson wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Illegal aliens have a choice. They can leave now and preserve the opportunity to come back to the U.S. the legal way and live the American dream. If not, we will find them, deport them, and they will never return, DHS wrote. De Bremaeker said he was able to speak to Gutierrez Friday, and her children are traumatized from being ripped away from their home. U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell wrote in a statement, No child is safe from deportation under Trumps administration. As a father, my heart breaks to hear that a mother in my district in Hayward and her two young sons were detained during a routine immigration check-in. Swalwell said he is closely monitoring the case with federal officials demanding answers. Advertisement Advertisement 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 KRON4. Officials in northeast Indiana are alerting residents to a data breach that may have compromised personal information. The DeKalb County Board of County Commissioners announced Friday that they were made aware of unusual activity on their network last September. Further investigation determined information that was maintained on the network may have been copied by an unauthorized individual sometime between Aug. 21 and Sept. 25 of last year. A notice posted on the county's website said the information that was copied may include a person's name, along with their Social Security number, driver's license number or identification card number and/or their financial account number. The information impacted varies from person to person, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement The county said they secured the network and remediated the incident once they were aware of the breach on or around Sept. 25, 2025. Officials are providing access to credit monitoring and identity protection services to individuals who may have been impacted by the incident. Anyone with questions about the breach or who would like to enroll in the protection services are asked to call 1-844-953-2377 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time. More information about how individuals can monitor their credit and remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud is available here. DeKalb County is north of Fort Wayne, about 150 miles from Indianapolis. For many residents and visitors alike, the State of Michigan conjures images of abundant fresh water and sprawling Great Lakes summed up by the states two-word tagline: Pure Michigan. While environmental advocates have long fought to preserve the health and quality of those issues, one particular issue has evaded progress for decades: establishing a statewide code on septic systems. On Friday, Flow Water Advocates hosted a panel to discuss the lack of uniform regulation on septic fields within the state, and how failing to monitor these systems could bring harm to both Michigan residents and the environment. Skip Pruss, senior advisor for Flow and the moderator of Fridays panel, said the state is gifted to be surrounded by 21% of the worlds freshwater, alongside 11,000 inland lakes and countless rivers and streams. However, when those bodies of water are tested, results often show evidence of contamination with human feces, Pruss said. Advertisement Advertisement Its just astounding that Michigan is the only state of all 50 states that doesnt have a statewide septic code, and its not for want of trying, Pruss said. Weve been at this for almost 40 years, trying to get legislation passed, and we havent been able to do it. Skip Pruss, senior advisor for Flow Water Advocates, hosts a webinar on an effort to establish a statewide septic code in Michigan. March 6, 2025 | Screenshot During the 2023-2024 Legislative session, Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) led the introduction on a set of bills to set a statewide code, with Reps. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) and Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) leading the effort in the House. While the bills failed to reach the governors desk, Singh reintroduced legislation at the end of January 2026 to allow local health departments to inspect and enforce new regulations on on-site wastewater treatment systems. I think we sometimes dont acknowledge the size and scope of the issue, Singh told attendees of Fridays webinar. There is over 1.3 million on site septic systems throughout the state. And obviously, the way weve been regulating it since we dont have a statewide code has been at the local level. Dan Thorell, a health officer with the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, noted that there are 45 local health departments throughout the state, and that each department has its own set of regulations on the permitting and siting of new septic systems, with only a handful of departments performing evaluations of existing systems. Advertisement Advertisement A statewide code is something that local health departments have supported, Thorell said. The concept of a statewide code is just a matter of the details, right? Of getting something that, you know, we can all live with and that is going to do what we need to do. Singhs Senate Bill 771 would create a technical advisory committee, which would work with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to make recommendations for rules on a statewide septic code, laying out a three year timeline to adopt rules on onsite water treatments systems, with inspections beginning as early as 45 days after the rules are putting in place, he explained. Local agencies would have 10 years after the rules are put in place to evaluate systems based on certain risk factors, including environmental criteria, age and any changes in use. Any system older than 20 years within 500 feet or surface water, or that lacks a construction permit must be evaluated. Systems 30 years or older must also be evaluated. Singh acknowledged that with 1.3 million systems in the state, local health departments would be facing a significant increase in their workload, so inspections in the first ten years would focus on systems at the highest risk of failure, with reevaluations every 10 years. Over time, every system in the state would eventually be inspected due to its age, Singh said. Advertisement Advertisement We have had studies that have shown that anywhere between 20 to 30% of septic systems are in some level of failure, Singh said. And we want to ensure that, you know, that these evaluations are done in an appropriate way. State Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) attends Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Whats Next Address in Lansing on Aug. 30, 2023. (Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) The bill also creates a public education and training fund, to provide public education and outreach on septic systems as well as training to local health departments, evaluators and EGLE. The fund would be supported by a $5 fee on services associated with permitting and applications for an onsite water treatment system. Additionally, the bill allows public health departments to charge a $50 fee for inspections, and would create an electronic database on the locations of septic systems within the state and the results of their evaluations. While the system would not be accessible to the general public under the current iteration of the bill, Singh said access to the system has been part of an ongoing conversation. Advertisement Advertisement I think thats still being debated at the stakeholder level, but we want to make sure that theres at least enough public understanding that if there is a crisis or an issue, people would be well aware of it, Singh said. As for the threat failing septic systems can pose to the environment, Megan Tinsley, the water policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council, explained that these systems can deposit nutrients into nearby water bodies, leading to algal blooms. We know they close beaches, but they also do have an environmental impact, Tinsley said. They change the ecosystem, because basically the algae sucks and uses up all the oxygen in the water column, and so youre left with areas that fish and other aquatic life just cant live. Some of these algae also release toxins, which can damage the liver, harming both humans and their pets, Tinsley explained. Advertisement Advertisement Failing septic systems can also contaminate bodies of water with E. coli, a type of bacteria found in mammals digestive tracts. The bacteria can infect humans through ingestion or contact with skin, leading to health issues such as diarrhea, giardia, hepatitis or cholera. Diagram of conventional septic system. | EPA illustration There are more than 9,000 miles of streams in the state that are out of compliance for safe human contact, Tinsley said. Additional monitoring activity could bring that number up to 37,000 miles, meaning more than half of streams in the state would not be safe for swimming, Tinsley explained. When asked what the major holdups have been in establishing a statewide septic code, Singh said the cost of a failing system has been the biggest concern. Out of sight, out of mind, I think, is, you know, how some people want to view this issue, Singh said. And they know, once you have a statewide septic code, theres evaluations that are being done that, you know, your residents are going to find out Hey, Ive got a failing system. And guess what? Now Ive got a $15,000 bill, $10,000 bill, Some even higher, if youve got even a larger septic system. Managing that cost, alongside concerns about how the will impact the transfer of property and how health departments who dont have the capacity and finances to meet additional demands have been the basic components of this conversation for the past 40 years, Singh explained. The Department of Homeland Security blasted Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) for falling for one of the medias obvious hoaxes on Saturday when he complained about a Univision reporter who was arrested by ICE earlier this week. Castro said the reporter Estefany Rodriguez was arrested without a warrant on Wednesday. She is an asylum seeker, has valid work permits, and is married to a U.S. citizen, Castro posted on X. Her detention exposes the Trump Admins machine of cruelty that is attacking the free press and violating our rights. This lawlessness and cruelty must end. Advertisement Advertisement DHS responded to Castro with its own X post, saying the Texas Democrat was pushing FALSE info. Heres the warrant. Its embarrassing when sanctuary politicians fall for these obvious hoaxes peddled by the media, the DHS account posted. We look forward to you correcting the record. Next time ask us and we will get you the facts. THIS IS FALSE. Heres the warrant. Its embarrassing when sanctuary politicians fall for these obvious hoaxes peddled by the media. We look forward to you correcting the record. Next time ask us and we will get you the facts. https://t.co/h3ECpz5NSF pic.twitter.com/ZeHxOZoik5 Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 7, 2026 The post included a picture of the warrant. It said there was probable cause to remove Rodriguez for three reasons: The failure to establish admissibility subsequent to deferred inspection Biometric confirmation of the subjects identity and a records check of federal databases that affirmatively indicate, by themselves or in addition to other reliable information, that the subject either lacks immigration status or notwithstanding such status is removable under U.S. immigration law; and/or Statements made voluntarily by the subject to an immigration officer and/or other reliable evidence that affirmatively indicate the subject either lacks immigration status or notwithstanding such status is removable under U.S. immigration law Advertisement Advertisement Several reports including one local NBC report from WSMV 4 in Nashville that is included at the top of this story had said there was no warrant for Rodriguezs arrest. Rodriguez has been covering President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration for Nashville Noticias and Univision 42 Nashville. ICE said Rodriguez is an illegal immigrant from Colombia who entered the U.S. on a two-week tourist visa in March 2021. Rodriguez has no lawful status to remain in the U.S. and has failed to attend two immigration interview dates, according to ICE. Trump shook up his leadership team this week when he fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem; he is nominating Sen.Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to take her place. Watch WSMV 4s report from Friday above. The post DHS Blasts Texas Democrat for Complaining About ICE Arresting Immigration Reporter: Fell for Medias Obvious Hoax first appeared on Mediaite. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on March 9 a writ petition filed by Shabana Hasan, wife of rat-hole miner Vaqueel Hasan, who gained nationwide recognition for his courageous role in the Silkyara Tunnel rescue operation in Uttarkashi, where 41 trapped workers were rescued in November 2023. The petition has been filed through Advocate Subhashchandran KR, alleging illegal demolition of the family's house in North East Delhi. The plea has been filed against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The petitioner has sought directions from the court regarding the alleged demolition of her residential house without following due process of law. According to the petition, officials of DDA, accompanied by police personnel, allegedly demolished the family's house located in Shri Ram Colony, Karawal Nagar, on February 28, 2024. It is claimed that the demolition was carried out using heavy machinery, including a bulldozer, without issuing any prior notice, show-cause notice, hearing, or demolition order. The plea states that the petitioner's husband, Vaqueel Hasan, had risked his life during the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation when advanced machines failed to reach the trapped workers. Using traditional rat-hole mining techniques, he and his team helped reach the workers and played a key role in saving all 41 labourers, earning appreciation across the country. According to the petition, the family had purchased the modest house measuring about 80 square yards in 2019 after years of savings and financial hardship, including selling ancestral property and jewellery. The house was the only shelter for the family, and they had been residing there continuously with government identity documents and utility records reflecting the address. The petition further alleges that some officials had earlier demanded illegal gratification whenever the family attempted to repair or strengthen the house. Upon refusing to meet such demands, the family allegedly faced threats and intimidation. It is claimed that the demolition left the family homeless overnight and destroyed their belongings, including furniture, clothes, appliances, documents, jewellery, and children's books. The petitioner has also stated that the incident caused deep psychological trauma to the family, particularly affecting her daughter, who was preparing for her Class X board examinations and lost all her study material. The plea also alleges that the action was selective, stating that many similarly placed houses in the same colony remain untouched while only the petitioner's house was demolished. According to the petition, such action indicates arbitrary and discriminatory use of power. The petitioner has also relied on safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court of India, which require authorities to provide prior notice and an opportunity of hearing before carrying out any demolition. Through the writ petition, the petitioner has sought compensation of at least Rs 85 lakh for the losses suffered by the family. The plea also seeks directions for the reconstruction of the demolished house at the original site or for providing suitable alternative accommodation nearby, along with an independent investigation into the alleged illegal demolition and action against the officials responsible. (ANI) Kevin Simmons, a youth mentor and pastor who was repeatedly shot by a teenager to whom he was giving an Uber ride, said the first thing he remembers in the days after his 2023 shooting was a message of forgiveness. "Just before I became conscious, I heard God tell me that, 'You got another chance to get it right,'" Simmons said. "I forgave the young man for what he'd done, because if I'm going to be forgiven, I've got to forgive first." Violence, forgiveness and trauma were just some of the issues that Simmons and other panelists talked about at "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit" held on Saturday, March 7, at Prince Hall Masonic Temple on North Avenue in Milwaukee. Michelle Bryant, left, host of "Say Something Real," and Eddie Silas, right, co-owner of Prolific Arms, participate in a panel during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The panel, most of whom are gun owners, also discussed the responsibility that comes with owning firearms, and what needs to be done to reduce senseless shootings in Milwaukee and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement The event was co-sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Marquette University's O'Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism. Speakers included Simmons, Prolific Arms co-owner Eddie Silas, and radio hosts Michelle Bryant and Homer Blow. Blow stressed the importance of family and community members looking for signs of trouble and acting on them, adding that he often reads criminal complaints where warning signs were ignored. "We need to pay attention to someone that may be having mental health, or somebody that's just out here acting a damn fool," said Blow, a music director and host of his online radio station, BlowRadio.com. Advertisement Advertisement Bryant, who, like Blow, is a gun owner, said young people and adults need to be taught about gun safety. "When we're telling our children put guns down, we're not going to teach you how to responsibly own a gun," that's a problem, said Bryant, a WNOV 860 AM 106.5 FM radio host and political strategist. Silas, who also does firearms education, said that using his weapon in self-defense changed him forever and more needs to be done to prevent violence. "We have the responsibility to reach out into our community, grab the youth at a very early age, and teach them as much as possible," he said. "We've got to go deeper. We've got to reach further. And education is the passport to the future, right?" Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Behind the Gun: A project about firearms deaths in Wisconsin New discussions sparked by gun project The March 7 event was the result of conversations in the community by investigative reporter John Diedrich and columnist James Causey, both of the Journal Sentinel, who co-moderated the panel. Attendees listen to a panel discussion on gun safety during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter John Diedrich, left, introduces the panelist during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michelle Bryant, left, host of "Say Something Real," and Eddie Silas, right, co-owner of Prolific Arms, participate in a panel during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Attendees bow their heads as Pastor Walter Lainer leads in prayer during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From left, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist James Causey; Homer Blow, host of BlowRadio; Michelle Bryant, host of "Say Something Real;" Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms; and Kevin Simmons, a youth mentor and pastor, participate in a panel during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Attendees ask questions on gun safety during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel executive editor Greg Borowski makes opening remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter John Diedrich makes opening remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pastor Walter Lainer makes remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms, left, and Kevin Simmons, a youth mentor and pastor, right, make remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist James Causey ask questions to panelist during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Homer Blow, host of BlowRadio, makes remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michelle Bryant, host of Say Something Real, makes remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms makes remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michelle Bryant, host of Say Something Real,left, and Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms, right, participate in a penel discussion during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern is seen during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist James Causey, left, speaks with Kevin Simmons, a youth mentor and pastor, right, during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From left, Homer Blow, host of BlowRadio, Michelle Bryant, host of Say Something Real, Eddie Silas, co-owner of Prolific Arms, and Kevin Simmons, a youth mentor and pastor, participate in a panel discussion during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Journal Seminole investigative reporter John Diedrich makes remarks during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brittney Roger, co-owner of Prolific Arms, showcases a firearm lock box during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A firearm lock box is displayed during the Behind the Gun: Milwaukee gun owners safety summit hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee talks gun safety at Journal Sentinel community summit 1 of 21 Attendees listen to a panel discussion on gun safety during the "Behind the Gun: Milwaukee Gun Owners Safety Summit," hosted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 7, 2026, at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Leaders from community groups and residents on the north side told Causey and Diedrich they wanted to have a frank and open discussion about firearms that went beyond simply, "put the guns down." It is the second event to emerge from the "Behind the Gun" project, which Diedrich reported through the O'Brien fellowship. The project revealed the full nature of gun deaths in Wisconsin, including suicides, and explored possible solutions in less-polarizing ways, in particular looking to ideas coming from gun owners. Advertisement Advertisement In May 2024, the Journal Sentinel and Marquette co-hosted a panel and information fair in Wausau called, "At the Intersection of Firearms and Mental Health." In the project, Diedrich also examined unintentional shootings that injured or killed children. The Journal Sentinel found that Milwaukee almost always charges the caregivers involved in these shootings with felonies, while other counties in Wisconsin typically charge similar incidents as misdemeanors or not at all. The defendants are usually related to the victims, most often the parents, and the majority had no criminal record, the analysis found. In the end, they receive probation or a short jail term, it found. New approach for gun laws suggested There has been little significant gun legislation in Wisconsin in more than a decade, despite repeated efforts by Democrats and some Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement A new report from a working group of both gun control and gun rights advocates suggests proposals, that when taken together, could reduce firearms injuries and deaths while protecting gun owners' rights. The proposals include increased background checks, allowing guns to be taken when someone is a danger, improving gun storage practices, increased oversight of rogue gun dealers, and bringing gun safety instruction into schools. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Can there be a new discussion on guns in Milwaukee? That's the goal BRECKENRIDGE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Three Breckenridge teens are accused of lying to police by saying they walked in on their friend suffering from a gunshot wound. Mark Campbell, Jr., Tylen Collins, and Oliziah Reyes were all booked into the Stephens County Jail Thursday for Making a False Report to a Peace Officer in connection to the death of Zackery Smith, 19, who was shot and killed inside an apartment in Breckenridge October 19. Court documents state all three teens gave a similar false narrative to police, saying Campbell woke up the morning of October 19 looking for his Airpods, then asked for a ride to Smiths house to find him. Advertisement Advertisement Their story then says all three of the arrested teens went into Smiths apartment and found him suffering from a gunshot wound on the couch, according to the documents, which state the teens then claimed to call 9-1-1 right after finding him. The documents didnt detail exactly what happened that night, but did confirm investigators determined this story was a lie. Smiths parents told KTAB and KRBC one of the teens was inside the apartment when Smith was shot. They believe Smith and this teen were playing with a gun when it was discharged, and Smith was shot, and they also believe this teen didnt call police or try to get help and instead went to his friends and got them to construct the lie with him. No additional charges have been issued in connection to this crime, though it is still an active investigation. Advertisement Advertisement BigCountryHomepage.com will provide updates on this case. Check back for the latest information. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Trump, celebrated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons (R) support for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act on Friday. Paxton, who is challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) for the GOP nod in the 2026 Texas Senate race, said he would consider dropping out if the upper chamber of Congress lifts the filibuster and passes the legislation. The Save America Act is the most important bill the U.S. Senate could ever pass, and Im committed to helping President Trump get it done, Paxton posted on social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Wow!!!! Total commitment to one of the most important pieces of legislation to save Our Republic, Trump Jr. posted online in response. Pass the Save America Act now!!!! The legislation, which passed the House in February, would require U.S. voters to present proof of citizenship during registration and at the polls. It is now stalled in the Senate, where the bill has struggled to overcome the 60-vote cloture threshold. Trump has championed the SAVE America Act and called on Republicans to eliminate the filibuster in order to move the election reform bill forward. Paxton also called Cornyn a coward over his refusal to support ending the filibuster rule. Advertisement Advertisement Trump Jr.s support for the Texas attorney general is notable, given the fact that Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in the race. The two Republicans will face off in a May runoff after neither received 50 percent of the vote in Tuesdays elections. The president refused to make a decision between the two Republican competitors in a Thursday evening phone call with NBC News, but Trump noted Paxtons continued support for the SAVE America Act. He also added support for the sitting senator, calling Cornyn a very underrated person. He was supposed to lose by 10 points, and he won, the president said, referencing the Tuesdays results. Hes a good man. Advertisement Advertisement 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. President Donald Trump placed the blame firmly on Iran Saturday for the deadly strike on an Iranian girls school that killed upwards of 160 people in the first day of Operation Epic Fury. During a press gaggle aboard Air Force One on the way to the Shield of Americas summit in Florida, a reporter asked, Did the United States bomb a girls elementary school in southern Iran in the first day of the war and kill 175 people? No, in my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement The reporter followed up with a question for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking Is that true, Mr. Hegseth, that it was Iran who did that? Were certainly investigating, Hegseth said, before backing Trumps assumption. But, the only side that targets civilians is Iran, Hegseth maintained. Trump interjected, We figure it was done by Iran, because theyre very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran. Trumps assertion contradicts both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters reports that U.S. forces were likely responsible for the Feb. 28 strike. Advertisement Advertisement The Journal reported Friday, U.S. military investigators think American forces likely were responsible for a strike that killed dozens of children at a girls elementary school in Iran, a U.S. official said. The investigation hasnt reached a final conclusion, the official said. The report continued, Shajarah Tayyebeh Girls School, in the town of Minab near the Strait of Hormuz, was hit Saturday on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli air campaign in what appears to be the deadliest strike of the war. Iran said more than 160 people were killed, including many children, a figure that couldnt be independently verified. Reuters cited two U.S. officials, for its report Thursday, adding, Reuters was unable to determine more details about the investigation, including what evidence contributed to the tentative assessment, what type of munition was used, who was responsible or why the U.S. might have struck the school. If true, this is horrific newsand the U.S. military will have to address this publicly. Proximity of military compound obviously a factor, but our weapons also have pinpoint accuracy. NEW: Investigators think American forces were likely responsible for an airstrike on a Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 6, 2026 Fox Newss Laura Ingraham posted Friday, If true, this is horrific newsand the U.S. military will have to address this publicly. Proximity of military compound obviously a factor, but our weapons also have pinpoint accuracy. Watch above via Fox News. The post It Was Done By Iran: Trump Places Blame For Deadly Strike on Girls School on Iran And Gets Hegseths Support first appeared on Mediaite. Investing.com Flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) partially resumed on Saturday after earlier disruptions triggered by explosions across the city, as authorities worked to stabilize operations at one of the worlds busiest aviation hubs. Travelers earlier described scenes of panic at the airport as sirens sounded and ground staff directed passengers into underground train tunnels for safety. Witnesses reported hearing a loud blast over the airport followed by a plume of black smoke, while air defense systems were later activated to intercept unidentified threats. Residents across parts of Dubai also reported hearing additional explosions, underscoring concerns that regional instability linked to the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran could threaten the UAEs status as a secure global transit hub. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, Emirates had suspended all flights to and from Dubai, urging travelers to stay away from the airport while city check-in points were closed. However, the airline later said that update was no longer current and confirmed that operations have resumed. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating, the carrier said. Emirates said customers can check updated flight schedules and book seats through its website, adding that it continues to monitor the situation and will adjust operations accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement Related articles Emirates resumes Dubai flights after earlier suspension following airport blasts Goldman expects lower but still attractive stock market returns in 2026 As Claude disrupts stock market, Anthropic researcher warns world is in peril New information has emerged about what happened the morning financier Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan as he awaited trial for sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Tova Noel, a prison guard who was on duty at the federal detention facility in the wee hours of August 10, 2019, allegedly Googled latest on Epstein in jail at 5:42 am and 5:52 am that day, according to Department of Justice documents obtained by the New York Post. At 6:30 am, her colleague Michael Thomas found Epstein dead in his cell, where he had allegedly hanged himself with strips of orange cloth. The other bombshell allegation from the documents? Noel allegedly received a $5,000 bank deposit just days before Epsteins death, as well as 11 other mysterious deposits over the course of a year totaling at least $11,880. An internal FBI briefing included in the documents said that Noel is believed to be the figure that appears on surveillance footage near Epsteins cell at 10:40pm the night before. The blurry shape appeared to be carrying something orange, which the agency believes to be linens. Advertisement Advertisement At approximately 10:40 pm, a correctional officer, believed to be Tova Noel, carried linen or inmate clothing up to the L-Tier, last time any correctional officer approached the only entrance to the SHU tier, read the briefing. Noel denied bringing linen to Epstein and Googling him, however she and Thomas previously admitted to not checking on inmates every 30 minutes and falsifying records. Both guards were fired after Epsteins death, and criminal charges were brought against them but later dropped. Read More From National Enquirer This story Epstein Prison Guards Google History and Mysterious Bank Deposits Revealed first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. By Samia Nakhoul and Parisa Hafezi March 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that while it favours a diplomatic settlement to Iran's conflict with the United States, continued attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The message was conveyed before a speech on Saturday in which Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring Gulf states for Tehrans actions -- an apparent attempt to defuse regional anger over Iranian strikes that hit civilian targets. Advertisement Advertisement Two days earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and set out Riyadhs position with clarity, the sources said. Saudi Arabia is open to any form of mediation aimed at deescalation and a negotiated settlement, the sources quoted the minister as saying, underlining that neither Riyadh nor other Gulf states had let the U.S. use their airspace or territory to launch airstrikes on Iran. But Prince Faisal was also quoted by the sources as saying that if Iranian attacks persisted against Saudi territory or energy infrastructure, Saudi Arabia would be forced to permit U.S. forces to use their bases there for military operations. Riyadh would retaliate if attacks on the kingdom's critical energy facilities continued, he said. The sources said the kingdom had remained in regular contact with Tehran through its ambassador since the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28 following the collapse of talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement The Saudi and Iranian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment. DRONE AND MISSILE ATTACKS ON GULF STATES The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have all come under heavy drone and missile fire from Iran over the past week. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the war. Tehran responded by hitting Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. military installations, and Israel has attacked Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group. Araqchi said in an interview on Saturday that he remained in constant contact with his Saudi counterpart and other Saudi officials, adding that Riyadh had assured Tehran it was fully committed to not allowing its territory, waters or airspace to be used for attacks against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Pezeshkian said Iran's temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries - unless an attack on Iran came from those nations. "I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran's actions," he said. To what extent Pezeshkian's remarks signal a change is unclear. There were further reports of strikes directed at Gulf states on Saturday. Also, in a sign of possible divisions within Irans leadership, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters - the unified combatant command of the Iranian armed forces - said in a statement afterwards that U.S. and Israeli bases and interests across the region would remain targets. Advertisement Advertisement The command said Iran's armed forces respected the sovereignty and interests of neighbouring states and had not taken action against them so far. But it said U.S. and Israeli military bases and assets on land, at sea and in the air across the region would be treated as primary targets and face "powerful and heavy" strikes by Irans forces. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Iran had "apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack." Two Iranian sources confirmed that a call had taken place in which Riyadh warned Tehran to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states. Iran, they said, reiterated its position that the strikes were not aimed at Gulf countries themselves but at U.S. interests and military bases hosted on their territory. One Iranian source said that Tehran had in response demanded that U.S. bases in the region be closed and some Gulf states stop sharing intelligence with Washington that Iran believes is being used to carry out attacks against it. Advertisement Advertisement Another Iranian source said some military commanders were pressing to continue the strikes, accusing the U.S. of using bases in Gulf states and these countries' airspace to conduct operations against Iran. Iran had in recent years mended fences with its Gulf neighbours, including former regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia. The diplomatic campaign imploded in the blitz of drones and missiles launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the past week. (Editing by Timothy Heritage) This story has been updated with additional information. As the U.S. and Israel continue to batter Iran with bombs and missiles, recent reports suggest Iranian Kurdish militias at the Iran-Iraq border may be readying for an attack on Iranian security forces in potential support of a popular uprising that President Donald Trump has expressed hope for. While the Trump administration has denied any direct involvement in such efforts, the president called such a scenario wonderful and told Reuters he would be all for it. Advertisement Advertisement The situation highlights the role Irans ethnic dynamics could play in shaping the nations future as the war develops, though some say ethnic conflict could prove calamitous. More than 1,000 people have been killed, including six U.S. servicemembers, since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran on Feb. 28. 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. Iran has long been a multiethnic, pluralistic society consisting of Persians, Azeris, Kurds, Arabs and other groups. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's Supreme Leader killed in the Feb. 28 attacks, was Azeri, while Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian is half-Azeri, half-Kurdish. As a result, stoking ethnic divisions could prove a dangerous tactic, said Alex Shams, editor in chief of Ajam Media Collective, a platform devoted to Iranian culture, society and politics. The idea that Iran is controlled by Persians is not accurate, Shams said. All the different ethnic groups are part of the political equation. The idea that they could be separated and turned against each other is not only dangerous, but I dont think its going to succeed, either. Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, some of Irans ethnic groups may be on the verge of achieving greater global recognition as the situation plays out, said Brenda Shaffer, an instructor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and author of Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran. Just like when the Soviet Union broke up and people who only talked about Russians discovered Latvians and Georgians, theres a similar situation with Iran, said Shaffer, who according to her bio has served as an advisor to Israels Prime Ministers Office and Ministry of Energy on policy related to major natural gas discoveries there. What are Iran's major ethnic groups? Iran is a self-described Islamic Republic with Shia Islam the official state religion. While ethnic Persians make up about half of its 85 million people, several large ethnic groups also live within and mostly along Irans borders. US Iran war widens across Middle East Minority groups in Iran have often advocated for more equal treatment and recognition, Shaffer said for instance, for the right to speak and teach their native tongues in a nation dominated by Persian culture. Advertisement Advertisement The largest of them is the Azeri Turks, who represent about a quarter to a third of Iran. Kurdish people are about 10% of the population, while Arabs and Baloch form notable contingents as well. Most of Irans ethnic minorities live in provinces that border neighboring countries, Shaffer said: Ethnic Arabs live near Iraq, Kurds near Iraq and Turkey, Azeris near Azerbaijan and the Baloch near Pakistan. Unlike other groups, however, Kurds harbor separatist tendencies that have sometimes put them at violent odds with the clerical establishment, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan thinktank in Washington, D.C. Who are the Kurds? The Kurds are an ethnic West Asian minority group of between 30 and 45 million, according to the CIAs World Factbook. Kurdish people are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographic region encompassing parts of southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Kurds are the worlds largest group without a state, according to author Ofra Bengios Kurdish Awakening: Nation Building in a Fractured Homeland. The result of French and British land apportionment after World War I and the Ottoman Empires demise, the situation has fed political tensions over the years. A fighter from the Kurdistan Freedom Party at a training session at a base near Erbil, Iraq, on Feb. 12, 2026. Some Kurdish groups have struggled for autonomy in eastern Turkey for decades, while a Kurdish militia called the YPG forms the bulk of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces battling ISIS in Syria. An armed uprising by Iranian Kurds could seriously damage Iran's stability, emboldening a separatist movement among Iran's ethnic Baloch minority with links to separatists in Pakistan's neighboring province of Baluchistan. Islamabad is unlikely to tolerate any move toward Baloch independence. Regime 'in a precarious situation' Iran responded to the Feb. 28 attack by lashing out at U.S. military bases and other targets throughout the region, including in countries with whom it has been friendly. On Thursday, Azerbaijan said it would retaliate after Iranian drones wounded four people in that country. Advertisement Advertisement Two weeks ago, Turkey and Azerbaijan were really concerned about stability in Iran and didnt want the regime to fall, Shaffer said. But after Iran attacked all the countries it was friendly with, theyre becoming impatient with them. Theres a growing realization that the regime is falling. Ethnic resistance efforts have been ongoing, Shaffer said, with Baloch, Kurds and Arabs carrying out attacks on a regular basis. In Baloch areas, almost every week they blow something up, she said. The regime is in a precarious situation.... I think this whole thing is going to come to a head as the center loses more and more power. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on March 3, 2026. Thats especially true, Shaffer said, in less populated border provinces where ethnic minorities are concentrated, since state officials there dont have the anonymity of walled-off compounds their counterparts in Tehran enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement In the provinces people know where they live and where their kids go to school, she said. Shaffer said the moment feels similar to November 1991, the month before the Soviet Union collapsed. Its hard to imagine those geopolitical earthquakes, but its something that can happen, she said. Its hard to imagine people in those provinces will agree to be under new rule from Tehran. Ethnic strife 'a recipe for death' However, relying on ethnic strife as a strategy may be unwise and detrimenal to Iran's future, Shams said. All of Irans ethnic groups have played parts in the struggle for freedom, Shams said. Kurdish Iranians were at the heart of the Woman Life Freedom protests in 2022. The idea that Kurdish Iranians are not part of Iran, or that they could be turned against Iran, is not only simplistic and false but dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement That's not to say discrimination doesn't exist in Iran or that groups haven't fought for greater rights, he said, but weaponizing such grievances is "a recipe for death and destruction." Theres reason to be afraid of and to oppose the U.S. trying to cause ethnic divisions, Shams said. Iranians were busy fighting for their own freedoms before the U.S. attacked. Now, instead of continuing that fight for freedom, they are fleeing the bombs. With reporting by Reuters and USA Today reporter Kim Hjelmgaard. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kurds, other ethnic groups could shape Iran's future San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey last week delayed a key vote that would have advanced the city's plan to move dozens of employees from the struggling Mid Market neighborhood to a "luxury" Financial District high-rise. Now, he's urging the city's independent pension fund to abandon its relocation plans altogether and give Mid-Market another chance. In an email Friday, which the Chronicle obtained, Dorsey urged his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to oppose the San Francisco Employees Retirement System's lease for a roughly 50,000 square feet at the 111 Pine St. tower, and push for alternatives within the Civic Center and Mid-Market areas, near City Hall, stating that these neighborhoods "deserve better." Because the pension fund, known as SFERS, is part of the city government, its office locations are subject to oversight by the Board. Advertisement Advertisement In the email, Dorsey announced that he plans to ask SFERS to direct the city's real estate division to withdraw a resolution that, if approved, would have sanctioned the pending lease deal between the pension fund and the landlord of 111 Pine St., for a roughly 50,000 square foot office in the 18-story Financial District tower. SFERS, which is currently operating on a month-to-month lease in Mid-Market after its contract at 1145 Market St. expired two years ago, had planned to move its more than 100 employees to the Financial District later this year. But Dorsey, whose supervisorial district includes Mid-Market and who lives near SFERS's current office, argued that the planned move would undermine city policies designed to keep government services centralized and support neighborhood revitalization. The dispute over the SFERS lease is quickly becoming a flashpoint in a broader debate about San Francisco's struggling downtown core. City leaders have spent years trying to stabilize downtown, which, in the wake of the pandemic, was hit hard by remote work, rising office vacancies and persistent quality-of-life complaints. Their efforts seem to finally be gaining traction: Office leasing rebounded in 2025 and the citywide vacancy rate has begun to inch down slightly after peaking in the mid-30% range. But in the Mid-Market and Civic Center neighborhoods - areas that were once envisioned as hubs for tech offices and public agencies - major challenges persist. Office vacancy in Mid-Market is among the highest in the city, with some estimates showing roughly 46% of space sitting empty, far above the citywide average. Advertisement Advertisement That imbalance has raised the stakes around decisions like the SFERS move. Losing a government office with more than 100 workers would mean fewer daily commuters and less foot traffic in a corridor where commercial real estate brokers already say it's extremely difficult to attract new tenants. On Friday, Dorsey also accused the city's real estate division and SFERS of failing to make a "good faith" effort to evaluate potential new office locations in Mid-Market. According to a report by the city's Budget and Legislative Analyst, a list of 20 buildings were evaluated before SFERS honed in on 111 Pine St. According to Dorsey's email, only one of those buildings - a tower at 1455 Market St. where several city departments are already located - is located in Mid Market, while the 19 other sites are in the Financial District and east of Third Street. SFERS has argued it wants to move to the Financial District because its current Mid-Market office is too small for its growing staff, and the agency prefers a location closer to financial service vendors and major transit lines. The pension fund's rent at 111 Pine would be lower than what it currently pays in Mid Market, though its overall annual bill would rise, since the planned new office is larger. SFERS did not respond to an inquiry from the Chronicle Friday. Dorsey, however, said he's not so sure that SFERS' Financial District move is in the city's best interest. Advertisement Advertisement "The more I unpack this, the more I think this is just a bad idea," Dorsey said. One of the problems, he added, is that the city has not conducted a comprehensive study of underutilized properties in Mid-Market and Civic Center to understand the opportunities it has to expand in those neighborhoods, including understanding current rental rates. He said he plans to direct the City Administrator's Office to direct its Real Estate division to "survey all possible alternatives for SFERS's relocation within the Mid-Market and Civic Center area." "I think the city needs to take some big swings with its real estate portfolio, and do it now," Dorsey said. "Let's get downtown going." A spokesperson for the City Administrator's Office confirmed that it will be initiating a review of "available properties" in the area. This article originally published at S.F. supervisor pushes to block city pension fund's move from struggling Mid-Market. MARION COUNTY, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) A family is back home recovering after a tornado early Saturday morning turned their mobile home on its side. The National Weather Service of Shreveport confirmed an EF2 tornado hit Marion County through East Texas around 3:09 a.m., along Highway 59 in the community of Prospect, Texas. The EF2 was on the ground for approximately 5 minutes before lifting at 3:14 a.m. Leaving three members of the Herrington family, including a small child, bruised and shaken. Advertisement Advertisement Tornado: Emergency declaration issued by Marion County judge The familys trailer was pushed onto its side, nearly crushing a shed on the property. The family members were treated at a nearby hospital for injuries ranging from bruising to a leg injury that required crutches. Ms. Herrington explained to KTAL News reporter Melody Newsome that the twister knocked the family around, leaving traces of blood on the inside of the trailer. With widespread damage to the area, Marion County issued an emergency declaration in the wake of the tornadoes destruction. 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. Former Himachal Pradesh Kisan Congress Chief Spokesperson Kanwar Ravinder Singh on Saturday resigned from his organisational posts along with four more leaders, alleging biased appointments by the party's state leadership and claiming that party workers are finding it difficult to meet Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Speaking to ANI here, Singh said that while he has resigned from his posts in the organisation, he continues to remain a member of the Congress party. "Earlier, I used to be the National Secretary of the All India Farmers' Congress and the Chief Spokesperson of the Himachal Pradesh Farmers' Congress. We had earlier said in a press conference that the kind of policies being implemented in Himachal Pradesh are not being appreciated by many workers. Long-time grassroots workers are being sidelined, and the news coming from Delhi or elsewhere has disappointed common workers," he said. Singh said a large number of members associated with the Kisan Congress had resigned earlier after changes in leadership. "Our team of nearly 5,000 people in the Farmers' Congress, which we had built while Ravi Sharma was heading it, resigned when our leader, Sohan Verma, was removed and Ravi Sharma was appointed. We expressed our opposition and resigned from our positions, but not from the Congress. We have continued to work within the party," he added. Singh also alleged that instead of holding discussions with workers, the leadership issued notices to them. "Unfortunately, the new leadership took the matter seriously in a different way. Instead of discussing it, they issued a show-cause notice to us through a letter. We responded to that letter, but we have not received any reply yet. Had they given importance to dialogue instead of notices, things would not have gone this far," the Congress leader said. Explaining his decision to step down from his posts, Singh said he would now work as an ordinary party worker. "Seeing the working style of the organisation in Himachal Pradesh, we felt that we should resign from all our posts and continue to work like ordinary Congress workers. Since the Congress came to power, we have always given the party priority, defended it in the media, organised press conferences, and put forward the party's position. We are not doing this to seek any role for ourselves. We are ideology-driven Congress workers and will always support the party," he said. Singh also said party workers need platforms to raise public issues and criticised the lack of access to leadership. "When a party comes to power, it becomes its responsibility to adjust workers in committees or provide them a forum where they can raise the issues of the people. If workers cannot get public work done, then there is frustration. I myself waited outside the Chief Minister's office for about three days but could not meet him, and after that I felt it was not appropriate to keep going there," Singh added. He, however, clarified that he was not angry with the state government as a whole. Singh said, "We are not angry with the government. There are some people within the system who are sidelining workers, and we are unhappy with them. The government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is running well. Our MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore also worked hard to bring the Congress back to power. The late Raja Virbhadra Singh played a major role in bringing the party to power, and ignoring such a legacy and workers is what disappoints us." Referring to the strength of his support base, Singh said thousands of workers associated with the Kisan Congress had collectively taken the decision to resign from organisational responsibilities. The Himachal Pradesh Kisan Congress leader said, "Our project was not limited to the state level. It extended to district, block, panchayat and booth levels. Around 4,500 to 5,000 people were associated with it. Everyone unanimously decided that if the leadership of the Farmers' Congress was not among us, then we should step down from our posts". Singh said he has not received any further communication from the party leadership after replying to the notice. "So far, there has been no interaction from their side after the notice. I have not received any other letter either. It seems they chose to send a notice instead of dialogue, and then even that process stopped. In politics, dialogue is important because it strengthens the organisation. Without dialogue, both sides fail to put forward their point, and the organisation becomes weak." Despite his resignation from organisational posts, Singh reiterated that he would continue to remain a Congress worker and support the party's ideology. (ANI) Two brutal weather patterns have obliterated honeybee populations in Florida, according to WPEC. What's happening? A Florida cold snap, combined with a serious drought, has wreaked havoc on Black Hammock Bee Farms. Not only have the low temperatures forced their bees to burn through more sugar reserves than usual, but the drought has stopped flowers and other food-bearing plants from growing. This has forced managers to artificially feed their bees, incurring additional costs. Even then, Black Hammock lost about half of its colonies. "It killed everything," said Beth Langlois, Black Hammock's head beekeeper, per CBS12. "Right now, we don't have any plants that are producing nectar, as well as plants that are producing pollen." Why are bees important? A lack of bees means a lot more than simply lower honey production. Bees play vital roles in agriculture. They are often pollinators on farms, enabling the growth of staple fruit, vegetable, nut, and oilseed crops. Roughly a third of global crop production depends on pollinators. Advertisement Advertisement The forces endangering bee populations affect crops directly as well. Unseasonal cold snaps can destroy vast swathes of plants, while droughts routinely reduce agricultural yields. These weather trends are borne from atmospheric pollution. As methane and carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere, weather patterns are thrown into flux, delaying rainfall and preventing warm fronts from following historical trends. During the recent cold snap, hot air disrupted a polar vortex, pushing the cold air further south than usual. What's being done about bees? Black Hammock Bee Farms intends to keep putting in the work to recover from this rough season. "The bees work hard for us," said Langlois, per CBS12. "So we're going to work harder for them." Advertisement Advertisement To do your part in supporting pollinators, consider adding native plants to your yard. These provide much-needed food for bee populations that are routinely at risk. 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. The controversial head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's vaccines and biologics unit, Dr. Vinay Prasad, will leave the agency at the end of April. FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary posted about the departure on social media platform X, saying Prasad would return to the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, where he is a professor, and that he had accomplished much during his one-year sabbatical. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Makary said a successor will be named before Prasad's departure. Prasad, an oncologist, was an outspoken critic of U.S. drug and vaccine policies, particularly around COVID-19 mandates, before joining the agency. His tenure included a series of highprofile disputes over product reviews for vaccines, including Moderna's MRNA.O COVID shot, gene therapies and other rare disease drugs. He was appointed as the director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in May last year. Shortly after, he stepped down over questions of his handling of a muscular dystrophy treatment before returning to the role just weeks later. Most recently, Prasad's division at the FDA engaged in a back-and-forth tussle with Dutch drugmaker UniQure over disagreements about the path forward for the company's gene therapy for Huntington's disease. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. drug regulator called for a new study to support the approval of the company's gene therapy for the rare brain disorder, but the company and patient advocates argued that what the FDA was asking for was too lengthy and onerous on patients. Drugmaker's shares rise The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, has accused the company of misleading the public about what regulators were asking for. U.S.-listed shares of UniQure jumped 57% in extended trading, following the news of Prasad's departure. An opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on February 24 said the FDA had torpedoed several rare disease drugs under Prasad, contradicting Makary's stated goal of flexible reviews for such treatments and raising questions about the management of the health regulator. Advertisement Advertisement The piece cited the latest rejection of Disc Medicine's IRON.O treatment, which had received the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher, a program launched by Makary to help fast-track breakthrough treatments. Disc had said that the agency concluded that the trials did not show a clear link between biological improvement and clinical benefit. Shares of Disc rose about 10% in after-market trading. Prasad's departure is the latest reshuffle at the health department, which recently put National Institutes of Health head Jay Bhattacharya in charge of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following the departure of Jim O'Neill. Advertisement Advertisement (Reporting by Christy Santhosh and Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Shinjini Ganguli, and Caroline Humer) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FDA vaccines chief Dr. Vinay Prasad to leave regulator in April Temporary immigration protections will remain in place, for now, for more than 350,000 Haitians in the U.S. A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. district late Friday rejected the Trump administrations request to allow deportations to take place while a lawsuit challenging its termination of Haitis Temporary Protected Status designation moves forward. The 2-1 ruling upholds a lower court decision by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes, who ruled last month that the Department of Homeland Security had unlawfully terminated TPS for Haitians living in the United States and that the plaintiffs challenging the decision are likely to succeed on the merits.. Advertisement Advertisement The appeals court agreed with the lower court that termination of TPS would have devastating consequences for the plaintiffs, including risk of detention and deportation, separation from family members, and loss of work authorization. The plaintiffs, if deported to Haiti would be vulnerable to violence amid a collapsing rule of law and lack of access to life-sustaining medical care, the court said. The appeals court also noted that the Trump administration had attempted to roll back the end of the designation to August 2025 after it had been extended to Feb. 3, 2026, by the Biden administration, and had not appealed a judges ruling forcing the government to maintain the original Feb. 3 date. So the problem remains: The government has not explained why its inability to terminate Haiti TPS at its preferred date was for many months tolerable but now constitutes a certain, great and imminent harm, the court said. The appeals courts decision means Haitians with TPS can continue to work and remain protected from deportation unless the government obtains a stay from the Supreme Court or until the case is heard in full in federal court and the Haitian plaintiffs lose their appeal, which could take months. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, which just fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, has not said what it plans to do. But last week in a separate TPS case involving Syrians, Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the Supreme Court to issue a more detailed opinion on the federal courts jurisdiction over TPS that could further complicate the Haitians case. For now, however, lawyers defending the Haitian plaintiffs challenging the decision to end TPS say they are pleased that the appeals court has declined the Trump Administrations request to stay the lower courts order. The court understood that the government utterly failed to articulate why they would suffer irreparable harm and why that harm would be greater than the harm to the Haitians, Miami immigration attorney Ira Kurzban, one of several lawyers in the case, said. In short, they followed the usual procedure in balancing the harms and concluded that there was no emergency to remove protections from Haitians with TPS until there is a final determination. In her original decision, Reyes cited statements by Noem about nonwhite people and concluded that the Trump administrations decision was motivated by racial or national-origin animus. The judge later detailed how she had received death threats. In challenging her ruling, the government appealed both to the D.C. circuit court and to the judge herself. Reyes declined to change her stay after asking government officials to provide information about plans to target Haitians in South Florida and in Springfield, Ohio. While Florida is home to the largest number of Haitian immigrants, Springfield drew national attention during Trumps re-election campaign when he and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio falsely claimed that Haitians were eating their neighbors pets. Trump also said he would end TPS protections for Haitians in Springfield. Advertisement Advertisement In their appeal, government lawyers raised the possibility of seeking relief from the Supreme Court. They noted that in two other TPS cases involving Venezuelans, they had secured stays allowing deportations to continue while the cases were being decided on their merits. That option remains open to the government. In the separate TPS case involving Syrian refugees, the solicitor general is asking the Supreme Court to stay a lower court decision and take two additional steps. First, the solicitor general asked the high court to issue an opinion declaring that courts lack jurisdiction to challenge the homeland security secretarys termination of TPS for Syrians and, by implication, for any other group. Second, the government asked the court to use a rarely invoked procedure to decide the case on its merits immediately, before a federal appeals court has issued a ruling effectively leapfrogging the appellate process. Advertisement Advertisement By seeking a definitive Supreme Court ruling on whether such TPS terminations can be challenged in court at all, the administration is potentially using the Syrian case to resolve the issue before the Haitian case or others reach the justices. If the Supreme Court accepts the governments request, it could also be asked to stay the Haitian TPS case allowing Haitians to be deported while it considers the merits of the Syrian case, On 17 February, the Indian Navy posted a cheerful message on X. "Welcome!" it wrote, greeting the Iranian warship Iris Dena as it steamed into the port of Visakhapatnam to join an international naval gathering. Photographs showed sailors in crisp whites and a grey frigate gliding in the sea harbour on a clear day. The hashtags spoke of "Bridges of Friendship" and "United Through Oceans". Advertisement Advertisement Two weeks later the ship, carrying 130 sailors, lay at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. It had been torpedoed by a US submarine off Sri Lanka's southern coast on 4 March. Commissioned in 2021, the Dena was a relatively new vessel - a Moudge-class frigate of Iran's Southern Fleet, which patrols the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. According to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the vessel "thought it was safe in international waters" but instead "died a quiet death". Rescue teams from Sri Lanka have recovered at least 87 bodies. Only 32 sailors survived. The sinking marks a dramatic widening of the war between America, Israel and Iran. And, though it occurred in international waters of the Indian Ocean and outside India's jurisdiction, it is an awkward moment for Delhi. Advertisement Advertisement "The war has come to our doorsteps. That is not a good thing," says retired Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh. For some strategists, the episode carries broader implications for India's regional standing. Indian strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney wrote on X that the US torpedoing of the Iranian warship in India's "maritime neighbourhood" was "more than a battlefield episode" - calling it a "strategic embarrassment" for Delhi. The Iris Dena seen in the Bay of Bengal during the International Fleet Review 2026 [AP] "By sinking a vessel returning from an Indian-hosted multilateral exercise, Washington effectively turned India's maritime neighbourhood into a war zone, raising uncomfortable questions about India's authority in its own backyard," Chellaney wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Just days before its destruction, the Dena had been a diplomatic guest of the Indian Navy. The ship had travelled to Visakhapatnam, a sun-washed port city on India's east coast, to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026 and Exercise Milan, a large multilateral naval exercise meant to showcase India's growing maritime leadership. Seventy-four countries and 18 warships took part in the events, which Delhi described as a demonstration of its ambition to become the Indian Ocean's "preferred security partner". Visiting ships at such multilateral exercises usually do not carry a full combat load of live munitions, unless scheduled for a live-fire drill, according to Chellaney. Even during the sea phase, when drills and live firing take place, ships carry only tightly controlled ammunition limited to the specific exercises. Advertisement Advertisement Singh, an invitee to the event, recalls seeing the warship and its Iranian sailors in Visakhapatnam just days before its fate changed. "I saw the boys marching in front of me," he says of the Iranian naval contingent during the parade along the seafront, just 10m away. "All young people. I feel very sad." He says on 21 February, the assembled ships - including the Iranian vessel - sailed out for the sea phase of Exercise Milan, scheduled to run until 25 February. "What happened next is less clear: the ship may have returned to port or peeled away after exercises. Either way, the waters where it was later sunk - off Galle in Sri Lanka - lie only two to three days' sailing from India's east coast," Singh says. What the ship was doing in the seven days in between is not clear. [BBC] Singh, who has commanded submarines, believes the sequence leading up to the attack was probably straightforward. Advertisement Advertisement The US, he notes, tracks vessels across the world's oceans. "They would have known exactly when the ship left and where it was heading," he says. A fourth of America's submarine fleet of 65-70 is at sea at any given time, according to analysts. According to the Indian Navy, the Iranian warship had been operating about 20 nautical miles west of Galle - roughly 23 miles (37km) - in waters that fall under Sri Lanka's designated search-and-rescue zone. The attack, Singh says, appears to have involved a single Mark-48 torpedo, a heavyweight weapon carrying about 650 pounds of high explosive, capable of snapping a ship in two. Video footage suggests the submarine may have fired from 3-4km away, around 05:30 local time. The aftermath was grim and swift. Advertisement Advertisement The warship reportedly sank within two to three minutes, leaving little time for rescue. "It's a miracle they managed to send an SOS," Singh says, which was picked up by the Sri Lanka Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo. According to the Indian Navy, a distress call from the Iranian warship was picked up by Colombo in the early hours of 4 March, triggering a regional search-and-rescue effort. The navy said in a statement that Sri Lanka's navy began rescue operations first, while India moved to assist later. The Indian Navy deployed a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to support the search and kept another aircraft with air-droppable life rafts on standby. Advertisement Advertisement A naval vessel already operating nearby reached the area by late afternoon. Another ship, which sailed from the southern Indian port city of Kochi to join the effort, continues to comb the waters for survivors and debris. An Iranian embassy official (right) in front of Galle National Hospital, where injured sailors are receiving treatment [Reuters] Under the Second Geneva Convention, countries at war are required to take "all possible measures" to rescue wounded or shipwrecked sailors after a naval attack. In practice, however, this duty applies only if a rescue can be attempted without putting the attacking vessel in serious danger. Singh says submarines are rarely able to help. "Submarines don't surface," he says. "If you surface and give up your position, someone else can sink you." Advertisement Advertisement Singh suspects the speed of the sinking - and possibly sparse shipping in the area at the time - meant few nearby vessels could respond. "A ship breaking up that fast leaves almost no chance," he says. In a shooting war, Singh says, the legal position is blunt. Fighting between the United States and Iran had been under way since 28 February, with claims that 17 Iranian naval vessels had already been destroyed. "When a shooting war is on, any ship of a belligerent country becomes fair game," he says. Many questions remain. Why was the Iranian warship still in waters near Sri Lanka nearly a week after leaving India's naval exercise? Was it heading home, or on another mission? And how long had the US submarine been tracking it before firing? Advertisement Advertisement For Delhi, the episode is diplomatically awkward. India has drawn closer to Washington on defence while maintaining long-standing political and economic ties with Tehran - a balancing act the war has made harder. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called broadly for "dialogue and diplomacy" to resolve conflicts, but has neither addressed the sinking of the Iranian vessel directly nor criticised the American strike. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as "an atrocity at sea" and stressed that the frigate had been "a guest of India's Navy". Meanwhile Sri Lanka has taken control of another Iranian naval vessel off its coast after an engine failure forced it to seek port, a day after the US attack. The episode has nonetheless sparked debate within India's strategic community. Kanwal Sibal, a veteran diplomat, argued that India's responsibility may not be legal, but it is moral. The sinking of the ship made front page news in Sri Lanka [REUTERS] "The Iranian ship would not have been where it was had India not invited it to the Milan exercise," he wrote on X. "A word of condolence at the loss of lives of those who were our invitees would be in order." Others like Chellaney have framed the issue in more strategic terms. He described the strike as a blow to India's maritime diplomacy. The torpedoing of the frigate in "India's maritime backyard", he argued, punctured Delhi's carefully cultivated image as a "preferred security partner" in the Indian Ocean. "In one torpedo strike, American hard power has punctured India's carefully cultivated soft power," says Chellaney. As the debate gathered pace in strategic circles, India's official response remained cautious. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on X that he had held a telephone conversation with Araghchi, and also posted a photograph of a meeting with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh at a foreign policy summit in Delhi. For military historian Srinath Raghavan, the legal position is clear: once the Iranian vessel left India's shores, Delhi had no formal responsibility. The strategic message, however, is harder to ignore. "First, the spreading geography of this war. Second, India's limited ability to manage its fallout," says Raghavan. "Indeed, the US Navy has fired a shot across the bow aimed at all regional players, including India." EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Fire crews battled a fire at an Upper Valley lumber yard early Saturday morning, March 7. The fire happened at 84 Lumber at 122 McCutcheon Lane, near Doniphan and Redd Road, a Fire Department spokesman said. A semitruck caught fire at 84 Lumber near Doniphan and Redd early Saturday morning, March 7. A semitruck caught fire, the spokesman said. The initial call came in just before 1 a.m. on Saturday and the fire was knocked down a little after 2:30 a.m. Flames could be seen shooting up into the sky. Advertisement Advertisement The spokesman said he thought the fire was contained to the semi and did not spread to any buildings. There were no injuries or transports. The incident remains under investigation. 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 KTSM 9 News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Firefighters responded to a warehouse fire at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge on Saturday morning. According to the West Baton Rouge Fire Department, crews were called to the port around 11:30 a.m. after a fire broke out involving a conveyor system used to load materials from a warehouse to the Mississippi River. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were visible on the conveyor system that runs over a large warehouse toward the river. Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that wood chips on a conveyor belt caught fire, causing the flames to spread downward along the conveyor belt and onto the warehouses roof. The warehouse was empty at the time of the fire and no one was inside. The Baton Rouge Fire Department and the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office Fire Boat assisted West Baton Rouge crews in containing the fire. Officials stated that the fire was contained within just over two hours. No injuries were reported. The West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office previously said the fire caused heavy traffic congestion near the port along I-10 and La. Highway 1. Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. A West Baton Rouge fire prevention officer is investigating. Hot spots have been contained and the fire has been extinguished. A fire was reported at the Port of Baton Rouge shortly before noon today at a facility used to load and unload wood pellets. Port personnel and first responders quickly worked to extinguish the fire, which happened while the port was in a weather delay. No injuries have been reported, Drax officials said in a statement. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Photo courtesy of WBRSO. Photo courtesy of WBRSO. Photo courtesy of WBR Fire Department. Photo courtesy of WBR Fire Department. Photo courtesy of WBR Fire Department. Photo courtesy of WBR Fire Department. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement 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. A 12-year-old died in Cass County due to the severe weather in southwestern Michigan on Friday, according to the countys sheriffs office. The office said that Silas Anderson, 12, was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries. It is with a heavy heart that Sheriff Clint Roach reports that a young man from the Edwardsburg area has lost his life in a weather-related incident, an office press release said Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Cass County Central Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 3:12 p.m. on Friday. The sheriffs office said that information received indicated that a possible tornado touched down in the 68000 block of Conrad Road in Milton Township. Watch: Eight different views of deadly tornadoes The caller advised that they could not find their son, the office said. When first responders arrived, it was determined that he had been located and his parents were providing first aid. Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing, the office said. Sheriff Roach asks that you respect the familys privacy as they try to comprehend and deal with this tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Three other people were killed Friday when a tornado hit near Union Lake west of Union City, the Branch County Sheriffs Office said. Twelve people were injured in the same area, the sheriff's office said. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: First Michigan storm victim identified as 12-year-old boy SAO PAULO, March 7 (Reuters) - A second-round runoff between Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro would result in a technical tie, according to a Datafolha poll released on Saturday. The poll shows that if the runoff were held today, Lula would receive 46% of the vote, compared with 43% for Flavio, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. If Lula were to face off against Tarcisio de Freitas, governor of the state of Sao Paulo, 45% of respondents said they would vote for Lula in the second round, while 42% would vote for de Freitas, also a technical tie. Advertisement Advertisement Brazil's general election is scheduled for October 4. If no presidential candidate receives a majority of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes will face off in a runoff on October 25. According to the survey, Lula, 80, who will be vying for his fourth presidential term, leads in all firstround scenarios. However, Flavios candidacy has gained strength since his name was put forward in December by Jair Bolsonaro, who is in jail. Lula and Flavio, 44, also have the highest rejection rates in the poll. Some 46% of respondents said they would not vote for Lula under any circumstances, while 45% said the same about Flavio - another technical tie. Datafolha interviewed 2,004 voters from Tuesday to Thursday in 137 municipalities. The survey has a margin of error of two percentage points in either direction. (Reporting by Leticia Fucuchima; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Rod Nickel) Newly released body camera footage shows the chaotic moments leading up to the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an immigration officer in Texas last year, which only recently came to light. Gunfire rings out in the nighttime footage when Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, pulls his car forwards as law enforcement try to stop him on 15 March 2025 in the beach community of South Padre Island. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not publicly disclose an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer killed Martinez until the detail emerged in media last month. Advertisement Advertisement DHS have said Martinez "accelerated forward" and "intentionally ran over" an agent, causing another agent to fire "defensive shots". Martinez is believed to be the first of three US citizens who have been fatally shot by federal immigration agents during President Donald Trump's second term. But unlike in the other two cases, Martinez was not protesting - he was driving by the scene of a road accident where ICE officers were helping to direct traffic. Attorneys for Martinez's family said the new evidence "calls ICE's official account of a fatal shooting into question". Advertisement Advertisement Texas officials had previously declined to release footage to media of the incident with Martinez. But on Friday, dozens of body camera videos, evidence and reports from the investigation were made public by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The footage shows different angles from local police officers' body cameras of the incident. In one clip, Martinez is seen rolling down the window of the blue Ford Fusion he was driving to talk with an agent. His car then advances slowly towards an intersection. An officer can be heard shouting: "Where is he going?" Martinez appears to slow down before slightly turning his car and pulling forwards as law enforcement shout at him. Gunshots ring out. Advertisement Advertisement The body camera video is taken from a few yards behind the car, and so it is unclear whether any officers were hit by the vehicle. The grainy footage appears to show someone positioned towards the front of the vehicle as it begins to swing left just before Martinez is shot. Alcohol and marijuana were detected in Martinez's system, according to posthumous toxicology tests cited by the BBC's US partner CBS. A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officer who was at the scene says in an internal report that a blue car came to a stop "at the feet of an unknown Homeland Security Investigations Agent". Advertisement Advertisement The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit is a part of ICE, overseen by DHS. The report alleges that another agent was trying to open the door of the blue car when the driver began to pull forward to the left, hitting an agent. "At this time HSI Agent 1, who was in front of the car initially, appeared to be on the hood of the vehicle," says the report. It also states that another agent began to shout at the driver to stop the car, before drawing his weapon and firing "what sounded like 3 shots" into the driver's side window. In a statement, Charles Stam and Alex Stamm, attorneys for Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, said: "These new videos confirm that Ruben's car was barely moving when he was shot. Advertisement Advertisement "That he was braking, not accelerating. That nobody was on the hood of his car. That nobody was in front of his car when he was shot. "That he was shot at point-blank range through his side window by an ICE agent who was in no danger." The BBC has contacted DHS for comment. Last month, a Texas grand jury declined to indict the federal agent who shot Martinez. A passenger who was inside the car with Martinez has also disputed the federal government's account. Joshua Orta, a friend of Martinez, wrote in a draft declaration obtained by US media that Martinez did not hit an officer with his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement He said he and Martinez had just had "a few drinks" and attended a party before the fatal shooting. Orta said upon arriving at the scene, an officer told them to "turn around and leave". A Texas Ranger saw an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, Orta said. He claimed a federal agent later fired into the driver's side window without warning. Orta died last month in an unrelated car accident. Last month, Martinez's mother - who voted for Trump in 2024 - said she had not received any videos, evidence or reports related to her son's killing. "I don't blame President Trump for the death of my son, 'cause he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger," Reyes told CBS in February. Advertisement Advertisement "But I do think that something needs to be changed in that department as far as the pattern of violence or abuse and impunity." In January, immigration officers fatally shot two other US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during confrontations a couple of weeks apart in Minnesota, sparking nationwide demonstrations. The two were protesting against the Trump administration's immigration raids in the city of Minneapolis. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) A former New Mexico nurse is accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile patient. Kayla Salcido is facing three counts of sexual penetration and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. According to court documents, the victim told police he met Salcido when she was caring for him at Mesilla Valley Behavioral Hospital. Six charged after drug smuggling attempt at Torrance County Detention Facility The victim told police that on December 5, he was discharged from the hospital, called Salcido, then went to her home. While at her home, the victim said Salcido gave him alcohol before sexually assaulting him at least twice. Court documents state that Salcido resigned the next day. Advertisement Advertisement 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. SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EMBRAER S.A. (B3: EMBJ3, NYSE: EMBJ) ("Company"), in accordance with article 157, 4 of Law 6,404 of December 15, 1976, as amended ("Brazilian Corporate Law"), as well as under Resolution No. 44 of August 23, 2021, as amended, and Resolution CVM No. 77 of March 29, 2022 ("CVM Resolution 77"), hereby informs its shareholders and the market in general that: The share buyback program approved by the Board of Directors on November 6, 2025 ("Share Buyback Program"), has been completed as of this date, following the repurchase of all ordinary shares originally contemplated under the Share Buyback Program. The Share Buyback Program aimed at acquiring ordinary shares issued by the Company for holding in treasury, cancellation, or subsequent sale, as well as to meet commitments under share-based compensation plans. The Program was originally scheduled to last for 12 (twelve) months, ending on March 5, 2027, but has been terminated early on this date. During the execution of the Share Buyback Program, 10.932.998 (ten million, nine hundred thirty-two thousand, nine hundred ninety-eight) ordinary shares issued by the Company were acquired, in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory limits, using exclusively available resources, as provided for in CVM Resolution 77. The Company reiterates that the transactions carried out under the Share Buyback Program did not impact on its shareholder structure or administrative organization and that its financial position remained compatible with the execution of the acquisitions, without prejudice to the fulfillment of obligations assumed with creditors. The Company further informs that, the Equity Swap agreements entered with Banco Itau Unibanco S.A., in accordance with the Material Fact disclosed on November 6, 2025, were unwound on this date. The Equity Swap agreements were executed to mitigate fluctuations in the prices of shares issued by the Company, in view of future payments to be made by the Company within the scope of its long-term incentive plans, with a maximum exposure of up to 10,932,998 ordinary shares. The maximum term originally established for cash settlement was twelve (12) months from November 7, 2025, but have been settled early on this date. Antonio Carlos Garcia Executive Vice President, Financial & Investor Relations SOURCE Embraer S.A. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appealed to top Maoist leaders, including Central Committee member Ganapati, to surrender, join mainstream life and actively participate in the reconstruction of the state. As many as 130 Maoists surrendered along with 124 sophisticated weapons before the government in the presence of the Chief Minister at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Hyderabad on Saturday. Those who surrendered included three State Committee members, one Regional Committee member, 10 Divisional Committee members, 46 Area Committee members, and 70 party members. The surrendered Maoists handed over 124 weapons to the police, including 1 INSAS LMG rifle, 31 AK-47 rifles, 21 INSAS rifles, 20 SLR rifles, 18 .303 rifles, and 33 other weapons. Addressing a press conference after the surrender programme, the Chief Minister congratulated the surrendered cadres for responding to the state government's call and choosing to join mainstream life. Revanth Reddy said the government is ready to revoke cases registered against the Naxalites within the purview of law. If required, the state government will also constitute a committee to review the pending cases. "The State Government is sympathetic towards the Naxalites and is ready to address their issues," the Chief Minister said. He further stated that the government is considering a financial rehabilitation package for the surrendered Maoists, and a decision will be taken soon. The state government is also prepared to provide better medical care, housing and financial assistance to the surrendered cadres. The Union Government has already given freedom to the state government to extend such support to those who return to normal life. Referring to proposals made by surrendered Maoist leaders, including Devji and Damodar, the Chief Minister said the matter has already been brought to the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He expressed hope that the surrendered cadres would bring people's issues to the notice of the government through democratic means in the future. Emphasising that dialogue is the only solution, Revanth Reddy said problems can be resolved through democratic processes. "Ballot is more powerful than a bullet in solving problems. India strongly believes in addressing challenges through peaceful means," he said, recalling how Mahatma Gandhi led the country to independence through non-violent struggle. "Violence cannot solve every problem. Let us resolve issues democratically," the Chief Minister added. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also appreciated the efforts of Telangana Police officials who convinced the Maoists to surrender by assuring them of rehabilitation and a chance to lead a peaceful life. (ANI) When you think of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the U.S. Navy's massive, world-spanning fleet is the first thing that comes to mind, and the United States is joined by just one other country when it comes to global operators of nuclear carriers. That country is France, which has a single, but powerful nuclear-powered floating air base the carrier Charles De Gaulle. The French aircraft carrier has served in support of several Middle Eastern conflicts over the years, and it's now being deployed to a combat zone once again as it heads to the Mediterranean to help protect French allied assets amid ongoing American and Israeli-led operations against Iran. The deployment of the Charles De Gaulle represents a significant move for France, which initially intended not to be directly involved in the U.S. and Israeli attacks. However, with Iranian drone strikes targeting French assets in the region, as well as the military bases and cities of its partners, French President Emmanuel Macron has shifted course, ordering the aircraft carrier and other French military assets into the conflict to defend the country's interests. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 5 Weapons That Could Actually Sink A US Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle's capabilities Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle at sea - DLeng/Shutterstock When the carrier Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in 2001, it was a huge moment not just for the French Navy, but for global naval power as the ship became the first and to this point, the only non-American nuclear aircraft carrier in the world. Over the course of the 2000s and 2010s, the de Gaulle has been deployed to combat zones several times to serve France and its partners in the waters near Iraq, Libya, Syria, and other hotspots. As the gem of the French Navy, the ship is expected to serve until the late 2030s, after which it will be replaced by a newer carrier. When the strikes in Iran broke out, the Charles de Gaulle was participating in NATO training operations in the Baltic Sea, with France planning to maintain a purely defensive posture with its existing assets in the region. However, during the widespread counterstrikes, Iranian drone attacks, among other targets, have damaged a hangar at a French naval base in the United Arab Emirates and a British airbase on the island of Cyprus. In response to these attacks on the bases of France and its strategic partners, Macron has ordered the Charles de Gaulle into the Eastern Mediterranean. The French President also stated that through the European Union, France has binding defensive agreements with several countries in the region that have come under attack, including the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. A defensive mission Rafale fighter and E-2C Hawkeye in flight - Simon Vandamme/Shutterstock While the Charles de Gaulle can carry up to 40 aircraft if needed, the carrier is currently configured to carry 20 Dassault Rafale twin-jet fighter planes, as well as two E-2C Hawkeye radar aircraft, all of which can be launched to defend France's bases and assets, as well as those of its allies, in the region. The carrier won't be entering the Med on its own either. The strike group heading to the region will also include French air defense frigates and destroyers, which will provide further support in clearing the skies of Iranian drones. Advertisement Advertisement The United States Navy, meanwhile, currently has two carrier strike groups already in the region, directly participating in the attacks on Iran, which have been designated as Operation Epic Fury. While France has broadly maintained a position of calling for negotiations to end the attacks, with these moves, President Macron has signaled France's commitment to defend itself and its allies with force. Beyond the significant naval move of relocating the Charles De Gaulle and its escorts to the Mediterranean, Macron also confirmed that other French military assets will be directed to the region, including air defense and radar systems to help fight off the drone attacks, and additional Rafale fighters for French bases in the United Arab Emirates. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear. A Georgia Naval base is included on a list outlining potential nuclear targets with Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay identified as a site of strategic importance. The list from World Population Review focuses primarily on military installations tied to nuclear capabilities rather than population centers. Here's what to know. Why is Georgia on the nuclear target list? Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, located in Camden County near St. Marys, is home to ballistic missile submarines. Advertisement Advertisement Facilities that house submarines or aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons are generally considered high-value military targets in strategic defense planning. Experts dispute Trump administration claims about Irans nuclear and missile capabilities in the lead up to U.S. military action. Experts note that in a large-scale nuclear conflict scenario, adversaries would likely prioritize military infrastructure tied to nuclear deterrence systems. That includes submarine bases, intercontinental ballistic missile sites and command-and-control centers. What types of sites are considered strategic targets? According to defense analysts and nuclear policy researchers, potential first-strike targets typically include: Bases that store or deploy nuclear missiles Submarine and air bases capable of launching nuclear weapons Command-and-control centers responsible for military communication Storage depots for nuclear munitions Advertisement Advertisement The reasoning is rooted in deterrence strategy. Disabling an opponent's ability to respond would theoretically limit their capacity to retaliate. For the full report, visit worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/nuclear-targets-by-state#title. Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: GA Naval base included on list outlining potential nuclear targets ABC11 continues to track gas prices across the Triangle as the nation enters seven days into the conflict with Iran. ABC11 returned to a downtown Raleigh gas station on Friday to demonstrate how much prices have risen since Monday. On Monday, the price of regular gas was $2.65 per gallon. Just the next day, at the same location, the price had gone up $0.11. And by Friday, the price showed $3.39. Prices south of downtown Raleigh ranged from $3.19 to $3.39 per gallon. Our Tamara Scott has more. Advertisement Advertisement It's a price hike that has some drivers, including Kevin Barber, worried about how prices will rise next week. "Its ridiculous. It's all ridiculous, and I drive for a living. Luckily, it's short distances, but still, gas is up almost a dollar, if not a dollar in the last week. SO it hurts along with grocery, rent, everything." AAA said that as of Friday, these are the average gas prices. NC Average: $3.12 Yesterday: $3.04 Last Week: $2.76 Last Year: $2.76 The average gas prices from Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville are all around $3.19 or $3.18. Gas prices are rising by the day, and for drives like Kacie Boone, every dollar counts. We met her at this Sheetz Gas Station in Morrisville. Advertisement Advertisement " I was just coming from Crabtree. I live in Durham, so I had to pull over and get gas. And I saw it was like $3.39, so I was going to get a couple of gallons," said Boone. "For me, if I get, like, 36 gallons or 30 gallons, it's like $110 or close to it," said a man identified only as Igor. "I drive for a living, so. And I get gas every single morning, and the prices will go from $2.79 to above $3." It's that uncertainty that has EV drivers glad they made the switch. "Thank God I made a switch," said Tommy Love. He made the switch to an electric vehicle in 2014. ABC11 spoke to him Friday night at a charging station in North Hills. "So by driving an EV, I don't have that high fuel costs, and maintenance is very little," Love said. - ABC11's Jamiese Price contributed, Download the ABC11 News app A Gaston County judge resentenced a 64-year-old man to seven to 20 years in prison for crimes committed more than four decades ago. Lester Barnett pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery, safecracking, misdemeanor larceny, and felony assault in February 1981. He was originally sentenced to seven years to life in prison. But a judge has now shortened his sentence to seven to 20 years. But he remains incarcerated for a separate first-degree murder conviction, for which he must first finish serving a life sentence. Advertisement Advertisement That previous life sentence was handed down in December 1980 following a first-degree murder conviction in Mecklenburg County. Barnett has remained in the North Carolina prison system since those convictions. Superior Court Judge David Phillips vacated the original sentence after the North Carolina Court of Appeals ordered a new hearing due to Barnetts age at the time of the charges. Barnett was 18 when he was arrested and 19 when he was convicted of the Gaston County offenses, court officials said. Rocky Lutz, the attorney who represented Barnett at the resentencing hearing, said the new Gaston County sentence does not automatically result in the 64-year-olds release from custody. Lutz noted that Barnetts freedom remains tied to the status of his earlier murder conviction. Whether or not Barnett gets out of prison will depend on whether his life sentence in Mecklenburg County is modified, Lutz said. WATCH: I-85S reopens in Concord after fatal crash A Georgia high school student is now facing charges for bringing a weapon to school after his classmates say he threatened them. Sheriff Tyler Hooks said a 16-year-old pulled out a pocket knife during his fourth-period class at Morgan County High School last week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When they questioned him, the teenager admitted to approaching two students and pulling out the knife. Advertisement Advertisement Those other students took it as a threat and told a teacher, who reported it to the school resource officer. TRENDING STORIES: There is zero tolerance for weapons on any of our school campuses. When a student brings a knife or any other weapon to school, there will be severe consequences. The safety of our students and staff is not negotiable, and we will take swift action anytime they are put at risk, Sheriff Hooks wrote in a statement. The student was arrested and taken to a Regional Youth Detention Center. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Are you wondering about a fourth stimulus check from the IRS in 2026? Here's when and what to know about President Donald Trump's $2,000 tariff dividend status amid Supreme Court tariffs decision, eligibility and how to track your refund checks. The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision last week ruled that President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariffs were illegal and exceeded his powers under federal law, prompting the president to call the Supreme Court justices in the majority a "disgrace to our nation." However, the Supreme Court decision did not address the issue of when or how the refunding of the billions in tariff money already paid would work. Some Democrats including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have demanded refunds of at least $1,700 per household, with Pritzker sending the Trump administration an invoice for families in his state, according to reports. Advertisement Advertisement "Donald Trump has been illegally taxing your groceries, furniture, and cars for over a year. Time for a refund," Newsom said. Newsome and Pritzker's tariff refund demands mirror a similar concept that Trump himself has been promising to Americans since last year of a $2,000 tariff dividend payment to "middle income people and lower income people" from the "hundreds of millions of dollars" collected in tariff revenues to be issued sometime in 2026. Is there a fourth stimulus check? Trump vowed to issue dividend checks to "individuals of moderate income" sometime in 2026, before the midterm elections. However, there has been no approval from Congress or the IRS for this or any other fourth stimulus check to date. Advertisement Advertisement There were three prior stimulus checks tied to COVID-era stimulus programs, the third and last of which had an April 15, 2025 deadline to claim. The opportunities to claim or file have now passed for all three stimulus checks. While speculation about a fourth stimulus check has surfaced on social media and unverified websites, there has been no official confirmation from Congress or the IRS to support this claim and any such news should be taken with caution as it could be misinformation or attempted fraud. Are we getting a stimulus check in 2026? Trump vowed to issue tariff dividend checks to "middle income people and lower income people" from the "hundreds of millions of dollars" collected in tariff revenues. However, those revenues are in question after the Supreme Court decision on Feb. 20. The president immediately responded to the Supreme Court tariff decision last week by signing an executive order imposing a global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and then raised it again to 15%. This statue allows the president to impose tariffs up to 15% for up to 150 days to address deficits and thereafter would need Congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement There has been no order by the Supreme Court or approval from Congress or the IRS for a tariff refund or such a stimulus check to date. The IRS previously sent most stimulus checks; to check past payments, review your IRS online account. When are we getting a $2,000 tariff dividend check? Eligibility Trump's promise of $2,000 tariff dividend payments to "middle income people and lower income people" from the "hundreds of millions of dollars" collected in tariff revenues still lacks formal proposal despite promises from the president that payments would be issued sometime in 2026, before the midterms. There has been no order by the Supreme Court or Congress on how the refunding of the billions in tariff money already paid would work, to whom or when. Where is my federal tax refund? If you filed your federal taxes electronically and included your banking information, then you may expect a direct deposit within 21 days. If you did not include banking information, then you may expect a paper check refund via the mail within six to eight weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Submitting your return is not the same as the IRS accepting your return. Once it is accepted, you will know it has if you see a "Refund Sent" alert when you check your tax return status online, at which point you won't have to wait too long for the funds to show up in your account. Once the IRS approves your refund, it could hit your bank account within days via the direct deposit option. The IRS has an online tool called "Where's My Refund" that allows you to check on the status of your refund. Click here. You can start checking the status of your refund within 24 hours after you e-filed your return. The refund information is updated on the IRS website once a day, overnight. Advertisement Advertisement The online tool requires you to enter your Social Security number, filing status and exact refund amount on the return. It will then respond with a return received (processing), refund approved (preparing to issue refund by date shown) or refund sent (send to your bank or in the mail). Again, once it shows the IRS has approved your refund, it could hit your bank account within days via the direct deposit option. The other way to check on the status is to call the IRS at 800-829-1954. Where is my state tax refund? Most states have dedicated online portals for tracking income tax returns. To check on New Jersey online portal for state tax refund, click here. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Is there a stimulus check available? ACCRA, March 6 (Reuters) - The headquarters of Ghana's United Nations peacekeeping battalion in Lebanon was hit by missile attacks on Friday, leaving two soldiers critically injured, Ghana's armed forces said in a statement. Lebanon was pulled into the war in the Middle East on Monday, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel that ignited a new Israeli offensive against the group. Ghanaian soldiers are deployed as part of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement The statement from Ghana's armed forces did not say who fired the missiles, but it said Ghana's foreign ministry had protested the incident at U.N. headquarters in New York. In addition to the two critically injured soldiers, the statement said that another soldier "has been traumatised" while the officers' mess facility was hit and burned down. (Reporting by Emmanuel Bruce; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet) Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., announced Friday that he will seek reelection this year as an independent and drop his affiliation with the GOP at the end of his current term. A spokesperson for Kiley told NBC News that the two-term congressman will go independent if voters send him back to Washington in November. Kiley has recently bucked his party by voting with Democrats to terminate President Donald Trumps tariffs on Canada. He has also been an outspoken critic of the redistricting effort in California, which drew him out of his current district. Advertisement Advertisement It is no secret Ive been frustrated, at times disgusted, by the hyper-partisanship in Congress, Kiley said in a statement Friday night. The congressman blamed partisanship for the record-long government shutdown last fall, a spike in health care costs and redistricting across numerous states ahead of the 2026 midterms. He said both parties are complicit in the epidemic of gerrymandering. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said that his states redistricting efforts were a direct response to Texas being the first state to redraw its congressional boundaries mid-decade, with President Donald Trumps backing, in a move designed to net Republicans more seats in November. Advertisement Advertisement In a dig at Newsom, Kiley said, Theres a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games: by removing partisanship from the equation. Today, I filed for reelection as No Party Preference. The National Republican Congressional Committee the campaign arm of House Republicans did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kileys announcement. Republicans in November are seeking to defend their slim majority in the House, where they hold a 218-214 advantage over Democrats. Californias new congressional map drew Kiley out of his current district, where he won in 2024 with 55.5% of the vote. He is seeking another term in the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. Advertisement Advertisement The House does not have any independents serving this term. The Senate has two independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine who both caucus with the Democrats. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., questions former special counsel Jack Smith during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 22. (Demetrius Freeman / The Washington Post via Getty Images file) (Demetrius Freeman) Kiley's announcement came the same day that fellow California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who is also in a redrawn district, said he would not be running for reelection. This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didnt make it lightly, Issa said in a post on X. After a quarter-century in Congress and before that, a quarter-century in business its the right time for a new chapter and new challenges. Issa endorsed San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond as his successor in the 48th Congressional District. Advertisement Advertisement The number of House members this election cycle saying they wont seek another term is at its highest level since 1992, when 65 lawmakers retired. With Issas announcement Friday, 55 members have said they wont seek reelection in 2026. The number includes 34 Republicans and 21 Democrats, with many of the GOP lawmakers running for governor or Senate. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Gov. Maura Healey sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, demanding answers regarding recent immigration crackdowns in Massachusetts. In her letter, Healey challenged the agencies assertions that enforcement actions are limited to high-priority targets. You have repeatedly claimed that ICE is targeting the worst of the worst... but even by ICEs own account, the facts tell a very different story, Healey said. The governor argued that many recent arrests involve people who are integrated into local communities rather than those with significant criminal backgrounds. Healey cited data from two specific enforcement periods in Massachusetts to support her claims. In May 2025, nearly half of the more than 1,400 people detained reportedly had no criminal history. During another surge in September 2025, the governor asserted that more than half of those taken into custody lacked a criminal background. Advertisement Advertisement The governor expressed concern over the impact these enforcement actions have on local residents. Many of those taken into custody are longstanding members of our communities: parents, caregivers, and workers whose sudden detention leaves their families in crisis, Healey said. The letter highlighted five specific cases, including that of Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, the Milford teenager who was arrested by ICE last year while he was on his way to a high school volleyball practice. Silva was eventually released from custody after six days. Healeys letter included a formal request for comprehensive data on all ICE arrests in Massachusetts since January 2025. She is seeking the names of every person arrested, the legal basis for each detention, and the current location and status of those individuals. Additionally, the governor asked for the number of parents or primary caregivers arrested and details on what the agency is doing to ensure the safety of children whose parents are detained. Boston 25 has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a formal response to the governors letter. However, the agencies have previously stated that their operations are focused on enforcing immigration laws and protecting national security. Advertisement Advertisement 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 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Gov. Dan McKee has forced out a top cabinet member after the potential exposure of current and former state employees Social Security numbers on their W-2 forms a mailing the state had already been forced to correct once. McKee announced Friday that he requested the resignation of R.I. Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer. Womer complied Friday, submitting a one-line resignation letter saying he was stepping down effective immediately. Womer, who previously worked at The Policy Lab at Brown University and as budget director under former Gov. Gina Raimondo, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement R.I. Department of Revenue Director Tom Verdi, who previously worked for the Providence Police Department for 35 years, will serve as interim Department of Administration director. It was not immediately clear who would replace Verdi at the Department of Revenue. The resignation was announced shortly after the Department of Administration issued a news release saying the state is offering free credit monitoring to current and former state employees to address privacy concerns. Agency officials said the offer was being made after they discovered that employee Social Security numbers may have been visible through the paper of the envelope used for mailing the W-2C forms. The state had to mail out the W-2C forms because of a prior debacle earlier this winter when 22,000 employees received W-2 forms listing the incorrect employer name: State of Rhode Island Umbrella Company rather than State of Rhode Island. Advertisement Advertisement MORE | All 22,000 RI employees to receive corrected W-2 forms after umbrella company mistake Our employees trust the Department of Administration to handle their pay and personal information with the highest level of care, McKee said in a statement. This transition is about making sure state government is operating the way our employees and taxpayers expect and deserve. The W-2 issue has been blamed on the states new $95 million back-end IT system, which has been plagued with problems since launching last year. Other issues have included accounting delays and paycheck errors. ALSO READ | I still havent been paid: Thousands of RI state employees report incorrect paychecks Advertisement Advertisement The see-through envelopes are just the latest black eye for the Department of Administration. As Target 12 first reported, a brand-new $70,000 State House carpet was installed in the second-floor State Room last month featuring two state seals that botched the states name: The Seal of Rhode Island and Providence. TARGET 12 | $70,000 new rug at RI State House gets state seal wrong State officials had multiple opportunities to catch the error before the order went out, according to records obtained through a public records request. McKees move to oust Womer contrasts with his unwillingness to move on from former R.I. Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti in the wake of the Washington Bridge failure, despite vocal calls for new leadership at the agency. Advertisement Advertisement We will continue working urgently to address these operational challenges, support our employees, and ensure the Department of Administration is delivering the reliable services that state government depends on, McKee said. Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News and co-hosts Behind the Story. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, 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. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup 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. Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay announced a bunch of poll promises aimed at empowering women and promoting education, on Saturday. Addressing party workers ahead of International Women's Day, Vijay said his party would provide six free LPG cylinders per year to every family, increase the women's rights allowance to Rs 2,500 per month, and create a separate department for women, children, and the elderly under his direct supervision. While addressing the gathering, Vijay said, "Every family will be provided 6 free LPG gas cylinders per year. The women's rights allowance will be increased to Rs 2,500 per month. A separate department for women, children, and the elderly will be created, and it will function under my direct supervision. Ensuring the safety and welfare of women, children, and the elderly is one of our fundamental principles. A separate department dedicated to women and children will be established. A monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 will be provided to all women heads of families up to the age of 60. However, state and central government employees will be exempted from this scheme." Vijay also announced the 'Annapoorani Super Six Scheme', providing six free LPG cylinders annually to every family, and the 'Annan Seer Scheme', offering one sovereign of gold and a silk saree to brides as a ceremonial gift. Furthermore, he announced the 'Kamarajar Education Rights Scheme', providing Rs 15,000 annually to mothers or guardians to support children's education from Class 1 to Class 12, to curb the dropout rates. He added, "Annapoorani Super Six Scheme- under this scheme, every family will receive six LPG cylinders free of cost each year. Annan Seer Scheme- For the marriage of daughters, the bride will be provided with one sovereign (8 grams) of gold and a silk saree as a ceremonial gift from her maternal home. Kamarajar Education Rights Scheme- To ensure that no child drops out of school from Class 1 to Class 12, every mother or guardian will receive Rs.15,000 annually as financial assistance." He assured party workers that he would address their grievances, saying, "Recently, I have seen many of you struggling and getting hurt while protesting against various issues. When I see that, it hurts me as well. I will take care of those issues." 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 TVK is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. (ANI) Kristi Noem, former governor of South Dakota, has been removed from her position as President Donald Trump's Cabinet secretary of Homeland Security. Trump announced on Truth Social shortly after noontime, Thursday, March 5, Noem was "mov[ed] to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a security initiative against narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. "I thank Kristi for her service at 'Homeland,'" Trump added. Advertisement Advertisement The announcement itself was issued shortly before Noem was set to deliver a keynote address at a Nashville police union conference. Noem spoke to the impact of local and Homeland Security enforcement efforts, but she did not acknowledge her reassignment at the event. Noem later addressed her removal via X and thanked the president for appointing her to the new special envoy position. The ex-secretary said she was looking forward to working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren." "In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security," Noem stated. "We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard." Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. @SecRubio and @SecWar are incredible leaders and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 5, 2026 Noem is the first member of Trump's Cabinet to be fired in his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Trump stated he was "pleased to announce" Noem, who assumed the cabinet secretary position on Jan. 25, 2025, would be replaced by Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Mullin is expected to take over as acting cabinet secretary March 31, pending Senate confirmation. Noem was the first South Dakota official to serve in a presidential cabinet. The March 5 reassignment also marks Noem as the first South Dakotan to be moved out of a cabinet-level position by a sitting president. Clinton P. Anderson, a Centerville native, is considered the first person with South Dakota ties to ever serve in a President's cabinet, having run the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Truman administration in 1945 before resigning in 1948. Tom Daschle, a former U.S. Senate Democratic leader, was chosen by former President Barack Obama in 2009 to become secretary of Health and Human Services, but he withdrew his nomination. What are South Dakota leaders saying? South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden issued a social media statement in support of Noem and thanked Noem for "everything shes done to keep South Dakota and all America strong, safe, and free." Kristi is a dear friend and the toughest person I know. When she shut down the border in record time, others were shocked, but I wasnt I knew what she was capable of. Shell deliver in her next role just as capably. I thank her for everything shes done to keep South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden (@GovLarryRhoden) March 5, 2026 "Kristi is a dear friend and the toughest person I know," Rhoden stated. "When she shut down the border in record time, others were shocked, but I wasnt I knew what she was capable of. Shell deliver in her next role just as capably." Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. John Thune made several comments to reporters shortly before 2 p.m. CST. The Senate leader declined to criticize Noem's administration of DHS in the wake of her removal. "I've always said those decisions are made by the president and all of these Cabinet-level people serve at his discretion and pleasure," Thune said. Thune said he wanted to process Mullin's confirmation "quickly," noting the Oklahoma senator was "obviously pretty well-vetted around here." He also hoped Mullin would bring a "fresh set of eyes and a fresh approach" to running Homeland Security in the interim. Advertisement Advertisement "I think the one thing that everybody has said on the handling of some of the immigration policy, ICE issues is to be strategic about it, prioritize," Thune said. "I think some of the things that Tom Homan has emphasized since he's been more heavily engaged on the scene, and especially with the steps he took in Minneapolis, I think that's a model that can work. And I think he and Senator Mullin can work well together." South Dakota's lone Congressman Dusty Johnson expressed sympathy for Noem, writing in a statement to the Argus Leader that Noem had "served our country during an incredibly difficult time." "Under her tenure, the southern border has seen nine straight months of no illegal border crossings," Johnson stated. "Im grateful for her service" U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Across the aisle, the South Dakota Democrat Party organization laid into Noem, criticizing the former secretary over implementing restrictions to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's relief functions and her "mishandling" of immigration enforcement. Jessica Meyers, the state Democratic party vice chair, said in the party's response that Noem "has consistently proven there is one thing that has motivated her rise through politics - herself." "Through her time as governor of South Dakota she spent our taxpayer money on personal shopping, private jet expenses, and putting a personal TV studio in the governor's mansion," Meyers said. "As Secretary of Homeland Security, she lead through chaos, intimidation, and a scattered plan, and continued her mission to put herself in front of the camera. "We celebrate that Noem is no longer in charge of the Department of Homeland Security," Meyers added. "America has a black eye on the national stage, and the raids on innocent Americans in their homes fuel the hatred toward us, making our nation more vulnerable for generations to come." Advertisement Advertisement And across the border, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who formerly served in Congress alongside Noem more than a decade ago, welcomed the news, stating on X that Noem "has done a stunning amount of damage and its good shes gone." Walz used the moment to call on a "complete overhaul of DHS, impartial investigations into the killings of two American citizens, and information on children that were taken from Minnesota." Kristi Noem has done a stunning amount of damage and its good shes gone. But this doesnt change the fact that we need a complete overhaul of DHS, impartial investigations into the killings of two American citizens, and information on children that were taken from Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) March 5, 2026 The news came after multiple media outlets reported Trump had been mulling over the idea of firing Noem following recent congressional hearing remarks, during which she implicated the president in allegedly approving a $220 million ad campaign featuring herself. Trump "quietly surveyed" Republicans on whether he should dismiss Noem prior to the decision, according to Punchbowl News. Advertisement Advertisement Noem's tenure as cabinet secretary has been underscored by controversies. The former secretary received bipartisan scorn over her premature comments about protesters killed by federal agents in Minnesota. She said protester Alex Pretti wanted to "kill" federal agents and called Renee Good a "domestic terrorist" within hours of their deaths at the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during an ongoing enforcement blitz in the state. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Kristi Noem fired as Homeland Security secretary SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) On Friday evening, Governor Cox spoke and answered questions in a press conference on as the 2026 general legislative session came to an end. While legislators work until the clock strikes midnight to finalize proposals that have been in conversation for the last 45 days, Cox took a moment to address the media and the rest of the state of Utah for parting remarks in the sessions final hours. On Friday afternoon, Cox told ABC4 in an interview that the 2026 general session was his favorite in 14 years. Though there are still several proposals up in the air, the main one being the states proposed $31 billion budget, Cox said that as of now, there isnt anything that he has his eye on vetoing. Advertisement Advertisement At 9:05 p.m. on Friday, Cox appeared in a press conference on Friday to highlight all of this and more. Closing remarks Cox told the public that the 2026 general legislative session was a very positive one. He added that not only is he proud of the Utah legislature, but that the citizens of Utah should also be proud of what took place on Capitol Hill in the past 45 days. He added that there were several initiatives that were particularly important to his administration this year and were the major focuses throughout the session. First, Cox brought focus to the education initiatives, particularly the literacy initiative that prioritizes getting every child to read on a third-grade level. He also highlighted the bell-to-bell cell phone ban as one of the most exciting bills to pass during the session for him. This bill bans cell phones in Utah schools from the beginning to the end of the school day. Advertisement Advertisement Cox also drew attention to the homelessness initiative and said that the legislature has a plan set in place to move forward. He said that he is grateful for Rep. Tyler Clancy who will be leading the charge in running homelessness legislation for the state. Cox emphasized the importance of continued efforts towards building more housing across the state of Utah. He drew attention to Operation Gigawatt, an initiative that is working to ensure that the United States remains dominant in both energy and nuclear resources. Q & A Cox answered a question on what the future of Artificial Intelligence regulation looks like when it comes to its effect on children. He emphasized that he does not want to overregulate the AI, but to do so in a great enough sense to protect childrens interactions with it. Although the bill did not pass this session, Cox said that he feels good about the bills chances in next years session if they come at it from a different angle and with more data. Advertisement Advertisement He was also passionate about the passing of a bill that clarifies the definition of gambling in the state of Utah. The bill also specifies that a proposition bet falls within the definition as well. He was adamant that every state should get to make their own decision on whether to legalize gambling, but said that as it is against the Constitution, Utah will not be one of the states that does. When asked about the current stance on immigration legislation, Cox said that it was the number one topic on the minds of legislators. We had an administration that really screwed this up four years ago and let far too many people across the border, Cox said. Everybody agrees that we need to secure the border, everybody agrees that we need to get criminals out of our country I am hopeful that Utah can be a part of those conversations going forward. Cox said that he is working closely with the federal government on immigration reform. He also said that he would rather not have an Immigrations and Customs campus be built in Utah but is not opposed to it if it will have a positive effect. Advertisement Advertisement We just want good policy, and we want to help people, Cox said. There is an optimism right now that I have not seen in this space in a long time, Cox said. This is exciting. In terms of tax cuts, Cox said that no other Utah administration in history has been able to complete as many tax cuts as his administration has. He added that he is hoping for help on the federal level to bring those prices down. Cox concluded the conference by thanking the media for their presence during the session and for making the long list of bills palatable for the public. The media plays a critical role in our republic, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson spoke for one of the first times during the session about a failed proposal to staff the states ballot boxes to check voter ID. The bill failed for a second time during the 2026 session and was asked if she think it is feasible. I think that the system that we have that the legislature has put in place very deliberately, very carefully over the last decade, is really good, and we keep making improvements to our elections to make sure they are both secure and accessible, and we are going to continue to do that, said Henderson 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. Greeces Culture Ministry has unveiled a newly acquired archive of World War II photographs, including rare images documenting the execution of 200 Greek communist prisoners by Nazi forces in Athens in 1944. Known as the Heuer Collection, the archive includes 262 photographs, 16 documents and four historical banknotes from the period of the German occupation of Greece. Thirteen of the photographs are linked to the execution at the Kaisariani firing range on May 1, 1944. Advertisement Advertisement The prisoners were executed by German occupation forces in retaliation for the killing of a German general by Greek resistance fighters. The event became one of the most widely known reprisals during the Nazi occupation of Greece. Image showing the 200 prisoners during their transfer to the execution site in Kaisariani, Athens - Courtesy: Greek Ministry of Culture The images were taken by Hermann Heuer, a German Wehrmacht soldier stationed in Greece between 1943 and 1944. The archive surfaced last month when a Belgian collector offered the material for sale on an online auction platform. Greeces Culture Ministry purchased the collection for 100,000, transferring ownership to the Greek state. The acquisition followed an authentication process carried out by a team of experts, who travelled twice to Belgium to examine the material and assess its historical significance. Advertisement Advertisement Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the collection in a social media post, saying Greece now holds the photographic archive documenting the execution at Kaisariani. He described the material as evidence of the Nazi occupation and of the resistance of the Greek people during World War II. Mitsotakis said the culture ministry had acted quickly to secure the archive before it entered the international market. He added that he had viewed the material personally and said the message of those executed at Kaisariani was linked to the defence of a free and democratic Greece. The prime minister also suggested that copies of the photographs could be provided to the families of those executed so they could become part of the countrys collective historical memory. The 200 prisoners shortly before their execution at the Kaisariani firing range in Athens on May 1, 1944. - Courtesy: Greek Ministry of Culture Greece plans national photographic archive During the presentation of the collection, the culture ministry also announced the creation of a National Photographic Archive. Advertisement Advertisement The new library will form a distinct section within the National Archive of Monuments and will be connected to the culture ministrys existing heritage databases. According to the ministry, the archive will include photographic collections related to modern Greek history. Among them are photographs from the former royal estate of Tatoi, archives documenting refugee movements during the 20th century and photographic material from the historical archive of the Archaeological Service. Digitisation and historical research to follow The culture ministry has classified the photographs as historical monuments. Their management will include conservation, protection, scientific documentation and public presentation. Advertisement Advertisement The first stage involves the preservation of the material and the digitisation of the entire photographic archive. Digital copies may later be made available to researchers and institutions under specific conditions. Historical research on the collection has been assigned to the National Hellenic Research Foundation under a programme agreement with the government. The research aims to identify individuals, locations and dates appearing in the photographs and to place the material within the historical context of the German occupation of Greece. One of the pictures included in the Heuer Collection - Courtesy: Greek Ministry of Culture Archive sheds light on Nazi occupation Researchers say the archive provides valuable material for studying the presence of German forces in Greece during World War II. Advertisement Advertisement The photographs depict both aspects of military life and scenes linked to the violence of the occupation. Particular interest lies in the fact that the photographs appear to form part of a personal album kept by a Wehrmacht soldier. Some images combine scenes of military activity with everyday moments from soldiers lives. According to researchers, the material also reflects the wider propaganda system of Nazi Germany, which encouraged soldiers and propaganda units to document military operations and daily life through photography during the war. Several Gulf states said on Saturday they had intercepted attacks from Iran, even as Tehran apologized to neighbouring countries for strikes carried out amid its conflict with the United States and Israel. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for the attacks and said Iran would halt strikes on neighbouring states if no assaults against Iran originated from their territory. Shortly after Pezeshkians statement, Qatars Ministry of Defence said its armed forces had intercepted a missile aimed at the energy-rich emirate. No casualties or damage were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Qatar hosts the Al Udeid base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. Other Gulf countries host US military personnel and facilities. Sirens were Saturday sounded in Bahrain, warning of air raids in the country, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. But no attacks were reported. Bahrain has intercepted and destroyed 86 missiles and 148 drones since the start of the attacks, the island kingdom's army said on Saturday. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported responding to drones and missiles coming from Iran. The country's Ministry of Defence said the air defences on Saturday intercepted 15 of 16 ballistic missiles and 119 of 121 drones. Advertisement Advertisement Footage online purportedly showed a drone attack on the Dubai airport, a major global aviation hub. Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a series of drones targeting the vast Shaybah oil field as well as two ballistic missiles fired towards the Prince Sultan Air Base near the capital Riyadh. Two more drones were destroyed east of Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence said Khalid bin Salman, the defence minister of the oil-wealthy kingdom, said he had discussed with the chief of Pakistan's army staff steps needed to halt Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia under a defence pact signed between both countries in September last year. Advertisement Advertisement "We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation," Prince Khalid said in a post on the social media platform X. Iran has carried out multiple retaliatory attacks against the Arab Gulf countries since the US and Israel started a bombing campaign on Iran a week ago. The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts will receive $200,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council as part of the state's Gaming Mitigation Fund grant program. The Massachusetts Cultural Council on Friday, March 6, announced 51 nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers across the state that will receive a total of $3,568,500 through the fiscal year 2026 grant program. Established by the state Legislature through the Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act six years ago, the Gaming Mitigation Fund provides "critical support to Massachusetts performing arts centers to offset competitive pressures created by resort-style casinos," according to an announcement. "Grant funds are used to secure touring shows and help cover touring artist fees, helping local venues compete for nationally and internationally recognized acts." The Mass Cultural Council receives 2% of state casino tax revenues to administer the program Advertisement Advertisement Among other local organizations and venues receiving grants are Music Worcester ($90,000), Grass Roots Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Blackstone ($14,900), and the Winchendon Music Festival ($6,000). The grants range from $6,000 to $200,000. The Boch Center in Boston, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cabot Performing Arts Center in Beverly, Lynn Auditorium, South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset and Vivo Performing Arts in Boston also each received $200,000. Mass Cultural Council is proud to support our performing arts centers and the communities they serve, said David T. Slatery, acting executive director of Mass Cultural Council. These organizations are vibrant cultural anchors and powerful economic drivers." The Gaming Mitigation Fund has invested a total of more than $20 million in over 90 organizations statewide. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Hanover Theatre gets $200,000 gaming mitigation grant from state Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sparked a backlash from hardliners at home with his apology on Saturday to neighbouring countries for attacks in recent days. Critics in Iran immediately accused Pezeshkian of showing weakness, hurting national pride and damaging the country. Conservative lawmaker Jalal Rashidi Koochi wrote on X: "With all due respect, Mr President, an apology is made when a mistake has been made ... But we have not made a mistake." Advertisement Advertisement The lawmaker accused the president of lacking authority in his message, which he said was weak in terms of text, expression and body language. Pezeshkian had apologized in a video message broadcast by state media for Iran's attacks on neighbouring countries since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began a week ago. The subsequent Iranian missile and drone launches were "the result of the chaotic situation following the deaths of several high-ranking commanders, when the armed forces were leaderless and had to act independently," he said. His remarks imply that no attacks on Iran should originate from US military bases in the region. Apologize for the apology Mohammad Mannan Raeesi, a lawmaker considered to be a hardliner, wrote on X: "Your strange apology to neighbouring countries has caused widespread regret ... The attacks by our armed forces give no cause for such a humiliating apology on your part." Advertisement Advertisement Mannan Raeesi called on Pezeshkian to "immediately apologize to the people for this humiliating attitude." The Raja News website, which is considered Islamist, wrote: "The president's latest television address shows that the government's circle of advisers is still pursuing a begging diplomacy." A speech that was supposed to be a symbol of national resistance unfortunately became a broadcast of signals of weakness, the portal wrote, urging: "Just take the microphone away from him." The bodycam footage above was released on March 2 by the Office of Inspector General. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) The Connecticut Office of Inspector General released its preliminary report Friday, a week after a Hartford police officer fired nine shots at a man carrying a knife, which the office said resulted in his death. Steven Jones, 55, died on March 3 from complications from gunshot wounds to his torso, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Inspector general: Bodycam videos show Hartford police officer shooting at man with knife 9 times The inspector general said that a family member of Jones initially called 911 for help around 11 a.m. on Feb. 27 on Blue Hills Avenue because he was having an acute mental health crisis. Jones was found on the stoop of his apartment carrying a large knife, which he allegedly refused to drop upon officers multiple requests. When he failed to comply, officers tasered him with no success, according to the report, and he continued to walk towards the officers as they tried to maintain distance from him. The inspector general said Officer Joseph Magnano arrived at the scene around 11:12 a.m. and fired nine shots at Jones, resulting in gunshot wound injuries that he later died from on March 3. Advertisement Advertisement A toxicological analysis from Jones is pending as of Friday, the report said. The Connecticut Office of Inspector General and the Connecticut State Polices Central District Major Crime Squad are continuing to investigate. Magnano was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. 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 WTNH.com. Ray Marcano is a frequent Columbus Dispatch contributor. A law that instills fear is the most potent law of all. Thats what were seeing at the Little Miami School District. Board members, by a 4-1 vote, cited Ohios Parents Bill of Rights when it ordered this "hate has no home here" poster removed from a classroom: Little Miami school board members voted to remove this "Hate Has No Home Here" under district policy 5780.01 - "Parents' Bill of Rights." Huh? Again, it says, Hate Has No Home Here. Whats objectionable about that? Advertisement Advertisement It has hands of different skin colors, and at first, I thought there may be some sort of histrionic DEI protest, but that wasnt it. It turns out the school board objected to the hearts with bright colors that could be interpreted as pro-LGBTQ and pro-transgender symbols. Huh? Its true the rainbow flag is an LGBTQ+ emblem and there is a transgender pride flag. Heres what they look like, with the rainbow flag on the left and the pride flag on the right. The rainbow LGBTQIA pride flag and the transgender pride flag together, lying in the grass intertwined. In fairness, the transgender pride flag colors have a closer resemblance to the heart in the poster. This is where common sense failed the board and fear took hold. Advertisement Advertisement More: School board removes 'Hate Has No Home Here' sign from classroom Board members noted under the Parents' Bill of Rights, also known as Ohio House Bill 8, parents must be notified of any instructional materials with sexuality content and be given a chance to remove their child from the classroom. Huh? How is that poster instructional, unless you take the leap that it instructs and indoctrinates children to embrace a certain sexuality? People, get a grip Its a poster. The colors in those flags can be found in all sorts of schoolwork. Does this mean the board is going to ban any poster that has the above colors? What if its a drawing with red, orange and yellow, or light blue, pink and white? Advertisement Advertisement I dont expect a small board to fight the state and leave a poster in a classroom whose anti-hate message speaks louder than the symbols. But Little Miami shows us how powerful fear can be. A poster isnt instructional material which educators use to teach their class. I know. I used to be a college lecturer. A flawed line of reasoning But the board, stricken with fear, used a flawed line of reasoning to skate a controversial issue. Its easy to place blame on a law instead of taking ownership. Boards have great latitude in deciding what it allows in classrooms, and if it finds the poster offensive, it should say to get rid of it. But theres fear there, too, because some in the community dont like the boards action. Its easier to hide behind a law than to take ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Sadly, after a while, the uproar will go away, and people will forget there was a poster in the first place. Thats the cycle of media coverage and life. But with its decision, the board has taught its students that fear trumps a backbone. Maybe they can add that to their instructional materials. Ray Marcano, a longtime journalist, is the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow. Ray Marcano, a longtime journalist, is the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow. He is a frequent Columbus Dispatch contributor. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fear drove Little Miami School board's 'hate' vote on sign| Opinion Passengers on a flight that made an emergency landing in Atlanta recorded the startling moment federal officers and local cops ran onto their plane to handle what officials called a possible security matter. The surreal scene was captured aboard Southwest Flight 2094, which was traveling from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale before being diverted on Friday. Heads down! Hands up!, a flight attendant could be heard yelling over the loudspeaker. I need to see everyones hands! Heads down, hands up! Advertisement Advertisement That was heard in a clip recorded by passenger J.C. Rodriguez and shared by CBS News on Saturday. The video showed Rodriguez and other passengers putting their heads down against the seats in front of them while other passengers appeared to be crying in the background. Passengers aboard Southwest flight 2094 from Nashville to Ft. Lauderdale were told to keep their heads and hands down as the plane made an unplanned landing in Atlanta due to a "possible security matter." Atlanta police officers and federal agents boarded the plane to detain the pic.twitter.com/Um3gSTo3DY CBS News (@CBSNews) March 7, 2026 Another video from the same flight said agents were responding to a bomb threat. That video posted on TikTok by Username66788752 said SWAT team members boarded the plane to deal with the security issue; Those agents are seen wearing uniforms and helmets as they pull one man out of his seat, after he was told to stand up multiple times. That TikTok video was shared on X and has been seen more than 1.8 million times. You can see that clip below: Southwest Flight 2094 Diverted to Atlanta due to security threat; passenger detainedhttps://t.co/Hu9rLWg7df pic.twitter.com/plfctIgQ0t Karli Bonne (@KarluskaP) March 7, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Details on what caused the flight to make the emergency landing are still hazy. Fox 5 in Atlanta reported: It remains unclear exactly what the passenger in question did or said to trigger the security response. Officials have not confirmed if any dangerous items were actually found on the aircraft. Additionally, the current status of the detained passenger and whether they face charges has not yet been released by the Atlanta Police Department. Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Friday evening after diverting to respond to a possible security matter, a Southwest spokesperson told the channel. The frightening emergency landing comes a week after three people were stabbed to death in Austin by a man wearing a Property of Allah sweater and a shirt with the Iranian flag on it. The FBI said it was investigating the attack which happened one day after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed as a potential act of terrorism. NBC 11 in Atlanta covered Flight 2094 on Saturday morning; watch the channels report above. The post Heads Down! Hands Up! Passengers Capture Scary Moment Feds Storm Plane to Deal With Possible Security Matter first appeared on Mediaite. Explosions were reported as a large fire erupted at a rail yard in Northeast Minneapolis on Friday night. Details are yet to be confirmed by city officials, but video shared to social media shows flames and heavy smoke billowing from the area of Central Avenue and 27th Avenue Northeast,. The fire is believed to have affected multiple semi-tractors parked at the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Shoreham Facility. Advertisement Advertisement Minneapolis Fire Department says it was called to the yard at 12:15 a.m. and arrived to find "six semi-tractors fully engulfed in flames in a parking lot." "The railroad company confirmed that there were no hazardous materials present in that area of the parking and Xcel Energy was contacted to shut down a nearby electrical line exposed to the fire," the department said. Tony Webster, Flickr (Tony Webster, Flickr) The fire was brought under control after about 20 minutes, the department said. An investigation into the cause is now under way. The Shoreham Facility is a sprawling, 230-acre rail yard that has been operating since the late 1880s, per CPKC. 3/ MFD has updated that it's not trailers or rail cars on fire, it's six semi tractors. Nearby power lines are being affected, calling for Xcel. pic.twitter.com/8L9FXIaqvI CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) March 7, 2026 This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Mar 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunetra Pawar on Saturday inaugurated the 'Mahila Sanman Portal' and a cyber wellness cell launched by the Maharashtra State Commission for Women on the occasion of International Women's Day in Mumbai. She stated that the Cyber Cell portal will allow women to register complaints online from their homes. She added that the system will be linked with police stations across the state. The Deputy CM further stated that the initiative reflects the vision of late Ajit Pawar, who dreamt of women's safety, education and equal opportunities. While speaking to reporters here, Sunetra Pawar said, "Tomorrow is International Women's Day. Your life, mine, and every woman's life is the same: fighting and struggling for their families and society. The Cyber Cell portal was unveiled today. This will bring women to file complaints from their homes through this portal. This portal will be linked with all police stations. Ajit Dada dreamed that every woman should be safe, educated, and have equal opportunities." In a post on X, Pawar extended heartfelt congratulations to all women present at the programme, referring to them as the "daughters of Jijau-Savitri", in tribute to Jijabai and social reformer Savitribai Phule. The event celebrated women's empowerment and honoured individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to advancing women's rights and opportunities. During the programme, several initiatives of the State Women's Commission were also launched, including the launch of the Commission's book and wall poster titled "Paths of Self-Respect". In a post on X, Sunetra Pawar said, "Today, I participated in the program titled 'International Women's Day 2026' organised by the Maharashtra State Women's Commission at Prabhadevi in Mumbai. On the occasion of International Women's Day, heartfelt congratulations were extended to all the daughters of Jijau-Savitri present there. On the occasion of this celebration of feminine power, commendable individuals and institutions that have made remarkable contributions in the field of women's empowerment were honoured with great pride. Alongside this, the unveiling of the Maharashtra State Women's Commission's 'Mahila Samman Portal,' the inauguration of the 'Cyber Wellness' room at the Commission's office, and the launch of the Women's Commission's book and wall poster titled 'Paths of Self-Respect' were carried out." https://x.com/SunetraA_Pawar/status/2030192516792996230?s=20 She also welcomed the Women's Complaint Resolution Portal, stating that it would enable women to register complaints online from their homes, which would improve transparency and effectiveness in addressing their issues. The portal is linked with police stations across the state, which will help ensure quicker action on complaints related to women's safety. She further said that the Commission will provide legal guidance, technical assistance and counselling to women through the platform. Pawar highlighted that Maharashtra is the first state to implement such an initiative, calling it a matter of pride. "The work being done by the State Women's Commission for the empowerment of mothers and sisters in Maharashtra is extremely valuable and important. Through various initiatives of the State Women's Commission, women's safety and self-reliance have gained a new direction. I am particularly delighted that the Women's Complaint Resolution Portal will certainly help in resolving women's issues with greater transparency and effectiveness. Through the Women's Commission's portal, any woman in the state will be able to register complaints online from the comfort of her home. Since this system is linked to all police stations in the state, immediate action on women's complaints will become possible. The State Women's Commission will provide legal guidance, technical assistance, and counselling to women. This initiative will undoubtedly serve as a support for many. Notably, Maharashtra is the first state to implement such an initiative, which is a matter of great pride," the post added. International Women's Day is celebrated worldwide every year on March 8 to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the globe. (ANI) Another round of rain and thunderstorms is possible this afternoon. Severe weather isnt forecasted for Central Florida, but a few storms might produce heavy rain, some lightning, and wind gusts reaching 35 mph. Possible rain and thunderstorms in central Florida this afternoon. Expect heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts up to 35 mph These showers and thunderstorms are expected to occur from mid-afternoon to early evening. The warmer temperatures will be felt all around Central Florida. Possible rain and thunderstorms in central Florida this afternoon. Expect heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts up to 35 mph Afternoon highs will range from the mid to even upper 80s for a handful of locations. Advertisement Advertisement Central Floridas temperatures will stay warm through most of this work week until the next cold front moves into our region on Friday. Possible rain and thunderstorms in central Florida this afternoon. Expect heavy rain, lightning, and wind gusts up to 35 mph That will also be our best chance to see more heavy rain after todays showers are done. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Some officials are trying to eliminate the process of changing our clocks each fall and spring. Heres why it hasnt been implemented yet. Carol Yepes via Getty Images This weekend, we spring forward and turn our clocks ahead one hour to kick off daylight saving time. As is always the case when the clocks change, folks around the country and online initiate conversations about the need to turn daylight saving time into our permanent modus operandi instead of ending it every fall (known as going to standard time). This is mostly because daylight saving time guarantees more sunshine toward the end of the day, a fact that experts stress can help with seasonal depression. Health: Why You Wake Up Earlier As You Get Older Talks have gotten so intense that politicians have even introduced bills attempting to make daylight saving irreversible. Back in March 2022, the United States Senate went as far as passing the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021. Advertisement Advertisement The call to end the antiquated practice of clock changing is gaining momentum throughout the nation, said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at the time in an official statement. In 2023, Rubio re-introduced what is now referred to as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 to the 118th Congress. This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid, the GOP lawmaker said in astatement. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support. This Congress, I hope that we can finally get this done. Even President Donald Trump has voiced his support for getting rid of daylight saving time, saying its inconvenient and costly. Health: If You Always Wake Up Too Early In The Morning, This Could Be Why If that were ever to happen (it hasnt yet), our clocks would permanently move an hour forward like we do every spring making daylight saving time our new forever normal. Advertisement Advertisement But if there has been this much supposed political support and public momentum behind the initiative, why havent we been able to make the change permanent so far? Heres why we change our clocks in the first place. The overall idea is that people prefer to do things in daylight, so extending the day by an hour could be beneficial to just about anyone. However, thats not exactly the case. Farmers, for example, have been famously opposed to daylight saving time because it disrupts their usual schedule. Buzz: 'I Dare You!': Jimmy Kimmel Challenges Trump To Do 1 'Dumb' Thing People Would Love Historically, those arguing that daylight saving time should be turned permanent have brought up potential energy-saving measures as major benefits to the practice. Advertisement Advertisement Household lighting and electricity use is one of the biggest energy savers, explainedNick Loris, economist and VP of public policy at C3 Solutions. Basically, the longer there is sunshine outside, the less likely you are to turn on your lights at home, therefore saving energy. However, there have been studies pointing to the flaws of that view. If people are going out after work driving to restaurants or going to the mall, for example they are using more gasoline than they otherwise might, so that reduces some of the energy savings, Loris explained. Also, technology has vastly improved the efficiency of our appliances, so families are saving less than they used to from daylight saving time. The way we use energy is much different than our parents and grandparents, which, again, makes the energy savings argument a little dubious. Health: These 8 Common Signs Of Perimenopause Probably Arent What You Think Who wants daylight saving time to become the norm? According to theNational Conference of State Legislatures, as of 2023, a total of 19 states have tried to adopt daylight saving time all year around, passing resolutions confirming their position. However, until a similar law is passed on a federal level, local states cannot alter the way the system currently works. Advertisement Advertisement Retailers, in particular, tend to approve of the proposed changes because, according to Loris, more light means people are willing to shop or hang out after work rather than just go home and, as a result, are more likely to visit retail-adjacent destinations. When it gets darker, people are less likely to spend money. Studies have shown that even groceries and fuel shopping goes down when daylight saving ends, Loris said. Loris noted that additional evening light has been associated with specific health benefits (kids play outside more, it helps with seasonal depression) and public safety concerns (the longer it is light out, the less dangerous not being home might be). Health: Doctors Are Begging Middle-Aged Women To Make This 1 Lifestyle Change ASAP According to a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, mental health distress increases among the population during the times of the year characterized by reduced hours of sunlight. Advertisement Advertisement With fewer sun time hours, clients will be particularly vulnerable to emotional distress, according to Mark Beecher, clinical professor and licensed psychologist in New York University Counseling and Psychological Services and one of the scientists behind the study. What are the downsides of daylight saving time? Loris conceded that lighter nights come with darker mornings and, therefore, sometimes unpleasant situations: Students going to school and commuters heading to work during pitch-black morning hours may have to confront other safety issues, for example. Parents of school-aged children have become pretty loud voices in the debate, arguing that the full-time adoption of daylight saving time will bring several safety issues when it comes to morning commutes to school. Sleep patterns are another downside. A total of two states just stay on standard time all year long: Arizona and Hawaii. Although there are a number of reasons behind the states decision, it seems like a lot of it is based on what the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has been saying for years: Living off standard time might be healthier for the human body. Advertisement Advertisement Current evidence best supports the adoption of year-round standard time, which aligns best with human circadian biology and provides distinct benefits for public health and safety, reads anofficial statement by the organization. To put it simply, daylight saving time means more darkness in the morning and light in the early evening, which would go against our bodies natural rhythms. Will one time schedule ever get implemented? As of now, although several states have passed their own propositions to make daylight saving time permanent, the federal government has yet to take on the issue. Every few months, when the designated days to switch our clocks approach, conversations about the issue abound in Congress, but just a few weeks later, as we get used to the new normal, all such discussions seem to die downcase in point: The Sunshine Protection Act has yet to reach the House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement It just doesnt seem to be a priority issue, Loris said. We talk about it twice a year, and then its largely forgotten about until its time to spring forward or fall back again. So, the hold-up is within the government. Officials have to first choose whether to implement a never-changing time system and, following that matter, opt for which frame to use permanently: standard time or daylight saving time. If the past few years are of any indication, were still a long way from either decision, as the lobby groups behind each camp have enough of a case to stall conversations until the next season. For now, well just keep Googling ways not to feel jet-lagged every six months after we change our clocks. Advertisement Advertisement The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Related... Read the original on HuffPost The Brief A man suffered life-threatening injuries in an unprovoked stabbing in Chinatown in broad daylight. The attack comes before thousands are expected to gather for San Franciscos Chinese New Year Parade. San Francisco - An unprovoked stabbing in San Franciscos Chinatown and an unrelated altercation involving Mayor Daniel Lurie's security detail, have raised safety concerns, before the citys Chinese New Year Parade, one of the largest celebrations of its kind outside Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Police say a man was stabbed without warning in broad daylight, leaving him with life-threatening injuries Thursday. Community leaders said the victim underwent a second surgery Friday. The attack happened on the same day as another violent confrontation just outside the Tenderloin involving the mayors security detail, in which an officer was injured after being taken to the ground by a suspect. Despite the incidents, community leaders say they are confident the parade will remain safe as thousands of people gather along the route from Union Square to Chinatown. Celebrating safely "Chinatown the crime have been going down, not as before, so I believe that it's a coincidence happens, not like regularly happen," said Edward Siu, chairman of the Chinatown Merchants United Association of San Francisco. Advertisement Advertisement San Francisco police say additional officers will be deployed Saturday to patrol the parade route and surrounding areas. The celebration is expected to be a big boost for local businesses, including R & G Lounge on Kearny Street, which said it's already fully booked. "Tomorrow will be a lot of police in the street, you see a lot," said manager Lucy Wu. "I hope everyone have safe time, and I hope tomorrow have a wonderful day." Residents and visitors say the violence is unsettling, even though they generally feel safe. "Its really scary and definitely makes me nervous, and I need to be extra careful walking around," said Katrina Hansen, who saw the security video of the Chinatown attack. "I always try to be as safe as possible, head on a swivel." Not changing plans Some visitors say the incidents wont change their plans. Advertisement Advertisement "It's very disturbing but it can happen anywhere, even in Belgium. It does not change my behavior. I'm always a little bit aware of my surroundings," said Mathis Vercauteren, a tourist visiting from Belgium. "I hope it's not something that happens all the time in San Francisco, that's not the feeling I get." City officials note that overall crime in San Francisco has declined this year, including violent crime. Organizers say the Chinese New Year Parade will begin at 5:15 p.m. Saturday. In the end, the 35-minute event in the Brookfield Central High School gym on March 6 unfurled with few fireworks. Billed as the only Wisconsin stopover of the U.S. Department of Education's "History Rocks: Trail to Independence" tour, it was intended to draw attention to the nation's 250th anniversary. History Rocks is traveling the country to "promote a shared understanding of the principles that shaped the founding and history of our nation," the department said on its website. But it arrived shrouded in controversy. Advertisement Advertisement The national partnership that put the tour together included Turning Point USA (the late Charlie Kirk's group), the America First Policy Institute, Hillsdale College, and more than 50 national and state organizations," according to the department's website. Those organizations generally fall under the MAGA-right wing-conservative Christian-Trump umbrella. That has generated alarm, nationally and locally, about whether the U.S. history being shared is accurate and complete. In a letter to parents March 5, Brookfield Central High School Principal Brett Gruetzmacher said the opportunity to host the tour came about when a former Brookfield police officer, now the head of security for the tour, reached out March 2 to Elmbrook School District superintendent Mark Hansen. Gruetzmacher and Hansen learned more about the production, received assurances it was straightforward, checked the schedule, and then Gruetzmacher accepted. He added that it's typical to honor requests from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction or, in this case, the U.S. Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Because of the short notice, the school limited attendance to its first class period of the day, which includes social studies classes. Officials invited State Sen. Rob Hutton, State Rep. Robyn Vining, State Rep. Adam Neylon and City of Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto. Vining, the lone Democrat, declined; her office said, "this appears to be a political event on school grounds during the school day." Parents question neutrality of event Sheena Gatske, whose son is a sophomore at Brookfield Central, said she decided to have her son miss the event and bring him to school later. "I don't think there should be any partisan affiliations with an assembly that's, I guess, under the guise of a neutral history assembly at a public high school. I think that's inappropriate regardless of which side they're associated with, but for me personally, I think that some of the views that come from these organizations are, to be honest, disgusting and not something that I'm comfortable infiltrating into the life of my teenager," she said in a phone interview March 5. Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, visits Brookfield Central High School on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Brookfield, Wisconsin, as part of the department's History Rocks! tour. The event is part of the nation's 250th Semiquincentennial highlights local approaches to teaching U.S. history. Brookfield Central High School students, listen to Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, keynote speaker at the History Rocks! tour on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Brookfield Central High School teacher, Matthew Dapelo, left, quiz students on American history at the History Rocks! tour program on Friday, March 6 2026. Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education was the keynote speaker. A Brookfield Central High School student holds a card with the American flag that were given out for the History Rocks? tour that featured, Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The event was part of the nation's 250th Semiquincentennial celebration that highlights local approaches to teaching U.S. history. Brookfield Central High School students attend a program where Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, spoke while visiting the school as part of the History Rocks! tour, on Friday, March 6, 2026. Students were participating in a trivia game by showing their answers with a card of the American flag and the state of Wisconsin on the other side. Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, toss t-shirts to students attending the History Rocks! tour during his visit to Brookfield Central High School on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Mike Noriega speaks at the History Rocks! tour, where Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, was the keynote speaker at Brookfield Central High School on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Brookfield, Wisconsin. John Cotton protest at Brookfield Central High School, where Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education was visiting as part of the History Rocks! tour, an event that is part of the nation's 250th Semiquincentennial. "Public schools should provide truth in education. Let's not whitewash what happened in the past because someone's feelings may have been hurt. Let's teach the truth," said Cotton. Genevieve Brock, 17, (second from right) student from Brookfield Central High School, was among a small group of protesting the visit of Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education at the school. Brookfield students start the celebration of America's 250th birthday 1 of 9 Murray Bassette, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, visits Brookfield Central High School on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Brookfield, Wisconsin, as part of the department's History Rocks! tour. The event is part of the nation's 250th Semiquincentennial highlights local approaches to teaching U.S. history. Catherine Kahler, whose stepson attends Brookfield Central, said she was concerned about the visit after reading a New York Times article about visits at other schools. She said students at other events said in the article the event was neither education nor nonpartisan. Advertisement Advertisement "My feeling about this is that when you have outside programs that are connected to national political organizations and they are brought into school during the school day with mandatory attendance to a captive audience, regardless of whether it's the whole school or part of the school, it raises questions for me about whether the school is maintaining its obligation to be neutral," she said March 5. Kahler later referred to a petition asking the district to cancel the event, which she said had gathered hundreds of signatures in the short time before the morning of March 6. At a protest held outside the high school, Brookfield resident John Cotton said he was upset even though his children have long since graduated from Brookfield Central. "Public schools in particular should provide truth in education," he said. "Let's not whitewash what occurred in our past because somebody's feelings may be hurt. Let's teach the truth. Let's teach what actually occurred, and then have lively debate around the good, the bad and the ugly behind it." Challenging students to reflect on America The event itself was straightforward. Advertisement Advertisement Hansen and Gruetzmacher spoke, as did a representative of the American Journey Experience, a history museum in Irving, Texas. Brookfield Central social studies teacher Matthew Dapelo led a United States and Wisconsin history and civics trivia game show. The centerpiece was a speech by Murray Bessette, principal deputy assistant secretary in the Education Department. As part of his speech, Bessette said while celebrating Americas 250th birthday is important, reflection is essential. He posed questions to students, such as what freedom requires, how to balance rights with responsibilities, and how to ensure opportunity is real and accessible in the next 50 to 250 years. The story of the United States is not finished," Bissette said. "It is still being written in schools like this one and in communities across Wisconsin and in the choices each of you will make in the years ahead. So as we look forward toward this semiquincentennial, lets commit to moving forward thoughtfully, united and prepared. Keep learning, keep questioning, keep striving. Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Despite bias fears, history tour at Brookfield Central is routine Columbus homicides dropped by a considerable number in 2025, with the city finishing out the year with 84 homicides a 33% decrease from 2024 and the lowest number of killings in Columbus since 2007. The Dispatch tracks all homicides to get a sense of where violence is happening in the city and Franklin County and to remember the victims. This list is preliminary, and the number of homicides can change as law enforcement investigates each case and decides whether the killing was criminal, justified, accidental, or the result of suicide. More: Homicides in Columbus and Franklin County in February 2026 Advertisement Advertisement The Dispatch excludes fatal overdoses, accidents, suicides and hit-and-run deaths deemed unintentional by law enforcement. The information we compile comes from Columbus and Franklin County law enforcement, court records and interviews with family and loved ones of homicide victims and is subject to change. Man killed, another charged with murder in stabbing on Columbus' West Side A stabbing at an apartment complex on Columbus' West Side killed a man, and another was charged with murder, police said. Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert said officers responded to a report of a stabbing at 11:47 p.m. March 10 on the 1700 block of Sullivant Avenue. A man was found with at least one stab wound, Albert said. The man was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, and he died at 12:57 a.m. March 11, Albert said. Advertisement Advertisement A witness told police the man had gotten into a fight with another man, according to a probable cause affidavit filed int he Franklin County Municipal Court. He said he broke up the fight, but saw a knife in the hand of one of the men, who fled down an alleyway. Police arrested James Jacob, 63, near an RV at the back of a business there, and officers found a knife and a lighter under the front of an RV, according to the affidavit. Police have not identified the man who was killed or said what lead up to the stabbing. Jacobs lives in the same apartment complex where the stabbing was reported. 18-year-old dies at North Side shooting scene Nathaniel Joseph Kerby, 18, died at the scene of an apparent shooting about 1:35 a.m. March 7 in the 1100 block of Mediterranean Avenue, Columbus police said. Advertisement Advertisement Officers responded about 1:30 a.m. to a report of a shooting, where they said they found Kerby with an apparent gunshot wound. Medics declared Kerby dead at the scene. Columbus police continue to review evidence to determine what led to the shooting, they said. Authorities ask anyone with information to call Columbus police at 614-645-4925 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477). This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, homicide data for March 2026 Republicans on Capitol Hill are asking the Justice Department to consider bringing criminal charges against Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide in President Donald Trumps first administration who became a star congressional witness about the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, according to two sources familiar with recent developments. GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk made a criminal referral of Hutchinson to the Justice Department in recent days, the sources said. He accused Hutchinson of lying to Congress in her summer 2022 testimony when she alleged Trump was aware of the potential for violence on January 6, 2021, and forged ahead with his attempts to rile up his supporters. Loudermilk has long attempted to reframe the public perception of the events at the Capitol, including by scrutinizing the House committee that investigated the Capitol riot and found Trump was directly responsible for the riot. Loudermilks referral was co-signed by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who chairs the committee under which Loudermilk is running a probe of January 6. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Departments press office didnt respond to inquiries about the referral. Both current and former lawyers for Hutchinson didnt respond to multiple inquiries this week from CNN. CNN has reached out to Loudermilk for comment. Its not uncommon for Congress to make criminal referrals regarding witnesses that have come before it previously, especially in heavily charged political situations, and referrals dont necessarily lead to charges. A referral at times could add to a criminal investigation or prompt one. They are often treated by the Justice Department as suggestions. A referral and possible Justice Department action against Hutchinson could refocus attention on a fraught aspect of the work years ago of the House Select Committee and prosecutors. It also comes a time when the Trump administration has pursued politically charged criminal cases against former government figures whom Trump considers opponents. Hutchinson has drawn scrutiny for years Hutchinson, 29, was the top aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows at the end of the first Trump administration. The select committee created by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi considered her a key eyewitness to several episodes leading up to January 6, in addition to witnessing some of Trumps real-time reactions that day. Advertisement Advertisement Her testimony drew significant blowback from Republicans. Justice Department prosecutors under former President Joe Bidens administration interviewed her during their inquiry into Trump and other powerful Republican figures and took some of her accusations seriously, sources familiar with the probe at the time have told CNN. Hutchinson testified she had heard a secondhand account that Trump was so enraged at his Secret Service detail for blocking him from going to the Capitol on January 6 that he lunged to the front of his presidential limo and tried to turn the wheel. A Secret Service agent and White House deputy whom Hutchinson said were also aware of the story have said they dont remember it. Hutchinson had alleged the lawyer she initially worked with, Stefan Passantino, who was the top ethics attorney in the first Trump administration, had made clear to her that the less she recalled to House investigators, the better. Advertisement Advertisement Before her blockbuster testimony in June 2022, Hutchinson dropped Passantino and got a new lawyer. Once she switched attorneys, she shared more information with the former select committee both through closed-door interviews and in a public hearing. Passantino has repeatedly said he acted ethically in representing Hutchinson, ushered her through cooperative rounds of testimony and believed she had been truthful initially. Legal ethics investigators in Washington, DC, and Georgia both dropped inquiries into Passantino that arose after Hutchinsons testimony. The FBI and Biden-era Justice Department prosecutors investigated Hutchinsons accusations about the Trump-backed lawyer and others who may have been involved in Hutchinsons account of events, sources have told CNN. No charges were brought. Cassidy Hutchinson, a top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, is sworn in during the sixth hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol, in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC, on June 28, 2022. - Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images Passantino and a law firm who represents him didnt respond to requests for comment for this story. Advertisement Advertisement The federal investigators questioning of Hutchinson predated the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith, and her accusations never became part of Smiths now-public findings in the January 6-related case against Trump. Yet House Judiciary Committees Republicans have continued to raise questions about Hutchinsons role in the criminal investigation and as a House Select Committee witness. Smith told the committee in a closed-door interview three months ago that his office evaluated Hutchinsons claims about Trump on January 6. Ultimately, Smith said, she wasnt a powerful witness in his probe of Trump. Many of Hutchinsons stories were secondhand, and thus not admissible in court because they were hearsay, Smith noted. Other stories were squishier on the facts of what happened, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Smith said Justice Department investigators had interviewed people she spoke with, including an officer who was in the car with Trump that day. The version of events that he (the other witness) explained was not the same as what Cassidy Hutchinson said she heard from somebody secondhand, Smith said. On another point, Smith said he had a conflict between stories, from her and others, about whether Hutchinson wrote a specific note in the White House. Smiths team also found different witnesses seeing it from a different perspective, Smith told the committee, when asked about a story Hutchinson told of Trump not wanting his supporters to go through a security check for weapons at his January 6 rally on the Ellipse. Advertisement Advertisement Smith declined to assess how reliable her testimony was. I dont recall reaching any sort of conclusion like that because we were, again, far away from trial, he told the House Judiciary Committee. We hadnt made final determinations. Another former Justice Department prosecutor, Thomas Windom, who worked on the January 6 investigation before and during Smiths special counsel tenure, has already been referred by the House Judiciary Committee to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. The committee has accused him of obstructing the current Congressional investigation looking back at the January 6 work. Windom hasnt been charged with a crime. In an interview last year, the committee didnt ask him explicitly about Hutchinson, according to a public transcript. Windom largely declined to answer questions in his interview, following his lawyers advice. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Brief The NTSB says a Houston-linked jet waited 17 minutes after de-icing before a Maine crash. FAA guidelines recommend no more than nine minutes between de-icing and takeoff. All six aboard were killed; the cause is still under investigation. BANGOR, Maine - According to a new report from the National Transportation Safety Board, a Houston jet that crashed in Maine in late January spent a longer time than normal on the runway after de-icing. Advertisement Advertisement The plane crashed soon after takeoff, flipping upside down and killing all six people on board. New details on Maine plane crash The latest The Bombardier Challenger 600, similar to the one pictured below, had started its journey from William P Hobby Airport in Houston on the afternoon of Jan. 25, 2026, before landing in Maine. The aircraft had gone through de-icing procedures before getting on the runway to make the next leg of its trip. Bombardier Challenger Cl-600 taking-off with undercarriage retracting. (Photo by: aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) The Federal Aviation Administration's guidelines on aircraft ground de-icing recommend no more than nine minutes between those procedures and taking off. The jet, which was registered to a company based in Houston, spent about 17 minutes between being de-iced and taking off, the Friday NTSB report says. Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, the pilot commented that it was "standard" to have 14 to 18 minutes and that if the wait was more than 30 minutes, they would return to the ramp to de-ice again. The copilot concurred with the pilot, the report says. What we don't know The report is part of the preliminary process in the investigation, and does not include a probable cause for the crash. What's next The final report will likely take more than a year to be published. Deadly plane crash in Maine The backstory The Bombardier Challenger 600 flipped over and burned on takeoff at Bangor International Airport around 7:45 p.m. Jan. 25. Advertisement Advertisement The plane that crashed had just landed at Bangor from Houston at 6:09 p.m., according to FlightRadar24.com. The international airport in Bangor, about 200 miles north of Boston, is one of the closest in the U.S. to Europe and is often used to refuel private jets flying overseas. The Bombardier was headed for France when it crashed. Local perspective The jet was registered to a corporation that shares the same address in Houston as the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers, and one of the law firms founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the plane. The Source Information in this article comes from the NTSB, FAA and previous FOX Local reporting. LIMA, Peru (AP) The Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a judgment and ordered Peru to pay reparations for the death of a mother of three who died in 1997 as part of a forced sterilization program under the administration of the late Alberto Fujimori. The landmark ruling on Thursday is the first by Latin America's highest tribunal regarding forced sterilizations in Peru, a policy that systematically targeted impoverished and Indigenous women. The court revealed that Celia Ramos was only 34 when she died, leaving behind three daughters in her Andean village. Her death in 1997 followed a harrowing experience at a state health center where, rather than receiving the care she sought, she was coerced into a tubal ligation. The procedure was performed under negligent conditions, lacking both the proper equipment and the medication required to manage complications. Advertisement Advertisement Ramos experienced a severe allergic reaction during the surgery but was not moved to intensive care for another half-hour. She died 19 days later, on July 22, 1997. The state then bypassed a formal autopsy and left her family in the dark, providing no clear explanation for her sudden decline, the court said. As part of the ruling, the court has ordered Peru to pay approximately $340,000 to the Ramos family. This includes reimbursement for the medical expenses incurred during the 1997 attempt to save her life, as well as compensation for the loss of income she would have earned throughout her productive years. Perus ministry of justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday from The Associated Press. In August 2024, the Peruvian justice system overturned a criminal indictment against Fujimori in the forced sterilization case, rejecting a prosecution appeal. Following Fujimoris death in 2024 the proceedings reverted to the formal complaint stage. Now the focus has shifted to determining the criminal responsibility of other high-ranking former officials, including several former health ministers. ___ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america More holidaymakers stranded in the Middle East because of the Iran war arrived back in Germany on Saturday following their evacuation. A total of 640 passengers from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 4 landed at Frankfurt Airport, said a spokesman for the operator Tui Cruises. The company had chartered two planes to fly the passengers out of Oman's capital Muscat. "More than 2,000 guests from the Mein Schiff 4 are now back home, said the spokesman, adding that around 2,500 people were originally on board the ship. Advertisement Advertisement According to earlier information, the company's liners Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, with a total capacity of over 5,000 passengers, are currently stuck in the region due to the war. Return flights are also being organized for the passengers of Mein Schiff 5, the spokesman said, although it was not yet clear exactly when these flights would take place. Peter Magyar, Hungary's opposition Tisza party leader, has accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban of inviting Russian military intelligence operatives into the country to influence the upcoming election. Source: Peter Magyar on Facebook; European Pravda Details: Magyar said Orban is the first Hungarian leader since former prime minister Janos Kadar to invite Russians into Hungary. Quote: "We demand an immediate end to foreign interference in Hungary's elections. According to information from several sources, representatives of Russian military intelligence arrived in Budapest a few weeks ago with the aim and task of influencing the result of the Hungarian election. They did the same earlier in Moldova." Advertisement Advertisement More details: Magyar said it is "absolutely unprecedented" for a government "on the brink of collapse" to try to sway Hungary's election through external interference in its favour. Quote: "I call on Viktor Orban to stop these actions immediately and expel from Hungary the Russian secret agents who arrived under diplomatic cover." More details: Magyar also called for the National Security Committee to be convened and briefed him on the matter. Quote: "As the future head of government, I demand immediate information on what intelligence the Hungarian government has received from allied services about Russian interference and why it has still not taken steps in response to these unprecedented actions by Russia." Advertisement Advertisement More details: Magyar said Hungary needs leadership that will not expose the country to threats from the East "whether from Kremlin leader Putin or from Zelenskyy". Quote: "It is in Hungary's interest to remain a stable, predictable partner that allies see as reliable." Background: Investigative journalists working with European security services have reported that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin instructed a group of political strategists and Russian military intelligence to interfere in the parliamentary elections in Hungary in April in order to ensure that incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orban wins. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped Orban's party would lose the upcoming elections, which could then make it possible to normalise relations between Ukraine and Hungary. Zelenskyy said earlier that he hopes "a certain person" in the EU (presumably Orban) will stop blocking the 90 billion EU loan for Ukraine, otherwise he might give that person's contact details to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged the Jammu and Kashmir police to release protesters from the Shia community detained across the Kashmir valley for demonstrating against the US-backed assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini. In a post on X, Mufti said that several individuals, including women, had been arrested in Kashmir while taking part in rallies. https://x.com/MehboobaMufti/status/2030229235961635313?s=20 "Scores of protestors, including women, have been arrested across Kashmir for peacefully participating at rallies in the wake of Ayatollah Ali Khomeini's martyrdom. Authorities had assured their families that they would be released soon. But unfortunately, this hasn't been the case. Urge @JmuKmrPolice to consider their release at the earliest," the PDP chief said. Her remarks came after the Shia community in the region mourned the killing of Khamenei in the airstrikes launched by the US and Israel. 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. On Wednesday, Mufti also burned posters of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu while raising posters of Khamenei. She highlighted how his death prompted grief among people in India, referring to the protests by Shia Muslims and the Iranian community, and said the people are being "kept in jails". Speaking to the media, she said, "As you know that last 5-6 days, Israel and the US are attacking Iran, in which the Supreme Leader was also killed. After that, there was grief and anger among the people, which they tried expressing. That resulted in thousands being kept behind jail, many including females." Mufti further stated that she is unable to understand the stance of the government. "The leadership in Delhi has not condemned this attack nor condoled the people of Iran," she stated. She later shared the protest on her X handle, stating, "I stand in peace with those who stand in peace with you, and in opposition to those who oppose you, until the Day of Judgment." Meanwhile, Israeli media have reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as the 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) By Louise Rasmussen and Anna Ringstrom COPENHAGEN, March 6 (Reuters) - Iceland will hold a referendum on August 29 on resuming European Union membership negotiations, the government said on Friday. Reykjavik in 2013 abandoned EU membership talks after four years of negotiations, but a rise in the cost of living and the war in Ukraine in recent years rekindled the country's interest in joining the bloc, polls have shown. Advertisement Advertisement The government had said it would hold a referendum no later than the end of 2027. Repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Greenland, located between Iceland and the United States, also made the question of EU membership more pressing for the Nordic country, home to almost 400,000 people. Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009 following the collapse of its banking system during the 2008 global financial crisis, which pushed its economy to the brink of bankruptcy. If voters back the resumption of talks, the final terms of EU membership will require approval in a second referendum. However, the government stated that a "No" vote would end any future attempts to restart accession negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement A new Gallup poll showed 57% of Icelanders favour talks while around 30% are opposed, according to public broadcaster RUV. A SIGNIFICANT DECISION, EU OFFICIAL SAYS The Icelandic people must now make "a significant decision", EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said in a statement. "The geopolitical context is fundamentally different today than when Iceland first applied for membership," Kos added. "In a world of competing spheres of influence, EU membership offers an anchor into a bloc grounded in values, prosperity and security." Iceland is already part of the European single market, the Schengen open-border travel zone, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) alongside Norway and Liechtenstein. Advertisement Advertisement EU membership would give it a direct say in decision making via institutions such as the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, as well as becoming part of the customs union and the option to adopt the euro. (Reporting by Louise Rasmussen and Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm and Lili Bayer in Brussels, editing by Terje Solsvik and Susan Fenton) Iceland's government will let the population decide on whether to resume accession negotiations with the European Union after a pause of almost 13 years. A referendum on the issue is to be held on August 29, Foreign Minister orgerur Katrin Gunnarsdottir told a press briefing in Reykjavik on Friday. Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said Iceland's negotiating position was good as a strong and reliable partner of the EU. Advertisement Advertisement The Nordic country of around of 400,000 inhabitants currently works closely with Brussels in the European Economic Area (EEA) and participation in the Schengen visa-free travel area. Iceland initially applied for EU membership in 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, which hit it hard. Accession talks began the following year but were suspended in 2013 by Iceland's then eurosceptic government. The current global situation has now prompted many Icelanders to rethink their position. Following its 2024 election victory, the incumbent pro-EU government led by the Social Democrats announced a referendum on continuing accession talks by 2027. Advertisement Advertisement The vote will now take place at the end of August, according to Gunnarsdottir's announcement. The government plans to submit an official proposal to parliament at the beginning of next week. If the Icelanders agree to new negotiations and these are successful, citizens will have the opportunity to decide on accession in another referendum. Recent opinion polls show that 45% of the population backs EU membership, Icelandic radio has reported. One point of contention in any talks is likely to be fishing - a crucial economic factor in Iceland. Idaho lawmakers advanced a bill to prevent Boise from flying the Pride flag, but it would allow cities to fly other banners as long as they werent religious, ideological or political. The bill, from Rep. Ted Hill, R-Eagle, is an attempt to close a loophole that Boise found after lawmakers in 2025 passed a law banning most flags from flying on government property. Ahead of the 2025 vote on that law, legislators were given pictures of Boise Pride flags. The current law only allows flags like the U.S. or state flags, other countries flags for special occasions or official city flags. Boises City Council voted to make the Pride flag and an organ donor flag official city flags to satisfy the laws requirements. Advertisement Advertisement You cant pick some groups and not others, Hill said in the House on Thursday. Thats really important. Its fair. The Idaho House of Representatives passed the bill 58-11, with three Republicans joining every Democrat present in opposing the bill. It now awaits a hearing in a Senate committee. This is Hills second attempt in 2026 to prevent Boise from flying the Pride flag. His first bill would have banned cities and counties from flying official flags, but lawmakers balked at that approach. This bill would allow city and county flags if they were established as of Jan. 1, 2023. Hill amended the bill to allow nonpolitical flags after lawmakers raised concerns about the bill preventing flags that celebrate local graduates or 4-H. He also added a carve-out for the Basque flag. Advertisement Advertisement Boise wasnt the only city to get around the law. Bonners Ferry in North Idaho declared a year-round special occasion to keep flying the Canadian flag, which Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, spoke about on Thursday. The city of Bonners Ferry has flown the Canadian flag for 50-plus years, every day, said Sauter, before voting against the bill. I see no problem having a Canadian flag fly there, and neither do the residents. Boise Democrat Rep. Ilana Rubel criticized the intent of the bill, saying it had transparently been an effort to ban one flag, the Pride flag hung by the city of Boise. We have seen this body doing wild contortions to try to somehow make it appear as something other than that, Rubel said. Because passing a bill to just say the city of Boise cant pass a Pride flag would be clearly unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement The bill as written is likely valid, said Benji Cover, a law professor at the University of Idaho. If a court looked at the bill, the judges would see the government regulating its own speech, he said. Courts often view local and state governments as one entity, he said. It has to be not political, not religious and not ideological, Cover said. I think that (the bill) would prohibit a flag, banner or pennant that was in favor of a particular politician or a political party. I think that it would equally prohibit a flag, banner or pennant that was opposed to a particular politician, candidate, political party. Cover pointed to a 2015 Supreme Court case from Texas, where a group called the Sons of Confederate Veterans sued after the state denied its request for a specialty license plate. In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government could choose the content of its speech, according to Oyez, a Supreme Court database. Cover said the law gives boundaries for the city to operate in but doesnt require the city to fly certain flags. Advertisement Advertisement In a hearing on Hills bill, one constituent said she had asked Boise to fly an Israeli flag to commemorate the founding of the Middle Eastern country. Boise spokesperson Maria Ortega said the city was not taking requests to fly any other flags. Why are we going after them?: Idaho lawmakers question targeting this group What happened to that Idaho bill? Stay updated on latest at the Capitol with this tracker Candidate filed to run in both Idaho and Kentucky. What happened next? An emotional issue: Lawmakers aim to crack down on immigration in Idaho In general, advanced warning times for Iranian ballistic missile attacks are usually issued at least five minutes before sirens sound, and often even further in advance. The IDF issued shorter-than-usual warning times for Iranian missile attacks targeting central Israel on Friday evening. In one attack, an advanced warning was sent at 7:16 pm, and sirens sounded just a few minutes later at 7:19 pm. At 8:40 pm, another warning was issued, with sirens sounding just a minute later at 8:41 pm. In a third incident, an advanced warning was sent at 9:54 pm, and sirens sounded two minutes later at 9:56 pm. A woman shows a missile alert notification on her mobile phone as residents take cover indoors following missile fire from Iran toward Israel, in Mishmar David, May 4. 2026. (credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90) Unlike rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon, Israelis receive advanced warnings for Iranian missile attacks due to the longer time it takes for missiles to arrive after launches are detected. In general, advanced warning times for Iranian ballistic missile attacks are usually issued at least five minutes before sirens sound, and often even further in advance. Only 'a few minutes' to warn the public The IDF Home Front Command explained that while they cannot guarantee a long warning time, the general advice is to immediately move to a protected area upon receiving an advanced warning, and not to take the threat lightly. "We cannot commit to a set warning time. There are only a few minutes," said one spokesperson on Friday. The IDF did not explain the reason for Friday's short warning times. Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian said neighbouring countries will no longer be targeted unless an attack originates from there, as the war launched by the United States and Israel, which triggered sustained retaliation from Tehran across the Gulf and beyond, enters its second week. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the bombing of Iran on Saturday. Today Iran will be hit very hard! Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform, characterising the conciliatory message as Irans president having surrendered to its Gulf neighbours. Advertisement Advertisement Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time, he added, without elaborating. Trump claimed on Saturday the US knocked out 42 Iranian warships in three days. An Iranian army spokesman said enemy ships entering the Gulf would end up at the bottom of the sea. Pezeshkian said the Iranian interim leadership council approved the motion to stop attacks on neighbouring nations. In remarks carried by Iranian media, the president also apologised to neighbouring countries for the strikes that took place in recent days. Trump issued a maximalist position on Friday to Iran demanding unconditional surrender, but Pezeshkian baulked at the comments. Advertisement Advertisement That we surrender unconditionally is a dream that they must take with themselves to the grave. What we adhere to are international laws and humanitarian frameworks, he said. Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also weighed in. Following the statements of the president, the armed forces once again declare that they respect the interests and national sovereignty of neighbouring countries and, up to this point, have committed no aggression against them, an IRGC statement carried by state media said. However, should the previous hostile actions continue, all military bases and interests of criminal America and the fake Zionist regime on land, at sea, and in the air across the region will be considered primary targets and will come under the powerful and crushing strikes of the mighty armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Pezeshkian later clarified on X that Iran hadnt in fact attacked any of its neighbours but rather targeted US military bases, facilities, and installations in the region. Tehrans commitment to good relations with its neighbours, he said, does not negate Irans inherent right to defend itself against military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime. IRGC now in charge fully Pezeshkians message is overshadowed by the Revolutionary Guards dominance, said Al Jazeeras Resul Serdar. Political figures in Iran are responsible for running state affairs and non-strategic affairs. But when it comes to strategic affairs, such as the countrys foreign and security policies, politicians dont have a say including the president, who, according to the constitution, is the number two in charge this is a very well-known fact in Iran, Serdar said. Advertisement Advertisement The centre of power lies with the office of the supreme leader and with the IRGC, even during peacetime, he added. Now that the country faces what it sees as a war of survival, Pezeshkian is not in a position to stop any attack, and his message to regional countries carries no weight, Serdar said. The IRGC is now in charge fully, and they will decide whether to attack or not, Serdar said, adding that IRGC chief, Ahmad Vahidi, is considered one of the most radical commanders of the group since its foundation. I dont think Pezeshkian or other politicians will have any influence when it comes to security politics, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations have been targeted because of the presence of US assets within and around their borders. Iraq, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye have also been caught in the crosshairs. In the Gulf, there have been deaths, damage and major disruption to flights, closure of airspace, and a heavy knock-on impact on oil and gas production reverberating across the world. Qatars Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi, meanwhile, said exports from the Gulf region could come to a halt within weeks if the war on Iran continues to escalate, throwing global energy markets into turmoil. Al-Kaabi told The Financial Times newspaper in an interview published on Friday if the war continues for weeks, GDP growth around the world will be impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Everybodys energy price is going to go higher. There will be shortages of some products, and there will be a chain reaction of factories that cannot supply, al-Kaabi was quoted as saying. The only US deaths in the war so far came when Iran attacked a US command centre in Kuwait, killing six troops. Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi Zhou-Castro, reporting from Dover, said the US war on Iran is unpopular with only one-in-four Americans supporting Trumps decision. Talking to people, especially going to counties that voted for Trump, were people widely sceptical especially given the MAGA, the Make America Great Again base, who supported Trump in what he said was the America First doctrine, and not trying to get the US involved in more foreign conflicts abroad, Zhou-Castro said. More than 1,300 Iranians have been killed in US-Israeli attacks in the first week of the war. Iran may be wounded, but it has not lost its bravado. Throughout the opening days of the war, the countrys Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has made bombastic claims about strikes on its enemies. The regime even claimed multiple missile and drone attacks on the USS Abraham Lincoln, boasting of four hits on the aircraft carrier on Sunday. The reality is rather different, underscoring the disparity between the modern US and Israeli fighting forces and an ageing, decrepit opponent using whatever hardware is in serviceable condition with little regard for troops. Advertisement Advertisement In the first seven days of the conflict, the US and Israel have decapitated the regimes leadership, torpedoed a warship and claimed to have destroyed many of its naval assets, missile launchers and drones. Meanwhile, Iran appears to have done little damage to the Israeli and US military. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies, in its cost estimates for the first 100 hours of the conflict, could only account for $359m (268m) of damage done to US assets all from a single friendly-fire incident that downed three F-15s. Footage released by the Israeli military shows its forces decisive advantage over Irans hand-me-down military hardware, which has done little more than offer target practice for allied pilots and captains. Aged fighter jets In declassified Israeli Air Force footage, a pilot, seated in the cockpit of his F-35, calmly homes in on an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. Credit: IDF / X Advertisement Advertisement The Yak, developed 30 years ago as a training aircraft and pressed into service as an anti-drone fighter by the Iranians, does not even appear to deploy countermeasures before the Israeli pilot signs off: Target is down. 0703 Yak-130 The majority of the Islamic Republics fighters come from the fleet it inherited from the Shah. Analysis of the Iranian air forces inventory shows that 54 per cent of its fighter jet stock comprises former American F-4s, which were developed in the 1950s and saw most of their combat over Vietnam, F-5s from the 1960s, and F-14 Tomcats the key jets in the 1986 film Top Gun. Embargoes and sanctions against Iran since 1979 mean the regime has struggled to source replacement parts for maintenance, so it is unclear how many of these aircraft will still be airworthy. 0703 F-14 Tomcat A video declassified by US Central Command appears to show a strike on several Iranian F5 fighter jets and F-27 transport aircraft parked closely together at an unknown location. Advertisement Advertisement Other Soviet cast-offs prove little better. The Sukhoi Su-22s and Su-24s Iran received in the 1990s are among its most advanced fighter-bombers. At least four have been destroyed already, two on the ground and two shot down by Qatar. Second-hand Western warships The Iranian navy has probably fared even worse than its air force, with Donald Trump touting the near-annihilation of the fleet in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Both of Irans Bayandor-class corvettes were sunk in their home port in the opening days of the war. The IRIS Bayandor and IRIS Naghdi were built in 1964, originally for the US Navy. IRAN NAVY - IRIS Naghdi burns An extensive refit in 2013 supplying them with new radar and anti-air defences seems to have done little to protect the ships from US strikes. Advertisement Advertisement It could be argued that the unfortunate Bayandor and Naghdi were unprepared for the conflict. The same cannot be said of the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate torpedoed off the coast of Sri Lanka this week while steaming home from exercises in India. The warship was one of the most modern in Irans fleet, launched in 2015, but was reportedly still not equipped with long-range sonar, leaving it exposed to submarines. Among its other ships still serviceable are Alvand-class frigates, which were built in the late 1960s in the United Kingdom, and Kaman-class patrol boats, modified from 1970s La Combattante II French designs. Advertisement Advertisement Dr Sidharth Kaushal, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said that while its surface fleets ability to react is now limited, missiles remain a threat at sea. The instinct that for now the Iranians have few good options against the US military particularly the US Navy is valid, he told The Telegraph. However, if the US navy is compelled to run convoys in the Gulf due to Iranian attacks, that would put it within reach of capabilities such as mines and anti-ship missiles which would pose a threat, particularly at relatively short ranges. He added: The US navy would not be vulnerable per se, but it would be more vulnerable than it is now since Iran has no realistic way of tracking and targeting vessels like aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Oman. Main battle tanks are 60 years old US and Israeli forces have so far resisted a ground invasion, but Irans armoured divisions tell a similar story to the rest of its military. Advertisement Advertisement The five armoured divisions of the regular Iranian army field a mix of American and Soviet hardware, including M60A1s and M47s some dating from the 1950s. An Iranian Karrar main battle tank, a modified version of the Soviet T-72, taking part in exercises The most modern main battle tank Iran can deploy in substantial numbers appears to be the domestically modernised versions of the Soviet T-72, but sanctions have hampered Irans attempts to bring its tanks in line with western counterparts. However, the conflict in Ukraine has only proven how vulnerable these ageing tanks are to modern anti-tank weapons, and especially drone attacks. Dr Kaushal said: A ground invasion, though seemingly unlikely, would be something the Iranian army and IRGC could scarcely resist in a conventional way, but the real risk would be the IRGC and Basij turning to urban warfare and insurgent tactics against supply lines and some of the cheap capabilities mentioned (unmanned aerial vehicles, for example) would make this more difficult. 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. Iranian authorities have issued direct threats against citizens as the US-Israel strikes continue, warning that security forces will use lethal force against suspected thieves and protesters. Ahmadreza Radan, commander-in-chief of Iran's Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), said Friday that police had been authorised to shoot suspected thieves on sight. "Because we are in a state of war, I have issued a shoot-to-kill order for dealing with potential thieves," Radan said in an interview with state television. "If any thief is caught by our forces, they will be shot and immobilised." Death threats against 'ignorant and unaware' children On Thursday, state broadcaster IRIB aired an interview with a member of Iran's Parliamentary National Security Commission who warned parents to prevent their children from joining protests. Advertisement Advertisement The former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) member, Salar Velayatmadar, said parents who did not control their ignorant and unaware children who joined demonstrations or "aligned with the enemy" would face consequences, including death. "We do not want your child to be killed, because your child is ignorant and unaware," he said. The warnings come as Basij bases, police stations and law enforcement headquarters have been targeted, and authorities fear renewed street protests. Mass repression, regime's favourite tool Iran has witnessed widespread demonstrations since late December, with many students participating. The protests have been met with a brutal crackdown, and the casualty figures remain unclear and impossible to verify due to an internet shutdown that has prevented independent verification. Advertisement Advertisement Tehran has acknowledged 3,117 deaths, while independent sources including human rights groups and medical professionals cite figures ranging from several thousand to 32,000 people, as insiders in Iran told Euronews in mid-January. After Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, the regime blocked internet access and threatened severe punishment, including execution, for those involved in uprisings. The latest threats by Tehran indicate that the regime remains determined to hold onto power at any cost, even if it means sacrificing the lives of its own citizens. The recent statements made by high-ranking officials illustrate the regime's growing desperation to suppress dissent, using extreme measures to prevent a loss of control. The IRGC has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and other countries, while LEF is subject to multiple international sanctions lists. Moments after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an apparently prerecorded statement that Tehran would halt attacks on its Gulf neighbors under certain conditions, several reported new strikes. The launches were some of the largest since the war began and coincided with the one-week anniversary of Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis killing in strikes by the United States and Israel. Pezeshkian said the decision to stop attacks on the Gulf unless strikes on Iran originated from those countries territories was taken Friday. On Saturday morning, Iran fired 16 ballistic missiles and 121 drones on the United Arab Emirates alone. Advertisement Advertisement Still, in what are the highest-level de-escalatory comments so far from Iran, Pezeshkian apologized to his neighbors for days of strikes that have sparked panic in areas once thought safe. Since taking office, the reformist leader has presented himself with an almost constant air of regret, issuing multiple public apologies during his tenure for the sharp deterioration of the national economy, the killing of thousands of protesters during demonstrations and the persistent inefficiencies of his own government. Now hes apologizing on behalf of Irans armed forces, saying they acted on their own authority and did what was necessary to defend our homeland with dignity and strength, a recurring message from some Iranian leaders justifying the heavy targeting of cities across the Gulf Arab states. Unknown future It is unclear whether the pronouncements of the Leadership Council, of which Pezeshkian is now a member after US-Israeli strikes killed other key leaders, align with the goals of the armed forces or the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which have independently activated their own measures in response to the US and Israeli attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Pezeshkians comments brought relief across Gulf Arab states. Yet the projectiles that flew overhead shortly after his speech show it is too early to say if Iranian attacks have halted. And his comments came with the condition that territories of Gulf Arab states, which host several large US military bases, are not used to launch attacks against Iran. Pezeshkians office stressed in an explanation statement after his speech that Iran would give a decisive response to any aggression from American bases. As the region grapples with an unknown future, it remains unclear what actions Irans armed forces and its proxies would regard as hostiles to the Islamic Republic. unknown content item Advertisement Advertisement - Shortly after Pezeshkians statement, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had surrendered to its Middle East neighbors and that it will be hit very hard today, with areas of the country under consideration for complete destruction and certain death. Irans army issued its own statement saying that if offensive actions against Iran continue, all military bases and interests of the criminal American regime and the fake Zionist regime on land, sea, and air in the region will be the main targets of crushing and severe strikes by the powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Leadership vacuum Pezeshkian made his comments amid a leadership vacuum and uncertainty over the path forward for Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Joining Pezeshkian on the leadership council are senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arefi, 67, a powerful member of the Guardian Council, and Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the notorious head of the judiciary. Together they form the interim authority to manage the countrys affairs until a successor to Khamenei is chosen As the council struggles to manage wartime affairs for a population of 96 million now enduring the heaviest military strikes in their nations history, Irans army, now with interim leaders, has become largely independent and isolated. An image released by Iran's state-run Press TV last Sunday shows the Leadership Council meeting. - Press TV Even Oman, a key mediator with close relations to Iran, has been hit by Iranian projectiles. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the attacks were not the governments choice and that Tehran had already instructed the armed forces to exercise caution in selecting targets, but said military units had grown independent and somewhat isolated. They are acting based on general instructions given to them in advance, Araghchi told Al Jazeera this week. Advertisement Advertisement In a possible sign of impatience, several prominent clerics in Iran have urged the swift election of a new supreme leader. Electing a supreme leader is a confidential and complex process restricted to clerics from a council called the Assembly of Experts a procedure has been followed only once, 37 years ago, when the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died and Khamenei was picked as his successor. Khamenei was elected supreme leader within 24 hours, as the clerics moved swiftly to fill the immense void left by the revered Ayatollah Khomeini. The new leader went on to rule for 37 years before his assassination. Today, the Islamic Republic recognizes that it faces an existential crisis and is proceeding with extreme caution in selecting its next leader For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com March 7 (Reuters) - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that its temporary leadership council had approved the suspension of attacks against neighboring countries unless an attack on Iran came from those countries. The announcement came as Iran continued to launch attacks in the region in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom. Writing by Menna Alaa El-Din. Editing by Mark Potter) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Saturday to carry on the war with Iran, saying Israel had a 'systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime', as Tehran insisted it would not surrender. The Israeli premier's pledge in a televised address to pursue the war "with all our force" came on a day when Iran launched wave after wave of missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours. Israel and the United States, meanwhile, pounded Iran again, with one air strike setting a Tehran airport ablaze and another hitting an oil depot, even as Tehran continued to retaliate. Advertisement Advertisement Its Revolutionary Guards said they had struck America's Juffair base in Bahrain, adding that it had been used to attack an Iranian desalination plant earlier Saturday. There were air raid warnings and blasts in Jerusalem in Israel and Doha in Qatar, and attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The UAE said its air defences intercepted 15 missiles and 119 drones on Saturday morning and video footage showed one projectile crashing at Dubai airport. AFP journalists heard blasts in Baghdad, Erbil and Dubai on Saturday evening, while Saudi Arabia also reported an attack. "Evidence from Iran's armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy," said Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Iran's hardline judiciary chief. Advertisement Advertisement "The heavy attacks on these targets will continue." Earlier, President Masoud Pezeshkian had issued an apology to Iran's neighbours, which host major US military bases. Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone in a speech in which he also appeared to address Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender". Iran's enemies "must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves", the president said. - Air raids - Israel launched some of its biggest raids since the bombardment began last Saturday, with a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage facility named as targets. Advertisement Advertisement Fire and smoke billowed from Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport after a predawn attack in which Israel said it had destroyed 16 aircraft and fighter jets. In his speech, Netanyahu declared that Israel had achieved almost total control of the skies over the Iranian capital. Meanwhile, his close partner in the war, Trump, had posted on his Truth Social platform earlier: "Today Iran will be hit very hard!" "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time." Advertisement Advertisement Later, in Florida, he repeated his claim that Iran had been close to having a nuclear weapon, saying: "They're crazy and they would have used it. So we did the world a favour." Now into a second week, the war was sparked by joint Israeli and US air strikes that killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict has since widened to Lebanon, as well as Cyprus, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and reached as far as the seas off Sri Lanka where US forces sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo. Inside Iran, damage to infrastructure and residential buildings is mounting, while residents of Tehran report growing anxiety and a heavy presence of security forces. Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think anyone who hasn't experienced war would understand it," a 26-year-old teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity. "When you hear the bombs, you have no idea where they will hit." The Iranian health ministry put the civilian death toll at 926 on Friday, with around 6,000 injured -- numbers that AFP could not independently verify. Israel has intensified its air strikes on Lebanon, repeatedly bombing and ordering the evacuation of Beirut's southern suburbs and vast areas of the country's south, where the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah holds sway. Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday that his country would pay a "very heavy price" if it failed to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli commandos launched an unsuccessful mission overnight to retrieve the remains of an air force navigator lost in 1986, killing 41 people in the process in the town of Nabi Sheet. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 294 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes over the last week, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has warned of a "humanitarian disaster". - Stock markets slump - The consequences of the conflict reach far beyond those in the immediate firing line. Advertisement Advertisement Global stock markets have slumped, while crude oil prices have surged, with analysts warning that there appears to be no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials have suggested could last a month or more. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had hit two oil tankers with exploding drones in the Gulf on Saturday as they continue to paralyse oil and gas traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global energy shipments. Trump has promised to help rebuild Iran's economy if Tehran installs someone "acceptable" to him to replace its late supreme leader. But Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, said the US would have no role in selecting Khamenei's successor. Advertisement Advertisement "The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference," he added. China and Russia have so far stayed largely out of the fray despite their ties to the Islamic republic, but there are reports that Moscow is providing intelligence to Iran on US troop positions and movements. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US was "not concerned" about the reports. The war has killed six US service members and Trump was to attend a ceremony for the return of their bodies on Saturday. burs-amj/dcp Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has announced five major welfare guarantees aimed at strengthening social security and empowering women and youth in Kerala. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha earlier today addressed the gathering at the concluding session of the Puthuyuga Yatra in Kerala. The guarantees are designed to improve healthcare access, provide financial security for families, and create opportunities in entrepreneurship and elderly welfare. The schemes include a 'women's empowerment package' in which women in the state will be allowed free travel on buses operated by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. In addition, female college students will receive 1,000 per month to support higher education and reduce financial burden on families. Additionally, social welfare pensions for vulnerable sections will be increased to 3,000 to ensure stronger financial security. Gandhi also announced that under the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, families will receive free medical coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh, while youth will be provided interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh to start businesses and generate employment. A dedicated department will also be created to focus on the welfare, dignity, and protection of elderly citizens. The Congress leadership said these guarantees are aimed at providing financial relief to families, empowering women and youth, and ensuring comprehensive social security for all citizens in Kerala. On the other hand, last month, BJP National President Nitin Nabin spearheaded the official launch of the BJP's election charge in Kerala. Addressing a sea of energetic supporters, Nabin declared that the BJP Kerala karyakartas are fully committed to an unwavering mission: strengthening the party's presence from Panchayat to Parliament. He emphasised that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is one of progress, integrity, and national pride, must reach every booth and every household across the state. Nabin paid a stirring tribute to the BJP karykartas in Kerala, honoring their profound sacrifices in the face of adversity. With absolute conviction, he proclaimed that their dedication would not be in vain, asserting that "the Lotus will surely bloom in Kerala." Kerala will go for its Legislative Assembly elections, expected to be held in April 2026, to elect 140 members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. (ANI) Qatar Airways and other Middle Eastern carriers suspended flights on Saturday due to widespread air traffic disruptions caused by the war in Iran. The airline said on X that it hopes to resume flights to destinations in Europe and Bangkok on Sunday. In the morning, the Qatari Ministry of Defence said a missile aimed at the country's territory had been intercepted. The airspace over Bahrain is also closed, the country's international airport announced on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Iraq's civil aviation authority said that the closure of the country's airspace would be extended until mid-Tuesday. This is a precautionary measure due to the security situation and current developments in the region, it said. Air traffic in Dubai was also temporarily suspended for security reasons on Saturday, according to Dubai International Airport. The Emirates airline announced on X that some flights had resumed in the morning. Dubai authorities said earlier that there had been a "minor incident" caused by falling debris after an interception. But the statement issued by the Dubai Media Office denied reports circulating on social media of any assault on Dubai International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Amid the escalating war, tens of thousands of people who were on holiday in the Middle East or wanted to use one of the airports there as a hub have been stranded since last weekend. Many countries in the region temporarily ordered a complete shut down of their airspace following the start of the Israeli-US attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran launched a massive wave of airstrikes on its Gulf neighbours on Saturday morning which shut down Dubai airport, the largest in the world. Explosions could be heard over the airport on Saturday, with the United Arab Emirates warning of falling debris and missiles being intercepted in the skies. The large-scale attack came as the Iranian regime apologised for targeting its Gulf neighbours, and said it would stop the aggression if they blocked US military strikes launched from their territories. Advertisement Advertisement The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries, said Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran. I deem it necessary to apologise to the countries that were attacked. Fresh strikes In Tehran, a fresh round of US and Israeli airstrikes set fire to the countrys largest airport, Mehrabad, as president Donald Trumps war entered its second week. The Israeli military announced that 80 fighter jets were used to target Iranian military targets, such as missile launch sites, as well as the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Smoke billowed high in the air near the Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran following American and Israeli airstrikes Tehran responded with a volley of airstrikes towards Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Loud booms were reported in Jerusalem on Saturday as Israelis were urged to get to their bomb shelters, but there were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries. The death toll continued to rise on Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel. Six US soldiers have also been killed. The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in the mountains of eastern Lebanon. Iranian president refuses surrender Irans president said Saturday that a demand by the United States for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should take to their grave. Advertisement Advertisement Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by state television. He also said the countrys three-man leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over attacks on Irans neighbours. I should apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf, the president said. From now on, they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. Pezeshkian also suggested miscommunication in the ranks caused it. However, his statement aired after repeated attacks Saturday morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has been at the forefront of the war, answers only to the countrys supreme leader. However, an Israeli airstrike killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, at the start of the war on Feb 28. Explosions were reported in Tehran on Friday which prompted Iran to target US allies in the region - Contributor/Getty Images Pezeshkian, in his comments, specifically blamed the killing of Khamenei and other top leaders for what sounded like a loss of command and control in the armed forces for days. It remained unclear just what command Pezeshkian and the leadership council could exert over the armed forces. Iranian state television, after airing his speech, immediately went back to praising the countrys ongoing attacks across the region. Dubai airport closes Dubai airport, the worlds busiest for international traffic, suspended operations on Saturday after an aerial interception in the area during attacks from Iran. Advertisement Advertisement For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended, the governments Dubai Media Office said in a social media post. The announcement came shortly after the aerial interception of an object near the airport, with a witness telling AFP of a loud explosion followed by a cloud of smoke. The Flightradar24 tracking website earlier showed planes circling above the airport in an apparent holding pattern. Flights from Dubais main airport had partially resumed on Monday despite daily drone attacks targeting sites in the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Advertisement Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, also announced on Saturday that it was suspending all its flights to and from Dubai until further notice. Please do not go to the airport, the airline said. Dubai airport later said it was partially resuming services, but still urged passengers to stay away from the site unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change. Trump reacts to Russia reports In Washington, the Trump administration has bristled at reports that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence to support its attacks on US warships and aircraft in the region. Advertisement Advertisement The president rebuked a reporter for Fox News, which is known for its sympathetic reporting on the Trump administration. I have a lot of respect for you, youve always been very nice to me, Mr Trump told Peter Doocy, the Fox News reporter. What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time. Were talking about something else. Anti-British protest to be held in Cyprus Elsewhere, in Cyprus, a demonstration is due to be held today to protest against the British military bases on the island. Britain retained two sovereign bases after independence in 1960 - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The protest, which will also be against the war in general, will be held outside the presidential palace in Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus. A Royal Navy Wildcat was seen being unloaded at a British base in Cyprus on Friday - AS1 Joshua Whiting/MoD Crown Copyright In the Iraqi city of Erbil, four drones were intercepted late on Friday, local authorities said. Debris from one of the destroyed drones fell in a busy urban area, with a high-rise residential tower sustaining damage to its windows and cladding. No casualties were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Some Western forces, including British personnel and contractors, have withdrawn from an air base in Erbil due to the escalating attacks. Iraq is the only country to be hit by both sides in the current war, as it hosts Western military forces, including US and UK personnel, as well as Iranian Kurdish separatist groups. 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. By Maya Gebeily, Alexander Cornwell, Nandita Bose and Parisa Hafezi BEIRUT/MIAMI/TEL AVIV/DUBAI, March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he is not interested in negotiating with Iran and raised the possibility that the Iran war would only end once that country no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the air campaign could make negotiations a moot point if all potential leaders of Iran are killed and the Iranian military is destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say 'We surrender,'" Trump said. Israel and Iran traded numerous attacks on Saturday as the Middle East war entered a second week. Iran's president apologised to neighbouring states to cool anger across the Gulf but stirred criticism from hardliners at home. "I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran's actions," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, urging them not to join U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. He dismissed Trump's demand for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender as "a dream", but said its temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes on Iran originated from their territory. Advertisement Advertisement Trump nonetheless cast Iran's apology as a surrender and warned the U.S. could widen its attacks. Amid possible divisions within Iran's leadership over Pezeshkian's remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, said any Iranian Revolutionary Guards who lay down their arms would be unharmed. Ali Ardashir Larijani, Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said on state television there was no rift among Iranian officials over its handling of the war. Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that while it favours a diplomatic settlement, continued Iranian attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement IRAN SAYS IT TARGETED U.S. BASES Pezeshkian's comments caused a political stir in Iran, prompting his office to reiterate Iran's military would respond firmly to attacks from U.S. bases in the region. Hours later, the president repeated his statement on social media but left out the apology from his speech that had angered hardliners, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards. Hamid Rasai, a hardline cleric and lawmaker, wrote on X: "Mr Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable." The judiciary chief, Mohseni-Ejei, a hardline member of the three-man council temporarily holding the powers of supreme leader, said the territory of some regional countries was being used for attacks against Iran, and retaliatory strikes would continue. Advertisement Advertisement Hours after Pezeshkian's announcement, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said their drones struck a U.S. air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. Reuters could not independently verify that report. Late into the night, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted an Israeli refinery, according to state media. Air raid sirens sounded in the Haifa area, but there were no reports of destruction. The Kuwaiti army said on Saturday that fuel storage tanks belonging to Kuwait International Airport were targeted in a drone attack. There were reports of rockets targeting the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, security sources and witnesses said. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered his security forces to pursue those responsible, according to a statement. In Iran, local news agencies, citing an Iranian Oil Ministry source, said its fuel depots were hit by strikes in three areas, including Karaj, west of Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement The Revolutionary Guards also targeted U.S. forces at a base in Bahrain, Iranian state media said. Blasts were also heard in Doha, a Reuters witness said. Tehran has responded to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran by hitting Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. military installations. Israel has launched fresh attacks in Lebanon after the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah fired across the border. The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have all reported drone or missile attacks over the past week. ISRAEL WARNS LEBANON TO REIN IN HEZBOLLAH With the conflict spreading, Israel warned Lebanon of a "very heavy price" if it did not rein in Hezbollah, as it pounded the group's strongholds with airstrikes and mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east. Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday morning, more buildings in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut had been reduced to mounds of smoking rubble, dust and tangled wires, Reuters video showed. The death toll from Israel's attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to 294, the Lebanese health ministry said. The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Huge explosions were heard in parts of Tehran, state media reported, while Israel said it had struck Iranian missile sites and command centres. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Larijani said there were reports that American soldiers have been captured, but U.S. Central Command said no U.S. service members have been taken prisoner. At least six U.S. service members have been killed. Their remains arrived on Saturday at an Air Force base in Delaware. Iran's apparent strategy of maximum chaos has driven up the costs of the conflict by raising energy prices and hurting global business and logistics links. Kuwait's national oil company began cutting output on Saturday, adding to earlier oil and gas cuts from Iraq and Qatar. The war has roiled global markets and oil prices have hit multi-year highs with the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut. Advertisement Advertisement Hardline clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader, Iranian media reported on Saturday, with meetings occurring as soon as Sunday. Ayatollah Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the clerical body charged with choosing the next leader, was quoted as saying the assembly could meet in the next 24 hours to decide. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Miami, Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Idrees Ali, Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, Pesha Magid in Jerusalem, Aaron McNicholas and Reuters bureaux; Writing by William Maclean, Matthias Williams, Richard Cowan and Alistair Bell; Editing by William Mallard, Alex Richardson and Rod Nickel) A week after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the conflict is continuing to escalate across the Middle East. At least 1,332 people have been reported killed in US-Israeli attacks as a new wave of intense bombing struck the Iranian capital early on Saturday. Here is what we know: In Iran Military attacks and rising casualties: The US militarys Central Command says it has struck more than 3,000 targets in Iran and destroyed 43 Iranian warships since February 28. The death toll in Iran has now risen to at least 1,332 people. US demands: US President Donald Trump is demanding an unconditional surrender from Iran, stating that there will be no deal without it. Maritime threats and movements: The Iranian military confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, but explicitly stated they will target any US or Israeli ships attempting to pass through. Europe can become a target: Irans deputy foreign minister has warned European nations that they will become legitimate targets for Iranian retaliation if they join the US and Israel in the conflict. Russian support: President Vladimir Putin spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, offering condolences for the deaths in Iran and receiving a report on developments. Russia is also reportedly providing Iran with intelligence on US military positions, according to US officials speaking anonymously. Oil trade: The war has caused a significant increase in demand for Russian energy products, the Kremlin said. That came a day after the US gave India a 30-day waiver. (Al Jazeera) In Gulf nations Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE: The three countries have all reported incoming missiles and drones in their territories. Qatars government said its air defence systems intercepted nine of 10 Iranian drones launched at the country on Friday. Saudi Arabia: The country also reported intercepting multiple drones near its capital, Riyadh. Kuwait: It has begun cutting production at some oil fields after running out of room to store its bottled-up crude, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting sources familiar with the matter. Smoke rises above the city, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [FILE: Reuters] United Kingdom military support: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and pledged British military support, including fighter jets, helicopters, and a destroyer, to defend Saudi Arabia if necessary. Additional UK Typhoon fighter jets are scheduled to arrive in Qatar to assist with defensive air patrols Aviation and evacuation updates: Following significant regional airspace closures and flight cancellations, Qatars Hamad International Airport is partially resuming air navigation via dedicated emergency routes. Qatar Airways has announced special repatriation flights to five European cities: London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Frankfurt. Qatar Airways to Operate Limited Relief Corridor from Doha. Qatar Airways scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) March 6, 2026 In Israel Incoming Iranian strikes: Iran is consistently firing drones and missiles at targets across Israel, triggering explosions and air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, northern Israel, and near Beersheba in the Negev Desert. Depleting air defences: According to analysts, Irans apparent strategy with these sustained attacks is to stretch Israels air defence systems, keep the country off balance, and deplete its supply of missile interceptors. Accusations at the UN: Irans ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has accused Israel and the US of recognising no red line and committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hezbollah retaliation: In response to Israels military operations in Lebanon, Hezbollah has fired rockets at multiple locations in northern Israel. In the US Conflicting timelines: US officials have given mixed signals on how long the conflict could last. The White House said the campaign may run four to six weeks, while the Pentagon has declined to give a timeline. Military scale: Trump said defence manufacturers will quadruple weapons production to sustain the campaign. The first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury are estimated to have cost $3.7bn, about $891m a day, with most of the spending not budgeted for, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Advertisement Advertisement Strategic deployments: The US is reinforcing its strike capabilities, with a B-1 bomber arriving at a UK airbase after the UK allowed the US to use its bases for defensive operations. In Lebanon, Iraq Hezbollah clashes with Israeli troops in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon : Hezbollah confirms its fighters were involved, saying in a statement that its forces observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction. Israeli attacks and casualties: Israeli jets bombed towns in southern and eastern Lebanon. Lebanons Ministry of Public Health says 217 people have been killed since the attacks began. Displacement crisis: Growing numbers of residents have fled areas including Tyre and Beiruts southern suburb of Dahiyeh. Schools in Beirut are now being used as shelters. Diplomatic response: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on allies to help stop the attacks. Frances President Emmanuel Macron expressed support in a call with Aoun. Drone attack in Iraqi Kurdistan region: A drone hit the Erbil Arjaan By Rotana hotel after a US embassy warning that Iran-aligned groups could attack hotels used by foreigners. A fireball ascends from the site of an Israeli air attack on Beiruts southern suburbs on March 6, 2026 [AFP] What has happened since the war began on February 28? One week since the start of war: The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, marking a week after the initial attacks began last Saturday at 06:27 GMT. Mounting casualties: At least 1,332 civilians have been killed in Iran over the past week, with schools, hospitals and other infrastructure reportedly hit. More than 200 people have been killed in Lebanon. Eleven have been killed in Israel, and six US servicemen have also died. Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah joins: Hezbollah entered the conflict on March 2, firing on northern Israel and prompting Israel to expand strikes into Lebanon. Humanitarian crisis: The UN estimates that at least 330,000 people have been forcibly displaced across the Middle East due to the escalating violence. Amir Hajj, left, a barber displaced by Israeli air attacks in Dahiyeh, Beiruts southern suburb, cuts a customers hair at Beiruts seaside promenade along the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon [Hassan Ammar/AP] Europe drawn in : Countries including the UK, France and Spain have agreed to provide military support to protect the interests of their allies. Energy shock: Oil prices have surged amid major disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that carries about 20 percent of the worlds oil supply. Tankers are seen off the coast of Fujairah, as Iran pledges to fire at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz [Amr Alfiky/Reuters] DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early Sunday, including targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Irans Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. The Israeli military said in a statement that it would not allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory." The latest strikes in Lebanon followed an Israeli attack Saturday on an oil storage facility in Tehran, which sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the night sky. Advertisement Advertisement It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime at the site that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north. Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when the Gulf country was hit by a swarm of missiles and drones. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. No other details were available. Israeli airstrikes killed eight people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, and local media reported that an Israeli drone hit a hotel in Beirut, killing four and wounding 10 others. The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian president apologizes for attacks Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized Saturday for attacks on neighboring countries," even as his country's missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehran's war strategy would not change. Advertisement Advertisement A rift between politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting Iranian statements came from two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the war's opening airstrikes. Pezeshkian, who is a member of the council, also dismissed U.S. President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. Advertisement Advertisement He described the ongoing U.S. operations in Iran as an excursion and said issues such as rising gas prices and the safety of Americans would improve once the conflict ends. Iranian leaders have limited power over Revolutionary Guard Pezeshkians message underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Pezeshkians statement said Iran's leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and from now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. The U.S. strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue, he posted on X. Iran's U.N. mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on nonmilitary sites may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems. Late Saturday, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani asserted in an address carried by state media that our leaders are united on this issue and have no disagreements with one another. Trump says the Kurds won't be involved In other developments, Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the war, even though Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government. Advertisement Advertisement The war is complicated enough without having ... the Kurds involved, Trump told reporters. Days ago, Kurdish officials told the AP that Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran's military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The war's stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. Missile lands at US Embassy compound in Iraq Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties. Advertisement Advertisement It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a terrorist act carried out by rogue groups. Strikes target other Gulf countries Hours after Pezeshkians apology, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed a driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Sirens sounded earlier Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces. In Kuwait, authorities said a wave of drones targeted critical infrastructure, including fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport and a government building in Kuwait City. At least two people were killed by strikes in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. ___ Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Magdy from Cairo, Egypt. Associated Press journalists Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo, Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting. DUBAI, March 7 (Reuters) - Hardline clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader to help guide Iran, Iranian media reported on Saturday, as the Islamic Republic reels under a new wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes. The calls suggest some in the clerical establishment may be uncomfortable leaving power in the hands of the three-man council put in charge temporarily after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had the final say in all matters of state. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the U.S. should have a role in choosing the new leader, a demand Iran has rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Iranian media late on Saturday cited Ayatollah Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the clerical body charged with choosing the next leader, as saying the assembly could meet in the next 24 hours to make a decision. It was not clear if that would involve an in-person gathering. Sources said some clerics had previously held consultations online. Mozafari's statement followed earlier comments from hardline clerics demanding a quick decision. Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, whose title means he commands a broad following for his religious rulings, said an appointment was needed swiftly to "help better organise the countrys affairs", state media reported. Advertisement Advertisement Last week, two senior Shi'ite religious authorities also issued fatwas, or religious decrees, calling on Muslims around the world to avenge the killing of Khamenei. Makarem Shirazi said it was a religious duty for Muslims "until the evil of these criminals is eradicated from the world". Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani also urged members of the Assembly of Experts to accelerate the process of picking Khamenei's successor, state media reported. Following rules laid out in Iran's constitution, a three-man council comprising the president, a senior cleric and the head of the judiciary has taken on the supreme leader's role until the assembly decides. The constitution states a supreme leader should be chosen within three months. (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Edmund Blair, Tomasz Janowski and Jan Harvey) March 6 (Reuters) - A spokesperson for Irans Revolutionary Guards challenged U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy U.S. naval vessels to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported on Friday. The U.S. Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, Trump said on Tuesday. The conflict in the Middle East has halted shipping and energy exports through the vital Strait of Hormuz. * Guards spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said: "Iranstrongly welcomes the escort of oil tankers and that U.S. forceswill be there for the crossing of the Strait of Hormuz. And weare, by the way, awaiting their presence," according to statemedia * "We recommend that, before making any decision, theAmericans remember the fire on the American supertankerBridgeton in 1987 and the oil tankers that were recentlytargeted," Naini said * At least nine vessels have been attacked since the U.S. and Israel first began strikes on Iran on Saturday and the Guards ordered ships not to crossthe strategic waterway (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by Edward Tobin) In a significant development that is expected to bring relief to the Gulf states and to rattled energy markets, Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Saturday that the interim leadership council decided and instructed Iran's armed forces that "from now on they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked from those countries." In addition, Pezeshkian apologised to Iran's neighbours explaining that "what happened was that our commanders and our leader lost their lives following the barbaric aggression and our armed forces, the champions that are sacrificing their lives to defend our territorial integrity, fired at will because their commanders were absent and did whatever necessary. They proudly and powerfully defended our homeland." Shortly after Pezeshkians message, Trump warned in a social media post Saturday that more Iranian officials would become targets in the war, writing: Today Iran will be hit very hard! on his Truth Social website, noting the apology by Pezeshkian. Advertisement Advertisement Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time, Trump wrote, without elaborating. He also claimed Pezeshkian's apology was only made because of the relentless US and Israeli attack," adding that "they were looking to take over and rule the Middle East." It's unclear whether Pezeshkian's announcement will be followed by Iran's military commanders who traditionally take their instructions from the ayatollah. Iran currently doesn't have a supreme leader since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war a week ago. Advertisement Advertisement However just after the Iranian president's statement, Dubai airport was attacked by an Iranian drone and Qatar reported it intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile. US says more intense bombing lies ahead There is no foreseeable end to the fighting and the Trump administration approved a new $151 million (129 million) arms sale to Israel after Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview that the "biggest bombing campaign" of the war was still to come. Iran's UN ambassador said the country would "take all necessary measures" to defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement Associated Press video showed explosions flashing and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. US President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One in Miami, 6 March, 2026 - AP Photo The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Iran strikes Gulf States as fighting spreads In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iranian attacks targeted the island kingdom. And Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. Advertisement Advertisement In Dubai, several blasts were heard Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Passengers waiting for flights out at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Later that morning, long-haul carrier Emirates said that all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice." An Emirates Boeing 777 stands at the gate at Dubai International Airport, 17 August, 2022 - AP Photo Qatar's energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could "bring down the economies of the world," predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to 138 a barrel. The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above 83 on Friday for the first time in more than two years. Advertisement Advertisement Writing for the Qatar-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera, a regional analyst warned Iran was making a strategic miscalculation of historic proportions. Al Jazeera, a pan-Arab satellite news network owned and funded by Qatars government, has been used in the past to signal Dohas opinions on regional matters. Sultan al-Khulaifi, a senior researcher at the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, wrote: "By spreading the conflict to the Gulf, Tehran is doing precisely what Israel could not do alone: steering the war away from the Israeli-Iranian axis and transforming it into a confrontation between Iran and its Arab neighbours. Related Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the defence minister of Saudi Arabia and Pakistans army chief met to discuss ways to stop the attacks coming from Iran, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman, a son of King Salman, talked with Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh about the Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. Also early on Saturday, incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel and loud booms sounded in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israel's emergency services. By Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis and Erin Banco WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - As the first explosions from Iran's retaliatory attack sounded across the United Arab Emirates last Saturday, the State Department was still scrambling to finalize a key bureaucratic task - securing approvals for at least three U.S. embassies in the region to evacuate non-essential personnel. Memos asking State Department leadership to approve evacuations for U.S. missions in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, all of which were already coming under fire from Tehran on Saturday, were not sent up for clearance and approved until hours after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran, and in several cases not until the following day, according to two sources familiar with the matter and half a dozen internal State Department cables seen by Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement The release of public announcements that the U.S. was starting to pull out non-essential staff from Gulf Arab countries began Monday, three days into the war. For the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, the approval for authorized departure came on Tuesday, four days into the war and on the same day that it was struck by Iranian drones that led to a fire that damaged the mission's facilities. The delay was unusual. Typically, the United States starts evacuations for a planned military action well before the event itself. When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, staff and U.S. citizens in the region had weeks to prepare, and at least two evacuations began more than a week before the actual operation started. Ahead of last week's strikes, Israel and Lebanon were the only regional embassies with orders for non-essential personnel to depart. The attack on Iran - the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since 2003 - has put enormous strain on officials from the U.S. and other countries with citizens in the region. But lawmakers, former diplomats and sources involved in the process said the United States was unusually slow in activating contingency plans both for its own personnel and for thousands of stranded Americans. Advertisement Advertisement The State Department's principal deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, said hundreds of people were involved in the effort to help Americans return. "We are working 24/7 and have contingency plans ready to go and implement when needed, including the ability to immediately activate the task force, which was done here," Pigott said in a statement to Reuters. ANNOUNCEMENTS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA One factor underlying the uneven approach, said sources familiar with the matter, was that ahead of the war's start, Trump officials kept contingency planning to a small group of officials. In one case, officials involved in helping Americans get home had found out from a social media post from a senior Trump official that Washington was now offering charter flights to U.S. citizens, according to two people familiar with the situation. Advertisement Advertisement "No directive came from anywhere," one of the people said. Pigott said announcements on the task force that the Department created specifically to tackle the fallout from the crisis and charter flights were coordinated with relevant officials. In another instance, the alert for Americans to leave the region came not through normal State Department channels but again via a social media post. The top State Department official for consular affairs, Mora Namdar, posted on X on Monday urging Americans across 14 countries in the Middle East to leave and said the U.S. was working to facilitate charter flights for U.S. citizens. Advertisement Advertisement But because that message was drafted outside normal channels, State Department staff were surprised and had to update the department's formal travel advisory system that American companies and others rely on for guidance for their overseas personnel, according to two people familiar with the situation. As of Saturday, the U.S. State Department said it has completed "over a dozen charter flights and has safely evacuated thousands of Americans" from the Middle East. It did not say from which locations exactly the charter flights arrived. One flight that departed Dubai bound for Washington on Friday carrying 182 embassy personnel and their families, and 51 private U.S. citizens, was only the second charter to depart from that country, according to a March 6 cable reviewed by Reuters. Since then, additional flights were set to take place. When asked to confirm if specific plans were finalized ahead of the war to help evacuate American citizens from the 14 countries, a State Department official briefing reporters earlier this week gave a broad response. Advertisement Advertisement "I wouldn't say that specifically. What I would say is, we always have contingency plans, and we're always ready to assist Americans. That's what I would say to that question," the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. The Department on Friday said it had assisted 13,000 Americans who reached out seeking help to depart. As the Department rushed to implement plans to help Americans, novelist and filmmaker Mohana Rajakumar in Doha dialed the hotline that top U.S. officials said stranded U.S. citizens should call for help. The recorded audio told her not to rely on government help to depart even as the U.S. government repeatedly says the safety and security of U.S. citizens around the world is its top priority. "I can tell you every WhatsApp group that I'm in with Americans, nobody feels that way," Rajakumar said, speaking to Reuters from Doha. "Everyone is asking why didn't they tell us to leave given they knew they were going to do this? Why didn't we have the option to leave?" Officials said that recorded message was later updated. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Erin Banco and Simon Lewis; Editing by Don Durfee and Diane Craft) The IRGC claimed to have struck a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Iranian media. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it hit a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported on Saturday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning after receiving a report of an incident 10 nautical miles north of Jubail, Saudi Arabia. "Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity," UKMTO said in its statement. Advertisement Advertisement The war between the US, Israel, and Iran has stalled oil transit through the Strait, which is a key naval route for most Gulf states. China is in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas vessels to pass safely through Hormuz, three diplomatic sources told Reuters on Thursday. Kuwait cuts oil production as precaution amid Iran tensions, KPC says Kuwait said it had implemented a precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining throughput following the ongoing attacks by Iran against Kuwait and "Iranian threats to safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz," Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said in a statement on Saturday. The state oil company said the move was part of its "risk management and business continuity strategy." It said the adjustment was strictly precautionary and would be reviewed as the situation develops, and it remained ready to restore production levels once conditions allow. This is a developing story. According to an official release, the Minister of State for Defence witnessed a comprehensive live demonstration and static display showcasing a coordinated response to a simulated chemical attack in an urban environment, highlighting integrated national preparedness against emerging Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. The large-scale exercise brought together 19 participating agencies, including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, civil administration, police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), medical teams, NCC cadets, academia and industry partners. Conducted as part of Southern Command's Military-Civil Fusion initiative, the exercise aimed at strengthening synergy between military and civil agencies to effectively respond to complex emergencies in operational environments characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. As part of the exercise, participating agencies executed a simulated response to a chemical attack in an urban setting. The demonstration highlighted critical procedures including rapid threat identification, cordon and isolation of contaminated areas, decontamination processes, casualty evacuation, medical management and coordinated inter-agency command and control. The exercise showcased the capability of multiple stakeholders to respond swiftly and cohesively to CBRN contingencies, a release stated. The exercise underscored the importance of interoperability, joint planning and integrated response mechanisms in addressing evolving CBRN challenges. Participation of NDRF teams, civil agencies, security forces, technical experts and NCC cadets further reinforced the collective commitment towards building a resilient and coordinated national response framework. Exercise Sanyukt Kavach reflects the Indian Army's and Southern Command's continued commitment to promoting Military-Civil Fusion and strengthening a Whole-of-Nation approach towards national security, ensuring effective preparedness against emerging threats in an increasingly complex operational environment, a release added. (ANI) B-1 bomber jets were earlier seen landing at RAF Fairford after the UK allowed the US to use its military bases for defensive strikes on Iranian missile strikes. Starmer decided not to join the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran Updated measure come as Azerbaijani security services say they thwarted an Iranian plot to attack the Israeli embassy in Baku and other Jewish targets in the country. Israel has stepped up security at its embassies and diplomatic missions around the world following concrete threats against Israeli symbols and representatives abroad, the Shin Bet and Foreign Ministry said in a joint statement on Friday. Authorities have increased the operational readiness of Israeli security teams overseas in recent days, working in close coordination with local security forces around Israeli targets abroad, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement The updated measures include additional training for extreme scenarios, improved rapid-response procedures, emergency evacuation planning, and expanded cooperation with local security agencies at Israeli missions worldwide. The statement added that the effort has focused in particular on the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Israeli authorities also said they had reinforced both overt and covert security around embassies, diplomats and delegations. As part of the effort, advanced technological systems were deployed to help monitor, detect, and identify potential threats. The statement said the new measures were especially significant against the backdrop of growing missile threats in several countries in recent days. Security was also increased in areas with high concentrations of Israelis overseas, including airports where Israeli airlines are operational. The Foreign Ministry said it was continuing to provide consular assistance to Israelis abroad wherever needed, as Israel remains on heightened alert amid ongoing regional tensions. Police officers walk near a fire from a Molotov cocktail near the Israeli embassy, during a demonstration on the two-year anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 massacre, in Athens, Greece, October 7, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki) Israeli embassy, local synagogue said targeted in Azerbaijan Meanwhile, Azerbaijani security services said Friday they thwarted an Iranian plot to attack the Israeli embassy in Baku and other Jewish targets in the country, according to reports in Azerbaijan. Advertisement Advertisement The plot was reportedly conducted by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) with the aim of creating panic and reputational damage to the country. According to Azerbaijani media, the Iranian plot sought to attack the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, the Israeli embassy, a leader of the Mountain Jewish community, and a local synagogue. Security personnel reportedly located and neutralized three explosive devices associated with the plot. NSC cites "concrete concerns" over threats to Israeli, Jewish targets On Thursday, Israels National Security Council (NSC) urged Israelis overseas to maintain heightened vigilance worldwide, citing a concrete concern that terrorist operatives are currently seeking to attack Israelis abroad, as well as and Jewish targets worldwide. The NSC expressed growing concern over attacks in countries near Iran and across the Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan. The warning came amid what the NSC described as increased motivation and expanded efforts to target Israeli and Jewish sites globally since the start of Operation Roaring Lion. ITV News correspondents have the latest as the war in the Middle East enters its second week. Trump accuses Starmer of trying to join the Iran war after weve already won. Iran said the US' demand for surrender is a 'dream that they should take to their grave' and apologised for attacks on surrounding countries. The apology was aired amid attacks on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the UK's aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness. Emirates said it would resume operations at Dubai airport after temporarily halting them following what appeared to be a drone attack in the area. Protesters calling for the US and Israel to end their strikes on Iran marched through London, while counter-demonstrators were also seen waving Israeli flags UK government plans to charter a commercial flight out of the UAE, which would leave Dubai early next week, subject to the situation on the ground. A series of major explosions rocked Tehran late Saturday as Israel launched new strikes and Donald Trump warned the US would hit Iran "very hard". Advertisement Advertisement Video footage taken by the Associated Press showed a Tehran oil facility engulfed in flames, in what appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it struck "several fuel storage complexes" in what it called a "significant strike". The latest attack came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised "many surprises" for the next phase of the week-old conflict. Earlier in the day, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for attacks on neighbouring Gulf states, saying it would not target them "unless attacked first". Advertisement Advertisement Explosions were heard in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates hours later, and hard-liners asserted that Tehran's war strategy would not change. One person was killed in Dubai after debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle. Emirates briefly suspended flights to and from the city after several blasts were heard. Watch: Smoke rises into the sky as explosion heard near Dubai International Airport Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel, and loud booms sounded in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israels emergency services. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Israel says it used more than 80 fighter jets to carry out its broad-scale wave of strikes on Iran in the early hours of Saturday. One week ago, Israel and the US launched what they described as "pre-emptive" strikes against a Tehran government they viewed as intent on acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, and some legal experts have said the attack violates international law. Iran has insisted it will not surrender, with Pezeshkian dismissing Trump's demand for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender as "a dream they should take to their grave". Dubai residents say city is safe as UAE warns against posting online Advertisement Advertisement Four arrested on suspicion of spying on Jewish community for Iran In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump, in an apparent reference to Pezeshkian's comments, said Iran "has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors (sic), and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore." He continued: "This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries." Trump arrives at Dover Air Force Base, where he is privately meeting with the families of the six US soldiers killed early in the conflict. Credit: AP Trump was in Delaware on Saturday to witness the return of the six US soldiers' bodies killed in the war. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after leaving Dover Air Force Base, Trump told reporters he wanted to "pick a president" for Iran that would not be "leading the country into war". "The US does not want to come back every five years", he added. He also took a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer in a Truth social post, accusing the prime minister of trying to "join" the Iran war "after we've already won". UK puts one of its aircraft carriers on 'advanced preparedness' It comes after four American bombers landed in the UK and the US started using British bases for specific defensive operations on Saturday. The US president was referring to reports that the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier in response to the Middle East crisis. Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the preparedness of HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail. No decisions have been taken, but ITV News understands HMS Prince of Wales is now at five days notice to sail, down from ten. Sir Keir Starmer has allowed defensive US strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases Credit: PA A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said: We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus. Since the strikes began, weve had British jets in the sky shooting down drowns and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone busting missiles. Advertisement Advertisement HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment. The MoD said the US had started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region. A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to support air surveillance, and RAF Typhoons and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus. A Rockwell B-1 Lancer, a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force arrives at RAF Fairford on Friday. Credit: PA Three B-1 Lancer bombers landed at an air force base in Gloucestershire earlier on Saturday, following the arrival of one on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base within the next few days. Britain has been criticised by allies over its response to the crisis, particularly over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was struck by a drone earlier this week. Starmer has defended his decision not to permit the US to use British bases in the opening assault against the Tehran regime, suggesting it could have been unlawful and arguing the government must keep a cool head. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. The prime minister agreed on Sunday to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean. Advertisement Advertisement US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that strikes were about to surge dramatically, referring to more fighter squadrons, more defensive capabilities and more bomber pulses more frequently. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, and more than 200 people in Lebanon, where Israel has resumed strikes on Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah since the latest round of conflict in the Middle East began. Around a dozen people have been killed in Israel, according to officials in those countries, while six US troops were killed in an attack on Kuwait. From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below... The survey originally aimed to assess public attitudes in Israel towards a wide range of issues, but the opportunity arose to study the Israeli public regarding the Iran war. Public morale among the Israeli populace has shifted dramatically since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion, according to a study that concluded on Tuesday. The study, which launched on February 26, 2026, originally aimed to assess public attitudes in Israel towards a range of issues and included items designed to measure morale and a person's sense of security. After the war broke out on March 1, 2026, the opportunity arose to study these aspects in relation to the Iran war. Advertisement Advertisement The final sample included 3,217 respondents, all Israeli citizens aged 18 and above, representing a balanced demographic based on gender, age, religion, region, and political affiliation. A woman sits with her dog Rio as people take shelter in a train station during an ongoing rocket attack from Iran in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 1, 2026. (credit: Maya Levin / AFP via Getty Images) The study revealed a sharp increase in concern for personal safety after the war began. Prior to the operation, approximately 22% of Israelis expressed great concern for their personal safety. However, following the outbreak of the war, this number surged to nearly 45%, highlighting a significant shift in public perception regarding their well-being during wartime. Concern for the state's security also rose notably. Nearly 50% of Israelis reported high levels of concern for national security after the war broke out, compared to about one-third before the conflict. This change reflects the heightened anxiety over the broader implications of the war. Positive implications of the study In terms of national morale, the outlook on Israels future has shifted. Before the war, approximately 37% of Israelis expressed optimism about the countrys future. Following the outbreak, this number rose significantly to about 50%. Despite the war, many Israelis have displayed a renewed sense of optimism, showing resilience in the face of adversity. The study also investigated attitudes toward Israel's military actions. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents supported the attack on Iran, while 24% opposed it, with the majority of dissent coming from Israeli Arabs. About 13% of the population remained undecided. Mar. 7The following stories from this week appeared on www.jamestownsun.com and in The Jamestown Sun. The Jamestown City Council unanimously approved on Monday, March 2, purchasing property for $1 located at 324 5th Ave. NE. The city will purchase lot one in block eight of the McGinnis Addition, except the east 60 feet. Tom Blackmore, zoning administrator, said the property at 324 5th Ave. NE has been deemed dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement The purchase and demolition of the property will be paid from the city of Jamestown's special assessment deficiency fund. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said the city would use money from the fund as an interest-free loan to the city to demolish the property. "Then when we sell it, whatever we are able to recover from selling the property would go back into that fund," he said. The Stutsman County Park Board on a 4-0 vote approved on Tuesday, March 3, additional parcels for WBI Energy to survey for the Bakken East Pipeline Project. Stutsman County Commissioners Levi Taylor and Amanda Hastings, who are also park board members, were not present at the meeting. Park board member Henry Steinberger was also absent. Advertisement Advertisement The Stutsman County Commission also approved the request on Tuesday. The two additional parcels are about 4 miles south of Woodworth. Areas north of Jamestown across Stutsman County have been surveyed since last year for a route for the Bakken East Pipeline Project, a 350-mile natural gas pipeline slated to cross North Dakota from west to east. Plans call for the line to run from near Watford City to near Fargo with a branch line to Ellendale. Construction could start in 2028, with the western phase of the project complete in 2029 and the eastern phase in 2030. The North Dakota Highway Patrol has identified the 80-year-old Carrington man Advertisement Advertisement who died in a two-vehicle T-bone crash on Monday, March 2, on North Dakota Highway 200. Gary Boyer was driving a 2019 Ford F-150 south on 74th Avenue Northeast about 6 miles east of Carrington, while Cornelius Augustyn, 31, Washburn, North Dakota, was driving a 2006 Peterbilt semitrailer with a trailer eastbound on Highway 200. The patrol said the Ford entered the intersection to cross Highway 200 and was struck on the passenger side by the semitrailer. Boyer, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene, the patrol said. The Stutsman County Commission on a 3-0 vote approved a grade-raise project Advertisement Advertisement for a portion of Stutsman County Road 68. Commissioners Levi Taylor and Amanda Hastings were not present at the meeting on Tuesday, March 3. The grade raise on Stutsman County Road 68 will be in the area where School Lake is located. School Lake is located about 10 miles south of Interstate 94 between Cleveland and Medina. The grade raise will be about 2 1/2 feet at the location. A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by an Austin college student who was deported to Honduras, ruling that his Massachusetts court no longer had jurisdiction over her case after she declined to board a court-ordered flight back to the United States last week. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman at Babson College near Boston, was detained by immigration officials in November while traveling to surprise her Austin-based family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Authorities later transferred her to Texas before deporting her to Honduras, despite a federal court order directing the government not to deport her. Advertisement Advertisement Federal attorneys later said the deportation was a mistake, but argued the Massachusetts court lacked authority because Lopez Belloza had already left the state by the time the order was issued. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns initially ordered the federal government to facilitate her return to the U.S. while the case proceeded. Officials arranged a flight for Lopez Belloza to return last week, but she declined to board the plane after learning immigration officials intended to detain her upon arrival and potentially deport her again, according to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau. In a Friday order, Stearns said Lopez Bellozas decision not to board the plane effectively ended the courts ability to continue hearing the case. The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this courts only remaining basis for jurisdiction, the judge wrote in an electronic order dismissing the petition. Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Lopez Belloza declined flight to U.S. over fears of immediate deportation, attorney says Lopez Bellozas attorneys had argued the case should remain in Massachusetts federal court because immigration officials moved her quickly between detention centers, complicating efforts by her attorneys to file legal challenges. Stearns rejected the argument, saying there was no evidence the government deliberately concealed her location from lawyers. Court records show Lopez Belloza was listed in the immigration detention system as being held in Massachusetts for a full day before she was transferred to Texas, he wrote, giving her legal team time to file a petition there. The judge also wrote that if Lopez Belloza had returned to the U.S. on the arranged flight last week, she would have likely been held in the Southern District of Texas, where she could have filed a new legal challenge while a court order preventing her removal remained in place. Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Stearns ruled, the governments compliance with the order to facilitate her return resolved the remaining dispute. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to the American-Statesmans request for comment. Lopez Bellozas attorney said his team filed a notice of appeal just 30 minutes after the judge issued his ruling. The case will now go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston. Were confident we have a very good legal issue, Pomerleau said Friday. The problem is, Anys not a legal issue. Shes a person. Pomerleau told the Statesman that Lopez Belloza has been taking online courses to continue her degree path at Babson while in Honduras, but he doesnt anticipate her returning to campus until fall semester, at the earliest. He said she was worried that she would be detained if she boarded the court-ordered flight, potentially missing school and jeopardizing her studies. Advertisement Advertisement If she came back last week, she wouldve been in jail, he said. She mightve been deported from the country again by now. Lopez Belloza was subject to a removal order issued in 2017. She first entered the U.S. with her mother when she was 8 years old, and the family eventually settled in Austin. Lopez Bellozas legal team has begun a new case for legal status through a visa, which is currently in progress. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar said he would continue supporting the effort to bring Lopez Belloza back to the U.S. through this hurdle, as well. Any should have never been deported in the first place, Casar said. Ill continue to advocate for her safe return home until we get it done. LAWRENCE Kansans wont know until at least Tuesday if a judge will delay implementation of the states new bathroom law, but a concession by Attorney General Kris Kobach means key components of the law can be delayed until March 26. Douglas County District Judge James McCabria heard arguments Friday about Senate Bill 244, the controversial new law that forces people to use bathrooms in government buildings and gender markers on drivers licenses based on sex assigned at birth. The three-hour hearing focused on technicalities, including whether the law meets any one of five specific criteria that would lead the judge to approve a temporary restraining order and pause enforcement of the law for up to 14 days. Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Kansas Department of Administration said the laws speedy implementation provided no grace period to Kansans needing a new drivers license and for government leaders statewide to put a system in place for tracking bathroom usage. The law took effect Feb. 26, a little over a week after the GOP-led Legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kellys veto. Kansans who held drivers licenses with a gender marker that didnt match their sex at birth were told their licenses were immediately invalidated and government leaders statewide were told they had to immediately enforce the bathroom portion of the bill. Kobach told McCabria he agreed to give Kansans who needed to update drivers licenses until March 26 to complete that. He also said he wouldnt enforce the laws penalties which could be as high as $125,000 per day for violations for cities, counties, municipalities and schools that might violate the bathroom rules, as well. Harper Seldin, senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, talks to reporters after a Douglas County District Court hearing on March 6, 2026. Seldin asked the judge to place a temporary restraining order on the state to stop implementation of a new law that forces Kansans to use bathrooms and have documentation in their biological sex at birth. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Harper Seldin, an ACLU attorney representing the two Lawrence transgender men who brought a case against the law under pseudonyms Daniel Doe and Matthew Moe, told the judge the law violates the Kansas Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement SB 244 infringes on the rights of personal autonomy, expectations of privacy, and equal protection under the law, and has other issues, he said. The attorney general is incorrect when he says that were asking the court to break new ground, Seldin said. This is not a novel set of theories that require the government to do anything. The thread through these individual rights claims is that this is about Daniel and Matthews right to be left alone by the government. Seldin also said the law targets transgender individuals, which can be shown by the results of its implementation even if its not stated outright. He said the way SB 244 was implemented violated the Kansas Constitution when the bathroom portion of the bill was logrolled into the bill that originally addressed drivers license and birth certificate gender markers. Logrolling refers to dropping a bill into an unrelated bill, sidestepping the opportunity for public input. Seldin said cramming two separate subjects into one law violates the Kansas Constitution, which has a single subject clause. Advertisement Advertisement Kobach said the two issues are congruent in that they both deal with defining sex within Kansas government. Its this idea that bills should mean what they say and say what they mean, Seldin said. Theres a particular perniciousness to a law that hides the law. Kobach told the judge that a drivers license is a government document, used for government purposes, and the state has the right to define the information contained in the document. McCabria questioned Kobach about briefs included in the plaintiff testimony outlining the negative psychological effects on transgender people being made to use documents that dont match their gender identity. Advertisement Advertisement Whatever a person may feel about their need to be perceived by the world in a certain way, what right do I have to compel the government to identify me in that way? McCabria asked. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach argues against a restraining order before a Douglas County District Court judge on March 6, 2026. The case was filed by two men opposed to Kansas new law forcing transgender people to use their biological sex at birth when using the restroom or on state documents. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Kobach said the drivers license is a document that records pertinent information, and sex is one of the elements, along with eye color and birthdate, that doesnt change over time. Kobach said the bathroom portion of the bill maintains the status quo in Kansas, where he contended residents have always gone to the bathroom that matches their biological sex at birth. Seldin said trans people in the state have been going to the bathroom without any harms for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Kobach said women who hear a mans voice or see a man in private spaces could become anxious about their safety. He acknowledged plaintiffs assertions about the psychological or emotional harm they may suffer but told McCabria that in a balance of equities, that didnt outweigh the harms of 99-plus percent of the population. When McCabria asked him to substantiate that number, Kobach said he didnt mean to imply that everyone outside of transgender individuals were harmed by the law. Many courts have recognized the fear that biological females have when a biological male is in the bathroom with them, and that is something that I think any Kansan can identify with, especially a female, Kobach said after the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Asked how women would be affected by seeing or hearing a transgender man who now has to use a womans bathroom, Kobach said, All kinds of hypothetical cases are possible. McCabria said he had hoped to make a ruling Friday but that he needs more time to study the filings in the case and examine constitutional issues. He said he expects to rule by Tuesday. I think most people want to be respectful, Seldin said after the hearing. I think most people dont want to pry into other peoples private lives. I think a law like this suggests the opposite, that Kansans have some prurient interest in other peoples habits and private spaces. And I dont think thats right. Z Kemp, left, and Avie Fallis attended a Douglas County District Court hearing March 6, 2026, about Kansas new law because it affects them and their loved ones. The law forces people to use the bathroom related to their biological sex at birth and to put that sex marker on their drivers licenses and birth certificates. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Z Kemp attended the hearing because her partner and many friends are affected. She said the law has caused a lot of stress and anxiety. Advertisement Advertisement Thats just unnecessary because as theyve stated before, there was especially with the bathroom situation - no prior problem, she said. Its only a problem whenever you make it a problem. I dont think its that radical to just let trans people be. Just let them go to the bathroom. Avie Fallis said she has been through a lot of physical and legal changes to find herself. She said she is tired of well-meaning people recommending that she leave Kansas, which is her home state where her family and loved ones live. I feel like its a fire thats just growing, she said. Im not going to run away from fire. I feel like it should be extinguished. Earlier this week, a federal judge dismissed a $1 billion lawsuit filed by Kendrick Johnsons family. Less than 24 hours later, his parents filed a civil rights complaint against the federal court seeking $10 billion. In January 2013, Johnson was found dead in a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes County High School. Investigators ruled his death an accident. For more than 13 years, Johnsons family has maintained the belief that he was killed. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jacquelyn and Kenneth Johnson filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging a conspiracy to violate their civil rights, saying public records were kept from them. After the lawsuit was dismissed, a Georgia appeals court ruled in 2025 that it should be reviewed again. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Judge Sarah Geraghty dismissed the case. The Court again expresses its concern about the inconsistencies between the various official reports on KJs death and Plaintiffs allegations. However, after careful consideration, the undersigned concludes that Plaintiffs claims cannot proceed, Geraghty wrote in the dismissal. In response, his parents have filed a new lawsuit against the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and federal judges Leigh Martin May and Sarah Geraghty. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement They say the Court has denied them their constitutional right to due process, as well as conspired to cover up their sons murder. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and $10 billion with 10% interest. If the message is not clear enough, let me make it clear as crystal right now, Kenneth Johnson said in a statement. Anyone, regardless of who you are, what position of power and influence you may hold, if you choose to join the murder cover-up scandal of my son, Kendrick, you do so at your own peril! [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A 38-year-old Kenosha man has been convicted of threatening to kill a federal agent. Andrew Stanton pleaded guilty on a charge of threatening to kill a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer who was serving on the Federal Bureau of Investigations Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said in a March 6 news release. Officials said that Stanton posted a video to TikTok on August 29, 2025, in which he stated, "We're not getting through to them [politicians] with using our words. That's never gonna happen. You have to use bullets." Advertisement Advertisement In another video posted that day, officials said, Stanton included text over a video of himself, saying, "I imply the very TRUE statement that a violent state can only be stopped with violence in return. / Also, I think we should be OFFING federal agents / Also, I support 'terrorism' by their standard. Anti-imperialist by mine." Members of the FBI Task Force tried to interview Stanton, who then posted additional TikToks calling for violence, officials said. Officials said that on October 4, 2025, Stanton posted a video to TikTok in which he stated, "What the (expletive) are we even talking about here? If ICE shows up to your neighborhood Im sorry, Im just gonna say it. Its time to start (expletive) shooting at them. If they show up to your neighborhood, and Im talking to you, Border Patrol Officer Joe, its time we start shooting at y'all." Stanton's posts, which also included images of weapons and body armor, were viewed hundreds of thousands of times on TikTok, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Stantons sentencing is scheduled for June 18. He faces up to ten years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kenosha man convicted of using TikTok to post threats to federal agent Kenyas national security minister, who oversaw her countrys leadership in deploying a multinational security force to gang-ridden Haiti, will lead one of the United Nations crime-fighting agencies. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Friday that he has appointed Monica Kathina Juma of Kenya as executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime as well as director-general of the U.N. Office in Vienna. She succeeds Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt. A former foreign and defense minister of Kenya, Juma has served as national security adviser to Kenyan President William Ruto, and secretary to Kenyas National Security Council since 2022. In a statement, the U.N. described her as a strategic senior leader with a depth of expertise, experience and knowledge spanning public policymaking, execution and academia across critical areas of security, diplomacy and governance. Advertisement Advertisement No start date was announced for Juma, but John Brandolino, the director of the Division for Treaty Affairs at the office on drugs and crime, will continue to serve in his acting role until she arrives. Brian Nichols, former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere in the Biden administration, applauded the appointment. During their interactions on Haiti, where the U.S. led efforts to get the Kenya police deployed to help fight armed gangs as part of the Multinational Security Support mission, Nichols said he found Juma to be very smart and focused. She asked the right questions and followed up on her tasks well. She is deliberate, he said. I think she will do a good job. Nichols said Brandolino is also very good, so hopefully he will stay on under her. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to her involvement in getting the Kenya-led MSS deployed, Juma, who visited Haiti in 2024, was also heavily involved in the negotiations for the new Gang Suppression Force about to be deployed in Haiti. Designed by the Trump administration, the GSF was approved by the U.N. Security Council last fall and is expected to see its first military contingents deployed to Haiti on April 1. In her new role, Juma will encounter a number of familiar issues, especially with respect to Haiti. Headed by David Alamos of Spain, the Port-au-Prince U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime is among the U.N. agencies most actively engaged in the country at a time when growing attention is being paid to the links between armed gangs and transnational organized crime. Through its program on border management, anti-corruption and criminal justice, the office has been supporting Haitian institutions to address the broader issues that continue to fuel instability and violence in the country. The office has also produced a series of analytical reports that have helped shed light on the transnational organized crime landscape affecting Haiti, including the trafficking of people, drugs, and firearms and ammunition, and the ways in which these illicit flows sustain and reinforce the activities of criminal groups operating in the country. Before her current position, Juma served in several senior roles in her East Africa nations governments, including positions in the ministries of energy, defense, foreign affairs and interior. She also served as acting cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining and as principal secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2016 and 2018. Advertisement Advertisement From 2010 to 2013, Juma was Kenyas ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, and permanent representative of Kenya to the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and U.N. Commission for Africa. Her academic experience includes serving as executive director of the Research Africa Institute of South Africa; executive director of the Africa Policy Institute; an adjunct faculty member at the African Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington DC ; and senior researcher/policy analyst at Safer Africa. Juma holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom as well as a masters degree and bachelors in government and public administration from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to English, she speaks Kiswahili and Kamba. This story was updated to reflect the correct spelling of the head of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime in Port-au-Prince, David Alamos. The long-awaited new Kota Airport was formally inaugurated with a Bhoomi Pujan ceremony on Saturday at Shambhupura by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his greetings to the people of Kota-Bundi and the entire Hadoti region through a virtual address. According to a release, PM Modi said that recently, he had visited Ajmer, where development projects worth thousands of crores were inaugurated, and foundation stones were laid. During the same programme, appointment letters were also handed over to nearly 21,000 youth of Rajasthan. The Prime Minister stated that within just a few days of his visit to Ajmer, he had the opportunity to launch this important airport project related to Kota. The initiation of these two major initiatives in Rajasthan within a single week reflects the pace at which the State is moving towards development today. Infrastructure development, employment opportunities for youth, and welfare schemes for farmers and women work is progressing rapidly across every sector in Rajasthan. He said that the day marks a new beginning of hope and achievement for Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar and the entire Hadoti region. The Prime Minister said that the airport, being constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 1,500 crore, will significantly accelerate the development of the entire region in the coming years. He recalled that when he visited Kota in November 2023, he had promised the people that the Kota airport would not remain merely a dream but would be turned into reality. PM Modi further said that until now, people from Kota had to travel to Jaipur or Jodhpur to catch flights. Once the airport becomes operational, travel time will be reduced, and business activities will also receive a boost. The Prime Minister also noted that Kota is an important centre of energy production, where electricity is generated from almost all sources of energy. The land of Hadoti is equally known for its rich cultural and economic heritage. Kota's famous kachori, Kota Doria sarees, the shine of its sandstone, the region's coriander, and Bundi's basmati rice are recognised even internationally. PM Modi added that, "Kota is also a major centre of faith. For centuries, devotees from across the country and the world have been visiting sacred places such as the holy seat of Shri Mathuradheesh Ji, Shri Khade Ganesh Ji Maharaj, and Balaji of Shri Godavari Dham. With improved air connectivity, these religious and tourist destinations will also benefit greatly." The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the Kota Airport will open new avenues in tourism, trade, industry and education in the Hadoti region and take the area to new heights of development. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that Kota airport will script a new chapter of development. Addressing the gathering, Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Birla said that the long-awaited dream of a greenfield airport for the people of Kota is finally becoming a reality. Several obstacles had arisen in the path of the airport project, but under the leadership of PM Modi, Hadoti has received this major gift today. He said that whenever he met entrepreneurs to bring industries to Kota, they would hesitate due to the absence of an airport. Once the airport is completed in 2027, Kota will script a new chapter of development. Along with industries, the IT sector will also grow in Kota, and the tourism sector will see new dimensions of development. As per the release, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said that Kota, which is already well connected by rail and road, will now also be connected by air. The city has abundant water resources, and in the coming years, Kota will not only remain a leader in education but will also emerge prominently in the field of enterprise. With improved connectivity, the industrial sector will also expand, and people from across the country will be able to reach Kota more easily. Rajasthan CM said that when the present government came to power in Rajasthan, a development roadmap was prepared, and under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has been consistently working towards its implementation. Under the Rising Rajasthan initiative, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 35 lakh crore have been signed, of which projects worth Rs 8 lakh crore have already been grounded. These initiatives have created employment opportunities for around three lakh youth. Addressing the foundation-laying ceremony, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that with the construction of the airport, Kota will now be connected to the entire country, not only by rail and road but also by air. It appears as though Kota is inviting the entire nation with the traditional Rajasthani welcome, "Padharo Sa." He said that under the vision of PM Modi, a new airport is being opened in the country every 45 days. The new Kota-Bundi greenfield airport is being constructed for Rs 1,507 crore, spread over approximately 440 hectares, with a runway of 3,200 metres. Naidu added that the opening of the airport will generate employment opportunities and accelerate growth in all sectors in Kota, including tourism and education. (ANI) FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS, when American presidents have wanted to put pressure on leader in Iraq or Iran, the same idea has consistently popped up: Use the Kurds. Now, as the Trump administration seeks unconditional surrender from the Iranian regime, the question of the Kurds has come up again. Last week, CNN reported that the CIA is arming Kurdish rebels with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran. The logic behind the suggestion is easy to understand. The Kurds are fierce fighters. They are among the more pro-Western and pro-American groups in the region. They were partners and helped stabilize parts of Iraq during the U.S. invasion. They were decisive in helping defeat ISIS when the Iraqi state nearly collapsed in 2014 and in destroying ISIS in Syria. For many Americans, they represent the kind of ally we wish the Middle East had more ofcourageous, disciplined, and willing to fight. Having worked closely with Kurdish forces while commanding American troops in northern Iraq in 2007, I share the common admiration for the Kurds. The Kurdish leaders and fighters I worked alongside were some of the most capable partners U.S. forces had anywhere in the region, and it was widely accepted that of all the places in Iraq a soldier could be deployed to, the Kurdish city of Erbil was one of the most preferable. Advertisement Advertisement But admiration should never substitute for understanding. Instigating or abetting a Kurdish insurrection against Tehran reflects a misunderstanding not only of the Kurdish people and Kurdish politics but also of the complex ethnic and political landscape of Iran and the broader Middle East. The news has never been harder to follow. Join us as we make sense of it together with original reporting, sharp analysis, and honest commentary by becoming a Bulwark+ member. THERE ARE TWO CONCEIVABLE reasons the administration might consider supporting a Kurdish uprising. One is using them as part of a broader destabilization strategymultiplying the Iranian leaderships problems just as its leaders are being killed, its communications severed, and its military and political power eroded by American and Israeli air strikes. This purpose is straightforward, but would likely backfire. Iran is far more ethnically complex than many Americans realize. While ethnic, national, and religious identities are intrinsically hard to identify, Persians are estimated to make up only about 61 percent the countrys population. The rest consists of numerous ethnic groups with their own histories and political concerns. Azeris represent the largest minority, comprising one sixth of the population and concentrated in the northwest, near Azerbaijan. Arabs, about 6 percent, live primarily in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan bordering Iraq, while Baluch communities, about 2 percent, inhabit the southeastern region bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. The list goes on. Each of these communities has its own relationship with the central government in Tehran. Some even harbor deep grievances against the regime, but thats not always the case. Irans current president, Masoud Pazeshkian, has a recognizably Azeri name and reportedly has mixed AzeriKurdish ancestry, though he considers himself Turkish. (Azeri is a Turkic language, while Kurdish is an Iranian languageagain, these identity markers get murky fast.) Advertisement Advertisement Kurds represent roughly eight to ten percent of the Iranian people, and they are concentrated primarily in the mountainous northwest along the Iraqi border. Several Kurdish opposition groups operate in or near Iran, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and the Kurdistan Free Life Party. Both oppose the Iranian regime and have engaged in varying levels of insurgent activity over the years. It would be a serious mistake to assume other ethnic minoritiesto say nothing of Irans religious minorities like Bahai, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims, and otherswould rally behind a Kurdish-led political transformation. In fact, most likely they would strongly resist it. A Kurdish-led uprising in Tehran could easily be interpreted by most of these minoritiesand by many Persians themselvesnot as liberation, but as the first step toward fragmentation of the Iranian state. That perception would likely produce intense internal resistance and potentially trigger broader regional instability. One of the current regimes weaknesses is its religious radicalism, which much of the country finds backward, stifling, oppressive, and hypocritical. At mass protests in recent years, the opposition has promoted signs of Iranian nationalism (not to be confused with Persian ethno-nationalism, though its not always easy to tell them apart) like the former national flag featuring the lion-and-sun emblem and chants of Long live the shah! A Kurdish uprising would also raise alarms in neighboring Turkey, which hosts the worlds largest Kurdish population and has spent decades battling Kurdish separatist movements. Any development that appears to move the region closer to the creation of a broader Kurdish state is viewed in Ankara as anathema and a direct threat to Turkish territorial integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Share THE SECOND POSSIBLE REASON the United States might be aiding the Kurds is a mistaken belief that they might form the nucleus of a successor government in the Islamic Republic. This would be a foolish assumption not only for the many reasons described above, but most importantly it is because its not what the Kurds want. Before my time in Iraq, I knew the Kurds largely by reputation. Within military circles, they were widely respected as a tough and resilient fighting force that had resisted Saddam Hussein in their enclave beyond the Hamrin Mountains for decades. But reputation alone doesnt reveal much about a people, their ambitions, or the strategic motivations that shape their decisions. It wasnt until I began working closely with Kurdish leaders and their military forces, and meeting with the Kurdish population, that I started to understand them more clearly. My understanding also deepened considerably after reading Quil Lawrences outstanding book, Invisible Nation, which traces the long history of the Kurdish struggle for identity and self-determination. Like many Americans who encounter the Kurds in a military context, I initially saw them through the lens of battlefield performance. Lawrences book helped place that performance within a much broader political and historical story. Advertisement Advertisement The Kurdish forcesthe Peshmergawere disciplined, experienced, and operationally savvy. Their officers understood maneuver and terrain. Their soldiers possessed a fierce commitment to their nation, culture, and mission. At the time, they were noticeably more capable than many of the Iraqi units who were our partners (though the Iraqi security forces have improved significantly since those early years after Saddams fall). But what drove the Peshmerga was not abstract ideology or loyalty to a distant government in Baghdad. They were motivated by something more personal and enduring: the defense of Kurdish land, Kurdish autonomy, and the long-held dream of a Kurdish statehood. That distinction matters, especially when Americans begin to speculate about Kurdish roles in broader regional political change. When ISIS metastasized across Iraq in 2014, Kurdish forces became one of the most visible and effective ground partners the United States had available. Images of Kurdish fighters holding the line against the Islamic State captured the imagination of Western audiences, and they became the heroes of those campaigns. To many Americans, it appeared as though the Kurds were fighting not only for themselves but for the broader cause of regional stability and democratic values. There was truth in that perception, as the brutality of ISIS offended Kurdish society just as it horrified the rest of the world. But the Kurdish response was primarily driven by strategic necessity. ISIS represented a direct and existential threat to Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq. If the Islamic State had successfully consolidated control over Baghdad and the Iraqi state, the fragile self-governing Kurdish region would almost certainly have suffered. The Kurds fought ISIS fiercely because survival demanded it. Advertisement Advertisement Understanding that motivation is essential to understanding Kurdish politics more broadly. Kurdish forces are deeply capable and often reliable partners, but their primary loyalty is not to Iraq, Iran, or the United States. It is to the Kurdish nationan identity that transcends existing borders but has not yet been realized as an independent state. Thats because the Kurds political aspirations are clear. Kurdish leaders and Kurdish societies are primarily focused on protecting and expanding Kurdish autonomy, and ultimately on achieving the long-sought dream of Kurdish self-determination and an independent Kurdish state. That aspiration does not naturally translate into governing complex multiethnic states like Iraq or Iran. Share ANOTHER REASON THE KURDS are not the key to Irans unconditional surrender is that, taken as a whole, they are not one unified, organized, consolidated group or force. Americans often speak of the Kurds as though they represent a single cohesive political movement. In reality, Kurdish politics are highly decentralized, factionalized, and shaped by regional rivalries. Advertisement Advertisement The Kurds have been described as the worlds largest stateless nation, numbering roughly thirty to thirty-five million people. But that population is spread across several countries. Significant Kurdish populations live in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, each community shaped by different political systems and parties, unique personalities, security pressures, and historical experiences. These Kurdish populations share cultural ties and aspirations, but they are far from unified politically. Even in Iraqi Kurdistanthe most stable and autonomous Kurdish regionpolitical unity remains fragile. Two dominant political parties continue to shape the regions political landscape: the Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by the Barzani family, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, associated with the Talabani family. These organizations fought a Kurdish civil war in the 1990s and still maintain separate power bases and security structures in different parts of Iraqi Kurdistan. These kinds of connections sometimes produce cooperation, but often reflect competing agendas shaped by local realities. Kurdish politics, in other words, are not the unified national movement some Americans might imagine. This reality becomes especially important when Americans begin discussing Kurdish roles in the future of Iran. Working with the Kurds in northern Iraq remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my military career. Their soldiers were courageous, their officers thoughtful, and their leaders deeply committed to the welfare of their people. They were excellent partners, and they remain an important component of regional security. But the deeper lesson I learnedboth in the field and through further studyis that the Kurds are best understood not as an instrument for other countries strategic ambitions, but as a nation pursuing its own. Advertisement Advertisement While policymakers in Washington may occasionally imagine Kurdish fighters as the key to solving the Iranian problem, the truth is far more complicated. The Kurds are remarkable and useful allies, but they are not the solution the administration is looking for. Share The Brief Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, the alleged leader of a massive human smuggling ring, pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges including conspiracy and hostage-taking. The organization allegedly smuggled 20,000 people from Guatemala over 12 years, charging up to $18,000 per person and leading to a 2023 crash that killed seven. "Turko" faces a maximum sentence of life in prison at his October hearing, while several co-defendants await trial or remain at large as fugitives. LOS ANGELES - The leader of a prolific Los Angeles-based human smuggling network pleaded guilty in federal court Friday, admitting to a decade-long operation that transported approximately 20,000 individuals into the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement The organizations activities were linked to a tragic Oklahoma car crash that claimed the lives of seven immigrants, including three children. What we know Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, 52, known by the alias "Turko," entered his plea for conspiracy to bring aliens into the U.S. for financial gain and hostage-taking. Living in the Westlake district, Renoj-Matul managed a transnational criminal organization that charged between $15,000 and $18,000 per person. Prosecutors detailed a brutal operation where immigrants were held in "stash houses" in Los Angeles and Phoenix until fees were paid. Advertisement Advertisement SUGGESTED: 12 alleged 18th Street gang members arrested in LA on murder, drug charges In 2024, Renoj-Matul reportedly threatened to kill two hostages if their families did not settle their debts. Timeline November 2023: A vehicle operated by the smuggling group crashes in Elk City, Oklahoma, killing seven people, including a 4-year-old child. February 2025: Renoj-Matul and his "right-hand man," Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, are arrested in Los Angeles. March 6, 2026: Renoj-Matul pleads guilty in Los Angeles federal court. April 21, 2026: Scheduled trial for co-defendants Cristobal Mejia-Chaj and driver Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj. Advertisement Advertisement October 2, 2026: Sentencing date for Renoj-Matul. What they're saying According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the organization functioned for at least 12 years, using accomplices in Guatemala to solicit victims. Prosecutors described the 2023 Oklahoma accident as a direct result of the group's transport methods, noting that of the seven killed, "three were minors, including a 4-year-old child." SUGGESTED: Feds: 4 accused of smuggling 20K undocumented immigrants from Guatemala into the U.S. What's next Renoj-Matul remains in custody awaiting his October 2 sentencing, where he faces a maximum of life in federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Justice continues to search for Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, a "lieutenant" in the organization who is currently a fugitive. Co-defendants Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj are set to stand trial in downtown Los Angeles next month. The Source This report is based on official court filings and statements from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California following Friday's plea hearing. Search and recovery efforts continue Sunday around Union Lake west of Union City in Branch County after four people were killed and twelve others injured Friday as a series of destructive tornadoes swept across southwest Michigan. More: Michigans deadliest tornadoes since 2000 Union City and Edwardsburg hit hard by tornadoes Three victims were killed when a tornado struck near Union Lake, west of Union City, according to the Branch County Sheriffs Office. One victim, Penni Jo Guthrie, 65, of Union City was killed after the tornado destroyed her home on Union Lake. Twelve more were hurt in that same area, with three hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service confirmed on Saturday that an EF3 tornado with estimated winds of at least 150 miles per hour hit the Union Lake area on Friday afternoon. In neighboring Cass County, a fourth fatality, identified Saturday as a 12-year-old boy, was reported near Edwardsburg, where several others were injured near the Indiana state line. More: No tornado watch issued or sirens available for Union Lake before tornado Lonnie Fisher, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Northern Indiana, said the Union Lake area appears to have the most extensive damage, according to reports from emergency management officials and on social media. Advertisement Advertisement According to preliminary information from the National Weather Service, an EF2 tornado ripped through Three Rivers on Friday with estimated peak winds of at least 130 mph. He said Three Rivers also has a fair amount of damage. It's entirely possible, when they get on the ground and look at stuff closer, maybe Three Rivers has the most damage, he said, adding that its a much more populated area. Watch: Michigan tornadoes captured on video wreaking havoc Fisher said the Three Rivers tornado came into the city, but NWS officials believe the Union Lake tornado didnt enter Union City or only grazed it. The lake is just outside of Union City. Advertisement Advertisement Fisher said the path of damage was from west of Edwardsburg to Three Rivers to the Union City/Union Lake area. In between those three points, there wasnt a lot of damage, so its possible the tornado may have lifted or dissipated as it was moving along and then redeveloped. Fischer said National Weather Service survey teams differentiate damage from a tornado and damage from straight-line winds, which arent from a tornado. They determine the estimated intensity of the winds that caused the damage and come up with a tornado rating. If a tornado looks like its an EF4 or EF5, a special team is activated and makes a final determination on the rating, he said. He said the damage might have extended a bit to the northeast of the Union City/Union Lake area, and survey teams will be assessing that. Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service released preliminary reports on the surveys of the Union City area, Three Rivers and Clarendon Township tornadoes on Saturday. An EF0 tornado with peak winds of about 85 mph touched down just west of the intersection of P Drive South and 18 Mile in Clarendon Township. A report on Edwardsburg is expected later. Only a small portion of the possible track has been assessed, so no path length or length data, as well as a start or stop time, is available yet, the weather service said. Further details will be released as they become available. Widespread damage and power outages in southwest Michigan The storms cut a devastating path through Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties flattening buildings, toppling trees, and leaving thousands without electricity. Indiana Michigan Power reported roughly 5,500 outages, while Midwest Energy and Communications cited another 1,300 customers affected. Governor Whitmer declares emergency Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday morning that she has declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties and plans to tour the devastated areas later in the day. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Whitmer offered condolences to those affected and said the state is coordinating with emergency teams to deliver aid and resources. Our entire state is wrapping its arms around Three Rivers, Union City, Edwardsburg, and everywhere in between. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and the Michiganders who were injured, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center late Friday to coordinate a statewide response. Were ensuring local agencies get what they need as quickly as possible, she said in a post on X. Tornadoes caught on camera In Three Rivers, dramatic footage captured a twister ripping the roof off a Menards store and tearing apart a nearby Dollar Tree. In Union City, witnesses described hearing freighttrain noises as debris filled the air. It got really massive, really fast, said resident Lisa Piper, who watched the storm develop from her deck. Impact from severe weather By evening, the storm system was racing northeast at nearly 40 mph, triggering tornado warnings in mid-Michigan and alerts in Metro Detroit. The National Weather Service urged residents to remain alert for heavy rain and flooding, which continued into early Saturday morning. Ongoing recovery efforts and evaluation Crews have worked to clear debris and restore utilities as damage assessments began across southern Michigan. The NWS will continue surveying the affected areas to confirm the number and strength of tornadoes that touched down. Advertisement Advertisement Near Union Lake, Tim Miner, Branch County emergency management coordinator, said rescue efforts have concluded, and the operation is now classified as a recovery effort as there are no individuals who remain unaccounted for. Search-and-rescue efforts had utilized cadaver dogs, drones and multiple dive crews, Miner said. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: The latest on the deadly tornadoes that lashed Michigan. What we know Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) told Fox News he needs to spend some time with a fellow Democrat after hearing his talk about the southern border needing to be a giant welcome mat. Cuellar joined Kayleigh McEnany on Fox News Saturday in America following him being one of just four House Democrats to not vote for war powers resolution meant to limit President Donald Trumps authority on striking Iran. On top of Iran, Cuellar is also not a fan of some Democrats talk about the border. McEnany played a clip of Texas Senate Democratic nominee James Talarico discussing the southern border and arguing it needs to be a like a front porch with a giant welcome mat. Advertisement Advertisement Our southern border should be like our front porch. There should be a giant welcome mat out front and a lock on the door, Talarico said at a January event in Texas. Do you agree with that? McEnany asked after the clip. Cuellar responded: No, of course I dont and, again, I hope to spend some time with him and get him to change. You know, the situation at the border, and I live at the border, I dont just go visit the border, we want to see law and order at the border. We need to make sure we control our borders, but still be respectful of legal immigration. My parents were born in Mexico. My father became a legal resident and a naturalized citizen. He did it the right way like a lot of Americans did, but we cannot have open borders. Weve seen that under the Biden administration. It was a mistake and it will be a mistake to have open borders. Watch above via Fox News. The post Lawmaker Rebukes Fellow Democrats Welcome Mat Border Talk: Hope To Spend Some Time with Him and Get Him to Change first appeared on Mediaite. One of the Utah Legislatures primary tasks each year is, of course, to fund the states K-12 public schools. The majority of costs required to educate almost 650,000 Utah school kids comes from state taxpayer dollars. So obviously, its a weighty lift each session particularly during lean years. In finalizing this years 2026-2027 public education budget, Utah lawmakers seemed to be following a reallocation impulse that defined last years budget initiatives in the states higher education system. Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, Utahs eight degree granting institutions were required by the Legislature to reallocate 10% of their budget to instructional areas deemed to be of highest value to both students and Utahs economy. That meant more dollars were redirected to fields such as health care and AI. But to accommodate those reallocations, there were also cuts to programs and jobs. The What-to-fund/What-to-cut higher education decisions prompted mixed reviews. Now in 2026, lawmakers made funding decisions to build and sometimes burn in Utahs K-12 public schools. And, no surprise, some on the Hill were pleased with the final budget. Others, not so much. Budget bill sponsor: We are building futures Overall, K-12 public education in Utah will be receiving a pretty good raise in the upcoming fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature increased public education funding by 5.9% ($580-plus million) this year to help students succeed because education is essential to improving lives, developing a skilled workforce and fostering innovation, Rep. Stephen Whyte, R-Mapleton, reported to the Deseret News during the closing days of the 2026 session. The House Chair of the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Whyte co-sponsored both the public education base bill and the subsequent budget amendments bill approved during this years session. Utahs public education funding, Whyte added, will help prepare the rising generation to lead with knowledge, integrity and innovation. We are not just funding schools, we are building futures. Advertisement Advertisement Reductions found in the budget amendments bill, he added, amounted to less than 1%. These reductions are primarily affecting non-lapsing balances and moderate growing balances, along with some target adjustments to some select programs, said Whyte during his floor presentation to the House this week. A few of this years public education budget highlights: The foundational weighted pupil unit that per-pupil unit that determines the base cost to educate a Utah K-12 student was increased by 4.2%, equivalent to $191.4 million. An additional $14.3 million will go toward teacher supplies and materials. $16 million to support early literacy. $25 million for at-risk students including additional WPU funding for kids who come from economically disadvantaged families and those who are learning English. $35 million for Applied Professional Education Experience Centers. $13.9 million for various technology programs such as AP test prep. $5 million for Grow Your Own Special Educators to assist para-professionals to receive special education training. $2.5 million for reduced-priced school lunch. Advertisement Advertisement Even amid a tight budget year, legislators have remained committed to prioritizing public education, protecting critical programs and building on the significant investments already made in classrooms, teacher compensation and preparing Utahs rising generation for future success, said Whyte. Anxieties over program cuts, teacher raises During the Senate floor hearing discussing the public school budget, Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, lamented program cuts that she said are really concerning to our school districts. She pointed to an $18.3 million cut to the Digital Teaching and Learning Program thats designed, in part, to enhance student access to technology. Thats a program supported by Utah school districts, said Riebe, before adding I wish that we could start listening to the things that our school districts wanted instead of telling them what they needed. Advertisement Advertisement Responding to Riebes objection, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, noted that the Digital Training and Learning Program was initiated about a decade ago. It was a very important program at that time because schools, working in the model they had, did not have excess funding for integration of technology. But in the years since, he said, thats no longer an issue. Almost all Utah students have access to needed devices. That program served its purpose well it integrated technology into schools, said Fillmore. But in 2026, he added, the program no longer requires a dedicated funding stream because schools are prioritizing technological resources in their budgets. If we can take that funding and reprioritize it in ways that schools are asking for, that is a win for schools and for students. Advertisement Advertisement Both Riebe and some of her Democratic colleagues also voiced concerns that state-awarded educator annual raises would reportedly be dipping from 4% to 3%. Such modifications, said Sen. Karen Kwan, D-Taylorsville, would bring in some economic instability (because) teachers may not understand, from year-to-year, what their increase might be. Budget bill co-sponsor Sen. Heidi Balderree, R-Saratoga Springs, acknowledged that making cuts is difficult but noted that Utah educators are still receiving an increase. We have the highest starting salary for a teacher range in our region, and Im proud of that, she said. Were not going backwards. Authorities searched through rubble and debris in southern Michigan on Saturday after at least six people were killed in Michigan and Oklahoma as powerful storms produced at least three tornadoes that reduced homes to rubble, sent parts of roofs flying into the air and left a trail of debris hanging from power lines. The Michigan storms knocked down trees as tornado warnings were issued across the southern part of the state. The National Weather Service confirmed Saturday that an EF-2 tornado touched down near Three Rivers, Michigan, and an EF-3 tornado tore through Union City, Michigan. An EF-0 tornado also swept through Clarendon Township in Calhoun County. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale is used to classify the strength of a tornado. It can range from EF-0 to EF-5. Advertisement Advertisement "We look out the window and saw the tornado go right down the strip and that's where my daughter is, where my parents, where I live down the road," a Three Rivers resident told CBS Saturday Morning. "I was just very grateful that God protected my daughter and my mom and sister and my family." Damage is seen at Menard's store after a severe storm in Three Rivers, Michigan, Friday, March 6, 2026. / Credit: Devin Anderson-Torrez / AP In the Union Lake area of Branch County, about two hours outside Detroit, there were three reported deaths and about a dozen injuries, according to the Branch County Sheriff's Office. First responders from multiple agencies in the Union Lake area near Union City looked for more possible victims and worked to clear roads, authorities said. Photos and videos posted on social media showed flattened homes and downed trees in a lakeside neighborhood. About 50 miles southwest of Union Lake, a 12-year-old boy died and several other people were injured during a possible tornado, the Cass County Sheriff's Office said. Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach said in a Facebook post that the parents of the boy, identified as Silas Anderson, found him injured and provided first aid, but he later died at a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Cass County Emergency Manager Manny DeLaRosa said in a statement that multiple large structures, including homes and pole barns, sustained damage ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction. Severe thunderstorms that began in northern Indiana appeared to spawn multiple tornadoes in southern Michigan the previous day, said meteorologist Lonnie Fisher of the National Weather Service, which sent teams to the region to evaluate the damage and confirm tornadoes. "Most likely there were three distinct tornadoes, but we won't know 100% for sure until they finish the survey," Fisher said, adding that the storms intensified rapidly in southern Michigan after hitting northern Indiana. Part of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Union City was damaged, although its nearly 150-year-old grand piano was spared, it said in a post on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement The combination of a weather system that pulled moisture out of the Gulf of Mexico and a warm front that moved north created the right conditions for a tornado in a state where they're relatively rare, according to David Roth, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. The system encountered much cooler air in the Great Lakes area. Michigan gets an average of 15 tornadoes a year, which is much less than the 155 for Texas and 96 for Kansas, he said. Damage is seen after a severe storm in Three Rivers, Mich., Friday, March 6, 2026. / Credit: Devin Anderson-Torrez / AP Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the state's Emergency Operations Center Friday "to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather," she said in a statement. In the Edwardsburg area, near the Indiana border, officials reported downed trees and several homes that had been heavily damaged, and warned residents to avoid the area. Advertisement Advertisement In St. Joseph County, about 34 miles northeast of Edwardsburg, the sheriff's office told residents to "seek shelter immediately" following reports of an unconfirmed tornado, a severe thunderstorm watch and possible winds of more than 60 mph. "Citizens should anticipate power outages, closed roadways and/or neighborhoods and cellular/internet interruptions," the office said on Facebook. Damage is seen at a Menard's store after a severe storm in Three Rivers, Mich., Friday, March 6, 2026. / Credit: Devin Anderson-Torrez / MLive / AP (Devin Anderson-Torrez / AP) Oklahoma also sees possible tornado activity, at least 2 killed In Beggs, about 30 miles south of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a tornado was blamed for the deaths of two people in a house on Friday, the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office said. Two others were taken to a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement The tornado cut a roughly 4-mile path of damage in Okmulgee County, including Beggs, said Jeff Moore, the county's emergency manager. Large trees toppled and power outages were reported. "We're just getting everywhere as fast as we can, clearing roads as fast we can," Moore said. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt indicated in a social media post that both Beggs and Tulsa had been hit by tornadoes. In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday, a first responder drove straight at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground. That storm, among the first outbreaks of severe weather on the verge of the spring storm season, was filmed by a camera mounted on the deputy's car. This image, taken from video provided by the Fairview, Okla., Emergency Management, shows a severe weather system west of Fairview, Okla., late Thursday, March 5, 2026. / Credit: Danny Giager / AP Nearby, a 47-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter from Fairview were found dead in a vehicle near an intersection of a highway and a county road at about 10 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. The crash "appears to be tornado related," Sarah Stewart, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement "Severe weather struck Major County last night and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and daughter," Stitt said in a statement Friday. "I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms." The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, planned to send out a damage survey crew Friday to see whether Thursday night's storms were confirmed tornadoes, meteorologist Ryan Bunker said. "As of right now, we're still investigating that." Trump voter whose son was killed by ICE is calling for an end to "abuse and impunity" Doctor adopts boy who came to surgery alone, then finds homes for his 5 siblings Russia helping Iran identify U.S. targets, sources say Lev Parnas, a former Rudy Giuliani associate and ally of President Trump, announced this week hes running as a Democrat in a House race in Florida. Parnas launched his candidacy for GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazars seat in a Substack post on Wednesday. I am running because I know the system, Donald Trumps system, from the inside. Because remember, I helped build MAGA, Parnas said in a video accompanying the post. Advertisement Advertisement He was convicted and sentenced to 20 months in prison for violating campaign finance rules in 2019 for funneling Russian donations into U.S. political campaigns. Parnas, who was born in Ukraine and is a naturalized American citizen, also helped Trump and Giuliani in their search for damaging information in Ukraine about former President Bidens son Hunter Biden. Parnas has become an outspoken critic of the Trump administration in recent years, publishing a book about his time in the presidents orbit and condemning many of the second administrations policies in posts on his Substack page. In his announcement on Wednesday, Parnas cited his immigrant background, saying he grew up understanding that freedom, democracy, and opportunity are not guaranteed they must be protected. Advertisement Advertisement Over the past several years, I have seen firsthand what happens when corruption, extremism, and political cowardice take hold of our government, he continued. And I refuse to sit on the sidelines any longer. Parnas will go up against Salazar in November to compete for Floridas 27th District, which encompasses the entirety of Miami-Dade County. The three-term congresswoman is considered a more moderate Republican in the House, siding with Democrats on ObamaCare subsidies and criticizing some of the Trump administrations immigration policies. Floridas 27th District deserves leadership that is honest, fearless, and willing to stand up for the people not special interests, not political games, and not authoritarian politics, Parnas wrote. We need leaders who will defend democracy, protect families, support immigrants who built this country, and stand up for freedom here at home and abroad. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Editors note: A day after this story was published, The Florida Bar said in a statement that it erroneously said Lindsey Halligan is under investigation. The bar says there is no such pending investigation against Halligan. Read more here. Lindsey Halligan, the ex-U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia who was hand-picked by President Trump to prosecute his political adversaries, is under investigation by Floridas bar, a letter sent by the organization and obtained by The Hill shows. The letter was sent last month to the executive director of Campaign for Accountability, a watchdog group that filed complaints against Halligan in Florida and Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement We are aware of these developments and have been monitoring them closely, bar counsel Carlos Leon wrote in the Feb. 4 letter. We already have an investigation pending. Halligan, who left the U.S. attorneys office in January, appeared to be copied on the letter. She did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. A spokesperson for The Florida Bar said it does not comment on active cases. The investigation could eventually lead to disbarment after a process that can take years to complete. The former top federal prosecutor secured indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) after her predecessor was pushed out after refusing to pursue charges against the two Trump foes. Advertisement Advertisement However, a federal judge found Halligan was unlawfully serving as U.S. attorney a ruling that resulted in the dismissals of both prosecutions. The Justice Department has appealed. The New York Times first reported the Florida bars probe into Halligans conduct. Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint against Halligan in November for potential violations of Virginias rules of professional conduct and the rules that regulate Floridas bar while prosecuting Comey and James. A federal magistrate judge in November said the record in Comeys case showed a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps, including that Halligan made at least two fundamental misstatements of the law to grand jurors. Advertisement Advertisement In February, the organization renewed its requests and suggested Halligans conduct represented a serious breach of her ethical obligations as a lawyer, asking both Virginia and Floridas bars to probe the matter. Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of Campaign for Accountability, told The Hill that the organization has no planned further actions at this time but hopes the Florida bar takes its duties seriously and carries out a thorough investigation. Floridas bar may open investigations into lawyers conduct but it does not give the final say. If the organization determines that a lawyers conduct would constitute a bar rule violation warranting discipline, its recommendations are forwarded to a grievance committee that decides guilt. Then, that recommendation is sent to Florida courts to hold a trial, make final recommendations and enforce any discipline. Advertisement Advertisement The news of The Florida Bars probe into Halligan comes after the Justice Department posted a notice in the Federal Register seeking to intervene in state bars disciplinary investigations. That would include the authority to review the allegations first and pause any probe until DOJs review is complete. However, the proposed rule would amount to a request for state bar authorities to suspend their investigations until the Justice Department completes its own probe of its employees conduct. The state bars would not be mandated to halt their own reviews. The Justice Department declined to comment. This story was updated at 5:11 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement 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. The bodies of the six U.S. service members who were killed during an Iranian drone strike at a command center returned to the United States on March 7 through Dover Air Force Base. They are the first military members killed since President Donald Trump ordered an attack on Iran on Feb. 28 alongside Israel, leading to Iran launching missiles and drones in nearby countries. A week into the military strikes from the United States and Israel, more than a thousand people have been killed, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials have identified the troops killed in the March 1 drone strike in Kuwait as Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; 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. From left; Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, five U.S. Army Reserve soldiers supporting Operation Epic Fury who were killed on March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing on March 4 that the president intended to attend the dignified transfer of the six service members killed. A dignified transfer is a military procedure for returning the remains of U.S. service members killed in the line of duty to the U.S. The remains are then transferred to DAFBs mortuary facility, the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, for positive identification by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and preparation for their final resting place. Advertisement Advertisement Behind the scenes at Dover air base: Where the casualties of America's wars come home Dignified transfers of military members have been occurring at DAFB since its establishment in 1948. The Dover base is unique because it has hosted the only port mortuary in the United States since 2001. President Donald Trump is greeted as he arrives for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover on March 7, 2026. Read about the dignified transfer. President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover on March 7, 2026. President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrive for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover on March 7, 2026. Trump visits Dover air base for dignified transfer of 6 US soldiers 1 of 3 President Donald Trump is greeted as he arrives for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover on March 7, 2026. Read about the dignified transfer. Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar attends dignified transfer U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was in attendance for the dignified transfer of the six U.S. service members killed during an Iranian drone strike March 1. Of the six soldiers killed was Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The Minnesota resident joined the National Guard in 2005 as an automated logistics specialist overseeing troop supply chains and transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006. Amor's service saw her deploy to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019, USA TODAY reported. Advertisement Advertisement In her latest deployment to Kuwait, Amor was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. Following the transfer, Klobuchar said on X that it was an honor to pay Amor tribute alongside her family. "She was the best of America and the best of Minnesota and we will always remember her as the incredible soldier, wife, and mother she was," Klobuchar wrote. Sophia Voight 4:30 p.m. Dignified transfer of six Americans killed in Iran war takes place in Dover At the start of the dignified transfer that took place around 3 p.m., President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth followed Army leaders to the bottom of the cargo plane ramp, facing the transfer cases in the cargo plane and joined in prayer. They then went to where the rest of the dignitaries were standing. Advertisement Advertisement As the dignitaries saluted or put their hands on their heart, "carry teams" of seven Army soldiers brought each transfer case, draped in the American flag, one at a time to the two transfer vans. The carry teams were dressed in camouflage uniforms with black berets and white gloves. The carry teams brought the transfer cases from the cargo plane ramp past the dignitaries on one side and the families of the fallen soldiers on the other side and into the transfer vans. After the cases were placed in the vans, the soldiers saluted as dignitaries saluted or put their hands on their heart. Then the vans drove away, taking the fallen soldiers to the mortuary. Advertisement Advertisement Ben Mace 4 p.m. Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley attends transfer of soldiers killed in Iran war Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley was in attendance for the dignified transfer at DAFB for the six service members killed in the first days of the Iran war. First lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance were also in attendance. At the transfer, Donald Trump wore a red tie and a white baseball hat with "USA" in gold letters, while Melania Trump was dressed in all black. Ben Mace 3:50 p.m. U.S. senators, governors join dignified transfer A number of U.S. senators and governors were in attendance for the dignified transfer in Dover. Among those who attended were first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Department of National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, USA TODAY reported. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also attended the transfer. Of the service members killed, two Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien and Sgt. Declan J. Coady were from Iowa. U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska along with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen were in attendance to show support for Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens of Bellevue, Nebraska. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined the transfer for the fallen Winter Haven, Florida, service member Capt. Cody A. Khork. Sophia Voight 3:30 p.m. President Trump to meet with soldiers' families The presidential motorcade is pulling away from Air Force One and heading toward the terminal at DAFB where President Trump is scheduled to meet the families of the soldiers' who were killed during an Iranian drone strike on March 1. Advertisement Advertisement Ben Mace 1:20 p.m. Air Force One lands at Dover Air Force Base Air Force One landed at DAFB around 1 p.m. March 7 for the dignified transfer of the six service members killed in Kuwait. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will join the transfer scheduled for 2 p.m. Ben Mace 1 p.m. Vice President JD Vance arrives in Dover The vice president's plane has arrived at DAFB for the dignified transfer of the six service members killed in Kuwait. Upon arrival, JD Vance could be seen stepping out of his plane and entering a black SUV. Ben Mace 1 p.m. A line of SUVs arrive at Dover Air Force Base A line of black SUVs, some with American flags on each side of the hood, an ambulance and three SUVs marked "police" have entered the DAFB terminal. Advertisement Advertisement Air Force One hasn't landed in Dover yet. Earlier in the day, Trump attended the inaugural Shield of the Americas summit at his golf club in Doral, Florida. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the "Shield of the Americas" Summit in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque The gathering brought together leaders of 11 Latin American countries to address cartels and drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Trump appointed Kristi Noem to serve as his "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas" after she was ousted from the Department of Homeland Security March 5. Ben Mace, Sophia Voight, 12:30 p.m. Official aircraft arrives at Dover Air Force Base An aircraft with "United States of America" across it has arrived at Dover AFB for the dignified transfer. It is unclear whether the president and first lady have arrived in Dover yet. Advertisement Advertisement Ben Mace 11:40 a.m. President Trump, first lady to join dignified transfer President Trump's public schedule shows he and first lady Melania Trump will join the dignified transfer of the six U.S. service members who were killed during an Iranian drone strike. The transfer is expected to take place at 1:30 p.m. March 7 at the Dover Air Force Base. Sophia Voight 11 a.m. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Trump, Vance and Hegseth attend return of 6 fallen soldiers in Delaware PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The long-awaited purchase of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital has finally crossed the finish line. Rhode Island leaders held a news conference Friday afternoon to mark the sale of the two hospitals to Centurion Foundation, a Georgia-based nonprofit. This was an all-in effort by everyone in the community, and I want to make sure that we continue to recognize everyone whos made this happen and why we made this happen, Gov. Dan McKee said. We made this happen because one, the health care that these two hospitals provide are needed in our community. And two, we want to make sure we keep people working here to provide that health care. Advertisement Advertisement The future of the two hospitals has long been uncertain. Centurion had been trying to buy them for years, but securing enough funding proved to be a challenge. The previous owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, filed for bankruptcy in January 2025. Last week, Centurion President and CEO Ben Mingle announced the nonprofit signed bond purchase contracts with investors that provided them with enough money$101 millionto take over the hospitals. Today is a day of celebration. We worked on this for over four and a half years, Mingle said Friday. RELATED: Nonprofit prepares to close on purchase of Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals Advertisement Advertisement Fatima and Roger Williams will operate under CharterCARE Health of Rhode Island, a newly created nonprofit organization. Mingle will chair its board of directors. He said completing this deal was probably one of the hardest things weve ever done. My wife is a 20-year veteran of the health care industry, Mingle said. We care very much about making sure health care in this country is sustainable and cost-effective. We pushed this further than anybody probably ever thought possible, but we were committed to seeing this through, he added. McKee in mid-February signed off on setting aside $18 million from the states rainy day fund to backstop the sale at Centurions request. Advertisement Advertisement McKee, Neronha, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson said they agreed to create the supplemental reserve fund since Roger Williams and Fatima are crucially important to maintaining stability within Rhode Islands health care system. The money will be available to repay investors who finance the deal if Centurion is unable to make its debt payments down the road, officials said. The two hospitals operate more than 500 of Rhode Islands licensed hospital beds and employ about 2,400 workers. Among them is United Nurses & Allied Professionals (UNAP) President Lynn Blais, whos been a registered nurse within the system for 42 years. She said its huge and so important that now shell likely be able to finish her career in the place where it started when she was a candy striper in the halls of Roger Williams Medical Center at the age of 12 or 13. Advertisement Advertisement Im thrilled that were out of the bankruptcy court in Texas. Im thrilled beyond belief that weve got the corporate greed of for-profit health care out of our hospitals, she said, thanking those who moved mountains to get this deal done. Finally, I see the true heroes in this success of the closing are the staff members who have kept these doors open over the last several years, providing exceptional care during extremely stressful times, Blais added. Weve waited a long time for this day to come. We look forward to moving forward with the hopes that the hospital administrators acknowledge the commitment, the dedication of their staff, as well as be able to attract new staff to continue to have these hospitals grow and be an intricate part in this community. Watch the full announcement below. 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. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Watch Now: Livestreaming 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. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday hailed the new facility dedicated to UAVs and robotics, inaugurated by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, stating that it will strengthen the defence sector. "Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited has inaugurated a new facility dedicated to UAVs and robotics, marking India's first deep-tech industry in this field. This initiative is expected to greatly strengthen our defence capabilities, particularly in drone-based warfare and advanced robotics designed for extreme conditions. It is truly a milestone in the defence and aerospace sector, contributing to national security and self-sustainability," he stated during the Bhoomipujan of Robotics and UAV Facility of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited here. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was also present at the Bhoomipujan ceremony. Solar Group Chairman Satyanarayan Nuwal said that the new facility will focus on the manufacturing of UAVs, with a capacity of 10,000 units per annum, ranging from 15 km to 1,000 km, something India will need in the future. "In the future, India will require long-range missile UAVs and robotics. We already have a missiles and rockets manufacturing facility, but here we are focusing on UAVs, with a capacity of 10,000 units per annum, ranging from 15 km to 1,000 km in this facility. Robotics will play a vital role in defence, and we have estimated the production of around 1,000 robots specifically for the defence sector," he stated. Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited announced an investment of over Rs 12,800 crore in projects related to the manufacturing of robots, UAVs of different sizes and types, along with long-range missiles, today. Earlier, Nuwal said that, looking at the warfare around the world, his company has decided to make investments in deep tech projects. "In this facility in Nagpur, we want to create capacity to produce 10,000 drones of different sizes and types as per requirements every year, along with 1,000 robots," Nuwal told ANI in an interaction. He said the investment of Rs. 12,800 crore would be made in the next three to four years, even though the investment is to be made in the next 10 years as part of the Maharashtra government's Mega Project and Thrust policy. He stated that the first robot prototype is likely to be produced within one year. Solar officials said the entry of the group in game changing field of Deep Tech innovation will enhance the scope of our existing defence manufacturing capabilities and also contribute hugely towards Civilian, Industrial and Dual-use production. Solar said the factory is envisioned to be India's first AI-Powered Industry 5.0 manufacturing ecosystem, combining advanced robotics, intelligent automation, and the principles of human-centred, sustainable and responsible manufacturing practices. Specifically focused on designing, developing, and manufacturing several emerging and strategic products, electronic components and Assemblies, in the first phase, the following key product areas will be focused on forcommercial and strategic defence applications: Advanced AI-Powered UAVs, including the production of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones. (ANI) ELKHART Sam Tsiumas, the owner of Callahans Restaurant, has closed the beloved family-owned restaurant after 42 years of serving the community. The restaurants last day was Sunday, and people from all around the community came to support the restaurant after the announcement was posted on Feb. 16. Generations of customers have come through its doors and many of them said they did not know where they would go to hang out after it closes. The restaurant, at 2917 Cassopolis St., was styled as a New York diner that remained open for 24 hours every day for years, until the COVID-19 pandemic. It was known for its quality food, service and as a place to come hang out, customers said. Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant was named after actor Clint Eastwoods character, Harry Callahan, from the movie, Dirty Harry, Tsiumas said. People liked that it was an Irish name for a restaurant but a Greek man who owned it, he said. Tsiumas was born and raised in Anatoliki Fraggista-Karpenisi, Greece. He is the oldest of four children, growing up with two parents, a brother and two sisters. He worked on the family farm by the time he was 10, herding and taking care of animals, he said. The village he grew up in was deep in the mountains in Central Greece where they had no cars, said Elaine Tsiumas Kaznessis, Tsiumas oldest daughter. He left everything behind in Greece to immigrate to the United States when he was 16. He had no family in the states, except for a couple first cousins, he said. He arrived in Chicago, where he started working in Greek restaurants. Advertisement Advertisement It was in Chicago that he met his wife, Dora, and they quickly got married. Dora Tsiumas was a refugee from Cyprus, which was invaded by Turkey in 1974. My mothers home was taken and so her family all came to the states as refugees, Tsiumas Kaznessis said. And so now, shes working at a restaurant in Chicago, in a Greek restaurant, and so is my dad. Hes in the back, busing tables, cleaning dishes and then he started cooking. So, hes really started from the lowest level on the totem pole in the restaurant business from washing dishes. Tsiumas said he was hosted by his first cousin, a chef, in the United States and his cousin took him under his wing, teaching him how to cook. He said learning how to cook was tough because he was shown what to do once and then he had to know it. He was also influenced by a community of Greek friends in Chicago, Tsiumas Kaznessis said. He became a manager of a restaurant at 19. His boss wanted him to manage a restaurant, but he wanted to go back to the kitchen to cook, he said. His boss saw something in him, he said. Advertisement Advertisement He ended up running a restaurant in Chicago, Crawford Square, named after the street it was on. He left Crawford Square to come to Sturgis, Michigan, where a Greek friend was painting bridges. Tsiumas said his Greek friend convinced him to come to Sturgis to start a restaurant, even though he did not want to leave Chicago. Tsiumas said while he was visiting Elkhart, he stopped by Perkins restaurant, which was formerly located across the street from Callahans on Cassopolis Street. He said he noticed the building across the street, where Callahans was located, was closed and up for lease. The landlord of the building told Tsiumas he could have the building, even though they already had a lease in Sturgis. I believe in your hands, the landlord said to Tsiumas. Tsiumas found three friends to run the restaurant in Sturgis, so he could start the restaurant in Elkhart. Advertisement Advertisement The customers came flocking to the restaurant in Sturgis when it opened, but no one came to Callahans when it first opened, he said. He said it took some time before people started coming to Callahans because there was a forest around Cassopolis Street and only three restaurants on the street when it first started. When Callahans was under construction, he was sleeping on the floor in the restaurant and would go to the gas station nearby to rinse off and wash his face, Tsiumas Kaznessis said. He said the business started having more customers a month after it opened. There were three partners in the business: Tsiumas, his wife and a friend named Bill Vardalos. He opened it 24 hours, so hes working with my mom first and second shift, Tsiumas Kaznessis said. And then Bills working through the night, the third shift, so thats how they split the management. Callahans started the business in 1984 with 35 employees, he said. Peggy Flora was one of the first employees. Her daughter, Anita, worked at Callahans a couple months before and Dora Tsiumas convinced Flora to join the team. Advertisement Advertisement Flora, 74, worked at Callahans as a waitress and hostess for about 40 years. She said she retired three years ago and she misses it. Callahans employees would look out for each other and were like family, she said. I gave a lot of my life to this place, Flora said. I worked 10 to 12 hour days, but I liked it and they were always good to me. Callahans got customers from all over the country and from different states, Flora said. Truck drivers and railroad workers would come in from everywhere, she said. Tsiumas said he would hear truck drivers call in on their radios saying they were coming to Callahans. Rick Glaser, a longtime customer and truck driver, said he would come into Callahans in the middle of night or during the day with truck driver friends. He said he also came in a lot with his wife. Advertisement Advertisement I remember just some of the nights when it was snowing really hard and I just got off a 12-hour day and even if it was 3 oclock in the morning, Id come here to relax and just have a good dinner or an early breakfast or whatever, Glaser said. And just meeting up with some of my fellow truck drivers. Over the years, Callahans developed a family atmosphere among employees. Employees became loyal to Tsiumas and many of them worked for him for many years. Katie Taylor, a longtime hostess at Callahans, said Tsiumas is the reason she worked one day a week instead of quitting a long time ago. She said he is like a father figure to many of the employees. I wanted to stay for him, Taylor said. Nobody else. Nothing else. No other reason, just because hes been loyal to me, so I want to be loyal to him. Advertisement Advertisement Dave Hamilton, 83, a longtime customer, said he is not sure where to go to hang out anymore because there are not many local restaurants open late anymore. He said he has been coming to the restaurant for the last 12 to 13 years and he sits at the counter usually. Hamilton said he has built acquaintances with many people over the years. He said the waitresses and customers are friendly. Im single, Hamilton said. Being in a house all day by yourself, it dont work. You gotta have some outside human interaction and you get that here. Whenever there was an issue a customer had with his food or service, Tsiumas took it personally and wanted to make it right, his oldest daughter said. Advertisement Advertisement The menu items unique to the restaurant were the rice pudding and the double eggs, Tsiumas Kaznessis said. The double eggs deal is available at Tsiumas other restaurant, Lux Cafe in Goshen. Hamilton said the prices are low too. Tsiumas Kaznessis said she told her father it was okay if they had to raise the prices, but he never did. It was tough, Tsiumas said. I didnt make much money, but I tried to keep it [low] for the customers. A lot of people say the prices were very good and the food was quality and quantity. Tsiumas is semi-retiring from the restaurant business, he said. He said he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren and travel to Greece more often. Advertisement Advertisement Tsiumas still owns Lux Cafe, located at 2012 Lincolnway E. in Goshen, so some of the same dishes people like are there. His youngest daughter, Miranda Lambrou, and her family who live in Elkhart are in the restaurant business. She and her family own Big City Pizza located at 3251 Northview Dr. in Elkhart. Lambrou said she and her family plan to continue the legacy of Callahans by moving it to a new location in Elkhart. She said with the help of loyal employees, they remain committed to the quality, welcoming service and atmosphere that the city has come to know and love. This isnt goodbye, Lambrou said. Hope to see you soon. More information about the new location of Callahans is coming soon, Lambrou said. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Judge Sheva Sims has been suspended without pay for nine months by the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Judge Sims was accused of acting in an impatient and condescending manner towards a litigant, misusing a court-owned vehicle, improperly advocating for a party during an eviction proceeding, and engaging in a pattern of failing to follow the law. The Court rejected a recommendation from the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana that Judge Sims be suspended for a full year. Advertisement Advertisement In December 2011, Judge Sims was appointed to the Shreveport City Court. Anonymous complaints, complaints filed by litigants, and complaints filed by retired Justice E. Joseph Bleich in his capacity as a supernumerary judge pro tempore of Shreveport City Court necessitated an investigation. Condescending manner In the eviction hearing, Monarch Realty & Management v. Jermaine ONeal, Megan Everett appeared in her capacity as the property manager for Monarch Realty. Everett stated that ONeal was late paying rent, had an unauthorized pet, and owed court fines. Judge Sims interrupted for an explanation of what the court fines entailed. Everett explained that the fines were imposed by the Shreveport Environmental Court. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Sims repeatedly distinguished that the Shreveport Environmental Court and the Shreveport City Court are not the same. Everett also explained that a notice to vacate was given despite the lease agreement containing a waiver provision. Judge Sims also interrupted to point out that the notice to vacate did not list each alleged violation. As Everett was trying to explain that a second page was stapled to the notice, Judge Sims interrupted again, eventually remarking, You making this longer than it needs to be. Everybody here has somewhere to go. As a matter of fact, have a seat. Let me take the next case. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Sims proceeded to hear approximately 20 other cases before calling the ONeal case back up and resuming her questioning. To the question of whether the issues on the property that led to the Shreveport Environmental Court fines had been resolved, Everett said she did not attend the proceeding because she was in City Court for an eviction. Upon further questioning, Everett confirmed that she did not attend Environment Court because she was unaware she needed to be there instead of City Court. Judge Sims denied the eviction. As Everett was leaving, ONeal asked Judge Sims if he needed to pay the outstanding rent for May. Judge Sims called for Everett to return. When Everett responded that ONeal could still pay, Judge Sims told him, She said shell accept it. Give it to her now. Everett told Judge Sims that she could not receive rent outside of the office, per company policy. Judge Sims interrupted and said, The order of the court is for him to tender it to you now. Everett asked if the payment included late fees, and Judge Sims said, I dont know. Im not looking at it, and told Everett to take the money and figure that out later. Misuse of Court Vehicle Shreveport City Court purchased a vehicle for court personnel. While there was no written policy on its use, there was a general understanding that it was not meant for personal use. The vehicle was kept in a parking spot at the courthouse, and it was customary for a judge or employee to retrieve the key and sign a log stating who checked out the vehicle, the time of checkout, where it was driven, and the time of return. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Sims used the vehicle for weeks while her own vehicle was being repaired, parking it in her space at the courthouse and keeping it at her home overnight and on weekends. On two occasions, officers with the Shreveport City Marshals Office used Fuelman cards to fill the vehicle for Judge Sims when the assigned card could not be located. 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. The former mayor of a Louisiana city has been convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy during a party at her house while she was still in office. Misty Roberts, 43, faces sentences of up to 10 and seven years in prison after a jury in the municipality of DeRidder on Tuesday found her guilty of two felonies: carnal knowledge of a juvenile or statutory rape as well as indecent behavior with a minor. Jurors deliberated less than an hour at the conclusion of a seven-day trial during which they heard testimony about how she sexually assaulted an underage boy while both had been drinking alcohol heavily during a July 2024 pool party at her home well into her second term as DeRidders top elected official. Advertisement Advertisement On the final day of the trial, the victim testified that despite imbibing so much he vomited Roberts flirted with him by the pool and began kissing him, the local news outlet KPLC recounted. The boy, who at the time was too young to be able to legally consent to sex with Roberts, testified that she eventually took him upstairs and raped him, KPLC added. Robertss two children and nephew testified that they saw her and the victim together, though they didnt witness the rape. The victim described hearing Roberts argue with her son and yell: Go fight your friend hes the one who did it, KPLC noted. A driver for the delivery service DoorDash testified that he brought the emergency contraceptive Plan B to Robertss home afterward. Testimony established that Roberts also instructed her children and nephew to lie about what they saw, even texting one of them: Lie til you die. Robertss ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, testified that she confessed directly to him that she had committed the crime and had been caught by their children. Advertisement Advertisement A criminal complaint that was later filed as part of the case and reported by the Daily Mail purportedly cited text messages from Roberts to Clanton that read: I fucked up. And I respect you enough to tell you. KPLC reported that another text from Roberts to Clanton mentioned during the trial said: I cant keep hurting others, friends and family. Lord knows Ive done enough. Her sentencing is tentatively scheduled for 17 April. Roberts resigned as DeRidders mayor one day after authorities began investigating a complaint that she had raped a minor. Her resignation letter omitted any mention of that investigation. Advertisement Advertisement She later posted a $75,000 bond to await her trial from out of custody. Roberts was allowed to remain out on that bond pending her sentencing. Attorneys for Roberts, Adam Johnson and Todd Clemons, said in a statement that they respected the jurys decision but were disappointed. We ask the public to remember that, behind every headline, theres a real person and family living through it, they added. In October, in an unrelated case, her 40-year-old brother, Brandon Lee Roberts, pleaded guilty to raping two people: an underage girl and a young woman. He subsequently received a 42-year prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Misty Roberts in 2018 made history by becoming the first woman ever elected as mayor of DeRidder. She won a second four-year term in 2022. She had spoken publicly in May 2024 to the Louisiana news outlet Best of SWLA about enduring a rough few years, in part because of two hurricanes that affected her community, a divorce and the death of someone close to her. Ive never been able to just be mayor, Roberts was quoted as saying. Roberts, who did not list a political party affiliation, also told the outlet she aspired to run for a third term in a mayoral primary election to be held in May. DeRidder is home to about 10,000 people just east of Louisianas border with Texas. After Robertss resignation, the city elected its first Black mayor, Michael D Harris. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at ascasupport.org. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International The Gonzales Police Department requested Louisiana State Police to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred about 11 p.m. March 5. According to an LSP news release, one person was wounded and transported to a hospital with minor injuries. A Louisiana State Police logo is shown on the side of an LSP vehicle Nov. 9, 2022 in Ascension Parish. The incident occurred on South John Avenue south of West Orice Roth Road, per the release. No officers were injured and LSP will release further information when it becomes available, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information, photos or video is urged to share with detectives. Citizens can anonymously report information through the LSP online reporting system or by calling 1-800-434-8007. Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana. Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief. This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Louisiana State Police investigate shooting involving Gonzales officer After a yearslong series of setbacks, NASAs Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, or ESCAPADE, mission has finally begun its roundabout journey to Mars. Launched on Nov. 13, 2025, aboard Blue Origins New Glenn rocket, ESCAPADEs twin probes will map the planets magnetic field and study how the solar wind the stream of charged particles released from the Sun has stripped away the Martian atmosphere over billions of years. When I was a doctoral student, I helped develop the VISIONS camera systems onboard each of ESCAPADEs spacecraft, so I was especially excited to see the successful launch. Advertisement Advertisement But this low-cost mission is still only getting started, and its taking bigger risks than typical big-ticket NASA missions. ESCAPADE is part of NASAs Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration, or SIMPLEx, program that funds lowcost, higherrisk projects. Of the five SIMPLEx missions selected so far, three have failed after launch due to equipment problems that might have been caught in more traditional, tightly managed programs. A fourth sits in indefinite storage. ESCAPADE will not begin returning science data for about 30 months, and the programs history suggests the odds are not entirely in its favor. Nonetheless, the calculus goes that if enough of these missions are successful, NASA can achieve valuable science at a reduced cost even with some losses along the way. First light taken Nov. 21, 2025, from the VISIONS camera aboard Gold, one of NASAs ESCAPADE spacecraft, showing the side of a solar panel. The left image is the visible-light camera, sensitive enough to image Mars green aurora. The right image is from an infrared camera and shows temperature differences, from warmer (yellow and orange) to cooler (purple and black), that can distinguish geologic features on Mars. NASA/UCB-SSL/RL/NAU-Radiant/Lucint Lower cost, higher risk NASA classifies payloads on a fourtier risk scale, from A to D. Advertisement Advertisement Class A missions are the most expensive and highest priority, like the James Webb Space Telescope, Europa Clipper and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. They use thoroughly proven hardware and undergo exhaustive testing. ESCAPADE is at the other end. Its a class D mission, defined as having high risk tolerance and medium to low complexity. Of the 21 class D missions that have launched since the designation was first applied in 2009, NASA has not had a single class D mission launch on schedule. Only four remained under budget. Four were canceled outright prior to launch. ESCAPADE, which will have cost an estimated US$94.2 million by the end of its science operations in 2029, has stayed under the $100 million mark through a series of costsaving choices. It has a small set of key instruments, a low spacecraft mass to reduce launch costs, and extensively uses generic commercial components instead of custom hardware. Advertisement Advertisement NASA also outsourced to private companies: Much of the spacecraft development went to Rocket Lab and the trajectory design to Advanced Space LLC, with tight contract limits to make sure the contractors didnt go over budget. Additional savings came from creative arrangements, including the universityfunded VISIONS camera package and a discounted ride on New Glenn, which Blue Origin wanted to fly anyway for its own testing objectives. Commercial space ESCAPADE launched at a moment of transition in space science. NASA and other science agencies are facing the steepest budget pressures in more than 60 years, with political winds shifting funding toward human spaceflight. At the same time, the commercial space sector is booming, with long-imagined technologies that enable cheap space travel finally entering service. Advertisement Advertisement That boom has, in part, led to a resurgence in NASAs faster, better, cheaper push that originated in the 1980s and 90s and which largely faded after the 2003 Columbia disaster. In theory, leaner NASA oversight, greater use of offtheshelf hardware and narrower science goals can cut costs while launching more missions and increasing the total science return. If ESCAPADE succeeds in delivering important science, it will be held up as evidence that this more commercial, risk-tolerant template can deliver. The trade-offs A concept put forward by Jared Isaacman, the Trump administrations nominee to lead NASA, is that 10 $100 million missions would be better than one $1 billion flagship or top-tier mission. This approach could encourage faster mission development and would diversify the types of missions heading out into the solar system. But that reorganization comes with trade-offs. For example, lowcost missions rarely match flagship missions in scope, and they typically do less to advance the technology necessary for doing innovative science. Advertisement Advertisement With a narrow scope, missions like ESCAPADE are unlikely to produce the most transformative discoveries about, for instance, the origins of life or the nature of dark matter, or the first chemical analyses of oceans on a new world. Instead, they focus on more specific questions. Early in ESCAPADEs development, my role was to help create a planning document for the VISIONS cameras called the Science Traceability Matrix, which defines an instruments scientific goals and translates them into concrete measurement requirements. My colleagues and I systematically asked: What do we want to learn? What observations prove it? And, critically, how precisely does the instrument need to work to be good enough, given the budget? Loftier goals usually demand more complex instruments and operations, which drive up costs. ESCAPADEs broader goals are to create a clearer picture of Mars magnetic field, how the solar wind interacts with it, and figure out what that process does to Mars atmosphere. That is valuable science. But it is more modest than the $583 million predecessor mission MAVENs more extensive scope and richer suite of instruments. It was MAVEN that determined how and when Mars lost its once-dense atmosphere in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Both ESCAPADE and MAVEN are dwarfed again by the openended potential of an operation like the James Webb Space Telescope, which observes a limitless slate of astronomical objects in the infrared light spectrum with a higher resolution than any combination of prior smaller telescopes. Flagship missions like the James Webb Space Telescope push the state of the art in new technologies and materials. These innovations then filter into both future missions and everyday life. For example, the Webb telescope advanced the medical tools used in eye exams. Smaller missions rely more heavily on existing, mature technologies. And when systems are built by private companies rather than NASA, those companies keep tight control over the patents rather than openly spreading the technology across the scientific community. A tense road to launch ESCAPADEs principal investigator, Rob Lillis, has joked that it is the mission with 11 lives, having survived 11 nearcancellations. Problems ranged from being late in reaching the technology readiness levels that helped ensure the probes wouldnt malfunction after launch, to the loss of its original free ride, with NASAs Psyche mission. Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, ESCAPADE received support from NASA to ride on New Glenns maiden flight, only to face delays as Blue Origin worked through technical hurdles. At last, in October 2025, ESCAPADE reached the launchpad. I traveled to Cape Canaveral for the launch and felt the tension firsthand. The first window was scrubbed by bad weather and issues with ground equipment. Then a strong solar storm ironically, a key driver of the very processes ESCAPADE will study shut down the second window. Concurrently, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed new launch restrictions due to the government shutdown that would have postponed the launch further if not for a last-minute exemption. Finally, on Nov. 13, after repeated setbacks, New Glenn lifted off to cheers around the country. ESCAPADE reached orbit, and after a nervous few hours of receiver misalignment, mission controllers established communication with the spacecraft. Whats next While in Florida, I also watched another milestone in commercial spaceflight: the record-breaking 94th launch from Cape Canaveral in 2025, marking the most launches from Florida in a single year. It was a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites. Advertisement Advertisement Like New Glenn, SpaceXs Falcon 9 saves money by landing and reusing rockets. If multiple providers like SpaceX and Blue Origin compete to keep launch prices low, the economics of small science missions will only improve. On Nov. 10, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, the record-breaking 94th launch of 2025. SpaceX If ESCAPADEs twin spacecraft reach Mars and deliver new insights as planned, they will demonstrate how minimalist, commercial-forward approaches can expand the planetary knowledge base. But even then, a string of future SIMPLEx successes would likely not be a substitute for the uniquely capable, technologyadvancing flagship missions that answer the most farreaching questions. ESCAPADE can instead help test whether a broader mix of small missions leaning on commercial partners and a few big, ambitious flagships can together sustain planetary science in an era of tight budgets. For now, that balance remains an open experiment, and only time will tell whether ESCAPADE is a lone bright spot or the start of a real shift. Advertisement Advertisement 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: Ari Koeppel, Dartmouth College Read more: Ari Koeppel was a team member on ESCAPADE's VISIONS cameras and has previously received funding from NASA research grants. He currently works with The Planetary Society. A leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, Maria Kalesnikava, reemerged from prison with a message that has polarized many: Europe must reengage with Belaruss dictator, Alexander Lukashenko. Human lives, Europes security, and Belarus future are at stake, Kalesnikava argues. After suppressing nationwide protests in 2020, and turning to Russias Vladimir Putin for support while doing so, Lukashenko became an international pariah one whose isolation only deepened as Belarus became a staging ground for Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yet the idea that re-engagement would better serve Western and Belarusian peoples interests than isolation has been gaining ground. The United States has already tested it: three visits by U.S. delegations yielded the release of 189 prisoners, sanctions relief for Belaruss national airline Belavia, and a relaxation of U.S. restrictions on Belarusian potash exports. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us But should Europe, which has also imposed strict sanctions on Belarus, follow suit? Kalesnikavas release has given those supporting this idea a voice almost as recognizable globally as that of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Allies in the 2020 presidential campaign, Tsikhanouskaya and Kalesnikava now tour the same countries and attend the same events such as the recent Munich Security Conference promoting their respective, and differing, views on reengagement with Lukashenko. The Kyiv Independent sat down with Kalesnikava to hear her views on what European rapprochement with Lukashenko might achieve, what happens if it fails, and where the red lines must be drawn. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Lukashenko trades prisoners for sanctions relief and keeps the upper hand What does Lukashenko want? Maria Kalesnikava resists framing her proposals as a call for dialogue. Instead, she underscores several times that Europe must open communication channels not to befriend Lukashenko, but to prevent the situation from deteriorating. The launch of these diplomatic initiatives does not imply agreement with Lukashenkos policies or politics, nor does it imply friendship or support absolutely not, Kalesnikava says. Theres a very clear communicative purpose here; it is to understand how we can free people, stop repression, and lift the countrys isolation. We need to understand what Lukashenko wants. We just need to ask him, at least. Advertisement Advertisement When she was released, Kalesnikava still had five more years of her sentence to serve. She is reluctant to speak about her treatment in custody, saying yet another account of prison conditions wouldnt help, but could rather harm the remaining prisoners. But her own treatment in prison, and the experiences of mental and physical pressure she and other women suffered in jail, now motivate her call for engagement with Lukashenko, she says. Maria Kolesnikova gestures inside the defendants' cage at the opening of her trial on charges of undermining national security, conspiring to seize power, and creating an extremist group in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 4, 2021. (Ramil Nasibulin / BELTA / AFP via Getty Images) I'm thinking of women who have spent five years in prison, of those having health issues, Kalesnikava explained to the Kyiv Independent. Im thinking of 70-somethings who have 10 more years to serve this is beyond good and evil for me. My priority now is to talk about these people and do everything possible to draw attention to this issue and, of course, to secure the prisoners release. Pointing to her own release as a result of successful diplomatic engagement, Kalesnikava also lists some even minor symbolic gestures that have managed to move Lukashenko to act, including a gift of cufflinks engraved with an image of the White House, a personally signed letter and U.S. President Donald Trumps posts on his social medium Truth Social. Notably, on Aug. 15, 2025, Trump posted about a phone call he had held with Lukashenko just before his summit with Putin in Alaska. In that post, Trump referred to dictator Lukashenko as the highly respected President of Belarus and described their conversation as a wonderful talk. Advertisement Advertisement "Lukashenko is the only person who makes decisions about the lives of Belarusians in Belarus." In prison, we were shown (Trumps post) on TV every day for two or three weeks. In (Lukashenkos) own eyes it is strong support for him, but as a result, people were released. Trumps special envoy to Belarus, John Coale, said he aims to secure the release of all those arrested for protesting against the rigged 2020 presidential elections. Yet, U.S. reengagement so far has also been accompanied by continued repression. After a year of negotiations and the release of over 300 people who were either deported or pardoned and allowed to stay in the country the total count of political prisoners is still over 1,100. Leveraging sanctions to ease repression while at the same time opening up Europe to Belarusians is where the European Union ought to start reengagement, Kalesnikava believes. Advertisement Advertisement No matter how much we don't want to admit it and no matter how much we hate it, Lukashenko is the only person who makes decisions about the lives of Belarusians in Belarus, she says. Its up to him how long the repression will continue and how many people will fall victim to it. Its also up to him to decide how the repression can be stopped. And the European Union has the leverage and mechanisms it needs to at least start talking with him about this issue. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) on Lake Ladoga, Russia, on Aug. 1, 2025, in this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik. (Gavriil Grigorov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images) As a plan for this engagement, Kalesnikava refers to the Roadmap for Limited De-escalation, a paper drafted by Belarusian political analysts and researchers. The roadmap suggests that an EU de-escalation of tensions with Belarus if insured by a sanctions snapback mechanism would help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Belarus, reduce the regimes threats, and lower Minsks dependence on Moscow. "I can't tell you how to do that I just see that this is the direction in which we need to develop, Kalesnikava says. How this comes about will be the result of agreements. Not responsible Belaruss continued involvement in Russias war against Ukraine links the resolution of the Belarusian domestic crisis to a wider geopolitical confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement In late 2025, Lukashenko welcomed the deployment of Russias Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system on Belarusian territory. Russia also installed signal repeaters in Belarus that help guide Russian strike drones to targets in Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. At her first press conference in Chernihiv, Kalesnikava was notably guarded in her comments on the war and Belaruss role in it a caution she attributes to five years of prison, where every word carried consequences. In the penal facility in the southern Belarusian city of Homiel, some 45 kilometers (31 miles) from the Ukrainian border, where Kalesnikava and most of the female political prisoners were sent, the war was not just seen on the news; it was heard within the prison walls. For one-and-a-half months, the prisoners heard warplanes flying overhead, the clacking of cargo cars being hauled on a nearby railway, and the roar of military vehicles in the city streets. The word war' was forbidden in these walls, but we still used it, Kalesnikava recalls. Advertisement Advertisement Kalesnikava does clearly place responsibility for Belarus taking part in the war on Lukashenko and his regime. Lukashenko is to blame for Belarus becoming an accomplice to the war, she told the Kyiv Independent. Its certainly not the prisoners in the womens colony who were responsible for the fighter jets flying over us. Weve been drawn into it. We dont want this, and well do everything we can to get Belarus out of this situation as quickly as possible, of course. A leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, Maria Kalesnikava, in Berlin, Germany, on March 2, 2026. (Pasha Kritchko / The Kyiv Independent) Kalesnikava, who describes herself as an activist rather than a politician, was quick to note that Zelenskys first meeting with the Belarusian opposition was not with Tsikhanouskaya in January, but with a group of political prisoners evacuated to Ukraine in December. Advertisement Advertisement When you arrive from the terror (in Belarus) to a country at war, in which your country is complicit, and yet you are enveloped in such care and love, its simply priceless, she says. This shows that (our) nations support each other and that we share the same values. Our main goal is for Ukraine to be free, for the war to end, for the Russians to leave, and for justice to prevail. Lost to Europe? The deployment of the Oreshnik missile and the alleged presence of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus is disgusting and vile, as it has placed a target on Belarus, Kalesnikava says. Engagement, however, could prevent deeper Belarusian involvement in the war. It is one thing when a country is economically dependent on one neighbor, but it is quite another when there are nuclear weapons on your territory, which are equally dangerous for everyone, but the launch button is located 700 kilometers away, Kalesnikava says. Advertisement Advertisement It seems to me that no Belarusian including Lukashenko can feel safe while the situation remains as it is. But when it comes to foreign policy and military decisions, Lukashenkos agency has limits. Russias opposition to Belarus engagement with the West was officially pronounced in February, after Minsks re-engagement with the United States yielded an invitation to attend Trumps Peace Summit in Washington. The summit was the inaugural meeting of the U.S. presidents Board of Peace initiative, which Lukashenko had eagerly signed up to. Russia, however, promptly issued a string of sharp statements, saying that it would not sit idly by and watch Belarus and Russia being torn apart. Despite Lukashenkos initial enthusiasm to join the Board of Peace, Belarusian officials skipped the summit, citing a busy schedule and a lack of visas. Kalesnikava argues that Russias reaction to the engagement strategy is a demonstration of its value. If Putin has begun to react to this and is afraid of it, then it means that weve hit the mark, she says. This is exactly what Russia does not want, so perhaps this is one of the reasons why its worth thinking about it. If nothing has actually been done yet, but were already being warned against it (by the Kremlin), then perhaps its exactly what we should be doing. Maria Kalesnikava, a leader of the anti-government 2020 protests in Belarus, in Berlin, Germany, on March 2, 2026. (Pasha Kritchko / The Kyiv Independent) While reports of backchannel communication between Europe and Belarus have begun to appear, there is no sign of a change in the EUs official policy: Europe continues to engage with the Belarusian opposition while isolating Lukashenko. Meanwhile, Lukashenko continues to allow an artificial migration crisis and incursions by meteorological balloons into EU airspace, which Europe regards as hybrid attacks. Recalling meetings with European politicians in the months following her release, Kalesnikava notes that they understand that the war will eventually end with negotiations and agreements, and that it is very important to understand where Belarus will fit into this picture. But she bats away questions about how to hold Lukashenko accountable while engaging him, what red lines there might be, and what happens if the engagement fails. Instead, she says these are questions for European politicians to answer. This is definitely not a question for me, she says. But one thing is certain: if no one starts communicating with Lukashenko, the current situation will continue. It will get even worse. Putin has crossed every red line. Right? Yet to stop the loss of lives and end this war, a decision was made to begin talks on this issue." Strengthening ties with Europe will be critical during the inevitable conclusion of Lukashenkos rule, whether prompted by natural causes or a managed power transition. Kalesnikava warns that without proactive efforts to steer the citizenry away from Russias orbit, the West risks losing the hearts and minds of entire generations of Belarusians. Belarus, once a leader in the share of Schengen visas issued per capita, currently has numerous border checkpoints shut down, transit restricted, and connections severed. In contrast, the Russian soft-power agency Rossotrudnichestvo, which typically has only one office per country, operates six in Belarus. Polish border guards stand at the Polish-Belarus border fence near Ozierany Mae, Poland, on July 4, 2025. (Damian Lemanski/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Isolation from the West will create a generation lacking recollection of the 2020 protests and ties to Europe a generation who might otherwise turn to Russia for opportunities, Kalesnikava warns. If its impossible to study in Vilnius, Warsaw, or Berlin, they will study where it is possible in Moscow, for example, or in St. Petersburg, she says. Im afraid of only one thing that Belarus will become part of Russia, that we will be thrown back from the civilized world for years, for decades. And that is the most frightening thing that Belarus will be lost to Europe. Read also: The Belarusian woman at the center of Epsteins final days Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Alex Saab, a once-powerful financial fixer for former Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro who vanished from public view last month, is likely to be extradited soon to the United States following intense negotiations between U.S. officials and Venezuelas interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez, sources familiar with the discussions told the Miami Herald. Saabs extradition which would be the second extradition of the Colombian businessman to the United States has become a central piece of a broader set of talks between Washington and Caracas that could shape the future of Venezuelas fragile political transition and influence the prosecution of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are facing criminal charges in New York. According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly, the discussions have covered a wide range of political and legal issues. But enough progress appears to have been made to make Saabs extradition increasingly likely. Advertisement Advertisement Saab disappeared from view in early February amid reports in Venezuelan media that he had been detained shortly after Rodriguez removed him from his post as minister of industry and national production. Saab, widely described by investigators as a close Maduro associate and financial operator, had previously spent more than two years in U.S. custody after being extradited from Cape Verde to Miami in 2021. U.S. prosecutors had accused him of orchestrating a $350 million money-laundering scheme tied to contracts with Venezuelas government. That case ended in December 2023 when President Joe Biden granted Saab a pardon as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with the Maduro regime. But U.S. officials have continued to pursue other investigations involving Saab, particularly allegations tied to Venezuelas food subsidy program known as CLAP. Prosecutors have long accused Saab of building a vast network of shell companies and intermediaries that overcharged the Venezuelan government for imported food while generating enormous profits for regime insiders. Advertisement Advertisement Sources familiar with the current negotiations say Saabs value to U.S. authorities goes beyond bringing him back to face charges. The U.S. needs Saab because he has crucial information about Maduros financial operations and can provide evidence for narcoterrorism charges, one source told the Herald. He managed the money. If investigators want to show how funds moved through the system and how those funds may have supported criminal activities, Saab is a key witness. According to the sources, U.S. officials believe Saab could provide detailed information about financial networks used by Maduros inner circle, including accounts, intermediaries and international business arrangements that helped move billions of dollars through global banking systems. His potential testimony could become particularly significant as prosecutors prepare their case against Maduro and Flores, who are accused by U.S. authorities of participating in a long-running narcoterrorism conspiracy involving Venezuelas military and political leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez emerged as Venezuelas interim leader after a dramatic turn of events on Jan. 3, when a U.S. military operation resulted in the capture of Maduro and his removal from power. The operation described by Washington as the culmination of a years-long criminal investigation into alleged narcoterrorism activities by the Venezuelan leadership abruptly ended more than a decade of Maduros rule and triggered a scramble among senior regime figures to stabilize the countrys governing structure. In the aftermath of Maduros capture, senior officials within the ruling coalition and the National Assembly moved quickly to install Rodriguez as interim president, presenting the arrangement as a temporary measure intended to maintain institutional continuity while negotiations with the United States and international partners unfolded. Her government has since been navigating a delicate transition, balancing pressure from Washington for cooperation on corruption and criminal cases with the demands of powerful figures within Venezuelas military and security apparatus who remain wary of the rapidly shifting political landscape. The discussions over Saabs fate are part of a larger negotiation between Washington and the interim government that emerged after Maduros capture. Sources say the United States has presented a series of demands to give the government in Caracas an opportunity to demonstrate it is willing to cooperate with international justice efforts and dismantle elements of the old regimes criminal networks. Advertisement Advertisement Among the most sensitive issues is the future of powerful security officials still serving in the Venezuelan government. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez both face U.S. indictments and multimillion-dollar rewards for information leading to their arrest. U.S. prosecutors accuse them of helping lead the so-called Cartel de los Soles, an alleged drug trafficking organization that prosecutors say operated with the protection of the Venezuelan state. Sources say Washington has not demanded that Rodriguez immediately hand over Cabello or Padrino Lopez for prosecution in the United States. Instead, the Trump administration has so far pushed for their removal from positions of power, a step seen as necessary to restructure Venezuelas military and security apparatus during the transition. Advertisement Advertisement That demand has triggered delicate internal maneuvering within the government as officials attempt to identify potential replacements who could be acceptable both to Washington and to influential factions within Venezuelas armed forces. Within that context, Saabs extradition has emerged as a potential bargaining chip. The regime made it known that they would be willing to hand over Saab if the United States granted certain concessions, one source said. Another figure sought by U.S. authorities, Venezuelan media magnate Raul Gorrin, has also surfaced in the talks. Gorrin, the owner of Caracas-based television network Globovision, has been indicted in the United States for allegedly participating in a massive scheme to siphon more than $1 billion from Venezuelas state oil company and launder the proceeds through U.S. banks and luxury real estate purchases. Advertisement Advertisement His extradition has reportedly faced resistance from powerful figures within the Venezuelan government, including Cabello, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Sources say Cabello has attempted to leverage his influence within the security apparatus to shape the outcome of the talks, including pushing for a say over who would replace him in key positions and pressing for guarantees that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado would not be allowed to return to Venezuela. The delicate negotiations have also unfolded against a backdrop of rising distrust between Washington and Rodriguezs interim government. Earlier this week, a Reuters report citing anonymous sources said the U.S. Justice Department had been quietly preparing a potential corruption indictment against Rodriguez tied to alleged financial dealings involving Venezuelas state oil company, PDVSA. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials quickly rejected the report, but sources familiar with the situation said the leak was widely interpreted within Venezuelan political circles as a warning to Rodriguez from Washington. According to one source with direct knowledge of the discussions, U.S. intelligence agencies have been closely monitoring Rodriguezs communications and believe she has sent conflicting messages to different government officials as she tries to navigate the complex transition. They know what she is saying and what she is thinking, the source said. The message was that the United States is aware of the double game. For now, however, the negotiations appear to be moving forward, with Saabs potential extradition emerging as one of the most immediate and consequential outcomes. If completed, his transfer to U.S. custody could provide prosecutors with one of the most important insider witnesses yet in their effort to unravel the financial networks that sustained Venezuelas former regime. NEED TO KNOW Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, 52, pleaded guilty on March 6 to leading one of the largest human smuggling organizations in the U.S., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office He admitted to smuggling approximately 20,000 illegal immigrants from Guatemala into the U.S. between 2019 and July 2024 and to holding two people hostage His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2, at which time he is expected to face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison A Guatemalan national has pleaded guilty to smuggling thousands of people into the U.S. as part of a human trafficking operation. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, 52, pleaded guilty on Friday, March 6, to "leading one of the largest human smuggling organizations in the U.S.," the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Central District of California announced in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Renoj-Matul who also goes by the names Turko, El Jefe, Patron and El Gallo admitted, as part of a plea deal, to smuggling approximately 20,000 illegal immigrants from Guatemala into the U.S. between 2019 and July 2024, the D.A.s office said. The 52-year-old accepted payments of between $15,000 and $18,000 to help smuggle illegal immigrants into the U.S. and coordinated their journey from Guatemala. The illegal immigrants would be accepted by Mexican smuggling organizations, which would then transport them over the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said. Renoj-Matul would also provide vehicles for the illegal immigrants to be transported nationwide once they got over the border. They were transported to states including Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C., per authorities. Renoj-Matul's organization oversaw smuggling cells, teams of drivers who transported illegal aliens, and operators of stash houses where illegal aliens were held while they were within the United States, the D.A.s office said. Advertisement Advertisement The 52-year-old operated out of "an illegal alien stash house" located in Los Angeles and would also hold illegal immigrants there "against their will" until their smuggling fees had been paid, according to authorities. Renoj-Matul admitted as part of his plea deal that he held two people hostage at this facility, including one from May 2024 to July 2024. During this time, authorities said he threatened the illegal immigrant's mother that he would harm her if the smuggling fees were not paid. He also held another illegal immigrant hostage from April 2024 to July 2024 and threatened to kill, injure, and continue to detain the victim to compel a third-party person to pay their smuggling fees. As for the smuggling fees, Renoj-Matul directed those to be transferred from Los Angeles to Phoenix to be given to the Mexican smuggling organization and pay the smuggling organizations expenses. The 52-year-old admitted to the judge that he acted for the purpose of private financial gain. Advertisement Advertisement Renoj-Matul pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the U.S., transport aliens in the U.S. and harbor aliens in the U.S. for private financial gain and one count of hostage taking. 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. His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2, at which time he is expected to face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison, the D.A.s office said. His co-defendants, Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, 45, and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, 50 who worked in the organization as a driver and Renoj-Matuls alleged right-hand man, respectively are set to go on trial on April 21. They have both pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement A third man Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, 42, who is believed to be a lieutenant in the criminal organization also faces federal criminal charges in this case and is a fugitive, per authorities. Read the original article on People An East Price Hill man is accused of hiding in wait before fatally shooting a woman at an Avondale apartment building, according to Cincinnati police. Jesse Wilson, 65, was arraigned on March 7 before Hamilton County Municipal Judge William Mallory, who set Wilson's bond at $3 million. He's charged with aggravated murder in connection with the March 6 killing of 36-year-old Jessica Hardy. Police said in a court filing that Wilson waited for Hardy at the apartments, approached as she entered the building and shot her in the head, killing her. Jesse Wilson (left) appears in Hamilton County Municipal Court for an arraignment on March 7. Court documents state the investigation is based on physical, electronic and video evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors did not speak about a possible motive or how Wilson and Hardy might have known each other. An arrest report also did not provide details about the incident or what led up to it. Mallory, the judge, said the shooting was captured on video. He also noted that Wilson has a previous conviction for a homicide in Georgia. Court records show that Wilson is also charged with aggravated menacing in a separate incident involving Hardy. In September, Hardy told police that Wilson sent her a letter threatening to harm her "if she refuses to be with him." The letter also stated that Hardy could either "ride with him or die with him," police wrote in an affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Caleb Baum, Wilson's attorney, said that his client has lived in the Cincinnati area for 20 years and works as a driver. He added that Wilson doesn't pose a flight risk. "He denies the allegations," Baum said. "He was not lying in wait." A grand jury is expected to hear Wilson's case by March 16 to decide whether the case will proceed in felony court. He's being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center awaiting trial. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man accused of Cincinnati killing wrote menacing note before Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay announced key initiatives for women's welfare and safety on Saturday, ahead of the Assembly elections. Addressing party workers ahead of International Women's Day, Vijay stated that his party would implement the 'Vetri Payanam (Victory Journey) Scheme', allowing women to travel free on government buses. To ensure women's safety, a Rani Velu Nachiyar Force would be created, with women officers deployed across various locations in plain clothes and equipped with body cameras. Vijay added that Anjalai Ammal Fast-Track Courts for Women would be established to quickly investigate and deliver justice in crimes against women. He said, "Vetri Payanam (Victory Journey) Scheme- Women will be allowed to travel free of cost on all government buses. To ensure women's safety, a Rani Velu Nachiyar Force will be created. Women officers from this force, in plain clothes and equipped with body cameras, will be deployed across various locations for security duties. 500 teams will be formed across the state to ensure women's safety. Anjalai Ammal Fast-Track Courts for Women will be established to quickly investigate and deliver justice in crimes against women. Smart panic buttons will be introduced for women's safety in public transport. These will be installed in all public transport vehicles, including private share autos. Through these systems, a response and protection will be ensured within five minutes." The party would also introduce smart panic buttons in public transport vehicles, including private share autos, to ensure a response and protection within five minutes. CCTV cameras and proper lighting would be installed in vulnerable areas to create "zero dark spots". Vijay also announced the distribution of free sanitary pads through public distribution points "Zero dark spots will be created by ensuring CCTV cameras and proper lighting in all vulnerable areas. Modern command centres will monitor these systems to ensure women's safety. Free sanitary pads will be distributed through public distribution points such as ration shops, schools, and colleges," he added. He also announced the 'Singa Pengal (Empowered Women) Development Scheme', providing interest-free funding up to Rs 5 lakh to women-run Self-Help Groups. Vinay said, "Singa Pengal (Empowered Women) Development Scheme-Women-run Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will receive interest-free funding up to 5 lakh to enhance their production capacity. SHGs that transform into registered MSMEs will also receive 5 lakh annually as a 100% grant." Additionally, the 'Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme' would be introduced, offering a gold ring to every newborn child in Tamil Nadu, along with a Baby Welcome Kit containing essential items. These schemes aim to promote women's empowerment, safety, and welfare, Vijay said, adding that his party was committed to ensuring the well-being of women and children in the state. "Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme- To celebrate the birth of every child in Tamil Nadu, the Thaai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme will be introduced. Every newborn child will receive a gold ring as a blessing from the government. A Baby Welcome Kit will also be provided, containing: Nutritional supplements, Baby clothes, Baby soaps, Baby oil, Baby powder, Mosquito nets, Toys, Napkins and diapers," Vijay added. Earlier, Vijay announced several poll promises stating that his party would provide six free LPG cylinders per year to every family, increase the women's rights allowance to Rs 2,500 per month, and create a separate department for women, children, and the elderly under his direct supervision. While addressing the gathering, Vijay said, "Every family will be provided 6 free LPG gas cylinders per year. The women's rights allowance will be increased to Rs 2,500 per month. A separate department for women, children, and the elderly will be created, and it will function under my direct supervision. Ensuring the safety and welfare of women, children, and the elderly is one of our fundamental principles. A separate department dedicated to women and children will be established. A monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 will be provided to all women heads of families up to the age of 60. However, state and central government employees will be exempted from this scheme." Vijay also announced the 'Annapoorani Super Six Scheme', providing six free LPG cylinders annually to every family, and the 'Annan Seer Scheme', offering one sovereign of gold and a silk saree to brides as a ceremonial gift. Furthermore, he announced the 'Kamarajar Education Rights Scheme', providing Rs 15,000 annually to mothers or guardians to support children's education from Class 1 to Class 12, to curb the dropout rates. 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 TVK is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. (ANI) An investigation is underway after authorities in Baytown say a man's body was found near Cedar Bayou on Saturday morning. Baytown PD said officers responded to Spring Lane near Gulfway Drive in the Whispering Pines neighborhood shortly before 11 a.m. The man's body was found in the water near the bank behind a residence, police said. Baytown PD's Dive Team, Crime Scene Units, and detectives were on scene assisting with the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Police said the body was turned over to the Harris County Medical Examiner for further examination. Investigators said they do not suspect any foul play at this time, and the case remains under investigation. Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you. Its not just that Marco Rubio is eclipsing other Cabinet members in President Donald Trumps second term. Or even that he has reignited long-dormant speculation that he could become president. Its that Rubio, in little more than a year, is becoming arguably the most consequential U.S. secretary of state in decades by ditching the last vestiges of the post-World War II international order in exchange for regime change and spheres of influence. Advertisement Advertisement The capture of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and the bombing of Iran are the latest mile markers of a U.S. foreign policy racing ahead with none of the constraints that tamed global conflict over the last 80 years. As much as this transformation reflects Trumps impulsive style, it would be an oversight to ignore the influence of Rubio, 54. Trump himself characterized the 2003-2011 Iraq War as a big, fat mistake and vowed in his campaign that his deal-making prowess would keep America out of wars. Theres also the America First sect in MAGA, populated by the likes of Tucker Carlson and Vice President JD Vance. It opposes prolonged military entanglements overseas and ride-or-die alliances with Israel and Europe in favor of nativism at home and embracing authoritarians abroad. Advertisement Advertisement This is not the United States war, Carlson said last week, one of the many conservative commentators to criticize the Iran attack. This war is not being waged on behalf of American national security objectives to make the United States safer or richer. But since January, Rubios neo-conservative interventionistworldview has been clearly winning over Trump, a nod to skills he honed during his eight years in the Florida Legislature. The Tampa Bay Times this monthspoke to a half-dozen Republican and Democratic legislative leaders who witnessed Rubios climb through the state House of Representatives. When I heard he got this job, I thought it would suit his skill set, said Dan Gelber, a Miami Beach Democrat who was the minority leader in the House when Rubio was speaker from 2006 to 2008. He reads the room exceptionally well. I was impressed by his ability to navigate competing pressures. Advertisement Advertisement Gelber, who went on to serve as Miami Beach mayor, said he had little, if anything, good to say about the other members of Trumps Cabinet. But Marco? he added. Hes not easy to dislike. Rubio rises in Florida Rubio arrived in Tallahassee in 2000 as a 28-year-old lawyer whose political experience was as a West Miami commissioner. With incumbents tossed out for the first time because of the debut of term limits, Rubios freshman class was the largest in history, making up more than half of the total 120 seats in the House. Even in that crowd, party leaders immediately saw his potential. He could get up and speak about anything without a note in front of him, said Mike Fasano, Pascos tax collector who was then House majority leader. He had a gift, he still does, of attracting people to him. Advertisement Advertisement The House speaker in Rubios first year, Tom Feeney, said leaders noticed his discipline early. During the 2000Bush v. Gorelegal battle over ballot-counting in Florida that would decide the presidency,state House Republicans limited those who could talk publicly about the recount. Marco was one of the few people we trusted, Feeney said. He was a good messenger on a very high-stakes issue. Having grown up among Cuban exiles and other immigrants in Miami who fled authoritarian regimes, Rubio had another characteristic setting him apart. While most lawmakers come to Tallahassee with parochial concerns, Rubio was contemplating the world beyond. Foreign policy in South Florida is a daily issue, said U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who was in the Florida Senate when Rubio first arrived in Tallahassee. You have a large Cuban community thats there because of (former Cuban President Fidel) Castro. You have a large Venezuelan community thats there because of (former Venezuelan Presidents) Hugo Chavez and Maduro. You have Nicaraguans and Colombians. You cant live in Miami without living foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt until after Rubio rode a tea party wave and beat former Gov. Charlie Crist in the 2010 U.S. Senate race that he threw himself professionally into foreign affairs. As Floridas junior senator, he helped author an immigration reform bill that would have provided a path to citizenship for some immigrantsliving in the country without legal authorization. It was a confusing time for the GOP. After incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney in 2012, some Republicans thought the party had to soften its image with Hispanic voters. At the same time, another strain in the party grew hostile toward immigrants. The birther movement, which grew out of Trumps questioning of Obamas citizenship, targeted Rubio for a time. Ultimately, the anti-immigrant passions won out, and Rubio turned against his own legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Frustrated by the gridlock in the Senate, Rubio embarked on a bid for the presidency. It didnt end well for Rubio. Looking back, those who admired his equanimity in Tallahassee felt he let himself down by taking potshots at Trump during a 2016 presidential debate. If you were to ask him what his greatest regret was, I think hed tell you it was his ad hominem attack, Feeney said. Through a spokesperson, Rubio declined to be interviewed for this story. Like others who blistered Trump such as Vance and current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Rubio has since repaired his relationship with the president. Advertisement Advertisement Rubio pivoted that same year and won reelection to the Senate, where he continued to add foreign policy credentials. He saw himself as an heir to Ronald Reagan as he crusaded against communism abroad. That meant standing up to Russian PresidentVladimir Putin and supporting Ukraine, siding steadfastly with Israel, and pressuring the authoritarian regimes in Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. When Trump tapped him eight years later to be his secretary of state, Rubio had become the leading statesman of the Republican establishment. Balancing act Almost from his start in Trumps Cabinet, Rubio seemed intent on ingratiating himself withthe president, even if it meant abandoning causes he had supported as a national security hawk. Advertisement Advertisement Overnight, Rubio went from calling Putin a tyrant and championing Ukraine as long as they were willing to fight to regarding the Russian dictator as a reliable negotiating partner and the Ukraine war as a stalemate that needed to be settled. He played enforcer to Trumps immigration policies, supporting the deportation of people who had fled countries led by communist regimes, such as Cuba and Venezuela. He oversaw the gutting of $40 billion in annual aid to nations around the world, soft power the U.S. had deployed since World War II on programs like the Marshall Plan to support human rights and counter the pull of communism. As Rubio rejected the same foreign policy tools and strategies he had once utilized, his former colleagues in Florida theorized that he was playing a long game with Trump ofgiving America Firsters what they want up to a point. Advertisement Advertisement Hes balancing in a way thats hard to do, said Feeney, who served in Congress from 2003 to 2009. He understands what his role is, said Diaz-Balart. The secretary of state doesnt establish the foreign policy, the president does. A consistent hardliner on Venezuela, Rubio received much of the credit for the Jan. 3 military strike that captured Maduro and his wife. The U.S. now controls the country and its vast oil reserves, which it is withholding from Cuba an embargo thats further weakening that regime. During the State of the Union a month later, Rubio was the only Cabinet member Trump mentioned and complimented. The president suggested history will regard Rubio as the best secretary of state. The rest of his Cabinet, meanwhile, is in turmoil. Trumps firing this week of Kristi Noem, his Homeland Security secretary, could be the first in a string. My guess is that (Rubio) has tremendous credibility with the president at this point, said Tom Lee, who was Florida Senate president when Rubio was two years from House speaker. Hes the star of the Cabinet. Unlike others in the administration, hes not a cheerleader. Hes supportive, he steers the ship, but he lays low and defers to the president. Fasano said the key is what Rubio doesnt do. Hegseth attacks people, he said. When did you see Marco do that? Hes been really quiet, but Id say over the last few weeks, hes become the most influential Cabinet member. The Iran bombing, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was viewed as another triumph for Rubio, even as it drew more fire from those on the right suspicious of nation-building. With this Iran thing, I dont see how the math works in our favor, said Matt Walsh, a conservative commentator and self-described American Firster, in an X post. Or at least it seems highly unlikely that it will work in our favor. And so Im against it. For now, at least, Rubio has a growing record of foreign policy wins. It was a stunning 10-out-of-10 success with Venezuela, said Patrick Hulme, a foreign policy professor at the University of Florida. Nobody killed. You get Maduro in a crazy risky raid. From that, Rubio gets more trust from the president. You could draw a direct line from the Maduro raid to the Iran attack. But the risks are great and, with no clear succession plan or long-term strategy of what comes next, the Iran war could easily slip into a quagmire or intensify into an expanded conflict, Hulme said. If this Iran invasion goes south, who knows? Hulme said. You can see Trump saying, This Rubio guy pushed me into this, and gets rid of him. But if it goes well, success builds upon success, and well be in Cuba by the end of the year. A family in Auburn, Massachusetts, has expressed concerns about missing person Jennifer Remillard after she has not been seen in nearly four months. Im concerned she might be living in a car or who knows where she could be now? I dont think she has much money on her either, Anthony Remillard, Jennifers cousin, told Boston 25 amid the search for the 47-year-old mother. Anthony explained that Jennifer left her house in November 2025 after she got into a fight with relatives. She had one last communication with family members through a computer message after she left the home. Advertisement Advertisement She ended up saying she lost her phone, and we lost contact with her, the cousin said of the message. North Carolina Mom Found After 24 Years: What We Know About Michele Hundley Smith Months after they last heard from her, Jennifers family filed a missing persons report with Auburn Police on the night of Tuesday, March 3. They said she owns a Gray Toyota Camry with Massachusetts license plate R-S 11 J-R. According to the outlet, flock cameras and license plate readers picked up her car in Sarasota, Florida, on January 31. The car was later seen in South Florida in mid-February, but it has not been captured via surveillance footage since. Advertisement Advertisement Anthony also told the outlet that this is not the first time Jennifer has unexpectedly driven off in her car: shes previously taken off to other parts of the country. However, he said that her latest disappearance seems different from the other experiences when she went missing. This time shes not contacting anybody, her daughter, mostly, Anthony said. We dont know where she is, what state shes in. What condition shes in. Anthony was then asked if he was worried, and he said that his whole family is concerned for Jennifer. Definitely worrying, not knowing where somebody is, he said. According to the missing persons report shared by police via Facebook, Jennifer stands about 5'9 tall and weighs 130 pounds. Additionally, she has blonde hair. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the police department shared the post, several people took to the comments section to express their hope that Jennifer is found safe. Way too close to home. I hope she is found safe!!! one person wrote, while another chimed in, Praying she is found safe....I know law enforcement here (APD) will do their best to find her, if she is here....I'm sure it is a difficult case due to it being a multi state disappearance.... May God Bless all involved. Court Docs Reveal Blood Found in Missing Womans Car as Her BF Faces Charges Tied to Investigation Another person said that they knew Jennifer after they previously worked together. Oh my goodness I worked with her years ago at Reliant Medical Group! I love her! I shared this on my page and asked for everyone who knows her to share this. Jen - I hope and pray you are safe, the social media user wrote. Police are asking that anything with information about Jennifers whereabouts call Auburn Police at (508) 832-7777 or visit the department's website. Additionally, those who would like to remain anonymous can submit tips by emailing totextatip@auburnmasspolice.org. A majority of Americans say they oppose the U.S. military action in Iran and President Donald Trump's handling of his now seven-day-old war, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The poll said 56% of Americans oppose the U.S. operation in Iran and 44% favor it. Additionally, 36% of Americans polled say they approve of the president's handling of Iran. Among respondents, 55% think Iran represents a minor threat or no threat to the United States. The joint poll released March 6 surveyed 1,591 Americans between March 2 and 4, just days after the United States and Israel began bombing Iran early on Feb. 28, in a campaign that killed the nation's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The joint attacks have also killed dozens of Iran's top officials, and hit more than 1,250 targets inside the country. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said the strikes were intended to eliminate "imminent threats" from Iran and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Congressional Democrats have questioned whether Iran posed an imminent threat and worry that the conflict could spiral into an extended regional war. Meanwhile, a majority of Republican leaders heavily support Trump and his administration's military actions. 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. Of those surveyed in the PBS News/NPR/Marist poll, 44% said they see Iran as a major threat. Another 40% view Iran as a minor threat to U.S. security, and 15% see Iran as no threat at all. Meanwhile, a majority of Republican leaders heavily support Trump and his administration's military actions. This poll is the latest in a series that reveal Trump's war with Iran is polling badly, has kicked up gas prices, and forced uncertainty into a stock market that the administration repeatedly cites as a bright spot in an otherwise unstable economy. Advertisement Advertisement More than 1,000 civilians have also been killed in the conflict, including an estimated 175 students and staff at a girls' school in Minab, Iran. A preliminary U.S. military investigation concluded it was caused by an American air strike, according to Reuters and the Associated Press. Beyond the Iran war: President Trump's no-good, very-bad day on jobs, gas, Epstein Poll reveals US military in Iran split along party lines With Operation Epic Fury entering a second week, the poll shows the U.S. presence is sharply divided along party lines. A strong majority of Republicans polled support both President Trump's approach (79%) and the attacks overall (84%), similar to responses among the mostly united GOP leadership in Congress. Republican majorities (with some Democratic support) in both the House and Senate this week refused to pass war powers resolutions to remove U.S. forces from the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, 86% of Democrats polled oppose both Trump's approach and the attacks and war. Among Independent voters, 61% disapprove of Trump's handling of the current state of affairs and oppose his military action. President Trump said that on a scale of 1 to 10, he grades the U.S. war effort against Iran a "15." An uncertain future?: Trump's war in Iran polls badly, but will it hurt Republicans in 2026? Opposition to US actions in Iran varies among groups Besides political affiliations, other demographic factors influenced opinions about the U.S. military actions in Iran, including respondents' age, race, and education, the PBS News/NPR/Marist poll showed. Young people, between 18 and 29, were the most likely of any age group (64%) to oppose the military action. Advertisement Advertisement Young people polled who are also registered voters have the lowest approval of Trump on his handling of Iran. This includes 25% of 18- to 29-year-old respondents, 35% of those between 30 and 44, and 41% of people 45 and older. People run as smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 5, 2026. Why is the US at war with Iran?: USA TODAY staff directly answers our audience's most probing questions about the conflict White people without college degrees were slightly more in favor of the military action (53% supported, 46% opposed), the poll said. Those with college degrees were more likely to oppose the military action (61%), whereas White people with degrees support it (38%). Men were more likely than women to support the U.S. military action, the poll said. Men were nearly split (48% in favor, 52% opposed), while more women were against it (41% in support, 59% against), the poll showed. Advertisement Advertisement Also, those polled who are Black (68%) and Latino (60%) were more likely than their White counterparts (52%) to oppose the military actions, the poll noted. The joint poll of 1,591 U.S. adults was conducted by phone, text, and online. It has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Many Americans oppose Trump, U.S. military actions in Iran in new poll A Fort Worth man is being held without bond after authorities booked him into the Tarrant County jail on murder and aggravated assault charges. Juan Carlos Perez, a Fort Worth resident, was booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Center on Thursday, March 5, according to jail records. Perez is facing one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jail records show Perez remains in custody with no bond allowed on either charge. Juan Carlos Perez Advertisement Advertisement According to the Tarrant County inmate database, Perez was booked under case numbers 1849571 for murder and 1849573 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both entries indicate a hold no-bond status, meaning the defendant cannot secure release through bail while the case proceeds. Court records show the cases have been assigned to the 485th District Court in Tarrant County. The prosecution in the murder case is listed as Madeline Jones of the Tarrant County District Attorneys Office, while Melinda Hogan is listed as the prosecutor assigned to the aggravated assault case in court records. Court filings also show attorney James A. Spangler is listed as defense counsel in the murder case, while Huma T. Yasin is listed as defense counsel for the aggravated assault charge. Advertisement Advertisement The Dallas Express reached out to Spangler and Yasin for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time. Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the alleged offenses, including when or where the incident occurred. DX is awaiting more information from the Tarrant County Sheriffs Department. The charges listed in court records are allegations, and Perez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. News of Markwayne Mullin's pending departure from the U.S. Senate has disrupted Oklahoma GOP politics, sparking questions about possible replacements and shuffling the deck of the state's all-Republican delegation in Congress. Several names have been tossed out as potential replacements for Mullin, who was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security, a post he is expected to take over March 31. The question of who will fill Mullin's seat is being closely watched, as he was widely viewed as one of President Donald Trump's closet allies in the Senate. But the decision that will impact national politics ultimately comes down to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who isn't giving away any hints. Advertisement Advertisement From cage fights to Jan. 6, inside five of Mullins most controversial moments Names known around the state like oil tycoon and Trump megadonor Harold Hamm and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell have been tossed out, along with those who aren't so recognizable, including Dustin Hilliary. Hilliary is Stitt's senior adviser who many political insiders say is at the top of the governor's list. Pam Pollard, an Oklahoma delegate to the GOP convention and former chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said Stitt has proven multiple times that he's his own man and will make a choice that he thinks is best. "I don't think he's going to bow to any outside pressure," Pollard said. "He's proven that in the past appointments he's made." Advertisement Advertisement Stitt has 30 days to appoint someone to serve the remainder of Mullin's term once he formally resigns after being tapped to become the nation's next Secretary of Homeland Security. Mullin is expected to take over as acting secretary March 31. Messages left for Stitt's spokespeople regarding who he would appoint were not returned. When The Oklahoman called the main number for the governor's office mid-day on Friday, March 6, the person who answered said the office had received similar requests for comment and that his office "should be sending something out in response soon. Charity Linch, chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said she's spoken with Stitt about possible appointees. While she didn't give away any names, Linch said she's excited and they're all good picks under consideration. How long would the Senate appointee be in office? Whoever Stitt decides to appoint will not be able to run in the seat's next election in November, according to state law. This means they would serve in the Senate for about seven months. Advertisement Advertisement State statute says in the case of a vacancy occurs in the U.S. Senate, if the vacant office is already scheduled to be filled at the next election, then no special election shall be called. In that case, the candidate elected in November is deemed to have been elected to fill the vacancy and is eligible to assume the office once the state election board has certified the results of the election. However, Stitt has said he would be appointing someone to serve until Jan. 3, 2027. A spokesperson for Stitt did not respond to a request for clarification regarding how that might contradict with state law. When is Markwayne Mullin up for reelection? Oklahoma legislator's election history Oil tycoon Harold Hamm reportedly requests appointment to Mullin's Senate seat So far, just one Oklahoman is known to have formally placed a bid to the governor and asked for the appointment -- Harold Hamm. Advertisement Advertisement An Oklahoma oil magnate, Hamm is one of the wealthiest people in the U.S. with close ties to Stitt and Trump. Hamm, who founded and chairs Continental Resources, was named as one of the donors helping to fund the controversial new ballroom in the White House East Wing. As reported by nonprofit digital news outlet NOTUS, Hamm called Stitt the day Mullin was tapped for his new post to ask for the appointment to Oklahoma's soon-to-be-open Senate seat. Close Kevin Stitt allies might take up Mullin's Senate seat Stitt might also be considering close allies who haven't served as a politician: Dustin Hilliary, Donelle Harder and Alex Gray. Stitt has a record of appointing non-politicians to high profile posts, including in 2025 when he picked veteran career-tech leader Lindel Fields to serve out the term of controversial State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Hillary Communications Co-CEO Dustin Hilliary points to a family portrait inside the company's headquarters in Lawton, Okla., Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Hilliary has never served in the capacity as an elected official but has been building a statewide profile. He currently serves as Stitt's senior adviser after he was appointed to the role in the fall of 2025. The governor also appointed Hilliary to a nine-year term as a state regent in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Hilliary also serves as chair of political affairs for the powerful State Chamber of Oklahoma. He is a co-owner of Lawton-based Hilliary Communications, a telephone and broadband service provider that has more than 15,000 customers in Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. Hilliary could not be reached for comment. Harder, meanwhile, is Stitt's right-hand who serves as his chief of staff. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Donelle Harder package food items for distribution after a media availability at the Regional Food Bank Food Oklahoma, Oct. 29, 2025. Gray is the chief executive officer and co-founder of American Global Strategies, an international strategic advisory firm. Would Gov. Kevin Stitt tap Charles McCall, Chip Keating? Stitt could also choose from a cast of Republicans currently running to replace him, like his former public safety adviser Chip Keating or former state House Speaker Charles McCall, who worked closely with Stitt. Advertisement Advertisement Appointing one of those candidates could help clear out the packed GOP field for governor and make it easier for a Stitt ally to defeat Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Stitt's longtime political nemesis. Chip Keating speaks during a governor forum with the Oklahoma GOP at the Capitol View Events Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. However, both the McCall and Keating campaigns indicated they had no plans to leave the governor's race. Keating's spokesperson Meyer Siegfried said the gubernatorial candidate would not accept an appointment to the Senate seat. "He is laser-focused on running for governor, and he believes this is how he can best serve Oklahoma," Siegfried said. Former state House Speaker Charles McCall speaks during a governor's forum at Randall University in Moore, Okla., Thursday Feb. 19, 2026. McCall said he trusts the governor will appoint the right person to help Trump advance his agenda, though he remains "focused on becoming the next governor of Oklahoma and am incredibly happy for my friend Markwayne Mullin whom is an incredible pick by President Trump. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell among those named as potential Senate appointee Stitt works closely with Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, and the Republican could be among the governor's short list of potential appointees. Pinnell assumed office in 2019, and his current term ends in January. He's not eligible to run again. Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell speaks during a press conference at the Oklahoma History Center announcing the Kickin It On Route 66: OKC Centennial Celebration", Tuesday Feb. 17, 2026. Pinnell's spokesperson Kaitlyn Rivas said the lieutenant governor is watching how things unfold and evaluating where he could best continue serving Oklahomans in the future. Two Oklahoma Congress members could run for the Senate seat It's possible that Mullin's departure could lead to other open Oklahoma congressional seats. At least two Oklahoma Congress members might reroute their campaigns to run for Mullin's open Senate seat rather than seek reelection for their posts in the House. Advertisement Advertisement On social media, Rep. Stephanie Bice said she's carefully considering running for the seat. The Republican assumed office in 2021. She's up for reelection in November with one confirmed competitor, Democrat Jena Nelson. However, if Bice drops out of the Oklahoma Congressional District 5 race, other Republicans might place their bids because they'll likely be more successful in a GOP primary without an incumbent. Republican Rep. Kevin Hern is also expected to run for the seat. He has represented Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District since 2018 and is up for reelection in November. So far, Hern has three confirmed competitors, Democrats Josh Croisant and Erica Watkins, and one Independent, Mark Sanders. Like in Bice's case, if Hern drops out of the House race, other Republicans would likely run for the seat. Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Frank Lucas could also run for the seat, but Oklahoma's Republican senior Congressman has said he still intends to run for reelection for his seat in the House in November. Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen has not said whether he'll consider running for the Senate seat, however, the Republican is listed among several prospective candidates on the Oklahoma State Chamber's election website, okdecides.com. Republican Rep. Tom Cole has also not said whether he'd run for the Senate seat. Cole holds a powerful position in Congress as chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Will Gentner Drummond drop out of gov race, run for Senate? Attorney General Gentner Drummond speaks during a governor forum with the Oklahoma GOP at the Capitol View Events Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. While rumors circulated that Drummond, a frontrunner in the Republican race for governor, might drop out to pursue a federal role replacing Mullin in the Senate, he confirmed to The Oklahoman that he will be remaining in the race for governor. Advertisement Advertisement "My focus is clear," he said. "I am running for Governor of Oklahoma. Oklahomans want leadership that enforces the law, protects our communities, and helps families dealing with rising costs. Thats where my attention is, and thats the responsibility Im working to earn from the voters. Polls show Drummond is likely to face Keating or McCall in a runoff election for the GOP gubernatorial primary in August. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stitt allies like Harold Hamm, Dustin Hilliary could fill Mullin's Senate seat (NewsNation) The family of Nancy Guthrie still has no answers about what happened to her, an uncertainty mental health experts say can deepen trauma. The search for the missing mother of Savannah Guthrie entered Day 33 as the Today anchor returned to the set Friday for an off-camera meeting with staff. I wanted you to know that Im still standing, and I still have hope, and Im still me, she told them, according to the Today Show. And I dont know what version of me that will be, but it will be. Savannah and Nancy Guthrie. (NBC) Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1, 2026, in Arizona. (Pima County Sheriffs Office) TODAY Pictured: Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie on Thursday, June 15, 2023 (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images) Nancy Guthrie SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA MAY 04: Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBCs Today Show live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage) In this image provided by NBCUniversal, Savannah Guthrie, center, her mom Nancy, left, and Jenna Bush Hager speak, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in New York. (Nathan Congleton/NBCUniversal via AP) Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy on April 17, 2019. (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) Jeff Robb, a Seattle resident wintering in Tucson, signs a banner supporting Nancy Guthrie in Tucson Ariz., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil) Missing persons flyer showing Nancy Guthrie. (Pima County Sheriffs Office) Nancy Guthrie was reported missing Feb. 1, and authorities believe the 84-year-old was abducted from her home in the late night or early morning hours. Although multiple ransom notes have been found, Guthrie has still not been located. Uncertainty in missing cases deepens trauma The uncertainty surrounding a missing loved one can be especially painful, Emily Mellen, a clinical psychologist at Tufts Medical Center, told NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement Its a horrifying experience losing a loved one for any reason, but then when that loved one is a missing person, theres also a lot of open and unanswered questions, she said. Where is Nancy Guthrie? FBI searches home next door, speaks to neighbors I think something that families can struggle with the most is the uncertainty of that, because when you dont know what has happened to your family member, then your brain goes down all of the possible paths of what could have happened to your family member, and you feel the emotional impact of all of those terrible things. Brad Bradley, whose sister Amy went missing during a 1998 family cruise, told NewsNations Marni Hughes, hope doesnt go away. Advertisement Advertisement As unrealistic as it may be to some people that its possible that shes still alive and still out there, he said. Bradley described the initial weeks following his sisters disappearance as agonizing. You cant eat, you cant sleep, lots of anxiety, fear and loss of focus, and its a hard thing. DNA results in for glove found near Nancy Guthries home: Sheriff Mellen said families of those missing often lack closure, making it difficult to begin grieving or healing. Financial strain can also compound the trauma if families take time off work or spend personal funds to aid the search, she said. How families of missing people cope Coping with the trauma often means focusing on the immediate moment rather than the bigger picture, Mellen said. Advertisement Advertisement Thats especially true when you have a missing persons case, where so much of the situation is uncertain, it makes it impossible to think about or plan for the future. Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show Friday and told colleagues she plans to return to the show eventually. I have every intention of coming back, she said. I dont know how to come back, but I dont know how not to. Youre my family. And I would like to try. Mellen said returning to routines like work can help some people cope with trauma. Its impossible to get this off your mind, but just having anything that feels a little bit less uncertain can certainly be soothing. Advertisement Advertisement Forensic expert shares theory about Nancy Guthrie For some people, that might be work, while for others it could be exercise or other routines. But she noted that for some, returning to routine can feel overwhelming. Its what is the best thing for that person at that time, she said. What happened to Nancy Guthrie? Guthrie was reported missing Feb. 1, and authorities believe the 84-year-old was abducted from her home in the late night or early morning hours. Although multiple ransom notes have been found, Guthrie has still not been located. Last month, Savannah Guthrie issued another plea for her mothers return, announcing a private $1 million reward alongside the FBIs existing $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement The FBI said the new reward has generated a surge of new tips in the case, with 1,500 rolling in nearly a month into the search. Anyone with information can reach out at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Phoenixs FBI office cautioned against using the tip line for sharing case theories or well-wishes. Every missing person matters regardless of their background, circumstances, race, religion or past. Missing with Marni Hughes takes you behind the headlines, investigating missing person cases from across the country. Many of the cases we cover come from you. If theres a case you think we should look into, click here to let us know. 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 NewsNation. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., continued to argue that President Donald Trumps attacks on Iran and former President Barack Obamas strikes on Libya were "two completely different things" despite many shared similarities between the two incidents. Pelosi has condemned Trumps strikes while defending President Barack Obama back in 2011. "Theyre not at all alike," Pelosi said. Advertisement Advertisement "What Obama did was limited military force. This is beyond that. It was limited military force," she continued. Trump Admin Warned Lawmakers Israel Was 'Determined To Act With Or Without Us' Before Massive Iran Strikes Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks to reporters following a briefing by Trump administration officials to members of the House on U.S. strikes on Iran, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026. (Getty Images) Since Trump began Operation Epic Fury last Saturday, targeting Irans military leadership alongside Israel, Pelosi and other Democrats have fiercely condemned the attack, arguing that the president should have sought congressional approval before carrying them out, citing the War Powers Act of 1983. Read On The Fox News App According to that law, a president must inform Congress within 48 hours if U.S. forces are introduced into hostilities and requires congressional authorization for engagements that go past 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Pelosi believes Trumps attack on Iran will likely carry the U.S. past that mark, leading her to believe Trump has skirted the requirements imposed by Congress. House Votes To Let Trump's Operation Epic Fury Continue In Iran "Do your homework. Read the law. We have lost people in war already," Pelosi said. "We dont even know if these people admit that is war going on now." "I just think if you read the law, you will see the difference." The War Powers Act does not use the loss of American servicemembers as a trigger for Congressional approval. 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) Pelosi's War Powers Flip-flop Exposed In Resurfaced Obama-era Clip Contradicts Trump Criticism On Iran Advertisement Advertisement Her stance on Iran runs counter to her previous support for President Obama when he carried out strikes of his own on Libya in 2011. Then, in partnership with other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, the U.S. bombed the forces of Al Gaddafi, the "Mad Dog of the Middle East" and the dictator of Libya. In a parallel to the recent uprisings in Iran, protesters in Libya at the time had been met with brutal force by Gaddafi, who used the military to repress opposition in cities like Benghazi. Obama framed his attack as a way to protect Libyas civilian population against its own government. Trump Sends Official Notification To Congress On Strikes Against Iran Advertisement Advertisement "We struck regime forces approaching Benghazi to save that city and the people within it," Obama said in remarks after the attacks," according to a press release at the time. Although Obama did not pursue congressional authorization, Pelosi said she believed Obama was well within his authority to carry out the strikes. Click Here To Download The Fox News App "Im satisfied that the president has the authority to go ahead," Pelosi said of the Libya strikes. "I say that as one very protective of Congressional prerogative and consultation all along the way." "Yes," Pelosi answered plainly when asked if she believed Obama could continue without congressional say-so. Original article source: Nancy Pelosi doubles down on defending Obama's strikes on Libya while attacking Trump: 'Read the law' (The Center Square) - Nevada state Sen. James Settelmeyer, a Republican, announced Friday he's running for the seat being vacated by Nevada's only Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei. Amodei, who represents northern Nevada including Reno and the capital, Carson City, in the 2nd Congressional District, announced his retirement last month, leading Democrats to now eye the unlikely swing seat. The filing window for candidates seeking office opened this week, with Settelmeyer as the only major Republican politician to declare a candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement But with no incumbent seeking reelection, Democrats are hoping to ride their way into a Republican stronghold as part of their midterm efforts to seize the razor-thin House majority now held by the GOP. Serving the people of Nevada has been the honor of my lifetime, Amodei said in a February press release announcing his retirement. Nobody is prouder of our Nevada congressional district than me. Thank you for the honor. Every achievement worth doing began with listening to Nevadans and fighting for our values. On the national scale, Republicans hold a small four-seat advantage over Democrats, but many recent polls show Democrats with a slight advantage heading into the 2026 elections in November. The result is that with 435 representatives in the House, even an individual seat like Amodeis District 2 could be decisive for party control on the national level. It takes 218 seats to secure a majority. Currently Republicans have 218 seats; Democrats, 214. There are three vacancies after the resignations of Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, and Marjorie Taylor-Green, R-Georgia, and the death of U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-California. Advertisement Advertisement Settlemeyer joins nine other Republicans vying for Amodeis district in the party primary in June. On the other side of the aisle, four Democrats have filed for the office, but none have previously held public office. The filing period for this years election ends March 13. Amodei, who first won congressional office in 2011, previously served in the state Senate and Assembly. I came to Congress to solve problems and to make sure our State and Nation have a strong voice in the federal policy and oversight processes, Amodei said in a statement. I look forward to finishing my term. After 15 years of service, I believe it is the right time for Nevada and myself to pass the torch. Settlemeyer is the only candidate in the race with elected office experience on the state or national scale. He's currently the co-majority whip of the state Senate and represents Churchill, Douglass, Lyon and Storey counties. The campaign is expected to feature major debates over immigration policy, health care and the economy. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California argues that President Donald Trump's ouster of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is the latest sign of decline for the Republican president. "Donald Trump is in retreat," Newsom said Thursday evening in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the latest stop on his national book tour. "Today is a perfect example the first firing of a high-profile Cabinet member." The firing of Noem, a one-time MAGA rock star and close ally of the president who was steering Trump's centerpiece policy of mass deportations as part of the White House crackdown on illegal immigration, rocked the nation's capital and the political world. Advertisement Advertisement Trump's move to remove Noem from the top spot at the Department of Homeland Security came amid mounting criticism of her performance not only from Democrats, but also among some Republicans and members of Trump's political circle. Why Kristi Noem Was Ousted From Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sworn in before she testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Images) Newsom, a vocal Trump critic who is likely to seek the presidency in 2028, hours earlier took to social media after the news about Noem broke to write "BYE GIRL!" Read On The Fox News App At his New Hampshire stop, Newsom claimed that "the dark heart of the administration is not Kristi Noem, it's Stephen Miller," who is White House deputy chief of staff and a longtime top Trump advisor dating back to the president's first White House run in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Something Democrats And Republicans Agree Upon - Firing Noem "It had Noem's fingerprints all over it, but it was Stephen Miller's handbook, and he needs to be next," Newsom said, as he referred to the 2025 move by Trump to send National Guard troops to California in response to immigration protests. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for reaction to Newsom's comments but had not received a response at the time this story published. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller listens during a meeting with President Donald Trump and oil company executives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on January 9, 2026. Newsom's latest book tour stop came two days after Democrats' turnout in Tuesday's primaries in Texas surged to record levels, a promising sign for the party out of power ahead of this year's midterm elections, when the GOP will be defending its narrow majorities in the House and Senate. Advertisement Advertisement "Donald Trump is the leader of the get out the vote for the Democratic Party," Newsom emphasized, as he discussed this week's primary elections. Newsom Predicts Trump Is 'Toast,' Will Drag Gop Into Midterm Wipeout Newsom's stop in New Hampshire, the state that for a century has traditionally held the first presidential primary in the race for the White House, fueled further speculation about a 2028 run by the two-term governor of solidly blue California. The tour also recently took Newsom to South Carolina, and he stopped in Nevada on Wednesday. Both states, along with New Hampshire, hold crucial early voting presidential primaries in the Democratic calendar and all three are vying for the top spot in the party's 2028 nominating schedule. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is considered a likely contender for the 2028 presidential election, speaks about his new memoir "Young Man in a Hurry," during a book tour event in the state which traditionally holds the nation's first primary election for president every four years, at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Newsom's book tour for his memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," has not been without controversy. Advertisement Advertisement At a book event in Los Angeles recently, Newsom stirred controversy by comparing Israel to an "apartheid state." On Thursday, he explained that he was referring to a column by nationally known political commentator and author Tom Friedman, amid the ongoing U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. The weeklong strikes have resulted in the deaths of many of Iran's top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Newsom said, "Tom used that word apartheid as it relates to the direction that Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu, a Trump ally, is going, particularly on the annexation of the West Bank." Newsom Suggests Israel Is An 'Apartheid State,' Netanyahu Influenced Trump's Actions In Iran Advertisement Advertisement "I'm very angry about this war with all due respect, not because I'm angry the supreme leader is dead, quite the contrary. I'm not naive about the last 37 years of his reign, 47 years since the '79 revolution," the governor said. But taking aim at Trump, Newsom added, "I'm also mindful that you have a president who still is inarticulate and incapable of giving us the rationale of, why, why? Now, what's the end game?" Newsom's memoir chronicles his life from a childhood where he coped with dyslexia to his current role as California governor and a high profile national politician. At a book tour event in March in Atlanta, Newsom's remarks about his low SAT test scores and his difficulty reading speeches were pummeled by many on the right as being racially insensitive to Black people. Advertisement Advertisement The governor pushed back, calling the criticism "MAGA-manufactured outrage." Buttigieg, Newsom, Aoc Top Three In New 2028 Poll In Key Presidential Primary State Newsom is the latest potential Democratic 2028 presidential contender to stop in New Hampshire. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, center, and Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, a Democratic Senate candidate, campaign in Manchester, New Hampshire, Feb. 19, 2026. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who finished a close second to Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire's 2020 Democratic presidential primary, made a three-day swing through the state in February. And Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who stopped in New Hampshire in autumn 2025, returns this weekend. Rep. Ro Khanna of California, another likely White House hopeful, also just returned to the Granite State. Advertisement Advertisement Click Here To Download The Fox News App The most recent poll in the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination race in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state, conducted in February by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, indicated Buttigieg at 20% support, with Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York at 15%. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats' 2024 nominee, and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona each stood at 10%, with everyone sampled in the survey registering in single digits. Original article source: Newsom declares Trump is in retreat after Noem ouster, demands Miller be next Russian strategic expert Tatiana Kukhareva, on Saturday, said that the US Treasury Department's 30-day waiver for India to buy Russian oil is about economics, not geopolitics. Speaking to ANI, she said that US President Donald Trump's approach prioritises the economy and money, and he'll ease sanctions if it suits his interests. "It was very clear that it's not really about Russian oil. Trump has been clear from the very beginning that he is about the economy, that he's about money... We've seen how he negotiates. He does it the same way every time, and nothing has changed in all of these years. It was a very safe bet that as soon as the narrative doesn't suit him, he lets it go... If those patterns are remaining the same, then this situation (West Asia conflict) is also more about oil than anything else. As long as he gets what he really wants, he will ease the sanctions to some degree because he is quite logical in the way he operates," she said. She further underlined the recent Venezuela incident, when the US military forces launched a large-scale surprise raid on Caracas and captured Venezuela's former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, stating that it clearly shows how far he can go to obtain commodities. Kukhareva noted that Trump's narratives target domestic audiences, and his actions may not translate to achieving stated goals. The move is seen as a safe bet, given Trump's negotiating style. "Everything a US President says is directed primarily towards their core audience... That is the problem because his narratives do not translate, especially here... The whole shebang with Venezuela showed us just how far he would go to get his hands on commodities... If he is sticking to the geo-economic angle of what he's doing, then as soon as he hits the actual target, we're going to see the narrative reverse," she stated. Speaking on the upcoming midterm elections, Kukhareva said that Trump knows that if the Democrats take even one of the houses back from him, the situation will be difficult for him, making the US President spin stories in the media for the domestic audience. "He spins things in the media for the domestic audience because he's looking at midterm elections. He needs to secure a win because if the Democrats take back even one of the houses, it's going to be difficult for him...So it doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to achieve what they're saying they want to achieve because it's not about regime change. It is not about politics. It's about geo-economics rather than geopolitics, really." Meanwhile, with the crisis in the Gulf severely hampering shipping routes that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States on Thursday (local time) allowed a 30-day waiver for India to purchase Russian Oil to meet its energy requirements. (ANI) The New Jersey Lottery offers multiple draw games for people looking to strike it rich. Here's a look at March 6, 2026, results for each game: Pick-3 Midday: 2-6-8, Fireball: 6 Evening: 3-8-5, Fireball: 2 Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here. Pick-4 Midday: 8-3-0-5, Fireball: 6 Evening: 2-7-0-2, Fireball: 2 Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here. Jersey Cash 5 01-06-14-22-27, Xtra: 01 Check Jersey Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Millionaire for Life 04-10-29-48-50, Bonus: 03 Advertisement Advertisement Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here. Quick Draw Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here. Cash Pop Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results When are the New Jersey Lottery drawings held? Cash4Life: 9:00 p.m. daily. Pick-3: 12:59 p.m. and 10:57 p.m. daily. Pick-4: 12:59 p.m. and 10:57 p.m. daily. Jersey Cash 5: 10:57 p.m. daily. Pick-6: 10:57 p.m. Monday and Thursday. Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Jersey Sr Breaking News Editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Lottery Pick-3, Pick-4, Cash 5, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for Friday, March 6 Several South Dakota political insiders think Kristi Noem will stick with her new role in the Trump administration following her dismissal as U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary, rather than jump into a political race in her home state. Joel Rosenthal is a former chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party. He said Noem returning to state politics is unlikely in the near term, given her new role as special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, which Rosenthal speculated was created for her to have a place to go after she became a liability to the president. President Donald Trump announced Noems new job Thursday on social media and said he would nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, to succeed her at the Department of Homeland Security. The moves followed Noems appearance before a U.S. Senate panel, where she suffered bipartisan criticism of her handling of the administrations mass deportation campaign. The South Dakota Democratic Party celebrated the change. Advertisement Advertisement Kristi Noem has consistently proven there is one thing that has motivated her rise through politics herself, said South Dakota Democratic Party Vice Chair Jessica Meyers in a statement. Democratic activist Cory Heidelberger writes the political blog Dakota Free Press. Like Rosenthal, he said Trump having another job ready for Noem signals she isnt planning to come back to South Dakota. Her former lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, has been serving as governor since she resigned in January 2025 to join the Trump Cabinet. Every signal Ive seen from Gov. Larry Rhoden, as well as the other Republicans in power, is that theyve had enough of Kristi, and they arent going to sacrifice anything to give her room to come back to power within the state, Heidelberger said. The 2026 governors race is closed to Noem. The state constitution says no person shall be elected to more than two consecutive terms as governor. Noem was elected in 2018 and 2022. There are four Republicans, including Rhoden, running for the partys nomination for governor. Advertisement Advertisement There are other political options open to Noem, who is affiliated with a federal political action committee Keeping Republican Ideas Strong Timely & Inventive (KRISTI) that has a balance of $1.1 million, while her Kristi for Governor state candidate committee has a balance of $1.8 million. Noem could run for U.S. Senate or U.S. House in South Dakota. She would need to collect 2,171 nominating petition signatures from registered South Dakota voters and file them by March 31 to appear on the ballot in the primary election, which is June 2. If she instead tried to run as an independent, shed need 3,502 signatures by April 28. The states lone U.S. House seat held by Noem before she was governor is up for grabs because Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson is running for governor. Heidelberger noted that Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley, now running for U.S. House, lost to Noem in the 2018 primary for governor; therefore, theres no way hell step aside and let her run for her congressional seat again. And while a U.S. Senate seat is on the 2026 ballot, incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds has already announced hes running for reelection, so Noem would have to beat him in the June primary. Rounds was governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011, and has served in the Senate since 2015. He has already earned Trumps endorsement for reelection. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) Election 2026 News and commentary on statewide races and ballot questions. Advertisement Advertisement Read the latest> Pat Powers, a Republican, writes the South Dakota political blog Dakota War College. He said that with only a few weeks left to collect signatures until petitions are due to get on the South Dakota ballot, I think the window for getting into the race is closed. Beating Rounds would come with its own challenges, given he has had a campaign in motion for months, is popular in South Dakota, and already has President Trumps endorsement, Powers said. A Republican co-host of Dakota Town Hall, a South Dakota politics podcast, Jake Schoenbeck, said he is of two minds about Noems future. Advertisement Advertisement A logical person would look at Rounds and see their endorsement from Trump, war chest, and general appeal and think I dont have a chance, Schoenbeck said. But then theres Noem, who seems to operate on a hubris so large she might be able to convince herself she still walks on water in South Dakota. Schoenbeck added that he thinks Rounds would trounce her if she got in the race. Noem, who was a legislator before her service in Congress and as governor, has never lost an election. In a social media post Thursday, Noem wrote that she looks forward to her new role as a special envoy for a new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere. Trump said the initiative will be announced Saturday at a conference in Doral, Florida. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE North Dakota Democrats rallied for a turnaround Saturday, endorsing several candidates for statewide office to take on Republicans in November. The Democratic-NPL Party endorsed state Sen. Ryan Braunberger of Fargo for secretary of state, Scot Kelsh of Fargo and John Pederson of Mayville for Public Service Commission and Tim Lamb of Grand Forks for attorney general. The party also issued a letter of support for Tracy Foss of Hatton for superintendent of public instruction. Democrats have 452 delegates participating, which Party Chair Adam Goldwyn said is the most since 2018. The party has 49 legislative candidates so far, but Goldwyn challenged attendees to field candidates in districts that dont yet have anyone running. Advertisement Advertisement The North Dakota Democratic-NPL party has one goal: contest every single election up and down the ballot all across the state, Goldwyn said. Republicans hold a supermajority in the Legislature and all the statewide elected offices. Braunberger, who has represented Fargo in the state Senate since 2023, is seeking to challenge Republican incumbent Michael Howe for secretary of state. Braunberger said he decided to run because he wants to boost public trust in elections. Delegates participate in the Democratic-NPL state convention at Bismarck State College on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Dem-NPL Party Chair Adam Goldwyn speaks March 7, 2026, during the state party convention at Bismarck State College. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Delegates participate in the Democratic-NPL state convention at Bismarck State College on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Advertisement Advertisement Democratic-NPL attorney general candidate Tim Lamb speaks to delegates at the Dem-NPL state convention in Bismarck on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Tracy Foss, left, a candidate for superintendent of public instruction, stands next to her son, Rep. Austin Foss, D-Fargo, during a panel discussion as part of the Dem-NPL state convention in Bismarck on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Patrick Hart, treasurer of the Democratic-NPL Party, passes out ballots March 7, 2026, during the state party convention. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Scot Kelsh, a former state lawmaker seeking a seat on the Public Service Commission, waves to the crowd during his Democratic-NPL state convention speech on March 7, 2026 at Bismarck State College. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo, accepts the Democratic-NPL endorsement for secretary of state during the party's state convention March 7, 2026, at Bismarck State College. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Denver Mayor Mike Johnston waves to the crowd after delivering a keynote speech as part of the Dem-NPL state convention in Bismarck on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Endorsed statewide and legislative candidates for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party gather on stage at the conclusion of the state convention. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) A sign at the Democratic-NPL state convention on March 7, 2026, in Bismarck. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Advertisement Advertisement Howe, a former state lawmaker, was elected in 2022. Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb is seeking to challenge Republican incumbent Drew Wrigley for attorney general, a rematch of the 2022 election. In that race, Lamb earned about 31% of votes. Lamb also recently unsuccessfully ran against Josh Gallion for state auditor in 2024. Lamb said some of his ideas for office include creating a criminal justice review panel, a citizen review board for fraud and a round table for attorneys and judges to suggest improvements to the legal system. The party endorsed Pederson, a history and economics professor at Mayville State University, to run for a six-year term on the Public Service Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Pederson said hes running in part to combat the Republican Partys stronghold over the board. He said Republican commissioners have been too soft on the oil and gas industry. Scot Kelsh, a tutor and special education behavior technician for Fargo Public Schools, was endorsed for the two-year seat on the Public Service Commission. Kelsh previously represented Fargo in the North Dakota Legislature for 18 years between 1996 and 2014. Public Service Commission incumbents Sheri Haugen-Hoffart and Jill Kringstad, both Republicans, are running for election. Republican Deven Styczynski of Enderlin also is running, but previously had not indicated which seat hes seeking. Advertisement Advertisement The party voted to submit a letter of support for Foss to challenge incumbent Levi Bachmeier for superintendent of public instruction. Foss has been an educator for more than 20 years, and now works as a technology and engineering education teacher at Valley Middle School in Grand Forks. Foss is the mother of Rep. Austin Foss, a Fargo Democrat. Foss indicated she supports universal school meals. We know the power of good nutrition on a students ability to learn, she said. No candidates were endorsed for agriculture commissioner or tax commissioner, but the convention passed a rule allowing the Dem-NPL executive committee to make endorsements of qualified candidates for those roles. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus, both Republicans, are so far running for reelection unopposed. Delegates participate in the Democratic-NPL state convention at Bismarck State College on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Resolution push against Trump policies Delegates also voted to criticize the Trump administrations immigration practices at the state party convention Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement The party in a resolution called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol leaders to be removed. Former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in a convention speech held up Minnesotans who protested against immigration agents as an example for North Dakotans to follow. They took to the street with whistles, they donated food and rides, and they recorded injustice and cruelty, and yes, they even did this at the expense of their lives, she said, referencing the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. Other parts of the resolution adopted by the Democratic-NPL Party on Saturday urged North Dakota to provide universal free school lunches, to support tribal communities, called for the rollback of North Dakotas near-total abortion ban and laws that restrict LGBTQ rights. The party also condemned Trumps economic policies. This story has been updated with additional reporting. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The deadly Jan. 25 crash of a private jet in Bangor, Maine, happened after the luxury craft failed to depart within recommended time frames after deicing for the given weather conditions, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board. All six people on board died in the fiery crash, which occurred as the Bombardier CL-650 took off from the Bangor International Airports single runway enroute to France during a fierce winter storm. FAA recommendations for the given conditions called for departure no more than 9 minutes after deicing, but the jet did not leave for nearly 17 minutes, the report said. Snow covers the ground in northwest Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. These photos captured the winter storm's aftermath from the sky. A person shovels snow off their driveway covers in northwest Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A section of West 42nd Street remains snow covered Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Indianapolis. Snow blankets the city Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, as motorists travel along Interstate 65 and West 38th Street in Indianapolis. An aerial photo shows the University of Missouri sitting under several inches of fresh snow on Jan. 25, 2026 in Columbia, MO. An aerial photo shows several inches of fresh snow covering a residential neighborhood on Jan. 25, 2026 in Columbia, MO. Snow covers downtown after a winter storm in Oklahoma City, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. People play in snow after a winter storm in northwest Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Downtown Louisville and snowy interstate conditions are seen on Jan. 25, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. Downtown Louisville and snowy interstate conditions are seen on Jan. 25, 2026. Snow covers the ground in northwest Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Mesmerizing drone photos taken after winter storm show power of nature 1 of 11 Snow covers the ground in northwest Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. These photos captured the winter storm's aftermath from the sky. The jet, operated by a Houston law firm, had departed Texas with a stop in Bangor, about 130 miles northeast of Portland, for fuel and deicing services, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement According to AccuWeather, visibility at the time of the crash was about three-fourths of a mile with a low ceiling of 1,100 feet. According to the NTSB, light snow had been reported but should have been categorized as moderate given the nighttime visibility and temperatures of about 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Those conditions specified a maximum holdover period of nine minutes from the start of the anti-ice application. However, the report said the plane did not depart until nearly 16 minutes after the deicing process had begun at nearly 7:28 p.m. and 13 minutes after application of anti-ice fluid concluded. The report said the plane sat on the deice pad for nearly five minutes before it left. By then, eight minutes had passed since the deicing application had begun, it said. A Bombardier CL-600 type aircraft takes off from Ferihegy Airport in Budapest on August 3, 2009. A review of the planes cockpit voice recorder indicated the flight crew discussed holdover times while taxiing to the runway, with the pilot saying it was standard to have 14 to 18 minutes but that if the wait was more than 30 minutes, the plane would return to the ramp to deice again. Those time frames would have been consistent with the FAAs recommendations for light snow. Advertisement Advertisement The plane took off at 7:44 p.m. and ultimately came to rest upside-down before catching on fire. Federal investigators were initially unable to reach the site with the region under heavy snow and ice from a winter storm sweeping the region. A preliminary review of flight data recorder data revealed no evidence of a flight control malfunction or failure, the NTSB said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deicing delay cited in deadly Maine jet crash An Ohio woman accused of submitting more than 1,700 fraudulent returns to Home Depot as part of a $266,699 multi-state organized retail fraud scheme has been arrested. The Medina Township Police Department identified the woman as Tracy A. James from Adams County, according to our CBS news affiliate, WOIO. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement The investigation revealed that James allegedly used counterfeit drivers licenses and aliases to obtain store credit through fraudulent merchandise returns over the years, according to police. James also made fraudulent returns to other Home Depot locations in Ohio, including: Brunswick Medina Miamisburg Milford Wadsworth She also made returns at several locations in Kentucky as well. Investigators alleged that James schemed a total of $266,699 in fraudulent store credit, and then used that credit to buy merchandise that she later resold online. The Medina County Prosecutors Office indicted James on one count of telecommunications fraud, a second-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement She pleaded guilty on Feb. 27. The Medina County Prosecutors Office sentenced James to five years of community control supervision, 180 days in the Medina County Jail, 100 hours of community service, and to pay Home Depot a total of $266,699 in restitution. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Communities across Oklahoma are reeling from a series of tornadoes that killed four people in two days, including a married couple and a mother and daughter. The storms also destroyed homes and buildings, knocked out power for thousands and left behind heaps of destroyed vehicles and debris. Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency in eight counties hit by wind, hail and heavy rain in parts of northwestern and eastern Oklahoma. At least seven tornadoes touched down the night of Friday, March 6, according to an initial review by the National Weather Service. One of the most destructive hit the small city of Beggs, about 30 miles south of Tulsa. Advertisement Advertisement A married couple was killed in one of four homes destroyed by that tornado, Beggs Mayor Roger Merrill told The Oklahoman. Authorities have not disclosed the names of the couple killed. Merrill said he saw "eight or 10" vehicles "balled up in a mess, and a couple of tractors. One dead horse." A tornado touched down Friday, March 6, in Beggs, Oklahoma, leaving two people dead. The tornado also damaged parts of the local school, destroyed a handful of homes and overturned vehicles. Bobby Tollette, chief of police at Beggs Public Schools, said the city's middle school and bus barn also sustained significant damage. Dugouts at the baseball fields also were damaged, but he didn't know to what extent. "We were supposed to have a game last night," Tollett said. "We were lucky they postponed it because of the bad weather." Advertisement Advertisement Hours after the storm, Okmulgee County officials urged people to stay away from the rural areas north of Beggs that saw the most damage, because onlookers were getting in the way of power crews and other workers trying to help people affected by the storm. Tornado damages Tulsa homes, school campus The damage from the Friday, March 6, storms extended across wide swaths of eastern Oklahoma, including north Tulsa. Photos show extensive damage to Tulsa Tech's Peoria Campus. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said on Facebook that no injuries were reported in the city, but some homes and buildings were damaged and power lines were downed. A tree lies in the front yard of a home on North Lansing Place just north of 36th Street North after storms hit Tulsa on Friday, March 6. Mike Simons, Tulsa World At the height of the storms, more than 15,000 homes were without power across Oklahoma, state emergency management officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Stitt said in a post on social media that he had talked with both Nichols and Merrill on the phone and reiterated the state's support. He said later that he was declaring a state of emergency so Oklahomans affected by the storm could get the resources they need. The declaration covered Alfalfa, Creek, Grant, Major, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties. Flash flooding in Wagoner County prompted multiple water rescues, according to county officials. Oklahoma communities have been hit hard this week by dangerous severe weather and tornadoes, claiming precious lives and causing damage to property," Stitt said in a statement. State Rep. Scott Fetgatter of Okmulgee said he was inspecting the damage around Beggs on the morning of Saturday, March 7. He also issued a public statement saying emergency assistance was available for residents of Beggs and thanked Stitt, Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill and local agencies for helping coordinate aid. A tornado touched down Friday, March 6, in Beggs, Oklahoma, leaving two people dead. The tornado also damaged parts of the local school, destroyed a handful of homes and overturned vehicles. Provided by Beggs Mayor Roger Merrill Beggs residents survey storm damage East Central Electric Cooperative based in Okmulgee said that its crews were working near Beggs on the morning of Saturday, March 7, to replace broken poles and restore power to several dozen homes. Advertisement Advertisement "There is a lot of damage in the Beggs area," the utility provide said in a post on its Facebook page. The operators of Beggs General Store said their business had not been damaged by the storm but noted that other buildings and homes were not as lucky. "If you are in need please reach out as we will help in any way that we can," said a post on the store's Facebook page. "Remember our 'family' and our 'community' will be affected by this for some time." Death toll climbs from string of tornadoes The March 6 storms came one day after a tornado cut across northwest Oklahoma. A 47-year-old mother and her 13-year-old daughter were killed when their vehicle was struck by the March 5 tornado near Fairview, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. Authorities said the woman had been on the phone with her children, warning them to get to safety, when contact was lost. Advertisement Advertisement Representatives with the Weather Service called the March 5 event a "pretty prolific storm." Tornado-related deaths, injuries The four people killed by tornadoes since March 5 mark the first tornado-related deaths recorded in Oklahoma in nearly a year. One person was killed April, 19, 2025, when a tornado hit Hughes County. In 2024, a devastating tornado season brought eight deaths throughout the state and 137 total injuries. The Tulsa Tech Peoria Campus damaged by a Friday night storm Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Tulsa, Okla. Mike Simons, Tulsa World. Weekend forecast Rain isn't over for the weekend in Oklahoma. The Weather Service predicts that most of Oklahoma will see rain continue through the morning of Saturday, March 7, and then give way to cooler temps. Advertisement Advertisement The NWS predicts that the heaviest rainfall will have passed overnight Friday, March 6. Contributing: Josh Kelly of The Oklahoman (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma tornado death toll rises after string of deadly storms Around kitchen tables across the state, parents are reviewing monthly budgets, trimming subscriptions, delaying home repairs and deciding which expenses can wait. These careful choices reflect a reality many Utah families face as the cost of everyday essentials continues to climb nationwide. As paychecks stretch thinner, Utah families are doing everything they can to save money, and the government should be no different. Here in the Utah State Legislature, our financial focus is the same as yours: save money wherever we can, spend money only where it will help the most. As the stewards of your public dollars, we want to keep the government lean, accountable and focused on what actually works. And because we balance our budget every single year unlike the federal government we know fiscal discipline matters. Just like families across the state, we are turning fiscal responsibility into results. This year, we asked every state agency and every appropriations committee, which oversees government spending, to review their budgets to identify programs that are underperforming, duplicative or no longer serving their purpose. Our overall goal is to cut 5% of each agencys spending by reducing programs that may have made sense at one time, but dont anymore. This will allow us to focus our resources on the programs that are most benefiting Utah and its people. Advertisement Advertisement We are unique among states in that every member of our legislative body serves on an appropriations committee. This means that we have voices from all over Utah, from Salt Lake to San Juan, deciding how to spend Utahns hard-earned tax dollars. Having a wide range of perspectives is critical, especially when we have to make tough choices. During the first four weeks of the legislative session, lawmakers carefully review agency budgets, hold public hearings to gather input from stakeholders and members of the public, and shape funding recommendations for the upcoming budget year. Those recommendations then move to the Executive Appropriations Committee, where they are approved as part of the state budget. Our approach is the same approach that many of us use in our family budgeting. We all understand the differences between necessities and extras. You pay the mortgage. You buy groceries. But sometimes you scale back on things like extra streaming services, eating out or season passes that no longer fit the budget. We are asking the same questions: What do we really need? Whats working? And what can we live without? This strategy has already proven effective for Utahns. Last year, state colleges and universities went through a similar review under HB265 Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment. The Legislature challenged higher education institutions to cut low-value spending and reinvest the savings in high-impact programs that lead to better jobs for Utah students. Our colleges and universities undertook the effort, identifying $23 million in administrative costs and reinvesting those savings to expand high-impact opportunities for students in fields like engineering, health care, business and technology. Best of all, these reinvestments come with no tuition or tax increases, making clear that asking hard questions translates into real savings. This is government efficiency done right! No essential programs will be cut, and core services will always be funded. But at a time when life is getting more expensive for Utahns, we have a responsibility to cut costs that dont deliver real value and either reinvest those dollars in programs that do or return them to the people who earned them. As legislators, we know there is no responsibility more important than being responsible stewards of your hard-earned dollars. So, as you continue to follow the news of what were doing here at Utahs 2026 General Legislative Session, know that we have one simple goal: make sure more money stays with Utah families, where it belongs. When Americans decide where to live, they rarely talk about regulation. They talk about jobs, taxes, affordability, opportunity and whether a place feels open to building a future. Yet behind each of those considerations lies a quieter force shaping daily life: the rules governing how work is done. Regulation influences the price of housing, the cost of childcare, how quickly a professional can begin practicing and whether an entrepreneur decides to open a business. When the rules are clear and predictable, economic growth follows. When regulations accumulate and grow outdated, opportunity slows. Advertisement Advertisement States have begun to recognize that regulatory systems designed decades ago no longer match modern realities. Workers move more freely. Businesses expand across state lines. Families compare options. In that environment, regulatory structure becomes part of economic competitiveness. Nebraska has made meaningful progress in recent years. Lawmakers adopted universal recognition of occupational licenses, allowing skilled workers moving from other states to enter the workforce without repeating years of training or paperwork. That reform alone helps address workforce shortages and signals that the state welcomes people who want to contribute. However, licensing reform addresses only one part of a broader challenge. The deeper issue is that regulations tend to grow quietly over time. Agencies implement rules under authority granted by the Legislature, and those rules remain long after conditions change. The cumulative effect is what economists often describe as a hidden tax: Businesses spend resources on compliance rather than hiring or investment, and those costs ultimately appear in the prices consumers pay. The problem is not regulation itself. Rules protecting health, safety and fairness are necessary and often well-intentioned. The challenge arises when the system lacks regular review, clear accountability and transparent measurement of costs and benefits. Over time, even well-intentioned rules can conflict, duplicate one another or outlive their purpose. Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Other states have begun modernizing their approaches. Some require elected lawmakers to approve major regulations before they take effect, ensuring that significant economic decisions remain accountable to voters. Others have created centralized review offices that examine proposed rules, measure their economic impact and eliminate outdated requirements. Virginias regulatory review initiative, for example, reduced regulatory burdens substantially while maintaining core protections. These reforms share a common principle: Regulation should be managed like any other public policy deliberately, transparently and with measurable outcomes. Nebraska has the opportunity to apply that same philosophy. Before major rules take effect, policymakers should require clear economic analysis so legislators and the public understand the likely costs and benefits. Regulations should also be periodically reviewed to confirm they remain necessary rather than persisting indefinitely. Finally, agencies should operate within a framework that encourages simplification and not accumulation. Advertisement Advertisement For consumers, the effect would be subtle but meaningful. Prices rise more slowly when compliance costs fall. Workers relocate more easily when licensing systems function smoothly. Small businesses expand when administrative processes are predictable. For a state competing for population growth, these incremental improvements matter. Economic development is often discussed in terms of incentives and tax policy, but migration decisions increasingly reflect overall quality of governance. Employers and workers alike seek places where rules are understandable and stable. Additionally, entrepreneurs are incentivized to take risks and start a new venture when regulations are clear and easy to understand rather than multi-layered across multiple agencies. Modern regulatory systems communicate something important: that government sees itself not as an obstacle but as a partner in prosperity. Nebraska already demonstrates that reform can occur without sacrificing protections. The next step is extending that success from individual occupations to the regulatory framework as a whole. Doing so would not eliminate regulation. It would ensure regulation remains accountable, current and aligned with public interest. States now compete not only on resources or geography but on institutional design. Those that adapt will attract investment and residents. Those that do not risk gradual decline measured not in dramatic losses but in missed opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Regulatory modernization is therefore less about ideology than about stewardship. It asks whether public rules evolve alongside the people they serve. By committing to review, transparency and accountability, Nebraska can strengthen both its economy and its democratic institutions. Opportunity rarely announces itself with a single decision. More often, it grows from systems that quietly work well. Thoughtful regulatory modernization offers Nebraska precisely that kind of advantage: one built not on headlines, but on confidence in how the state governs itself. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX To cheers in Utah, President Trump just committed to help save the collapsing Great Salt Lake and Make the Lake Great Again. If the administration intends to play a meaningful role in defusing a crisis deemed an environmental nuclear bomb, the president should use his business sense and focus on returns, risks and measurable outcomes. Investing in saving the Great Salt Lake takes water, and getting water requires cue the theme song from The Apprentice money, money, money. Restoring the lake will cost somewhere between $2 billion and $10 billion an amount difficult for Utah to carry alone, even with major state investments and private commitments. The crisis warrants presidential attention: The lake affects air quality for millions of Americans, sustains major Western industries, and supports a multibillion-dollar regional economy. The return on investment practically sells itself. Advertisement Advertisement The Great Salt Lake is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere and contributes roughly half of the regions precipitation. More than 12 million migratory birds depend on the lake. Mining companies extract more than 2 million tons of critical minerals from it each year, powering everything from fighter jets to supercomputers. Its potash fertilizer supports the nations food security, and its brine shrimp harvests support 10 million metric tons of global seafood production annually. The lake has hemispheric importance. And it is disappearing. Decades of overconsumption of water for green lawns in the desert and high-altitude alfalfa farms have driven the lake into decline. In 2022, the lake dropped to the lowest level on record, exposing nearly 1,000 square miles of lakebed. Winds now sweep dust, laced with heavy metals, into communities of downwinders in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada and beyond affecting millions of people. A collapsing Great Salt Lake poses a test case for the world. The Great Salt Lake is one of more than 120 saline lakes worldwide. From Iran to Argentina, nearly all are in a state of collapse. No state no country has ever successfully restored a saline lake once it has slipped into decline. If the U.S. can rescue this lake, it would set an international precedent. This is precisely the kind of legacy a president should want. Advertisement Advertisement So how should Trump structure the deal? The ideas for saving the lake range from the ordinary market-based water transfers and conservation to pipe dreams, such as desalinating water from the Pacific Ocean and pumping it hundreds of miles and thousands of feet uphill. Different schemes come with vastly different price tags. Pipelines and other engineering fixes would not only cost at least an order of magnitude more than the cheaper options, they are also legally and politically fraught. They involve rights-of-way battles with individual property owners, multi-agency permitting, environmental review, delays and predictable litigation. Such fixes would take years probably decades. Measured against return on the investment, the choice is clear. It will cost billions more to fix the lakes troubles if we do not invest in voluntary, market-based water transactions willing sellers, fair prices and enforceable contracts paired with common-sense regulations. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. The lake teeters just above its all-time low. Making matters worse, this winters snowpack which provides 95 percent of Utahs water is the driest on record. Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, Utah has already built the framework for success. The state has modernized its water law to allow voluntary leasing and sales of water rights to benefit the lake. Philanthropic organizations such as Great Salt Lake Rising and Ducks Unlimited have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to support these market-based solutions. Major water rights holders, such as the Mormon Church, have donated tens of thousands of acre-feet of water in perpetuity. The architecture to deliver major wins for the lake exists. Washington can capitalize on it. Federal investment could accelerate water leasing, stabilize lake levels and prevent much more costly consequences damaged infrastructure, falling property values, emergency dust mitigation, and escalating public health costs. This is risk management: Invest early in proven returns or pay exponentially more later. Los Angeles learned this lesson the hard way. The city has spent more than $2.5 billion on dust mitigation for Owens Lake, a saline lake that is only 6.5 percent the size of Great Salt Lake. Advertisement Advertisement These federal funds could extend to buying water from water rights holders in neighboring states Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada where roughly one-third of the water is used from the rivers that feed into the lake. In 2034, the world will turn its eyes to Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. If Trump delivers much needed funding to save the lake, the world can expect clean air, world-class snow, and a healthy Great Salt Lake. Saving this lake would be a historical first. It would spare the West a host of problems. It would protect a national treasure. That legacy is worth claiming. Brigham Daniels and Elisabeth Parker are professors of law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and co-directors of the Great Salt Lake Project. Ben Kunz is a law student at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney School of Law. Samantha Hawkins is a communications strategist for Grow the Flow, a Great Salt Lake nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement 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. BEIRUT, March 7 (Reuters) - More than 150 Iranian nationals including diplomats and their families left Lebanon on Saturday, a senior Lebanese security source told Reuters, after the Israeli military threatened Iran's representatives in Lebanon and conducted strikes near the embassy. The security source said they were being flown to Russia on a Russian plane, and that another 20 Iranians had left on Friday following the start of a new war between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel. A source from the Iranian embassy in Beirut said a number of non-essential diplomats were leaving, but did not give a number. Advertisement Advertisement Iran's foreign ministry confirmed in a later statement that Iranian nationals residing in Lebanon have temporarily left Beirut owing to the security situation in the country. The Iranian embassy in Lebanon continues its normal operations and consular services for Iranian nationals residing there will continue as before, it added. The war has refocused attention on Iran's backing for Hezbollah, which launched rockets and drones at Israel on Monday and triggered heavy Israeli bombardment across Lebanon. On Tuesday, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a post on X that representatives of the Iranian government still in Lebanon should "leave immediately before they are targeted". Advertisement Advertisement The following day, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam asked authorities to arrest and deport any Iranian Revolutionary Guards carrying out military activities in Lebanon, the first time authorities have hinted at the possible presence of Iranian forces on its territory. The Lebanese government has not said whether it has determined that Iranian forces were operating in Lebanon. Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati earlier this week denied that any Iranian military forces were in the country. On Friday, Israeli air strikes hit an area near Iran's embassy in Lebanon, two security sources told Reuters. The Iranian embassy source told Reuters that the strikes had driven the decision for Iranian diplomats to leave. But Lebanese authorities had also been planning to make moves against Iranian diplomats this week, two people familiar with the government's discussions told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement They said the Lebanese government had intended to expel diplomats from the country. Reuters could not determine whether the diplomats who had left so far were ousted or left for security reasons. (Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Jan Harvey and Alistair Bell) Blog Archive: Mar 2026 (70) Feb 2026 (140) Jan 2026 (155) Dec 2025 (126) Nov 2025 (141) Oct 2025 (153) Sep 2025 (149) Aug 2025 (154) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'Parivartan Yatra' continues to witness strong public participation across multiple divisions of West Bengal, as citizens rally against corruption, misgovernance, and the failures of the Trinamool Congress government, according to a press release. At the 'Poriborton Yatra' programme in Medinipur Division, BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya addressed the gathering and sharply criticised the state government. He stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had once promised to remove the fear created during the CPI(M) regime, but today the people of West Bengal are once again living in an atmosphere of insecurity. Referring to the recent bomb blast at Paikara, he asked, "Which state are we living in?" He alleged that corruption has reached the level where money is being demanded for recruitment in colleges. At a time when unemployed youth need jobs, the Trinamool Congress government is talking about allowances rather than creating employment opportunities. Bhattacharya said that Medinipur is the land of great personalities like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Matangini Hazra, and Khudiram Bose, yet under the present government, there is no hope left for industrialisation, the press release said. He further stated that the Trinamool Congress has become a "tested and rejected" political force. According to him, the party had come to power promising to restore democracy and remove fear from society, but instead it has turned the state into an open market where fundamental rights are being trampled. He also referred to irregularities in voter lists, stating that during verification processes, there have been instances where the age difference between father and son is barely ten years. According to press release, he mentioned remarks by TMC leader Firhad Hakim, who described non-Muslims as "unfortunate," and warned that if the TMC government is not removed from power, Bengalis could eventually become refugees in their own land. Bhattacharya also alleged that there is a planned attempt to alter the demographic character of Bengal and that similar efforts are being carried out across India. Referring to recent incidents, he said that statues of Rabindranath Tagore have been vandalised in Bangladesh and that in Malda, a TMC leader reportedly burned a picture of the Nobel laureate. He highlighted how many young people from West Bengal are being forced to migrate to other states for employment, leaving behind their elderly parents. He asserted that the BJP will change this situation and bring back opportunities to the state, the release stated. He called upon people to say "No to TMC" and urged citizens to participate in the Brigade Rally on 14 March, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a massive public gathering. The Poriborton Yatra in Phulbari, Dakshin Dinajpur district, was attended by Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, MP Khagen Murmu, Kartik Pal, MLA Budhrai Tudu, and other BJP leaders and workers. Sukanta Majumdar said BJP workers are standing in the scorching heat to ensure the success of the programme, adding that if it had been a TMC programme, biriyani packets would have been needed to keep the crowd intact. He said the BJP is committed to bringing real change by creating jobs, improving healthcare infrastructure, and protecting West Bengal from emerging demographic challenges. He noted that government schemes are funded by taxpayers' money and therefore every citizen should benefit from them equally. He also criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for staging dharnas, remarking that she appears to be preparing herself to become the Leader of the Opposition and may soon be known as "Dharna Didi." Majumdar announced that once the BJP comes to power in West Bengal, the 7th Pay Commission will be implemented for police, teachers, and other government employees. All vacant government posts will be filled by December 2026. Medical colleges will be established in Dakshin Dinajpur within five years. He also announced that a special train will run from Balurghat to Kolkata to enable people to participate in the Brigade Rally on 14 March. He reiterated that the BJP is committed to building a "Sonar Bangla" where the rights of every citizen are protected. At the Poriborton Yatra programme in Mangalkot Assembly constituency, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the Trinamool Congress government of pushing West Bengal toward decline through corruption and appeasement politics. He stated that the BJP-led central government has provided over Rs. 10 lakh crore to West Bengal, significantly more financial assistance than previous Congress governments. He alleged corruption even in welfare schemes such as Annapurna Yojana, which benefits nearly seven crore people. According to him, there have been instances of food grains being smuggled into Bangladesh. He further claimed that funds provided by the central government for housing, sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission, and drinking water schemes have been misappropriated by the state government. Adhikari also alleged that many farmers, Hindus, and Adivasis are being denied benefits under PM-Kisan because their names are not being forwarded by the state government to the Centre. He described the Yuva Sathi scheme as another scam similar to the earlier Yuvashree scheme, accusing the ruling party of playing with the lives of youth for electoral gain. He assured government employees that the BJP will implement Dearness Allowance and the 7th Pay Commission within 45 days of coming to power. He also promised the Annual SSC examinations with transparent recruitment, filling of vacancies in a fair manner, and a five-year age relaxation for candidates who missed opportunities due to recruitment scams He said the upcoming election is about the safety and dignity of women, promising strict punishment for criminals and a secure environment for women across the state. Meanwhile, the Poriborton Yatra also witnessed enthusiastic participation in the Sreerampur Assembly Constituency of the Howrah-Hooghly division, where Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw joined the Road Show. As the Poriborton Yatra continues to move across districts and divisions of the state, it is witnessing increasing public participation and support. The Bharatiya Janata Party reiterated that this movement represents the collective aspiration of the people for development, employment, security, and the restoration of democratic values, and reaffirmed its commitment to building a "Visit Bengal" where the rights and opportunities of every citizen are protected. (ANI) A Lehigh Valley man who voted twice for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election is facing prison time. On Wednesday, Matthew Laiss, who lives in Bethlehem, was convicted of felony voter fraud charges by a federal jury. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the 32-year-old Laiss moved from Ottsville, Bucks County, to Frostproof, Florida, around August 2020, where he registered to vote and cast a ballot on election day. But Laiss also cast a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Todays conviction reinforces a simple principle: our elections must be fair, secure, and lawful, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said in a statement. Casting a ballot in more than one jurisdiction undermines public trust and dilutes the votes of others. Our office will continue to protect the integrity of federal elections and hold accountable those who violate the law. Last year, Laiss argued that he should receive immunity under a sweeping pardon issued by President Donald Trump last November granting immunity to Rudy Giuliani and others involved in his effort to overturn the 2020 election. Trump lost the election to former President Joe Biden, but still falsely claims he won. The move was largely symbolic, however, as many of the 77 people named in the pardon, which did not include Laiss, were facing state charges and not federal ones. Advertisement Advertisement Laiss lawyer, however, argued the pardons language was broad enough to apply to his client, since it read, in part, that it granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all United States citizens for conduct relating to voting, activities, participation in or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential electors, whether or not recognized by any State. Ultimately, District Court Judge Joseph Leeson Jr. ruled against that argument in January, noting Laiss never applied to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, nor received a certificate of pardon. The case was investigated by the FBI and Pennsylvania Department of State. The double voting was uncovered with the help of a multistate voter roll maintenance program called ERIC, which was the target of conservative attacks in the years after the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Numerous conservative-run states left ERIC between the 2020 and 2024 election, including Florida, where Laiss was double-registered. Pennsylvania remains an ERIC member state, though state Sen. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson), who rejected the results of the 2020 election, introduced legislation to withdraw in 2023. The bill made it through two Republican-controlled Senate committees, even receiving some Democrat votes, but was never taken up before the full chamber. A top Pentagon official said Anthropic's dispute with the government over the use of its artificial intelligence technology in fully autonomous weapons came after a debate over how AI could be used in President Donald Trump's future Golden Dome missile defense program, which aims to put U.S. weapons in space. U.S. Defense Undersecretary Emil Michael, the Pentagon's chief technology officer, said he came to view the AI company's ethical restrictions on the use of its chatbot Claude as an irrational obstacle as the U.S. military pursues giving greater autonomy to swarms of armed drones, underwater vehicles and other machines to compete with rivals like China that could do the same. I need a reliable, steady partner that gives me something, thatll work with me on autonomous, because someday itll be real and were starting to see earlier versions of that," Michael said in a podcast aired Friday. "I need someone whos not going to wig out in the middle. Advertisement Advertisement The comments came after the Pentagon formally designated San Francisco-based Anthropic a supply chain risk, cutting off its defense work using a rule designed to prevent foreign adversaries from harming national security systems. Anthropic has vowed to sue over the designation, which affects its business partnerships with other military contractors. Trump has also ordered federal agencies to immediately stop using Claude, though the Republican president gave the Pentagon six months to phase out a product thats deeply embedded in classified military systems, including those used in the Iran war. Anthropic said it only sought to restrict its technology from being used for two high-level usages: mass surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Michael, a former Uber executive, revealed his side of months-long talks with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in a lengthy conversation with Silicon Valley venture capitalists Jason Calacanis, David Friedberg and Chamath Palihapitiya, co-hosts of the All-In" podcast. A fourth co-host, former PayPal executive David Sacks, is now Trump's AI czar and was not present for the episode but has been a vocal critic of Anthropic, including for its hiring of former Biden administration officials shortly after Trump returned to the White House last year. As talks hit an impasse last week, Michael lashed out at Amodei on social media, saying he has a God-complex and wants nothing more than to try to personally control" the military. In the podcast, however, he positioned the dispute as part of a broader military shift toward using AI. Michael said the military is developing procedures for enabling different levels of autonomy in warfare depending on the risk posed. Advertisement Advertisement This is part of the debate I had with Anthropic, which is we need AI for things like Golden Dome, Michael said, sharing a hypothetical scenario of the U.S. having only 90 seconds to respond to a Chinese hypersonic missile. A human anti-missile operator may not be able to discriminate with their own eyes what theyre going after, but an autonomous counterattack would be a low risk because its in space and youre just trying to hit something thats trying to get you. In another scenario, he said, who could oppose if you have a military base, you have a bunch of soldiers sleeping, that you have a laser that can take down drones autonomously? In response to the podcast comments, Anthropic pointed to an earlier Amodei statement saying Anthropic understands that the Department of War, not private companies, makes military decisions. We have never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner. Advertisement Advertisement Michael, the defense undersecretary for research and engineering, was sworn in last May and said he took over the military's AI portfolio in August. That's when he said he began scrutinizing Anthropic's contracts some of which dated from President Joe Biden's Democratic administration. Michael said he questioned Anthropic over terms of use that he deemed too restrictive. I need to have the terms of service be rational relative to our mission set, he said. So we started these negotiations. It took three months and I had to sort of give them scenarios, like this Chinese hypersonic missile example. Theyre like, OK, well give you an exception for that. Well, how about this drone swarm? Well give an exception for that. And I was like, exceptions doesnt work. I cant predict for the next 20 years what (are) all the things we might use AI for. That's when the Pentagon began insisting Anthropic and other AI companies allow for all lawful use of their technology, Michael said. Anthropic resisted that change, arguing that today's leading AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons." Advertisement Advertisement Its competitors Google, OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI agreed to the Pentagon's terms, though some still have to get their infrastructure prepared for classified military work, Michael said. The other sticking point for Anthropic was not allowing any mass surveillance of Americans. They didnt want us to bulk-collect public information on people using their AI system, Michael said, describing the negotiations as interminable. Anthropic has disputed parts of Michael's version of the talks and emphasized that the protections it sought were narrow and not based on existing uses of Claude. The next stage of the dispute will likely happen in court. By Leigh Thomas PERPIGNAN, France, March 7 (Reuters) - In the streets of Perpignan, a faded Mediterranean city near France's border with Spain, the incumbent far-right mayor Louis Aliot is pitching a simple message as he asks voters for another term: more police, more cameras and more order. The National Rally (RN) mayor has made security the centrepiece of his administration, and his party is holding up this city of 122,000, the biggest it controls, as a blueprint for governance that it hopes to replicate elsewhere ahead of nationwide municipal elections this month. Advertisement Advertisement Aliot, who leads in polls despite an embezzlement conviction that could bar him from office if his appeal fails, said Perpignan has been a laboratory for RN governance since he won city hall in 2020 and a showcase for its national ambitions when the French vote for a new president in 2027. "When the National Rally is in office, well, we govern, we run cities and we run them well," he said in an interview. Wins in other cities would give Marine Le Pen's party a springboard going into next year's presidential election. Polls show the RN performing well in Toulon, Nice and Marseille, although a two-round system makes final outcomes hard to forecast. TOUGH TALK Advertisement Advertisement The RN's law-and-order message resonates with many voters in Perpignan, where just streets from the Catalan-influenced, historic centre lie run-down neighbourhoods that are among France's poorest. Two weeks before the March 15 and 23 elections, RN leader Jordan Bardella and hard-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon - both presidential hopefuls - held duelling weekend rallies, turning the city into a symbolic battleground. "Faced with the violence engulfing our country year after year, we intend to make public order an absolute priority," Bardella told supporters. Aliot promised 50 more police officers and 200 surveillance cameras, particularly in outer suburbs to which the middle class has fled from poverty-stricken inner neighbourhoods that are home to the city's sizeable North African and Roma populations. Advertisement Advertisement The city has already expanded its municipal force to 199 officers from 161 in 2020, and now deploys 1.6 municipal police per 1,000 residents - proportionally the highest among French cities of more than 100,000 and nearly three times Paris's 0.6, according to Reuters' analysis of Interior Ministry data. More aggressive policing has seen drug-trafficking cases climb sharply, with Perpignan now reporting the seventh most among over 50 large French cities, up from 18th in 2020. Overall trafficking cases opened by police have more than doubled, while fixed-penalty fines for minor possession have quadrupled. FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS The security focus comes at a cost. Municipal debt stands at 1,600 euros per inhabitant, well above the 1,200 average in similar-sized cities, according to Finance Ministry data. Advertisement Advertisement Property tax rates are higher than in 71% of comparable cities, and 98% of peers have lower local business taxes. Even so, business weekly Challenges ranked Perpignan the third best-run city in France last week, a talking point for Aliot's allies as they try to convert security-minded voters beyond the RN's base. Aliot leads with 44% in the first round according to an early December Ifop poll, benefiting from a fractured opposition split among five rivals. A far-right political veteran, Aliot has been central to Le Pen's campaign to soften the image of the anti-immigration party and make it more palatable to the mainstream voter. Opinion polls project either Le Pen or Bardella, her protege, winning the first round of next year's presidential vote and facing a tight run-off contest. Advertisement Advertisement On the ground, reactions were mixed. At a city-centre market, retiree Marie Nivet said she welcomed cleaner streets and visible policing, though she wanted more action on drugs. She was undecided on whether to support Aliot because of the looming appeal court verdict over misuse of EU funds that also threatens Le Pen's political survival. Aliot said he would appeal any unfavourable outcome to France's highest court, but that others in his team could take his place if needed. The legal uncertainty didn't bother Laure Guerin, a retired private-school administrator, who said she would back Aliot because of the RN's law-and-order stance. Advertisement Advertisement Others were more wary. Christian Pyguillem, a retired property manager, credited Aliot with cleaner streets and better security, but said entrenched poverty in some neighbourhoods requires deeper urban renewal than any mayor has attempted. "We'll give him another six years, but it's a vote motivated by the local situation, I don't agree with their other ideas," he said. SPLINTERED OPPOSITION Rivals said the security push has failed to deliver and that city finances have deteriorated. Centre-right challenger Bruno Nougayrede accused Aliot of neglecting local duties for national politics and putting publicity before results. Advertisement Advertisement "These five years have been marked by complete inaction for the people of Perpignan," Nougayrede told Reuters. "A lot of resources went into PR, but the city itself has not changed." Hard-left candidate Mickael Idrac called Aliot's record "catastrophic," blaming "frenzied" investment in arming police and surveillance cameras. He also criticised what he described as divisive rhetoric. Aliot countered that voters would judge by how they feel in their streets. He casts the RN as the party willing to enforce order after decades of drift by rivals on left and right. "If the left had defended the poor, we wouldn't be here today. If the right had defended order, we wouldn't be here today," Aliot said. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; editing by Richard Lough and Alex Richardson) The Brief Philadelphia school leaders discussed the ongoing teacher shortage during a panel at Temple University on Monday. Superintendent Tony Watlington said the district filled 97 percent of teaching vacancies this year but wants to reach 100 percent. New strategies include out-of-state recruitment, alternative licensing, and programs for high school students interested in teaching. PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia school officials and education leaders met at Temple University on Monday to address the ongoing teacher shortage, which they described as a crisis affecting schools across the country. District leaders discuss the scope of the teacher shortage What we know Superintendent Tony Watlington said there has been a 71 percent decline over the past decade in people choosing to attend Pennsylvania colleges to become teachers. Advertisement Advertisement "In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 71 percent decline over the past decade in individuals choosing to go to public or private university in Pennsylvania to become a teacher," said Watlington. Watlington said the district was able to fill 97 percent of teacher vacancies this year but emphasized that is not enough. "We need to get to a point where we fill 100 percent of our teaching vacancies. We need high qualified, well-supported, stable teachers," said Watlington. Panelists, including State Sen. Vincent Hughes, described the teacher shortage as a crisis and discussed the need for new approaches to attract and retain educators. District leaders say the shortage impacts students learning and the quality of education across Philadelphia schools. New strategies and partnerships aim to rebuild the teacher pipeline "Weve got to work together to rebuild the pipeline and support hardworking teachers," said Watlington. Advertisement Advertisement The district is using several strategies to address the shortage, including enhanced out-of-state recruitment and hiring teachers with alternative licenses. Watlington said, "We have people who already work in our schools, may have two-year degree or less In our pathways initiative we are getting these individuals through college program free of charge. State has kicked in money. We are paying student teachers to make it easier for people to become teachers." Philadelphia schools are also partnering with Temple Universitys education department and offering programs for high school students interested in teaching. Senior Iman Byrd described her experience: "Its a two-year program. We get to be teacher assistants run our own mini-course classes on Wednesdays after school. We get college credit. We get to learn about the teacher experience. I do enjoy it and I do enjoy seeing the joy and insight they have and how smart they are truly amazing to be in that environment," said Byrd. Advertisement Advertisement Watlington highlighted the importance of teachers in society, saying, "Teachers are the people who help build the worlds largest economy strongest military help to train doctors, lawyers, accountants, electricians, carpenters, everybody who goes to school for all these professions teachers so important." The district says it hopes these efforts will help attract more people to the teaching profession and ensure every classroom has a qualified teacher. What we don't know It is not yet clear how soon the district expects to reach its goal of filling 100 percent of teaching vacancies or how effective the new strategies will be in the long term. The Source Information from the School District of Philadelphia and panel discussion at Temple University. VIRGINIA BEACH Want a piece of Haygood Skating Centers history? Squares of the original roller rink floor are for sale to raise money for a local nonprofit that mentors teenage boys. The beloved skating center closed Jan. 11 after 52 years. Dana Chaput owns the property and is in the process of selling it to Gray Line Roofing, a Hampton Roads company that plans to convert the building into offices and storage space. Chaput operated the skating center from 1995 to 2016. He lives in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement The renovation will include dismantling the well-loved maple floor that provided decades of fun for countless skaters. Customers had reached out to Chaput to see what he planned to do with it, he said. Since closing, we have had many inquiries about what it may become next, and if not a rink, then what will become of the skating floor? Chaput wrote in a March 2 Facebook post. Many have even asked for a piece of the floor to keep as a memento should it become available. Chaput came up with the idea to sell pieces of the floor to raise money for the Harris Institute, a Norfolk nonprofit Christian organization that offers mentorship programs and overseas missions to at-risk teens. He heard about the institute through Rev. Stefanie Joyce, who serves as the organizations chief operating officer. Her husband owns Gray Line Roofing. Joyce went on a mission trip to Uganda and another group went to Ghana last year. Advertisement Advertisement We had this concept of getting together a group of teens and providing hands-on mentorship and the culmination would be taking those teens to Ghana, Joyce said. They came back from that with a totally different mindset. Sections of the 14,000-square-foot floor with the plywood backing still attached are available. The prices: $15 for 1 square foot; $25 for 4 square feet and $50 for 16 square feet. Custom sizes are $7 per square foot. Chaput will donate 50% of the proceeds to the Harris Institute. We are thrilled, said Antipas Harris, chairman. We believe in the work were doing and the uplift in the work. Were grateful that they see this vision as something they can get behind. For years, Haygood Skating Center supported numerous community efforts, and Chaput saw this as a final opportunity to give back, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Its nice walking away from it and knowing that were going help some people in the last stretch, Chaput said. He plans to use some of the floor segments to build stairs in his house. The material could be used to make cornhole boards, too, he said. A former Haygood customer plans to buy enough pieces to build a skating floor in his garage, Chaput said. Buyers will be able to pick up their floor sections on March 28 at Haygood Skating Center. Part of its going to live on, Chaput said. To purchase pieces of the floor, email Dana Chaput at vbsharkz99@aol.com. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man accused of raping a 94-year-old woman in Baton Rouge has been arrested. Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse Jr. confirmed the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Jeremiah Taylor, faces charges of first-degree rape, second-degree battery, cruelty to the infirmed and obscenity. Jeremiah Taylor, 22, was arrested on Friday, March 6 after being accused of raping an elderly woman in Baton Rouge. Jeremiah Taylor, 22, was arrested on Friday, March 6 after being accused of raping an elderly woman in Baton Rouge. Investigators reported the incident allegedly took place at the elderly womans home in the 11000 block of East Black Oak Drive in the Park Forest/Sherwood Forest area on Thursday, March 5. Advertisement Advertisement Morse reported that the suspect has a previous criminal history that includes two burglaries from May 2024. He was also arrested for first-degree rape and other related charges stemming from an incident that occurred in August 2024. He was released from prison in mid-January 2026 in connection with that prior rape charge. Prayers and thoughts for not only the victim but their entire family that she had to go through this please put them in your prayers. Put your arms around them and continue to look out for each other in your neighborhoods and let us know how we can help, Morse said. When youre looking at one of the most vulnerable parts of our population, the elderly, to take advantage of them in this way; horrendous, unacceptable. I dont know what word you really use. Im really dumbfounded to try to explain it, Morse went on to say. Police added that within minutes of releasing photos of the suspect, the public helped to identify Taylor. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement 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. 2 people are in the hospital after an accidental shooting at a Kroger in Warren County on Friday night, according to Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The shooting was reported at the Kroger in the 5000 block of State Route 48 around 7:30 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found two victims with minor injuries. They were hospitalized and are in stable condition. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Hughes said a preliminary investigation indicates the victims were injured inside the lobby, or vestibule, area of the store. The gunfire came from outside the store, likely from a nearby property Hughes said the shooting was accidental and an arrest has been made. The suspects identity was not immediately available. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was requested to assist in this investigation, Hughes said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and several other area officers are on scene. When these types of incidents do occur, we come out in full force, and obviously, we will pursue this to the fullest extent until we make an apprehension, Hughes said. Advertisement Advertisement The department said there is no threat to the public. Anyone with information on what happened is encouraged to contact the Hamilton Township Police Department or call Crime Stoppers. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A federal judge in Oregon on Friday limited federal officers use of tear gas during protests at a Portland federal immigration building, as part of a lawsuit filed by an adjacent affordable housing complex following months of repeated exposure. U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio issued the preliminary injunction after a hearing last month in which the complexs residents described physical and psychological symptoms ranging from difficulty breathing, coughing, burning eyes and hives to anxiety and panic attacks. Some also testified about wearing gas masks in their own homes. The case comes amid growing concern over federal officers using aggressive crowd-control tactics, as cities across the country have seen demonstrations against the immigration enforcement surge spearheaded by President Donald Trumps administration. Advertisement Advertisement In her opinion, Baggio said the case was not about the rights of protesters, but rather about allegations from the residents of the Grays Landing apartment building that federal officers use of chemical munitions during protests has been so excessive so enveloping that it violates Plaintiffs rights. The Court recognizes a preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy, but this is an extraordinary case, she wrote. Her order restricts agents from using chemical munitions in quantities likely to reach Grays Landing, which is catty-corner from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, unless needed to respond to an imminent threat to life. A federal judge in a separate Oregon lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of Oregon on behalf of protesters and freelance journalists, previously issued a temporary restraining order limiting agents use of tear gas during protests at the building and is also considering whether to grant a preliminary injunction in that case. Advertisement Advertisement The property manager of the apartment building and several tenants filed the suit against the federal government in December, arguing that the use of chemical munitions has violated residents rights to life, liberty and property by sickening them, contaminating their apartments and confining them inside. This decision protects basic health and safety and the right to live in ones home without fear of chemical weapons being used by the government, Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, a legal nonprofit representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement Friday. Residents should not be harmed simply because they live next to a site of public protest. The defendants, which include ICE and the Department of Homeland Security and their respective heads, say officers have deployed crowd-control devices in response to violent protests at Portland's ICE facility, which has been the site of demonstrations for months. ICE and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs filed an updated request for a preliminary injunction in late January, after agents launched gas at a crowd of demonstrators including young children that local officials described as peaceful. Of the affordable housing complexs 237 residents, nearly a third are age 63 or older, according to court filings. Twenty percent of units are reserved for low-income veterans and 16% of tenants identify as disabled. The government said in court filings that federal officers have at times used crowd control devices in response to crowds that are violent, obstructive or trespassing or do not comply with dispersal orders. It has also pushed back against the claims of tenants constitutional rights being violated, saying that under such an argument, federal and state law enforcement officers would violate the Constitution whenever they deploy airborne crowd-control devices that inadvertently drift into someones home or business, even if the use of such devices is otherwise entirely lawful. The preliminary injunction will remain in effect as the lawsuit proceeds. Passengers traveling from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale arrived in the early hours of March 7 after a flight was diverted because of concerns about a possible security issue involving a passenger. Southwest Airlines Flight 2094, which departed Nashville International Airport for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Friday evening, was diverted to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport "to respond to a possible security matter," a Southwest spokesperson said. Less than an hour into the flight, the flight crew became concerned with a traveler who was praying in a non-English language, according to airline officials and air traffic control audio logs. Advertisement Advertisement "Hey, this is the captain speaking to you. We've got one passenger that was being very suspicious," the Southwest pilot said when calling in to Atlanta Air Traffic Control. "He had a timer going off every 10 minutes, foreign languages, worried about his bag, so everybody got uncomfortable. We've got a 25-year flight attendant back there who's uncomfortable with it." After the plane landed safely in Atlanta around 9 p.m., officers with the Atlanta Police Department escorted the passenger off the aircraft. Federal authorities later determined the man did not pose a threat, and no charges were filed, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "We appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew and sincerely apologize to our customers for the significant delay," a Southwest spokesperson said. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees." The flight landed safely in Atlanta around 9 p.m. local time after the crew reported a passenger disturbance, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement A passenger was removed by the Atlanta Police Department, according to Southwest. Then, FBI officials confirmed he did not present a threat. A spokesperson with the Atlanta Police Department noted officers assisted federal partners with "last nights incident" at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The remaining passengers boarded another aircraft and continued on to Fort Lauderdale, arriving just before 3:30 a.m., a Southwest spokesperson said, adding the airline has reached out to apologize for the situation. Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com. Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@tennessean.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville flight threat 'very suspicious,' pilot said; no danger found KANSAS CITY, Mo. Strong and severe storms moved through the Kansas City metro late Friday night. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Kansas City, Merriam, Shawnee, and Roeland Park at 11:36 p.m. on Friday. This sounded emergency phone alerts across Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte counties. FOX4 Meteorologists Joe Lauria and Jacob Lanier tracked the storm live on air as it moved across the state line. Here was the *possible* wind damage path from Shawnee to Merriam to Kansas City as that storm moved through around 11:40 PM Friday. There was a 60 MPH gust & a possible power flash. @fox4wx @fox4kc #KCwx #MOwx #KSwx pic.twitter.com/1pFSY97Zfk Jacob Lanier (@JacobLanierWx) March 7, 2026 The public reported power flashes in Merriam and 60 mph gusts in the West Plaza neighborhood. Bryce Finkeldei shared this video with FOX4 of power flashes in Midtown, as he looked south from Liberty Memorial past the FOX4 broadcast tower. Video of power flashes in Kansas City around 11:45 PM Friday. Looking south from Liberty Memorial past our FOX4 tower down to near 39th St at Southwest Trfy. : Bryce Finkeldei @NWSKansasCity @fox4wx @fox4kc #KCwx #MOwx #KSwx pic.twitter.com/bj1nDcVQXB Jacob Lanier (@JacobLanierWx) March 7, 2026 Some locations also reported tree damage from the strong winds. The National Weather Service will decide this weekend if it plans to survey damage for a possible tornado or straight-line winds. Shed & tree damage as the leading edge rolled through KCMO along/south of 39th street. Credit: Tony Darling @NWSKansasCity @fox4wx @JacobLanierWx pic.twitter.com/T1lw1mgZhc Alex Countee (@AlexCounteeWX) March 7, 2026 Stay with FOX4 for updates to this story as daylight could reveal more storm damage across the city. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Congress MP from Davanagere, Prabha Mallikarjun, on Saturday expressed concern over the recent hike in the price of LPG cylinders and urged the Government of India to reconsider the decision, stating that it would place an additional burden on middle-class and economically weaker households. Speaking on the issue, Mallikarjun said that LPG cylinders are a basic necessity for families across all sections of society and any increase in their price directly affects household budgets. "I think the Government of India should think about it because every middle-class house, poor class, every class requires LPG cylinders. The government itself had started an initiative where LPG cylinders were given on a subsidy. So now, I don't know, this is going to be an additional burden to all the," she said. Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) media incharge Anurag Dhanda criticised the Centre over the Rs 60 increase in the price of domestic LPG cylinders, saying that the move has added to the financial burden on common people. He said that the entire country is confused whether they should demand a price reduction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or US President Trump. Speaking to ANI, Dhanda said the price hike has caused distress among citizens and raised concerns that petrol and diesel prices could also increase in the coming days. He said it was surprising that ministers in the government had recently claimed that there was sufficient stock and that prices would not increase. The price of a domestic LPG cylinder had remained unchanged since April 2025, when the non-subsidised rate in Delhi stood at Rs 853. The latest revision marks a significant increase for household consumers as well as commercial users who rely on LPG for daily operations. The increase comes amid discussions around India's energy supply and fuel availability. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri earlier assured that there is no shortage of energy in the country and that consumers need not worry about supply disruptions. Meanwhile, Indian Oil Corporation also dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting a shortage of petrol and diesel in the country, terming them baseless. (ANI) President Donald Trump's second run in office moves into the spring with an overall approval rating that's taken another turn. Heading into March, the president's numbers were on an uptick after the State of the Union address. Now, his approval ratings have dipped as the global attention turns toward the Iran war. The political divide on the Middle East attacks has heightened tensions on both sides of the political aisle, with the administration's decision-making in multiple areas, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to tariffs and the jobs market, and now, on the war in Iran and gas prices, at the forefront. Advertisement Advertisement Overall, President Trump's approval numbers have dropped below 40% in one poll, while another has it closer to 45%. That same type of range is also evident in the latest state-by-state numbers. According to that data, here are the updated approval ratings for President Trump across all 50 states as of March 2026 Alabama President Trump approval rating: 52% President Trump approval rating: 52% Alaska President Trump approval rating: 43% President Trump approval rating: 43% Arizona President Trump approval rating: 43% President Trump approval rating: 43% Arkansas President Trump approval rating: 55% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 55% California President Trump approval rating: 27% President Trump approval rating: 27% Colorado President Trump approval rating: 36% President Trump approval rating: 36% Connecticut President Trump approval rating: 32% President Trump approval rating: 32% Delaware President Trump approval rating: 31% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 31% Florida President Trump approval rating: 44% President Trump approval rating: 44% Georgia President Trump approval rating: 39% President Trump approval rating: 39% Hawaii President Trump approval rating: 18% President Trump approval rating: 18% Idaho President Trump approval rating: 54% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 54% Illinois President Trump approval rating: 33% President Trump approval rating: 33% Indiana President Trump approval rating: 49% President Trump approval rating: 49% Iowa President Trump approval rating: 42% President Trump approval rating: 42% Kansas President Trump approval rating: 49% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 49% Kentucky President Trump approval rating: 50% President Trump approval rating: 50% Louisiana President Trump approval rating: 49% President Trump approval rating: 49% Maine President Trump approval rating: 37% President Trump approval rating: 37% Maryland President Trump approval rating: 25% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 25% Massachusetts President Trump approval rating: 25% President Trump approval rating: 25% Michigan President Trump approval rating: 38% President Trump approval rating: 38% Minnesota President Trump approval rating: 34% President Trump approval rating: 34% Mississippi President Trump approval rating: 50% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 50% Missouri President Trump approval rating: 48% President Trump approval rating: 48% Montana President Trump approval rating: 53% President Trump approval rating: 53% Nebraska President Trump approval rating: 49% President Trump approval rating: 49% Nevada President Trump approval rating: 39% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 39% New Hampshire President Trump approval rating: 33% President Trump approval rating: 33% New Jersey President Trump approval rating: 33% President Trump approval rating: 33% New Mexico President Trump approval rating: 34% President Trump approval rating: 34% New York President Trump approval rating: 31% Advertisement Advertisement President Trump approval rating: 31% North Carolina President Trump approval rating: 43% President Trump approval rating: 43% North Dakota President Trump approval rating: 56% President Trump approval rating: 56% Ohio President Trump approval rating: 45% President Trump approval rating: 45% Oklahoma President Trump approval rating: 58% President Trump approval rating: 58% Oregon President Trump approval rating: 30% President Trump approval rating: 30% Pennsylvania President Trump approval rating: 40% President Trump approval rating: 40% Rhode Island President Trump approval rating: 29% President Trump approval rating: 29% South Carolina President Trump approval rating: 47% President Trump approval rating: 47% South Dakota President Trump approval rating: 52% President Trump approval rating: 52% Tennessee President Trump approval rating: 52% President Trump approval rating: 52% Texas President Trump approval rating: 44% President Trump approval rating: 44% Utah President Trump approval rating: 50% President Trump approval rating: 50% Vermont President Trump approval rating: 21% President Trump approval rating: 21% Virginia President Trump approval rating: 35% President Trump approval rating: 35% Washington President Trump approval rating: 28% President Trump approval rating: 28% West Virginia President Trump approval rating: 59% President Trump approval rating: 59% Wisconsin President Trump approval rating: 42% President Trump approval rating: 42% Wyoming President Trump approval rating: 59% (Data courtesy of Civiqs) President Trump approval rating: 59% (Data courtesy of Civiqs) This article originally appeared on List Wire: What is President Trump's latest approval rating in each state? Violence erupted in NYC as pro-regime activists mourning Ayatollah Khamenei clashed with anti-regime protesters. The NYPD made multiple arrests after a vigil was met by counter-protesters. Multiple people were arrested amid a clash between pro-Iranian regime demonstrators, who erected a shrine to the slain Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the former supreme leader of Iran, and anti-Khamenei protesters at Washington Square Park on Friday, cops said. The pro-Khamenei activists, who at the height of their demonstration numbered about 50 people, assembled beneath the Washington Square Arch, where they flew Iranian flags and set up tables, which featured pictures of the ayatollah and other revolutionary figures, including Malcolm X and Congolese politician Patrice Lumumba, as well as racial-justice figures, like George Floyd. Advertisement Advertisement Assembled in opposition on the north side of the arch was an equal number of anti-Khamenei protesters, several of whom were draped in Israeli and US flags, who could be heard chanting, Khameneis dead! Khameneis dead! People arrested as protests clash A New York Police Department spokesman could not immediately say how many people were arrested and what they were charged with. A person is arrested at a pro- Iran protest in Washington Square Park on March 5, 2026, in Manhattan, New York. (credit: Barry Williams/New York Daily News/TNS) Witnesses described one incident where an anti-Khamenei protester jumped a barrier in an effort to snatch a sign. The man was reportedly beaten by the pro-Iranian protesters before he was taken into police custody. Khamenei was assassinated by an Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28 at the outset of a joint Israeli and US operation intended to topple the Iranian government. President Donald Trump on Friday demanded the unconditional surrender of Iran and the installation of acceptable leaders as conditions to end the weeklong war with Tehran that has spread across the volatile Middle East. Lion-emblazoned flags of pre-revolution Iran fluttered in cities across the world on Saturday as demonstrators took to the streets a week after the start of the war in the Middle East. Some protesters came out in support of Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of the country's late shah, while others denounced the option. Others demonstrated against the war and some in support of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first US-Israeli strikes of the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Paris saw two demonstrations: one supporting the son of the late shah to head up a transition, and another denouncing that scenario. "I support Pahlavi who is calling for a revolution," Masoud Ghanaatian, 35, a student, told AFP at a protest in southern Paris, where participants carried photos of the late shah's son and waved US, Israeli and pre-revolution Iran flags. "He's a democrat. He can oversee a transition and promises to organise elections." Hundreds of pro-Pahlavi demonstrations also gathered in Stockholm, holding up pictures of him and his late father. But farther north, protesters wearing yellow vests reading "Free Iran" showed off stickers on their hands that read "No Shah, no Mullah". Advertisement Advertisement In Amsterdam protesters snaked along one of the city's canals, holding up Israeli, American and pre-revolution Iran flags, as they called on the government to invite Pahlavi to the country and to close the Iranian embassy. Shortly after dawn in Britain, anti-war protesters gathered at the entrance of an air force base in Fairford, southwest of England, holding signs reading "Hands off Iran," "Peace" and "Yanks go home". A demonstrations against the war also took place in Cyprus. In South Africa -- which has dragged Israel to International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide during the Gaza war, a charge Israel denies -- dozens gathered in front of the US consulate in Johannesburg, holding up photos of Khamenei, the Islamic republic's flag and signs bashing Israel. Advertisement Advertisement In Cape Town, Iranian pro-democracy activists and supporters of Israel waved Israeli flags and chanted slogans in the Albert Waterfront shopping mall. Several counter-protesters carried signs denouncing Israel and in support of the Palestinians. burs/yad/rmb Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured his counterpart in Tehran, Masoud Pezeshkian, during a phone call of Russia's solidarity against the backdrop of the Iran war, reports from Moscow said on Friday. The Kremlin's press service stated that Putin "once again expressed his deep condolences over the murder of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family members, and representatives of the country's military-political leadership, as well as the many civilian casualties as a result of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran." Putin is said to have advocated for a swift end to the hostilities in the Middle East and informed Pezeshkian about his phone calls with the Arab leaders of the Gulf region. Pezeshkian, in turn, thanked him for the Russian solidarity, the Kremlin said. Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Iran entered into a "strategic partnership" last year, which also includes cooperation in the areas of military and armament. However, the agreement does not include an obligation to intervene if one of the countries is attacked. Officially, Russia is not intervening in the conflict. According to media reports, however, Moscow has provided Tehran with intelligence data on military targets. Additionally, Russia is a supplier of weapons to Iran. For Russia's war against Ukraine, Iran has supplied drones and missiles. Tensions in the Gulf briefly reached a dangerous new level after fighter jets from Qatar intercepted and shot down two Iranian bombers that were reportedly minutes away from striking a major American military installation in the region. The dramatic encounter unfolded in the skies near Al Udeid Air Base, the largest United States military base in the Middle East and a strategic hub for regional operations. According to officials familiar with the incident, two Iranian Sukhoi Su24 aircraft were detected flying at extremely low altitude as they approached Qatari airspace. Image Credit: Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia. The bombers were believed to be headed toward targets that included Al Udeid Air Base and energy infrastructure near Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the most important natural gas processing centers in the world. Terrain Masking and a Two-Minute Window Radar operators reportedly identified the aircraft only after they had already moved close to the Qatari coastline. By that point the bombers were flying at roughly 80 to 100 feet above ground level. Advertisement Advertisement This type of terrain masking flight profile is designed to evade radar detection and shorten reaction time for defenders. Qatars air defense network responded quickly. Image Credit: Jorge Martyukov - CC0, Wikimedia. Fighter aircraft from the Qatar Emiri Air Force were scrambled to intercept the incoming threat. Within minutes, a Qatari Boeing F15QA moved into position to engage the bombers before they could reach their targets. Military sources later indicated that the Iranian aircraft were only about two minutes away from striking range when the Qatari fighter locked onto them. Air to air missiles were launched during the brief encounter, destroying both bombers over waters near the Qatari coast. Debris from the aircraft reportedly fell into the sea, prompting search operations for the crews. The Bombers The aircraft at the center of the incident represent two very different generations of military aviation. Advertisement Advertisement The Sukhoi Su-24, developed in the Soviet Union during the late Cold War, is a twin engine, variable sweep wing strike bomber built for deep penetration missions. Image Credit: Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia. Designed primarily for tactical bombing, the aircraft can fly at supersonic speeds and carry a wide array of munitions including guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and precision strike weapons. One of the Su-24s defining characteristics is its swing-wing design, which allows pilots to adjust wing angles for high-speed flight or improved stability at low altitude. That low altitude capability makes the aircraft particularly effective in surprise strike missions. By flying close to terrain and beneath radar coverage, the Su-24 can approach targets with minimal warning. Over decades of service, the bomber has been used by several countries in regional conflicts and precision strike operations. The Interceptor In contrast, the Boeing F-15QA represents one of the most advanced fighter aircraft currently in service with Gulf air forces. Image Credit: Julian Herzog (Website) - Own work, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia. Based on the latest evolution of the F-15 platform, the Qatar Advanced Eagle is designed for air superiority as well as long range strike missions. Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft features powerful twin engines, advanced radar systems, and a modern electronic warfare suite that allows pilots to detect and track threats from long distances. Its AN APG-82 active electronically scanned array radar can monitor multiple targets simultaneously, giving pilots a significant advantage during fast moving engagements. The F-15QA is also capable of carrying a heavy weapons load, including air to air missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder. These weapons allow the fighter to intercept enemy aircraft well before they reach their intended targets. The Al Udeid The interception underscores the strategic importance of Al Udeid Air Base. Located southwest of Doha, the installation hosts thousands of American personnel and serves as the forward headquarters for US air operations across the Middle East. Had the Iranian bombers reached their objectives, the consequences could have been severe. Instead, the swift response by Qatari pilots prevented what could have become a major escalation in regional tensions, while also demonstrating the effectiveness of modern air defense coordination between allied forces in the Gulf. Sources: CNN Read More One fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas shipments typically pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz on their way out of the Persian Gulf. But the Strait was effectively closed soon after the U.S. and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28, causing oil and gas prices to spike and setting off concerns of a looming energy crisis. Its a geopolitical predicament but also a geological one. The reason for such a tight exit from the Gulf also explains why the region has such rich oil and gas deposits in the first place: a continental collision millions of years in the making. Iran sits on the line where the Arabian tectonic plate, which hosts Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, crunches into the Eurasian plate. This continent-to-continent crash has rucked up the earth to form the Zagros, a long line of mountains in Iran that push down on the Arabian plate and flex it like a bent ruler. The flexing creates a low point in Earths crust called a foreland basin, which traps massive amounts of hydrocarbons. This basin also collects water, creating the long, narrow Persian Gulf. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter from Scientific American and join a community of science-loving readers. Its a combination of geological facts that leads to these huge oil and gas reserves in the Middle East on both sides of the Persian Gulf, says Mark Allen, a professor of Earth sciences at Durham University in England. Hundreds of millions of years ago, the northern edge of what is now the Arabian plate was a passive margin, acting as a boundary between continental and oceanic crust that is tectonically quiet, says Edwin Nissen, a professor of Earth and ocean sciences at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. The Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. is a modern example of this arrangement. Over epochs, this quiet margin saw sea levels rise and fall, and as a result, it built up layer after layer of organic-rich shale, porous sandstone, fractured limestone, salt and hard capstone, Nissen says. The organic material, buried deep, transformed into oil and natural gas under tremendous pressure and heat. Sandstone and limestone provided fissures and fractures where these hydrocarbons could sit, and caprock kept everything in place. Advertisement Advertisement Today this geological region contains an estimated 12 percent of the worlds oil reserves, according to a 2024 review in Results in Earth Sciences. Those kilometers-deep layers were still present when the Arabian plate, driven by the opening of the Red Sea on its southwestern side, began scooting toward the northeast and ramming into Eurasia around 30 million years ago. Like the hoods of two cars in a traffic accident, the continents crunched together, simultaneously shortening and flexing. The Arabian and Eurasian plates continue to move toward each other at around 20 millimeters a year, sometimes triggering deadly earthquakes. The collision created the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, which is a geologists dream, Allen says. The belt consists of a mountain range 1,600 kilometers long, stretching from eastern Turkey all the way to the Strait of Hormuz at the end of the Persian Gulf. Though processes such as glaciation and erosion largely shape the profile of most mountains, the Zagros Mountains trace the literal folds of the continental collision in long, unbroken ridges. The mountains themselves are too deformed to hold hydrocarbons. But nearby, where the topography is more subtle, similar underground folding traps oil and gas in giant fields. The Zagros has everything going for it for oil and gas, Nissen says. NASA Earth Observatory image, using data from NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team The weight of the mountains pushing down on the crust created the Persian Gulf Basin. Because the Zagros Mountains depress the crust in a narrow and shallow region, the Gulf is only 110 meters deep and 340 km wide at most. At the Strait of Hormuz, the Musandam Peninsula, which includes parts of northern Oman and the northern United Arab Emirates, further narrows the Gulf to only about 55 km across. Advertisement Advertisement The Strait, too, is a result of the collision of continents: Much of Oman is made of the Semail Ophiolite, a huge chunk of oceanic crust that got pushed onto land when the ancient ocean between the Arabian and Eurasian plates closed. According to Renas Koshnaw, a research associate at Georg August University of Gottingen in Germany, who studies the region, the Strait is more narrow than the rest of the Gulf because of the rigid rock of the Musandam Peninsula, which sticks out perpendicular to the Zagros Mountains. When the collision between Arabian and Eurasian plates forced these two features together, the peninsula forced the mountain front, and thus the Gulf, to bend like a kink in a hose. The Strait is ultimately there because of the geology, but the impact on humans at this present time is that youve got a marine bottleneck, Allen says. The tankers dont have much room to sit in, and theyre sitting very close to the Iranian coast." Rapper Balendra Shah has defeated the former Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma KP Oli in his parliamentary constituency, as he takes a step closer to becoming Nepal's next prime minister. Nepal's Election Commission confirmed on Saturday that Shah, 35, received 68,348 votes compared to Oli's 18,734 to unseat the former leader in his constituency. Thursday's general election - the first since violent youth-led protests toppled the government in September - pitted the establishment against a new generation of politicians advocating for angry, young Gen Z voters hungry for change. Advertisement Advertisement Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is now seemingly on course to win the general election. The party has a majority in directly elected seats in the general election counted so far, according to partial official results on Sunday, and could be heading for a landslide, official trends suggest. The 35-year-old is also leading in the proportional representation vote count so far, according to the election commission. For more than two decades, Nepal has seen a revolving door of coalition governments, largely dominated by three parties, two of them communist. Ahead of this election, it looked set to test whether Gen Z voters had succeeded in convincing the rest of the country that it is time for a new, untested generation to shape their future, or whether veteran heavyweights - who have dominated for decades - would keep hold of power. Advertisement Advertisement The country's youth included 800,000 first-time voters, making them a key voter bloc. Shah, who is popularly known as Balen, has been a member of the Nepali hip hop scene for several years. One of his songs, Balidan, about sacrifice in the Nepali language has millions of YouTube views. In September 2025 unrest erupted in Nepal with so-called Gen Z demonstrations, triggered by Oli's banning of social media platforms. The demonstrations escalated with protesters criticising Nepal's political system and the symbolism of class inequality "nepo babies" - children of the country's politicians. Advertisement Advertisement A total of 77 were killed during the protests, and a BBC investigation revealed the country's police chief issued an order allowing the use of lethal force against thousands of unarmed protesters. Shah spoke in support of the protesters and at one stage called Oli a "terrorist" who had betrayed his country. The rapper typically shuns the media, but told the Financial Times while he was on the campaign trail he would be "the candidate for all of Nepal". In February Shah's RSP released its manifesto which vowed to create 1.2 million jobs and reduce forced migration, in an effort to tap into frustration over unemployment and low wages that has pushed millions of Nepalis to move overseas. Advertisement Advertisement The party has also pledged that within five years it would raise Nepal's per capital income from $1,447 to $3,000, more than double the country's economy to $100 billion GDP and provide safety nets such as healthcare insurance for the population. Eight months pregnant, Muhammad, 32, walked with her husband and three children for hours in the dark streets until they found a car to take them to the St. Joseph Tabaris Parish, which has opened its doors to refugees and migrants. They are among 300,000 people displaced across Lebanon this week by heavy Israeli strikes, launched in response to a rocket and drone attackinto Israel by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Just 100,000 of the displaced are in government shelters. Others are staying with relatives or sleeping in the streets. But migrants and refugees say government shelters were never an option for them, saying they were turned away during the last war between Hezbollah and Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Muhammads oldest daughter, now seven, stopped speaking after the 2024 war. This time, they are even more vulnerable: their home was destroyed in this weeks strikes and Muhammad is due to give birth at the end of the month. I don't know if there's a doctor or not, but I'm really scared about it because I haven't prepared any clothes for the baby, nor arranged a hospital, and I don't know where to go, she told Reuters as her younger daughter leaned against her pregnant belly. France ramps up military aid to Lebanon as Macron calls for halt in attacks Dwindling resources, space Muhammad said she was registered with the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) but had not received support. Advertisement Advertisement Us, as refugees, why did we register with the UN, if they are not helping us in the most difficult times? she said. Dalal Harb, a spokesperson for UNHCR Lebanon, said the agency had mobilized but reaching everyone immediately was extremely challenging given the scale and speed of displacement. The UNHCR operation in Lebanon is currently only around 14 percent funded, she said. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which helped the church host displaced in 2024, is doing so again. Michael Petro, JRS Emergency Shelter Director, said the church was full within the first day of strikes, with 140 people from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and other countries sheltering there. Advertisement Advertisement There are many, many more people coming than there were in 2024, and we have fewer and fewer places to put them, he said. UN, France slam Israel after attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon Nowhere to go Petro said he was told weeks ago that government shelters would be open to migrants if war erupted. But when the strikes began and even Lebanese struggled to find shelter, the policy seemed to change, he said. We're hearing from hotlines up to government officials and ministries that migrants are not welcome, Petro said. Lebanons Minister for Social Affairs Haneen Sayyed did not respond to a request for comment. On Thursday, Sayyed said Beirut shelters were full. Advertisement Advertisement When Israeli strikes began, Othman Yahyeh Dawood, a 41-year-old Sudanese man, put his two young sons on his motorcycle. They drove 75 kilometres from the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh to St. Josephs, where they had sheltered in 2024. I know the area is safe and there are people who will welcome us, he said. We don't know where to go; there's war there (in the south), war here (in Beirut), war in Sudan, and nowhere else to go, he said. (Reuters) A Spanishlanguage reporter who covers immigration and community news in Nashville was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents earlier this week, raising concerns among press freedom advocates and civil liberties groups about due process and enforcement tactics. Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a Colombian journalist with the Tennessee news outlet Nashville Noticias, was taken into custody Wednesday during a traffic stop in Nashville, according to court documents and statements from her attorney. ICE officials say the arrest was part of an enforcement operation tied to alleged visa violations. Rodriguez, who has lived in the United States for about five years, has a valid work permit and has been pursuing legal residency through her marriage to a U.S. citizen. Court records filed by her lawyer say she also sought asylum after previously receiving death threats related to her reporting in Colombia. Advertisement Advertisement Her attorneys emergency court filing contends Rodriguez was not shown a judicial arrest warrant at the time she was detained, and instead only received an immigration notice to appear before ICE. Advocates argue the arrest undermines journalistic independence and could chill coverage of immigration issues. ICE officials have defended the detention, telling reporters Rodriguez was arrested under an administrative warrant and that she will receive due process in immigration proceedings. The agency also asserts her visa had expired. Rodriguezs work for Nashville Noticias has included reporting on police, community and immigration issues affecting the regions Spanishspeaking population, and supporters say her arrest could send a troubling signal to journalists covering similar beats. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists condemned the arrest and called for her release so she can continue her work. NAHJ denounces the detention of Nashville reporter Estefany Rodriguez. Rodriguez has lived and worked lawfully in the U.S. since 2021 while pursuing political asylum. Journalists must be able to report without intimidation. Read more: https://t.co/5YAIlAwmBV pic.twitter.com/PMWSKD5wNG NAHJ (@NAHJ) March 6, 2026 Her detention has prompted advocacy from press freedom and immigrant rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, which urged authorities to release Rodriguez and ensure protections for reporters. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. Rodriguez remains in ICE custody as her case moves through federal court, where attorneys are pressing for her release and arguing that constitutional rights were violated in the handling of her arrest. The post Reporter detained for speaking Spanish in Nashville appeared first on Salon.com. The Brief Three officers have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Riverside Police Department after they were told they were being fired for having disabled veteran license plates on their personal cars. The three officers, all military veterans, received a 100% disability rating from the VA. The department is claiming they made false claims to get those plates. RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Riverside Police Department is planning to fire three officers because they have disabled veteran license plates on their personal cars. The officers have filed a discrimination lawsuit against the department. What we know The three officers are military veterans, all with a 100% disability rating from the VA. Advertisement Advertisement The department is alleging they made false claims about their physical limitations to get those plates. Their attorney says that's not true. What they're saying "They're saying, because I've seen the paperwork, that these guys must have lied in order to get the disability rating from the VA, which of course is nonsense," said attorney Matthew McNicholas. He says none of the officers have asked for special accommodations at work, which the department is using to back up its claims. McNicholas says the VA disability rating system can be commonly misunderstood. "Just because you're 100% disabled under the VA rubric, does not mean you are disabled for purposes of the California employment law," said McNicholas. Advertisement Advertisement The department told the officers it plans to fire them last week; an effort by McNicholas to settle with the city has failed. The other side The Riverside Police Department told FOX11 it cannot comment on confidential personnel matters. The Source Information for this story came from an interview with attorney Matthew McNicholas. The second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament is set to commence on March 9, 2026. Ahead of this, opposition parties are organising strategy meetings to coordinate their approach for the floor of the House. The meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc floor leaders is set to be held at same day in the Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) office in Parliament. The meetings will focus on strengthening internal communication, coordinating floor strategies across both Houses, and preparing for issues to be raised during sessions. On Friday, three Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha are set to move a resolution demanding the removal of Speaker Om Birla for disallowing LoP Rahul Gandhi and other leaders from the opposition parties to speak. Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi have accused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of being partisan and of making "unwarranted allegations" against women MPs belonging to the opposition. The Congress leader pointed out that while opposition MPs have been suspended by Birla for the entire parliament session for raising issues concerning the public, the ruling party members have not been rebuked for making "derogatory" remarks against former Prime Ministers. "Having taken into consideration the conduct of the Speaker of the House as regards disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders to speak, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs, feels he has ceased to maintain an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House," the list of business for Lok Sabha read. The Congress MPs accused Birla of being partisan for "openly espousing the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters", which they said constitutes a danger to the proper functioning of the Lok Sabha. "That in his partisan attitude he disregards the rights of Members of the House and makes pronouncements and gives rulings calculated to affect and undermine such rights; that he openly espouses the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters, that all these acts constitute a serious danger to the proper functioning of this House and ventilating effectively the felt concerns and grievances of the people, and therefore resolves that he be removed from his Office," the list of business said. Meanwhile, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress issued a 'three-line whip' to their Lok Sabha MPs to mark their presence in the House from March 9 to 11, during the second phase of the Budget Session. The second phase of the Budget session starts on March 9, and it is scheduled to go up to April 2, during which essential legislative and other business is expected to be addressed primarily. The first part of the Budget session concluded on February 13, marked by political debates over the India-US interim trade deal and the memoir of former Army Chief MM Naravane, whose publishing status remained a matter of controversy even outside the Parliament. The Parliament budget session, which began on January 28 with the President's address to a joint sitting of the two Houses, comprises 30 sittings over 65 days and is scheduled to conclude on April 2. The recess will allow Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. (ANI) ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Jasper Albin-Chavez, 19, has been accused of producing and distributing child pornography involving infant victims. At 6:01 a.m. on Thursday, members of the Illinois State Police and Attorney Generals Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force raided Albin-Chavezs home in the 1300 block of Linda Avenue as part of an investigation into child pornography. Police seized several electronic devices during the raid. Investigators said an examination of their contents revealed videos containing sexual assault of children. Advertisement Advertisement At least one of the videos allegedly showed Albin-Chavez sexually assaulting an infant, the criminal complaint reports. Jasper Alvin-Chavez. Photo: Illinois State Police In an interview with interrogators, Albin-Chavez admitted using the videos and images when he feels sad, and sending them to other people for the attention, records show. Police noted Albin-Chavez claimed sole ownership of the images and videos he possessed. Albin-Chavez has been charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 years old, 5 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material featuring a victim under 13 years old, and distribution of child pornography featuring a victim under 13 years old. Each charge is a Class X felony in Illinois and calls for a minimum 6 to 30-year sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Albin-Chavez was booked into the Winnebago County Jail. 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 MyStateline | WTVO WQRF News, Weather and Sports. Most Democrats think their key to winning back control of Congress in the midterms will be selling voters on an affordability agenda and bashing President Donald Trumps handling of the economy. But some in their party running long-shot campaigns in rural regions against Republican incumbents say all the affordability talk has lost the plot. Democrats on a national level have discovered affordability as a winning strategy, as some magic bullet that's going to win them elections all over the country, Hallie Shoffner, who won the Democratic Senate primary in Arkansas earlier this week, told POLITICO in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Established D.C Democrats like [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer [are] talking about affordability, and I'm sorry, but everybody in Arkansas is going to give him the side eye, because what does he know about affordability? she added. A spokesperson for Schumer said in a statement that he knows that working families are being crushed by higher costs because of Donald Trumps failed policies and his corrupt bargain with big corporations. Thats why Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats have been fighting to lower costs for people on everything from housing to energy to health care. After stinging defeats in 2024, Democrats bounced back in 2025s off-year elections when Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sailed to victory, each behind a campaign that centered on pocketbook issues and sought to frame Democrats as the party that could bring down prices for everyday Americans. Now, party leaders want to ride that messaging into November amid falling approval of Trumps handling of the economy. Spanberger was a special guest at House Democrats annual retreat last week, where she gave her advice for how to hammer an affordability message just one day after she skewered Trump over cost-of-living concerns during the Democratic rebuttal to his State of the Union address. And Republicans are increasingly worried that the outlook on the economy is weakening amid rising gas prices stemming from the war in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement But some rural Democrats still arent convinced that the party is striking the right tone. It feels disingenuous, said Callie Barr, who is running to flip Michigans 1st Congressional District. The standard of living for most folks in rural areas like mine has been declining for the past 40 years under both administrations, Barr said. And then all of a sudden, it's like, Oh, affordability is now a talking point, maybe I can win an election off of it, I'm going to start using it in everything. Barr and Shoffner said they hope to see national Democrats put the money where their mouth is by investing in long-shot races like theirs. My hope is that actually theres real teeth behind this, because I think people just dont believe it, Barr said. Advertisement Advertisement Each has an uphill battle in their own right. Shoffner is running in Arkansas against incumbent Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who has served in the Senate since he defeated Sen. Mark Pryor in 2014 the last time a Democrat held the seat. Barr is running in a rematch against GOP Rep. Jack Bergman, who beat her by more than 21 points in 2024. It makes sense for the Democratic Party to reinvest themselves in places like us, like Arkansas, and give candidates like me with these gray-collar backgrounds a seat at the table because I'm going to be honest with you, they might learn something about what it really means to talk about affordability, said Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer who had to shut down her familys farm when she realized it couldnt make money. Thats similar to messaging thats been championed by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.). The rural auto shop owner who flipped Washingtons last red district in 2022 has vocally criticized her party for being out of touch with the middle class. When you say affordability, people roll their eyes, said Michael Ceraso, a Democratic strategist working with both candidates who is an alum of Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign. In many of the areas [where] affordability has been a crisis, Dems aren't investing or building infrastructure to do anything to mobilize human beings in those areas. Advertisement Advertisement The DNC last year announced a new program that gives $17,500 per month to each state party and an additional $5,000 per month to those in states run by Republicans, and the party this year has been buoyed by a string of overperformances, including in ruby-red districts. But much of the attention has focused on the most competitive races across battleground states. Of course, it can also be a shrewd political tactic to blast the Democratic Party which boasts a roster of stars from liberal, urban areas who remain deeply unpopular in conservative, rural ones. But Barr isn't running her campaign with any labels that may be tied to her party ID. Maybe you're running on a ticket, but that shouldn't be your whole identity, she said. When I meet people, theyll say, Oh, what ticket are you on? Barr added. And I always start with, Well, I'm an American. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's Playbook newsletter. Russia has allegedly provided Iran with information that could help it strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, two officials familiar with US intelligence said. The officials, who were not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that US intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information as the US and Israel and Iran fires retaliatory salvos at American assets and allies in the Persian Gulf. Still, it's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the US and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. Advertisement Advertisement Russia is one of a small number countries that maintains friendly relations with Tehran, which has faced years of isolation over its nuclear programme and its support of proxy groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Plumes of smoke rise as strikes hit the city during the USIsraeli military campaign in Tehran, 6 March, 2026 - AP Photo The White House downplayed reports that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about US targets in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday that "it clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them." Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in a CBS' "60 Minutes" interview on Friday said the US is "tracking everything" and factoring it into battle plans, when asked about the reports Russia was aiding Iran. Advertisement Advertisement "The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who's talking to who," he said. "And anything that shouldn't be happening, whether it's in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly." Leavitt declined to say if Trump had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the reported intelligence sharing or whether he believed Russia should face repercussions, saying she would let the president speak about the issue himself. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin at the Kremlin, 6 March, 2026 - AP Photo Asked whether Russia would go beyond political support and offer military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there has been no such request from Tehran. "We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue," he said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Pushed on whether Moscow has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the Iran wars start, he refrained to comment. Russia has tightened its relationship with Iran as it looked for badly needed missiles and drones to utilise in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory. The former US administration also accused Iran of transferring short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Details about the US intelligence were first reported by The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether the revelation had shaken Trump's faith in Putins ability to cut any peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, Leavitt said, "I think the president would say that peace is still an achievable objective with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US and its allies in the Middle East are seeking Ukraines expertise in countering Irans Shahed drones. Tehran has been supplying Russia with Shaheds for its war on Ukraine and are now utilising them in retaliatory attacks throughout the Gulf. Zelenskyy says that he's spoken to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation. "Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night," said Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. "When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help." A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world's oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. Two ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, maritime security agencies said, as Iran pressed a second day of strikes in response to US-Israeli military strikes on Iran killing it's supreme leader. Credit - Sahar AL ATTARAFP or licensors The war in Iran has killed hundreds of civilians, displaced hundreds of thousands more, sent global oil prices skyrocketing, created a political crisis for President Donald Trump and shaken the stability of the Gulf. But for one nation at least, the chaos has created opportunity. Russia has emerged from the first week of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran as an early winner, seemingly able to profit from the secondary economic and geopolitical effects of the war while others bear the costs. Advertisement Advertisement Russia is one of the few nations that has maintained a friendly relationship with Tehran. Moscow condemned the U.S. and Israels attack on Iran on February 28, calling it a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state, in a statement from Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministry posted to Telegram. Vladimir Putin similarly criticized the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a cynical murder. Read More: Wars Like Ukraine and Iran Are Pushing Countries To Rethink How They Get Their Energy But while it may stand to lose a powerful ally in the region, Moscow may also benefit in the short term, analysts say. What were seeing now was not hard to predict, says Robert Person, nonresident Senior Fellow with the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), a nonpartisan think tank based in Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Putin and his advisors have likely determined that war in Iran serves Russias interests in the short term: higher energy prices, global distraction from a Ukraine war that Putin is not ready to settle, and America at risk of entrapment in another Middle Eastern quagmire, Person says. We dont know the degree to which any of this influenced the Trump Administrations decision-making, but I suspect they were of secondary consideration, if at all, he adds. Here are the ways in which Russia is benefiting from the Iran war. U.S. lifts restrictions on Russian oil Russia has been under heavy sanctions from the U.S. and other allies since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including export controls, asset blockings, an oil price cap, and other restrictive economic pressures aimed at impeding its ability to fund its war. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% import tariff on India over its import of Russian oil in August, arguing that its continued purchase undermined the sanctions regime designed to pressure Putin to negotiate over the Ukraine war. But in response to rising gas prices in the U.S., Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week issued a 30-day waiver on the tariff and is considering further lifting of sanctions. Yesterday, the Treasury agreed to let our allies in India start buying Russian oil that was already on the water, Bessent told Fox Business on Friday. We may sanction other Russian oil. In an X post Thursday, Bessent added that the deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea. Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, Russian leadership claims that there is a significant increase in demand for Russian energy products, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in connection with the war in Iran. Rising oil prices A combination of heavy sanctions and low oil prices had given Russias energy industry a poor outlook just a little over a week ago. Oil and gas revenues fell from 45% of Russia's federal budget in 2021 to around 20% in 2025, as sanctions imposed by the international community aimed at limiting Moscows ability to wage war in Ukraine took effect. Now, due to the crunch on global oil supplies caused by the Iran war, oil prices have spiked and Russia is one of the few oil-producing nations that stands ready to fully benefit from it. Advertisement Advertisement It was forced to sell its oil at a discount of $10-$13 a barrel before the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, now it is selling at a premium of $4-$5, according to Reuters. The combination of higher prices and the disruption to Gulf countries ability to supply markets in Asia could provide a windfall to Moscow, just a year after its oil and gas revenue dropped to its lowest levels since 2020. Ukraines Patriots One knock-on effect of the Iran war is that it may directly impact Ukraines ability to defend itself against Russian missiles, delivering a boost to Moscow. Ukraine was already facing a shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, the expensive $4 million-a-piece munitions it uses to shoot down ballistic missiles and drones. Now the U.S. is running through those same missiles to defend against a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones that are targeting U.S. bases and Washingtons allies in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said Friday that the outlook for Ukraine was critical, and said the E.U. would need to develop missile production in a very urgent and very rapid way. "Americans will not be able to provide enough of those missiles for the Gulf countries, for their own army, and also for Ukraine," Kubilius said. Ukraine's vulnerability to aerial attacks was underscored overnight on Saturday as Russia launched a barrage of at least 450 drones and 19 missiles in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian officials, killing at least 10 people. An analysis by Agence France-Presse found that Russia fired more missiles in overnight strikes in February than in any month since the beginning of 2023. The agency found that Russia launched 288 missiles at Ukraine in February, an increase of about 113% compared to 135 missiles in January. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time as his country is struggling to defend itself, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would assist the Gulf in taking down Iranian drones by providing some of its much cheaper, homegrown drone-interception technology. We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection, against Irans drone systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday on X. Ukrainian advisers and systems would shortly be on their way to the Persian Gulf region, Zelensky said, because Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security. Russia has used Iranian-made Shahed drones to devastating effect against Ukraine over the last few years. Mostly out of necessity, Ukraine developed cheap interceptor drones known as the Sting system, which are operated by pilots who can guide them to crash into Shahed drones, forcing them to explode. Degrading Americas projection of power Several news outlets, including the Washington Post and the Associated Press, have reported that Russia has shared targeting intelligence on the U.S. military with Iran and is directing Iran on what to do with the information. Advertisement Advertisement The Post, citing officials familiar with intelligence on the matter, said the intelligence included the locations of American warships, aircraft and other military assets. White House officials have not denied that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran, but they have downplayed the countrys influence and its ability to harm military operations. When asked by CBS News about the reports and how Russian information has aided Iran in targeting U.S. bases across the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: No ones putting us in danger. We mitigate it as we need to, the Pentagon chief continued. Our commanders factor all of this, but the only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians that think theyre going to live. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, President Donald Trump snapped at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy when he asked about Russias reported role in helping Iran. I have a lot of respect for you, youve always been very nice to me, Trump told Doocy. What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time. Were talking about something else. Recent reports that Russia has provided Iran with intelligence used to target American forces in the region are consistent with the latter effort: anything to complicate or degrade Americas projection of power shifts the relative geopolitical balance in Moscows favor, Person says. Contact us at letters@time.com. (Fixes typo in headline) By Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW, March 6 (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday it would respond if Finland placed nuclear weapons on its territory, saying such a move would make the Nordic country more vulnerable. The Kremlin reacted sharply after NATO member Finland said on Thursday it was planning to lift a longstanding ban on hosting such weapons, in a move that could open the door to placing them there during times of war. Advertisement Advertisement "This is a statement that leads to an escalation of tensions on the European continent," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "This statement adds to Finland's vulnerability, a vulnerability provoked by the actions of the Finnish authorities. The fact is that by deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we take appropriate measures." The Finnish shift is part of a wider rethink of European deterrence that has prompted France to offer to extend the protection of its nuclear arsenal to other allies on the continent. The changes are being driven by Russia's war in Ukraine and the unpredictable behaviour of U.S. President Donald Trump - notably his threat to take over Greenland - which has unsettled his NATO allies. Advertisement Advertisement FINLAND SAYS CHANGE IS NEEDED FOR NATO NUCLEAR PLANNING Finnish President Alexander Stubb told reporters during a visit to India that the change "is not about Finland facing any acute or sudden security threat. It is about ensuring that we can participate fully in NATO's nuclear planning". He said Finland did not want a nuclear weapon on its territory but was aligning itself with the policy of its Nordic neighbours. Neighbouring Sweden's doctrine is to station no permanent foreign troops or nuclear weapons on its soil in peacetime, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said last week, when asked about the possibility of his country hosting French nuclear arms. Advertisement Advertisement "If we were to find ourselves in a completely different situation, that particular formulation would not apply," Kristersson said. The shifts by Finland and Sweden are all the more striking as both nations maintained neutrality during the Cold War and joined NATO only in 2023 and 2024 respectively, after Russia sent tens of thousands of soldiers into Ukraine. Finland shares a border of 1,340 km (830 miles) with Russia. Macron announced on Monday a plan to expand France's nuclear arsenal and said other European countries would be able to take part in French nuclear exercises. France and Germany said they had set up a nuclear steering group to discuss deterrence issues. Russia said Macron's announcement was an "extremely destabilising development" that posed a potential threat to Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Russia itself has repeatedly used veiled nuclear threats to deter the West from intervening too far in support of Ukraine during the four-year war. (Additional reporting by Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto in Helsinki, Writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Gareth Jones) Russia has called for a cessation of hostilities in US President Donald Trumps aggression against Iran, after the United States and Israel launched unprovoked, coordinated attacks against the Islamic republic on February 28. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered mediation in the conflict, while Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed deep concern. But as a new war rages, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has barrelled into a fifth year with little sign of peace on the horizon. Advertisement Advertisement On February 27, Russian forces escalated their offensive by shelling outlying communities of Kramatorsk, a city in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, Russia has claimed. It was the first time that Russian forces have hit Kramatorsk or its suburbs with tube artillery, said the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank. Kramatorsk is one of four cities, along with Sloviansk, Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, forming a fortress belt running from north to south, in whose defence Ukraine has heavily invested. Putin has demanded the surrender of the fortress belt as a condition for a ceasefire. (Al Jazeera) Zelenskyy told reporters on Monday that he had seen leaked documents of Russian war plans, and they included seizing the unoccupied parts of Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk in an offensive beginning this month. Advertisement Advertisement Also in Putins war aims is the seizure of the southern port city of Odesa and swathes of Zaporizhia and Dnipro, which would place Russian troops deeper into central Ukraine. We are holding our ground But the fight is not going well for Russia, according to Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskii. In February 2026, for the first time since the Kursk offensive operation, the Ukrainian Defence Forces regained control over a larger territory than the enemy was able to seize, he wrote on the Telegram messaging service. We are holding our ground, he said. (Al Jazeera) The Kursk offensive, masterminded by Syrskii, counter-invaded Russian territory in August 2024 and took Russia by surprise. Advertisement Advertisement The ISW agreed with him, estimating Ukraine had made net gains of 257sq km (100 square miles) this year. The last time Ukrainian forces made net gains on their own territory was during a 2023 counteroffensive, said the ISW, estimating those gains at 536sq km (205 square miles). They cannot launch the March offensive, Zelenskyy told reporters. They want to attack, but they dont have the strength to do it yet. Syrskii said, The total losses of the Russian invaders over the three winter months amount to about 92,850 soldiers killed and wounded, or 1,031 people per day. Ukraines long arm Ukraine also scored a range of fire victories in the past week. Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 200 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk on Monday. Video showed them blowing up an oil terminal and damaging six of seven tankers moored there. They also damaged jamming and radar systems on the frigate Admiral Essen, and damaged the minesweeper Valentin Pikul and the anti-submarine warfare corvettes Yeysk and Kasimov. On the same night, Ukraine struck the Albashneft oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai. The attack destroyed several fuel tanks and pipelines. Two days later, Russia accused Ukraine of sinking its liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Arctic Metagaz off the coast of Libya by launching unmanned surface drones from the Libyan coast. The ship caught fire and sank along with 61,000 tonnes of LNG, 240km (150 miles) off Sirte. Russia calls for peace in Iran, Ukraine encourages US-Israeli operation Russian condemnation of the war in Iran and offer to mediate mirror Trumps call for Russias conflict of aggression against Ukraine to end and his attempts to launch negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Ukraines allies have repeatedly described Russia as a rogue state for ignoring UN rules to negotiate differences peacefully, but Lavrov turned the tables on the US. The United States has stated openly, and President Donald Trump has said it without hesitation, that it will not be guided by any UN principles. It will be guided only by the interests of its own state, Lavrov said at a news conference on Tuesday. (Al Jazeera) Putin told Gulf leaders in a phone call on the same day that Russia respects the sovereignty of other countries and does not interfere in other peoples affairs, as his troops fought for territory in Ukraine. While most US allies have distanced themselves from Trumps Iran war, Ukraine encouraged it. Advertisement Advertisement It is fair to give the Iranian people a chance to rid themselves of a terrorist regime and to guarantee security for all nations that have suffered from terror originating in Iran, Zelenskyy said on Saturday. He was referring to the more than 57,000 Shahed-type drones designed by Iran and sold to Russia, or produced in Russia under licence, that have been launched against Ukraine. Iran has provided lethal assistance to Russia during the Ukraine war, and the two signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2025. As Iran launched drones and missiles towards its Gulf neighbours, Ukraine offered to help them defend themselves. Advertisement Advertisement British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took up the offer to help its partners in the Middle East. We will bring experts from Ukraine to partner with our own experts to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them, Starmer said. Ready to help and share our experience! wrote Oleksandr Kamyshin, Zelenskyys key adviser on international defence production agreements. Ukraine has 10+ companies producing interceptor systems. We intercept around 90 percent of Russian Shaheds, largely with interceptor drones, he wrote. Syrskii said 70 percent of Shaheds were stopped by interceptor drones. Russian propaganda has launched a disinformation campaign using AI-generated fake images about Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff, Hungarian factcheckers have said. Source: Vastagbor, a Hungarian fact checking outlet, on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda AI-generated images related to the detention of Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards in Hungary. Photo: Facebook Details: Vastagbor said the issue concerns images released by Ripost, a tabloid controlled and funded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party. European Pravda editor Serhii Sydorenko also flagged AI-generated images. Advertisement Advertisement The factcheckers said Ripost posts usually receive about 10 to 200 reactions on average but in this case there were 48,000, and 99% of them were bots. Quote: "Most of them have Romanian or Moldovan names, meaning the Russians are reusing fake profiles created to influence elections in Moldova." Background: On 6 March tensions in relations between Ukraine and Hungary escalated after Hungary detained Oschadbank cash-in-transit guards who were transporting currency and valuables from Austria to Ukraine under interbank cooperation. Hungarian authorities later showed photos of seized valuables and said they are investigating "money laundering". They said they planned to expel the detained personnel from the country. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the Hungarian authorities' actions as "hostage-taking and state terrorism". The ministry urged Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary. The seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers returned to Ukraine on the evening of 6 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! At least seven people including children have been killed and several others injured after a Russian airstrike hit an apartment block in Kharkiv, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Regional governor Oleg Synegubov said the missile damaged a five-storey residential building on Saturday morning. He added that rescue workers are clearing up debris. The latest overnight attacks triggered air alerts across Ukraine - including in Dnipropetrovsk and in Zaporizhzhia. Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the Polish air force said it had scrambled military jets to protect its airspace in regions bordering Ukraine, as it usually does in the event of large scale Russian strikes. Detailing the aftermath of the strikes, Synegubov said that in Kharkiv, a 65-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man, and a 13-year-old girl were among those killed. The bodies of four more people were found, including a nine-year-old boy, he later said on Telegram. Synegubov said seven apartment buildings were damaged as were power grids and an administrative building in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky said at least ten more people - including children - have been injured. "There may still be people under the rubble," Zelensky said. "All necessary services are working at the scene to rescue them." Rescuers carry a bag with the body of a person found under debris [Reuters] Zelensky added that overnight Russia used 29 missiles and 480 drones which he said "targeted energy facilities" in Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions, and the railway in Zhytomyr region. "There must be a response from partners to these brutal attacks on life," Zelensky said. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched 480 drones and 29 missiles targeting Ukraine's energy sector and railway infrastructure [Reuters] Elsewhere, Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, said one person had been killed and another wounded in a Russian attack overnight in the Nikopol district. Advertisement Advertisement Ganzha said on Telegram that the Russian army targeted the area around 20 times using drones, artillery, and rockets. A separate strike wounded a baby in Zaporizhzhia, while in Chuguiv in the Kharkiv region, Mayor Halyna Minayeva said two people were injured in a drone attack on a house in the city's centre. By Vitalii , Hnidyi and Olena Harmash KHARKIV, Ukraine, March 7 (Reuters) - Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on Saturday, damaging infrastructure and killing at least 10 people, including two children, in the northeast city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia targeted the energy sector and railway infrastructure across the country. Advertisement Advertisement "There should be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app. "Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine's residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support should continue," Zelenskiy said, urging partners to continue air defence and weapons supplies. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and regional prosecutors put the death toll in the city at 11, one more than Zelenskiy's estimate. Zelenskiy, speaking later in his nightly video address, described the strike as "horrific." He said rescue crews, including specialists from other regions, were still clearing rubble and searching for bodies underneath. Advertisement Advertisement Kharkiv regional prosecutors reported that two people had been killed in a separate drone strike on Saturday near a post office in a village near the Russian border. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 453 drones and 19 missiles, the air force said. But nine missiles and 26 attack drones hit 22 sites, it said. BALLISTIC MISSILE SLAMS INTO RESIDENTIAL BUILDING The city of Kharkiv was targeted by Russian drones and missiles, and 11 people, including two children, were killed after a Russian ballistic missile slammed into a five-storey residential building, Terekhov said. "When we arrived here 20 minutes after the explosion, I thought I was going to have a stroke. I couldn't string two words together, and my legs were buckling," Hanna, a resident of the destroyed building, told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement "It's good that I wasn't there with my child and that my father was with me. It was ordinary people who lived there. What were they targeting?" Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces carried out massive overnight strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial complexes, military airfields and energy facilities, the Interfax news agency reported. In Kharkiv, 15 people were also wounded, and 19 residential buildings were damaged by the Russian attacks, Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Commercial and administrative buildings, electricity distribution lines, and cars were also hit, he said. Advertisement Advertisement In Kyiv, three people were injured, and the heating was knocked out in 2,806 residential apartment buildings in four districts across the capital after Russian strikes hit an energy infrastructure facility, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. National grid operator Ukrenergo said emergency power cuts were introduced in seven regions following the Russian attacks. Ukrainian officials said that Russia also attacked four railway stations and other railway infrastructure in central Ukraine and port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region, setting on fire containers with vegetable oil and damaging a grain warehouse. (Reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv and Vitalii Hnidyi in Kharkiv. Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Mark Potter, Rod Nickel) A San Antonio police officer was suspended for three days after he was found drunk while off-duty and lying on a sidewalk, according to disciplinary records released by the city. Officer Juan Pena received an agreed three-day suspension, which ran from Jan. 12 through Jan. 14, after the incident led to an internal review that determined he violated department rules. Records show Pena accepted the discipline under a written order from the police chief. Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 22, SAPD officers were on patrol at 2:45 a.m. in the 14800 block of Jones Maltsberger Road when they saw a person lying on his back on the sidewalk, near McAllister Park. READ ALSO: Ex-teacher's aide gets prison term in drug-trafficking conspiracy Officers pulled over to check on the person and identified him as Pena. The officers said they could smell a strong odor of intoxicants. Pena admitted that he had been drinking at a bar before police found him on the sidewalk. Investigators said body-worn camera showed Pena slurring his words, and that he did not know where he was. He thought he was "down the street" from his home when he was actually about 7 miles away. Advertisement Advertisement According to the SAPD General Manual, officers are not to be intoxicated while in public view, nor should they drink to an extent that renders them unfit to report for duty. This article originally published at SAPD: Off-duty officer found drunk lying on sidewalk 7 miles from home got temporary suspension. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday criticised the lapse in arrangements during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to West Bengal, calling it "unfortunate." He stressed that the country's highest constitutional office must always receive the dignity, protocol and respect it deserves. In a post on X, VP said, "The office of the President is the highest constitutional office of our Republic and must always receive the dignity, protocol and respect it deserves. Any lapse in arrangements befitting her constitutional position that happened in West Bengal today is unfortunate. The sanctity of the office of the President must always be maintained, and due respect accorded to the highest office of the nation." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/2030312192948756591?s=20 Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin also criticised the state government, calling the incident "deeply shameful and unacceptable." https://x.com/NitinNabin/status/2030310192672653668?s=20 "What happened today is deeply shameful and unacceptable. The insult to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, reflects the utter disregard of the TMC government for our constitutional institutions. It is even more disturbing that such insensitivity has been shown towards the sentiments of the tribal community. Rashtrapati herself comes from a proud tribal background, and the anguish she expressed has caused deep pain to all of us. The office of the President stands above party politics, and the utter disregard towards the rich Santal cultural heritage will not be forgotten. The people of India expect accountability and respect for both the Constitution and the tribal communities of our country," he wrote on X. Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed sadness over the incident and said it had hurt the sentiments of people across the country. https://x.com/DrPramodPSawant/status/2030308268166598690?s=20 "Deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident in West Bengal that has caused anguish to Rashtrapati, Droupadi Murmu, who herself represents the aspirations and pride of our tribal communities. The pain expressed by Rashtrapati Ji has deeply hurt the sentiments of people across the country who believe in democracy, constitutional values, and the empowerment of tribal society. It is extremely unfortunate that the TMC Government in West Bengal has allowed a situation that reflects such disregard towards the dignity of the President of India. Equally concerning is the casual treatment of a matter as important as the rich and revered Santal culture. The office of the President stands above politics and commands the highest respect in our democracy. Its sanctity must be upheld at all times. I sincerely hope better sense prevails and that such incidents are never repeated," Sawant wrote on X. The remarks came after President Droupadi Murmu earlier in the day voiced disappointment over the arrangements made for the 9th International Santal Conference, questioning the choice of venue and expressing sadness that many members of the Santal community were unable to attend the event. She also remarked on the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (ANI) Crews at billionaire financier Ken Griffin's massive Palm Beach estate will be allowed to drive piles along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline on Saturdays. The Town Council voted unanimously on March 3 to approve a waiver to allow the pile-driving work to take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Construction teams are racing to complete the new sand-related groins before sea turtle nesting season ramps up at the beginning of May, town staff told the council. A groin is a structure that juts out at a 90-degree angle from the shoreline and is designed to prevent erosion. There is a network of aging groins along the length of Palm Beach's eastern shoreline. The erosion-control structures were built starting in the 1930s, officials have said. Advertisement Advertisement Griffin's estate is just south of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in the portion of the Estate Section known as Billionaires Row. He owns the pair of properties at at 1247 and 1265 S. Ocean Blvd. through the entities Blossom Way Holdings LLC and Providencia Partners LLC. The estates total beachfront stretches more 1,180 feet, property records show. Griffin is in the process of building a mansion on part of the property that he has said will be used by his mother and guests. The council initially voted in March of last year to approve Griffin's plans to rehabilitate the four groins that over the decades have deteriorated and lost their effectiveness, town staff said at the time. In October, the council approved construction waivers to allow work on the groins to occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no work allowed on Sundays or holidays. But "noisy work" such as pile driving could only be done Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., officials had directed. A person walks near exposed groins south of Midtown Beach. The network of erosion-control structures, called groins, along Palm Beach's coastline was built starting in the 1930s. Upon commencing work on the groin project, Crews were met with a layer of hard rock that slowed progress, Palm Beach coastal coordinator Sara Westphal told the council. Advertisement Advertisement They're moving along better now that they use an auger to pre-drill the holes instead of primarily driving the piles, she said. They were able to drive four piles in less than 30 minutes on March 2, Westphal said. Crews already completed one groin, she said. Sea turtle nesting season began March 1. The town's beach management agreement through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection allows for construction between March 1 and May 1 as long as all nest-monitoring requirements are followed, town staff said. The town has not received any noise complaints about the pile-driving work, Westphal said. The town and its consultant will continue to monitor the project to make sure crews are following all rules for coastal construction, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Griffin founded and is CEO of the Miami-based Citadel LLC, a hedge fund company. He also is the founder and non-executive chairman of Citadel Securities. His mostly vacant Palm Beach estate measures more than 27 acres. Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Saturday beach work OK'd at billionaire Ken Griffins Palm Beach estate Researchers are painstakingly reconstructing the oldest-known map of the night sky previously thought lost forever by X-raying parchment that contains the star catalog hidden beneath other text. The map of the cosmos is thought to be the work of the renowned ancient astronomer Hipparchus, who lived from around 190 to 120 BCE, long before the invention of the telescope. He's credited as the first astronomer in the Western world to attempt a catalog of this kind and the first to determine the motions of the Sun and Moon. Until now, however, the only remnant of Hipparchus's lifetime of work was a commentary he wrote on two pieces describing stellar constellations works he had several issues with. Advertisement Advertisement Now we may be able to access a much fuller and more informative work by Hipparchus. The story starts in 2022, when a close analysis of a 6th-century monastery manuscript revealed that it could contain an ancient star map written by Hipparchus. Given the price of parchment in the Middle Ages, it was often scraped clean of ink and reused, and that seems to have happened here. While underlying astronomical text had been spotted on the folio before, in 2022, researchers were able to link these references to Earth's precession (axis wobble) to the time when Hipparchus would have been working. That brings us to the latest chapter in this extraordinary restoration story. The manuscript, known as the Codex Climaci Rescriptus, is currently being X-ray scanned at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, to see just how much it's hiding. "The goal is to recover as many of these coordinates as possible," historian Victor Gysembergh, from the French national scientific research center CNRS, told Ayah Ali-Ahmad at KQED. "And this will help us answer some of the biggest questions on the birth of science." Advertisement Advertisement "Why did they start doing science 2,000 and more years ago? How did they get so good at it so fast? Because the coordinates we are finding are incredibly accurate for something that is done with the naked eye." The machine being used for the work is a particle accelerator known as a synchrotron, which creates X-rays by accelerating electrons to nearly the speed of light. These X-rays can then distinguish between different chemicals in a material, without destroying the fragile material. YouTube Thumbnail While the monks who overwrote the star catalog used ink rich in iron, the underlying text in Greek, not the Syriac the monks wrote in has a calcium signature. That gives researchers the opportunity to reveal the hidden text. And progress is already being made: several star descriptions have been recovered, together with a reference to "Aquarius", KQED reported. The hope is that with further scanning, experts can reveal as much detail as the manuscript holds. Advertisement Advertisement Thought to have been originally recovered from St Catherine's Monastery in Egypt, the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world, the Codex Climaci Rescriptus has been carefully transported from The Museum of the Bible in Washington DC for this analysis. That in itself has been a major operation: The manuscript pages have been put in custom-made frames, placed in humidity-controlled cases, and carried by hand. Light in the scanning room is also deliberately controlled to prevent further ink fading. Subscribe to ScienceAlert's free fact-checked newsletter However, only 11 pages are currently being scanned at the SLAC lab. The manuscript runs to some 200 pages in total, and those pages are scattered across the world, so further coordination may be needed to bring this map back in full. Even with the challenges that still lie ahead, having a chance to be able to reconstruct the very first map of the night sky is incredible especially as we thought no one would ever set eyes on it again. Related: A Giant Telescope Searched 3I/ATLAS For Signs of Aliens. Here's Why. "I am at the peak of my excitement right now," Gysembergh told KQED. "Because of this new scan that we started, line after line of text [is] showing up in ancient Greek from the astronomical manuscript." Related News The Branch County Sheriff's Office is continuing search efforts around Union Lake in Union City throughout today following Friday's deadly storm and suspected tornado. The office requests residents avoid the area. "I know there are a lot of great people in our community that want to donate items to the victims of the tornado and the area affected," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. "Emergency Management is advising there is not a need for groceries or perishable goods. If you feel you need to do something to help, please make a monetary donation to the Branch County Sheriffs Office Victim Services Unit or the American Red Cross." Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service is sending a team to the area today to survey damage. Three people have been reported dead with 12 injured in Branch County. Cass County reported one fatality and several injuries. The lone supercell developed in La Porte County, Indiana and tracked northeast into lower Michigan, according to the weather service. "The supercell moved through Cass, St Joseph, and Branch counties. There were numerous reports called in to our office and videos posted on social media by storm chasers, broadcast media, trained spotters, and the public confirming tornado damage in Edwardsburg, Three Rivers, and Union City," the National Weather Service said. Advertisement Advertisement The survey team plans to start in Union City then work back through St. Joseph and Cass counties. This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Union Lake search continues following reported tornado A British warship deployed to Cyprus as part of the UKs response to the war in Iran has finally set sail, seven days after its mission was first announced. HMS Dragon was sent to the Mediterranean after a drone struck a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus on the night of 1st March. In a recorded TV address earlier that evening, Sir Keir Starmer said he had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites, adding British lives had been put at risk. The next day, he said would scramble the ship to the eastern Mediterranean. But the intended display of naval might has instead been criticised as an appalling and embarrassing failure that showed up the UKs Navy. The week-long wait is reported to have left MoD officials fuming and exposed the shortcomings of previous financially-motivated decisions including agreements with contractors to not work out of hours. Advertisement Advertisement As of Tuesday afternoon, the Type 45 destroyer is now in the Solent and on its way to Cyprus after what defence secretary John Healey called a remarkable effort. It is due to sail past the Isle of Wight, towards the Bay of Biscay before rounding the Iberian peninsula and into the Mediterranean. Under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, which handed independence to Cyprus, the UK has a legal obligation to ensure the islands security. But the Cypriot government has said it was disappointed in Britains response to the strike and has been forced to draft in help from France. It is also thought to be the first time since 1980 that no Royal Navy ships have been stationed in the Gulf after years of scaling back British presence in the region. Admiral Lord Alan West, who served as First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006, previously described the decision to bring home the last remaining vessel as a terrible error. The delay has not gone unnoticed. Reports the UK was updating HMS Prince of Wales readiness level prompted US president Donald Trump to suggest we dont need them any longer in a post on Truth Social on Saturday evening. Advertisement Advertisement The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, he wrote . Thats OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we dont need them any longer But we will remember. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! Why did it take so long for HMS Dragon to set sail? HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navys six Type 45 destroyers three of which are in various stages of readiness, while the remaining three are undergoing maintenance. Described by the navy as one of the most advanced warships in the world, the vessel is equipped with the Sea Viper anti-air missile system and manned by a crew of around 200. Advertisement Advertisement It recently underwent maintenance, and was loaded with ammunition after crews worked over the weekend. It is understood that it was in dry dock being refitted last week. Professor Kevin Rowlands, a former senior Royal Navy officer who now works for defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said each ship has a declared readiness level that tells ministers how many days it would take until it can set sail. He told The Independent there would always be a basic level of supplies on the ship to adhere to that readiness level and that the prime minister would have been aware of the vessels state when the decision to deploy it was made. If we wanted something earlier or quicker, there would be ways of doing that, he said. Advertisement Advertisement He said that rather than being an issue of unpreparedness, the situation highlighted how the UKs strategic priorities have turned towards Russia in recent years. The UK, through successive defence reviews, have made some strategic choices, he said. Its Nato first. Its the North Atlantic, its the high North. The principal adversary is Russia. And so, if those choices have been made, that has meant a drawdown of fewer forces in other regions, including the Middle East. Every time you make a choice, sods law is that its going to be the wrong one, but then youve got to accept the consequences, which are that youre not necessarily going to be there straight away. Other navy voices believe a lack of funding has resulted in an unpreparedness for action. Commodore Steve Prest, former director of Royal Navy acquisition, told BFBS Forces News the navys fight to keep its full structure has been a real budgetary challenge. Advertisement Advertisement With the fleet that we have got, the ageing Type 23s in particular, and to an extent the Type 45s, have suffered from a lack of spares and a lack of maintenance, he said. So getting them out in sufficient numbers at sufficient readiness has been a problem. The Independent also understands that ministers had to intervene after contractor Serco raised question marks over service crew members working at the weekend on HMS Dragon. It is understood armed forces minister Al Carns had to step in to overturn a money-saving tweak made to the servicing contract last year, which ended overtime work, including weekend working, on the ship. Advertisement Advertisement MoD sources told The Independent contract changes were down to the departments need to find 2.6bn of in-year savings for this financial year. Before the issue was resolved, an MoD source told The Independent: People are fuming here. It is not on for a contractor to work to rule in these circumstances. By Thursday afternoon, both the Royal Navy and Serco confirmed work was going ahead. In statements, they both insisted the contract does provide for overtime when necessary, including weekend work. But Prospect, a trade union representing UK defence workers, warned on Thursday that the overtime ban had slowed down the ships preparation already. Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Mr Carns also admitted on Sky News that the battleship was previously being prepared for a different purpose, so adjustments to its set-up had been required. Some have also questioned why the UK did not send a warship to the region sooner. The Spectator reported Sir Keir was first asked by the US about the use of UK bases to attack Iran on 11 February, 17 days before Israel and the US struck Tehran and killed the countrys leader, Ali Khamenei, on 28 February. You could see the buildup; it was unlikely to be without consequences, Commodore Prest told BFBS Forces News. We could and should have seen this coming. He added he believes that, on a strategic level, the UK has taken our eye off the ball. Advertisement Advertisement But Prof Rowlands said forward planning happens all the time in the armed forces, and that the navy will have been preparing a month or two in advance for potential action in the Middle East. Everybody would have seen and known about the US buildup of forces in the region, so it wasnt a complete surprise one morning that it happened, he said. The options to do something would have been given, and whether those options are then taken or not is a different matter. If the option had been taken earlier and the ship had been readied and sailed, then the message that would have sent was that we were part of the operation, and thats not the political position of the UK. So theres a balance to be had there. Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: We are reinforcing our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean with four additional Typhoon jets to Qatar. Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet drone-busting missiles are arriving in Cyprus. 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 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. As she set sail on Tuesday, HMS Dragons Commanding Officer, Commander Iain Giffin, said: My ships company have worked tirelessly to ensure we are ready for our mission to the Eastern Mediterranean.I am proud of professional manner in which they have responded. We are trained for this, we are ready for this, we have the equipment and people, we have the support of the British people and, most importantly, our families and friends. Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: I have only praise for our Royal Navy personnel and civilian teams who have worked flat out to prepare HMS Dragon for deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean. What is normally six weeks of work was completed in just six days - a remarkable effort delivered around the clock. They are the very best of Britain in action. (Jacquelyn Martin/Hasan Sarbackhshian/AP photos) A senior Iranian cleric has delivered a scathing address to the Iranian people, during which he demands the shedding of Trumps blood. The threatening statement by Abdollah Javadi Amoli, which aired on Iranian state TV this week, was a unique call for violence by an ayatollah, one of the leading clergy members in Shiite Islam, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement We are now on the verge of a great test and we must be careful to fully preserve this unity, to fully preserve this alliance, Amoli said in the speech. In addition, he demanded the shedding of Zionist blood, the shedding of Trumps blood, and urged followers to fight the oppressive America, his blood is on my shoulders. The shocking statement aired hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gloated about an American submarine sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, which he said was the first such attack since World War II. In the Indian Ocean and well play it on the screen there an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters, Hegseth said. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. Advertisement Advertisement The vessel had just participated in naval exercises hosted by India and was on its way back to Iran, Indian officials told the AP on Thursday. Dozens of sailors were killed. The post Senior Iran Cleric Drops Alarming New Threat Against Trump and Israel first appeared on Mediaite. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office arrested five people in traffic stops over the past week on drug and firearm possession charges and executed a search warrant resulting in another arrest for similar charges. March 1 On March 1, deputies made four arrests in the Ballenger Creek area. The first was during a traffic stop of 18-year-old Keymoni Disney, from Windsor Mill in Baltimore County. Deputies recovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine that also had a conversion device making the gun fully automatic, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement "A subsequent search revealed that Keymoni was in possession of approximately 291 grams of cannabis and approximately $1,200 USD," the press release said. Disney is charged with firearms-related offenses and possession with intent to distribute, according to the press release. During a different traffic stop on the same day, deputies arrested three people from Frederick. The press release said Demarion Scott, 17, was found with a loaded handgun that had an extended magazine; James Monkister, 22, was found with a similar handgun; and Myanna Evans, 19, was taken into custody because she had a felony warrant for her arrest in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement "Deputies additionally recovered a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, a quantity of cannabis, a digital scale, and approximately $1,500," the press release said. Scott is being charged as an adult. Both he and Monkister were charged with firearms-related offenses and possession of drugs with intent to distribute. West Virginia's online court records system did not show any entries for Myanna Evans. Wednesday On Wednesday, a deputy pulled over John Gross, 35, on Interstate 70 near New Market for an equipment violation and failure to maintain his lane, according to a press release on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Gross, from Baltimore, allegedly had a disguised soda can container that the press release said was "commonly used to conceal narcotics." A K-9 unit positively identified the presence of narcotics, according to the press release. After searching the vehicle, deputies found almost 65 grams of suspected fentanyl and approximately 18 grams of suspected cocaine, as well as other pills and drug packaging materials, according to the press release. Deputies also found a loaded handgun that was confirmed to have been stolen from Virginia, the press release said. "Investigators also determined that Gross is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior convictions," the press release said. Advertisement Advertisement Gross was being held in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center without bail. According to online court records, Gross is charged with 15 counts of crimes including charges related to his possession of a loaded firearm and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute. Thursday On Thursday, deputies searched a location in the 100 block of West South Street in Frederick as part of an investigation, according to a press release on Thursday. Josiah James-Moore, an 18-year-old from Frederick, was arrested in connection to the search. "During the search, detectives located and seized a stolen handgun that had been equipped with a fully automatic conversion device, making it capable of firing as a machine gun," the press release said. Advertisement Advertisement Deputies also recovered an AK-47-style pistol, called a Draco, alongside ammunition and cannabis, according to the press release. James-Moore is prohibited from carrying firearms, the press release said. He was being held in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center without bail. He's charged with two counts each of illegal possession of a regulated firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor. He also faces one count each of: possession of a machine gun and use of it for an aggressive purpose possession of a rapid fire trigger activator possession of a stolen firearm possession of ammunition while restricted from doing so Advertisement Advertisement possession with intent to distribute cannabis conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cannabis On Friday, Angela Oetting, the Frederick County district public defender, deferred to the state public defender's office for comment. The state office did not respond in time for publication. Within 24 hours of the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran, ships in the regions waters found their navigation systems had gone haywire, erroneously indicating that the vessels were at airports, a nuclear power plant and on Iranian land. The location confusion was a result of widespread jamming and spoofing of signals from global positioning satellite systems. Used by all sides in conflict zones to disrupt the paths of drones and missiles, the process involves militaries and affiliated groups intentionally broadcasting high-intensity radio signals in the same frequency bands used by navigation tools. Jamming results in the disruption of a vehicles satellite-based positioning while spoofing leads to navigation systems reporting a false location. Though commercial vessels are not the target, the electronic interference disrupted the navigation systems of more than 1,100 commercial ships in UAE, Qatari, Omani and Iranian waters on February 28, according to a report from Windward, a shipping intelligence firm. Advertisement Advertisement Jamming and spoofing also slowed marine traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a congested shipping lane that handles roughly 20% of the worlds oil and gas exports and where precise navigation is essential, Windwards data showed. Traffic through the critical waterway has since ground to a near halt, with vessels being attacked and insurers dropping maritime coverage. What were seeing in the Middle East Gulf at the moment, is extremely dangerous for maritime navigation, said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a senior maritime intelligence analyst at the company. Windward said the interference forced some tankers to reverse course or go dark, a state in which signals from a vessels Automatic Identification System, or AIS which automatically transmits key information about a vessel such as position, speed and rate of turn are no longer broadcast or detected. You dont know where ships are. The whole point of AIS is collision avoidance, she said. When you have vessels thrown onto land or thousands of nautical miles across the sea, it is deeply, deeply troubling and dangerous. Windward in its analysis identified 21 new clusters where ships AIS were being jammed in the region in the first 24 hours after the Iran war began. A day later that number had jumped to 38, Bockmann said. Maritime data and analytics company Lloyds List Intelligence said it had logged 1,735 GPS interference events affecting 655 vessels, each typically lasting three to four hours, between the start of the war and March 3. Daily incidents have more than doubled, rising from 350 when the conflict began to 672 by March 2, the firm reported. Advertisement Advertisement As use of this warfare tactic grows, experts worry the impacts could reach far beyond battlespaces. Endemic problem The jamming or spoofing of signals used in global navigation satellite systems, or GNSS, isnt a new phenomenon. Interference has been a major issue for shipping and aircraft since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, during which drones were widely deployed in combat for the first time. Bockmann described the problem now as endemic in certain regions near conflict such as the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and parts of the Middle East, where what she termed grey zone aggression, or military activity that isnt overtly hostile, is commonplace. Ramsey Faragher, the director and chief executive of the Royal Institute of Navigation in London agreed, noting that the jamming and spoofing navigational signals is an easy, straightforward shield to protect against drone attacks. However, the resulting electronic fog messes with the navigation systems of commercial vessels that arent involved in the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Weve known for decades that the signals that civilians rely on from space are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing. Its just that its never been this serious a problem before, said Faragher, who coauthored a January report on the impact of GNSS interference on maritime safety. Its just become a normal part of conflicts because small, GPS-guided drones are being used so much more widely than they were, say, 20 years ago, Faragher added. Bathers ride jet skis past an anchored commercial vessel off the coast of Dubai on March 2, 2026. - Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images In June 2025, electronic interference with navigation systems was thought to be a factor in the collision between two oil tankers, Adalynn and Front Eagle, off the coast of the UAE, Bockmann and Faragher noted. The operator of the Front Eagle called it a navigational incident. Electronic interference in navigation systems is also a threat to aircraft that fly routes in affected regions. A plane carrying the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was impacted by GPS navigation jamming while trying to land in Bulgaria in September, forcing pilots to reply on paper maps. It was unclear whether the jamming was deliberate, and the Kremlin denied any involvement. Advertisement Advertisement The number of global positioning system signal loss events affecting aircraft increased by 220% between 2021 and 2024, according to data from the International Air Transport Association. Last year, IATA said that the aviation industry must act to stay ahead of the threat. Cockpits are seeing their navigation displays literally drift away from reality, said a commercial pilot, who didnt want to be identified because he was not permitted to speak publicly. He said that he and his colleagues have experienced map shifts, where the aircraft location appears to move up to 1 mile away from the actual flight path, false altitude information that leads to phantom pull up commands, and systems suggesting an aircraft was on a taxiway, a path that connects runways with various airport facilities, when taking off. These incidents force pilots to rely on manual actions that increase workload, often during the most exhausting points of long-haul flights, he said. Why GPS is so vulnerable There are multiple global navigation satellite systems, with the US-run Global Positioning System, or GPS, being the best-known and most used. The EU operates a parallel system called Galileo, China has its own BeiDou satellites and Russia has a system known as GLONASS. Soldiers look at a drone in the region of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, on June 14, 2025. - Florent Vergnes/AFP/Getty Images Publicly accessible GNSS signals are open in nature, and until recently, only military GNSS signal contained security features, according to the Royal Institute of Navigation report. Since last year, however, Galileo has a feature that allows users to authenticate the data they receive and understand whether it has been tampered with. Generally, however, GPS signals are easy to overpower because they weaken as they travel over 20,000 kilometers to reach Earth from orbit, the report noted. Advertisement Advertisement The navigation systems all function similarly: A receiver calculates where something is using radio signals from a constellation of satellites. To determine any position, a GPS typically needs a line of sight from four satellites. Interference is often easy to spot on AIS tracking maps, which may appear to show vessels in an affected area moving in perfect geometric crop circles, Bockmann said. Another obvious indicator is when a ships position jumps to a fixed position on land, often an airport or base associated with the spoofing source, according to the Royal Institute of Navigation report. It is possible, the report noted, for GPS manipulation to mimic a specific route and it has been used by vessels seeking to evade sanctions or fish in protected areas, and by pirates wanting to misdirect cargo ships into unsafe locations for theft or ambushes. A photo of a cockpit GPS in 2010. Spoofing and jamming in and around conflict zones is affecting commercial aircraft. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file) - Gerald Herbert/AP A real-world test On highly automated, modern ships, GPS interference can be hard to detect. And while its perfectly possible to navigate using alternative tools, including radar, inertial systems such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, visual watchkeeping, and celestial navigation, younger mariners are often less familiar with these techniques and tools. Advertisement Advertisement Its a similar situation to how few young people today know how to drive a stick shift car, according to Bockmann. It takes away all the bells and whistles, and it makes you go back to old school ways of navigating, she said. Interference is often easy to spot on vessel tracking maps, which may appear to show vessels in an affected area moving in perfect geometric crop circles. - Windward Maritime AI The impact of GPS interference also creates compliance headaches for shipping companies, Bockmann said. For example, for the ships that have their signals diverted to sites on Iranian land, it draws unwanted and unnecessary attention from banks, insurers and other companies monitoring potential breaches of sanctions. Faragher said that the hazards posed by GPS interference are compounded by the fact that many systems onboard a modern vessel unrelated to navigation use GPS data to calculate position, velocity and time. These systems include safety kits such as gear that mariners wear to help locate them should they fall overboard. When it hits the water, the electronics wake up and it turns on its GNSS, listens to the satellites and sends your position, he said. If you fell overboard with one of those things inside a spoofing region, the probability is incredibly high that your true location would not get sent, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Faragher is particularly worried about such a scenario happening in the Iran war, since commercial shipping vessels appear to have already been hit by missiles. What Im hoping we dont have happen is a ship is sunk, the crew abandon ship, and their rescue is delayed or disrupted because their emergency broadcast position information is wrong because of the jamming and spoofing, he said. The war unfolding in the region is perhaps the biggest real-world test to date of how resilient maritime navigation and monitoring are when satellite positioning becomes unreliable. Solutions do exist, such as enhancing receivers with anti-spoofing features and encryption, or installing a type of antenna that is specifically designed to protect against the effects of jamming and spoofing, but upgrading and replacing existing systems takes time and money, Faragher said. Alternative navigational tools that dont rely on GPS, but instead harness quantum technology, are also in development but remain a long way off operational use. Advertisement Advertisement GNSS is a wonder of the modern world. You can switch it on and within a few seconds, it works out where you are to within a meter and what time it is to within a nanosecond, Faragher said. Unfortunately, the luxurious era of those signals not being messed about with intentionally is over, he said. We need to rapidly catch up. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (NewsNation) The six U.S. soldiers killed in the ongoing war with Iran were honored in a dignified transfer Saturday afternoon at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. President Donald Trump attended the ceremony alongside First Lady Melania Trump as well as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Those six U.S. troops headed home after being killed in a missile strike at a U.S. facility in Kuwait last week, after the fighting got underway with Iran. The soldiers were in a makeshift office space in Shuaiba Port, with no apparent warning before an Iranian drone attacked them. Advertisement Advertisement Trump: Today Iran will be hit very hard US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance salute as members of a US Army team carry a flagged-drapped transfer case containing the remains of one of six US soldiers during a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. Six US Army soldiers were killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwaits southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) (L/R) US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance annd Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a dignified transfer solemn event for six US soldiers at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. Six US Army soldiers were killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwaits southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance salute as members of a US Army team carry the flagged-drapped transfer case containing the remains of US soldier Maj. Jeffery R. O Brien during a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. Six US Army soldiers were killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwaits southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) (L/R) White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, US President Donald Trump, special envoy Steve Witkoff, First Lady Melania Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi attend a dignified transfer solemn event for six US soldiers at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. Six US Army soldiers were killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwaits southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) (L/R) US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance attend a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. Six US Army soldiers were killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwaits southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attend a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. Six US Army soldiers were killed March 1 when an Iranian drone struck a key US command center in Kuwaits southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Maj. Jeffrey R. OBrien, 45, and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, two of the service members who were killed were from Iowa or had Iowa connections, and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will be in attendance, along with Iowas two senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Republicans. Its a very sad daywe paid our respects, President Trump said of the dignified transfer. Trump on Iran leadership: Clean out everything The president acknowledged the parents of the soldiers KIA are so proud, but calls the deaths a very sad thing. I think weve accomplished more in one week than anyone thought possible, Trump added. Whatever it takes. Advertisement Advertisement Trump refused to answer a question about how long the operation could last. The Hill contributed to this report. 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 NewsNation. The families of the six US Army Reserve soldiers who were killed this week in Kuwait watched as their loved ones were brought home during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance joined top military officials observing the solemn event on an overcast afternoon. The military identified the six service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait on March 1 as Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sgt. Declan Coady. Marzan is believed to have been killed in the strike, but is still awaiting final positive identification by a medical examiner. Advertisement Advertisement As the transfer cases were taken from a C-17 across the tarmac at Dover Air Force Base, Trump saluted while wearing a white ball cap with gold USA lettering. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and governors and senators from the soldiers home states were among those in attendance. Its a very sad day, Trump told reporters on Air Force One after the transfer. He said that the parents of the service members were so proud and that such deaths are always a very sad thing. All six soldiers were assigned with the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit out of Iowa. They were serving in the Middle East with the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, which oversees the supplying US forces throughout the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Brig. Gen. Clint Barnes, the deputy commanding general of 1st Theater Sustainment Command, said this week that the soldiers served relentlessly, consistently, and fearlessly. They were the ultimate ambassadors for freedom, Barnes said. They represent the best of what our country stands for. May God grant their families peace and comfort in their memories. We will never forget them. Four of the six soldiers identified had served in the military for roughly two decades, while the youngest had just enlisted in 2023. Several of them had deployed together to Kuwait with the same unit previously, a former senior leader within the 103rd Sustainment Command told CNN. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance attend a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base on March 7. - Mark Schiefelbein/AP Khork, 35, is remembered by his loved ones as the life of the party who was 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 said in a statement to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Amor was just days from returning home, her husband Joey Amor told the Associated Press. She had served in the military since enlisting in 2005, and leaves behind two children a senior in high school and a fourth grader. OBrien 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 in a statement to CNN affiliate KCCI. He was a husband and father to three children. A friend of Marzans described the chief warrant officer as someone who would do anything for you, and family and friends meant the most to him. His sister described him as a strong leader who lived by example. Tietjen, who would have celebrated his 43rd birthday on Tuesday, is remembered as a mentor to younger soldiers and someone who was so easy to get along with, the owners of a studio in Bellevue, Nebraska, that Tietjen frequented said in a statement. He leaves behind a wife and son. Advertisement Advertisement Coady, 20, was an Eagle Scout and gym enthusiast. His father said he was considering extending his deployment for another nine months despite expecting to come home in May. He was a man of few words more often than not, his sister said in a statement to CNN, but if you ever had the chance to talk to him about something he was passionate about, you were lucky. President Donald Trump and other officials attend a dignified transfer in Dover, Delaware, on March 7. - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters CNN first reported that the strike occurred on a makeshift operations center at the civilian port of Shuaiba in Kuwait on Sunday morning local time. A source familiar with the situation told CNN the soldiers were working out of a building they described as a triple-wide trailer with office space inside. The drone strike came quickly, and there was no siren or warning ahead of time, which would give time for troops to evacuate to a bunker, the source said. While there were concrete barrier walls surrounding the building, the source said, there was nothing overhead that could shield it from drones or missiles. Those kinds of barriers are typical for military structures overseas to protect them from things like car bombs. Caine said this week that the nation grieves with the families of the six fallen. Advertisement Advertisement To our Gold Star families, to our wounded warriors and their loved ones, we will never forget your sacrifice, Caine said during a Pentagon briefing. Our nation stands with you, and we are eternally grateful for your courage, your resiliency, your devotion to this mission and to our nation. The president has previously said there will likely be more US casualties in the Iran war. Asked Saturday whether he thought he would have to attend more dignified transfers, Trump said, Im sure. I hate to but its a part of war. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Alisha Ebrahimji, Emma Tucker, Hanna Park, Taylor Romine and Kit Maher contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Four additional states have been granted federal approval to restrict recipients from using SNAP benefits to purchase certain sugary products, as part of an ongoing initiative to reform the food assistance program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the waivers for Kansas, Ohio, Nevada, and Wyoming. The states will implement different restrictions on high-sugar items over the coming years. Kansas will prohibit candy and soft drinks starting February 15, 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Ohios ban on sugar-sweetened beverages begins October 1, 2026. Wyoming will ban sweetened carbonated beverages effective February 1, 2027. Nevada will restrict both candy and sugar-sweetened beverages effective February 1, 2028. These approvals increase the number of states with waivers limiting purchases of foods or beverages considered low in nutritional value to 22. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps more than 40 million low- and no-income people buy groceries each month. The changes are part of the Trump administrations Make America Healthy Again initiative. Last summer, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a press release, calling on all governors to submit a SNAP waiver to eliminate sugary drinks. Advertisement Advertisement Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long, said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. SNAP exists to nourish vulnerable Americans not bankroll the products driving our chronic disease crisis, Kennedy said in a March 4 press release. Today, we are putting nutrition back at the center of SNAP and giving millions of families greater access to real food. Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert, told Newsweek: The issue isnt about individuals misusing their benefits, but their limited choices. In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options. For many families, fresh produce and healthy meals are luxuries that are unattainable, not because they do not want these foods, but because they are unavailable or too expensive. SNAP is funded by the federal government and administered at the state level. Benefits are delivered through electronic benefit transfer cards. The program cost just over $100 billion in fiscal year 2024. Advertisement Advertisement The full list of states with approved waivers now includes Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The restrictions will take effect at various points from 2026 through 2028. In Texas, the ban on sugary drinks, artificially sweetened beverages, and candy using SNAP benefits kicks in on April 1, 2026. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta condemned the killing of a 25-year-old man during Holi celebrations in Delhi's Uttam Nagar, calling the incident "heartbreaking and reprehensible" and assuring strict action against those involved. In a post on X, the Chief Minister said Delhi has a zero-tolerance policy towards violent crimes and directed authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of all accused and swift legal action in the case. "This brutal murder of an innocent youth in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, on the auspicious occasion of Holi, is extremely painful, condemnable, and shocking to the entire society. Delhi has a zero-tolerance policy for such heinous criminal and violent incidents. Such brutality will not be tolerated at any cost. Clear and strict instructions have been given to the administration to immediately arrest all those involved in this crime and ensure the strictest and swiftest action against them in accordance with the law. Strict and exemplary action will be taken in this case so that no one dares to commit such inhuman acts in the future," Gupta said. She also assured the victim's family that the Delhi government stands with them and will ensure all possible assistance and justice. "The Delhi government stands with the victim's family with full sympathy, responsibility, and determination during this difficult time. I will take action to provide the family with all possible assistance and justice. Tarun's family has lost their young son; their grief cannot be expressed in words. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the family to bear this unbearable grief," the Chief Minister said. https://x.com/gupta_rekha/status/2030322708245017044 According to Delhi Police, the case has now been registered under the murder charge along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said that police acted swiftly after the incident and arrested several accused in the case. "We immediately arrested five people in this case, including a 17-year-old minor. The next day, based on the family's statement, we arrested two more people," Singh said, adding that the police are continuing their investigation. He explained that the dispute was triggered by a minor incident involving a child. "The trigger point was that on March 4th, a 9-year-old girl threw a balloon from the roof at around 10.30 pm, causing it to fall on a woman. Initially, there was an argument between the two families, and then a fight broke out. We will interrogate the woman," the DCP told the media. According to Singh, authorities have deployed a heavy police presence in the area to maintain law and order. "Given the situation, we have deployed adequate forces here. Along with the local police, we have also called in staff from the Outer District and the West District. We have also deployed CRPF and RAF personnel. We have divided the entire area into zones, where we have assigned a DCP to each zone, an ACP to each sector, and an ASI to each sub-sector," he said. Meanwhile, the victim's family has demanded strict action against all those involved. Tarun's elder brother, Arun Kumar, alleged that around 20-25 people were involved in the clash and urged authorities to ensure justice for the family. (ANI) A 29-year-old man was killed when his snowmobile struck a tree in northern Minnesota. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office says the crash was reported on the Arrowhead Trail about 25 miles north of Orr at 10:08 p.m. Thursday, when a man reported his friend had become separated from the group. The lost friend, a North Branch man, was found around an hour later, lying dead near his snowmobile. "It appears he failed to navigate a 90-degree corner which resulted in him colliding with a tree," the sheriff's office says. Advertisement Advertisement The man's identity has not yet been released, with his family still being notified. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. Pixabay (Pixabay) This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Mar 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. According to its website, the members of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus keep busy by fighting for the peoples rights. If their legislative results this year are any indication, the peoples rights are taking a beating. The Freedom Caucus is a group of Republicans in the South Dakota Legislature. Their website touts adherence to the vision of President Ronald Reagan, but their beliefs put them a little to the right of Genghis Khan. The groups chairman is the Legislatures resident bad boy, Rep. Phil Jensen of Rapid City. Last year he lost the vice chairmanship of the House Education Committee for filing a bill that would have stripped the Huron School District of state funding because he had heard bad things about the districts loose bathroom policy for transgender students. Advertisement Advertisement This year he lost the committee entirely, shuttled to another panel when he threw a fit over a seating arrangement that didnt meet with his approval. He stayed in the news weeks later when he disparaged the religious beliefs of other representatives. For that infraction, he was denied access to the GOP caucus for two weeks, a punishment akin to being stoned with popcorn. Searchlight Report podcast Listen to voices from South Dakota politics and policy. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. The Freedom Caucus vice chairman is Sen. John Carley of Piedmont and the secretary/treasurer is Rep. Tina Mulally of Rapid City. The groups website lists six other members, all representatives: Logan Manhart of Aberdeen, Dylan Jordan of Clear Lake, Tony Kayser of Sioux Falls, Aaron Aylward of Harrisburg, Tony Randolph of Rapid City and Josephine Garcia of Watertown. Advertisement Advertisement The groups meet the team page includes this cryptic phrase: Not all South Dakota Freedom Caucus members are public members. Why someones membership in the group would need to remain hidden is a mystery, much like their secret identities. Not to be outdone by the bad boy chairman of the caucus, Carley put himself at the center of a news story recently, disappearing before a crucial vote on economic development incentives for data centers. His absence was seen in many quarters for what it was, a ploy to ensure that the bill was killed. Carley got the result he wanted by using a tactic thats not usually found in Roberts Rules of Order. Perhaps Carley was called to a meeting of the double-secret members of the Freedom Caucus. Maybe he was desperately searching for someone anyone who would vote to advance some of his legislation. Carley led all Freedom Caucus members this year as the prime sponsor of 21 bills. At this writing, his record is 1-20. Just one of his 21 bills made it out of the Senate to be considered by the House. Advertisement Advertisement Despite that poor showing, Carley doesnt have the worst winning percentage of Freedom Caucus members. That belongs to Mulally who, obviously swamped with secretary/treasurer duties, was the prime sponsor of just two bills, both of which failed to garner enough support to move on to the Senate. Despite operating in the House, which boasts a Republican super-majority, other Freedom Caucus members did not fare much better. In most cases they saw their mix of protections for the unborn, cannabis restrictions, property tax reforms, election integrity changes and Second Amendment enhancements go down in defeat. Jensen was 1-3, Jordan was 1-8, Kayser 1-3, Aylward 2-4, Randolph 3-4 and Garcia was 3-8. The member of the Freedom Caucus with the most success was Manhart, who was the prime sponsor of nine bills with five of them making it to the Senate. Of the 73 bills proposed by the Freedom Caucus members at least the members that we know about 17 of them made it into the Senate. That 17-56 record is just what fans fear the Minnesota Twins record will be early in July. Its hardly the kind of legislative showing to be expected from a group that bills itself as fighting for the freedoms of South Dakotans. Advertisement Advertisement There could be valid reasons for the poor legislative showing of the Freedom Caucus. Maybe theyre just ahead of their time. Maybe other members are jealous of their insight and expertise. Or maybe they need to spend more time being lawmakers and less time garnering headlines. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The ugly side of March is officially upon us, when clocks spring forward an hour for daylight saving time. So, when does the time change affect your morning slumber? This weekend? Here's what you need to know about the 2026 daylight saving time change: When does daylight saving 2026 time change spring forward in USA? 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. Is daylight savings 2026 time change this weekend? When is DST this year? In the U.S., daylight saving time will begin and clocks will officially spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Do I gain or lose an hour of sleep for daylight saving time change at 2 a.m. March 8, 2026? We lose an hour of sleep when the clocks "spring forward" and are turned ahead at 2 a.m. for one hour when daylight saving time begins. In the fall when DST ends, clocks "fall back" an hour in November. That is when people gain an hour of sleep. Why is daylight savings a thing? What is daylight saving time? The goal of daylight saving time is to ensure more daylight hours in a day for a number of reasons, but primarily to save energy. There have also been arguments that having more daylight hours benefits public safety and health. Advertisement Advertisement 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. There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was established. Advertisement Advertisement "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 savings time spring forward start, DST fall back end? Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 8, and ends on Nov. 1 in 2026. Which U.S. states don't change clocks for 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. Advertisement Advertisement Story continues after photo gallery. Did daylight saving time start because of farmers? No, according to almanac.com. "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. Advertisement Advertisement 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 trending reporter 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. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: When is time change 2026? Does daylight savings spring forward tonight in US? WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) This weekend, we spring forward as daylight saving time begins. But a Kansas lawmaker says the twice-a-year clock change could actually be bad for our health. There is a push at the statehouse to end the switch. Sleep experts say that one hour can have real effects on our bodies, which is why some Kansas lawmakers, like Senator Kenny Titus, want to stop changing the clocks altogether. Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday at 2 a.m., clocks jump ahead an hour. Pulmonary and Sleep Doctor Saurav Luthra says even a small change can disrupt the bodys natural rhythm. So even though it seems like it is just an hour of loss, it is not good for our circadian rhythm, said Dr. Luthra. Studies have shown it can lead to changes in our mood, fatigue levels, and even our cardiovascular health. Research has also shown spikes in accidents and heart attacks in the days after the clock change. Dr. Luthra says darker mornings make it harder for the body to adjust. Sunlight is one of the biggest influences on our internal clock. When we wake up in darker mornings, we dont get that sunlight, said Dr. Luthra. Advertisement Advertisement Some Kansas lawmakers, like Senator Kenny Titu,s say the health concerns are part of the reason theyre pushing to reconsider the clock change. When I looked at all of the data, the health benefits really were overwhelming how beneficial it would be to switch to standard time because it matches the human sleep rhythm, said Titus. Under current federal law, states can opt out of daylight saving time, but only if they stay on standard time year-round. The way federal law is set up currently, Kansas can adopt permanent standard time basically, we can opt out of switching our clocks, said Titus. Advertisement Advertisement Titus says the proposal is still being debated, but many Kansans have strong opinions about ending the twice-a-year change. I really dont know any person who likes changing their clocks twice a year because were groggy, were tired, said Titus. The sleep doctor says if you want to make the transition a little easier this weekend, try going to bed about 15 to 20 minutes earlier for a few nights before the change. Youll want to move your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night. 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. Sri Lanka will treat Iranian sailors rescued from a torpedoed frigate according to international law, a minister said Saturday, following reports Washington was pressuring Colombo to not repatriate them. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a conference in New Delhi that Sri Lanka was caring for 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under Colombo's international treaty obligations. The frigate was sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday just off Sri Lanka's southern coast. Advertisement Advertisement Sri Lanka sent its navy to rescue survivors and recover 84 bodies. Asked if Colombo was under pressure from the US to not repatriate the Iranians, Herath did not answer directly. "We have taken all the steps according to international laws," Herath said. Sri Lanka also provided safe haven to a second Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, and evacuated its 219 crew a day after the Dena was torpedoed. The ship was taken to Trincomalee on Sri Lanka's northeast coast after reporting engine problems. India, meanwhile, said Saturday it had allowed a third Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in one of its ports on "humane" grounds after it too reported operational problems. Advertisement Advertisement The three ships were part of a multi-national fleet review held by India before the war in the Middle East started last Saturday. "I think it was the humane thing to do and I think we were guided by that principle," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said. The Lavan docked in the southwest Indian port of Kochi on Wednesday. "A lot of the people on board were young cadets. They have disembarked and are in a nearby facility," said Jaishankar. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said this week that Colombo would follow the Hague Convention, which requires a neutral state to hold combatants of a warring state until hostilities end. Advertisement Advertisement A senior administration official said Colombo was in talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross to deal with the survivors of the torpedoed ship. International humanitarian law applied to the survivors from the Dena, an official said, and the wounded could be repatriated at their request. Iranian diplomats in Colombo said they have asked for the remains of 84 sailors killed in the US attack to be taken back to Iran. aj-sai/fox PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WHTM) The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard quite a case Friday. Sort of. Supreme Court justices educated and entertained students at the courts Philadelphia area courthouse. Students from a local elementary school took part in a mock trial about the 1804 duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Your honor, ladies and gentlemen of the court, we would like to announce that the jury is deadlocked, Justice Kevin M. Dougherty said. That means we have to do this trial again. The prosecution has to go back and decide whether you want to re-prosecute Mr. Burr for the same offense. Advertisement Advertisement Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV devices, and newer Samsung Smart TVs. The judges then talked to the students about the strengths and weaknesses of the cases they presented. 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. A man from Connecticut was charged with their 4th DUI after crashing into a police cruiser on Thursday in Easthampton. Easthampton police say they were clearing from a call on Holyoke Street when a silver Mitsubishi allegedly began traveling towards one of the officers head-on. Immediately, the officer activated his blue lights, and the vehicle allegedly then swerved back into the proper lane. The officer began to turn to attempt to conduct a motor vehicle stop. Advertisement Advertisement Police say while this was happening, another officer who was further back in traffic, observed the blue lights up ahead and heard radio transmissions explaining what had just occurred, so she also illuminated her blue emergency lights as well. According to police, there was moderate traffic in the area at the time, so authorities were concerned about the publics safety. As the suspects vehicle approached the second officers location, the suspect allegedly veered towards the officers cruiser, colliding with it nearly head-on. The crash occurred on Holyoke Street in the area of East Green Street. The officer and occupants of the suspect vehicle were all transported to local hospitals for evaluation and released. Advertisement Advertisement 42-year-old Josue Medina of New Britain, Connecticut was charged with his 4th DUI, OUI drugs, failure to stop for police, negligent operation, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession with intent to distribute class d, speeding, marked lane violations, and failure to use care turning. Medina was arraigned on Friday at the Northampton District Court, where he was found to be a danger and ordered to be held until his next hearing. 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 The man accused of killing three women in Utah before leading authorities on a multistate search was on pretrial release for separate charges in his home state of Iowa, and told police he killed the women for money, according to court records. Ivan Miller, 22, of Iowa, admitted to shooting the three women and stabbing one of them in interviews with investigators, according to a criminal complaint. He is charged with three counts of aggravated murder. The three women, identified as Margaret Oldroyd, 86; Linda Dewey, 65; and Natalie Graves, 34, were found at two separate locations in Wayne County in the southern part of the state on March 4, the Utah Department of Public Safety said. Investigators soon realized the suspect had taken one of their vehicles and traced its movements to Colorado, where Miller was arrested early the morning of March 5, officials have said. Advertisement Advertisement The killings struck fear in the small community. Schools and a local health clinic closed while the manhunt continued and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office asked residents to stay inside with their doors locked. Dewey was Graves' aunt, the Department of Public Safety said (authorities earlier said they were believed to be friends going on a hike together). Neither woman is believed to have a connection to Oldroyd, and none of the three had any known prior connection to Miller, officials said. The sheriff's office said it extends its "deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims." Miller was arrested and held in Archuleta County, Colorado, where jail records show he also faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon and vehicle theft. It was not immediately clear if Miller had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. How did the killings of three women unfold? Dewey and Graves were found dead after they didn't return from a hike by their husbands, who called authorities the afternoon of March 4. Near the trail, authorities found a vehicle that didn't belong there and discovered it belonged to Oldroyd. They then found her dead at her home. Advertisement Advertisement According to a timeline released by the Department of Public Safety and the criminal complaint, Miller is believed to have killed Oldroyd first. He told investigators that he hit an elk with his truck in Loa, Utah, on Feb. 28, days before the killings in nearby towns, according to the documents. Miller said he sold the truck to a tow company and stayed in an area hotel. He went to Lyman, Utah, where Oldroyd lived, and hid out in a shed on her property where he stayed the night, he said, according to the criminal complaint. Miller told investigators he waited for the woman to leave, then went inside her house to wait for her return. While she was sitting down watching TV, he shot her in the back of the head, he said, according to the complaint. Miller dragged her to the cellar beneath a shed and took her car, he admitted, according to the complaint. Responding deputies said it looked like Miller used a wheelbarrow to move her body. Miller said he then drove to a hiking trail, about 15 miles away, and saw the two other women, Dewey and Graves, get out of a white Subaru. He told investigators he approached the women and shot them both. When one woman kept moving, he "stabbed her multiple times in the 'heart,'" he told investigators, according to the complaint. Miller said he dragged their bodies to a ditch and took the Subaru. What was the motive in the Utah killings? Miller told investigators "he did it because he needed money," according to the criminal complaint. When Miller was apprehended the morning of March 5, he had credit and debit cards belonging to the victims and one of their identification cards. He told investigators he used one of the cards to buy gas and was planning to go back to Iowa, where he is from, but stopped in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to get gas. He was arrested there. Advertisement Advertisement "Miller confessed that it 'had to be done' but he did not like to do it," the complaint said. Miller also told investigators that after he killed Oldroyd and took her car, a Buick Regal, he decided he did not like the car and wanted to find a different vehicle. He also said in an interview with investigators that one of the victims had blue or purple hair "and that they were 'lesbians,'" the complaint said. He said all the women were shot with a Rock Island brand 1911 model .45-caliber pistol found on him when he was arrested. When asked about the knife he used, he produced a knife in the interview with investigators, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Miller's criminal history in Iowa includes four counts on Dec. 28, 2025: burglary, theft, possession of marijuana and a weapons charge, according to records obtained by the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network. The charges stem from allegations he broke into a cabin at a state park to sleep there. He is now also accused of violating terms of his pre-trial release by leaving Iowa without permission and allegedly committing new crimes, the records show. Contributing: Brian Smith, the Des Moines Register This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspect in deaths of 3 Utah women said he did it for money, stole cars STOCKHOLM (AP) Swedish authorities are investigating a cargo ship sailing in the Baltic Sea that's accused of transporting stolen grain, officials said Saturday. The Swedish Coast Guard said during a news conference Saturday that the crew of the Caffa is predominantly Russian, and the ship is on Ukraine's sanctions list, according to Swedish news agency TT. The Caffa was also allegedly sailing under a false flag when Swedish authorities boarded it in Swedish territorial waters Friday to search it and conduct interviews, TT reported. It had been sailing under a Guinean flag. Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are concerned about its seaworthiness and a person is under criminal investigation, TT reported. Other details about the Caffa and its crew were not immediately available. Sweden last year said it would step up insurance checks on foreign ships in a move aimed at tightening controls on Russias so-called shadow fleet of aging ships, which are used to transport oil and gas or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The average age of the vessels is around 18 years, meaning theyre near the end of their life span and are more vulnerable to accidents, especially if theyre not well-maintained. The government in Stockholm last year tasked the Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration with collecting insurance information not just from ships that call at Swedish ports, but also those that pass through the countrys territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. Authorities have not said whether they believe the Caffa is part of the shadow fleet. Tennessee National Guard troops, including from air wings, have been deployed to the Middle East in support of the Iran regime change mission, Gov. Bill Lee confirmed. Lee declined to say whether the 134th Refueling Wing at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville was called into the conflict. The 134th has been previously deployed to international conflicts including Iraq and Kosovo. It was established in 1959 and fulfills dual missions: responding to emergencies at the governor of Tennessees direction and supporting federal military operations through refueling. "I can't speak to specifics about that, but I can tell you that there are National Guard folks deployed in the Middle East region connected to the conflict, but details about where those came from and what actual wings they come from, I don't have access to that information," Lee told Knox News during a March 5 stop at McGhee Tyson Airport. Advertisement Advertisement The 134th includes several separate units focused on such tasks as maintenance, mission support, operations, cyberspace and medical activity. Eleven members of the wing earned the Air Forces Distinguished Flying Cross for refueling fighters that defended Israel from Iranian strikes in April 2024. The U.S. militarys Central Command, which manages operations in the Middle East, sent Knox News a fact sheet detailing the types of assets used in Iran during the conflict, in response to questions about a potential deployment, but did not say whether the 134th was sent. Assets include refueling tanker aircraft, along with bombers, drones and fighter jets. Late last year, the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard base was selected as the seventh base for the next-gen KC-46 Pegasus refueler. It is the Air Forces newest aerial refueling aircraft and it replaces the KC-135 Stratotanker. CNN reported both types of refueling planes were used in the Iran effort. Advertisement Advertisement Mariah Franklin reports on technology and energy for Knox News. Email: mariah.franklin@knoxnews.com. Signal: mariahfranklin.01 This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee National Guard troops have been deployed to the Middle East Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said that over 700 Naxalites have surrendered in the state since 2024, as he urged Maoist cadres to abandon violence and participate in the democratic process. Speaking in Hyderabad during a surrender programme where 130 Maoists laid down arms, Reddy said the government believes change can be achieved through democratic means rather than violence. "After 2024, we made at least 700 Naxalites surrender. They also surrendered 250 weapons. Today, 130 people surrendered with 124 weapons, including AK47s, SLRs, and other weapons. They also handed over 7,000 bullets to the police department during their surrender today," the Chief Minister said. Appealing to extremists to give up arms, Reddy emphasised that democracy offers a stronger platform for change. "My request to everyone is this: You cannot scare another human being with weapons... We are in a democratic process; we can make miracles not with bullets but with the ballot, so come to the ballot," he added. The surrender programme was held at the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad in the presence of senior officials and police authorities. According to officials, the 130 cadres who surrendered belonged to the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Among them were three State Committee members, one Regional Committee member, ten Divisional Committee members, 46 Area Committee members and 70 other party members. The surrendered Maoists handed over a total of 124 weapons to the police. These included one INSAS LMG rifle, 31 AK-47 rifles, 21 INSAS rifles, 20 SLR rifles, 18 .303 rifles and 33 other weapons. Police officials said many of the weapons had earlier been looted from security forces during past attacks. Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy described the development as a major success for the state government and the police force. He said the surrender was the result of sustained efforts by the police to convince Maoist cadres to return to mainstream society. The Chief Minister also appealed to top Maoist leaders, including central committee member Ganapati, to surrender and join the democratic process. He said the state government is prepared to revoke cases against surrendered cadres within the framework of law and is considering a financial rehabilitation package for them. The Chief Minister also launched the "Stand with Her" campaign aimed at empowering women in the state. Reddy said women should not be confined to traditional roles and must be supported to excel in all fields, adding that several schemes have already been introduced to strengthen women's self-help groups and economic opportunities in Telangana. (ANI) The Lone Star State is one of the main testing grounds in the United States for small modular nuclear reactors, a new technology that may provide much-needed power to the state's grid. According to The Texas Tribune, the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texas at Austin estimated that average demand on the grid could almost triple by 2050. However, the first small modular nuclear reactor, or SMR, could be powering an industrial plant in the state by the early 2030s. Supporters of SMRs said the technology could offer reliable electricity with lower emissions since they are designed to produce 300 megawatts of electricity or less, according to The Texas Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Currently, Texas has two nuclear power plants that produce over 5,000 megawatts. The Comanche Peak plant is located near Fort Worth, and the South Texas Project is located near Matagorda Bay. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, SMRs are about a third of the size of a typical nuclear power plant. The parts are factory-made and shipped to site locations, which reduces upfront construction costs. Plus, research found that the deployment of a 100-megawatt SMR could create up to 7,000 jobs. Scientists have brought attention to certain challenges that come with SMRs. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists said it has "fundamental safety and security disadvantages compared with other low-carbon sources." Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Tribune also pointed to licensing, waste concerns, and cost as potential issues. Despite those potential problems, researchers told The Texas Tribune that the state might be ready to push forward with the technology. "There are a lot of indications that we are," Matt Kammer-Kerwick, a researcher at the UT Bureau of Business Research, said. "Let's talk in six months." There are plans outside of Texas, too. Earlier this year, the DOE announced it would provide $800 million in funding for new nuclear generation projects. According to a news release, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec Government Services were selected to support early deployments of SMRs. 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. Longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz is warning the GOP that Texas has the exact ingredient for a potential Democratic upset in Novembers election for a U.S. Senate seat. The assumption has been for the last 20, 25 years, that Texas is solidly Republican, he told NewsNations Leland Vittert. But the demographics have been changing. Politics: A Running List Of The Most Inspirational Trump Quotes About The Iran War He said the state is becoming less white and Democrats are getting better organized. In addition, Democrats this year are seeing incredibly high turnout in special elections and primaries around the country. Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, more than 2.2 million people voted in this weeks Democratic primary a midterm record for the state as state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who's currently a representative in the Texas House, speaks Wednesday for the first time since winning the Democratic nomination. Eric Gay/AP If youre a Democrat, you cant wait to vote, Luntz said. Every Democrat is looking to participate. Some Republican voters, on the other hand, are staying home. Politics: Bill Maher Slams Kamala Harris For Opposing Trump's Iran War: 'I See So Much Happiness' And in Texas, theres another issue: a vicious primary thats about to get even uglier as the contest between state Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is heading to a runoff. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump is reportedly getting ready to endorse Cornyn, with the expectation that Paxton would then drop out. But Paxton has indicated he will not. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (left) is set to face Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff for the Republican primary for Cornyn's seat. Julio Cortez/AP; Jack Myervia/AP The Republicans still have a clear advantage, Luntz said. But that advantage has been shrinking and shrinking. And when you have two candidates destroying each other, like these two are, this is the exact ingredient that you could have low Republican turnout in November, a split party, you could conceivably see a Democrat surprising people. Luntz also warned Republicans that control over the Senate could hinge on a single issue and its one thats not helping the GOP at the moment: affordability. Politics: U.S. May Have Committed War Crime In Sinking Of Iranian Ship Thats it, he said. Thats the key decider. Advertisement Advertisement See more of that conversation below. Remember what happened with Georgias Senate seats during the 2020 election? If Republicans keep attacking each other in the Texas Senate GOP primary run-off, it could leave their seat vulnerable this November. I spoke with @LelandVittert about what this could mean for 2026. pic.twitter.com/jVzuOZlS4X Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) March 6, 2026 Political Updates Read the original on HuffPost 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 suggested the U.S. was likely responsible for the attack. The Times subsequently reported that a preliminary military inquiry determined the U.S. was responsible for the attack. Because anonymous sources were used, Snopes could not confirm the report's accuracy. In February 2026, missiles destroyed a girls' primary school in Minab, Iran, killing more than 150 people mostly children, according to Iranian state media. The attack occurred on the same day, Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive on Iran, targeting military installations and killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The United Nations' education agency called the strike "a grave violation of humanitarian law." Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the strike, rumors spread claiming Iran was behind it and that 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. On March 8, footage verified by The New York Times found a Tomahawk missile used only by the U.S. in this conflict hit the neighboring naval base. On March 11, unnamed U.S. officials told The New York Times that a preliminary investigation by the military had found the U.S. was indeed responsible for the attack. Officials relied on outdated data when giving the coordinates for a missile strike. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the findings in a statement: "As The New York Times acknowledges in its own reporting, the investigation is still ongoing." Given that the Times used anonymous sources for the report, Snopes cannot independently confirm its accuracy. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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: Advertisement Advertisement (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. 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." Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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." Advertisement Advertisement 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 and the reported preliminary results of the official investigation state the U.S. was likely responsible for the destruction of the girls' school, though the investigation is ongoing. We will update this story as we learn more. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement "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. "U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says." The New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/us/politics/iran-school-missile-strike.html. Accessed 11 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 9, 2026: This story was updated to include additional evidence from The New York Times identifying the U.S. as the likely source of the attack on the girls' school. March 11, 2026: The story was updated to add report on the preliminary results of an investigation by the U.S. military. LOME, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Togo has arrested and expelled Burkina Faso's former president to his home country after officials there accused him of attempting a coup, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Paul-Henri Damiba came to power in 2022 after a coup against Burkina Faso's civilian government, which had lost support over rising violence by Islamist militants. Damiba's failure to stop the militant groups angered the ranks of the armed forces in the West African country, and he was ousted in a coup later that same year by Ibrahim Traore, who continues to head the military-led government. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Burkina Faso announced it had disrupted a plot to kill Traore allegedly orchestrated by Damiba, who had sought refuge in the Togolese capital Lome. A security source and a source close to Togo's presidency told Reuters on Tuesday that Damiba had been arrested on Saturday and flown out to Ouagadougou. Later in the day, Togo confirmed Damiba's extradition, saying in a statement that it came in response to a request received by Burkina Faso on January 12. The charges against Damiba in Burkina Faso include embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, corruption and money laundering, the Togolese statement said, dated Monday but distributed on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement The statement did not mention a coup plot. Reuters was unable to reach Damiba for comment and it was unclear if he had a lawyer in Togo. The government of Burkina Faso did not respond to a request for comment. The source close to Togo's presidency did not link Damiba directly to any specific coup plot in Burkina Faso but said he had been previously warned about involvement in efforts to destabilise his home country. West and Central Africa has been rocked by nine military coups since 2020. Traore has announced several coup attempts since he took power. (Reporting by Noel Kokou Tadegnon; writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich) A tornado was reported on the afternoon of Friday, March 6, as a severe storm moved across parts of southern Michigan, leaving at least 4 people dead and multiple injured, according to officials. The storm cell barreled through Branch and Cass counties, prompting warnings and power outages as it tracked east, according to the National Weather Service. The Branch County Sheriff's Office reported 3 dead and 12 injured on Friday near Union City. Of the 12 injured, three were taken to area hospitals. "Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident," the Branch County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement The Cass County Sheriff's Office later reported another person confirmed dead and "several injured." Tornado strikes lower Michigan: Everything we know What happened The storm prompted tornado warnings from the National Weather Service offices in Grand Rapids and northern Indiana on Friday afternoon, affecting parts of Calhoun, St. Joseph, Cass and Branch counties as it moved at about 35 mph, said NWS meteorologist Alex Mannion. The NWS office in Grand Rapids said a confirmed tornado was located at 4:43 p.m. just north of Union City near Burlington in southeastern Calhoun County. The tornado, confirmed by trained weather spotters, was moving east and capable of producing damaging winds and quarter-size hail. Advertisement Advertisement The storm also prompted the NWS office in northern Indiana to issue a tornado warning at 5:52 p.m. in northeastern Hillsdale County, including Jerome, Somerset, Moscow and Somerset Center, remaining in effect until 6:30 p.m. "This thing started to become tornadic over Cass County, Mannion said. The cell continued to move into St. Joseph County and was still tornadic, so it was producing a tornado. Reports as of 4:30 p.m. included damage near Edwardsburg in Cass County, where trees were knocked down, and a house was damaged near Juno Lake, Mannion said. In St. Joseph County, a video sent to the weather service showed a tornado hitting a Menards store, damaging part of the roof while debris flew through the air. Numerous reports of significant damage came from southwest of Three Rivers. Officials warned flying debris could be dangerous for anyone caught outside and said mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed. Residents in the warned areas were urged to take shelter immediately in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and to avoid windows. Advertisement Advertisement Meteorologists are still determining whether the damage was caused by a single, long-tracked tornado that remained on the ground or by multiple tornadoes spawned by the same thunderstorm cell. Southern Michigan weather radar Metro Detroit weather forecast The system could bring southeast Michigan additional showers and storms Friday night into Saturday, with a low chance of isolated strong storms producing winds of 40 mph or greater, he said. There is a 40% chance of showers Friday night, rising to 8090% Saturday morning through early afternoon. Sunday is expected to be dry. Were going to watch this ongoing thunderstorm as it comes into our area, Mannion said. Its supposed to weaken, but we might get a strong storm out of it. Michigan weather watches and warnings This story has been updated with additional information. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tornado in lower Michigan leaves 4 dead, multiple injured Funnel cloud spotted in Union City, Michigan on Friday, March 6, 2026. | Screenshot of Facebook video taken by Lisa Nicola. Tornadoes tore through southwest Michigan on Friday, killing four people and injuring at least a dozen others as severe storms destroyed buildings, uprooted trees and knocked out power across several counties. The Branch County Sheriffs Office said in a press release that three people died when a tornado struck near Union Lake west of Union City. Twelve others were injured in the same area, three of whom were hospitalized. Authorities did not immediately release the names of those who were killed. Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident, the office of Branch County Sheriff Fred Blankenship said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement A fourth death was confirmed after a tornado hit the Edwardsburg area in neighboring Cass County, Sheriff Clint Roach said in a statement. Officials there confirmed that multiple large structures, including homes and pole barns, sustained damage ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction. Crews work to clear debris following a tornado touchdown in Cass County on Friday, March 6, 2026. | Photo from Cass County Sheriffs Office. The tornadoes carved a path of destruction across the region, leveling trees, damaging homes and businesses and leaving thousands without electricity. Videos shared on social media showed a twister causing significant damage in the Three Rivers area of St. Joseph County, including ripping the roof off a Menards store. Another video showed a funnel cloud moving across Union Lake, lifting debris high into the air. BREAKING: Watch as a driver captures a tornado tearing the roof of a Menards in southern Michigan. Severe storms are already beginning to fire off. Stay tuned as we continue to cover todays severe threat.#MIwx pic.twitter.com/SbUu2p5LrO WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 6, 2026 Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday night that the state activated its Emergency Operations Center to help coordinate the response. Advertisement Advertisement By taking this action, we can ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests, Whitmer said in a press release. The storms moved east across the state Friday evening, with The Detroit News reporting that residents in the Jackson area were urged to take cover around 6:30 p.m. as the system, capable of producing additional tornadoes, tracked northeast at about 40 mph and later passed through the Detroit area overnight. Forecasters issued multiple tornado warnings through the afternoon and evening as the storm front pushed across Michigan. The storms marked the first tornadoes in Michigan to cause multiple deaths since 2023, when five people were killed after a series of tornadoes swept across southern Michigan. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration said on Friday a Colombian reporter for a Spanish-language news outlet in Tennessee, arrested by federal immigration agents, will get due process. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Estefany Maria Rodriguez Florez, a journalist for Nashville Noticias, in the state capital on Thursday. She was taken to an ICE detention center and remains in custody. Advertisement Advertisement ICE accuses her of violating her visa conditions. A lawyer for her was cited by local media as saying that "up until now, she hasn't had a case with ICE charging her with anything." Rodriguez Florez has lived in the U.S. for five years and "frequently reports on stories critical of ICE," her lawyers said in an emergency petition filed in federal court, saying she was arrested without a warrant. ICE officers had an "administrative warrant" at the time of the arrest on Wednesday, an ICE spokesperson and a spokesperson of the Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is a part, said on Friday. "She will receive full due process and remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of her immigration proceedings," the DHS spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement ICE has been at the heart of Trump's immigration crackdown, which rights advocates say violates free speech and due process, and has created an unsafe environment. Trump says his policies aim to curb illegal immigration and improve domestic security. Rodriguez Florez had a meeting scheduled for March 17 with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, her lawyers said. ICE previously twice rescheduled a meeting with her on her case, once due to a winter storm and again when an agent could not find her appointment in the system. Nashville Noticias said the reporter was with her husband outside a gym on Wednesday when the vehicle they were in, which was marked with the media outlet's logo, was surrounded and she was detained. Rodriguez Florez arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa, filed for political asylum, later married a U.S. citizen and has a valid work permit, her lawyers say, adding that she and her husband have filed for permission to adjust her status to lawful permanent resident. The Trump administration alleges she was not authorized to stay in the U.S. beyond 2021 on her tourist visa. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by William Mallard) By Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration asked a federal appeals court on Friday to revive his executive orders that sought to punish four major U.S. law firms, arguing that federal judges overstepped their authority by blocking directives that rest within core presidential powers. The Justice Department told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that the four judges "bent over backwards" to invalidate Trump's orders against the firms Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey "without considering their plainly constitutional aspects and applications." Advertisement Advertisement The law firms in lawsuits challenging the directives said the Republican president illegally retaliated against them for representing his political adversaries or clients who challenged his policies in court, or had employed lawyers who took part in past government investigations aimed at the president. Trump's executive orders sought to restrict access to federal buildings for lawyers working for the firms and to end U.S. government contracts held by clients of the firms. The judges found that Trump violated the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections against government abridgment of free speech and Fifth Amendment promise of due process, and issued orders permanently blocking the directives. The administration's filing with the D.C. Circuit came after the Justice Department on Monday moved to abandon its appeals of the judicial rulings, then reversed that stance the following day. The filing marked the administration's first explanation of its legal rationale for seeking to reinstate Trump's orders. Advertisement Advertisement WilmerHale in a statement on Friday said "we disagree with the government's decision to appeal this judicial consensus, and we will proudly continue to defend our clients and our firm." Trump had accused the four firms of "weaponizing" the legal system against him and his allies and promoting workplace diversity policies he called discriminatory. In Friday's filing, the Justice Department said the case is "not about the sanctity of the American law firm" but rather "is about lower courts encroaching on the constitutional power of the president" in the realm of national security and other matters. Nine other prominent law firms, including Paul Weiss, Skadden Arps, Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis, reached settlements with Trump last year to rescind or avoid similar actions against them, and collectively pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal work to causes that he supports. Advertisement Advertisement The administration had faced a Friday deadline to file its opening court papers in the appeals. The D.C. Circuit has not yet set an argument date to weigh the administration's appeals. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario and Will Dunham) President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the service members who were killed in Kuwait amid the war in Iran. The transfer on Saturday marked the return home of the first American soldiers killed in the conflict. "Very sad situation, to greet the families of the heroes coming home from Iran, coming home in a different manner than they thought they'd be coming home. But they're great heroes in our country, and we're going to keep it that way," Trump told Latin American leaders at the "Shield of the Americas" summit in Florida earlier Saturday. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Members of a US Army team carry the flagged-drapped transfer case containing the remains of US soldier Maj. Jeffery R. O' Brien during a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. "There's always, when it comes to war, there's always that. But we're going to keep it to a minimum," the president added. Advertisement Advertisement The troops were killed in the opening hours of the conflict last weekend during an Iranian drone attack. Pentagon - PHOTO: The fallen troops were identified by the Pentagon. The Pentagon identified the troops as: Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. Pentagon identifies all 6 American troops killed in Kuwait amid Iran war The soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement All six died in the same attack at Shuaiba port in Kuwait, a commercial harbor that doubles as a logistics hub for the U.S. military. An additional 18 service members were wounded in the strike. Trump spoke with the families of the fallen members at the air base before the bodies arrived. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump, special envoy Steve Witkoff, First Lady Melania Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi attend a dignified transfer event for six US soldiers at Dover Air Force Base, on March 7, 2026. Trump walked out for the dignified transfer with military officers, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "It's very sad day, and glad we paid our respects, tough situation, great people, great parents, wives, family and a beautiful ceremony," Trump said to reporters after the transfer. Advertisement Advertisement When asked by a reporter if what he just witnessed at the dignified transfer makes him think differently about going ahead with this war -- or putting troops on the ground in the Middle East -- Trump responded, "We're winning the war by a lot." Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance salute as members of a US Army carry the flagged-drapped case containing the remains of soldier Maj. Jeffery R. O' Brien during a dignified transfer event at Dover Air Force Base on March 7, 2026. He added, "We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue, I'm sure, for a little while." Trump was asked on the plane if he'd come back to Dover for more dignified transfers. "Sure, I hate to do it, but it's a part of war," he told reporters. Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' from Iran. But what happens after? Advertisement Advertisement Families of some of the fallen troops released public statements remembering their loved ones. The family of Sgt. Coady released a statement following his death, calling him "a rock in all of our lives" and "the most amazing brother and son my family could have asked for." In a statement, the family of Capt. Khork said his life "was defined by devotion, character, and service," his family said in a statement on Wednesday. "Cody 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." President Trump participated in a dignified transfer on Saturday of six service members who were killed in the first days of the war with Iran. Mr. Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, attended the transfer of the Americans killed in action at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The fallen servicemembers were identified by the Department of Defense as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, 45 and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54. Advertisement Advertisement "I'm glad we paid our respects," Mr. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One following the transfer. "It's a tough situation ... great people, great parents, wifes, families." The president said the parents of the service members were proud, adding that the war is going "unbelievably" and "as good as it can be." When asked by a Washington Post reporter about the possibility he'd have to return to Dover for more dignified transfers, Mr. Trump said "...I'd hate to do it, but it's a part of war, isn't it?" "Wouldn't you say it's a part of war?" he asked the reporter. "It's the sad part of war, the bad part of war." President Trump salutes as members of a U.S. Army team carry a flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of one of six soldiers during a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. / Credit: SAUL LOEB /AFP via Getty Images (SAUL LOEB /AFP via Getty Images) The six service members died during an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on Sunday, March 1, the Defense Department said. Advertisement Advertisement All were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, which is based in Des Moines, Iowa. The unit provides food, supplies and other logistics support to the military. Shortly after landing at Dover, Mr. Trump was greeted by officials, including Col. Jamil Musa, the Commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Col. Martha "Jeannie" Sasnett, the Commander of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. Earlier Saturday, while addressing Latin American leaders in Miami, Mr. Trump called the soldiers' deaths a "very sad situation" and said the servicemembers were "coming home in a different manner than they thought they'd be coming home." "But they're great heroes in our country, and we're going to keep it that way," Mr. Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Mr. Trump called participating in the transfer "the toughest thing I have to do" as president. After the dignified transfer was completed, Mr. Trump is set to return to Mar-a-Lago. Trump voter whose son was killed by ICE is calling for an end to "abuse and impunity" Doctor adopts boy who came to surgery alone, then finds homes for his 5 siblings Russia helping Iran identify U.S. targets, sources say The Indian Embassy in Doha said on Saturday that it has activated an additional set of helpline numbers to assist Indian nationals amid the developing security situation in West Asia. The Embassy shared the numbers in a post on X: i. +974 55647502 ii. +974 55362508 iii. +974 55384683 It also provided the email address-- cons.doha@mea.gov.in , noting that these remain available for all queries and assistance requests from the Indian community in Qatar. The Embassy also appreciated the Indian community organisations, ICC (Indian Cultural Centre and ICBF (Indian Community Benevolent Forum), who have established helplines and helpdesks to provide assistance to the Indian community in the current situation. "The details of the same are as follows: Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Phone: +974 5591 6415 /+974 5551 6388 Email: iccqatar@gmail.com ICC Help Desk: Ashoka Hall, ICC, Abu Hamour, Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Phone: +974 5538 3488 / +974 5538 4529 Email: icbfqatar@gmail.com Members of the Indian community may wish to avail the services extended by ICC and ICBF. Please note that these are Indian community initiatives in coordination with Embassy of India", the Embassy said on X. https://x.com/IndEmbDoha/status/2030019060755284320?s=20 Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Kuwait, in a post on X, urged citizens and residents to follow the instructions by the General Staff of the Armed Forces if any missiles or unknown objects are observed falling. https://x.com/indembkwt/status/2029997377440927939?s=20 The developments come amid tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory killed its Supreme Leader, Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran. In a coordinated operation known as Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, US and Israeli forces carried out large-scale air and missile strikes across Iran, targeting key military sites, nuclear-related infrastructure, and leadership compounds. In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. (ANI) Immediately after President Donald Trump launched a massive and ongoing attack on Iran early Saturday, the Islamic Republic used its stockpile of missiles and drones against Israel and U.S. installations in Gulf countries. By Monday, the regime quickly escalated to bombing a U.K. base on Cyprus, launching drones toward a U.S base in Turkey and attacking the shared Australian air base in Dubai. Iran also reactivated its proxy terrorist networks; when Hezbollah entered the fray, Israel bombed Lebanon and sent in ground forces. For all the strategic objectives that remain unknown about the ongoing U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, this much is clear: Regional fallout was predictable and the shocks to global order are growing by the hour. The whole world now knows that the Trump administration did not and is still not planning to get Americans to safety. Whether Irans goal is to force Gulf nations into conflict or to permanently crack the alliances the United States has enjoyed in the Middle East, the regimes response has been calibrated to create chaos far beyond the Persian Gulf. In doing so, it has also extracted an existential price Americans sense of security and strength abroad. Advertisement Advertisement I felt betrayed and left out to dry by my own government, Cody Greene, a business development manager from Tampa, said when speaking to Business Insider on Thursday. He told the outlet he has been trying to leave Dubai since Sunday. U.S. Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon are officially closed, but only after images spread of the embassy in Riyadh up in flames from an Iranian drone strike. By the time the State Department delivered warnings to U.S. citizens to leave the region, commercial flights were already grounded to avoid being blown out by crossfire. On Wednesday, U.S. Embassies in Jerusalem and Doha issued statements saying they were not in a position to directly evacuate or assist Americans in leaving the Middle East. The whole world now knows that the Trump administration did not and is still not planning to get Americans to safety. In Pakistan, U.S. consulates immediately became the target of Shia protesters expressing anger over the killing of the ayatollah and his bloodline; Marines killed nine Pakistanis in Karachi in response to the perceived threat. Protesters across Europe, who see American ambition as the real threat (think: Greenland), gathered around U.S. Embassies; crowds in Greece chanted, The people will provide a way out of war, imperialism is not invincible. Some European leaders are distancing themselves from the U.S.-Israel campaign and are still refusing direct involvement. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the U.S. could not use air bases in Spain for the unjustified and dangerous military intervention in Iran. French President Emmanuel Macron declared the U.S. campaign outside international law but felt compelled to reposition a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to defend French assets and resume traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, Macron underscored that France is making defensive movements to uphold binding defense agreements with Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE not to defend Israel or the U.S. Turkey has zero interest in allowing the U.S. to arm Kurdish groups in Iran. Turkey is in a particularly tough spot. As the country that straddles Europe and Asia, it has long been a place where diverse interests, from Russia to Hamas to Britain, can meet to seek diplomatic solutions. But as a physical neighbor to Iran, Turkey has been forced to preserve its own welfare. Already dealing with its own Kurdish insurgency, Turkey has zero interest in allowing the U.S. to arm Kurdish groups in Iran. Barely recovered from the Syrian refugee crisis, the country plans to close its borders against a population influx of nearly three or four times what we saw coming out of Syria; people fleeing Iran are likely to brave the open seas to find refuge in continental Europe, a humanitarian crisis no region is prepared to manage. In its pique at being forced into this position, Turkey is denying the U.S. use of its air and maritime space, refusing logistical coordination to a country that would otherwise have been its NATO friend. Advertisement Advertisement Trump and cos previous foreign policy choices are now coming home to roost. In choosing to concentrate power in the White House and deplete the Foreign Service, the administration has few ambassadors or seasoned diplomats in the Gulf states who can make sure the U.S. and its allies are prepared to deal with Irans continued retaliation. In one of his first acts as president this term, Trump attempted to fire nearly 250 seasoned Foreign Service officers. The State Department lost experienced crisis operators who speak Arabic, whove evacuated thousands of Americans from war zones, who have the personal relationships with regional leaders that make diplomacy work at 2 a.m. under fire, explained Ryan Gliha, a senior Foreign Service officer who recently served as the U.S. representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We were pushed out with no assessment of what skills were walking out the door. You dont notice that loss on a quiet day. You notice it when the region catches fire, he said. You dont notice that loss on a quiet day. You notice it when the region catches fire. Ryan Gliha, former U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION Trumps biggest mistake was the apparent assumption that the only ally he needs in this war is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For decades, Washingtons presence in the Middle East was designed to maintain a strategic balance between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and to constrain Irans nefarious activities. But the Trump teams basic math failed to account for the fact that the rest of the region seeks to constrain Iran and Israel. Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian regime, having lost many leaders in defense of their cause and with survival on the line, is certainly calculating its next move with a high pain tolerance in mind. But whats missing from the Trump administrations arithmetic (we cannot call it calculus) is Americans limited tolerance for foreign wars and domestic economic pain. Current estimates have the U.S. military cost at $2 billion dollars for four days of conflict the equivalent of what seven U.S. states combined spend on their residents in a year (Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi and Missouri). The toll of conflict is well beyond military costs; civilian deaths increase daily and the economic shocks are still to come. But U.S. isolation is very much here. The post Trumps biggest mistake so far in his costly war on Iran appeared first on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now By Nate Raymond March 7 (Reuters) - A divided U.S. appeals court has refused to let the Trump administration revoke legal protections that allow more than 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S., and avoid being returned to their gang-violence-stricken country. A 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit late on Friday rejected the administration's bid to pause a February 2 ruling that blocked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from ending Haiti's Temporary Protected Status. Advertisement Advertisement TPS is a humanitarian program that shields eligible migrants from deportation and allows them to work. Under outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the department has moved to end TPS for a dozen countries as part of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, arguing the program was never intended to serve as a "de facto amnesty." The administration had asked the D.C. Circuit to stay U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes' February order while it appeals. Her decision came in a class-action lawsuit brought by Haitians seeking to prevent DHS from exposing them to deportation. Reyes found that Noem's November move to end the Haitians' legal protections likely violated TPS termination procedures and the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law. Advertisement Advertisement The administration on appeal noted that the U.S. Supreme Court had twice allowed it to end TPS for Venezuelans. But U.S. Circuit Judges Florence Pan and Brad Garcia, both appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, distinguished the cases and said Haitians sent home would "be vulnerable to violence amid a 'collapsing rule of law' and lack access to life-sustaining medical care." U.S. Circuit Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, dissented, saying the case and the earlier Supreme Court litigation involving Venezuelans were "the legal equivalent of fraternal, if not identical, twins." A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that the administration would take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement "Temporary means temporary, and the final word will not be from activist judges legislating from the bench," the spokesperson said. Haitians were first granted TPS in 2010 after a devastating earthquake. The U.S. has repeatedly renewed the designation, most recently under the Biden administration in July 2024. At that time, DHS cited Haiti's "simultaneous economic, security, political, and health crises", driven by gangs and the absence of a functioning government. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Mark Potter and Kevin Buckland) As the drums of war against Iran beat in Washington, I feel the same sadness and anger I felt when another Muslim country was targeted as part of the U.S.-led War on Terror. Two weeks from today will mark the 23rd anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq; it brings a profound feeling of deja-vu for me. On the night of March 19, 2003, I sat at home watching the news tense, sad and angry. I held pen and paper in my hand, ordering my children to be quiet as they moved between playing and watching the screen. I had skipped dinner with them and my wife, and it was not yet bedtime for the little ones. Advertisement Advertisement We were watching CNN. Like other American networks, they had positioned cameras on the rooftops of the Al-Mansur and Palestine hotels in Baghdad. At first, the feeling was eerie; the cameras peered into a city with dimmed lights, shrouded in silence. Then, at 8:35 p.m. Eastern time (4:35 a.m. in Baghdad), the Athan al-Fajr, or dawn prayer, suddenly rose from the darkness of the Baghdad feed. From the numerous mosques along the Tigris, the sound on the TV was a layered, overlapping chorus of multiple muadhins. It was melodic and haunting, even as the world waited for the shock and awe to begin. CNNs Wolf Blitzer in New York and Aaron Brown, on the ground in Baghdad, acknowledged the sound directly: Blitzer: Aaron, right now, were not hearing air raid sirens. Were hearing the call to early morning prayers, the first prayer of the day for Muslims. Maybe Ill be quiet for a second and you might be able to make it out behind me. Just listen for a second. Brown: As you look at Baghdad, it is eerie you dont see any sense of panic in the city, any sense of movement in the city, or frankly any sense of war in the city. About an hour later, as the first strikes hit, Brown highlighted the surreal nature of this split-screen reality: It is hard to imagine what it would be like to live in this city at a time like this, to know what had happened and what is likely to happen. Advertisement Advertisement When President George W. Bush appeared live, nearly an hour later, CNN used a picture-in-picture format, which was still somewhat unusual. On one side was the presidents face; on the other was the live, active bombardment of Baghdad. Bushs 48-hour ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq had just expired. Bush declared: At this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger. I stayed awake all night. My children were eventually put to bed, but my wife stayed up to watch with me for a few hours, her expression stoic. Advertisement Advertisement It was too late for me to send reports for the following days edition of Asharq Al-Awsat, my London-based Arabic-language newspaper. Communication was not as advanced as it is today; the paper did not yet have an online edition, and we still used the telephone for routine contact. When I went to my Washington office early the next morning, I saw parts of Saddam Husseins defiant speech, in which he declared: The criminal, reckless little Bush and his aides committed this crime that he was threatening to commit against Iraq and humanity. My boss in London usually called me right after the daily reporters meeting, which drew up a blueprint for the days coverage. When I picked up the phone, I began to weep loudly, repeating: Al-Tatar dakhalo Baghdad (The Tatars have entered Baghdad) Advertisement Advertisement I must explain that the fall of Baghdad to the Mongols (or Tatars) remains a traumatic event deeply engraved in the Arab and Muslim mind as a definitive historical defeat. My boss was no less saddened, but our deadlines would not wait and we began to construct our coverage of the invasion. During the period between that initial attack and the U.S. ground invasion, I covered press conferences at the White House and the State Department, and also experienced personal encounters, or perhaps confrontations, with Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. Powell had just returned from New York after his now-infamous presentation to the U.N. Security Council, where he held up a small vial of white powder to illustrate the alleged danger of Saddam Husseins biological weapons. My colleagues, he insisted, every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. These are not assertions. What were giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence. We now know that all of that was false, to Powells everlasting shame. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. I was one of five Arab correspondents invited to meet with Secretary Powell in his office. While seated to his immediate left at a conference table, I asked a question that clearly irritated him. He looked at me directly and said, Your questions seem to be more about Islam; this has nothing to do with religion. His tone remained civil and diplomatic, but the underlying friction was clear. Advertisement Advertisement By that time, I had already reached the conclusion that the Bush administrations War on Terror was, in many ways, a military campaign against Muslims in general The following week, I interviewed Condoleezza Rice at the White House, alongside another Arab journalist. Rice was a primary architect of the Iraq invasion, famously warning about Saddams supposed nuclear program: We dont want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud. I irritated her as well by playing the race card. I implied that, as a Black woman, she was an unlikely choice to lead the call for the invasion of a country in what we used to call the Third World. I also mentioned that Black American soldiers would certainly be among the casualties. My deja-vu experience today derives from that same kind of shock and awe. Indeed, the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran is much larger than the initial stage of the Iraq war. Another American president is declaring, on dubious or threadbare evidence, that another Muslim country is endangering U.S. security. Advertisement Advertisement The tragic cycle of history feels poised to repeat itself. America has eliminated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just as it eliminated Saddam Hussein two decades ago, but just as much uncertainty hovers over what lies ahead. This current escalation suggests that the U.S. war machine is once again ignoring the human cost of decapitation strikes, as we saw with the apparent American missile strike on a Tehran girls school. For someone who wept at seeing the modern Tatars enter Baghdad, the prospect of a similar fate befalling Tehran is more than a strategic policy shift. It is the return of a recurring but never-banished nightmare about one civilization attacking another, driven by blind hatred. The post Trump continues the war on terror: First Baghdad, now Tehran appeared first on Salon.com. Its been two days since President Donald Trump said he would not only endorse a candidate in the Texas primary runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, but that he would also try to get the other candidate to bow out. That endorsement still hasnt come. Trump said on Friday that hell make a decision fairly shortly, but suggested he first wants to get some clarity on voter ID legislation he favors and where the candidates stand on it. Advertisement Advertisement I feel very strongly that we have to have the full and complete SAVE America Act, OK? I want the SAVE America Act. It is more important than everything else were working on other than the war, Trump told CNNs Dana Bash in a brief phone interview. So it appears were in a bit of a holding pattern. Which might not be too surprising. Because even as Trumps endorsement is often the be-all, end-all in GOP primaries, this situation is not an easy one for him. The conventional wisdom and the most logical outcome would seem to be that Trump will endorse Cornyn ahead of the May 26 runoff. It would be shocking for an incumbent president to endorse against an incumbent senator from his own party, especially given Cornyn is backed by the national party. Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn also did better than many expected in Tuesdays primaries, narrowly outpacing Paxton 42%-41%. And finally and perhaps most urgently Texas Democrats on Tuesday nominated the candidate that Republicans seem to be more concerned about in the general election, in state Rep. James Talarico. Given Paxtons baggage which includes a since settled securities fraud investigation, an impeachment by the state House (and acquittal by the Senate), and allegations of infidelity from his wife there is real fear that nominating him could not only jeopardize the seat if theres a blue wave in November, but possibly help Democrats flip the Senate. So, in theory, it would make a lot of sense for Trump to swoop in, spur Cornyn to victory, and allow the GOP to hopefully not have to worry about this seat in the fall. But reality is a little more complicated. For one, trying to nudge aside Paxton could be demoralizing for a MAGA movement that holds him in very high regard but has little respect for Cornyn. After Trump made his announcement Wednesday, a number of prominent MAGA social media accounts sought to warn the president off a potential Cornyn endorsement. Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn hates Trump and MAGA, MAGA influencer Mike Cernovich said. Endorsing him will be a nail in the Trump administrations coffin. Trump himself in 2023 wrote a post suggesting Cornyn was about as bad as then-Sen. Mitt Romney, a frequent critic. Trump called Cornyn weak, ineffective, and very bad for the Republican Party and suggested he was always quick to surrender to the Dems. Trump still has the loyalty of his base, but hes done a number of things in recent months that risk jeopardizing it. A Cornyn endorsement would add to the list. But perhaps more significantly, Paxton is at least for now insisting he wouldnt abide by Trumps wishes to bow out. I owe it to the people of Texas, Paxton said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement (Paxton did offer Thursday to drop out of the race if Senate leadership agreed to pass the Save America Act without the usual 60-vote threshold. But thats likely a stunt; its very unlikely Senate Republicans would actually do that, given they dont seem to have the votes and it would further erode the filibuster.) If anything, Paxtons position feels like a bluff to try and prevent Trump from endorsing Cornyn. But if Paxton were to actually stay in the race, theres no absolute guarantee that the presidents endorsement would be dispositive. Trumps endorsees almost always win primaries, but there have been exceptions in the past. According to a compilation by Ballotpedia, Trumps preferred candidates have lost nominations for: Senator from Utah in 2024 Congressional seats in Colorado and South Carolina in 2024 Five congressional seats in 2022 Three governors races in 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Even in this weeks elections, Trump-endorsed North Carolina state Senate President Phil Berger is locked in an exceedingly close race. These are very much the exception rather than the rule. And Trumps endorsement likely carries even more weight now that hes an incumbent president. But even the polling suggests it might not necessarily lock up the race for Cornyn. A University of Houston poll from late January, for instance, showed supporters of Rep. Wesley Hunt, who finished third in the primary, were more inclined toward Paxton (48% of them) than Cornyn (35%). The same poll also suggested voting for Cornyn could be a hurdle for some primary voters, given his favorable rating among likely voters was a relatively low 61%, with 30% disliking him. While Cornyns net favorable rating was plus-31, Paxtons was plus-50 (72% favorable to 22% unfavorable). Advertisement Advertisement A University of Texas poll last month, meanwhile, showed both men with similar overall approval ratings. But again, Paxton was in slightly better shape among Republicans. And if voters dont necessarily share the national GOPs concerns about Paxtons electability, whos to say they wont just go for the guy they like more? At that point, it would truly just be about obeying Trumps wishes. Trump loves the idea of playing kingmaker, and hes proven quite good at it. But this could be a really big test of it. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. troops on the ground inside of Iran, according to two U.S. officials, a former U.S. official and another person with knowledge of the conversations. Trump has discussed the idea of deploying ground troops with aides and Republican officials outside the White House while outlining his vision for a post-war Iran in which Irans uranium is secure and the U.S. and a new Iranian regime cooperate on oil production similar to how the U.S. and Venezuela are, the sources said. The presidents comments expressing serious interest in deploying ground troops have not focused on a large-scale ground invasion of Iran, but rather on the idea of a small contingent of U.S. troops that would be used for specific strategic purposes, the U.S. officials, the former U.S. official and the person with knowledge of the discussions said. They said Trump has not made any decisions or given any orders related to ground troops. Advertisement Advertisement This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the Presidents national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. President Trump always, wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table. Publicly, Trump has not ruled out putting U.S. boots on the ground in Iran, though the war has so far consisted only of an air campaign. His private discussions about the idea show a president perhaps more willing to consider taking such a step than his public comments on the issue so far have suggested. Any deployment of American troops inside of Iran could increase the scale and scope of the war and escalate the risks to American forces. Since the war began on Saturday, six U.S. service members have been killed and 18 wounded in counterattacks from Iran, according to the Pentagon. Trump has privately described to aides and Republican officials outside the White House that his ideal outcome in Iran is one like the emerging dynamic between the U.S. and Venezuela since American special forces captured Nicolas Maduro in January, the current U.S. officials and former U.S. official said. In post-Maduro Venezuela, the U.S. backed a new president, Delcy Rodriguez, under the condition that she implement policies that Trump views as favorable to the U.S., including that the U.S. benefits from Venezuelas oil production. Advertisement Advertisement The president said in an interview with the New York Post this week, I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground. He said while other presidents have ruled out boots on the ground, I say probably dont need them, [or] if they were necessary. Foreign policy experts offered various scenarios in which the president might choose to deploy U.S. troops on the ground in Iran. You could envision them doing some sort of special operations insertions if there were targets that they absolutely needed to take out or reduce but didnt lend themselves to bombardment, said Joel Rayburn, a former Trump administration official and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. Thats the kind of thing where you do an insertion, you attack a target, or conduct a raid, and then you get out. But Rayburn said such a scenario is very different from what most Americans imagine when they think about deploying ground troops or putting boots on the ground, and that he had so far not seen the conditions emerging that would require that step. Advertisement Advertisement Behnam Ben Taleblu, the Iran program senior director at the Washington, D.C.-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in the event of collapse of the Iranian regime, U.S. forces could be used on the ground there to try to help facilitate a dynamic between the U.S. and Iran that mirrors Venezuela or to help keep track of Irans uranium stockpile, which is believed to be entombed beneath some of its nuclear sites. You dont want it to become a failed state nuclear bazaar, Taleblu said of Iran. Nate Swanson, a senior fellow and director of the Iran Strategy Project at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, D.C., said the U.S. could rethink its military options if Iran thinks it can win a war of attrition. Such a scenario could lead the president to deploy ground forces into Iran or arm opponents of the Iranian regime. Trump is considering whether to arm opponents of the regime. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Trump suggested he is not seriously considering a ground invasion of Iran at this time. He said he wants new leadership in Iran that he approves of and has said he expects the war, which began Saturday, to last four to five weeks while leaving open the possibility of it continuing indefinitely. Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt said Wednesday that U.S. ground troops are an option that remains on the table for the president although not part of the plan for this operation time. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News Tom Llamas on Thursday that Iran is prepared for U.S. ground troops. We are waiting for them, Araghchi said, adding that we are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them. We have prepared ourselves to confront with any scenario, Araghchi said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com US President Donald Trump has reiterated his belief that socialist Cuba is on the verge of collapse. "Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon, by the way," he said in a telephone interview with the US broadcaster CNN on Friday, as he praised the military successes of the United States during his second term. Trump also claimed that Havana wants an agreement: "They want to make a deal, and so I'm going to put [Secretary of State] Marco [Rubio] over there and we'll see how that works out. We're really focused on this one right now. We've got plenty of time, but Cuba's ready after 50 years." Not first time Trump has made claim The president's statements are not new. Already at the end of January, he said, "Cuba is really a nation that's very close to failing." Advertisement Advertisement He asserted that the Caribbean state had received its money and oil from Venezuela, but after the intervention by the US, this is no longer possible. US forces had taken control of several oil tankers. Previously, Trump had announced that he would impose a "total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela." Trump has also previously announced a "friendly takeover" of Cuba. However, neither the annexation nor the collapse of the country has occurred so far, with or without the involvement of the US. Relations between Havana and Washington have been strained for decades. Currently, the authoritarian-ruled Caribbean island is in its worst economic crisis since Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959. Among other things, there is a shortage of fuel. If the US were to permanently block oil supplies from Venezuela, the Cuban economy could completely collapse. President Donald Trump went from "probably not" attempting to run for a third term to saying "maybe we do one more term." Trump has repeatedly hinted at trying for a third term in office, despite being constitutionally limited to two terms. He has shown "Trump 2028" hats at the White House and offered up theories on how he could get around the rule. "Maybe we do one more term. Should we do one more?" Trump said at an event in Texas on Feb. 27, prompting the audience to cheer. "Well, we're entitled to it because they cheated like hell in the second one. We would actually be entitled to it." Advertisement Advertisement Trump has long falsely said he won the 2020 election, but his efforts to challenge the results in court overwhelmingly failed. What else has Trump said about wanting a third term? More: Marjorie Taylor Greene says Tucker Carlson 'would beat Trump' in 2028 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. Can Trump run for a third term? Under the U.S. Constitution as it stands, Trump cannot serve a third term in office. The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms. Changes to the Constitution are extremely difficult and rare, as they require a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate. States can also spur an amendment, but it requires two-thirds of the state legislatures to call a constitutional convention and three-fourths to ratify it. What has Trump said about a third term? Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of a third term throughout his second presidency. In a March 2025 NBC interview, he said there are methods to make it happen, including if Vice President JD Vance runs for office and then hands the role to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement In a May 2025 interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump backed off the idea, saying he was not looking at running again. "I will say this. So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that," Trump said in the interview with NBC. "But it's something that, to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do. I don't know if that's constitutional that they're not allowing you to do it or anything else." Then on Aug. 5, Trump was asked whether he would run for a third term in a CNBC interview. "No, probably not ... Probably not, I'd like to," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with reporters on Air Force One on Oct. 27, Trump was asked about Steve Bannon's interview with The Economist, where he said there is a plan to keep Trump in office past his term limit. Asked if he would be willing to challenge a court to get permission to do so, Trump said: "I haven't really thought about it. We have some very good people as you know, but I have the best poll numbers I've ever had," Trump said. However, averages show his approval rating declined in the first 100 days and has remained low compared to other presidents. "I would love to do it." Trump also regularly touts "Trump 2028" MAGA-style hats to people who visit the White House. That includes Democratic Congressional leaders meeting with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office in a failed attempt to stop the government from shutting down in October 2025. Trump also suggested to reporters that Vance was most likely the heir to the MAGA movement, though Vance has dodged talking about the possibility. Only one president has served more than two terms America's founding father and first president, President George Washington, voluntarily stepped down after two terms, creating an unofficial tradition for future presidents to follow suit. Advertisement Advertisement President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first and only president to break that tradition. The country was still recovering from the Great Depression, and at the dawn of World War II, he was re-elected to his third term. After leading the country through the global war, he was elected again in 1944 but died the following year. A movement in the House of Representatives to officially limit the presidency terms, now ratified as the 22nd Amendment, began two years after Roosevelt's death. Contributing: Zac Anderson, Francesca Chambers, Riley Beggin, Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Bluesky and TikTok. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Trump run for a third term? No, but he has mentioned it repeatedly US President Donald Trump said Iran would be "hit very hard" on Saturday, adding that the country was already "being beat to hell" by ongoing US and Israeli attacks. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump noted that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had apologized to countries in the Gulf and elsewhere for strikes carried out on their territory. "This promise was only made because of the relentless US and Israeli attack," Trump wrote, accusing Iran of seeking to "take over and rule the Middle East." Advertisement Advertisement "Iran is no longer the 'Bully of the Middle East,' they are, instead, 'THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST,' and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse," he added. Trump said areas of Iran not previously targeted will be seriously considered for "complete destruction and certain death." Pezeshkian earlier rejected calls for Tehran to surrender. "Speculation about the countrys possible surrender is absurd, and the enemies can take such dreams to their graves, he said in a video message broadcast on state television. Trump had said on Friday he was no longer interested in reaching an agreement with Iran and instead called for "unconditional surrender." Iran apologizes to neighbours In his statement on Saturday, Pezeshkian apologized for missile and drone strikes carried out against neighbouring countries over the past week. Advertisement Advertisement He said Iran would halt attacks on neighbouring states as long as no strikes against Iran originated from their territory. His remarks imply that attacks on Iran should not originate from US bases in the region, effectively applying the condition to the United States, which maintains facilities in countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. In the video message, he described any form of support for Israel and the United States as "dishonourable." Pezeshkian said the launches had been "the result of the chaotic situation following the deaths of several high-ranking commanders, when the armed forces were leaderless and had to act independently." Advertisement Advertisement Following Pezeshkians remarks, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it respected the sovereignty and interests of neighbouring countries in line with the presidents instructions. However, it said US and Israeli military bases and interests in the region would continue to be considered primary targets. Heavy strikes across Iran Iranian state media reported heavy damage across parts of the country following overnight airstrikes. State television said two hospitals in the south-western province of Khuzestan the Razi medical centre in Ahvaz and the Imam Ali hospital in Andimeshk were severely damaged by pressure waves from nearby explosions. Advertisement Advertisement The state broadcaster also reported that Mehrabad domestic airport in western Tehran had been targeted in the attacks, with images showing fires at the site. Disruptions at the airport were among the reasons the funeral of supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack one week ago, was postponed earlier this week. Khamenei is to be buried at the Imam Reza mausoleum in his home city of Mashhad, a holy site for Shiite Muslims in north-eastern Iran. The roughly 900-kilometre journey from Tehran to Mashhad takes around 10 hours by road, and the routes could potentially be targeted in further attacks. The Israeli military said it carried out strikes on targets in Tehran, including an underground ballistic missile storage facility and a military university run by the IRGC. Advertisement Advertisement Israel and the United States have been conducting large-scale attacks on Iran for the past week. Iran has in turn fired missiles at Israel and US-allied neighbouring countries. Gulf states report intercepted attacks Several Gulf states said on Saturday they had intercepted attacks from Iran. Shortly after Pezeshkians apology, Qatars Ministry of Defence said its armed forces had intercepted a missile aimed at the energy-rich emirate. No casualties or damage were reported. Qatar hosts the Al Udeid base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. Other Gulf countries also host US military personnel and facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Air-raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, home to the US Navys Fifth Fleet, though no attacks were reported. Bahrains military said it had intercepted and destroyed 86 missiles and 148 drones since the start of the attacks. The United Arab Emirates said its air defences intercepted 15 of 16 ballistic missiles and 119 of 121 drones on Saturday. Footage circulating online appeared to show a drone attack near Dubai airport, a major global aviation hub. Saudi Arabia said earlier that it had intercepted several drones targeting the Shaybah oil field and two ballistic missiles fired toward the Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh. Two additional drones were destroyed east of the capital. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Iran will be "hit very hard" on Saturday, and that "areas and groups of people" not targeted before are now "under serious consideration." In his post, Trump acknowledged that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for attacks in the region, but added that "this promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack." Pezeshkian is part of the three-person council leading Iran since joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28 killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iran has retaliated by attacking Gulf Arab states. Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Pezeshkian said he and the other leadership council members have been in touch with armed forces about the attacks, The Associated Press wrote. "I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf," the president said. "From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy." Still, he called Trump's remarks urging Iran to surrender "a dream that they should take to their grave." Trump's Saturday post was criticized by Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on X, who said that Pezeshkian's "openness to de-escalation within our region" was almost immediately killed by the president's "misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination and intent." Advertisement Advertisement "If Mr. Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely what our Powerful Armed Forces have long been prepared for, and what he will get," Araghchi said. "Responsibility for any intensification of Iran's exercise of self-defense will lie squarely with the U.S. Administration." Other Iranian officials indicated, though, that attacks will not stop. "As long as the presence of U.S. bases in the region continue, the countries will not enjoy peace. Iranian officials and people are united on this principle," Iran's Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X. Despite the Iranian president's apology, the AP wrote, sirens rang out in Bahrain early Saturday after Iran targeted it, and Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward the Shaybah oil field. It also shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia said. Advertisement Advertisement Several blasts were heard in Dubai Saturday morning. The government said it activated air defenses and long-haul carrier Emirates briefly suspended, and then resumed, all flights to and from Dubai. On Saturday afternoon, Qatar's Ministry of Defense said armed forces intercepted a missile attack. In Kuwait, the Ministry of Defense said it responded early Sunday to a wave of drones entering its airspace, that targeted "critical infrastructure." Israel struck western Iran, hitting a Tehran airport it claimed was used to transfer supplies to militant groups. Meanwhile, in Israel, people went to bomb shelters due to missiles from Iran, the AP wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Later on Saturday, Israeli forces said they struck several fuel storage complexes in Iran. At least 1,332 Iranian civilians were killed so far since the conflict started, the country's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said. There have been more than 200 deaths in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to the AP. Six American troops died on March 1 during an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. The U.S., Israel and Iran all maintain that they are targeting military sites, not civilian ones. Related Links US President Donald Trump claims he is personally involved in negotiations with Cuba. "They want to negotiate and they are negotiating with [Secretary of State] Marco [Rubio] and myself and some others and I would think a deal will be made very soon with Cuba," Trump said at a summit on Saturday with conservative leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean in the city of Doral in Florida. Rubio also attended the meeting. Trump expressed optimism that an agreement with the communist Caribbean state could be reached soon. "Cuba is at the end of the line, they are very much at the end of the line," he said. Advertisement Advertisement The country, which is only about 150 kilometres from Florida, reportedly has no money and no oil left and is "a disaster." For weeks, Trump has been repeating that Cuba is on the brink of collapse and that there are negotiations between the two countries. It is unclear with whom exactly the US government is in contact in Cuba. According to unconfirmed US media reports, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, a grandson of former president Raul Castro, is said to be Washington's interlocutor on the island. According to a report by the Miami Herald, Rubio's advisers met the 41-year-old at the end of February on the sidelines of the Caribbean Community summit in St Kitts and Nevis. Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez Castro is considered the bodyguard and closest confidant of his grandfather Raul Castro, the most significant remaining leader from the generation of guerrillas. Relations between Havana and Washington have been tense for decades. Under Trump, Washington is now exerting increased pressure. The US government aims to fundamentally stop the flow of foreign currency and oil, from which the communist government is supposed to benefit. Currently, Cuba is in one of its most severe economic crises since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Friday and conveyed his condolences on the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. He reaffirmed Russia's stance of immediate cessation of hostilities and said that he was in constant contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. The details of the telecon were shared by Russia's Foreign Ministry. In a post on Telegram it noted, "During the telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian Vladimir Putin has once again expressed his heartfelt condolences on the assassination of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei along with his family members and the country's military and political leadership, as well as the numerous civilian casualties resulting from the United States and Israel's armed aggression against Iran." "Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution. In this regard, the President of Russia noted that he was in constant contact with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states", the post added. As per the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's solidarity with the Iranian people, "as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country." He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict. The Foreign Ministry further noted that it was agreed that contact will be maintained with the Iranian side via various channels. https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/2030033461860323658?s=20 The developments come amid tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory killed its Supreme Leader, Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran. In a coordinated operation known as Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, US and Israeli forces carried out large-scale air and missile strikes across Iran, targeting key military sites, nuclear-related infrastructure, and leadership compounds. In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. (ANI) President Donald Trump joined leaders from over a dozen other countries Saturday morning at a "Shield of the Americas" summit in Doral, Florida, where he boasted of the United States' military actions and issued warnings against Latin American adversaries. The White House claimed the coalition is committed to cooperating with the U.S. in taking on the cartels and securing the American border following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump attends the "Shield of the Americas" Summit in Doral, Fla., March 7, 2026. Among the invited attendees were: Argentinian President Javier Milei, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Chilean President-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Honduran President Tito Asfura. Advertisement Advertisement 'She's gone': Mood at DHS shifts after Kristi Noem's departure, sources say Trump began his remarks talking about the latest developments in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, telling the grouping of Western Hemisphere leaders that "tremendous progress" has been made. "It's been a pretty wild time, but it's going very well," Trump said about the military action in Iran. The summit also comes as the conflict has resulted in major movements in the U.S. energy markets. "We're doing something. I built the military and rebuilt it and made it really strong. And my first administration, along with a lot of other things we did, we had a great first term, and now we're using it, unfortunately, we have to, but you're seeing how great it is," the president said. Advertisement Advertisement Trump repeatedly touted the U.S. military's actions during his second term highlighting the military operation to capture Maduro, and warning of imminent action in Cuba. Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Trump Participates In Shield Of The Americas Summit In Doral, Florida "As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we're also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba," Trump said. "Cuba's at the end of the line. They're very much at the end of the line. They have no money. They have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that's been bad for a long time." He added, "But Cuba's in its last moments of life as it was. It'll have a great new life, but it's in its last moments of life the way it is." Trump's relationships with some Latin American leaders have turned tense at times and his policies have drawn criticism. Some leaders criticized the U.S. raid that captured Maduro as an attack on Venezuela's sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also been critical of Mexico's efforts to fight drug cartels and traded barbs with the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. However, following the Jan. 3 Venezuela raid, the two leaders appeared to have patched up their differences. Trump invited Petro to the White House and the two issued complimentary statements. The president signed a proclamation to formally launch "Americas Counter Cartel Coalition" and vowed to go after drug traffickers. Iran live updates: Trump warns Iran may face 'complete destruction and certain death' "The heart of our agreement is a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks once and for all. We'll get rid of them. We need your help," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement The summit also comes after Trump announced he was removing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her post and shifting her to a new role as a special envoy for "The Shield of the Americas." Noem emailed DHS staff overnight on Thursday, informing them that her official final day at the department will be March 31 and writing, "In my new role, I will be able to build on the new partnerships and national security expertise I forged over my time as Secretary of Homeland Security." Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump looks on as Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during the "Shield of the Americas" Summit at Trump National Doral in Doral, Fla., on March 7, 2026. The president said in his announcement that he would provide more details about Noem's role at the summit, but he gave no details during the meeting. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: Kristi Noem reacts as she attends the "Shield of the Americas" Summit in Doral, Fla., on March 7, 2026. Noem was at the meeting along with secretaries Marco Rubio, Howard Lutnick and Pete Hegseth, however she was not mentioned by the president when he personally name checked and thanked the Cabinet members in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement "We want your personality for war," Trump said of Hegseth. "You're just perfect." Later in the summit, Rubio introduced Noem to the leaders and told them "you will see a lot of her." Kristi Noems ouster follows tumultuous tenure as Homeland Security secretary "She'll be very involved with each of you at a personal level and on a daily and weekly and monthly level to ensure that what we talk about here today and the work we do together continues on, and we can build upon that," he said. Noem thanked Trump for the appointment and emphasized the need for collaboration between Western Hemisphere countries to dismantle cartels. Rebecca Blackwell/AP - PHOTO: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem delivers remarks at a working lunch at the Shield of the Americas Summit, March 7, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. "Our objectives are going to be to destroy the cartels, to go after these narcoterrorists that are destroying our people, killing our children and our grandchildren. We're also going to keep our adversaries at bay," Noem said. She offered to give all of the leaders her personal cell phone number, "so that you can reach me at any time that you may need something, and we'll work together to continue to make sure that our relationship is a shield to the Americas." The President recently spoke regarding the State of our Union. No effort was made to unify, only to divide. Differences in our views of the economy were apparent. For those whose incomes rely on investment, the record-breaking DOW was paramount. For the 99% of Americans who judge the economy by their tab at the grocery store, or the size or lack of a paycheck, the Dow has little significance. The difference of perspective was obvious, and the President seems oblivious. The disparity of recognition between white male vs. everyone else was troubling. Men received medals. Erica Kirk and other women were introduced as the wife of. There was a lack of color among those recognized. Advertisement Advertisement American citizens who lost their lives due to irresponsible acts of ICE agents were not mentioned. The lack of due process nor the inhumane treatment of those legally and illegally detained resulting in several deaths was not addressed. The speech highlighted and broadened the division between we the people and the current regime. Days later, the President illegally bombed Iran and began another war in the Middle East. The State of the Union is in disarray. Find and attend a No Kings rally March 28. Penny Neely, Caldwell Dams ruling A federal court in Portland, Oregon, issued an order on February 25, which will give young endangered salmon and steelhead a much-needed assist in navigating the Lower Snake River from Idaho to the Pacific. From March 1 until the end of August, an increase in spill has been ordered for all 8 dams in the Columbia Basin. While the spill amounts are similar to those of the past few years, this is still a major victory for these endangered species. Not only is this a huge victory for tribal treaty rights and for science, but the acknowledgement of both could also lead to essential changes to the Lower Snake River hydro/barge/irrigation system. Advertisement Advertisement More needs to be done to recover endangered salmon and steelhead, specifically, the restoration of the Lower Snake River. Salmon and steelhead runs to Idaho and the northwest are invaluable, not only as keystone species in our ecosystems, but as they are central to our regions culture, economy, and identity. The spill order will hopefully keep these species from extinction as the court case continues. While its a small step, its a necessary step in the right direction for salmon and steelhead revitalization. Ruby Bollinger, Boise Large trucks I am requesting that you write your legislator and request they vote no on HB 664, which eliminates a lower speed limit for vehicles with five or more axles operating at a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds. I am from Twin Falls and own my business, with offices in Twin, Burley, Boise and Nampa. I commute weekly on Interstate 84 between offices and have been doing so for over 10 years. During that time, I have witnessed many times where the larger (over 26,000 pounds) trucks exceed the allowable 70 mph speed limit. I have observed that these larger trucks cannot safely operate when they drive at speeds exceeding 70 mph. During my commutes I have witnessed firsthand several near misses resulting from trucks exceeding the allowable 70 mph speed limit. They appear oblivious and uncaring of the surrounding traffic snarl and the increased safety hazard resulting. Allowing them to legally operate at 80 mph higher speeds will only add to the problem and will exponentially multiply the resulting increase in safety hazards. This safety hazard will be further multiplied by trucks pulling double (and triple) trailers, allowing them this speed increase is unconscionable and shouldnt even be considered. Advertisement Advertisement Passing HB 664 will result in a significant increase in traffic fatalities. Tell your representative to vote no on HB 664. Tony Mayer, Meridian Immigration Immigration enforcement is no longer an abstract national debate, it is unfolding in Idaho in real time. Over the past year, ICE activity in our state has increased dramatically. Reporting by the Idaho Capital Sun shows that ICE arrests in Idaho rose from 41 in early 2024 to more than 360 during the same period in 2025, an increase of nearly 800 percent. Behind those numbers are families and communities. In February, the ACLU of Idaho filed a class-action lawsuit challenging tactics used during a large immigration operation in Wilder. The lawsuit alleges that hundreds of people, including children and some U.S. citizens, were detained, raising serious concerns about civil rights and due process. Advertisement Advertisement As a social worker and Idaho native, I believe policy must always be measured by its human consequences. When parents disappear from households overnight and children watch their families torn apart, something fundamental has gone wrong. Reasonable people may disagree about immigration policy. But due process, human dignity and family integrity should never be optional. Idaho deserves enforcement that respects the Constitution and the humanity of the people who live here. Devon Van Kleek, Boise Short-term rentals As an Idaho native and short-term rental host, Ive seen firsthand how welcoming guests into my home supports Idaho families and visitors. Advertisement Advertisement We first decided to host our home so we could move in with our daughter-in-law and four grandchildren while our son was away for six months of military training. Hosting gave us the flexibility to support our children, provide peace of mind to our son as he prepared to serve our country, and keep our mortgage paid at the same time. Our very first guest was a seasoned international traveler who told us it was the best rental he had ever stayed in in the United States. We were truly honored to provide such a wonderful experience for him, all while being able to help our family and preserve the home we would later return to. Responsible hosting can play a meaningful role in supporting families and local economies throughout Idaho. Arisa McRoberts, Boise (NewsNation) President Donald Trump said Thursday he wants to finish the war in Iran first, but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba. Americas pressure campaign on Cuba is pushing the country to the breaking point, with President Trump and Republicans in Congress predicting the governments imminent fall. A major blackout across the western half of Cuba on Wednesday underscored the energy crisis exacerbated by Trumps fuel blockade. Some analysts warn the Cuban government will exhaust all fuel reserves by mid to late March, bringing the island to a complete standstill. Advertisement Advertisement Live updates: Trump calls for Irans unconditional surrender State media reported that nearly 660,000 customers in Havana, or 77%, had power, as well as 43 hospitals and 10 water supply stations. However, officials warned of low power generation and said some circuits that crews had reconnected were kicked offline again. Key oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the United States attacked the South American country in early January. Then, later that month, Trump warned that he would impose tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. Trump has tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lead talks with Cuban officials and has floated a friendly takeover of the island. Advertisement Advertisement It remains unclear what Trump meant by a friendly takeover. They want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea, Trump said at the White House on Thursday, suggesting that major changes will be happening in a few weeks. Rubio is reportedly holding talks with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Raul Castro, the 94-year-old former president and de facto leader of the country. Raul Castros control over the Cuban military is viewed as the main power base on the island. Trump, defense company leaders to meet as strikes on Iran continue While there appears to be little appetite among Democrats for intervention in Cuba, there is plenty on the Republican side of the aisle. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has renewed his call for a complete overhaul in Cuba in the aftermath of Trumps major military operation against Iran. Cubas next, theyre gonna fall, this communist dictatorship in Cuba, their days are numbered, Graham said Sunday on Fox News. U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., who was born in Cuba, posted Thursday on social media that the regime in Cuba MUST BE DESTROYED & RELEGATED TO THE DUSTBIN OF HISTORY! The U.S. pressure campaign against Cuba also ties into the Wests long-held anti-communist views, with many Republicans and Democrats in Washington hoping to reduce Russian and Chinese global influence in the process. Advertisement Advertisement DOJ publishes missing Epstein files that include Trump allegations In 2001, Cuba was the only country in the region doing more business with China than with the U.S., according to Francisco Urdinez, an associate professor at the Political Science Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile who tracked the movement of Chinese companies and money in his 2026 book Economic Displacement: China and the End of US Primacy in Latin America. But 20 years later, all South American countries except Paraguay and Colombia were trading more with China than with the U.S., according to his research. Between 2014 and 2023, China provided loans and grants to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean worth roughly $153 billion the largest source of official sector financing for the region compared with approximately $50.7 billion from the U.S., according to AidData, a research lab at William & Mary, a university in Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement How DHS approach could change after Kristi Noems departure As for Russia, top officials hosted the Cuban foreign minister for talks in Moscow in late February and spoke out in support of the island nation amid the U.S. oil embargo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the U.S. to refrain from blockading Cuba, which has struggled to import oil for its power plants and refineries. Lavrov promised that Moscow will continue supporting Cuba and its people in protecting the countrys sovereignty and security. Cubas fuel shortages have already forced Russian tourist companies to halt the sales of package tours to the island after the Cuban government said that it will not provide fuel to planes that land on the island. Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliate The Hill contributed to this report. 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 NewsNation. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The Trump White House is allegedly blocking U.S. intelligence agencies from warning Americans about rising terrorist threats at home, according to a report by The Daily Mail. The Daily Mail quoted a senior Department of Homeland Security official saying, The FBI, Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center were preparing to put out a joint intelligence statement on Friday to state and local authorities alerting them of a heightened threat due to the ongoing war in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement The five-page statement is titled, A Public Safety Awareness Report: Elevated threat in the United States during US-Iran conflict, according to the report, and detailed elevated threats by the government of Iran to US military and government personnel and facilities, Jewish and Israeli institutions and their perceived supporters, and Iranian dissidents and other anti-regime activists in the United States. Homeland Security broke protocol and gave the White House a heads-up about the nationwide bulletin hours before it was set to be released, the report said, adding, top Trump officials ordered it placed on hold. The White House did not deny blocking the terror bulletin in a statement to the Daily Mail. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to the report, saying, The White House is coordinating closely with all government agencies to ensure information being disseminated is accurate, up to date, and has been properly vetted even if that means taking additional time to review to ensure nothing is done in a vacuum. Jeffrey Halstead, a former commander for Homeland Security for Phoenix, police told Fox News Digital this week that the partial government shutdown of DHS may hamper the governments ability to adequately address potential terror threats in the U.S. He warned that escalating conflict with Iran could encourage those wishing to harm Americans. The post Trump White House Reportedly Blocking Intelligence Report Warning of Homeland Security Threats in Midst of Iran War first appeared on Mediaite. The United Arab Emirates came under yet another massive aerial attack overnight on Friday, and public warning alerts and alarms rang through the night, Euronews correspondent in Dubai reported from the ground. ****A contact down at Abu Dhabi International Airport said that they are hearing interception explosions around every 20 seconds, Jane Witherspoon said on Friday morning. Since the beginning of the Iran war on Saturday, the UAE air defences intercepted1,072 drones, 196 ballistic missiles, and eight cruise missiles. Advertisement Advertisement The general consensus for a lot of people is that they thought it would have been over by now, and while everything does seem fully under control, there is a growing concern, Witherspoon reported. Meanwhile, people in Qatar were awakened by an emergency alert on their phones overnight on Friday, after which the Ministry of Defence announced it had intercepted a drone targeting the Al-Udeid airbase, the biggest US military base in the region. Local authorities have advised people to avoid gathering in outdoor public spaces. Light traffic moves along a main road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - AP Photo Travel backlog Air travel is slowly being restored in the region. Flights are departing from Dubai airport on Friday, despite asignificant backlog and the ongoing threat of an Iranian aerial attack. Advertisement Advertisement More flights are operational in Abu Dhabi on Friday, with Etihad Airways saying it was increasing services to some destinations. Nearly 20,000 flights across the region are believed to have been cancelled since the weekend, following the US-Israel strikes on Iran. Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport unless they have received a confirmed departure time directly from their airline. Qatars airspace remained closed on Friday, but Hamad International Airport said it was working closely with airline partners to reconnect passengers in Doha with their checked luggage as soon as operationally possible. Starmer stated that additional British fighter jets, helicopters, and a destroyer were being sent to the Middle East, and affirmed that the UK would support the defence of Saudi Arabia if needed. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday to discuss Iranian strikes, the Prime Ministers office released in a press statement. Starmer stated that additional British fighter jets, helicopters, and a destroyer were being sent to the Middle East, and affirmed that the UK would support the defence of Saudi Arabia if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Salman and Starmer also discussed increased intelligence cooperation to support defensive operations and protect civilians, and agreed to stay in close touch over the coming days and weeks. Starmer speaks with French, German, Italian leaders Starmer also spoke with the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy on Friday about the situation in the Middle East, according to a separate statement. The leaders condemned Irans egregious attacks and agreed on the need to coordinate closely on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating their concern over the situation in Lebanon. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pose at the start of the E-3 meeting, during the Munich Security Conference (MSC), in Munich, Germany February 13, 2026. (credit: Thomas Kienzle/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo) Ukrainian President Zelensky's drone-interception expertise was welcomed, and the leaders underlined the importance of continued support for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Starmer provided an update on the UK's defensive measures to protect and reinforce partners in the region, and on efforts to support the departure of UK nationals from the Middle East through both commercial and charter flights. Starmer speaks with King of Bahrain On Thursday, Starmer spoke with the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and briefed him on the UKs plans to send four additional Typhoon jets to Qatar to provide defensive support to regional allies and offered further defensive cover to Bahrain. Starmer and Khalifa agreed operational teams would work together on plans in the coming days. Residential neighborhoods in Bahrain were targeted by Iranian attack drones Thursday night, according to US CENTCOM. The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East, reducing the time it would take to be readied. This does not mean that Portsmouth-based HMS Prince of Wales, which is used to carry fighter jets and helicopters, will be sent into the Gulf as conflict escalates in the region, but the preparedness of the Royal Navys flagship is being increased, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The Independent understands no decisions to deploy the Prince of Wales have been taken. Advertisement Advertisement An MoD spokesperson told The Independent: We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus. Since the strikes began, weve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-busting missiles. HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness, and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment. Royal Navy aircraft carrier and fleet flagship, HMS Prince of Wales (MOD/Crown copyright) Acknowledging the reports on Saturday evening, US president Donald Trump continued a growing spat with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer over his reluctance to get involved in the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Thats OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we dont need them any longer But we will remember. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! It is still understood only one aircraft carrier is being made ready, and not for deployment to the Middle East specifically. Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is the Royal Navys flagship. Increasing its preparedness does not stop her from undertaking other planned missions. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the US has started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, the MoD has said. A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to help with surveillance from the air and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus. Meanwhile, more American bombers have landed in Britain as Mr Trump warned Iran would be hit very hard in another round of strikes. The first 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, and three more followed on Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir Starmer has granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base within the next few days. A second government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue. A third will be leaving Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, and the Foreign Office is also exploring options to charter a flight from Dubai to bring people back from the Middle East, the Press Association has reported. Advertisement Advertisement The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. Passengers from Muscat arrive at Heathrow International Airport in London, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran (Reuters) It comes as Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister is too scared to make foreign interventions and that the UK is in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. Speaking at the Conservative Partys spring conference in Harrogate, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was sitting on the fence when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, adding that last weeks by-election won by the Greens has spooked the Labour Party. She said: Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate. Advertisement Advertisement Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War; nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on. Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. Even now, our prime minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said three peacekeepers were injured inside their base amidst heavy firing on Friday. "The most severely injured has been transferred to hospital in Beirut for treatment. The two others are being treated in a UNIFIL medical facility. A fire on the base has been extinguished," UNIFIL said in a statement. The circumstances of "this terrible event" at the Al Qawzah base in south-western Lebanon would be investigated, it added. Advertisement Advertisement "It is unacceptable that peacekeepers performing Security Council-mandated tasks are targeted. We strongly remind all actors of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and properties at all times," UNIFIL said. "Any attack on UNIFIL peacekeepers constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of the Security Council Resolution 1701 and may amount to a war crime." Earlier, security sources had reported that a UNIFIL post had come under Israeli fire. The Israeli military stated it was investigating the matter. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "unacceptable attack" on UNIFIL in a post on X. Lebanon reports deaths during Israeli strikes Several people were killed in nationwide Israeli attacks on Lebanon throughout Friday, Lebanese authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement The Health Ministry reported that nine people were killed and 17 others wounded in an attack in Nabi Sheet in the east of the country. In further attacks in the capital Beirut, at least two people were killed and three others wounded, according to the authorities. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) also reported an attack on Majdal Shams in the south of the country, in which nine people were killed. The victims were all members of the same family, most of them women and children. The Lebanese Ministry of Health had earlier reported that more than 200 people had been killed in Lebanon since the latest escalation. Hezbollah says it will not lay down arms Hezbollah has again emphasized its readiness to continue fighting amid ongoing Israeli attacks on sites in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement "We will not lay down our weapons and we will not leave the battlefield," the organization said in a statement. Local news reports said on Friday a French initiative was proposed overnight which included the idea of Hezbollahs complete surrender in exchange for stopping the war on Lebanon. However, a government source said Hezbollah continues to reject any negotiations over a ceasefire conducted by the Lebanese government, insisting that only the movements own representatives could take part in such talks. The statement came as the Israeli military carried out a new wave of strikes in Lebanon, mainly targeting the Dahiyeh suburbs of the capital Beirut. Israeli airstrikes there have continued since late Thursday night. Advertisement Advertisement Tens of thousands of residents have fled the densely populated neighbourhoods. Hezbollah meanwhile has claimed responsibility for launching several more volleys of rockets toward Israel. Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel on Monday in response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has been intensifying its attacks in Lebanon. Weary residents seek shelter According to the Lebanese government's crisis unit, nearly 100,000 people have sought refuge in emergency shelters. But the number of displaced is believed to be higher, as many residents without shelter have moved to other parts of Beirut, some staying in hotels or rented apartments. Others have set up tents on open land on the outskirts of the suburbs after leaving their homes on Thursday. UNC-Chapel Hill will not release the results of its investigation into its School of Civic Life and Leadership, the university says. The investigation into the two-year-old school cost $1.2 million, according to UNC. The school, commonly referred to as SCiLL, is controversial for two main reasons: its leaderships conservative values and the infighting and allegations that have caused massive turnover in its faculty ranks. The latter is what led Jed Atkins, inaugural dean of SCiLL, to request UNC conduct a third-party investigation. UNC obliged, and hired the law firm K&L Gates to conduct interviews with concerned parties over the course of seven months. Incoming faculty chair Michael Gerhardt served as an expert advisor to K&L. Advertisement Advertisement The school characterized the investigation as lengthy, detailed, and exhaustive, but wont release the firms findings saying that would run the risk of harming or embarrassing subjects and sources in the investigation. The university said it considered releasing the report, but ultimately decided not to in order to protect the people who shared their perspectives with K&L. Leaders also cited attorney-client privilege and the preservation of the universitys culture as central reasons for the lack of transparency. UNC did say, however, that while the university is committed to taking any necessary corrective actions, the investigation left leadership fully confident in the continued strength and success of SCiLL under [Atkins] leadership. When SCiLL was dreamt up by conservative UNC faculty and leadership, it was intended to be a refuge for intellectual diversity at what they saw as a liberal institution. But quickly, bureaucratic and personnel issues began to plague the school. None of the inaugural faculty from 2024 are still working at SCiLL. The associate dean David Decosimo was suddenly fired in the fall. SCiLL defectors have been loud about what former faculty member Jon Williams called an unmitigated disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Reform must be built on merit, courage, & principle, not nepotism, ideology, & secret handshakes, Decosimo wrote on X in September 2025 after his firing. Demanding loyalty oaths & unquestioning docility while selecting for personal connections & membership in certain networks is even worse. While Atkins is at the center of much of the accusations and drama surrounding SCiLL, he said in a statement that he remains positive about the schools mission: Our sense of purpose will shape the education of students for generations to come students whose learning, character, and leadership will enrich our state, nation, and world, Atkins wrote. In a January faculty council meeting, Gerhardt said the report is more than 400 pages. The law firm reviewed more than 200,000 documents and conducted more than 50 interviews with dozens of current and former faculty and leadership, but no students. In its statement about the conclusion of the investigation, UNC lists some of SCiLLs successes: Advertisement Advertisement Added more than 20 faculty and taught nearly 1,000 students. Started what it calls a civil discourse residential community. Exported its signature civil discourse class to 35 other colleges and universities. Launching a summer civics institute for high school teachers and students and a public fellows program using US Department of Education funding. Currently developing a masters-degree program in military leadership for active-duty officers and a Ph.D. program for civics educators. Received $10 million from the National Endowment of the Humanities. Chancellor Lee Roberts also released a statement on the investigation. Launching a new school at a leading public research university is an ambitious undertaking under any circumstances, Roberts wrote. Doing so amid scrutiny and intense public attention requires resilience, focus, and resolve. Dean Jed Atkins has demonstrated that resolve. SCiLL was created to strengthen civic knowledge, civil discourse, and principled leadership values that are essential to a thriving democracy and central to Carolinas public mission, Roberts added. The School will continue to evolve and improve, and the University will stand alongside it with confidence in its future. UNC did not use any state money to fund the investigation, according to university spokesperson Kevin Best, but rather funds from its endowment. Union City As search and rescue crews concentrated on the devastated area around Union Lake following Friday's violent tornadic weather, Michiganians in nearby Union City began picking up the pieces of the damage littered throughout their homes and businesses. On Saturday morning, the Green family was working to clear the sidewalk in front of their woodworking business and along the rest of Broadway Street, the main thoroughfare in downtown Union City. Parents Duane and Dawn swept up broken glass while children Duane IV, 9, and Calissa, 11, held dustpans. Duane was working in the store when the twister ripped through the area. Advertisement Advertisement "You could kind of hear it chugging like a train," Duane said. "I watched it come up the street. I went in (the store), went down to the basement. "When I came out ... you could see the storm was going that way," he said, gesturing to the northeast. More: Michigans deadliest tornadoes since 2000 Duane said the storm came suddenly on Friday afternoon. It tore the facade from a used car business just a block away from his store and knocked out several windows in downtown buildings. Duane, who resides in nearby Athens, said he regularly volunteers with Samaritan First, a nonprofit that assists in disaster relief efforts. He was meeting with a representative from the organization later in the day to determine how best he could help. Advertisement Advertisement "(On) our social media page, people are reaching out if they need anything trees cut off or anything. We're equipped and ready," he said. Watch: Michigan tornadoes captured on video wreaking havoc Three people were killed when the tornado ripped through Union Lake west of Union City, the Branch County Sheriffs Office said Friday night. Twelve people were injured in the same area, the sheriff's office said. A 12-year-old boy was confirmed dead Friday after a tornado hit in the Edwardsburg area, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Clint Roach said there were several injuries reported in the southern end of his county near the Indiana state line. Lonnie Fisher, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Northern Indiana, said the area west of Union City, at Union Lake, appears to have the most extensive damage, according to reports from emergency management officials and on social media. A survey team from his office was headed to the area Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement He expects that the National Weather Service will release at least a preliminary report on the survey of the Union City area on Saturday afternoon. Reports on Three Rivers and Edwardsburg could come out later Saturday. Union City resident Alisha Carr was at work on Friday when the storm came through. Once her shift was over, she found that she "could barely get home" because the roads were blocked with fallen trees and service trucks as workers endeavored to repair downed lines. When she finally made it to her 1869-built home at the corner of John and Foote streets, she found it had been damaged by a fallen tree. Still, she said as crews worked to cut and remove the tree from her home on Saturday morning, it could have been worse for her. "In the backyard, you can literally see the path of the tornado," Carr said. "I mean, we just missed it by feet, literally." Advertisement Advertisement Lillian Andrews, who lives just south of Carr, said "pretty much every tree in our yard is gone," as is her garage, which was lifted off the ground and leveled by the twister. She said it will take the small town months to recover from the unexpected storm. "It's a long process, but we'll get there," she said. Several Union City residents said they heard tornado sirens sounding numerous times before the twister arrived. Fourteen-year-old Clayton Stage was in his room playing video games when he heard the sirens. Minutes later, he looked outside and saw the twister making its way across town. "It was huge," he said. "It sounded like a freight train coming through." Advertisement Advertisement Union City High School has been turned into a distribution center where volunteers have banded together to provide clothing, food and other essentials to community members affected by the storm. Jamie Thomas, the principal at Union City Middle School and part of a crisis team leading the outreach effort, said hundreds of community members have donated their time or items to help those in need. The district is also letting displaced people take showers at the high school and helping them to find temporary lodging. "It's what small towns are about, they come together," Thomas said. "We're managing, and we're making it happen." This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan city begins recovery after being rocked by devastating tornado The United States on Friday conducted lethal kinetic operations against designated terrorist organisations within Ecuador on Friday, the US Southern Command shared. As per the Southern Command, SOUTHCOM Commander Gen Francis L Donovan directed the joint force to support Ecuadorian forces in the operations, at the order of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The post cited Gen Donovan, who said, "We are advancing alongside our partners in the fight against narcoterrorism. I congratulate our joint forces and the Ecuadorian armed forces for the successful operation against narcoterrorists in Ecuador. This collaborative and decisive action is a strategic success for all nations in the Western Hemisphere committed to disrupting and defeating narcoterrorism." https://x.com/Southcom/status/2030056869624955036?s=20 In another post on X, Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, Chief Pentagon Spokesman & Senior Advisor to SECWAR, commended Ecuadorian President Noboa and the country's security forces for the partnership in the operation against a narco-terrorist supply complex--which disrupted their operations and logistics. Parnell added, "At the request of Ecuador, the Department of War executed targeted action to advance our shared objective of dismantling narco-terrorist networks. This operation demonstrates the power of coordinated action and sends a clear message: narco-terrorist networks will not find refuge in our hemisphere. The United States remains steadfast in supporting nations that stand against narcoterrorism. Together, we will dismantle trafficking and corruption networks, hold these organisations accountable, and restore peace through strength." https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2030030098443948129?s=20 Responding to Parnell, Hegseth thanked the partners in Ecuador and added in his post that more is awaited from SOUTHCOM. https://x.com/PeteHegseth/status/2030050665221792182?s=20 As per Fox News, it was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties from the operation. It further reported that the strike follows joint operations launched earlier this week by the American and Ecuadorian forces targeting suspected narco-terrorists in Ecuador, as per the US Southern Command. (ANI) A US bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles has landed in the UK after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer approved "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Sir Keir had initially refused to grant permission for the US to use UK bases in its joint offensive with Israel against Iran, which caused a disagreement with President Donald Trump. The arrival of the huge aircraft comes after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that strikes on Iran were "about to surge dramatically". Advertisement Advertisement The 146ft (44.5m) B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening. Trump told journalists in the Oval Office earlier this week he was "not happy with the UK" over the decision, which led to US planes "flying many extra hours" to carry out strikes last weekend. After granting the US permission to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the prime minister told MPs the government "does not believe in regime change from the skies". RAF Fairford, located on the border of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, has been used by the US in the past to conduct long-range heavy bombing missions. Advertisement Advertisement The B-1 bomber weighs 86 tonnes and is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph (1,448.4km/h). Nicknamed "the Bone", the US bomber has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets, and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies. Military analyst and former British Army Officer Justin Crump said the B1-Lancer is "one of the most significant bombers in the world" and is capabable carrying large bomb loads a long way, quickly, if it needs to. Crump, the CEO of private intelligence firm Sibylline, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "shuttling from RAF Fairford is a lot more efficient" and "makes sense" for the US as the commute from the US to Iran and back is lengthy. Advertisement Advertisement The war between Israel, the US and Iran entered its eighth day on Saturday. Overnight, explosions rocked Tehran following Trump's assertion that there will be "no deal" with Iran except "unconditional surrender". Elsewhere, the UK has also faced criticism over its response to drone attacks on the RAF's Akrotiri base in Cyprus. Downing Street rejected suggestions the government failed to provide enough military assets in the Middle East after the base was hit. Sir Keir told reporters on Thursday protective measures at the airbase have always been in place. The drone strike on the British military base caused "minimal damage" and did not result in any casualties. Sir Keir Starmer granted permission on Sunday for the US to strike defensively against Iranian missile sites [PA Media] The 146ft (44.5m) B-1 Lancer was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday [PA Media] The British warship HMS Dragon - which has air defence capabilities - is being sent to Cyprus but will not sail until next week. Advertisement Advertisement The Type 45 Destroyer had been earmarked to carry out a different mission - before Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Tuesday that HMS Dragon would be deployed to the Mediterranean region. Two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters are separately expected to arrive in Cyprus sooner than the warship. But speaking to BBC Breakfast, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "They need to do more than that, they need to stop the missile sites, you need to go to the source." Badenoch has stepped up her calls for the government to allow RAF to strike Iran's missile launch sites. With the Gulf states, including Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, having been targeted by Iran in the conflict, Sir Keir spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister assured the kingdom's de facto leader that the UK "stood ready to support the defence of the kingdom" if needed, a Downing Street spokeswoman said. The prime minister said "additional British fighter jets, helicopters and a destroyer were being sent to the region", the spokeswoman added. The conflict in the Middle East has led to thousands of flights being cancelled in the past week, leaving many Britons stranded - but some flights have resumed. A second government chartered flight to bring UK nationals home landed at Gatwick Airport at 00:30 GMT on Saturday. The flight departed from Oman's capital Muscat on Friday, the Foreign Office confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement The first flight, which landed at Stansted Airport on Friday morning, was delayed by 24 hours following "technical issues". And, airlines Etihad and Emirates have confirmed they will continue running a limited number of services from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the UK over the next few days. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story March 6 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has drawn up strict rules for civilian artificial-intelligence contracts requiring companies to allow "any lawful" use of their models amid a stand-off between the Pentagon and Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Friday. The Pentagon designated Anthropic a "supply-chain risk" on Thursday, barring government contractors from using the AI firm's technology in work for the U.S. military. That followed a months-long dispute over the company's insistence on safeguards that the Defense Department says went too far. A draft of the guidelines reviewed by the FT says AI groups seeking business with the government must grant the U.S. an irrevocable license to use their systems for all legal purposes. Advertisement Advertisement The guidance from the General Services Administration would apply to civilian contracts and is part of a broader government-wide effort to strengthen AI services procurement, the newspaper reported, adding that it mirrors measures the Pentagon is considering for military contracts. "It would be irresponsible to the American people and dangerous to our nation for GSA to maintain a business relationship with Anthropic," Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, a GSA subsidiary that helps procure software for the federal government, told Reuters by email. "As directed by the President, GSA has terminated Anthropics OneGov deal - ending their availability to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches through GSAs pre-negotiated contracts," Gruenbaum said. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement The GSA draft mandates that contractors "must not intentionally encode partisan or ideological judgments into the AI systems data outputs," the FT reported. It requires companies to disclose whether their models have been "modified or configured to comply with any non-U.S. federal government or commercial compliance or regulatory framework," the newspaper said. (Reporting by Bipasha Dey and Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Tom Hogue and William Mallard) At least one of the US aircraft downed in an apparent friendly fire incident over Kuwait was from a UK airbase, evidence suggests. Three American jets were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defences on Sunday. All six aircrew ejected safely and were recovered. Identifying markers on the suspected wreckage of one of the F-15E Eagles indicate it was from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. The US Air Force (USAF) would not confirm the origin of these aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement The BBC has examined two videos said to show the downed aircraft. Their origin could not be determined but both depict the same wreckage and were shot at different times. Analysis by BBC Verify indicated both were recent with no evidence of AI-manipulation. We have not been able to precisely geolocate the area where the footage was shot to confirm it was in Kuwait, but visual evidence is consistent with the wreckage being of a Lakenheath-based jet. In one of the videos, a prominent serial number can be seen in the remains of the aircraft's wheel housing. It matches 91-0327 LN, the serial number of an F-15E Strike Eagle from the 492nd Squadron of the USAF's 48th Fighter Wing, which reportedly deployed to the Middle East from Suffolk last month. Advertisement Advertisement German aviation journalist Dalibor Ankovic shared images he took of the F-15E taking part in Exercise Ocean Sky in the Canary Islands last November. The 48th Fighter Wing also publicised its participation in this exercise. The numbers and their placement on the wheel housing shown in Ankovic's pictures exactly match those in the video. This proved the aircraft in the wreckage video and the one in his pictures were the same, he said. A distinctive red marking seen on the inner wheel hubs matches officially released images of F-15s undergoing maintenance at RAF Lakenheath. RAF Lakenheath directed all inquiries to US Central Command (Centcom), which would not be drawn on the units to which the aircrew belonged. Advertisement Advertisement Centcom said that on 1 March, three US F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of its operations over Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, "went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident". Its statement said: "During active combat that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones the US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences. Kuwait had acknowledged this incident, it added. The US military has not publicised which F-15E units have been deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Epic Fury. But open source and plane spotter reports indicate that as well as jets from Lakenheath, aircraft from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, and the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, have been sent. Advertisement Advertisement Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More related stories Related internet links The U.S. is lifting some restrictions on Russian oil and considering more actions to unsanction it as the conflict in Iran raises prices globally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday. Bessent told Fox Business that the U.S. would allow India to buy Russian barrels. Yesterday, Treasury agreed to let our allies in India start buying Russian oil that was already on the water, Bessent said. Advertisement Advertisement The Indians had been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with U.S. oil, but to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept the Russian oil, he continued. We may unsanction other Russian oil, he added to host Larry Kudlow. The other thing Treasury can do here, Larry, is, there are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water and in essence, by unsanctioning them, Treasury can create supply, Bessent said. We are looking at that. Were going to keep a cadence of announcing measures to bring relief to the market. In a post on the social platform X Thursday night, Bessent said the Trump administration would allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil for 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea, he wrote. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Irans attempt to take global energy hostage, he added. Oil prices have been on the rise all week after U.S. began its strikes on Iran, which is located near the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping channel. The equivalent of about 20 percent of the worlds oil consumption typically flows through the strait daily. On Friday, both international benchmark Brent Crude and U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil were trading at more than $90 per barrel, up about $20 in the last week. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. gasoline prices were also rising, averaging about $3.32 per gallon on Friday, up about 34 cents from the week prior. Both the Biden and Trump administrations had previously imposed sanctions on Russian oil because of the countrys war in Ukraine. They argued that cutting off Russian oil could end a major revenue stream for the oil-heavy country and hurt its ability to continue the war. When gasoline prices rose at the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump criticized then-President Biden. Trump made energy affordability a key part of his message to voters. Updated at 6:56 p.m. EST Advertisement Advertisement 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 new counter-drone system with a proven record defending Ukraine's skies is headed to the Middle East. The US Army is deploying the Merops system, which has scored over 1,000 Shahed kills in Ukraine. The propeller-driven interceptors cost about $15,000 each. The US Army is deploying an American-made counter-drone system that has intercepted more than 1,000 Shahed-type drones in Ukraine to the Middle East, two defense officials confirmed on Saturday to Business Insider. One of the US officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss military developments, said that the Merops system will arrive in the Middle East within a week. Once it arrives, it'll be ready for combat in a matter of days. Advertisement Advertisement They declined to say how many systems the US is sending to the Middle East, only that the deployment will include a large quantity of interceptors. The Associated Press first reported the Merops deployment. The counter-drone system, which uses a roughly $15,000 interceptor, would give US and allied forces a much cheaper air defense option against Iranian drones, compared to expensive surface-to-air missiles. The weapon's deployment to the region comes as Iran has launched thousands of cheap attack drones at the US military and its allies across the Middle East after the US and Israel began Operation Epic Fury on February 28. Advertisement Advertisement The Shahed drones, which cost roughly $20,000 to $50,000 according to available estimates, complicate the air defense picture. In significant quantities, they can overwhelm even advanced air defense systems, or at the very least force Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) crews to expend millions of dollars in interceptors to defeat a threat only a fraction of that cost. How the Merops works The Merops counter-drone system launches a propeller-driven drone called the Surveyor, which is a few feet long, can be carried by a single soldier, and uses artificial intelligence to navigate in jammed environments. The overall system includes the Surveyor interceptor, a ground control station, and launch stations all operated by a four-man crew with a commander, a pilot, and two technicians. Advertisement Advertisement Its developer, the American initiative Project Eagle, says the Merops is tailor-made for taking down propeller-driven and jet-powered drones like the Shahed. So far, it's logged over 1,000 kills against such uncrewed aircraft. The Surveyor can fly at speeds of over 175 mph, meaning it's more than fast enough to catch Iran's commonly used propeller-driven Shahed-136, which flies at around 115 mph. Jet-powered versions of the Shahed reportedly fly as fast as 230 mph and are more challenging threats. If the Surveyor, which can be mounted with a small explosive warhead, fails to hit its target, it can deploy a parachute to allow retrieval and relaunch of the drone. A Surveyor drone can be retrieved if it fails to hit any targets. Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images When Business Insider observed a demonstration of the Merops in Poland last year, one of the launchers was mounted on the back of a pickup truck. A push for interceptor drones According to one of the defense officials Business Insider spoke with, US forces in the Middle East are to be trained by Army soldiers from Europe to operate the Merops. The system is also being sent to countries in the region where US troops are not deployed. Advertisement Advertisement The second defense official said that Merops' use in Ukraine has provided the Army with air defense information that has already proven valuable in Eastern Europe and will now be useful for the Middle East. US Army soldiers in Europe have taught NATO allies how to operate the Merops system, which was deployed to the alliance's eastern flank following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that his country had received a direct request from the US for help with countering Shahed drones. Zelenskyy shared that he "gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security." Advertisement Advertisement Over the past year, Kyiv has focused heavily on building and deploying an arsenal of cheap interceptor drones to counter Russia's versions of the Shahed, which the Kremlin launches in hundreds-strong waves at times. Ukrainian interceptor drones cost around $2,500 each, and Zelenskyy has said that his country makes 1,000 of them a day. All of these broader developments come amid the backdrop of President Donald Trump saying in an early morning TruthSocial post on Saturday that Iran had agreed to stop attacking US allies in the region. "Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore," he wrote. The president also threatened additional action against Iran, warning that the US is going to hit it harder. Read the original article on Business Insider By Kanishka Singh, Ismail Shakil and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration has bypassed U.S. Congress using an emergency authority to expedite the sale of more than 20,000 bombs to Israel worth around $650 million, two U.S. officials familiar with the sale said. In a late Friday statement, the U.S. State Department said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency existed that required an immediate sale to Israel and waived the congressional review requirements for the sale. Advertisement Advertisement The weapons package, which included 12,000 BLU-110A/B general purpose 1,000-pound bomb bodies that Israel had requested, comes a week after the United States and Israel began their joint air war against Iran, Washington's biggest military operation since the 2003 Iraq invasion. The operation, which the U.S. said was focusing on destroying Iran's offensive missiles, missile production and navy, has brought the region on the brink of a wider war as Tehran retaliated with its own attacks on Israel and regional countries with U.S. bases. "This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States," the Department said in its statement, adding that the principal contractor will be Repkon USA, located in Texas. On Saturday, a State Department official provided additional details about the sale, saying it also included BLU-111 500-pound general purpose bombs which was an amendment to a previous sale. The official added that Israel will purchase an extra $298 million worth of critical munitions via direct commercial sales. Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations in a December 2024 report said Israeli military had likely used these heavy weapons and munitions in densely-populated Gaza, where the Israeli campaign against Hamas militants killed tens of thousands of civilians. Democratic U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks said Rubio's decision to use emergency authority to bypass congressional review showed a lack of preparation for the war on Iran. "The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it was fully prepared for this war. Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story. This is an emergency of the Trump administration's own creation," Meeks said in a statement. In the last week, U.S. and Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and thousands more have been wounded, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador. Many top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have also been killed. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. military has said six U.S. service members were killed in a strike on a Kuwait facility, while Israel has said at least 10 civilians have been killed across Israel so far. Washington has maintained strong support for Israel under President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden during the more than two years of Israeli wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. The Trump administration has also previously made military sales to Israel by skipping congressional reviews, as did the Biden administration when it was in power. Washington's military support has faced scrutiny from rights experts, particularly during Israel's assault on Gaza that has killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population, and led to assessments of genocide from scholars and a U.N. inquiry. Advertisement Advertisement Israel calls its actions self-defense after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in an October 2023 attack. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Christian Martinez, Tom Hogue and Franklin Paul) The Utah Legislature upheld the states 15-year-old compact on immigration amid Republican division over whether to revisit policies that make the state a welcoming place for illegal immigrants. House Republicans had departed from the 2011 compromise in dramatic fashion last Friday when they narrowly passed a bill overturning some of the compacts core tenets of economic integration. On the final night of the 2026 session, Senate Republicans refused to consider the bill, along with several other House proposals, which would further limit illegal immigrants access to jobs and services. Advertisement Advertisement Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined legislative leadership in expressing a desire for Utah to continue to pursue a balance between rule of law and human dignity as states struggle to navigate federal inaction. This is probably the No. 1 issue thats on the minds of lots of Americans, Cox said. Because we had an administration that really screwed this up four years ago, and let far too many people across the border. Unlicensed drivers bill passes Lawmakers did pass one bill to address some of the public safety concerns associated with illegal immigration. HB136 would empower police officers to enforce traffic citations against unlicensed drivers. Even as total car crashes have fallen over the past five years, crashes involving unlicensed drivers have risen statewide, and now account for 35% of crashes and 45% of DUI arrests in West Valley City. Advertisement Advertisement But law enforcement agencies report being unable to issue citations to some of these drivers because they cannot be identified. This has become a major obstacle, resulting in multiple highway fatalities. The bill would allow law enforcement, after pulling someone over for a traffic violation, to impound an adults car and to do a fingerprint scan if they have no driving credential and no one can pick up the vehicle. Another bill aimed at improving the safety of Utah roads, HB118, requiring English language ability to drive large trucks, also passed the Senate along party lines on the last night of the session. Senate kills immigration bills However, other House proposals that were resurrected from last year, which also sought to address the impacts of illegal immigration, did not meet approval in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement HB141, taxing foreign money transfers by illegal immigrants, HB294, requiring more businesses to verify legal status and HB386, ending subsidies for illegal immigrants, didnt get a Senate vote. The bill, HB386, would have repealed one of the pillars of the Utah Compact policy package a state-run migrant worker visa program that never received a federal waiver to be implemented. Last Friday, Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, forced a House vote on a substitute version of the bill that incorporated portions of his HB88, one of the sessions most controversial bills. Initial versions of the bill required taxpayer-funded programs to deny local or federal benefits to those who could not prove lawful presence in the U.S. This was shut down by a voice vote on the House floor. Advertisement Advertisement But last Friday, Lee made House members vote up or down on HB386, with a newly included ban on in-state university tuition and subsidized home loans for those who are unable to prove legal residency. The bill passed 39-33 before stalling when no senator would sponsor it. This was because it sought to unravel a hard-won consensus with no effort to build an alternative, according to Senate leadership. The bill does away with the Utah Compact, which was negotiated with key constituencies, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said. That compact was vetted by a lot of stakeholders many years ago, Adams said. If you dont bring everyone back together, how do you actually wash away a compact without that type of effort? Advertisement Advertisement The Utah Compact, which was re-signed by community leaders in 2019, outlined five principles, including recognizing federal immigration authority, maintaining family unity and facilitating immigrants assimilation. Utah Speaker Mike Schultz acknowledged the toll historic levels of immigration has had on Utahns. Some local services were overwhelmed before the Trump administration closed the border, he said. But Utahs Republican majority still believes a balance can be struck on immigration policy that values Utah as a diverse state with a diverse economy, according to Schultz. Immigration population doubles Since 2019, the illegal immigrant population in Utah doubled from an estimated 90,000 to nearly 180,000, and the number of English as a Second Language students grew to more than 58,400. Advertisement Advertisement A recent analysis of federal immigration data found that during the final 18 months of the Biden administration, Salt Lake City received more immigrant arrivals per capita than nearly any other city in the country. The rate of 1,685 immigrant arrivals for every 100,000 residents was mirrored by a statewide rate of 1,015, making Utah sixth in the nation, outranking hot spots like Arizona, Nevada and California. Amid a nationwide deportation crackdown, Lee told the Deseret News the Trump administration asked him to pursue policies that would remove incentives for illegal immigration to encourage self-deportation. Lees other immigration proposals, repealing Utahs driving privilege card program, and blocking access to banks, jobs and housing for illegal immigrants, were held without a committee hearing. Advertisement Advertisement States around the country are struggling with the same impacts of mass immigration. Neighboring states like Colorado have even higher rates of immigration-related crime than Utah. Throughout the session lawmakers lamented that multiple presidential administrations rejected Utahs 2011 migrant worker program and that Congress had failed to reform immigration law. Faced with federal dysfunction, and a lack of political will to resolve a useful campaign issue, Cox said governors are currently engaging in conversations about federal immigration solutions. But regardless of what happens on the national level, Cox hopes Utah can continue to be a model of common sense and compassionate policies, even if that means revisiting the 15-year-old compact. In Utah, we believe that you should have to follow the law, that we should make people follow the law, and that we can do that with dignity and respect, Cox said. In Utah, we care about doing this the right way. Ahead of this years legislative session a poll from the Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics, conducted by Morning consult, showed that housing affordability was the No. 1 issue Utah voters wanted state lawmakers to address this year. While not every housing bill that lawmakers introduced during the 2026 session made it through, there were a number of bills passed that lawmakers hope will help improve costs for Utahns. As well as focusing on housing affordability, the legislature also looked at other issues straining families resources, including child care. Advertisement Advertisement When asked how much these measures from the Legislature could save the average Utah family, Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said they havent calculated that but he would guess a couple hundred dollars. Theres not a lot we can do, but we are focused on it. And the policies we place and the regulations we put into place or take out of place or dont put into place are the key drivers on those affordability issues, Schultz said. He also said that there isnt much state government can do on the affordability front, it is more about what they dont do. Schultz said lawmakers are trying to not do anything to make things more expensive for Utahns. Heres a look at what Utah lawmakers were able to pass relating to affordability. Tax credits to help families with kids There were two bills this session dealing with tax credits to help families with children. Advertisement Advertisement HB190, sponsored by Thompson, will set up a child care tax credit that mirrors the current federal model. This would provide a tax credit to employers who provide or help pay for child care for their employees. I think child care continues to be one of the top issues for families, and, you know, its an ongoing process, said Senate minority leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City. On a federal level small businesses qualify for a 50% tax credit and large businesses would get 40%. HB190 would build on that adding 30% on the state level for small businesses and 10% for large business. Child Tax Credit Amendments, or HB290, would expand the income eligibility for the states child tax credit. This would allow the credit to help a larger number of Utahns. Advertisement Advertisement The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Miller, R-South Jordan, would raise the threshold for who qualifies for the child tax credit, making it available to more families. For those married, but filing separately, there is a maximum of $30,500 a year, for single, or head of household the maximum is $49,000 and for joint filing status the maximum would be $61,000. What lawmakers did and didnt get done for child care Escamilla ran two bills this session to expand child care offerings in Utah, but both ended up failing to pass. One bill would have provided grants for home-based child care centers and another would have set up a child care facility for state employees. We still keep on working on them, Escamilla said. Its a complex issue, but we know that we want a strong workforce, and that workforce needs adequate access to affordable child care. Advertisement Advertisement She continued saying they want to keep the state family friendly, We also want our families to feel that child care is not the reason why theyre not growing their family, that should not be what is stopping them, Escamilla said. A bill to expand paid maternity leave for state employees from three weeks to 12 weeks did pass the legislature. HB329 from Rep. Ariel Defay, R-Kaysville, will also strengthen protections for pumping breast milk in public and would launch a pilot program allowing local education agencies to provide up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for teachers. This session, Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek, has introduced a bill that would allow more state employees to bring their infants to work with them. SB258 would expand a pilot program that Pitcher started in 2020 when she was in the House. The original pilot program applied just to employees of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. This new bill would expand the infant at work program to all state offices under the executive branch. Organizing how housing policy is handled in Utah Last year a group of stakeholders, including members of the legislative and executive branches, put together the Utah Housing Strategic Plan to help solve the housing crisis in the state. Advertisement Advertisement The aim of the strategic plan is to ensure that every resident in Utah has access to safe, affordable and stable housing options. The plan has three main goals: Improve housing availability, affordability and stability. Foster community well-being and quality of life. Seek consensus and evidence-based policy and housing support solutions. The plan outlines over 50 tactics that could help improve the housing situation in the state. Rep. Stephen Whyte, R-Mapleton, introduced a resolution HCR6, to officially recognize the strategic housing plan. That resolution passed. Steve Waldrip, the governors senior adviser for housing strategy and innovation, said the point of the resolution is to make sure that we have the Legislature and the governors office walking in lockstep on this path. Advertisement Advertisement Another piece of legislation dealing with housing is HB68 which will not create any new policy but would rather reorganize and centralize how housing policy is handled by the state. HB68 would create the Division of Housing and Community Development, which would sit within the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity. The division would be led by the state housing coordinator who will be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Waldrip said the bill will create more streamlined accountability in the governors office, in the executive branch, we can then report back to the Legislature and say, Hey, heres what were doing. Heres why were doing it. He said it will allow the division to share what theyve done with their appropriations and what their goals and needs are. Increasing supply to keep up with demand One of the biggest housing bills of the session is HB492, sponsored by Rep. Calvin Roberts, R-Draper, which passed on Friday. The bill would help build infrastructure that would unlock plans to build thousands of houses around the state and allow them to be built. Advertisement Advertisement Housing continues to be important, weve got to build more housing, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said during a press conference Friday evening. This is going to help a lot of cities and towns who want to approve these projects but just dont have the infrastructure money available to get the sewer, water, power, roads." There are over 100,000 entitled units across the state which cannot be built because of a lack of infrastructure such as sewer lift stations, water treatment facilities, water tanks and big regional roads. The goal of HB492 is to unlock some of these units and get more houses built to help increase the supply and make homes more affordable. The bill would allow the state to partner with cities to help more infrastructure to be built through the State Housing Infrastructure Partnership Fund. The funding would come from money that already exists within the state government. One of the things we hear from citizens that get frustrated with growth is the lack of transportation, lack of money for infrastructure funds, Schultz said. Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, said this bill will do a great job of increasing supply. Helping more Utahns save for retirement Hundreds of thousands of Utahns arent saving for retirement, according to state estimators, and one key reason is because many small business employees dont have access to employer-provided retirement plans. That puts stress on the individual but it also puts a burden on the state, because more and more older people in Utah are relying exclusively on Social Security to pay for their retirement needs. HB250 would create the Utah Retirement Plan Exchange, a state-facilitated marketplace where private retirement providers can offer plans to employers in a single simplified platform. This will help thousands of Utahns save for retirement who havent been able to before, bill sponsors say. Corrections (3/9/26): Winooski has the only minority-majority district in Vermont; Lott was the city's first elected woman mayor; and Goodrich's first name is Elsie. Winooski's Thomas Renner this week became the first Black person and openly LGBTQ+ man to be elected mayor in Vermont history. Renner had been serving as the Onion City's interim mayor since September following Kristine Lott's resignation but was required by law to run for election to finish the remaining year of his predecessor's two-year term. Renner, who ran unopposed, garnered 780 out of the 802 votes cast for mayor. The other 22 votes were write-ins. Advertisement Advertisement "It's really momentous, to be honest," said Renner of his Town Meeting Day election. "There's a lot on my shoulders in the best way." Winooski Mayor Thomas Renner (left) with deputy mayor Brynn Oakleaf on Town Meeting Day 2026. "As with any first, it's about showing younger people that it's possible," Renner added. "It's amazing thing to have on my shoulders that someone who looks like me can think, 'Maybe someday, I can get elected, too.'" He said his win is particularly exciting because Winooski is Vermont's most racially diverse municipality and the only one where the majority of school district students aren't White. "For people of color in the community, (my election as mayor) will mean so much for them, especially in this political climate, where they feel more marginalized," Renner said. Advertisement Advertisement The Vermont Historical Society's Vermont Black History Database details a variety of firsts legislator, sheriff, police chief and more but not mayor. Renner's victory comes after several similar milestones nearby. Two years ago Burlington elected Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to lead the Queen City. And Lott, Renner's predecessor, was Winooski's first elected woman mayor. (The first woman mayor was Nicole Mace, who assumed the role in an interim capacity after former Mayor Seth Leonard stepped down in early 2019.) Who was elected to Winooski City Council? Councilor Al Turkos, who joined the body in October, was elected to serve the remaining year of Charles Judges two-year term. Councilor Elsie Goodrich and newcomer Eli Ogilvie, who faced no other challengers, were elected to serve two-year terms on the council. Advertisement Advertisement Starting next fiscal year, city councilors and the mayor will see their stipends increase from $1,500 to $3,000 and $1,700 to $3,400, respectively. The stipend boost is part of the fiscal year 2027 budget that voters passed on Town Meeting Day. Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Who is Vermont's first Black mayor? Winooski's Thomas Renner elected A former Virginia Beach Fire Department captain is behind bars after being charged with dozens of felonies related to child exploitation. According to court documents, Virginia Beach firefighter Zachary Teall, who had been at the department for 10 years, was arrested on Wednesday by the Virginia Beach Police Department. Teall faces 30 felony charges tied to child exploitation. Court records list several child sex abuse-related charges, including more than 10 counts of producing child pornography. To protect the victims identity, we cannot go far into the details of this case. However, court documents state Teall is accused of exploiting multiple children under the age of 15. Advertisement Advertisement 13News Now reached out to Teall for a jailhouse interview, but he declined. A spokesperson for the City of Virginia Beach confirmed Teall is no longer employed by the department, but they could not confirm whether his departure was directly related to the pending charges, calling it a personnel matter. Court documents also show this was not Tealls first recent encounter with law enforcement. In January, he was charged with misdemeanor assault, and an emergency protective order was filed for the alleged victim. Teall remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing on March 10. Iranian Foreign Minister, Syed Abbas Araghchi, came down heavily on the United States on Saturday, condemning American strikes which targeted children and the innocent. He said that Iran's response would inevitably be directed at American bases and institutions. In a post on X, Araghchi accused the US of launching attacks from the "lands of our Arab friends" to target children and the innocent in Iran. "Iran and the Arab brothers have lived side by side for centuries in a spirit of affection, friendship, and mutual respect. The American aggressors launch from the lands of our Arab friends to target children and the innocent. As for Iran's response, it will inevitably be directed at the bases of the United States and its institutions," Araghchi said. https://x.com/araghchi/status/2030019075712131225?s=20 His remarks come amid the backdrop of international outrage after strikes in Iran hit Minab Girls' Primary School in the country's Hormozgan province, killing over 160 and injuring another 100. A recent report by CNN said that analysis has suggested the US was likely responsible for the deadly strike on the elementary school. Citing expert analysis of evidence, CNN reported that satellite imagery, geolocated videos, public statements from US officials and the assessment of munitions experts suggest that the Shajare Tayyiba elementary school in Minab was hit on February 28 at around the same time as an attack that American forces likely carried out on a neighboring Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base. While the White House has not ruled out that US military personnel carried out the strike, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said at a briefing on Friday that he was "not aware of any IDF activity in the area." The CNN report mentioned that the US officials had confirmed of striking military targets in southern Iran. In a briefing on Wednesday, Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented a map that plotted American and Israeli strikes on Iran over the first 100 hours of the war. He said Israel had mostly struck northern Iran while the US had targeted the south. As per CNN, the most likely explanation for the deadly strike on the school, Jenzen-Jones said, is that the US inadvertently struck the facility while it was carrying out the attack on the naval base, not realising that the school was no longer part of the IRGC compound, or having failed to update its targeting officers. "It's probably a targeting failure," he said. "Somewhere in the target cycle, an intelligence failure meant that the target set wasn't updated, or a decision was made later in the cycle that resulted in the wrong target being hit". According to CNN, US officials have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. When asked by CNN for a comment, the US Defense Department referred CNN to Central Command. CENTCOM told CNN that "it would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation." CENTCOM had previously said that it was "aware of reports concerning civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations" and was "looking into them." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that an investigation had been launched, it further mentioned. While the probe is ongoing and a conclusion has not yet been reached, CNN cited a report by Reuters on Friday that US military investigators believe it is likely that the American forces were responsible for the strike on the school. Meanwhile, on Friday, the Iranian President held a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. US Rep Joe Wilson criticised Putin, alleging that Russia provided intel to Iran. In a post on X, he said, "War criminal Putin is killing Americans by providing Iran intel. Russia must be held accountable for mass chaos and death." https://x.com/RepJoeWilson/status/2029995139171598751?s=20 These developments come in the wake of escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 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. (ANI) He didnt know who had stopped him, or why. The men dressed in black wouldnt say. License and registration! Who are you, and why did you stop me? Give me your documents! Sir, Ill give you my documents, but I just want to know who you are. Why did you stop me? The men began to scream. Are you legal or illegal? Are you legal or illegal? He called his wife and told her he thought he was being pulled over by immigration authorities. He said he would try to record it. Advertisement Advertisement Thats when, he said, one of the men reached into the truck and snatched his phone. I heard him say, Sir, Im cooperating! Im not fighting! Im cooperating! the mans wife said. Then I hear the gentleman scream, Get out of the car. And I just hear lots of commotion, and I hear the phone being thrown. The call ended. She found her husbands abandoned work truck on the side of a road later that day. By then, he had been transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement the beginning of his monthlong stay in immigration detention. The man came to the United States seven years ago seeking asylum from Honduras. In that time, his most significant interaction with law enforcement was a speeding ticket. After his arrest by ICE, he spent time at the federal immigration detention center in Farmville an experience he said haunts him daily. Advertisement Advertisement He is now free on bond and has returned to work at the construction business he built in Virginia Beach. But his chances of securing asylum are diminishing. The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press interviewed the couple several times and reviewed records related to his asylum case. They spoke on condition of anonymity and are only being identified by the pseudonyms Juan and Marie, because they fear retaliation. Seeking asylum For several months, ICE has been ramping up arrests of Hampton Roads residents. ICE did not answer questions about how extensive Hampton Roads immigration operations are or how many people have been detained on civil violations. According to paperwork, court filings and applications reviewed by The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, at the time of his arrest, Juan had an active asylum case and marriage petition with Marie, an American citizen. He did not have a removal order or warrant for his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Reports about ICE interactions from across the country describe aggressive tactics and difficult conditions in detention facilities. Many stopped and detained by ICE have said they believe they were targeted because they were driving construction vehicles or because they were profiled for looking Hispanic or speaking Spanish. They cannot give us a reason why theyre arresting regular nonviolent, non-criminal individuals out of the street, said Patricia Bracknell, president and founder of the Chamber for Hispanic Progress, an organization dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community in Hampton Roads. Because of his civil immigration arrest, Juans case is being heard in federal immigration court. He will pay thousands of dollars to an attorney to refile and defend his asylum case. Still, his wife said they have been advised by their lawyer to prepare for Juans deportation. It feels scary because I dont have nothing right now, so Im going to start from the beginning now. Ive spent so much money in this process too, and now I have to start again, Juan said. I dont do anything wrong. I was doing everything good. Advertisement Advertisement At 10:05 on a weekday morning, Juan was on his way to work for the construction business he started the same year he arrived in the U.S. While his asylum case has been working its way through the system, Juan has obtained a work permit, license and Social Security card to work in Virginia. That day, he was driving his work truck with a ladder secured to the roof to a job site with his coworker in the passenger seat. Juan said he was almost to his exit when he saw an unmarked white Ford F-150 with a flashing police light on its dashboard tailing him. Juan pulled over on the side of the highway, rolled down his window and turned off the ignition. Thats when, he said, the two men dressed in black shirts with the word Police in small lettering across the front began screaming at him and his passenger for their documents. Juan said they didnt sound like normal police. He said they wouldnt identify themselves or tell him why he was being stopped or what he had done wrong. He was terrified. Advertisement Advertisement I dont see any camera in his body. I dont see no weapon. I dont see nothing. So that scared me because I dont know who was pulling me over. He told the coworker to record the interaction, but he was frozen in fear. When the men started asking him about his immigration status, Juan called Marie to let her know he thought ICE was detaining him. He pulled his phone out to record, but said the man grabbed it, reached into the truck to open his door and pulled Juan down to the ground. Only one photo of the encounter exists a blurry image that appears to show a hand over the camera lens and a vehicle in the background. Advertisement Advertisement Juan and his coworker were placed in handcuffs. The men who had arrested them took his phone and license. When Marie got to the truck, she said, it had been moved off the highway exit into a neighborhood and rummaged through. At no point, Juan said, did the people identify themselves as immigration enforcement officers. According to Department of Homeland Security policy, immigration agents must identify themselves as soon as it is practical and safe to do so. Another vehicle drove up behind them. The two men who arrested him then handed him over to an officer wearing a DHS uniform. He identified himself as an immigration agent and told them they were being detained. The immigration agent then drove them to an office in downtown Norfolk, which Juan said was near the jail. The regional ICE office is in the Norfolk Federal Building. Advertisement Advertisement When he arrived, he said there were about 12 people there being processed and given self-deportation paperwork. He said he was offered $3,000 to leave the country voluntarily. Juans coworker signed the paper. But Juan, who is conversational in English, did not want to be pressured into signing. He asked the officers for a hearing with a judge about his active asylum case. The long road to detention Juan came to the U.S. in 2019 as a political refugee. He successfully completed a credible fear interview, which assesses the likelihood that someone may be persecuted or tortured if they were to return to their country of origin. Juan has since been in the process of seeking U.S. citizenship. Juan said an officer took him aside and said he would help him find a court date. It was scheduled for three weeks later. Advertisement Advertisement That day, Juan was transferred to Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County for temporary holding. Local advocates say Riverside is a temporary stop for many detainees on their way to the two immigration detention facilities in Virginia, one in Farmville and one in Caroline County. Juan became emotional describing the experience of being stripped and drug tested upon arrival at Riverside. The process is horrible, so I dont want to go back (to Riverside) no more. Never. Its a lot of mental pressure. He felt like he was being treated like a criminal. It just bothers me a little bit, he said, fighting back tears. Advertisement Advertisement After two days at Riverside, he was taken to Farmville Detention Center, about 70 miles west of Richmond. He said he was put in a small room with about 20 other detainees for six hours. They were given a small sandwich to eat. Despite being a low-security detainee, Juan said he was first put in the color jumpsuit for the highest security detainees. He said that according to the staff, they had run out of low-security jumpsuits that matched his status. He said he was afraid of being attacked or mistaken for a gang member. My stomach hurt, I wanted to throw up. I was crying because I didnt want people to think I was a criminal, maybe try to fight me or do anything like that to me, Juan said. During his medical evaluation the next day, he told a nurse what happened, and said she was able to get him the correct color jumpsuit for his security level. I dont know whats going on there, but they was doing almost everything wrong, he said. ICE did not respond to requests for comment about the operations at Farmville. Juan would be detained there for four weeks. He described the mens holding space as a large open room with bunk beds. Juan said he was held with about 80 other men at a time, with detainees coming and going daily. While inside, Juan said he met good people and bad people, but I see more good people. A pastor, fathers of families, hard-working men. Almost all, he said, were involved in some form of legal process to attain citizenship. Juan said that like himself, many of the men had work permits. He was dismayed by the experience. I was asking myself, whats going on? Because I was following the rules. I was going to the court. I was working for it. On Feb. 20, DHS announced a proposed rule change to the work authorization process for asylum seekers such as Juan, saying the administration wants to tighten eligibility and enforce stricter screenings of those who entered the country illegally. Under the law, it is only possible to file for asylum from U.S. soil, and many do so upon their arrival, like Juan. Juan said one of the most harrowing parts of his time in Farmville was seeing men with serious medical issues wait days for care. He remembers one man with severe swelling who screamed and begged for an ambulance after days without treatment. The man was eventually taken away, and Juan never saw him again. In 2024, a compliance inspection conducted by the Office of Detention Oversight made more than a dozen medical and mental health related findings at Farmville Detention Center, including that the facilitys medical leadership had failed to review some detainees comprehensive medical assessments. As a result, detainees may not have been correctly prioritized for medical care. Aixin Aydin, an advocacy manager at The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights who researches immigration detention centers, said proper access to medical care is an issue at facilities across the country. Unfortunately this is just something really, really common when it comes to medical care (in detention facilities), and something I think thats escalated recently because ICE is having trouble hiring people to provide medical care as well. ICE did not respond to requests for comment about medical care standards or staffing levels at Farmville. Advocates have been warning of poor conditions at immigration detention facilities across the state. In August 2025, a letter from the Free Them All VA Coalition to Congress warned of inhumane conditions at the ICEs Washington field office in Chantilly. Reports surfaced that the office, which was being used as a makeshift detention space, subjected detainees to an unsanitary and degrading environment. Advocates said people were being denied access to food, water and medical care and were sleeping on the floor. Monica Sarmiento, director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said advocates frequently hear experiences like Juans. Unfortunately, its not (uncommon), Sarmiento said. Even though the Trump administration has now required giving notice to the detention facility or the holding facility before a visit, they still have found substantial violations that really describe everything that (Juan) said as a consistent pattern in the facilities in our commonwealth. Juan said his experience at the facility was relatively easier because of his English skills. But most detainees, he said, dont speak English. To pass the time, he spoke with his wife when he could and attended Bible study twice a day led by a detained pastor. The men would sing worship songs and split one packet of ramen noodles from the commissary four ways. While the facilities provide meals and basic necessities, some detainees choose to purchase higher quality items or to supplement their meals from the commissary. But advocates and families say the prices are high, and the costs can add up quickly. Juan said the toothbrush he was given made his gums bleed, so he purchased one from the commissary. People spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars buying stuff there, said Juan. Everything is so expensive. Following Juans first court hearing since his detention, his attorney filed a habeas petition asking the court to review whether Juan was being lawfully detained. Juan was released two days later. A bond hearing was ordered to be scheduled within seven days. That Friday evening, Juan was processed out. He was handed a different mans discharge paperwork and medical record. Despite asking for his own documents, Juan said the facility didnt fix the error and told him to write the name and address of the person coming to pick him up on the other mans paper. The document, reviewed by The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, is from the Farmville Detention Facility and shows a different mans name, alien number, birth date and medical history. Maries name, phone number and home address are handwritten on the section for designating a detainees pick-up person. He received his phone, license and money back that were seized during his arrest. Borrowed time Now, Juan always carries his documents showing his granted habeas petition and bond status with him on his phone. He and Marie also printed out copies to put in both of their vehicles. Juan and Marie are now in the process of refiling his asylum case in federal immigration court, which took over jurisdiction of his case following his arrest. Being granted asylum has always been a high bar, said Virginia Beach immigration attorney Andy Reigel, who does not represent Juan. But under the second Trump administration, he said, nearly all asylum applications are being denied. Right now, it appears that immigration judges have been fired due to decisions theyve made that the administration did not like, Reigel said. So theyre not getting a fair shake in immigration court right now because the immigration judges have been instructed on how to rule on cases. According to an asylum application tracker database, in 2024, about 28% of asylum applications were granted in Annandale, where Juans case is being adjudicated. In 2025, only 13% of asylum applications were granted there. In recent months, that number has dropped into the single digits. According to Marie, they have spent $15,000 on attorneys fees and filing fees to the government and courts since he began the citizenship process in 2019. She said they will now have to spend an additional $11,000 to continue fighting for his ability to stay in the country legally. Marie said the costs have put an enormous financial strain on their family not to mention the lost wages from Juans time in detention. We dont talk about Bruno right now. Were still in over our heads. Marie began selling food to make extra money. After getting back to Virginia Beach, Juan was able to return to his construction business quickly. Were very lucky because weve sown good seeds and the people love us and they put him right back to work. But what comes next for their family? Its a lot of confusion, said Juan. Marie said their attorney will try to continue Juans case as long as possible. If its heard before the end of Trumps second term, she said, theyve been told to prepare for Juan to be deported. (Our attorney said,) Im just going to be real with you guys. Hes probably going to go back to Honduras. Hes going to be sent back if this is heard before that time. In the meantime, Juan is trying to keep his spirits up by going to church. But his recent experiences weigh on him heavily. Im telling you, Ive never seen him like this. Ive never seen him be as vulnerable. This whole thing really messed with his head, said Marie. We dont even watch the news anymore. He refuses to watch the news because he almost is crying every time he looks at this stuff. He just cant. Marie, a longtime advocate, has seen the impact of recent immigration enforcement practices not just on her family, but on her community more broadly. This is taking an extremely emotional and psychological toll on the community, she said. People are afraid to leave, theyre terrified. (People) have stopped working. Nobody wants to go to the stores. The whole thing is just wild. Juan and Marie have decisions to make. Their attorney warned them if he is deported by the government, it may be another four or five years before he is able to be reunited with his family. If he leaves the country voluntarily, it may be just two or three years. Marie said that while theyre trying to enjoy the time they have together, Juan is often reminded of the detention center and the men he met inside. They call him every day, she said. Its just taken a really emotional toll on him because he formed friendships with them through this. Juan said he is haunted by thoughts of his friends who are still incarcerated. He struggles to sleep. He said he has started going to therapy for the first time. I was imagining my friends and my people in the detention who tell me, Hey, goodbye, you going now Im waiting for me, said Juan. I was crying all these days. He remembers the day he left the facility and how badly the other men wanted to see their own wives and children. Theyre happy for me, but I can see in their face theyre sad, because they want to go out, too. Emma Rose Brown, emma.brown@virginiamedia.com Volunteer paramedics in North Carolina will soon take part in a "proof-of-concept" program that will put them in the seat of an ultralight, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Hyde County Emergency Services in North Carolina will fly the aircraft manufactured by Palo Alto-based Pivotal, which said Friday that the project aims to accelerate emergency response times for "critical care calls." The aircraft-which lifts off vertically like a helicopter but cruises on fixed tandem wings-will soar over traffic and terrain, the idea being for it to escort first responders to the scene before an ambulance arrives. Pivotal said the vehicles will not transport any patients, cargo, or delivery equipment-at least, for now. Advertisement Advertisement "The initial phase is designed to build the framework for sustained airmobile emergency services response, and we expect it could deliver measurable life-saving benefits from the start," Ken Karklin, CEO of Pivotal, said in a statement. In addition to emergency medical services, the aircraft will support law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue operations in Hyde County, such as assessing damage after a hurricane or thunderstorm. The approximately 15-by-15-foot aircraft will be able to land on grass, asphalt, pavement, snow, and even ice. Brook Cox, director of emergency medical services for Hyde County, said the ability to operate without a runway or other specialized infrastructure "opens entirely new possibilities for situational awareness, operational reach, and scalable response." "As the First in Flight state, North Carolina has always led in aviation innovation," added Carla Baker, president of emergency training provider Code Blue Resources, which is also participating in the project. "Integrating eVTOLs into public safety is our chance to lead again." Advertisement Advertisement The proof-of-concept program comes on the heels of a series of demonstrations Pivotal conducted in 2025 with three fire agencies in California. "The ability to rapidly deploy with minimal infrastructure opens the door to faster, more flexible responses in complex terrain," said San Bernardino County Fire Department's Shawn Millerick. "And that has real implications for saving lives." Electric Aircraft for Emergencies Pivotal's aircraft qualify as Part 103 ultralight models, meaning they do not require a pilot certification to fly. Operators instead complete Pivotal's in-house training course, which can take as little as two weeks. The aircraft can accommodate occupants with a weight up to 220 pounds and standing height up to 6 feet 5 inches. It is controlled using a simple joystick to manipulate a fly-by-wire system, with a digital display aiding navigation. Advertisement Advertisement VTOL capability comes from the vehicle's unique tandem-wing, "tilt-aircraft" architecture. Other eVTOL models feature vertical rotors or propellers that tilt forward to support fixed wings during cruise flight. Pivotal's design includes eight fixed rotors on an airframe which itself is designed to tilt when transitioning into and out of hover. The aircraft can take off in winds up to 20 mph and temperature between 14 and 91, cruising at about 63 mph while producing less noise than a helicopter. It has a range of about 20 miles, taking about 75 minutes to charge from 20 to 95 percent. It can continue flying with two rotors out, with a landing camera, ballistic parachute, and anti-collision lights for added safety. The vehicle can also be disassembled to fit within a 16-foot trailer and reassembled for flight within 30 minutes. The U.S. Air Force in 2024 received eight Pivotal BlackFly preproduction prototypes, which it evaluated for a year before returning to the manufacturer. Six more BlackFlys are in the hands of private owners who paid a sizable deposit to join Pivotal's early access program. One of the aircraft has logged more than 1,000 flights. Though operations are restricted to daytime and Class G airspace, early BlackFly owners are using the aircraft to fly in airshows, commute to work, and in general impress their neighbors. Pivotal in early 2024 opened sales for its flagship production model, Helix, for $190,000 in the U.S. It expects to begin production in the coming weeks. For the first time in years, Oregon lawmakers in Salems newly-reopened Capitol streamed out of the chamber floors into the rotunda to cap the end of a short legislative session that had both Republicans and Democrats claiming victories. Responding to the federal governments aggressive deportation campaign, safeguarding access to and funding for reproductive and gender-affirming care and filling a budget hole caused by federal tax and spending changes topped the Democratic majoritys agenda this year. Senate Democrats have a simple focus: protect Oregonians values from Donald Trumps administration, lower costs for working families and keep the economy moving. Im proud to report that what we did together was amazing, said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, in a Friday news conference following the end of the session. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, meanwhile, touted their success in gutting a wide-ranging gun bill and delaying, though not blocking, a bill to reschedule a statewide vote on transportation taxes. I can stand here today and say the thing Im most proud of is that the Republicans stood strong, and we stood united as a caucus, said House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville. In my four short years here, I havent seen us do that as well as we did this short session. Lawmakers also experimented with Oregons legal authority to strengthen the states decades-old, first-in-the-nation protections for immigrants, passing legislation to prevent law enforcement from wearing masks, safekeep sensitive data and empower individuals to sue officers who enter their homes without a judicial warrant. In the meantime, Oregon legislators confronted at the beginning of the session a $650 million budget shortfall, in part due to tax cuts passed under last years GOP signature tax and spending law. Oregon is among a handful of states that automatically replicate federal tax provisions in state taxes. The practice left Democrats facing backlash from dueling business and progressive groups who sparred over whether to leave those tax breaks in place or completely end the practice of automatic connection. Advertisement Advertisement The avalanche of complex legislation left lawmakers on both sides of the aisle frustrated and confused about their priorities by the end of the five-week session, despite adjourning two days before a constitutionally-mandated deadline. Leadership in Salem again failed to limit the number of bills lawmakers could reintroduce, watered down an ambitious gun control bill and revealed their highly-anticipated plan to temporarily keep the Oregon Department of Transportation afloat just ahead of the last week of the session. There might have been a little bit of confusion about whats going on, but really it was just our ability to come together, said Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, of his colleagues in leadership. I think the four of us as leaders, being able to have really good communication, understand that its important to put those values out there and see where you can come together. Rep. Travis Nelson, D-Portland, (left) hugs Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, (right) in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Salem on Friday, March 6, 2026 following the end of the 2026 legislative session. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Legislators blew past a Feb. 25 recommended deadline from Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read to sign into law legislation rescheduling a controversial gas tax referendum from November to May. While Democrats ultimately passed the rescheduling measure, opponents quickly filed separate state and federal lawsuits and its unclear when the vote will ultimately take place. An effort to readjust the states campaign finance laws also drew the ire of good governance groups who accused the Legislature of shutting them out as lawmakers rushed wide-ranging technical amendments through both chambers. Advertisement Advertisement The goal of (the bill) that we passed is to ensure that those further conversations happen. And I think those conversations need to involve practitioners, folks like treasurers and other folks in a more active way in the actual Legislature themselves, Fahey told reporters. They have been involved in the secretary of states technical rulemaking process, but working through as the secretary of state starts to actually implement this law what are the issues that arise. Gov. Tina Kotek, meanwhile, returned to her newly open ceremonial office in the Capitol but made few public in-person appearances in Salem during the session compared to her predecessors, aside from a press conference and offering testimony on her priority legislation for economic development in the state as she appeals to business groups and seeks to strengthen her reelection campaign. She also changed her tune on one of her signature pieces of legislation amid concern that the bill would further incentivize data centers in the state, supporting a year-long moratorium on a specialized tax break program that the centers often capitalize upon in urban and suburban Oregon. I have consistently since becoming governor, and did this when I was speaker of the house as well, met regularly with Republican leaders, Kotek told reporters. The difference this session is being able to do it in person in my conference room in this Capitol. So just the ability to know that people can pop down the hallway and have a meeting with me, it just creates a different environment. Transportation, guns see parallel fights One of the most contentious issues this session was whether Democrats would reschedule when Oregon voters could have a say on a controversial 2025 law to raise the gas tax, vehicle registration and title fees and the payroll tax used for public transit. Republicans and some Democrats acknowledged moving the referendum vote to May could keep the measure off the same general election ballot as Democratic legislators and Kotek, who has faced intense scrutiny over her handling of the transportation package she championed last fall and polled among the most unpopular governors nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement After quorum-denying Republican walkouts in the House and Senate and missing a Feb. 25 deadline to pass the bill, Democrats on Monday secured enough votes in the House to send the bill rescheduling the vote to May to Koteks desk. Kotek signed it into law shortly after, but she and legislative Democrats were met with angry Republicans who promptly filed a lawsuit and alleged lawmakers were ignoring the 250,000 Oregonians who signed the petition to block those tax and fee hikes specifically asking for a November vote. A hearing in that case is set in Marion County Circuit Court next week, and another individual, Mary Martin of Klamath Falls, filed a similar lawsuit in federal court on Thursday. Rescheduling the referendum didnt make up for the $288 million the Oregon Department of Transportation needs to fill gaps in its current budget and to support operations at the beginning of the 2027-29 budget cycle. To cover those gaps without raising fees or taxes, the agency will leave 130 positions vacant. Lawmakers meet in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Salem on Friday, March 6, 2026 following the end of the 2026 legislative session. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Lawmakers on Friday also passed Senate Bill 1601 to repurpose funding for infrastructure improvement projects that havent yet begun and cut funding for marine and aviation projects, as well as efforts to make safer walking and biking routes for schoolchildren. Advertisement Advertisement Some House Republicans also harkened back to an incident last year where Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, raised his voice at Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, during a joint transportation committee hearing. The Senate Conduct Committee this session cleared Gorsek of discrimination or harassment, but concluded he was disrespectful. But Republicans saw an echo of that incident in a tense committee dispute between Rep. Thuy Tran, D-Portland, and Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, over an ambitious package bolstering the rollout of a voter-approved gun law that raised questions over whether the state should be working with the FBI and federal government to share the information of diverse gun owners. Republicans decried the legislation as yet another attack on gun rights in the state, and they staged a walkout ahead of a vote on the gun bill. They framed their walkout as a pause after what they described as Democrats sweeping an instance of a female legislator being targeted by a male colleague under the rug, though some acknowledged they were also trying to delay a vote on the transportation referendum schedule. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, confirmed Friday that Republicans secured amendments from leadership in the Senate, which stripped the gun control legislation of any significant changes to the permit-to-purchase process while solely delaying the implementation of Measure 114 until 2028 as the Oregon Supreme Court decides whether to uphold the law. Voters originally approved the measure in 2022 by a narrow margin, and the measures authors are urging lawmakers to revisit the matter in the 2027 legislative session. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, and House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, address reporters at the end of the legislative session on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Photo by Mia Maldonado/Oregon Capital Chronicle) I believe if that bill had been scheduled for a work session without a commitment to amend it, that there would not have been enough Republicans to operate and do business, Starr told reporters. New economic conditions after years of budget surpluses Most Democratic Oregon lawmakers voted to disconnect some of the states tax code from the federal tax code to keep $291 million in revenue the state otherwise would lose by replicating federal tax cuts. Republicans, in turn, have threatened to send it to Oregon voters in November via a ballot referral, though they will be hard-pressed for time. Advertisement Advertisement Coupled with several budget rebalance bills that cut spending on supplies and services, and that leave more than 130 jobs vacant at the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon lawmakers have closed what they said began as a $650 million budget deficit going into the session. The moves will spare the transportation agency from hundreds of layoffs during the next 18 months, until lawmakers can come up with more sustainable funding during the long session in 2027. Social services and education funding were largely untouched, despite Democratic leaders warning theyd be among casualties of congressional Republicans tax and spending megalaw passed during the summer. Although new provisions in the law that shift many new costs for safety net programs to states will come with a high price tag, the states most recent revenue forecast showed more corporate income tax revenues helped soften the blow. Campaign finance still unfinished A controversial bill changing a 2024 law limiting campaign contributions passed with nearly two-thirds of lawmakers in both chambers, though none were happy about it. House Bill 4018 providing technical fixes to the 2024 law was necessary, lawmakers said, to ensure the Secretary of States Office can enforce political spending limits by January of next year. They also passed Senate Bill 1502 to require the secretary of state to report back with campaign finance ideas next year. Opponents said HB 4018 was written with the input of business industry and union lobbyists while explicitly cutting out campaign finance reform advocates. Those activists had agreed in 2024 to shelve a ballot measure on political spending limits and to work with lawmakers on a legislative solution. Leaders from the groups have vowed to take the bill to Oregon voters in a ballot referendum in 2028 if Kotek signs it. Advertisement Advertisement Kotek said Friday she was not involved in the bill negotiations and that she is still considering whether or not to sign it into law. I kept reminding people that we need to stay the course that was established in the 2024 session to establish contribution limits and not delay their implementation she said, adding: There are other things in that bill that I need to understand. Both chambers also hosted candidates for the GOPs nomination for the governors race: Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, and Rep Ed Diehl, R-Scio. Drazan, a former House Republican leader, managed to avoid the Houses rules restricting campaign fundraising during legislative sessions by taking the spot of former Senate Minority Leader Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles. State records show her campaign has more than $1.2 million in the bank. Diehl, meanwhile, earned a stern rebuke from Fahey for continuing to accept donations to his gubernatorial campaign during the session. However, Fahey has yet to offer a concrete punishment for the prominent conservative, who has pointed to legislative legal guidance suggesting the rule is unconstitutional. Diehl has more than $100,000 in campaign funds, according to records as of Friday. Curtain call for several lawmakers Along with Diehl and Drazan giving up their chances to run for reelection by running for governor, three Republican senators who participated in the longest walkout in state history in 2023 over bills related to abortion, transgender health care and gun rights cannot seek reelection this year. Sens. Cedric Hayden of Fall Creek, Kim Thatcher of Keizer and Suzanne Weber of Tillamook will finish their terms in January. Reps. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, and Jami Cate, R-Lebanon, meanwhile, are leaving the House to run for vacant Senate seats. Advertisement Advertisement Five retiring members of the House and one retiring senator, Democrat Jeff Golden of Ashland, wrapped the final floor sessions of their careers on Friday. Rep. Rick Lewis, R-Silverton, retires after nearly a decade and Rep. Boomer Wright, R-Reedsport, wraps up his time in the Legislature after six years. Rep. Annessa Hartman, D-Gladstone, who has been fighting stage 3 cervical cancer since the fall, will also wrap her time in the Legislature at the end of the year. Hartman has been mostly absent from the House floor while she undergoes treatment, but has said shes fully committed to continuing her term in the state House and her campaign for an open seat on the Clackamas County Commission. Rep. Ken Helm, a Democrat, will retire at the end of 2026 after 12 years representing the Beaverton and Cedar Hills area. And Rep. John Lively, D-Springfield, will retire after 14 years in office. The two are well known for bipartisan work on policies, and got teary on the floor thanking their colleagues for the collaboration over the years. Advertisement Advertisement I really enjoyed serving my constituents, working with a wide range of elected officials here, Lively told the Capital Chronicle, and I do feel very good about being respected, and respecting others, on both sides of the aisle. Oregon Capital Chronicle intern Robin Linares contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Saturday: - Blasts in Dubai, Manama - AFP journalists heard explosions in Dubai and Bahrain's capital, Manama, on Saturday, one week into Iran's retaliatory attacks on targets around the Gulf. A warning siren sounded in Manama, with Bahrain's interior ministry urging residents in an X post to "head to the nearest safe place". - US approves weapons to Israel - Advertisement Advertisement The US State Department approved the "emergency" sale of 12,000 bomb casings to Israel on Friday as the countries engage Iran in an escalating Middle East war. "The proposed sale will improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats," the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs said. - Israel responding to missile attacks - The Israeli military said that air defenses were responding to Iranian missile attacks on Saturday that sparked air raid alerts across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has been striking Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli campaign that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has pounded sites around the country. - Clashes on Lebanon-Syria border - Lebanese official media said on Saturday that clashes had erupted on the Lebanon-Syria border as Israel attempted a landing operation, with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah saying its fighters were involved. Israel has sent troops into Lebanon since Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday to avenge the killing of Khamenei. - Saudi Arabia intercepts attacks - Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said Saturday it intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base which houses US military personnel, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf. Advertisement Advertisement The oil-rich nation's state news agency said it thwarted a drone attack on an oilfield near the Emirati border, following at least two reported drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east. - Israel launches 'broad-scale' strikes - The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched a "broad-scale wave of strikes" on targets in Tehran, as the Iranian state broadcaster reported an explosion in the western part of the capital. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier it had detected another round of Iranian missiles headed towards Israel after a series of explosions were heard in the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv following the Iranian launches. Advertisement Advertisement - Israel says Iran using cluster bombs - Israel accused Iran on Friday of launching cluster munitions "multiple times" since the start of the war -- referring to bombs that explode in mid-air and scatter bomblets. Iran and Israel are not party to a convention that prohibits the use, transfer, production and storage of cluster bombs -- which can cause casualties over time, particularly children, as some of them do not explode on impact. - Russia feeds Iran intel, US 'aware' - The White House downplayed a report Friday that Russia was helping Iran target US forces in the Middle East, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth telling CBS News's "60 Minutes" program that "our commanders are aware of everything." Advertisement Advertisement The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the intelligence, said Russia has provided Iran with the locations of US military assets, including ships and aircraft. - Iran rejects Trump's succession overtures - Iran's ambassador to the United Nations condemned US interference on Friday, after President Donald Trump insisted that he should be involved in selecting the successor of Khamenei. "The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign interference," Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters in New York. Advertisement Advertisement - US to boost weapons production - Major US defense companies have agreed to quadruple production of advanced weapons, Trump said. The United States struck more than 3,000 targets during the first week of the conflict, the military said. - Oil prices surge - Crude prices surged on mounting fears about oil supply disruption as the US-Israel strikes and Tehran's retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region upended the world's energy and transport sectors. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 12 percent to $90.92 a barrel on Friday, topping off the biggest weekly gain on record. - Rockets target Baghdad airport complex - Advertisement Advertisement Rockets targeted the Baghdad airport complex that hosts a military base and a US diplomatic facility. A shadowy group called Saraya Awliyaa al-Dam (Guardians of Blood), which claims to be part of the Tehran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said it was behind the attack on the base. - Trump to attend return of dead troops - Trump said Friday he will attend the arrival of the remains of six soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait, the first US dead from the Middle East war. The troops "returning home for the last time," as Trump put it, were killed when a drone struck in Kuwait's southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba. Advertisement Advertisement - UN peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon - Several Ghanaian members of a United Nations peacekeeping were wounded when their base was hit in southern Lebanon, state media reported, without specifying the source of the attack. Israel has been hitting southern Lebanon in its battle against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. - Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' - Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" as the only acceptable outcome to end the Middle East war, promising to help rebuild the country's economy if it complied. His new stance appeared to be a major expansion of US aims for the war, which Washington has previously said was focused on Iran's missile program and naval forces. Advertisement Advertisement - UN chief slams 'unlawful attacks' - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned "unlawful attacks" across the Middle East and warned that the war could spiral out of control. Guterres said the crisis was causing "tremendous suffering and harm" and posed a "grave risk" to the global economy. - Only nine commercial ships navigate Hormuz - Just nine oil tankers, cargo and container ships have been recorded passing through the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, according to MarineTraffic data analyzed by AFP. Nearly 20 percent of the world's crude oil and about 20 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually transit the waterway, but the conflict has virtually shut it down. - France deploys helicopter carrier - France has sent a helicopter carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the war, the French military told AFP. Paris decided to deploy its flagship aircraft carrier and a frigate earlier in the week. burs-cms/jm/fox Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman promised to usher in a new era of innovation, prosperity and modernity when he became the kingdoms de facto ruler a decade ago. With his ambitious Vision 2030 project, he hoped Saudi Arabia would soon rival Dubai as the regional business hub in the Middle East, attracting Western talent and enabling his influence to spread beyond the Kingdoms borders. But with just four years before his self-imposed deadline, those plans have been suddenly plunged into uncertainty. Earlier this week, Saudi air defences downed several Iranian drones and cruise missiles, while a strike on the Ras Tanura oil refinery temporarily halted operations. Advertisement Advertisement In just a few days, the illusion of safety in the Gulf appeared to be shattered. Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman promised to usher in a new era of innovation, prosperity and modernity when he became the Kingdoms de facto ruler a decade ago (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Did war ruin the Gulfs reputation for safety? Many countries deemed safe havens in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been hit by Iran in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes launched a week ago, which killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Numbeos ranking of the UAE as the safest country in the world for the second year in a row in 2026 now seems absurd as images pour in of stranded tourists and residents in Dubai sheltering from missile fire emerged earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Even as Gulf countries rushed to assure citizens they were safe, experts say the entire region is facing severe reputational damage due to the insecurity created by the war. Dania Thafer, executive director of Gulf International Forum, told The Independent that the normalisation of volatility was a risk for Saudi Arabia as it seeks economic expansion. Mohammed bin Salmans transformation agenda is not predicated on absolute security it rests on the credibility of long-term predictability, she said. Vision 2030 assumes that global investors, multinational firms, and expatriate talent will see Saudi Arabia as a stable environment for capital, innovation, and lifestyle. That assumption becomes harder to sustain if the Gulf is no longer viewed as the oasis of Middle East stability but as an active frontline. Advertisement Advertisement Any prolonged instability in the region would complicate the transformation narrative in the Gulf and weaken the safe hub for business model that both Dubai cultivated and Saudi Arabia now seeks to emulate, she added. Smoke billows from Saudi Aramcos Ras Tanura oil refinery after a reported Iranian drone strike on Monday (Reuters) The Kingdom is facing a struggle to attract talent A key element of Prince Mohammeds plan was his megaproject Neom, the most ambitious vision for a city in human history. As part of the project, more than 363bn would be pumped into the construction of a mountain ski resort, several coastal resorts and an industrial zone along the coast of the Red Sea, while a 170km megacity called The Line would be built. Advertisement Advertisement But less than a decade on from the announcement, the Saudi government appeared to have admitted defeat. After a series of delays and ballooning costs, it was reported earlier this year that the project would be scaled back. Plans for the future megacity The Line in Saudi Arabia have faltered. This picture shows what the project was supposed to look like (Neom) After this setback, experts say a long war in the Middle East would severely hamper his ability to attract Western talent and multinationals. Dr Neil Quilliam, from Chatham House, said: The issue for Saudi Arabia beyond the immediate crisis is the impact it will have on the countrys ability to attract and retain expatriate senior executives, persuade international businesses to establish their regional headquarters in Riyadh and continue to implement Vision 2030. Could Saudi Arabia fare better than Dubai? While experts believe that Saudi Arabias reputation may suffer, both Dr Quilliam and Ms Thafer argue that the kingdom may not be as badly affected as the UAE. Advertisement Advertisement Ms Thafer said: Reputationally speaking, Saudi Arabia has less to lose as it was not its main brand to the same degree as it was for Dubai. Historically, Saudi Arabia has been attacked far more frequently and at a greater scale than the UAE in terms of missile, drone, and cross-border strikes linked to Iran or Iran-backed groups. However, Saudi Arabias vast geographic size and dispersed population centres make individual attacks less concentrated and therefore less immediately disruptive to daily life than it would be for the UAE. Palaces near the future city of Neom, Saudi Arabia, seen in 2021 (Planet Labs PBC via AP) Dr Quilliam said that Saudi Arabia had one key advantage over the UAE for its recovery: its scale. The country is the size of Western Europe and has so far been less affected than the UAE. It has not experienced the same concentration of missile strikes. Furthermore, domestic flights have continued throughout the conflict, and most expatriates leaving the UAE are doing so overland into the kingdom. Advertisement Advertisement He was confident Saudi Arabias economy would bounce back from the war, albeit likely slowly. He said: While the targeting of Saudi Arabia in the current conflict will undermine short-term investor and expatriate confidence in Saudi Arabia, it will bounce back probably slowly, given the scale of its national transformation project and buoyed up for a time on the back of high oil and gas prices. A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on Tuesday (AFP/Getty) Dr Omar Al-Ghazzi, associate professor at The London School of Economics and Political Science, suggested Irans attacks could backfire entirely as they will trigger a discussion about security in the Gulf. Previously, both the UAE and Saudi have had a competitive, tense relationship. Now they both have a mutual interest in avoiding Iranian attacks. Advertisement Advertisement On the economic level, Iranian attacks have been damaging, particularly for the UAE, as Dubai is the most globalised and economically successful city in the region. Dubai has long been the symbol of Gulf prosperity. In general, Saudi Arabia has been less targeted. For instance, Saudi air travel is less affected, he said. But, in the long run, regional relations and the economic damage sustained depend on how the war will unfold and how long it will last. Iran knows that its attacks are damaging, and they are hoping that that would propel Gulf countries to pressure the US to stop. It is a gamble as it also may backfire, bringing Arab Gulf countries closer to each other and to the US. Union City Four people were killed and 12 others injured when tornadoes ripped through southwest Michigan Friday, the state's deadliest outbreak of violent weather this century. Three were killed when a tornado hit near Union Lake west of Union City, the Branch County Sheriffs Office said Friday night. Twelve people were injured in the same area, the sheriff's office said. More: Michigans deadliest tornadoes since 2000 Advertisement Advertisement Of those injured, three required hospitalization, the Branch County Sheriff's Office said. The names of the dead were not released. Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident, Branch County Sheriff Fred Blankenship's office said in a statement. A fourth person was confirmed dead after a tornado hit in the Edwardsburg area, Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach said in a statement. Roach said there were several injuries reported in the southern end of his county near the Indiana state line. The tornadoes that ripped through southwest Michigan destroyed buildings, leveling trees, and knocking out power. They were the first tornadoes causing multiple deaths in Michigan since 2023, when two died when a tornado ripped over Interstate 96 in Ingham County. Advertisement Advertisement Social media users shared videos of a twister causing damage in the Three Rivers area in St. Joseph County, including ripping the roof off a Menards store, pulling apart a storage unit and lifting a car in the parking lot of a strip mall along US-131. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center on Friday night "to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan. By taking this action, we can ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests," she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). More: Whitmer activates emergency center after tornado hits southwest Michigan Following the outbreak in southwest Michigan, residents in the Jackson area were urged to take cover around 6:30 p.m. as the storm system continued to head eastward. The system, moving northeast at 40 mph, was capable of producing more tornadoes, and passed through Metro Detroit in the overnight hours. Advertisement Advertisement Lindsey Whitaker of Goshen, Ind., filmed a tornado ripping through Three Rivers at 3:52 p.m. while her husband was driving south on U.S. 131. The couple was making their way home from a doctor's appointment. "We had gotten alerts on our phones that there were tornadoes coming, and at first we were like, 'What? There's nothing going on,'" Whitaker said. "We got a little further down the road and the clouds were moving in a weird way. And we got a little further, and we're like, 'Oh, that's definitely a tornado.'" The tornado caused extreme damage to a Menards and storage units. Whitaker said the twister "annihilated" a Dollar Tree in the area. Tornadoes were also spotted in the areas of Edwardsburg and Juno Lake in Cass County around 3:15 p.m., as well as Union City in Branch County shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to NWS. Advertisement Advertisement Lisa Piper, who lives on Union Lake in Union City, was sitting on her deck when a tornado developed. She said she could hear thunder for about a half hour, then the winds shifted, a tornado formed and "it got really massive, really fast," she said. The tornado didn't touch Piper's home on the south side of the lake, but it "really devastated the cove" on the north side, taking out trees and leveling homes. Division Street in Union City remained darkened without functioning streetlights after tornadic winds hit the area March 6, 2026. Around 10 p.m. Friday, Caleb Michael was on his porch in Union City, watching line workers repair damaged power lines. His neighborhood on Division Street remained darkened without functioning streetlights. The sidewalks were strewn with debris, including countless uprooted trees, while generators hummed from some residences. Michael said the storm left part of a tree on his roof, and eight or nine more trees in his backyard were uprooted. But he counted himself lucky that the damage wasn't worse for him. Advertisement Advertisement "I've lived in Union City my entire life," Michael said. "We've had a couple bad tornadoes went through, but nothing like this ... with casualties and everything. "My parents live just north about a mile and a half," he added. "They didn't get anything, not even rain." Meanwhile, vehicular access to Union Lake, where the twister did its worst damage, remained closed Friday night, though lights from emergency vehicles could be seen in the distance. Indiana Michigan Power said more than 5,500 of its customers in southwest Michigan, predominantly in the Three Rivers area, were without power. Midwest Energy and Communications, serving parts of southwest Michigan, reported another 1,300 customers without power. A tornado leveled homes on Union Lake in Union City, Michigan, on Friday, March 6, 2026. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings throughout the late afternoon and evening as the front moved through Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement "TAKE COVER NOW!" the agency said in the Tornado Warning. "Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris." A flood advisory was in effect for south central Michigan and Ingham County until 2:15 a.m. Saturday. The NWS advised people to be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding, and not to drive on flooded roads. "Most flood deaths occur in vehicles," the advisory warned. Damage from severe weather and a suspected tornado hit Park Street in Union City on Friday, March 8, 2026. Severe thunderstorm watches then followed for Allegan, Barry, Branch, Hillsdale, Jackson, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties through 11 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement "If you spot a tornado, go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure," NWS said in a severe thunderstorm warning. mreinhart@detroitnews.com @max_detroitnews Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 4 dead, 12 hurt in tornadoes in southwest Michigan NEED TO KNOW Skylar Neese was 16 years old when her best friends, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, murdered her Skylar's parents, Dave and Mary Neese, have sought justice for her since her death in 2012 Dave and Mary participated in the Hulu docuseries Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese in which they speak about how they've kept their daughter's memory alive When Dave and Mary Neese discovered their 16-year-old daughter Skylar Neese was missing, they could have never imagined the devastating fate she had met. Skylar disappeared from her bedroom near Morgantown, W. Va., just before midnight on July 5, 2012. The teen was last captured on grainy surveillance footage entering an unknown vehicle outside her apartment complex. With little evidence to go on, authorities assumed that Skylar was a runaway or that she had accidentally overdosed at a house party, according to 20/20. Advertisement Advertisement The truth, however, sent shockwaves through the small town community. In January 2013, six months after Skylar initially disappeared, police learned that Skylar had been stabbed to death in the Pennsylvania woods by her two best friends, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf. The motive for the brutal murder which Shelia and Rachel reportedly plotted for over a year was because they simply didnt like her. The story of Skylars tragic death at the hands of her best friends has been the subject of podcasts and television programs like 20/20 and Dr. Phil. Now, a three-part docuseries titled Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese is telling Skylars story like never before. The documentary, which features interviews with Dave and Mary Neese as well as Skylars peers and the investigators who worked the case, debuted on March 6 on Hulu. So, where are Skylar Neeses parents now? Here's everything to know about Dave and Mary Neese, including how theyve kept their daughters memory alive in the years since her shocking murder. Who are Skylar Neeses parents, Dave and Mary Neese? Skylar Neese Credit: Disney West Virginia couple Dave and Mary welcomed their only child, daughter Skylar, on Feb. 10, 1996. Advertisement Advertisement The tight-knit family resided in the small town of Star City, W. Va., where Dave was employed at the local Walmart and Mary worked as a receptionist in a doctors office. Skylar was her parents pride and joy: She attended University High School in nearby Morgantown, where she earned straight A's and was rarely in trouble, according to The Dominion Post. She also worked part-time at a nearby Wendys fast food restaurant, and had ambitions to become a lawyer. Skylar was beautiful, she was intelligent, she was fun, Dave recalled about his daughter to the newspaper. She was a good kid. What happened to Dave and Mary Neeses daughter, Skylar Neese? Rachel Shoaf, Skylar Neese and Sheila Eddy Credit: Disney On the morning of July 6, 2012, Dave went to wake up Skylar, only to discover her bed unslept in and his daughter nowhere to be found. He immediately called Mary at work, but his wife was not alarmed at first and assumed that the 16-year-old was simply sleeping at a friends house or out shopping, according to the Hulu documentary. Advertisement Advertisement But when Skylar didnt show up for her shift at Wendys at 4 p.m., the parents became concerned and contacted the police, they shared with 20/20 in July 2014. Authorities began investigating the teenagers disappearance, while Dave and Mary enlisted the help of Skylars closest friends to try and locate their daughter. Skylars two best friends, Shelia and Rachel, initially claimed that they had last seen her the night before when she snuck out of her bedroom window to join them on a joyride around town. They explained that they picked Skylar up around 11 p.m. on July 5, but returned her home before midnight. Over the six month investigation, however, Shelia and Rachels stories began to unravel as investigators dug into their social media activity, cellphone data and inconsistencies in their accounts. In January 2013, Rachel eventually cracked and confessed to police that she and Shelia had lured Skylar to a wooded area in Brave, Penn., where they had previously smoked together. When they arrived at their destination, Shelia and Rachel attacked Skylar stabbing her more than 50 times with kitchen knives. Advertisement Advertisement As for their motive, Rachel responded that they just didnt like her, State Police Corp. Ronnie Gaskin said on 20/20. The confession was a shock to both the authorities and Skylars parents, who considered Shelia to be like a second daughter. We suspected that they both had knew something about it, but we never would have dreamed that they actually murdered her, Mary said in Friends Like These. Dave added, I never thought in my deepest, darkest dreams that the two people that she was best friends with could be related to this. I couldn't wrap my head around it ... We were going through emotional hell. What did Dave and Mary Neese say to their daughter Skylars killers? Rachel Shoaf ; Shelia Eddy Credit: Lakin Correctional Facility After Skylars body was discovered and her blood DNA was found in Shelias car, both Shelia and Rachel were taken into custody in May 2013. The teens were charged as adults, and they each pleaded guilty to their respective charges; Shelia to first-degree murder and Rachel to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Because of their pleas, Shelia and Rachel avoided going to trial. However, Skylars parents Dave and Mary had the opportunity to address their daughters killers at each of their sentencing hearings. Dave addressed the court when Shelia pleaded guilty at a pretrial hearing in January 2014, where she received a life sentence with mercy for her crimes. My life and my wife's life have been drastically altered. We're no longer a family, Dave said through tears, according to CBS News. You can look into the eyes of those who were responsible but you can never know what they heard as they were taking her life. He continued, You cant imagine how Mary and I now feel. Advertisement Advertisement At Rachels hearing in February 2014 (where she was sentenced to 30 years behind bars), she apologized directly to the Neese family. Im so sorry. No words can describe the remorse I feel, she read from a statement, per Metro News. That was not the real me. I became scared and caught up in something I did not want to do. But the apology was meaningless to Skylars father Dave. She can take her apologies and sit on them, he said in his statement to the judge. Shes made my life a living hell. The only reason she cooperated was because she was caught. How have Dave and Mary Neese honored their daughter Skylars memory? Skylar Neese as a child Credit: Disney Since Skylars tragic death at the hands of her best friends, Dave and Mary have dedicated their lives to honoring their daughters memory. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Phil said one thing that made sense to me. He said spend the rest of your life celebrating her life, and thats what weve tried to do since day one actually, Dave told 5 News in July 2024. After Skylar went missing in July 2012, Dave and Mary began campaigning for changes to be made to how authorities handle Amber Alerts in West Virginia. Because Skylar was initially believed to be a runaway, an Amber Alert was not issued. In March 2013, Skylars Law was passed in West Virginia, requiring authorities to immediately issue Amber Alerts for any missing children without waiting for proof of abduction, Metro News reported. Dave and Mary also launched Skylars Promise, another initiative created in their daughters honor. Students and adults who take Skylars Promise pledge to tell a responsible adult if they hear about anything that could possibly cause another person harm or danger, according to The Dominion Post. Advertisement Advertisement The initiative hopes to prevent another tragedy like Skylars, where her killers reportedly plotted and spoke about her murder for a year. Thats not narcing, thats saving lives, Dave told the newspaper. Another way Skylars parents have kept the memory of their daughter alive is by creating a scholarship fund in her name. The money raised for the fund helps assist with tuition expenses for a West Virginia University law student, as Skylar had ambitions of becoming a lawyer one day. Her dream was to go to law school. Thats what she was going to do ... If you ever argued with her, youd see why. She was great, Dave told Metro News in June 2015. Dave and Mary also transformed the site in rural Pennsylvania where Skylars body was found into a memorial for their 16-year-old daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Something horrible happened here," Dave shared on 20/20. But I wanted to take the horrible thing that happened here and try to turn it into something good a place that people can come and remember Skylar and remember the good little girl that she was, and not the little beast that they treated her like." Are Dave and Mary Neese still married? Yes, Dave and Mary appear to still be married, despite the devastating loss of their only child Skylar. The couple participated in the Hulu documentary Friends Like These, recounting the events of their daughters death and how it has affected them in the years since. Theyve also continued to appear as a united front in interviews, as well as at parole hearings for one of their daughters killers, Rachel, per WBOY. Where are Skylar Neeses parents, Dave and Mary Neese, today? A memorial for 16-year-old Skylar Neese in West Virginia. Credit: AP Photo/Vicki Smith, pool Dave and Mary continue to work tirelessly toward preserving Skylars memory and ensuring that her killers remain behind bars. The pair travel to prisons, churches and schools to give presentations on Skylars story. In their talks, Dave and Mary urge parents and peers to be aware of any red flags in a teens life and highlight how violent crimes leave a lasting effect on more than just the victim. In prisons, I get a great response. I try to go a little bit different. I try to show them what the ripple effects of their crimes are because when you do something to somebody, it doesnt just affect that person, Dave told WBOY in May 2023. They had family. You had family, and in Skylars case, the whole world has been affected, you know? When a person commits a crime against another person, the ripple effects behind that can go forever. Dave and Mary also have spoken out at both of Rachels parole hearings to date, urging the parole board to keep her behind bars. Rachel was denied parole twice, in May 2023 and July 2024. She will be eligible again in June 2026, per WBOY. Shelia, meanwhile, is not eligible for parole until May 2028, according to prison records. There comes a time in your life when you have to decide what you want to do, and for the rest of my life, I decided to make sure the two that did this dont get out of prison, because dangerous animals belong in cages, Dave told 5 News. Read the original article on People By Jarrett Renshaw and Nandita Bose March 6 (Reuters) - The White House is asking federal agencies to step up efforts to address soaring energy prices from the Iran conflict, signaling a concern that steps taken so far may not be enough, according to two people familiar with the matter. Senior officials have asked the departments of Energy, Transportation and Treasury and the Environmental Protection Agency to provide more policy options, with an emphasis on measures that President Donald Trump could implement without congressional approval, one of the sources told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement The requests indicate that the White House is preparing for the possibility that bolder action may be needed if oil and gas prices continue to climb. Political analysts say higher gasoline prices could hurt Trump and his Republican Party in November's midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. Obviously the White House is coordinating with the interagency on this important issue, if we were not, it would be a problem. President Trump and his entire energy team have had a strong game plan to keep oil prices stable well before Operation Epic Fury began, and they will continue to review all credible options and execute on them when appropriate," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement. U.S. and global crude oil futures climbed above $90 a barrel on Friday, with U.S. prices rising more than 12% as Middle Eastern supply remained constrained by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the expanding U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Gasoline prices in the U.S. have surged in recent weeks, reaching levels not seen since late 2024. The national average for regular unleaded has climbed above $3.30 per gallon, while diesel has risen to $4.26 per gallon. Advertisement Advertisement The White House has taken a cautious approach to intervening in energy markets, wary that an overly aggressive strategy could backfire. Officials say any broad measures must be carefully calibrated, noting that heavy-handed steps that fail to lower gasoline or crude prices could unsettle markets, erode confidence and trigger political backlash. Analysts, meanwhile, have expressed skepticism about how much the White House can do to rein in prices. Officials have discussed a wide array of options, including a federal gasoline tax holiday and looser environmental regulations around summer gasoline that will allow higher blends of ethanol, Reuters previously reported. The Treasury Department is weighing a plan that involves using the oil futures market, Reuters reported, but there is no immediate plan to announce the move. Trump ordered on Tuesday that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation provide insurance against losses stemming from political instability or conflict for maritime trade in the Gulf. The move came after oil and liquefied natural gas tanker transit ground to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of the world's daily oil supply. Advertisement Advertisement Markets met the move with some skepticism. Analysts question whether financial guarantees alone can offset the operational and security risks posed by the growing tensions in the region. On Friday, the administration announced it would provide reinsurance for losses up to $20 billion in the Gulf region to bolster confidence for oil and gas shippers during the war with Iran. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Nandita Bose; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Lisa Shumaker) Recent media reports suggesting the U.S. and Israel are considering support for Kurdish militant groups operating along Irans western frontier carry a disturbing echo for those of us who have spent years reporting from and on the region. In 1991, at the end of the Persian Gulf War, President George H. W. Bush called on Iraqis to rise up against the regime of Saddam Hussein. Kurds in the north and Shiites in the south heard the message. They believed the worlds most powerful military had signaled support for them. They rebelled. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, Saddams forces regrouped, and Iraqi helicopter gunships and armored units crushed the American-induced uprising. Tens of thousands were killed. Hundreds of thousands of civilians fled toward the mountains and flooded across borders in scenes that shocked the world. Some Western geopolitical gambles in the Middle East have been calculated risks. Others were more like reckless experiments that left entire societies shattered. Too often, actions to empower ethnic or sectarian movements to weaken a hostile government fail to consider the broader chaos that is also unleashed. There is a moral weight to encouraging rebellion with life-and-death risks, a responsibility that policymakers often underestimate. Thats the backdrop to the idea of arming the Kurds, which media reports suggest could be an effort to further destabilize or topple the regime in Tehran. Now imagine, amid our conflicting rationales for military action and evolving objectives, if an uprising were attempted inside Iran today. There is a moral weight to encouraging rebellion with life-and-death risks, a responsibility that policymakers often underestimate. Irans Kurdish population several million people concentrated largely in the countrys northwest has long faced political and economic marginalization under the Islamic Republic. For decades, Kurdish militant groups operating along with the rugged border with Iraq have periodically clashed with Iranian security forces. Advertisement Advertisement In the context of the current military action, those internal tensions could swiftly escalate. Tehran has already signaled it would respond forcefully to any externally supported insurgency. Irans foreign minister said in an interview Thursday that we are ready for them, warning that Iran would confront armed Kurdish groups should they attempt to rise up. That should not be dismissed as rhetoric. Irans security establishment has deployed overwhelming force against internal threats over the years. Iran has killed thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets in recent months over dire political and economic conditions. Any Kurdish efforts to destabilize Iran would almost certainly provoke a swift and violent crackdown. But the consequences would not be limited to Iran. One country that would be watching a Kurdish insurgency with alarm: Turkey. For decades, Turkish officials have fought Kurdish militant movements they believe threaten the countrys territorial integrity. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched numerous military operations against Kurdish forces in neighboring Syria, even when those groups were receiving U.S. support in Washingtons fight against the Islamic State group and the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Advertisement Advertisement Turkey a NATO ally views armed Kurdish movements as terrorists, whether they are in Iran, Syria, Iraq or inside Turkeys own borders. If Kurdish fighters inside Iran suddenly gained foreign backing, Turkish leaders might interpret that as an expansion of Kurdish militancy across the region. That perception alone could trigger new military confrontations beyond Irans borders. But the more troubling question is whether instability in Iran has become part of the strategic calculation. In the recent history of the Middle East, the collapse of central authority in countries from Libya to Yemen to Syria did not lead to stability or democracy. Instead, those states fragmented into battlegrounds for militias, foreign powers and proxy wars. Millions of people have paid the price. The implication is stark: What happens to Iran in the long run may not be Americas or Israels primary concern. Advertisement Advertisement After all, President Donald Trump said Friday that he doesnt care if Iran doesnt become democratic. He would be open to Iran retaining a religious leader, Trump said, so long as he can choose that person. Such assertions dispel any notion that the U.S. is seeking to establish a secular, democratic Iran that represents all of its citizens. The implication is stark: What happens to Iran in the long run may not be America or Israels primary concern. Equally important in the strategic calculus is that Iran is not a small state whose collapse would remain contained. It is a country of more than 90 million people, with deep ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. If its central government were to fracture whether along Kurdish, Arab or Baloch lines with no clear alternative, the consequences would ripple across the region. Energy markets would be shaken; refugees would surge into neighboring countries, which in turn could be drawn into new proxy conflicts. The Middle East would inherit yet another fractured state. Twenty-five years ago, after Saddam crushed the Kurdish uprising, the U.S. intervened with humanitarian aid and helped establish a no-fly zone that began to fracture Iraq along ethnic lines while establishing an autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. For many Kurds, the enduring memory is not the later protection but the initial U.S. abandonment. Meanwhile, Saddam remained in power for 10 more years, terrorizing his people. Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the architects of Western strategies understand the risks. Perhaps what some policymakers ultimately seek is not a stable, democratic Iran but a broken one. Fomenting an insurgency is one thing. Living with the disastrous consequences is something else entirely. The post Why arming Kurdish militants against Iran would be playing with fire appeared first on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Thursday night, Make-A-Wish Alabama hosted a dinner and silent auction dedicated to transforming the lives of Alabama children battling critical illnesses. Over 400 children in Alabama are diagnosed with critical illnesses each year. Since 2012, Make-A-Wish Alabama has been able to grant nearly 200 wishes a year. The 2026 Wish Night Gala, hosted Thursday night at The Club, aimed to help Make-A-Wish continue this mission. All proceeds from the event will support wishes for over 180 Alabama children. Advertisement Advertisement We now know because we have research that shows 95% of the children that we serve, their emotional well-being has improved, they respond better to their medical treatments, and they have less stays in the hospital, said Tracy Smith, President of Make-A-Wish Alabama. So, a lot of times people think, oh, well, wishes a nice thing. But we say its a nice thing, but its also a necessary thing. More information on Make-A-Wish Alabama can be found 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 CBS 42. Kathmandu [Nepal], March 7 (ANI) In 2022, a structural engineer with a signature pair of black rectangular sunglasses and a history in the underground rap scene did the unthinkable. Balendra "Balen" Shah dismantled the established political machinery of Nepal to become the Mayor of Kathmandu. Running as an independent under the symbol of a walking stick, Balen secured 61,767 votes, comfortably outstripping veterans Sirjana Singh of Nepali Congress, who fell back with 38,341 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit, also the former Mayor of the capital, got 38,117 votes. Now, just four years later, the 35-year-old is no longer just a local phenomenon; he is poised to become one of the youngest Prime Ministers in the nation's history. His success was never accidental. While he rose to fame in 2013 through the rap battle league Raw Barz, he spent two and a half years quietly laying the groundwork for his mayoral run. His academic pedigree, a degree in engineering from Himalayan White House College and a Master's in structural engineering from India, gave him the technical credibility that resonated with a disillusioned electorate. His political strategy has been equally deliberate. Following the tragic death of 77 people during the September protests and the subsequent resignation of KP Sharma Oli, Balen Shah was the first choice for Gen-Z activists to lead an interim government. He declined the interim role, supporting former Chief Justice Sushila Karki instead. It was a masterstroke of foresight; he traded a six-month temporary stint for a shot at a full five-year term as Prime Minister. On January 18, 2026, Balen formally joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), launching his campaign from Janakpur the very next day. In a move many labelled "foolish," Balen chose to contest the election from Jhapa-05, the long-standing stronghold of political heavyweight KP Sharma Oli. Located 300 km from the capital, this constituency is now the epicentre of a political earthquake. Current projections suggest Balen's charisma is successfully eroding Oli's decades-long dominance. Balen's relationship with the public is defined by a massive digital footprint and a volatile temperament. With over 3.5 million followers on Facebook, he bypasses traditional press conferences to speak directly to the masses. However, his "unfiltered" persona has courted significant controversy. In a now-deleted November post, he lashed out at geopolitical giants (USA, India, China) and every major Nepali political party, including the RSP, which he would join just two months later. Despite his aggressive rhetoric, including past threats to "burn down" the administrative hub of Singhadurbar, his supporters see him as the only "authentic" alternative to a stagnant status quo. Born in 1990, Balen is the youngest of four siblings. His late father, Ram Narayan Shah, was an Ayurvedic practitioner who passed away just before Balen Shah's formal entry into mainstream politics. Even as he eyes the premiership, Balen continues to pursue a PhD in traditional infrastructure at Kathmandu University, blending the roles of an academic, a technical expert, and a populist firebrand. Nepal stands at a crossroads. Whether Balen Shah is a visionary reformer or a volatile disruptor remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the era of the "Old Guard" is under siege. (ANI) NEED TO KNOW Makena Simonsen, a high school graduate in Washington, claims she graduated with a 3.87 GPA despite finishing her senior year at a first-grade reading level Simonsen and her family have filed a lawsuit against the Edmonds School District for "educational malpractice" and "benevolent discrimination" In the complaint, her attorneys argue that the school district denied her an "opportunity to graduate with a meaningful diploma," leaving her unprepared for "postsecondary education, gainful employment, or citizenship" A high school graduate in Washington is suing her former school district, claiming it awarded her a "meaningless" diploma. Makena Simonsen, who attended Lynwood High School in Bothell, recalled celebrating a graduation day full of promise. "I was happy. I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I finally made it!' " she told local outlet KING 5 News. Advertisement Advertisement However, her sense of excitement quickly faded, she said. Simonsen, who has an intellectual disability and has been enrolled in special education programs since elementary school, graduated in June 2022 with a 3.87 GPA despite ending her senior year reading at a first-grade level. She had planned to enroll in the Edmonds School District's free vocational program, which helps transition special needs students into independent life but discovered she was ineligible because she received a regular high school diploma. Instead, Simonsen had to enroll in Bellevue College's Occupational and Life Skills program at a cost of more than $40,000 annually, which includes her tuition, room and board and living expenses. Asked if she felt prepared for her post-graduation life, the 22-year-old told KING 5, "Not at all. I should have earned that diploma, not just something that really got me nowhere." Simonsen and her family have since filed a lawsuit against the Edmonds School District in Snohomish County Superior Court, alleging "educational malpractice" and "benevolent discrimination." Advertisement Advertisement In the complaint, obtained by PEOPLE, her attorneys state that Simonsen "was unable to read, write, or do math beyond an elementary level" at the time of her graduation from Lynwood High School in 2022. "The Districts failure to provide Ms. Simonsen with the opportunity to access a basic education that was fully aligned with state and district standards, and its decision to issue a diploma to her on that basis, thus cutting off any transitional supports, has caused significant harm to Ms. Simonsen," her attorneys argue in the complaint. 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. They claim that the district "pushed" Simonsen through the system and gave her "perfect grades along the way," despite her having "little to no comprehension of the material." Advertisement Advertisement She got As or A-minuses in math classes but cant tell how many quarters, nickels, or dimes are in a dollar, the complaint states. "Put simply, Ms. Simonsen was denied an opportunity to graduate with a meaningful diploma. Her education did not prepare her for postsecondary education, gainful employment, or citizenship," her lawyers argue in the complaint. In a statement to PEOPLE, Simonsen's attorney, Lara Hruska of Seattle's Cedar Law, said, "It's frustrating that receiving this high school diploma actually closed doors for Makena instead of opening them. The District should have postponed her diploma conferral so that she was able to access her transition services through special education to prepare for life in the real world." "We are seeing this as a statewide problem in Washington: students with disabilities have their IEP [Individualized Education Program] services prematurely cut off when the District confers a regular high school diploma that simply doesn't mean what it's supposed to," Hruska continued. "This was a disservice to Makena but also to all the Edmonds students who properly graduated, since this really undermines the value of that diploma." Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE reached out to the Edmonds School District for comment. In a court filing obtained by PEOPLE, the school district denied that it failed to provide Simonsen the basic education she was entitled to. The district said her general education classes were aligned with state standards and argued that the case should be dismissed. Simonsen is currently in her third year at Bellevue College and faces up to $160,000 in student debt upon graduation, per KING 5. She told the outlet that she is "actually earning" her own grades now and has a positive outlook on her future. "I feel much better about my future now than I did when I was in high school," she said. "I'm passionate about it." Read the original article on People A man is now in custody after an hours-long standoff near Southwest Freeway was connected to a shooting in the Heights overnight that left one woman dead, according to Houston police. The Houston Police Department said the shooting happened around midnight on 20th Street near Lawrence Street. Lt. Khan with HPD said the woman parked her vehicle, heading to a friend's home, and may have been robbed before the shooting. Houston police later told ABC13 that it appears that the suspect stole the woman's vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived, they said they found the woman lying on the sidewalk after being shot. Officials said first responders took her to the hospital, where the victim was later pronounced dead. Later on Saturday morning, police said they were involved in a pursuit involving the victim's stolen vehicle that turned into a standoff along the Southwest Freeway feeder near Buffalo Speedway. Neighbors described hearing a crash before the standoff began. "The car that crashed. I came out and saw that the police were out there with their guns in their hand, and they started screaming 'He's in there, he's in there.'" one neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear for their safety, told ABC13. Advertisement Advertisement "My apartment was right next to them. Around 2 in the morning, I heard banging. 'This is the police, come out right away.' And then eventually they shut out all the lights, they had people in SWAT gear. Like I was terrified," another neighbor described. Homicide detectives later told ABC13 that they believe there was a pursuit leading up to the standoff. The standoff reportedly ended at about 7 a.m., with detectives confirming that the scene was connected to the deadly shooting in the Heights. Authorities added that they have a man in custody in connection with this incident. For news updates, follow Brianna Willis on Facebook, x and Instagram. A US Navy submarine sank an enemy ship for the first time since World War II in Operation Epic Fury. As naval warfare reemerges in combat with Iran, World War II museum ships are finding new relevance. Museum ships can provide rare glimpses into what similar modern ships and naval battles are like. For Brian Auer, the operations manager at Historic Ships in Baltimore, the video of a US Navy submarine sinking an Iranian warship this week looked strikingly familiar. "I saw the footage of that Iranian frigate getting torpedoed, and it looks like any picture I see from World War II of a similar attack happening," he told Business Insider of the video released by the Department of Defense on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Before this week's attack in the Indian Ocean, the last confirmed US Navy submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat was the USS Torsk, a World War II submarine that sank two Japanese vessels in 1945 before becoming part of the museum that Auer manages. Since 1945, large-scale battles between warships have been rare. As naval warfare reemerges as a key strategy in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, museum ships that saw combat in World War II are finding new relevance, showing not just how naval war was fought, but how it might look today. Suddenly, the floating museums feel a lot less like history. "Those of us who work on museum ships don't like war," Ryan Szimanski, the curator at Battleship New Jersey in Camden, New Jersey, told Business Insider. "In many cases, we work here to try and teach people about how awful wars were. "However, the fact that the United States has fought a naval action one of the first ones since World War II is making museum ships like us relevant and part of the public discussion in a way that we haven't been." Museum ships offer immersive experiences Battleship New Jersey in Camden, New Jersey. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider There are around 75 World War II-era museum ships open to the public across the US. These decommissioned battleships, submarines, destroyers, aircraft carriers, and other vessels offer visitors the chance to climb aboard and explore the interiors themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Guided tours, often led by Navy veterans with firsthand experience serving on similar vessels, take visitors through combat areas, such as torpedo rooms, gun turrets, and command centers. Battleship New Jersey, for example, offers a rare look into Tomahawk cruise missiles as the first surface warship to carry them in 1982. The long-range missiles have also been used to sink Iranian ships during Operation Epic Fury. The combat engagement center on board the USS New Jersey features a Tomahawk Weapons System. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider "Because those are contemporary systems, to be able to see a Tomahawk missile, to be able to see Tomahawk missile launchers in a museum there's only a handful of museum ships like us that you could come and see to get that experience," Szimanski said. Some ships even offer sleepover experiences where guests can eat meals in the crew's mess and spend the night in sailors' bunks. Advertisement Advertisement "It is highly unlikely that the average person will get the chance to visit an active-duty Navy ship," Szimanski said. "So to experience the conditions, to see what it's like to serve on a warship, particularly one that has seen combat, visiting a museum ship is your best chance." 'Remarkably similar' to modern Navy ships The USS Torsk submarine in Baltimore. Vacclav/Shutterstock While some technologies and configurations found in World War II submarines may be outdated, many aspects of how they operate remain the same. "It's important to remember that the Navy, the military, all of us, operate in a world governed by laws of physics, and so there are some things that are just never going to change in how submarines work," Auer said. "If you walk through a modern Ohio-class, ballistic missile submarine, you're going to find things that are exactly the same, or done exactly the same way, on the USS Torsk. And what we can really show is where those things were first done, and why they were done that way, and why they are still done that way." Modern submarines still appear "remarkably similar" to their museum counterparts, Szimanski said. The layout of submarines hasn't changed all that much since World War II. They largely still have the same spaces to eat, sleep, and fire torpedoes. Advertisement Advertisement Auer says that when he leads tours of the USS Torsk for active-duty sailors, he often gets the response, "Huh, we're still doing it this way." The forward torpedo room inside the USS Torsk. Pixel Doc/Shutterstock The biggest differences can be found in the ships' capabilities, Hugh McKeever, the shipboard education manager at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, told Business Insider. Diesel-powered submarines like the USS Becuna, which sank 3,888 tons of shipping in World War II before arriving at the Independence Seaport Museum, had to spend most of their time on the surface with only about 12 hours' worth of oxygen at a time. Today's nuclear-powered submarines operate with an unlimited fuel supply and can stay submerged for upward of six months. "As far as going out to sea, their ability is pretty much limited only by food," McKeever said. Advertisement Advertisement Overall, World War II-era submarines are less antiquated than one might assume. Some even still work. The USS Torsk's sister ship, the USS Cutlass, was commissioned in 1945, sold to Taiwan in 1973, and remains operational as part of the Republic of China Navy. "These boats, to us, are so outdated that they're museums, but for the rest of the world, they're relatively advanced," Auer said. "They're still very capable of doing the function they were originally designed for. So, were they implemented by some foreign threat, they would be a threat." Floating museums find new relevance The USS Becuna, a World War II submarine, is part of the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider For ship museum curators, the resurgence of naval battles in the US war with Iran underscores the contemporary relevance of World War II museum ships and the battle stars they earned. McKeever, for one, anticipates getting more questions about torpedoes as the summer tourist season ramps up. "For the US as a maritime power, the economic prosperity of the country is tied to the sea and the Navy," McKeever said. "Our museum vessels represent that constant need for change and growth as a country." Advertisement Advertisement After all, as Szimanski noted, it was just days ago that no active US Navy ships had ever sunk an enemy warship the only Navy ships that had fought a naval battle were all museum ships. Despite some rust and peeling paint, it seems they still have a lot to teach us. Read the original article on Business Insider CHEYENNE The Wyoming Legislatures K-12 public school funding recalibration bill is headed to the governor. On Thursday, the Senate voted 31-0 to unanimously concur with the Houses position on Senate File 81, K-12 public school finance-2. The bill sets forth a new funding model necessary to provide money for the states 48 school districts, a constitutionally mandated process the Legislature is required to undertake every five years. However, this is the first time since 2010 that the Legislature has agreed on a recalibration bill, even though efforts to re-evaluate the model have taken place during that time. Together, the House and Senate considered 30 amendments to the bill this session. Advertisement Advertisement There were 18 proposed amendments down in the House. A lot of different things could have changed, but at the end of the day, not a lot really did change, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, who sat on the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration, told his colleagues Thursday as he urged them to vote for concurrence on the bill. Its actually in very good shape, Rothfuss said, explaining that the House made technical corrections to the bill, as well as removed a 233% cap on superintendents salaries. One amendment, he said, took out a regional cost adjustment calculation for Teton County teacher salaries, but that was put back in in the next amendment ... so those two canceled each other, Rothfuss said. Rothfuss said he had expected to go to a joint conference committee with the House over the bill, but there was no reason to, as it returned to the Senate much like it left. Sen. Tim Salazar, R-Riverton, said the bill represents a bipartisan effort to fully fund Wyoming schools for the first time in 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement I compliment not only the Senate, but also those folks on the other end of the building for their efforts, Salazar said. This concurrence is not by accident. Your recalibration committee worked hard. I also want to thank staff for their efforts. Vocal opponents said early in the 68th Wyoming Legislatures budget session that the bill would have reduced teacher numbers while increasing class sizes as it came out of the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration. As it heads to Gov. Mark Gordons desk, the bill includes an additional $250 million beyond where it started this session, and class-size numbers that are closer to existing levels. Without the recalibration bill, current law would have generated $1.7 billion in educational spending for the biennium. If signed into law, SF 81 includes an estimated $1.9 billion in funding. Support Local News Reporting in the Yakima Valley To support timely fact-based Yakima Herald-Republic reporting like the piece above, you can use one of the convenient options below. Donations through this system are tax deductible. Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has attacked the United States alleging that the attack that sank IRIS Dena was a violation of international law and a war crime. Speaking at a stakeout at the UN Headquarters Iravani said, "United States committed a dangerous act of aggression at sea, nearly 2,000 miles from Iran's shore. The Iranian frigate Dena which was on the goodwill visit and upon invitation was with the Indian Navy and carrying around 130 sailors was attacked in international waters. Nearly 100 Iranian sailors were martyred. The US committed a war crime. This heinous and unlawful attack constitute a grave violation of the law and the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation." Iravani further called on the UN Security Council to intervene "firmly, clearly, and without delay" to halt what he described as a joint military campaign by the United States and Israel against his nation. "We reiterate our call on the Security Council and Secretary General to condemn the aggression, war crimes, and crime against humanity that are being committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against our people. To force the aggressor to put an immediate end to all crimes and military attack against Iran and against civilian and civilian infrastructure. To ensure accountability for these grave violation of international humanitarian law and war crimes," he said. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister, Syed Abbas Araghchi, came down heavily on the United States on Saturday, condemning American strikes which targeted children and the innocent. He said that Iran's response would inevitably be directed at American bases and institutions. In a post on X, Araghchi accused the US of launching attacks from the "lands of our Arab friends" to target children and the innocent in Iran. "Iran and the Arab brothers have lived side by side for centuries in a spirit of affection, friendship, and mutual respect. The American aggressors launch from the lands of our Arab friends to target children and the innocent. As for Iran's response, it will inevitably be directed at the bases of the United States and its institutions," Araghchi said. His remarks come amid the backdrop of international outrage after strikes in Iran hit Minab Girls' Primary School in the country's Hormozgan province, killing over 160 and injuring another 100. A recent report by CNN said that analysis has suggested the US was likely responsible for the deadly strike on the elementary school. (ANI) US President Donald Trump has confirmed his presence at the dignified transfer ceremony for six US soldiers who lost their lives in Kuwait. The service members were killed during retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Gulf, following recent joint US-Israeli military operations. In a statement released late Friday on Truth Social, the US President expressed his commitment to honouring the fallen troops. "I will be going to Dover Air Force Base tomorrow, with the First Lady and Members of my Cabinet, to pay our Highest Respect to our Great Warriors, who are returning home for the last time," Trump wrote. He concluded his tribute by stating, "GOD BLESS THEM ALL!" https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116185324473510188 The White House had previously outlined the arrangements for the solemn event, as press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that the service members would receive a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and that the president would attend. This ceremony serves as a poignant moment amidst the rapidly escalating conflict in West Asia, as the nation prepares to receive its fallen warriors. In preparation for the transfer, the US Army has officially identified the six service members killed during the sudden strike on Shuaiba Port in Kuwait, according to a report by The Hill. The fallen soldiers include Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45; Chief Warrant Officer Three Robert M. Marzan, 54; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor; Capt. Cody Khork; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens; and Sgt. Declan Coady. Multiple outlets reported that the personnel were positioned within a makeshift office space when the attack occurred. There was reportedly no apparent warning before Tehran attacked them, and the circumstances surrounding the strike are currently under investigation. Providing further context on the environment of the strike, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, described the site on the social platform X as a "secure facility fortified with 6-foot walls," highlighting the defensive measures that were in place at the time of the incident. Amidst the fallout of the tragedy, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday criticised the media's portrayal of the deaths. He claimed that various organisations were attempting to make Trump "look bad" and suggested that the true extent of Iran's weapons capabilities is "what the fake news misses." "We've taken control of Iran's airspace and waterways without boots on the ground," Hegseth asserted. "We control their fate. 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." (ANI) Dubai authorities have confirmed a minor incident linked to regional security developments, emphasising that the situation remains under full control. In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) stated, "Dubai authorities have confirmed that a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception has been successfully contained. No injuries have been reported. Authorities have also denied reports circulating on social media regarding any incidents at Dubai International Airport." https://x.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/2030126812509147588?s=20 This containment in the UAE follows a broader pattern of regional volatility, as Saudi Arabian air defences successfully neutralised a fresh wave of aerial assaults targeting the strategic Shaybah oil field early Saturday, according to reports from Arab News citing the Ministry of Defence. In a series of updates on X, ministry spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki confirmed that 16 drones, launched in four separate waves, were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter. These unmanned aircraft were reportedly tracking toward the vital energy facility before being downed. In additional statements, Al-Maliki confirmed the "interception and destruction" of a ballistic missile and a cruise missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj. Arab News noted that another drone was downed east of Riyadh, marking the third consecutive day of attempted strikes on Al-Kharj, a major industrial hub located 80 kilometres from the capital. The attempt on the Shaybah field is the first since February 28, following the onset of a massive US-Israeli air campaign against Iran. The escalation has prompted a series of retaliatory strikes from Tehran against various Gulf targets, including critical industrial and oil infrastructure. Situated deep within the Rub'' al-Khali, or the Empty Quarter, Shaybah is considered one of the Kingdom''s "super-giant" fields. It serves as a lynchpin for Saudi Arabia''s gas strategy, utilising a high-tech recovery plant to supply natural gas liquids (NGLs) to the petrochemical industry. The surge in regional aggression has seen a dramatic rise in aerial threats across the Gulf. Arab News highlighted that within the last 24 hours, the UAE successfully intercepted over 125 drones and six ballistic missiles. On Friday alone, Saudi defences thwarted five missiles headed for Prince Sultan Air Base and multiple drones across Riyadh and Al-Kharj. These persistent attacks come despite heavy condemnation from international bodies, including the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. During an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Riyadh on March 1, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) affirmed the collective right of member states to defend their territories against "treacherous Iranian aggression." Following a Cabinet session led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 3, Saudi Arabia officially declared it reserves the "full right" to respond. Arab News reported that the Cabinet emphasised the Kingdom will implement all necessary measures to safeguard its territory, citizens, and residents from ongoing hostilities. (ANI) Vincent Yi-hsiang Chao, the Deputy Secretary-General at the National Security Council in Taiwan, has warned of the far-reaching economic and security implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict, stressing the need for regional stability. Speaking to ANI, Chao highlighted that the tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran are already being felt globally. "There are going to be implications and repercussions for Taiwan, whether we're talking about energy, the economy or potentially financial markets as well, and already we are seeing some signs of that," he stated. Amid these developments, he explained that Taiwan remains focused on its own regional security priorities while closely monitoring the crisis in West Asia. "We are going to see what is happening in the Middle East through the prism of our immediate interests, which is peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait. And we do hope that this conflict in the Middle East is finished as soon as possible so that we can continue to focus on deterring conflict across the Taiwan Strait in the Indo-Pacific region," he added. In this context, Chao emphasised that Taiwan is maintaining robust diplomatic coordination to navigate the evolving situation. "We will continue to be in close contact with the United States and close partners and allies in the region," he noted. Addressing the impact of the war on global supply chains, he pointed out that Taiwan has been proactive in reducing its reliance on volatile regions. "Fortunately, the diversification process has already started for a couple of years now, and we are importing a lot more from the United States. We're working with Southeast Asia as well," he said. However, he acknowledged the persistent risks for energy-dependent nations. "We can't be over-leveraged in any part of the world, particularly one as volatile as the Middle East. And so we have been taking a lot of steps to rectify that and to manage the trade diversification components. Every country that relies on Middle Eastern gas and Middle Eastern oil is still going to be impacted to a large degree," Chao cautioned. (ANI) Calling India one of the few countries capable of engaging with all sides in global conflicts, Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Saturday said New Delhi's pragmatic foreign policy places it in a unique diplomatic position amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Speaking to ANI in Mumbai following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Stubb said the two leaders held extensive discussions on global conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions involving Iran. "It's an honour and privilege to spend three hours in the presence of the Prime Minister of India. We had a very good and engaging, broad-ranging conversation about conflicts around the world, relations with China, the United States, Russia and Europe, and of course bilateral relations," Stubb said. He noted that modern conflicts have evolved beyond localised wars into broader regional crises. "Conflicts after the Cold War used to be quite local. Now they have become regional, whether it's Russia-Ukraine or now Iran, with missiles flying to 12-13 countries. The situation is on the knife edge," he said, calling for de-escalation in the region. Stubb added that while countries may try to stay out of conflicts, global repercussions are unavoidable. "There's always an impact, whether it's oil prices, trade or maritime routes," he said, adding that the current situation "is not looking good." The Finnish President emphasised that India's balanced foreign policy allows it to maintain ties with multiple sides in global conflicts. "India is one of those rare countries that can pretty much speak with everyone. It has a pragmatic and realistic foreign policy and doesn't have deep alliances, which makes it quite open," he said. Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Stubb said Russia's invasion has ultimately backfired strategically. "Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has been a strategic failure. It wanted to make Ukraine Russian, but Ukraine became European. It wanted to prevent NATO enlargement but ended up with Finland and Sweden joining. It also wanted to demilitarise Europe, but defence spending is now rising," he said. He added that India's relationships with Russia, Ukraine and the United States place it in a strong position to remain diplomatically engaged. Speaking on tensions involving Iran, Stubb said recent developments have heightened risks in the region. "Iran made a strategic mistake with the counterattacks. It's not attacking only American or Israeli bases but also civilian infrastructure in the Gulf, which is dangerous," he said. Commenting on the role of US President Donald Trump in global conflicts, Stubb said fears that Trump's approach would be isolationist have not materialised. "President Trump is very engaged in foreign policy. Many feared his policy would be isolationist, but it has not been, whether in Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza or Iran," he said, while expressing hope that tensions in West Asia would eventually de-escalate. Looking ahead, Stubb expressed strong optimism about India's role in shaping the global order. "The future is Indian. I don't say this just because I'm in India. Demography, economy and history speak in your favour," he said. Stubb also reiterated his support for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council, arguing that global institutions must reflect contemporary geopolitical realities rather than those of 1945. "If we want to save multilateralism, we have to give power and a seat at the table to the countries that matter today," he said. Addressing Finland's evolving security policy, Stubb said the country's decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was driven by security considerations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He clarified that legislative changes under discussion are aimed at aligning Finland with NATO's deterrence framework. "We are upgrading legislation from the 1980s. Finland is not going to become a nuclear power, nor will we host or transport nuclear weapons during peacetime," he said. Instead, Finland seeks to participate in NATO's nuclear planning structure, which is part of the alliance's broader deterrence strategy. "Our decision is about protecting ourselves and being part of NATO's deterrence," Stubb added. (ANI) Finnish President Alexander Stubb has asserted that the global trajectory is shifting significantly towards New Delhi, declaring that "the future is Indian" due to the country's demographic and economic strength. Speaking during an interview with ANI, the President offered a bold prediction for the coming decade, stating, "First of all, I think the future is Indian. And I don't say this only because I'm in India, and I'm not trying to be openly diplomatic. I think demography, economy and history speak in your favour." The President described his high-level engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "wonderful", following a three-hour meeting that underscored the deepening ties between Finland and India during his ongoing state visit. "It has been wonderful. I felt very warmly welcomed. I spent three hours with PM Modi and then spoke at the Raisina Dialogue and had meetings with political leaders," he noted. Reflecting on the country's rapid transformation since his previous trip, he remarked, "Last time I was here was in 2013. Now, just seeing the development, the infrastructure, the roads and the buildings, it is always nice to be back in India." Addressing the strategic importance of bilateral agreements, the President highlighted the mutual benefits of newly signed protocols. "I think these MoUs will help us have better exchanges when it comes to labour mobility. I think it is going to be a two-way street," he said. During his visit to Mumbai, President Stubb also paid a sombre tribute to the victims of the 26/11 attacks at the Taj Palace Hotel. "Terrorism is always a menace everywhere. The attacks on 26 November 2008 were horrific. It was my great honour to pay respects to the victims," he stated. Discussing India's role in a shifting global landscape, he explained that the current global transition necessitates a move away from outdated power structures. "A world order changes ever so often. And I think we're now seeing a transition of the world order. I would prefer it to be multilateral in other national institutions, rules and norms, not multipolar, which for me is often about pure interests, deals and transactions. Reality is probably going to be somewhere in between," he added. The Finnish President urged Western nations to recognise India's leadership. "I am happy that the largest democracy in the world, India, is taking the lead. And my argument to my Western friends is that if we want to save multilateralism, we're going to have to give agency, in other words power, a seat around the table to the countries that matter today," he said. He further argued that international bodies must reflect the current era rather than the post-war period of 1945. "We don't live in a world of 1945, so the institutions should not reflect that either. They should reflect the world of 2026. That's why I have called, for instance, for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for India," he stated. Drawing from his own scholarship on the subject, Stubb maintained that India's leadership is pivotal for the future of the international community. "I wrote a book about it called The Triangle of Power, where I really think that the Global South is going to decide where we're going to go, and India leads it." (ANI) EAM Jaishankar has underlined India's position on the events in the Indian Ocean. Recently an Iranian Vessel, IRIS Dena which was returning from India after participating in the Fleet review was sunk by the US while in international waters. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday, the Minister while highlighting India's position said that India had offered another Iranian vessel docking at Kochi. The IRIS Lavan, which took part in the International Fleet Review had earlier docked in Kochi after developing technical issues. India had been approached by Iran days before the IRIS Dena incident south of Sri Lanka. The ship was in the region as part of the Iranian naval presence for the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026, which took place from February 15 to February 25. India approved docking on March 1 and the ship's 183 crew members are currently staying at naval facilities in Kochi. The Minister described the sinking of IRIS Dena as unfortunate and said India took the humane approach when the Iranians send out a request for IRIS Lavan. "You had these ships, and we got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships, which presumably was closest to us--to our waters at that point of time, wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems. And so, my recollection is this was on the 28th, and on the 1st, we said, "Okay, you can come in." And it took them a few days to sail in, and then they docked in Kochi. And the ship is there. And obviously, the people on the ship, a lot of them were young cadets--that is my understanding. They have disembarked; they are, you know, in a nearby facility... When they set out and came here, the situation was totally different. They were coming in for a fleet review, and then they got, in a way, caught on the wrong side of events. So for us, when this ship wanted to come in, and that too in difficulties, I think it was the humane thing to do. And I think we were guided by that principle. And in a sense, of the other ships, one obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, and they took the decision which they did, and one unfortunately didn't make it. So I think where really approached it from the point of view of, in a sense, of humanity, of other than, you know, whatever the legal issues were. And I think we did the right thing," the Minister said. In the specific case of IRIS Dena, after a distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo the Indian Navy had promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Elaborating on the situation in the Indian Ocean, the Minister said that it was important to understand the realities of the region. "There are a lot of social media debates going on over this.... Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades...The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period," the Minister said. Jaishankar further highlighted that India has invested in the development of the region and with India's growth countries in the region stand to benefit. "Indian Ocean Region is an ecosystem...Indian Ocean, much more than other parts of the world, is in the process of recovery and rebuilding. Individual states are doing that, but the whole region as a whole, restoration of trade patterns, connectivity...This whole rebuilding process of the Indian Ocean needs to be recognised... A lot of this requires hard work. In the last decade, Indian diplomacy has invested a lot in this process," he said. "If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or identity, it has to be backed up with resources, work, commitments, practical projects... There are different dimensions of how you build the Indian Ocean... On why the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country - we are right in the middle of it... With our growth, other countries of the Indian Ocean stand to benefit. Those who work with us will get more benefits... The rise of India will be determined by India... It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others," he added. The Minister further called for attention to the safety of merchant ships currently operating in waters that maybe the scenario of a conflict. "Indians are a large segment of people who man merchant ships. Every time there is an attack on a vessel carrying goods, it is very likely that a part of the vessel is manned by Indians... We should give a lot of weight to this because we have had fatalities in the last few days... There has got to be adequate recognition in the country about the interest of our people, the merchant mariners and what we could be doing to safeguard them. Our approach to the crisis is driven by the fact that we have 9-10 million people living in the Gulf. Their well-being is a factor just as much as that of merchant shipping has to be... Countries have their own interests, their economic or energy concerns, and, naturally, our policies will take all of that into account. I felt the merchant marine part has not got the prominence," he said. (ANI) Iran''s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has condemned the recent military actions by the United States and Israel, framing the escalation as a fundamental clash of values rather than a mere territorial dispute. Speaking in the capital following reports of strikes against Iranian interests, the Ambassador characterised the current situation as a profound moral struggle. "What is happening today is not simply a political or military conflict. This strike is a continuation of the strike between truth and falsehood," Fathali stated. The envoy further expanded on this ideological divide, suggesting that the conflict represents two opposing worldviews. "On one side, there is human dignity, justice and the right of nations to live freely and independently. On the other side are oppression, injustice and domination." Connecting the specific military strikes to this broader theme of injustice, Fathali argued that the actions of the US and Israel have far-reaching implications for global sovereignty. "The brutal military aggression by the US and Israeli regime against Iran is a clear example of this injustice. This aggression is not just against Iran but also against the principles of internal law, human dignity and the rights of nations to determine their own future," the Ambassador asserted. Emphasising the resolve of the Iranian leadership and its citizens, Fathali said the nation remains undeterred by the military pressure. "We, the people of Iran, clearly declare that on this path we will either achieve victory or reach martyrdom. For us, both are honour and happiness." This defiance comes as US Central Command announced a major intensification of its military campaign, confirming that thousands of strikes have been conducted against targets inside Iran over the past week. In a statement released on X, the military command detailed the progress of the ongoing mission, designated as "Operation Epic Fury." "U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down." Parallel to this military surge, US President Donald Trump on Friday declared that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender." Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the President asserted that Tehran must capitulate before any diplomatic negotiations can proceed. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasised that the US and its allies, particularly Israel, would only consider an agreement with Iran after the country''s leadership completely yields and is replaced by "great & acceptable leader(s)". The President also articulated ambitions to help reconstruct Iran into a stronger nation following its capitulation, coining the phrase "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" in an echo of his familiar political slogan. "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that... we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction... IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE," his post read. These developments follow a week of extreme volatility after a joint US-Israel military strike on 28 February killed Iran''s Supreme Leader, 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, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets, while Israel has widened the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. Amidst the fallout, President Trump expressed his desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran''s next Supreme Leader. In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trump drew a comparison to his involvement in political developments in Venezuela, specifically criticising the possible succession of Mojtaba Khamenei, whom he described as "unacceptable" and a "lightweight." While reports suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric with close ties to the IRGC, is a frontrunner, the Iranian government has officially refuted these claims. Via the Consulate General in Mumbai, authorities stated that reports regarding potential candidates have no official source and are officially denied. However, Trump remains firm that Washington should not accept any new Iranian leader pursuing policies similar to those of the late Khamenei. The diplomatic and political posturing is unfolding against a backdrop of immediate violence, as airstrikes hit the Iranian capital in the early hours of Saturday. According to CNN, geolocated footage showed Tehran''s Mehrabad Airport on fire following the strikes, with large plumes of smoke rising from the primary aviation hub. Iran''s state broadcaster further noted that explosions were heard in the eastern and western parts of Tehran shortly after the Israeli military announced a new wave of attacks targeting regime infrastructure. In a rapid cycle of retaliation, Iran launched strikes at Tel Aviv, where a CNN team witnessed explosions in the sky as Israeli air defences intercepted the incoming fire. This exchange follows a week of intense military operations that have significantly heightened risks for civilians and infrastructure across the Middle East. (ANI) Human rights defenders and civil society representatives from across South Asia highlighted concerns over religious intolerance and the protection of minority communities during a discussion titled "Religious Freedom in South Asia," held on the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The event was organised by the Shivi Development Society and IPAC. Speaking at the event, Narender Kumar, Executive Director of Shivi Development Society, said the session provided a platform for activists from different countries to examine the varied challenges affecting religious freedom in the region. According to him, while some South Asian countries face difficulties in implementing laws meant to protect minority rights, others struggle with legal frameworks that contain discriminatory provisions. Kumar noted that participants shared experiences from countries including India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He added that the discussion focused on how civil society organisations and human rights defenders could learn from one another's experiences to improve advocacy and protection mechanisms for religious minorities. He also highlighted the encouraging level of participation from international networks and alliances such as the World Council of Churches and FORUM-ASIA. According to Kumar, despite the complexity of the issue, activists remain committed and motivated to continue working together to address challenges surrounding religious freedom. Rahman Khalilur Mamun, Executive President of the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh, spoke about the situation of minority communities in Bangladesh. Mamun said activists have raised concerns over incidents of communal violence, persecution and attacks on minority groups over the past several months. He urged international organisations and United Nations bodies to take note of these developments and recommend measures to ensure stronger protection for minority communities in Bangladesh. Human rights activist Chongso Joseph also addressed the gathering and emphasised that freedom of religion is a fundamental human right recognised under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He noted that individuals must have the right to practise, change or adopt a religion of their choice without fear of discrimination or violence. Joseph further stated that religious conflicts can intensify when states adopt a particular religion, often leaving minority groups vulnerable. He called for stronger international cooperation to address religious intolerance and ensure the protection of religious freedom globally. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on Saturday detected two sorties of Chinese aircraft, six naval vessels and an official ship around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Saturday. Both the sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "2 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2030086190968545577?s=20 Earlier on March 6, Taiwan detected the presence of seven Chinese naval vessels and two official ships operating around itself. In a post on X, it said, "7 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 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/2029723642914075127?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) Major Gulf carriers, including Emirates and Etihad, have resumed limited flight operations as of Saturday, following regional airspace closures. Services are gradually restoring, with some restricted to "relief corridors" for stranded passengers. Emirates Airlines, in a statement, said that it has resumed operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoon's flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating. Customers can check the flight schedule for upcoming flights, as well as book seats to travel: emirat.es/nowoperating. Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly, the statement said. "We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised," the statement said further. Qatar Airways said it would operate limited flights to Doha. Qatar Airways' scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. The airlines will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities, as per a statement by the airlines. A further update will be provided on 8 March by 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC). Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirming a safe operating corridor, Qatar Airways intends to operate the following flights on 8 March to Hamad International Airport from: London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD), Rome (FCO), Frankfurt (FRA) and Bangkok (BKK), the statement added. These flights are only for passengers whose final destination is Doha. To book, please visit the Qatar Airways website or App or a travel agent. These flights do not constitute a confirmation of the resumption of scheduled commercial operations, as per a statement by the airlines. Passengers are kindly asked not to arrive at their departure airport unless they hold a valid confirmed ticket for travel. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority during this period of disruption. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the current situation, which is beyond our control, and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding, the statement said. Oman Air also issued a statement saying that due to ongoing regional airspace closures, the following flights have been cancelled: Monday, 9 March through Wednesday, 11 March 2026: All flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS). Additional flights have been added to accommodate our guests, and we kindly advise checking omanair.com regularly for the latest schedule updates. Emirates resumed a reduced schedule to 82-83 destinations, aiming for 100% capacity soon. Etihad Airways restarted a restricted schedule from Abu Dhabi to Asia, Europe, and North America Qatar Airways started limited relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh to Europe, while Saudia extended cancellations to/from 8 cities, including Dubai and Doha. flydubai & Air Arabia also resumed limited operations. Airspace restrictions remain in Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq. Muscat is a key transit point for rerouted services. The flight disruptions continue amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has resulted in airspace closures and widespread impact on aviation operations across the region. (ANI) Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday condemned the US attack on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, stating it's a "blatant and desperate crime" with grave consequences. In a post on X, Araghchi emphasised that the US has set a dangerous precedent by targeting Iran's infrastructure. "The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted. Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran," Araghchi posted on X. https://x.com/araghchi/status/2030285674528616916?s=20 Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that Iran promised not to attack its neighbours anymore. In a post on Truth Social, he said, "Iran, which is being beaten to HELL, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attacks. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries." Trump added that Iran would no longer bully the Middle East. "They have said, "Thank you President Trump." I have said, "You're welcome!" Iran is no longer the "Bully of the Middle East," they are, instead, "THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST," and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse! Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP." Meanwhile, Trump welcomed fellow world leaders to the Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami and claimed that the US has been doing "amazing" against Iran. He said, "I rebuilt the military in my first administration, and now, we're using it. Unfortunately, we have to... We're doing very well in Iran. You see the result... They're bad people. Look at all of the killing they've done over the years--for 47 years. This had to be done." (ANI) Reports emerging from within Iran, particularly those cited by outlets such as Iran International, claimed that following the intense aerial campaign and the reported killing of senior military commanders and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, there is growing evidence of confusion and breakdown within the Iranian military's chain of command. Some officers in the Iranian armed forces have abandoned their barracks, leaving behind the soldiers under their command to remain on guard duty, several conscripts told Iranian opposition outlet Iran International, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post. The decimation of high-ranking political and military leadership has disrupted established command-and-control structures. The soldiers told Iran International that since the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, the Iranian military has been gripped by confusion, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post. Several soldiers stationed at a military base in Lorestan province told Iran International that they were uncertain about the command structure and were uneasy about the deteriorating security situation. A soldier told Iran International that many commanders, fearing strikes, had abandoned their posts, leaving conscripted soldiers behind without support. Some soldiers, also fearing American and Israeli strikes, have been spending nights in open areas outside of the base for fear of being hit in an airstrike, the soldier said, adding that leadership was not paying adequate attention to the needs of the regular troops, as per the report quoted by The Jerusalem Post. One soldier told the outlet that many commanders had, fearing strikes, abandoned their posts, leaving conscripted soldiers to fend for themselves, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. Amid these reports, US President Donald Trump, while delivering remarks to the Shield of Americas Summit said American strikes on Iran have significantly damaged the country's military capabilities, claiming its navy, air force and communications infrastructure have been heavily hit. Trump said US forces had destroyed 42 Iranian naval vessels in recent days and knocked out much of the country's air power and telecommunications systems. He said, "We're doing very well in Iran. We've knocked out 42 Navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of the Navy. We knocked out their Air Force. We knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications is gone. I don't know how they communicate, but I guess they will figure something out. It's not working out too well. And they're bad people...This had to be done. They were very close to a nuclear weapon. They would have had one if we didn't do our B2 hit, Midnight Hammer. They would have had it eight months ago...So we did the world a favour." He also said recent US strikes targeted facilities linked to Iran's nuclear programme, claiming Tehran had been close to obtaining a nuclear weapon before the attacks. Trump described the operation as a major success and said the strikes had dealt a decisive blow to Iran's military capabilities. The US president is expected to travel later to Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of six US service members who have been killed in the conflict so far, Al Jazeera reported. Middle East Expert, Waiel Awwad, while talking on Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for immediate halt to US-Israel-Iran tension, said that the US' targets in war keep changing and are unclear. "The problem is that the United States' objectives have not been declared clearly. What we have been hearing keeps changing. First, it was the nuclear issue, which served as a pretext for attack. Now they speak of regime change, together with Israel. Then it was ballistic missiles, and now they talk about Iranian technology," he said. Awwad added, "So what exactly is their message? They are even moving towards supporting the secessionist movement in the region. What this really means is that the United States wants to drag the Arab countries, along with Israel, into a direct confrontation with Iran--something we cannot afford. No one here wants such a confrontation. This war has been imposed on the region by the United States and Israel. That is why the role of the international community, including the permanent members of the Security Council, is crucial. They must put pressure on the United States to end this war. Otherwise, Iran has no choice but to defend itself," he said. Meanwhile, the US State Department said that 28,000 citizens have safely returned to the US from countries in the Middle East since the US, alongside Israel, started attacking Iran on February 28. "Since February 28, over 28,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East. These figures do not include the many Americans who have safely relocated to other countries or those who have departed the Middle East but are still in transit back to the United States," Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, said in a post on X. https://x.com/ASDylanJohnson/status/2030295680300794266?s=20 Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran will never capitulate after Trump demanded "unconditional surrender" as Tehran continues to strike targets in Israel and the Gulf region with drones and missiles, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) claimed that the US has knocked out 42 navy ships of Iran. Trump, while delivering remarks to the Shield of Americas Summit, said that the US has destroyed their modes of communication there. Trump said, "We're doing very well in Iran. We've knocked out 42 Navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of the Navy. We knocked out their Air Force. We knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications is gone. I don't know how they communicate, but I guess they will figure something out. It's not working out too well. And they're bad people...This had to be done. They were very close to a nuclear weapon. They would have had one if we didn't do our B2 hit, Midnight Hammer. They would have had it eight months ago...So we did the world a favour." He recounted Operation Absolute Resolve, wherein the US abducted former Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Trump said, "In January, America's armed forces ended the reign of one of the biggest cartel kingpins of all, with the Operation Absolute Resolve to bring outlaw Dictator Nicolas Maduro to justice in a precision raid that nobody's ever seen anything like before... It was nasty. It was about 18 minutes of pure violence... Since that operation, we've been working closely with the new President of Venezuela, who's doing a great job working with us... If she weren't working with us, I would not say she's doing a great job. In fact, if she weren't working with us, I'd say she's doing a very poor job. Unacceptable... And we're taking out tremendous amounts of oil. They're making more money now than they've ever made," he said. He also noted that they have now legally recognized the government led by the acting President Delcy Rodriguez. "This week, we have formally recognised the Venezuelan government. We've actually legally recognised them. We have also just reached a historic gold deal. It's called the Gold Deal with Venezuela to allow our two countries to work together to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan gold and other minerals... We're also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba... And they want to negotiate. They are negotiating with Marco and myself and some others. I think a deal would be made very easily with Cuba... But our focus right now is on Iran," he said. Parallely, Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York said that Tehran has been targeting only military bases and US assets during its recent attacks. In regard to strikes on non-military sites, the mission said in a social media post that a preliminary assessment suggested that "some of these incidents may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems, which may have diverted the projectiles from their intended military targets," Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) Indo-Pacific Forum President Kaush Arha on Saturday praised India-EU FTA progress, saying it will transform Indo-Mediterranean and European trade. Speaking to ANI, Arha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for driving the initiative. The landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), often referred to as the "mother of all deals," was officially concluded on January 27, 2026, following nearly two decades of negotiations. "... Together, we will transform Indo-Mediterranean and European trade. Prime Minister Modi and your Commerce Minister, Mr Piyush Goyal, deserve a great deal of credit for making this happen...," he said. By connecting two of the world's largest democratic economies, the deal creates a massive market of approximately 2 billion people, aiming to significantly reshape trade, investment, and supply chain resilience between India and Europe. Officials are currently working on the legal review and translation of the agreement text, which is expected to be completed by July 2026. Arha also highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), hailed as a new "Golden Road" or modern Silk Route, being developed under PM Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to connect India, the Middle East, and Europe. Announced at the 2023 G20 Summit, this route links India with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe, bypassing traditional chokepoints like the Suez Canal to reduce transit time by nearly 40%. "One of the important things about William Dalrymple's book is the Golden Road. We are in the process under PM Modi and Piyush to put in a new Golden Road that connects India to Europe and onwards to America. That's the future, that's the discussion," Arha told ANI at Raisina Dialogue 2026. The Golden Road by William Dalrymple explores how ancient India transformed the world through trade, ideas, and culture. The book highlights India's significant influence on Eurasia from 250BC to AD1200, spreading Buddhism, Hinduism, and mathematical concepts like the decimal system and algebra. Reacting to the ongoing West Asia tensions, Arha stated that the current challenges are a necessary step towards a stronger and better future. Arha said, "Sometimes, and you know this from India, sometimes a bitter medicine makes the patient and the environment stronger and better. This is a bitter medicine we had to go through." Earlier, highlighting India's rising status in the global economic order, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday described the relationship between India and the United States as a multidimensional alliance that extends far beyond trade. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Goyal emphasised that the partnership is anchored in high-tech collaboration and strategic security. The Minister noted that the bond between the two nations is defined by a deep integration of technology and investment. "India and US relations are strong. It's multi-dimensional. It's not only about trade. There is a huge technology overlay on it. There is a huge critical minerals partnership, a defence partnership... It's a partnership of two countries which will define the future," Goyal stated. Addressing the specifics of trade negotiations with Washington, Goyal expressed immense confidence in the outcomes India has achieved compared to other global players. "We got the best deal amongst all of the competitors," he remarked. During a detailed fireside chat, Goyal elaborated on his "mantra" for negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which involves balancing international ambitions with domestic sensitivities. He revealed that, unlike previous administrations, the current government prioritises exhaustive stakeholder consultations to ensure no local industry is "thrown under the bus." The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugrated the eleventh edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, on Friday. Opening the proceedings, Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), stated that throughout its eleven years, the Dialogue has remained steadfast in its "aim of unpacking the present to help shape the future. "He pointed out that its theme in 2026, Samskara, captures a world in which "nations are asserting their identity, asserting their dialogue, and advancing through refinement." (ANI) UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan on Friday met five civilians who were injured amid tensions in West Asia and the Gulf region. He underlined that the UAE would continue to protect its people and the country, highlighting that they would emerge stronger than before. He made the remarks on Friday during his visit to check on the injured currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Nayhan said, "I am here at the hospital visiting five of those who were injured in the recent events. All five are civilians: two Emiratis, one Indian, one Sudanese, and one Iranian. They are all our responsibility, and, God willing, they will make a full recovery." He said that everything is well in the UAE and thanked the armed forces, other security institutions such as the Ministry of Interior, the security services, and Civil Defence for their service. "We are in a time of war, and I promise them that we will fulfil our duty, because it is our obligation to protect our people and our country. We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family. May God protect the UAE, protect its people, and safeguard everyone who lives in it with dignity and security. I promise everyone that we will emerge stronger than before." The UAE President added, "Another message I would like to convey is directed at the enemies of the UAE: The UAE is attractive; the UAE is beautiful. The UAE is a model. But I say to them: Do not be misled by the UAE's appearance. "The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh - we are no easy prey." His visit comes amid the backdrop of rising tensions in West Asia and the Gulf. In a message shared on X on Saturday, Nahyan underlined that the UAE places its security and sovereignty and the safety of its people and residents and visitors at the forefront of its priorities and stands capable of confronting the aggressions. https://x.com/MohamedBinZayed/status/2030327805255594265?s=20 Meanwhile, on Saturday, in a post on X, the Dubai Media Office said, "For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures are being managed in line with established safety protocols" https://x.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/2030184598869778694?s=20 The developments come as after the US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials. 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) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday (local time) said that the Israeli actions would continue against Iran until all the goals are achieved. He also praised the defence forces and citizens of Israel for their courageous stand amid escalating tensions in the West Asia region. He made the remarks in Hebrew in a video message shared on X. "We are in the midst of a fateful campaign for our existence. In the past week, we have acted with strength, initiative, and determination against our enemies--and we will continue to act with all our might until we achieve all our goals. I salute our pilots, our fighters, the ground crews, the security and rescue forces, and you--the citizens of Israel--for your steadfast spirit, responsibility, and courageous stand", the post said. It further noted, "Together, we have changed the face of the Middle East. Together, we will continue to fight. Together, we will roar like a lion. And with God's help--together, we will ensure the eternity of Israel." https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2030379978668269975 The Israeli PM said that its success would not only remove the nuclear threat to the world but also bring peace between Israel and Iran. He said, "Our success will bring not only the removal of the nuclear threat to the entire world, and not only peace between Israel and Iran. It will also bring a dramatic expansion of the circle of peace around us. Today, everyone understands that the Ayatollahs' regime endangers the entire world. In recent days, Iran has attacked 12 countries around it. We stand with them" "All of these countries see Israel's tremendous strength, our readiness to fight the tyrants in Tehran, the bravery of our army and our people, and our vast military and technological capabilities. And many countries are turning to us. I am telling you many countries are now approaching us for cooperation," Netanyahu added. The statement comes in the wake of several developments taking place in West Asia and the Gulf. Meanwhile, on Saturday (local time), IDF shared that it struck 2 main ballistic missile production sites in Parchin and Shahrud. As per the IDF, the targets struck included factories producing explosive materials for ballistic missile warheads, complexes producing unique raw materials for missile engines, a missile engine mixing and casting facility and a complex used for the research, development, assembly, and production of advanced cruise missiles. https://x.com/IDF/status/2030369126099636533 Earlier, Dubai Media Office said that authorities had confirmed the death of a Pakistani driver in the Al Barsha area after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle. It also shared that authorities had confirmed a minor incident on the facade of a tower in Dubai Marina, with no injuries reported. Meanwhile, the IRNA claimed on Sunday, citing the IRGC, that a refinery was hit in Haifa. It said in a post on X, "IRGC: The Haifa refinery was struck by Kheibarshekan missiles." https://x.com/IrnaEnglish/status/2030375662763102346?s=20 Al Jazeera Breaking reported that air strikes targeted an oil storage facility in Tehran. It also mentioned that Hezbollah said it launched missiles at Haifa naval base and that it targeted Kiryat Shmona with rocket fire. Citing IDF sources, Jerusalem Post reported that on Saturday night, the Israeli Air Force had attacked significant oil resources in the Tehran region of Iran. As per the sources, the oil resources attacked are directly connected to Iran's military industrial complex. The conflict in West Asia has now brought into its fold several countries of the Gulf region. These developments come in the wake of escalating tensions after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 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 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) Algerian El Baraka Association, which has been blacklisted by the United States for its ties with Hamas terror organization, has deployed a humanitarian operation in Tindouf camps, sounding the alarm bell of international counter-terrorism agencies. The poor staging of the Algerian story does not hold up under a basic scrutiny as Algerians cannot afford donate staple foods which they badly need themselves. Furthermore, the humanitarian aid intended for the Sahrawis in Tindouf camps is usually diverted and resold on the black market to boost the Polisarios finances as shown by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Algerian and Polisario media platforms say El Baraka is delivering foodstuffs to Tindouf camps inhabitants, but some experts remain sceptical about the endgame of such a move, while others say the humanitarian operation may have been used as a cover to deliver Polisario militias weapons. The timing of the operation is raising suspicion. It comes as the U.S. Congress is intensifying pressure for the designation of the Polisario a terrorist organization amid the US-administration push to end the Sahara conflict this year. El Baraka has been sanctioned by the United States for diverting funds intended for humanitarian causes to fund Hamass Military Wing and its terrorist activities. Morocco will hold its next legislative elections on September 23, 2026, the government spokesperson said on feb 5, announcing a royal decree that formally sets the polling date and outlines the timetable for candidate registration and campaigning. During his weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said the decree establishes the date for electing members of the House of Representatives, and defines the period for filing candidacies both through the dedicated electronic platform and directly with the government authority responsible for receiving applications. He added that the decree also specifies the legally mandated campaign period under Organic Law No. 27.11, promulgated by Dahir No. 1.11.165 of 14 October 2011. Under the decree, the electoral campaign will begin at 00:01 on September 10, 2026, and will end at midnight on September 22, 2026, just hours before voters head to the polls. The upcoming election will take place five years after Moroccos last legislative vote in September 2021, which produced a major political realignment. In that election, the National Rally of Independents (RNI), led by businessman Aziz Akhannouch, won 102 seats, becoming the largest bloc in parliament after years of dominance by the Islamist Justice and Development Party, which fell to just 13 seats. Following the 2021 results, King Mohammed VI appointed Akhannouch as prime ministerdesignate. He then announced the formation of a three party ruling coalition including the RNI, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and the Istiqlal Party, which together commanded 270 out of 395 seats, giving the new government a comfortable majority. This coalition replaced a decade of Islamist led governance and marked one of the most significant electoral shifts in Moroccos political landscape since the 2011 constitutional reforms. An Algerian military transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Boufarik air base on Thursday, killing two officers and injuring four crew members, one of them critically, the Defence Ministry said. The BE 1900 aircraft went down moments after taking off from the runway while on a mission carrying a six member crew. Algeria records one of the highest numbers of military air crashes in the world, with more than fifteen officially acknowledged accidents in ten years, resulting in around 400 deaths. The incidents span frontline fighter jets, troop transport aircraft, reconnaissance planes, naval helicopters and unmanned aerial systems. In March 2025, a Sukhoi Su 30 crashed during a training exercise in the desert region of Aoulef in Adrar, killing a lieutenant colonel. A few months later, in August, a Czech built Zlin reconnaissance aircraft crashed in Jijel, killing its four occupants, including two Civil Protection officers engaged in a training and certification mission. In February 2024, a Russian made MI 171 helicopter went down, killing three officers, a colonel, a lieutenant colonel and a sergeant. Drone losses have also mounted, including two Chinese built systems. The most devastating disasters occurred earlier. In February 2014, the crash of a C 130 Hercules military transport killed 77 people. In April 2018, an Ilyushin Il 76 crashed shortly after takeoff from Boufarik, killing all 257 people on board, marking the deadliest air disaster in Algerias history. Independent analyses in recent years have attributed Algerias unusually high rate of military aviation crashes to a combination of aging equipment, maintenance difficulties and institutional shortcomings. The country has lost dozens of Russian-built aircraft due to an aging fleet and inadequate maintenance practices, problems compounded by the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted the supply of spare parts and delayed the arrival of Russian technicians. Netflix has backed out as an investor in As ever, the lifestyle brand from Meghan Markle. A Netflix spokesperson said: Meghans passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role pic.twitter.com/gJTRSqdgBw Variety (@Variety) March 6, 2026 A spokesperson for the Sussexes told Variety that the brand is grateful for Netflixs partnership through launch and our first year. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and cant wait to share more.Meghan is investigating short form content, according to a comment she made when speaking at a Fortune summit last year. Part of what were testing out nowits amazing to be able to sit and watch a show for 30 minutes, but how can I give you a recipe in two minutes?News of the divestment comes as With Love has seemingly ramped down.The latest As ever offering is a leather bookmark that Meghan personalizes with her well-known calligraphy and As ever logo. They are sold out but you can buy some spread or honey in a set and receive one.Perhaps she is eyeing a book club. In a move that thrilled artists everywhere (while upsetting Prompt Monkeys), The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Computer scientist Stephen Thalers case over copyright for his A.I. artwork.Thaler first applied to register the workwith the copyright office in November 2018, listing DABUS (his A.I.) as the author of the work and stating that it was created autonomously by machine. At that time the office refused the application, saying that it lacked the human authorship necessary to support a copyright claim. Requests for reconsideration in 2019, 2020, and 2022 were also rejected for similar reasons.Since then, Thalers requests have worked their way up from the lower courts all the way up to the Supreme Court, arguing that not giving DABUS's work a copyright carries the risk of "irreversibly hindering the use of A.I. in the creative industries" (yes, please do!). This week, the Supreme Court declined to review a decision made by the U.S. Copyright Office in 2022 which ruled that without "human authorship," the artwork was not eligible for copyright protection. This ruling was upheld in 2023 by the U.S. District Court and again last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington.Last year, the Copyright Office released new guidance that reaffirmed that A.I.-generated artworks made using text prompts will not be protected by copyright. It acknowledged that A.I. is a new technology but said existing copyright principles would not need to be updated. This is because A.I. prompting currently does not offer the user enough control to make them "the authors of the output." This is the case regardless of the complexity of the prompt."No matter how many times a prompt is revised and resubmitted, the final output reflects the users acceptance of the A.I. systems interpretation, rather than authorship of the expression it contains," the report argued.A.I. artist vary depending on exactly how they are using it, and all I have to say is DABUS was probably the one doing all of the heavy lifting. Nevertheless, this is a big win.Human Artists: 1Skynet: 0 To secure against future escalations, the government should encourage domestic energy investment, including allowing domestic fracking and continuing to deregulate the nuclear power industry as the best low-carbon solution. Policymakers should follow the example of Carter and Reagan by using price mechanisms, offset by targeted welfare, rather than subsidizing energy use like Truss and Nixon, to encourage dynamic response to price spikes. The current conflict in Iran, sparked by drone strikes that temporarily closed the Qatari Ras Laffan complex, has primarily affected Asian and EU natural gas prices, with global oil prices rising less severely due to alternative supply routes. The conflict in Iran is unlikely to lead to 1970s-style oil rationing, but policymakers must use price mechanisms and encourage domestic energy investment to insure against unpredictable escalations, says Andy Mayer In 1979 the Iranian Revolution sparked the second oil crisis as the price of crude oil more than doubled to $40 per barrel. Although global production only fell four per cent, then seven per cent during the following years Iran-Iraq war, it took time for policy and global supply chains to adjust. The price shock lasted until the mid-1980s. Jimmy Carter, then US President put symbolic solar panels on the roof of the White House, which were later removed. But more importantly, began phasing out Nixons price controls from the first (1973) oil crisis, which allowed consumers and producers to respond dynamically to higher prices with rationing and investment in new resources. The crisis encouraged energy efficiency and launched the Japanese car industry on the back of smaller, cheaper models than those produced in Detroit. It created an oil boom in Texas, Alaska and the North Sea, and drove investment in fracking technologies that would be crucial to keeping US oil and gas prices low in this century. Related: Why Trump Wants Magnets More Than Gold The progress and consequences of the current conflict is uncertain. The immediate concern stems from drone strikes that forced the closure of the Qatari Ras Laffan complex, responsible for around 20 per cent of global LNG shipments, mostly to European and Asian buyers. These have to travel through the Straits of Hormuz, and are exposed for 1,000km of the trip to potential missile and drone strikes. Oil supplies are also disrupted but there are pipeline alternatives through Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can relieve if not replace lost shipments. Markets have reacted accordingly, with Asian and EU natural gas prices up 55-70 per cent, while global oil prices have only jumped 15-20 per cent. A Nigerian LNG shipment has been diverted from the Atlantic towards Asia and the current stability of US regional prices suggest there is some capacity to plug the gap. In fact this boon may be among US war aims. The UK is not as exposed as Europe The UK is not as exposed to this conflict as the rest of Europe, bar through higher prices, as most of our imported natural gas comes via pipelines from Norway. We also, despite the governments best efforts, still have domestic production from the North Sea. That the conflict has started in a warm spell going into Spring will also provide relief on Europes depleted reserves, with plenty of time for policy responses and rerouting. We should not then expect to see queues at the pumps as in the 1970s, or a winter of discontent, unless the crisis cascades in unpredictable ways, for example encouraging a surge in Norwegian nationalism. Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing? The insurance against such possibilities is what should concern policymakers. It is simply unwise to continue adding costs to fossil fuels we still consume. The planned return of the fuel duty escalator and windfall tax on the North Sea could be suspended. If prices spike as they did in 2022, the government needs to follow Carter/Reagan and let the price mechanism work (offset by targeted welfare), not Truss/Nixon by subsidising use. It needs to let domestic fracking take off, like the Texas boom in the 1980s, and build new trade links with African producers, to hedge our risks. The Net Zero challenge to oil and gas does matter but provides no short-term relief and in the case of the UK is targeting the wrong solutions. Renewables are unreliable and require a duplicate firm power system to operate when they cannot. The best low carbon solution is nuclear power and if were building that affordably we dont need renewables. The government then should continue with plans to deregulate the industry and let the market deliver longer-term solutions. By City AM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com March 6, 2026: A week ago the United States and Israel began launching air strikes against Iran in an effort to bring down the religious dictatorship that had misruled the country since 1979 and been a threat to most nations in the region and a promoter of terrorist activities worldwide. The American forcers used bases in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait to carry out these attacks and these countries joined in with their own attacks once it was obvious that the American and Israeli air operations were indeed taking apart the Iranian military. By the end of March 5th Iranian ballistic missile attacks had diminished by 90 percent, drone attacks were down by 83 percent. Air strikes concentrated on the remaining supplies of Iranian drones and missiles. So far, the attacks have destroyed more than two thousand targets inside Iran and sunk or disabled 30 ships of the Iranian navy. The Iranian air force and air defences have been largely destroyed allowing unarmed transports carrying electronic monitoring equipment or supplies for active Iranian rebels, to operate freely. During the first week of air operations against Iranian security forces the IRGC has lost about 15 percent of its personnel to desertion, with some of those men leaving with their weapons and joining the armed rebel groups forming inside Iran. Another one percent of IRGC men have been killed and few percent more wounded. The IRGC uses a decentralized command structure that enables members to improvise as needed to protect the Islamic government. From the beginning American and Israeli military and political leaders stressed that these operations would require a month or more of continuous attacks to succeed. The Iranian military and security forces are extensive and spread all over Iran. Most have been located studied and attacks plans prepared. The initial attacks took out air defense and ballistic missile storage and launch sites. The attacks did not eliminate all Iranian offensive weapons. The damage Iranian counterattacks could inflict was significant, but not extensive enough to persuade any of Irans neighbors to support Iranian efforts to halt the war. Mojataba Khamenei was quickly appointed to succeed his father Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28th, during the first wave of attacks. Israel had already decided to kill the Ayatollah last November and had been tracking his movements since then. Attacks against Mojataba Khamenei and the Council of Guardians would eliminate all the Ayatollah as well as the younger Khamenei. Surviving Iranian officials announced that all surviving leaders were ordered to operate independently if they were no longer able to contact senior leadership. Ismail Qaani, head of Irans Quds Force is apparently still alive, despite reports that he is dead. Speaking of the dead, its also unclear how much, if any, popular enthusiasm there is to replace Islam with the ancient Persian Zoroastrianism religion. This was the religion of Persia for 1200 years until forcibly preplaced by Islam in 651 AD. Meanwhile the airstrikes were systematically destroying IRGC\Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which normally consists of about 120,000 members. The volunteer Basij militia has up to half a million armed members and the Iranian army, navy and air force comprise about 400,000 active duty personnel. For the Iranian government, the problems is that a growing number of these troops are joining the rebels or simply deserting. The initial airstrikes encouraged this by killing many, if not most of the senior military leadership. Those appointed to replace the dead leaders were soon aware that they could quickly be attacked. Iran has long known that their military and government bureaucracy was filled with rebels and these rebels were now taking advantage of the disorder to eliminate rivals and key personnel still loyal to the religious dictatorship. Iranian security forces are still seeking Israeli agents and recently arrested general Esmail Qaani, the commander of the IRGC Quds Force after accusing him of working for Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence organization. Quds force organizes and supports Iran-backed militias and terrorist groups throughout the region. These include Hezbollah and Hamas as well as several Islamic terrorist groups. It will be a week or more before accurate data on losses are available. Meanwhile, anti-government operatives are still able to assist in identifying new leaders who can be attacked by air or by anti-government Iranians. As more IRGC, Basij, police and regular military personnel join the rebels it will be easier to obtain accurate data on the state of the religious dictatorships armed forces. Targeting information is still getting out of Iran and air strikes are quickly carried out to eliminate government forces or moved/newly created facilities and such. As fewer and fewer armed Iranians loyal to the government remain, they prove their loyalty by fighting to the death. Nearly half a century of Islamic government created a lot of true believers but their numbers are declining as the air and ground attacks continue. It is still unclear if newly liberated Iranians would call for the elimination of Islam inside Iran. Iraqi Kurdish militias and Iranian Kurds are also preparing enter the fight against Iranian forces. In another week the situation will be clarified and much less chaotic. There will still be Iranian military forces operational and dangerous to confront, at least for Iranian civilians. Armed Iranian civilians and soldiers who switched sides are another matter. In another month, one can only hope for a major improvement. Deals like the one between state-run Dioxitek and U.S.-based Nano Nuclear Energy, along with a provincial ban on open-pit mining in Chubut, highlight the domestic struggle and foreign interest surrounding Argentina's substantial uranium reserves. The plan faces broad domestic opposition, with concerns that the uranium will be exported to the U.S. rather than used for Argentina's own nuclear power plants, and fears of environmental damage and becoming an "energy colony." President Milei is pushing to redevelop Argentina's uranium mining industry, particularly the Cerro Solo deposit in Chubut, as a strategic move to boost the country's energy security and align with the U.S. Argentina has become a major mining hotspot in recent years, as energy firms eye the South American countrys vast critical mineral reserves and build upon its strong mining reputation. In addition to lithium and copper, companies are showing interest in Argentinas uranium reserves, particularly as several governments worldwide look to rapidly develop their nuclear energy capacity. However, many Argentinians are less enthusiastic about the prospect of uranium mining. Argentinas uranium resources total roughly 10,500 tonnes of elemental uranium (tU). Uranium exploration activities began to be carried out in the 1950s, and the last uranium mine closed in 1997 due to economic constraints. The cumulative national uranium production until this point totalled around 2,582 tU. Argentina is home to three operational nuclear plants Atucha I and II and Embalse which provide around 5 percent of the countrys electricity. Since the closure of its uranium mines, Argentina has imported uranium to meet its uranium demand. President Milei sees the redevelopment of the countrys uranium mining industry as a strategic move to boost energy security. The Sierra Pintada mine in Mendoza, in the central west of the country, operated by Argentinas National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), was expected to reopen, but provincial opposition has meant that the mine has remained closed. In 2007, CNEA also made a deal with the Salta provincial government in the north of the country to develop the Don Otto uranium mine south of Salta, which was open between 1963 and 1981, but this has not come to fruition. CNEA has been conducting feasibility studies for the mining of the Cerro Solo deposit in Chubut since 2018, which is thought to hold 4600 tU, making it one of Argentinas largest proven uranium reserves. There is currently a provincial ban on open-pit mining; the redevelopment of the mine is the first step in President Mileis new nuclear plan. Related: The U.S. Just Took a Giant Step in The Rare Earth Race With China However, there has been broad opposition towards Mileis nuclear strategy for a wide range of reasons. The ex-president of the CNEA, Adriana Serquis, believes that The plan doesnt seem oriented toward supplying our own plants, but rather exporting uranium directly to the U.S. It would appear the objective is to satisfy others needs while destroying our own capabilities. In August 2025, Dioxitek, a state-run subsidiary of CNEA, which transforms imported uranium into the uranium dioxide required to power Argentinas nuclear power plants, signed a deal with U.S.-based Nano Nuclear Energy to supply the firm with uranium hexafluoride. This came as a surprise to many, as Argentinas nuclear reactors run on natural or low-enriched uranium oxide, not uranium hexafluoride. This suggests that any uranium mined in the South American country would, therefore, likely be exported to the U.S. rather than used for domestic nuclear energy production. Nano also signed a memorandum of understanding with the British-Argentinian company UrAmerica, which has a significant stake in Chubut and plans to mine uranium. One passage in the agreement stated the aim of strengthening U.S. energy security by sourcing materials for nuclear fuel from a reliable partner. Argentina is thought to have roughly enough proven uranium reserves to meet domestic demand for around 70 years, based on its current nuclear energy production capacity. For this reason, many in the sector believe that the country does not have enough uranium to spare and should only be developing its mining sector if it contributes to national energy production. However, Mileis plan to export uranium further aligns Argentina with the White House and doubles down on the presidents statement in September that Argentina is an unconditional ally of the U.S.. Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths Many residents in Chubut fear being turned into an energy colony, due to the broken promises of the past. Others are concerned about the environmental concerns of uranium mining and waste management. It is precisely for these types of concerns that a 2003 referendum on open-pit gold mining received an 81 percent no vote, leading to the introduction of the no open-pit mining law. Communities across Chubut feel abandoned, as they continue to reside next to the remnants of past, failed uranium mining projects. In January, a delegation from the U.S. Congress Energy and Commerce Committee visited the city of Neuquen, in Argentina, to discuss the potential for critical mineral mining. Ahead of the visit, U.S. lawmakers made an unscheduled stopover in Argentinas most southernmost city, Ushuaia, in the Patagonian region, spurring further controversy. In Tierra del Fuego, part of Argentine Patagonia, there are both uranium and rare earths, which are essential elements on the U.S. critical minerals list. Chubut is home to various exploration projects, including Cerro Solo, Hope, Lago Seco, Laguna Colorada, Meseta Central and Sierra Cuadrada. Mining in such an environmentally significant area of the world has long been seen as controversial, due to the potentially damaging impact of these activities, and the recent U.S. visit has made many speculate about President Trumps interest in the region. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum played a pivotal role in facilitating the contract, which is intertwined with larger oil deals and has led to Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, announcing plans to reform the country's mining laws. The deal, which marks the third extraction contract overseen by the Trump administration since the capture of Maduro, is part of a broader effort to stabilize Venezuela's economy and redirects gold revenues away from black-market smugglers and allies like Turkey and Iran. The United States brokered a multimillion-dollar deal for Venezuela's state-owned mining company, Minerven, to sell 650 to 1,000 kilograms of semi-refined gold to Trafigura for delivery to US refineries. As things continue to pop off in the Middle East, the United States is still focused on Venezuela - and has brokered a multimillion-dollar gold deal. The agreement, first reported by Axios, involves the sale of between 650 and 1,000 kilograms of gold dore bars - which are semi-refined with approximately 98% gold content - from Venezuela's state-owned mining company, Minerven, to the global commodities trader Trafigura. The gold is destined for refineries in the United States, marking a shift in Venezuela's resource exports toward American markets. The deal, valued at roughly $163,000 per kilogram based on current gold prices amid global economic uncertainty, marks the third extraction contract overseen by the Trump administration since U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3. It's part of a broader effort to stabilize and reconstruct Venezuela's economy under U.S. influence, with the White House asserting de facto control over the country's vast oil reserves - the world's largest known. The Role of Key Players in Facilitating the Agreement According to the report, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum played a pivotal role in shepherding the contract - traveling to Venezuela to discuss opportunities in oil and minerals, while leveraging his position to bridge the gap between Minerven and Trafigura. Under a separate arrangement with the U.S. government, Trafigura will handle the delivery of the gold to American refineries, ensuring compliance and oversight. Related: Why Trump Wants Magnets More Than Gold This gold transaction is intertwined with larger oil deals, including contracts worth over $1 billion also involving Trafigura. President Trump highlighted the progress in a post on Truth Social, stating, "The oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both countries is a very nice thing to see!" He also praised Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, for her cooperation. Rodriguez, in turn, announced plans to reform Venezuela's mining laws following her meeting with Burgum, aiming to attract more foreign investment and modernize the sector. Context: From Sanctions and Conflict to Economic Partnership The agreement unfolds against the backdrop of heightened U.S.-Venezuela tensions that culminated in Maduro's capture, which the Trump administration justified as a strike against "narco-terrorism." Prior to this, U.S. sanctions had severely restricted Venezuela's access to global markets, forcing the Maduro regime to rely on black-market smugglers and allies like Turkey, Iran, Russia, and China for exporting resources such as gold and oil. A source familiar with the deals emphasized the benefits for Venezuela to Axios: "There was so much corruption before in Venezuela involving black-market smugglers who skimmed money off the top. Now the money for Venezuela's resources will go to Venezuela's government and people. And instead of the gold going overseas to Turkey or Iran, that resource is coming to the U.S." Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing? This shift redirects revenues back to Venezuela's coffers, providing access to stable U.S. markets and financial systems. It also aligns with Trump's broader strategy of using Venezuelan oil proceedsestimated at billions from sales of 30 to 50 million barrelsto fund purchases of American products, including agricultural goods, medicine, and energy infrastructure equipment. Economic Implications and Broader Geopolitical Ramifications Economically, the deal could inject much-needed stability into Venezuela's beleaguered mining industry, which has suffered from years of mismanagement, illegal operations, and environmental degradation. For the U.S., it secures a supply of high-quality gold amid rising global prices, which have surged due to geopolitical uncertainties, including recent U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran. However, the arrangement has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats and liberal groups, who accuse the Trump administration of imperialism and potential corruption. They argue that U.S. oversight of Venezuelan resources prioritizes American interests over genuine aid for the Venezuelan people, potentially exacerbating inequalities in the region. On a larger scale, this gold deal is part of Trump's vision to "reimburse" the U.S. for its interventions, as he has stated regarding oil investments. Major U.S. oil companies are reportedly eager to invest billions to repair Venezuela's infrastructure, though experts caution that political instability could hinder long-term progress. By Zerohedge More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Senate Republicans Strip Burdensome Gun Control Provisions from Gun Bill Before Final Passage HB 4145 Delays Measure 114 Implementation to 2028 Pending Court Ruling SALEM, Ore. The Oregon Senate unanimously passed House Bill 4145 today, delaying the implementation of Measure 114. Senate Republicans successfully removed the bills harmful gun control regulations that would have further eroded Oregonians Second Amendment rights while criminals continue to break the rules. Before it was amended, House Bill 4145 would have nearly tripled the cost of a gun permit from $65 to $150, doubled the processing time from 30 days to 60 days, and created new layers of bureaucracy that would have made it more difficult and more expensive for law-abiding Oregonians to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms. Measure 114, narrowly approved by voters in 2022, remains tied up in litigation and has not taken effect. If the Oregon Supreme Court finds the measure constitutional, House Bill 4145 simply delays its implementation to 2028. I never bought the line that the original House Bill 4145 was about advancing the will of the people because Supermajority Democrats have repeatedly proven that they do not respect their voices, Senator Christine Drazan (R-Canby) said. For years, this Legislature has chipped away at the right to bear arms for law-abiding citizens. This legislation is a win in an ongoing battle to defend the constitutional rights of Oregonians. The original HB 4145 attempted to dramatically expand restrictions beyond what voters approved in the original Measure 114. By successfully replacing it with the A9 amendment, our dedicated group of Oregon gun owners helped stop governmental overreach. They forced a strategic pause on the implementation of Measure 114, moving it to January 2028, said Derek LeBlanc, a firearms instructor and gun rights advocate whose organization played a key role in raising public awareness about the original bills impacts. This campaign demonstrated that informed, organized citizens can work closely with House and Senate Republicans to hold the Democratic Supermajority in the Oregon Legislature accountable and effectively defend their constitutional rights. Many who advocate before this Legislature appear to me to want to completely eradicate firearms in Oregon, outside the possession of law enforcement. Our state and federal Constitutions do not allow that, said Senator Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte). By Oregon State Representative Ed Diehl Press Release, 3/3/26 SALEM, OR Representative Ed Diehl, gubernatorial candidate and Co-Chief Petitioner of the referendum on 2025, transportation tax and fee increases, announced the filing of a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief against Senate Bill 1599, which Governor Tina Kotek signed into law on March 2, 2026. Rep. Ed Diehl filed the lawsuit jointly by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr and Jason Williams of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon (fellow chief petitioners on the successful referral), along with other plaintiffs from across the state representing a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations seeks to immediately halt enforcement of SB 1599 and preserve the referendum process. The referendum, Referendum Petition 2026-302, had already been certified for the November 3. 2026, general election on the 2025 transportation, tax and fee package. This filing is necessary to defend the constitutional rights of over 250,000 Oregonians who gathered signatures in just 38 days for a November vote, said Rep. Diehl. We trusted the process: signatures were verified, the referendum was certified under Article IV, and the promise was a high-turnout general election. Shifting it to the lower-turnout May, 19, 2026, primary after the fact is an unconstitutional mid-game rule change that suppresses voter voices and disrespects the grassroots effort led by retirees, small business owners, parents, and volunteers statewide. As the primary organizer of the signature drive that exceeded requirements by more than double (over 10% of the prior general election turnout), Rep. Diehl is leading this legal challenge. The lawsuit argues violations of Oregons constitutional referendum protections, due process, and fair election principles, including compressing the timeline so severely that citizens cannot realistically use the statutory process allowing them to qualify voters pamphlet arguments by gathering 500 signatures instead of paying the $1,200 filing fee. The people exercised their reserved power because they felt unheard on these massive tax hikes, Diehl continued. We wont let Salem rewrite the rules to silence them. The Oregon Constitution promises voters free and equal elections, and changing the rules after citizens qualify a referendum violates that promise. This fight continues in court to ensure Oregonians get their full say in Novemberno suppression, no tricks. Details of the court filing and the next steps will be provided as proceedings advance. Rep. Ed Diehl concluded a press conference outside the Senate floor at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, where he and co-chief petitioners Sen. Bruce Starr and Jason Williams formally announced the joint filing seeking an injunction against SB1599 (Note: SB1599 was signed March 2 after House passage. The lawsuit follows Rep. Diehls repeated warnings of legal action if the bill became law, building directly on the successful petition effort he co-led.) By Lars Larson NW and national radio host, The Northwest Nonsense Ill admit, I thought it was bad enough that Oregon voters tolerate representation from a U.S. Senator who doesnt even live in the state. Ron Wyden lives almost 2900 miles away from the Beaver State with his wife and kids in New York City. But now, one of Wydens fellow Democrat party members makes him look like a piker when it comes to remote representation. Mary Nolan has been feeding at the public trough for the better part of 3 decades as a state lawmaker and now a member of the Metro Regional government council. To run for the office, election laws require you to be a resident of the metro district you claim to represent. Nolan apparently qualified, but now Oregonlive breaks the story that shes been attending meetings of the regional government remotely from Spain. Well, Ole. The Metro gig pays like a full time job at nearly 70-thousand bucks a year plus benefitsbut it doesnt require full time on the job. So, Mary Nolan can govern the affairs of people back here in the Northwest and just check in remotely from a foreign country more than 5-thousand miles away. Thats the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk. Im Lars Larson March 7, 2026: Earlier this year, Germany began seizing illegal Russian Shadow Fleet tankers that mover sanctioned Russian oil to customers worldwide. This Shadow Fleet consists of about five hundred ships, many of them barely seaworthy and lacking insurance. Since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and was hit with the first of several rounds of economic sanctions, their Shadow Fleet began with about a hundred ships and grew each year. Oil is Russias principal export and the source of the money needed to maintain its forces in Ukraine. Germany is one of the 32 NATO nations that enforce the sanctions and that led to the current crack down on Shadow Fleet ships in the Baltic Sea. This body of water can only be entered via the Danish straits. At the other end of the Baltic is the Russian port of St Petersburg. If the German crackdown continues and intensifies, the Baltic will no longer be available to the Shadow Fleet. Russias economy and war effort against Ukraine is financed by oil and other energy exports. Russia is operating under severe economic sanctions imposed to reduce that income and create economic conditions for Russia that make it difficult to impossible to continue their war in Ukraine. The key to Russian oil exports is the use of foreign tankers to smuggle their petroleum and coal from Russia to overseas customers. Eighty percent of the oil for China goes by pipeline and cannot be disrupted. China accounts for nearly half of Russian petroleum and other energy exports. Its the other half that is at risk because of a growing list of sanctions. The economic sanctions were imposed on Russia because of its 2022 invasion, in an effort to reduce its hard currency income from exports of oil and natural gas. These are the main Russian exports and the major source of income for the Russian government and war effort. To evade these sanctions, Russia created a growing shadow fleet of oil tankers purchased and/or leased abroad and obtained unrestricted access to a Chinese smuggler haven maintained in Hong Kong. Current estimates are that over 500 tankers are smuggling sanctioned Russian petroleum to customers in China, India, the European Union/EU, Turkey and Myanmar. Most refined petroleum products go to Turkey, China, Brazil, Singapore and India. The rest goes to nine countries, in the Middle East, Africa and Taiwan. China has been buying 47 percent of the crude oil while India takes 37 percent followed by Turkey and the EU with six percent each. China, India and Turkey account for about 90 percent of Russian income from the sale of oil, natural gas and coal. The U.S. is imposing additional tariffs on countries that import Russian oil. India is already subject to these tariffs, which increases what they have to pay for imports from the United States. The Americans are negotiating with China and Turkey over what tariffs are being imposed to discourage Russian oil imports. The nations enforcing the sanctions, particularly the United States, have tracked the routes of the Russian shadow fleet and noted the key role Hong Kong plays in arranging the movement of sanctioned Russian oil to its primary customers in China and India. Hong Kong is also a major source for supplying sanctioned nations with weapons and munitions. A current customer is Russia. Hong Kong does this by allowing Russian tankers and cargo ships, operating with fake credentials to disguise their Russian affiliation, to bring in Russian oil and other raw materials. The Russian ships then leave Hong Kong carrying weapons for their war in Ukraine. Another major player in the Russian smuggling effort is North Korea. For years North Korea has been buying small, secondhand cargo and tanker ships and using them for smuggling. A favored evasion technique consists of taking on or transferring cargo at sea in its own territorial waters. The North Korean merchant fleet consists of about 150 ships, mostly purchased from Chinese firms. North Korea is a notorious and persistent maritime smuggler. Because of North Korean smuggling, the United States expanded its maritime smuggling and sanctions enforcement program in 2018 when a new multi-national enforcement organization was created. Initial members were the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, France, South Korea, and Japan. The Enforcement Coordination Cell, or ECC, is enforcing the UN sanctions that curb North Korean smuggling related to items needed for their nuclear and ballistic missile programs. In addition, the ECC allowed member nations to also enforce whatever other sanctions or naval missions their government put a priority on. The U.S. has since invited India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines to join and assist with monitoring growing Chinese violation of offshore water rights, especially in the South China Sea and other areas of the West Pacific. The ECC concentrates on the 2,000-kilometer-long shipping lane from the Indian Ocean, through the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea to North Korea. Along this route there are not only North Korean flagged ships participating in smuggling, but even more Chinese, Taiwanese, Liberian, Sri Lankan, and ships that are independent and fly whatever flag they believe will keep them from getting seized for smuggling. Earlier U.S. efforts had already identified many North Korean and Iranian owned tankers and cargo ships that were often engaged in smuggling. This led Iran and North Korea to use their own ships less and willing foreign ships instead. These third-party ships are the ones the ECC sought to identify. These ships can be identified, along with their owners and the owners can have banking and other sanctions placed on them. Many nations, not part of the ECC, but economic partners with ECC members, will cooperate if a smuggler ship visits one of their ports. At that point the captain can be arrested and the ships detained. The ECC member warships do not depend on inspecting suspicious ships while at sea but confirming who is where and when. This is especially useful for spotting smugglers who often turn off their location beacons and continue in running dark mode. These location beacons transmit current ID and location to any nearby ships and often, via satellite, to their owner and international shipping organizations. The location data, past and current, can be found on several public websites. The beacons exist mainly as a safety measure for ships operating at night or in bad weather in heavily used shipping lanes. Smugglers have learned how to turn off their beacons near a port where, it is assumed, they have docked or anchored off the coast waiting for an available dock. Some smugglers are using spoofing, a form of jamming that just modifies the beacon signal to present a false location. This is where warships and maritime aircraft come in as these can identify ships visually or using radar followed by visual inspection. This is more damaging to the smugglers because it provides more evidence that their ship was involved in smuggling, and with enough evidence, you can go after the ship owners and seize the ship whenever it enters coastal waters, within 22 kilometers of land belonging to a nation that will seize outlaw ships. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. For any president, its not a great sign when you see job numbers going down and gas prices going up. Thats particularly true when youre a president who has bragged of ushering the American economy into a golden age. And thats exactly where Donald Trump finds himself Friday, thanks to two economic developments that add up to bad politics news. One is the latest twist in a slow-moving story about the health of the job market. The other is the predictable fallout of Trumps days-old war against Iran. First, the twist. Friday morning, the Labor Department released the latest figures on how many jobs the U.S. economy created in February. Except created turns out to be the wrong word. The new numbers show that the economy lost 92,000 jobs last month. Worse still, the department reported that the federal government had overestimated the number of jobs employers added in its two previous reports. (It often refines its estimates as more data comes in, but in this case the revisions have essentially zeroed out any job creation over the past three months.) The numbers surprised forecasters, reviving fears of a potential recession. Investors recoiled, sending stocks falling. Even Trump officials struggled to sugarcoat the situation. I think we have to address the fact that this is not a good report in its raw numbers, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer conceded on Fox Business, before blaming a labor strike in California and the weather. (As New York Times economics reporter Ben Casselman notes, bad weather can depress job numbers. But that doesnt seem to have been a big factor this time, with fewer people reporting being unable to work because of the weather than did a year earlier.) The government reports job figures on a predetermined schedule, but theres no question that the latest ones land at an inopportune moment for Trump. Which leads to the second economic development this week that should worry the president: skyrocketing gas prices. Trumps bombing campaign against Iran has disrupted the pumping and shipping of crude oil, driving up gas prices worldwide. In the U.S., a gallon now costs $3.32 on average, an 11 percent jump since last week and the highest recorded sticker price during either of Trumps presidencies. What happens in Tehran, it turns out, doesnt stay in Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warsas well as claiming civilian lives and producing horrifying humanitarian crisessometimes cause one-off price shocks. But sustained fighting could also further logjam oil production and drive up the cost of other goods the region exports, including aluminum, farm fertilizer, and natural gas. The cost of anything that uses oil as an input, from making an iPhone to buying a plane ticket, could soon rise. The war has strangled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a U-bend-like chokepoint off the Iranian coast that acts as a highway for more than a third of the worlds oceangoing oil exports each year. On Wednesday, the number of tankers that passed through the strait was zero. OK, so the economydespite Trumps incessant promises of a new golden ageis hitting a rough patch. How much of that is Trumps fault? Certainly not none! Theres a clear causal link between his decision to bomb Iran, the rising price of oil, and growing kinks in the supply lines of international trade. The story of the labor market, which can sometimes resemble a pendulum, is more complicated. Trump took office following a furious burst of post-pandemic job growth during Joe Bidens presidency. The governments latest figures also show solid wage growth and an unemployment rate thats virtually unchanged since last summer. Advertisement Still, Trumps restrictionist immigration policies and aggressive deportation efforts may be shrinking the labor market. His tariffs have hurt small businesses, while his threats and lawsuits have upended notions of the U.S. as a safe environment for big corporations. His deep cuts to Medicaid are undermining hospitals ability to hire and retain workers, even though health care is among the few sectors consistently creating jobs. Related From Slate Theres Something Different About the Way MAGA Is Reacting to Trumps Iran War Read More Whatever the cause, history suggests that unpopular wars in the Middle East and economic numbers with lots of negative signs in front of them bode poorly for presidents. Trump, though, may be particularly vulnerable to both. Most Republicans support the attack on Iran, polls show. But it has angered some key allies who apparently took Trumps campaign pledge not to start new wars at face value, putting further pressure on a MAGA coalition already strained by his handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, cost-burdening tariffs, and trigger-happy intervention in Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Presidents often get blamed for bad economic numbers (just ask Biden). But it makes an added kind of sense for voters to hold accountable a president who loves claiming credit when things go well. Trump boasts of negotiating trade deals, trots out CEOs to announce new investments in America, and claims a better understanding of monetary policy than the chairman of the Federal Reserve. During his State of the Union address last week, Trump cited a rising stock market and falling gas prices to argue that the U.S. economy was roaring like never before. The war he started days later undermined both talking points. Advertisement Advertisement A president need not be as hands-on as Trump to appreciate the politically toxic mix that may be brewing. Two decades ago, an unpopular overseas war and a guttering national economy helped Democrats retake Congress and the White House under the last Republican commander in chief, George W. Bush. And while theres been plenty of speculation about whether a new Middle East war might prove the bunker-busting bomb that finally breaks Trumps grip on the MAGA faithful, the broader coalition of voters that returned him to power in 2024 has long since shattered. Polls suggest that Trumps standing has eroded with Americans of every age, race, gender, and income bracket since he retook officeincluding the independents, young people, and disaffected voters of color whose unhappiness with the Biden economy helped put him over the top. Advertisement So far, though, Trump seems undeterred. He told CNN on Thursday that higher gas prices will be short term time and go way down very quickly. Yet he has also refused to say how long the war will last, claiming in the same sentence that it might be four or five weeks and that we have capability to go far longer than that. This week, a former Bush adviser named Robert McNally told the Times that how long the Strait of Hormuz remains closed will determine how high gas prices could go. With Trump and his partys political fortunes, the question is how low. Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, which beat the spike in gas prices by loadin up dozens of trash bags with sweet, sweet unleaded a week ago. Its a thing of beauty, seeing them all lined up here in front of us by the fireplace. There were three politics stories this week: the Iran war, the Texas primaries, and Homeland Security drama. Thats it. The Iran war was (and is) the biggest of all of these, but were not leading the newsletter with it. Needs a little seasoning. OK, one other thing happened in politics this weekthe Montanans all went nutsbut thats it. There were four politics stories this week. Lets begin with the peculiar set of events that led to the firing of a Cabinet official. 1. John Kennedy The moment that finally pushed Kristi Noem out. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had been on thin ice within the administration for some time. The precipitating event that led to her ouster, thoughthe first such axing of a department head in Donald Trumps second termwas the way she answered questions from Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy in a Tuesday hearing. Kennedy, who possesses degrees from Vanderbilt, the University of Virginia, and Oxford, can perform an effective Im just a simple country lawyer routine when he wants to. And in this case, Kennedy, while probing Noem about an expensive DHS marketing campaign that filtered money (on no-bid deals) back to consultants in her orbit, got Noem to say that Trump greenlit the expenditure. This, as Kennedy later told reporters, made the president mad as a murder hornet when the two spoke later that day. Trump fired Noem on Thursday. Advertisement This is not the response youd expect when a Republican senator goes after a Trump administration official during a hearing. Youd expect Trump to yell at that senator, and trash him on social media, for daring to so publicly call a member of the Greatest Cabinet Ever Assembled corrupt. Kennedy told a reporter separately that he had given the White House a heads-up days before the hearing that he was going to grill Noem, and we know that Noem has made a lot of enemies in the administration. Perhaps the White House wasnt just understanding but encouraging of Kennedys plan when he reached out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. Markwayne Mullin Good luck, new guy! We never thought wed be sentimental for the first Trump term. But the presidents firing of Noem via social media as she was giving a press conferencewhile conferring on her the title of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas as a goody bag on the way outtakes us back to sunnier days of 201718 messiness. Similarly, the Senate GOP found out when Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt read Trumps post, in which he announced that Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin would be replacing Noem, during lunch. It used to be slapstick gags like this all the way around. We choose to forget the bad parts. Advertisement Why Mullin? Not because Mullin, a wealthy plumbing baron from Oklahoma whos served in Washington since 2013, has a distinguished legislative record. Not because he is on the relevant committees or has been involved in major border and immigration enforcement decisions. Were not aware of his having any special affinity for the TSA, FEMA, or the Coast Guard. The important thing is that Mullin, whos had a number of interesting episodes over the years, has been doing a lot of cable news hits since Trump returned to office, and Trump has enjoyed watching them. Heres an idea for when (its probably when, not if) Mullin assumes the job: Since Trump likes watching Mullin on TV, how about an advertising campaign starring himself that costs hundreds of millions of dollars? 3. Marco Rubio Why did we go to war with Iran? The United States has been participating in a rather large war with Iran for a week. Why? What was the imminent threat that required the United States to strike? The administration has cycled through a variety of answers. The most notable may have been from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At a press conference, he told reporters: There absolutely was an imminent threat, and the imminent threat was that we knew that if Iran was attacked, and we believe they would be attackedby Israelthey would immediately come after us, and we were not going to sit there and absorb a blow before we responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These remarks set off a firestorm and, regrettably, sent the sensitive receptors of antisemites abuzz. Trump, when asked whether Israel had forced his hand into attacking, said, No, I might have forced their hand. Rubio cleaned up his remarks the following day by saying, The bottom line is this: The president determined we were not going to get hit first. Its all kind of a silly conversation. Did Israels timing affect Trumps? Perhaps. But at the end of the day, Trump attacked Iran because there are a lot of people (hello, Lindsey Graham!) in his orbit whove wanted to take out Iran for a long time, and they successfully convinced Trump that this would be a moment of glory for him. Well see. 4. John Cornyn The Texas Republican Senate primary somehow just got more interesting. There was a small but critical surprise in Tuesdays Texas Republican Senate primary results. After narrowly trailing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton heading into primary day, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn ended up leading with 42 percent after votes were counted. The race now heads to a runoff on May 26. Cornyns showing provided his supporters with the best argument theyd had yet to persuade Trump to back Cornyn: that he was showing momentum and just needed another little push, and that it would save Republicans a lot of money in the fall if Cornyn won. While its not official yet, the argument seems to be working. The Atlantic reported that the president is preparing to endorse Cornyn, the stronger general-election candidate. Advertisement Trump confirmed in a post that an endorsement was imminent, adding a twist: The candidate he didnt endorse needed to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! This, aside from saving the GOP money and drama ahead of the runoff, would prevent Trump from being humiliated in case his candidate lost. Paxton at first said there was no chance hed get out of the race should he lose the endorsement. Then, on Thursday, he said he would consider it if the Senate agreed to lift the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, the GOPs voter-ID and voter-verification law. But as the Surge has explained, time and again, thats not going to happen. Listen, Ken: Just go for it if Trump endorses Cornyn. A lot of MAGA voters will be upset if Trump does that, and Paxton should harness their rage. Newsletter writers love this primary, and we want it to last forever. STAY IN, KEN! FIGHT! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5. James Talarico Now comes the real test. In a rare jump ball of a competitive Texas Democratic Senate primary, state Rep. James Talarico, the fancy-talkin seminarian, defeated #Resistance fighter Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the nomination. This all worked out pretty well for Democrats. Talarico showed particular strength among Latino voters in the Rio Grande Valley, an area where the party suffered catastrophic losses during the Biden years. And though the primary was frequently ugly, Crockett was gracious enough to quickly concede and endorse Talarico. Talaricos next 24 hours showed the daunting path ahead, though. First and foremost were Trumps apparent efforts to negotiate Paxtons quick exit from the race. But the Surge also couldnt help but notice old tweets and statements of Talaricos suddenly resurfacing on Republican accounts the day after the primary, ones in which he, like many liberals, got a bit carried away around 2020. There are some cringe quotes about how white skin gives him immunity from the virus of racism, which all white people carry. Generally, his interpretation of Christianity, in which theres a nonbinary God who supports abortion, will be a tough sell to Christians who arent already solid liberals. But hes got eight months to figure it out. Advertisement 6. Steve Daines Something in the water in Montana? Two minutes before the candidate filing deadline in Montana on Wednesday afternoon, two-term Republican Sen. Steve Daines withdrew the reelection bid he had filed a few weeks ago. Right around the same time, Montana U.S. attorney and former state budget official Kurt Alme filed for his candidacy and promptly received the endorsement of Daines, Trump, Gov. Greg Gianforte, and Sen. Tim Sheehy. What we have here is a sleazeball situation. Daines appears to have been staying in the race on paper to keep the primary field clear for his chosen successor, and to prevent Democrats from landing a top-tier recruit for an open seat. (Though its Dems fault, ultimately, for not being prepared.) When Democratic Rep. Chuy Garcia pulled a similar maneuver last year, the House voted to rebuke him for actions that are beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the United States Constitution. No similar rebukes against Daines are expected in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were two other newsworthy events in the Montana delegation this week, allowing us to make this a Montana Trend Entry. Rep. Ryan Zinke, a former interior secretary in Trumps first term, announced that he wouldnt run for reelection, opening up a you-never-know situation for Democrats in the less red of Montanas two districts. And in a surreal scene, Sheehy joined Capitol Police to help forcibly eject a protester who was disrupting an Armed Services Committee hearing. The protestera Marine veteran running as a Green Party Senate candidate in North Carolinasaid he suffered a broken bone in the process. Why all these Montana men decided to have life crises this week is beyond us. 7. Tony Gonzales He will leave Congress (later). The embattled Texas representative secured 42 percent of the vote against his primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, on Tuesday. (When you think about it, getting 42 percent of the vote while engulfed in a scandal over an affair with a staffer who later took her own life by self-immolation is more than you might expect.) And the day after the primarywith those pesky voters out of the equation for a couple of monthsGonzales finally gave an interview in which he admitted to the affair. Advertisement But theres no runoff with Herrera in Gonzales future after all. On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other House Republican leaders asked Gonzales to withdraw from the race, and he did so shortly thereafter. Note, however, that these leaders didnt also ask Gonzales to resign, for the very obvious reason that the House GOP majority is thin to the point of collapsible. God has a plan for all of us, Gonzales wrote on Twitter. And Gods plan for Gonzales is to exploit a narrow House margin to continue collecting a salary through the rest of the year. Sign up for Slates newest newsletter, Executive Dysfunction! Each week, Slates Shirin Ali surfaces important, under-the-radar legal news and keeps you apprised of all that is going on with our Jurisprudence team. The journey was circuitous, but driver Brett Beckwith used the GPS in his head to guide Resolve To Win to the winners circle nonetheless in the Friday, March 6 feature at The Meadowlands, a $34,247 Winners Over on the trot. Hes a handy horse and really tries hard, said Beckwith, who needed both from the Rico Robinson trainee to grab the victory. Asteroid (Colin Kelly), Resolve To Win, High Speed Swan (Braxten Boyd) and Super Duper Cooper (Mark Herschberger) the top four betting choices in the eight-horse field all left the gate with a sense of urgency with Resolve To Win grabbing the point out of the first turn. He led by the narrowest of margins over a headstrong High Speed Swan at the quarter in :27.2. The action was furious down the backside, as Super Duper Cooper was on the front after the three-eighths before yielding the point to Finite (Tyler Miller), who hit the half in :55.4. At that point, Resolve To Win was shuffled back in the three-hole, racing in sixth, but Beckwith went into rabbit-out-of-a-hat mode, squeezing the eventual winner into a live flow third-over before Finite passed three-quarters in 1:25. Resolve To Win swung three-wide off the cover of Call Option (Joe Bongiorno) and started his rally through the stretch, and when they reached the wire, the six-year-old gelded son of Resolve-Sensual Hall had completed his magical mystery tour with a walk down victory lane. It was a half-length back to Super Duper Cooper with Asteroid third, as Robinson students all owned by Pennsylvania's Pollack Racing finished 1-2-3. The mile went in 1:53.1. It probably wasnt the ideal trip, said Beckwith. Thankfully, hes a pretty handy horse who is able to overcome things. As the 3-5 favourite, Resolve To Win returned $3.40 to his backers. Resolve To Win has now won 28 of 93 lifetime starts, good for nearly $520,000 in purse earnings. Brad Chisholm led the driver colony on the night with three winners, whose odds were 7-2, 9-2 and 33-1. For a second consecutive week, there will be a pair of carryovers awaiting players for the Saturday night card. The $1 Pick 8 went unhit for a fifth consecutive offering, upping the carryover to $77,471. Winners' odds for the sequence were 9-2, 2-1, 3-5, 11-1, 7-2, 6-1, 9-2 and 3-5. Those with six correct collected $213.90. The 20-cent Pick-6 also failed to yield a winning ticket. After a sequence where the winners' odds were 6-1, 9-2, 3-5, 3-5, 6-1 and 33-1, those with four correct collected $12.86. The carryover is $5,104. The $1 Pick 8 is available on races three through 10 while the 20-cent Pick-6 is offered on races eight through 13. Meadow Twaddle was back on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set back doing what she does best. Picking winners. Twaddle had six on top with plenty of exotics along the way. Her hit parade included Bizys Beatle in the first race ($3 to win); Big Nudge in the second ($9, daily double $17.20); Interview Fra A in the fifth ($3.40); Remarkable De Vie in the eighth ($15.20, exacta $49.40); Resolve To Win in the 10th ($3.40, exacta $13, trifecta $35.40); and Leave And Roll in the 11th ($3.20, exacta $13.80). All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $2,410,672 USD. Racing resumes on Saturday at 6 p.m., when The Meadowlands will celebrate International Womens Day with an all-female, five-member TV talent team. (With files from Meadowlands Racetrack) In the latest edition of Rewind, Robert Smith takes a rather short trip back in time to the decade of the 1990s in the regular monthly feature "Years Ago." His reminiscence recalls a number of people, horses and other items of interest from this time period, which is around 25 to 35 years ago. 1990 - Windsor Raceway Into Its Fourth Decade "What A Place To Race" As Windsor Raceway entered its fourth decade of operation, President John B. Ferguson issued an invitation to all horse people to consider stabling and racing at the Windsor track. A full-page ad in the Feb. 9, 1990 edition of the Canadian Sportsman outlined the many advantages of racing at the border oval. With approximately eight months of racing on schedule for 1990, Windsor was being advertised as "What A Place To Race!" At this time Windsor Raceway was observing its 25th year, having opened in October 1965. It was designed and built to accommodate wintertime racing. Ten years prior to this, Toronto's legendary Dufferin Park closed its doors forever. It had offered winter racing, often under rather harsh conditions. The new Windsor track was a dream for winter racing, as fans and horsepeople alike enjoyed the best "creature comforts" available at the time. The Windsor track originally relied on a synthetic "Tartan" surface to provide racing under any weather conditions. In 1978, the surface was covered with stone dust. Around 1980, the original track was removed and replaced with a traditional, banked, spiral-graded limestone track. That surface was used until the track's closure in 2012. Windsor Raceway President Al Siegel inspects the new tartan surface being installed at the soon-to-open Windsor Raceway. A portion of the recently completed grandstand can be seen in the background. 1993 - Canadians Dominate Breeders Crown Races In 1993, the 12 Breeders Crown events were held at three different tracks. Two were in the U.S.; four were held at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey and four at Pompano Park in Florida. Closing out the trio of locations, four events were held on Canadian soil at Mohawk Raceway. Overall, 10 of the 12 winners were either trained or driven by Canadian-born horsemen. In the four divisions raced at Mohawk, Canadian "boys" made a clean sweep. The four winning drivers were Kelly Sheppard, Paul MacDonell, Bill O'Donnell and Chris Christoforou Jr. Race Winner Driver Trainer Time Track 2YO Colt & Gelding Pace Expensive Scooter Jack Moiseyev Bill Robinson 1:54.2 Freehold Raceway 2YO Colt & Gelding Trot Wesgate Crown John Campbell G. R. "Raz" MacKenzie 1:57.1 Pompano Harness 2YO Filly Pace Electric Slide Michel Lachance Robert McIntosh 1:55.3 Freehold Raceway 2YO Filly Trot Gleam Jimmy Takter Jimmy Takter 1:58.4 Pompano Harness 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace Life Sign John Campbell Gene Riegle 1:54.2 Freehold Raceway 3YO Colt & Gelding Trot Pine Chip John Campbell Charles Sylvester 1:54.2 Pompano Harness 3YO Filly Pace Immortality John Campbell Robert McIntosh 1:55.3 Freehold Raceway 3YO Filly Trot Expressway Hanover Per Henriksen Per Henriksen 1:55.4 Pompano Harness Open Mare Pace Swing Back Kelly Sheppard Tod Sheppard 1:52.2 Mohawk Raceway Open Mare Trot Lifetime Dream Paul MacDonell George "Butch" Elliott 1:55.4 Mohawk Raceway Open Pace Staying Together William O'Donnell Robert McIntosh 1:51.1 Mohawk Raceway Open Trot Earl Chris Christoforou Jr. Chris Christoforou Sr. 1:56 Mohawk Raceway 1994 - Indianapolis At Home At The Meadowlands Indianapolis the horse is shown in a winning effort for Bill O'Donnell during the 1994 season at The Meadowlands. Down through the years many horses have been named after cities, towns, villages and more. At the present time (1994), a veteran trotter named Indianapolis was racing like a colt at The Meadowlands even though he was 11 years old. By March he had already won four of his five season starts. He had been privileged to have a pretty good driver in recent starts, and that was Bill "Magic Man" O'Donnell. His owner had recently said, "Billy loves the horse." He had also been driven by Walter Case Jr., who handled him at Yonkers as well as at Windsor, Me., where he trotted an amazing mile in 1:58.4 at the local fair. His trainer Glenn Deleteskey was credited with much of his success and was even known to use some unconventional training routines, such as training the horse under saddle. He had recently gone a mile in 2:08 for his "jockey." Also of note at this time, the horse was racing without an overcheck, a practice that was somewhat unusual. Bred by Norman Woolworth, the gelded Dream Of Glory progeny was approaching $400,000 in lifetime money. Over the years, Indianapolis raced against such top-level competitors as Mack Lobell, No Sex Please and Friendly Face. Some of his major races included the Maple Leaf Trot and the $250,000 Statue of Liberty. When Indianapolis erased Greyhounds world record for trotting geldings with a 1:55.1 mark in mid-August of 1990 at The Meadowlands, his co-owner Ronald Ralph commented, "He never really got the publicity he deserved." 1997 - Rideau Carleton Celebrates 35th Anniversary When Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa opened in 1962, it was truly a milestone event. The construction of this new ultra-modern, state-of-the-art facility marked the first new racetrack to be built in Canada in decades. Its features included a clubhouse, modern stabling for horsemen and a five-eighths-mile track. Its overall design literally included everything then known. In 1997, a special anniversary celebration was held to observe the occasion and several special events were held. As part of the festivities, a number of the original drivers were invited back to mark the milestone (see photo below). On Sept. 1, 1962, Rideau Carleton the first new track of the decade to be built in Ontario opened, and here is how it looked on that opening night (Hoof Beats). Quote For The Week: "Folk songs express the dreams and prayers and hopes of the working people." Hank Williams Who Is It? Can you identify this fellow who is going about his daily stable chores? Sadly he left us a few years ago. Who Else Is It? How many people in this 1997 photo can you identify? It was taken at the 35-year Rideau Carleton reunion. Most of the people in the photo were part of the track's startup when the track was opened in 1962. (The correct answers to the above photos will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.) Blast From The Past Maritime Memories Racing at New Annan, P.E.I. The surroundings were pretty basic, but the fans still came out in droves. They loved their harness racing, and that "love" has remained strong throughout the Maritimes to this day. March 7, 2026: South Korea is the tenth largest economy in the world. China is second, after South Korean ally the United States. Trade between China and South Korea last year exceeded $300 billion. China relies on South Korea for many items essential for keeping the Chinese economy going. What China does not like is the growing military power of South Korea. The only potential enemy South Korea has is China. North Korea is a threat, but the per capita GDP of South Korea is more than 50 times larger than North Korea. China has long backed North Korea but can do little to alleviate the self-destructive economic policies the Kim dynasty has imposed for over 70 years. While North Korea is now building destroyers and large submarines, South Korea has had a large fleet for decades and is now building nuclear submarines. China sees that as a threat but cant do much about it. The South Korean, Japanese and American Pacific fleet forces can block any Chinese effort to take control of the western Pacific. For China, South Korea has become a crucial trading partner and dangerous regional naval power. China and South Korea have other problems. The quantity and qualities of people in East Asia are changing. The populations of China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Russia are aging and shrinking, while India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Australia continue to grow. China has an official population of 1.42 billion and an actual population of 800 million or less. The Chinese government went to great lengths to conceal the negative population impact of the one-child policy and covid19. But reports from tourists or commercial travelers indicated there were far fewer Chinese than the government claimed. Satellite photos showed fewer lights where major cities were and many lights for smaller towns were now absent. Unless living in the dark at night became a new Chinese custom, the lower population estimates are apparently accurate. Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea have declining populations because of prosperity and comfortable living conditions. Worldwide, industrialized countries face lower birth rates because of this. The Japanese birth rate is 1.15, Taiwans .89, South Koreas is .75. Other industrialized countries are experiencing similar birth rates. In Italy its 1.18, Germany is 1.62. The United States is no exception with a birth rate of 1.58. India has a population of 1.46 billion. Thats nearly 18 percent of the world population. That is changing as India's birth rate of 1.9 is also below the 2.1 replacement rate. The Philippines birth rate is also 1.9. In Vietnam its 1.4, and Australia 1.8. There are nations with high birth rates. Most are in Africa, which has an overall birth rate of 3.1. Worldwide the rate is 1.75. This will have an impact on economies, military capabilities and relationships with major trading and military partners. Two nations matter the most when it comes to trade. The United States had total exports and imports valued at $5.2 trillion. China did $6.1 trillion in trade. The importance of trade to the Chinese, who now have a declining middle class, is critical. Disrupt economic stability and you have chaos and maybe even another civil war. China builds most of the worlds commercial shipping and has the worlds largest navy, at least in terms of ship numbers. The United States still has a larger fleet in terms of total tonnage, 11 aircraft carriers and over a century of experience. China may threaten war, but to actually start one would be a political and economic catastrophe for China. Peace through prosperity is more than a catchy slogan. The Chinese fertility rate, or number of children born to each woman, is among the lowest in the world and nothing the government can do seems able to change it. Chinese women no longer accept the traditional role of wife and mother. Many refuse to marry Chinese men, instead seeking American or European spouses. Americans are preferred because they help with childcare and housework. Most Chinese women dont have access to foreign men and simply stay single. China continues trying to make the best of a bad situation they cannot seem to control; a shrinking population, a workforce that is shrinking even faster and markets for its exports leveling off. The workforce shrinkage raises dire doubts about Chinese export statistics as those simply remaining where they were six years ago entails an unbelievable rate of labor productivity increases. These three factors mean Chinas Ponzi scheme economy has reached its limits with substantial declines now in progress. Other East Asian nations have similar problems, some not involving on-going Ponzi scheme financial systems, after having experienced a sustained economic boom that has moved much of the population into the middle-class. China too has prospered and given several hundred million Chinese prosperous middle class lives. This is unprecedented in Chinese history. One of the downsides of this prosperity is that couples have fewer children. When poor, families have more children because that is how people can create some support for their old age. Children do that and, in the absence of savings, children have traditionally supported their elderly parents. Because of all the prosperity, that traditional form of old age care is eroding. Chinas total population began a rapid collapse and reached 800-1200 million in the 2020s instead of the predicted 2030s. The biggest current problem is the growth of retirees with a steadily shrinking number of workers to support them. Proposals to allow more births run into arguments about limited resources. Japan is way ahead in this population decline curve, and China does not want to join them, but no one has yet come up with an acceptable alternative. The impact of fewer births in urban areas over two decades ago is showing up in growing shortages of skilled labor. The costs of manufacturing high tech items is growing, forcing Chinese manufacturers to move more factories to nations with cheaper labor. The military is giving the troops a raise, especially the technicians. Otherwise, it cant recruit or keep them. Chinese manufacturing activity has been shrinking since 2022 and that is one of several indicators that the Chinese economy is in trouble. There are also some epic failures of infrastructure, with provincial electrical blackouts increasingly common. The problems are largely self-inflicted. The shrinking of Chinese economic activity is the result of several different economic problems, including consumers not resuming their pre-covid19 spending habits. Less consumer spending was not expected. None of this should be a surprise because all the problems have occurred in China before, but not all at once. Paying attention to Chinese history is a respected popular tradition for basing major decisions on. Chinese leader Xi Jinping came to power in 2012 and initially concentrated on reinforcing government control of the military. Xi, like most Chinese leaders, pays more attention to history than foreign counterparts do. Chinese military history is measured in thousands of years while Westerners in most cases have only a few centuries of it and dont pay as much attention to past experiences as China does. Chinese economic history over those long periods did not change much either. It was largely feudal and, since 1910, China has been trying to develop a form of government capable of handling economic problems more effectively. Xi Jinping has had some success and recently saw the Chinese banking sector improving to the point where it can assist in reviving the economy. The economy is still in bad shape, with too much debt, and many foreign companies pulling out of China while too many Chinese companies are barely staying in business with a growing number slipping into insolvency and bankruptcy. Yao Dezhong during an interview with Reuters in Beijing By Laurie Chen BEIJING, March 8 (Reuters) - China could see brain-computer interface (BCI) technology move into practical public use within three to five years as products mature, a leading BCI expert said, as Beijing races to catch up with U.S. startups including Elon Musk's Neuralink. Beijing elevated BCIs to a core future strategic industry in its new five-year plan released this week, placing it alongside sectors such as quantum, embodied AI, 6G and nuclear fusion. Advertisement "New policies will not change things overnight. I think after another three to five years, we will gradually see some (BCI) products moving towards actual practical service for the public," said Yao Dezhong, Director of the Sichuan Institute of Brain Science, in an interview on Saturday on the sidelines of China's annual parliament meetings in Beijing. TRIALS A national BCI development strategy released last year aims for major technical breakthroughs by 2027 and for China to cultivate two or three world-class firms by 2030. China is the second country to launch invasive BCI human trials. More than 10 trials are active, matching the U.S., while scientists plan to enrol more than 50 patients nationwide this year. Advertisement Advertisement Recent high-profile trials have enabled paralysed patients and amputees to regain partial mobility and operate robotic hands or intelligent wheelchairs. The government has already integrated some BCI treatments into national medical insurance in a few pilot provinces, and the domestic market is projected to reach 5.58 billion yuan ($809 million) by 2027, according to CCID Consulting. "China has many advantages in BCIs, such as its huge population, enormous patient demand, cost-effective industrial chain and abundant pool of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) talent," said Yao, who also leads a key neuroinformatics research centre under China's science and technology ministry. Policies such as insurance integration and national standards aim to close the "huge" gap between scientific research, industry and clinical applications, he said. Advertisement Advertisement "The path from experimental to clinical trials is quite long, and this remains a problem," he told Reuters, adding that many Chinese hospitals have established BCI research labs to speed up the process. While U.S. startups like Neuralink focus on invasive chips that penetrate brain tissue, Chinese researchers are developing invasive, semi-invasive and non-invasive BCIs with wider potential clinical use. Semi-invasive BCIs, placed on the brain's surface, may lose some signal quality but reduce risks such as tissue damage and other post-surgery complications. Neuralink's surgical robot can insert hundreds of electrodes into the brain in minutes. "This is a technical advantage, which I think is remarkable," said Yao, of Neuralink. "(But) China is actually making very fast progress in this area now. In fact, Musk's direction is basically achievable domestically." (Reporting by Laurie Chen. Editing by Mark Potter) NEED TO KNOW Southwest Airlines updated 'Customer of Size' policy went into effect on Jan. 27, 2026 Since then, several customers have taken to social media to air their grievances with the airline Two recently affected passengers, Erika DeBoer and Grace Simpson, went viral after flying with the airline and now talk to PEOPLE about how the policy changes made them feel In January 2026, Southwest Airlines updated its Customer of Size policy, altering how some passengers book their flights. According to the guidelines, travelers who may not fit within a single seat are now required to proactively purchase an additional seat. The policy also states the airline may decide, in its sole discretion, when a second seat is needed for safety reasons, without outlining specific measurements or criteria, aside from possible encroachment on neighboring seats. Since the change took effect, passengers have shared mixed reactions on social media, with some calling for clearer guidance on when an extra seat is required including Erika DeBoer, who ran into issues regarding the policy while traveling from Omaha, Neb., to Las Vegas on Feb. 6. In a now-viral TikTok, the 38-year-old claimed that, while having her bag checked, she was informed by a Southwest employee that she needed to purchase an extra seat. When she asked for an explanation, the attendant told her it was for the safety and comfort of their other passengers, she exclusively tells PEOPLE. Advertisement The part that lingers the most is the words used. Safety and comfort of other passengers. They just kept repeating it like robots without any care for the actual situation, DeBoer says, noting that, as a frequent Southwest flyer, the choice felt stark and limiting. It feels powerlessto be given two options either buy an extra seat or not be allowed on the flight, she says. Ultimately, DeBoer paid for an extra, upgraded window seat on her flight to Las Vegas, but says she was not flagged by Southwest employees when traveling back home to Omaha. I was not humiliated or embarrassed or on the verge of tears. I was angry, she emphasizes. I have zero shame in my size." Advertisement Advertisement Once home, DeBoer contacted Southwest and tells PEOPLE they issued her a refund for the extra ticket and the upgraded seat. They also sent her a $150 voucher, in hopes Id fly with them again. DeBoer, however, is still waiting to hear back from Southwest on clarification of their policy. Just days later, Grace Simpson also took to TikTok, sharing a similar experience regarding the same policy. In her video, she explained that it took "everything in me to not cry" after she had already successfully flown on a Southwest Airlines flight from Norfolk, Va., to Baltimore on Feb. 10, but was pulled aside at the gate for her connecting flight to San Diego. According to Simpson, a Southwest supervisor told her that a gate agent had identified her as a potential customer of size and said she would need to purchase an additional seat. I told him that I had already flown from Norfolk to Baltimore without issue, so I was not going to buy another ticket, she recalls. The supervisor who approached me was clearly uncomfortable and embarrassed to single me out and discuss my body, she adds. In many ways, it felt unfair to both of us. While I do believe he had some discretion in how he handled the situation, it was evident that he was put in a difficult position enforcing a policy he did not create. Advertisement Advertisement In the end, she says the supervisor provided her with a newly printed boarding pass, relocating her to an empty seat in the back row of the plane at no extra cost. Its hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I could go through ticketing, security, boarding and take my seat with multiple employees seeing me and yet if one person decided I didnt fit the policy, I could be publicly deboarded, Simpson tells PEOPLE exclusively. Even if nine people before thought I was fine, the 10th person could override that. That level of discretion feels less about safety and more about personal judgment and discrimination. Unlike DeBoer, Simpson has not formally complained to Southwest regarding the incident. Grace Simpson. Credit: Grace Simpson As avid Southwest travelers, both women emphasize that their disappointment in the airlines policy was less about purchasing a second seat and more about the absence of clear, consistent logistics around how that determination is made. Advertisement Advertisement Its completely unfair to get to the airport and be told you have to purchase an extra seat with no actual parameters or guidelines, DeBoer says. It was all up to the discretion of the Southwest employee by looking at me. Simpson also noted how this unpredictability created intense anxiety in fat passengers" who are most likely already self-conscious about their bodies when flying. When something as personal as your body is left up to real-time opinion, it doesnt feel clear or fair. It feels like youre one decision away from public embarrassment, the mother of one highlights. Simpson believes that "without clear measurements or objective standards, theres no way to prepare or make an informed decision before arriving at the airport." "When enforcement is based on 'sole discretion' instead of defined guidelines, it feels subjective and that directly impacts fairness," she tells PEOPLE. "If there are no clear, objective standards, then employees are left to make real-time judgments based on what they see. That naturally raises concerns about bias." Advertisement Advertisement Their experiences also expose how the policy can inadvertently send broader social messages. DeBoer observed that the focus on size can feel exclusionary. The message it sends is that it made me feel evaluated before I was respected, she says. It sends the message that larger travelers access to public space is conditional. Seats on Southwest flight. Credit: Erika DeBoer Advertisement Advertisement DeBoer also highlights the potential mental health implications for travelers with body image concerns or travel anxiety. This lack of policy can absolutely be so damaging to the mental health of people who struggle with body image and travel anxiety, she says. Imagine this being the tipping point for someone. Maybe someone whos been working on losing weight? Maybe someone with health issues? Maybe someone who has to see a dying family member? For Simpson, her recent weight loss and a health journey complicated the experience further. I had just hit the 100-pound milestone less than a week before this incident, she says. Instead, the experience felt like a slap in the face. While I know Im still a large person, that moment overshadowed what should have been a celebration of how far Ive come. She says, even at her heaviest weight, she had never been flagged by an airline in the past, despite flying nearly once a month for work. Erika DeBoer and her friend on a Southwest flight. Credit: Erika DeBoer Both women made clear that their concerns were more about the implementation, rather than Southwests Customer of Size" policy itself. Advertisement Advertisement In her initial TikTok video regarding her complaint, DeBoer emphasized that if she were encroaching on a neighboring seat or if a passenger had made it clear that they felt uncomfortable, she totally gets that. However, at the time of the incident, she had purchased a window seat and her friend was sitting next to her, and still, she was made to move and upgrade her ticket. If they want to have a customer of size policy that is fine and I respect that, but there needs to be actual guidelines other than the discretion of an employee just looking at someone, she says. Also, how awful to make your employees have to have that conversation. Maybe just make better seats for people. Youve addressed extra legroom, why not make a bigger seat? Simpson also emphasizes the importance of clearer communication at the point of purchase, as both women claim that they were unaware of the new policy while buying their tickets online. From a consumer standpoint, transparency means more than just having information buried on a website. If a policy could require someone to purchase an additional seat or potentially deplane, it should be clearly communicated at the point of purchase. There should be a prompt, a checkbox or a clearly visible notice something that ensures customers are aware before they finalize their ticket, Simpson suggests. Advertisement Advertisement Fairness, to me, looks like proactive communication and consistent enforcement. If seat dimensions are the standard, then the expectations should be clearly explained upfront and applied equally, she adds. Customers shouldnt find out about a policy only after theyve already gotten to the airport, gate or boarded a plane. Erika DeBoer sitting in a Southwest seat. Credit: Erika DeBoer DeBoer also raises questions about who is targeted: are taller or more muscular passengers treated similarly? The scrutiny wasnt about space alone it was about size, and specifically about fat bodies, when it should be about every body that might spill past an armrest or encroach on the seat next to them," she tells PEOPLE. Simpson also describes how the lack of standards can compound existing stigmas for fat travelers. Being approached in that moment brought me right back to feeling like a child being singled out and laughed at for my weight, she shares. When a policy singles out bodies without clear standards, it risks normalizing that kind of judgment. Advertisement Advertisement The inconsistencies between their experiences highlight the importance of clarity, as DeBoer experienced the policy on a single flight, while Simpson's encounter occurred mid-journey after completing the first leg of her journey a clear illustration of how discretion can vary even within a single airline, they say. Safety and comfort, as described by both travelers, should be extended to them as well. DeBoer and Simpson agree that framing the policy as protecting everyone except larger travelers can create an impression of conditional belonging. When people say this is about comfort and safety for all passengers, I think whats often missing is that people of size are also part of all passengers, DeBoer tells PEOPLE. Simpson feels the same, saying that fat passengers" deserve dignity, predictability, and respect in public spaces too. The conversation often centers on how other passengers feel sitting next to someone larger, but it rarely considers how it feels to be the person being evaluated, flagged or potentially removed. When PEOPLE reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment, the company noted that its "policy is well defined" on its website, adding that there's another page explaining how "customers should go about booking a second seat, if needed." "Last summer, we notified Customers who had previously used the policy that we strongly encourage them to book a second seat at time of booking. Its important to note that our policy is in line with airline industry standards," Southwest shared in a statement. Read the original article on People The Global Tourism Forum Angola Leaders Dinner, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Angola and the World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI) in Berlin, got off to a sparkling start with a red carpet rolled out for tourism experts and investors from around the world, including Germany, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. It was a special evening for a special occasion, taking place on the very first day of the worlds largest tourism trade fair, ITB Berlin 2026, with Angola serving as the official host country. "ITB is considered the mecca of tourism," says Marcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola, in an interview with Euronews Travel. "If you are in ITB, you are at the centre of a platform that decides the tourism in the world." Advertisement Between exquisite dinner courses and lively conversations, Daniel outlines what is at stake for his country. Angola is not yet a widely known destination, he explains: "We want to promote our country because we are well aware that nobody visits the place that they don't know, so we have to make ourselves known to the world." Marcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola - World Tourism Forum Institute Tourism is a 'key pillar' for Angola The Southern African nation has ambitious goals. It is working to diversify its economy, with tourism identified as a "key pillar". For now, oil and gas account for around 20% of Angolas GDP. However, the country is seeking to identify other sectors that can help accelerate economic growth, says Jose de Lima Massano, Minister of State for Economic Coordination of Angola. Tourism is one of them. Advertisement Advertisement While he came to Berlin to showcase Angolas beauty and potential, mobilising capital was also a major objective behind hosting ITB and the Global Tourism Forum dinner. "We think that tourism is so special at this time that Angola is trying to take the country to the next level of social and economic development," Lima Massano told Euronews. And the hard work has paid off. "In seven years time period, they did a lot," says Bulut Bagc, president of the World Tourism Forum Institute. According to Bagc, the Global Tourism Forum Leaders Dinner hosted by Angola is "the basis and the platform to creating", with tourism ranking among the countrys top priority sectors. Jose de Lima Massano, Minister of State for Economic Coordination of Angola - World Tourism Forum Institute Angola: A place made in heaven Angola has much to offer. From safaris to tropical flora, the country is made for adventurers. "The Southern African Country has 1,650 kilometres of coast with virgin beaches and national parks where you can do safari," Daniel says. In addition, Angola is home to the worlds oldest desert the Namib Desert and one of Africas largest waterfalls, the Kalandula Falls. Lima Massano also spoke to Euronews about Angolas unique beauty. "It doesn't matter where you go, north, south, east, west, it is a country blessed with a lot of national and natural beauties." Advertisement Advertisement Yet as stunning as the landscape may be, what truly defines Angola is its people and their unique culture. Visitors should be prepared not just to observe its beauty, but to immerse themselves in a warm and welcoming society. As Lima Massano describes the heart of his culture, his face lights up. "In Angola, we enjoy life," he says. "Being there, you have to be open to it, to the music, the gastronomy, to the culture of the country. Be prepared to be involved, be prepared to part. Because we are welcoming country. It is like we are a big family." Angola is a country with a very vibrant gastronomy and hospitality, Daniel adds. The country offers a truly unique experience. "It is very untouched and unexplored," he says. "You can feel the rhythm of life by itself." Bulut Bagc, president of the World Tourism Forum Institute - World Tourism Forum Institute Combining sustainability and responsible tourism Angola is particularly suited to adventurous travellers. "You can do an immersion with the local tribes, Daniel says. It makes the experience just unique." Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, the country plans to broaden its target audience in the future by developing all-inclusive resorts, hotels and eco-lodges, thereby inviting families to explore the country. However, while the focus is on developing and expanding the tourism sector, Angola also wants to act responsibly towards its people and its environment. The country aims to preserve its unique natural beauty by focusing on luxury and high-end tourism. "We have a strategy not to do mass tourism because we want to preserve the nature," Daniel says. The Global Tourism Forum Angola Leaders Dinner in Berlin was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Angola and the World Tourism Forum Institute - World Tourism Forum Institute Advertisement Advertisement Enhancing the tourism sector with the help of AI This is where artificial intelligence could play a key role, helping Angola reach the visitors it wants to attract. By gaining a better understanding of tourists needs, the country can respond to them more effectively, Lima Massano explains. How? AI could help Angora trace the tourist data. "This is the most important thing," Bagc says. Tourism is one of the largest pillars of economic infrastructure. If you want to build up your country, first of all you have to focus on tourism. Spanish PM: U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran "extraordinary mistake" Xinhua) 13:48, March 07, 2026 Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez speaks during a press conference following the Spain-Portugal summit in La Rabida, Huelva, Spain, March 6, 2026. Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez said on Friday that the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran is an "extraordinary mistake" and rejected criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump for Spain's refusal to allow the U.S. to use its bases in the country in the ongoing aerial assault. (La Moncloa/Handout via Xinhua) MADRID, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez said on Friday that the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran is an "extraordinary mistake" and rejected criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump for Spain's refusal to allow the U.S. to use its bases in the country in the ongoing aerial assault. "This war is an extraordinary mistake that we will pay for," said Sanchez said during his meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, adding that the conflict was already causing price rises. He repeated his belief that the war is being carried out outside international law, and insisted that "among allied countries, it is good to help when one is right and to point out when a mistake is being made." Sanchez also announced that he will speak in the Spanish Congress to explain his government's position and the decision to send the frigate Cristobal Colon to help protect Cyprus from possible Iranian attack. "With the same determination that leads us to say 'no to war' in Iran, we are clearly determined to show solidarity and help by lending a hand to an EU member state that is a victim of that conflict," he said. For his part, Montenegro said Portugal "defends diplomacy and negotiation as a way to resolve conflicts." Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez (R) speaks during a press conference following the Spain-Portugal summit in La Rabida, Huelva, Spain, March 6, 2026. Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez said on Friday that the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran is an "extraordinary mistake" and rejected criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump for Spain's refusal to allow the U.S. to use its bases in the country in the ongoing aerial assault. (La Moncloa/Handout via Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Wu Chaolan) As a result, the tea has more chlorophyll and flavor compounds that lead to more beneficial compounds. Once the leaves are dried, they are stone ground to a fine powder a fluorescent shade of green. "It's the only form of tea in which you consume the whole leaf, you know, rather than an extract of the leaf," Weil said. Weil, one of the world's foremost authorities in integrative medicine he founded the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in 1994 was first introduced to matcha at 17, when he spent a year as an exchange student in Japan. "On the second night I was in Japan, my host mother, we had very little language in common, took me to meet her next door neighbor, who was a practitioner of tea ceremony," he said. "That was the first time that I saw or tasted matcha. I fell in love with it, with the color, with everything about it, and I just was very interested to introduce it to people I knew." But that was 1959 and there weren't a whole lot of people interested in drinking bright green tea. It wasn't until years later that Weil began learning about the health benefits of tea and of matcha, whose high levels of antioxidants help fight cell damage and reduce chronic disease risks, according to widely publicized studies. Other health benefits include increasing your metabolism and promoting heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Some social media influencers also praise matcha for boosting their energy without giving them the jitters sometimes associated with coffee. Last year, President Donald Trump told pregnant women not to take Tylenol as he promoted unproven ties between the fever reducer and autism and touted an old generic drug as a treatment for the developmental condition. For nearly three months after that, new research found, Tylenol orders for pregnant women showing up in emergency rooms dropped and prescriptions of the generic drug for children rose. This happened despite sharp criticism of the president's message from doctor groups saying that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy and the drug, leucovorin, shouldn't be broadly used for autism. "It just shows that in our country right now, health care has been politicized in a way that political messages are driving and impacting care and not always for good," said Dr. Susan Sirota, a pediatrician in Highland Park, Illinois, who wasn't involved with the research. Doctors, who published their work last week in The Lancet, looked at changes in drug ordering or prescribing compared with projected trends, or what might have happened if things continued on the same path as before the White House briefing. They found that orders for Tylenol also known by the generic names acetaminophen and paracetamol were 10% lower than predicted for pregnant emergency department patients aged 15 to 44. Outpatient prescriptions of leucovorin for children aged 5 to 17 were 71% higher than expected during the same study period, late September to early December. Researchers observed no similar shifts in comparable medications, suggesting the changes were directly tied to the briefing. "The infrastructure would be built from the ground up. It would avoid the acquisition of existing utility assets, which is a benefit, and it would be designed to scale with the development," Catanzaro said. Catanzaro said it could be financially viable at a five megawatt capacity build-out. That can range from 1,300 to 2,000 homes, 20 to 40 acres of commercial development or one large commercial or industrial customer, he said. "The limitations of this is identifying the location, any service territory conflicts that would arise (in the) legal environment, and then obviously the upfront capital that would be needed," he said. A complete takeover of TEP's grid within city limits. That would make the city Tucson's sole retail electricity provider, giving it control over rates, resources and planning, Catanzaro said. It would face immense challenges. The city would first have to condemn the utility, which could take years, Catanzaro said, and cost the city even more money in-terms of the legal battle to do so. Even if the city wins the legal battle, there would be "significant political, legal and operational complexity with doing that," he said. Efforts by cities to take over existing private utilities succeed about 10% of the time, Catanzaro said. The city would have to get voter approval before raising the necessary funds under any of the four options, and booting TEP could take years and piles of money, City Attorney Roi Lusk told the council. iWonder: March highlights To mark International Women's Day, iWonder this month is spotlighting films that follow women from very different worlds linked by a spiritual calling. This month, with International Womens Day on 8 March, iWonder is spotlighting films that follow women from very different worlds linked by a spiritual calling. Angry Spirits 12 March Mining accounts for 93% of Mongolias exports. The Gobi Desert, one of the most sacred landscapes in Central Asian culture, is being carved open for copper, gold and coal. The people who grew up there, herders whose families lived nomadically for generations, have been driven into poverty and into the sprawling, heavily polluted capital Ulaanbaatar. Ainur is one of them. She works as a dancer in a strip club, raises a daughter, and feels increasingly haunted by forces she cant name. On the advice of shamans, she returns to the Gobi to seek healing and finds the land her ancestors revered being stripped apart. In Ainurs world, the angry spirits and the mining trucks are connected. This film makes you feel why. Director Iris Pakulla isnt a filmmaker who parachuted into an exotic setting. She completed her PhD at Cambridge researching the impact of extractive industries on Mongolian communities and spent a decade living there. The access and trust she earned shows in every scene. Climate change has already raised Mongolias temperature by 2.5C in 80 years, killed millions of livestock and pushed entire communities off their land, yet it gets almost no coverage. This film is the best entry point into that story Winner, Excellence in Visual Anthropology, Ethnocineca 2025. Dil Leyla 26 March In 2014, Leyla Imret won 81% of the vote to become Turkeys youngest ever elected mayor of Cizre, a Kurdish city on the Syrian and Iraqi border where she was born. She had been sent to Germany aged five after her father was killed by the Turkish military. She returned with a mandate to build parks, restore schools, and give the citys children the childhood she never had.Then Turkeys parliamentary elections changed everything. The ceasefire broke down. The military surrounded Cizre. Over 150 civilians were killed, many reportedly burned alive in basements. Leyla was forcibly removed from office on terrorism charges. The UN was denied access to investigate. Director Asli Ozarslan filmed through all of it, until the siege cut her off from Leyla entirely, not knowing if she was still alive. The Kurdish conflict has been called one of the most underreported political crises in Europe. Over 36,000 people have been killed in Turkey since 1984. This film, shot from inside the story, not from a distance, is one of the only documentaries that shows you what that conflict looks like from the ground Premiered at IDFA Amsterdam; won the Human Rights Award (FIDADOC) and Prix du Documentaire (Films Femmes Mediterranee). Intense Iranian fire has targeted the Gulf Arab states as Israel and the United States kept up their air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. There is no foreseeable end to the fighting. Donald Trumps administration has approved a new 151 million dollar (112 million) arms sale to Israel after the US president said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender. US officials also warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the week-long conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Irans president said the US demand for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should to take to their grave. Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television. A vigil was held in honour of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New York (AP) (Yuki Iwamura) He also apologised for Irans attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. His statement aired after repeated attacks on morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier, Irans UN ambassador said the country would take all necessary measures to defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. Also early on Saturday, loud booms sounded in Jerusalem and incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel. President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) (Mark Schiefelbein) There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israels emergency services. The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iranian attacks targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed drones heading for its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Displaced people are fleeing Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut (AP) (Bilal Hussein) Passengers waiting for flights out at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qatars energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could bring down the economies of the world, predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to 150 dollars a barrel. The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above 90 dollars on Friday for the first time in more than two years. Writing for the Qatar-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera, a regional analyst warned Iran was making a strategic miscalculation of historic proportions. Al Jazeera, a pan-Arab satellite news network owned and funded by Qatars government, has been used in the past to signal Dohas opinions on regional matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sultan al-Khulaifi, a senior researcher at the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, wrote: By spreading the conflict to the Gulf, Tehran is doing precisely what Israel could not do alone: steering the war away from the Israeli-Iranian axis and transforming it into a confrontation between Iran and its Arab neighbours. For nearly a half a century, the Iranian regime has been slaughtering Americans. President Trump is doing what other Presidents have refused to do eliminate the Iranian threat so no more American blood is spilled by these terrorists. THREAD: Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 6, 2026 On Saturday, the defence minister of Saudi Arabia and Pakistans army chief met to discuss ways to stop the attacks coming from Iran, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman, a son of King Salman, spoke to Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh about the Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They cautioned that the US intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information. This marks the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war. In a social media post on Friday, Mr Trump said: There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down. pic.twitter.com/Nqn30feTQA U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 7, 2026 After a surrender, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), he wrote, the US and its allies will help rebuild Iran, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. Those comments were likely to raise further questions about the endgame of the war. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that some countries had begun mediation efforts. Iranian state television reported that a leadership council had started discussing how to convene the countrys Assembly of Experts, which will select the new supreme leader. US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview on Friday that the biggest bombing campaign of the war was still to come. A symbolic funeral was held for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP) (Hadi Mizban) Israel has said that over the past week it has heavily bombed an extensive underground bunker that Iranian leaders had planned to use during the hostilities. New information has surfaced suggesting that a deadly explosion at a school in the Iranian city of Minab, some 680 miles southeast of Tehran, was likely caused by US air strikes. The information included satellite images, expert analysis, a US official and public information released by US and Israeli military forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian state media has said more than 165 people were killed in the blast, most of them of children. Iran has blamed Israel and the US for the explosion. Neither country has accepted responsibility, though defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said the US is investigating. The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in the mountains of eastern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least three people were killed. Israel has carried out waves of air strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Lebanons health ministry said at least 217 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and 798 others were injured. The event is jointly organised by the municipal Department of Tourism and the local chapter of the Vietnam Women's Union, in coordination with relevant partners. It aims to mark several major anniversaries, including the 50th anniversary of the official renaming of Saigon Gia Dinh to Ho Chi Minh City (July 2, 19762026), the 1,986th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising, and the 116th anniversary of the International Women's Day (March 8). This years festival features 17 key activities throughout March, transforming the city into a vibrant cultural stage where Ao Dai appears not only in artistic performances but also in community life, urban spaces and tourism activities. The event brings together 37 designers from across the country, presenting nearly 400 Ao Dai creations. Around 600 performers and models, along with 37 ambassadors from various sectors, are also participating, creating a colourful showcase of creativity and cultural pride. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal Peoples Committee Tran Thi Dieu Thuy said that after 12 years, the festival has helped position Ho Chi Minh City as a dynamic cultural, creative and internationally integrated destination. She noted that Ao Dai has long been closely associated with Vietnamese peoples daily life and spiritual culture. Throughout history, the costume has continuously evolved in design, materials and aesthetics to adapt to each stage of development, while remaining a cherished symbol of national identity and Vietnamese elegance. A highlight of the festival will take place on the morning of March 8, featuring a mass folk dance performance and an Ao Dai parade expected to attract about 50,000 participants across the city, including around 3,000 on Nguyen Hue walking street. From now until March 31, locals and tourists can explore Ao Dai exhibitions and interactive spaces along Nguyen Hue walking street, as well as experience the Ao Dai and Metro journey connecting tourism sites via the citys metro line at the Ben Thanh and Opera House metro stations./.VNA During a recent trip to Da Nang, Matt, a tourist from the US, spent time exploring not only famous landmarks and historical sites but also the citys vibrant street food scene. Among the dishes he tried, oc hut quickly stood out. The humble local snack impressed him from its unique eating style to its delicious taste. Matt enjoys oc hut at a sidewalk eatery in Da Nang. Oc hut is a popular local snack in Da Nang, often enjoyed with drinks during gatherings with friends or as a light afternoon bite. Photo: Thao Trinh In Da Nang, oc hut, also known as stir-fried snails, is a popular snack often enjoyed casually during gatherings with friends or as a light afternoon bite. The dish is typically made with different types of snails, both large and small, such as rice snails and apple snails. The name of the dish comes from its distinctive way of eating. Instead of using a toothpick to pull the meat out, as is common with snail dishes in some other regions, diners suck the snail directly from its shell. This allows them to enjoy not only the meat but also the flavorful sauce inside. Matt said he tried oc hut at a sidewalk eatery on Su Van Hanh Street in Ngu Hanh Son ward, Da Nang. The restaurant has a fairly spacious and open layout, allowing him to comfortably watch the cooking process. The American visitor repeatedly expressed amazement at the preparation, eating style and flavor of oc hut. It looks really appetizing. There are both small and large snails. The aroma is wonderful, Matt exclaimed as a steaming plate of oc hut was served. The American visitor expressed excitement not only about the dishs flavor but also about the way it is prepared and eaten. According to his observation, one portion of oc hut at the eatery was quite generous and came with grilled rice paper and a separate dipping sauce. The dish was prepared with a moderate level of spiciness, matching the taste preferences of many locals. The flavor is really good. The snail meat is chewy like clams, and the head part is pleasantly crunchy, he described. Matt also appeared quite skillful as he first used a small pick to loosen the snail meat before slowly sipping the sauce from inside the shell. The tourist praised the crunchy texture of the snail head. Photos: Matt DV He noted that the sauce was carefully prepared, delivering a rich taste without being overly spicy. The American tourist admitted that smaller snails were harder to eat than the larger ones, though their flavors were not significantly different. When locals showed him how to eat the smaller snails, he nodded enthusiastically, pleased to gain new experience and better understand the dishs unusual name. With the small snails, you just suck them out. But I actually prefer the bigger ones. I also like holding the shell, scooping up the sauce and bringing it to my mouth, Matt joked. He later tried dipping crispy grilled rice paper into the sauce from the snail dish and was pleasantly surprised by the unique and delicious flavor combination. Thao Trinh According to a notice from Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, Flight EK394 from Dubai to the Vietnamese capital landed at midday on March 4, carrying 427 passengers. As of March 5, Turkish Airlines has likewise resumed normal operations for passenger and cargo flights to Istanbul. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways continue to cancel flights from Hanoi to Doha and Abu Dhabi. From February 28 to March 4, Noi Bai International Airport recorded 22 flight cancellations, disrupting the travel plans of around 4,600 passengers./. VNA An FLC project. Photo: Hong Khanh FLC Group Joint Stock Company said its FLC shares have resumed trading through the custody system at Artex Securities since March 6, 2026. According to the companys announcement, Artex Securities will manage FLCs shareholder registry and records after the firm is no longer classified as a public company. Shareholders holding FLC shares can now directly conduct share transfer transactions at Artex Securities under a standard transaction contract. Investors may also visit the companys headquarters in person or authorize another individual to complete procedures to receive certificates of share ownership in accordance with regulations. FLC stated that the resumption of trading, after nearly three years of suspension, is expected to help improve liquidity and ensure the rights and interests of shareholders. Previously, the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation announced the cancellation of securities registration for 709.9 million FLC shares after FLC Group lost its status as a public company, effective March 6, 2026. FLC was once among the stocks that attracted strong investor attention thanks to its high liquidity and sharp price fluctuations. The shares officially debuted on the stock market in October 2011 when they were listed on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, surging by as much as 240 percent within just three months of trading. In 2013, the stock was transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. On February 20, 2023, FLC was forcibly delisted from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange with nearly 710 million shares due to serious violations of information disclosure obligations. The stock was later moved to the UPCoM market but continued to face trading restrictions and suspension after delays in publishing financial statements, before its trading registration was ultimately cancelled altogether. Duy Anh The Top 50 list is not merely a ranking for readers but also reflects the diverse experiences each city offers, from historic streets and spectacular natural landscapes to distinctive urban lifestyles. According to the magazine, Hanoi is not a city that instantly impresses visitors with glittering boulevards or towering skyscrapers. Instead, its attraction lies in the quiet charm of tradition and history. Its devotion to tradition has long charmed Western travelers, who often rank it among their favorite Asian capitals for its incense-filled temples, classic shop houses, and stately villas in the French Quarter. And while Hanoi continues to modernize, it hasnt lost its romantic soul, the magazine wrote. Hanois appearance within the global media ecosystem of Conde Nast Traveler is expected to provide a significant boost to the citys tourism appeal. Beyond enhancing its credibility as a travel destination, the recognition could also help attract high-end tourism services and encourage higher spending by international visitors. Alongside Hanoi, several renowned cities were included on the list, such as Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Barcelona in Spain, Copenhagen in Denmark, Paris in France, New York in the US, Cape Town in South Africa, Kyoto in Japan, and Luang Prabang in Laos. Golden autumn sunlight pours like honey over every street (Photo: VNA) Earlier, Hanoi tourism also made a strong impression in several categories of the Travelers Choice Best of the Best Destinations 2026 awards announced by Tripadvisor. The Vietnamese capital was honoured in four categories: Top 25 Best Destinations in the World (fourth place), Top 25 Best Cultural Destinations (seventh), Top 25 Best Solo Travel Destinations (seventh), and Top 25 Best Food Destinations (11th). Being listed in multiple categories highlights Hanois well-rounded appeal, not only for its landscapes but also for its cultural richness, vibrant experiences, and ability to meet evolving global travel trends. With its ancient charm and graceful beauty, Hanoi has long been a favourite destination for travellers seeking to explore Vietnams history, culture, and people. The city blends historical elegance with a dynamic modern spirit, preserving its nostalgic past while embracing the development of a vibrant metropolis. Tripadvisor noted that despite the ups and downs of history and the various names it has held over centuries, the thousand-year-old capital has never forgotten its heroic past. Hanoi is home to numerous iconic landmarks and historical sites such as the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter, St. Josephs Cathedral, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, along with many temples and pagodas closely associated with the spiritual life of local residents. A gentle and romantic autumn afternoon in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Cuisine is another major attraction drawing tourists to the capital. Hanois gastronomy is widely appreciated for its refinement and delicate flavours, often highlighting the natural taste of local ingredients. From bustling street food stalls to modern restaurants offering creative menus, the citys culinary scene provides visitors with a diverse journey of discovery in which each dish reflects local culture and heritage. Hanoi has also strengthened its position on the global tourism map after being named Asias Leading City Destination and Asias Leading City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards 2025. The recognition reflects the citys continued efforts to develop a green, friendly tourism environment and further enhance its appeal as a destination for international travellers./.VNA Under the plan, the fund will begin operations in 2026 with an initial charter capital investment of 500 billion VND, including 200 billion VND (40%) from the State budget and 300 billion VND (60%) from private investors. The city aims to expand the funds capital to at least 5 trillion VND by 2035. The fund will operate under a publicprivate partnership model, with the State providing seed capital to attract private investments. For every 1 VND of State capital, the city expects to mobilise 23 VND from the private sector. Several corporations and investment funds, including Sovico Group, Vingroup, VinaCapital, Becamex IDC, VNG Corporation, CT Group, Hoa Sen Group, Lotte Ventures Vietnam and FPT Corporation, have committed to joining as founding investors. During 20262035, the fund plans to invest in 50150 innovative startups and science-technology enterprises, support the commercialisation of at least 50 new products or technologies, and help develop at least five large technology firms capable of listing on stock exchanges or engaging in international mergers and acquisitions. Priority investment areas include digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain, semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, new materials, renewable energy, automation and robotics./. Illustrative photo Despite renting a space for VND80 million per month on a major street, one restaurant, for example, had to close down, suffering heavy losses after five months of operation. In 2023, Nguyen Thi Diep, 35, a bank employee, and her husband started the restaurant business in Hanoi with the advantage of her husband being a former chef at a 5-star hotel. When looking for a location, she found a street-front house on a crowded central route. The traffic flow was bustling from morning to night, the sidewalk was wide, and the surrounding area had many office buildings. The rental price was offered at VND80 million per month, excluding electricity, water, and other incurred costs. After a few days of consideration, she made a deposit. The total capital of nearly VND2 billion was mainly allocated for rent, deposit, and site renovation. About 80 percent of the money was poured into repairs, interior design, and a new industrial kitchen, as well as wooden tables and chairs, warm lighting, and prominent signage. During the opening month, the restaurant was quite crowded. Friends and acquaintances came to support, and curious customers dropped by because of the highly visible location. Revenue in the first few weeks made her more confident in her decision. But when summarizing the costs after the first month, the financial picture appeared much less optimistic. Fixed rent was VND80 million. Personnel costs were nearly VND90 million per month because the restaurant operated all day. Electricity, water, gas, ingredients, marketing, and promotion costs combined for tens of millions of dong more. There was revenue, but profit was almost zero, or even negative if all costs were fully calculated. Three months later, the number of customers began to decrease. Although the street was crowded, most passers-by were office workers who have a quick lunch or walk-in guests. Prices also had to be set higher to compensate for the high rental costs, making many customers hesitant. Before the restaurant could build a loyal customer base, the pressure of fixed costs became a burden. By the fifth month, the reserve fund was nearly exhausted. She was forced to post a notice for business transfer, accepting a loss of hundreds of millions of dong. Sharing about the failure, she believed the mistake was thinking that a good location would automatically bring customers. But a large crowd does not mean the model is suitable for that area. A beautiful location does not guarantee success Tran Khanh Minh Son, a respected consultant, said that Diep's story is not unique. Many entrepreneurs often confuse a beautiful location with an effective model. Location is only one variable in the business equation. If the rent accounts for too large a proportion of the cost structure, the business will face very high revenue pressure from day one. According to F&B industry standards, rental costs should be controlled at a safe level compared to expected revenue. In addition, new entrepreneurs need to prepare a reserve cash flow sufficient for at least 6six months of operation, the stage of building a brand and a stable customer base, instead of expecting immediate profit. An expensive location shows its value only when a business already has a brand or a model that has been proven elsewhere. Without that foundation, a diamond location can become a burden. The story of a restaurant owner losing VND2 billion after just five months in Hanoi highlights a painful reality: a well-located retail premise does not guarantee success. Experts warn that when rent consumes too much of the cost structure, even a 5-star chef cannot save a business from the pressure of fixed expenses and exhausted cash flow. Before signing a lease, business owners need to clearly answer three questions: Is the target customer truly concentrated in that area? Is the expected revenue enough so that the rent only accounts for a safe proportion of the cost structure? Is the reserve cash flow sufficient to maintain at least six months of operation if revenue does not meet expectations? A beautiful location does not mean a suitable one. A space that fits the budget, matches the customer base, and suits the model is much more valuable than a diamond location that exceeds financial endurance, the expert said. Tuan Nguyen The iPhone 17 Pro Max is widely regarded as one of the best smartphones in the world. Yet a surprising trend has emerged: a large number of users appear to be selling or trading in the device. A recent survey by PhoneArena reinforced conclusions from an earlier report by SellCell showing that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has an unusually high number of resale and trade-in transactions. This trend is somewhat paradoxical because, in terms of quality, the device leaves little room for criticism. With its 6.9-inch display, powerful Apple A19 Pro chip and polished software ecosystem, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is considered by many Apple fans to be the best smartphone available. In in-depth reviews, the device even competes head-to-head with Samsungs flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra. Many technology rankings place the two devices almost equally at the top. Thanks to that appeal, the iPhone 17 Pro Max quickly climbed to fourth place among the worlds best-selling smartphones in 2025 only months after its release. At the same time, however, another trend has caught observers off guard: it has also become one of the most frequently traded or resold phones in the second-hand market. According to SellCells report, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has even surpassed older models such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max in the number of trade-in transactions. Following the report, PhoneArena conducted a poll asking users whether they had recently sold their smartphone and, if so, which model it was. Most respondents answered no. However, among those who confirmed selling their device, the iPhone 17 Pro Max received a notable share of responses. In other words, Apples most premium flagship is appearing surprisingly often on lists of devices that users part with after only a short period of use. This raises a key question: what exactly is going on? High resale value? Analysts at SellCell believe the phenomenon does not necessarily reflect disappointment with the device. Instead, they suggest the reason may simply be the iPhone 17 Pro Maxs strong resale value. On the second-hand market, the model retains its value remarkably well. As a result, many owners may choose to sell it while prices remain high, similar to taking profits from a technology investment. In other words, the phone may not be sold because it is bad, but because it is too valuable. This argument sounds reasonable, as iPhones have long been known for maintaining the highest resale value in the smartphone market. However, not everyone agrees with that explanation. In reality, almost no one sells a used phone and truly makes a profit. Users typically still lose money compared with the original purchase price. Therefore, if many people decide to sell their iPhone 17 Pro Max shortly after buying it, there may be another reason strong enough to push them to move on from the device. That is why PhoneArena launched another survey to determine which phones users switched to after selling their iPhone 17 Pro Max. What phones are users switching to? One thing seems almost certain: no one sells a premium smartphone released in 2025 simply to abandon technology and live off the grid. The real question is what device they switch to next. Initially, many observers believed the most common alternatives might be the smaller models in the same lineup, such as the iPhone 17 Pro or the standard iPhone 17. However, a PhoneArena reader named Romeo16 suggested that this assumption might not be logical. According to the user, if the iPhone 17 Pro Max retains about 74.6% of its original value, the 256GB version could sell for around US$894. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at US$1,099 and the standard iPhone 17 costs US$799. That means selling the Pro Max to buy a lower-tier model would not necessarily bring clear financial benefits, and many users might hesitate to accept a loss in order to downgrade to a weaker device. A worrying signal for Apple Another notable detail in the survey is that the number of people selling the iPhone 17 Pro Max was even higher than the combined number of people selling Android phones listed in the poll. This could be seen as a negative milestone for Apple. Although older iPhones still received more votes than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the gap between the two groups was not large. That suggests even Apples newest and most expensive model may be facing challenges in retaining users for long periods. If the trend continues, it could become a concerning issue for Apple, especially since the iPhone has long been regarded as the smartphone brand with the strongest customer loyalty in the industry. For now, the key question remains: does the iPhone 17 Pro Max actually have a problem, or are users simply taking advantage of its high resale value? The answer may become clearer as more surveys and market data emerge. Hai Phong On the afternoon of March 6, the Central Vietnam Womens Union held the 16th conference of its Central Executive Committee for the 2022-2027 term to elect additional members of the executive committee and presidium, as well as the president of the organization. At the conference, the presidium reported to the executive committee on personnel nominations for the executive committee, the presidium and the position of president of the Vietnam Womens Union for the 2022-2027 term, proposing Le Thi Thuy for the role. After discussion and voting, 100% of the executive committee members present agreed to elect Le Thi Thuy to the Central Executive Committee, the Presidium and the position of president of the Vietnam Womens Union for the 13th tenure, 2022-2027. Speaking after assuming the position, newly elected president Le Thi Thuy said accepting the new responsibility was both an honor and a great duty toward the organization and the Vietnamese womens movement. Entrusted with the role by the Party and the State and supported by the executive committee, she pledged to make every effort to continue the achievements built by previous generations of union officials and women across the country. She affirmed that she would uphold the pioneering and exemplary role expected of party members, maintain the principles of the Party and the organization, and work with the executive committees of womens unions at all levels to carry forward the organizations proud traditions. Le Thi Thuy also emphasized the determination to successfully implement the goals and targets set out in the resolution of the 13th National Womens Congress. She stressed the importance of strengthening unity, overcoming challenges and implementing coordinated solutions to further renew the content and methods of the unions activities. The organization will focus more strongly on grassroots engagement, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and continuing to build a strong and effective union that serves as a bridge between the Party and women across the country. At the conference, the executive committee also bid farewell to Nguyen Thi Tuyen, a member of the Party Central Committee, deputy secretary of the Government Party Committee and former secretary of the Party Committee as well as former president of the Vietnam Womens Union. Earlier, the Politburo decided that Le Thi Thuy would step down from the Government Party Committees executive committee and standing committee and from the position of deputy secretary of the Government Party Committee. She was reassigned to join the executive committee and standing committee of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organizations for the 2020-2025 term. The Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organizations subsequently appointed her as a member of its executive committee and standing committee and as secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Vietnam Womens Union. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Tuyen was reassigned by the Politburo to serve as deputy secretary of the Government Party Committee. Tran Thuong The Vietnam Seaports Association (VPA) reported that container throughput on mainline routes at the port cluster reached 711,429 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in January 2026, up 9% year-on-year. Growth was concentrated at several key terminals, including Gemalink International Port with 198,905 TEUs, up 24%; Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) with 114,635 TEUs, up 26%; and SP-SSA International Terminal (SSIT) with 98,617 TEUs, an increase of 15%. Stretching about 20 kilometres along the Thi Vai River, the Cai Mep Thi Vai cluster currently hosts around 35 operational terminals, including container, general cargo and specialised ports, operated by roughly 20 companies and joint ventures. It has become the countrys leading deep-sea port hub and a crucial gateway for global trade. Major global shipping lines such as Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services maintain direct services at the port cluster, which currently operates 48 international container routes per week. More than 20 of these are direct mainline services linking Vietnam to Europe and the eastern and western coasts of the US. Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang said the ports advantages are underpinned by its deep-water channels, with depths ranging from minus 14 to minus 15.5 metres, allowing the reception of container vessels exceeding 200,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage), including the latest generation of mega container ships. Facilities such as Gemalink are among the few ports worldwide capable of accommodating vessels with capacities of up to 24,000 TEUs. According to insiders, continued improvements in infrastructure connectivity are expected to further strengthen the clusters competitiveness. Key projects include the Phuoc An Bridge, scheduled for completion in 2027, which will link the port area with Ben Luc Long Thanh Expressway, enabling cargo from the Mekong Delta to reach the port directly without detouring through the congested National Highway 51. In addition, Bien Hoa Vung Tau Expressway, expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026, will serve as an arterial transport corridor connecting industrial zones in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City with the port cuslter. Travel time for cargo transport from Bien Hoa to Cai Mep Thi Vai is projected to drop from around two hours to just 4560 minutes. These infrastructure developments will significantly reduce logistics costs, enhance supply chain efficiency and subsequently improve national competitiveness./. VNA Captain Bernadette Alexander, Commanding Officer of Coonawarra Naval Base, and Colonel Nguyen Anh Vu, Vietnams Defence Attache in Australia, welcomed the ship and its delegation, expressing their pleasure at the Vietnam Peoples Navy sending a vessel to participate in the International Fleet Review marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and the Exercise Kakadu 2026 in Sydney. The vessel departed Cam Ranh Naval Base on February 23 and sailed more than 2,500 nautical miles to reach Darwin. The mission is led by Colonel Nguyen Minh Lanh, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 4, with the crew carrying out the voyage in line with the approved operational plan. Harbour pilot guides Ship 016 Quang Trung into Coonawarra Naval Base. (Photo: qdnd.vn) On February 26, the delegation held a solemn equator-crossing ceremony, highlighting the crews ability to operate and manage technical systems in distant waters while fostering maritime awareness and strengthening their commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and interests at sea. According to schedule, Ship 016 Quang Trung will leave Darwin on March 7 to continue its journey to Sydney to take part in the International Fleet Review celebrating the Royal Australian Navys 125th anniversary and the Exercise Kakadu 2026./.VNA After securing a first prize in the national Math competition, he has been honored with the Le Van Thiem Award and selected for the Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad. Minh was an inspiring student in 2025 when he clinched the top entrance position for the Mathematics block at two renowned gifted schools (High School for Gifted Students under the University of Natural Sciences and High School for Gifted Students under Hanoi National University of Education). Minh also skipped grades to win First Prize in the National Merit Exam for high school students for the 2025-2026 school year despite being only in 10th grade, scoring 34/40 points and ranking among the top three candidates. Notably, he was the only 10th grader in the country to win a First Prize in Mathematics in this year's competition. Recently, the 10th-grade student from the Math 1 class of the High School for Gifted Students under Hanoi National University of Education continued to impress by receiving two more pieces of good news. Specifically, the Vietnam Mathematical Society recently decided to present the 2025 Le Van Thiem Award to Minh along with three other students and two teachers. Minh was the only 10th-grade student among the four students to receive this award in 2025 (the other three were all in 12th grade). This is a prestigious award from the Vietnam Mathematical Society for Mathematics teachers and outstanding students nationwide. A few days prior, Minh was selected and summoned by the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (Ministry of Education and Training) to the list of participants for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad (APMO). The competition will take place on March 10. The Vietnamese team has 22 contestants, in which Minh continues to be the only 10th-grade student featured. In fact, Minh is not an unfamiliar name to the Mathematics community in Hanoi. Previously, in the entrance exam for the 10th grade at the High School for Gifted Students under the University of Science in 2025, Nhat Minh achieved a total of 29 points (including 9 points in the qualifying Math round and 10 points in specialized Math) and became the school's valedictorian. Additionally, in the entrance exam for the High School for Gifted Students under Hanoi National University of Education, Minh continued to be the valedictorian among math examinees with 10 points in the general Math test and 9.75 points in specialized Math. This impressive result led many to describe Nhat Minh as a "super master." The male student also won first prize in the 9th-grade city-level Math competition in Hanoi and has about 50 medals and awards from domestic and international Mathematics competitions. Minh said that with Mathematics, he does not study to beat others, but learns out of his own passion. Every day, he spends a few hours reviewing the knowledge learned in class and finding new problems on Math forums and groups. Before each exam, Minh usually spends time summarizing learned knowledge and test-taking experience to achieve the best results. During the exam, Minh always tries to complete basic questions as quickly as possible to save more time for difficult ones. Minh is disciplined and often sets rules for himself. He is self-motivated but does not stay up too late to prepare the best state of mind for the next morning. These days, Nhat Minh is continuing his training schedule for the Asia-Pacific regional competition and preparing for the selection round for the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team. This important selection round will take place in late March 2026, which will choose six out of a total of 48 students nationwide to compete in the 2026 IMO. The High School for Gifted Students under Hanoi National University of Education has four students in this round, including Minh, two 12th graders, and one 11th grader. Minh shared that he does not set too high expectations because this is a difficult round with the most excellent 11th and 12th graders in the country, but he will put in his best effort. "During the recent national merit exam training and competition, I realized there are some parts of knowledge regarding combinatorics and geometry where I still have shortcomings. I will focus on improving those parts before moving to the comprehensive review stage and searching for previous years' exam papers to test myself," Nhat Minh said. Thuy Nga Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, under Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, plans to recruit 36 PhD holders. Nine institutions seek 167 PhD holders VNU-HCMC plans to recruit 167 PhDs for its member and affiliated institutions this year, focusing on key fields including science and technology, economics and social sciences. Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology is seeking 36 PhDs in fields such as electrical and electronics engineering, semiconductor integrated circuits, automation, information technology, data science, mechanical and mechatronics engineering, logistics, applied mathematics, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering and business administration. The University of Science has 35 openings in semiconductor technology, integrated circuits, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, statistics and quantitative finance, biotechnology, life sciences, renewable energy, environmental science and marine science. The University of Information Technology is recruiting 13 PhDs in computer science, information systems, e-commerce, computer networks, integrated circuit design, data science, software development and mathematics. The International University is seeking 17 PhDs in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, logistics and supply chain management, economics, finance and accounting, mathematics and statistics, and English language studies. The University of Health Sciences plans to recruit 20 PhDs in medicine, dentistry, traditional medicine, nursing and pharmacy. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities has 22 openings in fields such as linguistics, education, psychology, history, philosophy, journalism and communications, cultural studies, tourism, education management and human resource management. The University of Economics and Law is recruiting five PhDs in economics, business, management, law, information systems and applied mathematics. An Giang University is seeking 14 PhDs in technology, education, finance and banking, and agriculture and natural resources. The Institute for Environment and Resources plans to recruit five PhDs in environmental biology, resource management and environmental engineering. Income may reach hundreds of millions of dong Income at VNU-HCMC member institutions consists of the base salary regulated by the state, adjusted according to seniority, combined with position-based income. At Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, PhD holders with less than three years of experience earn about VND35 million per month (US$1,400), while those with more than three years of experience receive around VND45 million per month (US$1,800). Professors and associate professors with more than three years of experience earn an average of about VND85 million per month (US$3,400). For foreign lecturers and scientists, income may be roughly three times higher than that of Vietnamese staff. The University of Science offers around VND20 million per month (US$800). The University of Social Sciences and Humanities applies a similar structure combining state-regulated salaries and position-based income, averaging around VND15 million per month (US$600). Candidates recruited under talent attraction policies also receive initial support grants of about VND200 million (US$8,000) for professors, VND150 million (US$6,000) for associate professors and VND100 million (US$4,000) for PhD holders. For foreign personnel, income may be roughly double that of Vietnamese staff. The International University offers salaries ranging from VND20 million to VND23.2 million per month (US$800 to US$930). The University of Information Technology offers around VND21 million per month (US$840). Under talent attraction policies, initial support packages include VND300 million (US$12,000) for professors, VND200 million (US$8,000) for associate professors and VND150 million (US$6,000) for PhD holders. Lecturers with ISI or Scopus publications can receive additional support of up to VND200 million (US$8,000). In the first year, lecturers are also granted a research project worth VND34 million (US$1,400). The university awards VND100 million (US$4,000) to lecturers who achieve the title of professor and VND70 million (US$2,800) for associate professors. At the University of Economics and Law, PhD holders earn around VND30-45 million per month (US$1,200-1,800). Associate professors receive VND55-70 million (US$2,200-2,800), while professors earn about VND75-80 million per month (US$3,000-3,200). Under the talent attraction policy requiring a five-year commitment, professors receive VND350 million (US$14,000), associate professors VND250 million (US$10,000) and PhD holders VND150 million (US$6,000). Candidates meeting professor standards receive additional support of VND150 million (US$6,000), while associate professor candidates receive VND100 million (US$4,000). An Giang University pays salaries and allowances in accordance with state regulations, about VND15 million per month (US$600). Under talent attraction policies, lecturers receive an additional VND60 million (US$2,400). The University of Health Sciences offers salaries of about VND14-16 million per month (US$560-640). The Institute for Environment and Resources provides the base salary regulated by the state, adjusted according to seniority, along with additional income of about VND14 million per month (US$560). In addition, lecturers are eligible for research support policies provided by VNU-HCMC. Young scientists holding PhDs receive a type C research project during their first two years with funding of up to VND200 million (US$8,000). In the third year, they receive a type B research project worth up to VND1 billion (US$40,000). In the fourth year, they may receive laboratory investment support of up to VND10 billion (US$400,000). In the fifth year, they receive support for procedures to apply for the title of associate professor. For leading scientists, a type B research project worth up to VND1 billion (US$40,000) is provided during the first two years. In subsequent years, funding of up to VND30 billion (US$1.2 million) may be granted to invest in laboratories serving research activities. Le Huyen At the 14th Party Congress, Vietnam reaffirmed its strategic vision: heading toward double-digit GDP growth and reaching higher average income status by 2040. However, recent trends show that the road ahead is by no means easy. This was analyzed in a January 2026 study by David Dapice from Columbia University, one of the experts who has closely followed Vietnam's economic progress for many years. He pointed out that the goal of double-digit growth is a very high threshold. Even after achieving impressive GDP growth of nearly 8 percent in 2025, Vietnam's average growth rate for the 20202025 period was only 5.7 percent, much lower than the over 7 percent in previous years and far from the 810 percent annual target. This slowdown is not merely cyclical: it reflects structural changes. In recent years, growth rates have shown signs of decelerating compared to the previous period. The labor force is no longer expanding as fast as before, the process of labor transition from agriculture to industry is nearing its limit, while the demographic advantage is gradually narrowing. This means that Vietnam cannot continue to rely primarily on expanding the scale of capital and labor to maintain high growth momentum. Total Factor Productivity (TFP), the most comprehensive measure of innovation and efficiency, needs to be placed at the center of the growth strategy. Dapice calculated that to maintain a 7 percent growth rate over the next decade, Vietnam's productivity needs to increase by about 3.64 percent per year, a major leap compared to the level of about 2.7 percent in the 2010s. It is concerning that the contribution of TFP to growth is on a downward trend. While in the early 2000s, TFP contributed more than half of GDP growth, this figure has recently fallen below 45 percent. Meanwhile, Vietnam's economy still depends heavily on low value-added assembly activities. For example, only about one-third of the value of Vietnam's booming electronics exports is produced domestically, meaning 3540 percent of local added value, compared to 5560 percent in China and over 70 percent in South Korea. If it continues to only play the role of an outsourcer in the global supply chain, Vietnam will find it difficult to escape the middle-income trap. However, the good news is that Vietnamese leaders are clearly aware of this reality. A series of recent reforms, especially the four new Politburo resolutions, often called the four pillars, emphasize promoting the private sector, technological dynamism, legal reform, and deeper global integration. In mid-2025, the National Assembly also passed a historic administrative overhaul, merging the country's 63 provinces and cities into 34 larger units to streamline the administrative apparatus and create a foundation for sustainable growth. These steps aim to enhance Vietnam's institutional and organizational productivity, addressing the soft factors that help drive innovation. Expert Chris Malone, from Dalberg Global Advisor, said for reforms to truly create a transformation, Vietnam needs a unified strategic framework that can connect issues of scale, specialization, and innovation. Part of the solution will be developing regional economic clusters as a platform to lead Vietnam's next growth phase. These steps will enhance Vietnam's institutional and organizational productivity, addressing the soft factors that help drive innovation. Economic clusters In economic history, regional economic clusters have proven to be powerful drivers for upgrading productivity and added value. A cluster is not just a concentration of businesses in the same industry in one locality; it is a complete ecosystem. This ecosystem includes linked businesses, suppliers, service providers, a highly skilled workforce, and even specialized training facilities and research institutes in a specific field. When a region reaches sufficient scale, it can develop deep specialization and become a leading global hub in a particular industry. Thanks to this, the nation can retain a higher percentage of added value domestically and drive faster innovation. Thao Vy Vietnam always attaches importance to cooperation with the Francophone community, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung told Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo during their talks in Hanoi on March 6. At the meeting, Trung expressed his pleasure that cooperation between Vietnam and the OIF continues to be strengthened and enhanced, while appreciating the role and contributions of the organisation. He stressed that as an active and responsible member of the Francophone community, Vietnam will continue contributing to its common efforts to promote peace, stability and sustainable development in member countries and globally. The minister and the secretary-general also discussed the priorities of the Francophone community in the coming period and measures to further promote Vietnam-OIF cooperation. Trung proposed that the OIF strengthen the economic cooperation pillar, including support for expanding cooperation between Vietnam and other OIF members in science and technology, digital transformation, culture and education. Vietnam is also ready to promote bilateral and trilateral cooperation with them. Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo in Hanoi on March 6. (Photo: VNA) For her part, Mushikiwabo congratulated Vietnam on it socio-economic development and international integration achievements, and spoke highly of Vietnams role and positive contributions to activities within the Francophone community. The secretary-general affirmed that she will work with Vietnam and other member states to strengthen collaboration and solidarity in order to promote peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity. She also pledged to further enhance cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in education and training, sustainable economic development, and economic and trade cooperation with African countries, while expressing hope that more Vietnamese officials will work at the OIF. Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination in preparing for the upcoming Francophonie Summit in Cambodia, viewing it as an important opportunity to further consolidate solidarity within the community, promote peace and sustainable development, and create new momentum for Francophone cooperation in the region. Mushikiwabos working visit to Vietnam is part of her regional tour to prepare for the summit, which is scheduled to take place this November./. VNA Preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs show that nearly 2.18 million tonnes of fuel were imported during the January-February period. Compared with the same period last year, fuel imports rose 43 percent in volume and 31.4 percent in value. In contrast, Vietnam imported more than 2.16 million tonnes of crude oil worth US$1.08 billion, down 10 percent in volume and 25 percent in value year-on-year. On the export side, Vietnam recorded crude oil export turnover of US$200.3 million and nearly US$55 million from exports of refined petroleum products in the first two months of the year. Compared with the same period last year, exports of these commodities declined by 16.7 percent and 62.3 percent respectively. In 2025, Vietnam imported about 9.9 million tonnes of fuel products with a total value of roughly US$6.8 billion. Meanwhile, crude oil imports reached 14.1 million tonnes with a turnover of about US$7.7 billion. Vietnam is currently a net importer of petroleum products. Against the backdrop of escalating military tensions in the Middle East, the sharp increase in energy imports helps ensure supply for domestic production and consumption. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said petroleum wholesalers are continuing to import refined fuel products to supply the domestic market, even as import and transportation costs show signs of rising. Together with the circulating reserves that businesses are required to maintain, fuel supply for the domestic market in March 2026 is basically secured. In addition to imported supplies, according to a report from the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam), current crude oil production stands at around 180,000 barrels per day. Of this total, roughly 150,000 barrels per day are supplied to the Dung Quat oil refinery. Regarding production capacity, the Dung Quat refinery can maintain stable operations at around 118 percent of capacity at least until the end of April 2026, ensuring fuel supply under contracts signed with wholesalers. Meanwhile, the Nghi Son oil refinery continues to operate steadily with sufficient feedstock to maintain its production plan in the coming period. As a result, the countrys two major refineries, Dung Quat and Nghi Son, are operating normally and ensuring petroleum supply for wholesalers under signed contracts through the end of March, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. However, if military conflict in the Middle East continues into April, the market could face greater challenges. Tam An The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) will establish a national artificial intelligence (AI) development fund for the 20262027 period, following Decision No. 367/QD-TTg promulgating the plan for the implementation of the Law on AI, recently signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung The plan aims to set implementation timelines and define the responsibilities of agencies and organisations in enforcing the law nationwide. It emphasises the need for synchronous and efficient implementation, with clearly defined responsibilities and coordination mechanisms among ministries, sectors and localities. It also seeks to raise awareness among officials, businesses and the public of the importance of enforcing the Law on AI. Under the plan, AI clusters will be developed under a model that combines centralised physical spaces with digital network linkages. These clusters will be established at high-tech parks, concentrated digital technology zones and innovation centres, while organisations and individuals will be encouraged to invest in technical infrastructure supporting cluster activities. Ministries, sectors, localities and national media agencies, including the MoST, the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, the Vietnam News Agency and the Ministry of Justice, are tasked with disseminating information, conducting legal education and providing training on AI-related regulations from 2026 onwards. Ministries, sectors and localities must review and assess the compatibility of existing legal documents, particularly provisions of the Law on Digital Technology Industry, to prevent overlaps and ensure consistency within the legal system. Review results and proposals for amendments, supplements, or replacements are to be submitted to the MoST for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister. In 2026, the MoST will coordinate with relevant agencies to draft and submit to the Government two decrees guiding the implementation of the law. One decree will detail and provide measures to implement several articles of the Law on AI, while the other will regulate the establishment and operation of the National Artificial Intelligence Development Fund. The Government will also promulgate a list of datasets serving AI development, a list of high-risk AI systems, and a aational artificial intelligence ethics framework. The MoST is assigned to update the National Strategy on AI every three years. Ministries, sectors and localities are required to incorporate AI development objectives into their respective strategies and development plans, while ensuring sufficient resources for implementation. The Ministry of Education and Training will lead the formulation of a national programme on AI human resources development for submission to the Prime Minister for approval in 2026. Ministries and sectors are also responsible for developing standards, technical regulations and professional guidelines, and issuing detailed requirements on safety, risk management and conditions for deploying AI applications within their areas of management. Regarding infrastructure, the MoST will invest in and operate a one-stop electronic portal on AI and a national database on AI systems. The Ministry of Public Security will be responsible for the infrastructure of the National Data Centre, as well as data security, safety and the integration of source data. The ministry will also coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office and relevant agencies to organise inspections and assessments of the enforcement of the law and its guiding documents./. VNA The British Embassy in Vietnam and the British Consulate-General in Vietnam, in coordination with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), held a capacity-building session under the UKVietnam Growth Gateway initiative in Hanoi on March 5 to discuss strategies for developing a transparent and globally connected commodity and derivatives market. Opening the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said Vietnam aims to establish an international financial centre capable of linking regional and global markets, with derivatives trading playing an important role in enhancing market transparency, supporting enterprises in managing price risks, and attracting international investment flows. He noted that the Government has issued Decree No. 330/2025/ND-CP governing the establishment and operation of commodity exchanges within Vietnams international financial centre, introducing a flexible legal framework aligned with international practices and establishing an independent clearing house model to strengthen risk management and system safety. An overview of the event (Photo: VNA) Vietnams commodity derivatives market recorded about 1.54 million contracts traded in 2025, up more than 34% year-on-year, with total transaction value estimated at over 1.9 quadrillion VND, reflecting improving liquidity. However, the linkage between derivatives trading and the domestic physical commodity market remains limited. To address this, Vietnam plans to pilot physical commodity trading on exchanges for several key products, helping form domestic benchmark prices and enhance the countrys pricing influence in global markets. The programme featured four thematic sessions covering global commodity and derivatives market trends, development models, and international experiences. Discussions also examined market structure, including exchange models, clearing mechanisms, legal frameworks and suitable product portfolios for Vietnam. Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening risk management and market supervision, while promoting international cooperation to attract global investors and trading members to boost market liquidity. Under the Growth Gateway programme, the UK government, Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade and BCG have conducted comparative studies, professional training and connections with leading UK exchanges, clearing houses and technology providers. The UK is home to globally recognised institutions such as the London Metal Exchange, ICE Futures Europe and GMEX Group, whose governance and clearing systems are widely regarded as global standards. UK Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew praised the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, particularly the Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development, for studying international standards and advancing institutional reforms to support the derivatives commodity market. He expressed confidence that Vietnam has strong potential to become an attractive commodity and derivatives trading hub in the region, reaffirming the UKs commitment to supporting Vietnam in building an international financial centre and a modern, transparent commodity market./.VNA In March 2026, the international furniture industry will turn its attention to Vietnam as VIFA EXPO returns with its largest edition to date. Featuring a record 650 exhibitors and 2,500 booths spanning 45,000 square meters across WTC EXPO and SKY EXPO, the exhibition continues to strengthen its role as a key bridge connecting Vietnamese manufacturers with global buyers. VIFA EXPO 2026 gathers 650 exhibitors and 2,500 booths across two major venues. The event will take place simultaneously at two major exhibition venues in southern Vietnam - WTC EXPO in Binh Duong Ward and SKY EXPO in Trung My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. More than 3,000 international visitors from over 18 countries and territories have confirmed their participation in this years event, further reinforcing Vietnams growing prominence on the global wood and furniture trade map. More than 650 Exhibitors will participate, including numerous international brands and established manufacturers such as Remacro, Kentex Vietnam, Michael Amini, Evergreen Home, Accent Furniture, Vina Arya, Jiecang, Antique House, Najarian, Natural Hardwood Lumber, Vinabedding, Conceria Tre Emme, Glory Mark Dorfans, Hiep Long, Santang, Cosy Furniture, Green Art, Azure Glass, Thinh Dat Binh Phuoc Furniture, Artifex Interiors, Everfriendship Furniture, Asiades, Le Tran, Phu Ngoc, Dai Hoang My, Canadian Wood, Best Furniture and DHP International. VIFA EXPO 2026 covers everything from indoor and outdoor furniture, home decor and handicrafts to machinery and equipment. Beyond a traditional product showcase, VIFA EXPO 2026 is designed as a dynamic platform for direct business connections between international buyers and Vietnamese furniture manufacturers. Recognized as one of Asias key furniture trade events, a leading exhibition in Southeast Asia and the largest of its kind in Vietnam, VIFA EXPO 2026 also forms an important part of the regions vibrant spring furniture fair circuit. In March 2026, this circuit includes EFE (Mar 03 - 06), MIFF (Mar 04 - 07), PIFS (Mar 05 - 07), IFEX (Mar 05 - 08) and CIFF (Mar 18 - 21). The 2026 edition also introduces new creative initiatives. Among them is the VIFA EXPO Mascot Design Contest, which seeks a symbolic character representing Vietnamese identity and a spirit of global integration. The winning mascot will become the official visual identity and brand ambassador for international promotional campaigns, helping convey the message of sustainable development within Vietnams furniture industry. Alongside trade activities, organizers have also launched the VIFA EXPO 2026 Creative Furniture Showcase. The initiative encourages Vietnamese indoor and outdoor furniture manufacturers to move beyond outsourcing toward higher-value creation through original design and product development. The showcase provides a platform for enterprises to present their in-house design capabilities and manufacturing strengths through products that meet demanding aesthetic and functional standards. In the long term, the initiative aims to build a sustainable ecosystem that integrates design, production and trade, enhancing the global competitiveness of Made in Vietnam furniture. VIFA EXPO 2026 serves as a premier face-to-face networking hub connecting international buyers with Vietnamese furniture manufacturers. Since its first edition in 2008, VIFA EXPO has successfully organized 16 exhibitions and grown into Vietnams largest indoor and outdoor furniture event. Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive business networking ecosystem that enables international buyers to access export-ready suppliers directly within one of the regions most dynamic manufacturing centers. To help international visitors make the most of their business trips, VIFA EXPO 2026 offers a range of support services. These include airport pickup at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, three complimentary shuttle bus routes connecting both exhibition venues and partner hotels, and accommodation discounts of up to 50 percent at selected three- to five-star hotels. The event program also features factory tours in Binh Duong, specialized seminars on Global Furniture Outlook and Trend Forecasts, and a collaborative talkshow with Amazon titled Breaking through in Global Exports. Additional networking opportunities include Business Lunches, Gala Dinners and a VIP Buyer program offering two complimentary hotel nights along with exclusive privileges. With the participation of leading enterprises and dedicated programs designed for international buyers, the event aims to maximize the effectiveness of every business visit while fostering long-term partnerships. More than simply an exhibition, VIFA EXPO 2026 is positioned as a complete trade journey, where every step - from product sourcing to verifying manufacturing capabilities - is organized according to international standards. Register now at: https://registration.vifaexpo.online/clientRegister Detailed information about VIFA EXPO and activities: https://vifaexpo.com/ View event photos and exhibitor profiles from previous editions: https://vifaexpo.online/ PV The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, in collaboration with Republic of Korea-based Hyundai Bioscience company, will conduct clinical trials of an antiviral drug to treat dengue fever and similar infectious diseases in Vietnam. The drug used in the trial, called XAFTY, will be tested at Tien Giang General Hospital in Tien Giang province and the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi over a period of two years. Speaking at the launch of the trial on March 5, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan highlighted the clinical trial of the antiviral drug XAFTY as a significant milestone for biomedical science and infectious disease prevention and control in Vietnam. This event not only marks the beginning of a new scientific study, but also demonstrates the scientific community's aspiration to find effective treatments for viral infectious diseases, especially Dengue fever, said Professor Thuan. To date, he said, there are no approved specific antiviral drugs globally to treat Dengue fever and treatment currently relies primarily on symptomatic and supportive care. Therefore, research and development of effective antiviral drugs for Dengue is considered one of the important goals of modern medicine. XAFTY is a reinvented drug developed using a new drug delivery technology with the active ingredient niclosamide, a patented drug long approved by the FDA. Niclosamide has been studied and proven to have broad-spectrum antiviral capabilities, effective against 33 viruses including 16 strains of the COVID virus, making it a suitable candidate for the reinvention of a broad-spectrum antiviral drug. However, conventional niclosamide is almost unusable for treating systemic diseases due to its extremely low bioavailability (the amount of drug absorbed into the bloodstream), below 10%. Hyundai Bioscience has addressed this problem with its proprietary Drug Delivery System (DDS) technology, which revives the original active ingredient. This technology increases the bioavailability of niclosamide by more than five times, ensuring the drug reaches the necessary concentration in the blood to kill the virus. The breakthrough of the drug lies in the fact that it does not directly attack the virus but instead activates the autophagy mechanism of human cells themselves. In other words, it instructs infected cells to clean up and destroy the viral particles inside. This mechanism makes the drug immune to viral mutations, an advantage over traditional antiviral drugs. Director of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases Pham Ngoc Thach, said: We now have a vaccine to prevent dengue fever. However, the vaccine is expensive so the number of people using it remains modest. "If the trial is successful, this will be a great breakthrough, helping us to be more proactive in treatment, reduce mortality rates and alleviate the burden on lower-level hospitals." Before arriving in Vietnam, XAFTY had also completed phase two clinical trials for COVID-19 patients in the RoK. The study, involving 300 patients, showed that the drug reduced viral load by 56.65% within 16 hours of the first dose. It also shortened the recovery time for 12 major disease symptoms by 3.5 to 5 days compared with the placebo group. Clinical trials in Vietnam will be conducted based on existing research in terms of technology and a solid safety foundation. The goal of the trials in Vietnam is to develop the world's first comprehensive oral antiviral drug. In Vietnam, dengue fever consistently records cyclical increases, especially during the rainy season. In recent years many localities have recorded high numbers of cases, putting significant pressure on the healthcare system and directly impacting the health, daily lives and economy of the people. Infectious disease surveillance data shows that in 2025, Vietnam recorded 190,040 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 28.4% compared with 2024. In some localities many cases are still being recorded as severe and critical, making treatment difficult, costly and potentially leaving long-term sequelae. However, to date there is no specific treatment for dengue fever and care is mainly supportive and symptomatic. The mutation of the virus and the complexity of serotypes make the development of a treatment a major challenge for international public health./. VNA Beyond its distinctive taste and simple preparation, this regional specialty from An Giang is also regarded by locals as a natural remedy thanks to its perceived health benefits. Goi sau dau is a well-known specialty of An Giang province. Photo: Thai Lam Sau dau, a wild tree that grows naturally in parts of the Mekong Delta, is especially common in areas such as Tri Ton, Chau Doc and Tinh Bien in An Giang province. Both the leaves and flowers of the tree are used in cooking, but the most popular dish made from this gift of the wild is goi sau dau, a unique regional salad. In 2022, the dish was recognised for achieving an Asian record value under criteria set by the Asia Book of Records Organisation. It also appeared in the list of the Top 100 Vietnamese specialty dishes for 2021-2022, announced by the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings) and the Top Vietnam Organisation (VietTop). Ingredients for the salad include sau dau leaves and flowers, often combined with boiled pork belly or dried fish. Photo: Nguyen Thy Linh Thai Lam, a native of Chau Doc with a passion for exploring local cuisine, said that from the tenth lunar month to the second lunar month each year, sau dau trees begin to shed old leaves and produce new buds and blossoms. During this time, locals often visit markets to buy bundles of young leaves and flowers to prepare the salad. The dish is light and refreshing, making it especially popular after the heavy meals typical of the Lunar New Year season. According to Lam, to prepare a good salad, the leaves and flowers should be washed thoroughly and briefly blanched in warm water before being drained. This process helps reveal the subtle sweetness hidden behind the natural bitterness of the leaves while preserving their vibrant green colour, enhancing both the flavour and visual appeal of the dish. The salad itself has no fixed recipe and can be adapted according to household ingredients or personal preference. The dressing made from fish sauce and tamarind pulp gives the salad its distinctive flavour. Photo: Duong Viet Anh It can be combined with thinly sliced boiled pork belly, dried gourami fish or dried snakehead fish. Some people mix it with freshly grilled snakehead or catfish. Side vegetables may include cucumber, green mango, tomato or aromatic herbs. After blanching the sau dau leaves and flowers, cooks typically slice or shred accompanying ingredients such as pineapple, green mango and cucumber. Boiled pork belly is thinly sliced, while dried fish is grilled and torn into pieces. Shrimp may also be boiled and peeled before being added. The ingredients can be adjusted depending on taste. Like many Vietnamese salads, the dressing is considered the soul of the dish. For goi sau dau, it is usually made from fish sauce or fermented fish sauce blended with tamarind extract. To prepare it, ripe tamarind is simmered in water until it softens and releases its flavour. The liquid is then strained and mixed with fish sauce, a little sugar and minced garlic and chilli. The resulting sauce is thick and brown, offering a balance of sour, salty, sweet and spicy notes. All ingredients are mixed with the tamarind fish sauce and left to marinate for about 15 to 20 minutes. Travellers to An Giang can find goi sau dau at many restaurants, with prices ranging from VND50,000 to VND100,000 per plate. Photo: Duong Viet Anh Once the flavours have fully absorbed, the salad is arranged on a plate and topped with herbs, coriander, crushed roasted peanuts and slices of fresh red chilli before serving. Thanh Mai, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City who once tried goi sau dau in An Giang, said the leaves bring a gentle bitterness to the dish, while the flowers taste milder and more aromatic. People trying it for the first time may find the bitterness unusual, but once you get used to it, you can feel the harmony between the richness of shrimp and pork, the light bitterness of the leaves and the mild sourness of the tamarind dressing, she said. Impressed by the flavour, Mai said that in recent years she has often ordered sau dau leaves and flowers after the Lunar New Year to prepare the salad at home, serving it as a refreshing dish for family gatherings and visiting friends. If travellers visit An Giang, they can easily find goi sau dau at many restaurants and eateries, where the price typically ranges from VND50,000 to VND100,000 per plate. Beyond its culinary appeal, locals also consider sau dau a valuable medicinal plant. In the book Medicinal Plants of An Giang, researcher Vo Van Chi documented several traditional uses of the plant passed down through generations. According to folk knowledge, sau dau is believed to have cooling properties and has long been used in remedies associated with digestive problems, skin conditions and detoxification. Thao Trinh We are standing at a digital crossroads where AI is reshaping how we work and live. Statistics tell a story of efficiency, but as a woman navigating this space, I see a different narrative: a widening gender gap where the roles traditionally held by women are the most vulnerable to automation, while the architects of this new intelligence remain overwhelmingly male. At the current pace, achieving global gender parity will take 123 years (roughly five generations) with the Asia-Pacific region falling even further behind when it comes to women leading businesses and participating in the economy. Its a sobering reality, but we have a massive opportunity on the horizon. As AI begins to fundamentally change how we work, bringing with it an estimated 78 million new jobs by 2030, we have a choice to make. If were intentional about fairness, we can use this technology to finally build a truly inclusive workforce. However, if we aren't careful about how we roll it out, we might just end up making the gender gap even worse than it is today. A new study by NINEby9, a non-profit group focused on gender advocacy, warns that while AI is boosting productivity and changing the way we work, its uneven adoption could actively worsen gender inequality unless firms step up right now to make sure women aren't left behind. This means being intentional about bringing women into new AI-driven roles and ensuring they have the same access to the reskilling programmes needed to thrive in this new era. Its exciting to see high-growth fields like AI engineering, data science, and product management taking off, especially since these roles come with better remuneration, more influence, and great career paths. However, women currently occupy less than one third of AI related positions worldwide, remaining significantly underrepresented in these roles. At the same time, many of the administrative and support roles where women have traditionally been more represented are precisely the ones being most affected by AI automation. So, while were seeing some remarkable efficiency gains, the pressure of this transition isnt being felt equally across the workforce. Its a bit of an uneven shift that we really need to keep our eyes on. The bitter truth is that the fastest-growing sectors are precisely those where women are most underrepresented, creating a really unequal situation where women are more vulnerable to job changes but have fewer paths into the best new opportunities. This imbalance carries long-term consequences: excluding women from high-growth digital roles threatens to widen the wealth gap and block their path to leadership in tech-heavy industries. Furthermore, as AI increasingly shape decisions in hiring, performance, finance, and healthcare, the absence of women in design and oversight roles significantly raises the risk of unintentional bias. Ensuring gender inclusion in AI is not merely a matter of workforce equality, it is fundamental to the credibility and integrity of the systems themselves. For businesses, failing to act means both a sacrifice in potential productivity and a widening between workers. With fewer women entering the STEM workforce, few transition into technology leadership roles. In 2024, women held 24.4 per cent of managerial positions globally and a mere 12.2 per cent of C-suite positions in STEM-related areas such as technology and digital transformation, according to World Economic Forum. This shows a clear 'leaky pipeline' where women are increasingly filtered out as they move towards the top. Past research emphasises that the leadership gap for women often starts right at the beginning of their careers. According to McKinsey, fewer women successfully transition from individual roles into their first management positions a problem frequently called the 'broken rung' of the career ladder. The data shows an obvious disparity: for every 100 men promoted to a manager role, only 81 women achieve the same step up. This long-standing barrier is now colliding with the AI-driven workplace transformation, creating a concerning new trend: women are significantly less likely than men to transition into the high-potential roles that AI is currently boosting. As technology redefines professional success, this shift threatens to leave women behind in the very positions where the most growth and opportunity are concentrated. Close the gap For organisations, this isn't just a diversity issue, its a direct risk to the talent pipeline and overall productivity. Any AI strategy that leaves half the workforce behind effectively miss the opportunity for innovation and growth. Ensuring fair access to the benefits of AI is essential for reaching gender parity and capturing the performance gains that only diverse teams can deliver. Solving these challenges requires a structured and proactive plan. Companies must transparently monitor gender representation in AI roles and training to spot where gaps are forming. Targeted reskilling initiatives should support employees in roles most at risk from automation, helping them move into digital growth areas. Furthermore, clear internal mobility paths are necessary to ensure existing talent can reach new opportunities rather than being bypassed by outside hiring. Most importantly, businesses need to set clear, measurable goals for womens participation in AI training, career movement, and new role development. Currently, womens share of emerging AI roles is shrinking just as these positions are becoming the primary gateways to future leadership. If we fail to act, this gap will turn into a permanent inequality, with men designing the future while women remain stuck in vulnerable roles with no path upward. Ultimately, it is systemic barriers, not a lack of ambition or talent, that are holding women back. Organisations must now view gender representation in AI as a strategic performance metric. It is essential to track who is involved in AI projects and reskilling, while building leadership pathways and offering the flexibility needed to succeed. This makes the AI transformation fairer and more resilient. Were standing at a crossroads that our mothers and grandmothers couldn't have imagined. This AI boom is moving faster than any of us, and while the data tells a tough story, its ending hasnt been written yet. To all the women in the workplace: please don't wait for permission to be a pioneer. Don't wait for a perfect policy to start experimenting with these new tools. Your diligence and your accuracy are your strengths, but today, Im asking you to also embrace the 'messy' phase of learning. Take up space in those AI projects, raise your hand for that data training, and make your voice heard in the rooms where these systems are being built. You have the ambition and the capability, don't let a 'broken rung' or a new algorithm hold you back. And to business leaders: the choice is clear, treat AI inclusion as a core business priority or risk building a future that is fundamentally broken and less productive. Lets use AI to fix not fuel the gender gap. Experts highlight unpaid care work as key barrier to gender equality Vietnams push for gender equality is hindered by a persistent blind spot: unpaid care work, which limits womens participation in the workforce. Gender equality as a top priority for Vietnams sustainable development Gender equality is one of the priorities of the German governments development cooperation and foreign policy. Santiago Alonso Rodriguez, first counselor for Germany in Vietnam, offered more details on the issue with VIRs Hai Van. The First Minister has defended the Welsh Governments 14 billion rail investment plan after the Plaid Cymru leader warned the funding stream was not secured and accused ministers of electioneering. Eluned Morgan told the Senedd the UK Labour Government had committed to the investment if were in power and said the plan had been developed over two years with Transport for Wales and endorsed by the UK transport department and Treasury, What that announcement was was 14 billion and the UK Labour Government saying, Yes, if were in power, we will commit to this. And its an absolute shame that not one opposition party has welcomed this massive commitment that the UK Labour Government has made after years of underfunding by previous Tory UK Governments. This announcement recognises that Wales has been short-changed and makes up for that fact. We know that we didnt get proportionate funding from HS2, but this makes up for that. And I think you have to learn how the system works if you aspire to run the system. Plaid Cymrus Member Llyr Gruffydd questioned whether the 14 billion figure was genuine, saying it was a long-term headline figure without a secured funding stream or clear allocation in any current or existing budget, It is a familiar tactic straight out of the Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak playbook, because they promised electrification of the north Wales line. They promised that, and large numbers were trailed around, werent they, for political effect, but there was no identified budget, there was no delivery schedule, and there was no ring-fenced commitment. And do you know what? Its exactly the same for this 14 billion. If Labour remains in power Ms Morgan said the programme had been worked up over two years and the UK Government would not have signed off on it without Transport for Wales developing a detailed plan. Were not irresponsible as a Government. We wouldnt have put ourselves in that situation without being absolutely clear, she said. She said no long-term project was guaranteed, citing HS2 as an example, adding: What were saying is that if Labour remains in power, that commitment is absolutely there. Ms Morgan said the commitment had been signed off by both the Department for Transport and the Treasury. North Wales investment Conservative Natasha Asghar said while she and Welsh Conservative colleagues welcomed the additional funding, the announcement was nothing more than a pre-election stunt. The Prime Minister dragged himself to Wales to announce 445 million for seven new stations, but thats old news, because this was announced last summer, Ms Asghar said. First Minister, this feels, for me, like nothing more than a case of reheating old commitments and making empty promises as part of a desperate publicity stunt in a last-ditch attempt to drum up some support for a failing Labour Government. Lets be honest, that was the case, wasnt it? Ms Morgan said a document had been issued demonstrating where the 14 billion would be spent across Wales, which was a commitment that your previous Tory Government wouldnt make, adding a pop at Plaid Cymru as well, We learnt from Plaid this weekend that you love plans. You love a plan for a plan. Its a stunning proposal after youve had 27 years to develop your ideas. Blaenau Gwent MS Alun Davies, who said he welcomed the announcement, asked whether it demonstrated an argument for the devolution of rail infrastructure. When the Welsh Government is in control, we can make the investments, Mr Davies said. He asked the First Minister to work with Blaenau Gwent council to ensure the Abertillery spur and Ebbw valley line received the same level of investment as the Rhymney line. Ms Morgan said she had checked the Today, Tomorrow, Together document to confirm the Abertillery spur commitment was included. If youre serious about building an economy, you have to do long-term commitments; you cant change rail funding halfway along, she said. Questions on detail North Wales Conservative Gareth Davies said communities across north Wales felt increasingly forgotten when it came to transport investment. Weve not seen any major investment in road infrastructure in the Vale of Clwyd since the mid 1990s, and that was pre devolution, the last time we had a Conservative Government in charge of Wales, Mr Davies said. He said Wales had lost out on an estimated 4 billion in consequential funding because HS2 was classified as an England and Wales project, and questioned what steps the Welsh Government was taking to secure fair funding for north Wales. Ms Morgan said the May timetable change in north Wales would see a 50 per cent increase in services on the north Wales main line, including a new hourly service between Llandudno and Liverpool. Labours Carolyn Thomas, who recently spoke at a Deeside business forum transport seminar, said the excitement was palpable about delivery of a new station and crossing improvements for increased services. These were parts of bids twice refused by the UK Conservative Government under levelling-up funding. Its happening now, Ms Thomas said. She said it had taken a change of UK Government to get rail investment over the line. Newport Labour MS John Griffiths said the 14 billion commitment would help achieve an integrated transport system, with new stations at Somerton, Llanwern and Magor and Undy helping to tackle congestion on the M4. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com A dedicated community campaigner has represented North Wales at a special St Davids Day reception at 10 Downing Street after being nominated by Becky Gittins MP. Neil Ackers, Chairman of the North Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group, travelled to London in recognition of his outstanding work supporting men and their families across the region. The reception, hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and attended by the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, brought together figures from across Welsh public life to celebrate Wales and the contribution of people making a difference in their communities. Neil attended on behalf of the North Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group, which runs regular support meetings in Maggies at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor and Tywyn and organises PSA testing events across North Wales, Cheshire and works closely with Prostate Cymru. Neil described it as an incredible honour to walk through the door of 10 Downing Street to represent the support group and raise awareness of prostate cancer. Every conversation we start, every PSA testing event we organise, and every support meeting we hold has the potential to save a life, said Neil. If my being there helps even one more man to get tested earlier, then it was worth every second. While in Westminster, Neil was also given a tour of the Palace of Westminster by Beckys team, offering him the opportunity to see first-hand where national decisions about healthcare and cancer services are debated and shaped. He added: Walking through Parliament was a powerful moment. So many of the policies discussed there directly affect the men and families we support back home. It reinforced for me why local campaigning matters. The more we speak openly about early diagnosis and support, the more chance we have of improving outcomes for men across North Wales. Earlier this month, Becky visited Neil to present him with her February Community Champion of the Month award, recognising his exceptional contribution to the community. Becky Gittins MP for Clwyd East said: I was absolutely delighted to nominate Neil for this years St Davids Day reception. His commitment to improving mens health in Prestatyn and across North Wales is remarkable. Following his own diagnosis, Neil chose to turn a deeply personal experience into a mission to help others. Through awareness campaigns, PSA testing events and the growth of our regional support groups, he has helped countless families navigate one of the most difficult periods of their lives. She added: When I met Neil to present his Community Champion award, it was clear how driven he is by one simple goal: making sure fewer families have to face late diagnosis and the consequences that come with it. It was important to me that he had the chance to visit Parliament while he was in London, to see how the voices of local people connect to national decision making. Prestatyn and the whole of Clwyd East should be immensely proud of what he has achieved. Seeing his dedication recognised at Downing Street was a fitting tribute. Neil added: The evening reinforced my belief that you should never give up on your dreams and never underestimate the impact you can have in your own community. I will continue, with the full support of our fantastic committee, to do everything I can to raise awareness and encourage men to come forward for testing. And to every man and family member who walks through the doors of one of our support groups, you are the real heroes. Diolch. For more information about the North Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group and upcoming meetings, contact Secretary, David Maitland-Price via email: dmaitland131@aol.com or Facebook North Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com A former Connahs Quay pupil who once doubted whether education was for her has achieved a PhD, marking a remarkable 10-year journey that began at Coleg Cambria. Dr Ellie Moore left the towns high school at 16 and went straight into work, uncertain about what direction her life would take. University was never part of her plan. At the age of 19, however, she made the decision to return to education, enrolling at Coleg Cambrias Deeside Sixth Form Centre to study A Levels in Sociology, English Literature and Physical Education, alongside the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification. I was really wary about going back into education after a few years out, said Ellie. But from the very start, Coleg Cambria built my confidence. I loved every second of it and it completely changed how I saw myself and what I thought was possible. With the encouragement of lecturers and support staff, Ellie went from strength to strength academically, even resitting some GCSEs along the way. She credits the college with opening doors she never thought she would walk through. They were the ones who encouraged me to apply to university, said Ellie. That honestly shocked me at first, but they believed in me, and so did my family. Ellie went on to study Sociology at the University of Birmingham, describing the experience as life-changing. I never, ever thought I would go to university, she said. I was so proud of myself, and my family were incredibly proud too. Thats where I really got the learning bug. Inspired by her undergraduate experience, Ellie progressed to a Masters degree in Sociology at the University of Sheffield. After working full time for a period, she became aware of a PhD opportunity through a former lecturer. Ellie completed the doctorate at Loughborough University, with research focusing on sobriety in university students, and is now a Doctor of Philosophy. Her work explored how learners who do not drink alcohol navigate university life, form friendships, and how social and learning spaces can be designed to be more inclusive and move away from alcohol-centred cultures. Now, 10 years after beginning her A Levels at Coleg Cambria, Ellie proudly holds the title of Dr Moore. I broke it all down into chunks week by week, year by year thats how I did it, she said. Coleg Cambria laid the foundations for this chapter of my life, and with the right support and the right people behind you, you really can achieve anything. Having completed her PhD over Christmas, Ellie said she is now exploring opportunities in education and higher education, including research fellow, coordinator and research associate roles, and is excited to see what the future holds. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com The Welsh Government has invested over 22 million in Wrexham city centre through its Transforming Towns programme, with ministers hailing the impact on jobs and creative industries. Cabinet Secretary Jayne Bryant referenced the funding during questions in the Senedd, saying the investment is making a real difference and breathing new life into the city centre. The comments came as Lesley Griffiths highlighted the restoration of the grade II listed Old Carnegie library, which received 2.9 million from Transforming Towns funding. The building, on Queen Street, reopened in December 2025 after a major refurbishment to create a a hub for the citys growing creative sector. The councils aim is to develop and retain talent from the creative industry sector, and attract it back to Wrexham helping to ensure more young people, parents, teachers and businesses see local opportunities in the sector. Speaking in the Senedd, Ms Griffiths asked how the Welsh Government is supporting town centre regeneration in Wrexham. Ms Griffiths said the building, closed for nearly 50 years, now provides flexible, energy-efficient space for music, arts, creative industries, rehearsal spaces, and also for pop-up retail. Wrexham is becoming very well known for its creative industries and, of course, its bidding to be the UK City of Culture 2029, and this historic building will help support individuals and businesses who want to make progress in this area, Ms Griffiths told the Welsh Parliament. She added that the regeneration of town and city centres is vital if we are to ensure our high streets and public spaces are revitalised and places where people want to go for shopping, for leisure and for relaxation. Ms Bryant said she had visited Wrexham to see the city-centre regeneration plan and the creative hub at the Old Library on Queen Street. I think the way its been redeveloped has been really sympathetic to the traditional design as well, its so light and bright and airy. And those creative spaces now are breathing that life back into that building, a really, really, special place, actually, the Cabinet Secretary said. She said she met someone who had worked in creative industries elsewhere in the UK but had been drawn back to Wrexham because of all the new facilities and just the real feeling about the spaces and the flexibility and ability to work in somewhere like Wrexham now. Ms Bryant said the local authority has worked really hard in this space and developed a placemaking strategy for Wrexham funded through Transforming Towns revenue funding. Theres a real enthusiasm now, isnt there, in Wrexham around the creatives and the arts and the sports, and I think its really exciting, and Im sure that Wrexham will go from strength to strength, she said. Speaking after the ministers visit, Councillor Nigel Williams, Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism, said: With Welsh and UK government support, weve been able to give an underused historic building a new lease of life, and we hope the hub will become a focal point for creative industries across the region. Its a fantastic space where culture and technology can come together, and will provide a wonderful environment for businesses and entrepreneurs working in film, music, gaming, marketing, design, broadcast and many other fields. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early Sunday, including targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Irans Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. The Israeli military said in a statement that it would not allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory." The latest strikes in Lebanon followed an Israeli attack Saturday on an oil storage facility in Tehran, which sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime at the site that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north. Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when the Gulf country was hit by a swarm of missiles and drones. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. No other details were available. Israeli airstrikes killed eight people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, and local media reported that an Israeli drone hit a hotel in Beirut, killing four and wounding 10 others. The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian president apologizes for attacks Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized Saturday for attacks on neighboring countries," even as his country's missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehran's war strategy would not change. A rift between politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting Iranian statements came from two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the war's opening airstrikes. Pezeshkian, who is a member of the council, also dismissed U.S. President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. He described the ongoing U.S. operations in Iran as an excursion and said issues such as rising gas prices and the safety of Americans would improve once the conflict ends. Iranian leaders have limited power over Revolutionary Guard Pezeshkians message underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Pezeshkians statement said Iran's leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and from now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. The U.S. strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region. Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue, he posted on X. Iran's U.N. mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on nonmilitary sites may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems. Late Saturday, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani asserted in an address carried by state media that our leaders are united on this issue and have no disagreements with one another. Trump says the Kurds won't be involved In other developments, Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the war, even though Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government. The war is complicated enough without having ... the Kurds involved, Trump told reporters. Days ago, Kurdish officials told the AP that Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran's military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The war's stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. Missile lands at US Embassy compound in Iraq Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties. It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a terrorist act carried out by rogue groups. Strikes target other Gulf countries Hours after Pezeshkians apology, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed a driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Sirens sounded earlier Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces. In Kuwait, authorities said a wave of drones targeted critical infrastructure, including fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport and a government building in Kuwait City. At least two people were killed by strikes in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Magdy from Cairo, Egypt. Associated Press journalists Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo, Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting. AceShowbiz - It took years of persistence, numerous false starts, and a touch of fate for Help(2) to become a reality. Rich Clarke, head of music at War Child, explains that "the universe had to finally align" for the long-anticipated sequel to the iconic 1995 charity album Help to come together. The original album, featuring legendary acts like Paul McCartney, Oasis, Sinead O'Connor, and Radiohead, was a defining moment in charity music compilations and set a high standard that few have matched since. Released in September 1995, the original Help was recorded in just one day under the guidance of producer Brian Eno. It received nominations for both a BRIT Award and the Mercury Prize, sold an impressive 70,000 copies on its first day, and raised 1.25 million ($1.68 million) to aid children impacted by the Bosnian conflict of the mid-1990s. Its monumental success remains unmatched by any UK charity album since. The decision to create Help(2) was driven by the urgent humanitarian crises unfolding worldwide, including conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Syria, and ongoing civil wars in Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo. War Child estimates that the number of children affected by war globally has surged from one in ten at the time of the original album to one in five today, amounting to approximately 520 million children. Revisiting such a revered project was not done lightly. Clarke emphasizes that while War Child continues to engage audiences through live events, such as their successful BRITs Week shows, the music industry's shift means compilation albums are now rare. The charity had released several compilations during the 2000s featuring artists like David Bowie, Muse, and George Michael, but none reached the same impact due to declining demand for physical music formats at the time. However, the climate in 2025 is more favorable. According to BPI data, the UK sold 7.6 million vinyl LPs and 9.7 million CDs last year, signaling renewed interest in physical music. This, combined with ongoing global conflicts and artists increasingly using their voices for activism, encouraged Clarke that the time was right. He notes, "Asking a songwriter to write a great song is the best way of making use of their skills" in addressing these issues. When the project gained momentum, logistical challenges emerged. Touring schedules conflicted, and artists had limited studio availability. The breakthrough came with "three bits of good news" in late 2025: acclaimed producer James Ford signed on, followed by commitments from Arctic Monkeys and Fontaines D.C., two of the most influential contemporary rock bands from the UK and Ireland. Clarke reflects, "We decided that if we were going to make something like this, it would be a legacy piece as opposed to a random collection of songs. The name on the top of everyone's lips here was James. He was the missing puzzle piece we needed to move forward." James Ford's influence on modern music became evident as the tracklist for Help(2) took shape. The album, set for release on March 6, features 23 tracks with contributions from artists Ford has previously worked with, including Geese's Cameron Winter, Depeche Mode, Wet Leg, and The Last Dinner Party. Other notable appearances include Olivia Rodrigo, Ezra Collective, English Teacher, and Kae Tempest, highlighting the compilation's diverse and carefully curated talent. Most featured artists gathered at London's Abbey Road Studios in November 2025, where simultaneous recording sessions fostered numerous spontaneous collaborations. The majority of songs are brand new, a deliberate challenge set by Clarke to meet the original album's high artistic standards. The sessions were attended by dozens of children capturing moments on handheld cameras under the watchful eye of Oscar-winning director Jonathan Glazer, known for The Zone of Interest. The relaxed environment at Abbey Road allowed musicians to flow freely between studios. Jarvis Cocker of Pulp recalls walking into Studio Two after lunch to find Damon Albarn from Blur and Gorillaz working on a fresh demo. He reunited with longtime friend Johnny Marr and met Kae Tempest, Fontaines D.C.'s Grian Chatten, and Carl Barat of The Libertines. This impromptu gathering led all four to provide backing vocals on Pulp's track "Begging for Change." Cocker highlights the spirit of collaboration, noting, "Bands have always been competitive with each other, or at least certainly back in the days when I first started doing music. It felt important to just put anything like that aside, and realize that everybody's working towards the same thing and you can actually help each other out. It was a really good week." Pulp has a long-standing connection to War Child. Their 1996 album Different Class was nominated for the Mercury Prize alongside the original Help compilation. After winning, Cocker donated the 25,000 ($33,700) prize money to War Child, praising the charity's work during his acceptance speech. Participating in Help(2) was therefore an easy decision, as it provided an opportunity to support a cause far greater than themselves. Cocker reflects on the importance of childhood, saying, "Childhood is such an important time: it's when you learn how to be a human being, and that's a difficult thing, even more so when living in a war zone. For a child to grow to be an adult in a place surrounded by chaos, or to try and get an education while feeling in danger all the time... you have to do what you can to try and provide some respite for them from that." Despite progress, the project faced a significant hurdle just before the Abbey Road sessions. Producer James Ford was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia in late 2024 and was admitted to intensive care. The fixed studio booking left no room for delay, so external producers and engineers were brought in, coordinated by Transgressive Records co-founder Toby L. He managed day-to-day operations at Abbey Road and guided tracklisting and A&R decisions, ensuring the sessions moved forward. Clarke praises the collective effort, stating, "People moved mountains to make these sessions happen. It was the sort of collective spirit that reaffirms your faith in community, particularly in an industry as fragmented as music can be." As Ford's health stabilized, he resumed his role remotely from his hospital bed via Zoom. Contributing production and mix suggestions in real time, Ford's involvement added a layer of resilience and emotional depth to the project. The circumstances surrounding Help(2)s completion underscore its message of endurance despite adversity. Ford describes how remotely attending sessions made him "feel attached to the real work," reinforcing the project's significance beyond music. This spirit of unity and perseverance shines through the album, positioning Help(2) not only as a musical achievement but as a testament to the power of community in challenging times. AceShowbiz - Smokey Robinson is currently facing accusations of delaying the progress of a sexual-assault lawsuit, as his accusers' legal representatives have requested judicial intervention to address what they describe as obstructive behavior. Attorneys representing six plaintiffs involved in the ongoing case claim that Smokey Robinson and his wife, Frances Robinson, have provided discovery responses that are evasive and incomplete, resulting in significant delays over several months. John Harris, the lawyer for Jane Does 1 through 4, stated that his team filed four motions to compel further discovery after encountering what they argue are repeated failures by the Robinsons to comply with Californias discovery rules. Harris criticized Robinson for invoking the Fifth Amendment in response to routine questions, contending that this constitutional right should not be used as a blanket tactic to avoid answering inquiries or participating fully in the civil proceedings. In contrast, Harris emphasized that all six accusersJane Does 1 through 5, along with John Doe 1have cooperated extensively, with some witnesses undergoing up to four depositions, despite facing what he described as intrusive questioning and retaliatory accusations. Further, Harris pointed to Robinsons $500 million countersuit against the plaintiffs and their attorneys, viewing it as an intimidation tactic aimed at discouraging the accusers from pursuing their claims. According to Harris, court involvement is now essential to enforce transparency and advance the litigation, allowing the alleged victims to seek justice without unnecessary obstruction. Responding to these allegations, Smokey Robinsons attorney, Christopher Frost, expressed no surprise at the plaintiffs latest motions, suggesting that they are attempts to generate media attention following the announcement of new tour dates by Robinson. Frost argued that the lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs is motivated by a desire to recycle false allegations and use media exposure strategically to harm Robinsons career and coerce an unjust settlement. Frost further maintained that the discovery motions are standard litigation procedures and not newsworthy, highlighting instead the plaintiffs obstruction and evasive conduct. He detailed multiple instances requiring court intervention related to depositions, imaging of cell phones, and the transmission of deposition transcripts to the Los Angeles District Attorneys office, blaming the plaintiffs for hindering these processes. Frost called the plaintiffs claims that Robinson is obstructing the case absurd, insisting that it is the plaintiffs who have consistently delayed progress. The dispute originally began in May 2025 when Robinson was sued by four former housekeepers alleging sexual battery and other misconduct during their employment in his home. The lawsuit expanded to include two additional accusers, including a male former employee, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to six. Smokey Robinson has publicly denied all allegations, with his legal team characterizing the claims as part of a coordinated effort to extract money from him. As the case continues, the contrast between the plaintiffs accusations of stalling tactics by the Robinsons and the defenses assertion of the plaintiffs own obstruction highlights the contentious nature of this high-profile legal battle. The courts intervention on the discovery motions will likely play a critical role in determining the future trajectory of the lawsuit. AceShowbiz - Dave Grohl has revealed details about Foo Fighters' upcoming album Your Favorite Toy, describing it as packed with "noisy, loud bangers" and an energetic, uptempo vibe reminiscent of their earlier work. The band announced their 12th studio album on Thursday, February 19, simultaneously releasing the expansive title track. Music publication NME awarded the song four stars, calling it a "futureproof rock beast" that is "snarlingly unapologetic," highlighting its raw energy and unapologetic attitude. Foo Fighters' new record is scheduled for release on April 24, following their 2023 album But Here We Are. It will also include the single "Asking For A Friend," which debuted last year. The album was recorded at home, co-produced by the band alongside Oliver Roman, and mixed by renowned producer Mark 'Spike' Stent. During a conversation on Apple Music 1 with Zane Lowe, Grohl shared insights into the albums creation and what listeners can expect. He explained that over the past year and a half, he spent a lot of time in his studio writing, experimenting, and demoing material, ultimately generating 30 to 40 different song ideas. "One night I was listening to all these ideas and just randomly, there were these 10 songs in a row in my playlist that were all just like noisy, loud bangers. Uptempo, like back to the old days," Grohl said. "I was like, wait a minute, maybe this is the record." He also mentioned that some other tracks had a different feel, ranging from sounds reminiscent of Led Zeppelins 1976 album Presence to mellow acoustic tunes. However, it was the cluster of loud, energetic songs that convinced him they had found the right direction for the album. Grohl reflected on the band's evolution, noting that after more than 30 years and now on their 12th album, questions about their ambition and purpose naturally arise. "Where do we go from here? What do we do?" he asked. This introspection led to a creative breakthrough where all boundaries faded away, and the band focused on what would make them excited and passionate again. "The intention and the ambition is all within yourself. So, whatever's going to make us jump around and smile and scream... and that's the purest intention," he said. According to Grohl, the band found that spark in the title track Your Favorite Toy, which became the catalyst for the rest of the album. He described it as the "springboard" that set the tone, vibe, and energy for the record. Once they nailed this, the band quickly recorded the rest of the album in just three to four weeks. In an earlier statement, Grohl emphasized that Your Favorite Toy unlocked the albums energetic direction after a year of experimenting with different sounds and dynamics. He said the song was the "fuse to the powder keg" that ignited the collection of tracks they ultimately recorded, giving the album a fresh feel. This album is also notable for being the first to feature new drummer Ilan Rubin, who replaced Josh Freese. The transition involved a swap, with Rubin leaving Nine Inch Nails to join Foo Fighters, while Freese departed Foo Fighters and returned to Nine Inch Nails. Grohl had confirmed the completion of the new album in January, with the band releasing several teasers online soon after. They updated their official website and shared more previews, building anticipation among fans. Foo Fighters will support the album with an extensive tour across the UK and Europe this year, playing large stadium shows. They will also perform in North America during the summer and autumn, and have announced plans for Australian and New Zealand dates in 2026 and 2027. The UK leg of the tour includes two headline shows at Liverpool FCs Anfield Stadium, with tickets still available. Additionally, they are slated to appear at major European festivals such as Mad Cool, Nos Alive, and Pinkpop. In related news, former Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese has commented on his life following his departure from the band, stating that "no one should feel sorry" for him, indicating a positive outlook despite the change. AceShowbiz - Daredevil: Born Again is set to return with its highly anticipated second season, as Marvel Studios has unveiled a new trailer that dives deeper into the dark and action-packed journey of Matt Murdock in the MCU. The trailer offers fans a thrilling glimpse of whats next for the Devil of Hells Kitchen and his alliances in a city increasingly hostile to vigilantes. The new season picks up more than six months after the events of the first season, in a New York City under martial law declared by Mayor Wilson Fisk. Vigilantes are now outlawed, and the citys landscape has transformed dramatically. Showrunner Dario Scardapane explained that Fisks administration has consolidated power, effectively putting the city under his control while an underground resistance begins to rise. This political upheaval deeply impacts all characters, shaping their paths in unexpected ways. The trailer prominently features Matt Murdock forced to operate as Daredevil while evading a relentless Anti-Vigilante Task Force targeting crimefighters across New York. Fans will also see the uneasy dynamic between Matt and Kingpin, as well as the return of Karen Page, with Deborah Ann Wolls character playing a significantly larger role this season. Adding to the returning cast is Tony Dalton reprising his role as Jack Duquesne, who previously appeared in season 1 and also connects to the broader Marvel television universe through Hawkeye. A major highlight is the return of Jessica Jones, portrayed by Krysten Ritter, who appears fighting alongside Daredevil, signaling a powerful team-up between two of New Yorks most formidable heroes. Another intriguing element is the appearance of Wilson Bethel as Bullseye, showcasing a clearer look at his distinctive costume introduced in the first season. Although the Punisher will not be part of this season, the trailer hints at Matt and Jessica visiting Frank Castles hideout, suggesting ongoing connections within the vigilante community. The second season of Daredevil: Born Again promises to explore themes of power, control, and rebellion against a backdrop of political tension and personal battles. It will debut on March 24 exclusively on Disney+, continuing the story of Matt Murdocks fight for justice in a city that has turned against its heroes. With its mix of intense action sequences, complex character dynamics, and a richly transformed New York setting, Daredevil: Born Again season 2 aims to build on the success of its first season while expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universes narrative landscape through its darker, street-level heroes. AceShowbiz - Eric Dane recently participated in an interview for Netflix's documentary series Famous Last Words, which features poignant final conversations with notable figures before their passing. During the interview, Dane expressed a profound outlook on confronting mortality with grace. He emphasized that it is possible to meet life's ultimate challenges and even "the end of your days" with dignity. This perspective highlights the strength and resilience he wished to convey to audiences. Dane also shared how the awareness of his own mortality reshaped his view of time and existence. He explained that this knowledge taught him to prioritize living fully in the present moment rather than being consumed by past regrets or anxious about an unpredictable future. He reflected, "The past contains regrets. The future remains unknown, so you have to live now. The present is all you have. Treasure it. Cherish every moment." This statement encapsulates his message of mindfulness and appreciation for the time one still has. The insights from Dane in Famous Last Words encourage viewers to embrace each day with intention and to face life's inevitable trials with courage and respect for the present. His words offer a meaningful reminder to value lifes fleeting moments and approach the unknown with calm and acceptance. AceShowbiz - Good morning to all fans of The Night Agent. Netflix has officially announced the renewal of The Night Agent for a fourth season, with production planned to take place in Los Angeles. This marks a change from season three, which was filmed across New York City and Istanbul, Turkey. The series lead actor, Gabriel Basso, along with creator and showrunner Shawn Ryan, have traveled extensively for the show. Ryan expressed enthusiasm about the journey so far, noting that filming has spanned five countries across three continents. He confirmed the teams eagerness to continue the story of Peter Sutherland into the upcoming season, promising to bring our incredible fans even more twists, turns and thrills. The Night Agent season three was just released a few weeks ago and is currently performing strongly on Netflix. It holds the position of the streamers number two show, second only to Bridgerton season four. The return of season three also revitalized interest in the earlier seasons, with both seasons one and two reappearing in Netflixs weekly top 10 rankings. When looking at all-time performance, The Night Agent ranks as Netflixs 10th most-watched English-language series. Given this success, the announcement of season four was anticipated. Last month, Ryan told The Hollywood Reporter that he and his team were actively working on a fourth season, though the official renewal had not yet been confirmed at that time. Were not officially picked up yet, but weve been actively working on the writers room, Ryan explained. So I just want to be super clear that theres no news to report on that front. We are just focused on the creative, and when the time comes for Netflix to pick up, theyll let you guys know. Well, now the official word is out, and fans can expect the story to continue expanding. Alongside Ryan, executive producers include Marney Hochman for MiddKid Productions, Seth Gordon and Julia Gunn for Exhibit A, James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and Nicole Tossou for Project X, as well as David Beaubaire for Sunset Lane Media. Additional executive producers are Munis Rashid, Paul Bernard, Guy Ferland, and Seth Fisher. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television. The third season of The Night Agent follows Peter Sutherland as he pursues a young Treasury Agent who has fled to Istanbul with sensitive government information after killing his superior. This pursuit leads Peter into a dangerous investigation of a dark money network while evading assassins, and places him on a collision path with a relentless journalist. Together, they uncover hidden secrets and long-standing grudges that threaten to destabilize the governmentand put their lives at risk. A video released alongside the renewal announcement captures the excitement, featuring Times Square transformed into a backdrop, reminding fans that the stakes are higher than ever. AceShowbiz - Midway through her Sunday night performance at New Yorks legendary Blue Note jazz club, Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known worldwide as Lizzo, posed a reflective question to her audience: Ever feel like youre losing touch with who you really are? She admitted to having experienced exactly that and reminded herself, I am 100 percent that bitch! a nod to one of her most defining and contentious lyrics. This intimate residency, hosted at the 200-capacity Blue Note in Greenwich Village, represents a pivotal moment for Lizzo after several turbulent years. After rocketing to fame with uplifting anthems like Cuz I Love You, Juice, and Good as Hell, she overcame the sophomore slump with her Grammy-winning 2022 album About Damn Time. However, the positive energy of her music was somewhat overshadowed by public legal disputes involving former dancers and collaborators, signaling a need for reinvention. While a couple of mixtapes and a New York magazine cover story titled Lizzo Starts Over attempted to capture this shift, they didnt fully deliver the fresh start she sought. Earlier this year, however, new songs began quietly gaining attention, particularly a standout track titled Dont Make Me Love You. The song channels an 80s vibe, featuring a bassline reminiscent of Michael Jacksons Billie Jean paired with a chorus evoking Tina Turners powerhouse hit Simply the Best. This track became the centerpiece of her electrifying set on Sunday night, the penultimate show of a dozen performances split between the Blue Note venues in Los Angeles and New York. Over three nights, Lizzo played two 90-minute sets each evening, showcasing her versatility and stamina. Even for Sundays early show the fifth of six in New York a long line of hopeful fans gathered outside, eager for last-minute tickets. Inside, the intimate room was packed, with notable attendees like CBS News personality Gayle King and actress Natalie Portman, who brought her daughter along to witness the show. Draped in a dazzling, flapper-inspired outfit complete with a sparkling headdress and a faux fur wrap, Lizzo exuded confidence and determination. She made it clear from the start that the evenings setlist would be a blend of old favorites some dating back years new and unreleased songs, and tributes to the Blue Notes rich jazz legacy. She referenced legendary figures such as Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Charles, adding with a wink, Its such an honor to be here... performing for your french fries, showcasing her sharp comedic timing. The set was a sprawling, loosely autobiographical journey that highlighted not just Lizzos commanding vocal talents but also her prowess as a flautist. The arrangements incorporated jazzy reinterpretations of her hits, alongside covers that ranged from classical Bach to a sultry rendition of the jazz standard Summertime. She also performed a spirited take on Meredith Brooks 90s anthem Bitch, and introduced a new track that sampled DAngelos 2000 classic Untitled (How Does It Feel?). Adding a personal touch, she played a flute piece she learned back in eighth grade. The setlist was carefully crafted yet felt spontaneous a testament to the bands cohesive chemistry, as this was their eleventh show together over two weekends. Perhaps the most forward-looking moment of the night was when Lizzo introduced Dont Make Me Love You. She recounted meeting actress Angela Bassett backstage at one of the Los Angeles shows, who portrayed Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic Whats Love Got to Do With It? Bassett complimented her, saying she was giving off Tina vibes. Lizzo responded with playful humor, requesting a demonstration of Tinas signature shoulder move before performing it herself. She then encouraged the audience to record and share the song online a bold move that underscored her confidence in the tracks potential. Beyond the spectacle and showmanship, these performances reaffirmed Lizzos status as a multifaceted artist. Unlike previous tours where she was often accompanied solely by a DJ, here she was backed by four exceptional jazz musicians: keyboardist Philip Cornish, guitarist and vocalist Emily Elbert, bassist Chelton Grey, and drummer Jharis Yockley. Each member was given moments to shine with fiery solos, enriching the live experience and demonstrating the collective talent on stage. The evening drew to a close with a deeply intimate rendition of What a Wonderful World. The choice was poignant, especially given the geopolitical tension just 48 hours earlier when the president initiated conflict with Iran. Throughout the set, Lizzo referenced the worlds unrest. When singing the line Woke up feeling like I just might run for president from her 2019 hit Like a Girl, she grimaced, signaling skepticism with a playful no way! gesture. In her closing remarks, Lizzo distanced herself from negativity, stating, Im not here for the drama, Im not here for the bullshit - Im here to raise the vibration of this planet, for the better. She tempered this declaration with humor and humility, adding, I write songs about who I aspire to be, sometimes Im not that bitch - Im like, Im gonna be 100% that bitch, take the dinner out! She laughed, calling this approach manifestation, and thanked the audience for sharing that frequency of love with her. This residency at the Blue Note is more than a series of shows; its a bold chapter in Lizzos artistic evolution. By blending vulnerability, virtuosity, humor, and heart, she offers a compelling vision of who she is now and who she aims to become. If manifestation is the path, then Lizzo is unquestionably off to a promising start. AceShowbiz - Scott Patterson is officially departing from the Canadian drama Sullivan's Crossing following its third season. The actor, who portrays Harry "Sully" Sullivanthe central character of the serieswill not be returning for the shows upcoming fourth season, which is set to premiere in the United States on The CW on Monday, April 20 (8/7c). In a statement released to Deadline, Patterson revealed that his exit stems from creative differences that became "untenable." He expressed, "I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue." This announcement comes after the third season finale, where his character took a trip to Ireland, leaving fans expecting his return in Season 4. Despite Patterson's absence, Sullivan's Crossing showrunner Roma Roth recently told Us Weekly that although Sully wont physically appear this season, the character remains a significant part of the show's world. Roth hinted at the possibility of Sullys inclusion in future seasons depending on the creative direction. This explanation, however, did not sit well with Patterson. He clarified that the decision to leave was his own and not a storyline choice made by the writers or producers. In his statement, he emphasized, "It's unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite... those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise." Patterson also expressed gratitude toward the fans and the opportunity to bring Sully to life. He stated, "I was not intending to make any statement but the fans of the books and the show deserve to know the truth... we are so dang lucky and blessed to portray and bring to life these characters." He continued, highlighting the depth of his character: "I really enjoyed Sully and fought for his voice and his character. The richness and depth of Sully, whom the fans of the books all know and love, is so multi-layered and interesting." He insisted that fans should not believe he would disrespect the show or its audience by staying silent. In closing, Patterson reaffirmed his commitment to the truth and to the fans, stating, "In the end, we're all fans of these characters and stories, and I'll always support and defend the truth." As Sullivan's Crossing moves forward without its lead actor, audiences are left wondering how the show will evolve and whether Sullys story will be revisited. Will you miss Scott Patterson in the new season? Share your thoughts and reactions below. AceShowbiz - BTS is interacting directly with fans online as excitement grows for their upcoming activities. In a recently released video by GQ, the global K-pop phenomenon goes undercover on the internet, responding to questions and comments from fans across multiple platforms including X, Reddit, TikTok, Quora, and YouTube. This feature is part of GQs ongoing series where artists review and react to discussions about themselves circulating online. Throughout the video, the members of BTS address a diverse range of fan theories, inside jokes, and long-standing debates within their fan community. They also verify facts found on their Wikipedia pages and reply to inquiries about the groups reunion and their evolving musical style. At times, the conversation delves into how BTSs music and outlook have transformed since their early days, with the members openly acknowledging that their current work reflects a more mature phase in their careers. The video also explores the deep connection between BTS and their dedicated fanbase, ARMY. The members respond to questions about their favorite moments with fans and the culture that has developed around their music over the past decade. One notable segment features the group discussing what they missed most about collaborating while away from the public eye and the experience of coming back together in the studio. This GQ appearance comes ahead of the March 20 release of BTSs new album, which stands as one of the groups most significant projects since completing their mandatory military service and resuming group activities. This album will be their first major release since their hiatus, which began in 2022. In addition to the album, BTS is launching several supporting projects tied to this comeback. A concert film titled The Comeback Live is set to premiere on March 21, providing fans with a performance-focused experience that complements the new era. Following that, a documentary called The Return will start streaming on Netflix on March 27. Fans can watch BTS respond to questions and comments online in the GQ video. AceShowbiz - Netflix has announced a new period drama titled Alexander, which will be written, directed, and executive-produced by Jacob Tierney, the creator and showrunner of Heated Rivalry. This ambitious series will explore the complex relationship between Alexander the Great and his tutor Aristotle, bringing to life a pivotal chapter in history. The production will also include executive producers Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan from Aggregate Films, alongside Brendan Brady, who previously worked on Heated Rivalry. The collaboration signals a strong creative team dedicated to delivering a richly detailed and compelling narrative. Adapted from Annabel Lyon's novel The Golden Mean, the show is set against the backdrop of a declining Athenian empire. The story begins as Aristotle, celebrated as the world's greatest mind, arrives in Macedonia to educate the young and volatile Prince Alexander. Their relationship unfolds amid palace intrigue, forbidden love, brutal warfare, and unrelenting ambition, ultimately shaping an empire and altering the course of history. Jacob Tierney expressed his long-standing passion for the project, stating, "I fell in love with Annabel Lyon's book 'The Golden Mean' years ago and have been dreaming of telling this story ever since." He further conveyed his excitement about partnering with Aggregate Films and Netflix to bring this captivating world to the screen. Netflix's Head of U.S. and Canada Scripted Series, Jinny Howe, praised Tierney as one of todays most dynamic creative talents. She highlighted the fresh, raw energy he brings to this adaptation, noting that it reimagines the timeless mentor-protege dynamic with both epic scope and intimate emotion. Howe emphasized that the drama is expected to resonate strongly with audiences worldwide. As anticipation builds, no official release date for Alexander has been revealed. Viewers eager to immerse themselves in the palaces and power struggles of ancient Macedonia will have to wait a little longer to experience this high-stakes historical saga. Are you excited to see this dramatic retelling of Alexander the Greats story? Share your thoughts in the comments below! AceShowbiz - The long-awaited antitrust trial against concert giant Live Nation, initiated by the Department of Justice (DOJ), began this week with intense opening statements, a spotlight on a problematic Taylor Swift ticket presale, and allegations of threats made to a Brooklyn venue. Billboard is providing a weekly summary of the major developments in this DOJ case accusing Live Nation of monopoly practices in the live music industry. The trial, expected to last about six weeks, has the potential to reshape the concert business landscape. Nearly two years after the DOJ's initial complaint, the jury heard opening statements on March 3. Government attorney David Dahlquist described the live concert market as "broken" and dominated by Live Nation. In response, Live Nation's lawyer David Marriott argued that the government selectively presented evidence and that the industry today is "more competitive than ever." A major point of contention centered on the 2022 presale for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which was marred by widespread website outages and sparked consumer outrage against Ticketmaster, a subsidiary of Live Nation. The DOJ used this incident to demonstrate Live Nations alleged lack of incentive to maintain quality customer service, with Dahlquist stating, "Their technology is held together by duct tape." Live Nation countered by blaming unprecedented web traffic and cyberattacks for the failure, insisting no one could have managed the presale better under the circumstances. The governments first witness was John Abbamondi, former CEO of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, who testified that Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino threatened to withhold top artists if the venue switched from Ticketmaster to rival ticketing service SeatGeek. A recorded phone call was played in court where Rapino warned that it would be "tough to deliver concerts" at Barclays and suggested that concerts might instead be booked at the nearby UBS Arena on Long Island. According to Abbamondi, he understood these remarks as a "threat." After Barclays chose SeatGeek, Abbamondi testified that the venue experienced a noticeable drop in shows, including a Billie Eilish concert that was moved to UBS Arena. He said, "We saw a dramatic decline in shows booked at the arena." During cross-examination, Marriott questioned Abbamondis knowledge of why certain acts were diverted, pointing out that other Barclays executives had concerns about SeatGeek. He also probed Abbamondis personal connections to SeatGeek, with Abbamondi admitting he had many friends and colleagues affiliated with the company. Jack Groetzinger, founder of SeatGeek, also testified this week. He told jurors that SeatGeek offers "retaliation insurance" to venues worried about consequences from Live Nation. However, Marriott challenged Groetzingers credibility, portraying him as a competitor with vested interests who helped trigger the lawsuit. Marriott cited an email from a Barclays executive expressing concerns about "perception issues" related to SeatGeeks technology and business practices. Additional witnesses included Jay Marciano, CEO of AEG Presents; Marc Geiger of Gate 52, which provides services for independent venues; Mitch Helgerson, chief revenue officer of the NHLs Minnesota Wild; and promoter and venue owner Seth Hurwitz. Hurwitz, who previously engaged in legal disputes with Live Nation, acknowledged the companys dominance in the industry but denied ever being threatened by them. In fact, he praised Ticketmasters performance, saying, "They do a great job." The DOJs central argument in the case is that Live Nation coerces venues into exclusive contracts with Ticketmaster and uses threats to steer concerts away from venues that choose rival ticket sellers. The Barclays Center episode is a cornerstone example for the government, highlighting both overt threats and the real-world impact of losing shows, which allegedly forced the venue back to Ticketmaster. The DOJ hopes that the testimonies of Abbamondi and Groetzinger will convince the jury of this coercion. Conversely, Live Nation aims to undermine these witnesses credibility through cross-examination, portraying them as biased or self-interested, thus weakening the government's case. As the trial progresses, observers will be watching closely to see whether the evidence presented supports claims of monopolistic practices or confirms Live Nations stance that the live music market remains competitive despite the companys prominence. AceShowbiz - Netflix has announced an early renewal for Season 2 of its upcoming reboot of Little House on the Prairie, signaling strong confidence in the series before its initial release. The first season, consisting of eight episodes, is set to premiere on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Rebecca Sonnenshine, the showrunner, expressed her gratitude toward the cast and crew for their dedication in bringing the adaptation to life. She shared enthusiasm for sharing this fresh take on Laura Ingalls Wilders beloved books and praised Netflix for the opportunity to continue the story with a second season. Netflixs head of U.S. and Canada scripted series, Jinny Howe, also commented on the renewal, describing the series as a "beautiful reimagining" of the classic story. She highlighted the strong foundation laid by Sonnenshine and the cast in Season 1, emphasizing the shows hopeful spirit and emotional depth as key reasons for continuing the series. No trailer has been released yet, but anticipation is growing for the new interpretation of the frontier saga. The cast is led by Alice Halsey ("Lessons in Chemistry") as the determined Laura Ingalls. Her family includes Skywalker Hughes ("Joe Pickett") as her older sister Mary, Luke Bracey ("Hacksaw Ridge") as her father Charles, and Crosby Fitzgerald ("Palm Royale") as her mother Caroline. Other notable cast members include Jocko Sims ("New Amsterdam") as the kind-hearted Dr. George Tann and Warren Christie ("Alphas") portraying John Edwards, a Civil War veteran who captivates the local women. Additionally, Meegwun Fairbrother ("Burden of Truth"), Alyssa Wapanat?hk ("Riverdale"), Wren Zhawenim Gotts ("Echo"), and Xander Cole depict a family living on the frontier, playing farmer Mitchell, his outspoken wife White Sun, their imaginative daughter Good Eagle, and their good-natured but stubborn son Little Puma. For more than forty years, the world has tried to manage the Iranian regime. Sanctions have been imposed, negotiations launched, agreements signed, and red lines repeatedly drawn. Yet with every passing year Irans missiles grow more advanced, its proxy militias more entrenched, and its nuclear program closer to the threshold of weaponization. Advertisement Recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and repeated threats to close the Strait of Hormuz remind us that the risks posed by Irans strategy are not theoretical. They threaten global trade, energy markets, and the stability of entire regions. This uncomfortable reality forces a difficult conclusion: containment has failed. Advertisement If the international community wants genuine stability in the Middle Eastand if it wants to protect the global economy from recurring energy and security shocksit must move beyond temporary agreements and adopt a new strategic objective: the permanent removal of the military capabilities that allow the Iranian regime to threaten the region and the world. I call this strategy the Zero-Bullet Doctrine. Advertisement The doctrine rests on a simple principle: a regime that repeatedly weaponizes every military capability it possesses cannot be trusted to retain those capabilities in reduced form. Durable peace requires removing the tools that make aggression possible. This would not be the first time the international community has taken such a step. After World War II, Germany underwent full demilitarization under Allied supervision. Japan adopted a constitution renouncing war and significantly limiting its military posture. Panama abolished its army entirely and replaced it with civilian security forces. Advertisement These cases differed in circumstance, but they reflected a common recognition: when militarization itself becomes the source of instability, structural limits on military power can provide the foundation for long-term peace. Iran today presents such a case. Advertisement Over four decades the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved into far more than a military institution. It has become a powerful political, economic, and strategic force directing missile development, financing proxy networks, and influencing conflicts across the Middle East. Irans regional strategy relies on a multilayered system of coercion: ballistic missiles, proxy militias, maritime intimidation, and nuclear brinkmanship. Advertisement Through organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, Tehran has built a network capable of destabilizing several regions simultaneously while maintaining plausible deniability. This structure allows Iran to apply pressure without assuming direct responsibility, creating a permanent cycle of crisis management in which negotiations are followed by violations, sanctions by escalation, and each temporary agreement leaves the architecture of Iranian power intact. Containment can delay escalation. It cannot eliminate the tools that make escalation possible. The Zero-Bullet Doctrine rests on five pillars. First, dismantling Irans offensive military infrastructure. Irans ballistic missile forces, long-range strike capabilities, and nuclear weapons infrastructure would ultimately need to be dismantled. Temporary suspension is insufficient if the underlying systems remain intact. Second, ending proxy warfare. Organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis have become central instruments of Iranian regional strategy. A credible settlement would require Tehran to sever all financial, operational, and logistical support for foreign militias and disclose the networks through which they operate. Third, protecting the global maritime system. Few geographic chokepoints carry greater strategic importance than the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through this narrow waterway each day. Even limited disruption in the strait can send global energy markets into shock, raise fuel prices worldwide, and trigger economic instability far beyond the Middle East. For decades Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, harassed commercial vessels, and used maritime pressure as geopolitical leverage. No responsible global security architecture can allow a single regime to hold one of the worlds most critical economic arteries hostage. Under a Zero-Bullet framework, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz would be guaranteed by a permanent multinational maritime coalition rather than by Iranian discretion. Removing this leverage would significantly reduce the regimes ability to manipulate global energy markets or threaten international trade. Fourth, intrusive and continuous verification. Past agreements have often failed because inspection regimes allowed delays and restricted access. A durable framework would require unrestricted inspections, real-time monitoring, and intelligence verification supported by an international coalition. Violations would trigger automatic enforcement mechanisms rather than prolonged diplomatic negotiations. Fifth, a pathway toward prosperity for the Iranian people. Demilitarization should not mean national humiliation. It should mean national opportunity. Iran is rich in human talent, natural resources, and cultural heritage. Freed from the enormous financial burden of military expansion and proxy warfare, it could redirect its resources toward economic development, infrastructure, technology, and international trade. A demilitarized Iran could become a stabilizing economic actor rather than a perpetual source of regional crisis. Critics will argue that such a doctrine is unrealistic. Yet the current modelendless cycles of sanctions, negotiations, and escalationhas produced neither stability nor trust. To be clear, such a framework would be extraordinarily difficult to achieve and would likely require major geopolitical change inside Iran itself. But serious policy must begin by defining the strategic end state we hope to achieve, not by endlessly managing crises. The international community must decide whether it is prepared to live indefinitely with a nuclear-threshold Iran supported by missiles and proxy militias. If the answer is no, then the objective must change. The goal should no longer be managing Irans military capabilities. The goal must be eliminating the conditions that allow those capabilities to threaten the region and the world. The Zero-Bullet Doctrine expresses that objective clearly: No missiles. No nuclear weapons capability. No proxy armies. No maritime coercion. Only then can the Middle East move toward a more stable balanceand only then can Iran itself begin the long process of turning away from confrontation and toward prosperity. History shows that peace does not always begin with negotiation. Sometimes it begins when the tools of war are finally removed. The world does not need another temporary deal with Tehran. It needs a permanent end to the tools of war that have made the crisis possible. Arik Arad is a highly experienced professional with over 30 years of expertise in security, business development, and cybersecurity, and is the founder and chairman of Cyviation, a cyber security company protecting commercial airlines and business jets. He served on the Presidential Committee on Aviation Security following the Pan Am 103 disaster at the request of President George H.W. Bush. and provided expert testimony during congressional hearings into the 9/11 attack. Notably, Arad served as the Head of Security for El Al at Ben Gurion Airport. Image: Pexels. I recently wrote an article about the joint U.S./State of Israel attacks on Iran for my Danish audience under the headline: "Should we not be thanking Donald Trump?" I figured on getting a few mixed responses, but I wasn't prepared for the level of negativity that I got back from the Danes. Advertisement The responses ranged from the "steadfastly opposed" (on legal grounds) to the isolationist ones that basically said, "It's none of the U.S.'s business and none of our (Denmark's) business either." There were those that said: "It's just another example of the (American) dictator at work" and my favorite self-serving one was: "And now our gas prices are going up. Thanks a lot, Donald Trump." I suppose I should have been prepared for the onslaught of critical comments given the level of vitriol and downright hatred of Donald Trump by many normally calm, reserved Danes, but I can admit that I was a little taken aback. I can only surmise that "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS) has overtaken COVID now as the world's pandemic and it has made its way to Scandinavia. Advertisement I must confess that this situation (with my article) is a wake-up call of sorts for me when it comes to the Danes's deep-seated feelings about President Trump. Many of my friends who know me and who know America and Americans well have been unwilling to "throw America under the bus," but those who have only a tangential relationship to the U.S. or have little first-hand knowledge are now ratcheting up their criticism to the point where they are sounding like American Democrats/progressives. Over the past year, I have watched and listened, carefully, to prominent and not-so-prominent Danes speak about America, Americans, MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump. I have been giving talks around the country on the state of the U.S., our politics and on the current administration, and at each event I could feel the temperature of the audience rising. Their resentment of being allied with America and their anger with Donald Trump was now palpable and has, in my opinion, reached the point where I can say with confidence that TDS has now officially become America's greatest export -- and we didn't need an accident in a Chinese lab in Wuhan to make it happen. Advertisement TDS is the new COVID. This pandemic of anger is not something that can be prevented by a vaccine nor can it be treated with any known drug, and it is spreading largely because of the growing number of people who are diametrically opposed to Donald Trump, the MAGA movement and the American brand of conservatism in general. These people have become so consumed by rage that they have allowed that rage and frustration to become the guiding measurement of everything that Donald Trump does or says. Advertisement In one email exchange I had with one of my friends, he said (on the question of whether we should be thanking Donald Trump): "He (Trump) should have stopped after he destroyed the Iranians' nuclear capability. The Iranian religious rule has significant local support regardless of how backward and terrible it is. It is none of our business (read: to be involved) " I could not restrain myself. I had to respond and said: "Do I take it to mean that you agree with the Iranian government's policy of killing hundreds of thousands of its own people and funding international terrorist organizations for nearly a half-century?" He responded that he didn't but that the U.S. has no plan and its incursion into Iran will fail and end up like Iraq and that if unchecked Mr. Trump could set his sights on other targets like one in Denmark, using U.S. security needs in Greenland as the predicate. Advertisement This was a bridge too far and I had to tell my friend that I thought it best that he and I not discuss politics anymore and that I should probably remove him from my distribution list for my articles. I suspect that he will agree. I just hope that we can still be friends, though I have my doubts. New and even long-standing friendships are being tested to an unusually high degree these days and many are being lost forever because of extreme political disagreements. That is one of the results of TDS. It is a pity that TDS has now reached the Danish shores and infected normally reasonable people and that it is busy eating away at their reasonableness and objectivity. Advertisement The prognosis for TDS is not good. Those who have contracted it will have great difficulty with its effects, not only on their corpus but also on the soundness of their judgments and emotional equilibrium. I am afraid that the Iran conflict will contribute to the ongoing pariah-fication of Americans overseas. I am also afraid that this is one pandemic that is bound to linger on for at least another three years. Stephen Helgesen is a retired American diplomat specializing in international trade. He has lived and worked in 30 countries over the course of 25 years under the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, seven of them on American politics, and has written more than 1,500 articles on politics, economics, and social trends. He now lives in Denmark and is a frequent political commentator in Danish media. He can be reached at: [email protected]. One of the most popular public global debate topics is: The U.S. is the World Policeman. American policymakers have been largely loathe to accept the title with an enduring conviction since Vietnam that the role is not sustainable. President Warren Hardings memorial to the unknown soldier is a testament to the enduring isolationism of the American public and the keen aversion to risking the precious lives of young Americans abroad. John Quincy Adams proclamation to the Congress while serving as Secretary of State in 1821 remains a compelling admonition to present policy makers: America goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. Advertisement Despite these profound historical caveats, America does appear to be the indispensable power in global affairs and the current military engagement in Iran deepens that reality and urges growing acceptance that the United States is the worlds policeman. The abrupt capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro eviscerated the global mood of bluffing or relying upon Trumps promise to not increase U.S. commitments for military intervention. The ease of Trumps military entries and exits from diverse locations defies one of the most important rhetorical premises rooting American isolationism: quagmire. The term remains the medias gotcha to presidential plans of limited intervention. The 21st century version of the quagmire problem is the Iraq war of 2003 fought by President Bush. Trump himself denounced the war as one of the nations greatest mistakes. Punditry successfully lodged the enduring false memory that Saddam Hussein never had weapons of mass destruction, -- though the dead bodies of Kurdish children at Halabja bear the marks of a dictator who used chemical weapons as human insecticide. From Vietnam to current conflicts, American public culture venerates an intense skepticism about American combat. The idea of being anti-war is generally well received by journalists and is cultivated as a mechanism for holding in check American military interventions. Organizations such as Code Pink and ANSWER rally public events to turn the American public against war. The chic anti-war sentiment has not ultimately aged well. The clean dichotomy of war and peace has dissolved in the 21st century as the peace found in Afghanistan after the departure of U.S. troops in 2021 looks ugly and inhumane. Todays skeptics like Representative Thomas Massie say that bombing Iraq will not stop the Epstein files. But sex with children is an uncomfortable and common reality in the Afghanistan liberated from U.S. troops and free from our imperial colonialism. The larger rhetorical infrastructure of anti-war sensibility like that produced by Noam Chomsky do not effectively dissolve the imperialism and structural injustice of empires like the 47-year-old theocracy of Shia supremacism spreading from Persia to Christian Lebanon. Iranian activists seeking liberation from Shia supremacism complain that while Americans lament the deaths of government protesters Pretti and Goode, they appear ambivalent or disengaged from 35,000 citizens assassinated in the cities of Iran. Advertisement The United Nations is not rising to its original charge of being the kind of global custodian that the United States increasingly is called upon to fulfill. The U.N. and various internal committees of it seem cooperative and helpful to inhumanity, including holding Jewish hostages in the Gaza Strip in the role of paid educators from UNRWA. The failure of the United Nations to stop the slaughter at Srbrenica or Kigali in the 1990s is not resolving favorably in the 21st century. Nor does any multipolar alliance of China and Russia appear near or compelling. Russias two-week takeover of Ukraine is indeed a four-year quagmire recently hindered by the realization that Elon Musks Starlink system is no longer available for their drone warfare. The current conflict is revealing the deeper undercurrents of American technological supremacy as Musks specialized military satellite network -- Starshield -- provides far more advanced battlefield power than the civilian technology of Starlink used by Ukrainian military. Irans best battlefield technology was the Shaheed drone -- stolen from U.S. technology captured by the Iranians during the Obama administration. In this attack, the U.S. is using drone bombers exponentially cheaper than the Iranian Shaheeds sold to Russia. U.S. ingenuity stole the Iranian innovations back into the American arsenal. Our Israeli counterparts are demonstrating their own radical innovations with new laser missile interception systems that are also exponentially cheaper than the missile-based systems such as THAAD. European basing power is proving increasingly irrelevant with Britain, Spain, and Turkey all blocking U.S. access. Exceptional bomber technology allows the U.S. to fly 36-hour missions from the U.S. to any point in the world with precision, stealth, and devastating lethality. Another important constraint on U.S. interventionism in the Middle East has long been the risk to global oil supplies. It is hard not to perceive a deliberate hegemonic move by the Trump administration to take Venezuela first followed by a second more comprehensive attack on Iran. With the U.S. now controlling the massive oil holdings of Venezuelan reserves alongside streamlined domestic extraction procedures, the U.S. is arguably the largest global supplier of the worlds most expensive commodity. Not only that, but one of Americas most significant geopolitical rivals -- China -- depends greatly upon oil imports from Venezuela and Iran. Higher oil prices do not affect the United States in the same manner they did when the problem was such a crux in the 1970s. The United States could profit handsomely from higher oil prices. Advertisement Rhetorically the Trump role as global cop faces severe scrutiny from the MAGA base that thought the President would reduce the resort to war. Trump does have a useful counter in the clarity that the Islamic government of Iran has been at war with the United States since its inception in 1979. With daily chants of Death to America, and deadly attacks on U.S. Marines from 1983 to 2005, Iran was continually at war with the United States. It is possible that if the regime could not recover, that the 47-year war fought by Iran against the U.S. would end. All of this must be seen through the larger lens of human suffering. Humanity was four times as likely to die from genocide as combat in the 20th century. The non-response to the Rwandan genocide of 1994 was not encouraging for any semblance of a moral global order. In 100 days, more than a million Tutsis perished under the eyes of an indolent world. A world that is effectively alert and willing to interrupt a regime slaughtering tens of thousands on their streets is a better world. The American creativity of the Liberian intervention in 2003 allowed 6,000 Nigerian troops to end the deadly genocidal savagery of Charles Taylor and usher in the first female president on the continent of Africa. That better world can be composed of coalitions of the willing where those sympathetic with authentic human rights not screened through the ugly lens of anti-Semitism can triumph and provide meaningful relief. The role of the Unites States as the world policeman is a more just world. Advertisement Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of several academic books regarding political communication, presidential rhetoric, and genocide. Image: At via Magic Studio A state of equilibrium is a requirement for any successful and long-lasting relationship, whether personal, corporate, national, or even global. America is out of balance today. A healthy equilibrium reflects Adam Smiths invisible hand theory of economics, the idea that when individuals pursue their own interests within a competitive market, their actions unintentionally promote the broader good of society. The core claimthat order, coordination, and efficiency can emerge without central direction. Advertisement Traditionally, Americans relied on a version of Smiths theory: government will do the work of the people, leaving us with an industrious, God-centered, and family-oriented society. By breaking that essential promise, a reckoning is inevitable. Today, much of the foundation on which the American miracle was built is being challenged bit by bit. It has not gone unnoticed by the average American, especially the traditional middle class, that something is happening that threatens to transform a nation of producers and individualists into a gaggle of dependents valued for their political contributions to the State rather than their inherent value, skills, and industriousness, and entirely reliant on a shrinking class of productive individuals. As long as those productive individuals keep grinding away, the rest of the world looks at us with greedy eyes and evil designs. Advertisement Much has been written that describes how divided we are; much less on exactly what the drivers are, or what the natural extension of a protracted state of displeasure by millions means on a variety of subjects, from elections to work ethic, staying in or even joining the workforce, having babies, or complying with the law. What can be gleaned with certitude is that anything out of balance for too long eventually establishes a new equilibrium. What is also true is that a new state of balance may not return in its previous form. America is in a moment when major changes are nearly inevitable, as dissatisfaction grows by the day amid a country in flux. Advertisement Image created using AI. Advertisement It is reasonable to believe that a reckoning is coming, but we dont know exactly what that means, how it will change the countrys trajectory, or what it will mean for the American people. Change is unlikely to be predictable, and thats a problem for all who depend on stability and a predictable future. When push comes to shove, people will almost always vote for stability. To highlight this point, lets briefly review the war in Ukraine. No matter your position on the Ukraine war, one thing is certain: much of the world admires the Ukrainian peoples will to achieve self-determination even at the risk of losing their lives. In Ukraine, there were only two choices: fight or surrender. Advertisement For most Ukrainians, surrender is not an option. I wonder how many here would have the gumption to fight if an aggressor were to invade America. The fact that the Ukrainian people find the idea of becoming Russians so intolerable says volumes about how much Ukrainians value freedom. That discussion is losing traction here, likely because weve lost sight of the reality that freedom is a perishable commodity. America has never been invaded in the traditional sense of an Army invading and demanding that we surrender. Here, our enemies are more subtle, yet the end result is exactly the same as if an enemy marched across the Rio Grande and started killing Americans and shipping off our young to be indoctrinated in faraway Latin American cities and towns, as Ukrainian children are being shipped to Russia. Advertisement What will happen to us if we cant unify on easily verifiable realities that we dont share in common? We will inevitably lose our country through the quiet atrophy of our national will to survive, both as America and as a distinct culture. Poets, writers, philosophers, and patriots have written about how easy it can be to erode a countrys foundations: just start by weakening its citizenrys will to resist and its institutions, and eventually the entire country rots from within. Weve been at the crossroads for too long. A reckoning is inevitable. The left is asserting itself in ways that conservatives have not matched. Leftists have vigor, commitment, commit acts of violence, sedition, and demand America change, or threaten that theyll burn it to the ground. On our side, its glaringly obvious that we havent met the challenge. By not unifying against the threat and then responding appropriately, millions are discouraged who see whats happening but dont see leadership taking the necessary decisive action. Thats a prescription for losing. Our leaders must stop compromising and lead with action rather than rhetoric. People are tired and have tuned out rhetoric that leads nowhere. We dont need a revolution; we need a reckoning that restates the principles we were founded on, and just like we essentially made communism illegal back in the 50s, we need to do the same with socialism, DEI, multiculturalism, and all the other anti-social behaviors that dont further whats good for our country. We solve the problem, or our problems will overwhelm us. We hear repeatedly that our Constitution is not a suicide pact. Its time to put meat on the bones with laws that codify that we wont coddle the very people who seek to destroy our system of government and the rugged individualism that is part and parcel of a successful America. Changing the course of our country, currently on a collision course with disaster, will have some unpleasant repercussions, and leftists will act out, just as the mullahs are doing as they see their power collapse. Expect to see: Leftists use violence and resistance tactics to an even greater degree than today when they realize theyre losing the war and must prove to the country how Republicans are unable to meet the moment. Therell be a lot of empty rice bowls for many NGOs, government-funded resistance groups, and millions of legal and illegals that game the system and drain our treasury. None will take this loss peacefully. The transition to truth over feelings and to reasonable outcomes rather than theoretical ones will challenge many who believe the governments role is to deliver outcomes rather than opportunities. One thing Ive learned over a lifetime is that its better to take your hits early rather than later, leading me to conclude that were way past the point where we should have fixed our glaring issues. When we finally do, as we must, a calm will come over the country, and natural growth and prosperity will return, without a government picking winners and losers and without the strife so ever-present in our daily lives. God Bless America! Author, Businessman, Thinker, and Strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow. Its official and the Bible reader of Texas, a.k.a. James Talarico, will represent the Democrats in November. A Bible reader you say? Yes, he quotes the Bible more often than your Sunday pastor. Of course, the media does not say that he is a religious fanatic. They only do that with Republicans. Advertisement Anyway, get ready for the Book of James, Talarico style I mean. Lets check this, from Charles C. W. Cooke, exposing Talaricos interesting views: White skin gives me and every white American immunity from the virus. But we spread it wherever we gothrough our words, our actions, and our systems. We dont have to be showing symptomslike a white hood or a Confederate flagto be contagious. Advertisement Cooke then has his own commentary: Since he won the primary on Tuesday, these words have been highlighted as prima facie evidence of Talaricos unsuitability for public office. In response, his already insufferable fans have cried foul. In their view, homing in on old utterances such as these is uncharitable, unbecoming, and unjust, and it ought not to be done by anyone who considers himself to be a respectable chronicler of contemporary political affairs. Advertisement Why disqualifying? Because they are indicative, thats why. Because they point to a considered, premeditated, fully conscious extremism that ought to be unacceptable in any American public figure. Only a handful of people in these United States would ever think a thing such as this let alone say it aloud. The words in question were not rash, or hasty, or uttered under duress. They were volunteered. They represent a window into the soul. They ought to be fatal. The two most popular rejoinders to this view are that they were issued six years ago and that they were offered up during a crazy period. But neither of these briefs do anything other than underscore the initial problem. Six years is not a long time. I am judged on my words from six years ago. So are you. So is everyone else. Advertisement Yes, it was a few years agohowever, he has not stopped doing stuff like this since. Remember his God is non-binary comment? Or, relating the story of the angel appearing to Mary? As I understand Mr. Talarico's story, the angel asked Mary for her consent or something like that. The angel understood that Mary had reproductive rights and did not force the young woman to have the baby. Sorry thats crazy, and I cant wait for Mr. Talarico to explain that to all of those devout Catholic Hispanic women in South Texas. Advertisement You are going to love the Book of James because it is weird. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Advertisement Image: Antonioaesparza, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. The Daily Mail has reported that Sixty-seven dog breeds could be banned in Britain if new breeding guidelines set by parliament become mandatory. Advertisement It added that The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for animal welfare has launched a new tool to determine if a dog is healthy. This tool doesnt concern itself with a dogs actual health and eschews clues such as a shiny coat, general disposition and demeanor, healthy appetite, etc. No, these assessments/guidelines include extreme or exaggerated attributes such as mottled coloration, excessive skin folds, bulging outward-turning eyes, drooping eyelids, under or overbite and a muzzle that interrupts breathing. The assessment, currently voluntary, is reportedly expected to become law within five years, although those behind the new tool claim these reports are misinformation. Advertisement If mottled coloration, excessive skin folds and drooping eyelids are problematic, most humans in the U.K. would be banned, as well. Beagles, dachshunds, Great Danes and St. Bernards are among breeds that would likely be targeted by the new guidance. Advertisement Well, beagle has eagle within it, and that is an American symbol most unwelcome in Keir Starmers Britain. Dachshund? German; equals Hitler. Great Dane? Fairly Decent Dane would be less ableist and less likely to offend those of lesser stature. St. Bernard? Carries unacceptable Christian overtones. Even on a purely DEI basis, these breeds are problematic! In truth, the proposed new health tool is likely a response to the U.K.s surging Muslim population, as Islamic law considers dogs dirty and unworthy. Much as it abhors alcohol. (It is no coincidence that many hundreds of British pubs, once iconic pillars of British communities, have closed in recent years.) Advertisement Maybe the APPG could send the peoples pooches to a Fauci facility or ship them off to Canada to be disposed of via that nations all-encompassing Medical-Assistance-In-Dying program. But what of other exaggerated attributes, such as British Parliamentarians own cravenness and spinelessness in pre-emptively surrendering to the surging population of Muslims at the cost of their fellow Englishmans prosperity, safety and dignity? Advertisement But lets not worry about rampant rape gangs or the prevalence of pedophilia when there is the existential problem of mans best friend to deal with, APPG wankers! Even though many of us consider dogs to be our furry friendsor even family members. Who let the dogs out in the U.K.? Advertisement The very same people who let the undocumented immigrants in. And they want to get rid of Lassie. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License As Congress dithers on the SAVE America Act, there's no question the measure, requiring voters to present identification, and prove U.S. citizenship, is popular. Even in California. Advertisement Actually, especially in California, where a petition was held, gathering nearly twice the necessary signatures required for placement on the November ballot. According to Fox News: Advertisement A petition to require voter ID and allow only U.S. citizens to vote has gained momentum in California and surpassed the required 875,000-signature threshold to qualify for the November ballot, the group leading the effort said. According to Reform California, a nonpartisan political activism group, organizers submitted the "California Voter ID Initiative" petition to county authorities with 1.3 million signatures. The group says the petition has garnered bipartisan support, with signatures from Californians representing all walks of life and political persuasions across all 58 of the states counties. Reform California believes the measure has a solid path to passage in November, citing polls showing 71% of Californians favor the initiative. If passed, the measure would bypass the Democratic legislative supermajority and amend the state constitution to require voter ID when casting a ballot, require election officials to verify the citizenship of registered voters and require the state to maintain accurate voter rolls. Advertisement Which puts California's ruling Democrat elite on the spot, given that they oppose it with a fanatic intensity. Why would they be so against it? The question is brought up again and again. This isn't just because these state ruling elites moved heaven and earth to stop conservative surfer town Huntington Beach from enacting a local measure for voter identification into its city charter. Advertisement We all know the answer -- because zero voter identification makes it easier for Democrats, who have their hands on all the mechanisms of the vote-counting process, to cheat. Dirty voter rolls, junk mail ballots, duplicate ballots mailed to the same address, automatic motor-voter registration done on the honor system by people who cannot speak the language of this country as they obtain their trucker licenses, ballot-harvesting by political machine operatives and illegal aliens, illegal aliens counting ballots, mail votes where the voter choice can be read before the envelope is opened, and two-month vote-counting all are legal in this state, suggesting a system where cheats can and do flourish. Advertisement Even Democrat voters don't like it as a large proportion of the signatures gathered were Democrats and independents. I signed it; I consider it the most essential issue of our democracy, because if you don't have free and fair elections, you don't have anything resembling a democracy. I don't trust how elections are done in California, not one bit. Up until now, this has been a matter of indifference to the 'hain't I got the power' ruling Democrats, but a voter petition of this magnitude is going to draw their attention, because it will be hard for them to stop. Advertisement They're play the racist bait card, despite many black voters being onboard for this, and they'll try to claim the signatures are invalid, same as Hugo Chavez once did when Maria Corina Machado and other Venezuelans presented a petition for his recall in a referendum in 2004. But it's not going to be easy to succeed with numbers like this. It's as if the people have risen up because neither Congress, nor the statehouse have. We know they will try to legislate and lawfare the measure out of existence, but every effort to squelch this big wave only exposes them further. It's as if surfers of Huntington Beach have been leading all the way all along. Image: Pixabay // Pixabay Content License There has been a lot of criticism about the operation against the Islamic Republic regarding the level of threat the regime posed to America. After all, we were supposed to have set back Iranian nuclear development last June. Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio has explained that the Iranians were developing their conventional capabilities to such an extent that a year from now they could pursue their nuclear ambitions with what he described as immunity. Does that mean that acting now was too early to count as imminent? To help answer that question, here is a little true story about reacting early to a threat that seems relevant. Advertisement Part of my academic lineage goes back to a renowned professor at the University of Washington, Karl Wittfogel. (He was the mentor to a professor who had a great influence on me.) Karl was born in Germany. In 1933, he wasnt very popular because he was a communist and a Jew. It was no surprise, then, that he was one of the first people that the Nazis arrested and put in a camp. The early camps still had a way to go before becoming the nightmares they would become. That meant that there was actually time for discussion. Not all of Karls fellow prisoners were Jews and communists. Many were former members of the Weimar Republic. Advertisement Karl August Wittfogel. Public domain. Advertisement The Weimar prisoners had passionate and lengthy debates on when it would have been ethical to move against Hitler. Would moving too early have made them as bad as Hitler? Karl listened intently but didnt participate because he really didnt have an answer. However, it occurred to him that the right time to have moved against Adolph Hitler was whenever the result would have had them debating on the outside of the camp, looking in, instead of on the inside, looking out at Hitler. Advertisement Karl escaped from the camp and from Germany. He ended up as a well-known anti-communist scholar in the United States. His analysis of the developing threat Hitler posed always stuck with me as wise. Should we have waited until the threat from Iran was so developed that it would be nearly impossible and far more costly to overcome? Or, as we appear to be doing, is it better to have the debate from the outside looking in? In 2002, Senator Paul Wellstone, a leftist senator from Minnesota, died in a plane crash. His funeral made national headlines, not because it was a solemn and beautiful service honoring a great man (that is, a memorial like Charlie Kirks), but because it turned into a raging Democrat political rally. The funeral was so vile that Wellstones staff had to apologize for what happened. Advertisement That was then. Now, of course, its de rigueur to turn memorials for well-known Democrats into political rallies, so Jesse Jacksons memorial was no exception. Barack Obama, the man who ran in 2008 on uniting America, used the opportunity to launch a brutal attack on MAGA. Always trailing in someone elses shadow, Kamala Harris did the same. Joe Biden, meanwhile, used the opportunity to tell everyone in attendance that they were stupid. For once in his life, Biden may have been right, although he abandoned his smart credentials when he forgot about Clarence Thomas. Advertisement Looking at Jesse Jacksons career, despite his allegedly telling his family that he wanted a non-political funeral, the memorial was a fitting capstone to a man who traded in racial ugliness for decades. Jackson was also a forerunner of todays overt antisemitism on the left. Barack Obama (who arrived without Michelle, who couldnt be bothered to honor a party icon) couldnt say enough about how wonderful Jackson...er, scratch that. Couldnt say enough about how vile MAGA isand please note how the Hawaii-born Obama, who went from one high-end white school to another, intermittently mimics the cadence of a black Alabama preacher. These people are so fake. Advertisement UNBELIEVABLE. Barrack Hussein Obama is actually using Rev. Jesse Jackson's funeral as a political stunt to ATTACK the MAGA movement as "bigots" and "bullies!" "That some Americans count more than others, and some don't count at all!" Barack Hussein Obama is hands down the pic.twitter.com/dVdu4f2xFz Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) March 6, 2026 Naturally, where Obama went, Kamala Harris, a woman so inauthentic that she can only mimic others (including the Hillary cackle), wasnt far behind, right down to periodically dropping into her own fake Alabama preacher cadence: "I predicted a lot about what's happening right now ... But what I did not predict is that we would not have Jesse Jackson with us right now to help us get through this." Former Vice President Kamala Harris honored the legacy of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson at his memorial pic.twitter.com/NVUMokjs60 ABC News (@ABC) March 6, 2026 Naturally, where Obama went, Kamala Harris, a woman so inauthentic that she can only mimic others (including the Hillary cackle), wasnt far behind, right down to periodically dropping into her own fake Alabama preacher cadence: Compared to these two race hustlers, Joe Biden, deeply mired in senescence, was the comic relief. Most notably, he harked back to a time-honored Joe Biden theme: Bidens alleged smarts. As some may recall, during his abortive 1988 presidential campaign, Joe showcased his brilliance, calling an audience member a low-IQ person and boasting about graduating in the top half of his law school class: Advertisement In fact, Biden barely made it out of the bottom 10% of his graduating class. But of course, maybe Joe has a different definition of intelligence than most, for he called the drug-addled, criminal Hunter Biden the smartest man he knows. Biden has repeatedly shown himself to be achingly insecure, whether its boasting about his self-vaunted intelligence or his periodically playing the tough guy (or the Puerto Rican guy or the black guy or the Jewish guy or the Somali guy...). So, of course, he used the occasion of Jesse Jacksons memorial service to tell the entire room filled with assembled Democrat party solons that theyre stupid: Advertisement Joe Biden just told the attendees at Jesse Jackson's memorial service that theyre dumb "I am a hell of a lot smarter than most of you."pic.twitter.com/0lGmzCsWff Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 6, 2026 Then, like the abusive husband, he told the nervously laughing audience that he was kidding. No, thats what Joe really thinks. Then, either from dementia, stupidity, or a true leftist effort to rewrite the historical record, Biden went on to erase Justice Clarence Thomas, arguably the most brilliant, constitutionally-principled jurist ever to sit on the Supreme Court, replacing him in Supreme Court history with Ketanji Brown Jackson, inarguably the most stupid jurist in the Courts long history: Advertisement Joe Biden openly lies and says he appointed the first black Supreme Court justice at Jesse Jackson's funeral. Fact check: The first black Supreme Court justice was Thurgood Marshall in 1967. Biden is famous for trying to remove Justice Clarence Thomas from being approved to pic.twitter.com/2kzdQxvL2I J (@JayTC53) March 6, 2026 These party solons were all reprehensible. On the other hand, Jacksons memorial was the perfect send-off for a man who hitched his wagon to Martin Luther Kings stara star that won the nations soul by pointing to Americas future as a colorblind meritocracyand then spent decades reducing that message to a Democrat party platform of race-hustling redistribution. Header image: X screen grab. Minutes before President Donald Trump began his State of the Union address, it was apparent Democrats would turn the formal event into their rendition of a Barnum & Bailey three-ring circus. Advertisement As Trump entered the House chamber, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) began the show, unfurling a sign reading, BLACK PEOPLE ARENT APES! in response to a video trope Trump displayed of the Obamas days earlier. He was eventually escorted out by Capitol Hill police for continuing to stand as Trump spoke. Green is a regular circus performer during presidential speeches. In March 2025, he literally raised cane as Trump gave the first speech of his second term to Congress. The congressman waved his cane overhead while berating Trump, an outburst for which he was censured. Advertisement After that censure, Democrats House leader, Hakeem Jeffries, claimed it was not worth the piece of paper that it was written on. However, without naming Green, he did acknowledge lawmakers needed to have a dignified presence in the chamber. Despite this, little dignity was demonstrated by performing Democrats at Trumps recent speech. But Greens was not the only circus act in town during the SOTU address. Advertisement While more than 70 Democrats refused to attend, unfortunately among those who did were Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich). Both demonstrated their disrespect for the traditionally austere occasion. Tlaib wore an easily readable button bearing the words, F ICE. What an embarrassment for the country to have a government representative publicly and outrageously denigrate one of our federal agenciesan agency specifically charged with protecting us by guarding our borders against illegal entry. As ICE agents do the job they are supposed to do, Tlaib sent a supporting message to illegals violating those bordersan act only making ICEs job more dangerous. Advertisement Additionally, as part of her personal circus act, Tlaib made a more subtle demonstration of where her allegiance liescourtesy of her outfit. She wore innocent-looking watermelon earrings; however, the watermelon symbolizes support for Hamas and the anti-Israel cause. A little more obvious of this support was a keffiyeh. Omar was not content to limit her circus act to the above actions. She had to go a step further, inviting a guest to the event. Aliya Rahman was a Bangledashi woman who was arrested in January by ICE. She had been interfering with ICE operations and was eventually forcefully removed from her car for refusing to obey orders. Advertisement But, during Trumps SOTU address, Rahman showed she was incapable of respecting any authority. She chose to demonstrate during the SOTU addressin violation of the rules for the event printed on every ticketstanding as everyone sat. It was obviously an act seeking to draw cameras to her but resulted in her arrestagain for non-compliance with a simple request. It would be shocking if Rahman had not coordinated this demonstration ahead of time with Omar. The representative claims Rahman required medical attention due to being forcibly removed from the SOTU eventconveniently triggering yet another manufactured opportunity to nationally denounce the administration. Advertisement Police explained Rahman was arrested while, despite their outbursts, Omar and Tlaib were not, as they were protected by their elected representative status. Their damage done in disrespecting America, both representatives departed the speech before it concluded. Very telling moments of Trumps speech were twofold: Challenging lawmakers to stand in recognition of Americas first duty to protect citizens and not illegals (Democrats did not stand) and Democrats failing to applaud Iryna Zarutskas mother whose daughter was brutally murdered by a repeat offender on no-cash bail. Rep. Ro Khanna, (D-Calif.) announced he was bringing a Jeffrey Epstein victim to the event as a guest for accountability to the Epstein class. As it turned out, that guest, Haley Robson, was both a victim and a perpetrator of Epsteins crimes. Recruited by Epstein at age 16, she then helped introduce him to at least 20 underage girls. Additionally, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass) contributed to the circus performance by knowingly, and illegally, hosting illegal alien Brazilian Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 19, whose visa had expired. Moultons participation in this circus act may now earn him a felony charge. Approval and criticism of Trumps SOTU largely fell along party lines. However, a CNN post-SOTU poll revealed a ten point surge in Trumps popularity with 64% agreeing he is moving the country in the right direction. Democrats congressional bias was evident as only one member even sought to shake Trumps hand upon his arrival in the chamberSen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Fetterman would later criticize his fellow party lawmakers for failing to attend the speechsome of whom opted to participate in the State of the Swamp counter-event instead. It featured anti-Trump actor Robert De Niro and members of the Portland Frog Brigade who were ridiculously dressed in inflatable frog costumes. Fetterman offered his assessment of the counter-event saying, I dont believe, as a Democrat, dancing frogs really moves the ball forward for us as a party. Another poll concerning Trumps speech was most revealing about anti-Trumpers. In on-the-street interviews, people were asked to rate his speech with one being the worst and ten being the best. Many rated it low. But how do we know they were anti-Trumpers? The poll was taken 24 hours before the speech was even given! Unsurprisingly, it either reflected a high level of anti-Trump bias or else most these interviewees were just plain ignorant Democrat voters. The quote, There is a sucker born every minute, is attributed to P. T. Barnumco-founder of the circus bearing his name. Accordingly, it is unsurprising such suckers are represented by the likes of Green, Omar, Tlaib, Khanna, and Moulton. Image generated by ChatGPT. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stepped away from overseeing Operation Epic Fury to host the hemispheric defense conference, where the focus was forging a more unified regional security strategy with neighboring nations. In his March 5, 2026 remarks at the Americas Counter Cartel Conference (A3C) in Doral, Florida, Hegseth emphasized plans to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation to coordinate military operations, security partnerships, and contingency response across the region overseen by the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) which is also headquartered in Doral. Notably, just days before the conference, the United States and Ecuador engaged in their first joint military ground operation against South American drug cartels, the very kind of coordinated action Hegseth urged in his remarks. Advertisement Hegseth described a kind of neighborhood watch writ large, where sovereign nations work to prevent external powers from threatening our peace and independence in our shared neighborhood, expressly recalling the Monroe Doctrine framework and referring to it as the Trump Corollary of the Monroe Doctrine, while jokingly calling it the Donroe Doctrine. Representatives from 17 countries attended the conference, which was described as the first gathering of its kind in more than 30 years. The participating leaders signed the Joint Security Declaration, a foundational document committing their governments to deeper cooperation on border security, countering narco-terrorism, trafficking, addressing other shared threats, and protecting critical infrastructure across the Western Hemisphere. Advertisement Consistent with Trumps National Security Strategy (NSS) and the administrations designation of cartels as terrorist organizations, Hegseth cast cartels and narco-terrorism as military threats, not simply law enforcement challenges. His remarks echoed secretary of State Marco Rubios Feb. 14, 2026 address at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), but with a sharper emphasis Americas own hemisphere. Under the Trump administration, regional leaders, Hegseth said will no longer accept the status quo to co-exist with narco-terrorism or [rely solely on a] law enforcement-alone approach that [has] failed to deter and dismantle threats. He made clear that the Trump administration has made the issue a core national defense mission. Hegseth also stressed that the U.S. military was deployed to the border and said the 101st Airbornes command structure was involved in operational control there. Citing Operation Southern Spear, Hegseth referred to an offensive posture in the region, one that has moved from surveillance and interdiction to offensive maritime action. Operation Southern Spear is an interagency mission that began in January 2025 as a 4th Fleet effort to use Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) to support the detection and monitoring of illicit trafficking in the SOUTHCOM theater. Advertisement According to the Jan. 28, 2025 press release from the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Operation Southern Spear will deploy long-dwell robotic surface vessels, small robotic interceptor boats, and vertical take-off and landing robotic air vessels to the USSOUTHCOM AOR. 4th Fleet will operationalize these unmanned systems through integration with U.S. Coast Guard cutters at sea and operations centers at 4th Fleet and Joint Interagency Task Force South. Southern Spears results will help determine combinations of unmanned vehicles and manned forces needed to provide coordinated maritime domain awareness and conduct counternarcotics operations. Advertisement By late 2025, it had expanded into a Joint Task Force Southern Spear campaign under U.S. Southern Command involving kinetic strikes, maritime interdictions, and tanker seizures carried out with support from the USS Gerald R. Ford and the Amphibious Ready Group. In a Dec. 2, 2025 press conference, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told the media there were to date, a total of 21 kinetic strikes in U.S. Southern Commands area of operations ... resulting in 82 suspected narco-terrorists having been killed. Official Pentagon and SOUTHCOM statements portray it as an interagency mission with DHS, the Coast Guard, and DOJ aimed at crushing illicit activity, defending the homeland, and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere. An important part of Southern Spear is its quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean, with the U.S. declaring that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully. It is a broad regional security and coercive maritime enforcement mission. Advertisement Hegseth went on to say that fentanyl flows are down 56 percent, calling fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. He boasted of Maduros and his wifes capture in January, alluding to the difficulty of the operation. The Trump administration is committed to a much larger mission than merely snuffing out narco-terrorists. Hegseth, Rubio, and Trumps NSS address a larger civilizational and ideological framework, whereby these nations are offspring of Western civilization, sharing a more ordered Christian worldview, one that contrasts with a more violent and chaotic worldview dominated by narco-communism, narco-tyranny, mass migration, and globalism. Advertisement The Trump doctrine is broadly geostrategic. In that vein, Hegseth warned of adversaries that control ports, infrastructure, and choke points like the Panama Canal. Calling upon Americas neighbors to embrace our shared geography, he said that these are the same adversaries that threaten our shared heritage, threaten our shared geography as well. They seek to displace the historic North-South relationship that weve always shared with some sort of a new Global South that excludes the United States and other Western nations but includes non-Western powers and other adversaries. The answer to our challenge, Hegseth continued, is not to ignore our geography in the name of global interests, but to embrace our shared geography in the name of national interests. That is why President Trump has drawn a new strategic map from Greenland to the Gulf of America to the Panama Canal and its surrounding countries. Hegseth also signaled a likely institutional shift at U.S. Southern Command, moving from more effete support systems to the rugged operational support needed for this robust mission ahead. One of the great mistakes of the past was that our leaders didnt provide the U.S. Southern Command with the support that it needed. It was a command chock full of lawyers, social workers, NGOs, [and] law enforcement. Thats changing. Trumps national security Cabinet members are on message. They share a muscular vision that treats cartel violence, porous borders, and foreign malign influence as interconnected national security threats requiring sustained regional action, not symbolic diplomacy. The Trump administration views the Western Hemisphere as a strategic neighborhood that must be defended through burden-sharing, operational coordination, and a renewed expectation that partner nations will direct resources toward shared threats and objectives in defense of their own territory and sovereignty. Image via Pexels. For generations, Americans have understood a simple promise: if a service member is wounded in defense of the nation, the nation will stand by that veteran. Yet today, thousands of combat-disabled veterans face a policy that breaks that promise. It is time for Congress to fix this injustice by passing the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102). Advertisement Under current law, many service members who are medically retired because of combat injuries and who served fewer than 20 years must forfeit part -- or even all -- of their military retired pay to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The government effectively forces wounded veterans to offset one benefit against the other. In practical terms, veterans who sacrificed their health for the country are required to finance their own disability compensation by surrendering retirement pay they earned through their service. This policy is especially unfair because retirement pay and disability compensation are fundamentally different. Military retired pay is a deferred form of pay for years of service. VA disability compensation is compensation for wounds, illness, or injury incurred in the line of duty. One is earned through a career; the other compensates for the physical cost of serving the nation. No civilian employer would require an injured worker to give up a pension to receive workers compensation. Yet that is exactly what federal law demands from many combat-disabled veterans. Advertisement The injustice runs even deeper. These veterans did not voluntarily leave their military service early. Their careers were cut short by wounds sustained in the line of duty. Because they were medically retired, they were often forced out at lower ranks than they likely would have reached if they had been able to complete a normal career. Promotions that would have come with experience, leadership, and additional years of service never materialized. In other words, their combat injuries cost them not only their health but also their professional futures. Congress has already recognized that the offset is unfair to many retirees. Programs like Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay and Combat-Related Special Compensation allow some disabled retirees to receive both retirement pay and disability benefits. However, these programs mainly exclude a key group: combat-disabled service members who were medically retired before completing 20 years of service. The Richard Star Act addresses this gap by permitting these combat-wounded retirees to receive both benefits without offset. Advertisement The bill is named after Richard A. Star, an Army combat veteran who became the public face of the effort to address this injustice before his death from cancer. His story helped shed light on the larger issue, impacting thousands of veterans who were driven out of service due to combat injuries. Support for the legislation is widespread and bipartisan. Veterans organizations across the political spectrum endorse it. Members of Congress from both parties have co-sponsored it. For many lawmakers, the moral case is clear: combat-disabled veterans should not be penalized because they were wounded before reaching the arbitrary 20-year retirement threshold. Advertisement Yet despite this broad support, the bill has repeatedly stalled in the Senate. That situation has been very disappointing for many veterans, especially because the delay has been caused by Senator Ron Johnson, who has raised concerns that have slowed down the legislations progress. Veterans naturally find it hard to understand why help for combat-wounded service members should face opposition at all -- particularly from a senator who never served in the military himself. Advertisement This isn't a matter of partisan politics; it's a matter of national honor. The cost of the legislation is small relative to the federal budget, but the moral cost of not passing it is huge. When a service member is wounded in combat, the country owes that veteran more than just thanks. It owes fairness. Passing the Richard Star Act would not create a new benefit. It would simply restore benefits that combat-disabled veterans already earned -- benefits they lost only because they were wounded before completing a full military career. Advertisement These veterans paid a price for America that can't be measured in dollars. Their injuries cut short their careers, slowed their promotions, and changed their lives forever. The least Congress can do is make sure they get the retirement pay they earned and the disability compensation they deserve. America demands a lot from its service members. When they come home injured from combat, the nation must show that their sacrifice was worthwhile. Congress should pass the Richard Star Act without further delay. Kevin Mason is a retired Army infantry officer and serves as the Legislative Director for the Korean War Veterans Association. Image: Library of Congress America is alone among the nations in having a Second Amendment. The Founders were among the wisest meninformed by wise womenof any age. They well understood human nature, particularly its dark side, and understood that a disarmed people are not free--can never be freebut are subjects. Advertisement The Second Amendment was not written to allow sport shooting, target practice, hunting, even primarily protection from criminals. It was written to ensure that should government become tyrannical, Americans could rise against it and restore liberty. Democrats scream bloody murder when anyone speaks that fundamental truth, yet it was one of historys most famous Democrats, Vice President Hubert Humphry, from Minnesota of all places, who clearly understood the necessity and purpose of the Second Amendment: Advertisement Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government, no matter how popular and respected, is the right of the citizens to keep and bear arms. . . . The right of the citizens to bear arms is just one more guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against tyranny, which now appears remote in America, that historically has proven to be always possible. Advertisement Graphic: Social Media Post Joe Biden, whose handlers were among the most tyrannical rulers in American history, often warned that Americans armed only with long guns and handguns were no match for a tyranny armed with nuclear weapons and F-15s. They were unwilling to fight international terrorism, but more than willing to obliterate Americans. Advertisement Thomas Jefferson, the author the Declaration of Independence, was a practical man: Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined no determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. Advertisement He also clearly understood why the Second Amendment was necessary: What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. Advertisement James Madison, like Humphrey, clearly understood: Americans have the right and advantage of being armed--unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. So did George Washington, the indispensable man: Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. Richard Henry Lee understood: To preserve liberty, it is essential the whole body of people always possess arms. Samuel Adams knew that without the Second Amendment, the First Amendment was meaningless: The Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peacable citizens, from keeping their own arms. Noah Webster understood Americans advantage: Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The surpreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. Thomas Paine was prescient: Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property...horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them. So was Patrick Henry: Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? And of course, Benjamin Franklin was wise: They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Whats the point, particularly circa March 2026, of reiterating these quotations of the Founders? There are many, many more, for the Founders knew the evils to which men are ever prone. They knew that government that disarms its people is not worthy of keeping power. Its important to revisit the truth about the Second Amendment because Iran does not have one. And because they do not, Iranian women and men are imprisoned, tortured, mutilated, raped and murdered by the hundreds of thousands. Because they are unarmed, they have suffered nearly a half-century of the kinds of depredations the Founders understood all too well are the inevitable result of a disarmed populace. Because they dont have a Second Amendment, and because we do, we can be certain elements of our government are, as this is written, quietly arming the Iranian people to give them the chance for liberty. I suspect if they succeed, and I pray they do, they might learn from our Founders, just as we must never forget their wisdom. Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. What happens when the leadership of an American city decides lawlessness is its highest priority? What happens when those leaders embrace criminals, when they defund their police, when they are far more likely to prosecute police officers than criminals? What happens when, as congressional Democrats demonstrated at the recent State of the Union address, they believe the first and most important duty of government is to protect and support illegal aliensand particularly illegal alien criminalsover American citizens? Advertisement What happens is Minnesota, and particularly, Minneapolis. There, Federal District Court Judge Jeffery Bryan spent most of a day in a contempt hearing against federal prosecutor Daniel Rosen. Why? Did Rosen violate the law? Not quite. Judge Bryan invoked the prospect of Rosen being held in civil contempt and fined or criminal contempt and jailed in a testy exchange near the outset of the hearing. [skip] Advertisement Dan et al. were to show why they should not be held in contempt for violating court orders in 28 habeas cases involving illegals who had been arrested and held by ICE in the course of Operation Metro Surge. The personal property of the illegals was to have been returned and its return documented. Operation Metro Surge has given rise to some 1,000 habeas cases here. The federal district court judges have been riding a high horse in opposition to ICE. A case pending before the Eighth Circuit should clarify whether they have jurisdiction to do so. Among the personal property involved: a shoelace, and a passport that was already returned to an illegals lawyer. The lawyer hadnt been back to his office to open the package. Advertisement The habeas cases are designed to so clog the justice system such that it will be impossible to deport illegals. Threatening contempt against federal prosecutors is being done for the same reason. Do Federal District Court judges even have jurisdiction in such matters? Almost certainly not. It appears that Judge Bryan is being forced to pare back the threat against Rosen to virtually nothing. However, thats not the only consequence of a lawless, blue city. The effect on citizens extends far beyond the confines of Bryans sterile courtroom: Advertisement Graphic: Social Media Post Advertisement Consider that reality. Minneapolis, with a population of 428,00 had 1054 car thefts in the first two months of 2026, while Chicago, utterly lawless Chicago, ruled by infamously crazy, maliciously incompetent leftists, with a population of 2.72 million had only 776. How is this possible? It began largely with the 2020 Summer of Love when Minneapolis was ground zero for the canonization of Saint George Floyd. The Minneapolis City Council defunded the police, which immediately caused many officers to retire. Others fled to cities that allowed them to do their jobs, and others left the profession altogether. Since 2020, the Minneapolis Police DepartmentMPDhas lost at least 40% of its authorized strength, some 200 officers. Advertisement The City Council relatively quickly realized what theyd done was, well, stupid, and have been trying without success to recruit. The kinds of smart, capable people any police agency wants to hire knows Minneapolis all too well, and theyre not applying. Lowering recruiting standards hasnt helped, because most of those applying have drug and alcohol problems, even felony convictions. The officers remaining at the MPD have learned their lesson well and do their best to do as little as possible. They particularly avoid having any contact with black criminals, because the Hennepin Country prosecutor, Mary Moriarty is notorious for wanting to prosecute police officers and for refusing to prosecute criminals. This leaves a police force that is not allowed to enforce the law against politically favored criminals, and that is demoralized, overly stressed, and that must deal with constant demands for extra shifts and overtime callouts. Detectives who would normally be assigned to investigate, perhaps even to prevent, car thefts are assigned patrol duties or reassigned to homicides and more dangerous crimes. The entire criminal justice system in the state is badly warped. Governor Tim Walz is an incompetent communist wannabe, who with Attorney General Keith Ellison, a racist, Islamist-supporting leftist, have allowed billions in fraud mostly committed by Somalis, and illegal immigrants. Their refusal to work with the federal government to keep order and to deport illegal criminals is well known. When criminals know car thefts are unlikely to be investigated, and citizens know if they shoot carjackers, theyll probably be prosecuted rather than the violent criminals preying on them, is it any wonder car theftsand crime in general--in Minneapolis are out of control? Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. In the world of political sloganeering, dress-up, statement-making, and all around histrionics, Democrat progressives run circles around conservatives. They have catchy if not necessarily clever alliterations and rhymes, and they air almost non-stop melodramatic theater (though it does require a good deal of suspension of disbelief). On the conservatives side is Donald Trump, a pretty good showman in his own right, but mostly in the realm of a stand-up comic who spends too much time dealing with hecklers. Beyond that, conservatives just dont have the stagecraft. They do have well- reasoned arguments, but thats kind of like watching a documentary on tadpoles versus Die Hard. Advertisement Going back to 1980, the left has given us No Nukes, Save the Planet, No Blood for Oil, We Are the 99%, Climate Justice Now, Save the Whales, Hands Up Dont Shoot, No Justice No Peace, Health Care Is a Human Right, Black Lives Matter, Love is Love, No One Is Illegal, Trans Rights Are Human Rights, Hands Off, No Kings, and so many more. All of these can evoke emotion and even outrage among susceptible people, though it would be difficult for activists to offer any kind of thoughtful explanation. Slogans are intended to elicit passion, not thought. Similarly, conservatives just arent good at conjuring up instant protesters with ready-made signs, taking it to the street, staging die-ins and kneel-ins, and playacting protests, as with the ladies dressed in Handmaids Tale costumes (they make Muslim ladies dressed in their full-body burkas seem liberated). I like Lee Greenwood as much as anyone, but hes now 83, and God Bless the USA came out in 1983. Compare to Pink (shes a famous pop star who performed at the 2024 DNC convention), whos a relatively young 46. The former sold a respectable 3.5 million albums and has a net worth of $7 million, while Pink has sold 135 million records and has a net worth of $250 million. Conservatives just dont have the hip celebrity vibe. Advertisement Nor do conservatives have any version of the progressive performance theater called land acknowledgment statements. Ill offer a few examples below but first interject that progressivism has overtones of religion. However, while religious faith is sometimes described as believing what you cannot see, progressive religion requires one not to believe what can be seen. And while many, many religions offer forgiveness based upon avoiding and renouncing sin, land acknowledgment statements are designed to provide absolution without any intention of repentance i.e., We sure as heck are not going to give you back the land we occupy. They are basically inane but pious-sounding words strung together by elite white people to make themselves feel good at the expense of native peoples. A typical acknowledgment from the Tacoma, Wash. government reads, Advertisement We honor and acknowledge the Puyallup Tribe, who have lived on and stewarded these lands since the beginning of time. This is a step toward true allyship, recognizing their enduring relationship with this land. From Club Wyndham South Pacific (luxury time-share condos): Advertisement [We] acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their culture and to the Elders past, present and emerging. Incidentally, the annual compensation of the white Wyndham CEO is about $14,000,000. Advertisement Gettysburg College (Pa.) recognizes the connections Indigenous Peoples have to this land and acknowledges the impact of settler colonialism. We will honor Indigenous pasts and presents to ensure vibrant futures. We commit to deepen our relationships with the land and the human and other relatives with whom it is shared. A sentient person might think these statements are both absurd and extremely patronizing. Even an a body as aggressively leftist as the Oregon state Legislature discusses this possibility. Advertisement We can ask two questions regarding land acknowledgment statements: who believes they are worthy and even profound, and what kind of person would receive them as such? The former is easy to answer: the usual suspects of the progressive left. Think of affluent retired professional-level government employees with generous incomes including pensions, Social Security, and investment returns on top of significant material assets. Not surprisingly, they are largely the demographic that attends the Hate Trump rallies for a couple of hours a few times a year and otherwise are driven to maintain the societal status quo from which they have so benefited. Its unlikely they will transfer the deeds for their houses and property to indigenous people. Or the person who talks about animals with compassion while eating them they abhor hunting but ignore the gore of the slaughterhouse. Or the privileged nitwit college student majoring in a studies program who was raised in a cocoon in which everything he did was fabulous and whose life experience is derived from YouTube and TikTok. Or the white person who informs Native Americans they should be outraged at the use of Indian imagery in sports. Hypocrisy, arrogance, and insulation from reality are the unifying factors. More difficult to answer is what kind of person would be impressed by these acknowledgments, which at best are a bizarre form of consolation prize. My first thought would be an enterprising indigenous person who could exploit white guilt by demanding a well-paying job or position of prestige perhaps an administrative college gig or an appointment to an influential municipal committee. Next, an indigenous person who believes her or himself to be some kind of a leader who fools gullible followers by claiming, I got you important concessions from the white man. I imagine that white people who see themselves as vicarious victims empaths for people of all colors would find great meaning in these statements, especially if they crave the attention associated with victimhood, perhaps the same mental and emotional contortion that compels the male athlete to truly feel pride in beating women and girls. Also, people who are moved by politicians affecting accents depending on the audience: Hillary Clinton talking in her down-home Southern voice, or falling Democrat star Jasmine Crocket, whose default voice is educated and unaccented but who tries to put on black dialect, which sounds more like white redneck. I suspect that few regular indigenous people are impressed by land acknowledgment statements. Ultimately, they impress only white progressives themselves. Image via PickPik. What is with the media these days? Advertisement Here is an article by people posing as journalists at Reuters whose writing would make you think they are deer in the headlights: U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" on Friday, a dramatic escalation one week into the war he launched alongside Israel that could make it more difficult to negotiate a swift end to hostilities. Advertisement They think it is terrible that Trump demands unconditional surrender from Iranian leaders as they are pounded to oblivion because it harms "diplomacy" as if that has worked for 47 years to end the destruction of the Iranian people and the damage to the world. They loved Presidents Obama and Biden as they catered to Iranian leaders and gave them boatloads of money to build weapons and support terrorist groups. They didn't mind when Obama shipped the Iranian leaders cash and when he let Hezbollah off the hook for drugging in the U.S to appease Iran. They probably thought that was "smart" diplomacy. Advertisement Another article from Reuters says that Russia and China demand an immediate end to the war in Iran as they continue a four-year war on Ukraine. This is what they wrote: China's Wang says killing of Iranian leader unacceptable Wang, Russia's Lavrov call for immediate end to strikes Russia says security of Gulf states must be guaranteed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are unacceptable, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday as he called for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of talks to prevent a wider regional conflict. Advertisement The Reuters writer probably doesn't see a problem with that or think that Russia and China should have a say. They clearly don't care that Iran has had a policy of death to America and death to Israel. And here in this United Nations press release are the UN experts on human rights demanding an end to the war because it is a threat to the right to life. Advertisement UN human rights experts* today condemned the unlawful military attacks launched by the United States of America and Israel against Iran. Unprovoked attacks by the US and Israel launched amid diplomatic negotiations and without authorisation from the Security Council violate the fundamental prohibition on the use of force, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and the duty to peacefully settle disputes under Article 2 of the UN Charter. They also violate the right to life, the experts said. Advertisement Where were they when Iran supported Hamas to attack Israel? Where were they when Iran killed tens of thousands of its own people in recent months? Where have they been as Christians have been killed around the world? All of the people against Israel and Trump clearly want Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to fail to free the Iranian people from tyranny and to make the world less safe because it would hide how feckless the UN and other supposed diplomacy experts have been to make the world more peaceful for decades. Iran and Germany during World War II are great examples of the harm that is done when only the government has guns. The people who oppose Trump's efforts in the U.S. are the same ones who: Are for open borders that allowed millions of unvetted people, including career criminals, terrorists, and gang members, to flood the United States. Support lawless sanctuary cities and states that refuse to abide by their oath to follow laws that Congress passed on immigration. Vote for soft-on-crime prosecutors and judges who allow career criminals to roam the streets and terrorize cities. Refuse to vote to fund DHS. Seek to take away guns from law-abiding citizens. Murders and mass murders have dropped precipitously as more people own guns. Support allowing men to expose themselves in women's facilities and to destroy women's sports. Will rarely define what makes a woman a woman. Support abortion on demand, no matter how viable a child is. Support operations on young children to remove body parts and to block puberty. Refuse to support voter ID laws to make elections more secure. Refuse to allow poor children, including minority children, the opportunity to attend better-performing schools. And the public is told that these people are the adults in the room, the compassionate people, the progressive people, the smart people, by most of the media as they seek to destroy Trump every day of his presidency. Image: Pexels // Pexels License Tunnels are used to carry traffic through some of the most extreme terrain on the planet and they help ease journeys with reduced travel time. While most tunnels offer a short underground burst of driving, some are much longer. Here are the worlds 10 longest road tunnels that use cutting edge technology to make their construction possible and to keep drivers alert while passing through their extended subterranean length. Ryfylke Tunnel, Norway 8.98 miles (14.46km) The Ryfylke Tunnel is the longest undersea road tunnel in the world at present and stretches some 8.98 miles between Stavanger and Ryfylke. Norway developed the Ryfylke Tunnel to reduce reliance on ferries. It is now part of its Rogfast project to connect several islands with undersea tunnels, and this means Ryfylke is likely to relinquish its title as this building work continues. Advertisement Opened in 2019, the Ryfylke Tunnel took seven years to build and a toll is charged to help recoup the cost of construction. By the time the Ryfylke Tunnel started operating, it had cost 6.4 billion Norwegian Kroner (460 million) to complete. Electric cars are subject to a 50% discounted toll charge. Descending to 285-metres under the sea at its deepest, the Ryfylke Tunnel consists of two separate tubes to carry traffic in opposite directions. Each tube has two lanes and the tunnel is capable of carrying up 10,000 vehicles per day. Zigana Tunnel, Turkiye 8.99 miles (14.48km) Close to the northern coast of Turkiye, the Zigana Tunnel runs through rugged mountain rock to bypass the Zigana Pass that becomes blocked by snow in the winter. Advertisement Advertisement Work started on the Zigana Tunnel in 2016 and it was finished in 2023. It is Turkiyes longest road tunnel at 8.99 miles long and it reduces the journey via the exposed Zigana Pass by five miles. It also cuts the journey time in summer months by around 20 minutes. Consisting of two separate tunnels to keep traffic flows apart, the Zigana Tunnel was built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. This system adapts to the rock as excavation continues and uses a spray-on concrete to create the walls. There are 16 laybys in each of the tunnels tubes, as well as six ventilation shafts. It was also built with 40 connecting tunnels between the pair of tubes, plus nine transformer rooms to house the Zigana Tunnels electric power. Muzhailing Tunnel, China 9.46 miles (15.22km) A great many challenges faced the designers and builders of the Muzhailing Tunnel in Chinas Gansu Province. For starters, its built at high altitude and also in an area of active seismic activity, which means its prone to earthquakes. Advertisement Advertisement Although not ideal conditions for creating one of the worlds longest road tunnels, the build used a technology called NPR anchor cabling. This secures the structure into the surrounding rock and allows the tunnel to withstand deformation as the ground moves. In common with most modern road tunnels, the Muzhailing Tunnel consists of two separate tubes, each carrying the stream of traffic in the opposite direction to the other. Construction work on this tunnel started in 2016 and reached its finish in 2024, with further complications to the build caused by the thin air at its high altitude and its effect on the workers. Now complete, the Muzhailing Tunnel is widely studied by tunnelling experts for the way it deals with such difficult terrain. Tiantaishan Tunnel, China 9.67 miles (15.56) Advertisement Advertisement It cost 2.75 billion Chinese Yuan (300 million) to complete the Tiantaishan Tunnel, which is something of a bargain in the world of road tunnels. Started in 2016, the Tiantaishan Tunnel was finished and working by 2021, which is again something of a record when it comes to build time. All of this is even more impressive when you consider the high altitude of the tunnel and the bitterly cold weather in Shaanxi Province in northwest China. Tiantaishan Tunnel, China 9.67 miles (15.56) When construction started in November 2016, there were 2000 workers spending their shifts underground in the Qinling Mountains. They also lived there for the duration of the build work. As part of the construction of the Tiantaishan Tunnel, a new smart lighting system was developed that delivers a more natural light inside its depths. This set-up also provides different light patterns and designs on the tunnels walls to ward off boredom as drivers traverse its 9.67-mile length in either of the three-lane tunnel tubes. Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland 10.46 miles (16.84km) Previously the longest road tunnel in the world, the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland has slipped down the ranking as new projects have overtaken for length. However, the Gotthard has been in operation for much longer than any other in the top 10 as it opened in 1980. Advertisement Advertisement Work started on the Gotthard Road Tunnel in 1970 and it carries traffic to a maximum height if 1175-metres (3855-feet), which is higher than Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) in Wales. Gotthard Road Tunnel, Switzerland 10.46 miles (16.84km) It takes around 13 minutes to drive through the Gotthard Road Tunnel as the 80kmh speed limit is strictly enforced. There is also a toll charge to pay for using the tunnel and its capable of carrying up to 24,000 vehicles per day. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is unusual in modern road tunnelling for using a single tube to carry both directions of traffic. In 2016, 57% of the Swiss population voted in favour of building a second Gotthard road tunnel in a referendum. Jinpingshan Tunnel, China 10.90 miles (17.54km) Advertisement Advertisement While all of the other road tunnels in the top 10 are open to the public, the Jinpingshan Tunnel restricts what traffic can use it. This is because the tunnel was built to provide access to the Jinping Dam, which is the worlds highest dam, and access between this and another hydropower dam. The Jinpingshan Tunnel runs through an area noted for its geological activity in south-west China. This is partly why access to the tunnel is limited, and also because of security surrounding the hydroelectric complex at the dam. Jinpingshan Tunnel, China 10.90 miles (17.54km) At its deepest point, the Jinpingshan Tunnel runs 2375-metres beneath the earths surface, and more than half of the tunnels entire length sits at more than 1500-metres deep. It took five years to build the Jinpingshan Tunnel and, at the time, was the longest tunnel made with a blind heading. This is where each end of the tunnel is started simultaneously and meet in the middle. Total cost of Jinpingshan Tunnel came to 1.3 billion Chinese Yuan (146 million). Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China 11.21 miles (18.04km) The Zhongnanshan Tunnel is not far from the Tiantaishan Tunnel but outdoes its near neighbour in overall length and how deep it travels under the Earths surface. With a maximum depth of 1640-metres, the Zhongnanshan Tunnel is among the deepest in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, it still took only five years to complete the tunnel. Work started in 2002 on the Zhongnanshan Tunnel, and it was the longest tunnel in Asia when it opened to traffic in 2007. Zhongnanshan Tunnel, China 11.21 miles (18.04km) It cost around 3.2 billion Chinese Yuan (350 million) to complete the Zhongnanshan Tunnel. This makes it one of the most expensive road tunnels to date in China. Three ventilation shafts provide fresh air to each of the two tunnels, and each tube carries traffic in the opposite direction to the other, so the streams are never together. Along its 11.21-mile length, there are different coloured lights and patterns projected onto the tunnels roof, and artificial plants to provide stimulation for drivers and prevent fatigue. Yamate Tunnel, Japan 11.3 miles (18.20km) Advertisement Advertisement The Yamate Tunnel in Tokyo, Japan is like Londons Blackwall Tunnel but on a grand scale. Where the Blackwall Tunnel is a mere three quarters of a mile long and is as close as 1.7-metres from the riverbed, the Yamate Tunnel runs to 11.3 miles and passes as much as 30-metres beneath the Japanese capital citys population. The Yamate Tunnel still holds the honour of being the longest urban tunnel in the world. Yamate Tunnel, Japan 11.3 miles (18.20km) It took 15 years for the Yamate Tunnel to be completed, with delays due to objections from residents and environmental concerns. However, the tunnel was given the go-ahead as it would ease traffic on Yamate Street that runs above the tunnel. Both of the 11-metre diameter tubes that form the Yamate Tunnel have emergency telephones positioned every 100-metres along their length. There is also a sophisticated filtration system to remove particulate emissions from the air extracted from the tunnels. WestConnex, Australia 13.67 miles (22.0km) The WestConnex Tunnel was finished in November 2023 and is part of a plan to ease congestion in the city of Sydney. To date, the tunnel is the largest road infrastructure project ever undertaken in Australia and the 13.67-mile tunnel is part of a longer overall 20.5-mile stretch of traffic-reducing motorway. Advertisement Advertisement This will eventually link Sydneys suburbs, airport, north shore, and city centre. The land above the WestConnex Tunnel has mostly been given over to parks, playgrounds, and open space for the citys inhabitants to relax. WestConnex, Australia 13.67 miles (22.0km) The WestConnex Tunnel is the longest underground stretch of public road in Australia, and its thought to have cost A$10 billion (5.1 billion). This figure set a new record for transport spending by the New South Wales Government, and its estimated the fully completed project will come in at A$45 billion (23.1 billion). However, the government also states the tunnel contributes to A$22 billion (11.3 billion) in savings due to reduced travel time and journey reliability. Lrdal Tunnel, Norway 15.23 miles (24.51km) Topping the longest road tunnels in the world is the Lrdal Tunnel in Norway. This 15.23-mile underground construction was started in 1995 and opened to the public in 2000. It took some 20 years to agree to the construction of the tunnel, which cost 1.1 billion Norwegian Kroner (85 million) to complete, which represents great value in the world of roads tunnelling. It was so much cheaper to build than most tunnels as the nature of the rock means the tunnel doesnt need to be lined and nor does it have to be made earthquake proof as they no not occur with any severity in Norway. The tunnel connects Lrdal and Aurland and consists of two tubes, each carrying traffic in a single direction for safety. Lrdal Tunnel, Norway 15.23 miles (24.51km) While its the longest road tunnel in the world, the Lrdal Tunnel is also one of the most lightly used. On a typical day, it carries around 2050 vehicles, which is largely due to its remote location 180 miles to the northwest of Oslo. To alleviate the monotony of driving through the worlds longest road tunnel which is also straight throughout - this Norwegian project is divided into four sections, each separated by a large cave with parking areas. The caves have blue and yellow lighting to give the feel of a Norwegian sunrise, which is thought to give drivers brains a boost when they are tired. Police cameras have also been installed to combat speeding. If you enjoyed this story, please click the Follow button above to see more like it from Autocar Photo Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en ]]> Pictures show officers forming a human wall around the smaller group, and the force said police were required to use proportionate force to ensure the safety of all individuals involved and keeping the groups apart. (Avon and Somerset Police) Six people have been arrested in Bristol after disorder broke out during a protest. Avon and Somerset Police said items were thrown at police officers during the rally on Saturday, when a group of protesters and counter-protesters clashed. About 40 people from a group called Bristol Patriots gathered and marched from the Cenotaph, in St Augustines Parade, with the aim of travelling around Broadmead, through Castle Park and back to the Cenotaph, police said. But when a group of about 200 counter-protesters, from the group Stand Up To Racism, attended, officers said the march came to a standstill. Police used batons and horses to keep the groups apart, the force said. In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: Officers were required to use proportionate force to ensure the safety of all individuals involved and keeping the groups apart, this included the use of batons and horses from the mounted unit to push back crowds. The march made it as far as Penn Street before the two sides and police came to a further stand-still. To ensure a safe conclusion to the march, officers made the decision to redirect the group back through the route towards the Cenotaph, with officers continuing to keep the two groups separate. Avon and Somerset Police say officers experienced a number of points of resistance, with disorder breaking out between the two-sides and items being thrown at officers (Avon and Somerset Police) Aerial pictures released by police showed officers created a human wall around the smaller group, who carried Union flags, while another row of officers kept the Stand Up To Racism protesters from getting closer to the group. More than 200 officers were in attendance and when the protest and counter-protest arrived back at the Cenotaph, at about 3.30pm, the two groups dispersed. The six people arrested were: A man, aged 37, on suspicion of Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986, causing fear or provocation of violence; A man, aged 60, on suspicion of assault by beating and affray A man, aged 39, on suspicion of obstructing / resisting a constable in execution of their duty A man, aged 23, on suspicion of violent disorder A woman aged 27, on suspicion of Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002, failing to provide details upon request and acting in an anti-social manner A woman, aged 23, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and obstructing / resisting a constable in execution of their duty. Six arrests were made during the protest and all suspects were taken into police custody. (Avon and Somerset Police) Neighbourhood policing Inspector John Shaddick said: Todays protests in Bristol were closely planned for and actively managed by our policing teams. Our priority throughout was clear: to facilitate the right to peaceful protest while keeping the public, businesses, and participants safe. There were periods of disruption caused by a small number of individuals. Where behaviour crossed the line into disorder, officers acted proportionately and used appropriate force to quickly regain control and prevent further harm. A number of arrests were made for public order offences and related matters, these will now be subject to the normal investigative processes. A Pakistani man has been convicted of planning to kill Donald Trump and other prominent US politicians. The trial showcased allegations of Iran-backed plotting on American soil. Asif Merchant, 47, was accused of trying to recruit people in the US in a plan targeting Mr Trump and others after Washington's killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, during his first term. Then president Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, who ran against Mr Trump that year for the Republican presidential nomination, were also targeted in the 2024 plot. Merchant was convicted of "murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries" at the behest of Iranian authorities, the Department of Justice said in a statement. Tehran has denied accusations that it sought to kill Mr Trump or other US officials. The trial in Brooklyn began last week, days before the president ordered an attack on Iran, carried out with Israel, which has broadened into the region's biggest conflict in years. Merchant admitted to joining the plot with Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, but testified he did so to protect his family in Tehran. Read more from Sky News: What is the strategy behind US and Israel's strikes? Sky News speaks to son of expat who died in UAE Merchant said he was never ordered to kill a specific person, but that his handler named three people during conversations in the Iranian capital. Police thwarted the plot before any attack took place. A person Merchant contacted in April 2024 to assist with the plot reported his activities and became a confidential informant. Merchant was arrested and pleaded not guilty that year. The Revolutionary Guards have a central role in Iran, with a combination of military and economic power and an intelligence network. US and Israeli attacks over the last week have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's UN ambassador. Several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been killed. The US military has said six of its service members were killed in a drone strike on a facility in Kuwait. Kemi Badenoch told the Conservative Party Spring Conference in Harrogate on Saturday that we are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not - Stefan Rousseau Sir Keir Starmer is too scared to act on Iran because he has been held hostage by Labour Left, Kemi Badenoch said. The Conservative leader said the Prime Minister was sitting on the fence when it came to the conflict in the Middle East, accusing him of playing student politics at a time of escalating conflict. Pushing for him to go further on defence spending, she told the Conservative Spring Conference in Harrogate on Saturday that the Government had been spooked by losing to the Greens in the Gordon and Denton by-election and was failing to act for fear of reprisals from Left-wing Labour MPs. He is a political hostage held at the behest of a load of half-rate Left-wing MPs, none of whom grasp the seriousness of the world that Britain is now in, she said. While the rest of the world rearms, they are playing student politics. Todays Labour Party is nothing like the patriotic Labour Party of yesteryear. She added: Starmer is too scared of upsetting certain sections of Labours target voters to act in our national interest. Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq war. Nobody is suggesting we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers and plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on, even though our allies had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. Even now, he is sitting on the fence, still deciding what our role is going to be in this war. We are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. Its time to act. Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir is being held as a political hostage by half-rate Left-wing MPs, none of whom grasp the seriousness of the world that Britain is now in - TOLGA AKMEN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock Her comments follow a week of what Badenoch said was dither and delay by the Government on its stance on war in the Middle East. This week, it emerged that in a National Security Council (NCC) meeting before the strikes, Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper strongly opposed British support for pre-emptive military action, which they believed would be illegal. Sir Keir backed them and resisted pressure from Donald Trump to allow the US to use RAF bases in Gloucestershire and the Chagos Islands. On Sunday, Sir Keir relented and granted US access to Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford for specific and limited defensive purposes. In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, the US president said he was very disappointed in Sir Keir, adding that it took far too long to change his mind. The US president continued his attack, adding that Sir Keir was no Winston Churchill, after saying the special relationship was no longer what it used to be. The Prime Minister has also been criticised over his slow action after Iranian drones attacked RAF Akrotiri, a British base in Cyprus. An F-35 jet is seen at RAF Akrotiri, as the UK, vows to strengthen anti-drone defences around the eastern Mediterranean nation - Leon Neal On Tuesday evening, Sir Keir announced the deployment of HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, to protect the base, more than 72 hours after the conflict in the Middle East began. The Prime Ministers late deployment of the warship, which is now expected to leave Portsmouth next week, led to criticism from Constantinos Kombos, the Cypriot foreign minister, who said there were questions over the future of Britains bases in Cyprus. Speaking at PMQs on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was doing too little, too late to support the island. On Saturday it was reported that an aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, was being prepared for potential deployment in five days time. The Ministry of Defence stressed that the carrier is already on a very high readiness of 10 days, which is now being reduced to five. This means the crew has been alerted and various preparations will be accelerated to ensure that HMS Prince of Wales is ready, should ministers decide that additional naval forces are required. HMS Prince of Wales returned to Britain before Christmas following a nine-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific last year - UK MOD At the conference on Saturday, Mrs Badenoch told Conservative Party members she would increase defence spending by reinstating the two-child benefit cap. She said: It will pay for the largest net increase in British troop numbers under any Prime Minister since the Second World War. I have chosen my priority, and that is to keep British families safe. The Conservatives also vowed to scrap nonsensical net zero and diversity and inclusion rules for businesses, as part of a sweeping deregulation drive to boost economic growth. Sir Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, has warned that Britain has become a cotton-wool world where inclusion policies hold back growth. Sir Mel said a Tory government would remove requirements on financial firms to pursue diversity targets or climate objectives, arguing that businesses should focus solely on economic performance. He said: When businesses are forced to focus on diversity, inclusion and climate change, they will not focus on creating wealth and jobs or will move to countries where they can. We cant open windows in case someone falls out. Kids cant play in the snow in case someone slips. The egg and spoon race is cancelled lest an ankle is twisted. Weve become a cotton-wool world... whatever happened to common sense? The Conservatives also vowed to increase stop and search, introducing 10,000 new police officers, mandating police intervention and enforcement of drug law and overhauling Labours Mental Health Act. Mrs Badenoch said: Right now, crimes are going unreported because people know nothing will happen, shoplifters, phone thieves, violent thugs getting away with it. Just one in 20 crimes is being solved in Britain today. Its shocking. And its not just about catching people, its about preventing crimes in the first place. Thats why we are going to triple stop and search and take knives and drugs off the streets. It works. We should be doing it. We will do it. She added: If the Greens get their way, there will be crack cocaine smoked on park benches. If we get ours, drug use will be driven out of our public spaces. She also introduced plans for immediate justice community centres where someone committing a lower level offence can be made to clean graffiti off our streets instead of a lengthy court process. She finished her speech by telling supporters: This is my plan: defend our country, defend our values, take back our streets, get Britain working again, and restore pride in the places we love. Ben Stiller has hit out at the White House after a clip from his film Tropic Thunder was used as part of a montage in a pro-war social media video. The 42-second clip includes footage of recent strikes on Iran edited between scenes from a number of movies, including Iron Man 2, Gladiator, and Braveheart. The Tropic Thunder scene shows Tom Cruise dancing in character as Les Grossman. On X, Stiller wrote: Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie. The video ends with footage of a U.S. strike on an Iranian ship, followed by a clip of an animated character saying, Now end this! The White House logo then flashes on the screen, as a voice says Flawless Victory in reference to the video game series Mortal Kombat. The clip is captioned: JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. Brandon T. Jackson, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder (DreamWorks) The video was posted online a day after the White House faced widespread backlash on Wednesday for sharing a video of real missile strikes edited together with scenes from the video game franchise Call of Duty. This criticism hasnt deterred the White House, which shared another video Friday that combined strike footage with an infamous clip of a character from the Grand Theft Auto video game series saying, Ah s***, here we go again. After each strike, the word wasted flashed across the screen, referencing the message Grand Theft Auto players see when their character dies. When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent: Under the decisive leadership of President Trump, Americas heroic warfighters are meeting or surpassing all of their goals under Operation Epic Fury. The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Militarys incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Irans ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time, she added. The Iranian government has said at least 1,230 people have been killed in the attacks so far, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Military investigators have also found its likely U.S. forces were responsible for a strike that hit a girls school in southern Iran, Reuters reported Thursday, citing two U.S. officials. Iranian officials have said more than 175 people were killed, including 150 students. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Wednesday that officials were investigating the incident and said the U.S. would never target civilian targets. When asked that same day whether the deaths were the result of a U.S. strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, Not that we know of. Leavitt also told Reuters, While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. Britain moved closer to entering Donald Trumps airstrikes war on Iran after four US bombers arrived at RAF Fairford. A first 146ft B-1 Lancer landed at the airbase in Gloucestershire on Friday evening. Three more US bomber aircraft followed on Saturday morning as Trump warned Iran would be hit very hard. A few hours later, the Ministry of Defence in London said: The United States has started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk. The development marked a significant development in Britains involvement in the conflict. Donald Trump has repeatedly hit out at Sir Keir Starmer in recent days over the Iran crisis (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire) Sir Keir Starmer has refused to allow America to launch offensive airstrikes on Iran from RAF Fairford and the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands, questioning their legality, and sparking an angry bust-up with Trump. In his latest swipe, the US president hit out at the Prime Minister, saying "we don't need people that join wars after we've already won". It comes after the Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the preparedness of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to deploy. The US President posted on his Truth Social platform: "The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. "That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!" Sir Keir, though, has given the go-ahead to Washington for use of UK bases for defensive action such as taking out Iranian missile sites, targeting areas of the Gulf, and which were putting the lives of British citizens at risk. When the bombers take off, as expected now, to target Iran it would be the first such missions involving the UK military. Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the countrys temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries including the Gulf states unless an attack on Iran came from those nations. The decision is believed to have been significantly swayed by American and Israeli airstrikes on Iran having already heavily destroyed many of the countrys missile sites and drone launch platforms. But despite Pezeshkians announcement, Gulf countries said they had intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran. Irans Revolutionary Guards said their drones struck a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were interrupted after passengers were ushered down into train tunnels as several blasts were heard and the alert sounded over a suspected drone attack. NEW: Smoke seen rising from the 23 Marina residential skyscraper in Dubai following a reported Iranian attack. It remains unclear whether the damage was caused by direct impact or debris from an interception. pic.twitter.com/xkU4RrrBPx Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) March 7, 2026 Falling shrapnel from interception of projectiles from Iran caused minor damage to the facade of a tower in Dubai Marina, an area with many other luxury high rises, according to local officials. The incident sparked panic among some residents but there were no injuries reported. Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE all reported they intercepted missiles and drones on Saturday evening from Iran. More than 100,000 Britons are still stranded in Gulf states. Saudi Arabia said it stopped four drones striking the countrys massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours. Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes in a central area of the Iranian capital Tehran on Friday (AFP via Getty Images) With Israel and Iran trading attacks as the Middle East war entered a second week on Saturday, Tehran rejected Trumps demand for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender as "a dream". Israeli warplanes again hammered Beirut, targeting Hezbollah sites. The death toll continued to rise on Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops have been killed. London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan spoke out on the conflict on Saturday, tearing into Donald Trumps military campaign and warning of chaos and carnage fuelled by illegal wars in the Middle East. Key figures in the Tehran regime sees the UK as Little Satan and may well not differentiate between Sir Keirs position on offensive and defensive action. The RAF has so far been limited to defensive action such as taking down drones in the skies over the Gulf nations. But Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has said that legally it could take part in attacks on missile sites in Iran if they were deemed a threat to British citizens or its allies. The deployment of the US bombers from RAF Fairford is likely to be seized on by critics of the Governments stance on Iran, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, as a sign of Britain being dragged further into the war. HMS Prince of Wales (PA Media) Separately, Britains HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier was put on five days notice to sail, according to naval sources, possibly to the eastern Mediterranean. An MoD spokesman said: HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment. The Government has been heavily criticised for not sending a warship more swiftly to defend Cyprus, where RAF Akrotiri has been hit by a drone strike, with HMS Dragon not due to arrive in the region until several days after military vessels from France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands get there. Andrew spent around 11 hours in custody in February (Reuters) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's removal from the royal line of succession, citing his "deplorable" links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The royal, stripped of his titles, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations he shared sensitive information with the financier while serving as the UKs trade envoy. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Mr Carney stated: "I certainly think his actions are deplorable and have caused him to be stripped of his royal titles, certainly merit, if thats the word necessitate is a better word his removal from the line of succession." The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand have previously supported UK Government plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession. Such a move would require an Act of Parliament and the agreement of all Commonwealth realms, including Canada. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the then Duke of York, arriving for the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent (PA) Mr Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, added: Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. He spent around 11 hours in custody in February as searches were conducted at his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and at his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, and released pending investigation Andrew served as the UKs special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. The UK Government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the Kings disgraced brother, the Press Association understands. An entrance to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has relocated following his departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor (Gareth Fuller/PA) In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing grave allegations, adding: Australians take them seriously. A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon, New Zealands prime minister, said: If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it. The UK Government has said any proposals would come after the police investigation concludes. Defence Secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown wrote to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein. Charlie Manby and James Hurrell were involved in an exchange of words at the end of their UK Open round-three meeting on Friday night. After wrapping up a 6-4 win with a checkout of 16, where he averaged 99 throughout, the victorious Manby shook hands with Hurrell before the pair became involved in a heated exchange. The match referee then came over to split the duo up before Manby celebrated in front of the Minehead crowd. Needle on Board Seven! Charlie Manby wins a feisty affair against James Hurrell to book his spot in round four, averaging 99 in the process! Live Scores & Streaming https://t.co/gFQK4rQ2wU#UKOpenDarts | R3 pic.twitter.com/4CbOh48EW8 PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 6, 2026 Speaking to ITV afterwards, Manby said: I just dont think he was happy with me giving it the big one. I am mates with Jammo, I sit with him (in) pro tours and sat on his table for the first pro tours and I got on really well with him. I just dont think he liked me giving it the big one when theres a lot riding on it. He was giving it back so I think that was it really. Theres no friends on the oche, yeah you can sit with whoever you want and blah, blah but I think theres no friends on the oche at all. If I want to give it the big one, Ill give it the big one theres no restrictions to that, especially here. Youve got loads of people out there giving it the big one as well, my fans, his fans, it was just as good as each other so I dont see any problem with it. Charlie Manby eventually went out in round four (Steven Paston/PA) (Steven Paston) Manby was later knocked out of the competition in round four by Ryan Joyce, who claimed a 10-6 victory. Fridays action saw Luke Littler and Luke Humphries both progress into round five, with Littler getting the better of Damon Heta 10-3 and Humphries won by the same score against Luke Woodhouse. Nathan Aspinall exited in a hard-fought contest with Michael van Gerwen, while Gian van Veen, Joe Cullen and Chris Dobey tasted defeat and Danny Noppert hit a nine-darter during his win over Dimitri van den Bergh. One Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals were arrested at addresses in Harrow, Watford and Barnet shortly after 1am on Friday Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA (Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA) Counter-terrorism detectives have been granted more time to question four men arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community. The suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, can now be held in custody until 13 March, the Metropolitan police said on Saturday. The men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested under the National Security Act at addresses in Harrow, Watford and Barnet shortly after 1am on Friday. The Met said six other men, aged between 20 and 49, arrested at the same location in Harrow, have been bailed pending further investigation. One of the men was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, the force added. Detectives are understood to be investigating why the alleged surveillance of Jewish locations and individuals was being carried out and whether it was linked to a wish to carry out attacks on British soil. Part of the investigation is looking at claims that in-person surveillance in London took place and whether it was directed from overseas. The operation by counter-terrorism police and MI5 had been going on for months. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, said on Friday the arrests meant police had kept Britain safe from a potential threat. Mahmood said: I want to thank the police and our security services for the action theyve taken today to keep Britain safe from a potential threat. The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned by todays arrests. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with those affected. She added: I can reassure you that our police and security services are world-leading and wont hesitate to take action to counter any threat to the UK. They will continue to use the full range of tools and powers available to them to keep this country safe. They have the governments full support as they carry out their vital work. We must now give them the time and space to continue their investigations. In October last year, MI5s director general, Ken McCallum, said 20 plots linked to Iran had been disrupted on UK soil in the previous 12 months. Most of those were against Iranian dissident targets, with at least one linked to an Israeli target in Britain. Amateur National Hunt jockey Sam Lee has died at the age of 27. Lee was a prominent figure on the point-to-point circuit and rode four winners under rules during his career. A joint-statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund and Point-To-Point Authority read: The point-to-point world is devastated to hear of the sudden death of Sam Lee on Friday March 6. Our deepest sympathies go out to Sams family and his many friends. Sam, 27, was a hugely popular figure on the point-to-point scene and his tragic death is a huge shock for everyone. This weekends point-to-point race meetings will be holding a minutes silence ahead of racing in memory of Sam. Lees biggest victory under rules came aboard the Phil Middleton-trained Golan Fortune when he landed the Listed Spinal Injuries Association Big Bucks Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in November 2019. He then rode the same horse at the Cheltenham Festival in the Coral Cup four months later. British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea said: We are all shocked and upset to hear about the death of amateur jockey Sam Lee. Amateur jockeys are an integral part of our sport, its community and its rich history. Every jockey, professional or amateur, will be mourning today the death of a colleague and friend, as will everyone across British racing. The sport has in place services to provide care and support to those close to Sam. That support is available to everyone in our sport and anyone affected by this issue is encouraged to call them. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. The overwhelming value of end-of-life decisions is this value of right, autonomy and control, says Dr Hannah Gould, pictured here looking up from a grave. Photograph: Laura May Grogan (Photograph: Laura May Grogan) Around 2040, Australia will reach peak death. A silver tsunami of boomers are predicted to propel the annual death rate to double that of today, putting immense strain on the healthcare and deathcare systems. Dr Hannah Gould a death scholar and author of the book How to Die in the 21st Century calls it boomergeddon, and says it brings with it a certain range of ideas about what a good death looks like. The overwhelming value of end-of-life decisions, particularly among the baby boomer population, is this value of right, autonomy and control, she says. Choreographing end of life from bespoke aged care solutions and medical interventions to prolong quality of life to one-of-a-kind burials is increasingly possible if you have the resources. The idea of trying to wield total control over our final act, however, gives Gould, who lectures in Buddhist Studies at the University of Melbourne, the heebie-jeebies. The idea of what a green death [is] is often quite naive Dr Hannah Gould Its very different to how previous generations have seen death and it might be quite different to how millennials will see death. Im a millennial, and it doesnt strike me that control is a value that Ive ever had a part of. I dont think millennials think theyve got enough resources to be in control of anything. The welfare of death workers As a small child, Gould held her breath when the family drove past cemeteries, but later became interested in comparative religion and religiosity and wound up specialising in religious materiality in particular, altars to family ancestors and to Buddha while doing her Masters at Oxford University. She further became credentialed in death by becoming a member of the dead dad club when she was 23. That got her considering what people regard as a good death and a bad death. Classifying that whole complicated experience as bad enrages me just about as much as when people said he lost his battle with cancer, she writes. Now shes the go-to person for questions about death from journalists and dinner party guests alike. Gould say she doesnt resent the questions, which are as varied as Do I really get my persons remains back from the crematorium and Will I ever stop crying over my dead pet? (No). As she says, People never get the chance to ask about death, so once they get over the initial shock, they do love asking me. Im happy to have conversations with taxi drivers and people in a bar and at the dog park if I can be brave enough to tell them what I do. Sometimes, Im just like, I study something. For those not immediately dealing with death, their questions might be along the lines of the more spectacular ways that a person can be sent off increasingly its seeming as though the skys the limit, particularly if you have the means to be fired into space in a rocket. Personalisation of funerals is the No 1 trend Gould is seeing, with the most common desire being a return to nature. I always hear, Cant you just put me into a nice meadow and put a sapling on top of me? Gould says. But you will kill that tree. And also, where is this meadow? The idea of what a green death [is] is often quite naive. Its not informed by good knowledge about what deathcare actually looks like, and its certainly often not informed by compassion about people who work in deathcare. While working on her PhD, Gould had stints working at a crematorium and at funeral homes, so shes a strong advocate for the welfare of death workers something to be considered when making your creative demands of being wrapped into a shroud, planted, or buried at sea. Research has suggested that increasingly elaborate funeral demands carry with them increased worker hazards, particularly psychosocial ones. Related: Its gritty and its real: finding a proper resting place for Australias unclaimed funeral ashes As peoples expectations of what they should be able to demand in death is expanding, independent providers are rushing to meet that trend. Body disposal options are broadening. Gould worries that the media excitedly reports on new technologies, without any factchecking of their environmental claims. There are a lot of promises made, she says. The problem is that its an unequal knowledge relationship. People assume theyre regulated. People assume that there are health and safety checks. People assume that these processes are legalised. One tip for everyone But while technology and options in death are expanding, Gould says we remain, as a society, averse to talking and thinking about dying. A case in point is AI grief companions and AI-assisted advance care planning. I think this further entrenches this idea of us being afraid of death, like we cant even have this conversation with another human being, she cautions. More fundamentally, it robs people of being carers. The experience of confronting mortality through caring for someone whos dying and talking to a loved one about death is a very human experience, and you are giving that job to a robot. How to die in the 21st Century contains six lessons in mortality on contemplating, dying, disposing, celebrating, grief and memorialisation. Yet even as the books author, as someone who works in the death sector, Gould admits she hasnt done much death admin of her own (No one does; its the funniest thing. I have a will.). She does recommend one action we should take immediately, even if we dont plan on dying any time soon. Know who your legal next of kin is, she says. If you have a problem with that person making your decisions, change that person. It often happens with young queer people who maybe have a contentious relationship with their parents. And I say to them, Well, if you were to die, its your mum and dad who will be organising the funeral. Or maybe its your ex-husband, because youre still technically legally married. Gould thinks its important to advocate for our wishes but also, of course, to communicate them. It doesnt have to be a big, scary conversation. It can be a Post-It note on the fridge. Im the death person now, but when my mum had to get quite minor heart surgery I made her email both my brother and I a paragraph: if it is the case that I cant do X, Y and Z, I dont want to be here. I want this kind of thing for my funeral. I want this to happen to my remains. OK, love you, bye. How to Die in the 21st Century is published by Thames & Hudson Australia on 3 March. The Natural History Museum holds at least 3,375 items of human remains from Africa, second only to the University of Cambridge with at least 6,223. Photograph: Dave Gadd/Sportsphoto/Allstar (Photograph: Dave Gadd/Sportsphoto/Allstar) Descendants of freedom fighters executed and beheaded in southern Africa by colonial British forces have called on the Natural History Museum in London and the University of Cambridge to help them find their ancestors looted skulls. Zimbabwean descendants of the first chimurenga heroes, who led an uprising against British colonisers in the 1890s, have long believed the museum and university hold several of the skulls. Eight of the descendants have now formally asked the institutions to collaborate in locating six of their ancestors remains. They have also offered to provide DNA samples to assist with the research. The museum and university said in 2022 that they had not identified any remains in their collections as belonging to the colonial resistance fighters, prompting dismay and disbelief among their descendants and Zimbabwean officials. In letters sent to the institutions this month, the descendants said questions over the skulls provenance could only be resolved by establishing a taskforce of experts from Zimbabwe and the UK to examine the contested remains and archives in the countries. This is not only about the past, the letters state. It is about whether institutions today are willing to confront colonial violence honestly and repair its enduring harms. Until the remains of our ancestors are accounted for and returned, the suffering continues. One of letters signatories is a descendant of Chief Chingaira Makoni, who opposed British settlers seizing land for farming and mining in what is now Manicaland province in north-eastern Zimbabwe. After engaging the forces of Cecil Rhodes British South Africa Company at the battles of Gwindingwi in 1896, Makoni was captured, executed by firing squad and beheaded. His skull is believed to be among those of the chimurenga heroes later taken to England. His descendant and the current Chief Makoni, Cogen Simbayi Gwasira, said: We are very aggrieved as the descendants of those ancestors for the dehumanisation that took place during that period. We feel that the British, and especially the museums in England, should be honest and return those things that they took. If those remains are not part of us, the notion of subjugation remains in our minds. Because we feel if we are united with our ancestors, then that chapter of colonialism is closed. The call comes after a freedom of information investigation by the Guardian revealed that UK universities, museums and councils hold at least 11,856 items of human remains from Africa. The University of Cambridge holds most with at least 6,223 items, and the Natural History Museum has the second largest collection with at least 3,375. Robert Mugabe, then the president of Zimbabwe, demanded a decade ago that the Natural History Museum return the resistance heroes skulls. The museums trustees made a formal decision in November 2022 to repatriate all Zimbabwean human remains, but in a letter sent in support of the descendants last week to the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, the all-party parliamentary group for Afrikan reparations said no discernible progress has been made in the three years since that decision. Dr Rudo Sithole, a former executive director of the International Council of African Museums, said Zimbabwean experts did not believe the museum or the University of Cambridge had conducted enough research to determine whether the skulls they held from the country include those of the first chimurenga heroes. Because people long believed that all the chimurenga heroes remains were in the UK, we are now very worried that not even a single one has been acknowledged to be there, she said. Gwasira said his people were still suffering as a result of the colonial theft of his ancestors remains. He said that in the Zimbabwean Shona tradition, ancestral spirits known as vadzimu were the spiritual conduit for prayers to Mwari, or God. Some of our very important ancestors who held the traditional responsibility for taking our grievances to the Lord were killed, murdered, their heads were taken, he said. We are suffering because until those ancestors return to us then we have no access to the Lord. Other leaders of the more than 20 first chimurenga included the spirit mediums Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, who were hanged from a tree in 1898. Sithole, also a former director of the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, said the UK lagged behind other European countries, such as France and Germany, which had funded research into the provenance of human remains taken from their former African colonies. A spokesperson for the Natural History Museum in London said it was committed to repatriating the 11 individuals from Zimbabwe in its collections, and was awaiting confirmation from the Zimbabwean government as to their desired next steps. After extensive research we found no evidence to suggest that the remains are those of named individuals or are associated with particular historical episodes, they said. There are no other known or suspected ancestral remains from Zimbabwe held at the museum. A University of Cambridge spokesperson said: The vice-chancellor has written to the families and descendants to acknowledge their profound grief and the enduring uncertainty they have expressed. They added that the vice-chancellor had assured the descendants that the Duckworth Collection, which holds the universitys largest collection of human remains, did not hold those of any of the first chimurenga heroes. The DCMS declined to comment. A vigil in 2024 by those affected by the scandal was held in Westminster before the release of final report from the infected blood inquiry. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters (Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters) Families of victims of the infected blood scandal have criticised the government for imposing a penalty for dying in its compensation scheme, which has seen them lose out on hundreds of thousands of pounds. The scheme awards payouts to living victims and the families of those who have died after being infected with HIV or hepatitis as a result of being given contaminated blood products by the NHS. More than 30,000 people in the UK were given treatments before 1996 infected with HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B or a combination of them and more than 3,000 victims have died. Last month, Sir Brian Langstaff, the chair of the infected blood inquiry, announced the body would end its work on 31 March, having exercised the power it has. Under the compensation scheme, each infected person is entitled to a basic financial loss award of 12,500, plus an additional financial loss award, which calculates loss of earnings after their infection through NHS treatment. However, for victims who died before the start of the scheme, families have been told that no future financial loss will be paid to the estate, with loss calculated only from the date of infection until death, which in many cases was just a short time. In an open letter, charities including the Haemophilia Society and the Hepatitis C Trust have said this means that, if a person died in the early 1990s in the middle of their working life, it equates to a difference of nearly 50 years of financial loss. The current scheme creates the situation where an infected person is financially penalised for dying before the government finally agreed to properly address the scandal of infected blood, the letter reads. They and their estates are being penalised for their inability to survive the wrongdoing of government, the very wrongdoing which the compensation is being paid to address. Every single person infected as a result of contaminated blood deserves to be valued equally, regardless of whether they survive today or died many years ago, Kate Burt, the chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said. The credibility of the compensation scheme rests on this principle. It is utterly unacceptable that decades after their loss, bereaved families are still fighting for fair recognition of their loved ones lives. Ami Jai Presly lost her father, Jai Brahmbhatt, in 1993 he was the same age she is now: 39 years old. The professor of business studies at Brunel University had moved from Kenya to the UK in 1972 to study, but also in the hope of getting better treatment for his haemophilia. Jai Presly first realised the issue with the scheme when she calculated what her fathers estate was owed, and was told the payment would only cover 16 years of financial loss. The claim for deceased victims, she said, is only roughly half the value of that it would have been had that person been alive today. We realised at that point that the current framework creates a penalty for dying, she added. Its unethical and wrong. Jai Preslys sister, Meera Pierson, said: Our family experience, our family life mine and Amis entire life has been determined and overshadowed by the contaminated blood scandal, and the reality of what losing our dad meant. Nothing will ever be able to make good the loss that we experienced from the loss of my father. The compensation framework is the only mechanism we have to talk about this, Jai Presly added. Everybody who is associated with this, whose life has been changed by this, who has had their life taken away or who hasnt been able to have a conversation as an adult with their dad and never will, knows that money can never replace what has been lost. Its the only thing we have, which is why we are here talking about financial loss. Rachel McGuinnesss father, Christopher Thomas, was a haemophiliac who received treatment during the 1970s and 1980s, and was diagnosed HIV positive in 1984. He died in 1990, when she was 19. Mum had to give up her job to look after him, and I went off to university at 18, but my brother was still at home at 16, she said. He was a young carer, helping Dad and Mum through those last couple of years. He had palliative care at home in the end and he died at home, so its just a very different life experience to what most teenagers would be going through. When she found out about the discrepancy in the compensation scheme she was just very surprised and disappointed really, she said. Obviously weve waited a very long time for the inquiry to be held in the first instance, and then for the government to apologise, and then for the compensation structure to be put in place. And then it still has been found wanting and not fit for purpose. My mums getting older and I think that to have this additional burden, another hoop to jump through, at 77 when shes lost her husband 30 years ago is just ridiculous, McGuinness added. Ian Dixon has been campaigning alongside his wife, Claire, whose mother, Nora Worthington, was admitted to hospital in Macclesfield as a result of a perforated ulcer in 1982, and when she received a blood transfusion, was given contaminated blood. Nora, sadly, having been infected with the HIV virus, was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Ian said. She was diagnosed in 1991 and passed away in August 1993, aged just 47. At the time, HIV had an enormous stigma associated with it, Dixon said, so her mother really went through hell at the time, and it was incredibly distressing for the family. He added: Quite frankly, the way the scheme has been designed structurally creates a huge disparity between those who are infected and fortunately survived and those whove paid the ultimate price. Had Nora been alive, she would have received in excess of 2m, he said, but instead, her estate will receive just over 1m. Its not about the money, Dixon said. Its absolutely about the recognition, the people whove lost their lives. Their lives should be equally valued as those who are fortunately still with us. A government spokesperson said: The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakable wrongs and this government is committed to listening to and working with them to ensure justice is not only delivered but reflected in the way compensation is treated for everyone. We are committed to making the system as fair and compassionate as possible and the government is now carefully considering the responses to the recent consultation undertaken with the seriousness that this issue deserves, and will publish its response within 12 weeks of the consultations closing date. Last month, a Bar representative informed a nonpartisan watchdog group, which had sought an ethics inquiry, that an "investigation pending" existed (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The Florida Bar has retracted its earlier assertion of an ongoing investigation into Lindsey Halligan, a prosecutor whose appointment by President Donald Trump was later deemed unlawful. The reversal came Friday, following previous statements from the Bar indicating an active inquiry into Halligan's conduct during her tenure at the Justice Department. Last month, a Bar representative informed a nonpartisan watchdog group, which had sought an ethics inquiry, that an "investigation pending" existed. This was echoed Thursday by Florida Bar spokesperson Jennifer Krell Davis, who told The Associated Press there was an "open file" on Halligan, declining further comment due to the confidentiality of active discipline cases. However, on Friday, Davis issued a new statement, clarifying, "The Florida Bar wrote a letter to the complainant erroneously stating that there is a pending Bar investigation" of Halligan. She added, "There is no such pending Bar investigation" of Halligan. While Davis noted the Bar had received a complaint and was monitoring "ongoing legal proceedings underlying the complaint," she offered no explanation for the conflicting information regarding the existence of an investigation. A former White House aide under Trump with no prosecutorial experience, Halligan pursued cases against a pair of the president's political appointees but resigned in January (Marco Bello/AFP via Getty Images) The complaint from the Campaign for Accountability centers on Halligans brief but turbulent tenure as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, historically one of the Justice Departments most elite prosecution offices. A former White House aide under Trump with no prosecutorial experience, Halligan pursued cases against a pair of the president's political appointees but resigned in January as multiple judges questioned the legitimacy of her appointment and cast doubt on her ability to remain in the job legally. The nonprofit watchdog had requested a bar inquiry into whether Halligan had violated the rules of professional conduct. The complaint cited, among other things, Halligan's handling of a case against former FBI Director James Comey and the fact that she continued to hold herself out as acting U.S. attorney even after a judge concluded that her appointment violated rules governing the selection of federal prosecutors. The organization posted on its website a letter dated Feb. 4 in which a Florida Bar representative told the group, We are aware of these developments and have been monitoring them closely. We already have an investigation pending. On Friday, Michelle Kuppersmith, the executive director of the Campaign of Accountability, said the Bar had not told the organization that its earlier assertion was erroneous. She said it was hard to reconcile the Bar's latest statement with the earlier letter. If there is no longer an investigation into Halligan, the question is why not, given that three judges indicated she engaged in conduct that appears to violate ethics rules, Kuppersmith said in a statement. Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University and member of the Florida Bar, said the most likely reason for the reversal is that the initial confirmation of the investigation was unauthorized. That type of information isnt normally made public until after a grievance committee makes an actual finding to move forward, he said. The reason is to prevent a baseless accusation from damaging someones reputation. I think somebody at the Florida Bar probably jumped the gun, Jarvis said. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on the social platform X on Friday that Halligan not only did nothing wrong she did a great job. The Florida Bar investigation of Lindsey Halligan is totally fake news, she added. Halligan did not immediately respond to several email requests for comment about the investigation. Halligan, who had served as one of Trumps attorneys but had no experience as a federal prosecutor, was installed in September after the Trump administration effectively forced out her predecessor, Erik Siebert, amid pressure to bring charges against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, another longtime Trump foe. Halligan secured indictments against Comey and James but quickly ran into difficulty as lawyers for Comey raised questions about what they said were irregularities in the grand jury presentation of the case, including legal and factual errors that tainted the process. A judge in November scolded Halligan for fundamental misstatements of the law, including what he said was her suggestion to the grand jury that Comey did not have a Fifth Amendment right to not testify. The Comey and James prosecutions were subsequently dismissed following a challenge by defense lawyers to Halligan's appointment. Many cats can't begin their new lives as rescue pets without a brief stay in a shelter or rescue. Even though some kitties don't mind having a cozy, safe place to rest, others can't wait to get back outside. Luckily, one animal sanctuary found a solution! Hidden Treasures Animal Sanctuary, located in Orland, California, is home to over 100 outdoor, free-roaming rescue cats. These kitties get to roam outside during the day while waiting for their forever families, and the sanctuary's luscious hillside setting couldn't be more beautiful. Watching a wave of cats hopping through the tall, green grass looks like a scene straight out of a movie! This seems like paradise! Every cat looks healthy and well-fed, and the way they frolic through the field is utter perfection. No wonder they're all so happy at Hidden Treasures! These "grass dolphins," as commenter @impatient_facility called them, never wandered far from home. If any of these rescued kitties didn't want to be there, they wouldn't be! I'll admit that a sanctuary for free-roaming cats sounded like a chaotic idea, but this scene is absolutely beautiful! Related: Cat Mom Thinks Up Genius Solution for Orange Kitty Who 'Wants to Be an Outside Cat' While some commenters saw dolphins when they looked at these sanctuary cats, others, like @kim.riley, saw "The raptors in the long grass scene from Jurassic Park." Whatever these felines and their happy tails remind you of, it's hard not to watch them prancing through the grass with a smile on your face. Just imagine how fulfilling it must feel to work there! Hidden Treasures rescues and rehomes both cats and dogs, but their outdoor cat program is what sets them apart. Walking with a herd of cats seems magical, so helping them find homes must be legendary. New Strategies at Shelters & Sanctuaries Allowing outdoor cats to roam free may be a unique approach at an animal sanctuary, but it's not the only new strategy that rescues are trying out. A Pennsylvania animal shelter recently hosted its first-ever 'Pick Me' event, in which shelter dogs selected their families instead of the other way around. A little creativity can go a long way in the pet adoption world, though nothing is better than helping rescue pets feel happy, safe, and loved. The folks at Hidden Treasures are doing such wonderful work! SIGN UP to get pawsitivity delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Visitors looking at Egyptian mummies on display in the British Museum. Photograph: John Keates/Alamy (Photograph: John Keates/Alamy) How many human remains are held by UK museums? An investigation by the Guardian found 241 UK museums, universities and local authorities hold more than 263,228 items of human remains. Due to the complex way some institutions catalogue their collections, and gaps in their records, the actual figure is likely much higher. These remains include skeletons, body parts and preserved bodies, such as Egyptian mummies, as well as bones and bone fragments, hair, teeth, nails and remains incorporated into cultural artefacts. Only 100 institutions provided an exact or estimated number of individuals in their collections, totalling about 79,334 people. The University of Cambridge did not disclose a number, explaining this was difficult because many remains are commingled and fragmented. But a 2003 report stated that its Duckworth Laboratory held the remains of approximately 18,000 individuals. That would bring the recorded total to about 97,334. A Cambridge University spokesperson said: The vice-chancellor has written to the families and descendants to acknowledge their profound grief and the enduring uncertainty they have expressed. They added that the vice-chancellor had assured the descendants that the Duckworth Collection does not hold the remains of any of the first Chimurenga heroes from Zimbabwe. Responses to freedom of information (FoI) requests, analysed by Dr Rebekah Hodgkinson, a researcher of colonial legacies in British history and heritage, and Dan Hicks, professor of contemporary archaeology at the University of Oxford, also show that about 5,700 items of remains are not recorded in a database. Some institutions only disclosed having several boxes of human remains of unknown provenance. The FoI figures do not include human remains held in private collections, such as the royal collection, or by individuals. Which museums hold the most human remains? The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London appears to have the largest collection, representing an estimated 27,500 individuals. The museum said it has 27,864 catalogue records of human remains, which may each represent more than one individual. Furthermore, one individual may be represented by a single tooth, a small number of bones or up to thousands of bone fragments. The University of Cambridge holds about 20,110 items in its Duckworth Laboratory, of which about 9,399 originated from outside the UK. The university said there are 1,070 catalogue entries referring to human remains in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, of which an unspecified number were transferred to the Duckworth collections. The Fitzwilliam Museum holds a small number of human remains, of which 14 records are on its public catalogue. The University of Bristol estimated that it holds well over 20,000 items, representing about 2,000 individuals. The University of Winchester holds 30,488 items, but this represents only 150 skeletons excavated in the UK. The National Museums and Galleries of Wales hold 7,391 items, but did not disclose how many individuals this represents. How many human remains originated in the UK? The Guardian found 166,124 items of human remains are recorded as originating from the UK, representing 63% of the known total. Of these, 122,747 are recorded as coming from UK archaeological excavations, which is less than half (47%) of all the human remains held. The University of Winchester holds a quarter of the items of remains from UK excavations. There are also high numbers of UK excavated remains held by Armagh city, Banbridge and Craigavon borough council in Northern Ireland (6,400 items, representing only 10 individuals), and the University of Sheffield (3,972). How many overseas remains are held in the UK? The FoI responses show there are 37,996 items of human remains recorded as originating from overseas, while the continent of origin of another 16,236 items is unknown. Ninety-seven institutions hold 28,914 items of remains recorded as originating from Africa, Asia, North and South America and Oceania. Seventy-five institutions hold 11,856 items of remains recorded as originating from Africa. Of these, 6,223 (52%) are held in the University of Cambridges Duckworth Laboratory. Fifty-three institutions hold 9,550 items of remains originating from Asia, with the largest collection in the National History Museum. Thirty-nine institutions collectively hold 3,252 items of remains from Oceania, with the largest recorded collection in the British Museum. Thirty-three institutions hold 2,276 items of remains from North America, with more than half (1,398) held by the Natural History Museum. Twenty-nine institutions hold a total of 1,980 items of remains from South America, with most held by the Natural History Museum (1,141). How did overseas human remains come to the UK? The 2003 report of the government working group on human remains said they were acquired in a very wide range of circumstances. Some remains were bought from or exchanged with museums abroad. Others, such as tsantsas (shrunken heads), were taken from, and traded by, Indigenous peoples. The report also noted that many items of remains were acquired unethically by collectors, including as a result of duress, deceit, unlawful removal and, very occasionally, murder. Some bodies were taken from graves or from battlefields and hospitals, it added. The working group said colonised peoples, such as Australian Aborigines and Native American peoples, were often unable to prevent the removal of human remains because of the dynamics of power in colonial situations. Can UK museums return human remains? Section 47 of the Human Tissue Act allows nine national museums, including the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the V&A and the Science Museum, to remove human remains from their collections if they are reasonably believed to belong to a person who died less than 1,000 years before the section came into force. However limitations do apply and some national museums are prevented by law from deaccessioning items in their collections unless, broadly, they are duplicates or unfit for retention, eg due to damage. These restrictions do not apply to local authorities and universities. India defended its decision to allow an Iranian warship to dock at one of its Arabian Sea ports amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, saying it acted out of humanity. New Delhi approved the docking of IRIS Lavan at the southern port of Kochi on Wednesday, the same day that the American navy torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship, which was reportedly unarmed, off Sri Lanka. The warship, IRIS Dena, was sailing back from a multilateral naval exercise hosted by India when it was attacked. The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors but 87 perished. Donald Trump declared that the destruction of the Iranian navy a key war goal after US and Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Iran last week, kicking off an escalating regional conflict. IRIS Lavan was allowed to dock after an urgent request from Tehran, Indian government officials said. We approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were and I think we did the right thing, foreign minister S Jaishankar said in New Delhi on Saturday. Mr Jaishankar said Tehran made an urgent appeal to New Delhi on 28 February saying that one of their ships sailing near Indian waters was experiencing problems and requested to enter an Indian port. On 1 March, we said you can come in and it took them a few days to sail in and then they docked in Kochi," the minister said, adding that there were several young cadets aboard the vessel. A screengrab from a video released by the US navy shows Iranian military ship IRIS Dena being struck by a torpedo (US Department of Defense) The request from Iran was urgent as the vessel had developed technical issues, he said. Mr Jaishankar noted that the situation was quite different when the vessel had set out. They were coming in for a fleet review and then they got in a way caught on the wrong side of events, he said, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Mr Jaishankar also noted that foreign military presence in the Indian Ocean region was not new. Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean, the foreign minister said. Diego Garcia has been in the Indian Ocean for the last five decades. The fact that there are foreign forces based in Djibouti happened in the early first decade of this century. Hambantota came up during this period. New Delhi has faced criticism for not coming to the aid of the Iranian ship sunk by the American navy even though it had been a guest of Indias navy. The surprise apology came from Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian (centre) (via REUTERS) Iran has apologised to its neighbours after launching attacks across the Gulf just hours after Donald Trump warned Tehran to surrender or die. The surprise apology came from Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian following days of escalating strikes that have plunged the Middle East into chaos. In a televised address broadcast on Iranian state TV, the president admitted Iran had hit nearby countries and attempted to calm fears of further attacks. He said: I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked. Pezeshkian suggested the strikes may have been the result of confusion inside Irans military ranks after the deaths of several senior officials, including the countrys supreme leader. He indicated the attacks could have been the result of miscommunication within Irans armed forces following the upheaval in the command structure. Despite the apology, he warned Iran would still defend itself if provoked. The president said: We do not intend to invade neighbouring countries, urging regional cooperation to establish peace and calm. He added that a new order had been issued to the military. From now on, do not attack neighbouring countries unless attacked first. But Pezeshkian simultaneously hit out at Washington, rejecting Donald Trumps demands that Iran capitulate. Writing on Truth Social, the US president declared: There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! He vowed America would continue its military campaign against the Iranian regime, adding the US would work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. Responding to the demand, Pezeshkian dismissed the idea outright. He said the call for capitulation is a dream that they should to take to their grave. The Iranian leader also warned neighbouring countries against siding with Western powers. Those considering exploiting this moment to attack Iran must not become puppets of imperialism, he said. Supporting Israel or the United States, he added, is not a path to honour and freedom. Despite the conciliatory tone of the apology, tensions across the region remain extremely high. Iran has continued launching missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf states in recent days. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have all reported incoming strikes. Explosions were heard near Dubai International Airport following what appeared to be the interception of a missile. Saudi officials also confirmed they had shot down four drones that were heading towards the giant Shaybah oil field. The attacks come as Iran struggles to respond to a sustained American bombing campaign. According to US Central Command, American forces have struck more than 3,000 targets inside Iran in just seven days as part of Operation Epic Fury. The air campaign has targeted missile launch systems, military facilities and naval assets. US officials say the strikes have damaged or destroyed 43 Iranian vessels. Israel has also stepped up its own operations against Iranian military infrastructure. Overnight, more than 80 Israeli fighter jets carried out fresh strikes on sites in Tehran and central Iran. Large explosions were reported at Mehrabad International Airport one of the capitals main aviation hubs with images showing flames and thick black smoke rising over the city. The conflict erupted after a joint US-Israeli offensive targeting Iranian military infrastructure and leadership triggered retaliatory strikes across the region. In the days since, the confrontation has spiralled into one of the most dangerous crises in the Middle East in years, raising fears of a broader regional war involving multiple countries across the Gulf. Israel says it has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, sending 80 fighter jets in a pre-dawn blitz that set one of Tehrans main airports on fire. Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images) The president of Iran has rejected Donald Trumps call for the countrys unconditional surrender as a dream, while issuing a rare apology for Iranian attacks that hit neighbouring states, even as missiles and drones continued to strike Gulf countries. In a prerecorded address broadcast on state television on Saturday, Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the country would never capitulate, responding to remarks by the US president, who said on Friday that only Irans total submission could bring the war to an end. Irans enemies, Pezeshkian said, must take their dream of the Iranian peoples unconditional surrender to their graves, in remarks that further escalate the eighth day of conflict, which has choked global oil supplies and cut world air travel. Related: Trumps ever-changing rationale for war on Iran how the story has shifted During his speech, Pezeshkian also issued an apology to neighbouring states for Irans recent actions, in an apparent attempt to ease regional anger after Iranian strikes hit civilian targets in Gulf Arab countries. Tehran has responded to attacks on its territory by targeting Israel, but also Gulf Arab states that host US military installations, while Israel has also launched intense strikes on Lebanon, where the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah is based. Over the past week, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have all reported drone and missile attacks. Pezeshkian said Irans temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries unless an assault on Iran originated from those states. I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Irans actions, he said. It remains unclear whether Pezeshkians remarks signal a broader decision by Tehran to scale back its campaign, or what prompted the apparent shift, with reports suggesting some strikes were still being directed at Gulf states on Saturday morning. On Saturday, video published on social media and obtained by the BBC shows an apparent drone strike on the property of Dubai international airport. The UAE said it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones on Saturday. Pezeshkians remarks were swiftly followed by a warning from Trump, who said Tehran faced the prospect of complete destruction if it did not capitulate, adding that Irans apology to neighbouring states was the result of mounting US military pressure. On his Truth Social platform, Trump replied that if Iran did not surrender, it will be hit very hard! adding that the country was under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death. Trump also said that Iran had apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. Israeli and US officials said strikes had destroyed about 60% of Irans missile launchers and large stockpiles, while roughly 80% of its air defence systems had been neutralised, allowing Israel to claim aerial superiority over Iran. Western officials were trying to decipher President Pezeshkians apology and the authority behind it, but urged caution in reading it as a sign Tehran was seeking an off-ramp. We do not know what is driving the Iranian presidents remarks, one official said. It is one data point, no more. Officials say Irans capabilities appear degraded and recent attacks have declined, citing US Centcom briefings. Tehrans regional offer seems conditional, but it remains unclear whether attacks hinge on the use of US bases or their mere presence. Later, Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for communications in Pezeshkians office, said the presidents message was clear. If countries in the region do not cooperate in a US attack on Iran, we will not attack them, he said, adding that Iran would not submit to coercion and that its armed forces would respond decisively to any aggression launched from US bases in the region. Pezeshkian later wrote on X that Iran had not attacked neighbours but targeted US bases in the region, adding that Tehrans commitment to regional ties did not negate its right to self-defence. Pezeshkians speech came as Israel said it had launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, sending 80 fighter jets in a pre-dawn blitz that set one of Tehrans main airports on fire. Israeli officials said the targets included a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage facility. Photos showed flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from Mehrabad international airport, one of the two airports serving the Iranian capital, Tehran. Iran also retaliated on Saturday. Air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem, while explosions were reported in Gulf cities including Dubai and Manama. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at an airbase hosting US personnel near its capital, Riyadh. Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said they struck a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the strait of Hormuz, the strategic shipping chokepoint that Tehran has effectively closed. Now entering its second week, the war was triggered by joint airstrikes by Israel and the US that killed Irans supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Hardline clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader withing 24 hours to help guide Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leaders son, wields significant influence and ties to the IRGC, but dynastic succession is frowned upon in revolutionary Iran. The conflict has rapidly widened, spilling into Lebanon and reaching as far as the eastern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Irans health ministry said at least 926 civilians had been killed and about 6,000 injured. Israel has also intensified airstrikes in Lebanon, repeatedly targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut. Lebanons health ministry said at least 339 people had been killed. The Norwegian Refugee Council said about 300,000 people had fled their homes. Meanwhile, as Israel fights war on multiple fronts, violence continues to surge in the occupied West Bank, where a 27-year-old Palestinian was shot dead near Masafer Yatta after settlers reportedly opened fire. Irans president issued the apology in an apparent attempt to ease regional anger over drone and missile strikes The Iranian presidents apology on Saturday for attacking his Gulf neighbours might well have been sincere. It could also have been a desperate attempt to dissuade them from joining this war. Or it could have been Masoud Pezeshkians way of telling Donald Trump, the US president, that he was ready to work with America, and that he could be the one to lead Iran through change. From Riyadh to Abu Dhabi, Gulf leaders are apoplectic with the Iranian regime for launching thousands of missiles and drones at their cities since the war began last week. The Iranian pretext for doing so was that the Western-allied Gulf states hosted US bases, which, even if they did not directly attack Iran, might provide indirect support for air strikes on regime targets. But in a hastily recorded and grainy video address on Saturday, Mr Pezeshkian appeared to repudiate the attacks, even as reports of Iranian missiles flowed in from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries, Mr Pezeshkian declared, referring to a tripartite council formed after the assassination of Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader. I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked, he added. In other words, we will not attack you if you and the Americans on your territory do not attack us. The conciliatory speech by Mr Pezeshkian, the former heart surgeon who became president in 2024, is likely to be an attempt to placate Gulf leaders as they weigh up the benefits of joining Mr Trumps war. Smoke rises above the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai after an air attack by Iran - Stephen Huntley During the past week, Gulf residents in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, to name a handful, have endured a near-constant stream of air raid alerts, overhead explosions and orders to retreat to shelters. Before this conflict, many Gulf states had pursued a policy of detente with Iran, based on the theory that the Islamic regime was going nowhere. That view may now be under reassessment, to put it mildly, in the Gulf capitals. Another factor they may be bearing in mind is the effect Iranian air attacks are having on the stability of their own governments. There are no signs yet of serious public discontent in the Gulf states, but the risk will be carefully considered by their autocratic leaders. It will become clear over the next few days whether Mr Pezeshkians offer to Gulf neighbours is viable. However, one furious statement from an Iranian MP suggested it had not gone down well in Tehran. Hamid Rasaee, an Iranian member of parliament, called the address weak, unprofessional, and unacceptable. If Iranian missile and drone strikes continued through the rest of the weekend, in defiance of Mr Pezeshkians speech, it would be a clear sign that the 71-year-old did not have the ear of top Iranian military commanders. There are fears that he remains president in name only, and that it is, in fact, Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who are running the country and its war efforts. The IRGC may be acting on its own initiative when selecting targets from the stockpiles of ballistic missiles under its own control. A successor to Khamenei has not yet been named and Mr Trump says he must have a say in the decision. But what if this unexpected apology from the Iranian president does lead to a Gulf detente, with Iranian missiles and drones redirected towards Israel? The most obvious outcome would be a serious escalation in Israeli retaliatory air strikes on the regime and its proxy forces, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Mr Pezeshkians apology might also send a useful signal to Mr Trump: here is an Iranian leader who does seem to have some control over the chaos, who might be a good partner in any future peace talks. That is assuming, of course, that Mr Pezeshkian lives long enough to become a mediator. His fate in that regard lies in the hands of both Israel and the US. Considering that Ebrahim Raisi, his predecessor, was killed in a suspicious helicopter crash in 2024, he will be well aware that his job has one of the shortest lifespans in the Middle East. Collaboration may be his only option for survival. I thought my facial mole was harmless until my doctor warned it could be skin cancer When youre waiting to learn whether or not you have cancer, its fairly easy to assume the worst. Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer - and theres no escaping the many factors that leave us at an increased risk of developing the chronic disease. The risk is in the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe and the rays of sun that kiss our face in the mornings. More than two million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with skin cancer - the most common type of cancer - and over 626,000 are projected to die from it this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. All of these statistics add up to a fairly good chance of developing skin cancer, along with my history of running outside, my love of going to the beach, my glasses of wine with dinner and my consumption of Cheetos, which are laced with brightly-colored food dyes. But what was swirling around in my head as I waited for the results of my biopsy last December wasnt what I did wrong, it was what I had yet to do, what I would have to face and, above all, how to tell my parents over the Christmas holiday. The Independent's Julia Musto poses for a photo on Thanksgiving Day 2025, the first day she noticed the lowermost mole on her left cheek had changed (Julia Musto/The Independent) The team at NYU Langone Healths Perlmutter Cancer Center was concerned enough about the mole on my left cheek to scoop it out of my face. If they said that the sample showed what I feared was the beginning signs of melanoma - the deadliest form of skin cancer, affecting an estimated 112,000 this year - my life would likely have to change very quickly. Id felt more tired than usual, but that could be due to a host of issues. Although this wasnt my first scare. Id had cells that were weird in my cervix in previous years. I started making small lifestyle changes after first noticing that the mole had changed, growing and darkening in color and beginning to itch, scab and hurt. Even though it was around Thanksgiving, I stopped drinking alcohol, was eating more whole foods, drinking more water and getting more sleep. Obviously, that wouldnt reverse the suspected cancer; only treatment or surgery could eradicate it, if we had caught it early enough. But maybe it would help keep the rest of my body as healthy as possible while I fought the effects of melanoma. The Independent's Julia Musto takes a selfie in her hospital gown before the biopsy (Julia Musto/The Independent) I got the call on the way out the door of my office about a week after the biopsy. The cells from the mole were not quite melanoma, but had features that could lead to it. My doctor said not to worry, and to monitor the area. We would check back in a year, unless the area started to change again. It was a relief - but not quite as relieving as if the whole thing had just been a mistake - even with the hole in my face. I got lucky. Yet, an estimated 46,600 women will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2026. Some 8,510 people are anticipated to die of the disease, the American Cancer Society says. While rates have declined by one percent a year in men younger than 50, the rates have been stable among women. This is because the female hormone estrogen triggers the production of melanin-making cells, women use tanning salons more than men and women also get screened more than men. Beyond just being a woman, having red hair and fairer skin is also a major risk factor. Although all types of skin are at risk from dangerous UV radiation, the Skin Cancer Foundation said in a link shared with The Independent. Musto's mole (bottom center) is seen before the changes (Julia Musto/The Independent) Musto's mole (bottom center) is seen after the changes (Julia Musto/The Independent) Legendary Jamaican musician Bob Marley died from melanoma in 1981 at age 36. Working outside, getting a sunburn, having a family history of melanoma or having an organ transplant also put people at a greater risk. Organ transplant patients are at up to a 100 times higher risk for developing skin cancer compared to others because they are on medications that suppress the immune system, UCSF Health notes. And though both tanning beds and the sun are sources of harmful ultraviolet radiation that can damage skin cell DNA and cause cancer - tanning beds are much worse. They emit around 12 times more radiation than the sun, raising the risk of developing malignant melanoma by 75 percent, according to UnityPoint Health. Still, it only takes 15 minutes to damage skin, Hartford Heathcare says, and the risk increases as we age. The average age of people diagnosed with melanoma is 66, the society notes, and the foundation says that 20 percent of Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. It only takes 15 minutes for people develop skin damage from the suns harsh ultraviolet rays (AFP via Getty Images) I dont have a family history of melanoma and Ive never had an organ transplant, but Ive definitely had one of those painful, lobster-red sunburns and I train for races along New York Citys Hudson River during the summer. Water reflects UV rays like a mirror, meaning that youre being exposed from above and below. When skin cancer is detected early, 99 percent of patients are alive for five years following diagnosis, the foundation says. So people should examine their skin once a month, looking for any mole or growth that has increased in size and appears tan, brown, black, multicolored or pearly. An open sore that does not heal within three weeks can be a sign of skin cancer, as well as a spot that continues to itch, crust, scab, hurt or bleed. Some signs of cancer could also be lurking under nail polish or hair - as well as in areas that dont see any sun - so people at a higher risk for skin cancer should also see a doctor. We encourage everyone to make skin self-exams a regular habit including checking your skin regularly and talking with your doctor about any persistent changes, Dr. Laura Makaroff, Senior Vice President of Prevention and Early Detection at the American Cancer Society, said in a statement shared with The Independent. Catching changes early can make all the difference. Kristi Noem appears with Trump in new Shield of the Americas role - days after he fired her from DHS Days after Donald Trump publicly humiliated Kristi Noem by firing her as Homeland Security secretary, she appeared alongside the president at a summit in Miami, Florida, where she repeatedly praised his leadership. The event at Trumps National Doral Golf Club was dubbed the Shield of the Americas summit and saw the president encourage gathered leaders from Latin American nations to take military action against drug trafficking cartels and transnational gangs that he says pose an unacceptable threat to the hemispheres national security. Noem was in attendance in her new role as special envoy to the initiative. She was fired Thursday from the top job at DHS, making her the first Cabinet official to be outside in Trumps second term. Also present at the Miami event was Corey Lewandowski, Noems adviser at the department, who has also left his role. The pair have been dogged by allegations of an inappropriate relationship. At a congressional hearing earlier this week, Noem refused to answer directly when she was asked about the alleged affair by a lawmaker. Lewandowski posted a picture of Trump and other world leaders to his X account. In her first remarks in her newly-formed role, Noem repeatedly expressed her gratitude and admiration for Trump. Ex-DHS chief Kristi Noem appeared alongside President Donald Trump in her new role as special envoy to Shield of the Americas - two days after he publicly humiliated the former governor by firing her as Homeland Security secretary (AFP via Getty Images) In her first remarks in her newly-formed role, Noem repeatedly expressed her gratitude and admiration for Trump. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) First of all, I offer thanks to our president who had the vision to bring all of you as world leaders here, Noem said. She also thanked Trump for giving me the honor and the opportunity to serve as a special envoy to this region. This is intended to be a group that works together to make sure that were each defending our own sovereignty, were each defending our own security and economic prosperity, she continued. This Shield of [the] Americas will be a powerful example to the rest of the world about whats possible. Noem went on to list her accomplishments at DHS from securing the southern border to deporting or removing more than three million people migrants from the U.S. adding that she now hopes to use that experience to help other nations strengthen their own borders. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seated alongside Noem, also addressed the audience, stating that the former South Dakota governor would be deeply involved in the Shield of the Americas. You will see a lot of her, Rubio said. She'll be very involved with each of you at a personal level. Corey Lewandowski, pictured at an event in 2024, was also present in Miami Saturday. He and Noem have been dogged by allegations of an inappropriate relationship. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Earlier in the day, Trump delivered a speech to the leaders, and issued a fresh warning to Cuba. The president said he is looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba, adding that the Caribbean nation is in its last moments of life. Trump also signed a proclamation affirming his commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations and cartels that operate in the Western Hemisphere at the event. Seventeen nations endorsed the effort through a joint security declaration signed on Thursday. Noems appointment as special envoy follows a turbulent 13-month tenure at DHS marked by a string of controversies. She drew pushback over her handling of Trumps immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which led to the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whom she described as domestic terrorists. She has refused to walk back or apologize for the comments. President Donald Trump with fellow leaders in a group photograph at the start of the "Shield of the Americas" Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida (AFP via Getty Images) Noem also raised eyebrows with her purchase of multiple luxury jets, a $220 million ad campaign, gutting FEMA, and her rumored affair with Lewandowski. The final nail in the coffin appears to have been Noems congressional testimony this past week, during which Democrats and Republicans alike voiced sharp criticism of her management and judgment. At one point, Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, embarked on a lengthy tirade against Noem, comparing her missteps to her shocking anecdote about killing her own puppy. One day after her second hearing, Trump fired off a 233-word Truth Social post, stating that Noem was out at DHS and that he was nominating Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Earlier this week, Noem testified on Capitol Hill, during which he was repeatedly grilled by both Democrats and Republicans over her apparent leadership failures (REUTERS) In one controversial DHS ad, Noem was pictured on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore. Break our laws, well punish you, she says (DHS/Tia Dufour) An administration official told NBC News that the president axed Noem due to a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures, including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff, and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE. Kristis drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administrations extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force, the official added. Before she was fired, Noem vigorously defended her performance while fielding questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, maintaining she was faithfully executing Trumps agenda and operating by the book. When asked by a Democratic representative whether she was having an affair with Lewandowski, she responded: I am shocked we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage today at this committee. She also insisted that the controversial $220 million DHS ad campaign had been launched with the presidents approval a claim Trump has denied. In a recently resurfaced interview from February 2025, Noem provides further details on the costly ad blitz, which featured her riding on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore, claiming it was Trumps idea. Noem said the president told her: I want you to do those [ads] for the border. I want you to do those everywhere, not just in the United States, but I want them around the world. And I said well sir, do you want to be in those ads? Noem said. He said nope, nope. I want you to do them. Since her departure from DHS, Noem has not publicly pushed back against the administration. But, an unnamed official told The Daily Caller that she felt thrown under the bus. With reporting from the Associated Press Badenoch said in her address that Starmer had equivocated when US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran last weekend. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA (Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA) Labour has accused Kemi Badenoch of scoring cheap political points after the Conservative party leader said Keir Starmer was too scared to join strikes on Iran. Al Carns, the defence minister, said serious politics was required in response to Badenochs speech at the partys spring conference where she criticised the prime ministers stance on the US-Israel strikes on Iran a week ago. Initially, Starmer did not allow the US to use UK RAF bases for the attack, and did not take part in initial military action against Iran, but then said the RAF would take part in defensive operations. A strike by an Iranian drone hit an aircraft hangar at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Related: US bomber lands in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran Badenoch told the Conservatives spring conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire: At a time when Britain needs strong and decisive leadership, we have a prime minister who is too afraid of making the wrong decision, too afraid to make any decision at all. Last weeks byelection has spooked the Labour party. They watched the Greens campaigning on sectarian voting lines. A tactic Labour used for many years is now being turned against them. And now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate. In response, Carns, a former Royal Marine, said: Trying to score cheap political points off the back of a serious security situation is deeply irresponsible. This situation is above politics and requires calm collective decision making not hyperbole and soundbites. British troops are doing an amazing job and no one should be questioning their commitment or competency. Serious times require serious politics, not political point-scoring on the back of our armed forces, civil service or [Ministry of Defence] personnel who are doing an amazing job. Badenoch said Starmer had equivocated when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on the Iran last weekend. The attacks killed Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as other senior figures. In response, Iran attacked Israel and US allies in the Middle East, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, leading to an evacuation of British nationals. The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has since apologised to its Gulf neighbours and said it will no longer attack them unless strikes on Iran are launched from their countries. Badenoch denied she was calling for the UK to join the war uncritically, but hit out at apparent inaction from Starmer. She said: Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq war. Nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on. Canada and Australia have the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. And even now, our prime minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. Badenoch, whose party finished fourth in the Gorton and Denton byelection and finds itself behind the Labour party and Reform UK in national polling, also said her party would rewrite the Mental Health Act so people who are considered a risk to the public are detained. She referenced the case of Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in Nottingham in June 2023. We are going to detain people who pose a risk to the public, keeping them safe, keeping the public safe. We cannot have dangerous men running around our towns and cities stabbing people. The Tory leader also said she would clamp down on antisocial behaviour, including the introduction of a new immediate justice community sentences for low-level offences. It would force criminals to undo damage at the scene rather than go through the courts. Badenoch named graffiti as one area that could fall into it. Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert criticized fellow Republicans Friday, including Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, after the House voted to block a proposal that would have made records from congressional sexual misconduct and harassment investigations public. The House overwhelmingly moved to block the resolution introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-SC. Lawmakers voted 357-65 to refer the measure to the House Ethics Committee. The resolution would have required the release of ethics reports on sexual misconduct or harassment allegations involving members of Congress and their aides, while keeping victims identities confidential. Rep. Lauren Boebert slammed her colleagues for voting to block a proposal that would have made congressional sexual misconduct and harassment records public, calling the decision 'absolutely disgusting' (Getty Images) Speaking on Newsmax, Boebert accused lawmakers who opposed the measure of shielding colleagues from scrutiny. During the interview with host Rob Finnerty, she condemned the vote in blunt terms. This is absolutely disgusting for anyone to vote against this, Boebert said. Boebert also singled out fellow Republican Gonzales, who opposed the measure, framing the vote as part of a broader effort to avoid public scrutiny over misconduct allegations within Congress. I called for Tony Gonzalez to resign a couple of weeks ago, and I have put pressure on our leadership to call on him to suspend his campaign at the very least, which he did today," she said. Despite her outrage, Boebert stressed that her anger is not about a specific case of misconduct. "I do not personally know anyone that needs to be exposed who has been in inappropriate relations with their staff. But in all of this, it needs to come out." She described the House vote as one of the most disturbing actions she has seen from her colleagues. "This is one of the grossest things that I have learned of," Boebert said. "And I think it was one of the most cowardice votes I've seen from my colleagues." Boebert also rejected arguments that releasing ethics reports would harm victims, noting that the proposal included safeguards to keep their identities confidential. Of course, this protected victims, she said. This is one way that they were looking to cover up these sexual assaults that took place, the sexual misconduct by members of Congress. The House vote drew attention because many of the same lawmakers previously supported legislation calling for the release of records connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Critics of the decision argue the contrast shows lawmakers willingness to demand transparency in outside cases while resisting disclosure involving sitting members of Congress. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference in February, a month before he dropped out of the election (The San Antonio Express-News) Rep. Tim Burchett, who also supported the bill, also spoke on Newsmax, claiming that the strong opposition shows lawmakers are protecting each other. He accused party leaders of telling members not to vote for the measure and said the fight isnt about law, but about transparency. Burchett pointed out that many lawmakers who opposed the bill had supported the Epstein Files Transparency Act. "They're pointing the fingers on Epstein, yet they're not looking in the mirror at themselves," he said, criticizing the inconsistency in Congresss approach to transparency. He added that the public deserves to know how taxpayer money is being used to settle harassment claims in Congress. "There's a slush fund. And there's been over $17 million that has been spent on that of your money of the taxpayers' money to pay off people that have been involved in harassment in their office, sexual harassment and other things," he said, underscoring the financial and ethical stakes involved, Burchett said. At least 6 dead as large and extremely dangerous tornado tears through Michigan and storms rattle Central US At least six people have been killed after tornadoes tore through Michigan and Oklahoma and as storms continue to rattle the Central United States. The National Weather Service office in Northern Indiana warned of a large and extremely dangerous tornado that struck parts of southwestern Michigan Friday, USA TODAY reported. The Branch County Sheriffs Office said three people were killed and 12 more were injured, including three who were taken to the hospital, when the tornado hit the Union Lake area. A video posted to Facebook by a Michigan resident showed what appears to be a massive tornado ripping through homes off Union Lake. At least six people have been killed after a deadly tornado tore through Michigan and as storms continue to rattle the Central U.S. (MLive) Oh my god, the local said. It is lifting houses holy s***. Cass County officials reported one death and several injuries from the storm. Cass County Emergency Manager Manny DeLaRosa said homes and barns were majorly damaged or destroyed. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in an X post Friday night that she was activating the states emergency operations center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan. Michigan Governor Grechen Whitmer said Friday night that she was activating the states emergency operations center (MLive) Three people were killed in Branch County and another in Cass County as a tornado struck parts of southwestern Michigan Friday (MLive) Michigan State Police said significant wind damage, possible tornadoes, and injuries were reported in Branch, Cass and Saint Joseph counties. Thursday night, a mother and her teenage daughter were found dead in their car in Major County, Oklahoma, after it was hit by a tornado, according to reports. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt shared his condolences, writing on Facebook, I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt shared his condolences after a mother and daughter died when a tornado hit their car in Oklahoma Thursday night (Getty) Severe weather was reported in parts of the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley over the past 48 hours or so, The Weather Channel reported. Tornado watches remained in effect in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. Extreme thunderstorms are expected to reach from southern Texas to western Tennessee and northwestern Alabama on Saturday, according to AccuWeather. AccuWeather warns that severe weather could continue across parts of the Central U.S. through next week. A Pakistani business owner who attempted to hire hitmen to kill a US politician was convicted on Friday in a trial highlighting alleged Iran-backed plotting on American soil. Luke Littler saw off Gary Anderson 10-5 to continue his UK Open title defence and move into the quarter-finals in Minehead. The two-time world champion had survived a scare to see off Kevin Doets in the fifth round during Saturdays afternoon session, but raced into a 4-1 lead in his evening match. Anderson who beat Martin Schindler to make the sixth-round draw threatened a rally when he pinched the seventh leg against the darts, but Littler soon hit back to lead 7-3 at the next interval. LITTLER DISPATCHES ANDERSON Luke Littler puts in his best performance of the tournament so far, averaging over 102 to see off Gary Anderson 10-5 and secure his spot on Finals Day! Live Scores & Streaming https://t.co/gFQK4rQ2wU#UKOpenDarts | R6 pic.twitter.com/va1WnDq3XA PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 7, 2026 Littler maintained his momentum following the restart with more heavy scoring to take the match away from Anderson who was eventually dispatched when the world number one pinned tops in the 16th leg, finishing with a 101 average. Former UK Open champion Danny Noppert produced a composed display to see off world number two Luke Humphries 10-6 in the nights last match on the main stage. World number four Michael van Gerwen was dumped out by fellow three-time champion James Wade. Wade averaged over 105 as he raced to a 10-3 victory to reach finals day. WADE DEMOLISHES MVG What a display from James Wade The Machine averages almost 106 and hits 59% of his doubles to roll over Michael van Gerwen with a 10-3 win to reach Finals Day in style Live Scores & Streaming https://t.co/gFQK4rQ2wU#UKOpenDarts | R6 pic.twitter.com/yJrtzeZW1b PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 7, 2026 Gerwyn Price joined him there as the two-time runner-up fought back from 9-4 down to beat Irelands Keane Barry 10-9. In the opening match of Saturdays evening session on the main stage, Josh Rock saw off Stephen Bunting 10-7, edging a tight contest with a match average of just over 93. On stage two, Premier League leader Jonny Clayton beat Martin Lukeman 10-7, having hit eight maximums, before Rob Cross beat Daryl Gurney 10-6. World championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle is also out after he slipped to a 10-5 defeat against Krzysztof Ratajski. QUARTER-FINALS ARE SET! Your quarter-finals and order of play for Sunday afternoon is decided! Some tasty, tasty ties here Who wins the @Ladbrokes UK Open tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/iJqEc6HPlO PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 7, 2026 In the quarter-final draw, Littler was paired with Dutchman Noppert. There will be an all-Welsh match between good friends Clayton and Price. Wade will take on Cross and Poland number one Ratajski faces Northern Irishman Rock, with the tournament played through to a finish on Sunday evening. Former first lady Michelle Obama did not appear to attend the Chicago memorial service for civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday, despite the Obamas longstanding ties with the late activist. The ceremony, which took place in a church on the South Side of the Obamas hometown of Chicago, featured numerous dignitaries, including former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton; former Vice President Kamala Harris; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was also present. President Donald Trump is unable to attend Jacksons funeral due to scheduling and ongoing events, and has recorded a video message in tribute, a White House official told The Independent. The Independent has contacted the office of Barack and Michelle Obama for comment. Former first lady Michelle Obama did not appear to attend Fridays memorial service for Rev. Jesse Jackson, even as Barack Obama and other dignitaries including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris did (AP) In a statement after Jacksons passing in February at age 84, which followed years of health struggles, the Obamas spoke of their admiration and personal relationship with the leader, who was a protege of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reverend Jackson also created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us, the statement reads. Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land. Though the Obamas occasionally had their differences with Jackson the activist was caught on a hot mic in 2008 criticizing Barack Obama for the way he addressed the Black community they have described him as a key influence. The message he sent to a 22-year-old child of a single mother with a funny name, an outsider, was that maybe there wasnt any place or any room where we didnt belong, Barack Obama said during Fridays service. He paved the road for so many others to follow." Later in 2008, when Obama won the presidential election, Jackson was famously seen with tears in his eyes as he watched the candidate make his acceptance speech in Chicago. Michelle Obama was also notably absent from the 2025 state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter (AP) The former first ladys apparent absence from the Jackson funeral is the latest in a string of high-profile ceremonies she has missed, including Trumps inauguration and former President Jimmy Carters funeral, both of which took place last year. These moments, coupled with less frequent public sightings of the Obamas together, fueled speculation they may be getting a divorce, though the former first lady has dismissed such claims. She has explained that in recent times she has made an intentional decision to be less in the public eye. One of the major decisions I made this year was to stay put and not attend funerals and inaugurations and all the things that Im supposed to attend, she told NPR last year. That was a part of me using my ambition to say, Let me define what I want to do, apart from what Im supposed to do, what the world expects of me. And I have to own that. Those are my choices. The fact that people dont see me going out on a date with my husband sparks rumors of the end of our marriage, she said elsewhere in the interview. Its like, OK, so we dont Instagram every minute of our lives. We are 60. Were 60, yall. You just are not gonna know what were doing every minute of the day. A statue of the mystic Baba Vanga in Rupite, Bulgaria. Vanga is heralded as having predicted 9/11, the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Photograph: Foxartbox/Shutterstock (Photograph: Foxartbox/Shutterstock) In some corners of the internet, the Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga has taken on mythical proportions. Social media and tabloids across the globe credit her with predicting the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Last week, some headlines went further, asking: Did she foresee the Israel-Iran war, US interference, missiles and airspace shutdowns? An earlier article mused on her predictions for 2026, which purportedly included the start of world war three and humanitys first contact with aliens. Such claims garner clicks, but a chorus of voices from Bulgaria and beyond has warned many of the prophecies attributed to Vanga were probably never said by her. Instead, they say, the so-called Nostradamus of the Balkans has become a potent avatar, used for everything from sensationalised clickbait to the pushing of pro-Russian narratives. Its absurd, said Ivan Dramov of the Bulgaria-based Baba Vanga Foundation as he listed off false claims amplified on TikTok, YouTube and publications that range from UK tabloids to Albanian state-run media of Vangas visions of nuclear catastrophe or world wars. Absolute lies have been told about this holy woman, said Dramov, whose organisation was launched by Vangas followers and was chaired by Vanga herself in the years before her death. Vanga dealt mainly with peoples health problems, not with upcoming cataclysms in the world. Known around the world as Baba Vanga, Vangeliya Pandeva Gushterova was born in 1911 in what was at the time the Ottoman Empire. As a teenager, she was said to have been thrown into a field by a tornado, leading to the gradual loss of her eyesight. She found herself in the local limelight during the second world war as people began visiting her to find out whether their loved ones would return from the front, said Dramov. By the 1960s, she was a regional phenomenon, attracting crowds to Petrich, the south-western Bulgarian town where she lived with her husband. As her reputation spread beyond national borders, visitors began arriving from countries such as Russia, Romania and Greece. Vangas pronouncements were often tightly focused on the lives of those who came to see her, as well as their relatives, said Dramov. She told people which doctor to go to, what actions to take, but nothing more. Her star soon began to rise internationally, as TV series, books and talkshows delved into her life and prophecies. Among those who eagerly embraced Vanga were Russians, with the Bulgarian becoming one of the most noteworthy mediums of truth in 20th- and 21st-century Russian imagination, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin noted in 2024. Much later on, with the advent of social media, mentions of Vanga multiplied. Her imprint on Russian culture was such that she inspired a verb, vangovat, meaning to predict, as well as an expression that roughly translates as: How should I know, do I look like Baba Vanga to you? Today, her name and supposed prophecies are commonly referenced in Russia, at times to bolster Kremlin-aligned political narratives. The result is a combination with a far-reaching impact: a 2024 report on disinformation by the media organisation BIRN Albania, which surveyed 36 Albanian publications over a year, found at least a dozen articles, most of them citing Russian media, in which Vangas predictions were often used by conspiracy and disinformation media to reinforce certain narratives against Nato and the EU. Russians eager embrace of Vanga belies the fact that the Bulgarian is unlikely to have said much at all at least explicitly about Russia, said Viktoria Vitanova-Kerber, a PhD student and research assistant at the Chair for Global Christianity and Interreligious Theology at the University of Fribourg. Instead, many of the predictions attributed to Vanga, from the fall of the Soviet Union to visions of a glorious future for Russia, can be traced back to the Russian writer Valentin Sidorov, who claimed to have met Vanga in the 1970s. There are, however, no recordings of these meetings, which allowed Sidorov a free interpretation, or possibly even construction of what Vanga has or has not said about Russia, said Vitanova-Kerber. Some of his writings from the early 1990s suggest that Vanga had predicted the future primacy of Russia over the US a narrative well-received in todays Russia as well. Sidorovs writings gave rise to a new generation of prominent so-called Vanga experts in Russia, many of whom have gained prominence in the past 10 years, even as they have invented facts or distorted the scarce historical resources to fit their own political views or interests, said Vitanova-Kerber. These pundits exaggerated, complemented, and reinterpreted the information, once again, until it suited the dominant narratives of todays Russian identity politics: national grandeur, anti-westernism and conservation of the traditional values of the eastern-Orthodox Christianity, as opposed to the rotten liberal values of the west, she said. The result was a discourse on Vanga among the many that circulate in Russia today that stands out for its conspiratorial, anti-western slant and seeks to justify events such as Russias invasion of Ukraine. This vagueness of the historical facts, paired with the spiritual authority Vanga still has in Russia and not only there makes her a convenient instrument of political propaganda, Vitanova-Kerber said. The view was echoed by the researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, who noted that Vangas power and appeal were not limited to her role as a medium for the dead or her purported ability to see the future. Instead it lies in the fact that she is a flexible medium, whose name and voice can be deployed for various purposes, they said. The seemingly unabated stream of prophecies attributed to Vanga is surprising, given that no one recorded Vanga while she was alive and the mystic did not leave any written records, said Zheni Kostadinova, a Bulgarian author whose books about Vanga have been translated into several languages. Everyone puts words in her mouth that she never said, said Kostadinova. But because her authority as a prophetess is like that of Nostradamus, there are hundreds of people tempted to speak on her behalf. In one book, Kostadinova described Vangas prophecies as somewhere between truth and myth, noting they had usually been retold and interpreted to a certain degree. Still, many seemed keen to spread false, sensational claims about what Vanga had said during her life, said Kostadinova. If you ask me, who has not taken advantage of Vangas name for their own purposes? Every propaganda uses it to broadcast their own suggestions, those that are pleasing to them, in order to reach the masses. It was, in some ways, a hint of the future that Vanga had foreseen, said Dramov of the Vanga Foundation. In 1989, as Bulgarias communist regime crumbled, Vanga watched as her image and name began to be used to sell everything from clothing to handkerchiefs. While Vanga had never mentioned the possibility that disinformation and propaganda could be added to the list in general, she stated that her name would be misused, said Dramov. She said many times that people will use her name during her life and after her death. Neil Harris says his Cambridge players might think he is a moaning old git but he will continue doing it until his side are promoted after their 1-1 draw at Accrington. United had all the pressure in the Sky Bet League Two contest but trailed to a 25th minute Stanley goal. Isaac Heaths ball was headed on by Shaun Whalley to defender Farrend Rawson in the six-yard box and he fired home. Harris made four attacking changes in the second half but it looked like it may not be their day when one of them, Sullay Kaikai, hit the post in the 78th minute. However, Louis Appere headed home the leveller from Korey Smiths cross three minutes later, although the visitors did drop to third in the table. Harris said: I thought we were brilliant in our build-up play, the amount of chances we created, our touches in the box and the areas we got into but we werent clinical enough. If we win that game four or five, no one bats an eyelid. Unlike us, we gave a disappointing goal away but Jake Eastwood has hardly touched the ball after that so we are disappointed the one moment they get, they score. Then it was all about us, we had chance after chance but our quality was lacking and I wont accept it. The players might think I am a moaning old git but me moaning has dragged us to here and if we want to get promoted we have to be better than we were today in the final third. A point is better than nothing and to come from behind is an important point, it keeps us in the top three which is a positive. We are in a great place but I want to get promoted. Stanley had lost their last three games but first and foremost John Doolan was worried about defender Connor OBrien, who fell awkwardly. There was a 12-minute delay and he was carried from the field on a stretcher. Doolan said: Connor is OK, he is talking and has gone to hospital as a precaution. Of his sides performance Doolan said: It was dogged and resilient, everyone stuck together. Cambridge are a really good side, they are the best team who have come here. Everyone dug in, we had to change things around but my players gave everything and I am proud of the lads, our defensive performance deserved at least a point. The lads put an unbelievable shift in against a very good side. Faz (Rawson) was immense at the back and it was a brilliant goal. We actually spoke about it yesterday and I said its about time you (Rawson) scored a goal from a set-play. I know it was a second phase but I am delighted for him. The makers of Pokemon expressed frustration with the White House on Friday after the Trump administration used Pokemon-style imagery in a recent X post touting the MAGA movement. We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand, a spokesperson for Pokemon Company International said in a statement to media outlets. We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property. Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda. The company previously took issue with the Trump administration borrowing its gotta catch em all! slogan in a September post about immigration enforcement. This weeks post, shared Thursday on the White House X account, featured President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again slogan over a backdrop featuring an animated town, all in the style of the companys recently released Pokemon Pokopia video game. The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Militarys incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Irans ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent when asked about the post, which does not reference Iran. Pokemon disavowed a recent White House post copying the style of its new video game, saying the Trump administrations actions didnt align with its mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda (Getty Images for ReedPop) The White House also pointed to the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaigns use of the enthusiasm around a different Pokemon video game to help recruit voters. The administration has come under fire for other pop-culture references in recent social media posts, which have interspersed footage from action movies and video games with clips from the Iran war. Actor and director Ben Stiller criticized the administration for featuring a clip of his war satire comedyTropic Thunder in one such clip. Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie, Stiller wrote on X. The White House has defended the posts. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung mockingly praised a recent CNN segment detailing a Grand Theft Auto-themed post about the war. Credit where credit is due, he wrote on X on Friday. Thank you to @CNN for covering all of our banger videos. As The Independent has reported, the Trump administration has leaned into using memes and other provocative imagery on its social media pages to recruit new hires and tout its deportation campaign. The images, which have mixed Hollywood-style footage of immigration raids with paeans to Americas pioneer history and Bible verses, amount to fascist propaganda, experts said. Police are investigating threats made against the Green Partys deputy leader following claims he attended a rally in support of the Iranian regime. Leeds councillor Mothin Ali has demanded an apology from Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke after it was claimed in parliament that he had supported a pro-Iranian government rally. He told the BBC he had received a number of death threats on social media as a result of the accusations. West Yorkshire Police said they have received reports of threatening messages received on social media and are now conducting enquiries into the matter. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Wetherby and Easingwold MP Sir Alec said he was appalled to see the deputy leader of the Green Party once again protesting in support of the ayatollah. Your statement today was a defamatory lie @AlecShelbrooke. I am proudly anti-war and anti-racist. I make no apologies for attending a Stop the War protest. That does not mean I support the Iranian regime. I dare you to repeat your lies outside of parliament. https://t.co/qThfcldx9J Mothin Ali (@MothinAli) March 2, 2026 To which Sir Keir replied: I think were all shocked by the actions of deputy leader of the Green Party, perhaps not surprised, given their recent turn of direction. Mr Ali called out the statement on social media afterwards, writing: Your statement today was a defamatory lie @AlecShelbrooke. I am proudly anti-war and anti-racist. I make no apologies for attending a Stop the War protest. That does not mean I support the Iranian regime. I dare you to repeat your lies outside of parliament. Mr Ali said the event, organised by reputable anti-war organisations, was to protest the illegal attacks by Israel on Iran and was not in support of the Iranian regime. He told the BBC he had been asked to come to an emergency rally hours after the US and Israel launched initial strikes on Iran last Saturday, sparking the ongoing war in the Middle East. Deputy Green Party leader Mothin Ali speaking during the party conference at Bournemouth International Centre (PA Wire) It was an anti-war demonstration, he said. It was organised by Stop the War Coalition, CND [the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament] and a bunch of other organisations. I dont know the names of exactly who, but there was a list. Stop the War is the umbrella for all of these anti-war demonstrations. So theyre very reputable. He added there were a handful of Iranian flags, but the majority of signs were masses of stop the war signs and masses of anti-Trump signs. But he said the next day, he saw hundreds and hundreds of messages really, really targeted, really quite hateful, quite vitriolic, the way they were framing it, they were taking it as to something that it wasnt. Green Party leader Zack Polanski also defended Mr Ali, and accused Sir Keir on social media of blatant Islamophobia and of smearing a caring man of principle standing up for peace. Green MP Ellie Chowns also challenged the claims in the Commons, saying Sir Alec had incorrectly attacked Mr Ali and that her colleague certainly did not protest in support of Irans leadership. Sir Alec and the Cabinet Office have been contacted for comment. President Trump and First Lady attend dignified transfer of six US service members killed in war with Iran President Donald Trump and the First Lady attended a solemn ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday, joining grieving families for the dignified transfer of six US soldiers killed in the Middle East. The dignified transfer, a poignant ritual marking the return of US service members killed in action, is considered one of the most sombre duties for any commander-in-chief. Mr Trump himself previously described witnessing such transfers as "the toughest thing I have to do" as president during his first term. It's a very sad day, Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was glad we paid our respects. He said the relatives of the deceased are great people, great parents, wives, family and said that the "parents were so proud. Speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his journey to Delaware, Mr Trump paid tribute to the fallen, stating they were heroes "coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home." He characterized the situation as "a very sad situation" and vowed to keep American war deaths "to a minimum." White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, US President Donald Trump, special envoy Steve Witkoff, First Lady Melania Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance attend a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware (AFP via Getty Images) Vice President JD Vance and his spouse were also present, alongside Mr Trump and his wife. A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote on social media on Friday of "an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied." Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, were also among those paying their respects. Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida. Those killed in action were Maj. Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. As is protocol, Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about a half hour. From left, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn., Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Fla., and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb (Sgt. Brent Newton/U.S. Army via AP) The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. They died just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle to take them to the mortuary facility at the base. There, the service members are prepared for their final resting place. Amors husband, Joey Amor, said earlier this week that she had been scheduled to return home to him and their two children within days. You dont go to Kuwait thinking somethings going to happen, and for her to be one of the first it hurts, Joey Amor said. Trump, speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his trip to Delaware, said the fallen service members were heroes 'coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home' (AP) OBrien had served in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years, according to his LinkedIn account, and his aunt said in a post on Facebook that OBrien was the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid youd ever know. He is so missed already. Marzans sister described him in a Facebook post as a strong leader and loving husband, father and brother. My baby brother, you are loved and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart, Elizabeth Marzan wrote. Coady was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, his father, Andrew Coady, told The Associated Press. He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier, Coady said. He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone. During the ritual, transfer cases draped with the American flag and holding the remains of the fallen soldiers are carried from the military aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle to take them to the mortuary facility at the Delaware base (AP) Khork's family described him as the life of the party who was known for his infectious spirit and generous heart and who had wanted to serve in the military since childhood. That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was, according to a statement from his mother, Donna Burhans, his father, James Khork, and his stepmother, Stacey Khork. Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local churchs gym. Tietjens cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate unimaginable loss. Trump most recently traveled to Dover in December to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in an ambush attack in the Syrian desert. He attended dignified transfers several times during his first term, including for a Navy SEAL killed during a raid in Yemen, for two Army officers whose helicopter crashed in Afghanistan and for two Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire. Tory defector Andrew Rosindell was met with rapturous applause when he promised his Romford constituents a referendum to leave Greater London and rejoin Essex at the Reform UK rally. About 23km (14 miles) from central London, Romford, in the borough of Havering, was part of the county of Essex until 1965 a decision that still sparks debate 46 years later. You will know in your heart that Romford is Essex, he said. Yet decisions affecting your streets, your transport, your policing, your housing are decided miles away by a Greater London Authority that neither understands our community nor represents the people of this area. Mr Rosindells argument for leaving the capital sounded eerily similar to points made during the Brexit referendum, when almost 70 per cent of his constituents voted in favour of leaving the European Union. Romford resident Colin, who has lived in Havering for 45 years, identifies the town as a part of London, but sees no issue with it rejoining Essex so long as he doesnt lose the benefits that come with being part of the capital. MP Andrew Rosindell has promised a referendum to let Romford leave London and rejoin Essex (Getty) As long as weve got the benefits of coming out of the Ulez (Ultra Low Emission Zone), but not losing the Freedom pass, I think itd be a good job, yeah, he says. While the centre of the capital may be bustling with workers on a weekday morning, Romford is quieter, with pensioners and pram pushers strolling around its multiple shopping centres or stopping in greasy spoon cafes on the high street. Other parts of east London are now hot spots for the trendy pubs and coffee shops associated with gentrification, but Havering clings to remnants of old east London theres still a thriving pie and mash shop in the centre of Romford, an increasingly rare sight across the city. It is also the second-least diverse borough in the capital. Nearby Newham and Redbridge both have non-white populations of more than 60 per cent, according to the 2021 Census. In Havering, the non-white population stands at just 24.7 per cent. Local resident Colin expressed concerns about retaining the Freedom Pass if Romford were to leave Greater London (The Independent) The area is known for its bustling market on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, although the number of licensed traders has gradually dropped over the years. Linda, 71, who has lived in Havering for 60 years, said: Its like a ghost town sometimes, and even the market how busy the market used to be here. My goodness its gone down [hill]. If you come up tomorrow on a market day, the stalls arent like they used to be, she said. The difference is the people, the shops, I mean, the towns are just shutting down. Linda hoped that Romford could leave Ulez (The Independent) As far as shes concerned, Romford is still a part of Essex and she was particularly critical of Ulez, which prompted a furious backlash on the fringes of the capital after mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, extended the scheme out to the M25 boundary in 2023. "When [Sir Sadiq] brought that Ulez thing we had to get rid of our car, she says: So that turned us against him. But not all residents supported a return to Essex. Hope Cafe worker Mark said: I hope we dont leave London because we get loads out of it. I think its just people still wishing it was the 1970s, they added. Romford voted quite overwhelmingly for Brexit and like Brexit, everyone voted for it, and then afterwards people are like surprised that it didnt work out the way they said. It just kind of strikes me as like the same kind of populism of that, but just targeted more locally, which is kind of sad, really. Mark said that Romford got loads out of being part of London, and likened the situation to Brexit (The Independent) Robert Wilkinson, who has lived in Romford for 13 years, said that despite being pro-Brexit, he didnt think the borough should leave London. This idea of having a referendum to separate ourselves from London, for all intents and purposes, doesnt make much sense to me, he said. I think that being a part of London... its an important part of what Havering is. I remember when I first came here and I asked people what the most important hallmark about Romford is, and I was told at the time, and this is not necessarily a good thing, but it was the party capital of London. He added: Londons always going to have a say in what happens in your neighbourhood. Edis suggested that the move could improve business rates (The Independent) Ediz Sahin, who manages Cafe Bueno on the High Street, thought leaving the capital might boost local businesses. I think it might be a good thing to escape the taxes from London, he said. If it reduces the business rates, good, why not?... If it helps to reduce the area of Ulez ... I know for sure there will definitely be more footfall in Romford. Mr Rosindell told The Independent that if Havering left the Greater London Authority and became a unitary authority, he believed the borough could buy into services such as the Freedom Pass, which provides free public transport to people of state pension age or with certain disabilities. We would only pay for what we get. We wouldnt be paying exorbitant sums of money for it then to be used in Lambeth and Southwark and Harringay, we're going to end all that. So we would buy the service that we would require, so we would no longer be subsidising inner London." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at Havering Town Hall last month (PA) Reflecting on the parallels with Brexit, he said: Some people have called it Hexit, which is Havering Exit. In many ways I think it is different than the European Union, but there are parallels because at the moment we are part of a thing called the Greater London Authority which is very opaque, no one can really know who runs it and what's going on. We don't have any real say over it. The Greater London Assembly is a waste of time, they have no power. Keith Darvill, lead councillor for Haverings Labour group and former MP for Upminster, called the idea of leaving Greater London: Nonsense. It cant just happen overnight. There would have to be a change in legislation from the first point, he said. On whether the Freedom Pass could be retained, he adds: I dont think [Mr Rosindell] understands how that works. Thats an agreement between London councils collectively. So each borough pays into the pool to enable that to happen, but youd have to get that cooperation from all the other London boroughs. He said not only would the government and London councils have to approve the decision, but Havering Council, which no party has held overall control of since 2014, would have to approve a referendum. I dont know anyone, even in the Conservative Party locally, that would want to do that. A spokesperson for the mayor of London, said: Sadiq was re-elected for a historic third term as Mayor for all Londoners and has vowed to work tirelessly to deliver for each and every one of Londons boroughs, including Havering. Residents in Havering benefit from the 60+ Transport for London Oyster card, which provides free travel for those who are 60 and over, and families in Havering also save 500 per child per year thanks to the mayors free school meal programme for all state primary school children in London. The mayor will continue to work closely with local government across London to improve the lives of communities and build a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone. Professor Colin Copus, visiting fellow of local politics think tank Localis, described the idea of Havering leaving Greater London as unusual, given local government has a history of getting bigger, not smaller. Robert Wilkinson wants Havering to remain a part of Greater London (The Independent) I can already see Roxit take back control from Sadiq Khan being a slogan, he joked. The difference would be very much that once we came out of the European Union, the idea was that all of those rules, regulations, laws, all of the strictures of the EU would no longer apply. That idea was pretty soon dumped by governments afterwards, but if you create another council, it's still bound by all of the restrictions, all of the legislation that controls what local government can do. But he said the idea of bringing local government closer to communities was not without merit. Weve been conned by this sort of technocratic idea that bigger is always better, more efficient, more effective, and cheaper and it simply isnt, he added. From the research Ive done, anything that takes local government closer to the people, makes it more geographically compact, based on real, genuine localities that people have an affinity with, is ultimately better than creating huge new unitary councils that nobody will identify with. Smoke rises after an airstrike in central Tehran on Friday. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA (Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA) The US-Israeli war on Iran, now into its seventh day, has set the Middle East alight, threatening millions of peoples lives and livelihoods as the violence spreads in widening arc stretching from central Asia to the edge of Europe. The joint operation, named Epic Fury by the US and Roaring Lion by Israel, has been sold as a high-impact show of intimidating power, but its impact so far beyond the chaos and bloodshed is unclear. What is certain is that predictions that this type of war would destabilise the region have indeed rapidly materialised. 1. What is the background to this war? For decades, the regional powerhouse Iran, which views Israel and the US as its arch-enemies, has sought to spread its influence across the Middle East by backing militant groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. It has developed a nuclear programme that it claims is for civil purposes. Washington disputes this and was in negotiations to limit Tehrans nuclear ambitions up until last Saturday, when it abandoned them and started bombing. Israels longstanding regional policy particularly towards Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Gaza, Yemen and Syria has been to keep enemy forces weak through the regular use of overwhelming and destructive military power, including assassinations. The result has been the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, an abandonment of diplomacy and the hardening of global hatred against Israel. Senior figures in armed factions that Israel has killed are usually quickly replaced by deputies, while militant groups Israel has targeted have either rebuilt or been replaced by others. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been urging the US to seriously consider an attack on Iran for years and dismissed international agreements to put limits on Tehrans nuclear programme. Successive administrations in Washington have held back from this belligerent stance, with diplomats and Middle Eastern governments warning that as well as being a blunt and ineffective tool to destroy a nuclear programme a bombing campaign on Iran would engulf the region. This is exactly what is playing out now. As Donald Trump has said, no other US president was willing to do what I was willing to do. 2. What are the objectives of Israel and the US in this war? Various explanations have been given, including: combating generalised threats from Iran and its proxies; destroying Tehrans nuclear programme (despite Trump claiming he had already obliterated it with strikes last summer); and an attempt at regime change by bombing it from the air. On Friday, Trump said he wanted an unconditional surrender. Some in US Christian evangelical circles see the bombing as part of a holy war that will lead to Armageddon something they crave as they believe it will precipitate the return of Jesus Christ. Hours after the first strikes, Trump said the objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. Netanyahu has said that removing Irans missile and nuclear threat was his objective, but that he also welcomed the overthrow of the regime if that is an outcome. One striking goal that is starting to emerge is that the US and Israel have encouraged anti-government groups inside and outside Iran, including Kurdish militants, to rise up and fight. If successful, that strategy could lead to an unpredictable civil war. 3. What do we know about civilian casualties so far? US and Israeli attacks have killed 1,230 people in Iran since the bombing began a week ago, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. One of the most shocking of the US and Israeli strikes was on a girls primary school in Minab, in southern Iran, which killed dozens of children. A separate US submarine torpedo attack on an Iranian warship off the south coast of Sri Lanka killed at least 87 sailors, although Sri Lankan authorities were able to save some from drowning. Israels strikes on Lebanon a country it has repeatedly bombed and invaded over decades have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The Lebanese health ministry has reported Israeli strikes killing 217 people and wounding 798, and the government there has warned of a humanitarian disaster with huge numbers of peopled displaced. Twelve Israelis have been killed by Iranian attacks, and six US personnel have been killed. There have also been casualties in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait from Iranian drones and missiles. Other Iranian attacks have hit countries outside the region, including Azerbaijan and Cyprus. 4. Who is leading Iran now and what might come next? On the first day of the war, the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei was killed. The regime immediately began working on a possible successor, with the dead ayatollahs son Mojtaba, seen as a possible heir to the title. No new leader has been announced, although an interim body is running affairs. So far, the government remains in control of the countrys armed forces and police. The big danger is a total state collapse, with regional powers fearing the big country could be fragmented. Recent history shows US military operations that were initially celebrated as successes were later seen as failures, including the 2001 Afghanistan war and the 2003 Iraq war, which toppled the Taliban and President Saddam Hussein respectively, only to lead to years of war and power vacuums. 5. How long can Iran afford to fight back for? Irans conventional military is not comparable to that of the US and Israel, and it has a limited supply of missiles and drones. But the state has a long history of using asymmetric warfare, in which outmatched forces can conduct painful attacks against big military powers through paramilitary groups. In launching attacks into multiple neighbouring countries, Tehrans retaliation has already created geopolitical and economic chaos. It has effectively closed the strait of Hormuz, which has choked global oil supplies, and its missiles and drones have cut world air travel. 6. Will the Gulf states remain neutral? It is hard to tell. Tehran has repeatedly said that US military bases, of which there are many, and US interests in the region, are the targets of its attacks. Still, patience is running thin in the Gulf after hotels, high-rise apartment blocks, oil installations and airports were hit. Several Gulf monarchies, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, view the Iranian regime as an adversary, but there is also concern that they could get dragged into a destructive war in which every side will suffer. 7. Is this war legal? There is no shortage of voices saying this war is not legal under international as well as US law not least among legal scholars, but also US politicians and some of Washingtons allies abroad. The US and Israel claim their strikes are an act of pre-emptive self-defence. The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, refused to join the offensive, stating he would not commit UK forces to unlawful action and warning that this government does not believe in regime change from the skies. One of the most vociferous critics of the war, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has described the growing conflict in the Middle East as playing Russian roulette with the destiny of millions. On Friday, Sanchez again criticised the US-Israeli strikes, saying they were an extraordinary mistake and not in accordance with international law. An Iranian cleric at a protest in front of the Gandhi hospital recently destroyed by a US-Israel airstrike in Tehran, Iran, on 7 March 2026. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA (Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA) US government reviews of the war in Iran show that the Trump administration may be ill-equipped for a regime-change war, according to reports. The Washington Post reported on Saturday morning that a classified intelligence review found that the war in Iran is unlikely to oust the Iranian establishment, despite the Trump administrations desire to continue its attacks. At the same time, Democrats are warning that the airstrikes on Iran are diminishing US stockpiles of certain weapons, a point of concern that came up during a closed-door briefing earlier this week between Trump administration officials and members of Congress. Related: Iran rejects Trumps demand for unconditional surrender as a dream Despite ongoing negotiations, the US and Israel began bombing Iran last week, during a campaign that assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders. Iran has engaged in retaliatory strikes, targeting Israel, US installations in the region and several Middle Eastern countries hosting US bases. Since the strikes began, the Trump administration has claimed that Iran has attempted to negotiate a ceasefire, despite multiple reports showing the contrary. For years, Iran hawks in the US have pushed for a regime-change war, warning that Irans nuclear program has been close to producing a nuclear weapon. Since last April, Iran and the US have engaged in negotiations surrounding Irans nuclear program. Iran has repeatedly said that the nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes. Israel and the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites last June, leading to a significant escalation of tensions between the countries. Negotiations continued, but, despite them, the US and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran this past week. The US and Israel have now been bombarding Iran for a week, striking government buildings and military installations. They have also hit civilian buildings, hospitals and schools. On the first day of the bombing campaign, 168 young girls were killed in a direct strike on their school. The Associated Press later reported that the deadly strike likely came from the US. Trump spoke on Saturday at the Shield of the Americas summit, a gathering of rightwing leaders in the western hemisphere in Florida, just hours after Irans president apologized to neighboring countries for missile strikes. Were doing very well in Iran, you see the result, Trump said. And its been amazing. Weve knocked out 42 navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of the navy. Weve knocked out the air force. We knocked out their communications and all telecommunications is gone. Theyre bad people, theyre just bad people, he added. Eight months ago, they would have had a nuclear weapon. And theyre crazy, and they would have used it, so we did the world a favor. However, US intelligence points to a different potential outcome, despite a prolonged and aggressive war. As the Post reported, a classified report by the National Intelligence Council shows that a bombing campaign may not oust Irans military and clerical establishment. The report, completed in mid-February, outlined two potential actions by the US. In both cases, the outcome would remain the same: Irans government would follow protocols for a successor of the countrys supreme leader. After Khamenei was assassinated last week, the Iranian government quickly named an interim leadership council, made up of the Iranian president and other top officials. The council is in charge of choosing the countrys next supreme leader. Intelligence officials said it was unlikely that Irans opposition would take control of the country. With increasing worries around US stockpiles of weapons, some Democratic senators are concerned that, with the quick use of missiles and advanced weapons, other countries that rely on US military assistance, like Ukraine and others, may not be able to effectively protect themselves. In an interview with Time Magazine, the Connecticut senator Richard Blumenthal said he was deeply concerned about Ukraine, adding that US military resources and supplies are limited, and I think we will be hard pressed, at some point, to tell Ukraine what is coming. Another expert who spoke with the AP said the concern was not about the conflict in Iran, but rather potential military escalations in the future. Im not particularly worried about us actually running out during this conflict, said Ryan Brobst, a scholar focused on US defense strategy at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in an interview with the AP. Its about deterring China and Russia the day after this conflict is over. Weapons manufacturers have already agreed to increase their production. On Friday, Lockheed Martin said it agreed to quadruple critical munitions production. A huge explosion at Dubai International Airport has further delayed the prospect of Britons returning home Flights taking stranded British travellers out of Dubai were suspended on Saturday when what appeared to be an Iranian drone targeted the international airport. Witnesses heard a loud explosion and saw smoke streak through the air in the latest attempt to attack the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran dragged the Gulf into conflict. The airport halted operations just as it was trying to increase departure flights for thousands of holidaymakers, travellers and expats stuck in the UAE since Irans retaliatory strikes shut down the airspace. Dubais government media office described a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception, and denied that the airport had been hit. Video footage showed what appeared to be an Iranian Shahed drone, with its distinctive buzz, plummeting towards the ground near airport buildings, followed by a plume of smoke. Late on Saturday a residential skyscraper in the Marina area also appeared to have been struck. Video clips showed smoke rising from an upper floor of the 23 Marina Tower building. Smashed windows were visible across a floor near the top. Officials said debris from an interceptor caused the damage. In his first public comments since Iran launched missiles at his country, the president of the UAE, who is also ruler of Abu Dhabi, said his nation at war. The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh we are no easy prey, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said while visiting those injured in previous strikes. We are in a time of war and I pledge to fulfil our duty to defend our country and our people. I promise everyone that the UAE will emerge stronger, he added. Mike Linn and his wife Lisa told The Telegraph they arrived at the airport to find more disruption as they tried to get back to Britain. They had already been delayed in Dubai for four days after their flight was cancelled. The couple from Edinburgh had been on a five-day holiday with two other couples to celebrate 50th birthdays and silver wedding anniversaries. Mike Linn and his wife, Lisa, have been trying to leave the airport since Tuesday Mr Linn said: Its been a bit bleak. We were meant to fly back on Tuesday, weve had various cancellations and they have been putting us on flights that we dont think were ever going to go. He added: The UAE government and all their people have been super. But zero support from back home. Saturdays incident, and the comments by Mr Zayed Al Nahyan underline how a city associated with carefree shopping and beaches has been caught up in a regional conflict. Dubai is increasingly coming under fire In the first hours of Irans missile and drone barrages on its Gulf neighbours, images of an opulent Dubai hotel ablaze in the citys celebrated Palm Jumeirah area quickly spread on social media. Satellite images showed a long trail of smoke leading from the building. Six days later, an enclosure in front of the main building was boarded off, and shrapnel and scorch marks appeared to show where something had hit. Yet close by, children ran through the hotel reception and guests arrived for dinner. The hotel was not bustling, but was far from deserted. A message from the hotel management discreetly referred to an incident... amid the broader regional situation, with debris reported in a nearby car park. Tourists were still on Dubais beaches, shoppers were still in its malls and life was subdued, but continuing. Residents told The Telegraph that predictions of an exodus of terrified expats from the UAE had yet to materialise. I dont see or hear that myself, said Justin Harper, a British expat who has lived in Dubai for four years and is editor of CEO Middle East, a business magazine. Maybe a few influencers and celebrities have left until things settle down but for the vast majority of us it is business as usual. I have been in the office all week. So have lots of people I know. The UAE is still under frequent attack and its ministry of defence said on Friday it had faced nearly 1,400 drones and missiles during the first seven days of the Iranian onslaught, but had intercepted or shot down more than 90 per cent. Three people have been killed so far a Pakistani, a Nepali and a Bangladeshi. Debris from an intercepted Iranian missile struck the Fairmont No one knows how many missiles or drones Iran has left or for how long the barrage will continue. While we hear stories of people being evacuated and companies sending planes to pick up staff, I feel the worst is over and it is an overreaction, said Mr Harper. The UAE has shown its defensive capabilities which have put people at ease. On Friday, Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted an American base in the UAE. Al-Dhafra air base, belonging to American terrorists in the region, was targeted using drones and precision missiles, the IRGC said in a statement broadcast on state TV. Will the war shatter the Dubai dream? Just how the war will affect a city, which has become a global hub for the rich, and for business and finance, is not yet clear. Scores of wealthy Asians have been making inquiries this week about moving assets out of Dubai to Singapore and Hong Kong, Reuters reported, as the conflict clouded its reputation for stability. Dubais years-long property boom is also likely to be tested by any loss of its haven status. A senior real-estate banker told Reuters his firm had shelved a planned UAE property capital-raising this week. Investors are not thinking at this stage of investing in the region, he said, adding that the risk premium for UAE property had become much higher. Pressure on the Gulf states budgets from lost revenue or by military expenditure could cause them to review their overseas investments and future commitments, the Financial Times reported. We cant deny the mood has changed but expats and businesses have seen geopolitical tension like this many times, expat Mr Harper said. So many expats and companies have been here for two decades. They are used to this, and know that Dubai bounces back quickly. Damage done to the car park at Dubai International Airports arrivals terminal Not long after the airport blast, Dubai and its long-haul carrier Emirates said they would resume operations at what is the worlds busiest airport for international traffic. The news brought cheers inside the terminals, though departure boards showed lengthy delays after the pause. A statement from Dubai Airport said it had partially resumed operations on Saturday from both Dubais main airport and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport. Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change, it told passengers. Britains Foreign Office said on Saturday night that it would charter a commercial flight out of Dubai early next week for British nationals seeking to return home. Device thrown near Mamdanis residence in NYC was IED with risk of serious injury or death, NYPD says The NYPDs Bomb Squad confirmed that the devices thrown in the direction of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdanis home were both viable IEDs. The incident is now under investigation by both the NYPD and the FBI. In total, two devices were thrown during the protests on Saturday afternoon on Manhattans swanky Upper East Side. On Sunday, police spokesperson Jessica Tisch said that the preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death, Tisch added. The mayor released a statement, slamming the anti-Islam protest led by provocateur Jake Lang. On Sunday, police spokesperson Jessica Tisch said that the preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb (AFP/Getty) Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city's values and the unity that defines who we are, the newly elected Democrat said in part. The mayor was inside the residence at the time, the police department said earlier on Saturday. The Crusade Against Islamification gathering held outside Gracie Mansion today by Jake Lang, a vile white supremacist, was despicable and Islamophobic, mayoral press secretary Joe Calvello told The Independent in a statement. Thankfully, the Mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly. View of an unexploded homemade explosive device thrown by a left-wing activist towards police during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged "Islamification" and to ask for a "stop of public Muslim prayer" in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence (AFP/Getty) Left-wing activists stand off with New York Police Department officers on Saturday (Getty) Lang organized the Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City demonstration and was joined by as many as 20 others, according to local reports. A counter protest, Run the Nazis out of New York City's Stand Against Hate Group, was also organized in response. That group attracted at least five times as many activists. Both protests began aroudn 11 am at East End Avenue and East 87th Street in Manhattan. Authorities believe that both of the devices were thrown by members of the counter-protest. The suspects have been named as Emir Balat, 18, and Irbahim Nikk, 19. The ignited device sent a cloud of smoke into the air, authorities allege. Both suspects are from Pennsylvania. Video from the scene shows a man shouting Allahu Akbar before throwing what Tish described as a a jar wrapped in tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse. One device was made of a sports drink bottle with explosive material inside a glass jar filled with fragmentation with a fireworks fuse, a law enforcement source told CBS New York. A person associated with Langs protest was also arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, assault and unlawful possession of a noxious matter after allegedly macing counterprotesters, police said. Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trumps sweeping act of clemency for Jan. 6 defendants last year. He recently announced that he is running for U.S. Senate in Florida. Earlier this year, Lang organized a rally in Minneapolis in support of Trumps immigration crackdown, drawing an angry crowd of counterprotesters that quickly chased him away, shown here (AP) Earlier this year, Lang organized a rally in Minneapolis in support of Trumps immigration crackdown, drawing an angry crowd of counterprotesters that quickly chased him away. At least one local restaurant owner slammed both of Saturdays protest groups, which saw a total of six arrests. They're disturbing more business, small business, mom-and-pop more than anything else because everything north of us is closed, Phil Phillips, the owner of Mansion Restaurant, told ABC New York. I've been here in this restaurant my entire life, so I've watched demonstrations in the sixties, race riots - I've watched demonstrations with Vietnam. This didn't serve any purpose whatsoever other than people arguing with each other, Phillips added. The Associated Press contributed to this report. News / National by Staff Reporter Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri has urged police officers countrywide not to "box" and always quarrel with their wives, but to encourage them to be part of the development process within the force by starting income generating projects, the Herald reports.He said this during the ZRP 2016 Kuyedza Women's Club annual show in Harare last Friday.The main focus of the club is on income generation and self empowerment projects.Chihuri, who is also the president of Kuyedza Women's Club, said it was his wish that every wife of every police officer should join the club."It is really my wish that any police officer who marries should encourage their wives for development. Why should you box your wife and leave others to develop so that you become envious of what they are doing? It is my wish that I would love to see every wife married to a police officer become a member of Kuyedza Women's Club," he said.Chihuri applauded the senior officers commanding provinces urging them to continue nurturing their juniors."We thank the officers commanding provinces. May you continue to grow and nurture your officers. The idea is not only to develop the individual, but we also want to develop the families and bring synergies, oneness and unity of purpose to our family members."A confused house, a house full of quarrels can never produce a proper police officer who can work," he said. Thousands of protesters marched through London on Saturday calling for an end to the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Between 5,000 and 6,000 people turned out for the Hands Off Iran march, the Metropolitan Police said, with demonstrators chanting: Stop the bombing now, now, now. It came as US president Donald Trump said Iran is being beaten to hell and warned that the country will be hit hard today. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said demands for an unconditional surrender were a dream that they should take to their grave. However, he apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries in an apparent attempt to calm regional anger at Iranian attacks on the Gulf. Action groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends of Al-Aqsa led the march to the US embassy in Vauxhall (Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire) Action groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends of Al-Aqsa led the march to the US embassy in Vauxhall on Saturday afternoon. The Met, which deployed officers to escort the demonstration, previously announced they had imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm. Dozens of police vans were deployed around Millbank, with many officers patrolling the road. Speaking to protesters in central London, ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana said we will not be ignored again as she called for an end to strikes on Iran. Recalling the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, she told the crowd: "Back then, we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We were told that war would bring peace and democracy. "We were told that the war would protect Iraqis and protect the world, but the truth was very different." Speaking outside the US embassy, the Your Party MP for Coventry South added: "The children of Baghdad deserve to grow up. And 23 years ago, when we marched against the Iraq war, we were ignored. "We will not be ignored again, because history proved them right, and today, we raise our voices for peace, for justice and for a world where governments learn the lessons of the past." Your Party MP Zarah Sultana speaks at the demonstration at the US Embassy in London (Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire) Protesters marched from Millbank, near Westminster, to outside the US embassy in Vauxhall. Some demonstrators spoke through a microphone on a stage set up outside the embassy, shouting: "Donald Trump terrorist"; "Stop bombing Iran"; and: "Keir Starmer, shame on you". The crowd could be heard chanting: "From Iran to Palestine, bombing children is a crime." They carried placards reading Stop Trumps Wars and Stop the war on Iran, as well as Iranian and Palestinian flags. Some were also holding portraits of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strike of the war last Saturday. In a statement read out to the protesters, former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn warned: Do not drag Britain into another illegal war. He said: "In 2003, hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq, and we were ignored, but we are here today to say loudly and clearly: do not drag Britain into another illegal war." He added: "Forever war is not a game. It has real like human consequences, and US and Israel must be held accountable for their prize." Anti-war activists hold signs, images of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iranian flags as they gather outside the US embassy (Reuters) Several groups of people holding Israeli flags were standing on the side of Millbank during the protest. Many protesters could be heard shouting shame on you and murderers to the people holding Israeli flags. A few people holding the flags said to those marching: Youre wrong, and youre in denial. One protester demonstrating in central London said: The public arent for the war. Asked about why he attended the protest in Millbank, Martin Perry, 58 and from Northampton, said: Because the acts against Iran are against international law, and its just a pattern of events, decisions taken by America and Israel, that are destroying international law. He added: Im here today to signal to Keir Starmer that the public arent for the war against Iran, and dont want our forces going into, being involved in an illegal war. Demonstrators hold flags and placards as they attend a Stop the War Coalition march in London (AP) Daniela Costa, a 30-year-old Brazilian student living in London, said: Im from Brazil. I just came here to show solidarity, both to Iran and Palestine, but also to Cuba and Venezuela. I just feel that we cant just live as if its just business as usual at this moment. I expect that this protest will show the UK government that they dont have popular support to participate in the war in any way, such as providing weapons or providing their bases to, like military bases to the US. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "The Hands Off Iran protest has reached the United States Embassy, where we are seeing some protesters disperse. "A woman in her 60s has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a placard. They later added there had been three further arrests, including one for possession of an offensive weapon and another for racially aggravated public order offences in relation to a chant. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to an incident which occurred on Friday in Maida Vale. The organisers of the demonstration said a march "against the far right" will take place on 28 March in central London. The bizarre saga of The Tiger King" Joe Exotic continues as he is now angling for a prisoner swap between him and former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, whom President Donald Trump has long sought to release from prison. Typically, a prisoner swap happens between nations. In 2024, WNBA player Brittney Griner who had been arrested by Russian officials on drug possession charges was handed over to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. releasing arms trafficker Viktor Bout back to Russia. But Joe Exotic real name Joseph Maldonado is suggesting a swap between the state of Colorado and the federal government. Maldonado is currently in year seven of a 21-year sentence after he was found guilty on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two charges related to his scheme to hire a hitman to kill his rival, Carole Baskin. He has, in the past, begged Trump for a pardon, but one has never materialized. On Wednesday, he tried something new; he sent a letter to Colorado Governor Jared Polis and other Colorado officials proposing that they trade Peters for him. In his scheme, he would end up in Colorado custody, while Peters would end up in federal prison and, presumably, put her in a position to receive a pardon from Trump, who cannot pardon state charges. Joe Exotic real name Joe Maldonado has asked Colorado Governor Jared Polis to engage in an unprecedented prisoner swap that would remove him from federal custody in exchange for Polis handing former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters over to the federal government. (Netflix) In 2024, Peters a hardline Trump supporter was sentenced to nine years after she was found guilty on seven charges relating to unauthorized access to election machines. The email from Maldonado, sent to the officials, was on letterhead from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Maldonado's email claims the Department of Justice is trying to "harm my reputation in an attempt to sway the jury by discriminating against my identity as LGBTQ and being married to a now deported Mexican man." The Trump administration arrested me and convicted me to twenty-one years in Federal Prison, of which I have served eight. Unfortunately, I am now battling both Prostate and Lung Cancer. The new evidence we have which has been submitted to the United States Supreme Court shows not only that Im innocent, but the DOJ witnesses who testified against me admitted to perjury on television throughout season two of Tiger King," he wrote. Maldonado then pitched the "craziest ask you will ever receive," adding that it is "something that has never been done in American history." Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters is currently serving a nine year sentence in Colorado on charges related to unauthorized access to voting machines. Tiger King Joe exotic has asked Colorado Governor Jared Polis to hand her over to the federal government and to take him into state custody in a prisoner swap (The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel) I am confident that you will find it within you to coordinate with President Trumps team to swap my clemency for Tina Peters clemency, he wrote. You will be a national hero. Your heroic actions will dominate the news and we will take back America with the evidence I have from inside the BOP (Bureau of Prisons) regarding the billions of dollars in illegal drug trafficking that transpires behind prison walls. Attached to the letter was a message of support for the measure by the Bureau of Prisons' Keith Johnson. His letter of support for Maldonado's scheme was reportedly also sent to Trump and U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin on February 1. Trump has previously called for Peters' release despite his ostensibly hardline stance on election security and has demanded that Colorado release her into federal custody. Colorado's refusal to do so drove Trump to say that he hopes Polis and Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubenstein, himself a Republican, will "rot in Hell." U.S. laws do allow for state prisoners to be transferred into federal custody, pending federal approval, but the federal government cannot compel a state to turn over a prisoner into its custody. The Independent has requested comment from Polis and the Colorado Department of Corrections. Trump claims Cuba is at the end of the line in fresh warning to country During his second term, President Donald Trump has authorized military action in a string of countries, including Iran, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. Now, hes hinted that Cuba could be next, declaring that the Caribbean island nation is in its last moments of life. Trump delivered his stark warning during a Saturday speech in Florida, where leaders from several Latin American nations were gathered at his Doral resort. There, he unveiled a new coalition called The Shield of the Americas, aimed at bolstering security across the Western Hemisphere. Kristi Noem has been tapped as a special envoy for the initiative, following her dismissal as Homeland Security secretary. Upon taking the podium, the president said he is looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba. He described the nation as at the end of the line and experiencing its last moments of life. The country, which has been under communist rule since the 1959 Cuban revolution, has no money, no oil, and a bad philosophy, he continued. On Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Cuba, saying the Latin American nation is 'at the end of the line' and experiencing its 'last moments of life' (Getty Images) While his administration is currently focused on Iran, Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take one hour off and finish up a deal on Cuba, adding, Thatll be an easy one. Since returning to office, Trump has taken an aggressive posture towards Cuba. Hes slapped steep tariffs on the island nation and threatened to impose duties on goods from countries that export oil to Cuba. Hes also urged the communist state to make a deal or face unspecified repercussions. The countrys president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has frequently criticized the Trump administrations hostile rhetoric. Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation. No one tells us what to do, he wrote on X in January, adding that his government was ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood. During the Saturday summit, Trump also signed a proclamation affirming his commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations and cartels that operate in the Western Hemisphere. Seventeen nations endorsed the effort through a joint security declaration signed on Thursday. We need your help, Trump said to the leaders of Latin American nations. You have to just tell us where they are. Trump signed a proclamation at the 'Shield of the Americas' summit in Florida on Saturday. He described the document as 'a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks' in in the Western Hemisphere (AFP via Getty Images) The new initiative comes as the Trump administration has demonstrated its willingness to take kinetic action across the hemisphere and beyond. Earlier this week, U.S. forces undertook strikes in Ecuador aimed at combating drug cartels. In late February, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of Iranians and at least six U.S. service members. Trump has said the campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, could continue for weeks if not longer. And, in January, U.S. special forces swooped into Venezuela, captured then-President Nicolas Maduro and extradited him to New York to stand trial on drug charges. Democrats and some Republicans have slammed the recent military actions as illegal, reckless, and a direct betrayal of Trump's campaign pledge to be the candidate of peace who would end forever wars. The White House has rebutted criticism by saying Trump is protecting Americans by taking decisive action against imminent threats. Recent polls show that at least some of the administrations overseas actions are unpopular. Just one in four Americans supports Trumps strikes on Iran, according to a Reuters survey conducted earlier this month. Trump goes off about interpreter in front of Latin American leaders in Doral President Donald Trump launched into a passionate rant Saturday against a bad interpreter in front of Latin American leaders during a summit he hosted in Florida. Leaders from a dozen Western Hemisphere nations gathered at Trump National Doral Miami for the Shield of the Americas Summit, an event the White House described as promoting freedom, security and prosperity while strengthening counternarcotics cooperation. Trump, meeting with several Latin American and Caribbean leaders to discuss closer collaboration on security, migration, and fighting drug cartels, said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has a language advantage over him, adding, Cause Im not learning your damn language. I dont have time. He then went into the importance of a good interpreter, claiming he can tell the difference between good and bad ones, even though he does not speak their language. I had an interpreter recently that wasn't good, he told the room. Talking to a very strong person from a different part of the world - and I could tell, even though I don't speak the language - I could tell the interpreter was not good. When you go, uh, uh, when I give a long, flowing, beautiful sentence 'Im not learning your damn language. I dont have time,' Trump said in front of Latin American leaders at the Shield of the Americas Summit (Getty Images) In this case, it was a woman, and she gave it in about 1/4 the time I said. Well, their language may be efficient, but it's not that efficient, Trump said. Leaders confirmed to be attending the summit include the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, along with Chiles presidentelect Jose Antonio Kast, who traveled before officially taking office. Notably absent from the summit were leaders from some of the regions largest and traditionally influential countries. Mexico, Brazil and Colombia did not participate in the Miami meeting. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro were not on the guest list. The Shield of the Americas summit was born after the planned 10th Summit of the Americas was canceled amid US military tensions near Venezuela, prompting Trump to convene a smaller meeting of likeminded leaders (AFP via Getty Images) The Shield of the Americas summit was created after the 10th Summit of the Americas was canceled last year amid a US military buildup near Venezuela, leading Trump to organize a smaller meeting of like-minded conservative leaders. The gathering is widely seen by analysts as a key element of Trumps foreign policy in his second presidential term, sometimes described by commentators as a modern iteration of the Monroe Doctrine, referenced by some as the socalled Donroe Doctrine, with an emphasis on reaffirming US influence and leadership across the Americas. The summit included discussions on coordinating security responses to drug cartels and transnational gangs, issues the Trump administration has framed as direct threats to regional stability. At the summit, Trump pushed the leaders to take stronger action against violent cartels and gangs, even suggesting the use of military force, saying traditional law enforcement isnt enough to tackle the problem. The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries, Trump said, the Associated Press reports. We have to use our military. You have to use your military. Referring to the US-led coalition that fought the Islamic State in the Middle East, Trump said that we must now do the same thing to eradicate the cartels at home. The key achievable goal in this conflict is to defang the Iranian regime - Mario Tama/Getty Images Eight days into the war between Iran and the West, Britain was finally beginning to stir from its slumber. The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was belatedly being readied for a possible deployment, American planes had been granted the use of British airfields, and RAF typhoons had arrived in the Middle East. The Governments response remained woefully inadequate, of course, held up by lawyerly prevarications and internal Labour politics. Britain should have sent the carrier to the Mediterranean a long time ago, and done a great deal more to help our allies in the Gulf. Yet Donald Trumps scathing attack on Saturday night will just make everything harder. It is one thing to criticise Sir Keir Starmer for his refusal to help out; its another to incinerate what is left of the special relationship and speak out in a way that appears to denigrate the British armed forces. Posting on his Truth Social Platform, the president referred to Britain as Americas once Great Ally and ridiculed Sir Keir, saying that the US did not need help, and didnt need people that join Wars after weve already won!. It is another frustrating incident in which Mr Trump has thrown away goodwill with a poor choice of words. Just a few weeks ago, Mr Trump caused outrage with his remark that Americas allies, including British troops deployed to Afghanistan, had stayed a little back, a little off the front line. These words were categorically untrue, as the price paid in blood by too many soldiers had demonstrated. Real harm was done to the perception of the United States in this country. He has now repeated his error. Had the president confined his expression of frustration to Sir Keirs inertia and the idea that it would have been nice to have them two weeks ago then his outburst might have served as a stinging corrective for a Labour Government that was far too slow to act. It would have drawn attention to the abnegation of responsibility that saw the air defence destroyer HMS Dragon laid up in Portsmouth while British personnel and their families in Cyprus were exposed to drone strikes. Instead, Mr Trump is making it harder for supporters of the war in the UK. He may have undermined the prospect of Britain offering more substantive aid to the military undertaking in the Middle East, and has drawn attention away from the undeniable successes achieved so far. In a little over a week of operations, Tehrans air defence network has proven unable to provide a significant challenge to American and Israeli operations. Air superiority has been established and used to devastating effect. The Iranian leadership has been decapitated. Missile storage sites, factories and launchers have been hit hard, with tangible results. Irans strike capabilities have been steadily degraded and the idea that Tehran could flood air defences, overwhelming attempts to defend key strategic assets or centres of civilian population, appears to no longer hold any merit. As one US commander noted, ballistic missile launches have dropped to 10 per cent of their level at the start of the war; drone attacks to 17 per cent. The Iranian navy and air force are in disarray, with ships sunk in port and jets destroyed while still on the tarmac. Military command centres and headquarters have been bombed, further undermining the ability of the regime to mount an effective resistance. Any impartial assessment of events would so far conclude that the opening salvo from the West has been highly effective. Just three US manned aircraft have been lost in more than a week of active combat with Iran, all three without loss of life, and all three in a single friendly-fire incident in Kuwait. Israel has lost no jets. Despite these successes, however, some Iranian blows have landed, with expensive US radar installations destroyed and missiles and drones making it through air defences to strike Tel Aviv, Dubai and other cities. While the volume of fire has reduced, Saturdays drone strike on Dubai airport demonstrated how the threat is still real. Moreover, the attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz has led to a spike in oil and gas prices. Under these circumstances, allied forces arriving should be welcomed by the President. Even if Britain is not willing to directly strike Iran, our military has a great deal to offer in defensive operations, and each protective task undertaken by a British jet or ship frees an American or Israeli asset for offensive operations. Yes, Sir Keir has failed catastrophically. He has damaged our central relationship with the US. But Mr Trumps ill-chosen words are making everything even worse. The odds are that the British deployment of at least some assets will go ahead regardless, as the Government belatedly attempts to protect our own bases in the region. The prospect of full engagement in the attempt to defang the Iranian regime, however, is receding. There is a real prospect that this war could achieve the long held goal of setting Tehrans terror weapon programmes nuclear, drone and missile back decades, if not destroying them completely, and enforcing something close to a normalisation of relations with the West. Regrettably, Sir Keir dithering, combined with Mr Trumps loose tongue, are not helping. Iranian protesters in Tehran wave flags and hold pictures of the ayatollah, who was killed by US strikes. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA (Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA) Donald Trump said on Friday that only Irans unconditional surrender will bring an end to the offensive launched seven days ago, as the US and Israel carried out some of the heaviest bombardments so far in the conflict. There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, when US strategic bombers were in action over Iran and intensive Israeli strikes in Lebanon forced more than 1 million people to flee their homes. Israeli and US officials threatened further escalation as Iran retaliated with more attacks across a swathe of the Middle East. The biggest single loss of civilian life reported so far in the conflict came in an apparent airstrike on an Iranian girls school on Saturday, which killed more than 100 students. Military investigators in the US believe it is likely US forces were responsible but have not yet reached a final conclusion, Reuters reported. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran and about a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Oil supplies have been disrupted, tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled and international stock markets have been rocked. Trump demands Irans unconditional surrender as bombs pound Tehran and Beirut On Friday night the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the US would consider Iran in a state of unconditional surrender once Trump had determined the country no longer poses a threat to the US. Then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not, she said. Read the full story DoJ releases Epstein files containing uncorroborated abuse allegations against Trump The US justice department released additional files related to Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, including FBI memos describing interviews with a woman who made uncorroborated allegations against Epstein and Donald Trump. Read the full story US lost 92,000 jobs in February just before Trump joined Iran conflict The US lost 92,000 jobs in February, a major slackening in the labor market that came just before Donald Trump threw the global economy into upheaval with his conflict in Iran. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.4% in February. In comparison, the US added 130,000 jobs in January, far surpassing expectations of 70,000 jobs but still 13,000 less than January 2025. Economists predicted an increase of 60,000 jobs added in February and a steady unemployment rate of 4.3%. Read the full story US preparing system to process refunds on billions in illegal Trump tariffs The US customs agency is preparing a system that will be ready to process refunds on billions of dollars of illegally collected tariffs in 45 days without requiring importers to sue, a court has been told. Read the full story Trump administrations embattled FDA vaccine chief ousted for the second time The Food and Drug Administrations embattled vaccine chief, Dr Vinay Prasad, is once again leaving the agency the second time in less than a year that hes departed after decisions involving the review of vaccinations and specialty drugs for rare diseases. Read the full story Jesse Jackson hailed as ambassador of hope at memorial attended by Clintons, Obama and Biden Tributes for the Rev Jesse Jackson at came from past Democratic US presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, along with former vice-president Kamala Harris, who received cheers and applause while they joined thousands of others in a Chicago church for a celebration of life for the longtime civil rights activist. Read the full story What else happened today: Catching up? Heres what happened on 5 March 2026. Trump has privately shown serious interest in deploying US ground troops to Iran, report claims President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed serious interest in deploying a limited force of U.S. troops on the ground to fight Iran. The detachment would not be a full ground invasion force, but rather a small contingent of troops, officials familiar with the discussions told NBC News. The president reportedly floated the idea while talking about his larger vision of stopping Iran from enriching uranium that could be used in a nuclear weapon and ensuring Iranian cooperation with U.S. oil producers, the sources said. The White House denounced the reporting. This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the Presidents national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to the outlet. President Trump always, wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table. President Trump has reportedly discussed sending a small contingent of U.S. troops to fight on the ground in Iran (Getty Images) The president has said hes keeping his options open in regards to putting U.S. boots on the ground. 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 this week. I say probably dont need them, [or] if they were necessary.' His military leaders have described a U.S. campaign so dominant that such a step hasnt been necessary. We've taken control of Iran's airspace and waterways without boots on the ground, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday during a press conference. We control their fate. Observers are keenly watching whether this stance will change. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has insisted boots on the ground havent been necessary so far, given the overwhelming force of U.S. air power in Iran (AFP/Getty) The Army reportedly abruptly canceled a major training exercise for members of an elite paratrooper unit in recent days, sparking speculation that the Defense Department could be preparing to send U.S. troops to Iran. The Army 82nd Airborne Division Immediate Response Force reportedly has not been given deployment orders. Those familiar with the unit told The Washington Post they are on alert as the conflict escalates. Were all preparing for something just in case, an official familiar with the situation told the outlet. Iranian leaders have said they are confident they can repel a U.S. ground invasion if it comes. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was asked on NBC News if he feared U.S. boots on the ground. "No, we are waiting for them," he said, adding, "Because we are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them." Right-wing figures including Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson have publicly criticized the war, describing it as not in U.S. interests (The Megyn Kelly Show/SiriusXM) The prospect of U.S. troops invading Iran is politically fraught, given the presidents own non-interventionist campaign promises and Americans larger wariness for conflict after two lengthy Middle Eastern wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent decades. Six U.S. service members have already died in the Iran conflict, after an unmanned aerial vehicle attacked a U.S. installation in Kuwait. I honestly cant believe were doing this again, conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly wrote on X in response to the report Trump was considering ground troops. Even some of the loudest backers of the Iran fight have insisted against sending U.S. troops there. "There will be no American boots on the ground, Sen. Lindsey Graham told Meet The Press on Sunday, shortly after the conflict began. Russia is reportedly helping Iran identify U.S. targets in the conflict, which has been expanding into a wider regional war (AFP/Getty) He distinguished the fight from past conflicts such as WWII and the War on Terror that saw large U.S. ground forces invade. This is not Iraq, he said. This is not Germany. This is not Japan. The war itself has proved unusually divisive on the right, which often marches in lockstep behind the presidents position. Shortly after fighting broke out, podcaster and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon warned that an extended conflict would bleed support for Republicans and dangerously leave other key U.S. interests including Taiwan on the back burner. Tucker Carlson has called the U.S. strikes disgusting and evil and said on his podcast that the war does not serve U.S. interests. This is Israels war, he said Monday. This is not the United States war. This wars not being waged on behalf of American national security objectives to make the United States safer or richer. This war isnt even about weapons of mass destruction, nukes. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khannas bipartisan War Powers Act resolution about the Iran conflict failed to pass the House this week (Getty) Carlsons criticisms drew a heated rebuke from Trump, who said the broadcaster was not MAGA anymore. MAGA is making our country great again, Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl. MAGA is America First, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that. The divisions have played out on Capitol Hill too. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, already a thorn in the side of the White House for his campaign to force the release of the Epstein files, has been sharply critical of GOP House leadership for its insistence the U.S. is not at war with Iran, but rather carrying out a limited combat operation. Massie, in a post on X on Thursday, called such thinking Orwellian levels of double speak. Massie, along with Rep. Ro Khanna, Democrat of California, sponsored an unsuccessful War Powers Act resolution to rein in the Iran conflict. The resolution was rejected this week, along with a similar one in the Senate. Not everyone on the right is skeptical of the continued Iran campaign. A Thursday editorial from the Wall Street Journal urged the public to give the president more time before leveling criticisms. [N]ow that the war is underway, and our troops are in harms way, our perhaps old-fashioned view is that we ought to hope for American success, both military and strategic, the board wrote. The world will be safer if there is a better regime in Tehran that isnt bent on the mission of death to America. And maybe, before anticipating or cheering failure, we could wait and see how it goes. The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East, reducing the time it would take to be readied. This does not mean that Portsmouth-based HMS Prince of Wales, which is used to carry fighter jets and helicopters, will be sent into the Gulf as conflict escalates in the region, but the preparedness of the Royal Navys flagship is being increased, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The Independent understands no decisions to deploy the Prince of Wales have been taken. An MoD spokesperson told The Independent: We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus. Since the strikes began, weve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-busting missiles. HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness, and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment. Royal Navy aircraft carrier and fleet flagship, HMS Prince of Wales (MOD/Crown copyright) Acknowledging the reports on Saturday evening, US president Donald Trump continued a growing spat with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer over his reluctance to get involved in the conflict. The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Thats OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we dont need them any longer But we will remember. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! It is still understood only one aircraft carrier is being made ready, and not for deployment to the Middle East specifically. Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is the Royal Navys flagship. Increasing its preparedness does not stop her from undertaking other planned missions. Additionally, the US has started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, the MoD has said. A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to help with surveillance from the air and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus. Meanwhile, more American bombers have landed in Britain as Mr Trump warned Iran would be hit very hard in another round of strikes. The first 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, and three more followed on Saturday morning. Sir Keir Starmer has granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base within the next few days. A second government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue. A third will be leaving Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, and the Foreign Office is also exploring options to charter a flight from Dubai to bring people back from the Middle East, the Press Association has reported. The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. Passengers from Muscat arrive at Heathrow International Airport in London, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran (Reuters) It comes as Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister is too scared to make foreign interventions and that the UK is in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. Speaking at the Conservative Partys spring conference in Harrogate, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was sitting on the fence when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, adding that last weeks by-election won by the Greens has spooked the Labour Party. She said: Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate. Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War; nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on. Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. Even now, our prime minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. Russian strikes killed at least six people across Ukraine early on Saturday, authorities saidtriggering a nationwide air alert. The bodies of five people were found in the rubble of an attack on an apartment block in the Kharkiv region, while one person was killed in the Dnipro region. Ten people were wounded in the attack, including two boys aged six and 11, and a 17-year-old girl, regional military chief Oleg Synegubov posted on Telegram. It was not immediately clear whether the six dead were among those wounded. Synegubov said rescuers were searching for up to 10 other people, including a child, who were feared trapped under the rubble of the five-story building, which was practically destroyed in the strikes. B-1 Lancers, capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, one on Friday evening and three on Saturday morning, Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters (Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters) Four US bombers have landed at an RAF base in Britain to carry out specific defensive operations to stop Iran firing missiles into the Middle East, the Ministry of Defence has said. The B-1 Lancers, which are 45 metres (146ft) long and capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, one on Friday evening and three on Saturday morning, after Keir Starmer had granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The deployment comes days after Washington warned that strikes on Iran would surge dramatically. Related: UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible Middle East deployment The UKs armed forces chief, Richard Knighton, said he expected the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base within the next few days. The prime minister agreed on Sunday to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from Fairford and from Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. On Saturday afternoon, the Ministry of Defence issued an update on its operations in the Middle East, which said the US had started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region. It added that a Merlin helicopter, a class of craft previously described by the MoD as a submarine hunter, was on the way to the Middle East to provide additional airborne surveillance. The bombers landing came shortly after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, warned on Thursday that strikes were about to surge dramatically, referring to more fighter squadrons, more defensive capabilities and more bomber pulses more frequently. On Friday, Donald Trump demanded Irans unconditional surrender while Israeli warplanes bombed Tehran and Beirut, and Iran launched another wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries. Starmer has defended his decision to block initial offensive strikes by the US and Israel at the weekend, saying he stood by his judgment and denying it had damaged the so-called special relationship. The move prompted Trump to launch a personal attack against the prime minister, saying that he was not Winston Churchill. At a top secret national security council (NSC) meeting last Friday, Starmers suggestion to allow the US to use RAF bases to carry out defensive strikes was reportedly met with opposition from a number of cabinet ministers including Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood, Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeves, according to the Spectator, in a report that was then picked up by several media outlets. Related: Seven days on, seven questions about the US-Israeli war on Iran Starmer insisted that all ministers on the national security council had supported the UK position on the use of British bases, rejecting reports he had faced cabinet opposition led by Miliband. The Guardian understands, however, that all options were discussed at the NSC meeting on Friday. On Saturday morning, Sadiq Khan said Starmer was right to resist pressure from the US to join strikes on Iran, and heavily criticised the war of choice that he said was being waged unilaterally without any international consensus or UN approval, or any serious strategy as to what comes next. Starmer held a call with Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Friday, in which the prime minister said the UK stood ready to help defend the country should it be needed. It comes after he faced some criticism from Gulf states and Cyprus, where a drone evaded detection and hit RAF Akrotiri, for not doing enough to protect regional allies and British citizens there from Iranian strikes. Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week, while France and Greece have already deployed military assets to defend Cyprus. One reason it is taking some time to prepare the Type 45 destroyer is because it is being equipped to remain at sea for several months if required, rather than rushed into the eastern Mediterranean for a short period. Speaking at the Conservative partys spring conference in Harrogate, Yorkshire, on Satrurday, Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister was too scared to make foreign interventions and that the UK is in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. She also accused Starmer of sitting on the fence over the conflict in the Middle East. The Tory leader claimed last weeks byelection won by the Greens had spooked Labour, adding: Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate. Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War, nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on. Badenoch had sparked a row over her suggestion that UK military jets had been just hanging around and not taking the necessary action in the Middle East. Defence secretary John Healey said the remark insults the men and women of our armed forces and that she should apologise. The former shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell told Times Radio that Badenoch did not have anything to apologise for and that she had been making a point about ministers being slow to offer support to allies in the region. A second government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick on Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue. The latest arrivals join about 6,500 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. Women cry during the funeral for children killed in the strike on Shajare Tayyebe school in Minab - Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP American forces were likely responsible for strikes on an Iranian girls school that killed as many as 165 students and teachers, US military investigators believe. Saturdays attack on Shajare Tayyebe elementary school in southern Minab is the deadliest single incident in seven days of war, which has killed more than 1,230 people across Iran. If US forces were responsible, it would rank among the worst cases of civilian casualties in the past three decades of American wars in the Middle East. Witnesses told The Telegraph that the attack on Saturday morning came after the schools head teacher called parents to take their children home early because a war had started. Credit: WANA via Reuters An explosion hit the building about 40 minutes later, according to one parent who managed to collect his daughter in time and spoke to The Telegraph via an intermediary. Many of those killed were children from outlying villages whose parents had not yet reached the school for the early pick-up. Iranian authorities said five airstrikes hit the school at 11.30am on Saturday, followed by a sixth strike four hours later - Alex Mita/IRIB TV/AFP Residents and emergency workers combed through debris in an attempt to reach victims - Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News Agency/AP Asked about the strike during a news briefing on Wednesday, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, said: Were investigating that. On Friday, US officials told Reuters that internal military investigators believed US forces were likely responsible, but have not yet reached a final conclusion. US central command, which is running Operation Epic Fury the assault on Iran said it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation. Mojtaba Ghahremani, Irans chief justice for Hormozgan province, said five airstrikes hit the school at 11.30am on Saturday, followed by a sixth strike at 3.40pm targeting a clinic adjacent to the school. Mr Ghahremani said shrapnel from enemy weapons had been recovered from the scene and would form the basis of a war crimes investigation. He called on the International Criminal Court to investigate. The attack killed 66 boys and 54 girls along with 26 female teachers and four parents who were at the school, Mr Ghahremani said. Others living nearby were also killed. The Iranian Red Crescent later revised the total death toll to 165. Authorities said 95 people were also wounded in the strikes. That would account for nearly an eighth of Irans total confirmed death toll of 1,230 from seven days of US-Israeli strikes, according to the Iranian governments martyrs and veterans affairs foundation. Mourners watch a body being lowered into a grave during funerals for the victims in Minab - Handout/Getty Many are blaming America because they think the Israelis are hitting the west of the country. We are too far from Israel for them to hit here, said Amir, a student from the town. No one can say it was them or anything else. The only way for us to understand it is either the Americans will say we hit it wrongly, or the regime falls and it emerges that someone else did it. Most of the people think that America hit it, he added. In the past people trusted that Israel, and more so America, would hit only specific targets. Satellite pictures show multiple precision strikes also hit at least six Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) buildings next to the school. Four buildings inside the IRGC naval base were destroyed and two others showed impact points at the centre of their roofs. Footage circulating on social media showed young girls trapped under rubble, with loved ones screaming outside the building, and emergency workers digging through debris as they attempted to reach victims. Families held funerals on Tuesday at Behesht Zahra cemetery in Minab. Drone images from the site show a mass grave was dug to bury the dead. Videos showed small coffins draped with Iranian flags being passed across large crowds towards the grave site. Amir added: People are afraid and could not disagree. Everybody went. Even my family, who are very anti-regime went. They arrived there and suddenly there were people crying for Khamenei and whatever. On Friday night, the former US national security adviser denied that American forces would have deliberately targeted the school. I dont think the United States, in any conceivable circumstance, would directly target a civilian structure like that, John Bolton told the BBCs Newsnight. If, in fact, it was an American weapon that did it, it was because the weapon malfunctioned, Im sure we will try and make recompense. He added: My advice to the Iranians in the future, and anybody else, is: dont build girls schools right next to naval bases. Egyptian mummies at the British Museum. Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy (Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy) The vast number of overseas human remains held by UK museums is a shameful legacy of colonialism, with many items kept in ways that are sacrilegious, according to MPs and archaeologists. An investigation by the Guardian found that UK museums hold more than 263,000 items of human remains from around the world, including whole skeletons, preserved bodies, such as Egyptian mummies, skulls, bones, skin, teeth, nails, scalps and hair. Responses to freedom of information (FoI) requests from the Guardian revealed that 37,000 items of human remains are known to originate from overseas, including thousands from former British colonies. The countries of origin of another 16,000 items are unknown. Related: A duty of care to human remains Of the 28,914 items of human remains known to originate from outside Europe, 11,856 were identified as coming from Africa, 9,550 from Asia, 3,252 from Oceania, 2,276 from North America, and 1,980 from South America. The institution with the largest collection of non-European human remains is the Natural History Museum in London, with at least 11,215 items. It has the largest collections of remains from Asia and North and South America. The University of Cambridge has the second largest, with at least 8,740 items in its Duckworth laboratory, including the biggest collection (6,223) of remains known to originate from Africa. Of the 241 museums, universities and councils that hold human remains, only 100 disclosed an exact or estimated number of individuals represented in their collections, totalling around 79,334 people. The remainder said they did not know, often because remains from different bodies were mixed together or due to gaps in their records, such as items being undocumented. Some institutions said they held several cardboard boxes of human remains, but knew neither the number nor the provenance of the items these contained. Lord Paul Boateng said the findings exposed UK museums and universities as imperial charnel houses where the bones of Indigenous peoples torn from Britains empire in the past, with little or no regard to the spiritual sensibilities of its people, continue to be retained to this day in circumstances that beggar belief. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Afrikan reparations, said it was barbaric that looted human remains were warehoused in boxes, with many museums not knowing who they belonged to. That our country allowed such a large collection of human remains to be taken from other places and keep no record of them points to some sort of crime, she added. The way that these remains are stored and displayed shows a complete lack of respect. Theyre denied dignity, even in death. This is a great shame for our nation. Experts said the findings contradict a claim made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in its 2005 guidance that said the vast majority of human remains in UK museums are of UK origin, excavated under uncontentious conditions within a clearly defined legal framework. Dan Hicks, professor of contemporary archaeology at the University of Oxford, said many museum collections include bodies and body parts looted from cemeteries and battlefields by British colonial fighters and officials, then brought to the UK as macabre trophies or for use in racial pseudoscience, such as eugenics. Hicks, who analysed the FoI responses, said the findings showed many museums were failing to follow the government guidance to treat human remains respectfully. It advised institutions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that human remains should be stored separately and handled respectfully in controlled, monitored environments. Museums should also have a policy to compile and make public an inventory of their holdings of human remains. The widespread failure to do this continued the colonial violence involved in the taking and warehousing of human remains in museums, the treatment of human beings as objects, the disregard for identity and for proper treatment of the dead, Hicks added. Boateng, a former Labour cabinet minister, said the vast scale of the collections of human remains held in the UK was frankly sacrilegious and deeply spiritually offensive. He called on the DCMS to create a national register of human remains and issue mandatory guidelines for their timely return, wherever possible, to their countries and peoples of origin. The DCMS and the University of Cambridge declined to comment. The Museums Association said a significant number of overseas human remains in UK collections were often acquired during the colonial period. Director Sharon Heal said it would welcome updated guidance and legislation on the ethical treatment of human remains to help museums support communities of origin. The NHM website states that it is committed to maintaining high standards of care and stewardship for the human remains in the collections. A spokesperson added: The museum has not refused to return any remains for which connections have been established with requesting communities and places of origin. The Duckworth collections webpage states that it follows the government guidance on the care of human remains. Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman promised to usher in a new era of innovation, prosperity and modernity when he became the kingdoms de facto ruler a decade ago. With his ambitious Vision 2030 project, he hoped Saudi Arabia would soon rival Dubai as the regional business hub in the Middle East, attracting Western talent and enabling his influence to spread beyond the Kingdoms borders. But with just four years before his self-imposed deadline, those plans have been suddenly plunged into uncertainty. Earlier this week, Saudi air defences downed several Iranian drones and cruise missiles, while a strike on the Ras Tanura oil refinery temporarily halted operations. In just a few days, the illusion of safety in the Gulf appeared to be shattered. Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman promised to usher in a new era of innovation, prosperity and modernity when he became the Kingdoms de facto ruler a decade ago (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Did war ruin the Gulfs reputation for safety? Many countries deemed safe havens in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been hit by Iran in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes launched a week ago, which killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Numbeos ranking of the UAE as the safest country in the world for the second year in a row in 2026 now seems absurd as images pour in of stranded tourists and residents in Dubai sheltering from missile fire emerged earlier this week. Even as Gulf countries rushed to assure citizens they were safe, experts say the entire region is facing severe reputational damage due to the insecurity created by the war. Dania Thafer, executive director of Gulf International Forum, told The Independent that the normalisation of volatility was a risk for Saudi Arabia as it seeks economic expansion. Mohammed bin Salmans transformation agenda is not predicated on absolute security it rests on the credibility of long-term predictability, she said. Vision 2030 assumes that global investors, multinational firms, and expatriate talent will see Saudi Arabia as a stable environment for capital, innovation, and lifestyle. That assumption becomes harder to sustain if the Gulf is no longer viewed as the oasis of Middle East stability but as an active frontline. Any prolonged instability in the region would complicate the transformation narrative in the Gulf and weaken the safe hub for business model that both Dubai cultivated and Saudi Arabia now seeks to emulate, she added. Smoke billows from Saudi Aramcos Ras Tanura oil refinery after a reported Iranian drone strike on Monday (Reuters) The Kingdom is facing a struggle to attract talent A key element of Prince Mohammeds plan was his megaproject Neom, the most ambitious vision for a city in human history. As part of the project, more than 363bn would be pumped into the construction of a mountain ski resort, several coastal resorts and an industrial zone along the coast of the Red Sea, while a 170km megacity called The Line would be built. But less than a decade on from the announcement, the Saudi government appeared to have admitted defeat. After a series of delays and ballooning costs, it was reported earlier this year that the project would be scaled back. Plans for the future megacity The Line in Saudi Arabia have faltered. This picture shows what the project was supposed to look like (Neom) After this setback, experts say a long war in the Middle East would severely hamper his ability to attract Western talent and multinationals. Dr Neil Quilliam, from Chatham House, said: The issue for Saudi Arabia beyond the immediate crisis is the impact it will have on the countrys ability to attract and retain expatriate senior executives, persuade international businesses to establish their regional headquarters in Riyadh and continue to implement Vision 2030. Could Saudi Arabia fare better than Dubai? While experts believe that Saudi Arabias reputation may suffer, both Dr Quilliam and Ms Thafer argue that the kingdom may not be as badly affected as the UAE. Ms Thafer said: Reputationally speaking, Saudi Arabia has less to lose as it was not its main brand to the same degree as it was for Dubai. Historically, Saudi Arabia has been attacked far more frequently and at a greater scale than the UAE in terms of missile, drone, and cross-border strikes linked to Iran or Iran-backed groups. However, Saudi Arabias vast geographic size and dispersed population centres make individual attacks less concentrated and therefore less immediately disruptive to daily life than it would be for the UAE. Palaces near the future city of Neom, Saudi Arabia, seen in 2021 (Planet Labs PBC via AP) Dr Quilliam said that Saudi Arabia had one key advantage over the UAE for its recovery: its scale. The country is the size of Western Europe and has so far been less affected than the UAE. It has not experienced the same concentration of missile strikes. Furthermore, domestic flights have continued throughout the conflict, and most expatriates leaving the UAE are doing so overland into the kingdom. He was confident Saudi Arabias economy would bounce back from the war, albeit likely slowly. He said: While the targeting of Saudi Arabia in the current conflict will undermine short-term investor and expatriate confidence in Saudi Arabia, it will bounce back probably slowly, given the scale of its national transformation project and buoyed up for a time on the back of high oil and gas prices. A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on Tuesday (AFP/Getty) Dr Omar Al-Ghazzi, associate professor at The London School of Economics and Political Science, suggested Irans attacks could backfire entirely as they will trigger a discussion about security in the Gulf. Previously, both the UAE and Saudi have had a competitive, tense relationship. Now they both have a mutual interest in avoiding Iranian attacks. On the economic level, Iranian attacks have been damaging, particularly for the UAE, as Dubai is the most globalised and economically successful city in the region. Dubai has long been the symbol of Gulf prosperity. In general, Saudi Arabia has been less targeted. For instance, Saudi air travel is less affected, he said. But, in the long run, regional relations and the economic damage sustained depend on how the war will unfold and how long it will last. Iran knows that its attacks are damaging, and they are hoping that that would propel Gulf countries to pressure the US to stop. It is a gamble as it also may backfire, bringing Arab Gulf countries closer to each other and to the US. Democratic attorneys general have filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration. Composite: Rita Liu/The Guardian/Getty Images/Alamy (Composite: Rita Liu/The Guardian/Getty Images/Alamy) Four Democratic attorneys general, sitting in their offices from New York to California with state flags and books behind them, announced a new lawsuit on Thursday, alleging the president, yet again, had broken the law by attempting to create new tariffs without congressional approval. Its a now familiar scene for the group of top law-enforcement officials who have collectively filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration, serving as a counterweight to the presidents quest to expand his power and circumvent the constitution. Theyve protected billions of dollars for their states. Theyve stopped or stalled policies that would have cut food benefits during a government shutdown, closed health programs and job training, curtailed funds for crime victims, ended birthright citizenship, cut off funds for schools, and kept illegal tariffs in place. At a time when some institutions and elected leaders have chosen to play nice with the Trump administration, the 23 Democratic attorneys general have done the opposite. We know the most impactful elected position right now is the Democratic AG, said Andrea Campbell, the attorney general of Massachusetts. Their lawsuits have a high success rate: about 80% have gotten a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, Arizona attorney general Kris Mayes estimated. She has signed on to nearly 40 lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general against the administration. Joint lawsuits by attorneys general arent new. Republican attorneys general have banded together on suits against Democratic administrations, and they currently have filed joint briefs to defend Trump policies. Cross-partisan groups of attorneys general often work collaboratively on lawsuits over opioids or predatory businesses. But the sheer number of lawsuits in the past year-plus from Democratic attorneys general outpaces prior efforts. The scope of their legal work is broad and growing. Just recently, the actor Mark Ruffalo on social media called on state attorneys general to band together to fight the potential Paramount/Warner Bros merger, and California attorney general Rob Bonta responded that he is in conversation with his attorney general colleagues about the issue. The almost two dozen Democratic attorneys general and their staffs have met regularly since before Trump returned to the White House. Even before Trump won in November 2024, they were preparing for a potential Trump presidency, combing through his comments and Republican plans like Project 2025 to prepare the kinds of lawsuits they expected to file. When Trump started his second presidency with an executive order that sought to reverse birthright citizenship, disallowing those born in the US by foreign parents from being citizens, the Democratic attorneys general sued him the next day, one group of many that brought suit. The order was blocked by the courts and will be heard by the US supreme court in April. Part of the groups success comes from its preparation, but, several attorneys general told the Guardian, they wouldnt be winning so much if the Trump administration wasnt blatantly breaking the law. Id like to say that were winning these cases because were all a bunch of Johnnie Cochrans or Perry Masons or whatever, Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison said. But the truth is, what hes doing is patently illegal, and a 1L law student would know it. The attorneys generals offices have added lawyers and refocused staff to focus on federal accountability, finding that the cost of Trumps lawlessness exceeds the costs of additional attorneys. Hes taking money out of our state, said Ellison, who has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration since last January. One thing we cannot do is just let them pick Minnesotas pocket. Meanwhile, their Republican colleagues are entirely absent, even when the issue at hand, like massive tariffs on local businesses, also affect red states. Theyve been just uninterested and supine, and I think theyre secretly rooting for us, because when we deliver a victory and get tariffs struck down, their residents benefit, their businesses benefit, Bonta said in a recent press conference. While some cases resulted in reversals of policies for all states or blocked them from taking effect nationwide, the US supreme court limited universal injunctions in mid-2025, meaning only states signed on to litigation can receive relief in a given case. So it has never before been so important to have an attorney general willing to stand up for consumers and citizens as it is today, Mayes said. If you dont have a Democratic AG, you are going to get hurt by the Trump administration. And the irony of all of this is that it is the Republican AGs and their states that are getting pummeled by Trump because theyre not getting the same relief that we are. The Democratic AGs often implore their Republican colleagues to join their lawsuits and protect money that would be coming to their states, but they know the political dynamics namely, a vindictive president willing to rally his followers against them come into play. I know they care about their states, but theyre afraid, Delaware attorney general Kathy Jennings said. Theyre flat-out afraid. Theres nothing else I can say about it, except that they will not stand up to this man for fear of repercussions that either they personally will be faced with or that their constituents will face. Adam Piper, the executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association (Raga), said Republican attorneys general sued the Biden administration multiples times to make America safer, energy more affordable, and our border more secure while the Democratic attorneys general have prioritized political witch hunts against President Trump. These different approaches make it clear that Attorneys General are on the frontline of the policy fights that impact Americans the most making AG races the most important statewide contests this November, Piper said. *** A few of the Democratic AGs served for at least part of Trumps first term, but they knew his second term would be different. There would be few, if any, dissenting voices around the president to stall his plans. He would be more prepared to enact the laundry list of policies hed been touting on the campaign trail. They better understood that Trumps bluster wasnt just words his projecting should be taken seriously. The attorneys general began talking in early 2024 and met regularly to map out how they would respond on key issues. They met in person that year to go through Project 2025 and other plans Trump had made public, Ellison said. They split into groups to focus on rule of law, immigration, schools, LGBTQ+ and trans rights, diversity. They discussed and wrote memos about how they could show they had standing to sue. They talked about which states to file lawsuits in, based on where they believed they had advantages, he said. Their full-court press against Trump began right when he took office, and it hasnt waned since. We were geared up, said Jennings, of Delaware. We were ready, and weve stayed ready each and every day since then. Their plan included public engagement. They set out on town halls across the country, which doubled as a way to collect evidence for current and future cases, and rally their supporters to get more involved in fighting back. While Americans have since joined mass protests and boycotts, there was little public resistance when the attorneys general began their town halls in early 2025. A Minnesota town hall in March was standing room only, and the AGs received standing ovations. The attorneys general still meet regularly, as often as twice a week via video, Mayes said. Their staffs are in communication daily. These meetings allow them to share whats happening on the ground in their states, said Oregon attorney general Dan Rayfield. Sometimes, an issue might be more isolated, but usually when an issue is raised, other states are seeing it too, he said. They collectively decide which states will lead on a given case, usually according to who has the expertise and availability. The reality of the AG world is that New York and California are the big dogs they really do have way more people than the rest of us, Ellison said. And so oftentimes theyre contributing more, according to their ability. But then theres a lot of states that punch above their weight. For Campbell, doing nothing was never an option. She does her work because she believes in service and helping people, and she has a responsibility to protect Massachusetts residents and the states economy and the rule of law in general. Were exercising courage to stand up, not only for our residents, but for the constitution, she said. And we know without a constitution, you cant have a functioning state economy. Gen Z is arguably the most studied, analysed and surveyed generation in history. Photograph: Nick David/Getty Images (Photograph: Nick David/Getty Images) In just a few days, research has shown that gen Z like binge drinking, hold more traditional gender views, have started Chinamaxxing, prefer solo dining and believe environmental values are as important as physical attraction. A search for the term on Google brings up millions of articles meticulously documenting every aspect of gen Z behaviour from their finances and mental health, to their food habits and hobbies. Theyre arguably the most studied, analysed and surveyed generation in history. So why are we so obsessed with gen Z? Many say the internet and social media play a big part born between 1997 and 2012, gen Z were the first to be fully immersed in the technology from infancy, and that sets them apart from the generations that came before them. Theyre the first generation growing up with ubiquitous technology some had social media profiles even before they were born, said Paul Redmond, former director of student experiences at Liverpool and Manchester universities, who now delivers talks on generational diversity. So theres a lot of curiosity there, and they are demonstrating very different behaviours than other generations have. He said things like gen Zs approach to work (theyre more likely to jump around jobs), and their different spending habits make them ripe for studying and surveying. Employers want to know how to hire them, companies want to know how to sell to them. This has led to the rise of gen Z-driven marketing agencies, which know that companies, now spearheaded by gen X roughly those born between 1965 and 1980, are desperate to connect with this cohort. They are the generation that grew up through the social internet, economic instability, anxiety around climate, the pandemic, and now theres AI, said Joanna Allcock, brand and growth director at Seed marketing agency. This combination has really changed how this generation finds belonging, how they form opinions and how they choose brands as well. So organisations are trying to understand how influence spreads and how to stay relevant in a culture where everything is changing all the time. But this clamour for insight has also led to a proliferation of duff surveys and often meaningless polls. I have a Google Trends alert on for gen Z, and I get inundated with emails every day 50% of our office is gen Z so we can see how much of it just isnt true, said Allcock. Jenk Oz, the founder and CEO of Thred Media, says gen Z are studied and analysed more simply because they can be their online presence from a young age means they have provided the world with more data about themselves than previous generations. We saw similar initial interest in every generation that came before them, but gen Zs interest continues to grow because they provide what everyone has longed for for many decades continuous real-time data from the source itself, he said. He added that they were on track to be the richest and highest spending generation by 2035, and between them and millennials, they would make up a third of all wealth so the obsession is mainly fuelled by money. Others say society has throughout history fixated on young people, and the obsession with gen Z is just the latest iteration of that. Prof Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at Kings College London, said the obsession with gen Z has descended into a form of hysteria. Every single generation will think the current generation of young people is the worst ever, he said. Previously millennials were the youngest adult generation and they were getting all the stick, with their love of avocados or top knots. Now it has transferred to gen Z, but it is worse now because were in a more conflictual social media environment. He said that while there were some attributes that could be defined as gen Z, many other things were simply a result of life cycles (and would probably change as people aged) or the time period in which everyone was living. For instance, there is definite truth in delayed adulthood for gen Z, that things are happening later, Duffy added. Theyre living at home longer, staying in education longer, getting married later, having kids later. But most of what we see in the media on gen Z is marketing nonsense and hysteria. He added that labels like gen Z were appealing in an online age they were an incredibly efficient way for headline writers and people on social media to get across an image really quickly. Duffy also said the disconnect between different generations, who may often rarely communicate outside family, was fuelling myths and stereotypes about gen Z. Weve got very separate digital lives, where different generations are doing different things to different intensities on different platforms, he said. So weve got big gaps between the generations now, bigger gaps now than we had in the past outside the family, and that is where these stereotypes breed. Hans Knickerbocker, 40, is accused of strangling his father to death ( St Lawrence County Sheriff's Office) A 40-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder after he intervened in a fight between his parents and choked his father to death, authorities say. Hans Knickerbocker attacked his 63-year-old father, Philip A. Knickerbocker, at the family home in Russell, New York, on the evening of February 25, according to a criminal complaint. Court documents, obtained by WWNY, say the fatal incident followed a marital dispute between Philip Knickerbocker and his wife, Jacqueline. During the argument, Knickerbocker Sr poured coffee on his wifes head and tried to punch her, according to court documents. Hans Knickerbocker then confronted his father. He attacked him with his fists, used both hands to choke him, and applied his full body weight to Philips throat, according to the complaint. Troopers responded to the home, near the Canadian border, around 7:49 p.m., to find the elder Knickerbocker dead on the couch, according to a NYS police release. Hans Knickerbocker, 40, is accused of strangling his father to death (St Lawrence County Sheriff's Office) During the incident, Hans allegedly struck his father in the head and strangled him, the release states. The complaints also allege that Hans did intentionally cause death to his father by choking the victim, restricting his ability to breathe, until he was ultimately deceased. An autopsy determined the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation, WWNY reported. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Hans Knickerbocker was arrested the night of the killing and initially charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. After the autopsy confirmed the cause of death, he was charged with second-degree murder. Hans Knickerbocker was taken to State Police barracks in Canton for questioning and later arraigned in the Town of Hermon Court. He is being held at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility. Sir Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure from the US to take a tougher stance on Iran - Jonathan Brady/PA At PMQs on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his determination for Britain not to be drawn further into the US-Israeli war with Iran. He was not prepared, he told the House of Commons, for the UK to join a war unless there was a lawful basis and a visible, thought-through plan. Yet Starmer has already changed his mind about the level of UK involvement once. In such a fast-moving, unpredictable and deadly conflict one that threatens to spread quickly there is a significant risk of Britain being drawn in further still. The Prime Minister had initially refused to let US forces use British bases, specifically Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, to launch strikes on Iran. But 36 hours after the US and Israel began their offensive which has since seen thousands of airstrikes unleashed on Iranian targets and under pressure from Donald Trump, Starmers position shifted. At 9pm on Sunday night, he announced that US forces could use British bases, but only for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites. He was reluctant to go further, he said, because the UK had learned the lessons of Iraq, and would not go to war without a legal casus belli. Still, the about-turn has done little to appease Trump, who has repeatedly reiterated his displeasure with Starmer. On Monday, the President told The Telegraph he was very disappointed in him. A day later, Trump told reporters at the White House that it is not Winston Churchill were dealing with, in reference to Starmer. Just hours after Starmers statement, a drone believed to be Iranian struck RAF Akrotiri, a British air base in Cyprus. Two further drones were intercepted on Monday. In response to the increased threat, HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, has been sent to the Mediterranean to provide additional air defence, although it is not expected to arrive for another fortnight. Iran has also struck the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, where British personnel are stationed. In Iraq, a missile landed just 400 metres from British personnel at a coalition base, set up as part of the fight against the Islamic State. British F35s and other forces have shot down an unspecified number of drones over Jordan, Qatar and Iraq. Analysts say that for all Starmers careful positioning, the UK is now, for all intents and purposes, at war. [The UK is] involved, says Matthew Savill of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a military think tank. Theres already been a drone strike on Cyprus, and UK personnel are at the site in Manama, Bahrain, where the Fifth Fleet was hit. So the question is actually, To what extent do we wish to get more involved? Do we wish to play a largely defensive role, or do we want to join in? Politically, militarily and diplomatically, there are many reasons for Britain not to be drawn into a war being prosecuted without an obvious plan or goal. It would be expensive and unpopular YouGov polling shows just 28 per cent of Britons support action against Iran, while nearly half object to the US using British bases. Practically, however, it may be difficult for Britain to avoid escalation. There are hundreds of thousands of Britons living in the Middle East, and more than 130,000 of them have registered their presence with the Foreign Office this week. Many had been lured by high salaries and low tax rates to the gleaming cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, where Iranian missiles and drones have closed the airports and sent thousands scurrying to basement shelters in recent days. Credit: X/@clashreport With British civilians ostensibly under attack, the Government has moved to protect them. At PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer said that more than 1,000 British nationals had returned on commercial flights, with more planned in the coming days. In addition to RAF Akrotiri the largest permanent RAF base outside the UK, where 4,000 servicemen and women are stationed along with F-35 and Eurofighter jets there are also three permanent British sites in the region. There is a UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain; a joint logistics support base in Duqm, Oman; and the Donnelly Lines facility at the Al-Minhad base in the UAE. British forces also have access to the Al-Udeid base in Qatar. Additionally, there is Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, which is within striking distance of Iran for long-range US bombers. As long as British forces are stationed nearby and Britain is assisting the US, they will be tempting targets for Iranian forces. Were an Iranian attack to kill British service personnel or civilians, seriously damage aircraft, ships or a base, retaliation might be necessary, despite Starmers reservations until now. Thats how [Britain being drawn in] would happen if we were directly targeted in a way that we couldnt avoid retaliating, says Nicholas Hopton, a former British ambassador to Iran. Forget whatever the Israelis and Americans are doing we would have to do something about [an attack of that nature]. In such an eventuality, Starmer would likely have public support, as well as a legal basis for retaliation. Another factor that could bring about greater British involvement is pressure from America. So far, Trump has kept his criticism verbal. Should the Americans make ongoing intelligence sharing, or other aspects of the special relationship, conditional on Britain stepping up, Starmer may have no choice but to comply. The longer the war continues, the greater the risk of such an outcome grows. Now that we have a ship heading to the region, and planes in the sky defending Gulf allies, there is more risk of that, says Hopton. The more this escalates, the more risk, the more peril. In either scenario, the decision to enter the war would be a political one. But it would immediately raise issues for the military too. One question is whether the UK could make much difference. It will be two weeks before HMS Dragon arrives in the region. Both of Britains 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are out of action, undergoing maintenance in Rosyth and Portsmouth, respectively. Meanwhile, HMS Anson, its only active nuclear-powered attack submarine, is in Australia as part of an exercise. 0405 HMS Dragon Could we add firepower that makes a difference? asks Savill. The Israelis have committed 200 combat aircraft that is more than the entire deployable RAF. The US Navy alone is flying as many combat aircraft off the two carriers it has in the region [USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford] as the UK has in its inventory, let alone deployable. So we could add to that, but not in a decisive way. While Trump seems keen on symbolic support, the US and Israeli militaries have not expressed any desire for greater practical assistance in attacking Iran. In fact, Israeli military sources say that greater British involvement might complicate matters. The plan was only the US and Israel, right, says Israeli defence intelligence chief, Danny Citrinowicz. So, if the UK decides to join in with actively attacking Iran, [it becomes] very complex. He adds that the incident over the weekend, in which three US F-15s were shot down over Kuwait, apparently by friendly fire, highlights what a very crowded airspace the conflict zone has become. But if Britains Gulf allies such as Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia were to take up arms themselves and join in with a prolonged offensive, then the pressure on the UK to become more involved would ramp up regardless. Should France or Germany, who are so far less engaged than the UK, be drawn in, that would also heap more pressure on Starmer. Any further involvement would risk further escalation. Security sources have long warned about the threat of Iranian sleeper cells, and of military or paramilitary forces that could be activated on the UK mainland in the event of a conflict. Unable to go toe-to-toe with Western militaries, Iran might look to wage an asymmetric war instead. The danger for Britain is that it ends up in the worst of all worlds neither convincingly in nor out, but at continual risk of attack. Its current position looks weak compared to France, for example, which has a stronger presence in the region plus an aircraft carrier en route but has also been more stridently opposed to the conflict. Starmer, ever the lawyer, is keen to maintain a line between offensive and defensive action, but war has a habit of eroding such neat distinctions. Prof Alan Wilson with the plane that crashed, which he built himself to keep up with and monitor cheetahs - BBC A British wildlife expert and a display pilot have been killed in a plane crash in the desert in Namibia, southern Africa. Prof Alan Wilson, who appeared in numerous BBC nature documentaries, and Neil Oakman died during an antelope-tracking flight on Wednesday. They were killed instantly when their light aircraft stalled and nose-dived shortly after take-off near the Gobabeb Research Station in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The academic specialised in the movement of big cats and Mr Oakman, 63, was an experienced pilot who flew Second World War Hurricanes for display from the former RAF Duxford. It is understood that the crash happened during the final flight of a two-week study of the Oryx, a large antelope, in the wilds of the Namib Desert. The mangled wreckage of the plane was discovered about a mile from the runway, 75 miles inland from Walvis Bay. A recovery team found the plane about a mile from the runway - Facebook/Erongo Prof Wilson, 62, was a world-renowned expert in animal locomotion and the head of the structure and motion laboratory at the Royal Veterinary College. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and had pioneered hi-tech tracking devices, including GPS collars, to study the speed and agility of wild animals such as cheetahs and lions. He appeared in BBC wildlife documentaries, including Cat Watch: 2014 and The Secret Life of the Cat. It is believed that the plane, a British-registered Groppo-Trail light aircraft, had been built from a kit by the professor himself to track big predators and antelopes. Judith Shomongula, a senior air accident investigator, said: On Wednesday, March 4, at about 5pm, Alan Wilson and Neil Oakman took off to look for collared antelope in the dunes of the Namib. At about 7pm, researcher John Lowe started getting worried about his colleagues who were late getting back to the research centre and a search of the area was started. They later discovered a crashed aircraft at the end of the Gobabeb airstrip. Police were informed and the bodies transported to the Walvis Bay police mortuary. We all extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. State-of-the-art tracking Prof Wilson and Mr Lowe had worked together for more than a decade, developing state-of-the-art tracking and motion collars for predators and antelope. They were leading a project for the UKs Royal Veterinary College studying the Oryx antelopes, which had been fitted with animal-borne sensors. A Gobabeb Training and Research Centre spokesman said staff were deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic accident, which has hit everyone at the facility extremely hard. In a statement, the Royal Veterinary College said: Alan was a world-leading researcher in biomechanics whose work transformed our understanding of locomotion in animals and humans. This is an enormous loss, and one that will be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. Mr Oakman was a retired airline pilot who had trained commercial pilots for Ryanair. He was the chief pilot of 501 Squadrons former Battle of Britain Hurricane VZ497 and flew it at displays. Neil Oakman was a retired airline pilot who had trained commercial pilots for Ryanair - Lightaircraftassociation.co.uk Ken Dirsch, a friend of the pilot, said: Neil was a very good friend and neighbour and an extremely competent pilot and flew all different types of aircraft, including a Hurricane fighter. He loved flying and was a brilliant engineer for anything mechanical this is such a tragic loss. The University of Glasgow School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine said: Our thoughts are with Anna and the rest of Alans family as well as his colleagues and friends. He was truly a world expert in his field and will be dearly missed by so many. Prof Wilson led the Locate project in Africa, which studied how predators and their prey achieve their speed and manoeuvring. With Mr Lowe, an electronics and software engineer, he designed GPS collars and cameras that worked together to capture data and dramatic footage of big cats hunting down prey. The camera fitted to Prof Wilsons light aircraft used GPS to synchronise with collars fitted to predators and antelopes to capture every twist and turn of a hunt. Sarah Everard was raped and killed by a policeman in 2021. Now more people are coming forward with information on alleged abuse by Met officers Sexual assault allegations against Metropolitan Police officers and staff have nearly tripled in the five years since the rape and murder of Sarah Everard, The Telegraph can disclose. Data show there were 68 allegations of sexual assault made against officers and staff at Britains biggest force in 2025, the highest number on record. In 2021, the year that Wayne Couzens, then a serving policeman, kidnapped and murdered Sarah in a case that shocked the country, there were 26 allegations of sexual assault. The case shone a light on serious sexual misconduct at the London force. Figures obtained by The Telegraph also show there are currently 138 live investigations into Met officers and staff accused of sexual misconduct-related issues. The force said it had relentlessly pursued those carrying out wrongdoing and said the rise in allegations and investigations was the result of an increased confidence among people wanting to come forward. Other figures show that police constables are being accused of more sexual misconduct. In 2025, there were 59 sexual offence allegations made against Pcs, 11 against sergeants and above, three against staff and 16 against people of unidentified rank. Last year also saw a record number of cases (45) referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, more than triple the 14 in 2021. The number of allegations made against officers and staff for domestic abuse has also risen sharply. In 2025, there were 330 such allegations, up from 195 in 2021. In 2010, in the first available data, there were 78. Domestic abuse accusations specifically centring around sexual assault have also increased, data show. In 2025, 76 allegations of sexual assault were made related to domestic abuse. In 2021, it was 36. Couzens is not the only high-profile case of a police officer committing or accused of sex crimes and there have been more recent ones. After Couzens murdered Sarah, Baroness Casey was commissioned to chair a report into the Met Polices conduct. After the murder by Wayne Couzens, a report was launched into the Met Polices conduct - Metropolitan Police/AFP via Getty It found hundreds of officers had been getting away with breaking the law or with misconduct, and also that many claims of sexual misconduct, misogyny, racism and homophobia were badly mishandled. Instances of sexual assault among serving police officers remain an issue. Pc Jason Capery, of the Met, last month pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to an offence of sexual assault by touching. He was alleged to have touched and squeezed the bottom of a female colleague while drunk. On Friday, he was handed a 12-month community order. A Met Police spokesman said: Londoners rightly expect the highest standards from our officers and staff and in the last three years we have transformed our vetting and professional standards processes as part of our New Met for London plan. We have invested in 200 more officers who are specifically and proactively focused on uncovering and dealing with wrongdoing. We have relentlessly pursued and removed those who did not meet the standards we expect around 1,500 officers and staff have exited since 2022, at an unprecedented pace. The confidence of our workforce to report wrongdoing has led to internal reports almost trebling over three years thanks to the courage and conviction of colleagues. This is testament to the decent majority of our people who have rightly stood up and refused to accept poor behaviour. The portrait of Beeston Long, the former governor of the Bank of England, has been half concealed by London Museum Docklands The portrait of a British slave owner has been hidden by a museum to reclaim Caribbean history. Beeston Long, an investor and former Bank of England governor in the early 19th century, commissioned a large portrait that now hangs in the London Museum Docklands. This artwork has been draped in multi-coloured cloth as part of a project intended to reclaim the histories of colonised Caribbean nations, and celebrate the influence of the Windrush Generation. Long, who oversaw expansion of the Docklands in London, had investments in Jamaican plantations worked by slave labour. Beeston Long had investments in Jamaican plantations worked by slave labour New information panels at the museum explain that artwork which may obscure or sanitise its links to slavery can evoke emotional responses. They add that museums should give a voice to those whose cultures have been impacted by colonialism. Longs vast portrait is now symbolically half-covered by Madras cloth, a material exported to the Caribbean during the colonial period, following suggestions from affected individuals. The symbolic shrouding follows the removal of a statue of slave trader Robert Milligan, a bronze piece that was taken from a plinth outside the museum in 2020, at the height of Black Lives Matter protests, on the orders of Tower Hamlets council. It is understood to still be in storage inside the museum. National Museum Cardiff took down a painting of Waterloo hero and colonial governor Thomas Picton in 2021 as part of a project to decolonise the artwork. Welsh Labour ministers later issued advice to help councils and other state-funded bodies cover up or destroy artworks and public statues depicting old white men. The latest intervention at the east London museum was made as part of a themed trail through the building that tells the story of the capitals maritime trade, and the development of the riverside cityscape. The symbolic shrouding is intended to reclaim the histories of colonised Caribbean nations The signposted trail is set to run until 2027, and explains to visitors how the Caribbean community was essential to the area. It claims they were invited to migrate to Britain to help rebuild the mother country between 1948 and 1971. The government of Clement Attlee strongly opposed the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush itself in 1948, and hoped to divert the ship and its Caribbean passengers to Africa. By 1971, Caribbean arrivals constituted around 0.5 per cent of the population of the UK. Displays note that Caribbean arrivals created the Tower Hamlets we know today. The Docklands museum, located close to Canary Wharf, boasts extensive displays on the transatlantic slave trade. An installation called Holding Emotions has been created to help visitors deal with subject matter that can trigger discomfort, anger, and disappointment. Displays state: Many of the objects in this gallery were created for and through the oppression of enslaved people. European colonialists exploited African and Asian peoples and lands relentlessly. Visitors are helped to reclaim wellbeing and a leaflet is provided, offering advice to visitors on how to ground yourself. Patrons are given a series of self-care techniques to use, including doodling and finding the nearest comfortable seats. Emotional support has been provided by other museums to help people handle the subject of slavery, and in 2025 the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge provided a reflection space where visitors could go after viewing an exhibition about the slave trade and abolition. The London Museum Docklands was approached for comment. Protesters hold signs calling for the end of the Iran war during Saturdays march from Westminster to Nine Elms - Reuters / Jack Taylor Thousands of pro-Iranian protesters have marched through central London chanting anti-Israeli and US slogans and calling for an end to the Iran war. There were tense scenes along the route between Westminster and the US embassy in Nine Elms when the march was met by a counter-demonstration of people holding Israeli flags. Pro-Israeli demonstrators were greeted with shouts of scum, shame on you and murderers as people waving Iranian flags marched past. One protester could be heard leading a chant of Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud, which is considered to be an anti-Semitic slogan celebrating the defeat of Jewish tribes by Muhammad in the oasis of Khaybar in 628. The protest had been organised by those opposed to the US-led attacks on Iran and many marchers carried photographs of the Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader killed in a bombing raid. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa and other groups were represented at the march on Saturday. The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and end post-march rallies by 5pm. A demonstrator holds an image of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes on his compound in Tehran last Saturday - Reuters / Jack Taylor Demonstrators leading the march could be heard chanting: We are the people. We wont be silenced. Stop the bombing now, now, now, now. Chants of Zionism is a crime, shut them down for Palestine and Keir Starmer be afraid, we will see you in the Hague could also be heard. David Plant, 73, one of the marchers, said: What the US and Israel are doing is evil. Israel is a Zionist state that wants to dominate the world. Israel is clearly in control of the US. Iran is an ancient civilisation, its fighting for its pure survival. Not all people agree with the ayatollahs but they are united in support of Palestine. You never hear a good word said about Khamenei in the West. Asked why he was attending, Martin Perry, 58, from Northampton, said: Because the acts against Iran are against international law, and its just a pattern of events, decisions taken by America and Israel, that are destroying international law. Im here today to signal to Keir Starmer that the public arent for the war against Iran, and dont want our forces going into [or] being involved in an illegal war. The Labour Party is a racist party Speaking behind a large banner that read: End British Support For Zionism, one protester with a megaphone told the crowd: The British government supports the most racist occupation of the Middle East the Israeli state. The Labour Party is a racist party, it is an imperialist party. The United States government and Israel, with the support of the British Government, are bombing schools, they are bombing hospitals. After arriving outside the US embassy in south London, the crowd of several thousand people chanted: From Iran to Palestine, bombing children is a crime. Speaking to the crowd, Zarah Sultana, the Your Party MP, said: Another Labour government, another US president launching an illegal war. Shame on them. Back then we were told Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, we were told war would bring peace and democracy. Today we are being asked to believe another set of lies. A protesters sign suggests a link between the attacks on Iran and the Epstein files during the Stop the War Coalitions London march - Reuters / Jack Taylor Lindsey German, of the Stop the War Coalition, also addressed the gathering and said: Donald Trump said yesterday that he wanted unconditional surrender from the people of Iran. He must be living in a fantasy world if he thinks anyones going to surrender to his bombing. This war crime follows from a war crime of epic proportion: the two and a half year genocide of the people of Gaza ... Netanyahu and Trump were emboldened because the powers of Europe did nothing to stop them. Our message to Keir Starmer today should be very clear: stop appeasing Donald Trump all the way to World War Three. Ms German also called for all American military bases to be removed from Britain. She continued: Trump talked about regime change in Iran. Regime change should start at home. The march followed similar pro-Iranian demonstrations in Manchester and Birmingham in recent days, when there were clashes with counter-protesters. Concern was also building over plans to hold a major pro-Iranian event in central London next weekend. In Bristol, six people were arrested on Saturday after protesters and counter-protesters clashed. A march of about 40 people from a group called Bristol Patriots was halted by around 200 Stand Up to Racism protesters. Avon and Somerset Police said items were thrown at officers, who used horses and batons to keep the groups apart. Mounted police arrested six people after a group called Bristol Patriots faced Stand Up to Racism protesters in Bristol on Saturday - Alamy The Al Quds rally is an annual march held in solidarity with the Palestinians, first initiated by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini following Irans Islamic Revolution. Scores of politicians have written to Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, demanding next weekends event be banned. This year there are concerns there will be increased tensions at the Iranian-linked event because of escalations in the Middle East. A memo sent to the Home Office on Friday warned that the annual Al-Quds Day event is characterised by racial hatred, anti-Semitic rhetoric, extremist symbolism and open displays of support for proscribed groups. Among those calling for the march to be stopped is Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, Lord Walney, the former Gordon Brown adviser and anti-extremism tsar, and Baroness Foster, the Northern Ireland politician. Demonstrators hold a sign portraying Donald Trump as a Nazi at a march to the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday - Getty / Jeff J Mitchell So far, the Home Office has resisted pressure to prohibit the protest, despite the ongoing escalations from Iran in the Middle East. The Met Police can apply to the Home Secretary to stop the march if there is a risk of serious disorder but there is a high threshold to do this. A Met Police spokesman said: It is important to recognise that the police do not have the power to ban protest. They can apply to the Home Secretary for a ban but only if there is a risk of serious disorder that cannot be managed by the use of police tactics or the imposition of Public Order Act conditions alone. That is a high threshold. Officers will still take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime, including anti-Semitism, and support for proscribed organisations. They will intervene decisively where they see people crossing the line from lawful protest to criminality. A Home Office spokesman said: While it is for the police to determine whether a protest risks public order and safety, we have robust legislation in place to deal with threatening, abusive, or harassing behaviour and incitement to hatred. The government has sanctioned the IRGC in its entirety. The Islamic Human Rights Commission has been contacted for comment. David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, has warned that watering down the plans will deny victims faster justice - Paul Grover for The Telegraph David Lammy faces defeat in the Commons over his plans to curb jury trials unless he reverses his position, rebel Labour MPs have warned. Leaders of the rebellion over the Justice Secretarys plans to scale back jury trials say they already have nearly 80 Labour MPs ready to vote against the Government unless he offers concessions. The Courts and Tribunals Bill, which would enact the changes, is due to go before the Commons for its second reading on Tuesday. Most of the rebel MPs are expected to abstain or offer support on the condition that Mr Lammy accepts compromise amendments to the bill as it progresses through Parliament. Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Kingston Upon Hull East and a former shadow solicitor general, said the aim of the rebellion was not to defeat the entire bill, but to secure changes to the unworkable and unjust plans. The Government needs to realise that the votes against these unworkable jury proposals are solid and MPs will vote against them unless it comes back with a sensible compromise, Mr Turner, a former barrister, told The Telegraph. Karl Turner, a Labour MP and former shadow solicitor general, said the rebellion aimed to change unworkable plans - Jeff Gilbert for The Telegraph Under Mr Lammys proposals, defendants likely to be sentenced to less than three years in jail will no longer have a right to a jury trial, but will instead have their cases heard before a judge-only court or magistrates. Sir Brian Leveson, the former appeal court judge, recommended in his review of the judicial system that there should be an intermediate court of a judge and two lay magistrates to replace some jury trials as a way to tackle the record courts backlog, which stands at nearly 80,000 cases. However, the Justice Secretary went further than Sir Brians plans. Opponents of the move to scrap jury trials are pushing for Sir Brians more moderate proposals to be implemented. Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Lammy have so far refused to back down, warning that watering down the plans will deny victims faster justice. Linsey Farnsworth, a Labour member of the justice committee, has backed the reforms as the only way we are going to get the system back on track when combined with the extra investment pledged by the Government. The former crown prosecutor defended the jury trial changes, saying there were thousands of cases heard each year without a jury in magistrates courts. No one is suggesting that isnt justice, she said. Victims are currently having to wait up to five years for trials and some suspects are manipulating these delays by pleading not guilty in the hope victims withdraw from cases before they do eventually get to court. Modelling by the Ministry of Justice showed that structural reforms including curbing jury trials, efficiency measures and unlimited court sittings will reduce the backlogs to 50,000 by 2035. The Tories, Reform and Liberal Democrats oppose the plans to curb jury trials. Kemi Badenoch is expected to table a reasoned amendment to the bill on Tuesday. This would seek to effectively kill off the jury trial proposals while retaining the rest of the proposed legislation, which includes efficiency measures to reduce backlogs. The courts bill will also implement a change to legislation to allow children who have been abused by their parents to cut all connections to their abusers. Current legislation has a presumption that parents remain involved in the lives of their children even if they have harmed them but this is set to be abolished. If parents are deemed to be a threat to their childs safety then the proposed legislation would likely restrict their involvement in the lives of their children. Claire Throssell has campaigned for the measure for over a decade in memory of her two children, Jack, 12, and Paul, nine, who died in a house fire started by her ex-husband Darren Sykes in October 2014. Mr Lammy said: Every child deserves to be safe, every victim deserves to be heard, and every family deserves a justice system they can trust. We need to make sure that what happened to Claire and her children never happens again. Sir Richard Branson, appearing at the space conference, said it would be wise for the Government to invest in the right projects - Alamy Britain needs to prepare for a conflict in space, Sir Richard Branson said. The British billionaire called on European nations to dominate the growing space industry for the sake of national security. Im afraid were going to have to try to dominate it as far as ... future wars are concerned, and hopefully work with Americans, but be ready to stand on our own two feet, he said at Space-Comm Expo Europe in London this week. Asked about the UKs ability to compete with China, Russia and the US in space, Sir Richard said: We are capable of matching it. Whether governments are willing to support their companies is another matter. It would be wise for the Government, particularly in this age with wars coming back again, to invest in the right projects. Maj Gen Paul Tedman, Britains space defence chief, said last year that the next world conflict would be extended in space and compressed in time and urged the country to move much faster to build up our defences. An orbital Cold War A war in space could see GPS communications crippled, causing blackouts that could bring down the financial sector by blocking digital transactions. Air traffic control services could also go blind, while internet television and weather forecasting services could cease to function. Countries have been preparing for an orbital Cold War by investing in space-age weapons, with electromagnetic pulses and lasers that could blind satellites, and grappling hooks to pull them out of orbit. In response to the growing threat, UK Space Command was established at RAF High Wycombe in 2021 to protect and defend the countrys interests in space. Maj Gen Tedman called on Britain to be more assertive, saying: To keep pace with the threats and tech we need to move much faster and exploit commercial industry. The direction is clear. The time is now. The cost of inaction is rising. On Wednesday, Baroness Lloyd of Effra, the space minister, announced a 500m investment in Britains national space programme, bringing total government funding to 2.8bn between now and 2030. This was not enough, lagging far behind Germanys planned 35bn (30.4bn) investment in the next four years, industry leaders told The Telegraph. The US is in a new space race with China, with both nations planning to land astronauts on the moon before 2030 and later build bases on the surface. Chinese satellites have been seen practising dogfighting in space, moving within less than a mile of each other in an aggressive manner suggesting the country is preparing for space warfare. Meanwhile, Russian intelligence satellites have stalked orbiting European spacecraft, prompting suspicions that Moscow is developing an anti-satellite weapon. China is active in space and wants to put a man on the moon before 2030 - Getty Images Britain is responding by investing in technologies such as laser detection, satellite communications, and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, in order to strengthen national security. But Will Whitehorn, the chairman of the Seraphim Space Investment Trust, said government actions so far amounted to rearranging our deckchairs on the Titanic. We need to be defending our assets in space because we are in a real and present danger, he added. Sir Richard, who travelled to space in 2021 on his companys VSS Unity 22 craft, said Britain had an opportunity to lead the way in space tourism. He said his firm Virgin Galactic was the only one still taking wealthy adventurers into space, after Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin announced in January that it would be halting space tourism. Sir Richard said he hoped to send flights to the outer atmosphere every 48 hours in a new class of spaceship. The space launch later this year is going to be really important, particularly now that Blue Origin seems to have bowed out of putting people into space, he said. We need to fill that gap. Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, is trying to prevent extremism without blocking free speech - PA Universities that fail to prevent extremism will face sanctions and could be shut down, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has said. Vice-chancellors will also be issued guidance on how to vet external speakers to make sure they do not support terrorism or engage in illegal activity. This week, the Government will launch a social cohesion strategy that cites Islamist extremism as the biggest threat to community togetherness, according to a leaked draft. One of the measures to be announced is an expanded taskforce, run by the Home Office, which will identify and disrupt the plans of any Islamist hate preachers and far-Right extremists attempting to travel to the UK. Ms Phillipson said: Universities should be places of rigorous debate and opportunity but never places where people feel unsafe because of who they are or what they believe. Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters at Kings College London. British universities have a long history of political activism - AFP There have long been concerns about the threat of extremism on British campuses. Earlier this year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) restricted state funding for its citizens seeking to enrol at UK universities over fears of radicalisation by Islamist groups. The Gulf state introduced the stricter rules largely because of concerns over the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, which it has proscribed as a terrorist organisation. In Britain, universities already have a legal duty to comply with Prevent, the Governments counter-extremism strategy, which states that they must have due regard to the need to protect people from being drawn into terrorism. But under the plans, the Office for Students higher education watchdog will play a more prominent role in monitoring universities compliance. If institutions fail to meet their legal duties, the regulator has powers to intervene, including imposing sanctions or deregistering them. There must be no place for hate crimes Officials at the Department for Education are drawing up guidance on how universities should manage the risk of external speakers and events by carrying out appropriate risk checks where free speech crosses into unlawful activity or support for terrorism. Ms Phillipson added: Many universities are already working tirelessly to support their students and uphold the law, and they deserve our backing, which is why we are taking action to strengthen the support available to them. Free speech is a core pillar of our society and our universities, but we must also be clear about where the line is drawn. There must be no place for hate crimes, intimidation or attempts to draw students into terrorism. A leaked copy of an action plan warns that cohesion in communities has been broken down by mass immigration and the use of social media to spread hate. It states that Britains historic social cohesion that has kept us united in the face of adversity is under threat. It notes: For many living in the UK, the changes brought about by mass migration have been too much, too quickly, leaving people feeling as though they are losing their local and national identity. Describing integration as a two-way street, it calls for respect for different cultures and states that newcomers have a responsibility to engage with and embrace what it means to be British. stock image of the Manhattan Bridge Credit: getty NEED TO KNOW Sixteen people were involved in a multi-vehicle collision in New York City There were no fatalities, according to a spokesperson with the Fire Department of New York The identities of those involved and the cause of the crash have not been disclosed A multi-vehicle collision on New York Citys Manhattan Bridge has left 16 people with injuries, officials said. On Friday, March 6, a spokesperson for the Fire Department of New York confirmed to PEOPLE that a call came in at approximately 11:15 a.m. reporting an auto accident involving a bus and car on the lower level in the Manhattan-bound direction. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The incident resulted in 16 people being taken to local hospitals. An FDNY official told PEOPLE one person was transported to Bellevue Hospital with a serious injury, but did not disclose the nature of the injury. Four others were sent to the same hospital for minor, undisclosed injuries. Advertisement 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. A fifth individual was taken to NYU Langone-Tisch Hospital with a minor injury, and 10 others were evaluated on scene by EMS and declined transportation to the hospital. No additional details were provided. PEOPLE reached out to the New York Police Department for comment on the incident, but did not immediately receive a response. Read the original article on People Photos by Igor GOLUBENKOV (NGO: Saving Taman), CC BY 2.0 (Photos by Igor GOLUBENKOV (NGO: Saving Taman), CC BY 2.0 ) Quick Take The Exxon Valdez spilled approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, contaminating about 1,300 miles of coastline. An estimated 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, and up to 22 killer whales died as a result of the spill. The disaster led to major environmental reforms, including the 1990 Oil Pollution Act and the requirement for double-hulled oil tankers in U.S. waters. On March 24, 1989, just after midnight, a massive oil tanker ran aground in one of the most pristine marine environments in North America. Within hours, black crude oil was spreading across the icy waters of Alaskas Prince William Sound. Television screens across the country, including mine, soon filled with heartbreaking images of oil-soaked ducks, sea otters struggling to move, and miles of once-beautiful shoreline stained dark. I was in middle school at the time, but I remember it vividly. All these years later, those images are still burned into my head. The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the moment Iand probably millions of other Americansfirst understood how fragile ocean ecosystems really are. The Exxon Valdez spilled roughly 11 million gallons of crude oil after striking Bligh Reef, contaminating about 1,300 miles of Alaska coastline. Wonderful Nature/Shutterstock.com (Wonderful Nature/Shutterstock.com) What Happened on March 24, 1989 The oil tanker Exxon Valdez departed the Valdez Marine Terminal in Alaska on the evening of March 23, 1989, carrying roughly 53 million gallons of crude oil bound for refineries in California. Shortly after midnight, the tanker struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound. The collision ripped open the hull. Within hours, an estimated 11 million gallons of North Slope crude oil poured into the water. The oil didnt stay put. Winds and currents carried it across approximately 1,300 miles of coastline. Beaches, rocky shores, sheltered coves, and open waters were all affected. Some areas were heavily coated. Others were lightly contaminated but still damaged. What made this spill especially devastating was its location. Prince William Sound is cold, biologically rich, and home to dense populations of seabirds, marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates. And while theres never a good time for something like this to happen, the timing of this spill was particularly terrible, occurring just as spring migration and breeding season were beginning. How Oil Harms Wildlife Crude oil is toxic. That part seems fairly obvious. But its damage actually goes far beyond poisoning. For many animals, oil destroys the very features that help them survive. Seabirds depend on perfectly layered feathers to trap air and stay waterproof. When oil coats their plumage, those feathers lose their structure. Birds become soaked with icy water, lose insulation, and can die from hypothermia. Many also ingest oil while trying to preen themselves clean, which leads to organ damage. Marine mammals face similar problems. Sea otters rely on thick fur rather than blubber for warmth. When oil seeps into their fur, it eliminates the insulating air layer. Otters can quickly lose body heat in 40-degree water. They also ingest oil while grooming. For fish and invertebrates, oil can coat spawning grounds and contaminate eggs. Even when adults survive, exposure can reduce reproduction and cause long-term population declines. The Estimated Wildlife Toll One of the most difficult aspects of the Exxon Valdez spill is estimating how many animals died. Not every carcass is recovered. Some sink, drift offshore, or are scavenged. However, scientists have produced widely cited estimates based on field surveys and modeling. The numbers are beyond tragic. According to federal and state studies, the spill is believed to have killed: Approximately 250,000 seabirds About 2,800 sea otters Around 300 harbor seals Roughly 250 bald eagles Up to 22 killer whales Billions of salmon and herring eggs Some species were hit harder than others. The local herring population collapsed in the years following the spill and took decades to show signs of recovery. Certain pods of killer whales experienced losses so severe that scientists believe some groups may never fully rebound. Photographs of oil-soaked seabirds became lasting symbols of environmental disaster in the late 1980s. Photos by Igor GOLUBENKOV (NGO: Saving Taman), CC BY 2.0 Original / License (Photos by Igor GOLUBENKOV (NGO: Saving Taman), CC BY 2.0 ) Oil-Covered Ducks and the Images That Shocked the Nation In the days after the spill, photographers documented scenes that were impossible to ignore. Common murres, cormorants, and other seabirds sat helpless on oil-darkened rocks. Sea otters struggled to swim. Bald eagles perched on contaminated shorelines. These images quickly became symbolic of environmental disaster. The sight of birds coated in thick black crude was especially powerful. They looked heavy, defeated, and unable to move freely. For many Americans, this was the first time theyd seen the direct impact of oil on wildlife in such graphic detail. It changed public perception about offshore drilling and oil transportation overnight. The Wildlife Rescue Effort Rescuing oiled wildlife in 1989 was a massive and unprecedented challenge. There was no large-scale blueprint. Organizations and volunteers had to build systems almost from scratch. Wildlife response teams set up rehabilitation centers in and around Prince William Sound. The International Bird Rescue and other groups worked alongside federal and state agencies. The rescue process was meticulous and stressful for both animals and workers. First, animals were captured using nets and other humane methods. Then they were transported to cleaning facilities. Before washing, they had to be stabilized. Oiled animals are often cold, dehydrated, and in shock. They were given fluids, warmth, and in some cases tube feeding to build strength before cleaning. Advertisement Once veterinarians determined they were stable enough, washing began. Thats when an unexpected hero emerged: Dawn dish soap. Wildlife responders washed oiled birds with diluted Dawn dish soap to remove crude oil without destroying feather structure. David Churchman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Original / License (David Churchman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons) Dawn is effective at cutting grease while being relatively gentle. Wildlife experts found it could break down crude oil without stripping too much natural oil from feathers and fur. The soap was diluted and used in multiple wash cycles. Cleaning a single bird could take 30 to 45 minutes and require several tubs of warm water. Otters often required even more time and handling. After washing, animals were rinsed thoroughly to remove soap residue. Then came drying. Birds were placed in warm, quiet areas to regain waterproofing. They had to preen and realign their feathers properly before being released. The process was labor-intensive. Thousands of volunteers participated. In total, roughly 35,000 birds were recovered dead during surveys. About 1,600-2,000 were captured alive and treated. Survival rates after release varied, and not all rehabilitated animals lived long-term. Even so, the rescue effort marked a turning point in wildlife response. Techniques refined after Exxon Valdez have been used in later spills. Long-Term Ecological Effects The visible oil gradually faded, but the spills effects lingered. Oil can persist in cold environments much longer than in warm waters. Studies found pockets of crude buried beneath gravel beaches years after the accident. In some areas, oil remained detectable more than two decades later. Populations of sea otters in heavily oiled regions took years to recover. Some seabird colonies experienced long-term declines. Pacific herring suffered a dramatic collapse in the early 1990s, though scientists debate how much of that was directly linked to the spill versus other environmental factors. Killer whale pods known as AT1 and AB were heavily affected. The AT1 group lost so many individuals that it has never produced offspring since the spill and is considered functionally extinct. The Exxon Valdez oil spill became a case study in how environmental damage can echo for decades. Silver Linings? Its hard to look at a disaster like this and think any good could possibly come from it, but the tragedy did set into motion preventative regulations that may not have happened otherwise. The spill led to sweeping legal battles and regulatory changes. In 1990, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act, which strengthened federal authority to prevent and respond to oil spills. The law required double-hulled tankers in U.S. waters and improved contingency planning. The disaster also changed corporate environmental policies and public expectations. Oil companies faced greater scrutiny, and response readiness improved nationwide. As for Exxon, they spent billions on cleanup and settlements. A Lasting Memory More than three decades later, the Exxon Valdez spill remains a defining moment in American environmental history. Ill never forget those images. Seeing wild creatures struggle because of human error I was just a kid at the time, but I remember feeling so ashamed. So guilty. But I also remember the human volunteers flooding into Alaska to help with the cleanup effort. The news footage of everyday people scrubbing those poor, oil-soaked birds with Dawn soap made me feel a little better. But only a little. Because protecting wildlife shouldnt be about cleaning up after disaster, it should be about making sure it doesnt happen in the first place. The post 37 Years After the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: A Look Back at the Impact on Wildlife appeared first on A-Z Animals. QuekZongYe / Getty Images/iStockphoto Retiring on $3,500 per month sounds impossible in Americas priciest states. Hawaii requires over $2.2 million in savings for a comfortable 25-year retirement. Massachusetts and California each need around $1.6 million. But living on $42,000 annually isnt completely out of reach if you make strategic choices. The key is avoiding major metro areas and finding lower-cost pockets within expensive states. California: Hemet California requires $1.76 million for a 25-year retirement. Lucky for retirees, inland cities make $3,500 monthly budgets achievable. Hemet in Riverside County is a fabulous option. One-bedroom apartments rent for $1,170 to $1,406 monthly [X]. The citys cost of living sits 22% lower than the rest of California [X]. Hemet has built a reputation as a retirement destination with numerous 55+ communities. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, but its also a nice place to live. The city earned Tree City USA designation and provides access to Diamond Valley Lake, museums and the Ramona Bowl Amphitheater. Palm Springs is just 40 miles away and Temecula wine country is 30 miles distant. Massachusetts: Holyoke Holyoke in western Massachusetts is picturesque, has plenty of activities and is actually affordable on a retirement budget. One-bedroom apartments rent for $1,222 to $1,503 monthly [X]. So, an example of a Holyoke budget: rent $1,222 + utilities $150 + food $350 + healthcare $400 + transportation $200 + other $1,178 = $3,500 total. This leaves over $1,100 monthly for discretionary spending and unexpected expenses. New York: Albany Smaller upstate cities have much lower costs than New York City. Albany maintains average rent of $1,250 to $1,601 for one-bedroom apartments [X, X]. An Albany budget: rent $1,250 + utilities $180 + food $400 + healthcare $350 + transportation $250 + other $1,070 = $3,500 total. Plus, its a central and beautiful place to live, with Washington Park, Empire State Plaza and connections via MACS Transit to major employers. Advertisement Hawaii: Hilo Hawaii demands the highest retirement savings nationwide at $2.2 million. Hilo on the Big Island is Hawaiis most affordable urban living but requires accepting serious trade-offs. Studios rent for around $1,281 and one-bedrooms run $1,267 to $1,450 monthly [X]. A tight Hilo budget: rent $1,267 + utilities $250 + food $600 + healthcare $350 + transportation $400 + other $633 = $3,500 total. The compromises are not without mentioning. Namely, the rain! Hilo receives 127 to 147 inches of rain annually, making it the rainiest city in the United States [X]. Alaska: Fairbanks In Alaska, you can live in a pretty major city for not that much. For example, Fairbanks has one-bedrooms for $1,299 monthly [X]. Smaller towns including North Pole and Salcha near Fairbanks rent for even less. A Fairbanks budget: rent $1,299 + utilities including heating $400 + food $500 + healthcare $350 + transportation $300 + other $651 = $3,500 total. Worth noting, heating costs are pretty major year-round and groceries run higher due to shipping. One bonus: the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend provides annual payments to residents, adding income support beyond the $3,500 monthly budget Making $3,500 Work Living on $3,500 monthly in these states requires choosing smaller cities over major metros. Big city areas often demand $4,000 to $6,000 monthly for comfortable retirement. Suburban and rural communities bring costs under $3,500 without sacrificing essentials. Senior-oriented communities like Leisure World bundle services and reduce individual expenses. State income taxes and property taxes vary widely so research tax burdens before relocating. Owning your home outright or choosing modest housing helps monthly budgets far more than renting in expensive markets. A paid-off mortgage removes the largest retirement expense. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Great Places To Retire on a $3,500 Budget in the 5 Most Expensive States Image Credit: Steven Barnett. An inspiring 77-year-old heart attack survivor with stents is attempting to become the oldest man to ride a motorcycle around the world and claim a Guinness World Record. Los Angeles-born Steven Barnett has always been a keen rider, having travelled across nearly 80 countries over five decades, and is now embarking on an estimated 50,000-mile trip around the world from Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, March 7. An adventure and journey like no other begins, and to claim the record he has been told he must ride the same motorcycle for the entire trip. His progress can be followed on his Instagram account, steveswayaround. Steven Barnett's Voyage in Detail Barnett has been living in Panama for the last two decades, but he is no stranger to long-distance adventures. Just two months after his health scare, he showed the toughness riders are known for by setting off on a three-month journey through Vietnam. Image Credit: Steven Barnett. After receiving medical clearance ahead of the voyage, he will begin in Madrid, Spain, flying in from Panama on his modified Suzuki DR650, fitted with a bigger gas tank and stronger suspension for stability, before riding through Europe, including France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. After the European leg, he will continue through Asia, travelling across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan before entering China. China is likely to be the largest country on the route, after which he will ride through Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia before flying to Australia and then crossing the Pacific to Chile, continuing through Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama. A Meeting With Bridget McCutchen Barnetts inspiration for the venture came after reading about Bridget McCutchen, who became the youngest woman to circumnavigate the world by motorcycle. She completed her journey on November 4, 2023, aged 22 years and 353 days. Advertisement The pair met when McCutchen rode through Panama in December 2022, and their conversation sparked the idea for Barnett to attempt something similar and potentially etch his name into the Guinness World Records as the oldest man to complete the feat. Image Credit: Steven Barnett. Barnett told CNN: I said, Wait a minute. If she can do it as the youngest woman, why cant I do it as the oldest man?" Barnett explained that McCutchen and he keep in touch as she provides useful advice from her experience. A Philosophical Outlook Keeps Him Riding The 77-year-old is proof that age is just a number, even after facing the adversity of a heart attack. Rather than slowing down, as shown by his trip through Vietnam, Barnett is now attempting a feat never achieved by someone his age, a far longer and more demanding journey around the world. His philosophical outlook continues to keep him motivated along the way. Image Credit: Steven Barnett. You never know how long you have. Youll never be as prepared as you would like to be, but thats not an excuse for putting things off. Ive really encouraged a lot of people. They say, Wow, youre doing that at your age, thats really cool and kind of inspiring. So that makes me feel really cool. My cardiologist thought I was crazy, he says when he proposed the idea. But I told him thats what he fixed me for. The adopted daughter of former President George W. Bushs Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a friend after a drunken argument inside a Maryland Airbnb six years ago. Sophia Negroponte, 33, was sentenced Friday by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann after being found guilty at trial in November of second-degree murder for the death of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen. It was a retrial after a 2023 conviction on the same charge was overturned. "The 35-year sentence mirrors the sentence imposed following the first trial in 2023," Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy said, according to The Associated Press. "This is an appropriate and just outcome in light of the seriousness of this crime and the consistent findings of two separate juries who carefully evaluated the evidence." Virginia Nannys Jailhouse Letters Reveal Conflicting Loyalties In Love Triangle Murder Trial Sophia Negroponte, left, was convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing of former high school classmate Yousuf Rasmussen, right, in February 2020. On Friday, Negroponte was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the killing. (Fox News) Negroponte was first convicted of second-degree murder in 2023 and received the same 35-year sentence, but, in January 2024, a Maryland appeals court threw out the conviction, calling for a new trial in circuit court. Read On The Fox News App The appeals court ordered a new trial after ruling jurors improperly heard contested portions of a police interrogation and testimony questioning Negropontes credibility. Sophia Negroponte was one of five Honduran children who were abandoned or orphaned that John Negroponte and his wife, Diana, adopted after Negroponte was appointed U.S. ambassador to the Central American country in the 1980s, according to The Washington Post. Advertisement Sophia Negroponte and Rasmussen attended the same Washington high school and had been drinking, along with another person, on the night Rasmussen was killed, McCarthy said previously. They argued twice that night, and Rasmussen left the home. Virginia Man Brendan Banfield Learns Fate In Twisted Au Pair Affair Double-murder Ambassador John Negroponte, vice chairman of McLarty Associates, speaks onstage during the 2022 Concordia Lexington Summit at the Lexington Marriott City Center April 8, 2022, in Lexington, Ky. When Rasmussen returned to get his cellphone, Negroponte "stabbed him multiple times, one a death blow that severed his jugular," McCarthy said. A 911 call prompted county and city officers and fire rescue personnel in Rockville, Maryland, to respond to an Airbnb property Feb. 13, 2020, at approximately 11:16 p.m. Negroponte, then 27, was found inside the home covered in blood and lying on top of Rasmussen, yelling, "Im sorry," according to charging documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Rasmussen was pronounced dead at the home, and Negroponte was taken into custody, where she allegedly told investigators she did not remember attacking the man but recalled arguing over a "silly issue" and later removing a knife from his neck. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Negroponte with former President George W. Bush in February 2005 in Washington, D.C. President George W. Bush appointed John Negroponte as the nations first intelligence director in 2005 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He later served as deputy secretary of state. He also previously served as ambassador to Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Nations and Iraq. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Adopted daughter of George W Bushs intelligence director John Negroponte sentenced in friends drunken murder Christian Walker of Prairieville, Louisiana, has been in Dubai for two weeks while on a family vacation with his two young children and pregnant wife. Walker told Fox News Digital he has heard missiles and drones getting shot down at night and the activity has been shaking his hotel as he's been trying to find a flight for his family to evacuate. The officials "urge you to get out, but there's no way out, and then you call the number, and they say that they're not evacuating U.S. citizens at the time [and] to contact your airline," said Walker. American Stuck In Middle East Escapes In Race To Reach Critically Ill Husband In California He said that pretty much every morning, he's called and spent "about two hours on the phone with [the] airline" trying to rebook his flight and then "flights [get] canceled later that day." Walker said he's gone through the "proper channels." He has registered through the Embassy and has called the State Department, he said. Read On The Fox News App A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier that the department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East since Feb. 28. There were approximately 8,500 arrivals this past Wednesday, with thousands more that have transitioned to safe havens in Europe and Asia or who remain in active transit, according to the spokesperson. Walker said that many Americans have been evacuating through Oman, which is about a five-hour drive from Dubai. Test Yourself With Our Latest Lifestyle Quiz "There are a lot of unknown variables, and I'm not very confident with taking a one- and three-year-old [child] across the border [without a guaranteed flight], or how that could all go with getting there to the border with the hotel," said Walker. Advertisement "We find it's better to be safer [and] stay put than just be at the mercy of the airline opening and getting the flight out," he said a few days ago. The U.S. has urged Americans to leave 14 countries across the Middle East as Iran's counterattacks intensify. An Iranian drone strike landed near the U.S. Consulate in Dubai but was not a direct hit on the facility itself on Tuesday Walkers hotel is about a mile away. Click Here For More Lifestyle Stories Walker said his hotel was connected to a mall, so he hadn't needed to go outside the hotel. Click Here To Download The Fox News App "It's connected to a mall, and [there's] a store similar to a Walmart so we were able to get baby diapers and wipes, and kind of stroller around the mall," he said. A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier that the Department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East since Feb. 28. (Getty Images) Ahead of this weekend, Walker said he had a flight booked for Saturday with Emirates but indicated he would "believe it when [he] sees it" in terms of evacuating his family. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Lifestyle Newsletter Americans in the Middle East who are in need of assistance have been advised by officials to call the U.S. Department of State. Original article source: American father hears missiles overhead while stranded in Dubai with kids and pregnant wife If you've been following my love of the national parks for any length of time, you know I don't just celebrate these incredible landscapes on the trail. I celebrate them in the glass, too. I am particularly impressed when a whiskey brand puts its money where its mouth is and genuinely supports the parks we all love; that's worth talking about. Wyoming Whiskey has just announced two exciting new releases: National Parks No. 5 Straight Bourbon Whiskey: A Tribute to the Tetons and a debut limited-edition bourbon called Moran. As someone who already has a bottle of National Parks No. 4 on my shelf, I couldn't be more excited about where this series is heading. A Brand Built on Wide Open Spaces Wyoming Whiskey isn't just using the national parks as a marketing backdrop. Based in Kirby, Wyoming, this distillery was born in the shadow of the Teton Mountains, and its founders, Brad and Kate Mead, along with partner David DeFazio, have deep roots in Wyoming going back to 1890 when the Mead family homesteaded in Jackson Hole. Every drop is made from locally sourced, non-GMO grains and water drawn from deep limestone aquifers, aged through the extreme weather of the Big Horn Basin. Advertisement Advertisement That connection to the land is real, and it shows in how seriously they take giving back. Over the years, Wyoming Whiskey has donated to Yellowstone Forever (the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park), the National Park Foundation, and the Grand Teton National Park Foundation. They also released a limited-edition Wyoming Whiskey 1872 to honor President Ulysses S. Grant's signing of the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, donating all proceeds from 150 bottles to Yellowstone Forever. This is a company that walks the walk. National Parks No. 4 Limited Edition from Wyoming Whiskey (Wyoming Whiskey) The National Parks Series: A Growing Legacy For those new to the series, here's a quick look at how we got here: National Parks No. 1 Honored Grand Teton National Park, featuring the rugged Teton Mountain Range on the label. National Parks No. 2 Honored artist Thomas Moran as a member of the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, featuring Tower Falls in Yellowstone on the label. National Parks No. 3 Honored Grand Teton National Park with the Snake River and the Tetons on the label. National Parks No. 4 (currently on my shelf!) Featured Mammoth Hot Springs on the label, with flavors of creme caramel and candied ginger leading to a honeysuckle finish. Advertisement Advertisement Each release has come alongside real financial donations to the foundations protecting these places. $5 from every bottle sold goes directly to the cause. National Parks No.5 from Wyoming Whiskey (Wyoming Whiskey) National Parks No. 5: A Tribute to the Tetons The fifth chapter in this series is a celebration of Grand Teton National Park, and it's a beauty. Once again partnering with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Wyoming Whiskey has crafted a 5-year-old straight bourbon bottled at 96 proof. The label features The Three Tetons, an 1895 oil painting by British-American artist Thomas Moran, a Rocky Mountain School painter whose dramatic depictions of the American West helped inspire conservation efforts across the country. The original painting now hangs in the White House art collection and has graced the Oval Office across several presidencies. Moran's brush captured the snow-covered Grand Teton Range, a hazy blue sky, wisps of cloud, and a glimmering stream framed by tall pines. It's stunning on canvas, and it's stunning on a whiskey bottle. Tasting Notes for National Parks No. 5: Nose: Baked honey crullers with cinnamon sugar, white icing, and hints of baked orange and almond Palate: Almond and cherry liqueur with honeyed sweetness and a hint of vanilla whip Finish: Warming cinnamon spice with rich espresso, creamy milk chocolate, and a subtle hint of leather ABV: 48% / 96 Proof | Age: 5 Years Moran Bottle from Wyoming Whiskey (Wyoming Whiskey) Moran: A New Expression Worth Knowing Alongside No. 5, Wyoming Whiskey is introducing something truly special for collectors and whiskey lovers: Moran, a limited-edition 10-year-old bourbon bottled at a bold 110 proof. Advertisement Advertisement The name honors two things at once: the artist Thomas Moran, whose landscape paintings helped fuel the conservation movement across the American West, and Mt. Moran, the dramatic 12,610-foot peak rising above Jackson Lake in the Northern Teton Range. The label features the mountain's striking profile above Jackson Lake, a view that stops hikers in their tracks every time. At 10 years old and 55% ABV, this is a more complex, adventurous pour than its sibling. Tasting Notes for Moran: Nose: Soft waves of red fruits with creamy white chocolate, a subtle mineral note, and hints of stone fruit Palate: Vibrant baked citrus peel and rich blackberry jam, layers of cinnamon apple and raisin, chewy toffee, with bright hints of cherry and lemon tart Finish: Long and comforting, like warm fruit pie, with oak spice and zesty citrus candy ABV: 55% / 110 Proof | Age: 10 Years Where the Money Goes This is the part that matters most to me. Wyoming Whiskey partnered with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation for National Parks No. 5, and according to Wyoming Whiskey, those contributions have gone directly toward real, measurable work inside the park: Advertisement Advertisement Restoring more than 10 miles of the Teton Crest Trail Enabling 250+ volunteers to contribute over 17,000 hours toward resource stewardship and visitor education Engaging 350+ Indigenous youth in the park, deepening connections to their ancestral lands Advancing critical natural resource restoration and wildlife research projects, protecting Grand Teton's landscapes Every bottle you pick up puts money behind that work. That's not a marketing promise; that's documented impact from Wyoming Whiskey's own partnership reporting with the Foundation. I already love having National Parks No. 4 in my collection, and National Parks No. 5 is going right next to it. This is a brand that has earned genuine loyalty, not just because the whiskey is excellent, but because they've made supporting America's national parks a core part of who they are. Whether you're a whiskey enthusiast, a national park lover, or both, Wyoming Whiskey's latest releases are worth your attention and your support. Pick up a bottle of No. 5 for your shelf, and if you can get your hands on Moran, consider it a rare piece of American West history in liquid form. Cheers to wide open spaces. Dignified Transfer Held For 6 Soldiers Killed In Operation Epic Fury (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) The bodies of six United States Army reservists killed by an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait were escorted home Saturday for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware observed by their families, President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and several members of the administration. The United States and Israel launched military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Feb. 28, aimed at eliminating imminent threats from the ruling regime, including forcibly denying any further development of a nuclear weapons program. Announcing Operation Epic Fury early that morning, Trump warned that [t]he lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war, but were doing this not for now were doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission. Striking thousands of targets across Iran since then, the amassed allied force executed what has been described as one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen. In retaliation for the strikes which killed dozens of senior regime officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran targeted civilians, tourism, energy infrastructure, and U.S. bases across twelve of the Persian Gulfs Arab states. A Sunday morning attack by an Iranian unmanned aircraft system killed six American service members and wounded others at a fortified tactical operations center in the Kuwaits Port Shuaiba. The Department of War began publicly identifying the deceased Tuesday: All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. They are the first American service members to have been killed in this years armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran. In addition, 18 service members were injured. (RELATED: Thats The Way It Is: Trump Concedes More Americans Will Likely Die In Iran Conflict) Ill be leaving for Dover, very sad situation, to greet the families of the heroes, you know, coming home from Iran, coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home. But theyre great heroes in our country, and were going to keep it that way, Trump told world leaders gathered hours earlier for the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Fla. Theres always, when it comes to war, theres always that, but were going to keep it to a minimum, I think, Pete [Hegseth]. And [its] gonna be something, a service that were really providing, not for the Middle East, but for the world. These were sick people, very sick people. Arriving on Air Force One, the commander in chief landed shortly after 1 p.m. EST and was greeted by Col. Jamil Musa, the commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Col. Martha Jeannie Sasnett, the commander of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at the base. He was joined by the first lady, Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Special Envoy for Peace Missions Ambassador Steve Witkoff, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and Army Chief of Staff Randy George. Trump then met with the families of the fallen for approximately an hour. In addition, Democratic Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, Republican Nebraska Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, as well as Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, and Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and her husband, were present for the event. Advertisement The president arrived for the start of the dignified transfer at 3:09 p.m. EST, which finished with the Flight Line dismissed call at 3:41 p.m. Draped with American flags, each transfer case contained the remains of the fallen and was solemnly moved by an honor guard into waiting vans. There is no formal role for a president at a dignified transfer. Attending dignitaries do not speak; the silence is pierced solely by military officials directing the highly choreographed event. The solemn event has conveyed respect for those who died serving the United State since 1948. From the C-17 Globemaster which flew them to the U.S., the deceased were then brought to the bases mortuary overseen by the Armed Services Medical Examiner System. The commander in chief, wearing a white USA cap, saluted as each case passed by. The bodies will next be prepared for their final resting places. During the flight back to Florida, Trump reflected, Im glad we paid our respects. Its a tough situation. Great people, great parents, wives, family, at a beautiful ceremony. Asked if witnessing the dignified transfer made him think differently about the conflict with Iran, or at least the possibility of deplying ground troops, Trump responded, Were winning the war by a lot. Weve decimated their whole evil empire. Itll continue, Im sure, for a little while. The parents were so proud, he continued. Many of them are military parents, as you know. But its always a very sad thing. The war itself is going unbelievable, he concluded. As good as it can be. Trump previous observed the dignified transfer of two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed Dec. 13, 2025, in Syria. Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment. His first attendance of a dignified transfer at Dover was Feb. 1, 2017, for Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens. Owens was a Navy SEAL who died of wounds suffered during a Jan. 29 raid in Yemen against al-Qaida. Trump attended at least four dignified transfers during his first term as president. Editors note: This breaking news report was updated with additional details. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Amtrak service to Madison could launch as soon as 2030, according to the latest update from the passenger rail service. Plans to begin a Madison rail service have been in the works for years, but were revived in 2021 as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $102 billion in federal funding for rail lines across the country. The new service would be an extension of the existing Chicago-to-Milwaukee Hiawatha Service and include stops in Pewaukee, Watertown and Madison. Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari told the Journal Sentinel on March 6 that Amtrak aims to start the line "as early in the 2030s as possible." "It could be (2030) or the year following," said Magliari. "But it's too soon to tell because we've not reached a point where we can estimate what the federal funding could be or what railroad improvements could be needed." Locally, city officials in Madison and Pewaukee have in recent months put forward recommendations for locations of future Amtrak stations. Here's the latest news on efforts to expand Amtrak service across Wisconsin. What is the Amtrak Hiawatha West project? The Hiawatha West project would expand Chicago-Milwaukee rail service to Waukesha, Jefferson and Dane counties. The line currently stops at Union Station in Chicago, Glenview in Illinois, Sturtevant, the Milwaukee Airport Rail Station and the Milwaukee Intermodal Station. Future stops could also include service to Eau Claire and the Twin Cities, Magliari previously told the Journal Sentinel. How far along is the Hiawatha West project? Over the next few months, Amtrak is focusing on evaluating stop locations with local and state partners a process that will include outreach to the public, Magliari said. The Hiawatha West team plans to conduct a webinar and launch a website seeking input from residents on locations of future Amtrak stations in their cities, he said. After that phase, the Federal Railroad Administration must approve the stops. Then, the project will move on to preliminary engineering and environmental clearance of any necessary railroad improvements before it's ready to be considered for federal funding for design and construction. As two Amtrak routes already run through Pewaukee and Watertown albeit without stops Amtrak is primarily anticipating making railroad improvements between Watertown and Madison. The team is unsure "what the federal funding picture is going to be" for such improvements, Magliari said. Advertisement "We're trying to advance as quickly as we can," he added. Amtrak Hiawatha passengers arrive from Chicago in Milwaukee and enter the Intermodal Station on July 17, 2019. Where are the proposed Amtrak stations in Madison and Pewaukee? While none of the new Hiawatha stops have been finalized, there are several proposals for potential locations. In November 2025, the city of Madison released a study recommending placing a station along Lake Monona and John Nolen Drive, which would be located near the Capitol Square, Monona Terrace and downtown hotels, according to the study. A specific building has not yet been proposed for the station, but the nearby historic State Office Building was listed for sale by the Wisconsin Department of Administration in December 2025. The city also recommended a Johnson Street Yard site, adjacent to the Madison Public Market, as a secondary option for the new station. In Pewaukee, Amtrak has proposed building new parking spaces and a passenger platform along Marjean Lane, west of Duplainville Road, according to a Jan. 19 Pewaukee Common Council meeting. The project would include building 65 new parking spaces, though the city noted the amount of parking, the increase in traffic demands and the ongoing maintenance costs for the station are all concerns ahead of approving the location. In some cities, Magliari said Amtrak may also launch initial service with a temporary station and then later build a permanent facility just "a few hundred feet" away. How frequently would Amtrak service to Madison run? When it launches, the expanded Hiawatha line will run twice daily from Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison, according to Magliari. The Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha line currently makes six round trips daily. What are the other Amtrak lines that run through Wisconsin? Along with the Hiawatha, two other Amtrak lines run through Wisconsin: the Empire Builder, a long-distance train to Seattle/Portland, and the Borealis, a line connecting Milwaukee to the Twin Cities. The Borealis, launched in 2024, amassed more than 18,000 riders in its first month. Within its first year, the line had served more than 200,000 riders. Amtrak hopes to replicate that success with the Hiawatha expansion, Magliari said. "There's a strong demand for people wanting an option besides I-94," he said. "This would be a way people could easily go from Chicago to Madison or Madison to Chicago." More: Scott Walker calls downtown Madison Amtrak proposal a 'dumb idea' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amtrak Hiawatha expansion to Madison could begin as soon as 2030 A man who has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of his daughter's alleged abuser has won the Republican nomination for sheriff in Arkansas. According to the Arkansas Secretary of State, Aaron Spencer won 53% of the vote in Lonoke, about 26 miles east of Little Rock, in the state's primary election on Tuesday, March 3. He was running against the incumbent Sheriff John Staley and law enforcement officer David A. Bufford. According to court documents, Spencer is charged with the murder of Michael Fosler. Here's what to know about the case. Aaron Spencer, a man who has been charged with murdering his daughter's alleged abuser, poses in an undated handout photograph. He just won a primary race for sheriff. What is Aaron Spencer accused of? On July 8, 2024, Spencer arrived at the home of a female acquaintance of Fosler's and told the woman that Fosler had raped his minor daughter and he wanted Fosler's phone number and address. Spencer then allegedly told her not to call anyone, including the police, court records state. She then told one of her family members what had happened. That person was a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters are required to notify law enforcement officials or social services about suspected cases of child abuse. The family member then reported the allegations to the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office. That same day, two officers arrived at Spencer's residence to open an investigation into the rape. The interaction was recorded on a body-worn camera. According to the documents, one of the officers told Spencer, "We still don't live in a country where you can take the law into your own hands," to which Spencer replied with an expletive. The Wade Knox Children's Advocacy Center later interviewed the man's daughter, and authorities obtained a warrant to arrest Fosler for one count of rape and one count of internet stalking of a child two felonies. Police arrested Fosler, and his bond was set at $50,000. He was released on July 17, 2024. In October of that year, Heather Spencer, Aaron Spencer's wife, called 911 to report her daughter missing. She said her bed had been made to look like she was asleep in it, but her daughter was not there. Aaron Spencer told police he later got into his car to look for Fosler. He spotted his vehicle, a white Ford truck, on the highway with his daughter in the passenger seat. The father then turned his car around and went after the vehicle. He began honking and flashing his lights to get Fosler to stop, court records state. After following Fosler for 6 miles, Aaron Spencer hit the truck with his car, causing the truck to run into a ditch and strike a wooden entry gate post. Aaron Spencer then got out of his car and started firing a gun at Fosler. He fired 16 times, court records state, noting 15 bullets hit Fosler. After firing the shots, Aaron Spencer pistol-whipped Fosler in the face, court records state. Advertisement The father then called 911 and said, "Michael Fosler is (expletive) dead on the side of the road for trying to kidnap my daughter. I had no choice," according to court records. Attorneys: Aaron Spencer did what 'any father would do' In a 2024 statement responding to the charges against him, Aaron Spencer's attorneys Erin Cassinelli and Michael Kaiser described their client as a decorated war hero who did what "any father would do." "This predator repeatedly violated his child, and undeterred by criminal charges and release on a low bond that pales in comparison to what was required of Aaron kidnapped her in the dark of night to continue his assaults on her," the statement said. In response to his election win, Cassinelli said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY: "Lonoke County residents have rallied behind Aaron not just in his legal defense, but in his broader mission to bring accountability to a county government that has long operated without it. "The election results have no bearing on the facts of this case, and the facts have not changed. Aaron did exactly what the law allows and exactly what any father would do: he protected his daughter and himself from harm. At some point, those responsible for this prosecution will have to reckon with that." Aaron Spencer reminded community members of his story back when he announced his campaign in October on social media. "I'm the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed," he said. "Through my own fight for justice, I've seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court." He is currently awaiting trial in the murder case. Those who need to report child abuse can contact the Wade Knox Children's Advocacy Center at (501) 676-2552 or the Child Abuse Hotline within the Arkansas Department of Human Services at 1-800-482-5964. Mandated reporters can also submit tips through a secure online portal at www.mandatedreporter.arkansas.gov. Nationally, those with concerns about child abuse can all or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453. Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man charged with murdering daughter's abuser wins GOP primary Armed uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) are becoming ever more involved in the Ukraine war Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has developed into a high-tech conflict. Swarms of spy and killer drones have set the skies of Ukraine abuzz, and uncrewed boats have crippled the Russian navy in the Black Sea. Now, Ukraine has embarked on a massive programme to deploy armed robots on the ground. Uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), or ground robot systems as they are known in Ukrainian military parlance, have already proven their worth. There have been reports of UGVs successfully repelling Russian attacks and even taking enemy soldiers prisoner. Ukrainian and Russian killer robots are even said to have clashed without humans being present at the site of the battle. "Robot wars are already happening," says Oleksandr Afanasiev from the Ukrainian army's K2 brigade. He commands its UGV battalion - the world's first, he says. One way in which the brigade has been using these robots is by mounting Kalashnikov machine guns on top. "They open fire on a battlefield where an infantryman would be afraid to turn up. But a UGV is happy to risk its existence," Maj Afanasiev says. Russian soldiers surrendering to a Ukrainian strike UGV, as seen through its cameras His battalion has also been using explosive-laden, battery-powered kamikaze UGVs to blow up enemy positions and hideouts. Unlike aerial drones that buzz overhead, they make no sound to warn the enemy of an impending strike. The deputy commander of the 33rd Detached Mechanised Brigade's tank battalion, who goes by the callsign Afghan, claims that one Ukrainian UGV armed with a machine gun ambushed a Russian personnel carrier, while a robot defended a Ukrainian position for weeks. Afghan admits there are limits to the killer robots' autonomy on the battlefield, and says many of them are self-imposed, because of ethics and international humanitarian law. "Modern UGVs are part-autonomous. They can move on their own, they can observe and detect the enemy. But still, the decision to open fire is made by a human, their operator," Afghan says. "Robots can misidentify the wrong person or attack a civilian. That's why the final decision must be made by an operator." Which means that in most cases on the battlefield armed UGVs are remote-controlled by operators over the internet from a safe distance. Ukraine's lethal UGVs can be armed with grenade launchers as well as machine guns, and can also be deployed to plant landmines or barbed wire. Advertisement But the vast majority of its uncrewed vehicles are still used for their original purpose of delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded. The role of armed UGVs will soon grow exponentially, according to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and now ambassador to the UK. Speaking at the London think-tank Chatham House about the future of warfare, he described how strike UGVs would be used not just on their own, but as part of large, AI-powered swarms of drones. "In the near future we'll see dozens and even hundreds of smarter and cheaper drones attack from various directions and heights, from the air, ground and sea at the same time," he said. A Ukrainian strike UGV firing at a Russian armoured personnel carrier Necessity is a key factor driving innovation in this field. Drones in the air have made it infinitely more dangerous for humans to be present on the battleground, expanding Ukraine's so-called "kill zone" to 20-25km (12-15 miles) from the line of contact. Infantry is not replaceable but "it needs to be supported by UGVs", says Maj Afanasiev: "Ukraine can afford to lose robots, but it simply cannot afford to lose battle-ready soldiers." The Ukrainian army has been facing severe manpower shortages, and recruiting new soldiers behind fallen ones is proving increasingly more difficult. Russia has also been developing combat UGVs, such as the Kuryer. According to Russian media reports, it can be equipped with a flame-thrower, a heavy machine gun normally found on tanks, and it can run autonomously for five hours. The Russian army has also been using Lyagushka ("Frog") kamikaze vehicles to blow up Ukrainian positions. Clashes between Russian and Ukrainian killer robots on the battlefields of Ukraine are a matter of time given their increasing numbers and capabilities, says Yuriy Poritsky, CEO of Ukrainian UGV manufacturer Devdroid which produced hundreds of "strike droids" for the military last year. "Sooner or later, we'll end up in a situation where our strike UGV will come up against their strike UGV on the battlefield. Robot wars may sound like science fiction, but there's nothing sci-fi about the battlefield. It's our reality," he says. His company is now working on a system that would enable its ground drones to return should communications with the operator be lost. Further ahead in the future, it wants its machines to be programmed to travel autonomously to a location, carry out its task - such as watching out for advancing enemy soldiers and engaging them if necessary - and then return to base after a certain time. Another Ukrainian manufacturer of UGVs, Tencore, produced more than 2,000 UGVs for the Ukrainian army in 2025. Its director, Maksym Vasylchenko, expects demand to jump to around 40,000 units in 2026, at least 10-15% of them armed with weapons. "Strike drones [UGVs] will become indispensable, there's no question about it," he says. Further ahead, Vasylchenko believes robots will engage in combat in human form: "It won't be science fiction anymore." Bernard LaFayette, a key early civil rights organizer who helped integrate lunch counters and public spaces in Nashville and across the South during the 1960s, died March 5. He was 85. LaFayette once wrote the value of life lies not in longevity but in what people do to give it significance. For LaFayette, there was the constant threat of death he and others faced during the Civil Rights Movement. But because of his actions, Nashville became the first city in the South to desegregate public spaces. More Black Alabamians voted because of his efforts in Selma. Then later in life he poured himself into helping young people at the American Baptist College, much in the same way he was able to rally others his age in 1960. "Dr. LaFayette walked these very grounds on 'The Holy Hill' as a young man, and it was here that the seeds of a movement were planted," Nashville's American Baptist College said in a social media post announcing his death. Dr. LaFayette gave his life immeasurable significance and in doing so, he gave all of us a blueprint for how to live." More: Who was Jesse Jackson? Civil rights icon left enduring Nashville legacy Bernard LaFayette, a Civil Rights hero and former American Baptist president, walks up to the podium to speak during the American Baptist commencement ceremony at Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 15, 2025. LaFayette an American Baptist alumnus who later rose in the ranks of the Civil Rights Movement with other American Baptist graduates Rep. John Lewis, Julius Scruggs, Jim Bevel, William Barbee, and the Revs. Kelly Miller Smith and C.T. Vivian became president of American Baptist from 1992 to 1999. Forrest Harris Sr., who recently retired from leading American Baptist and who succeeded LaFayette, said in an interview that LaFayette was central to desegregating Nashville and will be remembered for "his commitment to pursuing justice in this country and sacrifice he made to making a better society." Bernard LaFayette in the Civil Rights Movement LaFayette cofounded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960. He had come to Nashville from Florida two years earlier to study at American Baptist College, known then as American Baptist Theological Seminary. "I hadn't been called to preach yet," LaFayette said in a 2013 profile with The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. "But I was going to the seminary to prepare to be called." LaFayette and other civil rights icons such as Smith, Lewis, Vivian, Bevel, the Rev. James Lawson, Diane Nash and Marion Barry formed the student committee under the nonviolence tutelage of the Rev. James Lawson. Those teachings carried LaFayette through life. "Nonviolence is not something that you simply embrace with your mind," LaFayette said at a speaking engagement in Tuskegee, Alabama. "It embodies and affects your entire being." The student committee staged its first sit-in at Harvey's Department Store in downtown Nashville. The sit-in movement grew, and the first large-scale demonstration was Feb. 13, 1960, at Woolworths, S.H. Kress and McLellan stores. Advertisement Demonstrators, including Kenneth Frazier and John Lewis, center, sit in at the closed counter of the downtown Woolworth's store as the Nashville police move in Feb. 27, 1960. By the time the sit-ins ended, more than 150 students were arrested for refusing to vacate segregated lunch counters. LaFayette himself was arrested more than two dozen times. After secret negotiations between store owners and protest leaders, an agreement was reached in May 1960, making Nashville the first major city in the South to begin desegregating public facilities. After the sit-ins, LaFayette joined the Freedom Rides in 1961, and a year later he directed the Alabama Voter Registration Project. He soon became involved with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, rising to program coordinator in 1967. He made his home in Selma, Alabama. "If there is one person among them all who has refused ... to put the nonviolent banner down, it's Bernard," the late Tennessean editor John Seigenthaler, who in the early 1960s worked on civil rights as an assistant to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, said in 2013. "He talks about it less as a theory and more as a way of life." Civil Rights leaders march down Jefferson Street at the head of a group of 3,000 demonstrators on April 19, 1960, heading toward City Hall on the day of the Z. Alexander Looby bombing. In the first row are the Rev. C.T. Vivian, left, Diane Nash of Fisk and Bernard Lafayette of American Baptist Theological Seminary. In the second row are Kenneth Frazier and Curtis Murphy of Tennessee A&I, and Rodney Powell of Meharry. Bernard LaFayette's committment to academia and faith Both through his role as American Baptist president and in other venues, LaFayette was committed to continuing to training young people on the nonviolence movement and tactics. He was "constantly moving around the country to do nonviolent workshops," Harris said in an interview March 6 with The Tennessean. In fact, LaFayette said in his 2016 memoir, "In Peace and Freedom: My Journey in Selma," that he pledged to King to carry on the nonviolence movement, Harris said. American Baptist College President Bernard Lafayette discusses the status his college has with the National Baptist Convention and the reduction of funds given to the college by the convention during an interview on Feb. 9, 1998. In one of his last appearances in Nashville, LaFayette addressed American Baptist students at a commencement ceremony in May 2025. I am struck by the hinges of history that the revolving doors of education and justice are still open at American Baptist College after 100 years. Doors shaped and strengthened by the contributions of leaders like Dr. Bernard LaFayette," Harris said. "Over a century since 1924, we have weathered headwinds and climbed the yields of injustice. LaFayette's life embodied American Baptist's mission, the college said in its post. "To educate, serve, and pursue justice in the world," the college said. "He rode buses through a violent South. He registered voters in the face of danger. He marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He later returned to lead this institution as our President and never stopped teaching the world that change is possible through love, courage, and the power of nonviolence." Bernard LaFayette, a Civil Rights hero and former American Baptist president, speaks during the American Baptist commencement ceremony at Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 15, 2025. Harris said LaFayette's death is also a bigger reminder about the legacy of civil rights legends, several of whom have died in recent years. Another example is the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died in February. Honoring these figures' legacy "is a call to reclaim and renew a public commitment to the cause of which they lived and died," Harris said. "They represent a huge vision that has yet to be fulfilled." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bernard LaFayette, an early civil rights organizer, dies at 85 Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was prompted by "Real Time" host Bill Maher on Friday into critiquing a quote from the Obama administration about its war powers in Libya, seeming to assume the statement was from the Trump administration about Iran. "This statement from the administration: The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest," Maher said. "Thats too vague for you?" "Totally vague" Schiff responded before being interrupted by the host. Nancy Pelosi Doubles Down On Defending Obama's Strikes On Libya While Attacking Trump: 'Read The Law' Before Schiff could get his entire thought out, Maher interjected, saying, "Okay. Because thats from Obama about Libya." The full quote from the Obama administration is dated April 1, 2011. It comes from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel: "The President had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force in Libya because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest." Read On The Fox News App The senator quickly shifted the conversation to Syria, saying former President Barack Obama initially argued he could "go into Syria without an authorization" from Congress until he and other officials pushed back. "Ultimately, he did not go forward with going after [former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad], even though Assad was gassing his own people, because he thought he may lose the vote in Congress," Schiff explained. Democrats Pressure Mike Johnson To Keep House In Washington Over 'Rapidly Developing' Iran Operation "But I respect the fact that that was important to him, and the fact that he did not have the support of Congress meant that we weren't going to go forward." Advertisement Moving the conversation to President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran, Schiff asserted that "we are unquestionably at war now," and that America's Founding Fathers made the "extraordinary decision" to give war powers to Congress instead of the president. Adam Schiff during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights hearing in Washington, D.C., US, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (Getty Images) He noted that Alexander Hamilton warned that presidents would grow "too fond of making war" if they had the ability to do so without congressional approval. "After Venezuela, after the earlier Iran conflict, after bombing Nigeria and Iraq and Syria, [Trump's] grown too fond of this," he argued. "And Congress needs to step up, assert its role, or it's going to be gone for good, and then anytime a president, for any reason, anywhere in the world, for any length of time will feel free to make war. And that would be hugely dangerous for the country." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture On Thursday, the House of Representatives narrowly voted to allow Trump to continue Operation Epic Fury in Iran. A bipartisan resolution led by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., failed to pass after four Democrats joined most Republicans in sinking it, 212 to 219. The legislation was aimed at blocking Trump from using the Armed Forces in the joint U.S.-Israeli operation in Iran, which would likely force the strikes to grind to a halt. President Donald Trump listens during an event about the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington. Click Here To Download The Fox News App The Trump administration, as well as the majority of Republicans in Congress, have insisted that the president has acted within his authority so far and are hopeful he will continue to do so. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind and Alex Miller contributed to this report. Original article source: Bill Maher flips script on Adam Schiff with quote from Obama administration on Libya and war powers Key Points Boeing subsidiary Liquid Robotics just won its first sizeable defense contract to supply USVs to Japan. The company has nearly tripled the price of its Wave Glider robot vessel since getting acquired by Boeing. 10 stocks we like better than Boeing Reviewing the Department of Defense's daily digest of contract awards (as one does), you tend to get a good idea of who "the usual suspects" are at the Pentagon. Big defense names like RTX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman make regular appearances on the list; big tech names like Microsoft or Palantir or Amazon Web Services will also pop up from time to time, hired to do military IT work. And then, every so often, an entirely unfamiliar name will arrive that causes you to sit up and take notice. That's what happened for me last week, when Liquid Robotics appeared on the list. 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 Searching through the archives for the past 10 years, it turns out last week was the first time ever Liquid Robotics won a contract big enough to show up on the Pentagon's list (which covers all contracts $7.5 million and up). So what exactly is Liquid Robotics, I wondered? And what does it do? And why is the Japanese navy buying drone ships from it? Wave Glider USV at sea. Image source: Liquid Robotics. Japan loves robots Because that's the substance of the contract I had stumbled upon. For $25 million, the U.S. Air Force had contracted to purchase 20 commercial unmanned surface vehicles (that's military-speak for drone warships) from Liquid Robotics, apparently for delivery to Japan as a Foreign Military Sale. It took a bit of digging, but in short order, all was made clear. Liquid Robotics, it turns out, is a subsidiary of Pentagon megacontractor Boeing (NYSE: BA), which bought the company back in December 2016 as "a market leader in autonomous maritime systems and developer of the Wave Glider ocean surface robot." It now resides within Boeing's Defense, Space & Security division. Liquid Robotics makes only one product, the Wave Glider USV (which makes it pretty clear which "commercial unmanned surface vehicles" Japan is buying). Liquid Robotics describes the Wave Glider as a "low-observable, mobile platform that enables over-the-horizon surveillance with both surface and sub-surface payloads." Although even the largest Wave Glider (SV5) measures only 15 feet in length, it can tow sonar to detect threats underwater, even as it carries sensors and communications gear topside to detect surface and air threats -- and transmit this data back to base. Advertisement Powered by solar panels and wave energy, the vessels are capable of operating autonomously for as long as 12 months at a time and in any environment, including sailing through doldrums, hurricanes, typhoons, and even Arctic conditions. Wave Gliders aren't speedy, with a maximum speed of just two knots, but they have long endurance; at least one has successfully traveled in excess of 9,300 nautical miles on a single trip. What does this contract mean for Boeing? At just $25 million in value, the Japanese Wave Glider contract is just a very small fish swimming within Boeing's $89.5 billion annual revenue stream. It's still probably a nice, profitable little business for Boeing. Back when Boeing bought the company, Liquid Robotics was selling Wave Gliders for just $300,000 apiece. The company's new Japanese contract, meanwhile, implies the per-unit cost has nearly tripled in 10 years, to more than $830,000. Even at the new and improved price, the Navy -- both Japan's and our own -- can probably afford to buy quite a lot of them. Should you buy stock in Boeing right now? Before you buy stock in Boeing, 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 Boeing 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 $534,817!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,123,912!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 964% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of March 7, 2026. Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, and RTX. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. With St. Patrick's Day only two weeks away, the city of Boston is preparing to host the biggest celebration of the holiday in all of Massachusetts the South Boston St. Patrick's Day parade. However, the Southie parade is not only one of the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the country, but also one of the oldest. In fact, Boston first hosted a parade for St. Patrick's Day in 1737, 39 years before the country itself was even formed. While the celebration has not happened every year since then, according to the date of establishment, Boston's parade is the second-oldest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world. Here's a brief history of South Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade. History of Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade A person dressed as a leprechaun cheers on the public during the Boston St. Patrick's Day and Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Mass on March 17, 2024. According to the parade website, the city of Boston first hosted a St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 1737. The celebration was "a gesture of solidarity among the city's new Irish immigrants," as "Boston's Irish community joined together in festivities of their homeland to honor the memory of the Patron Saint of Ireland." In 1901, the parade moved to South Boston, a neighborhood with a large Irish population. Southie is also home to Dorchester Heights, where British troops evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776. Given the significance of both occasions to the city, Boston's annual parade came to celebrate both St. Patrick's Day and Irish heritage, as well as Evacuation Day and military service. Advertisement The parade happens each year on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick's Day, taking a break in 1994 and again in 2020-21. St. Patrick's Day in MA: 5 St. Patrick's Day parades in Massachusetts to check out this March What is the oldest St. Patrick's Day celebration? Fans dressed for the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade on Thursday, March 17, 2016. The oldest recorded celebration of St. Patrick's Day took place in St. Augustine, Florida in 1600, with the city's first parade following in 1601. According to University of South Florida history professor J. Michael Francis, "The first recorded St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States did not occur in Boston or New York. Rather, those who first gathered to venerate St. Patrick and process through city streets included a blend of Spaniards, Africans, Native Americans, Portuguese, a French surgeon, a German fifer, and at least two Irishmen, who marched together in honor of the Irish saint." While St. Augustine still hosts a parade for the Irish holiday today, the oldest continuous St. Patrick's Day Parade is in New York City, where there has been a parade every year since 1762. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: When was the first St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston? Limestone mountains in Phang Nga - Whitcomberd/Getty Images Nestled along a stunning stretch of Thailand's Andaman Coast between Phuket and Krabi, Phang Nga province was recognized in the 2026 Booking.com Traveller Review Awards as one of the world's most welcoming destinations, based on guest reviews. One could argue that this distinction applies to much of Thailand long nicknamed the "Land of Smiles" yet in Phang Nga, the hospitality often feels particularly authentic and unforced. Phang Nga's appeal goes beyond its scenery. The province is home to charming homestays, standout restaurants several recognized in the Michelin Guide and informative excursions into a wilderness teeming with waterfalls and wildlife, led by knowledgeable local guides eager to share their culture along with the landscape. The clear highlight is Phang Nga Bay, with its beguiling natural scenery, boat tours, and cinematic ties. Perhaps most iconic is its James Bond connection scenes from "The Man With the Golden Gun" were filmed against a backdrop of rugged karst monoliths rising from the sea. In towns like Takua Pa, Sino-Portuguese architecture nods to the region's tin-mining past, while local markets showcase southern Thai flavors rich in seafood and spice. Farther north, the laid-back beaches of Khao Lak have earned a good reputation for beachside resorts that make ideal bases for exploring Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman coast. Read more: 25 Gorgeous Islands For Vacationing That Won't Break The Bank Hospitality as stunning as the scenery A traditional Thai longtail boat traveling through Phang Nga Bay - Iryna Shpulak/Getty Images Travelers to Thailand often describe Phang Nga as the kind of place that "steals your heart," with one Reddit thread specifically mentioning the kindness and sense of community alongside the region's tranquil beaches, turquoise waters, and lush landscapes. Reviews of local tours echo that sentiment on Tripadvisor, praising the staff for being "attentive and genuinely caring" and showing excellent hospitality throughout the experience. Advertisement Another Redditor called Phang Nga Bay "the most incredible place I have ever been" in a thread praising the sublime karst views from the Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel, which is known as much for its exceptional service and friendly staff as it is for its incredible location. Indeed, Phang Nga makes a serene antidote to the crowds and constant motion of Bangkok, trading the traffic-clogged streets of one of the world's most visited cities for the gentle ambience of long-tail boats cutting through idyllic bays. Frequent travelers may also note the region's proximity to Surat Thani a gateway to top Thailand islands such as Koh Samui as well as to Phuket, one of the world's most overcrowded destinations. Yet Phang Nga itself feels removed from the bustle of its neighbors, making it a calming detour for those visiting Phuket. The drive from Phuket to Phang Nga town takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Exploring Phang Nga's breathtaking scenery The iconic James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay - Preto_perola/Getty Images At the heart of southern Thailand lies the icon that is Phang Nga Bay, a dramatic seascape of towering limestone karsts, tranquil emerald waters, lush mangrove channels, and caves protected within Ao Phang Nga National Park. Typical itineraries here generally include kayak tours through quiet coves and traditional longtail boat excursions to get a waterside perspective of the rock formations that rise from the sea, most notably the impressive monolith now known as "James Bond Island." Indeed, the scenery here ranks among the most spectacular in Southeast Asia. Just offshore, the twin islands Ko Yao Yai and Ko Yao Noi offer a delightful stop for a slower, more authentic island vibe compared with their busier neighbors. Highlights include long stretches of sand punctuated by palms and backed by jungle, and local-run restaurants like Tha Ton Do, known for fresh seafood, and Kindee, a favorite for tasting southern Thai dishes, homemade coconut ice cream, and fruity cocktails. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is demanding immediate return of a deaf Hayward student and his family who were deported to Colombia this week. An immigration attorney says Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her five and six year old kids were deported during a routine immigration check-in on Tuesday in San Francisco. They arrived in the U.S. four years ago and were seeking asylum. MORE: US spent $40M to deport roughly 300 migrants to nations other than their own: Democratic report The six-year-old boy attended the California School for the Deaf in Fremont and Thurmond says the boy does not have his hearing aids with him. "This is a student who needs access to medical devices, hearing aids, and he needs to be in a program where he can receive support and care- not in some detention center, not in some cell, living in squalor and poor conditions, and we are demanding his immediate return," State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said. Thurmond is asking new Homeland Security Secretary nominee, Senator Markwayne Mullin, to call President Trump, find out where the family is, and bring them home. VIDEO: Trump administration seeking expedited removal of 5-year-old and family, Rep. Castro says Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, asylum seekers who were detained by federal agents in Minneapolis last week and sent to a Texas detention facility, arrived in Minneapolis on Sunday after a judge ordered the government to release them. Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security released the following statement: "On March 3, ICE arrested Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, an illegal alien from Colombia. She illegally entered the United States in 2022 and was RELEASED into our country under the Biden administration. She received full due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024. ICE does NOT separate families. Parents are given a choice: They can be removed with their children or place them with a safe person they designate. This is consistent with past administration's immigration enforcement. Gutierrez chose to be removed with her children, and they returned to their home on March 5. Being in detention and in the country illegally is a choice. Parents can avoid detention and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way and live the American dream." California School for the Deaf released the following statement: "At the California School for the Deaf, our mission is to ensure that every deaf student has access to a safe, supportive, and fully accessible education. We are deeply saddened by the circumstances affecting one of our students and their family. Our school community remains committed to supporting all students and advocating for their right to learn, grow, and thrive." Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story. If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live California officials are calling for the return of a deaf 6-year-old student and his family after they were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this week and deported to Colombia. The boy, his 5-year-old sibling and his mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, were asylum seekers from Colombia who had been in the U.S. for four years. They were living in Hayward until ICE agents detained them at ICEs Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) office in San Francisco. Now state leaders are calling on the Trump administration to bring him and his family home. Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two children from Hayward, California are pictured in a family photo. A 6-year-old deaf student from Hayward, California, who was deported with his family to Colombia is pictured. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond made the announcement during a news conference on Friday, demanding that Department of Homeland Security officials help find the family and return them to California. Thurmond said the 6-year-old boy attends the California School for the Deaf in Fremont and was home sick from school this week when he was detained and deported without critical medical devices and without due process. Thurmond said, This innocent child is being deprived of both education and basic, essential communication. He added, This cruelty must end. Gutierrez works in childcare and was checking in at the immigration office when agents arrested her and her children, KTLA sister station KRON4 reports. Advertisement Im sick to my stomach that someone would abduct a 6-year-old child who has a disability and his family when his mother was reporting to a center and doing what shes supposed to do, Thurmond said. The DHS website says that the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program oversees undocumented immigrants compliance with release conditions while on ICEs non-detained docket. ISAP enables aliens to remain in their communities contributing to their families and community organizations and, as appropriate, concluding their affairs in the U.S. as they move through immigration proceedings or prepare for departure, officials wrote. Employers describe single mother killed in Moorpark head-on crash as irreplaceable The mother had followed her ISAP supervision orders fully, according to immigration attorney Niko De Bremaeker of Centro Legal de la Raza, but reportedly had an order of removal, despite having no criminal record and a legal right to be notified prior to deportation. According to KRON4, De Bremaeker said he was able to speak to Gutierrez Friday, who said her children were traumatized from being ripped away from their home. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement to KTLA: On March 3, ICE arrested Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, an illegal alien from Colombia. She illegally entered the United States in 2022 and was RELEASED into our country under the Biden administration. She received full due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024. ICE does NOT separate families. Parents are given a choice: They can be removed with their children or place them with a safe person they designate. This is consistent with past administrations immigration enforcement. Gutierrez chose to be removed with her children, and they returned to their home on March 5. Being in detention and in the country illegally is a choice. Parents can avoid detention and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way and live the American dream. 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. Guests share red wine aboard a Sacramento River Cruise in California - @christinelynn8888 / Instagram Even the most casual wine enthusiast knows about Napa Valley and Sonoma. However, if you want to get off the beaten path and explore some of California's most underrated vineyards, make a beeline for Clarksburg, a wine-producing region just outside Sacramento. Visitors can tour the area's lesser-known world-class wineries or, if you're up for a different kind of adventure, head down to the Clarksburg Marina and climb aboard a scenic Sacramento River Cruise for a wine tasting on the water. Three times daily, Sacramento River Cruise runs two-hour cruises on a 24-foot, antique New England-style vessel that can accommodate up to six passengers. During the journey, you'll navigate along a quaint and quiet stretch of the river, enjoying views of waterfront farms and vineyards near Clarksburg. "The scenery [was] gorgeous," commented one reviewer on Google, who embarked on the outing with a group of four. "Such a lovely evening I will never forget." Read more: 11 Things You Didn't Realize Could Get You Banned From A Cruise Sip wine on a Sacramento River Cruise A charcuterie board on a Sacramento River Cruise in California - sactownwinoandfoodie / Instagram While cruising down the serene river, passengers will enjoy a tasting of wine or beer locally produced in and around Clarksburg, Lodi, and Amador. Each guest can choose between three 4-ounce pours of regional wines or four 6-ounce pours of craft beer, and both are served with a charcuterie board prepared with a mix of local produce and imported cheeses. Tastings are personally organized by the captain, Emil Gagliardi. In addition to decades of experience on the water and in the restaurant business, he was born and raised in Bar Harbor a coastal escape in Maine famous for its fresh lobster so it's safe to say he knows a thing or two about food and wine. Online reviewers say Gagliardi's demeanor makes him the perfect host for a wine-oriented cruise. "Captain E was so friendly and welcoming, but still offered the space to relax and enjoy the cruise," wrote one passenger who went on a private cruise for two with her husband. "The Captain is a very cool person to talk to, yet willing to give space to enjoy ourselves," echoed another commenter on Google. Advertisement Plan a gourmet river cruise near California's capital Sunset over the Sacramento River, California - L Paul Mann/Shutterstock Other past visitors especially valued the captain's knowledge about the river and its ecosystem. "[The captain] pointed out many awesome facts about the river to us, and even a baby sea lion!" said one passenger, who went on a cruise with her 5-year-old son. While on the river, keep your eyes open for otters, turtles, great blue herons, and egrets the lush riverbanks are a natural habitat for a variety of species. Daily wine and beer tasting cruises depart at 11:30 a.m., 2:15 p.m., and 5 p.m., and according to travelers, the sunset cruise is the most romantic and peaceful. Standard prices start at $269 for a private boat for two people, scaling upward to $419 for six people (at the time of writing). If you're planning a special occasion, try a premium cruise with top-tier wines (starting at $289 for two), or if you prefer tequila, try the Tequila Tasting cruise hosted by an expert on the topic. Prices start at $599 for four people, and reservations must be made at least one week in advance. You can book all cruises online. Before heading back to Sacramento, about 20 minutes away by car, take some time to explore Clarksburg. The breezy river town, surrounded by orchards, wineries, and scenic paths, is a lovely getaway in its own right. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. A group of beauty queens has been caught using fillers and Botox to enhance their looks but these rulebreakers arent human. Theyre camels.The unusual scandal unfolded at the 2026 Camel Beauty Show Festival in AlMusannah, Oman, where 20 camels were disqualified after inspectors discovered they had undergone cosmetic enhancements. According to reports from Vice and Forbes, veterinary officials identified signs of injected fillers and Botox-like substances, procedures that are strictly banned under competition rules designed to preserve the animals natural appearance. The discovery has reignited debate over the lengths breeders will go to in pursuit of prize money and prestige at high-profile camel beauty contests, which are hugely popular across the Gulf region. Camels at the livestock export market, in El Obeid, North Kordofan State, Sudan, January 17, 2026 More: 'Halfway towards a live nativity': A camel, cow and donkey were found wandering together on a Kansas road What kind of procedures did the camels have? Inspectors determined the camels had received an array of cosmetic enhancements, including hyaluronic acid injections to their lips, dermal fillers, silicone around their noses, Botox to soften facial features and silicone wax to artificially inflate their humps, according to Vice and Forbes. Advertisement According to Forbes, organizers operating as the Camel Club and the Oman Camel Racing Federation said they are "keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels," adding that strict penalties would be imposed on those responsible. USA TODAY has reached out to the Oman Camel Racing Federation for comment. Camel beauty contests typically judge animals on their coat, neck, head, and hump, traits meant to reflect natural breeding rather than cosmetic enhancement, Forbes reported. This time, officials decided, the camels simply looked too good to be true. Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Camels disqualified from beauty contest for cosmetic work When a preschool teacher in Georgia reports a colleague for mistreating children and gets fired for it, parents are left holding two fears at once: that a child may have been harmed, and that the school would rather silence the person who spoke up than address what happened. As of spring 2026, Georgia law is clear that suspected child abuse must be reported, but the protections for the adults who actually make those reports remain uneven, especially in private childcare settings. For families caught in this situation, the path forward involves understanding what Georgia requires of mandated reporters, how the states child-protection agencies divide their responsibilities, and what options parents have when they no longer trust the institution caring for their kids. Photo by Thirdman on Pexels Why retaliation against a reporting teacher is a red flag for every family Parents tend to build trust around individual teachers, not logos on a building. A preschool teacher who notices rough handling, verbal intimidation, or isolation of young children and reports it is doing exactly what Georgia law expects. When that teacher is terminated shortly after making a report, it suggests the school may prioritize self-protection over child safety. That matters beyond the single incident. Research on institutional responses to whistleblowing in child-serving organizations consistently shows that visible retaliation discourages other staff from coming forward. A 2020 analysis published in the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal found that while every U.S. state imposes mandatory reporting duties on certain professionals, many jurisdictions fail to pair those duties with strong employment protections for the reporters themselves. The result is a structural gap: teachers are legally required to report but may face job loss for doing so, particularly in private-sector settings where public-employee whistleblower statutes do not apply. What counts as abuse or neglect in a Georgia preschool Parents sometimes struggle to categorize what they hear about or observe in a classroom. A teacher raising her voice during a hectic transition feels different from a teacher leaving bruises on a toddlers arm, but Georgias child-protection framework treats both physical harm and patterns of emotional cruelty as reportable. The Cleveland Clinics overview of child abuse identifies several categories: physical abuse (striking, shaking, or other forceful contact causing injury), emotional abuse (persistent belittling, threats, or rejection), neglect (failure to meet basic needs for food, supervision, or safety), and sexual abuse. In a preschool context, physical mistreatment may show up as unexplained bruises, while emotional harm often surfaces through behavioral changes at home. Signs parents should watch for include: Unexplained injuries, especially in patterns (bruises on arms, back, or face) Sudden fear of a specific teacher or resistance to going to school Regressive behavior such as bedwetting, clinginess, or thumb-sucking in a child who had moved past those stages Sleep disruptions, appetite changes, or new aggression toward siblings or peers The nonprofit Youth Villages notes that many abuse indicators go beyond visible bruises, including sudden anxiety, changes in eating habits, and hypervigilance around adults. When a teacher flags these patterns internally and is punished rather than supported, parents should treat the underlying concern as serious, not as a workplace dispute between staff members. How Georgias reporting and investigation system works Georgias child-protection infrastructure is designed so that reports of suspected abuse bypass the institution where the concern originated. Two state agencies share oversight, and understanding which one handles what can save parents time and frustration. DFCS: reports of abuse by a parent or household member The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), part of the Georgia Department of Human Services, operates Child Protective Services (CPS). DFCS accepts reports of suspected abuse or neglect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports can be made by calling the statewide intake line: DFCS Centralized Intake: 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453) Mandated reporters, which in Georgia include teachers, counselors, and childcare workers, are required to report by phone or electronically within 24 hours of suspecting abuse. But any person, including a parent, can call this number to file a report. According to Georgia State Universitys Prevent Child Abuse Georgia training materials, once a report is received, DFCS screens it for severity and may initiate an investigation that includes home visits and interviews with the child. Advertisement DECAL: complaints about licensed childcare facilities When the concern involves staff conduct at a licensed preschool or daycare, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is the appropriate agency. DECAL licenses and monitors childcare programs across the state and investigates complaints about conditions, staffing violations, and mistreatment within those programs. DECAL complaint line: (404) 651-8746 Toll-free: 1-888-442-7735 Parents can file a complaint with DECAL even if they have also contacted DFCS. The two agencies coordinate but serve different functions: DFCS focuses on whether a child has been abused or neglected, while DECAL evaluates whether the facility is meeting licensing standards and can impose sanctions, including revoking a programs license. Whistleblower protections in Georgia: what applies and what doesnt Georgia does have a whistleblower statute, but its reach is limited. The Georgia Whistleblower Act (O.C.G.A. 45-1-4) protects public employees who disclose fraud, waste, or violations of law. A teacher at a state-funded Pre-K program housed in a public school may fall under this protection. A teacher at a privately owned preschool likely does not. That does not mean a fired private-sector teacher has no recourse. Georgias mandated reporting law provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for good-faith reports of suspected abuse, which means the reporter cannot be sued for making the report. However, immunity from liability is not the same as protection from termination. A teacher who believes she was fired in retaliation for a mandated report may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim, but would typically need to consult an employment attorney to evaluate the specifics, since Georgia is an at-will employment state. For parents, the practical takeaway is this: a school that fires a teacher for reporting suspected abuse may not be breaking a specific whistleblower statute, but it is signaling that internal accountability has failed. That is reason enough to escalate concerns outside the school. What parents should do when trust in a preschool breaks down If you learn that a teacher was dismissed after reporting mistreatment at your childs school, consider these steps in roughly this order: Talk to your child in age-appropriate ways. Avoid leading questions. Instead, use open prompts: Tell me about your day or Who do you play with at school? Watch for nonverbal cues, especially flinching, withdrawal, or distress when discussing specific adults. Document what you know. Write down dates, names, and what you were told, including who told you the teacher was fired and why. Save any written communication from the school. File a report with DFCS and/or DECAL. You do not need proof that abuse occurred. Georgia law requires only a reasonable suspicion. Call DFCS at 1-855-422-4453 for concerns about a childs safety, and DECAL at 1-888-442-7735 for concerns about facility practices. Contact the Office of the Child Advocate. The OCA oversees how state agencies handle child-abuse reports and can be reached through its online complaint portal. If you believe DFCS or DECAL mishandled a report, the OCA is the oversight body to contact. Evaluate whether to keep your child enrolled. A single incident does not always mean a school is unsafe, but a pattern of retaliation against staff who raise concerns is a systemic problem. Ask the school directly how it handles internal reports of mistreatment. If the answer is vague or defensive, trust your instinct. The bigger picture: why this keeps happening Georgia is not unique in this tension. Across the country, the gap between mandatory reporting duties and employment protections for reporters creates a chilling effect in exactly the settings where children are most vulnerable. Preschool-aged children cannot advocate for themselves. They depend entirely on the adults around them to notice harm and act on it. When the adult who acts is punished, the system has failed at its most basic function. State legislators in several states have introduced bills in recent years to extend whistleblower protections to private-sector mandated reporters, though as of early 2026, Georgia has not enacted such a measure. Parents who want to push for stronger protections can contact their state representatives through the Georgia General Assembly website. In the meantime, the most effective safeguard remains the willingness of individual adults, teachers, parents, and bystanders, to report what they see, even when the institution discourages it. Georgias intake lines exist precisely for that purpose. More from Decluttering Mom: Get ready to lose an hour of sleep this weekend, Memphis, thanks to the time change. Every few years, the unpopularity of daylight saving time becomes a highlight in social forums, and this year includes new legislation against the tradition. Annually, 48 of 50 states have roughly 130 days when the sun sets early. Tennessee is among several states that have passed trigger laws to permanently switch to daylight saving time if Congress passes a national bill. The law was passed in 2019 and has been waiting for movement from Washington, D.C. ever since. Here is what to know about the upcoming time change. When does daylight saving time end? Since 2005, daylight saving time has started on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. In 2026, daylight saving time begins in Memphis on March 8 when clocks move forward from 1:59 a.m. to 3 a.m. It will end on Nov. 1. On the last day of standard time, the sun will rise at 6:21 a.m. and set at 6:01 p.m. On March 8, the sun will rise at 7:20 a.m. and set at 7:01 p.m. What does it mean to 'spring forward, fall back'? Each year on the second Sunday in March, people across the country "spring" or set their clocks forward one hour, thereby "losing" one hour of sleep and gaining more evening daylight. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour to fall back," thus gaining an hour of sleep. Sunrise and sunset will be approximately one hour earlier the following morning than the day before, resulting in more morning light. Why did daylight saving time start? At its simplest, World War I is responsible for daylight saving time. It started in Europe as a way to conserve fuel for electrical power. It was initially enacted in Germany and Austria and then spread to 11 other countries. The United States did not adopt it until 1918, when the first daylight saving time was observed on March 30. It was so wildly unpopular that it was repealed in 1919. Daylight saving time was reintroduced during World War II. One of the major issues was that the federal government did not regulate it, and states and localities operated on different schedules. This schedule lasted from 1945 to 1966. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established specific dates for the start of daylight saving time. It was scheduled to begin on the last Sunday in April and to end on the last Sunday in October. States could pass laws prohibiting participation if they chose. Advertisement Daylight saving time as we know it today emerged after the turn of the century. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended daylight saving time to begin on the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. What states participate in Daylight Saving Time? Hawaii and Arizona are the only two states that don't participate in daylight saving time. Hawaii observes Hawaiian Standard Time all year, and most of Arizona observes Mountain Standard Time. The U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also don't observe daylight saving time. Can we get rid of daylight saving time permanently? Legislation in Congress In 2022, the Senate approved bipartisan legislation on unanimous consent to make daylight standard time permanent and keep the later sunsets but it stalled in the House, reported USA TODAY. In December 2024, then President-elect Donald Trump expressed interest in eliminating daylight saving time. Trump called the practice "inconvenient" and "very costly to our nation" in a social media post. Now, there is another bill moving against daylight saving time, but this legislation moves to change it, not end it. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Florida) recently introduced the Daylight Act of 2026 to Congress earlier this month. The bill proposes doing away with daylight saving as we know it and splitting the difference. Instead of a twice-yearly change of one hour each time, it would shift U.S. time zones forward 30 minutes from the current standard time and leave them there permanently. Under the Daylight Act, the time zone offsets from Coordinated Universal Time would be changed from hour increments to half-hour increments. Each time zone would move forward 30 minutes. Eastern time would then be 4.5 hours behind UTC, not 5. USA TODAY contributed to this report. Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: When does time change? Here's when Memphis clocks will spring forward Anne Mae Demegillo Credit: Flagler County Sheriff's Office/Facebook NEED TO KNOW A 20-year-old Florida college student was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, authorities said Investigators allege that Anne Mae Demegillo gave birth at home on a toilet, hid the baby in a duffel bag and later buried the newborn in her backyard An investigation remains ongoing, per authorities A 20-year-old college student in Florida has been charged after allegedly giving birth at home on a toilet and letting her newborn baby die before performing in a local theater show the same day. Anne Mae Demegillo of Palm Coast in Flagler County was arrested on Friday, March 6, and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, according to public arrest records from the Flagler County Sheriffs Office (FCSO). In a press conference held on the day of the arrest, shared by Fox 35 Orlando, FCSO Chief Deputy Joe Barile stated that the Flagler County Emergency Communication Center received a call at around 4 a.m. local time on Friday from an individual requesting a welfare check on an adult female. Police caution tape (stock image) Credit: Getty The caller informed operators that 20-year-old Anne Mae Demegillo had sent messages to the caller saying that she had secretly been pregnant and unexpectedly gave birth at home, Barile said. Officers arrived at Demegillos home later that morning, at which point Demegillo allegedly confirmed to officers that she had delivered a baby in the toilet the day before. She allegedly told officers that the newborn cried initially, but eventually stopped moving. At that point, she hid the infant in a duffel bag in her closet and went about with her normal daily routine, Barile said during the press conference. Barile stated that Demegillo proceeded to go to her local college and did a performance at a theater before returning home. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Advertisement Demegillo told officers that she buried the deceased baby in a shallow grave in the backyard at approximately 10 p.m. that evening, per Barile. Demegillo who allegedly told investigators that she had not been certain she was pregnant until she gave birth led officers to where the infant was buried. Barile said that the deceased baby weighed 3 lbs., 6 ounces. Anne Mae Demegillo Credit: Flagler County Sheriff's Office Barile said the investigation is still ongoing and urged anyone with information regarding the case to come forward. 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. He also reminded the public that under Floridas Safe Haven Law, parents who cannot care for a newborn can safely surrender the child to any fire station, hospital or police station, free of consequences. The FCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Read the original article on People Colton Underwood at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 5, 2026 Credit: Presley Ann/Getty NEED TO KNOW Colton Underwood shared an update on his 17-month-old son, Bishop including his newest milestones "Currently, he's obsessed with light switches," he told PEOPLE at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 5 Underwood and his husband, Jordan C. Brown, welcomed Bishop via surrogate in September 2024 Colton Underwood is fully embracing fatherhood. Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 5, The Traitors star, 34, opened up about just how quickly his 17-month-old son, Bishop, is growing. "Well, we have molars growing in, so there's drool everywhere, open-mouth kisses," Underwood said. "I truly call him my human Xanax. He's a breath of fresh air, lights up every room." "And currently, he's obsessed with light switches," he added. "So yeah, I don't know if he's going to be like a future electrician or what we got going on, but he loves light switches." Underwood and his husband, Jordan C. Brown, welcomed Bishop via surrogate in September 2024. "Our world is a million times better with you in it," the former Bachelor star captioned an Instagram post at the time, which included a solo picture of Bishop and a snapshot of the family of three posing together. Underwood previously told PEOPLE that he and Brown, 43, couldn't wait to be parents. It was one of the things that bonded us early on. We both wanted to be dads. I was very vocal on that, he said. It's a traditional sort of part of my life that I really wanted to hold onto I wanted to have a family." "And just figuring out next steps and stages was sort of a mystery to us until it wasn't," he continued. "I realized early on, nobody talks about this. There's no resources, there's no books, there's no guide. You sort of get tossed into the fire. Advertisement Colton Underwood (left) and Jordan C. Brown with son Bishop at the L.A. premiere of 'Goat' on Feb. 6, 2026 Credit: Michael Tran / AFP via Getty In February 2024, Underwood launched his podcast, Daddyhood, to share his experience through the fertility journey. He said the couple had their embryos frozen and underwent testing with their surrogate. Underwood has been candid about the challenges he and Brown faced along the way. I mean right away, my husband gets his results back for his sperm count, and he had incredible, great numbers, and I got mine back, and all my sperm was dead. And I think immediately, I was just like, 'Oh, what does this mean? It means I'm sterile and can't have kids now.' And it was not a great feeling," he told PEOPLE in February 2024. "I think one of the reasons why men don't talk about it is it's sort of a blow to the ego. They're just like, 'Why me, I'm an alpha man? How can I not do the most simple task a man can do?' And I very much sort of had that approach going into it," Underwood said of how it affected his self-esteem. Jordan C. Brown (left) and Colton Underwood at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in L.A. on March 5, 2026 Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty 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. Since Underwood and Brown welcomed their son, the couple who married in 2023 have made a few public outings together with Bishop, including for an adorable holiday card photo shoot in December 2025. Most recently, they brought the toddler to the premiere of the animated movie Goat on Feb. 6. Brown also joined Underwood for a parents' night out at Thursday's GLAAD Media Awards. Although Underwood was not nominated, the couple was there to support queer voices in pop culture. Read the original article on People HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The North Alabama Area Labor Council and United Women of Color hosted a meeting Friday night, inviting people to discuss concerns, questions and experiences related to health care across the Tennessee Valley. Meeting attendees addressed concerns from health care staffing in North Alabama to care inequities, but many peoples concerns circled back to the same point: wanting more transparency from Huntsville Hospital regarding the Crestwood Medical acquisition and the fear surrounding Huntsville Hospital monopolizing much of the Tennessee Valleys treatment options. Police arrest murder suspect in shooting at Huntsville apartment United Women of Color Executive Director Angela Curry said her organization hopes to amplify the voices of those she said face more health care disparities, such as women and people of color. Advertisement Were going to want to share this information with our city leaders, county leaders, and also with Huntsville Hospital, Curry said. Because were curious to know, have you spoken with residents? And so were going to present this information. In a statement to News 19, Huntsville Hospital said it was not made aware of this meeting until it was organized and media releases were distributed. Although it has been promoted as a forum for the community to have concerns addressed, we were not notified of the event until it was fully planned and after organizers distributed their media release. As we shared when the planned acquisition was announced, under the legal terms of our purchase agreement, representatives of HH Health are not able to speak publicly about the pending transaction. Allison Ross, Huntsville Hospital Health System The hospital said it is meeting with a representative of the North Alabama Area Labor Council who organized the meeting to address his concerns on Monday. 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 WHNT.com. WASHINGTON In ducking a vote on authorizing war against Iran this week, Congress ceded its constitutional responsibilities yet again, some lawmakers warned, empowering current and future presidents to launch large wars unilaterally, in a major break with the nations founding principles. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said that allowing President Donald Trump to wage an open-ended war in the Middle East without their explicit approval could set a dangerous precedent, ensuring that important decisions about war and peace are no longer made democratically after open debate, but rather behind closed doors and by a single person. Politics: Republicans In Disarray On Trumps Iran War There was a time, not too long ago, we voted to go into the Iraq war. We voted to go into the Afghan war, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told HuffPost, calling the lack of a vote on Iran a bad precedent. This is a Congress without ambition, he lamented. This is a Congress without a belief structure in defending legislative prerogative. They just are a rubber stamp for whatever a president tells them to do. Trumps administration and its allies on Capitol Hill have made the strained argument that the massive U.S. bombardment of Iran was necessary to respond to an imminent threat, even though theyve yet to present evidence of an imminent attack by Tehran against the U.S. Theyve also given a series of shifting explanations to further justify the war, ranging from regime change to taking out Irans nuclear program, its navy, and its ability to launch ballistic missiles. On Friday, Trump added another objective to the list: unconditional surrender by Irans government, seemingly rejecting any diplomatic solution to the military conflict that has so far left six U.S. service members and over 1,000 Iranians dead. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran, on March 2, 2026. AP Photo/Mohsen Ganji But while much about the war remains unclear, one thing is solidifying: Trumps second presidency will shift war-making powers further away from Congress, giving his successors a chance to deploy the military as they choose. No doubt about it, there will be a Democrat president someday, and he or she will do something that will make Congress go, how dare you assert [warmaking] power? And well go, Well, you know, youre laying the predicate right here [with Iran], Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) acknowledged in an interview with HuffPost. Politics: Foreign Minister Dodges Question Whether Iran Is Receiving Help From Russia To Locate U.S. Forces Still, nearly every Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill this week, including Tillis, voted against a war powers resolution that would have restricted Trump from using further military force in Iran at least until he sought and Congress passed an authorization to do so, as it did for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some Republican senators argued that Trump had the authority to act unilaterally and that halting hostilities in the middle of combat would be impossible right now. The train has left the station, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) told reporters. I think one of the most devastating things we could do is stop the train. It would be unfair to our troops, unfair to those who lost their life. And so its not really an option at this point. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said that Congress shouldnt take any vote on going to war at all right now because of how it might affect the morale of U.S. service members. Advertisement Politics: Senate Republicans Block Effort To End Trumps Iran War I think the primary restraint on any president of the United States is public opinion. What you dont want to do in a terribly divided Congress is hold a vote that shows us divided, Johnson said in an interview with NPR. That would not be good in a war effort. It would not be good for our troops. It would not be good for, you know, success in the operations. Even Republicans who previously asserted Congress power of declaring war, like Sen. Todd Young (R-Indiana), said it was too late to challenge the president. Were at war, Young, a former U.S. Marine, explained to reporters. It would be dangerous to the American people and our national security to withdraw all military action involvement right now. Trump is far from the only president to bypass Congress when it comes to military action: modern presidents have rarely sought congressional approval before engaging in military action abroad, including Ronald Reagan, who sent troops to Lebanon in 1982, and Bill Clinton, who deployed U.S. troops to Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Kosovo as part of United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Politics: Oil Prices Hit Highest Since 2022, Trump Admin Won't Rule Out Boots On Ground In Iran: Live Updates In 2011, Barack Obama ordered military strikes against Libya under a U.N. Security Council resolution. Republican lawmakers many of them still in Congress now were livid that he did so without approval from Congress. They also rejected a resolution to authorize them in the House. But Trumps war in Iran like George W. Bushs wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been carried out on a much larger scale than the more limited military deployments ordered by their predecessors. More than 50,000 U.S. troops are involved in the operation, which has grown as Iran continues to retaliate with missile strikes against U.S. allies in the region. More importantly, the Trump administration has not taken the possibility of committing U.S. ground troops off the table. Senators, including some who otherwise supported Trumps engagements, also worried about how little effort was made to inform the U.S. public about the war, which is unpopular. Fifty-nine percent of Americans disapprove of the strikes against Iran, with 60% saying they do not think Trump has a clear plan for handling the situation and 62% saying he should get congressional approval for any further military action, according to a CNN poll. We should have been holding hearings and asking probing questions and making the case to get a greater measure of unity around this operation on the front end, Young said. Politics: Senate Votes Not To Rein In Trump's War Powers After Iran Strikes Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) said that briefing Congress in a classified setting on the details of the Iran war, as the Trump administration did earlier this week, actually makes it harder for lawmakers to do their jobs and inform the public about whats going on yet another way this administration has made the legislative branch basically irrelevant. Theres a place for classified briefings, but when they only do classified briefings with us, its essentially giving 535 members a gag order. They can go out and talk about whatever they want, but I cant say a word about what they said, Rosen said. How are we supposed to look our constituents in the eyes and send our sons and daughters into war if we arent willing to take this most solemn responsibility seriously? asked Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Related... Read the original on HuffPost KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Congressman and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate John Rose was at the Kingsport Chamber on Friday for a meet and greet. He spoke about what he believes Tennesseeans want in a governor and current political events. The gubernatorial candidate said he has traveled to all 95 counties in the state and has heard feedback. What I hear from Tennesseans is they want a governor who will listen to them. Ive been traveling the state for the last year in all 95 counties, in some cases multiple times. Listening to Tennessee voters and hearing what they want for the future of Tennessee. Rose said that his experience in the private sector, building businesses, creating jobs and signing the front side of a paycheck qualifies him as a candidate for what he called the CEO of Tennessee. JC businessman Dan Pohlgeers to challenge Rusty Crowe in GOP primary The feedback Rose mentioned hearing from the state includes a desire for a governor who will fight for constitutional rights and protect Tennessees children. But the broader issues that I hear in most communities across the state are education, infrastructure, access to health care, access to energy, and job creation or economic development, Rose said. And that and thats from listening to Tennesseans in all 95 counties. They want good schools. They want good roads. They want to be able to access health care when they need it. Rose spoke about current political events, including combat operations in Iran and Kristi Noems firing, which was announced on Thursday. He said he believes President Donald Trump is taking actions that former presidents were not willing to do. Advertisement For 47 years, we have suffered at the hands of the radical leaders of Iran, Rose said. Theyve brought terrorism around the world, killed thousands of Americans, through the years, and been just a destabilizing force in the Middle East and around the world. The president tried to negotiate. He made them a meaningful offer. He offered, for example, to supply them with the fuel so that they could have a civilian nuclear energy program. They refused. And so the president, I think, you know, reluctantly realized this is the time when we need to confront them, or we may find ourselves in the not too distant future, with the inability to confront Iran, to take the damage. And so the president decided now is the time to act. For Iran, Rose said he hopes Iranians can take control of their country. Were also hoping this will be an opportunity for the Iranian people who have seen tens of thousands of their fellow citizens killed in recent weeks by the despotic regime in Iran, Rose said. And so we hope this will be an opportunity for them to stand up and regain control of their country. Rose briefly discussed Noems firing and said the designee who will take her place, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, is a dear friend of his. I think a very capable person to step into those shoes and continue implementing the presidents vision for restoring the greatness of America, Rose said. I think, you know, the president is entitled to make the choices about who he has on his team. And I think he reached the conclusion that maybe it was time for a change. Early voting in Tennessee begins on April 15. 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A mother in a hospital gown holds her newborn baby as a healthcare provider stands nearby. Photo: Shopify Partners / Burst (The Center Square) The Illinois Family Institute is raising concerns over a proposed bill that would offer voluntary home visits to families with newborns, warning that even a voluntary program could lead to unintended government oversight and interference in parenting. House Bill 4606 proposes the Department of Human Services provide at-home visits to new parents to offer guidance on newborn care. While the program is designed to be optional and carry no immediate penalties for families who decline, critics fear it could become a gateway for government overreach. David Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, said that while he is glad the program is initially voluntary, he worries it could eventually become mandatory for some families. Taxpayers are paying for a group of new social workers to do work that really should be done by families, churches, and communities, not the state government, Smith said. More than 1,400 witness slips have been filed in opposition to the legislation. State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, the bills sponsor, has not responded to requests for comment from The Center Square. Advertisement Smith also expressed concern over the potential influence of social workers secular worldviews on parenting decisions, and the possibility that noncompliance could trigger long-term monitoring or even involvement from the Department of Children and Family Services. For example, if you dont get the HPV vaccine for your newborn child, will that be a red flag and result in your child being taken from you? Youre voluntarily bringing in government agents who have an agenda, he said. Proponents of the bill argue that providing resources and guidance to new parents is common sense, particularly during the early months after childbirth. Smith responded that while families need support, the government is not the right vehicle for providing it. Yes, mothers need resources. Yes, thats common sense. Therefore, we dont need the government. Thats the job of the family, the church, and the local community, he said. Smith also questioned the programs cost and practicality, citing Ronald Reagans famous warning: Hi, Im from the government, and Im here to help. He said expanding state programs without sufficient funding or oversight could ultimately undermine families rather than support them. By Antonio Bronic KARLOVAC, Croatia March 6 (Reuters) - Croatia is set to resume mandatory military service for the first time in 17 years as part of the European Union member's broader strategy to address security concerns in Europe and the Western Balkans. On Monday, 800 recruits will start two-month basic training in military compounds across the country. Croatia amended its defence law last October to introduce mandatory service in line with European trends and as tensions with Russia spurred calls for stronger defence capabilities across Europe. Despite initial public division, more than half of the first batch of recruits were volunteers, 10% of them women. Only 10 people have filed conscientious objections and applied to serve in the civilian service instead, which is the lowest percentage in Europe, according to academics. When Leon Dejanovic, 18, starts his training in May, he will be one of 4,000 conscripts that the government plans to call on an annual basis. Even though receiving a draft notice in January felt "a little scary and surprising," the internet influencer with thousands of followers said he views the upcoming training as a chance to take a break from his digital lifestyle. Advertisement "Honestly, I cannot wait to be without my cell phone for a while because I am on my cell phone all day for my job," Dejanovic told Reuters in his hometown of Karlovac, 50 km (31 miles) southwest of the capital Zagreb. New recruits will be trained in basic survival skills, self-defence, first aid and FPV drone operation. The program also offers incentives such as a 1,100 euro ($1,272.04) monthly allowance, work record credit and preferential access to public-sector employment. Dejanovic's friend Josip Franjo Cvitesic does not share his enthusiasm. "I haven't received a call-up yet, but honestly, I'm against it," said Cvitesic, a 19-year-old factory worker, adding that he was concerned that the service could disrupt his job and income. Including Croatia, there will now be 10 NATO countries with mandatory military service, joining Greece, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ($1 = 0.8648 euros) (Reporting by Antonio Bronic, writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Sharon Singleton) U.S. President Donald Trump attends the "Shield of the Americas" Summit in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque By Nandita Bose, Sarah Morland and David Brunnstrom MIAMI, Florida, March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Latin American leaders to Florida on Saturday to launch a new coalition against drug cartels, even as he struck a dismissive tone toward the region, telling officials their countries had allowed gangs to seize territory and joking that he had no time to learn their languages. Trump framed the effort as an aggressive campaign to confront drug cartels, citing them as a primary reason for ramping up U.S. involvement in Latin America, including a pressure campaign against Venezuela that culminated in the January capture of President Nicolas Maduro. At one point, Trump suggested the United States could use missiles against cartel leaders if partners requested it. He also singled out Mexico as the center of cartel activity and predicted major political change in Cuba, saying the country was "very much at the end of the line" and repeating previous statements that Cuban officials are negotiating with him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At least a dozen leaders from Central America, South America and the Caribbean joined the "Shield of the Americas" summit, where Trump signed a proclamation launching the coalition. "Leaders in this region have allowed large swaths of territory in the Western Hemisphere to come under the direct control of transnational gangs, and they've run areas of your country," Trump said. "We're not gonna let that happen." In an opening speech that ran more than 30 minutes, Trump also touched on topics far beyond drug cartels, including Iran, Ukraine, Pakistan and India, political endorsements, former president Jimmy Carter, Dominican sugar, building battleships, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's "soothing" personality, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's "beautiful voice," and the importance of interpreters. Trump joked about language differences between himself and the mostly Spanish-speaking group of leaders. "I'm not learning your damn language," he said. "I don't have time." Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, later delivered brief remarks in English and Spanish, while Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's stance. "I only speak American," Hegseth joked. Trump also joked about Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, saying that her name looked similar to that of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has pushed to build a coalition of regional partners around a more forceful approach to combating drug cartels and organized crime. Saturday's event also gave him an opportunity to project strength closer to home as the war with Iran escalates and threatens to push up global oil and gas prices. Advertisement Earlier in the day, Trump said Iran would be "hit very hard" on Saturday and that he was considering widening the areas and groups of people targeted, without providing details RIGHT-WING ALLIES ATTEND SUMMIT Among those who attended the summit were Argentine President Javier Milei, Chile's President-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose gang crackdown, criticized by human rights groups, has become a model for parts of Latin America's right. Politicians from across the region have toured Bukele's sprawling "mega-prison", where the United States last year deported more than 200 Venezuelans without trial. Also in attendance was Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who narrowly won a disputed election with Trump's backing, and Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, who has echoed parts of Trump's economic agenda and recently announced joint operations with the U.S. in a military crackdown on drug trafficking. Many of the leaders share Trump's hardline view of crime and migration, favoring crackdowns over deeper social fixes and private business over the state. Their rise reflects a broader rightward turn in parts of Latin America at a time when the region is being pulled between Washington and Beijing. COUNTERING CHINA'S GROWING REGIONAL INFLUENCE Trump did not mention China specifically but warned that the United States would not allow "hostile foreign influence" to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere, including in the Panama Canal, a key global freight route. The comments, while not explicit, come as Washington increasingly views Latin America through the lens of strategic competition with Beijing. Chinas trade with the region reached about $518 billion in 2024 and Beijing has extended more than $120 billion in loans to governments across the Western Hemisphere, according to Ryan Berg of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Chinas growing footprint from satellite tracking facilities in Argentina to a Chinese-backed port in Peru and economic support for Venezuela has long troubled U.S. officials. In response, the Trump administration has pressed governments across the region to curb Beijings role in ports, energy projects and other strategic infrastructure. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Miami, Florida, David Brunnstrom in Washington and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington and Natalia Siniawski in Mexico City, Editing by Sergio Non, Himani Sarkar, Alex Richardson and Alistair Bell) Topeka's representative in Congress is urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to be more transparent with the public about immigration enforcement operations in Kansas and elsewhere. U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kansas, is a member of the House Judiciary Committee that held a DHS oversight hearing with homeland security secretary Kristi Noem on March 4. "There's a lot of angst," Schmidt, the former Kansas attorney general, said of DHS operations nationally. "There's a lot of concern about some of these operations in some of the communities. Even in Kansas, we've had some targeted enforcement operations, mostly by ICE or CBP, and you get all the folks in the local community ginned up, riled up, worried. Rumors run rampant." U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt is encouraging ICE to be more transparent about immigration enforcement efforts in Kansas. Efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protections appear to have ramped up in northeast Kansas in 2026. That includes higher-profile interactions in Olathe which spurred a statement from a federal prosecutor about following ICE agents and in Lawrence, reportedly on the University of Kansas campus, without informing local law enforcement. In the past year, the national ICE public affairs office and the regional office haven't responded to inquiries from The Capital-Journal about immigration enforcement, including about operations last month in Manhattan and a detention in Topeka in May. Without specifying where or when it happened, Schmidt gave an example during his questioning of Noem. "In a community in our state recently, there were some ICE arrests," Schmidt said. "It went all over town in the ICE watchers group, and there was an arrest at a church and they'd gone into a school. "About five days later, ICE I think out of Kansas City, the regional guys put out a statement, said: Here's what happened. We came in. We were targeting three specific individuals. Two had DUI convictions and final orders of deportation. One had a felony conviction for illegal reentry and a final order of removal. We found them. We executed a car stop. It was a car stop at a location. "We couldn't just stop in the middle of the road, so they pulled into a parking lot that happened to be a church parking lot. Had nothing to do with the fact it was a church. That's where the arrest was executed. And by the way, we were never close, ICE said, to the school that everybody was worried about." More: 'Trepidation and fear': How Topekans are handling changing immigration climate Without using the word "transparent," Schmidt told Noem that his example illustrates why DHS should share timely information with the public. "I really think it would be helpful if as a routine matter, ICE and CBP when they do these targeted operations, they would do what so many local law enforcement agencies do," Schmidt said. "When it's concluded, put out a statement, tell the local community here is what we did, who we did it against and why we did it. It would make it so much cleaner to avoid a lot of the worry and speculation." Noem said "that's a great idea" and noted that her department already puts out information on some operations nationally. Advertisement 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. "Doing that at the field office level, I will have that conversation with ICE and see if we could do that, because I don't believe they're doing that today," Noem said. "But informing people would be helpful, when they know that they've done an operation against a targeted criminal in that area, that the people might have questions." After Noem indicated she would consider Schmidt's suggestion, he said "I really think it would go a long ways in calming a lot of the unnecessary concern." Soon, Noem will no longer be in a position to make such a change. On March 5, a day after the contentious House hearing and two days after a similar hearing in the Senate, President Donald Trump ousted her as secretary effective at the end of the month. More: Kristi Noem pressed on fatal Minnesota shootings in fiery hearing: recap What Derek Schmidt said of ICE operation in Minneapolis Schmidt also mentioned "the Minneapolis situation," which had been addressed in questioning by other representatives during the lengthy congressional hearing. The Minnesota city experienced a high-profile immigration enforcement campaign that included deadly shootings by ICE agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. More: False alarms of ICE presence cause fear in Topeka immigrant communities "It's possible that multiple things are true at the same time," Schmidt said. "It is true that we're in this mess because the prior administration let 8-10 million people into this country who should not have been here and wouldn't enforce the law against them. It is true that we're in this mess in some communities like Minneapolis because local authorities won't cooperate and agree and help now that we have an administration that will enforce the law. "It is possible that there have been some individual actions in Minneapolis that we all looked at and said 'that should not have happened that way.' I'm not asking you to comment necessarily, but I presume that the president saw it that way. He made some changes in Minneapolis, which I commend. I think those changes were prudent." More: What Kansas's Derek Schmidt did during hearing about Epstein files Stacey Saldanha-Olson, of The Capital-Journal, contributed reporting. Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas congressman wants ICE transparency on immigration enforcement AG Pam Bondi The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a 38-page emergency motion with the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to freeze a high-stakes ruling that labeled the governments third-country removal policy unlawful. The filing follows a decision late last month by U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy, who determined that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy violates the bedrock principle of due process. The District Courts Ruling Judge Murphy, an appointee of President Joe Biden, issued a declaratory judgment for a class-action group of plaintiffs, effectively setting aside the DHS policy. The case began with four detained men but expanded significantly after DHS attempted to deport eight individualsnone of whom were Sudanese nationalsto South Sudan. Those men were eventually held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti as the legal battle intensified. While Murphy previously issued preliminary injunctions against the policy, this latest ruling was a final judgment on the merits. He granted a 15-day stay of his own order to allow the federal government time to seek relief from the appellate court. The Governments Argument In its emergency motion, the Department of Justice, representing the Trump administration, argues that Judge Murphy is repeating serious legal errors. The DOJ claims the courts set-aside of the policy violates federal statutes that limit the power of lower courts to restrain immigration operations. The governments primary arguments include: Advertisement Statutory Limits: The DOJ contends that federal law prevents lower courts from issuing relief that restrains the operation of immigration provisions, regardless of whether the order is titled an injunction or a vacatur. Executive Discretion: Government lawyers argue that choosing removal countries involves sensitive foreign policy determinations and national security considerations that belong exclusively to the Executive Branch. Operational Disruption: The motion warns that the ruling creates an unworkable scheme that could interfere with thousands of pending removal orders and damage diplomatic coordination required for third-country deportations. Conflict with the High Court The DOJs motion heavily emphasizes that the U.S. Supreme Court has twice intervened in this specific case to strike down Murphys earlier preliminary orders. In June and July 2025, the High Courts majority stayed Murphys previous injunctions and a subsequent remedial order. This Court must consider the Supreme Courts prior stay orders, the motion states, arguing that the district court simply replaced dissolved injunctions with equally sweeping final relief. What Happens Next The Department of Justice is requesting an immediate stay to prevent what it describes as irreparable harm to the governments ability to enforce immigration laws. If the 1st Circuit does not intervene before the 15-day window expires, the DHS policy will remain vacated nationwide, forcing the agency to prioritize removal to a persons designated country of citizenship before considering a third country. READ: Court Orders Immediate Release Of Chinese National In Maine Detained By ICE After 911 Call Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage. Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox DOJ Asks Court To Block Massachusetts Judges Ruling Against Third-Country Deportations ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Virginians are back at the polls as the early voting window for the state redistricting map begins. As of Friday afternoon, the Roanoke Valley has seen more than 500 people cast their ballots already, with almost 300 of those in Roanoke City, plus about 150 in Salem and at the Roanoke County Voter Registration and Elections facility. To me, it is a civic, moral and ethical responsibility to our country and our democracy, Rebecca Robertson, a Roanoke City voter, said. Its the difference between right and wrong, and when you dont show up to vote, bad things happen. There is only one thing on the ballot to vote on: yes or no to the proposed redistricting map of Virginia. The Democratic party sees a yes vote as leveling the playing field with whats happening with redistricting efforts across the country in places like Texas and California. What we need is for voters to have a fair shot to be heard here in Virginia, former Representative of Virginias 5th district Tom Perriello said. That means a yes vote on the amendment, and I think thats why people are starting to show up and speak out. Early voting underway for Virginia redistricting referendum Advertisement Republicans believe redistricting wont give Virginians a fair shot. What do you think about a politician in Northern Virginia youre never going to meet? Should they choose who represents you, or should it be you, and when you explain it like that, everyone says Yeah, I should have a voice,' Representative John McGuire of Virginias 5th district said. Well, if (Democrats) succeed in 45 days, people will be giving away their voice. Given both the high popularity and the high uncertainty of this vote, particularly with what the Virginia Supreme Court ultimately decides to do, political analysts had different feelings on how voter turnout will continue. I think that this is something that everyone is astutely aware of, Aaron Van Allen, an associate professor of government at Liberty University, said. I think that folks are going to continue slowly trickling into the polls. In a middle of a spring, unexpected election, it will look strong by comparison, Dr. Karen Hult, a political science professor at Virginia Tech, said. I do not expect a whole range of people to say, Im going to drop everything and make sure I vote early, and/or vote on Election Day itself. Early voting ends on Saturday, April 18th, at 5 p.m. 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 WFXRtv. Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS By Pesha Magid JERUSALEM, March 6 (Reuters) - Israel has been bombing parts of western Iran to support Iranian Kurdish militias who hope to exploit the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran to seize towns near the frontier, according to three sources familiar with Israel's talks with the factions. The notion of an offensive by Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq gained attention on Friday when U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters it would be "wonderful" if they crossed the border. A Kurdish insurgency could have serious consequences for Iran as it defends itself against the air campaign. The militias have consulted with the U.S. about how and whether to attack Iran's security forces, Reuters has reported. ISRAELI TALKS WITH IRANIAN KURDS STRETCH BACK A YEAR Israel has been holding its own talks with Iranian Kurdish insurgent groups based in the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan for around a year, two Iranian Kurdish sources said, while an Israeli source said talks had been "long-term". The two Iranian Kurdish sources have direct knowledge of the armed dissident groups and the source from Israel has direct knowledge of its engagement with them. All spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel's government and the Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Israel has not commented publicly on such engagement during the current war. An initial goal of the Kurdish factions would be seizing Iranian territory along the border, the three sources said. One of the Kurdish sources said their aim was to seize the towns of Oshnavieh and Piranshahr, among others. These sources said thousands of fighters were gathering on the Iraqi side of the border and preparing to launch an offensive within a week, something Reuters was not able to confirm. Independent estimates put the militias' combined strength at 5,000-8,000. They possess only light arms, according to the Kurdish sources. But while they might not have the firepower to mount a significant bid for self-rule, with U.S. and Israeli help they could cause trouble on the border. The Israeli source said Israel did not expect them to be able to overthrow their government, but that backing them could erode Iran's control over its hinterlands and distract its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Five long-standing Iranian dissident groups announced an alliance just at the end of last month. It includes the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), which have all participated in insurgencies and maintain fighters in Iraq. It is not clear that they will get any support from their ethnic brethren in Iraq, however; Iraqi Kurdistan's political leadership has publicly denied any plan to send fighters or get involved in Iran, despite reports of outside pressure to do so. Advertisement The Israeli source cautioned that there was pushback from the Iraqi Kurds, and without their practical support it would be hard for the Iranian Kurds to mobilise. Trump's lack of clarity on how long the war could last had also led to hesitancy. Iran has been attacking Kurdish armed groups inside Iraq, along with U.S. bases in the area, and on Friday warned Iraqi Kurdistan that it would retaliate against any deployment of hostile forces on the frontier. IRANIAN KURDS 'PROVIDING TARGET INFORMATION' FOR AIR WAR The three sources said Kurds within Iran had been providing targeting intelligence on the border areas to the U.S. and Israel. Israeli analyst Jonathan Spyer said Israel was seeking to "destroy the regime by any means available". But Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert and former Israeli intelligence officer, said an insurgency in Iran did not have broad support among Iraqi and Iranian Kurds: "I think they're all waiting to see if the regime will hold on or not." Turkish and Iraqi officials, neither keen to support separatism among an ethnic group spread across parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran, have also expressed reservations about any insurgency in Iran. Citrinowicz said supporting an uprising might backfire on the U.S. and Israel by fanning nationalism. Israel has maintained discreet military, intelligence and business ties with various Kurdish groups since the 1960s, viewing them as a buffer against shared adversaries. The two Kurdish sources said the factions were in closer coordination with the U.S. than with Israel, but that any cross-border offensive would require air support from both. One of those sources said they had not yet received weapons, but would request air defence systems, drones, small arms, and artillery support. Kurdish groups have a long history of working with the U.S., but recent incidents have strained ties. One of the Iranian Kurdish sources said Kurdish leaders had concerns about being "betrayed" like the Kurdish groups in northern Syria, who had been forced to cede territory after long serving as the primary U.S. partner in the area. The source said Iranian Kurdish leaders had requested guarantees from the U.S., without saying what they were. Both Iranian Kurdish sources said the factions' goal would be to establish a semi-autonomous region in a federal Iran, similar to the model in Iraq. (Reporting by Pesha Magid; editing by Rami Ayyub and Kevin Liffey) (This March 5 story has been republished to fix an image caption, with no changes to text) By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed scores of children on Saturday but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation, two U.S. officials told Reuters. Reuters was unable to determine more details about the investigation, including what evidence contributed to the tentative assessment, what type of munition was used, who was responsible or why the U.S. might have struck the school. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday acknowledged the U.S. military was investigating the incident. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, did not rule out the possibility that new evidence could emerge that absolves the U.S. of responsibility and points to another responsible party in the incident. Reuters could not determine how much longer the investigation would last or what evidence U.S. investigators are seeking before the assessment can be completed. The girls' school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit on Saturday during the first day of U.S. and Israeli attacks on the country. Iran's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said the strike killed 150 students. Reuters could not independently confirm the death toll. According to archived copies of the school's official website, the school is adjacent to a compound operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military force that reports to Iran's supreme leader. The Pentagon referred questions from Reuters to the U.S. militarys Central Command, whose spokesperson, Captain Timothy Hawkins, said: It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation. The White House did not directly comment on the investigation, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Reuters, While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America. Asked about the incident during a news briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth said: Were investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets. But were taking a look and investigating that. Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday that the United States would not deliberately target a school. "The Department of War would be investigating that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them," Rubio said. SATELLITE IMAGES SUGGEST STRIKES FROM AIR Israeli and U.S. forces have until now divided their attacks in Iran both geographically and by target type, a senior Israeli official and a source with direct knowledge of the joint planning said. While Israel was striking missile launch sites in western Iran, the United States was attacking such targets, as well as naval ones, in the south. Reuters shared satellite imagery and visuals of the aftermath of the Minab attack with N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, a munitions research consultancy. "Taken together, the satellite imagery and available videos suggest the school and adjacent IRGC compound were hit by multiple simultaneous or near-simultaneous strikes with explosive munitions, most likely air-delivered types," Jenzen-Jones wrote in an email. He cautioned that it is difficult to be definitive about the type of munitions used in the ongoing conflict and said that to determine responsibility investigators would generally attempt to review munition remnants. The U.N. human rights office, without saying who it believed was responsible for the strike, called on Tuesday for an investigation. "The onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it," U.N. human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a press briefing in Geneva. Images of the girls' funeral on Tuesday were shown on Iranian state television. Their small coffins were draped with Iranian flags and passed from a truck across a large crowd towards the grave site. Deliberately attacking a school or hospital or any other civilian structure would likely be a war crime under international humanitarian law. If a U.S. role were to be confirmed, the strike would rank among the worst cases of civilian casualties in decades of U.S. conflicts in the Middle East. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and James Pearson in London; Editing by Craig Timberg, Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis) This story has been updated with additional information. As the U.S. and Israel continue to batter Iran with bombs and missiles, recent reports suggest Iranian Kurdish militias at the Iran-Iraq border may be readying for an attack on Iranian security forces in potential support of a popular uprising that President Donald Trump has expressed hope for. While the Trump administration has denied any direct involvement in such efforts, the president called such a scenario wonderful and told Reuters he would be all for it. The situation highlights the role Irans ethnic dynamics could play in shaping the nations future as the war develops, though some say ethnic conflict could prove calamitous. More than 1,000 people have been killed, including six U.S. servicemembers, since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran on Feb. 28. 1 / 0 See how the Iran wars fallout is hitting the Middle East 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. Iran has long been a multiethnic, pluralistic society consisting of Persians, Azeris, Kurds, Arabs and other groups. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's Supreme Leader killed in the Feb. 28 attacks, was Azeri, while Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian is half-Azeri, half-Kurdish. As a result, stoking ethnic divisions could prove a dangerous tactic, said Alex Shams, editor in chief of Ajam Media Collective, a platform devoted to Iranian culture, society and politics. The idea that Iran is controlled by Persians is not accurate, Shams said. All the different ethnic groups are part of the political equation. The idea that they could be separated and turned against each other is not only dangerous, but I dont think its going to succeed, either. Nonetheless, some of Irans ethnic groups may be on the verge of achieving greater global recognition as the situation plays out, said Brenda Shaffer, an instructor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and author of Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran. Just like when the Soviet Union broke up and people who only talked about Russians discovered Latvians and Georgians, theres a similar situation with Iran, said Shaffer, who according to her bio has served as an advisor to Israels Prime Ministers Office and Ministry of Energy on policy related to major natural gas discoveries there. What are Iran's major ethnic groups? Iran is a self-described Islamic Republic with Shia Islam the official state religion. While ethnic Persians make up about half of its 85 million people, several large ethnic groups also live within and mostly along Irans borders. US Iran war widens across Middle East Minority groups in Iran have often advocated for more equal treatment and recognition, Shaffer said for instance, for the right to speak and teach their native tongues in a nation dominated by Persian culture. The largest of them is the Azeri Turks, who represent about a quarter to a third of Iran. Kurdish people are about 10% of the population, while Arabs and Baloch form notable contingents as well. Most of Irans ethnic minorities live in provinces that border neighboring countries, Shaffer said: Ethnic Arabs live near Iraq, Kurds near Iraq and Turkey, Azeris near Azerbaijan and the Baloch near Pakistan. Unlike other groups, however, Kurds harbor separatist tendencies that have sometimes put them at violent odds with the clerical establishment, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan thinktank in Washington, D.C. Who are the Kurds? The Kurds are an ethnic West Asian minority group of between 30 and 45 million, according to the CIAs World Factbook. Kurdish people are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographic region encompassing parts of southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. Kurds are the worlds largest group without a state, according to author Ofra Bengios Kurdish Awakening: Nation Building in a Fractured Homeland. The result of French and British land apportionment after World War I and the Ottoman Empires demise, the situation has fed political tensions over the years. Advertisement A fighter from the Kurdistan Freedom Party at a training session at a base near Erbil, Iraq, on Feb. 12, 2026. Some Kurdish groups have struggled for autonomy in eastern Turkey for decades, while a Kurdish militia called the YPG forms the bulk of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces battling ISIS in Syria. An armed uprising by Iranian Kurds could seriously damage Iran's stability, emboldening a separatist movement among Iran's ethnic Baloch minority with links to separatists in Pakistan's neighboring province of Baluchistan. Islamabad is unlikely to tolerate any move toward Baloch independence. Regime 'in a precarious situation' Iran responded to the Feb. 28 attack by lashing out at U.S. military bases and other targets throughout the region, including in countries with whom it has been friendly. On Thursday, Azerbaijan said it would retaliate after Iranian drones wounded four people in that country. Two weeks ago, Turkey and Azerbaijan were really concerned about stability in Iran and didnt want the regime to fall, Shaffer said. But after Iran attacked all the countries it was friendly with, theyre becoming impatient with them. Theres a growing realization that the regime is falling. Ethnic resistance efforts have been ongoing, Shaffer said, with Baloch, Kurds and Arabs carrying out attacks on a regular basis. In Baloch areas, almost every week they blow something up, she said. The regime is in a precarious situation.... I think this whole thing is going to come to a head as the center loses more and more power. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on March 3, 2026. Thats especially true, Shaffer said, in less populated border provinces where ethnic minorities are concentrated, since state officials there dont have the anonymity of walled-off compounds their counterparts in Tehran enjoy. In the provinces people know where they live and where their kids go to school, she said. Shaffer said the moment feels similar to November 1991, the month before the Soviet Union collapsed. Its hard to imagine those geopolitical earthquakes, but its something that can happen, she said. Its hard to imagine people in those provinces will agree to be under new rule from Tehran. Ethnic strife 'a recipe for death' However, relying on ethnic strife as a strategy may be unwise and detrimenal to Iran's future, Shams said. All of Irans ethnic groups have played parts in the struggle for freedom, Shams said. Kurdish Iranians were at the heart of the Woman Life Freedom protests in 2022. The idea that Kurdish Iranians are not part of Iran, or that they could be turned against Iran, is not only simplistic and false but dangerous. That's not to say discrimination doesn't exist in Iran or that groups haven't fought for greater rights, he said, but weaponizing such grievances is "a recipe for death and destruction." Theres reason to be afraid of and to oppose the U.S. trying to cause ethnic divisions, Shams said. Iranians were busy fighting for their own freedoms before the U.S. attacked. Now, instead of continuing that fight for freedom, they are fleeing the bombs. With reporting by Reuters and USA Today reporter Kim Hjelmgaard. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kurds, other ethnic groups could shape Iran's future In this photo provided by the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, Father Leandro Fossa, CS, Fr. Paul Keller, CMF, and Sr. Alicia Gutierrez, SH, are escorted by police officers into the Broadview detention center in Broadview, Ill., on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Derek Carter/Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership via AP) The long-held practice of faith leaders ministering to detained migrants has become far more contentious and consequential as detention numbers soar across the United States during the federal government's immigration crackdown. Clergy are pushing for more access at detention centers, especially during the ongoing holy seasons of Lent and Ramadan. After celebrating an Ash Wednesday service with four migrants who had just arrived at a detention center near Chicago, clergy there are working with immigration authorities to set up regular visits. At the start of Ramadan, a Muslim chaplain was allowed to visit two women held for many months in immigration detention in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She is hoping to return throughout the fasting month. In systems that are made to break them, it is very important that they not only get that care, but they also get adequate care with someone that can help them make meaning of their situation by bringing God, chaplain Nosayba Mahmoud said. After months of liaising with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Prairieland Detention Facility in Texas, she was allowed to bring the women dates to break the Ramadan fast as well as softcover Qurans. But it took a lawsuit one of two recently filed after clergy said they were denied access in Illinois and Minnesota for a Catholic contingent to get into the ICE facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Ash Wednesday. Its an important victory, said the Rev. David Inczauskis, a Jesuit priest and member of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, which filed the Chicago lawsuit. But also we recognize that its just one step along the way to migrant justice. ICE detention centers expand and draw scrutiny Since President Donald Trump began his second term, the number of people detained by ICE has increased to as many as 75,000 from 40,000, spread across more than 225 sites as capacity expands. The largest site is Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, where an average of about 3,000 people have lived per day. The Trump administration has repeatedly portrayed its mass deportation efforts as targeting immigrants who are a danger to society, but data from the Deportation Data Project shows that the percentage of people arrested by ICE with criminal histories has steadily decreased. Its not clear how Thursdays ouster of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will affect detention centers, but the centers have come under mounting criticism, including from members of Congress, about living conditions and inconsistent access to legal representation. ICE facilities that hold detainees for more than 72 hours are required to have a chaplain or religious services coordinator, as well as dedicated spaces for services, ICE told The Associated Press. ICE policy requires advance notice and background checks for clergy and faith volunteers who want to provide pastoral visits, counseling and religious services, the agency added. ICE detainees come from all over the world, but historically most were born in Christian-majority countries. Clergy sue over access to detention centers The two lawsuits center on access at federal buildings on the outskirts of Chicago and Minneapolis, where clergy said detainees were held for multiple days during the respective enforcement surges last fall and earlier this winter. Both lawsuits claim the government violated religious freedom by not allowing the clergy to minister to migrants. The Illinois case said faith leaders were barred from the Broadview center on some occasions starting last fall a change since a nun and member of the coalition that filed this lawsuit in mid-November had been visiting for approved weekly prayers for a decade. After a judge ordered ICE to allow the Ash Wednesday visit, faith leaders are cautiously optimistic that they might arrange a regular schedule to visit, offer prayers and bring items like rosaries and Bibles, Inczauskis said. Such access also could benefit the federal agents three of them asked to receive ashes alongside the migrants, he added. In Minneapolis, the Rev. Chris Collins, also a Jesuit priest, was denied entry into a federal building where raucous protests occurred daily during the surge. With Minnesota branches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Collins sued the government in February for being categorically denied the opportunity to provide pastoral care. Faith leaders say access is inconsistent Clergy and volunteers from different faiths have long ministered to immigration detainees. Advertisement For about 15 years, the U.S. branch of Jesuit Refugee Service has had a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to provide in-house chaplains at half a dozen centers, from near the Canadian border in New York to Cubas Guantanamo Bay, said the nonprofit's spokesperson, Bridget Cusick. Many of the clergy and volunteers involved say they are worried about inconsistent access. Yet they plan to keep up their ministry because they see it as vital to preserving the right to worship and reminding migrants of their humanity. Im the only outside contact that they have, said Simran Singh, who started visiting Indian detainees at the Mesa Verde ICE facility in Bakersfield, California, a decade ago. Most of their relatives are not in America so I am the only one who knows they exist, that theyre more than just a number. The Sikh volunteer added that on his weekly visits, detainees love the food from the gurdwara he brings for some, it's the only appropriate vegetarian food they have received while in custody. Others are grateful he delivers the turbans that observant men wear, which are often taken away upon detention. Thats part of your identity. So not only are you stripped of your name, but youre also stripped of who you are, Singh said. Similarly, Mahmoud, the Muslim chaplain in Texas, said she would like to provide prayer cloths, especially during Ramadan, but so far hasnt been allowed to. Catholic bishops demand more access In a letter to Congress last week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged consistent access to religious and pastoral services for all immigration detainees, and asked for clear guidelines and uniform processes. The bishops had already expressed concern about the lack of pastoral care in a fall statement strongly backed by Pope Leo XIV. For four decades, the Catholic archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, has been visiting migrants at the Krome Detention Center on the edge of the Everglades, where a weekly Mass is held. Hes also celebrated Mass at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz, an even more remote and controversial center. In his homily there last Christmas, he told the dozens of mostly Latino and Latin American men that his presence was proof that they hadnt been forgotten. There are people outside that are praying for you, Wenski recalled preaching. God has not abandoned you. At the largest detention center, in El Paso, a Sunday Mass is regularly celebrated and priests also visit for confessions. But the access is very limited due to what the centers management says is a shortage of staff and space, Bishop Mark Seitz said. In Southern California, the Rev. Brian Nunes, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, celebrated two Masses recently at the large detention centers in Adelanto and California City, where many struggle with separation from family and their communities. He, too, hopes to expand care. Theres also, on a very important level, this sense that even when its difficult to serve them, that they were served, Nunes said. ___ AP journalist Morgan Lee contributed from Santa Fe, New Mexico. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Belgium is one of the participants of the "fighter jet coalition" supplying F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force. Although Belgium joined the initiative in 2023, it has not delivered a single fighter jet so far, despite repeated announcements of deadlines for the arrival of the first Belgian F-16s in Ukraine. F-16 and F-35 fighter jets of the Belgian Air Force This was reported by the VRT broadcaster, citing information from the Belgian Ministry of Defense during a Q&A session marking the fourth year of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The delay is linked to postponed deliveries of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. According to the broadcaster's sources, the delay amounts to only a few months and stems from Belgium's decision to spread out payments under the contract. At the same time, the Belgian Air Force emphasized that its own needs are a priority for the Defense Ministry in the context of supplying F-16 fighter jets. Some F-16s will remain in service until Belgium completes its transition to fifth-generation F-35 aircraft and to meet NATO commitments. The decommissioning of the entire F-16 fleet is planned for the end of 2028. Belgian Air Force Major General Geert De Decker emphasized that his country had never promised fixed delivery dates for F-16s to Ukraine. The publication claims that Ukraine allegedly requested a delay in F-16 deliveries due to a shortage of pilots. Regarding the statement on fixed deadlines, no specific dates were actually announced, but officials have publicly given approximate timings for the transfer of Belgian F-16s to Ukraine several times. For instance, in 2023, Belgium's former Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said the first F-16s were expected in 2025, but the Foreign Ministry later announced a more optimistic timeline of the end of 2024. As of today, it remains unknown when Ukraine will finally receive its first F-16s from Belgium and what the pace of deliveries might be. PALM BEACH, FLA - British opposition leader Nigel Farage is taking aim at his country's prime minister for not supporting the U.S. in its military strikes against Iran. "I think not to support America when it asks for support is a pretty extraordinary thing to have done.," Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, said in an exclusive interview Saturday with Fox News Digital. President Donald Trump has blasted Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially blocking the U.S. from using British military bases, specifically Diego Garcia a strategic base located on an Indian Ocean island for strikes against Iran during Operation Epic Fury. Starmer later permitted the use of the bases for "defensive strikes" after Trump's complaints. Starmer hasnt spoken to Trump since they connected on a call last weekend, after the U.S. and Israel launched their strikes on Iran. The British prime minister has made clear his country would not be joining the U.S. in attacking Iran, emphasizing he didn't believe in "regime change from the skies." Head Here For Fox News Live Updates On The Attack On Iran Britains PM Starmer speaks during a press conference, in London. (Reuters Photos) Trump, taking a jab at Starmer, said earlier this week, "This is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with." Read On The Fox News App Farage criticized Starmer for not changing his stance, "even now, despite the fact that we've got an RAF base in Cyprus that's been under attack, we've got allies of ours in the Gulf that are under attack." "I think there's been less than wholehearted support has come for the Americans in this endeavor. And I think the British Prime Minister on the world stage, he's upset the Americans," Farage said. "He's upset the Cypriots. He's upset the Gulf states. And he's pretty friendless at the moment." They Want To Destroy America: Republican Senators Weigh In On Iran Attack Farage, who seven years ago founded the populist Brexit Party, which later transformed into the Reform UK party, was interviewed ahead of an appearance at an annual economic conference in Florida hosted by the Club for Growth, an influential and politically potent political group that pushes for fiscal responsibility. Advertisement Starmer has been feeling Trump's wrath not only for their differences over the attack on Iran, but also over the British deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, the Indian Ocean archipelago where Diego Garcia is located, to Mauritius. Starmer has argued his lease-back deal is the only way to secure the British-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia. Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago and site of a major United States military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean leased from the UK in 1966. Farage, who has been vocal in his opposition to the deal, told Fox News Digital that "outside of America itself," Diego Garcia "is the most important base you've got in the whole world. Now it's there as part of British sovereignty. We have a treaty between us that goes back to 1966 and Keir Starmer is on the verge of giving away the sovereignty of the Chagos islands and Diego Garcia to Mauritius." "If Trump initially had problems with the Brits over using the base, just think what it will be like with the heavily Chinese-influenced Mauritians. They already have said they believe that America should not have struck Iran, that it was against international law, then are calling for a ceasefire," Farage said. Nato Chief Praises Trumps Iran Strikes, Says Key Allies All For One, One For All Farage, who said his opposition to the deal was a key factor in his weekend trip to the U.S., said, "I would just urge the president, this administration, stay firm. Tell the British government you will not accept giving away of sovereignty to Mauritius, and let's ensure a future for Diego Garcia. I think it's really important." Farage, who's hoping to become Britain's next prime minister, argued that Starmer's relationship with Trump is beyond repair. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pose for a photo, at a world leaders' summit on ending the war in Gaza, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/Pool "I think the personal relationship between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump has gone. I mean, Trump can be forgiving, but, you know, that would take a long time. So I think that breakdown is there," he said. Click Here To Download The Fox News App But as for the longstanding bonds between the two countries, known as the 'special relationship,' Farage was more optimistic. "The special relationship went through bad times in the past. We had a massive fallout 70 years ago over Suez, but we got back together again. I'm convinced it can, and it will, be mended," he predicted. Original article source: Farage slams British prime minister for extraordinary lack of support for Trump's Iran strikes (FOX40.COM) The federal government is requiring the California Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel around 13,000 non-domiciled commercial drivers licenses on Friday. Video above: Planned Parenthood offering some cosmetic procedures to combat lost federal funding A non-domiciled individual is a person who does not have citizenship or lawful permanent resident status and includes holders of various visas, refugees and asylees, according to the DMV. Person hit, killed by train near Florin The DMV said it found the CDLs were issued incorrectly. State law requires that the expiration date of a CDL must be on or before the expiration date of the legal presence documents provided to the DMV. According to the DMV, those affected have already been notified that their licenses are set to be cancelled. Federal law permits these individuals to obtain a CDL. The DMV said that all individuals issued non-domiciled CDLs by the DMV had been granted work authorization by the federal government and were legally present in the United States at the time their license was issued. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration blocked the DMV from attempting to issue corrected CDLs to affected drivers in a way that is consistent with state and federal law, the DMV said. Advertisement Additionally, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied an emergency stay that was also requested by DMV which would have allowed the state to reissue corrected non-domiciled CDLs to eligible individuals. On March 2, the Alameda County Superior Court ruled that the DMV must allow those non-domiciled CDL holders who received a cancellation letter to reapply for a CDL following cancellation of their license. However, the department is prevented from issuing non-domiciled CDLs until FMCSA lifts its mandated pause, the DMV stated. All applications will remain pending for a maximum of one year. Impacted CDL holders who dont apply for a new CDL are required to apply for a regular, Class C drivers license to continue driving their regular vehicles. Those affected who want to apply for a CDL will be required to pay a non-refundable application fee and be issued a temporary non-commercial, Class C drivers license. The DMV said it will offer priority appointments for people impacted and encourages applicants to visit its website or call 916-306-5135 before visiting an office. 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. A federal judge in Massachusetts on Friday dismissed a habeas petition from a 19-year-old college student who was deported over Thanksgiving despite a court order blocking her removal. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns on Friday granted the governments motion to dismiss, ruling that Any Lucia Lopez Bellozas legal team missed their window to file for habeas in Massachusetts before she was moved to a Texas detention facility. "Counsel was hired the same day she was detained and had ample opportunity to file a petition in Massachusetts," the judge wrote. Courtesy Any Lopez Belloza - PHOTO: Any Lopez Belloza was deported last Friday despite a federal judge's order blocking her removal Lopez Belloza, who entered the United States from Honduras with her family when she was 8 years old, was about to board her flight from Massachusetts to Texas to surprise her parents for the holiday when immigration authorities detained her, she previously told ABC News. The college freshman has been in Honduras since November. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson previously said Lopez Bellazo "entered the country in 2014 and an immigration judge ordered her removed from the country in 2015, over 10 years ago. She has illegally stayed in the country since." The federal judge also said Lopez Belloza missed an opportunity to file for habeas in Texas when she turned down a government flight that was offered to her last week. Advertisement Lawyer says student who was removed despite a court order was 'deported in shackles' "The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this court's only remaining basis for jurisdiction," Stearns said, adding that any previous grounds for civil contempt against the government dissolved once they complied with orders to facilitate her return. Lopez Belloza's attorney filed a notice to appeal the judge's ruling. Last week, Lopez Belloza said an ICE officer offered her a government flight to Texas and told her she would likely be released if she returned to the U.S. even though government filings had stated the agency would re-detain and remove her if she returned. Lopez Belloza's attorney, Todd Pomerleau, said last week the flight offered by ICE was a "trap" to re-detain the college student and deport her again. "I have tried to trust what officials have said, especially when they apologized for a mistake that turned my life around," Lopez Belloza said. "But instead, I have been met with the broken promises and attacks against my family for speaking up." Courtesy Any Lopez Belloza - PHOTO: Any Lopez Belloza was deported to Honduras "I was excited when I heard there was a flight that would take me back home, back to my community, my family," she added. "But government filing said something completely different. It showed that I was not going to be released at all and I would be detained again." A DHS spokesperson said last week in a statement, "Complying with a court order, ICE attempted to facilitate Any Lopez-Bellozas return back to the United States -- but she failed to appear for her pre-arranged flight. ICE made multiple attempts to reach out to her with no response. For operational security purposes, ICE does not disclose future law enforcement operations." A medium sized brown colored flathead catfish fish being held horizontally by a smiling man in a dry suit over a net on a river M Huston/Shutterstock.com Quick Take An angler found himself lucky one January morning, landing an 84-pound trophy catfish in Alabama . Navigating 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville often results in multiple sizable catches, especially when it comes to blue catfish. W inter produces more elite-class giants in this lake than the summer peak. Scouting 50-foot depths near Goose Pond helped to isolate the systems heaviest feeders from standard schools of much smaller fish. A particular photo making the rounds on This Is Alabamas Instagram shows the kind of fish that can be caught within this state, if youre lucky. An 84-pound catfish isnt a normal occurrence anywhere, but one angler was blessed with this once-in-a-lifetime catch. Where did this legendary fish make itself known, and were there any tricks used by the lucky angler in question? Found in Lake Guntersville, one of Alabamas best-known big-fish systems, this is Forrest Winterss massive catfish catch, as well as why this story spread so fast across the entire state and beyond. Why Lake Guntersville Occasionally Produces Giant Catfish Located in northern Alabama and a reservoir of the Tennessee River, Lake Guntersvilles reputation involves its large water area and deep structure. With heavy forage options and the kind of habitat that lets a catfish keep eating and keep growing year after year, this lake has the potential to produce some giant fish, including the one caught by Winters. A large reservoir thats part of the Tennessee River, Lake Guntersville maintains impressive catfish populations. Dharris324/Shutterstock.com (Dharris324/Shutterstock.com) The day in question began as a guided outing on 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville, with the boat working the mid-lake area near Goose Pond before moving to another section of the reservoir later on. The boats guide assisted in dragging shad bait along the bottom of the lake, with calm, cool conditions prevailing on the morning of January 17th. It was apparently the right method to utilize; serious catfish anglers bait waters in this way when theyre targeting fewer bites, aiming to reel in a big catch. What Kind of Catfish Was It? Everything about this particular catch points to a blue catfish, a heavyweight species that dominates the seemingly impossible fishing stories occurring across much of the South. Alabamas own species profile gathered during river surveys notes that the state only infrequently collects blues in the 30- to 50-pound range, and that the majority of specimens are 10 pounds or less. An 84-pound catfish means its a once-in-a-blue-moon class fish for most anglers, especially in Alabama. Blue catfish can get big, but 84 pounds is still an outlier in terms of weight. M Huston/Shutterstock.com (M Huston/Shutterstock.com) In a nearby state, a reference from Georgia Wildlife Resources Divisions blue catfish identification information says weights over 100 pounds can happen, but that fish weighing 120 pounds are far more typical. Even in waters where blue catfish are common, 84 pounds is an outlier. However, it isnt the largest catfish to be caught in Alabamas history. Advertisement Record-Breaking Catfish Caught in Alabama Like most states, Alabama keeps an official list of certified state records, and the entry for blue catfish lists the current record at 120 pounds 4 ounces. It was caught in 2012 at Holt Reservoir by John Paul Nichols. While Winters fish doesnt threaten the current record, it still makes for an impressive, abnormal catch. Another detail worth mentioning is that Winterss father caught a 70-pound blue catfish earlier in the day, right before the 84-pounder showed up! When a lake is capable of giving you two fish like that in one outing, youre looking at a location with serious trophy potential, making Lake Guntersville a prime fishing spot. Most blue catfish average anywhere from 10-20 pounds, depending on the state, which is why this catch was so impressive. 226794761/Shutterstock.com (226794761/Shutterstock.com) But theres another key reason this lake maintains its fishing reputation, and that reason resides in the hands of any angler who chooses to traverse its waters. What Happened to the Catfish? After the fish was weighed on a digital scale at 84.3 pounds and photographed, it was then released back into Lake Guntersville. The guide accompanying this lucky father-son duo said that the decision to release is common on this lake; its up to the angler, but releasing sizable catches helps maintain the long-term trophy quality of the lake. Fishing is a common occurrence on Lake Guntersville, and for good reason. Carl37306/Shutterstock.com (Carl37306/Shutterstock.com) While it may be surprising to hear that this winning catch was released rather than brought home, its vital and important that it got to live another day. In trophy fishing, releasing the biggest breeders is often part of why the next giant is even possible, offering future opportunities to even more anglers. Why Winter is an Ideal Time for Giant Catfish Catfish may seem like a hot-weather, shallow-water catch, but blue catfish dont always follow the rules. Cold water in particular can concentrate fish and push them into far more predictable travel lanes compared to summertime, which is why slow trolling and deep presentations show up again and again in trophy catfish stories. Forrest Winters likely knew this before setting out, which is how he was able to have such success. Alabamas full of large catfish, so its worth a trip if youre an avid angler. Alter-ego/Shutterstock.com (Alter-ego/Shutterstock.com) Ultimately, Lake Guntersville is producing fish that have had the space, food, seasonality, and time to become legitimate giants. Most anglers never expect to catch an 84-pounder. However, if you fish during the right season and treat the lake and its creatures with respect, your next catch might be a lot closer to legendary than you thought. The post Fisherman Hooks Massive 84-Lb Catfish in Alabama appeared first on A-Z Animals. Closing arguments have been made in a case in Raleigh that could help determine the future direction of how North Carolina manages its fisheries. But it still could be several months before the Wake County Superior Court judge makes a decision. The Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina is suing the state alleging that it hasn't effectively maintained its fisheries, which are considered a natural resource to be managed for the benefit of all North Carolinians. After several court wins for the association against moves by the state to dismiss the case, which was filed in 2020, the trial began Jan. 20. Both the state constitution and the 1997 Fisheries Reform Act bound North Carolina to rebuild any fishing stocks that get depleted, which has led the state to get involved in managing several commercially and recreationally important species, including flounder, shrimp, blue crab and striped bass. Fishermen on both sides of the commercial-recreational debate say the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries hasn't done that often to the detriment of their own constituencies. Economics, lack of political support for unpopular but potentially necessary management measures, financial limitations, and even impacts from climate change have been raised in the past as drivers of the decline in many of the state's important fisheries. LOOKING AHEAD: North Carolina fishing lawsuit could reshape state's coastal industry Commercial vs. recreational The best way to manage the state's fisheries has been contentious for decades, especially as pressure on popular species has increased as stocks have decreased even as the popularity of fishing at least on the recreational side continues to explode. According to a 2021 report by N.C. Sea Grant, the state's commercial fishing industry contributes nearly $300 million in value and supports nearly 5,500 jobs. But those figures are dwarfed by the economic impact of the recreational fishing sector, which contributes more than $2.5 billion to North Carolina's economy and provides more than 20,000 jobs, according to an economic report by the American Sportfishing Association using federal data from last decade. Advertisement The inherent tug-of-war between commercial and recreational fishermen over who deserves a bigger share of a shrinking pie often extends well beyond the state's coastal sounds and waterways, playing out in the halls of the N.C. General Assembly and pitting the old, traditional North Carolina where fishing is a way of life as much as a business necessity against the "new" Tar Heel State where part-time anglers and vacationing fishermen fuel many local coastal economies. That simmering dispute blew up in 2025, when a last-minute change to a N.C. House bill aimed at guaranteeing at least a short recreational Southern flounder recreational fishing season was tweaked by the N.C. Senate to ban shrimp trawling in the state's inland waters and within a few miles of the beachfront. The resulting backlash from commercial shrimpers and their political allies saw the bill die, but Republican legislators, who control the General Assembly, haven't dismissed bringing it back up in the forthcoming short session. KNOW YOUR FLOUNDER! NC recreational anglers get new flounder season, but there's a catch Decision likely months away The fisheries management trial wrapped up the last week of February after five weeks of testimony. While the conservation group and its allies argued N.C. regulators didn't do enough, hobbled by financial limitations and fears of rocking the political boat even if the science called for tough protective measures, the state said it had effectively balanced the need to offer opportunities to fishermen while trying to protect and rebuild stocks. Witnesses included experts on both sides and several lifelong fishermen telling the court the changes they had seen over their decades on the water. Each side is now expected to submit post-trial filings in the coming weeks, with a decision likely this summer or later. Officials say that if the court finds that the state has violated its duty to protect its fisheries and responsibilities to the public, any changes could dramatically change the face of North Carolina's fishing industry and potentially heap more economic pressures onto commercial fishermen, many of whom are already struggling financially. Recreational fishermen also could get caught up in any actions taken by the state to meet the court's orders, such as moves to close or further limit struggling but popular fisheries, like flounder. Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@usatodayco.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation, the Prentice Foundation and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC fishing lawsuit decision could change industry Calls about a wrong-way car on the Dolphin Expressway led to a trooper being stabbed and a woman being shot; both sustained non-life-threatening injuries, per FHP Calls about a car driving the wrong way on the Dolphin Expressway on Saturday morning ended with a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stabbed in the head and a woman shot, authorities say. At around 5:30 a.m., troopers responded to a car driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Road 836, near Northwest 107th Avenue. A trooper found the car in the grassy median and made contact with a woman who had a young child in the car, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The woman pulled out a knife and stabbed the trooper in the head, neck and shoulder, FLHSMV said. The trooper then shot the woman. Advertisement They were both taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alex Camacho said in an email to the Miami Herald. Authorities say the woman had an active warrant on charges of child neglect, child abuse and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. The Department of Children and Families has taken the child into its care, said FLHSMV. The woman will be booked into a Miami-Dade County jail once released from the hospital. The FDLE is the lead on the investigation as the agency is with all police shootings. Submerged trees rising up through the surface of Earthquake Lake with surrounding mountains and grassy shoreline - David Rajter/Shutterstock It might seem counterintuitive to bypass Yellowstone National Park, especially when you might spot river otters, pine martens, and other adorable animals within the epic natural wilderness. However, while Yellowstone has a lot of sights, it also gets a lot of visitors, amassing almost five million each year. While everyone else is heading to the same place, you could be soaking up equally beautiful nature at the nearby Earthquake Lake, a truly outstanding creation that's all Mother Nature without the crowds. Did you know Yellowstone sits on top of an active supervolcano? Yep, it's just one of many bizarre facts you probably didn't know about Yellowstone National Park. But while a volcanic eruption is always a possibility, it's actually earthquakes that cause the most disruption here. The biggest of these to date took place in August 1959, when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake through the Madison Canyon River created a natural rock dam that formed what's now Earthquake Lake. The quake was a natural disaster, killing almost 30 people and destroying a lot of infrastructure. But it also left the region with one of its most beautiful natural wonders, which you can drive to in around 30 minutes from West Yellowstone. Earthquake Lake is a beautiful sight with its surrounding mountains and placid water. The grassy shoreline is dotted with trees, and you can still see trees that existed before the earthquake sticking out of the water. It stretches about 5 miles long and has a maximum depth of 120 feet. It also creates a prosperous underwater world for fish with its submerged trees. Many keen anglers visit in hopes of reeling in rainbow and brown trout, which can grow as long as 20 inches. People often fly fish from the shore or drift through the trees in small boats. Read more: 5 Unexpected Places You Can Park Your RV Overnight For Free Advertisement Planning your visit to Earthquake Lake View of Earthquake Lake and its half-submerged trees from an outlook at the visitor center - Stillgravity/Shutterstock If you're visiting during peak season (between May and September), you can learn more about the lake's origin and geological formation at the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center. Not only is it built on top of rocks that fell during the 1959 earthquake, but it also houses numerous exhibits that teach you about earthquakes and their geological impacts. You can see how a seismograph records an earthquake's seismic waves, learn how plate tectonics cause earthquakes, and watch a movie about the earthquake that formed the lake. "[It's] so beautiful, but what a sad story. [And] there's lots of information here," one person wrote in a Google review. Earthquake Lake is never short on natural beauty. Even the drive here is a feast for the eyes with views of Hebgen Lake and Madison River. Once you're at the visitor center, you can admire sweeping vistas of Earthquake Lake that extend up to Sheep Mountain, where almost 80 million tons of rock fell during the earthquake. From the center, you can walk along short paths to different viewpoints where you can capture those iconic shots of the lake and its skeletal half-submerged trees. One of the walks takes you to a boulder that's also a memorial for the 28 campers who were crushed by the landslide that night. You can drive to Earthquake Lake in 30 minutes from Yellowstone Airport, which has flights from Salt Lake City and rental cars. Beaver Creek Campground offers numerous family-friendly campsites next to the lake. It's open between May and September and costs $26 a night at the time of writing. These are non-powered sites, so bring your own power source. If camping is too rough, you could also stay about 100 miles north in Bozeman, Montana's best college town. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. Wellington harbour and the city's skyline are seen from an observation deck at Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington, New Zealand. - Birgit Krippner/Bloomberg/Getty Images Twenty years of memories spilled across Jacinda Thorns yard. Teddy bears and textbooks, camping gear stacked against her husbands drum kit, a jumble of whisks and frying pans catching the morning sun. With just five suitcases and their Shih Tzu Bubbles in tow, the family Thorn, 43, husband Blair, 44, and their children Eva and Chase swapped their home in New Zealands capital for a place in Melbourne a third larger at the same price. I never thought Id live outside of Wellington, let alone New Zealand, she told CNN from Australia, two years on. I still love it, but our family is now thriving and life has a whole new sense of adventure and ease. New Zealand, a picturesque nation in the South Pacific, consistently ranks among the countries people most want to move to, and has become an attractive bolthole for wealthy Americans seeking a safe haven in an unstable world. But its shedding its own people at near-record levels. Over the past four years, the number of New Zealanders aged 30-50 emigrating has more than doubled from 18,000 to 43,000 fueled by rising living costs and a weakening job market, demographers told CNN. Thorns more famous namesake, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, recently became the unlikely face of this exodus. The 45-year-olds office confirmed last week that she and her family have relocated to Sydney, after they were spotted house-hunting in the citys affluent northern beaches. New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney in 2022. - Steven Saphore/AFP/Getty Images Kiwis moving abroad is not uncommon, and more Kiwis generally are choosing to leave than before; in the year ending November 2025, almost 122,000 people emigrated, a 4% jump from the previous year and higher than a previous spike in 2012. But traditionally its been those in their 20s packing up their lives and moving to London or Australia to work and travel for a few years. There is even a nickname for it locally doing your Big OE, or Overseas Experience. While these young adults remain the largest group heading abroad, mid-lifers, like Ardern, are now the fastest-growing segment, with retirees increasingly joining them, according to government data. Its quite an unusual trend, said economist Brad Olsen, chief executive and principal economist at Infometrics Ltd. Its only when you have those much tougher economic times that you generally see a net outflow of groups over 40. This 30s-to-50s age group stands out because its members are often moving their center of gravity, leaving behind established careers, networks and family ties, says sociologist Paul Spoonley, distinguished professor emeritus at Massey University in New Zealand. So the decision to migrate needs a very strong economic imperative to overcome that. The Thorn family, for their part, is reaping the rewards after Blair discovered his data engineer salary would jump by 50% in Australia, where Kiwis get automatic work and residency rights. Jacinda Thorn relocated from Wellington to Melbourne with her husband Blair and their children Eva (left) and Chase (centre). - Jacinda Thorn Eva, 16, and Chase, 10, are excelling at school and the family is saving big. Their weekly grocery bill has dropped from the equivalent of about $400 to $267; fuel and public transport are 40% cheaper; and GP visits cost 25% less with same-day appointments replacing week-long waits. CNN spoke with more than a dozen New Zealanders making the leap abroad mid-career a family of four settling in England, another thriving in Scotland and a woman who calls Spain home after brief stays in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Turkey. Jacinda Thorn's garage during her family's move. - Jacinda Thorn' The Thorn family sold almost everything they owned and swapped their Wellington home (pictured) for a newer place in Melbourne a third larger at the same price. - Jacinda Thorn' Others have started afresh in the US, particularly in urban hubs like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Darren Eckford landed a role to set up an overseas arm of a New Zealand charity in the United Kingdom and relocated with his partner and two children just three weeks later, aged 33. He is now head of learning and organizational development at CIWEM, a professional body in the water and environment sector. Traditional Kiwi skillsets which were in rich supply back home, were in high demand in the UK, Eckford told CNN. And we were much closer to buying a family home if I packed up my savings and moved it to the UK. New Zealand has been plagued by a stagnant economy for two years, with negative growth in the year to September 2025 and unemployment hitting a decade high in recent months. Its housing market has also crashed, with major centers Auckland and Wellington suffering among their worst slumps in history, following a post-pandemic surge with prices down nearly 30% in the capital since January 2022. The country faces its highest unemployment rate since 2016, making jobs harder to find, especially for young and mid-career workers, Olsen said. In some cities, dwindling government and public-sector jobs have forced many who could previously rely on high, stable incomes to make tough decisions. Advertisement Darren Eckford and his family in Cornwall after their relocation from New Zealand to the United Kingdom. - Darren Eckford Senior policy adviser Aaron Harold and his partner, a solicitor, relocated to Australia last spring after two consecutive Christmas rounds of job cuts at their employers in Wellington made them fear for job security. Our wages are similar in Australia and employment law means longer probation periods, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons, Harold, 43, told CNN. Career opportunities are better here and there is more choice. We also enjoy city life and the warmer weather. Almost 60% of leavers head to Australia, whose government estimates 670,000 Kiwi citizens now live there equivalent to 12.5% of New Zealands current population. The unemployment rate is lower at 4.2 % compared with New Zealands 5.4%, while the median weekly income for full-time workers is 37% higher the equivalent of $1,451 in Australia versus $912 in New Zealand, according to 2025 data from Stats NZ and the Australian Statistics Bureau. Mark Berger, head of NZRelo, which helps Kiwis move across the Tasman Sea, said the biggest shift hes observed is in peoples motivations. Kiwis are not moving for a few years of better pay anymore, he told CNN. Theyre moving permanently to rebuild their lives driven by hope for stability, opportunity and fairness. Leading the charge are essential workers like nurses, police officers, teachers and tradespeople who for years have been targeted by Australian recruitment campaigns as well as remote professionals drawn to lifestyle regions like Queenslands Sunshine Coast, Berger said. New Zealand still attracts more migrants than it loses, with official figures showing a net gain of 13,700 in the past year. But the gap is closing leading to the slowest population growth in 12 years and its not a straightforward swap, Olsen said. Its a much bigger turnover, he added, noting that this churn can sap productivity as new arrivals need time to adjust while departing mid-career professionals often take decades of experience and institutional knowledge with them. And as New Zealands population ages, it will be increasingly difficult to replace retiring workers unless the country can retain or lure back the 30-to-50s, Olsen added. If we have fewer young people coming in, keeping that prime working age group in the middle will be vital to keeping New Zealands economic motor turning. Almost 60% of those leaving New Zealand head to Australia, whose government estimates 670,000 Kiwi citizens now live there. Pictured above is Melbourne's Sydney Road. - Adam Calaitzis/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Spoonley said the departures are eroding the quantum of talent New Zealand that is very good at producing, and raised the question are they ever going to be enticed back? Meanwhile current trends of people arriving to New Zealand include migrants from India, the Philippines and China, and that shift has been quite rapid, said Olsen. Its changing the demographics of New Zealand quite considerably and quite quickly, he added. These arrivals enter industries across the board but primarily construction, house care, IT and computer work as well as one of New Zealands key industries the primary sector which includes agriculture, forestry and mining, according to Olsen. The experience of Scott and Charlotte George, who moved to the US during the last migration spike, highlights both challenges and opportunities for those make the move for good. Scott George and his family at Boston's Fenway Park following the family's move to the US city. - Scott George After losing their home in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the couple, then 38, relocated to Boston with their children Marcelle and Hylton, seeking better economic and educational prospects. Scott, founder of payment system Paywaz, said they were drawn by the scale of opportunity in the US, especially for entrepreneurship, with greater capital, specialist talent, larger markets, and faster networks than in New Zealand. But the move wasnt without its challenges, including limited access to capital as immigrants and the need to build a professional track record in a system where credit history and residency length matter. The biggest challenge has been finding our fit he said, adding that each US state feels culturally and economically distinct. Being a Kiwi, and from a smaller country, can come with a lingering sense of distance. It takes deliberate effort to build community and put down long-term roots. For many like the Georges, identity remains at the core. Speaking to CNN, many migrants described themselves as proudly Kiwi as they build their lives elsewhere, balancing the benefits of life abroad with a lasting connection to home. Home becomes a relationship, not a postcode, George added. You realize youre carrying your country with you in your accent, your values, your humor and the way you show up. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com March has opened on a turbulent note for many residents, with an immediate surge of stormy, wet weather. Flooding downpours and potent severe thunderstorms will once again be the theme for at least part of the upcoming week. This persistent, moisture-laden pattern will continue across the central United States into the second full week of March, bringing a renewed risk of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. The next round of robust storms could trigger flooding from central Texas to southern Michigan and Ohio, particularly in areas that have already picked up several inches of rain in recent days. A classic spring setup takes shape Storms will press eastward from Texas and Louisiana into parts of the Southeast Monday, but the most widespread and impactful activity is expected around midweek. From Tuesday into Wednesday, rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms will sweep across the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley. Repeated soaking downpours may aggravate ongoing river flooding and accelerate runoff, creating travel delays and hazardous conditions on area roads. AccuWeather.com A strengthening zone of low pressure will push east out of the Southwest and into the Central states Tuesday, drawing a surge of warm, moisture-rich air northward from the Gulf. That influx of humidity will help fuel widespread thunderstorms, some capable of producing torrential rainfall. An expansive corridor will face drenching downpours as storm coverage expands from Wednesday into Wednesday night. Advertisement AccuWeather.com The leading edge of steady rain will press into the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast, while a trailing cold front keeps showers and thunderstorms active from the Ohio Valley southward to the Gulf and Southeast coasts. River levels on the rise Beyond the immediate threat of flash flooding, the longer-term concern will shift to rising rivers and streams. In areas that will face repeat rounds of storms from late last week to this Wednesday, rivers may already be running high. Additional rainfall in these locations could quickly push some waterways out of their banks. AccuWeather.com "Large rivers such as the Red and Mississippi will experience significant rises, though major flooding is unlikely due to low starting water levels. Smaller streams and tributaries may respond fastest to the heavy rainfall and overflow," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ While locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana were observing levels of severe to exceptional drought, according to the latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor, the recent rainfall on the order of several inches should help put a dent in the dry conditions. Especially with more rainfall on the way, drought conditions overall may slowly be on the mend this month for some central areas. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Ria Singh is staying at a 5-star hotel for free but still doesn't know when she'll get home. Ria Singh Ria Singh got stranded in Doha after her flight to Dallas turned back due to the Iran war. Singh said she's staying in a 5-star hotel for free but is worried about how she'll get home. Qatar has said it is covering expenses for stranded travelers. Ria Singh was asleep on a long-haul flight from Doha, Qatar, to Dallas one week ago when she awoke to the pilot announcing the plane was turning around due to air restrictions. The 24-year-old pulled up the flight map and saw that the plane was heading back to Doha. Then she checked her phone: The US and Israel had attacked Iran. "I was very concerned, very terrified," Singh, who had a layover in Doha while traveling home from a wedding in India, told Business Insider, adding, "I still don't believe it's real." Singh has been stuck in Doha since then, with no idea when she will be able to leave. Though she's been put up in a luxury hotel, she said it doesn't feel like a vacation because she is constantly updating family and wondering when she'll make it home to Texas. She's one of many Americans who got stranded in the Middle East following the attacks on Iran and the retaliatory strikes that have hit several countries. Some Americans have said they've struggled to get help from the US, while others have been left with pricey and unforeseen expenses as they scramble to find a way home. Flight records show Singh's flight, expected to last nearly 17 hours, took off at 8:30 a.m. local time on February 28 and turned around almost an hour and a half later. The plane returned to Doha and then circled several times near the airport before landing, according to flight path data on FlightAware. Other people on "flights to nowhere" last week spent nearly 16 hours in the air before landing back where they started. After her flight landed back in Doha, Singh spent a chaotic day at the airport, which was filled with other travelers trying to get home, and spent the night at a hotel at the airport, hoping to fly out the next day. But Sunday's flight was canceled too, and the airport, which had been damaged in an air strike, was evacuated. Ria Singh woke up to find find her plane was turning back to Doha. Ria Singh A 5-star hotel stay for free On Sunday, Singh and other passengers were shuttled away from the airport by Qatar Airways staff and eventually to hotels, for which they were given vouchers. Singh was brought to a 5-star hotel on the Arabian Gulf. Since she is traveling alone, she asked that the hotel not be named for privacy reasons. The hotel stay includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets each day. She's been staying there since and has not personally paid for anything at the hotel. Qatar Tourism has said it will cover the hotel stays for tourists who are stuck in the country as a result of the airspace closures, Euro News reported. Officials in the UAE have also said they will cover some expenses. However, it's unclear how many tourists have had their expenses covered, as there have been conflicting reports. Advertisement Singh said the hotel and food have been great, with the buffets featuring extensive options of Western and Arabic foods and desserts, and even a gelato bar. But it doesn't exactly feel like a luxury vacation. She said she's "grateful I have a nice hotel" but that she just keeps wondering when she will get home. "Every day I wake up, and I'm hoping for good news." Singh has mostly been spending her days at the hotel, with some jaunts in Doha. She made a friend, another stranded American, during the ordeal, who had connections to some people in Doha, so they ended up at a local's apartment for dinner one night. She's also gone to the mall and a nail salon. One day, she and her friend planned to meet in a park, but then they heard some booms and received a government alert on their phones telling them to stay inside. A large part of her time is spent constantly updating her friends and family back home and assuring them that she is safe. She has, so far, missed a week of work. Ria Singh was in Doha for a layover on her way home from India. Ria Singh She still has no idea when she'll get home Singh praised Qatar Airways and the Qatari government for the handling of the situation, as well as the hotel, which she said even set up a temporary play space for travelers with kids that has board games, a ping pong table, and a PlayStation. But she said she's been disappointed by the US response. "It's hard to believe that when they were sitting down to plan these strikes, that there was nothing set in place for evacuating the Americans that would inevitably be stuck in this region," she said. On Monday, the State Department told Americans in over a dozen Middle Eastern countries to evacuate, though commercial flights were largely unavailable. Several US Embassies in the region also told Americans they were unable to offer help. The State Department later said it was chartering flights to bring people home, with one taking off from the Middle East on Wednesday. On Friday, the department said "several flights" had returned "hundreds of Americans" home and that more were scheduled for the coming days. Singh said she has registered with the State Department to get help getting home, but she's also trying to get on any commercial flight she can find that can take off westbound. "I know that there's people in much worse situations than me in this war zone, and so sometimes I feel guilty feeling bad about my situation," Singh said, adding, "I just hope that all of this ends soon." Read the original article on Business Insider This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows the fossil of the Megamastax amblyodus at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." A research team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has achieved these two key discoveries after more than a decade of fieldwork and laboratory research. They found the world's earliest known complete bony fish fossil, named Eosteus chongqingensis, in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. They also comprehensively analyzed the complete head structure and tooth morphology of Megamastax amblyodus, the largest known vertebrate of the Silurian Period, found in Qujing in southwest China's Yunnan Province. These findings make China a "cradle" of early vertebrate evolution. Two studies on the origin of bony fishes were published in the journal Nature on Thursday. According to Zhu Min, an academician of CAS from the IVPP, bony fishes form the main trunk of the vertebrate tree of life. Their two surviving lineages, ray-finned fishes and lobe-finned fishes, have conquered a wide range of niches in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, respectively. Ray-finned fishes evolved into over 30,000 species, including the vast majority of fishes we see today. One lineage of lobe-finned fishes eventually ventured onto land during the Devonian Period, evolving into all tetrapods and humans. However, the origin of bony fishes has long been shrouded in mystery, since most bony fish fossils found previously were already specialized ray-finned or lobe-finned fishes from the Devonian Period. The information on the primitive bony fishes, or the bony fish stem group, which existed before the divergence of these two major lineages, was missing, leaving scientists unable to determine the morphology of the most recent common ancestor of ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes, Zhu said. According to Zhu You'an, a researcher with IVPP, Eosteus chongqingensis, which lived 436 million years ago, measured only about 3 cm in total length, but was preserved with its head and tail intact. This tiny, ancient fish exhibits both primitive and advanced features. The discovery of Eosteus chongqingensis proves that the core suite of bony fish characteristics emerged 10 million years earlier than previously thought. Lu Jing, another researcher of the team, said that Megamastax amblyodus, discovered in strata dating back approximately 423 million years, exceeded one meter in length, making it the largest vertebrate of the Silurian Period. After nearly a decade of effort, the team used advanced imaging technology and computer-based 3D reconstruction to reveal its complete three-dimensional head structure and the deeply hidden internal features. The scientists found that Megamastax amblyodus had teeth arranged in two rows, inner and outer, with each tooth "cushion" in the inner row bearing many sharp "spines." Phylogenetic analysis places both these ancient fishes within the bony fish stem group, representing primitive types that existed before the divergence of ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes, Zhu said. These discoveries illuminate the morphology of the most recent common ancestor of ray-finned fishes, including most modern fish species, and lobe-finned fishes, including all tetrapods and humans, and enrich the understanding of the early radiation of jawed vertebrates, and clarify the evolutionary trajectory of jaws and teeth in early bony fishes, Zhu said. "These two discovered fish fossils represent a crucial point in the evolutionary path from fish to human. They show that bony fishes had already diversified by that period, laying a solid foundation for fish to eventually venture onto land and evolve into prosperous types of vertebrates on Earth, and the ultimate journey from fish to human," Zhu said. This photo taken on March 3, 2026 shows the fossil of Eosteus chongqingensis at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Academician Zhu Min (C), together with Researchers Lu Jing (R) and Zhu You'an, poses for a photo at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Zhu You'an, a researcher with Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), studies the fossil of Eosteus chongqingensis at the IVPP, in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A foreign student views the models of restored ancient fish at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A staff member places models of restored Eosteus chongqingensis (L) and Megamastax amblyodus at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Zhu Min, an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the CAS, speaks during a press conference at the IVPP, in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2026. Fossils of two fish from over 400 million years ago -- one a tiny streamlined creature, the other a giant among vertebrates of its time with bizarre teeth -- have been discovered in China, filling a critical gap in the evolutionary journey "from fish to human." (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Editor: Zhang Zhou Rep. Jared Golden speaks with constituents during a gathering at a local restaurant. Photo: U.S. House Representative Jared Golden's Office / Wikimedia Commons /Public Domain / Cropped from Original (The Center Square) Maine Congressman Jared Golden is defending his support for ongoing military actions in Iran after breaking with fellow democrats to vote against a war powers resolution. The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted 212-219 to reject a proposal that would have restricted President Donald Trump from continuing the military campaign in the Middle Eastern country. Similar to a vote in the Senate, the measure failed largely along party lines with a majority of Democrats supporting the plan to reel in the operation, now in its seventh day. Members of Maine's congressional delegation were divided over the resolution, Golden, one of only four Democrats to vote with Republicans, said while the president "has not provided sufficient clarity for why this action was necessary" members of the U.S. military "are actively engaged in hostilities, our allies are under attack and the Iranian regime is more desperate than ever to reassert its power." "While I do not believe that an abrupt about-face is a good course of action given the reality on the ground, that should not be construed as my approval," he said. "While conflict requires that we remain flexible to shifting circumstances, at this time I would not support Congressional authorization or funding for sustained combat operations." Trump ordered strikes on Tehran last weekend and called for the overthrow of the Islamic regime. The military operation has intensified into regional conflict with neighboring countries being targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. The president has vowed to continue the military operation. Golden said Trump "has so far acted within the authorities given to him by Congress" through the War Powers Act. The president has been briefing Congress, Golden said, and he has 60 days to make his case for ongoing operations. Advertisement He joined with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ, to sponsor a resolution that would give Trump 30 days to end military action and prohibit the deployment of ground troops without explicit congressional authority. But the measure didn't pass. A month is plenty of time for the president to make his case to the American people and for Congress to weigh in, Golden said. "This is not an illegal war but it could become one." If approved, the resolution would block additional U.S. military action in Iran without congressional approval under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The law was passed by Congress during the Vietnam War as a legislative check on executive war authority. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said the war powers resolution "plays right into the hands of the enemy" and argued the Iran operation is "necessary, lawful and effective, and reversing it now would weaken America." "Congress has a constitutional right to exercise its oversight authority, and we will, but we also have a duty and obligation not to undercut our own national security," Johnson said. In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine voted against the war powers resolution, siding with the Trump administration, while Independent Sen. Angus King joined Democrats in voting for it. Maines other House member, Rep. Chellie Pingree, also voted for the war powers resolution. She said Congress needed to act to "reclaim its role" in authorizing military action. Some are suggesting that, while the president should have consulted Congress before launching these attacks, now that the war has begun, theres no way to pull back, Pingree said in a statement on social media. "I firmly reject this sentiment." A man looks through the wreckage of private vehicles destroyed following heavy rainfall in the Grogan area of Nairobi At least 23 people have been killed in Nairobi after heavy rain overnight caused severe flooding in Kenya's capital city. Police said about 30 people had been rescued but many others drowned after being swept into rivers - some have been electrocuted. Kenya's military has been deployed to help people trapped inside their cars as police described widespread damage to properties as well as road closures. Several flights bound for Nairobi Airport had to be cancelled or diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa. "The torrential rains have led to significant flooding, unfortunately resulting in 23 fatalities so far, the destruction of property, road closures, and the displacement of residents," police said in a statement on Saturday afternoon. The Kenya Meteorological Department warned of heavy rainfall in Nairobi and surrounding counties - with 30-70 mm of rain expected in the capital Earlier, security guard John Lomayan, 34, described seeing someone he recognised in the industrial neighbourhood of Grogan who was trapped beneath a car that had been washed away when the Nairobi River burst its banks. "I saw him being carried by the water from up there," he told Reuters news agency, gesturing up the road. "We didn't know where he had gone. It is only now that we see him under the car." Advertisement Key roads in the capital city, including Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Kirinyaga Road, and parts of the Westlands district, have been submerged underwater. Stalled vehicles and fast-moving floodwaters created havoc, Reuters said. The storm left many stranded during the evening rush hour Kenyan authorities advised residents to avoid flooded streets and drainage channels while emergency responders assisted stranded motorists and pedestrians. Earlier, the Kenya Meteorological Department warned of prolonged heavy rainfall, cautioning about urban flooding, poor visibility. River levels are expected to rise through to 9 March. Nairobi, along with regions such as the Central Highlands, Lake Victoria Basin, and the coastal areas, remains under heightened alert for peak rainfall in the coming days, it added. Last year, hundreds of Kenyans were killed after heavy rains caused severe flooding and landslides across the country and neighbouring Tanzania. A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rebuffed concerns that Russia is supporting Iran amid the U.S.s ongoing military operation in the Middle East. Hegseth said no ones putting us in danger when asked by CBS Newss Major Garrett about reports that Russia provided information to Iran to help them target U.S. bases in the Middle East. Were putting the other guys in danger, thats our job, so were not concerned about that, he told the outlet. We mitigate it as we need to, the Pentagon chief continued. Our commanders factor all of this, but the only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians that think theyre going to live. His comments were included in a teaser clip for an upcoming episode of CBSs 60 Minutes which features the defense secretary. President Trump also outright dismissed a question Friday about Russian interference in the conflict during a White House roundtable on college sports. What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time, the president told Fox Newss Peter Doocy. Were talking about something else. Russia condemned the launch of joint strikes from the U.S. and Israel on Iran last Saturday, calling them a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state. The Russian Foreign Ministry also urged an immediate end to the conflict. Advertisement Six U.S. service members were killed in a tactical operations center in Kuwait last Sunday during Tehrans retaliatory drone strikes, which targeted U.S. military bases across the region. Hegseth has previously criticized the media coverage of the U.S. service members deaths, accusing outlets of attempting to make the president look bad at the Pentagon on Wednesday. This is what the fake news misses. Weve taken control of Irans airspace and waterways without boots on the ground, the secretary said. We control their fate. But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen its front-page news. He added, I get it, the press only wants to make the president look bad but try for once to report the reality. The back-and-forth also comes as the U.S. began lifting some restrictions on Russian oil as Operation Epic Fury has fuel prices to spike globally easing limits on Indias ability to purchase barrels from Moscow. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Friday that the U.S. is also looking to potentially unsanction the oil as fears of a wider war rise. 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. Trump border czar Tom Homan speaks with The Center Square outside the White House. Photo: Sarah Roderick-Fitch / The Center Square (The Center Square) New York Governor Kathy Hochul met with White House Border Czar Tom Homan in Albany Friday amid escalating rhetoric by the Trump administration over immigration enforcement in the state. In a statement, Hochul said she made a "straightforward appeal" to Homan during the nearly hour-long closed-door meeting: "Help us keep New Yorkers safe by ending aggressive and unlawful ICE operations in this state." "No more militarized raids, no more plans for large-scale detention centers and no more attacks on law-abiding people who call New York home," she said. "President Trump promised he would not engage in a federal immigration enforcement surge in New York unless we ask for it and I made clear to Homan today that the request would never come." The governor told reporters after the meeting that she gave Homan a list of detained New York college students she is pressing to be released , which comes after a Columbia University student was released from ICE custody after a personal request to Trump by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hochul said she also raised concerns with ICEs plans to open mass detention facilities in the state, which she said have drawn bipartisan opposition. Advertisement Homan didn't speak to reporters following the meeting with the White House. Later, he issued a statement underscoring the importance of cooperation between the federal government and states on immigration enforcement. "As the Trump Administration has repeatedly stressed, we want to work with local leaders to keep their communities safe from dangerous, criminal illegal aliens," the statement said. "The Administration, including Tom Homan, remains committed to having these conversations with anyone willing to have them. And we will continue acting on our mandate to enforce federal immigration law." Homan has previously pledged to "flood the zone" in New York City and the state over its sanctuary policies that restrict local cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns. The meeting comes one day after President Trump fired Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following her grilling by a congressional oversight committee earlier this week. Hochul has filed a bill that would limit state and local cooperation with ICE by prohibiting the federal agency from deputizing local police to help detain undocumented immigrants. Local cops would be barred from acting as federal agents or using taxpayer funds and resources for civil immigration cases, under Hochul's proposal. "New York will always work with federal immigration enforcement to take dangerous criminals off our streets, but every law enforcement agency operating in this state, federal or otherwise, must follow the same constitutional standards," she said. "ICE and federal law enforcement should focus on what they were created to do: Protecting the homeland from real threats, not creating new ones." Dubai This is the moment smoke erupted from Dubai Marina after a suspected drone strike by Iranian forces. Videos circulating online show an inferno and billowing black smoke after locals reported hearing a loud bang on Saturday evening in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 23 Marina tower appears in another clip showing damage, reportedly caused by a suspected Iranian drone strike. This follows multiple reports of explosions across the city. Authorities confirmed that "a tower in Dubai Marina" was damaged due to debris after a threat was intercepted by UAE defenses from above. Dubai Media Office confirmed the reports on X, issuing a statement: "Authorities confirm that debris resulting from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the facade of a tower in Dubai Marina. The situation has been contained. No injuries were reported." X users show "Dubai Civil Defence" vehicles arriving on the scene (Image: X) Videos circulating on X show "Dubai Civil Defence" emergency vehicles arriving at the scene as explosions appear to disrupt traffic, with people rushing to leave the area. Dubai's 23 Marina tower is a luxury residential skyscraper, with 88 stories and over 280 units. The building itself is 1,300 feet tall. Multiple reports of photographs and footage show visible smoke rising from 23 Marina. While the Dubai Media Office originally reported there were no injuries from the building's facade being hit, it later confirmed the death of a man in the area after debris fell onto a vehicle. The media office said on X, "The competent authorities in Dubai dealt with an incident resulting from a fragment falling on a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, as a result of a successful aerial interception. The incident resulted in the death of a resident of Pakistani nationality." In a follow-up post, the office said, "Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver." Advertisement This comes after Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian offered an apology to neighboring countries, saying Tehran would not attack them "unless attacked first." After the U.S. and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian said Iran followed "fire at will" orders that were issued. President Donald Trump interpreted this on Truth Social, writing that Iran "has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore." He said that "this promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack." Trump then said "today Iran will be hit very hard!" "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death," are "areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time." Iran didn't completely rein in its strikes on other countries, as there was an apparent drone strike seen near Dubai International Airport. Footage shows a drone striking a location near the area, and the subsequent billowing smoke Qatar's Defence Ministry said "armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted" the country on Saturday. Qatar also reported that it encountered a wave of 10 drones fired from Iran on Friday, and the country intercepted nine of them. One of the drone threats hit the ground in a remote area. As Gulf countries continue to be attacked by Iranian forces, Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claimed that Trump killed the country's "openness to de-escalation." On Saturday night, he said that Iran's military is "prepared" to increase military action in the coming days. This could potentially escalate combat operations with the U.S. ]]> Vice President JD Vance has largely opposed U.S. intervention abroad, but after President Donald Trump decided to strike Iran, Vance now faces a conflict between his past comments and his role in the administration, forcing him to navigate the growing political divide and its possible impact on his potential future political ambitions. In an op-ed Vance wrote in 2023, while he was still in the Senate, before Trump selected him as his running mate, he argued that leaders in both parties supported costly and unsuccessful interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. Iran live updates In the article, titled "Trump's Best Foreign Policy? Not Starting Any Wars," Vance describes then-candidate Trump as the first significant break from that interventionist consensus. It argued that Trump started no wars in his first term, despite pressure to do so, and that was part of the reason Vance supported him in his 2024 presidential run. Asked by talk show host Tim Dillon during the 2024 campaign how a Trump administration would handle a war in the Middle East, Vance said going to war with Iran would not be in the interest of the U.S. and that it would be "massively expensive." Matt Rourke, Pool via Getty Images - PHOTO: Vice President JD Vance speaks at Pointe Precision on Feb. 26, 2026, in Plover, Wisconsin. "Well, I mean, a couple of principles, right? So, obviously, you know, Israel has the right to defend itself, but America's interest is sometimes going to be distinct, like sometimes we're gonna have overlapping interests, and sometimes we're gonna have distinct interests. And our interests, I think very much, is in not going to war with Iran, right? It would be huge distraction of resources. It would be massively expensive to our country," Vance said at the time. But speaking with reporters in Azerbaijan last month on the subject of Iran, prior to recent U.S. strikes on Iran that killed several Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, Vance said that Trump was working toward a deal to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, and if that did not work out, there were other options. As vice president, Vance has been steadfast in supporting the administration's foreign policy agenda. During the administration's first strikes on Iran in June, Vance was in the White House Situation Room with Trump and other top administration officials. During the military operation in which the U.S. captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Vance joined the president in Florida and was on the secure video conference monitoring the operation through the night. "The president's told his entire senior team that we should be trying to cut a deal that ensures the Iranians don't have a nuclear weapon. But if we can't cut that deal, then there's another option on the table. So, I think the president's going to continue to preserve his options," Vance said in February. Vance spoke to ABC News' Jonathan Karl the day after the United States' June strikes on Iran, defending the administration's action. But when asked if he could definitively say that Iran's nuclear program had been destroyed, Vance said that the U.S. had set Iran's nuclear program back "substantially." In his address to the nation, Trump said that the strikes "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities. Trump's Iran decision sparks backlash from Tucker Carlson and some MAGA supporters Vance told ABC News at the time that Trump was not interested in a drawn-out conflict in the Middle East. He made similar comments prior to Saturday's attack, telling The Washington Post that there was "no chance" of a drawn-out war in Iran if the U.S. moved forward with the strikes. Vance reiterated that same sentiment in an interview with Fox News on Monday night, but also added that the operation against Iran "could go for a lot longer." "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. What is different about President Trump, and it's frankly different about both Republicans and Democrats of the past, is that he's not going to let his country go to war unless there's a clearly defined objective," Vance told Fox News. "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. It's pretty clear. It's pretty simple, and I think that means that we're not going to get into the problems that we've had with Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. Advertisement Following the U.S. strikes on Iran, Vance did not make any public comments on the military operation for two days. The first time he addressed the strikes publicly was on the Monday night interview with Fox News. In a statement to ABC News about Vance's public communications during the early days of the strikes, a senior White House official said: "The national security team was huddled all day everyday focused on executing the operation and being tightly coordinated on ensuring uniformity of message. Especially in a very fluid situation, the national security team was deliberate on letting the President's statements and addresses to the nation stand as the operation unfolded. The Vice President and other Administration officials conducted multiple media interviews, and will continue to do so. The national security team also held multiple briefing calls with members of the press and key stakeholders after the operation began." In the lead-up to Saturday's strikes, Vance made his reservations about the strikes known internally, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News. Once it became clear that the decision had been made to move forward, Vance shifted his focus to limiting casualties and pushed to move quickly on a strike out of fear that the plans could leak if the administration waited longer to engage, possibly leading Iran to attack U.S. troops in the region, the source also said. How we got here: Months after Operation Midnight Hammer, the US strikes Iran again This is not the first time that Vance has expressed concerns internally about possible foreign military intervention by the U.S. Last year, in the Signal group chat discussing the U.S. attack on Houthis in Yemen that a journalist was inadvertently invited to join, Vance appeared to break with Trump and questioned whether the president recognized that a unilateral U.S. attack on the Houthis to keep international shipping lanes open was at odds with his tough talk about European nations paying their share of such efforts. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: In this March 2, 2023, file photo, Senator JD Vance, Republican of Ohio, speaks during the 2023 Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC) Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," Vance wrote in the chat at the time. "There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc." Vance has not yet officially said whether he will run in 2028. Vice presidential scholar Joel Goldstein told ABC News that if Vance, seen as a front-runner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, were to decide to run for president, the Iran operation would carry its own risks, as the conflict's fallout would be inherited by Vance. "So, it seems to me that this situation poses a lot of risk for Vance: number one, it raises the question of his level of influence with Trump, given that Trump ends up taking a course that is, you know, widely at odds with the sort of rhetoric that Vance has used throughout his short political career, about foreign interventions and about what Trump would do or should do," Goldstein said. JD Vance is a soon-to-be dad of 4: What to know about his wife, kids Goldstein told ABC News that the recent decision by the Trump administration to attack Iran and the several policy shifts and changes Vance has made over the past several years could lead voters to question his positions and values. "It alienates people who like Vance because they think he's a noninterventionist, and now look at him and say, 'Why is he supporting foreign intervention instead of focusing domestically?' But it also raises the risk that people will think you're simply not credible and will wonder where is his core?" "Here's a guy who has shifted on a number of things. And you know, that raises the risk that there's no substance there," Goldstein said. NEW DELHI, March 6 (Reuters) - India has allowed an Iranian warship to dock as a humanitarian gesture, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday, after the U.S. sank another Iranian navy vessel off neighbouring Sri Lanka. The Lavan docked at India's southern port of Kochi on Wednesday, the same day the U.S. submarine struck Iranian navy frigate Dena, after an urgent request from Tehran, an Indian government source told Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump has said destroying the Iranian navy is one aim of the war he and Israel launched against the Islamic Republic a week ago. The Lavan - an amphibious landing vessel, according to the U.S. Naval Institute's online news site - and two other ships "were coming in for a fleet review and then they got, in a way, caught on the wrong side of the events," Jaishankar told the annual Raisina Dialogue event. "I think we really approached it from the point of view of humanity, of other than whatever the legal issues were," he said. "I think we did the right thing." Advertisement At least 87 people were killed in the U.S. attack on the Dena in Sri Lanka's exclusive economic zone 19 nautical miles off the coast, outside its maritime boundaries. India received the docking request for the Lavan on February 28, the day the Iran war started, the source said late on Friday, adding that the request "was urgent as the vessel had developed technical issues". Its 183 crew members have been accommodated at naval facilities in Kochi, said the source, who asked not to be identified citing confidentiality. The Dena was on its way back from a naval exercise organised by India, according to the drill's website and Sri Lankan officials. Sri Lankan authorities said on Friday that they were escorting the Iranian naval ship Booshehr to a harbour on the eastern coast and moving most of its crew to a navy camp near Colombo. (Reporting by Sivaram V; Writing by Nidhi Verma; Editing by William Mallard) A large-scale assault on Iran would not result in a regime change, a report completed before the war found -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images) A classified National Intelligence Council report concluded that a large-scale assault on Iran by the US would still fail to topple the Iranian regime in a concerning assessment of the Trump administration's war, say reports. If true the findings, reported to The Washington Post by three people familiar with the report, raise serious concerns about Donald Trump's plan to "clean out" Iran's military and clerical establishment and install a new ruler of his choosing. The report was completed about a week before the US and Israel initiated the war on February 28 by launching joint strikes on Iran under "Operation Epic Fury." It examined several potential scenarios, ranging from a narrow campaign targeting Iran's leaders, to a broader assault against the nation's leadership and government institutions, according to the people familiar with the report. At least eight dead as 'Godzilla tornadoes' rip devastating trail through the US Trump makes chilling threat Iran will be 'hit very hard' today and warns of 'complete destruction' Advertisement In both of these cases, the National Intelligence Council concluded that Irans clerical and military establishment would follow protocols to preserve the continuity of power in the event of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, the sources said. They described the possibility of Iran's opposition taking control of the country as "unlikely." Despite this, the Trump administration pressed ahead with assassinating Khamenei. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 -Credit:Getty Images The US and Israel have continued to pummel Iran in the days since in a military campaign that officials warn has "only just begun" and has already spread across the Middle Easy. On Saturday, Trump warned Iran will be "hit very hard" as he suggested the US could target more Iranian officials. "Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time," he wrote on Truth Social. The White House would not confirm whether Trump was briefed on the report before approving the military operation in Iran, but claimed that the Iranian regime is being "crushed." The Iran was has already expanded across the Middle East -Credit:AFP via Getty Images President Trump and the administration have clearly outlined their goals with regard to Operation Epic Fury: destroy Irans ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed. The classified report doesn't appear to have examined other possible assault scenarios, including the possibility of sending US ground troops into Iran. It's not clear whether the large-scale assault the document examined is the same as the current strikes underway. FILE PHOTO: Smoke billows from Jebel Ali port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo (Changes estimate in paragraph 9 to 1 million Swiss francs from 10 million following IFRC correction) By Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - Key humanitarian air, sea and land routes are being constricted by disruption from the war in the Middle East, delaying life-saving shipments to some of the world's worst crises, 10 aid officials have told Reuters. The U.S.Israeli war on Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, convulsing global markets and disrupting supply chains with airspace closures and the halt of shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz. Aid to Gaza and Sudan is grinding to a halt and costs are soaring for help to the hundreds of millions suffering hunger crises around the world. "People in dire need of assistance will have to wait longer for food," said Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of Food Security at the World Food Programme. Already, tents, tarpaulins and lamps destined for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank have become stuck in the supply chain, the International Organization for Migration said. DUBAI AID HUB HOBBLED BY AIR AND SEA RESTRICTIONS Aid groups say higher operational costs are straining budgets already facing massive donor cuts. The IOM said shipping firms were demanding emergency surcharges of approximately $3,000 per container. Humanitarian groups stocking goods for rapid regional deployment at warehouses in Dubai's Humanitarian Hub face challenges moving supplies onto transit routes. Advertisement The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies cannot move trauma kits to help the Iranian Red Crescent with search and rescue from its Dubai hub, where they sit in a estimated 1 million Swiss franc ($1.28 million) pre-positioned emergency stockpile, said Cecile Terraz, a director at the IFRC. The group cannot move stock through Jebel Ali port - the region's largest container terminal, which was set on fire by the debris of an intercepted missile - from where cargo normally moves onto planes or into the Strait of Hormuz. The World Health Organization's Dubai hub operations are also frozen, regional director Hanan Balkhy said, obstructing 50 emergency requests from 25 countries and hampering operations such as polio vaccination. Ripple effects farther afield are also likely. Famine-struck Sudan is particularly exposed due to additional restrictions since February 28 on the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, the UNHCR said. "We are particularly concerned about Africa," said a spokeswoman, adding that some cargoes were being sent around the Cape of Good Hope. The route takes up to three weeks longer. Costs for fuel, transportation and insurance are also rising, and Terraz said the IFRC may have to cut deliveries to the Iranian Red Crescent. Emma Maspero, senior manager in Copenhagen of the supply division of the U.N. children's body UNICEF, said she hoped flights carrying perishable humanitarian goods such as vaccines could be prioritised amid the airspace restrictions.($1 = 0.7799 Swiss francs) ($1 = 0.7822 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge in Geneva; Additional reporting by Max Hunder in Kyiv and Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS By Maya Gebeily, Alexander Cornwell, Nandita Bose and Parisa Hafezi BEIRUT/MIAMI/TEL AVIV/DUBAI, March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he is not interested in negotiating with Iran and raised the possibility that the Iran war would only end once that country no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the air campaign could make negotiations a moot point if all potential leaders of Iran are killed and the Iranian military is destroyed. "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say 'We surrender,'" Trump said. Israel and Iran traded numerous attacks on Saturday as the Middle East war entered a second week. Iran's president apologised to neighbouring states to cool anger across the Gulf but stirred criticism from hardliners at home. "I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran's actions," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, urging them not to join U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. He dismissed Trump's demand for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender as "a dream", but said its temporary leadership council had agreed to suspend attacks on nearby states unless strikes on Iran originated from their territory. Trump nonetheless cast Iran's apology as a surrender and warned the U.S. could widen its attacks. Amid possible divisions within Iran's leadership over Pezeshkian's remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, said any Iranian Revolutionary Guards who lay down their arms would be unharmed. Ali Ardashir Larijani, Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said on state television there was no rift among Iranian officials over its handling of the war. Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that while it favours a diplomatic settlement, continued Iranian attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. IRAN SAYS IT TARGETED U.S. BASES Pezeshkian's comments caused a political stir in Iran, prompting his office to reiterate Iran's military would respond firmly to attacks from U.S. bases in the region. Hours later, the president repeated his statement on social media but left out the apology from his speech that had angered hardliners, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards. Hamid Rasai, a hardline cleric and lawmaker, wrote on X: "Mr Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable." The judiciary chief, Mohseni-Ejei, a hardline member of the three-man council temporarily holding the powers of supreme leader, said the territory of some regional countries was being used for attacks against Iran, and retaliatory strikes would continue. Hours after Pezeshkian's announcement, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said their drones struck a U.S. air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. Reuters could not independently verify that report. Late into the night, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted an Israeli refinery, according to state media. Air raid sirens sounded in the Haifa area, but there were no reports of destruction. The Kuwaiti army said on Saturday that fuel storage tanks belonging to Kuwait International Airport were targeted in a drone attack. Advertisement There were reports of rockets targeting the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, security sources and witnesses said. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered his security forces to pursue those responsible, according to a statement. In Iran, local news agencies, citing an Iranian Oil Ministry source, said its fuel depots were hit by strikes in three areas, including Karaj, west of Tehran. The Revolutionary Guards also targeted U.S. forces at a base in Bahrain, Iranian state media said. Blasts were also heard in Doha, a Reuters witness said. Tehran has responded to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran by hitting Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. military installations. Israel has launched fresh attacks in Lebanon after the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah fired across the border. The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have all reported drone or missile attacks over the past week. ISRAEL WARNS LEBANON TO REIN IN HEZBOLLAH With the conflict spreading, Israel warned Lebanon of a "very heavy price" if it did not rein in Hezbollah, as it pounded the group's strongholds with airstrikes and mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east. On Saturday morning, more buildings in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut had been reduced to mounds of smoking rubble, dust and tangled wires, Reuters video showed. The death toll from Israel's attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to 294, the Lebanese health ministry said. The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Huge explosions were heard in parts of Tehran, state media reported, while Israel said it had struck Iranian missile sites and command centres. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. Larijani said there were reports that American soldiers have been captured, but U.S. Central Command said no U.S. service members have been taken prisoner. At least six U.S. service members have been killed. Their remains arrived on Saturday at an Air Force base in Delaware. Iran's apparent strategy of maximum chaos has driven up the costs of the conflict by raising energy prices and hurting global business and logistics links. Kuwait's national oil company began cutting output on Saturday, adding to earlier oil and gas cuts from Iraq and Qatar. The war has roiled global markets and oil prices have hit multi-year highs with the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut. Hardline clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader, Iranian media reported on Saturday, with meetings occurring as soon as Sunday. Ayatollah Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the clerical body charged with choosing the next leader, was quoted as saying the assembly could meet in the next 24 hours to decide. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Miami, Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Idrees Ali, Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, Pesha Magid in Jerusalem, Aaron McNicholas and Reuters bureaux; Writing by William Maclean, Matthias Williams, Richard Cowan and Alistair Bell; Editing by William Mallard, Alex Richardson and Rod Nickel) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This combo photo shows Zheng Shanjie (C), head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo'an (2nd R), Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (2nd L), Pan Gongsheng (1st R), governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing (1st L), chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attending a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo'an attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A journalist raises hand to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on economy is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Editor: Zhang Zhou DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early Sunday, including targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Irans Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. The Israeli military said in a statement that it would not allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory." The latest strikes in Lebanon followed an Israeli attack Saturday on an oil storage facility in Tehran, which sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime at the site that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north. Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when the Gulf country was hit by a swarm of missiles and drones. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. No other details were available. Israeli airstrikes killed eight people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, and local media reported that an Israeli drone hit a hotel in Beirut, killing four and wounding 10 others. The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian president apologizes for attacks Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized Saturday for attacks on neighboring countries," even as his country's missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehran's war strategy would not change. A rift between politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting Iranian statements came from two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the war's opening airstrikes. Pezeshkian, who is a member of the council, also dismissed U.S. President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. He described the ongoing U.S. operations in Iran as an excursion and said issues such as rising gas prices and the safety of Americans would improve once the conflict ends. Iranian leaders have limited power over Revolutionary Guard Pezeshkians message underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Advertisement Pezeshkians statement said Iran's leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and from now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. The U.S. strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region. Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue, he posted on X. Iran's U.N. mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on nonmilitary sites may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems. Late Saturday, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani asserted in an address carried by state media that our leaders are united on this issue and have no disagreements with one another. Trump says the Kurds won't be involved In other developments, Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the war, even though Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government. The war is complicated enough without having ... the Kurds involved, Trump told reporters. Days ago, Kurdish officials told the AP that Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran's military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The war's stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. Missile lands at US Embassy compound in Iraq Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties. It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a terrorist act carried out by rogue groups. Strikes target other Gulf countries Hours after Pezeshkians apology, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed a driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Sirens sounded earlier Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces. In Kuwait, authorities said a wave of drones targeted critical infrastructure, including fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport and a government building in Kuwait City. At least two people were killed by strikes in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. ___ Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Magdy from Cairo, Egypt. Associated Press journalists Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Amir-Hussein Radjy in Cairo, Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting. People inspect the damage where Israel's military carried out an airborne operation that dropped troops overnight, in the town of Nabi Chit, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. REUTERS/ Mohammad Yassine By Maya Gebeily, Laila Bassam and Maayan Lubell BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 7 (Reuters) - Israel warned Lebanon of a "disastrous" fallout if it did not rein in Iran-backed Hezbollah on Saturday, as it pounded the group's strongholds around the country with air strikes and mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east. Lebanon was dragged into the wider Middle East war on Monday when Hezbollah fired at Israel, which responded with a new military campaign that has killed nearly 300 people and forced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from their homes. In the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, buildings lay in mounds of smoking rubble and twisted metal, Reuters footage showed. Further east, in the town of Nabi Chit, a heavy Israeli bombardment after a rare Israeli airborne raid had punched craters into the ground, burying cars in mountains of dirt and launching one vehicle onto the roof of a two-storey building. In Israel, air raid sirens warning of incoming rockets and drones, sent people fleeing to their shelters. RARE AIRBORNE RAID KILLS DOZENS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a televised statement, said that it was up to the Lebanese government to enforce the 2024 agreement to disarm Hezbollah. "Your responsibility is to disarm Hezbollah. If you do not do this, Hezbollah's aggression will result in disastrous repercussions for Lebanon. It is time for you to take your destiny in to your own hands. We will do all that is necessary to defend our communities and citizens," Netanyahu said. Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a separate statement that the Lebanese government and all of Lebanon would "pay a heavy price" if Hezbollah is not disarmed. Israel had no territorial claims against Lebanon but would not allow cross-border fire, Katz said. Lebanon's government instructed the army last year to establish a state monopoly on arms. Troops had confiscated Hezbollah's weapons in parts of the south but senior Lebanese officials and security sources said pursuing the plan could cause internal tensions as the group had refused to give up its arsenals in full. An Israeli military official told Reuters Israeli military operations were now acting "to remove the threat from Lebanon." Overnight, Israeli helicopters dropped troops near Nabi Chit in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley. Israel's military said the troops staged the operation to seek the remains of Ron Arad, an Israeli airforce navigator missing in Lebanon since 1986 but no findings related to him were recovered. Advertisement Hezbollah said overnight it had fired on Israeli troops dropped near Nabi Chit by four helicopters, and that the troops had withdrawn. The Israeli military said none of its forces were injured. Lebanon's Health Ministry said 41 people had been killed in the last 24 hours in Israeli attacks in the Nabi Chit area. The Lebanese army said three of its personnel were among the dead. Israeli strikes have killed 294 people and wounded more than 1,000 across Lebanon since Monday, the health ministry there said. IRANIAN DIPLOMATS LEAVE BEIRUT Shawki al-Masri, who lives in a town adjacent to Nabi Chit, described the overnight bombing in the area as "a night of hell". "We heard the helicopters over our house all night - they were so low we thought they would land on us," he told Reuters. Orders to evacuate have displaced around 300,000 people, only a third of whom are now living in government shelters. A senior United Nations official described the displacement as "unprecedented" in comments to Reuters on Friday. Israel's military has issued orders for people living in a swathe of southern Lebanon, several towns in the east and the entirety of Beirut's southern suburbs to leave their homes. This amounts to around 8% of Lebanese territory. Israel's military this week warned representatives of the Iranian government "still in Lebanon to leave immediately before they are targeted." Over 150 Iranian nationals, including diplomats and their families, left Lebanon on Saturday, a senior Lebanese security source told Reuters, adding that 20 left the previous day. The Iranian embassy in Lebanon citing safety concerns, said that the families of the Iranian embassy staff, along with teachers and students of the Iranian school and a group of Iranians living in Lebanon, has left Beirut temporarily. Hezbollah has warned Israeli citizens living in communities near the border to flee their homes, but Israel has said there will be no evacuations. Many northern Israeli communities were evacuated during crossborder bombardment in 2023-24. The United Nations warned on Saturday that the conflict was set to get "even worse," and that talks between Israel and Lebanon "must be pursued with urgency" to end hostilities. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Laila Bassam, Maayan Lubell and Alexander Cornwell. Additional writing by Angus McDowall. Editing by Mark Potter, Jan Harvey and Alistair Bell) By Divya Rajagopal TORONTO, March 6 (Reuters) - Group of Seven members Japan, France and Canada are working on alternatives to a U.S.-led trade bloc to secure critical minerals and reduce reliance on China, according to three senior officials from these countries. Some options include import quotas on certain rare earths, subsidies for mining companies to diversify the supply chain on critical minerals, and a buyers' club, a Canada-led G7 initiative that aims to develop a reliable supply chain of critical minerals outside of China and break that country's monopoly on these metals. In February, U.S. Vice President JD Vance unveiled plans to marshal allies into a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals. But a month after that announcement, some countries are making different plans, an example of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's appeal for middle powers to band together as U.S. President Donald Trump has alienated allies. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. One way to diversify rare earth supply chains would be to subsidize projects in the Western Hemisphere to make them commercially competitive with China, said Hiroyuki Hatada, Director of the Americas Division of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, on the sidelines of a mining conference in Toronto. Rare earths are difficult-to-extract metals used in cell phones, EVs, and high-tech weapons. China currently controls over 90% of these metals and imposed export controls last year in retaliation for U.S. tariffs. Japan has asked its manufacturing industries to strike commercial deals with rare earths projects that it has funded with allies such as France, Australia, and Canada. Advertisement "They might not be the cheapest, but now that the industry understands the balance of risk and price, it is not a bad idea to use those projects," Hatada explained. Benjamin Gallezot, France's interministerial delegate for supplies of strategic minerals and metals, told Reuters the U.S. proposal is one way to diversify, "but there are other ways to do it." "There will not be a general policy, that is our view. Second, it has to be built and discussed between a large number of countries, not only the G7, but G7 plus." France suggested a quota system where companies can import only certain amounts of metals, and an obligation for companies in certain sectors to diversify their supply chains. Gallezot also said France supports Canada's idea of a buyers' alliance and will take the concept forward as it takes over the chair of G7 this year. The G7 countries, over the last two years, have proposed several measures to tackle China's dominance in rare earths. Western countries worry that key industries including defense have grown too reliant on cheap rare earths from China. Canada has recently signed 30 new deals with 12 countries for a proposed C$12.6 billion ($9.22 billion) of investments in mining and mining technology, taking the total investments to around C$18 billion since October. Australia said on March 4 would join Canada's G7 critical minerals production alliance. "Canada believes that the best way to address the issue of concentrated supply of critical minerals is through a production alliance or a buyers' club," Energy and Mining Minister Tim Hodgson told Reuters on Tuesday. (Divya Rajagopal in Toronto; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and David Gregorio) Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson are trying to find out what happened to their son -Credit:AP (AP) The parents of a Georgia teenager discovered dead in suspicious circumstances have seen their $1 billion lawsuit claiming law enforcement covered up his killing thrown out by a federal judge. More than 13 years have passed since 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was discovered deceased inside a gym mat at his high school, yet his parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, continue seeking answers. Fellow students discovered Kendrick's body positioned upside down within a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes High School's gymnasium on January 11, 2013 in Valdosta, Georgia. Officials determined his death was a tragic accident. The theory suggested Kendrick may have become trapped while trying to grab a shoe that had fallen inside the vertical mat and subsequently suffocated. Mystery of nine hikers with strangely positioned corpses and missing eyes 'I know about Navy's horrifying UFO log books and terrifying things moving across our seas' Nevertheless, his family remains unconvinced. The teenager's parents have consistently maintained he was unlawfully killed. They have accused school administrators, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and additional law enforcement personnel of a cover-up. "If the message is not clear enough, let me make it clear as crystal right now, anyone, regardless of who you are, what position of power and influence you may hold, if you choose the join the murder cover-up scandal of my son Kendrick, you do so at your own peril," Kenneth Johnson declared in a statement to 11Alive. Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead in his high school gym in 2013 -Credit:AP They highlight that an independent autopsy determined Kendrick died from "unexplained non-accidental blunt force trauma." In 2021, the probe into Kendrick's death was relaunched by Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk, who hadn't held the position during the original investigation. Months later, Sheriff Paulk issued a report stating that all physical evidence, interviews, and grand jury testimony "does not produce anything to prove any criminal act by anyone that would have resulted in the death of Kendrick Johnson." The sheriff also refuted any claims that there was a cover-up regarding the circumstances of the teenager's death. Advertisement "Any person who looks at this case objectively would know that it would be impossible to conceal any evidence due to the involvement of so many agencies and investigators," he wrote. This led to Kendrick's family filing a whopping $1 billion lawsuit against the sheriff's office, GBI, and other agencies in 2023. U.S. District Judge concerned about inconsistencies On Friday, U..S District Judge Sarah Geraghty dismissed the lawsuit, pointing out that there seemed to be "inconsistencies" in the initial probe into Kendrick's death. "The Court again expresses its concern about the inconsistencies between the various official reports on KJ's death and Plaintiffs' allegations," she said. This included specifics about the discrepancy between Kendrick's shoulder width and what a deputy claimed was the size of the opening in the mat where he was discovered, which was roughly five inches smaller. The school claims Kendrick "fell into" a rolled up mat -Credit:AP "The coroner later reported that 'the investigative climate was very poor to worse when I arrived on scene,'" Geraghty said. "He reported that law enforcement did not cooperate with him, KJ's body had been moved, and the sealed body bag had been opened," noted the judge. Geraghty noted surveillance video from inside the school - published by CNN in 2013 - was missing. Judge Geraghty said it was important to the lawsuit, but was outside a two-year statute of limitations. Despite her reservations about the investigation, she ruled that the family couldn't sue the GBI due to its immunity under the Eleventh Amendment. She also determined that Lowndes County wasn't properly served within 90 days of the complaint being filed. "The Court again expresses its concern about the inconsistencies between the various official reports on KJ's death and Plaintiffs' allegations," she said, but concluded that the family's claims couldn't proceed. A federal judge sharply questioned the government on Friday about a new Pentagon policy that places strict controls over what journalists can report if they wish to be allowed to continue working from inside the building. In a tense exchange, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman for the District of Columbia said he has lived through many military and national security conflicts, from the Vietnam War to the Sept. 11 attacks, and noted that the press played a vital role in all of those events in helping the American public understand what its government was doing. Regarding the Vietnam War, he said that "the public, I think it's fair to say, was lied to about a lot of things," and added, "A lot of things need to be held tightly and securely, but openness and transparency allow members of the public to know what their government is doing." The New York Times sued the Pentagon late last year after it ordered all of the credentialed journalists who worked inside the building to sign a lengthy set of restrictions on their news gathering activities. Violating the policy could lead to the revocation of their press passes by the Pentagon. Most of the press outlets who worked in the building refused to sign the new policy and were forced to vacate. CBS News is among an array of media organizations including Newsmax, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NewsNation, The Hill and Fox News, which previously employed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as an on-air host that declined to sign the new Pentagon restrictions. After the departure of news organizations that would not agree to the Defense Department's restrictions, the outlets inside the Pentagon were limited to right-wing news sites and bloggers who did agree to its conditions. Since the U.S. military operation against Iran began last week, some but not all reporters have returned to the Pentagon with visitors' passes and have been allowed to attend briefings by Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. At Friday's hearing, lawyers for the press asked the court to block the Pentagon from enforcing the new policy, arguing it is a violation of the First Amendment freedom of the press. "The press has always been in the building as soon as it opened," said David Schulz, a lawyer for the Pentagon Press Association who was among a team of attorneys arguing on the media's behalf on Friday. During questioning by the government, Judge Friedman bristled when a Justice Department attorney appeared to suggest it could be a crime if journalists ask questions that solicit the disclosure of sensitive national defense information. "Asking a question is not criminal," Friedman said. "All you have to say is I can't answer that question for national security reasons." Michael Bruns, the Justice Department attorney, acknowledged that asking questions itself is not a crime, but if those questions led to the disclosure of unauthorized classified information, then the Pentagon could take that into account when determining whether a journalist could pose a security risk and should have a press pass revoked, he argued. Advertisement Friedman also sharply questioned why the Pentagon took issue with a tip line set up by the Washington Post, but had no concerns when far-right influencer Laura Loomer also promoted a tip line and is currently among the few outlets who signed the Pentagon's policy so she could report from inside the building. "Is the Washington Post tip line criminal solicitation?" Friedman asked. "I don't think so, your honor," Bruns said. "You're not clear whether the Washington Post tip line constitutes criminal solicitation?" Friedman asked again. "No, your honor," Bruns said. "So, if you're not clear, how can they be clear?" Friedman retorted. Bruns told Friedman that the Washington Post tip line was problematic because it targeted military members while Loomer's is more general in nature. Friedman asked both sides to respond by Monday with suggestions for how he should structure an order before he makes a final ruling. Noem aide Corey Lewandowski had contentious call with Trump after Senate hearing, sources say Watch: Kristi Noem speaks minutes after Trump announces he's removing her as DHS secretary Watch: Kristi Noem Senate hearing moment that may have led to ouster as DHS secretary LYNDON A gathering to honor law enforcement officers wounded in the line of duty turned into a power struggle between the Kansas governor and a U.S. senator. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, announced he would be in Lyndon to present Congressional Records to three sheriff's deputies and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper who were shot while responding in November to a domestic violence call. Marshall was surprised to see Gov. Laura Kelly in attendance at the March 6 event. She wasn't on his guest list. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall criticized Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly for speaking about red flag laws during an event in Lyndon to honor law enforcement officers shot while responding to a domestic violence call. "Governor Kelly was not informed of the event, nor was her team she arrived uninvited and unannounced," said Payton Fuller, Marshall's communications director. "Rather than honoring the moment, she chose to redirect the focus toward her own political agenda. These officers deserved better." After Marshall discussed the risks law enforcement officers take when responding to domestic violence and mental health calls, he asked Kelly and Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells if they would like to speak. Kelly spoke about red flag laws, which are emergency orders to temporarily take an individual's firearms if they are deemed to be a risk to themselves or others. She also presented the officers with challenge coin medallions. Roger Marshall's office felt Kansas governor politicized event Marshall's office said the event was "designed to celebrate their heroism and commitment to keeping Kansas communities safe." Advertisement Fuller went on to say Marshall's office was "deeply disappointed" by the way Kelly handled the situation. "We hope that she and her party will spend less energy advancing rhetoric that undermines law enforcement and more time standing alongside the men and women who risk their lives to protect Kansans every day," Fuller said in a statement. Gov. Laura Kelly says she was putting law enforcement first One of the law enforcement officers being honored was a state trooper with Kansas Highway Patrol, which is part of the governor's administration. I am sorry if my presence made Senator Marshall uncomfortable," Kelly said in a statement. "I was simply recognizing and offering support to the deputies and Trooper Adam Ellis as they celebrated his first day back to work after being seriously wounded in the line of duty. "I had previously gotten to know Trooper Ellis and his family when I visited him in the hospital last fall." Kelly said she often visits law enforcement officers. "Because I generally dont view them as press opportunities," Kelly's statement continued, "Senator Marshall probably doesnt know that I routinely visit with law enforcement officers to express my appreciation or, as has been unfortunately all too frequent this past year, to console families at the funerals of fallen officers. (This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.) This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas governor and U.S. senator clash while honoring wounded officers LYNDON Four law enforcement officers were honored for their service in a domestic violence call last fall. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, visited Lyndon to present Congressional Records to Cpl. Clayton Hartpence, K9 deputy James Cason and deputy Christian Moran, the Osage County Sheriff's Office, and Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Adam Ellis. "So, I'm very, very personally grateful, and your communities are grateful as as well," Marshall said. "What I have for each one of you is a congressional record acknowledging your heroics of that particular day." U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, hands a Congressional Record to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Adam Ellis on March 6, 2026. Why did Sen. Roger Marshall honor Kansas law enforcement officers? In November, the four officers responded to a domestic violence call that resulted in a shootout that injured the officers. The incident at 11222 SW Topeka Boulevard resulted in the death of the suspect, Stephen M. McMillan's, 22, and gunshot injuries to McMillan's grandfather, a 77-year-old man whose name wasn't made public. Roger Marshall talks about domestic violence Marshall talked about the seriousness of domestic violence and how quickly things can go wrong for law enforcement when answering those calls. Advertisement Marshall also said domestic cases can often stem from mental health issues. "Domestic violence is something that can lead to murders, all those types of things as well, and I think a lot of it's connected to mental health," he said. "I think it's connected to the stress in people's lives as well." Gov. Laura Kelly watches Col. Erik Smith, Kansas Highway Patrol superintendent, speak during a meet-and-greet event on March 6, 2026, in Lyndon. Gov. Laura Kelly joins event and talks about red flag laws Gov. Laura Kelly talked about the importance of gun regulations like red flag laws, which are civil court orders allowing temporary, emergency removal of firearms from someone considered a danger to themselves or others. "I think that might be very helpful in bringing temperatures down," Kelly said, "and certainly I the results, so we'll continue with those." When asked about his views on red flag laws, Marshall said he'd be wary of limiting Kansans' Second Amendment rights. "Look, the Second Amendment is what protects the First Amendment," Marshall said. "And I think we have to be very, very careful about starting to take away any type of gun rights." This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas officers honored for heroics during violent shootout in Lyndon RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) A Lexington family arrived at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport from Egypt on Friday night after being trapped in Jerusalem during the evolving conflict in the Middle East. Chris Elliott and his daughter, Riley, a senior at Central Davidson High School, arrived in Israel on Feb. 25. They had planned the trip more than a year ago to celebrate Rileys graduation. Riley said she wanted to be rebaptized in the Jordan River and cross the Sea of Galilee. They made the trip with members of their church, Madison Heights Freewill Baptist in Lexington, where Chris works as the assistant youth pastor. Then, early Saturday morning, the U.S. military and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, killing Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, among other Iranian officials. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israel, as well as several U.S. military bases in the region. Six American soldiers were killed in the counterstrikes. Nobody is prepared to be in a war zone and to hear bombs going off, especially when you have your 17-year-old daughter with you, Chris said. Our plans were to have a holy trip and to take her so I could baptize her in the Jordan River. Then, two days into our majestic journey, the war started. In an interview with FOX8, the Elliotts recounted the moment that everything dramatically changed. Chris said he and Riley were traveling with a group of 24 others, including many from their church and some family friends from Virginia. The trip started in Magdala, an ancient city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We were in our second day, heading to the Sea of Galilee because we were going to take a boat trip across the sea, Chris said. And our bus driver, all of a sudden, his pager goes off, and then all of our phones started going off, and it said, Missile Strike.' The driver turned the bus around, and their tour guide told the group that they would be returning to the hotel in Magdala. From there, the group made the difficult decision to pack up and return to Jerusalem, where they could shelter in a safer location. At first, they were able to stay in a hotel room, but when the sirens came, they had to rush to a bomb shelter below the hotel. Chris said they could hear the sirens outside and bombs exploding over Israels Iron Dome. The first time we did this, we had 70 IDF soldiers that were stationed inside the hotel, and they were running down the stairs with us, Chris said. And thats when it hit home that, Hey, listen, if the soldiers are running, we better run.' Advertisement After multiple times having to rush from their room to the bomb shelter, they decided it would be safest to sleep in the shelter. They set up makeshift beds using sheets and chairs. With the airstrip shut down, the Elliotts were worried theyd be stuck in Jerusalem for weeks. It wasnt until Tuesday afternoon that they learned they had a way home. The Elliotts and their group plan to take a bus out of Jerusalem on Tuesday night and head to Egypt, where they will be able to board a flight. They expect to arrive in Raleigh on Friday. Theres a little bit of concern there because the war is still going on, so we still need prayers for that. But after that, Im not really sure what the flights will look like, but Im just glad we have them. They say they are already packed and cannot wait to get home. When I see my wife, and I get to hug her, I have a disabled son, so when I get to hug Mason, when I get home and step my feet on the ground, its going to mean the world to me. And Rileys been concerned about that, Chris said. And her one request is a good cold Cheerwine. Chris said this has been a life-changing experience for him. Weve all grown, and its given us a different perspective when we come back home because we have the tendency to complain about a lot of things and take for granted a lot of the liberties and the friendships and just what we have at home, so, if anything, its going to change our perspective to take a little time to show a little bit more love and gratitude for the things that weve been given. FOX8 has also been following the story of a Piedmont Triad church mission group that safely returned home Wednesday night after navigating through the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A man who has dedicated his life to serving others got a chance on Friday to thank the people who saved his life, 10 months after a heart attack nearly took it. Today, for the first time since Joshua Carroll reunited with those who gave him a new lease on life. I wanted to call it out so you three realize, you literally saved my life that day, Carroll said. Former Speaker of the Arkansas House speaks on life after heart attack, advice for others walking the same path For over a decade, he was in the U.S. Army. Then a firefighter, a Cub Scout leader, and even an announcer for the Arkansas Travelers. Now, a title he never thought hed hold, heart attack survivor. Its important for me to have that opportunity to thank them and really make sure they fully understand. They saved my life, Carroll said. Joshua Carroll getting that chance Friday is something that those who saved his life said is rare. Tiffany Arellano said she often wonders what happens to patients. Nine times out of ten, we dont get to see how it turns out, Arellano said. Thats why Carroll pushed for a reunion. As a volunteer firefighter, we miss that bookend, if you will, you know, heres what happenedheres the rest of the story, Carroll said. Advertisement That story reminds the MEMS crew why they do what they do. The reunion is even sweeter because Carroll is a part of their first responder family. For me, it means a lot, especially because thats one of our guys that we work with day in and day out, Arellano said. Haven Bradley, an EMT, said this reinforced what had drawn her to this field in the first place. For me, it just reminded me why I love doing this job, Bradley said. Now Carroll is charting his path forward. Something like this happens to you, and you look back on it afterwards, and then you look forward to the rest of your life, youre like, wait, ok, what do I do with this now? Carroll said. Heart disease is the #1 killer of Arkansans: Know the signs and what to do The 46-year-old said there were no warning signs, just a feeling that felt like heartburn, then waking up in a hospital bed. He says hes thankful, and while he prays it doesnt come to that, he hopes to repay the favor someday. The members of MEMS who saved him, Arellano, Bradley, and Kyle Porter, told me they hope more people share their stories with them to remind them why they do this. 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 KARK. The Upper Peninsula is no secret, and is perhaps the most beloved half of Michigan, if you ask a local. But its still remote. And I still see even the most intrepid adventurers get funneled into the same five spots. So when I took my own long-haul road trip north, I set my compass a little left of center. Or way left, a whopping 4.5 hours northwest of the Mackinac Bridge. This landed us smack dab in the middle of Houghton, a hidden gem town in Michigan on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Best Things To Do in This Quiet Upper Peninsula Town When my family and I road trip, were caught somewhere between aimless wanderers and bucketlisters. Theres always a method to the madness, but usually its soft itineraries that we hope to stray from. I picked the Keweenaw Peninsula for two reasons: First, I knew it was off-grid and was possibly the remotest place in the Midwest; and second, I heard there was an under-the-radar national park site up there. Photo by Stephanie Frias for Only In Your State Visit the Keweenaw National Historical Park Our great national parks system is far more than the 63 designated national parks for which its best known. In actuality, there are 433 individual units that fall under several different designations. A few of those include national historical parks, national monuments, and even national lakeshores. These are the under-the-radar national parks Im always seeking out. The Keweenaw National Historical Park is one of these, and its a fascinating, historical jigsaw of indigenous copper lands, immigrant heritage, homesteading, mining history, and now, a land of cultural and environmental preservation. I came to see the inspiring proof of a land rewilded and recovered from decades of extraction and boom towns. New-growth forests, pristine beaches, and historic lighthouses were the draw. I never imagined that the sister cities of Houghton and Hancock, and their mine tours, would impact me so much more. Take the Quincy Mine Tours in Nearby Hancock Hancock and Houghton are the epitome of quiet towns in Michigan, sleepy and scenic, perched on either side of a Lake Superior canal. But they feel like one, and it became a normal part of our travelers commute to cross between them several times a day. Its the hub of the Keweenaw Peninsulas hotels, eateries, and Wi-Fi, but also for access to the mine tours at Quincy Mine. We went on two guided mine tours, both within the Keweenaw Historical National Park. One was to the worlds oldest smelting site, and the other was an underground mine tour with a tram ride and a 360-foot descent into the shafts. Advertisement Photo by Stephanie Frias for Only In Your State These experiences were among the few times in our travels when we were more interested in the peoples stories than in the surrounding wilderness. It taught us American History in a touching way that a book never could, and was a poignant reminder of how deeply intertwined people are with the land. It was also an enlightening reminder of our rich immigrant culture that dates back hundreds of years. Where To Stay and Eat in Hougton Visiting the Keweenaw National Historical Park is the primary attraction in Houghton and Hancock. The rest of the allure lies in trying to live like a local for the weekend, between road trips up and down the greater Keweenaw Peninsula. It seems to us that local life was summed up by eating pasties, looking at the water, and sitting in saunas. In no particular order. We felt very local indeed, staying in the beautiful, modern, waterfront cabins at Keweenaw Waters Resorts. This stay doesnt feel like a cabin at all, or even a hotel; it feels more like checking into your townhouse for the weekend. We had our own sauna right in the kitchen, huge living quarters, and a marvelous wood deck overlooking the Keweenaw Waterway. All for a surprisingly affordable waterfront cabin stay, and just minutes from Houghton, our favorite hidden town in Michigan. Photo by Stephanie Frias for Only In Your State Most Keweenaw Peninsula locals will gladly let you believe that the one and only thing to eat around here is pasties. Lucky for us, the most locally loved pasty shop was just 2 miles from the resort. If youve never had one, a pasty is a hand pie, very much like a handheld pot pie. Only better. Way, way better. And apparently, Roys is the place to be introduced to one, because we ate there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entirety of our stay. If our road trip to Houghton inspires you plan an adventure of your own, try building one with Only In Your States AI-powered itinerary planner! *At the ongoing "two sessions" in Beijing, the strategic importance of domestic demand has been underscored in both the government work report and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). *Boosting consumption hinges fundamentally on boosting confidence, and China is doubling down on policy support to unleash consumer potential. *Beyond young urban consumers, who are the major drivers of new forms of spending, China is also unlocking the consumption potential of rural and elderly population groups. *Technological innovation is emerging as a powerful engine for consumption expansion and upgrading. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Getting people to spend more has emerged as a major economic task for China in 2026 and beyond, aligning with the country's broader shift toward a consumption-driven growth model. At the ongoing "two sessions" in Beijing, the strategic importance of domestic demand has been underscored in both the government work report and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Amid a complex and challenging international environment, the work report stressed the need to remain committed to expanding domestic demand, pledging a range of measures to stimulate consumption -- a pivotal pillar of domestic demand. This focus is further reinforced in the draft outline, which states that China aims to "achieve a notable increase in household consumption as a share of gross domestic product, making domestic demand a more prominent economic driver" during the five-year period. A boy eats tanghulu, a traditional Chinese snack consisting of sugar-coated haws or fruits, at a tanghulu-themed fair in Jiaozhou, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 18, 2026. (Photo by Wang Zhaomai/Xinhua) The foundations are already solid. Last year, China's total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 50 trillion yuan (about 7 trillion U.S. dollars) for the first time, with consumption contributing 52 percent to economic growth, up 5 percentage points from the previous year. China's consumer market -- the world's second-largest -- is undergoing a profound shift from scale expansion to quality upgrading, with diverse measures being rolled out to unlock its immense potential. POLICY EMPOWERMENT Boosting consumption hinges fundamentally on boosting confidence, and China is doubling down on policy support to unleash consumer potential. The government work report places "building a robust domestic market" first among the major tasks for 2026. It also lists a series of concrete measures, including the allocation of 250 billion yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds to support consumer goods trade-in programs, the establishment of a 100-billion-yuan fiscal-financial coordination fund to facilitate domestic demand expansion, and the broadening of loan interest subsidies coverage for consumers and service entities. These policies build on the remarkable achievements of the trade-in program, which generated combined sales of 3.92 trillion yuan in 2024 and 2025, benefiting consumers on 494 million occasions, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. National legislator Liu Hui, who is a technician at Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd. in east China's Jiangxi Province, has observed the tangible benefits of China's pro-consumption policies in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. People view new energy vehicles at a shopping mall in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) "Several of my neighbors and relatives last year took advantage of the trade-in subsidies to swap their old cars for NEVs," he said. "And a young technician in our factory saved nearly 20,000 yuan on an NEV purchase by using the trade-in subsidy and the government's interest subsidy on consumer loans." "Such policies not only spur investment but also boost consumption," he said. Beyond short-term stimuli, China is also focusing on long-term empowerment to transform consumption from a policy-driven target into a natural choice for people. According to the government work report, the country will implement an income growth plan for urban and rural residents, rolling out a range of practical measures to boost the earnings of low-income groups, increase property incomes, and refine the remuneration and social security systems. NEW CONSUMPTION As incomes rise and the economy shifts toward quality growth, consumption is expanding from goods to experiences and from function to emotion, fueling the rise of new types such as spending on the debut economy, the pet economy, China-chic products and immersive experiences. Tourists have fun at sunset at the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) This trend is highlighted in the draft outline, which pledges to "unleash the potential of service consumption" and "promote the expansion and upgrading of goods consumption." Additionally, the government work report pledges to upgrade services to the benefit of consumers, develop a number of new, high-profile consumption scenarios, and move faster to nurture new areas of consumption growth. Zhang Xiaowen, a national legislator from northeast China's Liaoning Province and chairperson of Dongbei Piano Instruments Co., Ltd., is tapping into this trend by integrating piano manufacturing with music education and cultural tourism. "As consumption upgrades and music education becomes more widespread, consumers are demanding higher-quality, more personalized pianos, which requires us to adjust our product mix and develop series tailored to different groups," she said. The company is also building a "piano culture hub" that combines production, education and travel, creating immersive experiences that resonate with young people and cultural consumers. Beyond young urban consumers, who are the major drivers of new forms of spending, China is also unlocking the consumption potential of rural and elderly population groups. Elderly residents play games at a senior care center in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Han) According to the draft outline, efforts will be made to improve the quality and efficiency of county-level commercial activities, strengthen rural express delivery services, enrich the supply of age-friendly products and senior care services, and cultivate leading enterprises and renowned brands in the silver economy. Wu Fenggang, a national political advisor and economist at Jiangxi Institute of Socialism, noted that elderly consumers are "shifting from basic needs to quality, smart and service-based products," creating new opportunities for the silver economy in a graying China. TECH AS A CATALYST As the draft outline promises to "lead new supply with new demand and create new demand with new supply," technological innovation is emerging as a powerful engine for consumption expansion and upgrading. With "achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology to develop new quality productive forces" highlighted in the development blueprint, technology is now reshaping consumption across multiple sectors. According to the document, China will further integrate AI with consumption upgrading. It plans to develop AI-native applications for productivity and companionship, advance next-generation intelligent terminals including AI-powered smartphones, computers and intelligent robots, and expand new scenarios for intelligent service consumption. People visit a MINISO LAND store in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) At the "future factory" of Wensli Group Co., Ltd. in east China's tech hub of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, rows of smart printing machines stand at the ready. When consumers design personalized silk scarves through the company's AIGC model, plain white fabric can be transformed into an exquisite printed scarf in as little as half an hour. "We are exploring the application of AI in production," said Tu Hongyan, a national legislator and chairperson of the company. "Today's consumers, especially young people, crave quality, personalization and emotional value, and we will continue to innovate and optimize supply to meet the needs." National legislator and tech expert Zhou Di believes innovation in the supply of high-quality consumption options is the key to enhancing people's intrinsic motivation to spend. He said that the integration of technology with consumption in areas like smart homes, health monitoring and age-friendly products should be promoted further. (Video reporters: Long Lingyu, Li Jingya, You Zhixin and Zhang Mengjie; video editors: Zhang Yucheng and Zheng Qingbin) Editor: Zhang Zhou A view from the porch of The Claremont Hotel in Maine looking out at the harbor - Leigha Bevenour/Shutterstock Some might just take a scenic road trip on the loop around Acadia National Park, but The Claremont Hotel makes a compelling case to stick around longer. The hotel sits on Maine's coast in Southwest Harbor, just about a five-minute drive beyond the park's bounds, and it's garnered high acclaim. Veranda named it the "chicest hotel" in Maine, highlighting its expansive property (covering 6 acres) and its wealth of amenities and activities. It's also simply a feast for the eyes, evoking an elegant New England seaside retreat with dormer windows and a wraparound porch, while its cottage-like interior design was a 2021 winner of the LIV Hospitality Design Awards. If you're interested in Acadia for its historic side, The Claremont Hotel has a rich dose of that, too. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, dating back to 1884, and is only one of two surviving hotels on Mount Desert Island from the 19th century, according to Bangor Daily News. Meanwhile, those who come to Acadia National Park for the postcard-worthy scenery get some right at the hotel's doorstep. From the hotel porch, you get views over the water of Somes Sound, which one Tripadvisor reviewer praised, "The views of the mountains and the sound are beyond beautiful and perfectly tranquil." Read more: 25 Gorgeous Islands For Vacationing That Won't Break The Bank The old-world charm of The Claremont Hotel Outside of the elegant Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor, Maine - NewTestLeper79 / Wikimedia Commons No doubt, a big part of The Claremont Hotel's charm is its tangible history. When it was built in the 1880s, Mount Desert Island was experiencing a boom of "cottagers" wealthy seasonal residents who made lavish homes along the water, as the Maine Memory Network describes. Though the hotel underwent major renovations in 2021 (so you can rest assured the bathrooms and heating are thoroughly modern), it maintains its historic character. "All the renovations are in keeping with the original, but more luxurious and fun," one Google reviewer described. The hotel leans into its seaside nostalgia in some playful ways. First, there's the furnishings, which feature cottage-y florals, nautical paintings, and rocking chairs on the porch. Beyond its look, the hotel offers some old-school recreation, including a croquet court and classic indoor games like shuffleboard and Scrabble. Advertisement The hotel's on-site bar, Harry's Bar, is especially evocative, with a menu of classic cocktails and oyster platters. According to Decor Maine, the bar is accoutered with antiques that were sourced from local antique shops. If you want to do some antique shopping yourself, there are some shops in the charming downtown area of Ellsworth, a picturesque city about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. What to know about a stay at The Claremont Hotel View over the pool and harbor at The Claremont Hotel in Maine - @emmaroseehayes / Instagram Rooms at The Claremont Hotel come in a range of flavors, from standard king bedrooms that sleep two to separate bungalows on the property that can house up to eight. You can choose a room with an ocean view or with a deck, and there's an accessible option, too. The hotel is open seasonally, with bookings available from mid-May to mid-October. You can find prices for a two-person room starting from around $350, though prices will increase depending on the room size. For weekends and peak summer times, the booking site states there's a minimum stay of two nights. The hotel offers two other dining options besides Harry's Bar. Its Little Fern restaurant has 4.7 stars on OpenTable and has a refined menu with hearty dishes like lobster chowder and duck breast. If you're spending some time hiking or biking around Acadia National Park, you can unwind afterwards at the hotel's Botanica Spa or relax by the pool, which looks out at the sound. Those flying in can reach the hotel in around a 20-minute drive from the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (a small airport with commuter connections to Boston) or just over an hour from the Bangor International Airport. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. Ivan Miller Credit: Archuleta County Detention Center NEED TO KNOW Ivan Miller was arrested in connection with the deaths of three women in Utah on Thursday, March 5 According to charging documents, Miller, 22, allegedly confessed to shooting the women and stabbing one of them multiple times Cars and credit cards owned by the women were allegedly stolen by Miller The suspect in the murder of three women found dead in Utah has allegedly confessed to the slayings and revealed his motive. On Thursday, March 5, Ivan Miller was arrested in connection with the deaths of Margaret Oldroyd, Linda Dewey, and Natalie Graves, the Utah Department of Public Safety in a release. Miller has since been charged with three counts of aggravated murder, in charging documents filed in the Sixth District Court in Utah obtained by PEOPLE. Dewey, 65, and Graves, 34, were found dead on a hiking trail in the area of Cocks Comb Trailhead, according to the documents. There is currently no evidence linking the aunt and niece to Oldroyd, 86, who was the first victim in the alleged murder spree. Home in Lyman, Utah, where a woman was found dead Credit: AP Photo/George Frey Miller, 22, told law enforcement that he shot the women with a .45-caliber handgun and stabbed one of them multiple times, according to the charging documents. Miller said he did it because he needed money, the documents allege. They add that Miller said it "had to be done" but that "he did not like to do it. He also told authorities that he spent the previous night inside a shed in Lyman, Utah, according to the charging documents, which do not name the victims. He later entered a womans home and hid until she sat down to watch television and he allegedly shot her dead. Miller reportedly confessed to dragging the woman into the basement. He then took her Buick car, the documents allege, but he did not like the car and wanted to find a different vehicle," the documents add. The documents further state that he parked near a hiking trail after seeing two women get out of a white Subaru. He allegedly shot them both before stabbing the elder of the two women multiple times in the heart with a knife because she kept moving. Miller is believed to have moved the womens bodies into a ditch and taken credit cards to buy gas. An investigation was launched after the husbands of Dewey and Graves reported finding their bodies at 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, the Utah Department of Public Safety said. Oldroyds vehicle was found abandoned near the trailhead and authorities soon identified her as the owner. Advertisement When Wayne County Sheriffs Office responded to her home to conduct a welfare check, they found blood marks in her front room and drag marks leading out of the house, per the documents. "It appeared the female was moved using a wheelbarrow," the documents add. Home in Lyman, Utah, where a woman was found dead Credit: AP Photo/George Frey Miller allegedly fled on the hiking trail inside one of the victims Subaru Outbacks, but the vehicles key fob made it possible to track his location, the charging documents state. Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and the vehicles integrated real-time theft recovery tracking system were also used to find Miller. He was brought into custody after being tracked to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on Thursday morning, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. Miller allegedly told law enforcement officers that he killed the women because he needed money and a vehicle to get to Iowa. The three women do not appear to have had any previous connections to Miller before their deaths, NBC News reported, referencing a spokesperson for the Utah Highway Patrol. Miller had previously been booked into the Davis County, Iowa, jail on Dec. 31, Fox 13 reported, citing court documents. He had been charged with a felony count of burglary and misdemeanor counts of theft, marijuana possession and unlawfully possessing a weapon. While he was scheduled to be arraigned on those charges in Iowa on Friday, Miller is currently at Archuleta County, Colorado, awaiting extradition to Utah. An investigation into the triple homicide is ongoing. A representative from the Utah State Courts and the Wayne County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Friday, March 6. Read the original article on People A beach in Turkey (stock image) Credit: Getty NEED TO KNOW A English man with cancer was planning to ask his girlfriend to marry him while they were on vacation, but she died the day he planned to propose during the trip Though we were never legally married, in my heart she will always be my wife, JJ Warner, 40, said of his late girlfriend, Sophie Runkee The tragedy occurred in Turkey in summer 2024, and a new autopsy report from Turkey recently revealed her cause of death An English man with cancer faced an unimaginable tragedy after his girlfriend died while they were on vacation on the day he was planning to propose. JJ Warner, 40, of Hull, had taken a vacation to Marmaris, Turkey, with his girlfriend, Sophie Runkee, then 34, their infant son, and Sophies two older children from a previous relationship in summer 2024, according to The U.S. Sun. JJ met Sophie on a dating app, and they quickly became inseparable. We clicked immediately we were soulmates. I had never really opened up to anyone before, but I trusted Sophie straightaway, JJ said while speaking to The Sun. However, everything changed in 2024 when JJ found a lump on his body and doctors found several more after a series of further tests. I was told the first lump was a melanoma, skin cancer, and it hit us hard, he recalled. JJ said that he and Sophie decided to book a family trip to Turkey to cheer the kids up and enjoy some quality time before his scheduled radiation treatments. He also had a special surprise up his sleeve: he planned to propose to Sophie during the trip. He had bought a ring, booked a reservation at a local restaurant and told the two older children about his plan. Sophie had no idea what was coming. I wanted it to be really special, to show her what she meant to me, he 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. On the day he was planning to propose, JJ said that Sophie had gone out drinking as a stress release while he babysat the kids, and then she fell asleep on their hotel room balcony to sleep it off. I made sure she was covered with a towel, and she had sunscreen on, he recalled. After a few hours, Sophies daughter, Alicia, found her unconscious, and it appeared as though Sophie had vomited. JJ called emergency services and immediately began performing CPR. Advertisement Sophie was rushed to the hospital and died the following day. She never regained consciousness. It was surreal, I felt like I was living a nightmare, holding her hand, and saying goodbye, JJ said. On the next evening [after] I was supposed to propose, I instead went to formally identify Sophies body, he continued. He added, Our concern was how wed manage if anything happened to me not for a moment thinking Sophie would be the one to die. JJ said that he initially blamed himself for Sophies death, assuming that she had choked on her own vomit after drinking. For months, I tortured myself with what if, believing that I could have saved her if Id checked on her a minute sooner, he said. However, a new autopsy report from Turkey recently revealed Sophies cause of death. She had suffered from an undiagnosed heart condition. Its a relief, in some ways, to know nothing could have been done, he said, adding, The doctors said shed had a previous heart attack, which she didnt know about. JJ ultimately returned to England with the three children. He said they have been getting by as best they can and he is expected to make a full recovery after eight ensuing surgeries related to his cancer. Weve had some really tough times but weve got through them together. I cant put into words how proud I am of the children, he said. I am raising them all as my own and we all have the same surname now, he added. On every special occasion, like on [the babys] first birthday, we send a Chinese lantern to heaven for her, he continued. Its very painful, but its our way of remembering her and helping the children to work through their grief. Sophie is my one true love, and her memory will live on through her children. Though we were never legally married, in my heart she will always be my wife, he said. Read the original article on People "Where are you from?" It's a common question travelers get, one that some Americans prefer wouldn't be asked at all, as they'd like to keep their nationality a secret when abroad. In a Feb. 2026 survey by the worldwide shipping company Send My Bag, 44% of the 1,000 U.S. adult respondents aged 18 to 45 said they have lied about being American while outside the country. Of those, 28% said they do it occasionally, while 16% admit to lying regularly. You're not alone. Many travelers feel 'uneasy' about going abroad. "It's not uncommon to tell small lies to avoid awkward conversations, and what we're seeing here is young Americans choosing to blend in while traveling, opting to focus on their experience rather than being asked for their opinion on the administration's policies," Adam Ewart, founder and CEO of Send My Bag, told USA TODAY in an email. "Europe is a top destination for Americans. They go for the food, culture, and history, not to have a conversation about whether Greenland is about to be annexed." They're concerned about how they're perceived abroad as Americans and don't want to face hostility or unwanted attention from others with strong political opinions. "To reduce tension and deflect any potential confrontations, Americans may make the choice to pass for another nationality," he said. Advertisement People stand next to fence barriers near the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. Do American tourists behave badly? Others try to avoid standing out as the stereotype of the noisy, obnoxious American. American tourists often get a bad reputation, but it's not only negative reviews. From Dec. 2025 to Jan. 2026, Gallup Iceland surveyed 427 tourism professionals for the travel platform Guide to Iceland to learn their experiences working with tourists, including those from the United States, Germany, China, and Canada. The survey results found Americans to have a wide range of travel behaviors. They're voted the easiest to communicate with, but also the second-most likely to ignore safety and environmental guidelines and to create "challenges in service," such as delays or complaints. 1 / 0 10 destinations where travelers feel happiest 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 one of the largest visitor groups in Iceland, (Americans) represent a very wide range of travel styles and expectations," Ingolfur Shahin, CEO of Guide to Iceland, told USA TODAY. "Their strong English proficiency makes communication easy, but their large numbers and diverse travel habits naturally mean that more issues may be reported simply due to volume." It may be up to the individual traveler to break any stereotypes. "A good traveler is curious, respectful, and prepared," he continued. "They follow local guidelines, respect nature and local communities, and take the time to understand the place they are visiting." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Avoiding hostility: 44% of Americans lie about nationality when abroad Courtesy Capron Park Zoo (Courtesy Capron Park Zoo) Capron Park Zoo is in full celebration mode thanks to the arrival of a new baby monkey that's taking over the internet. The Massachusetts-based zoo recently announced the birth of an infant Bolivian gray titi monkey that has overwhelmed readers with its adorableness and small stature. The male infant named Gollum was born in January and already has captured the hearts of many. Right at the tail of the viral monkey Punch, this small gray titi monkey is another example of how these precious creatures are equally as enchanting as any other species. While we await seeing Gollum grow and learn, the zoo's first photos leave us enamoured with the small infant. SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends Readers React to the Arrival of Gollum The new infant monkey, Gollum, was born to parents Fritz and Madidi on Friday, January 23rd. Fritz and Madidi have already made history as the zoo's first Bolivian gray titi monkey pair, and they made their official debut in February 2025. Both monkeys arrived at the zoo after being recommended as a breeding pair by AZA's Species Survival Plan. Previously, Fritz resided at Staten Island Zoo in New York, while Mom Madidi hails from Buttonwood Park Zoo in Massachusetts. Sharing responsibilities for the new infant, it's typical for male titi monkeys to take charge of the infant when it isn't nursing. The new titi monkey family is now available for viewing at the zoo in their Nocturnal Building. Advertisement Related: You Can Help Name Arizona Zoo's Newest (and Cutest) Baby Pygmy HippoHere's How For avid monkey and zoo lovers, the arrival of Gollum brought a celebratory feel to the comment section, including many references to the infant's name. One reader wrote, "Is he named Gollum because he's.....PRECIOUSSSSS?" In reality, I think we all had this same question. Another person added, "Saw him a few weeks ago! Couldn't believe how tiny and perfect!" A third reader also added their experience with, "We spotted this adorable new addition on Valentines Day! They are the cutest little family." As the family gets acquainted and teaches the new infant the ways of living, the birth reminds everyone of the importance of zoos' survival plans that help stabilize and revitalize the population numbers of certain species. Now, with the arrival of Gollum, we can all bear witness to the life of the Bolivian gray titi Monkey from birth into adulthood. Related: Oakland Zoo Welcomes First-Ever Red-Tailed Monkey Baby This story was originally published by PawNation on Mar 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add PawNation as a Preferred Source by clicking here. New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) walks off the field against the Miami Marlins after the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. JUPITER, Fla. After a year marred first by an oblique strain suffered in spring training and an elbow issue in July, it was somewhat eye-opening to see Sean Manaeas velocity drop by more than 3 mph from last year on both his four-seam fastball and his sinker in his opening Grapefruit League start Friday against the Marlins. The lefty, though, said he was unconcerned by the dip in the numbers, noting the weird mound at Roger Dean Stadium, as well as it being his first start of the spring against an opposing team. Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Some pitches need a little work, but I feel healthy and for the most part I was throwing strikes, Manaea said of his three-inning outing in which he allowed just one hit, a homer by Connor Norby in the bottom of the first. He threw 33 pitches, just 19 for strikes. Manaea said he was pleased with his changeup and cutter. Carlos Mendoza also liked the cutter, noting it broke in against right-handers and had movement. Of the decreased velocity, Mendoza said, Im not gonna make too much of the first one. He says he feels really good physically. As for his arm slot, which the Mets believed may have gotten too low last season, Manaea said hes looking to get a bit higher, although not over the top. New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) walks off the field against the Miami Marlins after the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 6, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Rhona Wise-Imagn Images More than anything, though, Manaea wants to avoid the IL. Advertisement I think Im good, he said. I feel healthy. I feel strong. Its a long way from the east coast of Florida to the cauldron of New York, but Devin Williams has so far looked more like the lockdown closer he was for the Brewers in his early days with the Mets than he did a year ago with the Yankees. He struck out three in an inning earlier in the week and tossed another scoreless inning Friday. Hes pretty elite, Mendoza said. Players at some pointare gonna go through tough stretches. For him, it wasnt easy out of the gate [with the Yankees] and you know how that can be, especially here in New York. But he figured it out and hes been that guy. The Mets are counting on Williams being that again this season in the wake of Edwin Diazs departure to the Dodgers, leaving Williams as the clear choice to finish games. Weve just got to keep him healthy, Mendoza said. I like the fact hes working on that slider. Maybe that will be a different look for hitters and get them off the fastball and changeup. As for closing out games during the regular season, the manager said of Williams, Hes been in that position and were counting on him. Robert Stock, who impressed during his first Grapefruit League appearance for the Mets, has been shut down with a shoulder injury, Mendoza said Friday. The right-hander tossed three scoreless innings against Houston on Feb. 26 before experiencing discomfort following his outing with Team Israel in the WBC. Mendoza said the 36-year-old Stock, signed to a minor league deal for pitching depth, will be sidelined for the rest of the tournament as the Mets determine the severity of the injury. He underwent an MRI on Friday Freddy Peralta is scheduled to start for the Mets on Sunday Right-hander Dylan Ross was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. The OnlyFans logo is displayed on a mobile phone with the company branding icon visible in the background in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on November 24, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Getty Images) The Brief Minneapolis consumes more OnlyFans content than any other city in the Midwest, about 4.4 times higher than the national average. The city is ranked as the 5th highest-spending per capita city in the country, spending $14.3 million, or about $39,304 per day. All of Minnesota spent a total of $47.9 million, ranking it 17th out of all 50 states. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis OnlyFans subscribers have helped the city secure a top spot for content consumption on the site, ranking it in fifth place in the entire country for per-capita spending. The citys per-capita spending intensity is a whopping 4.4x higher than the national average. READ MORE: Minneapolis PD officer outed as OnlyFans model after pulling over subscriber Minneapolis among top 5 OnlyFans spenders per capita in the country By the numbers Minneapolis residents spent a combined total of $14.3 million in 2025, or $337,248 per 10,000 residents, earning the city a spot in 5th place nationally. According to the data, Minneapolis residents spent about $39,000 a day on OnlyFans, more than any other city in the Midwest. St. Paul, meanwhile, saw its residents spend about $6.5 million in 2025, or about $209,589 per 10,000 residents, ranking in 17th place nationally. Advertisement All of Minnesota spent a total of $47.9 million, ranking it 17th out of all 50 states. Minneapolis content creators' contributions The Bold North According to the data, Minneapolis is just consuming OnlyFans content, it's also producing its own. The city is also home to 4,705 creators, who earned more than $6.1 million in revenue, contributing about $1.4 million in combined federal and state taxes. Dig deeper More data can be found here. The Source This story uses information gathered by OnlyGuider. SUMMERSVILLE, Mo. Shannon County property owners have filed a lawsuit suit against Royal Oak Enterprises, alleging pollution from a charcoal plant near Summersville has coated their land in grime, damaged property and made them sick. The lawsuit, filed March 5 in Shannon County Circuit Court, was brought by Thomas Appell, Seamus James Fuller, Jack Norris, Lonnie Norris, James Norris and Lisa Norris. The suit alleges that smoke, dust, toxic materials and other pollutants from Royal Oaks charcoal plant have drifted onto nearby properties for years, interfering with their use of the land and affecting their health. According to the petition, the plaintiffs live on or own property along State Route YY near the Royal Oak plant on Shannon County Road 341. Appell says he built his cabin about 10 years ago and moved there permanently in 2020, when the plant allegedly was not causing major issues. But the lawsuit claims that changed around 2022, when the facility was modified to produce a different type of charcoal and trees were removed. This allegedly left nearby properties more exposed, the petition says. Since then, the suit alleges, the plant has released smoke and other noxious materials that settled onto homes, vehicles, machinery and land. The petition alleges the fallout has made property dirty and grimy, affected plant life and caused problems for automobiles and equipment by getting into machinery and interfering with how it works. Advertisement The plaintiffs also allege the emissions have harmed their health, causing breathing problems, recurring colds and other ailments. The petition further claims lost wages, medical expenses and a diminished quality of life. The lawsuit accuses Royal Oak of negligence, trespass, private nuisance and public nuisance. It argues the alleged pollution has not only disrupted the plaintiffs ability to enjoy their property, but has also physically landed on their land and possessions. The petition says the problems have continued from about 2022 to the present and were especially severe at night. The plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $25,000 and say they intend to pursue punitive damages later, alleging Royal Oak acted recklessly and in conscious disregard for the safety of nearby residents. The filing also says other nearby residents may have been affected in similar ways and could potentially be added to the case in the future. Ozarks First reached out to Royal Oak Enterprises for comment and has not received a response. 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 herd of wild hogs (feral pigs) of all ages, rooting in the forest, after sunset Slatan/Shutterstock.com Quick Take The Feral Swine Bomb is the term to describe the millions of feral pigs that live in 39 states across the nation. The Missouri Model identifies why public hunting of feral pigs only increases their population. Evidence suggests that banning hunting on public land and prohibiting the transport of feral pigs leads to a faster reduction in invasive swine populations. Missouri has reduced the states feral pig population by 84% in less than a decade. Feral pigs cost the United States upwards of $1.6 billion each year. Farmers have stopped planting particular crops because the pigs only root them up. Populations are such that if 70% of feral pigs are not culled annually, the population will increase. For many states, it feels like feral pigs consistently have the upper hand and cannot be defeated. One state has taken a unique approach to reducing the number of feral pigs roaming its land. Missouri placed a ban on hunting. Though the approach seems counterintuitive, it has been successful in reducing the invasive species. Surrounding states may want to take note and follow The Show Me States lead. What the Feral Swine Bomb Is The feral swine bomb is exactly what it sounds like: the rapid expansion of feral pigs, who are descendants of wild boars and domestic pigs, across the United States. Over the last few decades, the population has increased to an estimated nine million. That estimate only continues to grow annually, in part due to the number and size of litters female pigs have each year. The population of feral pigs in the United States has grown to over nine million. Slatan/Shutterstock.com (Slatan/Shutterstock.com) In the 1990s, feral pigs were confined to just a few states. But as the populations grew, they expanded. Today, 39 states are dealing with feral pig issues that are problematic to the environment, the economy, and public health. Even feral pigs from Canada threaten to cross borders, which would make the situation exponentially worse. To battle this problem, states are participating in professional culling programs while giving amateur hunters the green light to kill feral pigs. But with populations continuing to increase in most states, this plan is clearly not working. Missouri chose to take a different approach to battling the feral pigs; a choice that has served the state well. Missouri Changed Feral Pig Hunting Tactics, Decreasing the Population Missouri recognized that feral pig populations were not decreasing, despite hunters having access to pigs on both private and public lands. Therefore, instead of continuing to pump money into a failing solution, state officials began thinking outside the box. The Missouri Department of Conservation examined what was working and what was failing in the battle against feral pigs. They reached out to 15 organizations that provided input on the situation, effectively changing the states plan of attack against the invasive feral pigs. Though the Missouri Department of Conservation was armed with a plan, the organization could not be successful on its own. To be successful, it needed the cooperation of other entities, leading to the creation of an incident command system (ICS) that included the following: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Missouri Farm Bureau U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wildlife Services Nature Conservancy Private landowners U.S. Forest Service National Park Service Missouri has created a permanent professional team with members from 15 organizations to combat the states feral pig population. Slatan/Shutterstock.com (Slatan/Shutterstock.com) Each agency shared information and granted each other the authority to cross into fellow jurisdictions to combat feral pigs. The organizations divided the state of Missouri into grids to determine where to target and cull the largest number of feral pigs. Agreements with neighboring states allowed the ICS to cross state lines in pursuit of the animals. Rather than relying on average Missouri citizens, the plan involved a permanent team of professional hunters. In fact, general hunting was banned on public land. This led to real progress in places like the Mark Twain National Forest, which was once ground zero for feral pigs. With a full-time team addressing the problem, and local police enforcing hunting and transportation laws, the pig population saw significant reduction. By treating the problem as a state emergency, Missouri gained the upper hand, creating a blueprint for other states to follow. Missouri Once Encouraged Feral Pig Hunting Like so many other states, Missouri was once desperate to reduce feral pig populations due to financial loss, disease spread, and agricultural damage. The state encouraged all interested hunters to participate in culling feral pigs, with no limit on how many could be bagged. This led to guided hunting trips and other hunting-related operations becoming financially lucrative. Feral pig hunting was once encouraged in Missouri, both on public and private land. WildMedia/Shutterstock.com (WildMedia/Shutterstock.com) On any given day, guided hunts on private ranches cost $400 to $1,200 per person. (Today, in states across the nation, that figure is up to $3,000 per person.) Many people became wealthy quickly thanks to feral pigs. However, the lucrative nature of the hunts provided incentive for an ongoing supply of feral pigs. Afterall, the more feral pigs spotted on a hunting trip, the more inclined hunters were to return or refer the company to their friends. This thinking led to the destruction of traps and the transport of feral pigs to regions of the state where they had not been seen before. The population of feral pigs worsened, eventually leading to the formation of the ICS and a ban on the transportation of feral pigs. Advertisement Why Did Missouri Ban the Transportation of Feral Pigs? By 2007, it became clear that the practices of the past were not effective at reducing the population of feral pigs in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation looked for ideas from government agencies, private landowners, and conservation groups. The Feral Hog Elimination Partnership formed in 2015 and the ICS followed. It is illegal to transport feral pigs in Missouri to continue decreasing their population. Carolyn Croyle/Shutterstock.com (Carolyn Croyle/Shutterstock.com) Despite the hunting ban, feral hogs were still being transported across Missouri. While in transit, some of the pigs escaped, going on to mate and increasing the population. To combat this, a law took effect in 2021 banning the transport of feral pigs throughout the state. The legislation proved effective in reducing the pig population. Between the new transport ban and ICS culling thousands of wild pigs each year, the feral pig population dipped to low numbers not seen in decades. Where the Feral Pig Population Stands Today Unlike other states that have only seen a rise in feral pig populations, Missouri has successfully reduced its numbers. The state has seen tremendous declines in not only how many feral pigs live in the state, but also in how much land the pigs inhabit. Since ICS began the Feral Hog Elimination Project in 2016, the population has decreased by 84%. This is largely attributed to trapping and aerial operations. The number of feral pigs culled over the last several years is as follows: 2022: 6,289 2023: 7,880 2024: 5,105 The number of feral pigs culled each year continues to decline, indicating a shrinking population. Randy van Domselaar/Shutterstock.com (Randy van Domselaar/Shutterstock.com) The numbers for 2025 have yet to be released. However, it is anticipated that they will reflect a dwindling population. In addition to fewer feral pigs in Missouri, there is less land occupied by the pigs. Significantly less. In 2016, the pigs could be found across more than 11.2 million acres. By 2025, that number shrunk to 2.9 million acres, saving millions of acres used for agriculture in less than a decade. By continuing to the current plan, the pig population will remain at more manageable numbers. While feral pigs will likely never be eradicated from Missouri, they will not cause the high levels of agricultural damage, financial problems, or disease spread that they once did just a few short decades ago. Is It Legal to Hunt Feral Pigs in Missouri? When the ICS was founded, it was unclear if feral pig hunting would be allowed by the public. Feral pig hunting is not only allowed, but it can also be done year-round in Missouri. However, several rules and regulations must be followed that were not applicable just a few years ago. Check both state and county guidelines before hunting. Feral pigs can be hunted on private property with the proper licenses and permits. Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com (Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com) The rules and regulations to follow when hunting feral pigs include: Valid hunting license Valid small game permit Hunting is only permitted on public land, not private land Bag limits do not apply in all areas, but it is recommended to check your specific location Hunters that do not adhere to guidelines may be fined between $100 and $500. By simply knowing the regulations before hunting, you can avoid fines and enjoy the experience, all while helping reduce the feral pig population. The post The Missouri Model Tackles the Feral Swine Bomb: Why Banning Hunting Saves Land appeared first on A-Z Animals. Credit: Getty Images / Simple Images In a Nutshell Irish whiskey isn't just defined by being made in Irelandit's governed by strict legal standards that determine how it's produced, aged, and labeled. Understanding those rules also helps clarify how Irish whiskey differs from Scotch and bourbon, whether it's the use of unmalted barley, column still distillation, or cask requirements. Knowing these distinctions can make it easier to choose the right bottlewhether youre ordering at a bar, building a home bar, or shopping for something new. The result is a spirit rooted in tradition but broader and more innovative than its reputation might suggest. If you've ever stood at a bar wondering what actually separates Irish whiskey from Scotch or bourbonor even why some bottles spell it without an eyou're not alone. It's easy to assume Irish whiskey is simply whiskey made in Ireland. And while that's not wrong, it's only the starting point. What makes Irish whiskey "Irish" is a bit more complicated and far more interesting than geography alone would suggest. Being made in Ireland is key, but it's just the beginning. And while there are certain characteristics typically associated with the spiritit's smoother than Scotch and, always triple distilledthere are laws that define exactly what makes Irish whiskey "Irish." To dig deeper into Irish whiskey and separate the myths and misconceptions from the truth, I spoke to two Irishmen well versed in the world of Irish whiskey: Eoin O Cathain, the Director of the Irish Whiskey Association, and Barry Chandler, the founder of Stories and Sips, a US-based Irish whiskey club that releases exclusive Irish whiskeys to members and educates them through online and in-person events. With their guidance, I also looked at the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980 and the European Union's Irish Whiskey Product Specification (formerly the Irish Whiskey Technical File). As O Cathain explains, the Whiskey Act of 1980 "formally defines what can be described and sold as Irish whiskey," while the Technical File "builds on the 1980 Act by setting out the precise production methods, raw materials, maturation rules, and category definitions that producers must follow." So, What Do the Rules Governing Irish Whiskey Say? True to its name, the EU Product Specification contains a lot of specifications, but it also very clearly outlines what can be sold as Irish whiskey: It must be distilled on the Island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland. It must be made from a mash of malted cereals that has been fermented by yeast. More specifically, the EU specification states it must be made from a mash of malted cereals, with or without whole grains of other cereals, that have been saccharified by the diastase of malt contained therein, with or without other natural enzymes, and fermented by yeast. It may contain "very small quantities" of plain caramel coloring but no other additives. It must have a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% (ABV). It must be aged on the Island of Ireland for at least three years, in wooden casks, such as oak. It may be labeled either "whiskey" or "whisky." Being made on the Island of Ireland seems straightforward, but Chandler points out that it's quite rare for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to come together in this way. Some might be opposed for political reasons, says Chandler, but the production of Irish whiskey predates the division of the island and "whiskey produced on the entire island, by law, is called Irish whiskey." How Irish whiskey is aged also deserves a closer look. In Ireland, Chandler explains, "we have a very clever line that says that we must age our whiskeys in wood, such as oak, and those words "such as" give us great latitude for flavor, because we can use chestnut, mulberry, acacia, all kinds of woods and that allows us more notes to create more tunes with our whiskeys." Irish Whiskey Stylesand What the Rules Say About Them For many Americans, Irish whiskey is synonymous with Jameson, which makes up 80% of Irish whiskey exports, says Chandler. It's also a very popular shot in American bars. But Chandler points out that there are now nearly 50 whiskey distilleries in Ireland, and Jameson is just one style among them. As the EU's Product Specification spells out, there are three varieties of Irish whiskey, plus a blend. Irish malt whiskey is made in large copper pots using 100% malted barley, a process called pot still distillation. Irish pot still whiskey is also made in pot stills, but it can contain any of five grainsbarley, wheat, rye, oats, and cornas long as the mash contains at least 30% malted barley and 30% unmalted barley. The use of unmalted barley, Chandler explains, dates back to the late 18th century, when the British began taxing malted barley. Eager to avoid the extra cost, the Irish added unmalted barley to their whiskey mash. The resulting spirit, which was oilier, heavier, and far more flavorful, took over the world in the 1800s, says Chandlerthere are even reports of Queen Victoria requesting Irish pot still whiskey, which she called "Irish wine." Despite this prestige and popularity, pot still whiskey fell out of favor for many years. However, O Cathain says there is a renewed focus on it, as "producers reclaim its historic centrality to the Irish identity." Advertisement Irish grain whiskey is made from a mash of malted barley and other grains, typically corn. Instead of a pot still, it's made in a column still, which an Irishman named Aeneas Coffey introduced in the mid-19th century. Column stills are filled with dozens of copper plates that allow for continuous distillation and produce a lighter, cleaner-tasting spirit. Irish blended whiskey is a blend of two or more of the above categories, with Jameson being the most common example. Is Irish Whiskey Always Triple Distilled? There's a common misconception that all Irish whiskey is triple distilled, but triple distillation is not a legal requirementplenty of Irish whiskey is double distilled. When whiskey is triple distilled, O Cathain says, "it typically results in a lighter, smoother spirit" with "a more refined and delicate flavor profile" and "lighter body compared to double-distilled spirits." Is Irish Whiskey Peated? While there is no legal requirement for Irish whiskey to be peated, it used to be the standard, says Chandler. Back in the 1700s, most Irish whiskeys were peated simply because peat, a turf dug up from bogs, was the fuel source for firing up stills and drying out barley. In the early 20th century, as coal and electricity replaced peat as a fuel source, peated Irish whiskey completely disappeared. Lucky for us, this smoky spirit is not just being made again; it's on the rise. In fact, Chandler says, there are currently more than 100 peated Irish whiskeys. How Does Irish Whiskey Differ From Scotch and Bourbon? It's tempting to distinguish Irish whiskey from its cousins, Scotch and bourbon, based on where each one is made. And yes, the water and the climate of each geographic region do contribute to their differences, but other notable factors give each spirit its own unique character. Irish whiskey and Scotch are made with similar grains, but the Scots don't use unmalted barleythat is unique to Irish pot still whiskey. As discussed, there are peated Irish whiskeys, but the Scots are more often associated with the smoky spirit. The Scots also favor double distillation, whereas we know Irish whiskey is more commonly triple distilled. Both Irish whiskey and Scotch are aged for a minimum of three years, but Scotch can only be aged in oak, whereas Irish whiskey can be aged in any wood, an impactful distinction. "Every barrel has its own personality," says Chandler, so being able to use different woods will inevitably affect the final spirit. Chandler also points out that, unlike Irish whiskey, which can also be called "Irish whisky," Scotch is always "whisky" and never "whiskey." And now bourbon. Besides being produced in America, it must be made with 51% corn, which immediately distinguishes it from the whiskeys made across the pond. But it's also about the wood, says O Cathain. "Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak casks, while Irish whiskey producers have the flexibility to use a wide variety of casks, including seasoned ex-bourbon, sherry, or wine casks." This, combined with bourbon's high corn content, gives American whiskey "a sweeter, vanilla-forward profile, while Irish whiskey tends to be lighter, fruitier, and more cereal-driven," O Cathain explains. Also, while there are minimum aging requirements for certain bourbons and many bourbons are aged as long as Irish whiskey and Scotch, there are no legal aging minimums for basic bourbon. Irish Whiskey Today Irish whiskey is deeply rooted in history and tradition, and the EU's Product Specification aims to protect that heritage, as well as the product and its producers, because with such clear-cut rules, Irish whiskey can't be imitated. It's one of a kind, but it's definitely not one thing. In fact, despite all the rules, Irish whiskey is an impressively varied and innovative category, and it's growing and evolving. Today, Ireland has nearly 50 distilleries, which stands in stark contrast to the 1980s when there were only two in operation, says Chandler. This growth, he says, has allowed the industry to "present a more varied picture of what Irish whiskey can be to the world." You could even argue that those rules, by codifying and protecting how Irish whiskey is made, ensured we could enjoy its current renaissance, which goes way beyond Jameson. Today, says O Cathain, "the category is more diverse and dynamic than it has been at any point in the last century." Read the original article on Serious Eats Photo: State Emergency Service On the night of March 7, Russian occupiers used 29 missiles against Ukraine, almost half of them ballistic, and 480 drones, most of which are Shaheds, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "They targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv, the Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions, and the railway in the Zhytomyr region. Damage has been reported in the Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Cherkasy regions. Relevant services are working wherever necessary," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. He emphasized that these cruel attacks against life must be met with a response from partners. "I thank everyone who will not remain silent. Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraines residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support must continue. The PURL initiative must continue to operate just as actively. We count on active work with the European Union to guarantee greater protection for our people. I am grateful to everyone who helps strengthen our protection," the president concluded. News of Markwayne Mullin's pending departure from the U.S. Senate has disrupted Oklahoma GOP politics, sparking questions about possible replacements and shuffling the deck of the state's all-Republican delegation in Congress. Several names have been tossed out as potential replacements for Mullin, who was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security, a post he is expected to take over March 31. The question of who will fill Mullin's seat is being closely watched, as he was widely viewed as one of President Donald Trump's closet allies in the Senate. But the decision that will impact national politics ultimately comes down to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who isn't giving away any hints. From cage fights to Jan. 6, inside five of Mullins most controversial moments Names known around the state like oil tycoon and Trump megadonor Harold Hamm and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell have been tossed out, along with those who aren't so recognizable, including Dustin Hilliary. Hilliary is Stitt's senior adviser who many political insiders say is at the top of the governor's list. Pam Pollard, an Oklahoma delegate to the GOP convention and former chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said Stitt has proven multiple times that he's his own man and will make a choice that he thinks is best. "I don't think he's going to bow to any outside pressure," Pollard said. "He's proven that in the past appointments he's made." Stitt has 30 days to appoint someone to serve the remainder of Mullin's term once he formally resigns after being tapped to become the nation's next Secretary of Homeland Security. Mullin is expected to take over as acting secretary March 31. Messages left for Stitt's spokespeople regarding who he would appoint were not returned. When The Oklahoman called the main number for the governor's office mid-day on Friday, March 6, the person who answered said the office had received similar requests for comment and that his office "should be sending something out in response soon. Charity Linch, chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said she's spoken with Stitt about possible appointees. While she didn't give away any names, Linch said she's excited and they're all good picks under consideration. How long would the Senate appointee be in office? Whoever Stitt decides to appoint will not be able to run in the seat's next election in November, according to state law. This means they would serve in the Senate for about seven months. State statute says in the case of a vacancy occurs in the U.S. Senate, if the vacant office is already scheduled to be filled at the next election, then no special election shall be called. In that case, the candidate elected in November is deemed to have been elected to fill the vacancy and is eligible to assume the office once the state election board has certified the results of the election. However, Stitt has said he would be appointing someone to serve until Jan. 3, 2027. A spokesperson for Stitt did not respond to a request for clarification regarding how that might contradict with state law. When is Markwayne Mullin up for reelection? Oklahoma legislator's election history Oil tycoon Harold Hamm reportedly requests appointment to Mullin's Senate seat So far, just one Oklahoman is known to have formally placed a bid to the governor and asked for the appointment -- Harold Hamm. An Oklahoma oil magnate, Hamm is one of the wealthiest people in the U.S. with close ties to Stitt and Trump. Hamm, who founded and chairs Continental Resources, was named as one of the donors helping to fund the controversial new ballroom in the White House East Wing. As reported by nonprofit digital news outlet NOTUS, Hamm called Stitt the day Mullin was tapped for his new post to ask for the appointment to Oklahoma's soon-to-be-open Senate seat. Close Kevin Stitt allies might take up Mullin's Senate seat Stitt might also be considering close allies who haven't served as a politician: Dustin Hilliary, Donelle Harder and Alex Gray. Stitt has a record of appointing non-politicians to high profile posts, including in 2025 when he picked veteran career-tech leader Lindel Fields to serve out the term of controversial State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Hillary Communications Co-CEO Dustin Hilliary points to a family portrait inside the company's headquarters in Lawton, Okla., Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Hilliary has never served in the capacity as an elected official but has been building a statewide profile. He currently serves as Stitt's senior adviser after he was appointed to the role in the fall of 2025. The governor also appointed Hilliary to a nine-year term as a state regent in 2022. Hilliary also serves as chair of political affairs for the powerful State Chamber of Oklahoma. He is a co-owner of Lawton-based Hilliary Communications, a telephone and broadband service provider that has more than 15,000 customers in Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. Hilliary could not be reached for comment. Advertisement Harder, meanwhile, is Stitt's right-hand who serves as his chief of staff. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Donelle Harder package food items for distribution after a media availability at the Regional Food Bank Food Oklahoma, Oct. 29, 2025. Gray is the chief executive officer and co-founder of American Global Strategies, an international strategic advisory firm. Would Gov. Kevin Stitt tap Charles McCall, Chip Keating? Stitt could also choose from a cast of Republicans currently running to replace him, like his former public safety adviser Chip Keating or former state House Speaker Charles McCall, who worked closely with Stitt. Appointing one of those candidates could help clear out the packed GOP field for governor and make it easier for a Stitt ally to defeat Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Stitt's longtime political nemesis. Chip Keating speaks during a governor forum with the Oklahoma GOP at the Capitol View Events Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. However, both the McCall and Keating campaigns indicated they had no plans to leave the governor's race. Keating's spokesperson Meyer Siegfried said the gubernatorial candidate would not accept an appointment to the Senate seat. "He is laser-focused on running for governor, and he believes this is how he can best serve Oklahoma," Siegfried said. Former state House Speaker Charles McCall speaks during a governor's forum at Randall University in Moore, Okla., Thursday Feb. 19, 2026. McCall said he trusts the governor will appoint the right person to help Trump advance his agenda, though he remains "focused on becoming the next governor of Oklahoma and am incredibly happy for my friend Markwayne Mullin whom is an incredible pick by President Trump. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell among those named as potential Senate appointee Stitt works closely with Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, and the Republican could be among the governor's short list of potential appointees. Pinnell assumed office in 2019, and his current term ends in January. He's not eligible to run again. Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell speaks during a press conference at the Oklahoma History Center announcing the Kickin It On Route 66: OKC Centennial Celebration", Tuesday Feb. 17, 2026. Pinnell's spokesperson Kaitlyn Rivas said the lieutenant governor is watching how things unfold and evaluating where he could best continue serving Oklahomans in the future. Two Oklahoma Congress members could run for the Senate seat It's possible that Mullin's departure could lead to other open Oklahoma congressional seats. At least two Oklahoma Congress members might reroute their campaigns to run for Mullin's open Senate seat rather than seek reelection for their posts in the House. On social media, Rep. Stephanie Bice said she's carefully considering running for the seat. The Republican assumed office in 2021. She's up for reelection in November with one confirmed competitor, Democrat Jena Nelson. However, if Bice drops out of the Oklahoma Congressional District 5 race, other Republicans might place their bids because they'll likely be more successful in a GOP primary without an incumbent. Republican Rep. Kevin Hern is also expected to run for the seat. He has represented Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District since 2018 and is up for reelection in November. So far, Hern has three confirmed competitors, Democrats Josh Croisant and Erica Watkins, and one Independent, Mark Sanders. Like in Bice's case, if Hern drops out of the House race, other Republicans would likely run for the seat. Rep. Frank Lucas could also run for the seat, but Oklahoma's Republican senior Congressman has said he still intends to run for reelection for his seat in the House in November. Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen has not said whether he'll consider running for the Senate seat, however, the Republican is listed among several prospective candidates on the Oklahoma State Chamber's election website, okdecides.com. Republican Rep. Tom Cole has also not said whether he'd run for the Senate seat. Cole holds a powerful position in Congress as chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Will Gentner Drummond drop out of gov race, run for Senate? Attorney General Gentner Drummond speaks during a governor forum with the Oklahoma GOP at the Capitol View Events Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday Feb. 28, 2026. While rumors circulated that Drummond, a frontrunner in the Republican race for governor, might drop out to pursue a federal role replacing Mullin in the Senate, he confirmed to The Oklahoman that he will be remaining in the race for governor. "My focus is clear," he said. "I am running for Governor of Oklahoma. Oklahomans want leadership that enforces the law, protects our communities, and helps families dealing with rising costs. Thats where my attention is, and thats the responsibility Im working to earn from the voters. Polls show Drummond is likely to face Keating or McCall in a runoff election for the GOP gubernatorial primary in August. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stitt allies like Harold Hamm, Dustin Hilliary could fill Mullin's Senate seat In September 2022 NASA smashed a spacecraft into an asteroid. Called Dimorphos, the rock is the smaller asteroid in a binary pair; it orbits a larger one called Didymos. Slamming into Dimorphos told scientists numerous things: the collision managed to jolt the asteroid slightly off course, slowing its orbit around its bigger companion by around 30 minutes and suggesting that a similar method might help defend Earth from encroaching asteroids. But now the mission has revealed something even more profound: by slowing Dimorphoss orbit, NASA has managed to alter the entire binary systems orbit around the sun. The act of changing a natural objects orbit around our home star marks a first for humanity. In a study published on Friday in the journal Science Advances, researchers explain how the original collision with Dimorphos slowed the entire binarys solar orbit by around 12 microns per second. The new data could help NASA better prepare to deflect asteroids that may one day threaten the planet, the researchers say. Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter from Scientific American and join a community of science-loving readers. If [an asteroid] is ever on its way to hitting the Earth, we can more confidently now say that we have the ability to push them around and away from the Earth, says the studys lead author Rahil Makadia, who was a planetary defense scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign when it was conducted. Dimorphos and Didymos dont pose a danger to Earth. But they were chosen as the targets for the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) to assess our planetary defense capabilities, Makadia explains. DART involved ramming a 570-kilogram spacecraft moving at some 22,530 kilometers an hour into Dimorphos in a bid to slow its journey around Didymos. Still, scientists believed that the test just might be able to change the pairs heliocentric orbit, too. Advertisement This was also something we had thought about even before the DART impact, Makadia says. But what we didn't know was the extent to which this would happen and whether or not we would be able to measure it at all. Makadia and his team combined radar measurements and observations of the binary system as it passed in front of the sun in order to compare the asteroids pre-DART orbit with their postimpact path. The systems approximately two-year journey around the sun slowed by around 11.7 microns per second, or around 370 meters per year, the analysis found. The finding is very cool, says Jay McMahon, an associate professor of aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. McMahon has worked with the DART team in the past but was not involved with the new study. Like any experiment, you can make a prediction about what will happen, but then you have to take the measurements to prove it, he says. And so, this proves it. Makadia and his colleagues also calculated the collisions momentum enhancement factor, which essentially measured how much the loss of rocks, dust and other material during impact contributed to the change in orbit. It basically doubled the push from the spacecraft alone, Makadia says. The team also estimated the mass of each asteroid separately for the first time. The findings may have broader implications beyond planetary defense, notes Masatoshi Hirabayashi, another DART scientist who was not directly involved with the new study and an associate professor in aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Knowing the asteroids respective mass and densities could help scientists better understand their structure, a key piece of information of how this binary asteroid formed, he says. More data are coming soon: later this year the European Space Agencys Hera mission is set to take a closer look at DARTs effect on Dimorphos and Didymos, including the impact crater left by the collision. Once we get the measurements from [Hera], we can then come at these numbers from a completely independent way and confirm them and maybe build on them as well, Makadia says. Nigel Farage is set to meet Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago mansion on Friday to discuss Sir Keir Starmers Chagos Islands deal, as the war in the Middle East escalates. Mr Trump has dramatically U-turned on his support for Sir Keirs controversial agreement in recent weeks, at one point describing it as an act of great stupidity. Since then, ministers have insisted that discussions over handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius are continuing, with the government insisting the deal is necessary to secure the future of the crucial UK-US Diego Garcia military base. Donald Trump has branded the deal an act of great stupidity. Nigel Farage says it is the worst deal in history (The White House) Mr Farage, who has long opposed the Chagos deal and dubbed it a surrender treaty, told an event in Westminster on Thursday that he would discuss it at Mr Trumps estate in Florida. We think this is the central plan for this governments foreign policy and we are beating them back, Mr Farage said, according to GB News. President Trump has almost understood the deal, but I will be dining at Mar-a-Lago tomorrow night, and we will reinforce the message. The Reform UK leader denounced the agreement as the worst deal in history and an absolute betrayal. He added: We have got to keep fighting, we have got to keep the pressure up, we must not let our foot off this pedal, but for first time in this battle... this feels more than winnable. Advertisement US president Donald Trump initially supported the deal before performing a major U-turn (CPA Media Pte Ltd/Alamy/PA) Meanwhile, Mauritius has said it is considering legal action against the UK over the delay in ratifying Sir Keirs Chagos Islands deal. We are exploring legal avenues in the Chagos case, Navin Ramgoolam, the Mauritian prime minister, told Defi Media. However, it is understood that the UK government believes there are no grounds in international law for Mauritius to obtain compensation if the treaty is not ratified. The UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at least 120m annually during the 99-year agreement to lease back the site, a total cost in cash terms of 35bn. Earlier this week, Sir Keir insisted the special relationship between the UK and the US is in operation right now despite not having spoken to Mr Trump since a very public fallout over his refusal to allow initial US strikes on Iran from British bases. Mr Trump said Britain's response had been very disappointing and declared that Keir Starmer is not Winston Churchill. Ministers secured US backing for the deal last year. The president even told Sir Keir during a visit to the White House that he was inclined to go with your country and that he had a feeling its going to work out very well. Under the plan, the UK will cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius but lease back the facility on the island of Diego Garcia. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey posted on X: I see Farage is off to Mar-a-Lago to talk down Britain and suck up to Trump. There's nothing patriotic about cheering on a foreign leader whose illegal war is sending British families energy bills through the roof. Kristi Noem will reportedly join President Donald Trump and 12 Latin American leaders at his resort in Florida for a "Shield of the Americas" summit Saturday after her ouster as the Secretary of Homeland Security and appointment by President Donald Trump to be special envoy for the new coalition of nations. On Thursday, Trump announced Noem would be exiting her role as Homeland Security secretary and would be appointed a Special Envoy for the "Shield of the Americas," a summit for which will be held at the president's resort in Doral, Florida, on Saturday. The new coalition of 13 countries has been formed to advance strategies that will tackle mass illegal immigration, narco-terrorist gangs and cartels. "After years of neglect, President Trump established the Donroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere. His efforts have been a tremendous success our southern border is secure, Latin American countries are working with us to defeat the cartels, and illegitimate dictator Nicolas Maduro is facing justice for his crimes in the Southern District of New York ushering in historic economic cooperation with Venezuela," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly ahead of the summit. "The President has successfully strengthened our relationships in our own backyard to make the entire region safer and more stable, and this weekends Shield of the Americas Summit will encapsulate all of his work to Make America, and our partners, Strong Again," she continued. Capitol Hill Dems Hail Trump's Dhs Ouster Of Noem After Heated Senate Hearing President Donald Trump greets Argentinian President Javier Milei at the White House in October. (Getty Images) Members of Trump's Cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, will also be at the Saturday summit. Advertisement Read On The Fox News App The leaders from other nations who will be present are Argentina's Javier Milei, El Salvador's Nayib Bukele Ortez, Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Costa Rica's Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Panama's Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, and Trinidad and Tobago's Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Chile's Jose Antonio Kast, the Dominican Republic's Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, Ecuador's Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azin, Guyana's Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Honduras' Nasry "Tito" Asfura, and Paraguay's Santiago Pena. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, April 14, 2025 'It Was Time': Despite Rare Criticism, Some Hill Republicans Welcome Kristi Noem's Ouster Noem confirmed Friday, speaking from Nashville, that she will be at the summit, according to the Associated Press. Noem reportedly added that the president will announce "a big agreement" detailing "how were going to go after cartels and drug trafficking in the entire Western Hemisphere." On Friday, Hegseth led a strategic conference in Doral with representatives of 17 different Caribbean, Central American and South American countries throughout the Western Hemisphere. During the conference, they signed a joint security declaration, reaffirming their commitment to peace and sovereignty in the region. According to a source familiar with the plans for the summit, the president plans to celebrate this achievement with attendees. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (AP Newsroom) "Secretary Noem helped usher in the most secure border in history, deported hundreds of thousands of criminal illegal aliens, and executed record-setting counter-drug operations against cartels. All of this great experience positions Noem well to ensure American preeminence in the entire Western Hemisphere in her new role as Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said. "This historic new security initiative, led by Secretary Noem, will advance cutting-edge strategies to defeat narco-terrorist cartels and stop illegal mass migration to make America and the entire Western Hemisphere safer." On Thursday, Rubio said he looked forward to working with Noem as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, and echoed the comments from the White House about her experience. "Kristi has achieved incredible results as Secretary of Homeland Security and will be a tremendous asset in our effort to promote security and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere," Rubio said on X after Trump named Noem to her new post. Original article source: Noem reveals Trump will have 'big agreement' to announce at major summit with world leaders Minnesota civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, center left, and Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on Islamic-American Relations, speak at a news conference in Minneapolis on Friday, March 6, 2026, on the ouster of Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Daniel Hernandez's grocery store in south Minneapolis has served Latino families for over 5 years, but he says it's on the verge of closing due to lasting economic damage from the nations largest immigration enforcement crackdown. Many of Hernandezs customers have continued to stay home or drastically reduce their spending, and 10 of the 12 Latino small businesses that rent space from him remain shuttered, he said in an interview Friday. Even though President Donald Trump's administration scaled back the crackdown earlier, and the president fired Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Thursday, many are still feeling the ripple effects. Hernandez, an immigrant from Mexico, said only one business, an Ecuadorian ice cream shop, has been able to reopen since December, when the immigration crackdown began. I dont know if my business will survive, being honest, Hernandez said. The amount of damage is so big that I am afraid. The fall of Noem Noem was pushed out amid mounting criticism over her leadership, including her handling of the crackdown and the aftermath of the shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents by federal officers, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Its not clear how many Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers are left in Minnesota after peaking around 3,000 at the height of the surge. Noem put the number at 650 in her congressional testimony this week. But U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar told Minnesota Public Radio that White House border czar Tom Homan called her to say that total was incorrect, and theyve cut back to their original number of a little over 100 ICE officers, plus some additional agents working on fraud investigations. ICE and Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond to emails seeking details Friday. Many businesses are still struggling Like Hernandez's Colonial Market, many businesses owned by immigrants or that cater to them are still struggling from sharp drops in sales. Instead of spending $150, now they spend $30, $40, Hernandez said. Other customers stopped coming in altogether either because they were afraid of being detained, regardless of their legal status, or because money is tight from being unable to work. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said last month that small businesses have collectively lost tens of millions of dollars in revenue. He estimated the federal immigration operation cost the citys economy $203 million in January alone and led 76,000 people to experience food insecurity. Activists credit community organizing We warn our community that the fight is not over, said Jaylani Hussein, a Somali American who is executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, at a news conference Friday. It is a good day to say good riddance to Kristi Noem. But its not a good day to walk away from the fight. The sense among many activists is that the intense community organizing against the surge played a decisive role in the administration backing down. And they say it sparked the formation of strong neighborhood networks that will live on and continue to push for social justice. Minneapolis resident Patty OKeefe, who was detained in January for following a federal officers vehicle, said shes happy to see Noem go but it will take more to bring about real change. "Its a sign that were winning, that the Trump administration feels like they have to make a change to save face because theyre losing public support and losing the narrative, she said. And I think its a testament to the hard work of Minnesotans who fought back against this war of political retribution and xenophobia that has been and continues to be waged against us. Advertisement Brandon Siguenza, who was detained with OKeefe, said the mood isnt celebratory because the crackdown is ongoing. I dont think Minneapolitans are necessarily dancing in the streets. Because theres still no justice for Renee Good, theres still no justice for Alex Pretti, Siguenza said. Minneapolis psychologist Lucy Olson helped organize a covert grassroots network that swelled to 2,000 volunteers assisting around 500 immigrant families with legal matters, shelter, food and rent assistance. She said that after the crackdown, the mutual aid systems that formed will continue to respond to community needs. For those of us who had the honor of participating as volunteers, I think we will never be the same, Olson said. I think theres been cross-cultural friendships, the opportunity to build out neighborhood networks that have changed the face of our city." Charges still against 39 indicted in church protest Nekima Levy Armstrong, a local civil rights activist and lawyer, said at the news conference with Hussein that Noem should have been fired after the deaths of Good and Pretti. Levy Armstrong, an ordained nondenominational Christian reverend, is also one of 39 people indicted for their alleged roles in a protest in January at a St. Paul church where a pastor, David Easterwood, is a top local ICE official. She said that she'd been praying for a day like Thursday when Noem was fired. So while we celebrate the fact that this woman has been removed from her high perch where she thought she was untouchable, she thought she could literally allow these agents to get away with murder we recognize that this system is very broken, Levy Armstrong said. Safety for school children Brenda Lewis, superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in suburban Minneapolis, said Noems firing doesnt really matter because the safety of children in her school district is still impacted. Fridley, which has students from many Somali and Ecuadorian families, has been the site of heightened ICE activity over the past two months. Federal vehicles were found in neighborhoods near the schools and at the homes of school board members. Of the around 2,700 students in the district, more than 112 have unenrolled, Lewis said. Another 400 are in virtual learning. The district has also lost $130,000 in revenue because of lower participation in meal programs. Its not a Democrat or a Republican issue, Lewis said. Its about childrens safety, and we need to really come together and ensure that this absolute removal of safety for school children by a federal agency can never ever happen again in the state or the country. GOP lawmakers in Minnesota have muted reaction While the state's top Republican leaders had generally supported Noem's leadership of the surge, they've been mostly silent on her downfall. A message seeking comment from U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer the state's most powerful Republican was not immediately returned Friday. But GOP state Sen. Jim Abeler, a moderate from suburban Anoka, noted that he wrote Noem in January expressing grave concerns about actions by some of her officers in Minnesota. "With her departure, I hope that what happened in Minnesota wont happen anywhere else, Abeler said in a statement. __ Brook reported from New Orleans, while Raza reported from Sioux Falls, S.D. Image Credit: Volvo. According to Volvo, the EX60 is selling so well that it is increasing production to meet demand, and it has not even arrived in the United States yet. That simple headline captures both the commercial potential and strategic significance of the new all-electric mid-size SUV that is already rewriting the early market script for the Swedish brands next chapter in electrification. The company confirmed a significant uplift in planned 2026 production at its Torslanda plant in Sweden after retail orders in Europe quickly outpaced internal forecasts. Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. That so many customers ordered the EX60 in the first month has surpassed our expectations, and its a good problem to have, says Erik Severinson, chief commercial officer at Volvo Cars. We are very encouraged to see such strong demand for our game-changing electric SUV, and we are now reviewing our production plans for 2026, as we gear up for the start of customer car production next month. In Sweden alone, more than 3,000 orders were logged in the first few weeks, a pace that far surpassed the smaller EX30 SUVs numbers at launch. Thats an indication of real appetite for a larger, more mainstream electric Volvo. Coming to a Dealership Near You The production boost announcement is notable not just because it speaks to strong demand but also because order books in key markets like Germany, Sweden and others are already teeming even though U.S. buyers can only place orders later in the spring. That means the EX60s success story is unfolding ahead of its entry in the worlds largest EV market. And in a segment that remains competitive, with rivals from established luxury makers to mass-market players stepping up the pace of electric SUV releases, the EX60 beating expectations so early is a promising sign for Volvos broader strategy. What's Driving the Frenzy? So, what is driving this early enthusiasm? Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. A big part of it can be traced to the EX60s package of range, charging performance, and technology. Volvo has positioned this SUV to tackle what many consumers still cite as primary obstacles to making the switch to electric driving: range anxiety and charging inconvenience. Built on a dedicated EV platform called SPA3, the EX60 delivers a class-leading electric range that outstrips many competitors and even significantly exceeds what previous Volvo EVs have offered. On European test standards, the longest-range versions can go approximately 500 miles on a single charge. This figure, while higher under Europes lenient WLTP measurement than U.S. EPA figures, still points to competitive real-world range that should appeal to buyers who want to match or beat long-distance capability traditionally only achievable by petrol models. Advertisement Image Credit: Volvo. Charging performance reinforces this proposition. The car uses an advanced 800-volt electrical architecture and optimized energy-flow software to facilitate rapid energy replenishment. On capable DC fast chargers, the EX60 can add hundreds of miles of range in barely the time it takes to grab coffee, with notable figures like over 211 miles added in about ten minutes under optimal conditions. Shifting the narrative from long stops and strategic charging to quick top-ups is a compelling draw for both everyday usability and long trips. Inside and out, the EX60 makes a strong case for competitiveness in terms of the features that matter to premium buyers. Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. The SUV supports a host of connectivity and convenience elements including Googles Gemini AI assistant built into the infotainment system for conversational control, and an integrated computing architecture designed to support future upgrades via over-the-air updates. As safety is a longstanding Volvo cornerstone, the EX60 boasts advanced driver-assistance systems and a reinforced safety cell. All of this paints a picture of an SUV designed earn loyalty through execution. The Sweet Spot But early demand is also a reflection of smart pricing and segment positioning. Volvo appears to have calibrated the EX60 to slot neatly between the smaller, more affordable EX30 and the larger, more expensive EX90. Image Credit: Volvo. Early indication suggests price points that are competitive with internal combustion SUVs like the XC60 that it effectively succeeds and that make the switch to electric more approachable for a wider pool of buyers. That breadth of appeal boosts its addressable market in Europe and will likely help when U.S. order books open. Notably, the EX60 arrives at a moment when some EV launches elsewhere have struggled with delays, software issues, or market headwinds. Against that backdrop, Volvos ability to translate its engineering investments into a compelling, well-rounded product has put it in a relatively strong position right out of the gate. If European traction serves as a predictor for global interest, the EX60s early success may well continue as it enters the U.S. and other major markets. Sources: Volvo Read More This article originally appeared on Guessing Headlights: Its Not Even Sold in the U.S. Yet, and Volvo Cant Build the EX60 Fast Enough Nvidia Corp. is adjusting its production strategy amid uncertainty over U.S. export approvals, which continue to limit shipments of advanced AI chips to China. China Strategy Recalibrated The company has reportedly halted production of its H200 AI chips intended for the Chinese market. It has shifted manufacturing capacity at contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. away from producing H200 chips and toward its next-generation Vera Rubin hardware, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Don't Miss: Last week, Nvidia said it had received U.S. government licenses to ship "small amounts" of H200 chips to customers in China. However, the production shift suggests the company may not expect significant H200 sales in China in the near term, Reuters reported. Earlier this year, the Trump administration approved sales of the China-bound H200 chips, but shipments have remained stalled due to regulatory guardrails in the approval process. Advertisement Trending: Disney Was Built on Character IP This Pre-IPO Company Is Using the Same Playbook A U.S. Commerce Department official said last month that no H200 chips had been sold to Chinese customers. Recent changes to U.S. rules mean shipments to China and Macau are now reviewed on a case-by-case basis instead of being automatically denied, potentially reopening the market. Image via Shutterstock Read Next: "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Nvidia Abandons China-Bound Chips To Fast-Track Vera Rubin originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Far-right influencer Jake Lang was demonstrating against alleged 'Islamification' and calling for an end to 'public Muslim prayer' in New York (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU) (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/AFP) Police detained a man who threw what officers said were "ignited devices" near far-right protesters demonstrating at the residence of New York's mayor Saturday, AFP correspondents saw. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the devices contained nuts, bolts and screws as well as a fuse -- but it was not yet clear if they were functional improvised explosive devices, or hoax imitations. There was no indication the incident was related to the ongoing hostilities in Iran, she added. Far-right influencer Jake Lang was demonstrating against alleged "Islamification" and calling for an end to "public Muslim prayer" in New York in front of Gracie Mansion, the residence of mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim. His protest drew around 20 people, police said, while counterprotesters numbered approximately 125. A man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and beige cargo pants was handed a device wrapped in tape and billowing smoke by a fellow activist. He dropped it near a line of police before vaulting a crash barrier. The man also threw a similar device near Lang's group of protesters. "Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it travelled through the air before it struck a barrier a few feet from police officers," Tisch told a briefing, naming the suspect as Amir Balat, 18. "Mr Balat then...gets a second device from a man. "Mr Balat lights the device and starts running with it. He then drops the device." Moments later, he and the other man were detained by police, who were heavily deployed to the protest. Advertisement - 'An idiot' - "The bomb squad responded and...based on a preliminary examination and X-ray imaging, the devices which were a bit smaller than a football appeared to be a jar wrapped in black tape -- importantly with nuts, bolts and screws along with a hobby fuse that could be lit," Tisch added. "We don't yet know if they contained energetic (explosive) material." The man, apparently a counterdemonstrator opposed to Lang, shouted "Allahu akbar" ("God is the greatest"), an AFP correspondent at the scene heard. A demonstrator opposed to Lang, teacher Mia Kurzer, 23, told AFP she "showed up because we have to show that hate has no place in our city." "We democratically elected a mayor who is Muslim -- and that's New York. We have different cultures, and we have to celebrate those cultures." She added that "I think (Lang) is an idiot. I think he underestimates the power of the people." There were some scuffles, apparently between protesters and counterdemonstrators. A protester in Lang's group used pepper spray against counter-protesters and was arrested, Tisch said, adding that there were three other arrests for disorderly contact. Tisch said she did not believe mayor Mamdani was home. Wally Khan, another protester opposed to Lang, told AFP "this is very in line with what he does from city to city. He tried to burn a Quran in...Dearborn" Michigan. pho-vid-gw/sla March 6 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday issued a license authorizing certain transactions involving Venezuelan-origin gold, the Treasury Department website showed, a day after U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrapped up a visit to the South American country focused on mining. Burgum, who also heads the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, has hailed efforts by interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez to open her country to foreign investment in oil and minerals, echoing praise by U.S. President Donald Trump. He said on Thursday that a new mining law backed by Rodriguez will create opportunities for companies, that licenses allowing them to operate were on the horizon and that Rodriguez has promised to ensure companies' security. Transactions with state-owned mining outfit Minerven and its subsidiaries that serve the exportation, sale, purchase, delivery, or transportation of Venezuelan-origin gold into the United States are allowed, so long as contracts are governed by U.S. law, the Treasury statement said. Payments made to sanctioned individuals, excluding local taxes or permits, must be made through Foreign Government Deposit Funds, the statement added, and transactions involving debt swaps or digital currency issued by the Venezuelan government are barred. Transactions involving people in long-time Venezuelan government-allied countries such as Russia, Iran, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and Cuba are also forbidden by the license, as are transactions with joint ventures involving China. Advertisement Despite having massive reserves of minerals from gold to iron ore, bauxite and coltan, Venezuela's output is at a fraction of capacity as plants urgently need major repairs and investment for expansions and upgrades. Both Minerven and state-owned metals conglomerate Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) have been under U.S. sanctions for years and following nationalizations under late President Hugo Chavez, foreign investment has been minimal. Some experts have said they see room for an immediate export recovery, particularly for gold, but have warned that massive investment - even higher than for the oil industry - is needed, along with renewed efforts for exploration. Burgum brought more than two dozen mining and minerals companies with him on the two-day visit, saying he was optimistic about the expansion of both oil and mining in the country. Rodriguez, who took up her acting role after the U.S. ouster of President Nicolas Maduro in January, has said that a recent oil reform which lowered taxes, expanded the oil ministry's decision-making power and granted autonomy for private producers, among other measures, is the model for the law to change mining regulations, which the government has said will be sent to lawmakers soon. Rodriguez said in January that gold production was 9.5 tons in 2025. (Reporting by David Ljunggren and Julia Symmes Cobb, editing by Michelle Nichols and Diane Craft) As Cubas government struggles with energy shortages, an economic crisis and U.S. pressure, the question of what comes after Cuban communism is no longer theoretical. Some imagine that regime change might finally be within reach. But for many Cubans who care deeply about their countrys independence, American interest inspires less hope than unease. That reaction draws on history long preceding the Cold War. Cubas strained relations with the U.S. did not begin with Fidel Castros 1959 communist revolution. They go back to the 19th century, when the U.S. was rapidly expanding its territory and Cuba was one of Americas main annexation targets. Again and again, Cuban vulnerability produced American plans for intervention, acquisition or control. That pattern continues to influence how Cubans interpret Washingtons intentions today. Just after the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers speculated about acquiring Cuba. They saw it as a natural extension of U.S. power into the Caribbean. By the 1840s, American politicians frequently described Cuba as a piece of fruit hanging from a tree, ready to fall into Americas hands once it ripened. The metaphor assumes that geography, power and destiny would eventually override Cuban self-determination. Americas first serious attempt to annex Cuba came under President James Polk, who tried to purchase the island from Spain. Southern politicians were especially enthusiastic, viewing annexation as a way to add another slave state and preserve their influence in Congress. Spain refused to sell, but American interest did not fade. In the 1850s, private expeditions attempted to seize Cuba by force. Narciso Lopez, a pro-slavery Cuban exile, organized several invasions including hundreds of American volunteers. Two of his attempts reached Cuban soil before being defeated. Lopezs plan to rally Cubans to his cause collapsed when they supported their government instead. After Lopezs capture and execution, former Mississippi governor John Quitman organized a larger invasion force, also seeking to annex the island as a slavery state. Quitman thought he had support from Washington, but northern opposition to the spread of slavery halted the plan. Shortly afterward, senior U.S. diplomats drafted the Ostend Manifesto. It argued that America should purchase Cuba from Spain, and implied that if Spain refused the U.S. might conquer the island. When the manifesto became public, it caused international outrage and Washington disavowed it. But by this time, the idea of acquiring Cuba had become normalized among American policymakers. To Cubans, the lesson was clear: American plans for their island were often driven by U.S. domestic politics. Americans were not talking about Cuba as a society with its own future. Advertisement The Civil War ended American slavery but not interest in Cuba. In the years leading up to the Spanish-American War, a faction in Congress supported annexing the island. That effort failed, blocked by anti-imperialists and by American beet farmers worried about competition from Cuban sugar. Instead, the U.S. pursued indirect control. By the early 20th century, Americans were beginning to see annexation of Cuba and elsewhere as more trouble than it was worth. But the U.S. did not abandon power beyond its borders. It learned to exercise it through influence rather than ownership. In the early 20th century, the U.S. pressured Cubas government, intervened militarily multiple times and imposed a constitution that limited Cuban sovereignty. Cuba only made a clean break from its neighbor to the north after Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed government in 1959. The Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 confirmed Cuban fears that Washington still had designs for their islands future. In an echo of Lopezs mistaken assumption more than a century before, Cubans supported their government, not the invaders. After the invasion failed, a U.S.-Soviet deal included a promise that America would not invade again. But by then, decades of Cuban suspicion had turned into anti-American ideology. Today, Cuba is again facing escalating U.S. pressure. In January, the U.S. captured Venezuelas president, removing a key Cuban ally. Since then, the U.S. has ramped up economic pressure on Cuba, including blocking fuel imports. This has created economic havoc on the island, leading Donald Trump to call Cuba a failed nation, and later, float the idea of a friendly takeover. A deadly confrontation with a boat filled with armed Cuban exiles last month further set Havana on edge. If the U.S. hopes to play a constructive role in Cubas future, it needs to appreciate its history with the island a history dominated by American attempts to annex or control its neighbor. Resistance to American intervention has been central to the development of Cuban nationalism. Anything that looks like another American conquest attempt would confirm the suspicions that have shaped Cuban politics for two centuries. Mark Kawar is the author of the forthcoming book America, but Bigger: Near-Annexations, from Greenland to the Galapagos . 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. The Kremlin has instructed a group of political technologists to intervene in the parliamentary elections in Hungary, which will be held in April 2026, to help the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban secure another victory, the VSquare resource reported, citing several "European sources in the field of national security." Moscow has dispatched a team to Budapest to interfere in Hungarys April 2026 parliamentary elections, according to multiple European national security sources cited by VSquare. The operation, overseen by Putin confidant Sergei Kiriyenko, aims to keep Viktor Orban in power using the same tactics Russia employed in Moldova, VSquare reported. Kiriyenko was appointed head of Putins domestic politics in 2016 and has since expanded his portfolio to include foreign election interference. His most recent and aggressive intervention occurred in Moldova, where operatives under his direction organized voter bribery networks, troll farms and on-the-ground influence campaigns designed to undermine pro-European President Maia Sandus position, according to the publication. The operation produced mixed results, but the same playbook is now being applied in Hungary, according to sources familiar with the intelligence, VSquare reported. National security sources from three different European countries said the intelligence has been shared with allied services and that many EU and NATO agencies have been briefed on the activities. The U.S. also shared classified intelligence on the matter in February, according to VSquare. VSquares sources described the Budapest contingent as "a three-person team operating on behalf of the GRU," Russias military intelligence service. The operational group arrived in Budapest several weeks ago, though it remains unclear whether it has begun its influence activities. All individuals have been identified by Western intelligence services, according to the report. VSquare also claimed that Hungary is extremely accommodating to Russian military diplomats suspected of GRU ties, some of whom have established contacts in pro-government Hungarian media including German-Hungarian pro-government propagandist Georg Spottle, who maintained close relations with the Russian military attache. Pro-government media outlets have intensified their dissemination of pro-Kremlin narratives about Ukraine in recent months a media environment that analysts say facilitates the type of influence operations in question. According to a Central European national security source, Kiriyenkos Hungarian team maintains active contact with campaign participants linked to Orbans government, VSquare reported. A car drives past burned buildings after 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 7, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer BEIRUT, March 7 (Reuters) - More than 150 Iranian nationals including diplomats and their families left Lebanon on Saturday, a senior Lebanese security source told Reuters, after the Israeli military threatened Iran's representatives in Lebanon and conducted strikes near the embassy. The security source said they were being flown to Russia on a Russian plane, and that another 20 Iranians had left on Friday following the start of a new war between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel. A source from the Iranian embassy in Beirut said a number of non-essential diplomats were leaving, but did not give a number. Iran's foreign ministry confirmed in a later statement that Iranian nationals residing in Lebanon have temporarily left Beirut owing to the security situation in the country. The Iranian embassy in Lebanon continues its normal operations and consular services for Iranian nationals residing there will continue as before, it added. The war has refocused attention on Iran's backing for Hezbollah, which launched rockets and drones at Israel on Monday and triggered heavy Israeli bombardment across Lebanon. Advertisement On Tuesday, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a post on X that representatives of the Iranian government still in Lebanon should "leave immediately before they are targeted". The following day, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam asked authorities to arrest and deport any Iranian Revolutionary Guards carrying out military activities in Lebanon, the first time authorities have hinted at the possible presence of Iranian forces on its territory. The Lebanese government has not said whether it has determined that Iranian forces were operating in Lebanon. Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati earlier this week denied that any Iranian military forces were in the country. On Friday, Israeli air strikes hit an area near Iran's embassy in Lebanon, two security sources told Reuters. The Iranian embassy source told Reuters that the strikes had driven the decision for Iranian diplomats to leave. But Lebanese authorities had also been planning to make moves against Iranian diplomats this week, two people familiar with the government's discussions told Reuters. They said the Lebanese government had intended to expel diplomats from the country. Reuters could not determine whether the diplomats who had left so far were ousted or left for security reasons. (Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Jan Harvey and Alistair Bell) A ship sails the Panama Canal as a rainbow appears in the sky in Arraijan, Panama, December 29, 2025. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun By Elida Moreno and Marianna Parraga PANAMA CITY, March 6 (Reuters) - The Panama Canal, the world's second busiest interoceanic way, saw a 2.8% increase in vessel transits in the first four months of its fiscal year through January, according to an analysis prepared by its authority seen by Reuters on Friday. Most traffic increases were registered by tankers carrying energy products including liquefied natural gas (LNG), car carriers and dry bulk carriers, according to the report. That growth represents 114 additional transits from the same period a year earlier to a total of 4,156 vessels in the four-month period, a sign that demand remained solid "despite increased global trade volatility, new tariffs, and geopolitical tensions," the Panama Canal Authority said in the report. Advertisement "Tanker (transits) rose 11.2%, driven by increased shipments from the United States due to higher demand for fuels and methanol from South Korea, Mexico, and Guatemala, resulting from trade agreements and tariff reductions," it added. Analysts expect an increasing passage of vessels carrying U.S. LNG through Panama to reach destinations in Asia if problems at the Strait of Hormuz persist amid the U.S.-Iran conflict, which is already forcing vessel reroutes. "The Panama Canal is operating in a stable and reliable manner despite geopolitical uncertainties, steadily increasing the number of daily transits and maintaining predictable service levels for our customers," it said. The authority did not provide specific statistics after the U.S.-Iran conflict emerged, but said it is monitoring maritime trade. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga and Elida Moreno; Editing by Natalia Siniawski) A Pennsylvania State Police vehicle. Pennsylvania State Police A pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit-and-run on Baltimore Pike in late Friday, March 6, Pennsylvania State Police said. Steven Hulsey was found unconscious in the northbound travel lanes of Baltimore Pike near Red Roof Drive after state troopers were called to the scene around 11:45 p.m. in Chester Heights Borough, Delaware County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Troopers from PSP Medias midnight shift responded to the reported vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash on Friday, March 6, police said. Advertisement Rocky Run EMS attempted lifesaving care at the scene before Hulsey was taken to Riddle Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the release. The striking vehicle was described as a light-colored SUV or crossover that fled northbound on Baltimore Pike before troopers arrived, police said. The Pennsylvania State Police Media Criminal Investigation Unit is asking anyone who witnessed the crash between 11:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. to contact the PSP Media station at 484-840-1000, according to the release. Details about Hulseys life were not immediately available. His loved ones are invited to share details with Daily Voice by emailing jpikora@dailyvoice.com. As files associated with the disgraced former financier and noted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein trickle out, critics of the Justice Departments handling of the case particularly its liberal use of redactions to protect those in power, rather than victims are beginning to name whats going on. We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It is the wealthiest Cabinet ever, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) said in a speech on Feb. 7. This is the Epstein class. Life: Everything To Know About The 'Epstein Class,' The Term That's On Everyone's Tongues They are the elites they pretend to hate, Ossoff continued, later adding: If youre Steve Bannon ... how do you sell any of this? Trump was supposed to fight for the working class. Instead, hes literally closing rural clinics and hospitals to cut taxes for George Soros and Elon Musk. The term the Epstein class has appeared in comment sections everywhere from X to Instagram Reels and Threads over the years, to attempt to name a deeply uncomfortable class dynamic on display: The self-protective circle of wealth, favors and information that kept enterprises (and crimes) involving Epstein afloat for so long. And in 2026, it seems to have thoroughly worked its way into the public consciousness enough to make it into official speeches of politicians like Ossoff and his peers. Jeffrey Epstein, center, has been linked to billionaires like Elon Musk and Bill Gates, President Donald Trump, and disgraced British royal family member Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who have all denied participating in Epstein's criminal activity. Illustration: HuffPost; Photos: Getty Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), one of the American politicians who was early to use the term, told HuffPost in a statement that he began using it to challenge the elite and largely unaccountable wealthy individuals who, he says, believe they can play by a different set of rules. Americans are sick of elite impunity. There cannot be two tiers of justice, where wealthy men who abused young girls are protected while survivors are silenced, Khanna told HuffPost. That is what the effort to release the Epstein files has been about, and why I started calling it the Epstein class. Life: Believe It Or Not, This Is The Only Cycle On Your Washing Machine That You Should Ever Use They want us to move on, but people need to keep speaking out, Khanna continued. Thats why Im doing media on the left and right like Shawn Ryans podcast to keep the pressure up. We need to form a committee to haul everyone who emailed Epstein about abusing young girls in front of Congress. Theres power in naming this social circle in a grounded way. Every time the Epstein case comes up, I feel like [the term Epstein class] reemerges more and more, said Josephine Lukito, a professor of digital communication at the University of Southern Denmark who studies political language in the public sphere. I havent done, like, a systematic analysis of how often it comes up, but I think it has a sort of catchy quality to it that seems to resonate with people when they talk about the Epstein case. Lukito notes that the term, meme-like as it is, has all the makings of something that concerned individuals can rally around based on what we know about similar movement-adjacent phrases. Phrases that catch on with the public tend to be pretty short, Lukito explained, citing Me Too and Black Lives Matter. She notes that Americans, in particular, really like adjective-noun combinations, particularly those involved in politics. Life: Do You Know What 'ZIP Code' Stands For? I dont know if Id go so far as to say bring people together, Lukito said, but it certainly resonates with a lot of people and can help motivate a movement. Class can be a complicated subject to broach in the U.S., and these terms can be loaded, Lukito said. However, that may be part of the terms power. Advertisement Historically, we talk about the ruling class, the wealthy class, the bourgeoisie class and so, a lot of times when we do talk about class, its a really quick indicator for wealth, Lukito said. I think that really speaks to the uniqueness of the Epstein case in particular. Certainly the U.S. has seen many abuse cases, often involving multiple people, but I think what kind of brings the abusers and the Epstein case together is their wealth, right? Lukito said. They kind of vary by partisanship and by profession, but a lot of the Epstein case itself is really surrounded by an egregious amount of wealth and the ability to use that wealth to exploit children. Americans recognize that wealth is bipartisan, and wealth contributes to abuse. And Epstein class encapsulates a lot of that.Josephine Lukito, professor of digital communication at the University of Southern Denmark Terms like the Epstein class can also work to break through some of the Americans resistance to talking and thinking about class, as its not just critiquing power, but, like, wealth and power: economic power, Lukito said. Historically, a lot of terms that are related to kind of wealth and power tend to be silenced, she continued, citing Martin Luther King Jr.s less-discussed activism around poverty and wealth. However, theres a hunger to hear these topics discussed more plainly, particularly among Americans who are struggling and furious, she said. Life: MAGA Won't Let Trump Off The Hook For The Epstein Files And Psychologists Know Why A lot of Americans, especially given economic disparity right now, they have a lot of anger and frustration towards the wealthy and the ruling class, Lukito explained. The Epstein case certainly is an encapsulation of that, right? We see that rage coming out in so many other contexts: in health care, in frustration towards tech bros and seeing a lot of the relationships between the wealthy and politicians. Americans recognize that wealth is bipartisan, and wealth contributes to abuse. And Epstein class encapsulates a lot of that. It continues to be a big reason why it resonates, she said. I dont know if I would go so far as to call it class consciousness, but theres certainly a widespread frustration, hatred, anger towards those who extract wealth and keep it for themselves. How do we know when a term like this starts to matter? For Lukito, who has studied numerous catchphrases and terms that catch on in the political world (online and off), there is something unique about this particular case. In past examples of catchphrases and terms that Ive studied, a lot of them have appeared on text-based social media platforms, something like Twitter, right? We talk about, like, hashtag activism or hashtags being this important rallying point for people and this is the one thats kind of different, Lukita said. I would say that Epstein class as a term is more in the nascent stage. I havent necessarily seen it used as a specific hashtag. Its appearing more in comments of videos as opposed to more of a text-based platform. Life: Why Do We Use 'O'Clock' When Telling Time? She notes that a real marker of a term having staying power is when you can see it move across multiple different platforms and not existing within just one community, but its salient or popular enough that its moving across a lot of different social media platforms and a lot of different internet users. And the staying power of the news story can play a role in how this term and the larger class criticism it carries will fare. I think when catchphrases are really powerful, its because theres a sort of staying power when it comes to the news story thats being covered, whether its police brutality or ****** assault, Lukito said. Certainly, this is not going to be even the last time we hear about the Epstein case. I suspect that this news story will emerge over and over again this year, next year. I would gander that every time it emerges, that term Epstein class will also emerge, she said. And itll be interesting to see whether it grows in popularity or traction. Lukito spoke with HuffPost prior to Ossoffs speech. And she argued that voices like Khannas and those of other political figures embracing the term will be key in whether it takes hold with the American people. I think when we see that sort of adoption, especially by larger public figures, those are all signs that a term like Epstein class is gaining momentum, she said. The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date. Related... Read the original on HuffPost This weekend, along with the semi-annual time change, there will be a planetary conjunction featuring two of the universe's most famous planets. Venus and Saturn are due for a visually striking event known as a planetary conjunction. The cosmic rendezvous presents spectators with a rare opportunity to see a phenomenon in which at least two celestial bodies appear to us to be near one another. But while both planets were part of a recent spectacular six-planet alignment colloquially known as a "planet parade," some time has passed since both planets appeared as a pair. Star watchers in Tennessee can easily witness the phenomenon as some parts of the state are expected to experience mostly clear skies from Sunday afternoon into the evening. What is a planetary conjunction? A conjunction is an astronomical event in which at least two planets appear to our vantage from Earth to be close together in the sky. Even though the planets are in reality still tens of millions or even billions of miles apart, the events present a special opportunity for astronomers and casual stargazers to see multiple worlds in our solar system at one time. As planets in our solar system orbit the sun at varying speeds, sometimes their orbital paths bring them close together on the same side of the sun. When this event lines up with our view from Earth, we get a conjunction, according to the nonprofit Planetary Society. When is the conjunction? See Venus, Saturn together in sky Venus and Saturn are due to have a cosmic meetup that should be visible on March 8 to us here on Earth, NASA said in a monthly skywatching guide. Those who look up that night have not only a chance at seeing Venus one of the brightest objects in the sky, after the sun but Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun and the second largest in the solar system after Jupiter. Weather across Tennessee on Sunday According to the National Weather Service, Knoxville will have the most difficulty among Tennessee's three largest cities in seeing the conjunction. Starting Saturday, Knoxville will have a rainy period that lasts through most of the week, reducing visibility for residents. Advertisement Memphis has the greatest chance for viewing the conjunction as the weekend's rainy weather is expected to move out of the region by Sunday afternoon, leaving mostly sunny and clear skies for the evening. The same rain pattern that will move out of Memphis and across the state is the same one that could impair vision for Nashville residents Sunday evening. However, the National Weather Service is forecasting that the rain will move on from the area in the early afternoon, leaving partly cloudy skies for the evening. How full will the moon be during the conjunction? What to know about lunar phase As of March 6, the moon is over 90% full and in a waning gibbous phase after a full moon, as per the Old Farmer's Almanac. This indicates the moon is starting its return journey toward the sun, remaining mostly illuminated as it gets smaller from Earth's perspective and rises later each night, NASA states. Where, how can you see celestial conjunction in March? This graphic can help skygazers determine where to look in the night sky on March 8 to spot Venus and Saturn near each other during an event known as a planetary conjunction. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the U.S., spotting the conjunction shouldn't prove too difficult. After sunset, look close to the horizon in the western sky. Venus and Saturn will be about one degree apart, "which is roughly the width of a single finger if you hold it at arm's length," Chelsea Gohd, a science communicator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, explained in a video. Do you need a telescope to see Saturn next to the moon in the sky? Telescopes certainly will enhance the view, and may even unveil Saturn's rings, but spectators don't need any equipment to spot Saturn and Venus in the pre-dawn sky. USA TODAY contributed to this report. Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How can I see Saturn, Venus in Tennessee skies? When to look up A man accused by San Francisco police of attacking Mayor Daniel Lurie's security team was reportedly arrested in connection with a 2019 murder but did not face charges. The San Francisco Police Department told the USA TODAY Network in an email that it had arrested Tony Shervaughn Phillips, 44, along with another man in connection with the alleged attack on the mayor's security detail. Phillips had previously been arrested in connection with a 2019 murder but ultimately was not charged by San Francisco prosecutors, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Police documents reviewed by the USA TODAY Network show that a man with the same name was arrested in the 2019 incident. The San Francisco Police Department did not immediately confirm if it was the same man. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie speaks during the California Democratic Convention in San Francisco, California, U.S. February 21, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo The alleged altercation, captured on video obtained by Mission Local, occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. on March 5 in the Tenderloin neighborhood near Cedar and Larkin Street, after men stopped in front of the mayor's vehicle. Mission Local reports that the mayor left his black SUV to ask the men to move before the altercation happened. The video shows a man, later identified by police as Phillips, confronting Lurie and an SFPD officer serving on Lurie's security detail near a crosswalk. Lurie is seen walking away as the officer tries to restrain Phillips, who then pulls the officer to the ground, and a struggle occurs. Phillips is eventually seen getting on top of the officer as the officer struggles on the ground. Mere feet from San Franciscos mayor Daniel Lurie, several men block the mayors SUV, one body-slams the security detail. Mayor unhurt but just might be the wake-up call he needs to see with his own eyes the city he leads isnt as safe he says it is. pic.twitter.com/5qV4xdjtwD Richie Greenberg (@greenbergnation) March 6, 2026 Additional SFPD officers quickly arrived on the scene and took control of the situation, San Francisco Police Officers Association President Louis Wong said in a statement about the alleged attack. "The San Francisco Police Officers Association is relieved to hear that Mayor Daniel Lurie was not injured in the violent incident," Wong said. "We are grateful that the officers assigned to the mayors security detail acted swiftly and courageously to protect him in a dangerous and unpredictable situation." Advertisement The officer was injured in the attack and left the scene bleeding from the back of his head, according to Mission Local. "There was an altercation this evening involving the mayors security detail. The mayor was not involved. We appreciate our SFPD officers for their quick response and for keeping our city safe every day," Luries press secretary Charles Lutvak saidin a statement to Fox News. Who was arrested for allegedly attacking the mayor's security detail? The San Francisco Police Department said that officers detained Phillips and another man as part of its investigation into the attack. The second man had an out-of-county warrant for his arrest and was preliminarily charged with a misdemeanor for obstructing an officer in the performance of a lawful duty, according to police. Phillips was preliminarily charged by SFPD with assaulting a peace officer with force, threat to an executive officer, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, petty theft, battery upon an officer, resisting arrest, and contempt of court order, according to San Francisco County jail records. A man named Tony Shervaughn Phillips was previously arrested in 2019 for allegedly fatally stabbing 42-year-old Curtis Neal during a fight in an alley near Van Ness Avenue and Fern Street, according to the San Francisco Examiner. The district attorney's office later discharged the case due to a lack of evidence, according to a statement the office provided to the San Francisco Examiner. Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 men arrested after attack of San Francisco mayor's security team President Donald Trump has his sights set on Cuba, claiming during a Friday, March 6, interview that the island nation is gonna fall pretty soon. They want to make a deal so badly, the commander-in-chief told CNNs Dana Bash. So Im going to put Marco [Rubio] over there, and well see what works out. This January, the 79-year-old president approved an executive order slapping tariffs on imports from nations that supply or sell oil to Cuba, a communist state. Advertisement Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed the move which risked worsening the countrys energy crisis saying it threatened to subject citizens to extreme living conditions, as reported by People. Cubas ready after 50 years, Trump said to CNN. Ive been watching it for 50 years, and its fallen right into my lap. His comments come after previously telling White House reporters a friendly takeover of Cuba could be in the works with Rubio, 54, leading the charge. Trump had alleged the Secretary of State was already in negotiations with the Caribbean countrys government. They have no money, he insisted, per People. They have no anything right now. Read More From National Enquirer This story President Trump Predicts Imminent Fall of Cuba, Taps Marco Rubio to Handle Friendly Takeover first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A coastal Georgia community is getting national attention. World Atlas has included Brunswick, Georgia, on its list of the "13 of the Prettiest Towns in the United States," highlighting the port city's waterfront views, historic charm and deep-rooted seafood industry. The report noted that narrowing down thousands of incorporated cities, towns and villages across the country is no small task. Yet Brunswick earned a spot thanks to its scenery and historic landmarks. Here's what to know. Why was Brunswick named one of the prettiest towns? According to World Atlas, Brunswick stands out for both its natural setting and cultural history. Once called the "Shrimp Capital of the World," Brunswick is recognized as Georgia's main production center for shrimp. The town's working waterfront and connection to the fishing industry helped shape its identity along the southeastern coast. Advertisement Beyond seafood, the town features several notable attractions, including the centuries-old Lover's Oak. The sprawling live oak tree is estimated to be around 900 years old and stretches more than 13 feet in diameter. Local folklore has long surrounded the tree, adding to its appeal for visitors. What can visitors see in Brunswick? "In addition, step back in the time machine and traverse the Brunswick Old Town Historic District, where you can explore various historical monuments including the towns century-old city hall, and the 124 year-old Ritz Theatre, which still operates to this day," World Atlas wrote. Georgia Department of Natural Resources program manager Timothy Keyes looks through his binoculars at Brunswick Bird Island on July 14, 2025 Brunswick sits along Georgia's coast near the Golden Isles, making it a convenient stop for travelers looking for waterfront views, historic streets and access to nearby beaches. For more information, visit worldatlas.com/cities/13-of-the-prettiest-towns-in-the-united-states-51430. Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: What is the prettiest town in Georgia? Why World Atlas picked this spot Princess Beatrice was photographed during a trip in 2016 with a UK man who was recently arrested on suspicion of spying for China, it has been revealed. David Taylor who is the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, was arrested on Wednesday morning. After her husbands arrest, Ms Reid said "I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law" and reiterated that she was not herself the subject of any allegations. Mr Taylor has not yet responded to the allegations. David Taylor, Princess Beatrice | Source: X The nine-day journey in 2016 saw Mr Taylor and the princess among a group of seven individuals who traversed Asia by car. There is no suggestion whatsoever Beatrice had any knowledge of Mr Taylor's alleged activities. Ms Reid represents East Kilbride and Strathaven, having won her seat in 2024, and serves on the Home Affairs Committee. The charitable expedition was arranged by the Franks Family Foundation, a philanthropic organisation where Beatrice serves as patron. Simon Franks, the foundation's sole funder, confirmed Mr Taylor's participation to The i Paper. "Princess Beatrice has worked tirelessly for the foundation for over a decade, supporting our education and public health projects in Laos, Cambodia and Nepal, to which she has travelled on many occasions for the foundation," Mr Franks stated. He explained Mr Taylor had served as a policy adviser for the foundation during that particular journey. Princess Beatrice | Source: GETTY "On one of those trips, Princess Beatrice accompanied a team of doctors across Nepal, India and Bhutan." David Taylor, who was a policy adviser for the foundation, was also on that trip," he said.Mr Franks was adamant that Beatrice "did not know him prior and has not seen him since." He added: "During his time as a policy adviser to the foundation, I found David to be a kind, charitable and proud Briton. I am astonished by the arrest." Mr Taylor was not the sole individual detained in connection with the investigation. Two other men were arrested under the National Security Act on the same day: named by the BBC as Steve Jones, aged 68, a former special adviser to the Welsh government, and Matthew Aplin, 43, who previously worked as a Labour press officer. Neither men have commented on the arrest and GB News have been unable to get in contact with them. Mr Jones had earlier served as an adviser to Hilary Armstrong, now Baroness Armstrong, when she held the position of chief whip under Tony Blair's government. He subsequently advised the Welsh Cabinet from 2009 until 2014. Advertisement Mr Aplin is an ex-member of Reform. Reform UK initially denied Mr Aplin held membership when questioned on Wednesday. However, the party's Welsh leader Dan Thomas subsequently confirmed to ITV Wales Mr Aplin had previously been a member, albeit not recently. All three suspects were released on bail on Thursday. Mr Taylor currently serves as head of programmes at Asia House, a think-tank dedicated to fostering engagement between Asia and Europe. In this capacity, he managed the secretariat for Parliament's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Central Asia, which promotes relations between Britain and Central Asian nations. Reform UK | Source: GETTY The APPG announced on Wednesday that it had suspended its secretariat arrangements. Police conducted searches at the arrest locations and three additional addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff. Welsh journalist Martin Shipton confirmed officers also searched his Cardiff home, although he provided a voluntary statement and was not arrested. James Robinson, a former aide to ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, confirmed his property was also searched as part of the investigation. He stated: "I would like to make it absolutely clear that I have neither been detained, arrested nor questioned in connection with this, or any other, matter." Ms Reid announced she would temporarily and voluntarily step back from the Labour Party whilst an internal inquiry proceeds. "I want to reiterate something very important: I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been made against me," she declared. The MP emphasised she had never visited China or spoken on China-related matters in the Commons, nor posed any questions concerning Chinese affairs. "I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law," Ms Reid added. Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed the arrests, stating that if Chinese interference in UK sovereign affairs were proven then severe consequences would be imposed. On Mr Taylor, a Labour Party spokesman said: "These are incredibly serious allegations. We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing." GB News contacted Camlas, a company who worked with Mr Aplin and Mr Jones, but they were unable to provide further information. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter A Pueblo man was sentenced March 6 to eight years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for sexual exploitation of a child and criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child. Phoenix Moncivaiz-Likes, 21, was originally charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, three counts of sexual assault on a child, and animal cruelty after police found him in possession of hundreds of photos and at least two dozen videos showing children and dogs being sexually abused, according to an arrest affidavit authored by the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. In exchange for his September plea of guilty to the charges of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual assault, all other charges were dismissed by the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office. In a sentencing hearing on March 6, the mother of the two minor victims in the case told the court that no sentence would make up for the hurt caused to her children. "This was not an attempted assault," she told the court. "Hearing what happened broke me." The mother told the court that one of her children had started to wet the bed again after being previously potty-trained and that her children had begun acting up at school in a way they did not before the abuse. She told the court that no plea would erase the harm caused by Moncivaiz-Likes, or the pain caused to the victims, but said the current plea deal does not reflect the scope and long-term harm of the offenses committed. Citing extent of crimes, potential for recidivism, DA asks for max sentence Rex Delmas, a deputy district attorney, told the court that the case not only involves sexual assault of two young children but also livestreamed sex acts, and possession of both photos and videos of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). In addition to CSAM, there were numerous bestiality videos, and Moncivaiz-Likes was rated as having a high risk for sexual recidivism during a pre-sentence investigation, Delmas said. Prosecutors asked that Moncivaiz-Likes be sentenced to eight years, the maximum allowable under the plea agreement. The Dennis Maes Pueblo Judicial Building located at 501 Elizabeth St. Defense seeks probation to improve chance of rehabilitation Meanwhile, the defense asked the court to impose a probationary sentence, citing a better opportunity for rehabilitation in the community than in prison. Throughout his life, Moncivaiz-Likes has been subjected to child abuse and inappropriate sexual behavior, said Katie Sjejas, a social worker who gave a presentation to the court on Moncivaiz-Likes' behalf. Sjejas stated Moncivaiz-Likes was a victim himself who was never given an opportunity to process his own trauma or learn appropriate sexual behaviors. She told the court that Moncivaiz-Likes expressed remorse throughout the pre-sentence investigation, but still did not know what sexual behaviors were appropriate. When asked during the investigation how children learn about sex, he allegedly responded that it happens "when an older sibling shows you pornography or offends against you." She argued that in prison, Moncivaiz-Likes would not have access to appropriate, offense-specific treatment, which he would if given a probationary sentence. Advertisement Public Defender Jonah Wexler echoed these arguments, stating that the current wait list to access treatment in prison would take eight years to clear if the state stopped adding anyone else today. If sentenced to prison, Wexler said that Moncivaiz-Likes would serve his sentence exclusively in housing with other sex offenders, the majority, if not all, of whom also have not received treatment, and would only be able to access any kind of treatment once paroled. Wexler also argued that the terms of his probation could be very strict and provide for the protection of the community while Moncivaiz-Likes receives treatment. Judge renders sentence After a short recess to consider sentencing, Judge Tim O'Shea sentenced Moncivaiz-Likes to eight years in prison on the charge of sexual exploitation of a child, and four years for criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child, to be served concurrently. While one of the purposes of sentencing is to promote rehabilitation, another is to punish a convicted offender with a sentence warranted by the seriousness of the offense, which O'Shea remarked in this case is extremely serious. Moncivaiz-Likes was given 409 days of pre-sentence confinement credit and will be required to serve eight years. He will also be required to complete three years of parole upon release. DA's office weighs in on plea agreement In a news release explaining the plea agreement following the sentencing, the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office stated that for any case to proceed to a trial, the DAs office must have victim cooperation and willingness to testify. In this case, that cooperation was not available by one of the victim representatives until after the plea was entered and shortly before sentencing. The victim representatives for the older child requested probation, the statement reads. The statement goes on to say that there are "difficult considerations" the DA's office must navigate throughout any sexual assault case, as a trial would require a child victim to testify in front of their abuser, "which can be a revictimizing process." "In an effort to balance the interests of justice with the input expressed by a victim representative, a plea agreement was offered in this case," the statement reads. We recognize the deep pain this defendant caused the children involved and for the families who must navigate that trauma. This plea agreement was able to achieve some justice while protecting the children from having to face their offender and testify against him. Our office remains unwavering in our commitment to protecting children and ensuring that those who harm them are held accountable," 10th Judicial DA Kala Beauvais said in the statement. This story was updated to include comments from the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office. More Pueblo crime and courts news: Pueblo sheriff rips probationary sentence for man involved in chase Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man sentenced for sexual crimes against children The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is working in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv at the sites of liquidation of the consequences of night air strikes by the Russian army. "Kharkiv. A Ukrainian Red Cross rapid response team in Kharkiv region worked alongside the city's special services at the site of attack aftermath... Volunteers conducted inspections of damaged buildings and surrounding areas and went door-to-door searching for victims," the organization said on its official Facebook page. Ukrainian Red Cross Society volunteers are participating in search and rescue operations, looking for people under rubble. They also provide first aid and psychological support to victims. The Ukrainian Red Cross Society set up a support point at the attack site where victims and rescuers can get water or tea, charge mobile phones and receive psychological support. Humanitarian aid is provided to victims based on their needs, including OSB boards, tarpaulins, window films, drinking water, blankets, food and hygiene transit kits, children's sleeping sets and other essentials. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. A Ukrainian Red Cross Society rapid response team in Mykolaiv region worked overnight at the site where a drone struck a residential building in Mykolaiv. Volunteers inspected the damaged high-rise and notified residents of the need to temporarily relocate to a safe place. They also accompanied rescuers during emergency search operations to provide first aid if needed. A Russian ballistic missile destroyed an entrance from the first to fifth floors of a five-story residential building, as well as fourth- and fifth-floor apartments in an adjacent building in Kharkiv's Kyivskyi district, according to earlier reports. Seven people are confirmed dead, including two children, and 10 were injured. According to the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, a drone attack on the city damaged a high-rise building. No casualties were reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with women representing various professional fields to congratulate them on the upcoming International Women's Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2026. Sputnik/Valeriy Sharifulin/Pool via REUTERS MOSCOW, March 7 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran's president over the numerous civilian casualties resulting from "the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran" and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said. In a phone call late on Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin expressed his deep condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of Khamenei's family, Iranian political and military leaders and "numerous civilians". "Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution," the Kremlin said. Advertisement Putin said he was in constant contact with the leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council member states. "Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's solidarity with the Iranian people as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country. He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict," the Kremlin said. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and William Mallard) People sitting outside a yellow cafe building in Porto, Portugal. - Pub Monster Nell/Tripadvisor If you're looking for travel recommendations in Europe, Rick Steves has plenty. From the Rock of Gibraltar, a captivating landmark with intercontinental views, to the secret town of Maiori, where you get triple the Italy for a third of the price, Steves is known for suggesting under-the-radar destinations that leave travelers feeling fulfilled. Foodies will be happy to learn about a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Porto, Portugal, that Steves says has food that tastes like "heaven on a spoon": Taberna Santo Antonio. Taberna Santo Antonio is less than a 10-minute walk from Porto landmarks like the neoclassical gem the Palacio da Bolsa, Parque das Virtudes with stunning views of the Douro River, and the Torre dos Clerigos church with its landmark tower and tower views. Nonetheless, the restaurant is full of locals, as well as some tourists. In a 2018 blog post, Steves praised the "sense of the neighborhood energy of a great little eatery" and the delicious traditional food like sheep's milk cheese (which earned the "heaven on a spoon" description), stews, and homemade desserts. In a video about the restaurant, Steves says that a meal costs around $10 without wine. That price appears to have increased in the years since 2018 recent reviewers estimate it at $1723 (1520 Euros), but praise Taberna Santo Antonio's food as lower-priced and better quality than many other Porto restaurants. It's fair to say that travelers planning a vacation to Porto on a shoestring budget can put Taberna Santon Antonio on their list. Read more: Rick Steves' Most And Least Favorite Places In Europe Advertisement Eating at Taberna Santo Antonio Traditional Portuguese dishes on a table at Taberna Santo Antonio - maider T/Tripadvisor Nestled on a corner of the scenic Rua das Virtudes, Taberna Santo Antonio appears like any other quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant from the outside. It's located inside of a tall building painted yellow, with a few tables outside and a chalkboard sign with the day's menu. It would be easy to walk by it without giving it a second look. On the inside, tables are packed close together within the stone walls, with traditional instruments hung like paintings. A glass dessert counter is full of delectable-looking traditional custards, cakes, and pies, and a long wooden bar serves drinks including house-made port wine. And then there's the food. Taberna Santo Antonio is a family-owned restaurant that still makes meals the way they did when they first opened in the late 1980s. "My mother makes food the village way," Pedro Bras, whose parents own the restaurant, told Culinary Backstreets in 2019. "In all the dishes we try to use products from the sprouts, the potatoes, the cheeses, the sausages, and even the wines that I sell, 80 percent are from my land." He added, "We cook according to what the suppliers tell us that they have, at the moment, that is best." Steves isn't the only fan of Taberna Santo Antonio; the restaurant has a 4.5 average rating on Google reviews with over 4,000 reviews; a 4.4 average on Tripadvisor, where it's also a Traveler's Choice winner for 2025; and a 4.7 on Yelp. Reviewers frequently mention the bolinhos de bacalhau (codfish fritters), ham steak, and rissois (savory-filled pastries), as well as the desserts like chocolate cake and chocolate mousse. One Google reviewer raves, "By far the food was the best we have had in Portugal." With this good a reputation, and a seating capacity of less than 50 people, lines can sometimes be long. You can make a reservation in advance to make sure you get a seat. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. Read the original article on Islands. A boy plays with a tyre as refugees and displaced migrant workers shelter in St. Joseph Church, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, March 6, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Greco BEIRUT, March 7 (Reuters) - When Israeli strikes began pummelling Beiruts southern suburbs early on Monday, Sudanese refugee Ridina Muhammad and her family had no choice but to flee home on foot, eventually reaching the only shelter that would accept them: a church. Eight months pregnant, Muhammad, 32, walked with her husband and three children for hours in the dark streets until they found a car to take them to the St. Joseph Tabaris Parish, which has opened its doors to refugees and migrants. They are among 300,000 people displaced across Lebanon this week by heavy Israeli strikes, launched in response to a rocket and drone attack into Israel by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Just 100,000 of the displaced are in government shelters. Others are staying with relatives or sleeping in the streets. But migrants and refugees say government shelters were never an option for them, saying they were turned away during the last war between Hezbollah and Israel. Muhammads oldest daughter, now seven, stopped speaking after the 2024 war. This time, they are even more vulnerable: their home was destroyed in this weeks strikes and Muhammad is due to give birth at the end of the month. I don't know if there's a doctor or not, but I'm really scared about it because I haven't prepared any clothes for the baby, nor arranged a hospital, and I don't know where to go, she told Reuters as her younger daughter leaned against her pregnant belly. DWINDLING RESOURCES, SPACE Muhammad said she was registered with the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) but had not received support. Us, as refugees, why did we register with the U.N., if they are not helping us in the most difficult times? she said. Dalal Harb, a spokesperson for UNHCR Lebanon, said the agency had mobilized but reaching everyone immediately was extremely challenging given the scale and speed of displacement. The UNHCR operation in Lebanon is currently only around 14% funded, she said. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which helped the church host displaced in 2024, is doing so again. Advertisement Michael Petro, JRS Emergency Shelter Director, said the church was full within the first day of strikes, with 140 people from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and other countries sheltering there. There are many, many more people coming than there were in 2024, and we have fewer and fewer places to put them, he said. NOWHERE TO GO Petro said he was told weeks ago that government shelters would be open to migrants if war erupted. But when the strikes began and even Lebanese struggled to find shelter, the policy seemed to change, he said. We're hearing from hotlines up to government officials and ministries that migrants are not welcome, Petro said. Lebanons Minister for Social Affairs Haneen Sayyed did not respond to a request for comment. On Thursday, Sayyed said Beirut shelters were full. When Israeli strikes began, Othman Yahyeh Dawood, a 41-year-old Sudanese man, put his two young sons on his motorcycle. They drove 75 kilometres (46 miles) from the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh to St. Josephs, where they had sheltered in 2024. I know the area is safe and there are people who will welcome us, he said. We don't know where to go; there's war there (in the south), war here (in Beirut), war in Sudan, and nowhere else to go, he said. (Reporting by Catherine Cartier and Emilie Madi; Editing by Maya Gebeily and Diane Craft) Severin Schwan of Swiss healthcare company Roche addresses a media briefing as part of the company's 125th-anniversary celebrations in Basel, Switzerland, September 28, 2021. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo ZURICH, March 7 (Reuters) - Roche expects its agreement with the U.S. government will keep its medicines exempt from the current round of import tariffs, but its diagnostics division remains exposed and could face renewed duties after an initial 150-day period, Chairman Severin Schwan said on Saturday. Roche was one of nine major pharmaceutical companies that agreed a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump in December to cut the prices of their medicines in return for removing the threat of tariffs for three years. "As far as pharmaceuticals are concerned, we assume our agreement with the government is binding and that we will continue to be exempt from tariffs on the import of medicines," Schwan told Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung. "But our diagnostics business continues to be significantly affected," he added. Roche's diagnostics division, which generated sales of nearly 14 billion Swiss francs in 2025, exported a large share of its tests and instruments from Switzerland and other European countries to the United States, Schwan said. Advertisement Roche also produced diagnostics products in the U.S., which faced import tariffs from China, he said. "But because China has introduced retaliatory tariffs, we end up, as a U.S. net exporter, paying tariffs twice. That's absurd," he said. Schwan said he expected the U.S. government to impose import tariffs again under a different legal basis after the 150-day limit on tariffs expires. Roche had no plans to split off its diagnostics division, he said. "That is not a topic at all. We are sticking with it," he told the newspaper. (Reporting by John RevillEditing by Tomasz Janowski) Vladimir Putin speaking Russia is amassing troops along NATO's borders in preparation for a potential future confrontation with the Western alliance, heightening fears of a World War 3 scenario. In its annual threat assessment, Lithuania's security services revealed that Moscow is expanding military units along NATO's eastern frontier whilst simultaneously gaining combat experience in Ukraine, laying the groundwork for a formidable future fighting force. According to the report, Vladimir Putin is already upgrading brigades into divisions, establishing new units, and developing military infrastructure along NATO's borders, including in the heavily militarized Kaliningrad region, sandwiched between the Western nations of Poland and Lithuania. It comes after a doomsday study revealed the only two countries that will survive a nuclear WW3. This development coincides with Russian sources highlighting a British "spy plane" that monitored the flashpoint Kaliningrad region twice within a single day. Operativnaya Liniya, a pro-Russian military commentary Telegram channel, reported: "For the first time in the history of British military aeronautics, two consecutive flights of the same RC-135W were carried out between 7.30am and midnight, with a break of a couple of hours for refuelling at Waddington Air Base [in Lincolnshire]." The Russian president is already expanding brigades into divisions, an intelligence report has claimed (Image: Getty Images) Lithuania's assessment warned that Russia could be primed for a "wide-scale military conflict" with NATO should wartime sanctions be lifted. "Russia would likely create not only a 30-50 percent larger army than it had before the war but also a relatively modern one," the report stated. Strategic reserves of weapons and ammunition would be fully restored. Russia would be ready for a conventional military conflict with NATO. The report indicates that many newly established units remain under development, lacking sufficient personnel and equipment, as troops and weaponry continue to be redirected to the Ukrainian front. However, according to the assessment, the Kremlin's overarching objectives persist - shifting Europe's power balance toward Moscow's advantage and bringing Ukraine under its control. The analysis suggests conflict could emerge within six years. Advertisement The report further cautions that Russia's defense manufacturing capabilities have expanded with Chinese assistance, diminishing Moscow's reliance on Western technology and potentially enabling a faster military reconstruction following the conflict. Lithuania - a former Soviet republic sharing borders with both Russia and its close partner Belarus - has emerged as one of Ukraine's most steadfast allies and among NATO's most vocal proponents for strengthening military capabilities across eastern Europe. DON'T MISS: Trump administration's chilling reply as Russia reportedly wades into Iran war Hegseth mocks Iranians who 'think they're gonna live' amid Russia intel claims Trump yells 'what a stupid question' at Fox News reporter after Iran comment The Suwalki Corridor, stretching along the Polish-Lithuanian frontier and dividing Belarus from Russian-controlled Kaliningrad, is characterized as NATO's "weakest link." The alliance is working to strengthen this narrow corridor through a combination of expanded forward deployments, frequent joint military exercises, enhanced command structures, and improved infrastructure for military mobility. Recent measures include Poland's East Shield fortification initiative, Germany's planned engineering support for the project, a reinforced brigade-level allied presence in the region, and transportation upgrades such as the Via Baltica route designed to accelerate troop reinforcements during a crisis. The Lithuanian report also highlights a series of suspicious parcel explosions across Europe, which officials believe are connected to Russian military intelligence operations. European investigators have determined that a wave of self-igniting packages dispatched in 2024 triggered fires at logistics facilities across Britain, Germany, and Poland. According to a joint European investigation, authorities have identified 22 suspects in Lithuania and Poland who are believed to have been operating on behalf of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. It comes after a chilling map revealed the 4 safest US states to survive during a nuclear attack. ]]> By Vitalii , Hnidyi and Olena Harmash KHARKIV, Ukraine, March 7 (Reuters) - Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on Saturday, damaging infrastructure and killing at least 10 people, including two children, in the northeast city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia targeted the energy sector and railway infrastructure across the country. "There should be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app. "Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine's residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support should continue," Zelenskiy said, urging partners to continue air defence and weapons supplies. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and regional prosecutors put the death toll in the city at 11, one more than Zelenskiy's estimate. Zelenskiy, speaking later in his nightly video address, described the strike as "horrific." He said rescue crews, including specialists from other regions, were still clearing rubble and searching for bodies underneath. Kharkiv regional prosecutors reported that two people had been killed in a separate drone strike on Saturday near a post office in a village near the Russian border. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 453 drones and 19 missiles, the air force said. But nine missiles and 26 attack drones hit 22 sites, it said. BALLISTIC MISSILE SLAMS INTO RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Advertisement The city of Kharkiv was targeted by Russian drones and missiles, and 11 people, including two children, were killed after a Russian ballistic missile slammed into a five-storey residential building, Terekhov said. "When we arrived here 20 minutes after the explosion, I thought I was going to have a stroke. I couldn't string two words together, and my legs were buckling," Hanna, a resident of the destroyed building, told Reuters. "It's good that I wasn't there with my child and that my father was with me. It was ordinary people who lived there. What were they targeting?" Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces carried out massive overnight strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial complexes, military airfields and energy facilities, the Interfax news agency reported. In Kharkiv, 15 people were also wounded, and 19 residential buildings were damaged by the Russian attacks, Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Commercial and administrative buildings, electricity distribution lines, and cars were also hit, he said. In Kyiv, three people were injured, and the heating was knocked out in 2,806 residential apartment buildings in four districts across the capital after Russian strikes hit an energy infrastructure facility, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. National grid operator Ukrenergo said emergency power cuts were introduced in seven regions following the Russian attacks. Ukrainian officials said that Russia also attacked four railway stations and other railway infrastructure in central Ukraine and port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region, setting on fire containers with vegetable oil and damaging a grain warehouse. (Reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv and Vitalii Hnidyi in Kharkiv. Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Mark Potter, Rod Nickel) On Saturday, Anthony Scaramucci accused Russia of helping Iran target American troops and said the Trump administration moved to loosen restrictions on Russian oil activity on the same day. The comments landed as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned President Donald Trump that the Middle East fight is spreading and as WTI crude futures jumped 12.67% to $91.27. In a post on X, Scaramucci framed the situation as a national security test, arguing that an enemy assisting attacks on U.S. forces should face consequences, not relief. Russia feeds Iran intel to kill American soldiers. Trump eases Russian oil sanctions the same day. When an adversary helps kill your troops and pays zero price for it, you need to ask a hard question: is this incompetence, transactionalism, or something more? History will judge. Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) March 7, 2026 In another post, Scaramucci warned that the U.S. strike on Iran could jolt energy markets and reshape policy debates around Russian crude. In his post, Scaramucci argued that loosening restrictions on Russian oil could wind up boosting Moscow's cash flow and, in turn, aid Iran. In the post, Scaramucci laid out a chain reaction: military action against Iran, a sharp jump in oil prices, and calls to lift limits on Russian barrels as a supposed pressure valve. He also claimed Russia would capture the revenue and use it to support Iran in ways that could endanger U.S. forces. Scaramucci also criticized rhetoric he attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, writing that Hegseth "speaks callously of genocide." The post further took aim at lawmakers with the phrase "Do Nothing Congress." Attack Iran Oil prices skyrocket Unsanction Russian oil to seize crisis Russia takes proceeds and helps Iran kill American troops Hegseth speaks callously of genocide. Do Nothing Congress Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) March 7, 2026 Is Trump's Oil Strategy Backfiring On America? On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. could allow certain Russian oil transactions for a limited period as a way to calm global energy markets. In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent said refiners in India were permitted to buy Russian crude that was already on the water, describing the step as temporary and tied to a near-term supply gap. Bessent also posted on X: This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea, Advertisement Schumer attacked the administration's posture after the intelligence-sharing report, writing on X: If true, this shows a widening war that Trump is already losing control of. Oil markets have been choppy with added focus on the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of the world's oil, amplifying fears that any expansion of the conflict could squeeze supply. Geopolitical Risks of Aggressive Foreign Policy In past statements, Scaramucci has called a hypothetical U.S. invasion of Greenland one of the most self-destructive foreign policy moves imaginable, emphasizing the potential for severe geopolitical consequences. This historical perspective underlines the risks associated with aggressive foreign policy, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions involving U.S. military interests in the Middle East. Scaramuccis warnings reflect a broader concern that such actions could undermine trust within NATO alliances, which is relevant as tensions escalate with reports of Russian intelligence sharing with Iran, potentially impacting U.S. operations. As the administration navigates these complex dynamics, it remains to be seen how recent policy decisions will affect global energy markets and security. Image: Shutterstock/OnePixelStudio "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga: This article Scaramucci Says Russia May Further Stoke US-Iran Conflict originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. One federal inmate at the Dona Ana County Detention Center has tested positive for measles. The latest case is the second reported case at the facility since the New Mexico Department of Health's recent announcement that four inmates in southern New Mexico detention centers had tested positive. The latest case brings the total number of 2026 measles cases in New Mexico to six with all six cases being federal detainees with two cases each at the Dona Ana, Hidalgo and Luna County detention centers. According to NMDOH, people may have been exposed to measles from the most recent case at the U.S. District Court building at 100 Norther Church Street in Las Cruces between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 The NMDOH urges people who may have been at this location to check their vaccination status and report any symptoms through March 17 to your health care provider. If you develop symptoms of measles stay home to prevent further spread and contact your healthcare provider or the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for guidance. "The New Mexico Department of Health continues to urge people to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination; vaccine is the best tool to protect you from measles," said NMDOH deputy state epidemiologist, Dr. Chad Smelser, in a news release. Advertisement The NMDOH has coordinated with all of the facilities regarding quarantine, testing and vaccination protocols to minimize the risk of additional spread. Additionally, the department has sent vaccination teams to all three facilities. NMDOH reported 100 cases of measles in 2025 during an outbreak that ran from mid-February to mid-September. There were two cases reported in Dona Ana County in 2025 with the most recent case occurring in April 2025. Lea County had the highest number of recorded cases in 2025, with 67. There were 73,159 doses of the vaccine administered across the state in 2025, according to the NMDOH. Measles symptoms develop between seven and 21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically begin with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a red spotted rash that usually starts on the head or face and spreads down the body. People can pass measles to someone else from four days before to four days after the rash first appears. For 2025, more than 2,000 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Feb. 19, 2026, nearly 1,000 confirmed measles cases already have been reported since the new year. Anyone with questions about measles and vaccinations may call NMDOH 1-833-796-8773 for guidance from nurses in English and Spanish and text questions to 66364. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Second Dona Ana County Detention Center inmate tests positive for measles Follow Live Updates ON THE ONGOING DEADLY SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK By Clicking Here. A severe weather outbreak is devastating parts of the Plains and Midwest, where at least 8 were killed on Thursday and Friday evenings amid a multi-day outbreak of damaging tornadoes and "monster" hail. The massive severe weather threat slammed more than 60 million people, spanning more than 1,500 miles from Texas to Michigan. Four of those fatalities were reported in two counties in southwestern Michigan, where powerful tornadoes tore through Union City. In Oklahoma on Friday, the Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office confirmed two deaths after severe storms moved through central parts of the state. These deadly storms came just hours after a mother and daughter were killed during severe weather in Major County, Oklahoma on Thursday night. Severe Storms To Reignite Threats Of Damaging Hail, Wind, Possible Tornadoes Across Central Plains Next Week Sheriff Frederick A. Blankenship is urging residents to avoid the affected areas to allow emergency personnel to safely conduct response and recovery operations from the area that was battered by severe weather today.This comes on the heels of deadly severe storms that rumbled through the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma Thursday. One additional death has been reported in Cass County after a tornado ripped through the southwestern Michigan county, officials announced in a press release. Cass County Emergency Management reports that multiple large structures including homes and pole barns have sustained significant damage, with some suffering major structural impacts and others completely destroyed Advertisement Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Friday that a mother and daughter were killed in Major County during Thursday night's storms. The emergency management department in Fairview, Oklahoma, shared video on social media of a large possible tornado just west of the city late Thursday. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman confirmed at least three tornadoes by midday Friday, with surveys still ongoing. FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari tracked a spotter-confirmed tornado Thursday night outside of Quail, Texas. What Is A Supercell Thunderstorm? On Friday, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. According to the FOX Forecast Center, the first round of storms is expected to develop during the mid-to-late afternoon as an area of low pressure close to the surface moves across Kansas and the Missouri Valley. The atmosphere will be able to support supercell thunderstorms capable of generating hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, and tornadoes. Strong tornadoes are possible from Kansas City to Wichita to Oklahoma City during the early evening hours Friday. Overnight, as a cold front pushes farther east-southeast, damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes will be possible from Illinois southward through Oklahoma and northeastern Texas. Original article source: At least 8 killed from destructive tornadoes as severe weather outbreak devastates America's Heartland Unprovoked shark bites worldwide increased in 2025, and fatalities rose above the recent decade average, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). The Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark Attack File confirmed 65 unprovoked shark bites globally in 2025, up from a lower-than-usual total in 2024 and closer to the 10-year average of 72 incidents annually. Twelve of the 2025 incidents were fatal, double the decade average of six unprovoked deaths per year. Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, said it is too early to determine whether the increase signals a shift. "Hard to tell," Naylor told Fox News Digital. "Most of the fatalities are in Australia, which may be experiencing both an uptick in some species of sharks and an uptick in surfers exploring new breaks, some of which are quite remote and hard to get to, and an uptick in new ways that humans enjoy water-sports, like foiling." Massive Great White Shark Detected By Researchers Off Mississippi Coast In Rare Gulf Migration Shark bites rose worldwide in 2025 with 65 unprovoked attacks and 12 deaths, double the recent decade average. Experts say its too early to call it a trend. (iStock) He said additional years of data will be needed to determine whether 2025 represents the start of a trend. Read On The Fox News App "We will be able to say more if the trend continues in subsequent years," he said. "For now, we cannot exclude the notion that it is a statistical blip." Researchers say its too early to determine whether the increase signals a long-term trend, noting many of the fatal attacks occurred in Australia. ISAF investigated 105 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2025. Follow Us On X Of those, 65 were confirmed to be unprovoked. Twenty-nine were classified as provoked, including incidents involving fishing, handling sharks or attempting to touch them. Other cases involved boat strikes or could not be definitively categorized. The United States recorded the largest share of unprovoked bites, accounting for about 38% of the global total. Florida continued to lead the nation with 11 unprovoked attacks, more than twice as many as any other state. Advertisement The sole fatality in the U.S. was triathlete Erica Fox, 55, whose body was found near Santa Cruz, California, Dec. 21 after she vanished during a group training swim. The coroner ruled the cause of death as "sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water." Get Breaking News By Email Florida reported more incidents than any other U.S. state, though most cases were nonfatal. Click Here For More Us News Australia ranked second in total unprovoked bites, representing roughly 32% of incidents worldwide. A shark attack sign is posted at the Sand Dollar Beach section of Manresa State Beach in Watsonville, Calif. Click Here To Download The Fox News App While the number of unprovoked bites rose in 2025 compared with the previous year, the total remains within the range observed over the past decade, according to the group's annual summary. Got A Tip? An unprovoked bite is defined as an incident in which a person is bitten in a sharks natural habitat without prior human interaction. Provoked incidents are tracked separately to maintain consistency in reporting and long-term comparisons. Original article source: Shark attack deaths surged above decade average in 2025 The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine has completed work on the Policy Strategy for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Minister Denys Uliutin reported. "We at the ministry have completed writing the IDP Policy Strategy, and now, I think, we will submit it for interagency approval. In this strategy, we tried to describe the entire path (of IDPs) from evacuation to integration in communities. We added a section on the return of citizens from abroad. We did not create a separate return strategy, but made a large section in the IDP Strategy. Our vision is to try to avoid separation, to avoid pressure between IDPs and those who will return - this is very important," Uliutin said in an interview with the YouTube project Budget Talks. According to him, a web resource for displaced persons called "One, Two, Three" is also being developed, which will outline all the steps IDPs take, a list of temporary accommodation sites and a section on reintegration (housing, employment). As previously reported, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth told Interfax-Ukraine that the total number of people who remain internally displaced within the country is about 3.7 million. Some 71% of IDPs have been displaced for more than two years, and many have moved multiple times. The largest number are currently concentrated in Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv regions, as well as in the three largest cities - Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kyiv. BIG BEND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- President Donald Trump fired the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem. Local Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland of Terrell County, and a retired border patrol agent, says it can help with the wall situation in the Big Bend Region. She didnt have a lot of influence on us down here at the border it takes all of us working together, whether its protecting the border, or even out here in West Texas, Sheriff Cleveland said. We rely on Border Patrol to assist us, whether its in the community or in the county, theyre oftentimes first responders. While it might not have a direct impact, Noems removal could help the region. Back in February, Noem waived 28 environmental protection laws and regulations to expedite construction of the border wall in the Big Bend region, sparking controversy about environmental damage and impact on tourism. Sheriff Cleveland believes the wall is not necessary. I truly think that she looked at putting a physical barrier here, one, to try to please the administration, two, to take the focus off Minneapolis and put it back on the border, Sheriff Cleveland said. I can tell you from my years of experience as a lifelong resident of the border, that a border barrier out Big Bend is not necessary. Advertisement He tells us that instead of the wall, they need more technology. For Sheriff Cleveland, securing the border requires, above all, collaboration. Last night, the Sheriffs office received two phone calls of undocumented migrants needing help, and its that type of cooperation that helps secure the Big Bend Sector. 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 Yourbasin. William Bonin hid the bodies of his victims by the freeway -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images) Before his execution by lethal injection for the murder of 14 boys and young men in Southern California, the infamous "Freeway Killer" used his final words to issue a grim warning to anyone contemplating following in his footsteps. The identity of the Freeway Killer remained unknown for over a year, as more than 21 young men and boys were sexually assaulted, tortured and killed between May 1979 and June 1980. The serial killer got his moniker from his hunting grounds - the streets of Southern California, where he would locate his victims before discarding their bodies along major roads and highways, reports the Mirror UK. Man whose brother was kidnapped and murdered 'knows what Guthrie family is going through' Terrifying real life Scream murderer decapitated victims and 'arranged' corpses Advertisement William Bonin was finally identified as the Freeway Killer on June 11, 1980, after police spent over a week surveilling him, tipped off by Bonin's co-defendant, then 17-year-old William Ray Pugh. In 1982, Bonin was sentenced to death for 10 of the murders committed across Los Angeles County. Bonin received two death sentences for two different convictions -Credit:Getty Images A year later, he was convicted in Orange County for another four murders, earning him a second death sentence. On February 23, 1996, San Quentin State Prison witnessed the first Californian sentenced to death by lethal injection. At the stroke of midnight, at 12.09 am, the execution process for the condemned commenced and four minutes later, at 12.13 am, officially ended his life. William Bonin, also known as The Freeway Killer, spent his final day attending visits from friends. Post-visit, he was escorted at 6.00 pm to a death watch cell, opting for his last meal of two pepperoni and sausage-loaded large pizzas, triple portions of coffee ice cream, and eighteen cans of Coca-Cola. Bonin (left) had several accomplices, it's believed, like Vernon Butts (right) -Credit:Getty Images The prison warden and a Catholic chaplain made their visits, concluding with Bonin expressing his parting sentiment to the warden at 11.30 pm: "That I feel the death penalty is not an answer to the problem at hand," he declared. "That I feel it sends the wrong message to the youth of the country. Young people act as they see other people acting instead of as people tell them to act." Bonin counselled, "And I would suggest that when a person has a thought of doing anything serious against the law, that before they did, that they should go to a quiet place and think about it seriously." Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger hit back at Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon announced it would cut ties and funding relationships with numerous collegiate institutions over what it described as woke ideologies. A Pentagon leadership memo initialed "PBH" the secretarys full name is Peter Brian Hegseth sent just before the U.S. bombed Iran and entitled "Aligning senior service college opportunities with American values," laid out an examination of standing "Professional Military Education institutions, [the] bedrock upon which we build lethal warfighters grounded in the founding principles that underpin American Spanberger fired back after it was reported that the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., would be affected. The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot covered her remarks at a high school in Hampton about halfway between the two cities. Harvard Students Earn Course Credit Helping Asylum Seekers As Critics Calls School 'Bastion Of Woke Activism' Spanberger said the move is an "outrageous attack at yet another point of pride in Virginia," as the memo said the Senior Service College programs there would be ended and that servicemembers would lose support. "The idea that the Pentagon would pull back from this fellowship program that has been long a fixture at William & Mary is just outrageous," she said, according to the paper. Read On The Fox News App The Pentagon memo said the department will "no longer invest in institutions that fail to sharpen our leaders warfighting capabilities or that undermine the very values they swore to defend," and that more than a dozen schools faced termination. Virginia Democrats Blasted For Threatening Historic Military College Vmi With Funding Threat Over Dei Concerns Spanberger, who formerly worked for the CIA, said the move speaks to the Defense Departments "lack of understanding of the real strength of universities, whether its William & Mary or others, in educating the next generation of military leadership," according to the paper. Advertisement She also cited the fact William & Marys current chancellor is himself one of Hegseths predecessors. Robert Gates was former President George H.W. Bushs director of central intelligence and later served as Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush, remaining in the role into former President Barack Obamas term. David Marcus: Only Hegseth Can Save Storied Virginia Military Institute From Woke State Lawmakers Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has ended agreements between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. (Getty Images) Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon for comment. In a statement obtained by Hampton Roads CBS affiliate, the college administration said it was "puzzled and saddened" by Hegseths move, saying that William & Mary is "among the countrys most military-friendly institutions" and also embraces its ROTC program. While the Williamsburg school may be on the chopping block, the affiliate reported that Regent University in Virginia Beach founded by Christian evangelist Pat Robertson may be considered one of the replacement institutions. Click Here To Download The Fox News App In the memo, Harvard, Washington University in St. Louis, MIT, Tufts, Georgetown, George Washington University, Princeton, Yale, Brown and Queens University in Canada were listed as schools facing separation. Colleges being considered as replacements include Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., The Citadel, Virginia Tech, the University of North Carolina, Clemson University and Hillsdale College in Michigan. Original article source: Spanberger lashes out at Pentagon after Hegseth pulls colleges support over woke ideologies KINGSTON, Tenn. (WATE) Roane County leaders met with state officials this week to discuss safety concerns along Interstate 40. State Senator Ken Yager hosted the meeting with attendees including Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Matt Perry, Roane County Executive Wade Creswell, Tennessee Commissioner of Safety Jeff Long, and Tennessee Department of Transportation Bureau Chief Joe Deering. Following the meeting, Tennessee Highway Patrol committed to increasing enforcement along the 23-mile stretch of I-40 in Roane County. CVS fights Tennessee bill that could change pharmacy ownership laws Additionally, TDOT will study reducing the speed limit to 60 mph and implementing lane restrictions for commercial trucks in high-risk areas. No Parking signage will be installed on interstate ramps to ensure emergency vehicle access and TDOT will evaluate additional warning signage for drivers. Advertisement Emergency personnel respond to an average of 1,703 incidents annually along I-40 in Roane County. The Roane County Commission will consider a proposal at its March 9 meeting that would urge state transportation officials to address safety challenges along the busy corridor, citing rising strain on residents and first responders caused by congestion and frequent incidents. See more top stories on WATE.com This is a monumental step forward for the safety of our citizens and the thousands of commuters who pass through Roane County daily, said Roane County Commissioner Ben Wilson. By securing a commitment for increased THP enforcement and a formal study on speed and lane restrictions, we are finally addressing the root causes of the spillover gridlock that paralyzes our local towns. We are grateful to Senator Yager and our state partners for recognizing that I-40 in Roane County is not just a road, but a critical nexus of national security. 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. AI classes are filling up as the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 20% job growth for AI engineers through 2034. Credit: Luis Alvarez / Getty Images Key Takeaways Roles related to building AI systems are thriving, with salaries averaging over $150,000. Top graduate programs at Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and Stanford can position you to build the technology rather than compete against it. When evaluating programs, focus on research opportunities and job placement, not just rankings. The jobs that are most exposed to AI aren't disappearing. They're outperforming the rest of the labor market in both growth and wages, according to a December 2025 Vanguard analysis. But exposure to AI isnt the same as vulnerability to it. Employment for workers ages 22 to 25 in roles that are vulnerable to AI, including entry-level software developers and customer service agentswhere the technology can replace core taskshas fallen 16% since ChatGPT was released in 2022, a National Bureau of Economic Research study found. For roles with high exposure to AI, on the other hand, a graduate degree in AI or machine learning can position you to build the technology rather than compete against it, leading to jobs that continue to command strong pay and growth. AI and machine learning (ML) engineer salaries now average $152,581, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 20% job growth for computer and information research scientistsa category that includes many AI rolesthrough 2034. That pace far exceeds the 3% average projected for all occupations. Where the Top Programs Are Here's what distinguishes the top programs: research you can participate in, faculty publishing at the frontier of the field, and major employers who recruit directly from the program. Carnegie Mellon launched the first dedicated machine learning department in 2006. It offers master's programs, and its Ph.D. tracks include joint programs in statistics, public policy, and neurosciencecombinations that reflect how AI is spilling into other fields. Advertisement MIT's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department houses the Artificial Intelligence and Decision-Making unit, covering everything from reinforcement learning to robotics. Meanwhile, Stanford's AI Lab, founded in 1963, is one of the oldest programs in the field and now offers an online graduate certificate. Berkeley's BAIR Lab, Illinois's Grainger College, and Georgia Tech's College of Computing have deep benches in computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning. The University of Washington collaborates directly with the Allen Institute for AI, while the University of Texas at Austin and Cornell University have boosted their efforts in applied AI research. Online options are expanding. Georgia Tech, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign all offer respected online AI master's programs, often at a lower cost than comparable on-campus programs. What To Look For in a Program The right program launches and accelerates your career, while the wrong one can leave you with student loan debt and no network. Be skeptical of flashy new AI degrees that lack a track record, and note that rankings matter less than the program's fit for your interests and career plans. Also look for evidence that graduates got jobs. For instance, check LinkedIn to see if graduates have landed at companies or labs you'd want to work for. Also check whether research opportunities, paid internships, and capstone projects are built into the curriculum. Another smart move is looking at industry pipelines: Google, Meta (META), and Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) actively recruit from and support the top AI labs. Make sure a program's curriculum covers actually creating ML and AI systems, not just theory. Avoid programs that neglect the development skills that are important for getting hired. And check whether faculty are publishing in top journals and presenting at conferences, which signals the program is actively shaping the field. Read the original article on Investopedia White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller speaks with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper By Ted Hesson, Richard Cowan, Nolan D. McCaskill and Kristina Cooke WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to forge ahead with his aggressive immigration crackdown driven by top aide Stephen Miller and a new homeland secretary nominee who shares Trump's hardline view, current and former U.S. officials and lawmakers said. The Republican president fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday after months of controversy over heavy-handed immigration enforcement tactics and lawmaker questions about government contracts and turmoil within her department. But Miller - the White House deputy chief of staff and the architect of Trumps immigration agenda - retains control of the issue, three U.S. officials said. And Trumps pick to become homeland secretary, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, is viewed as closely aligned with Trumps approach. Stephen is a survivor, one of the officials said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. The official said Noems firing was not a referendum on Trump's restrictive agenda, but rather on the execution of it. In response to a request for comment, a White House official said Miller helps coordinate a wide range of issues - from immigration to counter-cartel operations - and is "working to ensure the President's policy agenda is implemented." The Department of Homeland Security and Mullin's office did not respond to requests for comment. Trump won back the White House in 2024 with a campaign that heavily focused on stopping illegal immigration and ramping up deportations. Immigration was one of Trump's best-polling issues after returning to office - and a key focus for the Republican Party broadly. But amid backlash over his aggressive enforcement in U.S. cities, support for his immigration approach declined in recent months, Reuters/Ipsos polls show. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of the U.S. Congress but are heading into midterm elections in November that threaten their control on Washington. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday in an X post related to Noems dismissal that Trumps immigration goals remained unchanged. President Trumps immigration agenda is keeping our border secure and deporting illegal alien criminals from our country, and it will continue without interruption, she said. Under Noems leadership, DHS sent thousands of federal immigration agents to Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and other Democratic-led cities to seek out immigration offenders, sweeping through residential neighborhoods and chasing day laborers in Home Depot parking lots. But after federal agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - the administration said it would move to a less public-facing targeted approach to immigration arrests. Advertisement Current and former federal immigration officials said there had been no immediate policy shift since Noems departure was announced, but several said they expected the administration to continue to avoid high-profile surges into U.S. cities following the fallout in Minneapolis. MULLIN SEEN AS TOUGH ON BORDER SECURITY Mullin, 48, became a senator in 2023 after a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives. Like Noem, he is a rancher and owns a cattle ranch in Oklahoma that also serves as a wedding venue, among other businesses. Even as a freshman, Mullin has stood out from the crowd of 100 senators, at times presiding over the Senate wearing a large, light-colored cowboy hat. He had a short-lived career as a mixed martial arts fighter and garnered widespread media attention in 2023 when he rose from his chair during a Senate hearing to challenge Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to "stand your butt up" and fight. Mullin voted for a Republican-backed funding package last year that devoted a historic $170 billion to immigration enforcement through September 2029 and backs core elements of Trumps immigration platform. Republican lawmakers praised Mullin after the news that Trump would nominate him for DHS secretary, a position that requires majority confirmation in the Senate. He's strong on the border and that's what we need, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri told reporters on Thursday. The deportations will continue." Noem was sharply criticized by both Democrats and Republicans for swiftly saying Good and Pretti were engaged in domestic terrorism after they were killed and before a full investigation. Mullin similarly portrayed Pretti as a threat despite video evidence that undercut that claim. He said Pretti was "a deranged individual" who had a loaded pistol and intended "to cause max damage," during an interview with Fox News on January 24, the day Pretti was killed. Democrats on Capitol Hill welcomed Noems removal but said the Trump administrations approach to immigration enforcement still needed to change. Democrats have blocked funding for DHS since mid-February in a push to force the White House to moderate its tactics. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said funding talks are being run out of the White House and that he does not expect Noems firing to break the stalemate. I think were better off without her, but she wasnt running the department, Murphy said on Thursday. Stephen Miller runs that department and will continue to run the department so I dont really think much will change. (Reporting by Ted Hesson, Richard Cowan, Nolan McCaskill in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Marisa Taylor; Editing by Nia Williams) President Donald Trump declared a war on fraud during his State of the Union address, embracing a task that has eluded presidents for decades. He even tapped his vice president to lead the effort. "This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation, and we are working on it like you wouldn't believe," Trump said. It's a battle that fraud experts have pleaded with the government to take on for years as transnational criminal gangs have learned to savvily game the public safety net and steal trillions of dollars from American taxpayers. The Government Accountability Office estimated in January that the government loses as much as $521 billion a year to fraud. Haywood Talcove, one of the country's top government fraud experts, told USA TODAY the fraud could be as high as $1 trillion a year or more. 1 / 0 Ilhan Omar yells 'you're a liar' at Trump during State of the Union Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) R) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MI) shout during U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. The new effort's chances of success are unclear. Most modern presidents have promised to expose the roots of fraud in government systems but haven't succeeded. And as methods of applying for and using government programs have steadily moved online in the past decade, fraud experts say, the gangs committing fraud on a massive scale have outwitted attempts to stop them. "There's basically an untapped spigot," said Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government, which helps create fraud prevention strategies. The Trump administration has blamed immigrants for the fraud, especially in Minnesota and other Democrat-controlled states such as California. In his State of the Union address, Trump said "Somali pirates" brought a culture of corruption to the United States. Less than 24 hours later, Vice President JD Vance cut off some funding to Minnesota and put the state on notice. But experts such as Talcove stress that fraud occurs in federal public assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid and housing assistance in all 50 states. It isn't a red or blue state problem, they say. It's an issue of how well states and the federal government work together. White House led anti-fraud program The White House did not respond to USA TODAY's requests for more information about what Vance's efforts would look like, what federal agencies would be targeted or how states would be included. Vance's efforts began immediately. At a news conference with Vance on Feb. 25, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced that the federal government deferred $259 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota amid concerns over possible fraud involving federal money intended for personal care and home- and community-based services in the state. The state sued March 2 to force the administration to release the money. Minnesota's Democratic governor, Tim Walz, told the House Oversight Committee in hearings March 4 that the state is being unfairly targeted because members of the Somali community were part of the fraud ring. "It's been pretty clear the president does not like me personally," Walz said. "I think he has people around him who were trying to find quotas around immigration and they saw a perfect storm, if you will, that included some Somali folks." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz testifies during the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing investigating fraud in Minnesota state social services, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on March 4, 2026 Oz said his agency could follow with similar actions in other states. Minnesota "is not the only state that's floundering," Oz said. "We have more announcements with other states coming soon." Vance said at the news conference he hopes to work with states on reducing Medicaid fraud, but he's not confident they all will. "We'd love for that to happen," he said. "I think you're going to see that in some states, even some blue states, but you're not going to see it in others." Whose job it is to prevent fraud? Many safety net programs are paid for by the federal government but are run by the states. The federal government sees identifying and avoiding fraud as a state responsibility, but states have little incentive to spend state tax dollars preventing fraud involving federal money, Talcove said. "There's zero incentive for a state to put an enforcement policy in place," he said. The Republican tax and spending law signed last summer forces states to respond to fraud in some programs, most notably SNAP, or risk taking on some of the program costs. It also requires states to more frequently check eligibility of people receiving SNAP and Medicaid. Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito said some states already have strong guardrails. Others do not, he said. "When you have no guardrails and you eliminate the checks and balances because you're trying to claim that you're being compassionate, all of that leads to fraud," he said. "There are some states that you look at the ... metrics and you know ... they've done a great job. They have guardrails in place and the fraud ... is very limited because they have oversight of it. And then there's other states which ... they take what is federal money and they think it's like Monopoly money." Though the Trump administration spent 2025 focused on blocking billions in aid to five Democrat-controlled states because of suspected fraud, all states grapple with fraud, and they aren't solely controlled by Democrats. The U.S. Sentencing Commission found in fiscal 2024 that the states with the most government benefit fraud cases were Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, New York and Texas. Mark Haskins, former branch chief of the special investigations unit for the Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, said more strict federal standards for how the programs are administered could help stem the fraud, because right now the rules vary by state. "We are our own worst enemy in this," said Haskins, who served under multiple administrations. "We have allowed so many loopholes and left so many doors open that these transnational crime organizations are crawling through everywhere they can." Blaming immigrants The Trump administration has tried to tie fraud to immigration in the public's mind. The president said in his address to Congress that "importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings these problems right here to the USA, and it's the American people who pay the price." In December, Trump cited suspected fraud in Minnesotas Somali community tied to a 2022 investigation into misused pandemic day care funds. The claims were used to justify a sweeping immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. The Justice Department has charged more than 80 people since 2022, many of them U.S. citizens of Somali descent, in connection with COVID-19-related fraud schemes targeting government-funded programs, including child nutrition and housing initiatives. Advertisement The suspected ringleader of the scheme is not Somali but a White woman Aimee Bock, 45, who was convicted in March 2025 and faces up to 33 years in prison. "It's unfair to characterize it as Minnesota only," Talcove said. "It's happening (in) all 50 states." Statistically, it's just not accurate to blame immigrants for large-scale fraud, said David Bier, director of Immigration Studies at the libertarian think tank CATO Institute. Noncitizens face more barriers to applying for benefits, and naturalized citizens are screened for criminal history, he said. And nationwide data shows fewer instances of fraud convictions among noncitizens and naturalized citizens, he said. "We have good reasons to think that immigrants are significantly less likely to steal welfare benefits than the (U.S. citizen-born) population is," Bier said. And targeting a group of people for investigation based on where they are born isn't fair, he said. "I think what people are asking for in some cases are profiling of the immigrant population or Somalis or noncitizens, whatever. And it's not fair," he said. "That ... does not comport with due process to investigate someone just because of where they were born or their citizenship status." Who is committing the fraud? Some states are reluctant to crack down on fraud because they worry about accidentally cutting off help for Americans who need it, Talcove said. The No. 1 thing he stresses to lawmakers is the people committing the most fraud are not their constituents. Most of the money probably isn't even staying in the country, he said. "Transnational criminal groups have specialties. They focus on all 50 states, they share data," he said. "They have money mules here, and then they take the money and they move it out of the country." Fraud has increased dramatically as more government systems have moved online. During the pandemic, when the government shoveled money out the door to keep the economy moving, international grifters "went nuts," Talcove said. Since then, the fraudsters have become even more sophisticated. Some have become experts in committing fraud using the same identities in the same programs across multiple states because they know states don't share information, he said. Others specialize in creating fake businesses to get paid for providing services to people who don't exist. Haskins said criminals are so good at covering their tracks that investigators often cannot even follow the money. For example, they might sign up to accept SNAP with one bank account and then change the bank account a half-dozen times before the fraud is even uncovered. "Really what it boils down to is the antiquated legacy systems in government," Haskins said. "You know, whether it's Medicaid fraud, Medicare fraud, workers comp fraud, the systems are outdated." Mike Peck, assistant special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Global Investigative Operations Center, said that for the longest time the government thought these criminal groups were working independently. "Now we are fully confident in saying this is organized crime," he said. "They have the tools, they have the means and they have the know-how, and they are collaborating." The groups have found vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the application processes and have learned how to apply quickly and easily, he said. "They are very well-versed in what they're doing," Peck said. "They study, they know exactly what needs to be on an application. ... This is big business to them." Expert recommendations Trump isn't the first president to want to tackle government fraud. Presidents Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Joe Biden all took it on and were unable to stop it. Last year, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency said combating fraud in government programs was its priority. But the effort fell far short of its goal to find trillions in savings for the government. Multiple analyses found that DOGE overstated and miscalculated its savings. Some experts also have accused the Trump administration of weakening fraud prevention by making false claims and removing nonpartisan government watchdogs. Days into his new administration, Trump fired more than a dozen inspectors general across federal agencies, including for the departments of labor, treasury, defense, education, and health and human services. For years, external experts and government watchdogs have provided the legislative and executive branches with recommendations often in live testimony and official reports to plug the leaks, but the recommendations often arent implemented by the agencies or enforced by Congress. In mid-February, Talcove presented Congress with four specific ideas: front-end identity verification, recertifying every beneficiary, third-party audits and more involvement from federal law enforcement. He acknowledges it would be inconvenient and expensive, but "if you don't do it, you're just going to bleed money." D'Esposito said there needs to be more proactive monitoring across government programs rather than reactive audits once the money is out the door. And the federal inspector general's offices need to be beefed up, Haskins said. For example, when he left government last fall, the USDA had 80 active field agents to oversee the entire $100-billion-a-year program. For a long time, states and the federal government have relied on the "pay and chase" method, in which money is paid out upfront before verifying eligibility. If fraud is determined, then the payer attempts to "chase" the money and get it back. The process is flawed. People often face short prison sentences and fines far below what was stolen, Haskins said. Haskins said U.S. attorneys tend to go after only the biggest cases, and the average SNAP prosecution takes three years. He said the government needs to set up task forces with state and local governments to help pursue some of the smaller fraud. Fraud is not a victimless crime D'Esposito said it's important to remember that fraud isn't a victimless crime, and every dollar out the door could be spent elsewhere. "There would be a lot more resources for our vulnerable population, whether it's seniors or those that are sick or those that are handicapped, special needs," he said. "There's so much of our vulnerable population that I think could be provided more resources and probably get resources much easier if many of our systems weren't just taken over by fraud." Sarah D. Wire, a senior national political correspondent with USA TODAY, can be reached at swire@usatoday.com. (This story was updated to meet our standards.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vance to lead effort to stop billions of dollars lost to fraud President Trump vowed early Saturday to press on with U.S. military operations against Iran, declaring the country would be hit very hard, even after its president apologized for attacks against regional neighbors. Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. The warning came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defiantly rejected Trumps demand for unconditional surrender in a video message filmed as the conflict entered a second week. Pezeshkian said that is a dream that they should take to their grave, according to The Associated Press. He also said that Irans temporary leadership council, which has been in charge since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes last Saturday, had agreed to halt strikes against other countries in the region unless the attacks originated from their territory. I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf, Pezeshkian reportedly said. From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. His comments appear to be aimed at easing regional tensions as the conflict spills outside of Irans borders but also come as explosions were reported at Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Iranian state TV reported Saturday morning that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck Al Dhafra Air Base, a U.S. command post in the UAE; however, those reports have not been independently verified. Trump suggested Pezeshkians apology was made only because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack, which has sought to topple the regime and stifle Tehrans nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. Iran is no longer the Bully of the Middle East, they are, instead, THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST, and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse! the president wrote. At least 1,172 civilians and 176 military personnel have been killed in Iran since the operation began, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The AP has reported at least 11 deaths in Israel as a result of retaliatory Iranian strikes. Six U.S. service members were also killed in an Iranian airstrike at a tactical operations center in Kuwait. A dignified transfer for the U.S. soldiers will take place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. Trump is expected to attend. 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. President Trump Speaks In The Oval Office (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) President Donald Trump made clear Friday that installing a democratic government in Iran is not on his list of priorities. Trump told CNNs Dana Bash, in a phone interview, that he simply wants a successor who will be fair and just and treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East. He also told Bash he would accept another religious figure leading the country. Advertisement Well I may be yeah, I mean, it depends on who the person is. I dont mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic, Trump said. He told CNN that Irans ruling establishment had been neutered and predicted the transition would mirror what happened in Venezuela, where acting president Delcy Rodriguez took over after U.S. forces seized Nicolas Maduro. (RELATED: Trump Says US Decapitated Iranian Leadership As They Ate Breakfast) Those remarks built on comments Trump made a day earlier. The president declared he must personally shape Irans leadership succession, just as he did in Caracas, Axios reported. He dismissed the late supreme leaders son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as someone he would not tolerate in power. They are wasting their time. Khameneis son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela, Trump told Axios. Trump struck a similar tone across several other interviews that day. He told Politico he would have a big impact over who governs Tehran or there would be no resolution. He told NBC he wanted to clean out everything as Iran picks new leadership. He also informed Reuters he would welcome Kurdish opposition groups launching a military campaign against the regime. Trumps stance tracks with his administrations own playbook. CNN noted in a separate analysis that the second-term National Security Strategy cut references to democracy to roughly a quarter of those found in the 2017 version. The 2025 document stated Washington would pursue relationships without imposing on them democratic or other social change that differs widely from their traditions and histories. Two drunk drivers arrested after chase and crash in Henry County HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Henry County deputies apprehended two drunk drivers in one night following a chase and collision. After midnight on March 7, law enforcement stopped a silver Chevrolet Tahoe at the Dutch Inn motel at 2360 Virginia Avenue in Collinsville. The driver fled as deputies approached the car and a high-speed pursuit southbound on Virginia Avenue ensued. After a short distance, the car crashed near Holiday Shopping Center located on the same road. Police then took the driver into custody without further altercation. Deputies identified the driver as Stephen Jermaine Gravely, 44, of Martinsville. He was charged with the following: felony eluding police driving under the influence Gravely is currently at the Henry County Adult Detention Center under no bond. Advertisement During the police chase, a Toyota Tacoma driven by a drunk driver struck a patrol car. The collision occurred in front of the Dutch Inn. The police car had lights and sirens activated at the time of the incident. Both vehicles sustained significant damage. Virginia State Police investigated the crash and identified the driver of the Toyota Tacoma as Colby Glenn Jackson, 23, of Ridgeway, Va. He was charged with: driving under the influence Jackson is also at the Henry County Adult Center and is being held under a $2,500 bond. 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 WFXRtv. Conditions underpinning China's long-term growth remain unchanged: spokesperson Xinhua) 11:23, March 07, 2026 BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The conditions underpinning China's long-term growth and underlying trend remain unchanged, despite the difficulties and challenges it faces, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a reporter's question about China's GDP growth target this year. When delivering the report on the work of the government on Thursday, Premier Li Qiang took stock of what China has achieved during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Gross domestic product (GDP) has taken a new leap, Mao said. Noting that these remarkable achievements have been made in a grave and complex landscape, where external shocks and challenges were intertwined with domestic difficulties and tough policy choices, Mao said that this says a lot about the great resilience and vigor of China's economy. "Looking forward, as Premier Li Qiang pointed out, we're clearly-eyed about the difficulties and challenges we face. Yet, the conditions underpinning China's long-term growth and underlying trend remain unchanged. More and more, China is demonstrating the strengths of its system and the strengths it has as a big country," said Mao. "As long as we fully tap our strengths and respond to challenges in the right way, we will surely open up even more promising prospects for China's development," Mao said. "We will fully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, move faster to foster a new pattern of development, and promote high-quality development," said Mao. She also said that China will promote higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output, adding that China will further expand high-standard opening up, stick to mutually beneficial cooperation, steadily advance institutional opening-up, and engage at a higher level in the global economy so that more people worldwide will benefit from China's development. The strategic focus, policy outcomes, vitality of development, and capacity for governance demonstrated in China's economic growth will provide much needed stability and certainty to a turbulent world, she said. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming) The top federal prosecutor in Miami is spearheading a new initiative targeting Cuban leaders for prosecution, sources familiar with the plan tell CBS News. Jason Reding Quinones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, is working with officials from federal and local law enforcement agencies and the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, to establish a new Cuban prosecution working group, the sources said. OFAC is the office responsible for imposing sanctions. The group plans to focus on prosecutions involving economic crimes, drugs, violent crimes and immigration-related violations, with a focus on targeting those in the Communist Party leadership, the sources added. A Justice Department spokesperson told CBS News: "Federal prosecutors from across the country work every day to pursue justice, which includes efforts to combat transnational crime." A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office could not be immediately reached for comment. The plans for the new working group were reported earlier by the Washington Post. President Trump has indicated he's been eyeing Cuba's leaders, after the U.S. ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the United States to face drug charges in January, and recently launched a joint war with Israel against Iran last week that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The president told CNN in an interview on Friday that Cuba's communist government was likely to be toppled next. Advertisement "Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon," Mr. Trump said, according to CNN. Quinones and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Yara Klukas are the same prosecutors who are separately leading an investigation into former Obama-era intelligence officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan, over an intelligence assessment that determined that Russia had tried to interfere in the 2016 presidential election to help benefit Mr. Trump. Late last year, Quinones' office sent subpoenas to former government officials requesting a broad swath of records, including paper or digital documents, text messages and emails associated with the preparation of the intelligence community's January 2017 assessment. In recent weeks, updated subpoenas that expanded the date range for the documents were issued in the matter. Noem aide Corey Lewandowski had contentious call with Trump after Senate hearing, sources say Watch: Kristi Noem speaks minutes after Trump announces he's removing her as DHS secretary Watch: Kristi Noem Senate hearing moment that may have led to ouster as DHS secretary The U.S. Department of Education headquarters stands in Washington, July 29, 2025. Photo: Andrew Rice / The Center Square (The Center Square) School leaders in New Richmond, Wisconsin could soon be answering questions from federal investigators about their school bathrooms. The U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into New Richmonds bathroom policy that allows biological males to use the girls or womens restroom. Young women should never be forced to share intimate spaces with boys and men because school leaders care more about radical gender ideology than protecting girls safety, dignity, and privacy. School board members who ignore these allegations are failing the families they serve. This Administration will investigate this complaint fully and address any violations it discovers promptly, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. New Richmond's school board last month voted down a proposal to change its bathroom policy. Dozens of New Richmond students, almost all of them young women, told school leaders how worried or uncomfortable they are about biological males in their bathrooms. In response, New Richmond Schools told those young women that they can use a single-stall restroom on the other side of the school building. Advertisement Republican congressman and candidate for governor Tom Tiffany took to social media on Thursday to cheer the federal investigation. "The U.S. Dept. of Ed is launching a Title IX investigation into the New Richmond School District for allowing men in girls bathrooms. Its sick that @GovEvers refuses to stand up for female students," he wrote. "As governor, I will protect girls spaces and put an end to this nonsense." The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which offered New Richmond Schools a new bathroom policy, also weighed in. "For too long, school districts in Wisconsin (and across the country) have allowed policies that force young girls to share private spaces with biological males. Really great news to see the U.S. Department of Education taking action to enforce Title IX as intended," WILL's Cory Brewer said. There is no word from the Department of Education as to when the investigation will start, or when it may question local school leaders. New Richmond's school board has not responded to the investigation. The school board there is set to meet again March 16. A week into the U.S.'s war in Iran, American drone expert Brett Velicovich joined Fox News anchor Jesse Watters to tout the role of advanced American drone defense technology used in the operation. In the split-screen beside him, footage of air defenses downing Iranian Shahed drones appeared to underscore his point. Except they weren't American air defenses. "Hi @FoxNews small clarification," Wild Hornets, a Ukrainian drone company, wrote on X. "The footage shown in this segment features STING a Ukrainian interceptor drone developed by engineers at Wild Hornets and used by Ukrainian air defense units to destroy Shahed-type drones." The mixup drew renewed attention to both Ukraine's drone expertise and to America's lack of drone defense preparedness, as Iran's aerial bombardment depletes interceptor stockpiles across the Middle East. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine will work with the Pentagon and Gulf allies to share what it has learned during four years of drone warfare. And a spokesman for Wild Hornets, the Ukrainian drone company, confirmed to CBS News that it is "ready to help Ukraine's strategic partners if called upon to do so." But experts say solutions will take time. "It has taken Ukraine an extremely long-time to get their high interception rates," Robert Tollast, a drone expert at the Royal United Services Institute, told CBS News. "There is no off-the-shelf solution that you can just buy. Building a layered system of air defense is more resource-intensive, and it takes time to build that technology into your security forces." Cost mismatch Just days into the war in Iran, Arab states in the Persian Gulf were already running low on interceptors, two regional officials confirmed to CBS News on Wednesday. At the core of the problem was a cost mismatch between expensive interceptors used to shoot down comparatively cheap Iranian drones. The Pac-3 Patriot air defense missiles used by many of America's Gulf allies costs around $12 million to produce, while an Iranian Shahed drone costs $50,000. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy announced that the Pentagon and America's Gulf allies were seeking Ukraine's expertise to solve the problem. "We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against 'shaheds' in the Middle East region. I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security," Zelenskyy said on X, noting in an earlier post that "Iranian attack drones are the same 'shaheds' that have been striking our cities, villages, and our Ukrainian infrastructure throughout this war." A Ukrainian soldier holds a Sting interceptor drone before a test flight on Feb. 22, 2026 ,in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine. The interceptor can be controlled using VR glasses or a small ground station. / Credit: Alex Nikitenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images (Alex Nikitenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) Ukraine is particularly well-suited to advise on more cost-effective solutions to bring down drones, as it has often lacked more expensive Western air defense systems throughout its war. Zelenskyy noted in a press briefing this week that the 800 Patriot air defense missiles used by Gulf states to intercept Iranian missiles and drones has already surpassed the total number of Patriot missiles provided to Ukraine during its four-year war with Russia. Kyiv has instead invested in a layered system of missile interceptors, drone interceptors, heavy machine guns, and planes that take down Russian drones. The military's drone interceptors, which include Wild Hornets' Sting drones, cost as little as $2,500 significantly less expensive than the anti-aircraft missiles used across the Middle East. Advertisement "Everyone can now see that Ukraine's experience in defense is, in many respects, irreplaceable," Zelenskyy said on X. "We are ready to share this experience and help those nations that helped Ukraine this winter and throughout this war." Long-term cooperation, no quick fix Even as Ukraine deploys its expertise to the Middle East, collaboration is more likely to take the form of long-term partnerships rather than rapid remedies to the current shortages America's Gulf allies face. Solutions, experts say, are just as much about tactics and knowledge-sharing as they are about deploying particular technology. "There is not a single magic bullet, one interceptor drone, that is able to take down these drones," Deborah Fairlamb, founder of Ukraine-based defense venture capital firm Green Flag Ventures, told CBS News. "Within Ukraine, it is a multi-layered defense that they use starting all the way from the border with Russia and are able to track in." Even for Wild Hornets' Sting drones which have downed 3,900 drones over Ukraine since May 2025 making an impact in the Middle East would take time. "We can train an experienced pilot on our drones in three days," Alex Roslin, a spokesman for Wild Hornets, told CBS News. "But that does not mean that a Ukrainian or U.S. drone pilot can come and they are knocking down Shahed drones in three days. It is about building teams and creating an integrated network of air defense, and how to work with tactical radar units and other teams." Experts stress that transferring this expertise on drone defense, in particular, is more difficult than other aspects of warfighting. "The principle of drone attacks is that it is forcing you to defend everywhere all the time. You need light mobile defenses, you need radars, you need very different types of maneuverable defenses against cheap drones," Tollast said. Still, Ukraine's drone-makers remain prepared to help America's Gulf allies as long as they are clear-eyed about the long timetable in store. "If a partnership was created by the Ukrainian government, we are 1000% ready to fill those needs," Roslin said. "But passing along that entire body of knowledge, you can imagine how complex that will be." Noem aide Corey Lewandowski had contentious call with Trump after Senate hearing, sources say Watch: Kristi Noem speaks minutes after Trump announces he's removing her as DHS secretary Watch: Kristi Noem Senate hearing moment that may have led to ouster as DHS secretary Defendant Chi Leung "Peter" Wai at the Old Bailey after he was charged in October 2024 Two UK immigration officers who had allegedly been hired by a Chinese-Australian woman were arrested after forcing entry into a flat in Pontefract, a jury has heard. The moment the door to the flat was forced was recorded on an audio eavesdropping device - a bug - that UK law enforcement had put in the flat. One of the UK immigration officers - Chi Leung "Peter" Wai - is on trial at the Old Bailey. The other - former Royal Marine Matthew Trickett - was found dead in May 2024 after he had been arrested and bailed. Wai denies charges of assisting a foreign intelligence service and foreign interference, and a charge of misconduct in public office while conducting searches of Home Office databases. Wai, 38, is on trial with Chung Biu "Bill" Yuen, 65 who works for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO). Both face charges of assisting a foreign intelligence service and foreign interference. Yuen also denies the charges. The prosecution says Yuen was the link between Wai and the authorities in China. The two have told detectives that they met at a restaurant in Chinatown in London. Wai had been a Metropolitan Police officer between 2015 and 2019, before joining UK Border Force in 2020, and he was a volunteer Special Constable with the City of London Police. The prosecution says that Wai took advantage of his access to the Home Office's Atlas immigration database as part of his private security work. The prosecution says he used the Atlas database to find out information about people from Hong Kong who were living in the UK, including some who were dissidents and who were claiming asylum. Wai knew Trickett as they had both worked as Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport, though Trickett later moved into Immigration Enforcement. Advertisement At the end of April 2024, Wai and Trickett, who both owned private security companies, were in Pontefract in West Yorkshire where a woman called Monica Kwong lived with her school-age son. The prosecution says they wanted to check that she lived there and had arranged for her to be filmed answering the door to a parcel delivery. In the video she can be seen wearing pink pyjamas with her son behind her. A Chinese-Australian woman called Tina Zou claimed that Kwong owed her money. She flew in to the UK from China on 28 April, and joined two former Hong Kong police officers who had also flown in. They all travelled up to Pontefract. Trickett was already in Pontefract with Wai. Zou was there when Trickett knocked on Kwong's door on 30 April. He got no reply. One of the group recorded the moment on video. The prosecution said that the next day, 1 May, they returned to the flat. At first, Trickett poured water under the door and then knocked, saying that there was a "leak" and he was "Dave from maintenance". Again there was no reply. Later that evening, an audio eavesdropping device that had been placed in the flat by UK law enforcement recorded some bangs and muffled sounds which the prosecution says was the moment the group forced entry to the flat. The prosecution has described it as "a shadow police operation by Hong Kong personnel on UK soil". The jury heard that shortly afterwards, British police officers arrested eleven people in the flat or nearby. They included Wai, Trickett and Zou, two drivers, and the two former Hong Kong police officers. Trickett was found dead 18 days later after being bailed. Zou is not on trial. The trial is expected to last six or seven weeks. A employee of SkyFall company operates a P1-Sun FPV interceptor drone during a test fly at a training ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine March 6, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko March 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian manufacturers of cheap interceptor drones designed to knock out enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) say they have the capacity to export in large volumes, amid enquiries from the United States and Middle East prompted by the Iran war. Hundreds of drones based on Iran's Shahed model and now made in Russia fill Ukraine's skies during frequent attacks, and many are downed by air defences including Western missiles, fighter jets, truck-mounted guns and interceptor drones. Now, as Iran launches drones at U.S. allies across the Gulf and beyond in response to intense U.S. and Israeli strikes, Ukraine is hoping the Middle East crisis will increase its leverage with allies by showing them the expertise it has built during four years of Russia's full-scale invasion could be invaluable to partners' own long-term security. With missiles sometimes costing millions of dollars each, and in short supply as Western armies scramble to bolster their own defences, interceptors are seen as an efficient and cost-effective way to counter attacks by relatively cheap drones. The United States and its allies in the Middle East have swiftly sought Ukraine's help with supplying such interceptors. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Ukraine would provide assistance in response to a U.S. request for help and said earlier that Middle Eastern nations had approached Kyiv. Zelenskiy did not specify what this would entail, but a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the United States and Qatar were in talks to purchase Ukrainian interceptor drones. SUPPLY OUTSTRIPS DEMAND IN UKRAINE SkyFall, a major manufacturer of drones including interceptors, said its manufacturing capacity had outgrown Ukraine's ability to purchase its systems and the company was ready to export. "We have had interest and inquiries from our (allies) and countries in the Middle East," said Ares, a representative of SkyFall who wore a balaclava as he spoke to hide his identity. Ares spoke on condition that only his call-sign be used. SkyFall says its P1-SUN interceptor has downed more than 1,500 Shaheds and 1,000 other drones since it entered operations four months ago. "The company is ready to provide any necessary assistance if we get the green light from our government," he said, adding that it would only do so if it did not affect Ukraine's ability to defend itself. Ihor Fedirko, CEO of UCDI, Ukraine's state-backed arms manufacturers' association, estimated that manufacturers of interceptor UAVs and other counter-drone systems were making about twice as many as the Ukrainian military needed to deal with Russia's frequent barrages. Advertisement SkyFall asked that the location of its factory not be disclosed. During a recent visit, Reuters reporters saw long rows of 3D printers churning out plastic drone components and halls of workers soldering and assembling drones. The company estimated it could manufacture up to 50,000 interceptor drones a month and export 5,000 to 10,000 without impinging on Ukraine's needs. Although Ukraine does not shoot down every drone fired by Russia, this is not always down to munition availability and can instead be a question of co-ordination. Kyiv is striving to better layer its air defences in order to allow fewer targets through, and sees boosting interceptor drone use as a key piece of the puzzle. In February, they were responsible for 70% of the drones downed in and around Kyiv, according to Ukraine's military. INTERCEPTORS COST FRACTION OF MISSILES Most Ukrainian interceptor drones cost a few thousand dollars or less. In comparison, PAC-3 missiles used in the coveted U.S. Patriot air defence system, can cost $4 million each and tend to be used to bring down enemy missiles. Shahed-136 drones, designed by Iran and now mass-manufactured by Russia, are estimated to cost between $50,000 and $100,000 each. SkyFall markets the P1-SUN as a highly cost-effective option. Depending on the model's specifications, it charges Ukraine's military about $1,000 per drone. "If we are talking about export and ... assistance to partners, then the price will most likely be higher," Ares said, although he believed it would still represent the cheapest option. Industry representatives said one of the biggest obstacles to using Ukrainian interceptor drones in the Gulf was pilots rather than drones. Ukraine is the only country with drone crews who know how to use these systems in combat. SkyFall has its own academy that provides a three-week course to new pilots, and the company said it would be ready to send instructors abroad in the event that Ukraine's government allowed it to sell drones to other countries. It also said it has developed capabilities to pilot its drones remotely, meaning drones could potentially be flown in the Gulf from a screen in Ukraine. (Reporting by Max Hunder; Additional reporting by Vladyslav Smilianets and Valentyn Ogirenko; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Alex Richardson) FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy talks as he attends a joint press conference with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (not pictured), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 25, 2026. REUTERS/Alina Smutko/File Photo March 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the situation in Iran and the Middle East and restated Kyiv's offer to help deal with Iranian drones. "Ukraine has been fighting against (Iranian-designed) 'Shaheds' for years, and everyone acknowledges that no other country in the world has such experience," Zelenskiy said on Telegram of his conversation. "We are ready to help and expect that our people will also receive the necessary support." Advertisement Zelenskiy said earlier this week he had spoken to the leaders of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskiy has also said Ukraine, which has faced regular attacks by Shaheds in the four-year-old war with Russia, would help the United States by providing specialists to counter the weapons. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr KozhukharEditing by Rod Nickel) This image provided by Nashville Noticias shows Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a reporter for the Spanish-language news outlet who has done stories critical of ICE and was arrested during a traffic stop Wednesday, March 4, 2026, reporting at work. (Nashville Noticias via AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A reporter for a Spanish-language news outlet in Tennessee who has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not shown any warrant when she was arrested this week, according to court documents filed by her attorney. Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias who has done stories critical of ICE, was arrested Wednesday during a traffic stop, according to documents filed in federal court in Nashville. Her lawyer called for her immediate release, but ICE has asked a judge to deny the request. Rodriguez, a Colombian citizen, entered the U.S lawfully and has been living in the country for the past five years, court records filed by her lawyer show. She has a valid work permit, and she has applied for political asylum and legal status through her husband, who is a U.S. citizen. Rodriguez has said she left Colombia after receiving death threats for her coverage of crime in the region, according to a statement from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. The association said it denounces immigration tactics that detain journalists and any efforts to interfere with news coverage of immigration enforcement. Rodriguez was with her husband in a marked Nashville Noticias vehicle when it was surrounded by several other vehicles and she was taken to a detention center, the news outlet said in a statement. A court filing Friday by a lawyer for ICE said an arrest warrant had been issued for Rodriguez on Monday and her visa authorizing her to stay in the U.S. had expired. The filing said her arrest and detention are not in violation of any laws or regulations. ICE spokesperson Melissa Egan said Rodriguez was arrested during a targeted enforcement operation and she will remain in custody as her case proceeds through court. Advertisement Court documents filed by Rodriguezs lawyer said that her attorney, Joel Coxander, spoke to an ICE agent who indicated that there was no arrest warrant for her at the time of her arrest. When she was arrested, Rodriguez was only shown an immigration document telling her to appear before ICE, according to the documents. Rodriguezs lawyer said in court documents that ICE had twice rescheduled a meeting with Rodriguez on her case, first because the office was closed during a winter storm and the second time because an agent couldnt find her appointment in the system. A new meeting was then set for March 17. Rodriguez joined Nashville Noticias in 2022, covering social, family, health, police and immigration issues, the news outlets statement said. She needs to reunite with her young daughter and husband to continue her legal process within the framework permitted by law, the statement said. ___ This story has been corrected to show the reporters second surname is Florez, not Flores as her attorneys initially said in a court filing. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez, right, delivers joint remarks with U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. issued a license Friday that authorizes dealings with Minerven, Venezuela's state-owned gold mining company, in the latest sign of the Trump administrations intent to exercise more control over that countrys natural resources. The license was issued after U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met in Venezuela with acting President Delcy Rodriguez this week, as well as with representatives of more than two dozen U.S. mining and minerals companies. Many of them previously operated in Venezuela. Burgum said Venezuelas government gave security assurances to mining companies interested in investing in the country, where mineral-rich areas have long been controlled by guerrilla members, gangs and other illegal groups. Under the license, people and companies from Russia, Iran, North Korea and Cuba are not authorized to engage in any contracts with Minerven Advertisement The Trump administration seeks to defend against Chinas hold on critical minerals, some of which are abundant in Venezuela. The license seeks to advance the administration's plan to turn around the long-troubled country following the capture by U.S. forces of then-President Nicolas Maduro two months ago. On another natural-resources front, the U.S. moved recently to take legal ownership of a sanctioned tanker and nearly 2 million barrels of petroleum seized off the coast of Venezuela in December. In January, Rodriguez signed a law that opened Venezuelas oil sector to privatization. ___ Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Babson College student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza poses wearing a mortarboard after graduating from high school in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., in 2025. massdeportationdefense.org/Handout via REUTERS By Nate Raymond BOSTON, March 6 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge who had ordered President Donald Trump's administration to facilitate the return of a college student it deported to Honduras said on Friday the "sad truth" is that her decision not to board a plane it arranged back to the United States meant her case must be dismissed. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 20-year-old freshman at Babson College in Massachusetts, declined on February 27 to board a flight arranged by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to bring her back to the United States after the administration said it would try to deport her again if she returned. Lopez Belloza, who came to the United States from Honduras when she was 8, has said she was unaware she was subject to a final order of removal that was entered when she was 11. Her lawyers had urged Boston-based U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns to let Lopez Belloza continue the lawsuit she filed after being detained by immigration authorities at Boston's Logan International Airport in November while traveling to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her family in Texas. But Stearns reaffirmed his earlier conclusion that he did not have jurisdiction to hear the case concerning her detention because by the time it was filed on November 21, she had been flown by immigration authorities to Texas. His sole remaining basis for jurisdiction would have been to enforce an order issued by another judge just minutes after Lopez Belloza's case was filed barring her from being deported or transferred out of Massachusetts for 72 hours. Lopez Belloza was flown from Texas to Honduras the next day despite that judicial order. Advertisement A U.S. government lawyer later apologized to Stearns for a "mistake" made by a ICE officer who failed to properly alert others in the agency about the existence of the judicial order. Stearns on February 13 ordered the administration to rectify the error by facilitating her return to the United States. The administration last week said it would do so by having Lopez Belloza board the ICE flight from Honduras to Texas. But the administration also said ICE planned to move to deport her again upon arrival and had the authority to detain her. Lopez Belloza said the "nightmare" situation caused her to decline to board the flight and remain in Honduras. "The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this court's only remaining basis for jurisdiction," Stearns wrote. Stearns said had she boarded the plane, the judicial order barring her swift deportation would have remained in effect, giving her "ample opportunity" to file a new case in Texas to challenge her detention. Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza's lawyer, said he will appeal. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham) A US F-16 fighter jet releases flares du The United States military is supporting an anti-narcoterrorist operation in Ecuador, according to a Friday night release. Since September 2, U.S. military forces have conducted multiple strikes against drug-running vessels, including sinking a boat with 11 members of Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by Trump on Jan. 20, 2025. The statement noted that Ecuadorian forces were carrying out combat operations against terrorist groups. (RELATED: Trump Confirms Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Is Dead) At the order of @SecWar, #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed the joint force to support Ecuadorian forces conducing lethal kinetic operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations within Ecuador March 6, United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) posted on X. Advertisement We are advancing alongside our partners in the fight against narcoterrorism, Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan said in the post on X. I congratulate our joint forces and the Ecuadorian armed forces for the successful operation against narcoterrorists in Ecuador. This collaborative and decisive action is a strategic success for all nations in the Western Hemisphere committed to disrupting and defeating narcoterrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated two Ecuadorian gangs with ties to Mexican drug cartels, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as foreign terrorist organizations on Sept. 4, 2025. Trump designated Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations when he took office at the start of his second term on Jan. 20, 2025. The United States, in partnership with Ecuador and its President Daniel Noboa, will continue to protect our two nations by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding drug cartels terrorism and criminal activity, the State Department said in the release announcing the designation. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Press conference on people's livelihood held during 4th session of 14th NPC Xinhua) 12:08, March 07, 2026 A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Huai Jinpeng, minister of education, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Lu Zhiyuan, minister of civil affairs, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Sun Yeli, minister of culture and tourism, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming) A high school class trip turned into an unexpected brush with conflict when Christian Liess and his classmates were stranded in Abu Dhabi amid missile strikes in the region, forcing parents and U.S. officials to scramble to bring the students home. "It was a little scary, to be honest," Liess told "Jesse Watters Primetime" on Friday. Liess and his classmates arrived in Abu Dhabi for what should have been a routine layover in the United Arab Emirates on their way to Thailand for a class trip. The layover, however, turned into an unexpected stay in a region facing active threats amid Operation Epic Fury. State Department Has Helped Over 130 Americans Evacuate Israel During War With Iran, Official Says "We saw some missiles intercepted while we were at the airport, and then for the next few days, while we stayed at a hotel, we kept hearing missiles go off. We saw, I think, some of the defense missiles intercept the attacking missiles." "We were able to get out, thanks to a lot of people working here and the administration," Liess said. Read On The Fox News App An alert issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior warning residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi of a potential Iranian missile strike is displayed on a mobile phone shortly before a missile was intercepted in Dubai on March 5, 2026. (Getty Images) Back home, the crisis unfolded in real time for parents watching from thousands of miles away. Liess' father, David, said he and his wife were scared amid the uncertainty. "We got on the State Department website and filled out the STEP form," he recalled, referring to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program that allows U.S. citizens abroad to receive security updates and assistance. Advertisement State Dept In 'Constant Contact' With Congressional Offices As Americans Flee Middle East Amid Iran Strikes A man walks away after watching as a black plume of smoke rises from a warehouse in the industrial area of Sharjah City, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, March 1, 2026. "Then we called all the other parents and were like, Fill this out. Some of them already had, and we all then just prayed." Days later, the family received the call they had been waiting for: The students were in the air and headed home. "I'm not a crier, but I wept," David recalled. The trip had been part of what Liess described as the schools annual cultural education program, with Thailand selected as the 2026 destination. Instead, students found themselves monitoring missile alerts and sheltering in a hotel as tensions escalated in the Middle East. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Despite the circumstances, Liess described the experience as interesting and said it taught him an important lesson. "Youd see a big streak of light go up in the sky and then a big poof of smoke," he said. "Definitely read the news a little bit before you go on a trip." Original article source: US student rescued from Mideast describes missile activity in Abu Dhabi when class trip turned 'scary' On the day that marks 13 years since the death of Venezuelan socialist strongman Hugo Chavez and two months after the Jan. 3 U.S. operation that captured Nicolas Maduro, the scene in Caracas looks strikingly different from the anti-U.S.-imperialism rhetoric that founded Chavismo and was echoed by his successor. On the ground, a new era marked by promises of gold, critical mineral mining and oil extraction is rolling out fast. Dozens of oil and mining executives, invited by the White House and warmly received by the Venezuelan interim government, are crowding Caracas' U.S. Embassy-recommended hotels and heading out on excursions to explore Venezuela's vast resource potential. The U.S. Department of State and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela jointly announced Thursday the restoration of diplomatic ties, broken in 2019 during President Trump's first term. The statements promise the move will "facilitate joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela." Caracas expressed confidence the process "will contribute to strengthening understanding and opening up opportunities for a positive relationship and shared benefit." U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum wrapped a two-day visit to Caracas on Thursday, saying, "We've just come off a fantastically positive, constructive two days of meetings. We had dozens of companies here from the United States that were interested in investing in Venezuela, coming back to Venezuela." Burgum thanked "Madam President" Delcy Rodriguez and her brother, Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, for moving at "Trump speed," passing a law on hydrocarbons, key parts of petroleum and natural gas, that "improves transparency, consistency and cuts red tape" and "creates an environment where companies feel comfortable that they want to be able to reinvest and come back here." He added that Chevron, which operates in Venezuela, announced that Wednesday was its all-time record production day. Standing next to Burgum at the Miraflores Presidential Palace, Rodriguez announced before a group of U.S. mining executives and Venezuelan officials that the hydrocarbons law would be replicated for the mining sector. The $25 million question in Venezuela There was a question hanging over the secretary's visit, one that has become a rallying cry among members of the Venezuelan opposition both abroad and inside the country: What about Diosdado Cabello? The man responsible for internal security in Venezuela and in charge of mining as interior minister stands accused in the United States of crimes similar to those that led to Maduro's capture. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Cabello along with Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking charges, alleging he was among the leaders of the so-called Cartel de los Soles, an alleged network of Venezuelan officials accused of working with Colombian guerrilla groups to traffic cocaine through Venezuela. The U.S. State Department still offers a reward of up to $25 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Yet during the meetings at the Presidential Palace, Cabello was sitting directly across from Burgum, his counterpart. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, left, Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez, center, and Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace Diosdado Cabello are seen at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas on March 4, 2026. / Credit: Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images (Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images) Asked by CBS News, which gained rare access to Venezuela during Burgum's visit, why he trusts Cabello and whether he's going to be involved in the negotiations, Burgum ignored the question. When asked about Cabello again directly, he declined to answer. Asked for any comment on Cabello, the secretary looked to the next reporter. If the United States is preparing to reopen Venezuela's mines and American companies are preparing to invest billions, that transition will unfold in a region where a powerful network of armed groups, illegal mining and corruption have shaped the industry for years. And for now, one of the men the United States once put a price on is still sitting at the negotiating table. Optimism amid security concerns Advertisement Along the streets of central Caracas on Thursday, a midday march culminated at the monumental mausoleum where Hugo Chavez was laid to rest. Maduro loyalists held signs accusing "the empire" of "kidnapping" the regime's now-imprisoned leader and his wife, Cilia Flores. A woman in tears, remembering Chavez's legacy, described the weeks following Maduro's capture as a "painful time." But when asked about the influx of U.S. oil and mining executives and the deals the Rodriguez administration is entering into with the U.S. government and private sector, she said she was "very proud" of Delcy Rodriguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Defense Minister Padrino Lopez, and Jorge Rodriguez the leading figures of both the interim government and the Maduro regime. "President Delcy Rodriguez is a woman of peace," she said. She added that she believes the ministers are "doing it for the collective, leaving their personal interests aside they could be entering into an active conflict because we are an anti-imperialist country, but the collective is more important." Supporters of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez mark 13 years since his death, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 5, 2026. / Credit: Reuters/Maxwell Briceno Jholeika Gordillo, president of Gas Caracas, a public gas distribution company, who describes herself on social media as a "daughter of Chavez," acknowledged the need for investment to revitalize oil production for the prosperity of the Venezuelan people, adding that the agreements are part of Rodriguez's efforts to "maintain peace and stability." Others accused the Trump administration of imposing the agreements by force. Both sides echo optimism, but security remains a major concern along Venezuela's Arco Minero del Orinoco, a 112,000-square-kilometer mining zone in the country's south created by presidential decree in 2016. U.N. fact-finding missions and independent researchers say criminal syndicates; the organization known as the National Liberation Army, or ELN, that was designated by the U.S. as a terror group; dissident guerrillas with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC; and local militias control large portions of the mines, taxing miners and enforcing rule through violence. Investigations have documented forced labor, sexual exploitation and children working in mining camps, while mercury contamination and deforestation have spread through Indigenous territories and major river systems across the Venezuelan Amazon. A report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies found that "victims are either forced into sex work or find it is their only employment option. Children are especially at risk for being trafficked in the area. There are reports that the average age of sex trafficking victims is 13 to 14 years old." Asked by CBS News what is the U.S. plan to address criminal elements in the mining sector and whether the U.S. is entertaining military involvement to fight those actors, Burgum said the answer was economic rather than military. "The presence of the security concerns that you described was a function of the economic environment," he said. The new mining law, he added, would create "great high-paying jobs," and "that economic force is even more important than a military force in driving a transition." "Framed": Highlighting the art that surrounds art Uncertainty deepens over Iran as U.S. and Israeli attacks continue The persistence of hunger in America Clocks "spring forward" an hour this Sunday to the chagrin of many Americans. But as the time changes, why daylight saving time started and who was behind the effort remain complicated. For more than 100 years, proponents and opponents of daylight saving time have argued over whether to keep observing the twice-yearly changing of the clocks, but many don't know how or why the U.S. started the custom in the first place. Why was daylight saving time created? The origins of daylight saving time have been attributed to various people and reasons. Fingers are often pointed at farmers as the originators of the practice so they could have more daylight, but farmers didn't necessarily support the time change when it was adopted in the early 20th century. Who invented daylight saving time? Some have said Benjamin Franklin started the practice back in 1784 when he wrote a satirical essay for the Journal de Paris proposing regulations to ensure early risers. Philadelphia's Franklin Institute disputes this claim, and places the daylight saving time blame on George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist. In 1895, Hudson proposed a two-hour rollback on clocks inspired by his bug-collecting passion, as he wanted more daylight after his shift work to collect insects. Others say British builder William Willet was the architect of daylight saving time. In 1907, he wrote a pamphlet called "The Waste of Daylight," which encouraged advancing clocks in the spring so people could get out of bed earlier. Longer and lighter days were supposed to save energy, reduce traffic accidents and help people become more active. When was daylight saving time put into place? Clocks really started to roll back during World War I, with Germany in 1916 becoming the first country to observe daylight saving time to conserve fuel, according to the Congressional Research Service. Advertisement The U.S. Embassy in Berlin sent a dispatch on April 8 to Washington, D.C., to let them know about the clock change initiative made two days prior. According to the National Archives, an "order directing a change in the clocks to 'add' an hour of daylight to the day during the months of May through September" had been made. The dispatch noted that Germany believed that changing the clocks would save $23.8 million about $748 million in today's dollars by limiting the use of artificial light. Other European countries followed suit, and then in 1918, the U.S. started to use daylight saving time. The following year, in 1919, Congress repealed daylight saving time over the veto of then-President Woodrow Wilson. States were given the option to continue the practice. So, why do we still have daylight saving time? During World War II, the entire country started to observe daylight saving time year-round. In 1966, the Uniform Time Act established the system Americans use today, with the clocks falling back in November, and springing forward in March. The honeymoon lasted almost a decade, until 1974, when Congress tried to keep daylight saving time year-round again in response to the 1973 oil embargo. That attempt, though, fizzled out in a few months. Americans were back to the twice-yearly clock change, and despite the introduction of the Sunshine Protection Act with every new Congress in recent years, the clocks are still changing. Noem aide Corey Lewandowski had contentious call with Trump after Senate hearing, sources say Watch: Kristi Noem speaks minutes after Trump announces he's removing her as DHS secretary Watch: Kristi Noem Senate hearing moment that may have led to ouster as DHS secretary Topeka's representative and the two other Kansas Republicans in the U.S. House voted to support the war with Iran. "I am convinced the president had ample legal authority to join this fight," U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kansas, said in a statement. "Although engaging Congress sooner might have been prudent, Congress is now engaged. My vote today supports our troops in combat. We did not seek this fight but speaking with one voice, we must support our warfighters as they finish their mission." Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war. It has not done so. However, the War Powers Act does authorize the president to take some military actions while also requiring notification to Congress. Schmidt issued a lengthy statement after the U.S. House voted 212-219 on March 5 to reject a war powers resolution to end American involvement in the Iran war. He said the Trump administration and U.S. troops "have my full support." "Today I voted against cutting off support for our dedicated troops in combat, against stopping short of completing their mission underway in Iran," he said. U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt explained his vote opposing a war powers resolution to end the war with Iran. The vote was mostly along party lines, though two Republicans sided with most Democrats while four Democrats sided with most Republicans. Schmidt was joined by fellow Kansas Republican U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann and Ron Estes in opposing the resolution. The state's only Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, voted for the resolution. A similar resolution failed in the Senate on March 4, with U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voting to allow continued military operations. President Donald Trump has described Operation Epic Fury against Iran as "one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen." The United States launched the first strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. More: Iran divides Kansas congressional delegation on Trump's war powers Schmidt said Iran has been "waging war against America" for "nearly half a century." Advertisement "This is not a war of choice for America; only the time and place of our fighting back were of our choosing," he said. The Trump administration has offered a variety of justifications for attacking Iran, including regime change and ending a nuclear threat. More: Kansas congressmen thought Iran's nuclear program had been obliterated "An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American," Trump said in a video posted to social media on March 2. "We cannot allow a nation that raises terrorist armies to possess such weapons." Schmidt said Iran's government has "refused to abandon nuclear-weapon ambitions even after the United States destroyed the regime's principal weapons facilities last year, continued to develop missile and drone delivery systems with expanding range, and smuggled likely terror cells into our country across our once-open southern border." Schmidt is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and he said he received a briefing on March 5. "The U.S. military mission in Iran is to protect America by degrading to the point of elimination the Tehran regime's warfighting abilities notably its abilities to build a nuclear bomb; to project power through its navy, missiles and drones; and to equip and support terror networks," Schmidt said. "In my view, we must remain focused on that America First mission and guard against mission creep. Kansans do not favor another protracted involvement in a foreign war." More: Kansas senators vote against Iran war powers resolution Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Republicans in Congress vote to support Trump's war with Iran A week into the war in Iran and the Trump administration has given several reasons for why it carried out the strikes alongside Israel. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have said it moved to eliminate an imminent threat, to squash missile capabilities and prevent nuclear capabilities. It also seemed to support a regime-change, though they did not call it a regime-change war. Trump has said the U.S. will continue its military action until all its objectives are achieved and has since predicted that it will take several weeks. The death toll as of March 6 includes more than 1,200 Iranians, 10 Israelis and at least six U.S. troops. "This is a war of choice that Donald Trump has chosen where he has now offered four different explanations of what our goals are," Sen. Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on March 3. But Congress has opted not to halt U.S. involvement in the war after war powers resolution measures failed in both the House and the Senate this week. Advertisement Live updates: Trump demands Iran's 'unconditional surrender' 1 / 0 Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Why are we at war with Iran? There are many answers Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have laid out their four objectives: 1) destroy Iran's ballistic missiles; 2) take out its navy; 3) stop its "terrorist proxies" from destabilizing the region; and 4) ensure Iran never has nuclear weapons. But it took a few days for the message to coalesce around that list of goals, and it appears to still be evolving. Here is what some of Trump and his administration said throughout the week: Feb. 28, video update: "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 also said Iran tried to rebuild after the strikes last summer. "For these reasons, the United States military has undertaken a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated ... we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It's a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon." Trump also called on the people of Iran to take over their government when the U.S. finishes. March 1, video update: "An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American. We cannot allow a nation that raises terrorist armies to possess such weapons, that would allow them to extort the world to their evil will," Trump said. March 2, remarks at a Medal of Honor ceremony, where Trump listed out the four goals as echoed by Leavitt later in the week: "An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East, but also to the American people. Our country itself would be under threat and it was very nearly under threat," Trump said. Hegseth said on March 2: "This is not a so-called regime-change war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it." Rubio told reporters on March 2 that it was Israel that was planning to attack Iran first. "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 preemptively go after them, before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties," Rubio said. "And then we would all be here answering questions about why we knew that and didn't act." On March 3, Trump countered Rubio's narrative, saying the U.S. thought Iran was going to strike first: "They were going to attack if we didn't do it, they were going to attack first ... So, if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand, but Israel was ready and we were ready. (Rubio, pressed on it, said, "The bottom line is this: The president determined we were not going to get hit first. Its that simple, guys, according to Reuters.) On March 4, Leavitt spoke at a press briefing, echoing the four objectives Trump gave on March 2: "Iran rejected the path of peace because the terrorist in charge of this regime wanted to build nuclear weapons to use against Americans and our allies. President Trump made the determination, a courageous determination and decision, that the path the United States was on with Iran had only one outcome: massive death and destruction at the hands of a nuclear-armed terroristic regime. That path of death and destruction and threats against the American people have ended with Operation Epic Fury." On March 6, Trump posted this on Truth Social: "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 has denied seeking a nuclear weapon and says it was attacked unprovoked, according to Reuters. National security analysts and experts previously told USA TODAY that Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities are wrong or greatly exaggerated. Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Zachary Schermele, Michael Collins, Michael Loria, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Bluesky and TikTok This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Trump attack Iran? He posted he wants 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' Bela Perez and her friend Credit: Bela Perez/TikTok NEED TO KNOW A winter storm canceled Bela Perezs flight from Barcelona to New York She says she was removed from a rebooked London flight and rerouted through Morocco instead Perez claims neither airline has offered compensation Bela Perez thought she was boarding a routine flight home to New York after her trip to Barcelona, but instead, she says she found herself rerouted to another continent. What began as a weather delay turned into what she describes as a chaotic, cross-country scramble that nearly left her stranded overseas. My flight was originally supposed to be going back to New York, but due to a winter storm in New York, my flight was canceled, and they rebooked me and my two friends I was with on a flight with a layover in London, Perez tells PEOPLE. When she arrived at the airport, however, she learned that she and one of her friends had been removed from that flight back to New York City, along with about eight other passengers. According to Perez, airline staff told them their only option was to contact the official airline, the carrier they had originally booked through. She claims the airline placed them on a new route that would take them through Morocco before eventually landing in New York. [The airline] put us on a flight to Morocco that then went to New York, she alleges. They departed about three hours later than planned, and the reroute created a tight and stressful connection once they landed in Africa. The layover required changing terminals just as boarding for their New York flight began. Perez says she raised concerns about the timing but felt brushed off. When we requested to [the airline] that we be let off the plane first, they refused and insisted that we would make the flight with time to spare, which was not the case, she says. Instead, she says they took a bus to another terminal, went through an additional security checkpoint and sprinted across the airport, ultimately boarding as the final passengers. Advertisement Perez says the possibility of missing that connection loomed over the entire experience. If we had missed that flight, the next flight out of Morocco was about eight hours later, and it wouldve taken us from Morocco to Madrid, so we would have to go back to Spain to get to New York, Perez says, noting they had already lost a full day due to weather. The financial side of the ordeal added another layer of frustration. We had to pay $230 to check our underweight checked bag with [the new airline], when [with the initial airline], the fee is typically $80, she says, explaining that she was assured over the phone that the difference would be covered. When she followed up after returning home, Perez claims the answer changed. [The airline assured] me on the phone that they would be compensating this cost because they were the ones to put us on this airline, but when I followed up after the travel day, they said that there was nothing they can do about it, she alleges. 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. After sharing her experience on TikTok with the text overlay, POV: we just got to airport and found out our airline took us off our flight from Barcelona to NYC and rebooked us on a flight to Africa, Perez says she hoped the attention might prompt a resolution. Instead, she claims nothing has changed. The airline did nothing to compensate us after my video went viral, Perez claims. They just continued to refuse to compensate us in any way, which is obviously very frustrating. Read the original article on People A Rockford, Illinois, woman was sentenced March 6 in federal court to two years in prison for her role in a drug trafficking organization that attempted to bring 30 kilograms of cocaine to the Green Bay area. Sanjuana Montenegro Ochoa pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. She was the third of four defendants to be sentenced in connection to the organization. Ruben Salgado-Espinoza and Pablo and Pedro Sifuentes Navarro pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Salgado-Espinoza also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of illegally reentering the country after being deported. Salgado-Espinoza and Pablo and Pedro Sifuentes Navarro were arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration agents April 22 after traveling to Green Bay from Rockford, Illinois, with 30 kilograms of cocaine, according to a plea agreement. The cocaine was hidden in a trap built inside a vehicle. The seizure was the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the DEA's Green Bay division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Duros said at the March 5 sentencings of the Sifuentes Navarro brothers. The brothers were both sentenced to six years in prison. The government had zero evidence Montenegro Ochoa played any role in the 30 kilogram cocaine delivery, Duros said. However, Duros said, she was still an "active participant" in the organization led by Salgado-Espinoza. Montenegro Ochoa traveled to Green Bay with Pablo Sifuentes Navarro, her boyfriend, when he completed a one kilogram cocaine deal prior to the attempted 30 kilogram deal, according to a plea agreement. She spoke with an undercover agent and said the group could provide him with 15 kilograms of cocaine, the agreement said. Montenegro was also involved in distributing one pound of methamphetamine in a delivery coordinated by Pedro Sifuentes Navarro and Salgado-Espinoza, the plea agreement said. Duros said Montenegro Ochoa was "by far, without a doubt, the least culpable" of all four charged defendants. Because of the limited role she played, Duros recommended a three-year prison sentence, half of what Pedro and Pablo Sifuentes Navarro received. Defense attorney Erik Maciolek asked U.S. District Court Judge Byron Conway to consider a one year and one day sentence, which would essentially be time-served. Conway said a time-served sentence couldn't be justified based on the significance of the overall conspiracy. Considering the limited and brief role Montenegro Ochoa played, as well as her lack of a criminal record, Conway sentenced her to two years in prison followed by five years on supervised release. How much is 30 kilograms of cocaine? According to Duros, 1 kilogram of cocaine is equivalent to 1,000 street-level deals. The typical street dose is 1 to 5 grams, Duros said. Advertisement The drugs seized in this operation were pure cocaine, Duros said, which would typically be diluted or cut before being sold. Even before dilution, the seized cocaine would have constituted around 30,000 street-level deals, Duros said. "This level of cocaine would support a dealers' distribution habits for months and months and months," Duros said. "It would have fueled an enormous downstream distribution." Judge says deportation is harshest punishment Montenegro Ochoa came to the United States when she was two-years-old and has been living in the country legally under DACA, Maciolek said. She has no criminal record, had a job before her arrest and was on track to get a degree in nursing, according to her attorney. Montenegro Ochoa met Pablo Sifuentes Navarro in a grocery store and began a relationship with him, Maciolek said, which is how she became involved in Salgado-Espinoza's organization. Before meeting Pablo, Maciolek said, Montenegro Ochoa had never been involved with drugs or gotten in any trouble. It didn't appear that Salgado-Espinoza planned to pay Montenegro Ochoa any money for her role in the drug trafficking, Maciolek said. "She, to some extent, was used by people in this situation," Maciolek said. Conway agreed there was no indication Montenegro Ochoa "even profited a dime from this." He said he was confident Montenegro Ochoa would be deported after serving her sentence and asked her whether she had any family in Mexico. "I don't know where I would go," Montenegro Ochoa said. Montenegro Ochoa was well-educated, had lived her whole life in the country legally and had a job with plans for her future, Conway said. "Now that's all thrown away," he said. "That's a harsher punishment than I could ever deal out to you," Conway said. Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@usatodayco.com or (920) 431-8314. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Woman gets prison for role in attempted cocaine delivery to Green Bay NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Holds Election Night Event (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani deflected questions Friday about his wifes apparent endorsement of Instagram posts that celebrated Hamas deadly Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist who married Mamdani in early 2025, liked multiple Instagram posts on the day of the attack and the following day that framed the violence as justified resistance, according to Jewish Insider, which first reported the story. One post from an account called The Slow Factory showed images of a bulldozer smashing through the Israel-Gaza barrier and attackers atop a seized Israeli military vehicle. Duwaji also engaged with content from The Peoples Forum promoting a pro-Palestinian rally in Times Square on Oct. 8, 2023. Both posts featured the phrase from the river to the sea, Jewish Insider reported. Mamdani himself publicly condemned that same Times Square rally at the time for minimizing the massacre. (RELATED: Mamdani Campaign Architects New Project Reveals Stunning Levels Of Delusion) CBS News independently verified that Duwaji liked at least one post from Oct. 7 displaying images of the attack and another from the next day showing anti-Israel demonstrations. Advertisement When pressed at an unrelated Bronx event, Mamdani shielded his wife from scrutiny. My wife is the love of my life, and shes also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall, he told reporters, according to the New York Post (NYP). That private person defense rang hollow. NYP noted Duwaji appeared on New York Magazines digital cover in late December and sat for multiple New York Times profiles. Duwaji herself acknowledged the couples shared public life in her New York Magazine interview. I realized that it was not just his thing but our thing, she told the outlet. The Free Press later reported the problem ran deeper than the initial findings suggested, uncovering more than 70 anti-Israel posts Duwaji had liked, including one that dismissed documented Oct. 7 sexual violence as a fabricated hoax. Mamdani is the second New York politician in a single week forced to answer for a spouses online activity. Democratic New York Rep. Dan Goldman similarly distanced himself from posts his wife liked after Oct. 7, NBC New York reported. Rep. Nancy Mace who put the bill forward and Rep. Tony Gonzales whose confirmed affair triggered the whole event. Nancy Mace is no stranger to standing up for herself. It's a required trait when working as a teenager at a South Carolina Waffle House, attending the Citadel, and more recently defying your party to vote for the release of the Epstein files. She's gone out on a limb again with an effort to release records related to congressional sexual misconduct and harassment, including settlements that were allegedly paid with taxpayer money. The push came in response to allegations that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) had an affair with a congressional staffer who later died by suicide, after sexually explicit text messages between them surfaced publicly. Gonzales initially denied the affair but has since admitted to the relationship, calling it "a lapse in judgment," and has dropped his reelection bid under pressure from House Republican leadership. The House Ethics Committee has opened a formal investigation. Must Read The rules that apply to you don't always seem to apply to the people who write them and the recent vote on Capitol Hill did little to change that impression. The House (1) voted to scuttle the bill on a bipartisan basis, with members on both sides of the aisle closing ranks to send it to a committee which has already signaled its plans to kill the measure. Opponents argued the resolution was rushed and could do more harm than good the Ethics Committee warned it could chill victim cooperation in ongoing investigations, and several members, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), said the text lacked adequate protections for survivors and risked publicizing unsubstantiated allegations without victim consent. It was a jarring moment, particularly in light of the relentless public pressure to finally bring the full Epstein files to light. But when the spotlight searches for accountability in Congress, its members are remarkably adept at dimming the lights. The problem goes far beyond misconduct settlements. Critics say elected representatives aren't just avoiding accountability in many cases they may also be enriching themselves in ways unavailable to the rest of the country. When lawmakers appear to trade on privileged information, it raises serious concerns about market integrity and the public trust that your retirement savings depend on. And when their portfolios are tied to the industries they regulate, it's fair to ask whether the policies they support are always designed to serve you. The insider trading allegations that wont go away Should the people who set tax policy, regulate industries, and receive classified national security briefings be allowed to trade individual stocks? Most Americans say no. A 2023 University of Maryland poll (2) found that 86% of voters supported banning members of Congress from trading stocks. And yet, more than a decade after the passage of the STOCK Act of 2012, which was supposed to prevent lawmakers from profiting off nonpublic information, the practice continues largely unchecked. The STOCK Act (Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge) requires members of Congress to disclose stock trades within 45 days. But violations are routine and penalties are essentially symbolic. A 2022 investigation by Business Insider found that 78 members of Congress or their spouses violated the STOCK Act between 2021 and 2022 alone. The typical fine? A mere $200 (3). To put that in perspective, a parking ticket in Washington, D.C. can cost you $100. Breaking federal securities disclosure law, apparently, costs about the same as two of those. Bills introduced to solve the problem, but skepticism continues To their credit, some lawmakers are trying to change the system. In September 2025, Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Seth Magaziner (D-Rhode Island) introduced the Restore Trust in Congress Act in the House, a bipartisan bill to ban members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks (4). The bill has since attracted more than 125 cosponsors from both parties. In January 2026, Sens. Ashley Moody (R-Florida) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) introduced a Senate companion version (5), and in March 2026, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) introduced a separate, broader bill the No Getting Rich in Congress Act (6) that would also prohibit stock trading while extending restrictions to the executive branch. They're not alone. Sen. Josh Hawley's HONEST Act passed through a Senate committee in July 2025, and House Republicans advanced their own narrower proposal in early 2026. The result is a crowded field where virtually everyone agrees the system is broken but can't agree on how to fix it. Encouraging developments, but seasoned observers have reason to be skeptical. Similar bills have been introduced before, repeatedly, and none have made it to the President's desk. The pattern is familiar: a wave of public outrage, a flurry of press conferences, and then a quiet death in committee. 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 Timing of trades raises questions and public scrutiny What makes the congressional stock trading issue especially concerning isn't just the principle, it's the pattern of suspiciously well-timed trades. The suspicion isn't just anecdotal. Academic research, including a widely cited NBER working paper, has found that congressional leaders outperform their rank-and-file peers by staggering margins a pattern difficult to explain without some informational advantage (7). Advertisement Over the years, watchdog groups and retail investors have tracked congressional trading activity with increasing scrutiny. Platforms like Capitol Trades and Quiver Quantitative have built entire businesses around monitoring and publishing lawmakers' financial disclosures in near real-time, while communities like the subreddit r/tradewithcongress have turned congressional trading into something approaching a spectator sport one where the house always seems to win (8). The scrutiny cuts across party lines. Rep. Nancy Pelosi's stock portfolio has become arguably the most famous in Congress, with her returns beating the market by 581% during her time in office. But she's hardly alone Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's portfolio jumped 476% since she joined Congress. When members on opposite ends of the political spectrum are both dramatically outperforming professional fund managers, it raises questions that transcend partisanship. Some of the most scrutinized examples in recent years include trades made ahead of major policy announcements, regulatory decisions, and even national security developments. In one widely discussed case, observers on social media raised questions about whether certain congressional trades may have preceded publicly known developments in U.S.-Israeli military operations in the Middle East, specifically regarding defense-sector positions that would benefit from escalating military activity. None of this proves wrongdoing. Congressional trading disclosures are public records, and correlation between a trade and a subsequent event does not establish that a lawmaker acted on nonpublic information. But the fact that these questions keep arising, and that the existing enforcement framework is toothless, is precisely the problem. What can you actually do about it? If you're reading this and feeling frustrated, that's understandable. But you don't need Congress to play fair in order to build wealth for yourself. Here are some practical steps that any reader can take right now. Build an emergency fund first. Before you invest aggressively, make sure you have three months of essential expenses in a high-yield savings account. This keeps you from being forced to sell investments at a loss during an unexpected expense or job change. Take advantage of your 401(k) or IRA and actually max it out. Congress may have informational advantages you don't, but tax-advantaged retirement accounts are an edge available to everyone and most people leave it on the table. For 2026, the contribution limit for a 401(k) is $24,500 ($32,500 if you're over 50). For IRAs, it's $7,500 ($8,600 if you're over 50). If your employer offers a match, that's free money. Not contributing enough to capture the full match is one of the most common and most expensive financial mistakes Americans make. Favor broad index funds over individual stocks. One of the great ironies of the congressional trading debate is that the investment strategy most experts recommend for everyday people is the opposite of what many lawmakers do. Instead of picking individual stocks a strategy that even professional fund managers fail at more often than not low-cost index funds that track the S&P 500 or the total stock market give you instant diversification and historically stronger returns. Stay informed but don't panic. Congressional trades and political headlines will tempt you to react don't. A well-diversified, long-term investment portfolio has historically recovered from every downturn in U.S. market history. The biggest risk for most retail investors isn't a market crash it's pulling out during one. Remove emotion from the equation and automate the contributions to your investment account. The takeaway for investors The same Congress that won't release its own misconduct records and can't settle on a stock trading ban isn't going to reform itself anytime soon. But building long-term wealth has never required the same advantages as a senator. It depends on starting early, staying consistent, keeping your costs low, and not letting the news cycle derail your financial plan. You can't control what Congress does with its insider knowledge. But you can control your savings rate, your asset allocation, and your decision not to panic when markets get volatile. That disciplined, unsexy approach has a better track record than most of Capitol Hill's stock picks and you don't need a security clearance to pull it off. 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. NBC News (1); Program for Public Consultation / University of Maryland (2); Business Insider (3); Rep. Chip Roy (4); Sens. Moody and Gillibrand (5); Rep. Haley Stevens (6); NBER (7); r/tradewithcongress (8) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Sharon Dugger has been struggling amid an elevator breakdown at her rental building. An elevator outage is inconvenient for most renters. For older adults with limited mobility, it can mean being trapped at home. Thats what happened to residents of St. Giles Manor II in Pinellas Park, Florida, where an elevator serving the six-story rental building went out of service for nearly three weeks, according to Fox 13 Tampa Bay (1), leaving many residents stranded. The building is marketed as a senior apartment community, with housing designed for older residents many of whom rely on the elevator for medical appointments, groceries and other daily necessities (2). The outage left some unable to leave their homes. Its really rough, because I have this oxygen right now, resident Sharon Dugger told Fox 13. I get short on breath. Dugger, who lives on the fourth floor, said she must take the stairs with her oxygen equipment to make medical appointments. At least Dugger can use the stairs. Some of her neighbors on upper floors cannot, leaving them stuck. Residents told Fox 13 they were frustrated with inconsistent communication from management and repeated delays. Must Read When a mechanical failure becomes a financial problem For older adults on fixed incomes, being stranded is expensive. Extra costs may include grocery delivery, transportation to medical appointments and paid caregiving help. Even modest expenses can strain retirees who rely on Social Security benefits an average $1,976 in early 2025 according to the Social Security Administration (3). St. Giles Manor residents told Fox 13 they had not received any financial compensation for the outage. Prolonged elevator outages can raise legal questions about landlord responsibilities. Under Florida landlord-tenant law, landlords must maintain essential services including elevators: "A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part shall not cause, directly or indirectly, the termination or interruption of any utility service furnished the tenant, including, but not limited to, water, heat, light, electricity, gas, elevator." (4) Tenants and landlords must also comply with local building and housing codes governing property maintenance. Accessibility rules may also apply in some cases. The U.S. Department of Justice enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires certain housing providers and public facilities to meet accessibility standards (5). Advertisement In a multi-story building designed for seniors, a non-working elevator can create serious accessibility problems, especially for residents who use wheelchairs, walkers or medical equipment. And in federally subsidized housing, property owners must ensure building systems remain safe and operable including elevators. 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 renters can do when essential services fail Documentation is vital. Tenants should record dates and duration of outages, notify management of issues in writing, keep copies of repair requests and save receipts for extra expenses they incur as a result of the outage. Residents can also contact local code enforcement if repairs are delayed. Municipal inspectors can investigate potential violations and order corrective action. Tenants with disabilities may be able to request reasonable accommodations under federal fair housing law, such as temporary assistance while repairs are underway. Legal aid organizations and housing authorities can also help renters understand their rights and options. And there's power in numbers. "As with any situation affecting the habitability of the building, I urge tenants to try to deal with these things as a group if they can," Sam Himmelstein, a lawyer representing residential and commercial tenants and tenant associations, told Brick Underground (6). Himmelstein also suggests forming a tenant association. "In every way, it makes you more powerful, and if you eventually have to spend money on an attorney, doing it as a group makes it more affordable and makes it harder for the landlord to retaliate." 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. Fox 13 (1); St. Giles Manor 2 (2); Social Security Administration (3); Florida Senate (4); Americans with Disabilities Act (5); Brick Underground (6) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Iran claims attacks on U.S., Israeli targets as Israel intercepting Iranian missiles Xinhua) 12:20, March 07, 2026 Israeli security forces and first responders work at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 6, 2026. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) TEHRAN/JERUSALEM, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. In a statement, Iran's army said its ground force has targeted U.S. military bases in Kuwait with drones launched in large numbers, vowing that the attacks will continue in the coming hours. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it has launched a large number of Khorramshahr-4, Kheibar and Fattah missiles towards Israeli and U.S. targets in its 22nd wave of attacks, according to a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News. In another statement, the IRGC said in the latest wave, the Khorramshahr-4 missiles carried 2-ton warheads and hit the targets with speeds of above Mach 14. The IRGC listed the targets as U.S. bases in regional countries, as well as Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport and military centers in Haifa. For its part, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that, "a short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran ... Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat." 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. Israeli security forces and first responders work at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 6, 2026. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) Israeli security forces and first responders work at the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 6, 2026. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on March 6, 2026 shows the site of an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, Israel. Iran's armed forces said Friday that they attacked U.S. and Israeli targets across the region, while the Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were intercepting another missile launch from Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming) James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas, once posted information to social media, letting illegal aliens know they could evade detention as law enforcement grappled with a wave of immigration under President Donald Trump's first term. In a graphic put out by United We Dream, an activist group that supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Talarico encouraged viewers not to open their doors, not to sign any documentation without an attorney, to take pictures of ICE agents and to "fight back." "Undocumented Americans are folks who work in our businesses, learn in our schools and contribute to our communities but lack citizenship documentation," Talarico said in a post to X in 2019. "As a Texas legislator, theyre also my constituents," he added. Rising Star Talarico Topples Progressive Firebrand Crockett In High-stakes Texas Senate Democratic Primary Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) speaks to supporters at a campaign event on March 3, 2026, in Talarico's hometown of Round Rock, Texas. Texans went to the polls to vote for Democratic and Republican primary candidates ahead of November's midterm elections. (Getty Images) Talaricos 2019 posts come as he wages a Senate campaign in the Lone Star State thats attracted national attention. His comments clash with efforts to position himself as a pro-enforcement candidate. Read On The Fox News App In 2019, Talarico was in his second year of serving Texas as a state legislator. At the time of his post, the United States reported an explosion of CBP Southwest Border Apprehensions, according to data published by the agency. In July alone, CBP reported 81,000 apprehensions down from a peak of 144,000 in May as immigrants feeling instability and crime in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador poured into the U.S. For context, CBP reported just 40,000 apprehensions in July 2018, the year before. In response to inquiries from Fox News Digital about the post, Talaricos campaign said his message has focused on targeting individuals who threaten the public safety of the U.S. "James has been clear that we should be spending precious law enforcement resources cracking down on the cartels, not our communities; deporting gang members, not small business owners; and hunting down human traffickers, not moms and babies," Talarico spokesperson JT Ennis said in a statement. Texas Senate Primaries Explode As Cornyn Warns Paxton Could Cost Gop Majority, Democrats Clash Over Race Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks at a primary election watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (AP Images) At least one GOP onlooker said they believe Talarico is disguising a leniency he would take much further. Advertisement "James Talarico stands with dangerous criminal illegal aliens, not law enforcement," Republican National Committee representative Zach Kraft said, reacting to Talaricos 2019 post. "He is an open borders lunatic who wants to abolish ICE, put a welcome mat on the southern border, and greet every illegal alien with a warm hug and taxpayer-funded healthcare." Talarico, who just beat out progressive candidate Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas., in a heated Senate primary, now looks to win over voters in Novembers general election. If elected, he would become Texas first Democratic senator since Sen. Bob Krueger in 1993. Its still unclear who Talarico will be facing in the general election due to a Republican runoff between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Democratic Senate Primary Erupts After Candidate Accused Of Mediocre Black Man Remark Left: Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is seen in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, April 9, 2025; Right: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) meeting on February 23, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland When asked about immigration enforcement in the past, Talarico likened his views on enforcement to the entry of a home. "Our border should be like a front porch it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door," Talarico wrote on his website. Among other immigration policies, Talarico supports increasing ICE resources for public safety and national security, banning the use of masks by ICE agents, creating a pathway to legalization for certain undocumented immigrants, hiring more immigration judges and modernizing security at ports of entry. Talaricos campaign believes his views separate him from his Republican competition. Click Here To Download The Fox News App "While James fights for immigration policies a majority of Texans support, Cornyn, Paxton, and the billionaires who prop them up are trying to smear James because this people-powered movement is a threat to their wealth and power," Talaricos campaign said. Talarico will face down his Republican opponent on Nov. 3, 2025. Original article source: FLASHBACK: Dem Senate nominee called illegal aliens 'constituents,' gave advice on evading ICE David Price makes an initial appearance in court on a felony charge of insurance fraud, Friday. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS A local mayor appeared in court Friday afternoon after being charged with a felony for allegedly lying to insurance agents about what he paid to purchase a boat. David Dwayne Price, 62, appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Michael Kirkham at the Bonneville County Courthouse for a felony charge of insurance fraud. RELATED | Local mayor charged with insurance fraud after allegedly lying about the price of his boat Prices attorney, Ronald Swafford, and a prosecuting attorney with the Idaho Attorney Generals office, Samuel Camp, were present over Zoom. Price was informed of his rights, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 27. He did not enter a plea to the charge, and the prosecution declined to request a bond to be placed on him. Price was sworn in as the mayor of Spencer in Clark County in January 2026. According to 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 19 people live in Spencer. Background According to court documents, Price filed a claim on April 29, 2024, for his 2006 Northwest Jet Boat with a Farm Bureau agent, after reportedly running his boat into a sandbar on April 20. On July 15, a Farm Bureau claims supervisor received a repair estimate from Precision Inc. totaling $149,793.20, which resulted in the boat being determined a total loss. Advertisement The Farm Bureau supervisor offered multiple price settlement options, with the highest one being an actual cash value (ACV) of $110,000, and Farm Bureau would keep the boat. David Price makes an initial appearance in court on a felony charge of insurance fraud, Friday. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com On July 25, the supervisor spoke with the agent, who said that Price may have a bill of sale for that boat. The supervisor informed the agent that the settlement offer was final unless Price could provide proof of add-ons or comps that were the same model and trim as the boat. On July 31, the supervisor received a handwritten bill of sale which stated Price had purchased the boat from Neal Andrus for $215,000 on Jan. 12, 2022. On Aug. 1, a special investigator with the Farm Bureau spoke with the prior owner of the boat after finding him through the Department of Motor Vehicles. The former owner said he sold the boat to Price for $86,500. The DMV paperwork stated that the boat was sold for $20,000 on Jan. 12, 2022. According to the investigator, Price violated Idaho Code by lying about the price he paid for his boat. A summons was issued for Price on Feb. 13 of this year and was served on Wednesday. If convicted, Price could face up to 15 years in prison and fines totaling over $15,000. EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Price, who declined to give a comment at this time. We also reached out to his attorney, Ronald Swafford, but have not heard back. Though Price has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty. The post Local mayor appears in court on felony charge for insurance fraud appeared first on East Idaho News. An inflatable boat discovered near a beach in Belgium last month Smugglers have made more attempts to launch small boats into the English Channel from beaches in Belgium, according to police. It comes days after Belgian police told the BBC they were stepping up patrols, after smugglers targeted the Belgian coast, away from the main launch sites in France. For a number of years there had only been isolated cases of migrants departing from the country's coastline, but several cases have been recorded in recent weeks. The Home Office said it was working with international partners to drive down small boat crossings. Westkust Police said on Wednesday night a vessel was launched in the coastal town of De Panne, with 14 passengers on board, and was intercepted in French waters by French police. On Tuesday evening eight people were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after six vehicles were intercepted at locations in Nieuwpoort and Koksijde. Nautical equipment was also discovered. On 25 February, 15 migrants were discovered near Nieuwpoort marina and 22 people departed on a boat from the beach in Oostduinkerke on the night of 24 February. Police have suggested the recent rise is because of increased pressure on smugglers in France. De Panne, near the French border, is the site of the latest small boat launch from Belgium The beaches of Calais and Gravelines near Dunkirk have been the main small boat launch sites since the number of crossings started to increase from 2018. But the recent use of Belgium's coastline has led authorities to step up land and sea patrols, as well as from the air with the deployment of the Frontex aircraft. David Raynes, who was part of HM Customs and Excise National Investigation Service, told BBC South East he was not surprised by the latest tactics. "Thwarted smugglers constantly try new methods and routes," he said. Advertisement "The Belgian local administration need to be aware, if they let the smugglers settle to a new pattern, there will quickly develop camps and infrastructure similar to those in Calais. "Prevention now, will be much cheaper than future cure," he added. A Belgian Federal Police spokesperson said: "Crossing the Channel in a small boat is extremely dangerous and our goal is, of course, to stop all attempts to do so." They added that information was exchanged daily with the French and British police. David Raynes investigated smuggling cases for HM Customs and Excise In recent years the Home Office has provided its Belgian counterparts with additional resources to boost security. They include special night goggles to use on the beaches, extra cameras, and additional drones with thermal cameras to see in the dark on the beaches and the dunes. Speaking to the BBC in 2024, governor of the Province of West-Flanders Carl Decaluwe said one of his aims was to prevent migrant camps being established in his region. Carl Decaluwe, governor of West-Flanders, previously said his aim was to prevent migrant camps being set up Government figures show 41,262 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year - the vast majority from France - a 13% increase in a year. The figure remains lower than the peak of 45,774 in 2022. The government has pledged to "smash the smuggling gangs" in order to reduce the numbers crossing in small boats. A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are driving down small boat crossings and disrupting criminal smuggling gangs through our work with international partners. "Work with France has prevented 40,000 crossing attempts under this government, while joint action with Belgium has seen one of the largest suppliers of small boat parts behind bars." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Minnesota lawmakers are beginning to debate regulations for autonomous vehicles as robotaxi company Waymo prepares to launch its self-driving cars on Twin Cities streets. Two proposals have come forward since the start of the new legislative session, one bolstered by lobbyists and the other propped up by labor unions. A bill proposed by Rep. Koznick (R-Lakeville) in mid-February, which is backed by Waymo, mostly just lays the legal groundwork for autonomous vehicles to operate in the state. It also clarifies that law enforcement can issue traffic violation citations to the vehicles, and that cities cannot set their own rules and regulations for them. "The legislation is a vital step towards getting autonomous vehicles and their proven safety, accessibility and economic benefits to Minnesota," a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement provided to WCCO. Though the California-based company claims that its technology will reduce accidents, critics argue that self-driving cars could pose traffic safety threats, disrupt public transportation, and take jobs from rideshare drivers who have been fighting for stronger protections in Minnesota. That's what prompted Sen. Erin Maye Quade and Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura to come forward this week with a competing bill that would establish an independent advisory board and require a comprehensive study on autonomous vehicles before they can operate in Minnesota. It would also mandate a human safety operator in every self-driving car. Advertisement "In Minnesota, we welcome innovation, but we don't throw our communities and public safety under the bus for corporate profits," Maye Quade said during a Tuesday news conference. "This year, the Legislature has two versions of what future 'autonomous' vehicles could look like. "On one hand, we could hand over the keys to a massive corporation with few to no guardrails. On the other, we can make sure Minnesotans have a say in how companies like Waymo affect our streets and our economies." Waymo, owned by Google's parent company, currently operates in 10 U.S. cities, primarily on the West and Southwestern Coasts. It started testing its self-driving cars in Minneapolis in late 2025, with human drivers behind the wheel, but hasn't officially launched here yet. Though it has bipartisan support, Koznick's bill failed to pass the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on Wednesday after Democrats and Republicans were unable to agree on amendments, like requiring a wheelchair-accessible option, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is in favor of additional regulations for autonomous vehicles, including a permitting process overseen by MnDOT, which would allow it to put an end up unsafe operations "Before we allow large autonomous vehicle companies to operate freely and generate profit using Minnesota's public infrastructure, we owe Minnesotans clear answers," Sencer-Mura said Tuesday. This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. This week we collected 123 stories at ArtsJournal. Heres what I learned: The Boston Symphonys board didnt fire Andris Nelsons as its music director. Not exactly. They declined to renew his contract because he and the BSO werent aligned on future vision the boards own words, offered without apology. Not artistic differences. Not budget. Not performance. Future vision. That phrase is doing a lot of work here, and its worth thinking about, because it signals a structural institutional shift, one that appears, in different vocabulary, in many of the stories in arts and culture this week. To set the table: In Indianapolis, the museum quietly closed its immersive Van Gogh space 30,000 square feet, 150 projectors, five years of operation and nobody is saying much about why. In Jersey City, the site of the cancelled Pompidou branch may become affordable housing. DePaul University announced it will close its art museum, prompting open letters from faculty. Seattles 5th Avenue Theatre laid off 14 staff and paused some productions. And the National Symphonys top official walked out the door with a quote that deserves to be engraved somewhere: Its no secret that this has been a really hard year. So I started looking for a new opportunity several months ago. This could be what misaligned future vision looks like from the inside. You stop waiting for the vision to arrive, and you find a different lifeboat. But heres the other side of this weeks ledger: the institutions that do have a working answer to what are we for? are making moves. The Philadelphia Orchestra signed a partnership with Temple University centered on Terra Hall which Temple purchased from the collapsed University of the Arts. Chicago launched a Loop Arts District anchored by 90 organizations. New York City named a new culture commissioner that Mayor Mamdani described as someone who understands that art is not ornamental to this city it is essential to it. Whether or not you believe that, the framing matters. Its an answer to the question. What separates these two groups isnt size, money, or prestige. The BSO is a marquee institution with a first-tier budget. The NSO is the orchestra of the nations capital. Both may be in trouble, not because of what theyve done but because of what they cant articulate. The Philadelphia Orchestra isnt larger or richer than those institutions but right now its putting a marker down to articulate its future vision. So what? Well, heres an idea. Future vision was once understood to be the conductors job. The music director arrived with an artistic vision and the board funded it. That compact we provide resources, you provide direction has quietly collapsed sometime in the last decade, and nobody quite announced it. Now the institutions themselves have their own future visions. And that expands beyond merely picking music to play. If the orchestra is a creative enterprise embedded in its community, OF its community rather than merely IN it, the priorities shift. The conductor is expected to align with and build that vision, not solely dictate it. When the BSO said Nelsons wasnt aligned, they were making a statement about governance as much as artistry. The institution is the visionary now, for better or worse. Better, perhaps at the BSO where executive director Chad Smith has bristled with ideas about what a vision might look like, first at the LA Phil and now in Boston. Worse for institutions that havent connected a vision with their community and still lean on the tired star-power model of the past. Thats a structural change, not a dispute. And it connects, in a way that isnt immediately obvious, to the Supreme Courts decision this week to let stand the lower courts ruling that AI-generated work cannot hold copyright. As I wrote here last week, authorship used to be a status granted by an act of creation you made something, you owned it. Now authorship is a status you have to defend through documentation and intent. The BSO is making the same move: vision used to be something the artist had and the institution supported. Now its something the institution holds and the artist has to align with. Whether these shifts end well depends entirely on whether the boards and institutions developing these future visions are any good at it. The track record is mixed. The Pompidou branch that couldnt survive in Jersey City was someones future vision once. Also Worth Your Attention The Live Nation antitrust trial is the weeks most consequential story for musics structural future. The governments case, opening this week, alleges that Live Nation retains its grip on the music industry through strongarm demands that artists use its promotion and venue services, a business model built on accumulated bottlenecks. A possible breakup, or even a forced restructuring, would redraw the map of how live music gets made and distributed. The stakes arent just economic. For decades, Live Nations consolidation has meant that even future vision at the artistic level has to route through their infrastructure. The trial is asking a version of the same question the BSO board asked this week: who holds authority? The US hasnt really enforced anti-trust laws for decades as entire industries consolidated. Live music, where a single player has vertically locked up the industry, could be a great place to start. Public broadcasting is having its own version of this identity crisis and its getting acute. Miamis WLRN is in turmoil over a deepening conflict between its managing entity and the county school board that holds its license. Buffalos stations are rearranging their news and classical programming. And a smart piece in Editor & Publisher asks the question squarely: what if the future of public broadcasting doesnt include broadcasting? The mission-driven media organization that survives the next decade probably looks more like a civic intermediary than a radio station. Which is, again, a future vision question. And the institutions that can answer it are the ones that will be around to ask the next one. Editors Note: These weekly essays are meant to connect stories from the week to larger trends and ideas across the arts world. To see all the stories on which these essays are drawn from, subscribe to ArtsJournals free daily and weekly newsletters. To support our work, sign up at Patreon or subscribe to our Substack newsletter. Like this: Like Loading... Related The author, a voice of racial consciousness in the United States, speaks of his 2024 book The Message and how language can make violence presentable Ta-Nehisi Coates was a voice of conscience during the Obama era. The writer and journalist never bought into the reigning narrative of those years; he was critical of the U.S. president and cast doubt on the myth of racial progress, serving reminders of how the wounds of segregation had yet to heal. In 2015, Between the World and Me turned him into a literary phenomenon and thought leader. Today, his place is perhaps less indisputable: he is no longer seen as a civic oracle, but rather as an uncomfortable and controversial voice. His journalism has also made a shift: he went from being a star writer at The Atlantic to joining Vanity Fair at the end of 2025. In The Message (2024), Coates returns to his preferred mode: ontheground reporting and contrarian reflection as a way of challenging official narratives when they start to sound hollow. The book brings together three journeys (Dakar, South Carolina, and Palestine), all threaded by the same question: who decides which story gets told, who is left out of the frame, and how language makes violence presentable even when it is undeniable. On his first trip to Africa, he confronts the continent he imagined as a child. In the southern U.S. states, censorship of Between the World and Me leads him to the roots of segregation. And on a 10-day trip to Palestine that took place shortly before the October 7, 2023 attacks and the brutal Israeli response, he observes up close the machinery of genocide and the gulf between what happens on the ground and the version circulating in the United States. The Spanish edition, translated by Paula Zumalacarregui, arrives at a time when many of Coatess insights into the culture wars dismissed at the time as alarmist now read as strikingly prescient. Coates spoke to EL PAIS in a cafe tucked away in a quiet corner of Montmartre, in Paris, where he has spent long stretches over the past three years, far from the exaggerated capitalism of U.S. society and immersed in what he calls the city of all diasporas. Question. The book brings together your trips to three very different places. Its not an obvious mix of destinations. What do they have in common? Answer. My intention was to approach each place with the same question: what stories do we tell in order to understand our identity? In Senegal, I analyzed the narrative of the Black diaspora. In South Carolina, I observed how the issue of race was taught to my countrys youth. In Palestine, I focused on the story that hides domination and occupation. This led me to conclude that many people who subscribe to my ideology underestimate the power of culture, while those who criticize us have understood it very well. Art is political and can promote change, if one knows how to tell the story with precision and beauty. Q. In the first pages, you write about how as a child, you discovered something old, something ineffable, which marked all of humanity, stretching from Stratford upon Avon to the Streets. That concept of shared humanity might today sound a bit naive. What does it mean to you? A. I discovered that the characters from Macbeth and lyrics from the literature of my youth, which was hip-hop, have a lot in common. That this feeling of desperation was human. I saw it in Macbeth and when Biggie [the Notorious B.I.G.] raps Im ready to die. Thats not coming from a specifically Black pathology, but rather a sense that one is being beaten down by the world. In the United States, Black people are presented as an exception, as if we werent all human, and that makes you believe that your experience is unique. Thats a lie: our experience is a window onto common identity. Everyone looks out from their own window, but we are all living in the same building. Q. You didnt go to Africa until 2022. Why did you wait so long? A. Because Africa carries a heavy weight. For a Black American, it cant be a simple trip you take on your time off, because it is where all the myths are projected. You grow up thinking that everyone in the diaspora shares a bond that stems from colonization and slavery. To get there and not see that is a terrifying thought. And what if you dont have anything in common with the place? Then who are you? Does your identity no longer have any foundations? I felt that the second I arrived. That moment when the plane descends, you take in the landscape and say, Oh shit. The myths are over. The stories are over. Now well see what the truth is. Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of 'Between the World and Me,' in Paris. SAMUEL ARANDA Q. Speaking of the power of stories, you write in the book that the redeemers of this age look out and see their kingdom besieged by trans Barbies, Muslim mutants. Why are these adversaries so obsessed with representation? A. Because there is a sector of the United States whose identity is purely negative: it is not defined by what it is, but rather, what it isnt. To exist, they need an enemy. They need a permanent war, something against which to measure oneself, for their life to make sense. For a long time, they used Black people in that role. But for many reasons, its getting harder to turn Black people into an automatic target for that war. Thats why they widened the battlefield, looking for other bodies, other identities, other minorities to put in the place of other. Ultimately, anyone can take the role of the Black person. Q. Were seeing a shift in the African American imaginary from the racist stereotypes of the mammy and the sambo to Black Panther, which infuses representation with pride and power. Youve taken part in that shift by writing some of the Black superheros comics. A. I see it as important. It means that we arent your pets just because we are Black. Thats why I worked on the Black Panther comics. I actually did it because I love the comics, but also because sometimes, these new representations can have a bigger impact than a theoretical argument. Q. What happened with the Black Superman you were working on with J.J. Abrams? A. I wrote several versions of the script. In the end, they didnt want it. They told me it was too woke, whatever that means. The ironic thing is that I wasnt the one that proposed a Black Superman: they asked me to do it. Its strange when they invite you to do something, and then they accuse you of being the woke one. But its fine, Ill keep writing books. Q. Its symptomatic of a step back in pop culture: since Trumps victory, studios and streaming platforms dont want as many Black, LGBTQ+ or other minority characters. A. The thing is, we should never count on them or trust them. If you can get money out of them while it lasts, do it. But these studios arent committed to any political will for change. If anything, their will is to keep things exactly as they are. Q. Given the crisis in the United States, what is a country learning that, in barely a year, has gone from saying he wouldnt dare to witnessing a prefascist drift? A. I hope we learn that we are capable of the very worst, that the United States is not morally unique and that we are capable of anything, no matter how terrible. Its the end of the myth of U.S. exceptionalism, that made us think that things that happened in other places could never happen here. Q. What potential for resistance do you see? Will the American people wake up, like weve seen in the first major protests against ICE? A. I dont know. People are fighting and resisting, and its beautiful to see, but I dont know what the result will be. Q. You dont sound very optimistic. A. In the United States its very hard to limit the power of the institutions that are supposedly responsible for guaranteeing public safety. And its also a question of will: the other side is often more decisive and consistent. I dont know if the mid-term elections are going to change anything. Q. Regarding the censorship of your book Between the World and Me in places like Colorado, Tennessee and South Carolina, you write that you felt plucked from the present and pulled back to a time of lynchings and book burning. Is that where we are now? A. Well, theyre killing people in the streets. I dont like to say I told you so, but I saw this coming years ago, and they said I was being too alarmist. But its consistent with what the United States is as a country. If you accept that white supremacy lies in the bones of our country and that doesnt mean that it has to be like that forever, but it is a very powerful historical force denying it is like when an alcoholic says theyre not one anymore because they havent had a drink in months. Q. A decade after Barack Obama left the White House, how has your opinion evolved regarding his two terms? A. My judgement is harsher. I think he never understood the country that elected him president. Particularly, how deep-seated racism is. He sees a lot of white people like he saw his grandparents: as good people. And of course, many are. But there is also a very aggressive segment who is open to doing anything to preserve the hierarchy and white supremacy. And those people dont just disappear. Q. I remember your interview with Obama in 2016. You told him that because of his mixed-race and cosmopolitan background, his personal experience of racism was different from that of most Black people. A. Its completely different. For example, I doubt that he imagined in 2026, a U.S. president would share a drawing of him and his wife with the bodies of apes. He wouldnt have believed it in 2016. But some of us have always known that could happen. The writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, in the Parisian neighborhood of Montmartre, near his home. SAMUEL ARANDA Q. Back then, he said that moderation was a survival strategy, that if he was more aggressive in racial or social matters, a furious backlash could make the country ungovernable. A. What they didnt understand was that kind of reaction will always catch up with you, whether youre moderate or radical. They hate you for what you are, and theres no way out of that. You can be the most impeccable, middle-class, most American Black person and they will still hate you. And that hate is key to understanding what has happened during the last decade. There wouldnt have been Trump without Obama. The fact that he was Black was what had the greatest impact, even if they try to hide it with explanations that are economic, or about the working class. Q. What did you learn on your trip to Palestine? A. I learned that the United States finances and actively supports a system of apartheid. That this occupation is in large part, our own. And it irritates me that they try to skate over that fact with words, with euphemisms. It angers me that people who call themselves liberal and defenders of equality lie like that. That caused a rupture between me and my profession. I was trained as a journalist in the general press and I believed in its tools. But when you see colleagues cooking up that story, youre no longer debating ideas, but rather a method based in a lack of honesty. I think a lot about this story: in 2015, a correspondent from The New York Times in Jerusalem lived in a house that had belonged to a Palestinian woman who had been expelled. One day, they invited her to come back, took photos of her in the house, wrote an article about it and told her thanks and goodbye. Dude, you live in that womans fucking house. Thats astonishing. Q. You talk about how your peers, many of whom were also your friends, described Zionism as a noble enterprise, but they never acknowledged the impacts on its victims. Perhaps because they had never been victims of anything. A. The system is sustained by a certain degree of inhumanity: the victim always has to be almost an animal for you. Thats what the colonial gaze, which continues to this day, is based on. Q. What is striking is that the ravages of Zionism have been known in the West for decades. Was there a deliberate blindness? A. Yes. It was hard for many people to accept it, because support for Israel is profoundly incompatible with what the United States claims to be. Although perhaps, in reality, it is quite coherent with what we are Q. The same could be said for Europe. A. Of course. I focus on the United States because it is my personal shame, but the contradiction is shared: proclaiming oneself a bastion of freedom and democracy and, at the same time, supporting something like what is happening in Israel, going around the world deposing governments Q. You cite a quote from Menachem Begin, a Zionist militia leader who later became an Israeli prime minister: The Jews are not Zulus. You will not flog the Jews in their homeland. What does that quote tell us? A. That Zionism is born of nationalism and European colonialism, with the same ideology and racism. And it reveals something else: that, as he said, the category of Black as a position of submission can be applied to anyone. You dont need Black people to produce an other to treat as an inferior. Being Black, in that sense, is something fabricated, something that is built. Q. At the end of the book, you suggest a controversial idea: the conceptual parenthesis between Zionism and pan-Africanism. A. There is a temptation in all nationalisms: the impulse to look for legitimacy in a past era, in a golden age that makes us special. And that element can also be present in pan-Africanism. But there are other ways of understanding that connection. For example, feeling connected not to an ancient greatness, but rather to having been turned into the lowest of humanity, to have been reduced in the world order. That doesnt mean that there is a special pain that is essential to what we are: that is an idea I reject. It is a pain that comes from a historical situation. As always, many try to erase shame of the Holocaust, of slavery through stories based on an ancient greatness. Q. Even so, their effects have been radically different. A. Of course there are differences. In reality, African Americans are very American, even in a foundational sense. Now, German Jews are also as German as anyone else. You cant understand Germany without them. And even so, they were exterminated. And I think that theres a warning in that Q. In 2014, you wrote The Case For Reparations, an essay in The Atlantic that argued how the United States must repair, through policy and economic compensation, the damage caused to African Americans by slavery and decades of discrimination. Do you still believe that? A. Yes, and even in a much wider sense. I connect the damage that the United States has made in the world, to the damage done by the entire West. I think about Congo and what Belgium did to it; what France extracted from Haiti; what happened in Iran and Guatemala The West has caused so much pain, everywhere. Slavery and Jim Crow laws occupy a singular position, but they are not the only cases of exploitation in history. If opening that door implies other claims, open it. Europe, for example, is now experiencing migration as a threat. Lets remember what the European powers policies were in the countries from which those migrants now come. We all know that they were not limited to handing out food and curing diseases. Europe was built on plunder. Lets not forget that those who are arriving today are part of that history. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition by Mathias Hariyadi Ulema, parliamentarians, and civil society organizations have asked Indonesian President Prabowo Subiando to leave the international body promoted by Donald Trump for the management of the Gaza crisis. Criticism is also growing over the trade agreement on tariffs signed on February 19. Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The consequences of the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran are also being felt in Indonesia, where pressure is mounting on the government to withdraw its membership of the Board of Peace wanted by US President Donald Trump, an international body which Jakarta joined only at the end of January. Indonesia's participation in the Board of Peace was initially presented by President Prabowo Subianto as a diplomatic move to support peace and promote Palestinian independence. However, the attack on Iran has fueled widespread criticism, and many believe that participation in the body contradicts Indonesia's foreign policy principles. Calls for an immediate withdrawal from the Board of Peace have come from various sectors of society, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), parliamentarians, public figures, and numerous civil society organizations. In an official statement, the MUI condemned the military operation against Iran as contrary to the humanitarian values and principles enshrined in the preamble to the 1945 Indonesian Constitution and urged the government to immediately leave the Council. A council that was supposed to be a platform for peace has instead exacerbated conflicts. For this reason, we call on the Indonesian government to immediately revoke its membership in the Board of Peace, the statement read. The MUI's criticism was echoed by more than 60 public figures and some 70 civil society organizations, who signed a petition on March 1 arguing that the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran was a violation of international law and a serious threat to global peace. According to the petition's promoters, the Board of Peace has now turned into a Board of War that legitimizes military aggression, the signatories said. Foreign Minister Sugiono did not provide a direct response to the requests for withdrawal. When questioned by journalists after a meeting at the presidential palace in Jakarta between President Prabowo and several prominent public figures, he stated that the government's priority at the moment is the international situation related to the attacks against Iran. All discussions on the Board of Peace are temporarily suspended. Attention is focused on the situation in Iran, Sugiono said. The minister added that Jakarta continues to maintain contact with partner countries, particularly those in the Gulf, which are also members of the international body and indirectly involved in regional tensions. We are continuing consultations and coordination with our partners in the Gulf. They too are facing a similar situation, some have even been hit by the attacks, he explained. The rector of the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII), Fathul Wahid, also criticized the government's cautious response to the attacks against Iran, arguing that this position weakens the application of Indonesia's foreign policy doctrine. It is regrettable that the government of the Republic of Indonesia has not shown sufficient firmness in responding to the military attacks by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran, he said. Various segments of civil society are also putting pressure on Prabowo over the trade agreements on tariffs signed with Trump on February 19. The agreement reduced tariffs to 19% and guaranteed duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 Indonesian products, including palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and rubber. In return, Jakarta agreed to eliminate most tariff and non-tariff barriers for American companies and to commit to trade agreements and investments in the US worth around billion, including the purchase of Boeing aircraft for the national airline, Garuda Indonesia. However, the agreement has drawn strong criticism from economists, academics, and civil society organizations, who consider it overly favorable to Washington. Some have called it a blank check granted to the United States, arguing that certain clauses could limit Indonesia's freedom to maintain economic relations with other partners, particularly China, especially in the strategic sector of minerals such as nickel and cobalt. About 80 organizations and dozens of academics have signed a petition against the trade agreement. by Santosh Digal While former rapper and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Balen Shah seems destined to become the new prime minister, Apostolic Administrator Fr. Silas Krishna Bogati asks the future government to focus on fighting corruption, employment, and political stability, expressing hope that the protection of religious freedom for minorities will continue. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - After the March 5 parliamentary elections in Nepal, the new government's priority must be to address economic challenges, ensure political stability, and create job opportunities through more effective and transparent governance. This is the appeal launched by Fr. Silas Krishna Bogati, apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal. According to preliminary results, the Rastriya Swatantra Party led by Balendra Balen Shah, a former rapper who became mayor of Kathmandu, is clearly in the lead and heading for victory against the traditional parties, which have achieved disappointing results. The elections were the first since student protests against corruption led to the fall of the coalition government led by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The protests, supported by Generation Z youth, resulted in approximately 77 deaths and profoundly shook the country's political scene. Many young people have aspirations for change, and some have given their lives for it, said Bogati, the first Catholic priest from Nepal. That is why good governance should be the priority of any new executive. According to the priest, the elections were peaceful, with only a few minor incidents and no significant episodes of intimidation. International observers in the country also confirmed that the electoral process was conducted properly. Nepal voted to renew the 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. Of these, 165 are directly elected in single-member constituencies, while 110 are assigned through a proportional system based on party lists. Voter turnout stood at around 60%, according to the interim chairman of the Election Commission, Ram Prasad Bhandari. This is slightly lower than in the 2022 elections, when 61% of eligible voters cast their ballots. I saw many young people at the polls, but also people of all ages, Bogati explained. Young people feel that this election belongs to them too and hope to bring about change through their vote. According to the priest, most of the population expects the next government to revive the economy and ensure lasting political stability, while improving public services. The government will have to work to create better economic and employment opportunities for all, strengthening education, health care, and infrastructure, and supporting women, young people, and the poorest, he stressed. At the same time, he added, it will be necessary to combat corruption, nepotism, and political patronage. During the election campaign, the issue of possible constitutional reform also emerged. Some voters, especially among young people, raised the issue of a constitution that is more accountable to citizens. If a party supported by Gen Z wins a majority, a proposal for a new constitution could emerge, Bogati explained. However, the cleric expressed concern about the possible consequences for religious minorities. If the new government decides to eliminate the principle of secularism, Christians could face problems. . Currently, the Constitution formally guarantees religious freedom, but according to the priest, its application often remains weak. As a religious minority, Christians look to the future with some concern, he said. We hope that the situation will improve, but there remains a fear that the political and institutional system does not fully favor minorities. According to the 2021 census, Nepal has a population of about 30 million, mostly Hindus and Buddhists. There are officially just over 500,000 Christians, but church leaders believe there may be as many as three million. About 10% of the population also lives abroad for work. There is speculation that Balen's party could do well, but we will only find out when the votes are counted, Bogati commented. In total, more than 3,400 candidates from 65 parties participated in the elections. In addition to the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the main contenders also include the two historically dominant parties in Nepalese politics: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) led by former Prime Minister Oli. Bogati also stressed the importance of female participation. Women represent a very significant part of the electorate. At the polling station where I voted, I saw many women participating in the vote, he said, noting that some female candidates, including 15 from Gen Z, presented significant political programs. The elections were organized by an interim government led by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, the first woman to hold the position, and were held with the deployment of thousands of soldiers and police officers to ensure the security of polling stations across the country. According to Father Bogati, Nepal's future will depend on the new government's ability to respond to the population's expectations for change. The real question, he concludes, is what vision the new government will have for the country's future. by Stefano Caprio Patriarch Kirill's condolences on the death of Iran's supreme leader Khamenei, killed in Israeli-American raids, also express a sense of superiority of Russian Orthodoxy in defending the true faith. This was also evident in the speech he gave to the assembly of clergy of the Moscow Metropolis, which met at the same time. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow sent his condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkyan on the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, whom he considered a strong man of great spirituality, joining President Vladimir Putin's accusations against this unlawful and immoral assassination by the Americans. Russia reacted to Trump and Netanyahu's war with very harsh but very formal words, given the new world order in which Moscow plays a secondary role from a military, political, and economic point of view but claims moral and spiritual primacy. In this sense, patriarchal compassion for the supreme leader of the Persian Shiites also expresses a sense of superiority, reinforced by global comparison with other churches and religions. Khamenei represented at the highest level the militant faith of a great people who for over fifty years have stood as a bastion of defense of traditions against the moral degradation of the West, the motivation behind Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic revolution of 1979, in which Khamenei was already one of the main participants, to overthrow a monarchy that had sought to modernize Iranian society in the white revolution that required women to remove their veils and enroll in university. Now, however, the highest ecclesiastical figure of traditional values is Kirill (Vladimir Gundyaev), who ascended to the patriarchal throne over fifteen years ago and has since seen the deaths of two popes of Rome, the German Joseph Ratzinger, great guardian of traditions, and his Argentine brother Jorge Mario Bergoglio, whom he embraced at Havana airport in 2016, already feeling superior to him in the defense of the true faith. The white beard of universal religion will no longer be that wrapped in a black Shiite turban, no matter how many heirs may still ascend the stage of the national guards in Tehran, but will be that reflected in the golden tiara of the Orthodox patriarch of the Third Universal Rome, in the solemn liturgies of the cathedrals around the Kremlin. A few days ago, Kirill presided over the main temple of Christ the Savior, rebuilt in the 1990s as a symbol of Russia's religious rebirth after the Red Revolution that had imposed atheism, the assembly of all the clergy of the Moscow metropolis, which he called the largest ecclesiastical structure in the entire Christian world. This jurisdiction was organized five years ago, uniting the eparchy of Moscow with those of the province surrounding the capital, specifically designed to highlight the greatness of the patriarchate in the context of the incipient holy war that was to begin a few months later. Enumerating the metropolitan figures, the patriarch recalled the 1,228 parishes, 1,682 churches, 318 chapels, 23 monasteries, and 9 abbeys, in which 1,709 priests carry out their ministry. With these numbers, the Moscow Metropolis actually surpasses even the largest Catholic structure, the Archdiocese of Milan in Italy, which has always maintained the unity of the various areas of the Ambrosian rite, with only 1,107 parishes. In reality, one could argue about the extent of the ecclesiastical province of Milan, which also constitutes the Lombardy metropolis and in which more than two thousand priests, both secular and religious, serve, or perhaps about the attendance of the faithful at liturgical celebrations, where in Milan there are about one million out of five, while in Moscow there are no more than half a million out of twenty. However, the patriarch is not interested in the actual number of the faithful: for Orthodox religiosity, what matters is the declaration of belonging, not church attendance. Therefore, in his report to the clergy, Kirill extols our people who devoutly preserve the true Christian faith, with the continuous inauguration of new churches thanks to divine mercy towards us, after the very difficult years of persecution, during which he himself became a bishop at the age of 29 in 1976, faithfully serving the atheist Brezhnev regime. Now, however, young people and middle-aged people also come to church, not just elderly women as in Soviet times, and therefore the Russian Church can embark on a new and great missionary ministry on a universal level. The patriarch emphasizes that we cannot and must not hide our faith or neglect its open confession in a world where attempts to devalue the Christian heritage continue. In fact, those who travel to Western countries see magnificent churches emptying and closing, in a world where the political system does not hinder religious and ecclesial life, but people are ashamed to be Christian because of spiritual devastation and contempt for everything connected with faith. The Russian Church must be the beacon of a new worldwide evangelization, to prevent the new atheistic secularism from prevailing everywhere, as in the days of medieval Third Rome. Yet Kirill does not deny that this religious superiority is not yet effective enough in Russia, because "not only in the West, but also here among us, there are people who question faith, the very existence of God, and the saving power of his commandments.... There are those who are indifferent to religious issues, and sometimes even negative about them. He does not go so far as to speak of apostasy as is happening at the level of world civilization, because in our blessed country this term is not applicable, but we must be attentive to the spiritual condition not only of our faithful, but of the entire Russian society." He therefore quotes Matthew 6:21, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, to criticize a lifestyle based solely on material satisfaction and well-being as in the Western realm of consumerism. The tendency toward comfort is particularly visible in Moscow and in Russia's large cities, somewhat less so in the suburbs and countryside of the empire, which is one of the reasons why the Russian Church supports the campaign to repopulate towns and villages throughout the Federation. The attitude of the younger generations in this regard is particularly worrying, because young people give in more easily to the temptations of the flesh. Therefore, greater pastoral commitment is needed on the part of the clergy towards young people, remembering above all that the current generations are children of the digital age, and we must understand their language and their way of thinking. We must avoid at all costs adapting to these forms of communication and losing our identity, and highlight the factors that can most positively influence the mentality and condition of the soul of today's youth. Education, which today takes place almost entirely through computers, is not enough. We need more love and compassion for those who are not yet mature, indeed for those who risk remaining children all their lives, with the digital limitations on human psychology. For the healthy growth of young people, a strong Christian family is obviously necessary, without which there can be no strong Christian people, so that everyone can become a missionary, teacher, and loving father to their flock. In this way, the many new churches will not only be dominant architectural centers, but authentic centers of mercy, enlightenment, and spiritual life. Kirill quotes Protestant interlocutors who recently told him that the beauty of your churches alone proclaims much more than we can do with our sermons, provided that they become true places of the Christian family. The Church must resist the new temptations of artificial intelligence, which claims to replace human intellect, soul, conscience, and morality, becoming the greatest danger to contemporary civilization. The patriarch warns that today attempts are being made to modify the genetic code, one of the threats most often repeated by Russians during the Covid period, in order to reprogram the human person, as once could only appear in the most terrifying fantasies. The Church's task is to help ensure that technology remains at the service of man and does not become a ruthless master capable of reducing man to a manipulable object, incapable of making moral choices. This concerns not only the defense of the civil and moral sovereignty of the Russian people, but of the entire human race, and this can only be countered if we know how to defend ourselves from interests foreign to our sacred traditions. In conclusion, in order to resist pagan and psycho-deviant threats, the patriarch affirms that we must continue the war against those who want to destroy the Fatherland, urging young people to offer their lives to rediscover the spiritual foundations against all false doctrines and deviations. Russian Orthodox priests must consider it a priority to serve the military, offering both consolation and support at the front and in the most diverse social conditions, in order to understand their experiences in the light of faith. The patriarch recalls that throughout Russian history, the Church has prayed for the defenders of the homeland, inspiring their sacrifice, even celebrating the liturgy in combat zones. Recalling that President Putin has declared 2026 as the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, Patriarch Kirill turns his gaze to all the peoples of the earth, who must unite with the Russian people to find their salvation. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 7 March 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The war between Iran, Israel, and the United States extends beyond these three nations, posing wider implications for both the Middle East and the South Caucasus. These regions account for a critical share of global oil transportation in terms of both production and export. Amid growing instability in the Middle East, particularly the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, global energy markets are increasingly looking for alternative sources and supply routes. As a result, attention has shifted toward the South Caucasus and Central Asia. This raises an important question whether these regions are affected by the ongoing conflict. Analysts suggest that while short-term gains are possible, long-term benefits are unlikely. A report on the South Caucasus by the Dutch financial institution ING Group indicates that rising oil and gold prices, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, could provide temporary support to the external balances of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, while placing additional pressure on energy-dependent Armenia. Thus, while Azerbaijan and several Central Asian states may benefit from favorable commodity prices in the short term, Armenia faces increased economic risks. According to the banks analysts, every sustained $10 increase in oil prices per barrel adds approximately $6 billion to Kazakhstans annual export volume and around $3 billion to Azerbaijans exports, equivalent to 1.8% and 4% of GDP respectively. From a fiscal perspective, the same increase in oil prices provides both countries with about $1.5 billion in additional fuel revenues, amounting to roughly 0.5% of Kazakhstans GDP and 2% of Azerbaijans GDP. Recent market data illustrate this trend. The price of Azeri Light crude delivered on a CIF basis at Augusta Port rose by $5.61, or 6.82%, reaching $87.90 per barrel compared with the previous trading session. Meanwhile, Azeri Light exported via Ceyhan Port on an FOB basis increased by $5.34, or 6.82%, to $83.69 per barrel. Other global benchmarks recorded similar gains. Urals crude rose by $5.04, or 10.75%, reaching $51.94 per barrel, while Brent crude produced in the North Sea climbed by $6.55, or 8.07%, to $87.71 per barrel. Notably, Azerbaijans 2026 state budget was calculated based on an average oil price of $65 per barrel, meaning current market prices significantly exceed the governments baseline forecast. Meanwhile, rising commodity prices are not limited to oil. Central Asian economies may also benefit from higher gold prices. For example, analysts note that a $1,000 increase in the price of gold per ounce could bring Uzbekistan approximately $4 billion in additional export revenue, equivalent to about 2.7% of the countrys GDP. However, despite these potential gains, experts caution that the long-term outlook for the South Caucasus and Central Asia remains uncertain. Prolonged instability in the Middle East could disrupt global trade routes, financial flows, and supply chains. Although higher oil prices may temporarily boost export revenues for energy producers such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, sustained geopolitical tensions may undermine broader economic stability. One of the main concerns is the continued uncertainty surrounding maritime transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical energy transit routes. Any prolonged disruption could trigger volatility in global markets, affect shipping costs, and weaken global economic growth. Qatars Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East could bring down the economies of the world, adding that oil prices could rise to as much as $150 per barrel within two to three weeks if tankers and commercial vessels remain unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, the regions economies remain closely integrated into global supply chains. According to ING, countries of the former CIS have limited direct trade with the main parties to the conflict. However, their reliance on imports from the European Union and their economic links with partners such as Turkiye, Iran, and Gulf states represent potential vulnerabilities. Another important factor is investor confidence. Persistent geopolitical instability in nearby regions may discourage long-term foreign investment in infrastructure, energy, and transport projects across the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Many of these initiatives rely on stable geopolitical conditions and predictable trade routes. Therefore, while the current crisis may provide short-term economic advantages for certain commodity-exporting countries, analysts stress that a prolonged conflict would ultimately create greater economic risks than benefits for both the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Stable regional security and predictable global markets remain far more important for the sustainable development of these economies than temporary gains driven by geopolitical tensions. 7 March 2026 15:25 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Although Azerbaijan is actively pursuing economic diversification, the energy sector continues to be the cornerstone of the countrys development strategy. Currently, Azerbaijan supplies energy to 16 countries and maintains partnerships with leading global companies on major oil and gas projects. Among these collaborators, bp plays a particularly vital role, reflecting both long-term confidence in the Azerbaijani market and the global importance of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and associated assets. On March 6, Giovanni Cristofoli, bps Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, held a media briefing outlining ongoing projects, future plans, and the companys sustained partnership with Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the Azerbaijani government has fostered a highly favorable investment climate, which has been instrumental in attracting foreign capital and driving economic growth. All necessary steps are being taken to support business development, and this, in turn, accelerates the countrys broader economic progress, Cristofoli said, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between government policy and private-sector investment. Cristofoli also highlighted the centrality of bps operations in Azerbaijan to the companys global portfolio, both strategically and financially. He noted that Azerbaijan serves as a benchmark for operational excellence within bp, with the country consistently ranking among the top performers across key industry indicators. A critical metric in this assessment is operational reliability, measured by the number of days production facilities remain fully functional throughout the year. In addition, bp employs rigorous benchmarking practices, comparing performance against global peers to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and competitiveness in an increasingly complex energy market. Focus on Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) bps primary responsibility in Azerbaijan is maximizing oil output from the Azri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field while managing the natural decline in reservoir productivity. Cristofoli described ACG as one of the worlds largest and most significant oil fields, managed at industry-leading standards. He outlined three main strategies: - Increasing drilling activity: bp has boosted drilling operations by over 30% through partnerships with SOCAR and contractors, achieving greater efficiency with existing equipment and costs. - Reservoir activation: By injecting water and gas into targeted areas, bp maintains pressure to sustain production. - Advanced technology: High-precision seabed sensors are used for seismic surveys, enhancing reservoir management. bp also plans to begin production from free gas reservoirs within ACG during the summer, with new wells expected to significantly increase output. Cristofoli reported that reliability indicators at the Shah Deniz gas field remain at 100%. bp is advancing drilling operations with six new wells planned and progressing on the Shah Deniz Compression project, which will reduce reservoir pressure and enable higher gas recovery. Additionally, bp is conducting seismic and geological exploration to identify new sources, with the Shafag-Asiman block highlighted as a promising area. Addressing the future of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, Cristofoli clarified that bp is not abandoning the pipeline but fulfilling contractual obligations established 30 years ago. Under these agreements, pipeline operations must be transferred to relevant state authorities within specified timelines. Similar transitions have already occurred with the South Caucasus Pipeline in 2021. The BTC pipeline, operational since 2006, transports oil from ACG and condensate from Shah Deniz across Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. It also facilitates oil exports from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The pipeline is operated by BTC Co., whose shareholders include bp, SOCAR, MOL, TPAO, Eni, TotalEnergies, ITOCHU, ONGC Videsh, ExxonMobil, and INPEX. Cristofoli also addressed bps cooperation with LUKOIL and Irans NICO in the Shah Deniz project amid international sanctions. He explained that bp, together with SOCAR, the European Union, and the United States, developed robust compliance mechanisms that allow operations to continue without disruption. These mechanisms ensure that all activities adhere to international regulations while maintaining the operational integrity of the project and safeguarding the interests of all consortium partners. By implementing strict oversight and transparent protocols, bp has successfully mitigated legal and operational risks associated with working alongside sanctioned entities. This moment underscores bps ability to balance the realities of geopolitics with the demands of energy production. Operating in a region shaped by complex regulations and shifting alliances, the company has managed to keep Shah Deniz running smoothly while respecting international sanctions. That continuity mattersnot just for bps bottom line, but for Azerbaijans role as a trusted energy supplier to the world. By staying compliant and keeping operations steady, bp helps ensure that Azerbaijans gas exports remain reliable. Its a reminder that large-scale projects dont succeed on engineering alone, they thrive when collaboration, foresight, and careful risk management come together. In this case, bps partnership with SOCAR and other stakeholders shows how diligence and trust can sustain energy flows even in uncertain times. At least 1,780 young Africans from 36 countries are currently fighting in the Russian army in the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported on February 25. Many of them traveled to Russia to continue their studies or with the promise of a well-paid job, unaware that they would be forced into the war as cannon fodder, according to a report by the investigative organization Inpact, which revealed the existence of online recruitment networks coordinated by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). This is not an isolated phenomenon, but a deliberate and organized strategy, the report states. Ukrainian authorities confirmed last November that some 18,000 citizens from 128 countries are fighting in the Russian ranks. Malick Diop, a 25-year-old Senegalese man, received a scholarship in 2023 to study at Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod. However, once in Russia, he was drafted into the army to work as a cook and sent to Luhansk, a Ukrainian city in the east of the country under Russian control since 2014. In April 2025, he was given a weapon and sent into combat, where he was captured by Kyivs troops, who accused him of being a mercenary. Similarly, Lamin Yatta, from Gambia, arrived in Belarus in 2023 on a student visa. After traveling to Russia in search of work, he was detained by Russian police for being in the country illegally. Forced to sign a contract with the army, he was sent to fight in Ukraine. In August 2024, he was declared killed in action. Cases like these, published by the victims themselves or their families, are flooding social media and beginning to worry African governments. Inpact has documented a list of 1,417 citizens from 35 African countries recruited by Russia between 2023 and 2025, of whom 316 have died. According to the authors of the report, titled The Business of Despair, these figures could be the tip of the iceberg. The main countries of origin are Egypt, which contributed 361 soldiers, Cameroon (335), and Ghana (234). Other notable countries include Algeria, Gambia, Mali, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The average length of service for those who died in combat was just six months, revealing that the fate of many African recruits is to serve as cannon fodder on the front lines. Some 50 of them signed their contracts just one month before being killed, the report states. Almost a third of the dead 94 were Cameroonian. A year ago, the Cameroonian government warned of the threat posed to its own army by the constant desertions of soldiers who were leaving for Russia to fight on the Ukrainian front, attracted by better pay. According to the aforementioned research, the recruitment of young Africans has been increasing, rising from 177 in 2023 to 647 in 2025. While some enlist due to pro-Russian or anti-Western ideologies through the numerous channels deployed by Moscow, ranging from websites to Facebook profiles and Telegram groups, most are tempted by salaries and working conditions unattainable in their home countries or forced upon them once they are in Russia. From the Africans perspective, recruitment is driven by a desire for social and geographical mobility, in a context marked by structural poverty, political instability, and recurring crises on the African continent, Inpact asserts. The offers vary, but they typically include an initial payment of up to 25,000 (around $30,000), a monthly salary of around 2,000 ($2,365), Russian citizenship after three to six months of service, and sometimes specialized training. The promise of a fast-tracked visa, a good salary, and foreign citizenship is an attractive offer for young Africans seeking a way out of a continent that, in many cases, fails to provide opportunities for its young and growing population, the report adds. Among the recruitment tactics identified are travel agencies managed by Kremlin intermediaries, influencers on the Russian government payroll, fake job offers, and clandestine emigration networks. Growing unease Concern is beginning to spread across Africa. In August 2024, a young Togolese man obtained a visa at the Russian Embassy in Benin and traveled to Moscow to continue his studies. Once there, he was forced to enlist, according to the Togolese government, and sent to Ukraine, where he was taken prisoner by the Ukrainian army. The Togolese Ministry of Education, which has identified about 20 similar cases, issued a statement warning its university students about these types of scams. In December 2025, the Kenyan government dismantled a recruitment network and arrested five people, including a well-known radio presenter. A Kenyan intelligence report submitted to parliament recently claimed that 1,000 Kenyan citizens have joined the Russian army through a clandestine migration network involving civil servants and officials at Nairobis international airport. On February 25, Ghanas Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto traveled to Kyiv to ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the release of two Ghanaian citizens captured during the war while fighting on the Russian side. However, one of the most high-profile cases occurred in South Africa, where last November a recruitment network was exposed in which Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, was allegedly involved. The South African government then requested that Russian President Vladimir Putin facilitate the return of 17 South Africans who claim they signed contracts to work as security guards but found themselves fighting on the front lines, a request to which Moscow agreed. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 7 March 2026 16:21 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. As of February 1, the business loan portfolio of Azerbaijans banks allocated to the trade sector totaled 4.136 billion manats. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 7 March 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Chairman of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, Saqr Ghobash, held a phone conversation with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, the sides discussed the ongoing developments in the region. During the conversation, the speakers expressed serious concern over what they described as unjustified attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the territories and civilian populations of both countries. They strongly condemned such actions. Both sides emphasized that the peoples of Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates support peace and stability, stressing that attacks targeting civilians are unacceptable. Saqr Ghobash also underlined that, in light of recent developments, the United Arab Emirates stands in solidarity with Azerbaijan, its leadership, and its people. He highlighted the importance of solidarity and cooperation between the two friendly nations. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova expressed her gratitude for this position. The speakers also noted the importance of avoiding steps that could further escalate tensions. They stressed that parliaments, as institutions representing their peoples, play a unique role in promoting dialogue and mutual understanding. During the call, the sides also emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty of states, adhering to the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, and strengthening cooperation and solidarity among friendly countries to ensure security and stability in the region. They also highlighted the importance of enhancing coordination and consultations between friendly nations to safeguard regional security and stability. 7 March 2026 11:20 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has departed for a working visit to Istanbul, Turkiye. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the visit will include Bayramovs participation and speech at the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States. During the visit, Minister Bayramov is also expected to hold a number of high-level bilateral meetings. It should be noted that The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is a principal, decision-making body comprising foreign ministers from member states (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan) and observers. It directs political dialogue, enhances regional cooperation, and prepares for summits, with a recent focus on strengthening economic and strategic ties. 7 March 2026 10:48 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini for his principled position and solidarity following Iran's drone attacks on Nakhchivan, AzerNEWS reports. The post, shared on the President's X social media account, reads: Sincere gratitude to the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, for his principled position and solidarity following recent drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on civilian infrastructure in Nakhchivan. Immediate support by Azerbaijan in the evacuation of Slovak diplomatic staff from Tehran is a clear manifestation of the high-level and strategic relations between our countries, and an expression of our commitment to international cooperation. 7 March 2026 11:50 (UTC+04:00) On March 7, Turkmenistans Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov held a phone conversation with Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, the ministers discussed the situation arising from drone attacks carried out by the Iran against the territory of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. During the call, Bayramov provided detailed information about the drone attacks, stressing that the strike against Azerbaijans territory constitutes a violation of international law and its fundamental principles, and contributes to rising tensions in the region. He also noted that Azerbaijan has demanded an explanation from Iran regarding the attack within a short period of time. For his part, Turkmenistans foreign minister expressed concern over the current situation. The two ministers also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. 7 March 2026 12:15 (UTC+04:00) Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian has admitted responsibility for drone attacks on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, AzerNEWS reports, citing Trend. Speaking in a televised address on March 6, Pezeshkian stated that after the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader and senior military commanders, the Iranian Armed Forces fired on neighboring countries territories without proper control. He said that during a meeting of the Supreme Leadership Council, instructions were issued to prevent any future attacks on countries that have not targeted Iran. Only countries that launch attacks against Iran will face retaliatory measures, Pezeshkian said. The Iranian president also apologized to neighboring states that were affected by the drone strike. Although the Iranian Armed Forces initially denied carrying out the drone attack on Nakhchivan, Pezeshkians statement effectively confirms Irans involvement. The attack occurred on March 5, when a drone targeted Nakhchivan International Airport. According to the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, Iranian forces sent four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out the attack. One drone was neutralized by Azerbaijani units, while the others targeted civilian infrastructure, including a secondary school. Fortunately, the drone aimed at the school did not reach its target and crashed nearby, exploding. Four civilians were injured in the incident. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement demanding that Iran immediately clarify the situation, provide an explanation, and take urgent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Irans ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Damirchilu, was summoned to the ministry, and a strong protest was delivered to the Iranian side. 7 March 2026 14:40 (UTC+04:00) Passenger transport between Nakhchivan and Igdr, Turkiye, is continuing via specially allocated buses following the temporary suspension of flights at Nakhchivan International Airport. As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), the initiative is aimed at facilitating travel for Azerbaijani citizens between the capital and Nakhchivan. Air connections have been arranged from Baku to Igdr, while transport between Igdr and Nakhchivan is provided free of charge by AYNA using specially assigned buses. The agency said that seven large-capacity buses operate between Nakhchivan bus terminal and Igdr airport, with additional backup vehicles available if needed. Since March 5, a total of 19 trips have been completed, transporting 673 passengers between Nakhchivan and Igdr. The service continues to operate. The measures follow a drone attack on Nakhchivan International Airport on March 5. According to the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, technical assessments revealed that Irans armed forces sent four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks in the Nakhchivan region. One drone was neutralized by Azerbaijani units, while the others targeted civilian infrastructure, including a secondary school. Fortunately, the drone aimed at the school did not reach its target and crashed nearby, exploding. Four civilians were injured in the incident. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement demanding that Iran immediately clarify the situation, provide an explanation, and take urgent measures to prevent similar incidents. Irans ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Damirchilu, was summoned to the ministry, and a strong protest was delivered to the Iranian side. 7 March 2026 19:23 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani diplomats have been evacuated from Iran, AzerNEWS reports, citing Azertac. Employees of Azerbaijans diplomatic mission crossed the border and safely entered the country through the Astara state border checkpoint. The evacuation was carried out after the completion of necessary document checks, registration, and other formal procedures. All required measures were implemented at the border crossing point to ensure the safe passage of the evacuees. Following registration, the diplomats were safely transported to their destinations. The evacuation process at the Astara state border checkpoint continues smoothly, with crossings being conducted in accordance with established procedures under the supervision of the relevant authorities. The evacuation of Azerbaijani diplomats from Iran has been carried out in an orderly and secure manner, with authorities ensuring the safety of personnel and maintaining continuous coordination throughout the process. 7 March 2026 18:20 (UTC+04:00) The government of Azerbaijan has launched urgent measures to evacuate its citizens from several Gulf countries after airspace closures triggered by ongoing military escalation in the Middle East. As reported by AzerNEWS, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, emergency evacuation procedures began immediately after several Gulf states closed their airspace due to the deteriorating security situation in the region. Diplomatic missions in the affected countries were instructed to compile lists of Azerbaijani citizens requiring evacuation. Initial registration indicates that around 1,000 Azerbaijani nationals across five countries requested assistance. This includes 490 people in the United Arab Emirates, 220 in Saudi Arabia, 200 in Qatar, 23 in Bahrain, and 26 in Kuwait. The United Arab Emirates, particularly the city of Dubai, is one of the main tourist destinations for Azerbaijani citizens. Following negotiations between Azerbaijans Consulate General in Dubai and flydubai, flights on the DubaiBaku route resumed temporarily after limited reopening of UAE airspace. Between March 3 and March 5, a total of 755 Azerbaijani citizens returned home on these flights. However, with UAE airspace currently closed again, authorities are preparing alternative plans to bring back the remaining citizens. Saudi Arabia has become the second major evacuation point. On March 4, 2026, a special flight operated by Azerbaijan Airlines evacuated 193 Azerbaijani citizens from the city of Jeddah. The flight also carried several ethnic Azerbaijanis holding other citizenships, bringing the total number of evacuees on that flight to 207. Additionally, Azerbaijani citizens registered in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia were transported by buses organized by diplomatic missions to Jeddah. From there, another AZAL flight on March 7, 2026, returned 203 passengers to Baku. Meanwhile, to facilitate the return of citizens located in Iran, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan authorized land crossings into Azerbaijan. So far, around 300 Azerbaijani citizens have entered the country from Iran by land. 7 March 2026 17:14 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held talks with Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), on the sidelines of the Informal Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, AzerNEWS reports, citing the MFAs official X account. The meeting focused on the regional security situation, with particular attention to Irans drone attacks against Azerbaijan. Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination and advancing practical cooperation among Turkic States. It should be noted that the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister departed for Turkiye this morning. Jonathan Obando, a Colombian citizen, survived one of the 41 deadly attacks conducted by Washington against alleged drug-trafficking boats. His father tells his sons story for the first time Rosendo Obando rarely answers the phone, because he usually doesnt get reception. But the night he answered his former daughter-in-laws call, he was in for a shock. Your son was bombed over there. Go look for him in Bogota. Over there was the Caribbean, thousands of miles from home. From his village built out of wooden planks on a mangrove swamp in southwestern Colombia Obando wondered what had happened. The last time hed heard from his son, a month-and-a-half earlier, hed been fishing in Panama. He had no idea what his former daughter-in-law was talking about. His 33-year-old son waited in an induced coma, intubated, at the airport in the Colombian capital. Swollen, with bloodshot eyes, he had just survived something that until recently was unthinkable for a poor fisherman on the Pacific coast: a bomb, dropped by Donald Trump. Jonathan Obando known to everyone as Chiquitin is one of only two known survivors of the 41 deadly attacks that Washington has carried out since September 2, 2025, in a non-transparent campaign against drug trafficking. Authorities have confirmed more than 150 deaths in total, with no arrests or prosecutions in any of these cases. The other survivor was Ecuadorian citizen Andres Fernando Tufino, who had a history of drug trafficking. He had completed his sentence in the United States and was released as soon as he set foot in Ecuador. Any potential evidence against him was destroyed in the bombing. Obando and Tufino were victims of the attack on October 16, 2025. After blowing up several boats, this was the first bombing of a semi-submersible vessel that according to the United States was transporting all kinds of drugs, including fentanyl. Images from that day show a submarine speeding along and three missiles being fired at it. Until that moment, none of these attacks had left any survivors. There were others afterward, but they disappeared at sea, drowned, or reached land without anyone rescuing them. According to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), theres no record of them reaching any shore alive. The sea holds the secret of what happened to them. Tufino quickly vanished, while his sister through the media tried to dispel his image as a criminal. She said that Tufino was a fisherman, which was true. Obandos story, however, hadnt been told out of fear. It is his father who shares it for the first time with EL PAIS. That hot October night when he received the call, Rosendo Obando whom everyone calls El Profe (the prof) because he runs a small school an hour-and-a-half by boat from his home grabbed his backpack and said goodbye to Margarita, his wife. He then went down to the wooden pier and got on a small boat. Starting out from the tiny fishing village where he lives, he made his way through a swampy sea, in search of the youngest (and quietest) of his four children. The journey to the nearest city on the mainland two hours and 20 minutes total, with a 200-horsepower engine reminds the inhabitants of these remote territories just how far removed they are from everything, and how forgotten they are by everyone. Once in Tumaco a port city, the so-called Pearl of the Pacific he boarded the plane that would take him to Bogota, where, many years ago, he had worked as a police officer. Rosendo Obando walks among several boats at a dock on Colombias Pacific coast. Santiago Mesa A seaport belonging to a community on Colombias Pacific coast, February 24, 2026. Santiago Mesa Rosendo Obando sails his boat near mangroves along the Pacific coast. Santiago Mesa When he saw his son, he was horrified. They left him there, practically dead, at the airport. He couldnt even speak, he recalls. Later, they took him to the hospital. It was reported that he had suffered a brain injury, but his father doesnt know the exact diagnosis. He only remembers how swollen his son was, how red his eyes were, the bruises he had. They kept him in a hallway without doing anything until I told them, Get to work on him, Ill take out a loan to pay for it. He was going to die. Margarita, the young mans mother, called her husband constantly. She wanted to know what was going on. But he didnt know much. I thought there was [rule of] law here, or in the United States, that someone would explain to me what was happening, El Profe remembers. I demanded an explanation as to why they hadnt given him proper first aid, because hes a human being. Even if he had been transporting cocaine, hes a human being. They should have caught him alive and tried him, he says, without raising his voice. El Profe spent eight days in the hospital room watching his son regain consciousness. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and prosecutors would pass through. Trump who called the survivors terrorists promised that they would be prosecuted in their own countries. But Obando had no criminal record, nor was there any evidence against him. Trumps strategy against narcoterrorism is paradoxical: he justifies the extrajudicial killing of suspected drug traffickers, but those who survive go free, because theres no evidence to charge them with. The evidence is destroyed before it can be collected. They are trying to avoid having to defend their policies and standards in court, a DEA official told The Washington Post. Bringing them to trial might reveal the inconsistencies in the official White House narrative the one that prevails in several of these episodes that are almost never scrutinized. It would expose potential errors and perhaps call into question the effectiveness of eliminating the weakest link in the trafficking chain. Fishing community in the Colombian Pacific. Santiago Mesa From his hospital bed, Chiquitin began to speak. The ringing in his ears caused by the explosions barely allowed him to think. The first thing he did was deny that he had been on the submarine. According to what he told his father, there were several fishing boats around the vessel. The bombs, he said, threw them all into the air. The sea was filled with blood and body parts, he told him. He and Tufino (its unclear whether they knew each other beforehand) climbed into an inflatable raft, waiting to be rescued. Another Ecuadorian man was with them and died after helping them get aboard. The Americans subsequently took the two men aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and gave them basic first aid. From there, they went to the Dominican Republic to board a military plane back to their respective home countries. In the images released by U.S. authorities, no other boats are visible near the submarine, although the framing is closed. The Colombians version cant be completely ruled out, because the boats might be out of the picture, says Adam Isacson, an analyst at WOLA, who compiles the known details of each of these episodes. [The Trump administration] is a government that lies and keeps secrets. El Profe avoids speculating about the extreme coincidence that all those boats including his sons were right in the vicinity of a semi-submersible right at the moment of the strike. He believes what his son told him from his hospital bed. And, at the same time, he acknowledges that the line separating fishermen from crime can become blurred. Many in addition to getting their catch of the day act as lookouts, which is very different from being a trafficker or a narco-terrorist. A fisherman, during a fishing trip, in the Pacific, on February 24. Santiago Mesa The fishermen of the Pacific and the Caribbean regions of Colombia are thousands of extra eyes on a sea thats too vast for criminal organizations to fully grasp. Since they need to protect their drug routes, the traffickers hire them as lookouts. Theyre the first to spot a rivals plane, a patrol boat, or another vessel approaching. Reporting what they see provides them with an almost indispensable source of extra income when compared to salaries of barely 1.5 million Colombian pesos a month (about $400). In places like this without potable water and with frequent power outages the guerrillas fill the gaps left by the state. Dissident groups from the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) maintain a presence in the area and control illegal economies, such as drug trafficking. Violence fell when they got involved in the peace negotiations with the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, but in several of these villages built on stilts, the guerillas still dictate who comes and goes. Theyre the ones who scrutinize visitors upon arrival and decide, with a simple gesture, whether they can stay. Theyre the ones who, just a few years ago, sowed armed terror in the mangroves. Soldiers patrol a community on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Santiago Mesa Santiago hides his face to protect his identity, in a house on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Santiago Mesa The catch of the day, on a boat on the Pacific coast. Santiago Mesa A man builds a house near Rosendo Obandos village, on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Santiago Mesa A seaport in a community of artisanal fishermen. Santiago Mesa Many of the regions fishermen end up collaborating with the traffickers out of economic necessity. Some may be striving to build a better house, while others may simply be pressured into cooperating. It was really hard for me, because I had to fight for my [livelihood] from a young age, says Santiago, who got involved with one of these armed groups at the age of 14. I grew up with my aunt in a house where, if we had breakfast, we didnt have lunch. And, if we had lunch, we didnt have dinner, he recalls, speaking on the condition of anonymity. For years, he worked helping to produce cocaine and building the boats that send drugs north. In five months, he could earn 100 million Colombian pesos (about $26,500). My life changed a lot despite being tainted by drug trafficking, he says. Santiago left this line of work when he was kidnapped, accused of being a traitor, and dug a grave in front of him. Today, he makes a living running errands for others. At least [some] have been able to return, says Flor Vasquez, a community leader devoted to her neighbors. There are many women here who have spent years gazing at the horizon, waiting for their sons or husbands to come back. The sea is a grave without a headstone or a name. If it could speak, how many mothers could mourn their children? she wonders. Flor Vasquez, on February 24. Santiago Mesa Chiquitin returned home after more than a week in the hospital. He went back to eating fried fish and working on the fiberglass boats that sustain all these communities that are connected to the Pacific Ocean. In the many small villages throughout the area, everyone has heard his story. Trump sent a bomb after him, they say. He reappeared wearing earpieces, because the impact of the explosions had ruptured his eardrums. He told everyone about it until, one day, he said to his father: Dad, I cant stand this anymore. Id have been better off dead. The constant ringing was driving him crazy. Chiquitin left home again some time ago, without saying where he was going. He hasnt been heard from since December. His parents think he went to Ecuador to fish. His mother, Margarita worried sick has moved heaven and earth asking about him, even friends and distant relatives. What tortures her is imagining him back at sea. And that he may have run out of luck. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 7 March 2026 17:40 (UTC+04:00) AzerNEWS reports, citing the MFAs official X account, the meeting highlights the close diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as well as their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation within the Turkic States framework. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov was received by Turkiyes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, where Bayramov is attending the Informal Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 7 March 2026 17:50 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov met with his Uzbek counterpart Baxtiyor Saidov to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation and regional coordination, AzerNEWS reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs social media account. The two ministers reviewed prospects for expanding Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan strategic partnership, covering political, economic, and regional relations. Coordination within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was also on the agenda. Additionally, the officials exchanged views on the ongoing military tensions in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of regional stability and diplomatic engagement. Bayramov is currently on a working visit to Istanbul, Turkiye, to participate in the informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of Turkic States. 7 March 2026 20:15 (UTC+04:00) During the phone conversation, they warmly recalled the recent official visit of the Ethiopian Prime Minister to Azerbaijan, expressing confidence that the discussions held and documents signed during the visit would make an important contribution to bilateral relations. The head of state expressed his gratitude for the phone call and the support shown. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on March 7. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 7 March 2026 21:35 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The US Department of State has released a press statement regarding the recent drone attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. According to AzerNEWS, the release reads: The United States strongly condemns the unprovoked drone attack on March 5 by the Iranian regime against the Republic of Azerbaijan, targeting Nakhchivan International Airport and a childrens school, which injured innocent civilians and caused damage to critical civilian infrastructure. These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijans sovereignty and a needless escalation of Irans aggression. The United States stands in full solidarity with Azerbaijan against these threats. Attacks on the territory of our partners in the region are unacceptable and will be met with resolute U.S. support for those partners. Background Recall that on March 5, drones reportedly launched from Iranian territory struck Nakhchivan International Airport and surrounding areas, including near a school in Shekarabad. Four people were injured, two with barotrauma and two with blunt trauma, all in stable condition. Following the event, Azerbaijan summoned the Iranian ambassador, issued a formal protest, and called on Tehran to clarify the incidents. However, Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied targeting neighboring countries and called for an investigation of the events. 7 March 2026 11:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Energy major bp plans to begin production from free gas reservoirs at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field during the summer months. As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking at a briefing on March 6, bps regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye, Giovanni Cristofoli, said the company expects to bring a newly drilled deep well at the ACG field into operation in the first half of the year. What particularly excites me is that in the first half of the year, around the summer months, we will put into operation a well drilled from a deeper section of the ACG reservoir, Cristofoli said. According to him, the new well will allow bp to explore a previously untapped section of the reservoir that could contain significant volumes of gas, potentially leading to a notable increase in production. Cristofoli also noted that one of bps main priorities in Azerbaijan is to maximize oil production at the ACG field while effectively managing the natural decline in reservoir productivity that occurs as more oil is extracted. The ACG field is one of the largest and most important oil fields in the world. The way we manage this field ranks among the best performances in the industry, he said. He explained that bp is focusing on several key strategies to maintain production levels. First, the company is increasing the number of wells drilled in the reservoir. Thanks to our partnership with SOCAR and our drilling contractors, we have managed to increase drilling activity by more than 30 percent while using the same equipment and maintaining similar costs. That is real efficiency, Cristofoli said. The second focus is reservoir activation. As oil is produced, pressure must be maintained to allow fluids to continue flowing to the surface. To achieve this, we inject water and gas into specific areas to ensure continuous reservoir activation, he explained. The third pillar is the use of advanced technologies. For example, we conduct seismic surveys using high-precision seabed sensors, Cristofoli added. 7 March 2026 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The famous Corgi breed, long associated with the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II, may face an uncertain future in the United Kingdom, AzerNEWS reports. The reason is a set of new dog-breeding rules currently being discussed in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The proposed regulations aim to improve animal welfare by limiting the breeding of dogs with physical features that may cause pain or long-term health problems. According to the draft proposal, breeders could be restricted from producing dogs with traits such as extremely short legs, flat muzzles, or excessive skin folds. Experts say these characteristics can lead to a variety of medical issues. As many as 67 dog breeds could fall under the new criteria, including the popular Corgi, Dachshund, and Shih Tzu. Veterinarians note that dwarf breeds often suffer from arthritis, joint pain, and spinal problems because of their unique body structure. Critics of the initiative warn that strict regulations could eventually lead to the declineor even disappearanceof some beloved traditional breeds in Britain. Supporters, however, argue that the health and quality of life of animals must come first, even if it changes the way certain breeds are developed in the future. Interestingly, Corgis became globally famous thanks to Queen Elizabeth II, who owned more than 30 of them during her lifetime. The breed even appeared alongside a corgi in the humorous short film shown during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. According to media reports, if the proposal moves forward, the law would likely take at least five years to be fully implemented, giving breeders time to adapt their practices to the new animal-welfare standards. 7 March 2026 13:22 (UTC+04:00) The oil tanker Prima oil tanker was struck while attempting to approach the Strait of Hormuz, AzerNEWS reports, citing a statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to information, the tanker was targeted by an unmanned aerial vehicle after allegedly ignoring repeated warnings regarding the dangers of navigating through the strategic waterway. The IRGC said the vessel had been warned multiple times about the risks and restrictions related to passage through the Strait of Hormuz but failed to comply. The incident comes amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. Earlier, on February 17, the second round of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended without progress. Following the talks, 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 regarding Irans nuclear program was held on February 26 in Geneva between representatives of Iran and the United States. The meeting, held during the administration of Donald Trump, was described as a final opportunity to resolve the situation through diplomatic means. However, the negotiations failed to produce concrete agreements. Tehran rejected demands to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on the development of its nuclear program. On February 28, Israel and the United States launched military air strikes against Iran. 7 March 2026 14:15 (UTC+04:00) Dubai International Airport has temporarily suspended operations following missile and drone attacks by Iran on the United Arab Emirates, AzerNEWS reports. It should be noted that a video showing a drone attack on Dubai Airport was circulated on social media earlier this morning. The video is also provided here. Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 According to a statement from the UAE Government Media Office, the temporary closure aims to ensure the safety of passengers, airport personnel, and airline crew members. To ensure the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crews, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is temporarily suspending operations, the statement said. Earlier, the UAEs flagship carrier Emirates canceled all flights to and from Dubai and warned travelers not to go to the airport. The suspension comes amid escalating tensions in the region following Irans military actions targeting UAE territory. 7 March 2026 22:20 (UTC+04:00) At least 23 people have died in Nairobi following heavy rains that caused widespread flooding, authorities reported. As reported by AzerNEWS, according to a statement from the Kenyan police, released on Saturday afternoon, the torrential downpour led to severe floods that damaged property, blocked roads, and forced residents to evacuate their homes. Police confirmed that nearly 30 people were rescued, but many drowned after being swept into rivers, while others were fatally electrocuted. The Kenyan military has been deployed to assist stranded residents, while several flights to Nairobis airport were either canceled or redirected to Mombasa. Authorities have urged residents to avoid flooded streets and drainage channels, while emergency teams have been assisting drivers and pedestrians stranded in the water. The Kenya Meteorological Department had previously warned of sustained heavy rainfall, potential urban flooding, and reduced visibility. Water levels in rivers are expected to remain high until March 9, posing ongoing risks for the city. The president warns that the offensive will continue until the regimes total capitulation, while the White House press secretary clarifies that this will come when Tehran can no longer pose a threat U.S. President Donald Trump woke up on Friday the seventh day of the war against Iran gave an interview to CNN, and then turned to his social network, Truth Social. There, as he often does, he abruptly shifted his tone on a conflict that appears increasingly driven by his personal whims. There will be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender, he posted on Truth Social. Washington and much of the rest of the world immediately began analyzing the consequences of that statement. Trumps post also served to revive the justification for launching the joint war with Israel that he put forward early last Saturday, shortly after ordering the attack on Iran. Despite later denials, his Friday message suggests he is seeking regime change in Iran. After that [unconditional surrender], 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!), he wrote in a post, using his trademark all-caps. Hours later, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, tried to clarify the idea of unconditional surrender in a brief interview on Fox News. The host cautiously pointed out that demanding such a thing could be problematic when dealing with a regime as fierce and deeply entrenched in society one that has ruled through terror for decades as the Iranian one. Leavitt responded: President Trump means when he says unconditional surrender is when he, as commander in chief of the United States military and the leader of the free world, determines that Iran can no longer pose a threat to the United States of America and to our troops and our personnel in the Middle East. Earlier, Leavitt had said that the overall mission of the operation was to ensure that Iran can never again possess a nuclear weapon. That was the real imminent threat that was posed by Iran to the United States. In reality, Tehran has never had a nuclear weapon, which made Leavitts suggestion that Iran must be prevented from having one again surprising. Pending a clearer explanation of what he meant, Trumps insistence that unconditional surrender is a sine qua non condition for ending the war represents a shift from his earlier statements. On Sunday, the U.S. president told a reporter from The Atlantic: They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long. Iranian plot Since last Saturday, Trump has given fewer of his usual White House press conferences, opting instead for phone interviews with prominent Washington journalists. In those conversations, he has linked the death of Ali Khamenei to a personal vendetta. In 2024, U.S. authorities foiled an Iranian plot to assassinate him, and Trump suggested that the killing of the Iranian leader may be tied to that episode. He also sent a clear signal that he wants a say in the decision over who will become the new leader of the Iranian regime. Protest by Shia Muslims in Budgam (in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir) on Friday. Dar Yasin (AP) Speaking to the news agency Reuters on Thursday, Trump said it was still too early to replace Ayatollah Khamenei, but that Mojtaba, his son, did not seem like a likely option. We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who is going to lead Iran into the future, he said. We dont have to go back every five years and do this again and again [] Somebody thats going to be great for the people, great for the country. The U.S. president has repeatedly pointed to Venezuela as an example of what could happen in Iran. Trump considers the military operation that ended with the capture of Nicolas Maduro a success, as well as the decision to leave the country in the hands of his former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez. According to that logic, what Washington is looking for in Tehran is the Iranian Delcy. With that goal in mind, the chances of Reza Pahlavi the son of Irans last shah, who lives on the outskirts of Washington and has recently regained a prominence he had lost for decades do not appear especially strong. Some people like him, and we havent been thinking too much about that. It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate, Trump told CNN this week. He added that Pahlavi looks like a very nice person, but that he is looking for something different: Somebody thats there, thats currently popular if theres such a person. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Where do you stand on the Transgender Issue now that the issue has gotten to the overt point of the open celebration of this lifestyle choice, dictated by certain direct and explicit actions. 64.29% I do not approve of behavior that has within its expressed tenants policies that harm children.32.14% I do support the Trans Community in all its many facets because diversity is at a premium in today's society.3.57% What is a "Children's Drag Queen Story Hour?" Ahead of the 98th Academy Awards, most major categories remain competitive, highlighted by a tight Best Picture race between "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners." The awards ceremony will honor what turned out to be a great year for film with a slew of original content that catered to different audiences in the horror, comedy and drama genres. The most important feature of the Berkshire Bash is meeting old acquaintances from school or work days in the Berkshires and friends from the past. And sometimes we make new connections. You are the owner of this article. Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Ralph Gardner Jr. is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and New York magazine. He can be reached at ralph@ralphgardner.com. More of his work can be found on Substack. Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime. Subscribe now for 99 Subscriber Sign In | Return Home Saturday, March 14, 2026, 06:49 a.m. According to President Donald Trump, the US has destroyed military installations on the island of Kharg, which is important for Iran's oil industry, in order to persuade Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He refrained from destroying the oil infrastructure "for reasons of decency", Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. However, he warned the leadership in Tehran that should Iran or anyone else attempt to obstruct the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he would "immediately reconsider" this decision. Iran exports 90 percent of its crude oil from the island of Kharg. He has refrained from destroying the oil infrastructure "for reasons of decency", writes Trump. IMAGO/ABACAPRESS Iran is blocking the strait, which is important for global oil exports, and shipping traffic has almost come to a standstill. According to Trump, US warships will soon be escorting tankers through the important strait. The US Navy escort will begin "soon", Trump told journalists. However, the US President did not give an exact date. The island of Kharg is of great importance to the oil industry. OpenStreetMaps According to media reports, the Pentagon is sending more warships and naval infantrymen to the Middle East. The US forces already deployed in the region have been reinforced by thousands of infantrymen, several warships and fighter planes, reported the news portal "Axios", citing a senior US official. According to the report, the infantrymen would also be able to carry out ground operations if desired. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iranian armed forces warned, according to the pro-government broadcaster Press TV, that in the event of a US attack on the country's oil, economic or energy infrastructure, "all relevant US facilities in the region will be destroyed". The "entire regional oil and gas infrastructure in which the United States and its allies have an interest" would be "set on fire and destroyed" in this case, warned the Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards. Cecil Masiga, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Innovation, speaks at the Botswana stage of Huawei ICT competition in Gaborone, Botswana, March 5, 2026. The information and communication technology (ICT) competition sponsored by Chinese telecoms firm Huawei was hailed on Thursday as a platform for Botswanan students to benchmark their skills against internationally recognized frameworks. (Xinhua/Tshekiso Tebalo) GABORONE, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The information and communication technology (ICT) competition sponsored by Chinese telecoms firm Huawei was hailed on Thursday as a platform for Botswanan students to benchmark their skills against internationally recognized frameworks. Cecil Masiga, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Innovation, made the remarks at the event in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to recognize 12 local students from the University of Botswana, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, and Botswana Accountancy College for advancing to the southern African regional stage of the competition. He highlighted the importance of building strong digital capabilities among Botswana's youth as the country advances its digital transformation agenda. "Developing local digital talent is essential as Botswana continues to build a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy," Masiga said. "Initiatives such as the Huawei ICT Competition provide valuable opportunities for students to gain practical exposure to emerging technologies and to strengthen the skills required for the digital future." Huawei Botswana Managing Director Li Dalu said the competition plays an important role in bridging the gap between academic learning and the practical skills required in the global technology industry. He reaffirmed Huawei Botswana's commitment to working closely with government and academic institutions to support ICT skills development and strengthen the country's digital talent ecosystem. The 12 students will proceed to the regional stage of the competition, where they will compete for a place in the global finals. Guljaina Kazezkhan adjusts lab equipment at the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) URUMQI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Growing up in a Kazakh family in northwest China, Guljaina Kazezkhan often spent her childhood summer nights lying on a carpet in the yard and gazing at the stars. In the Kazakh language, "gul" means flower, and "jaina" means shining light. Her parents gave her a name that seemed to foretell her path. "I would lie there for hours, just imagining what the universe looked like," recalled the 34-year-old, sitting in her office at the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Her office is a three-hour drive from the construction site of a scientific marvel. Guljaina is one of the few female engineers working on the Qitai radio telescope project, which features a 110-meter-wide fully steerable aperture that will be the world's largest of its kind when completed in 2028. Located in a valley basin in Qitai County, the 6,000-tonne structure will scan the cosmos for pulsars, test Einstein's theories, and search for faint signals from distant galaxies. Her life today is different from that of many of her relatives, who still maintain the old ways of Kazakh nomads, such as moving with their herds to spring pastures, living in small yurts and eating meat with their hands. But the instincts of nomadic people, who have long relied on the stars to navigate, seem to give her some innate advantages in this cutting-edge scientific career. Much of the project's engineering work must be carried out in barren terrain, where engineers like Guljaina have to endure icy winds and scorching heat. But she is no stranger to such weather. The main task of this small-figured woman is to control heavy equipment with high precision under harsh conditions. Since 2021, soon after joining the observatory, Guljaina has been assigned to a task about the telescope's secondary reflector. This component, weighing over six tonnes and the size of a small truck, requires engineers to maneuver it at a height of roughly a 35-story building, using robotic systems to make the adjustments. If a giant radio telescope can be compared to an eye gazing at the cosmos, then the secondary reflector can be the eye's pupil. Keeping that "pupil" suspended in the air, precisely aligned with the main reflector, is like standing atop a high building and trying to thread a needle with a single human hair. "The hurdle our team has to frequently deal with, for example, is to transport the 6-tonne device 0.05 millimeters at a height of 100 meters and rotate it by 0.001 degrees," Guljaina explained to Xinhua. She and her colleagues build algorithms and models on computers, run simulations in the lab and then head into the site to debug equipment. Then they bring the accumulated data back to the lab for further analysis, thereby improving the algorithms and designs. Such a process will raise the telescope's observational precision, which will eventually provide strong support for China's future astronomical research and aerospace missions. "I often think of myself as a small 'screw.' Tiny, but an indispensable part of such a massive scientific project," said Guljaina, adding that she feels proud about her work. However, being a female engineer comes with its own set of challenges. She recalled the first time climbing a high antenna at an observation station. "My legs were trembling so badly," she said. "When I climbed to 30 meters high, and even to 100 meters, I could barely stand," she joked at the embarrassment. Guljaina grew up in a family that valued learning. Her father was a mathematics teacher, and her mother is a Kazakh language teacher. She is the youngest of three children, with a brother and a sister who works as a primary school English teacher. Supported by China's educational programs for minority students, she attended high school in Wuhan, a city with better educational resources in central China's Hubei Province. She went on to pursue an undergraduate degree at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, majoring in automation, a male-dominated field. In 2016, she returned to Xinjiang and entered the astronomical observatory for graduate and doctoral studies. She excelled, winning scholarships and honors, and then became a mother. Guljaina is among the 40 million women scientists, engineers, and technicians in China. Their shoulders may not be strong, but their wisdom and perseverance are second to none. From high-speed trains and large aircraft to biomedicine and artificial intelligence, they have made their mark on the country's innovation drive. In the run-up to International Women's Day on March 8, outstanding women like Guljaina have come into the spotlight, and her ethnic minority identity has drawn more attention. The petite, bespectacled female engineer takes the attention in stride. "The standards of science do not lower themselves because of gender or ethnicity," Guljaina said. "I just keep my feet on the ground, doing the work, solving the problems, and holding onto the dream I've had since I was a child looking up at the stars." Guljaina Kazezkhan poses for photos at Nanshan Station of the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) Guljaina Kazezkhan poses for photos at Nanshan Station of the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand is ready to stand on its own after its partnership with Netflix ended, according to a spokesperson. The streaming firm had partnered with Meghans jam-selling venture As ever when it launched last year. Figures showed earlier this year that Meghan's Netflix show failed to crack the top 1,000 most-watched programmes on the platform. The second instalment of With Love, Meghan was the 1,124th most-watched show between July and December 2025, with two million views, according to data released by Netflix. The best moments are made to be shared With Love, Meghan returns on August 26th! pic.twitter.com/h0tCKarGis Netflix (@netflix) August 12, 2025 A spokesperson for As ever said: As ever is grateful for Netflixs partnership through launch and our first year. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and cant wait to share more. Advertisement Netflixs statement said: Meghans passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life. As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world. Meghan and Britain's Prince Harry signed a contract thought to be worth more than 100 million US dollars with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. They also signed a first-look deal for film and television projects, meaning that Netflix would have the first option on Harry and Meghans projects with their Archewell production company. The first series of With Love, Meghan launched on Netflix in March 2025 and coincided with the unveiling of As ever, with her first products, including her raspberry jam, repeatedly promoted throughout the show. Among the products on the firms website are honey and tea sets, jam sets and a candle for 64 US dollars. One week into the US-Israeli war against Iran that has plunged the Middle East into turmoil, president Donald Trump faces a growing list of risks and challenges that raise questions about whether he will be able to translate military successes into a clear geopolitical win. Even after the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and devastating blows against Iranian forces on land, at sea and in the air, the crisis has quickly widened into a regional conflict that threatens a more prolonged US military engagement with fallout beyond Trumps control. That is a scenario that Trump had avoided in his two terms in the White House, preferring swift, limited operations like the January 3rd lightning raid in Venezuela and Junes one-off strike on Irans nuclear sites. Advertisement Iran is a messy and potentially protracted military campaign, said Laura Blumenfeld of the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Washington. Trump is risking the global economy, regional stability and his own Republican Party's performance in the US midterm elections. 'Stupid' military interventions Trump, who came to office promising to keep the Us out of "stupid military interventions, is now pursuing what many experts see as an open-ended war of choice unprompted by any imminent threat to the US from Iran, despite claims to the contrary by the president and his aides. In doing so, analysts say he has struggled to articulate a detailed set of objectives or a clear endgame for Operation Epic Fury, the biggest US military operation since the 2003 Iraq invasion, offering shifting rationales for the war and definitions of what would constitute victory. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly rejected that assessment, saying Trump has clearly outlined his goals to "destroy Irans ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon". However, if the war drags on, American casualties mount and the economic costs of interrupted Gulf oil flows multiply, Trumps biggest foreign policy gamble could also hurt his Republican Party politically. MAGA support holding, for now Despite criticism from some Trump supporters opposed to military interventions, members of his Make America Great Again movement have largely backed him on Iran so far. But any softening of their support could imperil Republicans control of Congress in the November midterm elections, given opinion polls showing opposition to the war among the broader electorate, including a crucial bloc of independent voters. Advertisement The American people are not interested in repeating the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan, said Brian Darling, a Republican strategist. The MAGA base is split between those who relied on no-new-war promises and ones who are loyal to Trumps judgment. High on the list of analysts concerns is the mixed messaging from Trump and his aides on whether he is seeking regime change in Tehran. At the outset of the conflict, he suggested that overthrowing Irans rulers was a goal, at least by fomenting internal rebellion. Two days later, he stopped short of mentioning that as a priority. But then on Thursday, Trump told Reuters he would play a role in picking Irans next leader and encouraged Iranian Kurdish rebels to launch attacks. That was followed by his demand in a social media post on Friday for Irans "unconditional surrender". Across the region, the dangers have escalated with Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel and other neighbors as it seeks to sow chaos and raise the costs for Israel, the US and its allies. Showing that Iran may still be able to activate proxy groups, Lebanons Hezbollah militia has renewed hostilities with Israel, expanding the war to another country. American casualties have been low so far, with six service members killed, and Trump has largely shrugged off the prospects for more to come while declining to completely rule out deployment of US ground troops. Asked whether Americans should worry about Iran-inspired attacks at home, Trump said in a Time magazine interview published on Friday: I guess Like I said, some people will die. Advertisement But Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy US national intelligence officer for the Middle East, said: Nothing is likely to hasten an early end to the war more than American casualties Thats what Iran is counting on. Venezuela miscalculation? Many analysts believe Trump, who has shown an increasing appetite for military action in his second term, miscalculated that the Iran campaign would unfold like the Venezuela operation earlier this year. US special forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, opening the way for Trump to coerce more compliant former loyalists into giving him considerable sway over the countrys vast oil reserves without any extended US military action needed. By contrast, Iran has proved a much tougher, better-armed foe with an entrenched clerical and security establishment. Even the joint US-Israeli "decapitation" strike that killed Khamenei and some other senior leaders has failed so far to prevent Iran from mounting a military response and has raised questions whether they could be replaced by even more hardline figures. Looming over the conflict, however, is whether Iran could slide into chaos and break apart if its current rulers fall, further destabilising the Middle East. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a nonprofit research institute considered hawkish on Iran, praised Trumps overall war strategy but said the president needs to make clear publicly that he does not want to see the country disintegrate. Oile chokepoint For now, however, one of the most pressing concerns is Irans threat to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint through which a fifth of the world's oil passes. Tanker traffic has halted, which could have grave economic consequences if it lasts. Though Trump has publicly dismissed any concern about already-rising US gas prices, he and his aides have scrambled for ways to mitigate the wars impact on energy supplies as voters tell pollsters that the cost of living is their top concern. Advertisement It's an economic pain point on the US economy that it seems was not fully anticipated," said Josh Lipsky at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. One former US military official close to the US administration said the widening of the war's economic impact had caught Trumps team by surprise in part because those with knowledge of oil markets were not consulted ahead of the attack on Iran. The White House's Kelly said The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed" but did not specifically address concerns about preparations for a war. Trump made his decision to press ahead with the strikes despite warnings from some senior aides that the escalation could be difficult to contain, according to two White House officials and a Republican close to the administration. Some traditional U.S. allies were caught off guard. "It's a decision-making circle of one," said one Western diplomat. The wars duration is a major unknown likely to determine the extent of its repercussions. With the price tag of the Iran campaign mounting by the day, Trump has said that the operation could last four or five weeks or whatever it takes but has offered little explanation of what he envisions will follow. Retired US Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and formerly commanded the US Army in Europe, commended the US military for its tactics in Iran. But he told Reuters: "From a political, strategic and diplomatic standpoint, it seems not to have been thought all the way through. Trump also has a lot riding on helping oil-producing Gulf Arab states weather the Iran crisis given they have long hosted US bases and have made pledges of massive new US investments to him. While Gulf allies appear to have fallen in line to support the campaign, especially after Tehran targeted them with missile and drone strikes, not everyone in the region is onboard with Trumps war. In an open letter to Trump published on Thursday, UAE billionaire Khalaf Al Habtor, a frequent visitor to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, asked: "Who gave you the right to turn our region into a battlefield?" Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the British royal line of succession over his deplorable links to Jeffrey Epstein. The former duke was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with the paedophile financier while serving as the UKs trade envoy. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Mr Carney said: I certainly think his actions are deplorable and have caused him to be stripped of his royal titles, certainly merit, if thats the word necessitate is a better word his removal from the line of succession. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the then Duke of York, arriving for the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent (PA) The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand have previously said they would support the UK government in any plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession. Such a move would require an Act of Parliament and the agreement of the Commonwealth realms, including Canada. Advertisement Mr Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, added: Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. He spent around 11 hours in custody in February as searches were conducted at his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and at his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, and released pending investigation Andrew served as the UKs special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. The UK government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the kings disgraced brother, the Press Association understands. An entrance to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has relocated following his departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor (Gareth Fuller/PA) In a letter to prime minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing grave allegations, adding: Australians take them seriously. A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon, New Zealands prime minister, said: If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it. The UK Government has said any proposals would come after the police investigation concludes. British defence secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown wrote to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein. Intense Iranian fire has targeted the Gulf Arab states as Israel and the United States kept up their air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. There is no foreseeable end to the fighting. Donald Trumps administration has approved a new 151 million dollar (112 million) arms sale to Israel after the US president said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender. US officials also warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the week-long conflict. Meanwhile, Irans president said the US demand for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should to take to their grave. Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television. A vigil was held in honour of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New York (AP) He also apologised for Irans attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. His statement aired after repeated attacks on morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier, Irans UN ambassador said the country would take all necessary measures to defend itself. Advertisement Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. Also early on Saturday, loud booms sounded in Jerusalem and incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel. President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israels emergency services. The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iranian attacks targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed drones heading for its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Displaced people are fleeing Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut (AP) Passengers waiting for flights out at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Qatars energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could bring down the economies of the world, predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to 150 dollars a barrel. Advertisement The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above 90 dollars on Friday for the first time in more than two years. Writing for the Qatar-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera, a regional analyst warned Iran was making a strategic miscalculation of historic proportions. Al Jazeera, a pan-Arab satellite news network owned and funded by Qatars government, has been used in the past to signal Dohas opinions on regional matters. Sultan al-Khulaifi, a senior researcher at the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, wrote: By spreading the conflict to the Gulf, Tehran is doing precisely what Israel could not do alone: steering the war away from the Israeli-Iranian axis and transforming it into a confrontation between Iran and its Arab neighbours. For nearly a half a century, the Iranian regime has been slaughtering Americans. President Trump is doing what other Presidents have refused to do eliminate the Iranian threat so no more American blood is spilled by these terrorists. THREAD: Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 6, 2026 On Saturday, the defence minister of Saudi Arabia and Pakistans army chief met to discuss ways to stop the attacks coming from Iran, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman, a son of King Salman, spoke to Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh about the Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. Advertisement Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials. They cautioned that the US intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information. This marks the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war. In a social media post on Friday, Mr Trump said: There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down. pic.twitter.com/Nqn30feTQA U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 7, 2026 After a surrender, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), he wrote, the US and its allies will help rebuild Iran, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. Those comments were likely to raise further questions about the endgame of the war. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that some countries had begun mediation efforts. Iranian state television reported that a leadership council had started discussing how to convene the countrys Assembly of Experts, which will select the new supreme leader. US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview on Friday that the biggest bombing campaign of the war was still to come. A symbolic funeral was held for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP) Israel has said that over the past week it has heavily bombed an extensive underground bunker that Iranian leaders had planned to use during the hostilities. New information has surfaced suggesting that a deadly explosion at a school in the Iranian city of Minab, some 680 miles southeast of Tehran, was likely caused by US air strikes. The information included satellite images, expert analysis, a US official and public information released by US and Israeli military forces. Advertisement Iranian state media has said more than 165 people were killed in the blast, most of them of children. Iran has blamed Israel and the US for the explosion. Neither country has accepted responsibility, though defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said the US is investigating. The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in the mountains of eastern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least three people were killed. Israel has carried out waves of air strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Lebanons health ministry said at least 217 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and 798 others were injured. Irans president has said that a demand by the United States for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should to take to their grave. President Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a pre-recorded address aired by Iranian state television. He also apologised for Irans attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted the Gulf Arab states on Saturday morning as Israel and the United States kept up their air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. There were repeated attacks on Saturday morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Emirates resumes operations Emirates will resume operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating. Customers can check the flight pic.twitter.com/kSlcEGKCCz Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 7, 2026 Passengers waiting for flights out at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. Later that morning, long-haul carrier Emirates resumed operations, after briefly suspending all flights to and from Dubai. Advertisement Authorities have not explained if there was an interception or damage at the airport. There is no foreseeable end to the fighting. Donald Trumps administration has approved a new 151 million dollar (112 million) arms sale to Israel after the US president said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender. US officials also warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the week-long conflict. A vigil was held in honour of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New York (AP) Earlier, Irans UN ambassador said the country would take all necessary measures to defend itself. Footage showed explosions and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. Also early on Saturday, loud booms sounded in Jerusalem and incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters across Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties by Israels emergency services. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have also hammered Beirut and Tehran. Death tolls continued to rise on Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops were reported killed. Advertisement The US and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. US president Donald Trump has demanded Irans unconditional surrender (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The stated goals and timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iranian attacks targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed drones heading for its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. Bahrains military intercepted two missiles and a drone on Saturday, the defence ministry said. That brought to 86 missiles and 148 drones that have been intercepted over Bahrain since the US and Israel launched war against Iran last weekend. Displaced people are fleeing Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut (AP) Qatars energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could bring down the economies of the world, predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to 150 dollars a barrel. The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above 90 dollars on Friday for the first time in more than two years. Writing for the Qatar-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera, a regional analyst warned Iran was making a strategic miscalculation of historic proportions. Advertisement Sultan al-Khulaifi, a senior researcher at the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, wrote: By spreading the conflict to the Gulf, Tehran is doing precisely what Israel could not do alone: steering the war away from the Israeli-Iranian axis and transforming it into a confrontation between Iran and its Arab neighbours. For nearly a half a century, the Iranian regime has been slaughtering Americans. President Trump is doing what other Presidents have refused to do eliminate the Iranian threat so no more American blood is spilled by these terrorists. THREAD: Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 6, 2026 On Saturday, the defence minister of Saudi Arabia and Pakistans army chief met to discuss ways to stop the attacks coming from Iran, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman, a son of King Salman, spoke to Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh about the Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to officials. They cautioned that the US intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information. This marks the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war. A symbolic funeral was held for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP) Israel has said that over the past week it has heavily bombed an extensive underground bunker that Iranian leaders had planned to use during the hostilities. New information has surfaced suggesting that a deadly explosion at a school in the Iranian city of Minab, some 680 miles south-east of Tehran, was likely caused by US air strikes. The information includes satellite images, expert analysis, and public information released by US and Israeli military forces. Advertisement Iranian state media has said more than 165 people were killed in the blast, most of them of children. Iran has blamed Israel and the US for the explosion. Neither country has accepted responsibility, though American defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is investigating. Meanwhile, Indias foreign minister said on Saturday that an Iranian naval vessel has docked in India, after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship and another vessel sought assistance from Sri Lanka. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the IRIS Lavan is docked in southern Kochi city, after India granted permission when the vessel reported having problems on March 1. I think it was the humane thing to do, Mr Jaishankar said. A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Another vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka and more than 200 sailors were brought ashore. Both ships had previously taken part in naval exercises hosted by India, but Mr Jaishankar said they had been caught on the wrong side of events once the war began. The Iran war exploded further on Saturday night as flames rose above an oil storage facility in Tehran and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the week-old conflict. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the Iran war. Mr Trump said Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government, but their involvement would make the conflict more complicated. The war is complicated enough without having getting the Kurds involved, Mr Trump told reporters on board Air Force One. He was speaking after joining grieving families at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of the six US soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East. The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of US service members killed in action, is considered one of the most sombre duties of any commander in chief. Advertisement Its a very sad day, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was glad we paid our respects. Iranian state media confirmed the strike as Associated Press video showed the horizon glowing against the night sky. President Donald Trump said the fallen service members were heroes (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) Israels military confirmed new strikes that shook neighbourhoods in Tehrans east and south but did not immediately comment on targets. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed an attack from the US and the Zionist regime at the facility that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries, even as its missiles and drones flew towards Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehrans war strategy would not budge. A rift between more pragmatic politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. (PA Graphics) Conflicting statements involved two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the wars opening air strikes. Mr Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American air strikes. Advertisement Along with his apology, Mr Pezeshkian dismissed Mr Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. US president Donald Trump has demanded Irans unconditional surrender (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Mr Pezeshkians message, seemingly filmed in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Mr Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Mr Pezeshkians statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks. From now on, they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy, he said. The US strikes have not been coming from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region. A symbolic funeral was held for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP) But hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change. The geography of some countries in the region both overtly and covertly is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue, he posted on X. As long as the presence of US bases in the region continue, the countries will not enjoy peace, Irans parliament speaker and a former Revolutionary Guard general, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X. He called defence policies in line with the late supreme leaders guidance. Advertisement Irans UN mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems. Earlier, AP video showed explosions over western Tehran as Israel said it struck a Tehran airport it said was used to transfer weapons and cash to militant groups. Emirates resumes operations Emirates will resume operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating. Customers can check the flight pic.twitter.com/kSlcEGKCCz Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 7, 2026 The US and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The wars stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. In Lebanon, Israel carried out a commando raid to search for clues about a navigator who went missing 40 years ago that left dozens of people dead and dozens more wounded on Saturday. Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters again across Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the US embassy complex in Baghdad. There were no reports of casualties. A vigil was held in honour of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New York (AP) It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on US military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then. Iraqs caretaker prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, called the embassy attack a terrorist act carried out by rogue groups. Advertisement US allies in the Gulf have said the Trump administration did not give them adequate time to prepare for the war. On Saturday, hours after Mr Pezeshkians message, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed a driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals. Displaced people are fleeing Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut (AP) Sirens sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed towards its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport were ushered into train tunnels. Long-haul carrier Emirates briefly said all flights to and from Dubai were suspended. President Donald Trump has joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base as the bodies of six American soldiers killed in the war in the Middle East were returned to the US. The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of US service members killed in action, is considered one of the most sombre duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Mr Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was the toughest thing I have to do as president. Mr Trump, speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his trip to Delaware, said the fallen service members were heroes coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home. First lady Melania Trump and vice president JD Vance were also at Dover Air Force Base (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) He said it was a very sad situation and he pledged to keep American war deaths to a minimum. Both Mr Trump and vice president JD Vance were present for the transfer, as were their spouses. Advertisement A host of top administration officials were in attendance, including defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who wrote in a social media post on Friday of an unbreakable spirit to honour their memory and the resolve they embodied; attorney general Pam Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Also present for the solemn event were governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida. The remains of US soldiers killed in a drone strike were returned to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Those killed in action were Maj Jeffrey OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Sgt 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. As is protocol, Mr Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. The president saluted as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles, which would take them to a mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. The families were largely silent as they observed the ritual, which lasted about half an hour. Advertisement The six members of the Army Reserve, who were killed by a drone strike at a command centre in Kuwait, were all from the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. President Donald Trump did not speak during the transfer (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) They died just one day after the US and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure, Republican senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran, said earlier this week after the six were identified. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Irans president has apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries even as its missiles and drones flew towards Gulf Arab states and US President Donald Trump threatened that the country would be hit very hard. President Masoud Pezeshkian, part of the three-member leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike on February 28 that started the war, delivered the message a week into the conflict that has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American air strikes. Mr Pezeshkian also dismissed Mr Trumps call for Iran to surrender unconditionally. Thats a dream that they should take to their grave, he said. The message, seemingly filmed in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracys leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Mr Khamenei and now appears to be picking its own targets. Advertisement Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night that Israel has an organised plan with many surprises for the next stage of the war in Iran. He added that the goal is to destabilise the regime and allow change. Earlier Saturday, the Israeli military confirmed that Israel is moving into the second stage of the Iran war after striking more than 300 targets over the weekend. (PA Graphics) Witnesses said a refinery in southern Tehran was targeted by the latest air strikes the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The flames lit up the horizon. Iran state media in response threatened to hit oil refineries in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. Shortly after Mr Pezeshkians message, Mr Trump warned in a social media post that more Iranian areas and groups of people would now become targets, without elaborating. Hours earlier, a wave of missiles and drones had disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, targeted a major Saudi oil facility and sent people fleeing for cover in Bahrain. And several hours after Mr Pezeshkians apology, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain were still sounding alerts or reporting intercepted missiles. A symbolic funeral was held for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP) Mr Pezeshkians statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks that have involved hundreds of missiles and drones. I should apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf, the president said. From now on, they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy. Advertisement Gen Abolfazl Shekarchi, Irans armed forces spokesman, then added confusion by saying that Tehran has not hit countries that did not provide space for America to invade our country. The US strikes have not been coming from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region. Irans UN mission later asserted that Tehran targets only military bases and US assets, and suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems. Emirates resumes operations Emirates will resume operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoons flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating. Customers can check the flight pic.twitter.com/kSlcEGKCCz Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 7, 2026 Iran still awaits a new supreme leader. Prominent cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi on Saturday urged Irans Assembly of Experts to act quickly to name a new one. The Trump administration approved a new 151 million dollar arms sale to Israel after Mr Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender and US officials warned of a bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet. Associated Press video showed explosions over western Tehran as Israel said it carried out another wave of strikes and struck a Tehran airport it said was used to transfer weapons and cash to militant groups. Tehran is under severe bombardment and even people far from military and government targets are living in fear, said a university student in western Tehran. Advertisement The US and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The wars stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Irans government or elevate new leadership from within. A vigil was held in honour of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in New York (AP) The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Incoming missiles from Iran had people heading to bomb shelters again across Israel, and booms sounded in Jerusalem. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Sirens sounded early Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed towards its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. In Dubai, several blasts were heard on Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defences. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport were ushered into train tunnels. Long-haul carrier Emirates later said all flights to and from Dubai were suspended until further notice, but then said it would resume operations. US president Donald Trump has demanded Irans unconditional surrender (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed late Friday in eastern Lebanons mountains, and intense clashes and air strikes lasted into Saturday. Lebanons Health Ministry said Israeli air strikes on Nabi Chit and nearby areas left at least 41 people dead and 40 wounded. The Lebanese army said the dead included three of its troops. Advertisement Israel did not acknowledge the fighting, and its military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Israel also has carried out waves of air strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a large presence. It is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians. Indias foreign minister said on Saturday that an Iranian naval vessel has docked in India, speaking after a US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lankas coast on Wednesday. Displaced people are fleeing Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut (AP) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the warship was moored in the southern city of Kochi after India granted permission when the vessel reported having problems on Sunday, a day after the war began. I think it was the humane thing to do, Mr Jaishankar said. Another Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka, where more than 200 sailors were being brought ashore. The ships previously took part in naval exercises hosted by India. Two children were among at least 10 people killed when a Russian missile hit a five-storey residential building in Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, officials said. Sixteen others were wounded in the attack on Saturday. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack and called for an international response. He said that Russia struck Ukraine overnight with 29 missiles and 480 drones, targeting energy facilities in Kyiv and other central regions and with damage reported in at least seven other locations across the country. Since last night, work has been ongoing to clear the rubble of a residential building in Kharkiv following a Russian ballistic missile strike. A whole section was destroyed, and the upper floors of a neighboring building were damaged. Unfortunately, as of now, it is known that 7 pic.twitter.com/f3Jr8mPCWN Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 7, 2026 According to preliminary data, air defence systems downed 19 missiles and 453 drones with hits from nine missiles and 26 strike drones recorded at 22 locations. In Kharkiv, in Ukraines north-east, emergency workers were searching the rubble for survivors. Among the dead was a primary schoolteacher and her son, who were killed in their home, and another child who also died with her mother, according to the citys mayor, Ihor Terekhov. Advertisement The regional prosecutorss office said the building was hit by a new Russian cruise missile, known as Izdeliye-30. Ukrainian reports said that the new subsonic air-launched weapon that Russia has recently started to use against Ukraine has a range of 930 miles and is equipped with a new satellite navigation system more resistant to jamming. At least 10 people were killed in the attack on Kharkiv (AP) In the Kyiv region, damage from debris was reported in three districts, according to local authorities. In the southern region of Odesa, 80 firefighters were called in to help battle massive fires at infrastructure facilities following an attack with multiple drones. Ukraines state rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia said damage to the rail infrastructure forced changes to a number of routes in the centre-west of the country. Russias Defence Ministry said the overnight strike targeted Ukrainian military factories, energy facilities and air bases. There must be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life, Mr Zelensky said in a post on X. Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraines residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support must continue. We count on active work with the European Union to guarantee greater protection for our people. I am grateful to everyone who helps strengthen our protection. At least 16 others were hurt in the attack (AP) Russia has fired tens of thousands of Iranian-designed drones at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbour just over four years. It has launched a large-scale domestic production of them and battered Ukraine with hundreds of drones in a single night more than were used during some entire months in 2024. Advertisement Iran has responded to joint US-Israeli strikes by launching the same type of Shahed drones at countries in the Middle East. Mr Zelensky said he had received a US request for support to defend against the Iranian drones in the Middle East and had given the order for equipment to be provided along with Ukrainian experts. The war in the Middle East has drawn international attention away from Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War, and forced the postponement of a new round of US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine planned for this week. KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has recently held phone conversations with several Middle Eastern leaders, calling for peaceful approaches and restraint to ease rising tensions in the region. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in several posts on social media on Saturday that Malaysia's position was conveyed during separate phone conversations recently with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Anwar said they exchanged views on the current developments in Qatar and Bahrain as well as the wider Middle East region following the attacks on Iran. "I also appreciate the efforts of the governments of Qatar and Bahrain in ensuring the safety and welfare of Malaysians residing in both countries. We agreed that all parties should prioritize peaceful approaches and exercise restraint from any actions that could jeopardize regional stability and security," he said. Meanwhile, Anwar also held a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to convey Malaysia's sympathy and solidarity with the people of Iran during this extremely difficult time. Malaysia is also deeply concerned over the prolonged conflict's implications for global peace, stability, and well-being, said Anwar. Advertisement NationalInternational Women's Day Opinion I dont take part in this sisterhood jamboree. Why? Lets start with the Big Lie Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser March 8, 2026 4:00am March 8, 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 Women are being lied to. Worse, the liars are often other women. Today is International Womens Day. I no longer participate. The annual event perpetuates a Big Lie that women are in all respects the equal of men. This is nonsense. I am childless, and I am angry, she wrote. Angry that I was daft enough to believe female fulfilment came with a leather briefcase. Dionne Gain Women are as intelligent, capable, determined and analytical as men. But we are not the same. Simply, biologically. We are the sex evolutionarily designated to bear children and nurture them with our bodies. Awash with hormones geared towards that process even, tragically, when the equipment betrays us. The Big Lie tells us to ignore our physiognomy, but bodies have a way of making their wants and needs known. International Womens Day upholds a model of womanhood which teaches us to override those sensations. I will be forever grateful for a handful of feminists who have taken it upon themselves to warn young women that we were being lied to. In the early 2000s, journalist Virginia Haussegger wrote a column for this masthead, titled The sins of our feminist mothers. In it, she lamented that her generation had been sold on a lie of you-can-have-it-all feminism. Haussegger is an impressive career woman, who discovered too late that her biological clock had ticked over past midnight. I am childless, and I am angry, she wrote. Angry that I was so foolish to take the word of my feminist mothers as gospel. Angry that I was daft enough to believe female fulfilment came with a leather briefcase. Advertisement In 2008, Lori Gottlieb wrote in The Atlantic that she regretted not having married her long-term boyfriend with whom, she felt she lacked a core connection. Instead she got pregnant by herself, with the help of a sperm bank. Gottlieb confessed to now wishing she had a traditional family. Babies are hard work and also an immense joy. Getty At the time I mainly read these articles with intellectual curiosity. But they were a useful primer. I too had been raised to focus on education and career. The greatest tragedy which could befall a young woman, my elders suggested, was to get pregnant too young, wasting precious potential. Men were a nice-to-have. If they didnt meet the many criteria on lengthening lists describing height, hair, eye colour, income, status, aspiration, accomplishment, as well as another dozen or so personal attributes, they were not Mr Right, and a woman was better off on her own. The list-making always struck me as ridiculous. Lists are barriers to letting your heart and your gut decide. Coming from a stable, loving home, I knew that men werent commodities acquired to impress your friends (though of course my husband, who will be reading this, was and is deeply impressive). When the baby-hunger came for me in my turn, I was equipped to recognise the sensation, thanks to the women whod written about suppressing their own too long. I am eternally grateful to them and I feel a responsibility to pass on the favour. Advertisement Because there are still so, so many lies that young women are told. Related Article Opinion Motherhood Babies need a rebrand: with the birthrate in freefall, were overlooking one aspect of parenting Charlotte Mortlock Journalist and political adviser For instance, that babies are no fun. It sometimes feels like there is a concerted public relations campaign under way targeting babies; theyre everything from burdensome to bad for your mental health. Dont get me wrong, they are hard work. Especially since many of us no longer have close networks able to provide meaningful support in the difficult first few months. That can be very lonely. But they are also an immense joy. And those hormones I mentioned earlier suddenly come into their own. Babies flood the female body with the love hormone oxytocin and the reward-and-happiness hormone dopamine. Fathers get their own versions too. So basically having a baby is like one big dance party for the soul the sleeplessness is totally worth it. And they just get better after that. I had no idea I could laugh as much as I have on a daily basis, and feel as much joy and fulfilment as I still do as a result of creating another human being. Another lie, or mistruth, is that children get in the way of your career. Thats like saying that happiness gets in the way of life. Its true, were currently not very good at supporting women who want to balance babies with work. This needs to be fixed (which is why I am providing campaign support to mothers pushing for more flexible childcare). But its also true though that children can reset your priorities. Being present for your childs milestones can be as rewarding as career highs. Meanwhile, career lows melt away when they look up at you with undiluted adoration. Who needs the approval of the world when you are the world to someone? Advertisement Which is why I rage whenever I hear another lie which has become common: the so-called insurance policy of egg freezing. If a woman is at the point of freezing her eggs, it seems to me that shes really thinking about having a baby. And if she is, it might be time to set that process in train. Only one in 10 women end up using their frozen eggs. And of those, less than 30 per cent end up with a baby. Related Article IVF Suzanne froze her eggs then a calculator gave her a reality check As for relationships, a conversation that I had with a female friend a while back stayed with me. One of her teachers told her high school class of girls that, while there are some women who will enjoy many different short relationships, others will not feel fulfilled by these types of encounters. You need to work out whats right for you, she urged the girls. In a society in which women are still slurred as sluts or prudes, knowing your preferences and owning them is real power. If you do decide on someone, it helps to remember investment principles. Marriage is a portfolio designed to be held. Sometimes stocks go down, and sometimes they rise. Except in the case of abuse or violence, riding out the dips maximises returns, well beyond the honeymoon phase. True feminists dont deny female reality. Until International Womens Day celebrates women and not just a limited idea of equality, I will continue to abstain. It is a big lie which betrays women more than it uplifts them. Advertisement Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Advertisement NationalSexism Opinion Misogyny at first sight but Im glad MAFS gave toxic Tyson a platform Julia Baird Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author March 7, 2026 4:00am March 7, 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 There arent a lot of blokes around who would say, openly and unabashedly, that they are seeking a submissive wife. So it was quite startling to see a groom say just this, out loud, on Married at First Sight. As the other men present raised their eyebrows and the experts gasped, one group of women watching rolled their eyes with recognition: churchgoers. Bec Zacharia (left) looks shocked as Tyson Gordon faces off with Laura Byrne, Brittany Hockley and Jules Lund on MAFS: After the Dinner Party, which screens on Stan. For those unfamiliar with MAFS, which screens on Nine, owner of this masthead, this season features a 30-year-old Christian property investor, Tyson Gordon, paired with a highly successful 32-year-old real estate agent Stephanie Marshall. They are both driven, attractive, come from Queensland, hold conservative views and support Donald Trump youd imagine this could be a sweet match. But they clashed immediately. Stephanie, who is no feminist, finds Tyson arrogant and sexist. Tyson says she is too old, too dominant, and not the submissive type. Advertisement As someone who has spent decades trying to fathom why swaths of male-led churches still adhere to the olde worlde doctrine of headship where a man is the head of a woman, and the woman is to submit to him it fascinates me to see this belief aired in a mainstream forum. Because its very difficult to explain without sounding a bit odd. Hosts on MAFS and its satellite show, After the Dinner Party, repeatedly asked Tyson to try. Laura Byrne cited a dictionary: Submissive means compliant and obedient. Is that what you want? Tyson: I think I would like to be the leader of the house. Laura: Do you want someone who is obedient? Advertisement Tyson: Would you say that is controlling, being the leader of the house? Related Article Reality TV Submissive or traditional? MAFS toxic groom is served a valuable lesson Laura: If you want someone who is obedient, yes, its controlling. And you want a dog. Tyson said: Maybe thats what I want. But then flipped: I dont want a literal dog. I want to be the man of the house. I dont think theres anything wrong with that I dont mean literally put a leash. I dont want my wife to feel like a dog or a slave but I do like these traditional values. Phew. It gave me flashbacks to the many times I have spoken to conservative church men about their belief that women should submit to male headship in the church and home. Not because they would speak as crudely, bluntly or offensively as Tyson but because they use words like submit without clocking how this sounds. I have repeatedly been told the idea is women submit voluntarily, in a nice way and Ive been reprimanded for suggesting this might also be about power. Obedience. Or excluding women from positions of authority. No, no, they say, men lead women in a sacrificial way. Advertisement Its, like, fun. Freeing. Try it. I have often wondered how these blokes could explain this doctrine, without jargon, in the post office, the pub, to strangers, as something healthy and not limiting and retro. And now I am watching it on my television. When it was suggested that the only place Tyson could find a woman keen on submission was church, he responded: Thats a good way of looking at it. I agree, actually. But when I ran this past Jen Barker, the founder of Fixing Her Eyes, an independent online community of Australian Christian women, she baulked at the suggestion that the church should be a repository of archaic views: Women in the church arent there to bow to a mans needs or fulfil someones desire for hierarchy. Women are made in the image of God, co-heirs of the kingdom, gifted by the Spirit, and partners in the gospel of Jesus. It is not biblical to tell women to submit to mens authority. As with any text, context is key. Tysons view of Christian women is warped and patriarchal. Christian men are called to mutual submission, despite what some leaders in the church claim. Advertisement Now Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has slammed the show for starring Tyson, posting on Instagram: When men who idolise submissive and obedient women are normalised on prime-time TV, it means coercive control is given a national platform 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. I have full sympathy with this argument. As I have reported previously, there is plenty of evidence to suggest the teaching of headship can enable domestic violence, buoying perpetrators and muzzling victims. But there is a case for platforming Tyson Gordon to drag these views into the light. They are gaining traction among young men, with a global survey finding Gen Z males were twice as likely as Baby Boomer blokes to have traditional views on decision-making in a marriage. Its not just trashy reality TV. Tysons stance is also still prominent in many churches. A 2023 ANU study found religious service attendance was associated with more patriarchal beliefs about gender roles. Male power over women is both normalised and hidden in religious communities across Australia including by the wealthy, well-populated Sydney Anglican diocese. Advertisement By hidden I mean that while maintaining the headship of men is a core belief fought for and adhered to at great cost in places like Sydney I have long been aware that those who disagree have slender prospects of promotion. But it is also, weirdly, barely spoken about in public. I have asked ministers to articulate headship on national TV, only to have them shrug: Oh, we dont talk about that much. They do, but what they dont want is precisely the reaction Tyson has had: disbelief, rejection, ridicule, questioning. Related Article Reality TV After toxic groom Tyson, a bride is taken to task for being vicious and humiliating Its something they believe the world, tainted as it is by feminism, will not understand. Jen Barker argues the Gospel has been distorted by these men, by poor reading of scripture. Yes, there are verses in the thousands-year-old Bible telling women to submit to their husbands as their head. There are also verses calling for mutual submission, underpinned by a selfless love, kindness, humility, compassion, gentleness and respect. Advertisement While I agree coercion is ugly and dangerous, the airing and challenging of these views is important. Especially for women who are regularly told that while men insisting on female submission looks, sounds and smells like control, it is somehow godly or traditional or the way things are meant to be. Julia Baird is a journalist, author and regular columnist. Her latest book is Bright Shining: How grace changes everything. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Advertisement NationalNSWCrime 500 teenagers gatecrash 16-year-olds Sydney birthday party, three arrested Kayla Olaya March 7, 2026 7:44pm 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 About 500 teenagers gatecrashed a 16-year-old girls birthday party in Sydneys south, prompting a police response that ended with three arrests and a helicopter deployed to disperse the crowd. Emergency services were called about 7.15pm on Friday to a home on Bounty Avenue in Kirrawee, where local police initially tried to disperse the gathering. Reinforcements were quickly called, with public order and riot squad officers and PolAir the police helicopter unit working for more than an hour to manage the out-of-control party. About 500 teenagers gatecrashed a 16-year-old girls birthday party in Sydneys south on Friday night. Nine News Police arrested three 16-year-old boys before releasing them without charge pending further inquiries. Advertisement One of the boys allegedly threw a full can of alcohol at an officer, who deployed capsicum spray before arresting him. During the arrest police will further allege that the boy resisted officers, NSW Police said in a statement. The boy was taken to Sutherland police station and later released into the custody of a responsible adult. Police said the matter is expected to be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act. No injuries were reported by either the boy or the officer. Loading CCTV footage obtained by Nine News shows crowds of teenagers surrounding the suburban home before the situation escalated. Advertisement Police are seen in the footage pushing members of the crowd as onlookers yell, while one officer lunges at a reveller. CCTV footage obtained by Nine News shows crowds of teenagers surrounding the suburban home before the situation escalated. Nine News One witness told Nine that she saw multiple people arrested. It was very chaotic, she said. Another witness, Aedan Byrne, said he saw partygoers jumping over neighbours fences to leave the event. When asked whether the amount of force deployed was necessary, police said they are trained to deploy several tactical options to carry out an arrest. The decision as to what options are utilised [is] made on a case-by-case basis by the individual officers, NSW Police said in a statement. Advertisement Police have launched an investigation and are urging anyone who was in the area and has information including phone, dashcam and CCTV footage to contact Sutherland police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Updated NationalQueenslandCrime Stabbed boy fighting for life, man charged over separate stabbing Dominique Tassell March 7, 2026 10:45am 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 boy is in a life-threatening condition after being stabbed in the back north of Brisbane. The 15-year-old from Kallangur was wounded at a home at the intersection of Napier Avenue and Capestone Boulevard in Mango Hill about 10.30pm on Friday. He was taken by paramedics to Queensland Childrens Hospital. Police charged a 31-year-old man with 13 offences on the Sunshine Coast. A 16-year-old boy from Mango Hill has been charged with one count of robbery armed in company with wounding. Advertisement He is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Childrens Court on Saturday. In a separate incident, a man was stabbed in the chest and head on the Sunshine Coast. The 38-year-old was allegedly stabbed by a 31-year-old man at a home on Orchid Place in Bokarina about 8.15pm on Friday. A 42-year-old man suffered injuries to his hand in the same incident. The 38-year-old was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a life-threatening condition, while the 42-year-old was taken to the same hospital in a stable condition. Advertisement Police allege the 31-year-old had earlier hijacked an all-terrain vehicle on Nicklin Way about 7.50pm. He is accused of threatening its rider, a 32-year-old woman, and directing her to drive. She was uninjured and fled the scene when he dismounted her vehicle a short time later. The 31-year-old then allegedly entered a Peacock Crescent home about 8.10pm and threatened those inside with a weapon, before stealing alcohol and leaving. The man has been charged with 13 offences, including seven counts of threatening violence; one count of discharge firearms or other acts, for allegedly threatening with a knife; two counts of enter dwelling and commit; and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm. He is expected to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court on Saturday. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalIVF Suzanne froze her eggs then a calculator gave her a reality check Angus Thomson and Kate Aubusson March 8, 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 Women considering their fertility options can now consult Australias first independent egg-freezing calculator to gain realistic and evidence-based advice about their chances of having a baby. The number of women choosing to freeze their eggs has tripled over the last three years, accounting for 13 per cent of more than 112,000 IVF cycles performed each year, but experts say egg-freezing marketing can oversell the success rates. Suzanne Lang, 36, froze her eggs last year, and said the new egg freeze estimator would have enabled her to fact-check the information she was receiving from her IVF clinic. Audrey Richardson The YourEggFreeze Estimator, developed by the University of NSWs National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU), asks women to enter their age and the number of cycles they plan to undergo. It then offers a personalised estimate of how many eggs they can expect to freeze, and their chance of having a baby. The federal government-funded tool is also designed to address common misconceptions about IVF, such as the belief that freezing a certain number of eggs guarantees a baby. Advertisement Theres a lot of advertising for [egg freezing], but ... theres been no independent information that really informs women who are contemplating this, said Professor Georgina Chambers, who leads NPESU and the national IVF registry. Related Article IVF Patients deserve to know: The IVF clinics and the missing success rates Suzanne Lang was 37 when she chose to freeze her eggs last year. Her long-term relationship had broken down, and she had moved from London back to Australia. She had been on the fence about having children but, faced with questions about her own fertility, the desire to have a family hit her like a biological force she had no control over. You have 37 years to prepare for this fact, which we all know is inevitable, but it still caught me by surprise, and it still felt like a rush, she said. Making that decision was about empowering myself it meant that I didnt need to compromise or rush myself to have the possibility of starting a family. Advertisement Lang said she did not feel comfortable placing her trust in a commercial provider that stood to benefit financially from her going through with the procedure. Elective egg freezing typically costs $8000 to $12,000 per cycle, plus storage fees. What I wanted was a sense of pure relief and control, Lang said. That is never going to be attainable, and I had to come to terms with that. Lang underwent one cycle. Her specialist retrieved 16 eggs, of which 13 could be frozen. She was given a 70 per cent chance of having a live birth. After using the estimator on Thursday, which put Langs chance of having a baby closer to 60 per cent, she said she would more seriously consider undergoing another cycle within the year. Advertisement If my reason for doing this is to secure my future chance of having a baby, 60 per cent is not great, she said. Suzanne Lang said she did not feel comfortable placing her trust in a commercial provider that stood to benefit financially from her going through with the procedure. Audrey Richardson The calculator on the YourIVFSuccess website is based on real-world data from every IVF clinic in Australia. The website attracts 25,000 visits a month, and traffic grew 400 per cent between 2024 and 2025. For every person who does elective egg freezing, theres a multitude of women who want information about it to see whether its right for them or not, Chambers said. Theres a real insatiable appetite for this information, and the government should be applauded for actually funding this. City Fertility senior specialist Dr Devora Lieberman said having an independent tool was important given the marketing of egg freezing was often fearmongering and overpromising. Advertisement Oftentimes, women think that having eggs equates to having babies in the freezer, but eggs have such a long way to go before they become embryos, let alone a baby, Lieberman said. Related Article Healthcare False information: Doctors denounce popular fertility test Lieberman said data from the national registry showed most women were freezing about 10 eggs, which was probably not enough to give many of them a good chance of having a baby. Women need to weigh up the cost of freezing eggs versus the regret that they didnt freeze more, Lieberman said. Associate Professor Kiri Beilby at Monash Universitys Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology tested various scenarios using the calculator and concluded it was a good representation of egg-freezing success rates. Advertisement So much data has gone into this, Beilby said. Women can use this technology to feel empowered and make informed decisions about whether they want to have the treatment. Beilby said a large proportion of women did not return to use their frozen eggs. Though she expected this would increase, she said many women who consider doing so find a partner and have children without IVF. The data entered into the calculator is not stored, and cannot be accessed by the government, IVF clinics or UNSW. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive PoliticsFederalFederal budget Red light for new green investment slows race to renewable target Mike Foley March 8, 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 No extra money will be spent on the Albanese governments ambitious rollout of renewables across the electricity grid next year, in an attempt to claw back savings in the next federal budget, even as Australia falls short of its target to reach 82 per cent green energy by 2030. The push to halt spending on the nations net zero agenda will reverse the trend since Labor came to power in 2022, as successive federal budgets have injected billions of dollars into wind and solar farms, including $2 billion for the nations green bank in 2025. The coming federal budget will not expand funding for wind and solar farms. AAP Renewable energy projects and the poles and wires to connect them to the grid must be rolled out at speed and scale to reduce greenhouse gases to reach Australias commitment under the Paris Agreement to cut emissions at least 62 per cent by 2035. This masthead has confirmed via several sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that new spending measures on the renewable rollout have been ruled out in the federal budget, due to be handed down on May 12. Advertisement Related Article Electricity Renewables delays drive electricity cost blow out Senior officials, including Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Steven Kennedy, have argued that additional support for the renewables rollout is already available through the environmental law reforms designed to speed up project approvals. As revealed by this masthead, ministers have been instructed to find significant savings in all their portfolios, and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen is trying to ringfence a number of big-spending energy transition initiatives. He is also the lead negotiator at this years COP climate conference in Turkey, with the task of urging nations to lower emissions and set more ambitious targets. Treasury is considering a move to recoup $3 billion by winding back the generous fringe benefit waiver for EV leases, one of the most popular programs overseen by Bowen. Advertisement Sales of electric vehicles have tripled in three years and transport emissions fell in the December quarter, the sectors first-ever reduction in the sector outside of COVID lockdowns. The popular Cheaper Home Battery program, which since July has had its funding more than double to $7 billion, is set to install 500,000 units across the country in its first year. It delivers generous subsidies, and speculation is mounting that it may be wound back in the budget. But industry sources say this is unlikely, given it was modified in December and the schemes success will help the broader energy transition. Related Article Exclusive Renewables For the first time, renewable energy is supplying most of our power Slugging foreign investors with a capital gains tax of up to 30 per cent on the sale of wind, solar and battery projects is another budget measure under Treasurys consideration. The governments signature manufacturing program, the $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia fund administered by the Industry portfolio, is also under the microscope. It includes the $1 billion Solar Sunshot program and $523 million in support for the Battery Breakthrough Initiative to establish local manufacturing. Advertisement The block on additional funding for wind and solar farms follows warnings from analysts including Rystad Energy and the Grattan Institute that Australia will fall short of its 2030 target as projects are mired in delays caused by investor jitters, planning disputes and construction cost blowouts. Bowen rejects this claim, insisting that the target of 82 per cent green energy by the end of the decade will be delivered by the flagship Capacity Investment Scheme. The government does not disclose the amount of taxpayer money set aside for the scheme, but it increased the size of the pot by 25 per cent last year. In three short years, our reliable renewables plan has unlocked record levels of investment in Australias energy grid, Bowen said. Our practical approach to energy is harnessing the nations natural advantages to deliver more affordable and more reliable energy for our country, powering new jobs in our regions and suburbs and securing billions of dollars in global investment. Green energy expanded from 35 per cent of electricity in the grid in 2022 to 43 per cent in 2025. Advertisement However, the Australian Energy Market Operator has warned that clean energy is not rolling out quickly enough to keep electricity supply and prices stable as more coal-fired power stations are expected to close. The government said it has committed more than $70 billion over the next two decades to cut emissions across all sectors of the economy. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement Middle East at War WorldMiddle EastDonald Trump On Trumps gilded stage, history has no worth even if he understood it Tony Wright March 7, 2026 12:00pm 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 Donald Trump, you are free to surmise, takes little sustenance from the study of world history, let alone Winston Churchills use of the language of Latin to justify his invasion of Iran almost 85 years ago. Still, you might have imagined a president of the United States of America even one as vain as this one, enthroned amid meaningless glitz in an increasingly trashy White House could have had an aide google his nations behaviour during the early years of World Wars I and II before running off at the mouth and insulting historical allies. US President Donald Trump could benefit from a history lesson. AP Instead, Trump boorishly lambasted Britain and damned Spain and other unnamed European nations for being uncooperative towards his current days-old, plans-free war on Iran. Britain initially hesitated before giving permission to allow US warplanes to use its bases to attack Iran, and Spain flat-out refused to hand over its soil for Americas military adventure. Advertisement Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned unilateral military action and added its unacceptable that some presidents use the fog of war to cover up their failures and in the process, line the pockets of a select few the same ones as always who profit when the world stops building hospitals and starts building missiles. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is disinclined to let the United States drag Spain into the Iran conflict. AP Trump raged, threatening dire retribution to Spain, though you can be sure Britain and Spain are not the only European nations unimpressed with Trumps dubious explanations for waging war. They, like Australia, need only recall the US-led fiascos in Iraq, Afghanistan and from a distance, Vietnam. While hes frothing and a quick victory unsurprisingly eludes him, Trump might be advised to look at a map of Iran. It is considerably larger than Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam combined: Iran is 1.65 million square kilometres, Iraq is just 0.43 million square kilometres, Afghanistan is 0.65 million square kilometres and Vietnam is about 331,000 square kilometres. A lot of area for a lot to go wrong. As to Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer: Its not Winston Churchill were dealing with here, spat Trump. Advertisement Starmer was polite enough to refrain from pointing out that he wasnt dealing with Franklin D. Roosevelt, either. But whats that got to do with two world wars? Or Latin? Winston Churchill knew a thing or two about invading Iran. These were the two bloodiest conflicts in world history, and the second was the most consequential, certainly in modern history, given Adolf Hitlers intention of ending civilisation as we might hope to recognise it. But as Britain and European allies struggled desperately to survive, the United States clung to a policy of isolationism and neutrality, considering the wars to be Europes problems. Advertisement The US did not enter World War I until April 1917 almost three years after northern France and Belgium had begun devolving into slaughterhouses. When World War II broke out, the US again wasnt interested. It had let its military stocks run down to the extent that its armys strength was measured 39th in the world, behind such minnows as Portugal. Still relying heavily on horses to drag artillery, the US had only a couple of hundred largely obsolete tanks. In 1939 the year war broke out in Europe, when Germany rolled with 2400 tanks the US manufactured precisely 18 modern medium tanks. The US was still twiddling its thumbs when Winston Churchill felt there was no choice but to desperately rally his isolated country with his we shall fight them on the beaches speech of June 4, 1940. Advertisement The United States did not enter the war until it was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, more than two years since death and destruction had engulfed much of Europe. USS Tautog (left) and USS Narwhal (right) during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. AP By then, it had given itself the luxury of time to begin ramping up production of military material. Americas shock at Pearl Harbour, and the declarations of war between the US, Japan, Germany and Italy, sparked the biggest and fastest military build-up in world history, with President Roosevelt setting astounding goals. By the end of the war in 1945, America had produced two-thirds of all military equipment used by the allied nations: 297,000 aircraft, 193,000 artillery pieces, 86,000 tanks and 2 million army trucks. In the process, it ended its Great Depression and grew increasingly enriched. Advertisement It can reasonably be argued that the eventual US military intervention played decisive roles in ending both world wars in victory for the Allies, though the old USSR, having lost 26.6 million lives in defence and offence on the Eastern Front in the second war, would argue with that. What is not arguable is that this latest president of the US is playing nothing but the most ignorant and pathetic hand in criticising European nations now for being uncooperative in helping him undertake an unprovoked attack on Iran. Smoke rises during a US-Israeli attack on Tehran. AP The US, it happens, has historically condemned unprovoked attacks. Franklin D. Roosevelt famously cursed the attack on Pearl Harbour as a day that will live in infamy because the Japanese had given no warning or declaration of war before attacking. Now Trump operates without even the pretence of legally declaring war before sending in the warplanes. Advertisement Still, perhaps if Trump understood history and Latin he might allow himself to idly imagine he actually has something in common with Winston Churchill. In August, 1941, while the US continued to remain out of the worlds fray, Britain and its ally the USSR invaded Iran to guarantee a Persian corridor all-weather military supply route to the Soviet Union. Iran had declared neutrality. Churchill and Joseph Stalin cared not a whit. They invaded, removed the shah of the time and split the country between them, causing famine among the citizenry and eventually leading to the installation of the old Shahs son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, as a new ruler compliant with Britain and later, the US. Advertisement Churchill reached into his knowledge of the classics to justify invading Iran. Related Article Opinion Middle East at war An oppressed people are, once again, lured onto the street only to have their hopes dashed Waleed Aly Columnist, author and academic In his World War II memoirs, he wrote that Inter arma silent leges a mouthful proposed by Roman statesman, lawyer and philosopher Cicero more than 2000 years ago excusing the joint British and Soviet military action of overwhelming force against a weak and ancient state. Inter arma silent leges translates from the Latin as For among arms, the laws are silent, popularly rendered as In times of war, the law falls silent. In other words, Churchill declared an illegal invasion was perfectly fine in war, because the law didnt matter. Advertisement Why didnt Trump think of that, cynical as it may be, instead of spewing nonsense about feeling threatened because he figured Iran was going to make a preemptive strike? A short course in world history with a small side of Latin or even an afternoon of googling might have helped. That, of course, is assuming anything could assist Trumps understanding of things more worthy than pursuing personal aggrandisement and family wealth amid the vulgar glitter of golden drapes, wall appliques and gold-trimmed fireplaces he has installed around his gilded throne in the White House. Advertisement WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war US ground invasion of Iran may not be enough to oust Irans regime: report John Hudson and Warren P. Strobel March 8, 2026 8:50am 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 Washington: A classified report by the National Intelligence Council found that even a large-scale assault on Iran launched by the United States would be unlikely to oust the Islamic Republics entrenched military and clerical establishment, a sobering assessment as the Trump administration raises the spectre of an extended military campaign that officials say has only just begun. The findings, confirmed to The Washington Post by three people familiar with the reports contents, raise doubts about US President Donald Trumps declared plan to clean out Irans leadership structure and install a ruler of his choosing. Smoke and flames rising from airstrikes on Tehran on Saturday night (local time). Getty Images The report, completed about a week before the United States and Israel initiated the war on February 28, outlined succession scenarios stemming from either a narrowly tailored campaign against Irans leaders or a broader assault against its leadership and government institutions, the people familiar with its findings said. In both cases, the intelligence concluded that Irans clerical and military establishment would respond to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power, these people said. Advertisement The prospect of Irans fragmented opposition taking control of the country was described as unlikely, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a classified report. The National Intelligence Council, or NIC, is composed of veteran analysts who produce classified assessments meant to represent the collective wisdom of Washingtons 18 intelligence agencies. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war news updates: Israel vows to take down Khameneis successor; Trump considering putting boots on the ground in Iran The CIA referred questions to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which declined to comment. The White House did not say if the president was briefed on this assessment before approving the military operation, which has quickly expanded east to include submarine warfare in the Indian Ocean and west to counter-missile showdowns near NATO member Turkey. President Trump and the administration have clearly outlined their goals with regard to Operation Epic Fury: destroy Irans ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed. Advertisement US spy agencies doubts about Irans opposition seizing power have been referenced in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. The NICs involvement, and its analyses of the potential outcomes of small- and large-scale offensives, have not been previously reported. Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, said the NICs prediction that Irans institutions would endure stems from its rigorous knowledge of the Islamic Republic. Loading It sounds like a deeply informed assessment of the Iranian system and the institutions and processes that have been established for many years, she said. It does not appear that the intelligence report examined other possible scenarios, including sending US ground troops into Iran or arming the countrys ethnic Kurds to foment a rebellion. It could not be determined whether the large-scale campaign examined in the classified document is identical to the operations now under way. Advertisement The Iranian succession process that the report anticipated is now playing out, but under duress from the extensive US-Israel bombing campaign from the air and sea. The replacement of the supreme leader rests with Irans powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts. But members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and others within the countrys security establishment also play an influential role. The upper echelons of the clerical establishment are ideological, and so their modus operandi is to resist American imperialism. Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. There has been intense speculation that the assembly will anoint the late supreme leaders son, Mojtaba Khamenei, but no official announcement has been made. The IRGC had been pushing Khameneis candidacy but had encountered resistance from other power brokers, including Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, a Western security official said. As the war enters its second week, Trump continues to demand Irans UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER, as he put it in a Truth Social post, and has suggested he should have a role in picking the countrys next leader. Advertisement Related Article Middle East at war Trump has laid out a dim sum menu of reasons for attacking Iran. Theres one key thing missing Trump told journalists that the younger Khamenei is incompetent and a lightweight, and that he doesnt want Iranian leaders who will simply rebuild the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure. We want them to have a good leader. We have some people who I think would do a good job, he told NBC News. Irans parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected the notion that Trump would play any role in appointing Irans next leader. The fate of dear Iran, which is more precious than life, will be determined solely by the proud Iranian nation, not by [Jeffrey] Epsteins gang, Ghalibaf said on X, referring to the late sex offender who was friends with Trump for several years before they had a falling out. Advertisement Current and former US officials say they see little sign, at least so far, of a mass popular uprising in Iran or of significant fissures within the government or security forces that will result in a new regime. Irans security forces killed thousands of protesters during demonstrations in January fuelled by the countrys abysmal economy. The guidance from Trump to the Iranian people has been to shelter in place until the US-Israeli bombing campaign concludes. With Irans clerical and military establishment still in control, experts say Trumps ability to dictate political outcomes is limited. US President Donald Trump has previously said that he would like to play a role in picking the next government of Iran. Getty Images Bending the knee to Trump would go against everything they stand for, said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The upper echelons of the clerical establishment are ideological, and so their modus operandi is to resist American imperialism. Trump could play kingmaker if the regime were to crumble, but the NIC report does not view the establishments hold on power as brittle. Advertisement JOHANNESBURG, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out late Friday night at the China Mall in the Springfield area in South Africa's Durban, local media reported Saturday. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), quoting the eThekwini Fire Department, reported that at least 14 units in the mall were damaged in the blaze. It added that firefighters remain on the scene working to fully contain the fire. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, and authorities are expected to release a statement once the inquiry is complete, SABC reported. A man walks among the rubble after Israeli attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. The number of displaced people registered through Lebanon's government relief platform has reached about 454,000, Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed said on Saturday, as Israel continues to attack several areas of the country. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. In a statement, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health said the casualties were recorded between Monday and Saturday afternoon, as Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue to hit several areas across southern and eastern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in separate statements that its members carried out several retaliatory attacks against Israeli forces. Separately, Lebanon's Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh condemned Israeli strikes that caused material damage to the Al-Bass archaeological site in the city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA). According to the NNA, Salameh said Lebanon's archaeological sites contain no military or security presence and are managed directly by the Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, noting that he has contacted UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, requesting international intervention to help protect Lebanon's cultural heritage during the ongoing conflict. Amid the escalating tensions, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from Spain's King Felipe VI, who affirmed Spain's support for Lebanon and expressed the solidarity of the Spanish people with the Lebanese people. Aoun also received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron as part of ongoing consultations between the two leaders to follow developments and contacts aimed at halting the military escalation, the NNA reported. On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz appealed to Aoun and demanded the disarmament of Hezbollah, according to a statement issued by the Israeli Defense Ministry. Katz warned that "we will not allow harm to our communities and soldiers, and if things stand against each other, the ones who will pay the full price are the Lebanese government, and all of Lebanon." He emphasized that Israel has no territorial claims toward Lebanon, "but we will not be willing for the Lebanese territory to now resume everything that has been going on for many years, of firing at Israel." The escalation follows rocket fire toward Israel launched from Lebanon early Monday by Hezbollah, the group's first such attack since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel has since launched what it called an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, combining heavy airstrikes with ground incursions along the border and evacuation warnings for areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. Also on Saturday, the Israeli army said in a statement that its air force struck and dismantled 16 aircraft belonging to Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, at the Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran overnight. It claimed that the airport served as a central hub for arming and funding Iran's proxies in the Middle East, and that the targeted aircraft were used for transferring weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. A man walks among the rubble after Israeli attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. The number of displaced people registered through Lebanon's government relief platform has reached about 454,000, Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed said on Saturday, as Israel continues to attack several areas of the country. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) A man walks among the rubble after Israeli attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. The number of displaced people registered through Lebanon's government relief platform has reached about 454,000, Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed said on Saturday, as Israel continues to attack several areas of the country. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo shows buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. The number of displaced people registered through Lebanon's government relief platform has reached about 454,000, Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed said on Saturday, as Israel continues to attack several areas of the country. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early Monday has risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) SAINT Brigid is still working her magic. We made hundreds of crosses this year and people loved them, said retired teacher June Farrell of the hundreds of traditional crosses that she and her team of experts made this year. The sale of the crosses at local churches went on to make an impressive 5,000, which was donated to two great causes a school in Nairobi and Carlow Womens Aid. Though June retired from her job in Holy Family NS four years ago, she is drawn back to the schools in Askea parish to teach the youngsters in fifth and sixth-class in Holy Family, Tinryland NS and Bennekerry NS how to make the beautiful crosses. Not only that, such is the demand for the crosses that Junes group of friends, as well as members of the Go Leir Womens Group, all roll up their sleeves and get stuck into creating the crosses made from fresh rushes. Shes been making them for 22 years now after the idea was first introduced by Fr Tom Little. Back then, none of us really knew how to make them and wed no Google to look up how to, so we taught ourselves, really. Weve been going ever since, and this year we made hundreds of crosses. People adore them they send them to America and elsewhere. Its not a hard sell. St Brigid is still working her magic. I love it, said June. Not only did the national school children learn how to make the crosses, a group of them from Bennekerry NS even did demonstrations at local Masses to show the congregation how its done. Catherine Nolan, who volunteers with the Makura Promotion Centre, a centre for homeless boys in Nairobi in Kenya, also talked about the work thats carried out there. Catherine spoke at Mass about the work that they do, and that went down really well. People really love the crosses, though, so it wasnt hard to sell them, continued June. After a huge amount of hard work by June, her friends and the local children, a phenomenal amount of money was raised, with 4,000 being donated to the school in Nairobi and 1,000 being presented to Carlow Womens Aid. A resident throws a bucket of water to put out a huge fire engulfing shanties at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines, on March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Farmers work in a field in Tiangongmiao Village, Lede Town, Rongxian County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing) Guljaina Kazezkhan, a female engineer, poses for photos at Nanshan Station of the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2026. She is among the 40 million women scientists, engineers, and technicians in China, who have made their mark on the country's innovation drive. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) A staff member of Seng Pan Coffee makes coffee for customers during the 4th Jiangmen Coffee Culture Festival in Jiangmen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 5, 2026. The festival kicked off here on Thursday, gathering more than 330 coffee brands from 13 countries and regions to showcase a full range of products including premium coffee, high-quality coffee raw materials, advanced coffee machines and elegant coffee gear. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) Performers perform during a reception for International Women's Day in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2026. The All-China Women's Federation held a reception here on Friday to mark International Women's Day, which falls on March 8. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) A woman admires flowers during a flower show to celebrate the upcoming International Women's Day in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 6, 2026. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) Smoke rises from an explosion following Israeli bombardment on a southern Lebanese village, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 6, 2026. Hezbollah on Monday 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. (JINI via Xinhua) Republicans crack down on blue state issuance of CDLs Tennessee Republicans this week continued to put the safety and best interests of lawful residents first by advancing legislation to keep roads across the Volunteer State safe. House Bill 1706, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, establishes a Class A misdemeanor for an illegal alien to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in Tennessee. It would also create a Class A misdemeanor offense for someone to knowingly allow a person unlawfully in the United States to operate a CMV. "This legislation is about protecting Tennesseans," Zachary told the Transportation Committee on Tuesday, pointing to a recent report of an illegal immigrant with a CDL causing a deadly crash in Indiana and citing another incident in Missouri in which an illegal immigrant was filmed driving the wrong direction. "[Republicans] are going to stand with the people of this state. We're going to stand and ensure that the safety and well-being of Tennesseans is our top priority." The proposal requires law enforcement agencies to notify federal immigration authorities after arresting a person accused of violating this measure through the 287(g) program or Tennessee's Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division. Direct employers who knowingly allow illegal aliens to operate a CMV and state officials or employees of any state who issue a commercial driver's license to an illegal alien could be held liable to a person who suffers personal injury or property damage as a result, according to House Bill 1706. Commercial motor vehicles in Tennessee include any vehicle or combination of vehicles used to transport people or property with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds, with certain exceptions. Most vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers or that are used to transport hazardous materials are also considered CMVs. House Bill 1706 is part of Tennessee Republicans' Immigration 2026 legislative package, which is designed to close enforcement gaps, protect Tennessee taxpayers and require active enforcement of immigration laws across the state. The proposal is scheduled to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 11. Republican leaders target financiers of activism-for-hire House Majority Whip Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, has introduced legislation to hold individuals and organizations accountable for damages, disruptions to critical infrastructure, or other unlawful conduct carried out by demonstrators they compensate. House Bill 2109 would create a new legal pathway for victims to sue under vicarious liability when someone pays people to join demonstrations, often called "activism-for-hire" or "mercenary rioting." "This legislation ensures the constitutional rights of Tennesseans to peacefully assemble and express their views are protected while ensuring accountability for those who finance chaos and disruption," Boyd said. "Whether it's blocking highways, damaging property, harassing others, the goal is to deter the practice of paid disruption that endangers public safety or harms innocent people." Any organization or person who provides compensation, such as payments or other valuable considerations, to a demonstrator in exchange for their participation could be held liable for damages if the demonstrator's actions meet the elements of specific criminal offenses, according to the proposal. The practice of activism-for-hire involves paying individuals to participate in rallies, protests and public demonstrations with the goal of creating the appearance of strong support and influencing public opinion. Covered offenses would include rioting, aggravated rioting, disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway, civil rights intimidation, harassment, and disorderly conduct at funerals. To establish liability, plaintiffs must prove that compensation was provided for participation and that the demonstrator's conduct resulted in ascertainable losses. A criminal conviction is not required. House Bill 2109 is expected to be heard in the Judiciary Committee on March 11. General Assembly confirms three judicial appointments Members of the House of Representatives and Senate met in a joint session on Thursday to confirm three of Gov. Bill Lee's judicial appointments. Kyle Hixson, a University of Tennessee College of Law graduate, was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Holly Kirby. Hixson most recently served as a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Steve Maroney was confirmed to serve on the Western Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Maroney most recently served as chancellor for the 26th Judicial District. Hawkins County Circuit Judge William E. Phillips will fill the vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section. Phillips earned his Juris Doctor at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Bill strengthens American history education in higher ed A proposal by State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, would help ensure college students graduating from Tennessee public institutions have a basic knowledge of American history. House Bill 291 would require the Institute of American Civics (IAC) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to develop curricula for a course providing a comprehensive overview of major events and turning points in our nation's history and government. This 3-credit course would be required for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in any public college or university in Tennessee, with certain exceptions. "Understanding the constitution is not ideological. Understanding the declaration is not partisan. Understanding Dr. King's letter is not political. It is historical and moral education," said Gant. "This bill reinforces the idea that civic literacy is a core responsibility of public education." At a minimum, the course must include an understanding of the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, at least five essays from the Federalist Papers, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter from Birmingham jail, and at least one additional document foundational to civil rights history. House Bill 291 would not add any credit hours to degree requirements and would not create additional cost burdens for students. While current Tennessee law requires all public college students to earn a credit in American history, this proposal outlines specific course requirements. If passed by the General Assembly, the course would be implemented beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. House Bill 291 is expected to be heard in the Education Committee on March 10. House passes Tennessee Procurement Protection Act The Tennessee House of Representatives this week passed legislation to protect public funds from being used to purchase certain products from adversaries of the United States. The Tennessee Procurement Protection Act, sponsored by Assistant House Majority Leader Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, prohibits state agencies or political subdivisions from procuring final technology products from a foreign adversarial country, as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce. These include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia. "This would be for new and reprocured contracts, so it doesn't affect any current contract, just moving forward," Cochran told the State and Local Government Committee last year. The legislation requires the Department of General Services' chief procurement officer (CPO) to certify that no contract is awarded to companies primarily located in or controlled by an adversarial government, with limited exceptions. It also includes companies that are majority-owned by an entity controlled by an adversary. Technology and software would include communication and networking devices, personal computing devices, industrial and critical infrastructure devices, financial and payment systems, automotive and transportation systems, or any other device or software deemed high-risk by the CPO. The companion version of House Bill 548 is still advancing through the Senate. If approved, it would take effect July 1. Republican bill protects small businesses from big tech House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, this week advanced legislation to protect small businesses in Tennessee from unfair online blacklisting. The practice of online blacklisting includes reducing visibility or accessibility of a small business's website, removing it from search results, or deleting more than 25% of reviews. House Bill 2028 will require search engines to provide 24-hour notice before blacklisting. A clear explanation of any rules or policies violated, steps for appeal, and direct contact information for a company representative must be included. Small businesses drive Tennessees economy and depend on platforms like Google to reach customers. Sudden, unexplained delistings can destroy revenue overnight, devastate families, and force closures, said Faison. My bill requires big tech companies to provide fair notice and clear reasons for removal, offering owners a real chance to correct issues and keep their doors open. The proposal doesn't ban deplatforming or valid moderation, but requires an explanation and provides small businesses with an avenue for resolution. Small businesses rely on online advertising and an internet presence to reach customers. Fake complaints and mass spam reports can cause sudden blacklisting, negatively impacting small businesses in communities across Tennessee. House Bill 2028 is scheduled to be heard in the Commerce Committee on March 11. Proposal aims to curb feeding of black bears A Republican effort to increase public safety and hold people who feed black bears accountable advanced out of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee this week. House Bill 2215, sponsored by State Rep. Fred Atchley, R-Sevierville, would give the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) the ability to partner with local law enforcement agencies to help enforce state wildlife laws, rules and proclamations. (This bill) requires such agreements to be limited in scope to assisting with matters of public safety specific to human wildlife interaction that could cause a public safety concern, Atchley told committee members. Videos of people feeding black bears in downtown Gatlinburg have circulated on social media, raising concerns among law enforcement and community members. Local agencies would be required to report regularly to the agency on any enforcement actions taken under these agreements, including details of citations and outcomes. The bill also makes it illegal to feed black bears in areas where the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has specifically prohibited feeding wildlife. Anyone who knowingly feeds a black bear could be subject to a Class B misdemeanor offense with a minimum $250 fine. Those who unknowingly feed a bear, including by leaving food out or garbage open, could receive a written warning for a first offense or the same minimum $250 fine for repeat offenses. House Bill 2215 is expected to be heard in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on March 10. Bill codifies bus service for Tennessee students Legislation to ensure school districts provide bus services to students advanced out of the Education Committee this week. House Bill 1818, sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, requires all school districts that offer transportation to provide bus service to students attending their zoned school, unless a bus cannot reasonably reach the child due to road conditions or if the home is in a remote area. "If a district provides transportation, then students attending their zoned school should have access to it," Russell said. Parents deserve consistency and they deserve to know their child will have a reliable way to get to school." If a bus can't reach a student's home, this proposal also requires school districts to notify parents that they may qualify for mileage reimbursement for taking their child to school. This legislation does not change Tennessee's existing transportation reimbursement guidelines for students who live within 1.5 miles of their zoned school. House Bill 1818 is expected to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 11. Teacher Residency Pilot Program supports career development Legislation by Education Committee Chairman Mark White, R-Memphis, to support student success and teacher career development advanced out of the Education Administration Subcommittee this week. The Tennessee Teacher Residency Pilot Program Act will create a three-year pilot program formalizing a state partnership with teacher residency programs, which includes teacher preparation training through a residency model in schools, colleges or universities, or educator preparation providers (EPP). "These types of programs have been operating in the state for more than 15 years, and their innovative approach to teacher preparation has proven effective time and again," White said. "Borrowing from the medical residency model that combines rigorous coursework and intentional mentorship, graduates make an immediate and lasting impact." House Bill 1977 would create a grant program to support residency programs by helping defray all or a portion of operating costs, including stipends for teacher residents and mentor teachers. To be eligible for grant funding, residency programs must require teacher residents to complete at least one full academic year of rigorous EPP coursework integrated into a year of guided clinical apprenticeship through a school partnership. There must also be an expectation of employment for teacher residents at the partnering public or charter school after program completion, with educators required to commit to teach for a minimum of three consecutive years at the partnering school or at another high-need school designated by the Tennessee Department of Education. House Bill 1977 will be considered in the Education Committee on March 10. FAIR Rx Act protects consumers, eliminates conflicts of interest Legislation aimed at preventing conflicts of interest in the prescription drug industry and protecting patient choice advanced out of the Insurance Subcommittee this week. The Freedom, Access, and Integrity in Registered Pharmacy Act, or FAIR Rx Act, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge, prohibits companies from owning or controlling both a pharmacy and a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) or a health insurer in Tennessee beginning Jan. 1, 2028. This bill separates financial control from patient care and decision-making, Scarbrough said. When the same company sets reimbursement rates and owns the pharmacy being paid, it creates a clear conflict of interest. This proposal does not prevent independent pharmacies from offering mail-order, specialty or delivery services and does not restrict hospital pharmacies. It also does not apply to employers administering pharmacy benefits for self-funded employee health plans or pharmacy services provided pursuant to contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense for the administration of the TRICARE program. If enacted, pharmacies currently operating under ownership structures prohibited by the bill may continue operating through Dec. 31, 2028, while pursuing a good-faith sale to an unaffiliated owner. The legislation allows for a possible six-month extension if substantial progress toward a sale is demonstrated. Violations under the legislation can result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day per violation. House Bill 1959 is expected to be heard in the Insurance Committee on March 10. Bill targets nitrous oxide sales at vape shops Members of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week advanced legislation to address the misuse of nitrous oxide. The Nitrous Oxide Abuse Prevention and Retail Sales Prohibition Act, sponsored by State Rep. Fred Atchley, R-Sevierville, prohibits any vape retailers, manufacturers and distributors of vapor products from selling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or whippets. This bill aims to prevent the abuse of nitrous oxide by banning the sale of nitrous oxide at the convenience stores, vape shops, gas stations and liquor stores, Atchley told committee members. The intent of this bill is to protect our young people. In 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Americans that repeatedly inhaling nitrous oxide could lead to side effects including asphyxiation, blood clots, frostbite, paralysis and brain damage. This proposal specifically bars vape retailers and vape product distributors, wholesalers and importers from offering nitrous oxide products for retail sale. Violations would carry escalating civil penalties, starting at up to $500 per product for a first offense. Repeat violations within a 12-month period could lead to fines of up to $1,500 per product and suspension or revocation of a retailers license. Manufacturers that knowingly cause nitrous oxide products to be sold through vape retailers could face civil penalties of $10,000 per product, and repeated violations could be treated as a deceptive trade practice under state law. House Bill 1644 is expected to be heard in the Judiciary Committee on March 11. House advances proposal to make kratom illegal Proposed legislation that would make kratom illegal to possess, sell or distribute advanced out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week. Matthew Davenport's Law, or House Bill 1649, sponsored by State Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Brainerd, would prohibit kratom and its primary alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, in Tennessee and establish criminal penalties to protect public health. Growing concerns from Tennessee families, health professionals and community members about the risks, unrestricted availability and potency of natural and synthetic kratom products highlight a clear need for action, said Helton-Haynes. The testimony we heard from experts in committee made it clear that natural does not equal safe. Kratom, often referred to as gas station heroin due to its widespread availability at gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops and vape stores, is often marketed as a natural supplement. It is sometimes used by individuals attempting to self-treat symptoms such as pain, anxiety, depression, cough or opioid withdrawal. The legislation would update workplace drug policies by requiring the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to establish rules adding kratom to workplace drug testing panels and expand toxicology testing to include the presence of kratom. Matthew Davenports life tragically ended on March 18, 2024, following a lethal interaction between kratom and doctor-prescribed medications, highlighting the potential dangers when the substance is used alongside other drugs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns the public against using kratom for medical treatments. No kratom-containing prescription or over-the-counter drugs are legally approved in the United States. Additionally, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists kratom as a drug and chemical of concern with potential for abuse. The Judiciary Committee will consider House Bill 1649 on March 11. Briefly Streamlining disaster relief: The House of Representatives approved legislation this week to streamline how the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) administers disaster relief grants. House Bill 1467, sponsored by State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, exempts disaster response and recovery grants from certain state purchasing and contracting requirements. Many of these steps duplicate reviews already conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which can delay funding delivery for months. By removing those requirements, the legislation aims to help TEMA distribute assistance to impacted communities more efficiently after disasters. House Bill 1467 now heads to Gov. Bill Lees desk for his signature. Homestead exemptions: A proposal to expand Tennessees homestead exemption laws advanced out of the Civil Justice Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1903, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, extends homestead protections to families with adult children who have developmental or intellectual disabilities when the head of the household dies. Under current law, homestead protections primarily apply to a surviving spouse and minor children. This legislation allows the exemption to continue for an adult child with a qualifying disability who lives in the home. It also permits up to $35,000 from the sale of a homestead property to be provided to an eligible survivor if the property cannot be set apart. It clarifies that some or all of those funds may be deposited into an Achieving a Better Life Experience(ABLE)account for a qualifying individual with disabilities. House Bill 1903 is expected to be heard in the Judiciary Committee on March 11. Banning virtual currency kiosks: Legislation banning the installation and operation of virtual currency kiosks, commonly known as Bitcoin ATMs or crypto kiosks, advanced in the House this week. House Bill 2505, sponsored by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and State Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, creates a Class A misdemeanor to own or operate a virtual currency kiosk. The legislation was drafted in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to protect Tennesseans from scammers. Recent data from law enforcement and consumer protection agencies show incidents of scams involving these kiosks have surged since 2023, often resulting in irreversible financial losses for victims coerced into fake investments or emergency payments. A report by Chainalysis estimates $17 billion was stolen in crypto scams and fraud in 2025 alone. By criminalizing their operation, the legislation prioritizes public safety over unregulated crypto infrastructure. House Bill 2505 is expected to be heard in the Commerce Committee on March 11. Unlawful image distribution: Legislation expanding legal protections for victims of nonconsensual intimate image distribution advanced out of the Civil Justice Subcommittee this week.House Bill 2012, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, allows individuals whose intimate images are shared without their consent to file a civil lawsuit against the person responsible. Victims may recover damages for emotional distress, profits made from the distribution, or up to $150,000 in statutory damages, along with attorneys fees and court costs. Courts may also order the removal of the images and prohibit any further distribution. Certain exceptions apply for images shared in good faith for law enforcement or legal proceedings. House Bill 2012 is expected to be heard in the Judiciary Committee on March 11. Rest areas: A Republican proposal would make Tennessees interstate rest areas more accommodating for families. House Bill 1824, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, requires the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to provide at least one family restroom at each rest area across the Volunteer State. The legislation also requires TDOT to relay estimated completion times for each rest area to both the House and Senate Transportation Committees. If passed, all family rest areas would need to be under construction or completed by July 1, 2028. House Bill 1824 will now be considered by the Transportation Committee on March 10. Civics education: The House Education Committee this week advanced the Tennessee Civics Education Act, sponsored by State Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown. The proposal requires people seeking an initial license or endorsement to teach social studies, history, government or civics in grades 6-12 to pass a United States civics test. The exam, created by the Tennessee Department of Education, would include 100 questions collected from the civics test administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for people seeking to become naturalized citizens. A passing score would be correctly answering at least 70 questions. House Bill 1658 will be considered in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 11. Fourth of July instruction: A proposal to require schools across Tennessee to observe the Fourth of July annually advanced in the House this week. House Bill 1857, sponsored by State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, directs schools to provide students with appropriate instruction on the founding of the United States, the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and related rights and freedoms. School districts and charter schools would determine the instructional program and methods based on grade-specific objectives. The proposal requires instruction to be non-partisan and focus on historical facts, founding documents, and underlying civic principles. House Bill 1857 will be heard in the Education Committee on March 10. Violent offenders: The House this week passed House Bill 33, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie,R-Memphis, which creates a presumption against releasing defendants from jail on their own recognizance if the defendant is charged with an offense involving a firearm that results in the bodily injury or death of a victim. The bill requires judges to include documentation explaining the reasoning for releasing a defendant. The companion bill passed in the Senate last year and now heads to Gov. Bill Lees desk for his signature. Working families: House Bill 2358, sponsored by State Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, would direct the Tennessee Department of Human Services to annually transfer funds from the states Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant to the Child Care and Development Fund to support participation in Tennessees Smart Steps childcare program. The legislation requires transferring an amount sufficient to support the Smart Steps program, which helps working parents remain in the workforce. House Bill 2358 heads to the Health Committee on March 10. Work authorization: The House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation to ensure all employees in Tennessee have legal work authorization. House Bill 1194, sponsored by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, lowers the threshold for coverage under the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act from six employees to one. This change helps ensure all private employers in the state comply with work authorization requirements. Employers must submit specified proof of work authorization for employees and certain non-employees to the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The companion version of House Bill 1194 is still advancing through the Senate. Economic development: The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced this week that Starbucks plans to locate a corporate operations office in the Volunteer State. The Davidson County office will support the company's continued growth and rising customer demand in the southeastern United States. Civics instruction: House Bill 2395, sponsored by State Rep. Michele Reneau, R-Signal Mountain, would require local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to incorporate civics instructional videos into social studies curriculum for grades 6-12. The instructional video would be recommended by the Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission and approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education. The bill requires viewing the civics instructional video once each school year. If passed, the measure would be implemented in the 2027-28 school year. Consumer protections: Legislation aimed at modernizing Tennessees reverse mortgage laws and providing older homeowners with additional financial flexibility advanced this week in the House. House Bill 2382, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, will recognize additional reverse mortgage products beyond those currently insured through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Currently, only FHA-insured reverse mortgages are authorized in Tennessee. The proposed legislation would allow reverse mortgages on homes that exceed the FHA maximum lending limit and expand eligibility to borrowers as young as 55, compared to the FHA minimum age requirement of 62. The legislation would also extend eligibility to homeowners living in condominiums that do not meet FHA approval guidelines, increasing access for property owners. House Bill 2382 will be considered in the Commerce Committee on March 11. Screen time: Legislation to eliminate classroom screen time for K-5 students advanced in the House this week. House Bill 2393, sponsored by State Rep. Michele Reneau, R-Signal Mountain, would reduce reliance on one-to-one student device use while allowing teacher-directed technology in the classroom. The legislation exempts the use of digital tools for special education accommodations, response to intervention (RTI) assessments, virtual or hybrid learning environments and certain disciplinary situations. House Bill 2393 would allow schools to transition away from one-to-one device models as existing vendor contracts expire. The proposal will be considered in the Education Committee on March 10. Economic development: Global professional audio manufacturer Sennheiser plans to move its Americas Regional Hub to Rock Nashville, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Rock Nashville is the largest purpose-built music facility in the world, complete with 13 rehearsal studios and two arena rehearsal studios. The announcement will lead to the creation of at least 25 jobs and an investment of $2.5 million. Rest area signage: House Bill 1912, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, would require the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to clearly mark rest areas and welcome centers that provide adult-sized changing tables. The bill would also require the department to publish the locations of these accessible facilities on its website to help travelers easily identify them. House Bill 1912 authorizes TDOT to work with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to manufacture and install the necessary signs or markers along portions of the interstate and state highway systems near rest areas and welcome centers. The Transportation Committee will hear the bill on March 10. Broadband expansion: The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development on Thursday announced the U.S. Department of Commerce's approval of the Volunteer State's broadband expansion plan through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. The announcement will bring more than $200 million in funding to unserved and underserved communities across Tennessee. The state-administered federal funds will benefit 128 projects in 74 counties, delivering service to more than 43,000 locations and helping ensure all residents have access to reliable high-speed internet. David Crockett Week: The House of Representatives honored the legacy of David Crockett on the House floor Thursday, marking the 190th anniversary of his death at the Battle of the Alamo. House Joint Resolution 990, sponsored by State Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, recognized Crocketts life as a frontiersman, soldier, statesman and folk hero, highlighting his service in the Tennessee General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Gov. Bill Lee signed a proclamation designating March 2-6 as David Crockett Week, celebrating his enduring influence on Tennessee and the nation. The resolution and proclamation also emphasized preserving the David Crockett Birthplace State Park in Greene County, which sustained significant damage during Hurricane Helene. Gov. Lees 2027 budget proposal includes $22.7 million for the first phase of restoration under the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservations (TDEC) master plan. Crocketts legacy lives on across Tennessee, including in Crockett County and its county seat, Alamo, named in tribute to his sacrifice. A Chattanooga gang member who was firing a machine-gun-like firearm at Hamilton Place Mall has been sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison. Jaquan Andre Smith, also known as Lil Quanie, 21,appeared before Chief Judge Travis R. McDonough. Following imprisonment, Smith will be on supervised release for three years. Smith earlier pled guilty to possessing a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o). According to filed court documents and proof presented at the sentencing hearing, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at approximately 5:11 p.m., Chattanooga Police Department officers responded to reports of multiple shots fired in the parking lot of Hamilton Place Mall. Officers observed several vehicles that had sustained damage from gunfire, and they recovered 26 spent 9-millimter cartridge cases in the parking lot. Investigators reviewed video footage, interviewed witnesses, and collected physical evidence, leading to the identification of Smith as the shooter. The investigation revealed the victims were specifically targeted due to an ongoing gang feud. On May 9, 2023, with assistance from the United States Marshal Service Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force, investigators located and arrested Smith. Smith was in possession of a Glock, Model 17, 9-millimter pistol with an extended magazine and an installed and functioning machinegun conversion device, colloquially known as a switch. The MCD enabled the pistol to fire fully automatic, that is, fire multiple rounds by a single pull of the trigger. Possession of a MCD is illegal under federal law, as the National Firearms Act classifies the MCD itself as a machinegun. An investigator test fired the machinegun. The spent cartridge cases, along with cartridge cases collected from the Hamilton Place Mall parking lot, were submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Intelligence Network. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives runs the NIBIN Program, which is an automated ballistic evaluation process. ATFs NIBIN analysis resulted in ballistic evidence that the spent 9-millimter cartridge cases recovered from the Hamilton Place Mall parking lot were fired from the machinegun found in Smiths possession. Gang violence is a scourge on our communities, and the United States Attorneys Office will prosecute those who perpetuate violence, illegally possess firearms, or endanger the citizens of Chattanooga, said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The U.S. Attorneys Office is grateful for our law enforcement partners and their work towards our joint mission to keep Chattanooga safe for all. Special Agent in Charge Jamey Van Vliet of the Nashville Division of the ATF said, MCDs pose a significant threat to public safety. Todays sentencing underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable who recklessly discharge an illegally possessed firearm equipped with an MCD. The ATF, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to pursuing these individuals who endanger our communities and ensuring they are brought to justice." Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers said, "Our community deserves to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. This successful prosecution reflects the tireless efforts of CPD investigators, CPD task force officers, and our federal partners working side-by-side to dismantle violent criminal activity. We remain committed to a relentless, collaborative approach to reducing gun violence and ensuring that those who choose to harm others are held accountable at every level. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the ATF Chattanooga Field Office and the CPD Gun Team. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin T. Brown represented the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Departments Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). At President Donald Trumps 2026 State of the Union address to the nation, he did something extraordinary. He included the awarding of two Medals of Honor, to bipartisan chants of USA, USA, USA in the chamber.One Medal went to a 100-year-old Veteran Navy fighter pilot, CAPT Royce Williams, and the other to Army Special Forces pilot CW5 Eric Slover.This week started with a White House ceremony for three more recipients: MSG Roderick W. Edmonds (Posthumous), World War II; CSM Terry P.Richardson, Vietnam War; and SSG Michael H. Ollis (Posthumous), Operation Enduring Freedom. The families of Edmonds and Ollis received the awards on behalf of the recipients.As I have noted before, regarding long delays between the service rendered and its recognition, Medal of Honor nominees are, first and foremost, humble warriors. Inherent in their willingness to lay down ones life for his friends is the ultimate expression of humility, valuing the lives of others above ones own. Thus, it is not in their nature to advocate for their personal recognition. The advocacy to upgrade a warriors prior decoration to a Medal of Honor falls to others often those with whom the recipient served.Such is the case with fellow Tennessean Roddie Edmonds, a Knoxville native. I previously profiled his extraordinary actions in detail. Roddie died in 1985, taking the story of his heroic actions to his grave, but three decades after his death, his defense of Jewish POWs would finally be appropriately recognized.Shortly after his burial, Roddies wife, Mary Ann, gave his son Chris several diaries Roddie kept while a POW. Chris, now pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church in Knoxville, found one entry that noted: Ive made new friends and lost some. I dont know if all my boys are alive or not, but I pray that they are. It all seems like a bad dream. As Chris read the diaries further, he began researching the account of his fathers steadfast refusal to identify Jewish POWs. Over the next two decades, Chris was able to find Jewish soldiers his father had saved and they verified his actions. His family received Roddies posthumous award this week.Accordingly, Roddies Medal of Honor citation notes:"Master Sergeant Roderick W. Edmonds distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty from January 27, 1945, to March 30, 1945, as a prisoner of war in Germany, while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 422d Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division. Upon arrival at Stalag IXA in Ziegenhain, Germany, he was soon put to the test as Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. On the evening of January 26, 1945, the Germans announced that only Jewish-American prisoners would fall out for roll call the following morning, at the threat of execution. Master Sergeant Edmonds quickly understood that segregating more than 200 Jewish-American prisoners of war would likely result in their persecution and possible death, so he directed his senior leaders to have all 1,200 American prisoners present themselves for roll call."It continues:"The following morning, the Nazi Commandant became incredulous after realizing that so many Americans were standing in formation. Master Sergeant Edmonds bravely resisted his fury, while also recounting the rights afforded to all prisoners under the Geneva Convention. Still enraged, the Commandant removed his pistol, pressed it hard against Master Sergeant Edmonds forehead between his eyes and demanded that he order all Jewish-American prisoners to step forward, or he would be shot. With unwavering courage at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, Master Sergeant Edmonds fearlessly held his ground, refusing to concede and verbally warned the Commandant that if he executed him, he would be prosecuted for war crimes once the war was over. Finally, the Commandant, who was visibly reddened with anger, lowered his weapon and returned to his office without further attempts to segregate the Jewish-American prisoners. Master Sergeant Edmonds actions inspired his fellow prisoners of war."Furthermore:"Several weeks later, in March 1945, as Allied forces were rapidly advancing toward the area, the Germans ordered all prisoners to assemble outside the barracks for evacuation farther east to another camp. Fully intending to undermine his enemy captors, Master Sergeant Edmonds ordered all American prisoners to form in front of the barracks, and when the enemy transports arrived, they would break ranks and rush back to their barracks. Without regard for his own life Master Sergeant Edmonds gallantly led these prisoners in a relentless pursuit of opposition and resistance, forcing the Germans to abandon the camp leaving the 1,200 American prisoners behind. The full extent of his bravery, unbending will, and courageous leadership would be realized when soldiers from 3d U.S. Army liberated the camp on March 30, 1945."His citation concludes, Master Sergeant Edmonds conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.The second recipient was CSM Terry P. Richardson, a native of Cass City, Michigan. Terry graduated from Akron-Fairgrove School in 1966 and worked for his family business until he was drafted in 1967 at age 19.He completed basic combat training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and went to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for Infantry Advanced Individual Training. Selected for the Non-Commissioned Officer School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he graduated with honors and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was then assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana, before receiving orders to deploy to Vietnam with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, in May 1968 as the squad leader for 1st Platoon.His heroic actions during a reconnaissance mission near the Cambodian border on 14 September 1968 are noted in his Medal of Honor citation:"Staff Sergeant Terry P. Richardsons company was tasked with the mission of securing Hill 222 in hostile enemy territory near the Cambodian border. It was a hilly area covered with rubber trees. Lima Platoon was assigned by the company commander to be on point for the mission. Staff Sergeant Richardson directed one of his squads to be the point element leading the way. Shortly after the assault began, three of the squad members became severely wounded and pinned down between three enemy machine gun bunkers. Going back on three separate occasions, Staff Sergeant Richardson advanced forward under heavy enemy fire and recovered his wounded Soldiers between heavy machine gun fire. By the time he was able to make it back to join his unit, his entire company had been completely surrounded by the enemy."His citation continues:"Staff Sergeant Richardson gave instructions to his soldiers to cover him and then, without regard for his own safety, advanced to the top of Hill 222 under enemy fire for better sight lines to direct the tactical air strikes. He began to direct the tactical air strikes and shortly thereafter became wounded by an enemy sniper. Staff Sergeant Richardson continued directing the tactical strikes for seven more hours, before the enemy broke contact with him and his company. Six soldiers from his platoon found him, still alive but wounded and unable to hear due to his proximity to the ordnance dropped all around him. Staff Sergeant Richardson declined medical evacuation for his gunshot wound and requested that he be allowed to stay to lead his soldiers. The damage caused to the enemy by his direction of the tactical air strikes allowed his company to secure Hill 222 unopposed saving the lives of 82 fellow soldiers who remained in Alpha Company."His citation concludes: Altogether, his actions directly resulted in 85 lives being spared on that fateful day. Staff Sergeant Richardsons conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.The third recipient was an Operation Enduring Freedom soldier, SSG Michael H. Ollis.Michael was a native of Staten Island, New York. His service inspiration came from the service of his father and grandfathers. He was 13 when the 9/11 Islamist attack on our nation occurred. He joined an ROTC program in high school, and at age 17, with his parents permission, he joined the Delayed Entry Program, taking his official enlistment oath in August 2006.His initial training was at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then he served for three years as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle driver during Operation Iraqi Freedom.He returned stateside to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he earned his Air Assault qualification. In 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, for his first OEF combat tour.Returning home for additional training at Fort Benning, where he completed Airborne and Ranger training, he deployed for a second tour in Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni.His heroic actions on 28 August 2013 are detailed in his Medal of Honor citation:"On this date, a complex enemy attack involving multiple vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, suicide vests, indirect fire and small arms fire was launched against Forward Operating Base Ghazni. Staff Sergeant Ollis ordered his fellow soldiers who were locating in a building to move to bunkers to shield themselves from enemy fire. After accounting for his soldiers, he reentered the building to check fo any casualties and then moved toward the enemy force that had penetrated the perimeter of the Forward Operating Base. Staff Sergeant Ollis located a Coalition Forces Officer and together they moved toward the point of attack without their personal protection equipment and armed with only their rifles. Upon reaching the attack point he and his comrade linked up with other friendly forces and began a coordinated effort to repulse the enemy from the airfield and adjacent buildings. While under continuous small arms, indirect and rocket propelled grenade fire, Staff Sergeant Ollis and his comrades moved from position to position engaging the enemy with accurate and effective fire."His citation continues:"Fighting along the perimeter of the Forward Operating Base, an insurgent came around a corner, whom Staff Sergeant Ollis immediately engaged with three rifle rounds. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Ollis positioned himself between the insurgent and the Coalition Forces Officer who had been wounded in both legs and was unable to walk. Staff Sergeant Ollis fired on the insurgent and incapacitated him, but as he approached the down insurgent, the insurgents suicide vest detonated and mortally wounded him."His citation concludes, Staff Sergeant Ollis exceptional courage and complete disregard of personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army.MSG Edmonds, SSG Ollis, and CSM Richardson: Ordinary men faced with extraordinary circumstances, they summoned the greatest measure of courage to place their lives in imminent peril to save others. Their examples of valor humble American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty is eternal. Live your life worthy of their sacrifice."Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13)Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform -- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harm's way in defense of American Liberty, honoring their oath "to support and defend" our Constitution, and for the families awaiting their safe return. Pray also for our Veterans, First Responders, and their families.Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our historic hometown National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Make a check payable to National MoH Sustaining Fund and mail to:Generosity Trust,345 Frazier Ave., Unit 205Chattanooga Tn. 37405.Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. (https://www.MOHHC.org) A Chattanooga man, who authorities said has been dealing in large amounts of fentanyl and meth, has been arrested by federal authorities. Ruquez Nathaniel "Donk" Harris, 25, is in custody on a meth selling charge. DEA Chattanooga and other law enforcement agencies said they been have investigating Harris and others for their role in a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. A cooperating witness, who said Harris was a large-scale fentanyl and methamphetamine distributor in Chattanooga, arranged to sell 60 pounds of meth to Harris for $54,000. It was arranged for the exchange to take place on Thursday on the parking lot of the Logan's Roadhouse near Northgate Mall. Agents said Harris arrived in a gray Honda Accord. He then exited with a gray backpack and got into the passenger seat of the confidential source's vehicle. Agents then boxed in the vehicles and took Harris and the source both into custody. A large amount of cash was in the gray backpack. Harris said he was meeting an individual he did not know from California to talk and could not provide a reason why he had the large amount of U.S. Currency in the backpack. The Chattanooga Mocs softball games scheduled for Saturday at the Milisa Moore/Shane Lamb Tournament in Conway, Ark., are moved to Sunday, March 8. The Mocs opening game against UL Monroe begins at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time followed by UTCs game against host Central Arkansas. Please stay tuned to GoMocs.com and the softball social media channels for any further possible updates. Tom Marshall was automatically removed from the Republican ballot by the state GOP because he failed to vote in three out of the last four statewide primaries (as required by the Tennessee Republican bylaws), party officials said.Gail Greene, chair of the Hamilton County Republican Party, said, "Voting records are public so anyone may access Toms voting history."Tom requested a waiver from the state citing his recent active involvement in the party (which is another requirement in the Republican bylaws)."Toms request was denied by a three panel vote of the two state executive committee members for his senatorial district (Tina Benkiser and David Queen) and Scott Golden, the state chairman."It is unfortunate that those encouraging Tom to run for School Board did not inform him of the Republican Party voting requirements.I do feel personally responsible for not having checked Toms voting record sooner. I would have encouraged him to wait and run when he had a better voting record. I hope Tom will stay involved and consider running in the future."District 3 does have an excellent, qualified Republican candidate in Ashley Dillon, who has young children in the public school system and is involved in the PTA. She is a strong, Christian, conservative woman, and I look forward to supporting her."Mr. Marshall said, "After much prayerful consideration and deep conversations with district 3, in December, I committed to run in the Republican primary for the district 3 school board seat. My reasons for running were simple - to support families, children and teachers in public education. While we send our children to school to learn and grow, as adults we must also continue learn and grow to be better people so that we can properly guide our future leaders. It is our responsibility to seek the truth and teach it so that our children grow into strong leaders themselves."Within the Republican Party, candidates seeking office must meet three requirements to be considered a bona fide Republican. First, they must be active within the party. Second, they must be a registered voter. Third, they must have voted in three of the last four statewide Republican primary elections. If a candidate does not meet all three requirements, they may request a waiver. Requesting a waiver is not an uncommon process and abides by party rules."Waivers are reviewed and voted on by the Republican State Executive Committee members representing the district along with the Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. A majority vote is required for the waiver to be granted. If the waiver is not approved, the candidate is removed from the Republican ballot and withdrawn from the race."It is also important to recognize that those who chose to sign a waiver request in support of a candidate have done nothing wrong and should not be demonized for doing so. Signing in support of a waiver request is simply part of the established process and does not violate any rules. Those who sign are only stating that they support the request being considered; the final decision always rests with the State Executive Committee and party leadership."While I do meet the first two qualifications as a very active and dedicated member of the party and a registered voter, I did not meet the requirement of the 3 of the last 4 primaries. That does not make me less of a conservative Republican; it does not diminish the years of my voting record where I had voted in Republican primaries. I did seek a waiver request and was honored to have received letters of support from many past and present elected officials within District 3 as well as surrounding districts and across Hamilton County. That request was submitted for review to our State Executive Committee members and party leadership. After review and vote, the waiver was not granted. As a result, I was removed from the Republican ballot by the TNGOP for Hamilton County School Board District 3."While I may be disappointed in the outcome, the rules of the party are the rules, and as a Republican I respect and abide by them. This decision does not change my commitment to the conservative values my wife and I have raised our 3 children on, to serving our community, or in advocating for families and students in our community. I also understand and empathize with the disappointment many in our community may feel."I would encourage all of us, both as Republicans and as neighbors, not to demonize, belittle or try to cancel one another in the process. Our children are watching how we treat one another (my children especially) and we should always strive to set a better example."Rather than focus on the waiver decision, I choose to focus on the reason I entered this race in the first place: ensuring that our future leaders receive an exceptional public education. As a parent of a soon-to-be Hamilton County Public School graduate and a newly registered voter, my hope is that young people in our community take the time to learn about our system of government, our party, and the conservative principles that guide it. I also encourage all voters, but especially young voters to participate in the upcoming May primary. Our nation was founded on the voice of the people, and your vote IS your voice."My wife Rebecca and I often share a quote with our children that feels especially appropriate in this moment:Look up, not down. Look forward, not backLend a hand."Rebecca and I remain fully committed to the community we call home. We will continue to stay involved, serve others, and support the families of our wonderful community. Ill be back!" This photo taken on March 7, 2026 shows a damaged ambulance struck by Israeli airstrikes in the eastern Lebanese village of Nabi Chit. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes and clashes in the eastern Lebanese village of Nabi Chit rose to 41, with 40 others injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes and clashes in the eastern Lebanese village of Nabi Chit rose to 41, with 40 others injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. In a statement, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health said the casualties resulted from a series of Israeli strikes targeting Nabi Chit and surrounding towns in the Baalbek district. Hezbollah said its members detected the helicopters on Friday evening and later exchanged fire with the advancing Israeli infantry force. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that residents also joined Hezbollah members in confronting the force. Israeli fighter jets and helicopters later carried out around 40 airstrikes on the village and surrounding areas, the NNA reported, adding that the strikes were aimed at securing the withdrawal of the Israeli infiltrating unit and preventing reinforcements from reaching the area. The escalation follows rocket fire toward Israel launched from Lebanon early Monday by Hezbollah, the group's first such attack since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel has since launched what it called an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, combining heavy airstrikes with ground incursions along the border and evacuation warnings for areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. This photo taken on March 7, 2026 shows a site struck by Israeli airstrikes in the eastern Lebanese village of Nabi Chit. The death toll from Israeli airstrikes and clashes in the eastern Lebanese village of Nabi Chit rose to 41, with 40 others injured, Lebanon's authorities said Saturday. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua) After much prayerful consideration and deep conversations with district 3, in December, I committed to run in the Republican primary for the district 3 school board seat. My reasons for running were simple - to support families, children and teachers in public education. While we send our children to school to learn and grow, as adults we must also continue learn and grow to be better people so that we can properly guide our future leaders. It is our responsibility to seek the truth and teach it so that our children grow into strong leaders themselves. Within the Republican Party, candidates seeking office must meet three requirements to be considered a bona fide Republican. First, they must be active within the party. Second, they must be a registered voter. Third, they must have voted in three of the last four statewide Republican primary elections. If a candidate does not meet all three requirements, they may request a waiver. Requesting a waiver is not an uncommon process and abides by party rules.Waivers are reviewed and voted on by the Republican State Executive Committee members representing the district along with the Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. A majority vote is required for the waiver to be granted. If the waiver is not approved, the candidate is removed from the Republican ballot and withdrawn from the race.It is also important to recognize that those who chose to sign a waiver request in support of a candidate have done nothing wrong and should not be demonized for doing so. Signing in support of a waiver request is simply part of the established process and does not violate any rules. Those who sign are only stating that they support the request being considered; the final decision always rests with the State Executive Committee and party leadership.While I do meet the first two qualifications as a very active and dedicated member of the party and a registered voter, I did not meet the requirement of the 3 of the last 4 primaries. That does not make me less of a conservative Republican; it does not diminish the years of my voting record where I had voted in Republican primaries. I did seek a waiver request and was honored to have received letters of support from many past and present elected officials within District 3 as well as surrounding districts and across Hamilton County. That request was submitted for review to our State Executive Committee members and party leadership. After review and vote, the waiver was not granted. As a result, I was removed from the Republican ballot by the TNGOP for Hamilton County School Board District 3.While I may be disappointed in the outcome, the rules of the party are the rules, and as a Republican I respect and abide by them. This decision does not change my commitment to the conservative values my wife and I have raised our 3 children on, to serving our community, or in advocating for families and students in our community. I also understand and empathize with the disappointment many in our community may feel.I would encourage all of us, both as Republicans and as neighbors, not to demonize, belittle or try to cancel one another in the process. Our children are watching how we treat one another (my children especially) and we should always strive to set a better example.Rather than focus on the waiver decision, I choose to focus on the reason I entered this race in the first place: ensuring that our future leaders receive an exceptional public education. As a parent of a soon-to-be Hamilton County Public School graduate and a newly registered voter, my hope is that young people in our community take the time to learn about our system of government, our party, and the conservative principles that guide it. I also encourage all voters, but especially young voters to participate in the upcoming May primary. Our nation was founded on the voice of the people, and your vote IS your voice.My wife Rebecca and I often share a quote with our children that feels especially appropriate in this moment:"Look up, not down. Look forward, not backLend a hand.Rebecca and I remain fully committed to the community we call home. We will continue to stay involved, serve others, and support the families of our wonderful community. Ill be back! Tom Marshall A lesser prairie chicken is seen amid the bird's annual mating ritual near Milnesand, N.M., on April 8, 2021. Photo credit: Unsplash/ Omar Ramadan A bipartisan U.S. government watchdog group is urging the State Department to designate more than a dozen nations as countries of particular concern, including Syria and Libya, for severe violations of religious freedom. The recommendation appears in the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedoms 2026 Annual Report, which was released Wednesday. In the report, USCIRF identified Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, India, Iran, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam as CPCs a classification reserved for governments responsible for or tolerant of particularly severe religious freedom abuses. Most of the nations listed had already been recommended for CPC status in USCIRFs 2025 report. Libya and Syria were newly added this year. Regarding Libya, the commission said religious freedom conditions have entered a downward trajectory, citing the sentencing of 10 Christians and one atheist to prison terms ranging from three to 15 years because of beliefs deemed inconsistent with government preferences. "Across the country, minority religious communities continued to face ongoing persecution at the hands of government authorities, including harassment, arbitrary detention, and societal discrimination against foreign and local Christians, disfavored Muslim groups (including Sufis and Ibadis), and suspected converts from Islam," the annual report states. The report also warned that the situation in Syria has worsened significantly. According to USCIRF, religious freedom conditions in the conflict-ridden nation dramatically deteriorated in 2025. The commission cited the transitional governments inability to prevent, curb, or adequately administer justice for multiple mass killings, kidnappings, and other egregious acts of violence against Alawis, Druze, Christians, and other religious minorities. One example highlighted in the report was the mass killing of more than 1,500 Alawites in March 2025 following what USCIRF described as transitional authorities general mobilization calls. "Militants conducted mass door-to-door executions of Alawi civilians in Tartus, Latakia, and Hama, deploying religious slurs such as 'Alawi Nusayri pigs' against their victims and killing at least 1,500 people in the first two days," the report reads. "In April, armed actors reacted violently to false social media reports that a Druze leader had insulted the [Islamic] Prophet Muhammad, firing on Druze residents in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana and kicking off several days of fatal clashes." The commission also referenced a deadly attack in June, when a suspected suicide bomber targeted the Mar Elias Antiochian/Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, killing at least 25 Christians during a Sunday service. In addition to CPC recommendations, USCIRF advised the State Department to place several countries on its Special Watch List, a second-tier category for governments involved in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. The nations recommended for inclusion on the Special Watch List include Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Turkey and Uzbekistan. All 11 countries were also recommended for placement on the list in the commissions 2025 report, which had additionally suggested Syria for the same category. The report noted that the State Department has not issued updated CPC or Special Watch List designations since 2023. According to the commission, the delay is partly tied to the absence of a confirmed U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom after the Senate failed to confirm President Donald Trumps nominee, Mark Walker. Walkers nomination expired at the beginning of the year, but he was later appointed in January to serve in an advisory capacity on religious freedom issues within the State Department, a role that does not require Senate confirmation. Home News Assemblies of God church, Pastor Rod Loy ask court to dismiss sex abuse lawsuit Church and pastor 'vehemently deny' claims of sexual abuse, accuse woman of fabricating complaint as part of 'smear campaign' Editor's note: This article contains graphic details of alleged sexual abuse Assemblies of God Executive Presbyter Rod Loy and the First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Arkansas, have asked the Circuit Court of Pulaski County to dismiss a recent lawsuit from a former member who claims Loy sexually abused her for 20 years, beginning when she was 16, and continuing after she was married. In their 12-page response to 45-year-old Suzanne Landers January complaint, Loy and First Assembly of God in North Little Rock said they vehemently deny her claims of sexual abuse and accuse her of fabricating the complaint as part of a smear campaign. Pleading affirmatively, plaintiff never reported any allegation of abuse by Pastor Loy to the Church or law enforcement, and Pastor Loy has never before been accused of or faced allegations of such heinous conduct in his decades of service to the Church and the local community, the response states. Plaintiffs allegations of sexual abuse by Pastor Loy are fabricated in their entirety and part of a smear campaign against Pastor Loy and the Church. The church and Loys response filed on Wednesday pleads all affirmative defenses as set forth under Rule 12(b) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, including the Ecclesiastical Abstention doctrine, which prevents civil courts from deciding disputes that require interpretation of religious doctrine or church governance. [D]efendants, Rod Loy and North Little Rock First Assembly of God Church, pray that plaintiffs Complaint be dismissed with prejudice, that plaintiff take nothing in this action, that defendants recover costs and expenses, and for all other just and proper relief to which defendants may be entitled, Loy and his megachurch asked the court. Following Landers allegations in January, Loy stepped back from his duties as one of 21 executive presbyters on the Assemblies of Gods national Executive Presbytery board. These high-level leaders function as policymakers and governing officials for the denomination. They oversee doctrinal integrity, fellowship policies, and regional matters, including ordained leadership, and are elected to four-year terms. Loy, who has been the senior pastor of First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Arkansas, since 2001, was elected as the Gulf-area executive presbyter in August 2023. His church was ranked as the third-largest Assemblies of God congregation in the United States, with more than 16,500 members in 2017, according to official denomination records. First Assembly of God has also helped to plant more than 1,350 churches in 63 nations. Lander alleges that only months after she began attending the church as a teenager in 1996, Loy, who was then serving as executive pastor, initiated sexual abuse. Defendant Loy had previously demonstrated physical affection through hugging, which Plaintiff had never experienced before. Defendant Loy then began using a Nintendo gaming controller to touch Plaintiffs genitalia over her clothing, her complaint alleges. Defendant Loy soon progressed to using his hands to touch Plaintiffs genitalia over her clothing and then to putting his hands inside her clothing and rubbing his genitalia on her while she watched television in his home. Lander alleges that Loy told her that God wanted her to please him sexually and used Scriptures like Hebrews 13:17 to get her to comply: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. In their response to Landers claims, Loy and his church say her allegations of persistent abuse and scriptural manipulation are wholly unfounded and undermined by numerous expressions of support for the Loy family and the church throughout her adulthood, such as a March 18, 2012, email to both Loy and his wife, Cindy. Me and Patrick love First Assembly," Lander wrote. "We love what we do. We love our church and our church family. Beyond that, is a love and commitment to the two of you. It's not just a job, you are not just our bosses, you are family and we love nothing more than serving you and spending our lives with you, the email from Landers to Loy and his wife and copied to her husband states in part. We probably don't say it or convey it enough- we love you and are committed to you forever. Our prayer has been and always will be something very similar to the words of Elisha As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I (we) will not leave you. Lander's lawsuit claims that Loy's abuse spanned from 1996 to 2016, including while she was married. She alleges that from 1996 to 1998, when she was still a minor, Loy forced her to perform oral sex, performed oral sex on her, and raped her in multiple locations: his church office, the storage closet, nursery, Junior Super Church Room, church parking lot, and his home. Lander further claims in her lawsuit that she was controlled by Loy for the first 18 years of her adult life, and that he continued to leverage control over her life even after she got married and had children. The lawsuit claims she was finally able to escape Loys control after she and her family moved to Jonesboro in 2016. Loys accuser is the wife of Patrick Lander, who served under him as a former student pastor and executive pastor at First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, according to his Facebook page. Patrick Lander later served as campus pastor at First Assembly of God Northeast Arkansas. Lander claims she only realized she had suffered abuse after she started therapy three years ago for complex PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and neurological impairment. Home Opinion Imprisoned pastor warns of South Korea's erosion of religious freedom Hyun-bo Son is not a politician. He is not an activist. He is not a man chasing influence. He is a pastor. For more than 30 years, Pastor Son has served a congregation in Busan, South Korea, with quiet faithfulness. He is a husband, a father of three, and a grandfather of five. Long before he entered ministry, he learned discipline in South Koreas Special Forces and learned conviction as a young man when he faced expulsion from school for refusing to take an exam scheduled on a Sunday. He believed worship mattered more. Those experiences shaped a life defined by conscience rather than convenience. Read: 'God fought the battle for me': Pastor Son Hyun-bo speaks after his release from prison Read: Reformation Sunday: 2M Koreans unite to protest law, prevent nation from going down liberal path Read: 2.1M Korean Christians attend joint worship service for repentance, resist LGBT ideology Pastor Son has never sought personal gain. He declined honoraria common to senior pastors. When his book became a national bestseller, he directed every penny to the church funding cataract surgeries for more than 9,000 people. His leadership has always been about duty, not power. That sense of duty brought him into direct conflict with the state during COVID-19. When most large churches closed their doors, Pastor Son publicly argued that worship is essential not optional. He asked for constitutional limits on government authority, equal treatment under the law, and respect for religious freedom. He did not call for chaos. He called for balance. For that stand, his church was forcibly shut down, and he became the target of relentless legal action. Today, he faces multiple criminal cases tied to COVID-era worship, an unprecedented level of prosecution against a pastor acting on religious conviction. From prosecution to prison In September 2025, the situation escalated dramatically. Pastor Son was arrested under South Koreas Public Official Election Act for words spoken in a sermon and later repeated in an interview. Prosecutors demanded a one-year prison sentence and claimed he posed a risk of flight. The charge was absurd. Pastor Son has a permanent home, a lifelong congregation, and deep family roots. He has never avoided a summons. Despite more than 20 lawsuits filed against him for holding worship services and opposing legislation he believed violated biblical principles, he appeared for every questioning. Yet he was jailed anyway. For five months, he remained behind bars as legal delays turned pretrial detention into punishment. Inside his cell, he was placed under 24-hour CCTV surveillance even while changing clothes. Authorities claimed it was for his protection. His health deteriorated. Even death-row inmates nearby were granted basic privacy. A pastor was not. Release without relief On Jan. 30, Pastor Son was finally released. But freedom did not bring justice. Just weeks earlier, the South Korean government advanced amendments to the Civil Code that should alarm anyone who values liberty. The proposed changes would allow authorities to dissolve religious organizations and confiscate church assets under vaguely defined public interest grounds. In plain terms, the state would gain legal authority to close churches not for crimes, but for disfavored beliefs. Even more disturbing, the amendments would empower administrative agencies to conduct investigations, audits, property seizures, and tax inspections without judicial warrants or court approval. Power that once belonged to independent courts would shift to unelected bureaucrats. Legal safeguards designed to prevent abuse would disappear. A campaign beyond one pastor The pressure has not stopped with Pastor Son. His senior associate pastor now faces trial. Prosecutors have expanded their efforts from one man to church leadership itself. Investigators have accessed private communications of church members and family under the guise of inquiry. The result has been financial suffocation and social intimidation. The message is clear: remain silent or be next. The church faces possible bankruptcy. Even education has been targeted. Segero Woonam Christian Academy founded after 17 years of prayer to provide faith-based education now faces forced closure after accreditation was denied through administrative obstacles. Worship. Speech. Education. All are being slowly squeezed. Why he will not be silent From detention, Pastor Son made his conviction clear. He can endure prison. He can endure personal loss. What he cannot endure is a future where the state decides what pastors may preach, what churches may teach, and what believers are allowed to say. He refuses to accept a society where faith is tolerated only when it is quiet, private and politically harmless. He speaks not for himself, but so the next generation doesn't inherit fear as the price of faith. A warning beyond South Korea This story is not only about one pastor. It is about whether democracies still protect conscience when it becomes inconvenient. It is about whether the law remains a shield for freedom or becomes a tool to dismantle it. It is about whether release from prison means anything when new laws are designed to silence what prison could not. Days before Pastor Sons first verdict hearing, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held a nationally televised press conference and declared that religious speech tied to politics must be punished. He indicated that additional religious groups should be investigated and called for stronger laws to sanction such speech. When the executive branch signals expected punishment, guides investigations and urges harsher legislation at the same time, it risks undermining judicial independence, prosecutorial neutrality, and the separation of powers. This pattern warrants close attention from allies committed to democratic norms and religious liberty. South Korea is a longtime ally of the United States and a vibrant democracy. But freedom is never permanent. It must be defended. Silence might feel safer in the short term. But silence is what allows lines to move and liberties to fade. That is why attention from outside South Korea matters. Americans who cherish religious liberty should not remain passive observers. A petition calling for Pastor Sons full release and for the protection of religious freedom in South Korea is now available at Advocates for Faith & Freedom. By signing, you send a clear message that the free world is watching and that imprisoning pastors for their sermons is unacceptable in any democracy. Add your name. Share it. Make it known that silence is not an option. That is why this story must continue to be told. And that is why anyone who believes in religious liberty cannot afford to look away. WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran, NBC News reported on Friday, citing multiple sources. Trump has discussed the idea of deploying ground troops with aides and Republican officials outside the White House, focusing on a small contingent of troops for specific strategic missions rather than a large-scale invasion, said the report. The report cited two U.S. officials -- a former U.S. official and a person with knowledge of the discussions. However, no decision has been made. Trump has also outlined a vision for a post-war Iran in which its uranium would be secured and a new Iranian government would cooperate with the United States on oil production, similar to the current U.S.-Venezuela arrangement that allows Washington to benefit from Venezuela's oil output, the sources were quoted as saying in the report. "This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the President's national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "President Trump always wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table," Leavitt said in a statement. Trump told the New York Post earlier this week that while other presidents have ruled out boots on the ground, "I say 'probably don't need them,' (or) 'if they were necessary.'" The U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets inside Iran since operations began on Feb. 28, with 43 Iranian ships damaged or destroyed, U.S. Central Command said Friday in a post on X. The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told NBC News on Thursday that his country is not requesting a ceasefire and does not see any reason to negotiate with Washington. What Is the Web For? We know telephones are for talking with people, televisions are for watching programs, and highways are for driving. So whats the Web for? We dont know. Yet we put it on magazine covers, found businesses stoking it, spend billions on an infrastructure for it. We want it to be important with a desperation that can frighten us when we look at it coldly. Who is this we? Its not just the webheads and full-time aficionados. Its the management teams who dont understand it but sense an opportunity. Its the uncles and aunts who pepper you with questions about all this Web stuff. Its the seven-year-old who takes it for granted that when she speaks the entire world can choose to hear her. Our cultures pulse is pounding with the Web. This fervid desire for the Web bespeaks a longing so intense that it can only be understood as spiritual. A longing indicates that something is missing in our lives. What is missing is the sound of the human voice. The spiritual lure of the Web is the promise of the return of voice. Being Managed The longing for the Web occurs in the midst of a profoundly managed age. We believe, in fact, that to be a business is to be managed. A business manages its resources, including its finances, physical plant, and people in basically the same way: quantifiable factors are determined, predicted, processed, assessed. But our management view extends far beyond business. We manage our households, our children, our wildlife, our ecological environment. And that which is unmanaged strikes us as bad: weeds, riots, cancer. The idea that we can manage our world is uniquely twentieth-century and chiefly American. And there are tremendous advantages to believing one lives in a managed world: Risk avoidance. Nothing unexpected happens if youre managing your world. Smoothness. Everything works in a managed environment simply because broken things are an embarrassment. Fairness. In earlier times, life was unfair. Now youre guaranteed your three-score and ten and if something "goes wrong," the managed system will compensate you, even if you have to sue the bastards. Discretionary attention. If you were out in the wild, your attention would be drawn to every creaking twig and night howl. But now that the risks have been mitigated, things work right, and you can manage your time so you have not just leisure time but also discretionary attention: you can decide what interests you. Why, you can even have hobbies. Of course, none of these benefits are delivered perfectly. There are still risks, there are still injustices, there are still "outages." But these are exceptions. And when they occur, we feel cheated, as if our contract has been violated. It wasnt always thus. For millennia, we assumed that being in control was the exception and living in a wildly risk-filled world was the norm: "As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport." King Lear Today these awful words sound like one of those quaint, primitive ideas weve outgrown. The belief in the managed environment is a denial of the brute "facticity" of our lives. The truth is that businesses cannot be managed. They can be run, but they exist in a world that is so far beyond the control of the executives and the shareholders that "managing" a business is a form of magical belief that gets punctured the first time a competitor drastically lowers prices, a large trading partners economy falters, a key suppliers factory burns down, your lead developer gets a better offer, your CFO becomes felonious, or an angry consumer wins an unfair lawsuit. As flies to wanton boys are companies to their markets. They pull off a companys wings for sport. How to Hate Your Job A managed environment requires behavior from us that we accept as inevitable although, of course, it is really mandatory only because it is mandated. We call it "professionalism." Professionalism goes far beyond acting according to a canon of ethics. Professionals dress like other professionals (one eccentricity per person is permitted -- a garish tie, perhaps, or a funky necklace), decorate their cubicles with nothing more disturbing than a Dilbert (formerly Far Side) cartoon, sit up straight at committee meetings, tell carefully calibrated jokes, dont undermine the authority of (that is, show theyre smarter than) their superiors, make idle chatter only about a narrow range of "safe" topics, dont swear, dont mention God, make absolutely no reference to being sexual (exceptions made for male executives after the hot new hire has left the room), and successfully "manage" their home life so that it never intrudes unexpectedly into their business life. Most of us dont mind doing this. In fact, we actually sort of enjoy it. Its like playing grownup. And having extremist political banners hung in cubicles or having to listen to someone talk about his spiritual commitments or sex life would simply be distracting. Disturbing, actually. And yet... we feel resentment. Find someone who likes being managed, who feels fully at home in his or her professional self. Our longing for the Web is rooted in the deep resentment we feel towards being managed. However much we long for the Web is how much we hate our job. Our Voice Just about all the concessions we make to work in a well-run, non- disturbing, secure, predictably successful, managed environment have to do with giving up our voice. Nothing is more intimately a part of who we are than our voice. It expresses what we think and feel. It is an amalgam of the voluntary and involuntary. It gives style and shape to content. It subtends the most public and the most private. It is what we withhold at the moments of greatest significance. Our voice is our strongest, most direct expression of who we are. Our voice is expressed in our words, our tone, our body language, our visible enthusiasms. Our business voice -- in a managed environment -- is virtually the same as everyone elses. For example, we learn to write memos in The Standard Style and to participate in committee meetings in The Appropriate Fashion. (Of course, we are also finely attuned to minute differences in expression and can often tell memos apart the way birdwatchers spot the differences between a lark sparrow and a song sparrow.) In fifty years, our corporate lives will seem no different than those of the 1950s. Whether we are Ward Cleavers or Dilberts, we all reported to work in look-alike rooms, wearing uniforms, speaking civilly, playing our parts at committee meetings. The fact that earth tones and Rockports have replaced gray flannel and wingtips isnt going to separate us from our crewcut fathers. Managed businesses have taken our voices. We want to struggle against this. We wear a snarky expression behind our bosss back, place ironic distance between our company and ourselves, and we dont want to think we have become our parents. But we have. And weve done so willingly. Management is a powerful force, part of a larger life-scheme that promises us health, peace, prosperity, calm, and no surprises in every aspect of our lives, from health to wealth to good weather and moderately heated coffee from McDonalds. We are all victims of this assault on voice, the attempt to get us to shut up and listen to the narrowest range of ideas imaginable. It is only the force of our regret at having lived in this bargain that explains the power of our longing for the Web. The Longing We dont know what the Web is for but weve adopted it faster than any technology since fire. There are many ways to look at whats drawing us to the Web: access to information, connection to other people, entrance to communities, the ability to broadcast ideas. None of these are wrong perspectives. But they all come back to the promise of voice and thus of authentic self. At the first InternetWorld conference, the vendors were falling over one another offering software and services that would let you "create your own home page in five minutes." Microsoft, IBM, and a hundred smaller shops were all hawking the same goods. You could sit in a booth and create your own home page faster than you can get your portrait sketched on a San Francisco sidewalk. While the create-a-home-page problem proved too easy to solve to support a software industry, there was something canny about the commercial focus on the creation of home pages. Since you could just as adequately view the Web as a huge reference library, why did home pages seize our imaginations? Because a home page is a place in which we can express who we are and let the world in. Meager though it may be, a home page is a way of having a voice. The Webs promise of a voice has now gone far beyond that. The Web is viral. It infects everything it touches -- and, because it is an airborne virus, it infects some things it doesnt. The Web has become the new corporate infrastructure, in the form of intranets, turning massive corporate hierarchical systems into collections of many small pieces loosely joining themselves unpredictably. The voice that the Web gives us is not the ability to post pictures of our cat and our guesses at how the next episode of The X-Files will end. It is the granting of a place in which we can be who we are (and even who we arent, if thats the voice weve chosen). It is a public place. That is crucial. Having a voice doesnt mean being able to sing in the shower. It means presenting oneself to others. The Web provides a place like weve never seen before. We may still have to behave properly in committee meetings, but increasingly the real work of the corporation is getting done by quirky individuals who meet on the Web, net the two-hour committee meeting down to two lines (one of which is obscene and the other wickedly funny), and then -- in a language and rhythm unique to them -- move ahead faster than the speed of management. The memo is dead. Long live e-mail. The corporate newsletter is dead. Long live racks of zines from individuals who do not speak for the corporation. Bland, safe relationships with customers are dead. Long live customer-support reps who are willing to get as pissed off at their own company as the angry customer is. We are so desperate to have our voices back that we are willing to leap into the void. We embrace the Web not knowing what it is, but hoping that it will burn the org chart -- if not the organization -- down to the ground. Released from the gray-flannel handcuffs, we say anything, curse like sailors, rhyme like bad poets, flame against our own values, just for the pure delight of having a voice. And when the thrill of hearing ourselves speak again wears off, we will begin to build a new world. That is what the Web is for. Goldman Sachs recently named several stocks the Wall Street colossus believes are a must-own as market fears rise. The investment bank said that investors should buy the dip in companies like Nvidia. Other stocks rated buy at Goldman and screened by CNBC Pro include: Ross Stores, Viking Holdings, Once Upon a Farm and Dutch Bros. Dutch Bros. The coffee chain is firing on all cylinders, Goldman wrote recently Analyst Christine Cho upgraded Dutch Bros. earlier this week to buy from neutral, saying investors should take advantage of its latest decline. "We see the recent pullback as an attractive entry into the best-in-class growth story in all of [[the] U.S. Restaurant space, driven by solid [same-store sales growth] and strong unit economics supporting mid-teens store growth," she said. Cho also called Dutch Bros a "leader" in customized energy drinks, and said there's plenty of room for future growth. The stock is down 16% in 2026. Read more. Once Upon a Farm Analyst Leah Jordan initiated research coverage of the children's food maker with a buy rating earlier this week, saying it's well-positioned for growth. Goldman served as Once Upon a Farm's joint lead bookrunning manager for its February initial public offering. The investment bank said Once Upon a Farm has "strong brand power" and a "defensible market position." In addition, the company's products are part of an up and coming trend towards "better-for-you consumption," she said. Jordan also praised Once Upon a Farm management, writing that it has a robust brand strategy. "Underscoring this brand strength, we note the company is the leader of dollar growth in the categories it participates in, while we believe the company has solid pricing power given low elasticity to prior price increases," she continued. Viking Holdings Buy shares of the luxury cruise company, analyst Lizzie Dove said after the company's earnings report last week. Viking reported a strong quarter with more upside to come, Goldman wrote. Dove says she's seeing no signs of a slowdown and argues that the stock is immune to geopolitical uncertainty. "In a world where there's been some uncertainty around cruise and the macro in recent months, VIK continues to fire on all cylinders with its higher-income demographic and differentiated product coming through," she wrote. Goldman also raised its 12-month price target, to $84 a share from $78. "Another beat and raise with consistently strong pricing power and visibility," the analyst summed up. The stock is down more than 10% in the past month. Ross Stores "ROST reported a robust 4Q beat led by a significant acceleration in comp on both a 1-yr and 2-yr stack. .... .Looking ahead, management's 1QTD commentary was constructive, where they noted their merchants have delivered a strong post-holiday transition and the spring season is off to a very strong start. This quarter marks another strong proofpoint for ROST's strategic playbook. We discuss our key takeaways from the quarter within. " Nvidia "First, we expect upside to CapEx forecasts from hyperscalers in 2026, and early indications of 2027 CapEx growth becoming apparent. Second, we expect additional visibility into spending intentions by Nvidia's non-traditional customers - such as OpenAI and Anthropic - through 2027 as their funding rounds are completed." Viking Holdings "Another beat and raise with consistently strong pricing power and visibility. ... .In a world where there's been some uncertainty around cruise and the macro in recent months, VIK continues to fire on all cylinders with its higher-income demographic and differentiated product coming through." Dutch Bros. "We see the recent pullback as an attractive entry into the best-in-class growth story in all of US Restaurant space, driven by solid SSSG and strong unit economics supporting mid-teens store growth. ... .Leader in customized energy drinks with customization built into the model." Once Upon a Farm "....we see a high-growth story tied to its premium portfolio of baby/kids food, supported by strong brand power, its defensible market position with in-aisle coolers, & the secular trend toward better-for-you consumption. ... .Underscoring this brand strength, we note the company is leader of dollar growth in the categories it participates in, while we believe the company has solid pricing power given low elasticity to prior price increases." Customers use computers at an Internet cafe in Tehran, Iran. A chart in the post showed internet traffic at around 1% of its normal levels. "The measure remains in place at hour 168, leaving the public isolated without vital updates and alerts while officials and state media retain access," NetBlocks said. "A full week has now passed since #Iran fell into digital darkness under a regime-imposed national internet blackout," NetBlocks said in a social media post. Internet traffic in Iran from Feb. 24, 2026 to March 7, 2026: NetBlocks via Mastodon https://mastodon.social/@netblocks/116186683967916133. U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran continued on Saturday, one week after they launched their joint campaign to rid Tehran of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities while also pushing for regime change. Iran has implemented internet shutdowns during periods of social unrest in the past. A similar near-blackout was imposed for several weeks in January amid widespread protests in the country. However, some analysts said that additional factors may be contributing to the internet disruption. "While the actual cause is still unclear, it's almost certainly a combination of both state-ordered suppression and external cyber disruption," Kathryn Raines, cyber threat intelligence team lead at intelligence platform Flashpoint, told CNBC earlier this week. Iran has not officially commented on the outage. Analysts say that the lack of internet connectivity in Iran is likely to add to the fog of war, with citizens on the ground unable to communicate with their families, document events or get real-time updates on the conflict. Cybersecurity firms warned that Iran is also likely to respond with cyberattacks, either carried out directly by the government or by affiliated proxy groups. In a statement shared with CNBC, Adam Meyers, head of counter adversary operations at CrowdStrike, said the firm was "already seeing activity consistent with Iranian-aligned threat actors and hacktivist groups conducting reconnaissance and initiating [denial-of-service] attacks." -- Dylan Butts contributed to this story. The second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body on Saturday held its second plenary meeting of the annual session in Beijing. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attended the meeting. At the meeting, 14 members of the CPPCC National Committee shared their views and put forward suggestions. Huo Jinhua said homegrown, risk-controllable foundational technologies underpin national security, stability and continuous innovation, and China should persistently strengthen R&D efforts and investment in these technologies. To foster new growth momentum, Huang Qunhui suggested implementing policies tailored to specific industrial sectors and strengthening enterprises' principal role in innovation. Xie Dong urged incentivizing leading enterprises to boost funding for fundamental research while expanding financial support for tech startups. Jiang Liping called for efforts to improve policies and measures that aim at enhancing the well-being of people from Taiwan, enabling them to enjoy equitable access to public services. Zhou Zhihua stressed the need to optimize the coordination and distribution of AI research and use AI to guide a paradigm shift in scientific research. Mo Rong urged efforts to help human resources better adapt to advances in AI technologies and the needs of industrial transformation and upgrading. Other political advisors shared their views on reform and innovation, poverty alleviation, the modern industrial system, the private sector, the Hainan Free Trade Port, education, and support for childbirth. TOPSHOT - This photograph taken during a media tour organised by the Hezbollah shows people inspecting the destruction at Nabi Sheet town after an Israeli military operation in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP via Getty Images) On Saturday morning, more buildings in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut lay as mounds of smoking rubble and twisted metal, Reuters video showed, after heavy Israeli bombardment that followed an evacuation order for civilians. Lebanon was dragged into the wider Middle East war on Monday when Hezbollah fired at Israel, which responded with a new military campaign that has forced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from their homes. Israel warned Lebanon of a "very heavy price" if it did not rein in Iran-backed Hezbollah on Saturday, as it pounded the group's strongholds around the country with air strikes and mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, addressing Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun in a statement, said that if the Lebanese government failed to enforce a 2024 agreement to disarm Hezbollah, it and the whole country would suffer. "If the choice is between protecting our civilians and our soldiers or protecting the state of Lebanon - we will choose the protection of our civilians and soldiers, and the Lebanese government and Lebanon will pay a very heavy price," Katz said. He added that Israel had no territorial claims against Lebanon, but would not allow a situation where there could be fire targeting Israel from Lebanese territory. Overnight, Israeli helicopters dropped troops near the town of Nabi Chit in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley in a rare airborne operation. Israel's military said the troops had staged the operation to seek the remains of Ron Arad, an Israeli airforce navigator missing in Lebanon since 1986. However, no findings related to him were recovered, it said. Hezbollah said in a statement overnight that it had fired on Israeli troops dropped near Nabi Chit by four helicopters, and that the troops had withdrawn. The Israeli military said none of its forces were injured. Lebanon's Health Ministry said 41 people had been killed in the last 24 hours in Israeli attacks in the Nabi Chit area. The Lebanese army said three of its personnel were among the dead. Shawki al-Masri, who lives in a town adjacent to Nabi Chit, described the overnight bombing in the area as "a night of hell". "We heard the helicopters over our house all night - they were so low we thought they would land on us," he told Reuters. "People in the town woke up and started shooting at them, then the warplanes started bombing. It was a very violent night and only calmed down when the sun came up," he said. Israeli strikes have killed more than 200 people across Lebanon, and orders to evacuate have displaced around 300,000 people, only a third of whom are now living in government shelters. A senior United Nations official described the displacement as "unprecedented" in comments to Reuters on Friday. Kuwait said Saturday that it has cut oil production and refining output because tankers cannot transit the Persian Gulf due to threats from Iran. The Arab monarchy did not say how many barrels per day it has cut, but described the output reduction as a precautionary measure that will be "reviewed as the situation develops." Kuwait is the fifth-largest oil producer in OPEC. It produced about 2.6 million barrels per day in January. The state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said it "remains fully prepared to restore production levels once conditions allow." Oil prices surged about 35% this week as the Iran war triggered a major disruption of global energy supplies. Tankers have stopped transiting the critical Strait of Hormuz because ship owners fear their vessels will be attacked by Iran. Gulf Arab oil producers like Kuwait export their barrels through the Strait. The narrow waterway is the only way to enter or exit the Persian Gulf. About 20% of global oil consumption is exported through the Strait. Oil barrels are piling up in the Middle East with nowhere to go because the tankers are not moving. Gulf Arab countries are forced to lower production when they run out of space to store barrels. Iraq has already cut 1.5 million barrels per day as it runs out of storage space, Iraqi officials told Reuters on Tuesday. "The market is shifting from pricing pure geopolitical risk to grappling with tangible operational disruption," Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities research at JPMorgan, told clients in a Friday note. The Gulf Arab countries will exhaust storage capacity and shut down oil production if the U.S.-Iran war lasts more than three weeks, Kaneva said in a note last Sunday. This would spike global benchmark Brent oil prices above $100 per barrel, she said. JPMorgan estimates that production cuts could exceed 4 million barrels per day by the end of next week if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. On Friday, crude oil logged its biggest weekly gain in futures trading history. Brent futures surged 8.52%, or $7.28, to settle at $92.69 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures spiked 12.21%, or $9.89, to close at $90.90 per barrel. U.S. crude rocketed 35.63%, its biggest weekly gain in the history of the futures contract dating back to 1983. Brent soared 28%, the largest weekly increase since April 2020. The Iran war has also disrupted the world's natural gas supplies. Qatar shut down liquefied natural gas production on Monday due to attacks by Iran. About 20% of the world's LNG exports come from Qatar. LNG is a form of natural gas that is chilled into a liquid so it can be loaded onto tankers and exported around the world. Natural gas is used for electricity production and home heating. In this article Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Heated exchanges between Iran and the U.S. continued unabated over the weekend, while Iranian missiles rained down on Gulf states and Israel attacked critical infrastructure in Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump warned, "Today Iran will be hit very hard!" and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that "many surprises" lay ahead for the next phase of the week-old conflict. A top Iranian official responded: "We do not welcome the war, but aggressors should be punished." Airstrikes on Iran continued on Saturday, one week after the U.S. and Israel launched their joint campaign to rid Tehran of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and push for regime change. U.S. forces struck more than 3,000 targets in its first week of Trump's "Operation Epic Fury," the U.S. Central Command said in an X post. The Israel Defense Forces said in a Saturday post on X that it has completed "another wave of attacks in Tehran," with its Air Force fighter jets having launched roughly 230 munitions toward several military sites of the regime. Flames rise from an oil storage facility south of the capital Tehran as strikes hit the city during the U.S.Israel military campaign, Iran, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Vahid Salemi | AP Photo One of the attacks struck a southern Tehran oil facility, Iranian state media confirmed. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war, according to the Associated Press. State media blamed "an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime" at the facility that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north. Meanwhile, Tehran's energy-rich neighbors in the Gulf said they intercepted more Iranian missiles and drones headed for their airspace. Earlier Saturday, Iran said it struck a U.S. air base in the United Arab Emirates, shortly after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would stop attacking Gulf countries. Iran's Tasnim News agency said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy drone unit attacked the Al Dhafra air base south of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE's Ministry of Defence said in a post on X that it detected 121 unmanned aerial vehicles on Saturday and intercepted 119 of them, while two fell within the UAE's territory. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. Ali Larijani, a top Iranian security chief, said that "we do not welcome the war, but aggressors should be punished." He also called for unity among Iranian officials. Larijani's statement follows an apologetic one by Pezeshkian on Saturday, in which he said his country does not intend to attack others. "I apologize to the neighboring countries," Pezeshkian said. "We do not intend to invade other countries. Let us set aside all the disagreements, concerns, and resentments we have toward each other. Today, let us defend our own soil to bring Iran out of this crisis with dignity." Addressing demands for surrender, Pezeshkian, via Iran's national news agency's Telegram social media channel on Saturday, said the U.S. can "take their dreams to the grave; we will not surrender unconditionally." His comments came after Trump on Friday demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender." Trump followed up his demands early Saturday by taunting Iran with a post on his Truth Social account: "Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. Today Iran will be hit very hard!" Pezeshkian's apology also prompted pushback from hardliners in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and clerical elite. In one of the most open criticisms of Pezeshkian, hardline cleric and lawmaker Hamid Rasai addressed the president on social media, saying: "Your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable." Gulf region under threat States in the Gulf are launching air defenses to fend off Iranian attacks, many of which are in the form of one-way drones such as its low-cost Shaheds. Iran has targeted several radar and air defenses in the Middle East in Qatar, the U.A.E., Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in retaliation against U.S. and Israeli attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, military analysts and commercially available satellite images. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense has said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base, an active United States Air Force Air Expeditionary Base in Saudi Arabia. The country intercepted nine of 10 Iranian drones launched at it on Friday. Saudi Arabia has told Iranian officials that while it favors a diplomatic settlement to Iran's conflict with the U.S., continued attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, sources told Reuters. The message was conveyed before Pezeshkian made his apology, Reuters reported. Elsewhere, the UAE's biggest city, Dubai, issued an alert urging residents to seek immediate shelter in secure buildings and stay away from windows, doors and open areas. In Dubai, several blasts were heard Saturday morning and the government said it had activated air defenses. Passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport were ushered into train tunnels. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed. Strait of Hormuz transit slows to trickle Traffic is nearly nonexistent in the Straight of Hormuz, meanwhile, as oil tankers remain fearful that their vessels will be caught in the war's crossfire. Data from the Maritime Information Center revealed that the number of vessels transiting through the Strait each day has fallen to the single digits. Only four commercial transits were confirmed in the past 24 hours, the data showed. Iran's Larijani said that while Iran has not closed down the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait is effectively closed because of the war. Kuwait, the fifth-largest oil producer in OPEC, said it is cutting oil production due to "Iranian threats against safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz." Escalating war disruptions to global fuel supplies have sent the price of U.S. crude oil skyrocketing, recording its biggest weekly gain in futures trading history. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude soared 35.63% for the biggest weekly gain in the history of the futures contract dating back to 1983. Global benchmark Brent crude jumped about 28% for its biggest weekly gain since April 2020. The price of U.S. crude has risen nearly 60% since the start of this year. Call to name new supreme leader U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at Department of State, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 9, 2025. Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that while it favors a diplomatic settlement to Iran's conflict with the United States, continued attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The message was conveyed before a speech on Saturday in which Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring Gulf states for Tehran's actions an apparent attempt to defuse regional anger over Iranian strikes that hit civilian targets. Two days earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and set out Riyadh's position with clarity, the sources said. Saudi Arabia is open to any form of mediation aimed at de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, the sources quoted the minister as saying, underlining that neither Riyadh nor other Gulf states had let the U.S. use their airspace or territory to launch airstrikes on Iran. But Prince Faisal was also quoted by the sources as saying that if Iranian attacks persisted against Saudi territory or energy infrastructure, Saudi Arabia would be forced to permit U.S. forces to use their bases there for military operations. Riyadh would retaliate if attacks on the kingdom's critical energy facilities continued, he said. The sources said the kingdom had remained in regular contact with Tehran through its ambassador since the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran began on Feb 28, following the collapse of talks on Iran's nuclear program. The Saudi and Iranian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment. watch now A few years ago, Grace Guo began to crave places in New York City where hanging out with friends didn't have to involve alcohol. Newly sober and surrounded by friends who also chose not to drink, Guo said she wanted alternatives to the typical social scene. After some research, she landed on Bathhouse and Othership: social wellness clubs designed to create communities around improving health. "Honestly, it kind of just feels like going to a spa together and spending an afternoon together. I think for me, it just feels much better rather than staying out late at night," Guo told CNBC. She's one of a growing number of people seeking out membership clubs and other places that are structured around maintaining health while also acting as a spot to foster connection. And those spaces are becoming booming businesses, too. Bathhouse, which opened in 2019 in Brooklyn, New York, told CNBC exclusively that it expects to hit around $120 million in run rate revenue by the end of this year. It declined to disclose any of its other financials, as did Othership. Many of these types of companies are privately held, but publicly traded gym chain Life Time also began doubling down on premium wellness a few years ago. While investors initially did not like that reallocation of resources, it's now paying off, with Life Time's stock more than doubling since October 2023. Companies old and new are trying to reach consumers like Guo. The 31-year-old said she's seen an increased focus on health, wellness and peacefulness in her own social life and in those around her, as she searches for so-called third spaces with that focus. "I'm kind of like, where can I go to try to plug into a community, or where can I go to express a particular interest that I have and find like-minded people?" Guo said. "It's finding a group of like-minded people, but then also having the space and the novelty to try something or to pursue something." At Othership, between spending time in the sauna and the cold plunge and choosing a popular evening time slot, Guo said the environment of health-focused socializing spoke to her. "Having a space to go to where it kind of shocks us out of our routine and complacency is really important, and I think probably the biggest thing is just the fact that it overcomes a lot of the inertia of doing something," Guo said. 'Loneliness is an epidemic' Bathhouse pools Source: Bathhouse The concept of third spaces isn't new. The term was first coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book, "The Great Good Place," to refer to spaces outside of the home, or the first place, and work, the second place, where people gather and form relationships. That definition came to encompass places like neighborhood coffee shops, libraries, bars and more, where people from different backgrounds came together in an informal setting with relatively low barriers to access. But somewhere in the past few years, that definition has evolved, and the importance of third spaces has blossomed. Richard Kyte, a professor at Viterbo University in Wisconsin and the author of "Finding Your Third Place," said he's been teaching courses on third places for nearly two decades, but only noticed the term becoming mainstream in the past few years. That turning point, Kyte said, also coincided with the pandemic, which sent the world into lockdowns and practically eliminated social gatherings for a period while redefining them for the long term. "During that time, all of a sudden, we were talking more about the cost of loneliness, the cost of social isolation. It really came home to us during the pandemic that this was not healthy," Kyte told CNBC. "And at the same time that we were noticing that we need these places more, we were seeing that so many of them were closing. That kind of spurred a renewed interest." It's a trend that's also been compounded by an increasingly digital-forward society, he added, as younger generations crave more than just social media connections even with the rise of artificial intelligence and chatbots. "We've got all of this huge investment in technology that increases the ease and desirability of being independent," Kyte said, citing AI companies promoting products that pose as friends. "When we have people turning more to their screens instead of looking to find fulfillment through social interaction, it just takes all these people out of the pool." According to Cigna's 2025 "Loneliness in America" report, 67% of Gen Zers reported feeling lonely, along with 65% of millennials. A 2024 Harvard survey found that 67% of adults feel social and emotional loneliness because they are not part of meaningful groups. Harry Taylor first founded Othership alongside his wife and friends to create a space that incorporated the wellness trend while combating that isolation. "We understand that there's a huge market for people to meet other people. Loneliness is an epidemic right now," Taylor told CNBC. "We realized, just through doing this, it has the capacity for people to come together and just be themselves, be vulnerable." What's old is new Third spaces have evolved to encompass specific purposes, justifying the price tag that often comes with them, since some membership clubs can thousands of dollars per month. Wellness, specifically, has seen a recent boom, becoming one of the top categories for gifting items last holiday season. Equinox chairman Harvey Spevak told CNBC last month that "health is the new luxury," with the global wellness market expected to reach nearly $10 trillion by 2030, according to estimates from the Global Wellness Institute. Bathhouse, which operates roughly 90,000 square feet of facilities in New York City, offers a wellness experience based on the bathhouse legacy of Europe. The space has saunas and cold plunges, both guided and unguided, starting at $40 for a drop-in session. The company's two New York locations see roughly 1,000 customers each day. "It was really apparent that there was no bathhouse-like concept that was really oriented towards a modern consumer, especially not in America," co-founder Travis Talmadge told CNBC. Talmadge said he and his co-founder were focused on creating a human experience, tapping into each person's body while also building community around the shared activities. "Our spaces are really large scale, so one of the nice things is that everybody kind of feels like a background actor on set, where there's just so many people moving around," Talmadge said. "You can have this really personal time, either by yourself or with somebody else, but then you're in this environment with a lot of people doing the same thing." Talmadge said the company has seen a "surplus of demand" and runs at a "very healthy margin," with plans to open seven more locations through 2027. It's just one of many wellness spaces growing in popularity. Othership is also tapping into a wellness mindset, incorporating practices from various cultures to address the "physical, mental emotional and spiritual." It has locations in New York and Canada, with plans for more growth. At Othership, members can choose between three options: a free-flow session, designed to allow members to use the space however they want; classes, which alternate between saunas and cold plunges with group-led activities; and socials, imitating clubs without the alcohol in an effort to be present. Co-founder Taylor said through Othership, he's seen customers form new friend groups, propose to their partners in the sauna and find belonging with others while also fueling their own health. Creating alcohol-free spaces was one of the Othership founders' aims when creating the vision. Othership now hosts comedians, live musicians and more at its saunas to mimic similar spaces seen in big cities that are often associated with alcohol. "There's so much social media, which gives us the false perception that there's social engagement and interaction, but so many of us have experienced when we're doomscrolling, it almost even does the opposite," Taylor said. "There's a void in the wake of that social satiation that we all require as humans, so it's that coming together and just being so real with one another that really creates a deep sense of belonging." Building community Glo30 skincare studio. Courtesy: Arleen Lamba As Americans get lonelier and lonelier, a growing number of people are getting some emotional support from artificial intelligence chatbots and some mental health experts are concerned. "The topic of AI for therapy [and] emotional support companionship is coming up a lot," says Leanna Fortunato, a licensed clinical psychologist and director of quality and health care innovation for the American Psychological Association. "Anecdotally, providers are talking about it, and we know from the research that people are using AI tools for that kind of support more and more." Some chatbot users accidentally fall into mental health-related conversations by complaining about a stressful day to a digital entity that's guaranteed to listen, for example. Others may seek mental health advice from an AI chatbot that isn't a licensed professional, but is less expensive than a therapist, Fortunato says. In a health research survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults, 10.3% of participants said they used generative AI daily. Of that group, 87.1% of them reported using the tech for personal reasons including advice and emotional support. The study was published on Jan. 21 and conducted by researchers from institutions including Massachusetts General Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine and Northeastern University. On TikTok, the search term "Therapy AI Bot" has at least 11.5 million posts, ranging from users sharing their best prompts for turning chatbots into therapists to health experts warning about the potential dangers involved. Technology companies are spending billions of dollars developing AI tools and attempting to further integrate them into people's daily lives. But historically, AI chatbots don't always understand when a user is experiencing a serious health crisis, and may not always respond to them accordingly. The New York Times found "nearly 50 cases of people having mental health crises during conversations with ChatGPT," including three deaths, in a Nov. 23 report. Companies like Anthropic, Google and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI say they're working with mental health experts to strengthen their tools' responses to sensitive conversations. "These are incredibly heartbreaking situations and our thoughts are with all those impacted," an OpenAI spokesperson tells CNBC Make It. "We continue to improve ChatGPT's training to recognize and respond to signs of distress, de-escalate conversations in sensitive moments, and guide people toward real-world support, working closely with mental health clinicians and experts." Frequent conversations with AI companions can erode people's real-life social skills, according to an April 2025 paper written by an OpenAI product policy researcher. Heavy daily use of ChatGPT is correlated with increased loneliness, found an OpenAI-MIT Media Lab study also published in April 2025. The American Psychological Association strongly advises against using AI as a substitute for therapy and mental health support. Some mental health professionals say you can still engage with chatbots risk-free about certain related topics. Here's what you need to know. Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, has said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) will hopefully have more Indians drinking Irish whisky over Scotch whisky, as he pointed to the possibilities of the FTA opening greater opportunities for Indian companies to invest in Ireland and vice versa.Describing the India-EU trade deal as a counterweight to tariffs and associated risks, he told CNBC-TV18's Abhimanyu Sharma that "huge trade with the US is going to continue, but we can't just have eggs in one basket." Highlighting Ireland's market diversification plan, he pointed to the country's location at the edge of Europe, with the EU as one of its major trading partners, along with access to the UK market via a common travel area. Pointing to the European Commission President's description of the India-EU FTA as the mother of all deals, the Ambassador described the situation as "very turbulent" in terms of tariffs and various policies in different parts of the world.Referring to the large size of the Indian and EU markets, as well as a large services trade, he noted opportunities for growth in goods trade, adding that the time is right for a trade agreement, as both India and the EU have recognised the need to diversify trade partnerships. India and the EU have already finalised an FTA, which is expected to come into force by the end of 2026.Stating that India and Ireland are trying to finalise an agreement on a joint economic commission as a forum for dialogue, the Ambassador indicated that both governments are trying to further opportunities in trade, IT, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare, with Indians playing a major role in Ireland's health sector. He added that Ireland accounts for 10% of the EU's trade with India. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah's newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on Friday heading towards a sweeping victory in Nepal's first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests, shattering the dominance of established political parties in the politically fragile nation.According to the Election Commission's data available from 161 of the total 165 constituencies, the RSP has won six seats and is ahead in 109 others, local media reported.Balendra Shah, who was the Mayor of Kathmandu till recently, has secured more than 15,000 votes in Jhapa-5 constituency against four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair K P Sharma Oli in the latter's stronghold. Oli has received just 3,300 votes so far.Popularly known as 'Balen', the 35-year-old engineer is expected to be the next prime minister of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of rejection of established parties. Nepal has had 14 governments in the last 18 years.The election was closely watched by India, which hopes for a stable government in the politically fragile Himalayan nation to take forward the developmental partnership between the two sides."We look forward to working with the new Government of Nepal to further build on the robust multifaceted ties between our two countries and peoples for mutual benefit," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in Delhi on Thursday.He said India has "consistently supported peace, progress and stability in Nepal and in keeping with our commitment, provided logistical supplies as per request from Government of Nepal for these elections".The Nepali Congress has won three seats, while the CPN-UML is leading in 11 constituencies. The Nepali Communist Party has won two seats. The Shram Sanskriti Party is leading in six constituencies.The Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Progressive Democratic Party were each leading in one constituency. Total 11 seats have been declared.Out of a total of 275 members of the Parliament, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportionate method.Balen was a popular choice to lead the interim government after Gen Z youths toppled the Oli-led coalition government in September last year, following two days of nationwide violent protests against corruption and a ban on social media.But Balen declined to lead the interim administration, saying he would rather head the government by contesting the parliamentary election for a full term.In January, he joined the RSP, which was formed in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane, and was soon declared the party's prime ministerial candidate. The RSP received significant support during the campaign.Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa was the prime ministerial candidate of his party, whereas the CPN (UML) projected Oli as its PM face. Both Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) were part of the government toppled by the Gen Z last year.According to the Election Commission, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda won from Rukum Purba district. He secured 10,240 votes against his rival Lilamani Gautam of CPN (UML), who got 3,462 votes.Ranju Darshana of the RSP won from Kathmandu-1 with 15,455 votes, while Yogesh Gauchan Thakali of the NC won from Mustang with 3,307 votes. Biraj Bhakta Shrestha of RSP was elected from Kathmandu constituency-8, while his party colleague Shishir Khanal won from Kathmandu constituency-6.Pradeep Bishta of RSP wins from Kathmandu 10 defeating Himal Karki of NC. Similarly, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi of Nepali Communist Party wins from Kalikot defeating Nagendra Shahi of CPN-UML.Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the elections to the House of Representatives on Thursday. The counting of votes started late Thursday night and is expected to be completed by Friday night, according to the Election Commission.Nepal's 18.9 million voters were eligible to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. Around 3,400 candidates are vying for 165 seats under direct voting, and 3,135 candidates for 110 seats through proportionate voting.The Gen Z youth, through their two-day intensified protests on September 8 and 9, ousted Prime Minister Oli, who was heading a coalition government with the backing of Nepali Congress that enjoyed nearly two-thirds majority support.After Oli's ouster, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives on September 12 and appointed Sushila Karki as the caretaker PM.The major issues raised by Gen Z are anti-corruption, good governance, an end to nepotism, generational change in political leadership, etc. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce on Saturday said that the recent actions of Nexperia, a Dutch-headquartered semiconductor firm owned by China's Wingtech, have severely disrupted normal business operations, warning that the Dutch side must bear full responsibility should these measures trigger another crisis in the global semiconductor industry and its supply chains. The statement was made in response to a media inquiry on Nexperia's mass disabling of the office accounts of its employees in China. The ministry noted that through the joint efforts of China and the Netherlands, Wingtech and Nexperia have been engaging in negotiations to resolve internal corporate disputes. However, by disabling the office accounts of its employees in China, Nexperia has provoked new conflicts and created further obstacles to the ongoing negotiation process, the ministry said. BAGHDAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella body for Iraq's pro-Iranian militias, announced on Saturday morning that its fighters carried out 23 operations against "enemy bases" in Iraq and the region over the past 24 hours. It said in a statement that the strikes involved "dozens of drones and missiles," without providing further details regarding specific targets or casualties. A pro-Iran group calling itself the "Guardians of Blood," affiliated with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility for launching drone attacks targeting "vital targets" in the provinces of Sulaimaniyah and Duhok in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. It said that part of the reason for the attack was to retaliate for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks came amid heightened tensions following the recent joint U.S.-Israeli strike, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and U.S. assets across the Middle East. UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the incident earlier in the day that injured three Ghanaian peacekeepers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The peacekeepers were wounded inside their position in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, amidst heavy firing. "The Secretary-General underscores that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times, and that those responsible must be held accountable," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, in a statement. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected by all, Dujarric said, adding that Guterres wishes the injured a swift and full recovery. The United Nations urges the parties to de-escalate immediately and fully adhere to their obligations under Security Council Resolution 1701 adopted in 2006, the spokesperson said. 'Sleaze and scandal', claimed Labour's 2024 manifesto, have been hallmarks of the Tory years in government and had 'eroded trust' in our politics. Keir Starmer would be different, as befits a senior lawyer who dined out on his probity. His Labour Party would 'always put the interests of the country first' by embarking on a 'clean-up' of public life 'that ensures the highest standards of integrity.' Given the enormity of other matters unfolding, at home and abroad, Labour's progress or otherwise in this clean up campaign has perhaps not had the scrutiny it deserves, its promise to exude only the 'highest standards of integrity' in public office not sufficiently tested. So I thought it useful to do a quick audit of Labour's efforts, so far, to banish 'Tory sleaze and scandal' from public life. An early indication that it was not going to be all plain sailing came shortly after the election. Starmer and other senior Labour figures (including his Chancellor, Rachel Reeves), while lecturing the Tories about their nefarious ways, had been quietly accepting lavish gifts from wealthy donors and lobbyists, including expensive designer glasses and suits, luxurious accommodation, clothing for Starmer's wife and high-value tickets to events like Arsenal matches and Taylor Swift concerts. One especially generous donor, Waheed Alli, a Labour peer of Blairite vintage, was granted special access to 10 Downing Street in return for his largesse and allowed a role in appointing advisers. Naturally revelations that even top Labour snouts could be found dipping into the freebie trough were something of an embarrassment for a Government anxious to exhibit its austere, roundhead credentials after years of the careless, cavalier Tories. But it was excused as the folly of inexperienced newcomers and lessons had been learned. The fact that Starmer, by one calculation, has received more gifts than any other MP since 2019, was ignored. Labour's crusade against sleaze and scandal, we were assured, was still intact. Except that it wasn't. These early breaches of proper behaviour, far from being a one off, turned out to be the shape of things to come. Sometimes on an almost farcical scale. Labour's crusade against sleaze and scandal, we were assured, was still intact, writes Andrew Neil. Except that it wasn't For since then we've had the anti-corruption minister (Tulip Siddiq) forced to step down after getting caught up in a family corruption scandal in Bangladesh, where she has been sentenced in absentia. A housing minister (Angela Rayner, who doubled up as deputy prime minister) forced to resign after being accused of failing to pay her property taxes (still a live matter which HMRC has yet to resolve). And, perhaps at once most scandalous and ridiculous of all, a minister for the homeless (Rushanara Ali) resigning after reports she had evicted tenants from her property then relisted it with a 700 rent increase, thereby potentially adding to the homeless problem. In each case, the irony of the clash between their ministerial roles and the reasons they had to resign served to amplify the embarrassment. Suddenly it looked as if the Tories had been mere amateurs in the sleaze and scandal stakes. Labour were the true professionals. It certainly had strength in numbers. The list of miscreants is formidable. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was an early casualty, resigning only five months after the election when it emerged she had failed to disclose at the time of her appointment that she had been convicted of fraud for misleading police about a lost work phone in 2013. Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons is the latest to bite the dust. It was clear he was toast after it emerged he had commissioned a 'dirty dossier' with which to smear journalists who had mounted an investigation into the finances of Labour Together, a think-tank he once ran. He fell on his sword last Saturday just as all our attentions were turning to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran demonstrating that, though in many ways this Government is still wet behind the ears, it can spot a good day to bury bad news when it needs one. Of course some of those who've resigned would not have made much of a splash even on a quiet news day because they're hardly household names. Not so Peter Mandelson, whose sacking as our man in Washington made headlines around the world. Peter Mandelson was appointed US ambassador by his friend Sir Keir in December 2024 He was brought down by revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein files, which showed him consorting and dealing with Epstein even after his conviction for procuring a minor. They also suggest Mandelson was regularly feeding the paedophile highly sensitive information from the very top of the British Government, of which Mandelson was Business Secretary. That's why he's being investigated by Scotland Yard. Of course the allegations all relate to a time long before Starmer was Prime Minister. But when you promise a Government of 'the highest standards of integrity and honesty' then fail properly to vet someone like Mandelson (he's known as the Prince of Darkness for a reason), then you can hardly be surprised when your clean-up campaign hits the rocks. Nor is there any sign that Starmer's judgment is getting better when it comes to Labour appointments. Three party worthies he sent to the House of Lords only last December are already in trouble. Ann Limb has admitted lying about having a PhD from Liverpool University (what is it, I can hear you asking Rachel from Accounts, about Labour folk claiming qualifications they don't possess?). She's not yet taken her seat pending an investigation. She also has questions to answer about a City and Guilds charity which, during the time she was chair, saw two executives pocket 1million bonuses apiece. Joe Docherty, appointed a Scottish Labour peer at the same time as Limb, lost the Labour whip only weeks later after allegations surfaced of 'inappropriate sexual conduct' when a senior education executive in Newcastle. Another brand new Scottish peer, Matthew Doyle, has also lost the Labour whip. A veteran party spin doctor he was 10 Downing Street director of communications following Starmer's election victory he has faced major controversy over his past links to a convicted sex offender (a former Scottish Labour councillor for whom Doyle campaigned even after he was charged with possessing indecent images of children). Now, hot off the presses as we used to say, we learn that the three men arrested this week on suspicion of spying for China all have Labour Party connections. One is a former Welsh Labour press officer. A second, also from Wales, is a former special adviser to the Welsh Labour government. A third, also with Welsh Labour connections, is married to a Scottish Labour MP who has suspended herself from the party whip in the Commons. Labour has been understandably making much of the Reform UK leader in Wales jailed for spying for the Russians. I doubt we'll be hearing much more about him from Labour now. Labour, of course, does not have a monopoly of sleaze or scandal. Only yesterday a Tory peer said he'd leave the Lords after an inquiry found multiple breaches of standards in his efforts to win Covid contracts during the pandemic for a company in which he had a financial interest. He'd even refused to cooperate with previous inquiries. But by July 2024 the country had had its fill of the Tories. It was Labour that promised to banish sleaze and scandal from public life. Voters took the party at its word. They expected improvements. The PM, after all, never stopped reminding them he'd been England's top prosecutor. Yet instead of a much-needed cleansing of the stables, at least 12 government members have resigned or been sacked in only 20 short months. Other Labour figures have been mired in wrongdoing. Turns out Labour is just as sleazy and scandalous as the Tories at their current rate of malpractice, perhaps even more so. It has contributed not just to deep disillusion with Labour but to mounting disgust with our public life in general. No wonder those calling the shots in British politics these days are the anti-establishment insurgents of the populist Left and Right. The public no longer thinks Labour or the Tories are capable of cleaning up anything, least of all their own messes. Sir Keir Starmer's failure to send a warship to the Mediterranean until our base in Cyprus was attacked by Iranian drones has angered millions of people. The pitiful state of the Royal Navy should make us weep. The nation that throughout the 19th century had by far the largest and most effective navy in the world (usually at least twice the size of the next biggest) has become a laughing stock. Earlier this week, Sir Richard Shirreff, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, NATO, suggested in these pages that World War Three has already begun. Yet it is blindingly obvious that, as a result of three decades of underspending on defence, our Armed Forces are in no state to protect Britain. As I was reading in this newspaper on Wednesday morning about the almost unbelievably appalling state of the Royal Navy, I thought of all the politicians since the turn of the century who have let this country down. And I remembered a short polemical book that burst upon the world in July 1940. It was called Guilty Men. Politicians who had neglected to build up Britain's defences, while appeasing Adolf Hitler, were named and shamed. Britain was fighting for its life, and many wondered whether it would be able to defend itself. We stood alone against Nazi Germany. France had fallen. The United States wouldn't enter the war for another 17 months. A defeated, bedraggled British army had weeks earlier been evacuated from Dunkirk. Winston Churchill had become prime minister on May 10. In the skies above southern England, the heroic pilots of Fighter Command were engaged in a life-and-death struggle against the Luftwaffe. Within days Guilty Men sold 50,000 copies. Some 200,000 were bought by the end of the year. The book did what the title promised. Fifteen politicians were singled out, of whom Tory statesmen Stanley Baldwin, Lord Halifax and Neville Chamberlain (who had just been replaced by Churchill) were the most comprehensively eviscerated. Their reputations never recovered. 'Sir Keir Starmer stands at the pinnacle of blame because he has correctly identified the dangers facing us but does so little to address them' Audit of the guilty: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Rachel Reeves, Lord Hermer, George Osborne and David Cameron The authors of Guilty Men were three young journalists: Michael Foot, who four decades later became a Left-wing leader of the Labour Party; Peter Howard, a former captain of the England rugby union team, who had flirted with Oswald Mosley's fascists before joining the Tories; and Frank Owen, then editor of the London Evening Standard, who became editor of the Daily Mail after the war. There was a feeling, even among supporters of Churchill, that publishing such a diatribe in the midst of war was divisive. Some shops refused to sell the book, and it attracted only a handful of reviews, mostly unsympathetic. The critics had a point. July 1940, when Britain was fighting for its survival as a free and independent nation, was not the perfect time to start throwing rotten apples at one's fellow countrymen, however greatly at fault they had been. And that is why I propose that we name the guilty men (and one woman) of our own era now, while we are still not officially at war. My list begins with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. David Cameron's name, written in bold, is then added, joined by that of George Osborne, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016. These men were the architects of our downfall. Then we come to the present Labour Cabinet, whose culpability is even greater because the threat is more immediate. And yet, while giving the impression of being proactive, they do virtually nothing. Sir Keir Starmer stands at the pinnacle of blame because he has correctly identified the dangers facing us but does so little to address them. He sometimes speaks like a man of action, but always thinks like a human rights lawyer who puts abstract principles above British interests. Our deficient Prime Minister had to be jolted out of his slumbers to send a destroyer to the Mediterranean to defend the sovereign British base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the drone attack, almost certainly unleashed by terrorists in southern Lebanon who are Iranian puppets. Incredibly, even a single warship couldn't immediately be found, partly because we have so few of them after decades of low defence spending, and partly because several of the handful we do possess are holed up in port, experiencing lengthy repairs. HMS Dragon may finally set sail next week long after the Greek and French navies have got to Cyprus. The Prime Minister's friend, human rights lawyer and Attorney General Lord Hermer, is another guilty man. It was he who advised ministers a week ago that use of British bases should be denied to the United States which, for all Donald Trump's absurdities, remains our closest ally on whom we depend militarily in all sorts of ways. Join the debate How do you think Britain's leaders should be held accountable for the state of our national defence? HMS Dragon may finally set sail next week long after the Greek and French navies have got to Cyprus Then there is the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, who is reportedly resisting Starmer's belated attempt to increase Britain's defence expenditure beyond the pitiful 2.5 per cent of GDP, which he promised just over a year ago would take effect in 2027. And yet this guilty, deluded woman had the brass neck to say, when delivering her Spring Statement on Tuesday, that in 'an increasingly dangerous world, I am proud to be the Chancellor that is delivering the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War'. She is a mouse pretending to be a lion. The sole Cabinet member whom I exempt from blame is Defence Secretary John Healey. He is a patriot who admitted in October 2024 that British Armed Forces would be unable to prevent an invasion. Unfortunately he lacks the clout in the Cabinet to stand up to Starmer, Reeves and the rest of the lily-livered crew who won't defend this country against the coming storm. But we mustn't forget the earlier guilty men whose unremitting, deliberate starving of our military has made us so desperately weak. Look at our poor navy. Both our aircraft carriers are out of action. HMS Queen Elizabeth is being refitted, having last been on the open seas more than a year ago. HMS Prince of Wales has been under maintenance for three months. Both ships, neither of which has enough aircraft due to lack of funds, have passed much of their short lives out of the water. HMS Prince of Wales has had a particularly chequered career and has probably spent at least a third of its existence under repair. It has suffered at least two major self-inflicted disasters. On one occasion there was a flood in the engine room after a fire main burst, causing huge damage to electrical switchboards. Have the manufacturers of these carriers, which include BAE Systems, Thales Group and Babcock International, given value for money? Has anyone at the Ministry of Defence (which with 62,000 civil servants has almost as many employees as there are soldiers in our much diminished army) been made to walk the plank? We know the answer to both questions. A full audit of guilty people would include senior civil servants who have cheerfully presided over the dismantling of our Armed Forces, manufacturers who have produced dud equipment, and top brass who have acquiesced in savage cuts. Some of these, of course, have spoken out, increasingly in recent years. Can you believe that half the navy's ten remaining destroyers and frigates are out of action, being fixed? When I was a young journalist, having 40 of these ships (most of which worked in those days) was considered a bare minimum below which it would be folly to go. The inventors of the amusing 1950s radio sitcom The Navy Lark would never have dreamt up a plot in which half the ships in an implausibly tiny navy and I haven't touched on the few remaining submarines we have were unable to go to sea. The regular army is in no better shape. It numbers just over 70,000, less than half its size as recently as 1990. And there are no plans to increase it. On Wednesday morning, Robert Wilkie, who served in Trump's first administration, spoke mournfully on BBC Radio 4 about 'the decline of British military power', pointing out that the Tories were in government 'for most of this time'. He said that the British army could 'almost fill Wembley stadium', and a single military base in North Carolina has 'more active duty troops'. As for the RAF, it too has been cut to the bone. It boasts about 130 active fighter jets, down from some 850 in 1989. The overall size of the RAF's fleet has continued to fall in recent years from 724 aircraft in service in 2016 to 564 in 2023, a reduction of 22 per cent. So: back to the guilty men. I start with Blair and Brown because during New Labour's 13-year rule they committed British troops to major wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while barely increasing defence expenditure. This rose fractionally from 2.2 per cent of GDP in 1997 to 2.4 per cent in 2010. David Cameron is in a category all of his own. The Tory-Lib Dem coalition he led slashed the defence budget by eight per cent in 2010. The number of tanks was reduced by 40 per cent at a stroke, while dozens of aircraft, and several frigates and destroyers, were scrapped. Yet in the next few years more hard-pressed troops were despatched to the futile and unwinnable conflict in Afghanistan, in which 457 British service personnel lost their lives. Cameron's friend and lieutenant, George Osborne lounge lizard and determined non-combatant, except in the halls of wealth steadily reduced spending on defence, which fell to 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2016, the lowest level on record. Yet Cameron's administration relentlessly increased overseas aid until it reached roughly a quarter of the size of the depleted defence budget. Some may say that neglecting defence was understandable given the lesser threats we then faced. That's not true. Russia grabbed the Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. China was building up its military at a rapid pace, though that didn't prevent Cameron and Osborne from hobnobbing with President Xi Jinping. There were submerged dangers all around us. Iran had long been a belligerent state. No, we have been ruled for a generation by a pampered, blinkered ruling class that is so ignorant of history, and perhaps of human nature, that they have prioritised a soaring welfare budget (and, until recently, burgeoning overseas aid) over the need to defend our country. They repeat ad nauseam that sound defence is the first duty of government without discharging that duty. And now look around. The latest generation of guilty people is more concerned with international law than in meeting our obligations to our closest ally. Do they imagine that Vladimir Putin invariably consults a human rights lawyer before he sets about murdering the next batch of civilians in Ukraine? Is it too late? To a degree, the authors of Guilty Men were unfair because they ignored the fact that Neville Chamberlain's administration increased defence expenditure sharply in the last years of peace so that it had reached about 9 per cent of GDP by the outbreak of war. Britain was not completely unprepared in September 1939. Looking at Starmer and Reeves and the rest of them, I don't have much confidence that they will suddenly wake up to the danger of our predicament. Their minds are elsewhere. They can't, or won't, understand. They are not attuned to the terrifying world of pitiless tyrants in which we find ourselves. All one can say is that if our ruling class fails us again, history will judge them even more harshly than it has the Guilty Men of 1940. On the fringes of the French port of Calais is a small forest where Iranian migrants hide in a tented camp as they wait to cross on small boats to Britain. 'It is easy to find a trafficker to help us,' said Amir, a 28-year-old from an Iranian city near the Caspian Sea, when I visited the camp of 400 people early last autumn. 'We go to the canal near the Calais town hall to talk to the right men, or they come here to find us.' Soon after I met Amir, he arrived in Dover and was sent to a migrants' hotel. He was one of 4,400 Iranians to successfully make an illegal Channel crossing from France to Kent on a trafficking gang's boat last year. Yet the squalid camp Amir left is soon expected to swell in size. The entire EU bloc and Britain are bracing for a dramatic influx of Iranian refugees as US President Donald Trump's war to force regime change in their country enters its second week with no end-game in sight. Yesterday, it was reported that more Iranian migrants had reached the French coast, intent on getting to Britain. Some 4,400 Iranians successfully made an illegal Channel crossing from France to Kent on a trafficking gang's boat last year. Yet the squalid camp they left is soon expected to swell in size. Pictured: Migrants walk on the beach before trying to board a smuggler's boat across the Channel at Gravelines, northern France, in September last year The entire EU bloc and Britain are bracing for a dramatic influx of Iranian refugees as US President Donald Trump's war to force regime change in their country enters its second week with no end-game in sight. Pictured: Fire rises after an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday Dozens of people are said to have arrived in vans at a camp in Dunkirk after travelling via Turkey. It seems they are the front-runners of a new influx from Iran into Europe. For decades, I have witnessed mass migration across our continent and seen, with foreboding, its consequences for host nations. In 2015, I walked with the first Syrians into Germany after German Chancellor Angela Merkel threw open her country's borders to those escaping the civil war that had erupted in that country. The four young men (who hoped to become BMW engineers) told me despairingly, as we sat in a coffee bar, that only a third of their fellow travellers who had reached Europe were genuinely from Syria. The migration mayhem that followed has changed the face of the continent for ever. For, as the quartet of Syrians I met predicted accurately, myriad people from nations untouched by war answered Mrs Merkel's reckless invitation, with 1.3million strangers entering Germany during the first year. Within weeks of that Berlin meeting, I found Pakistanis (who had upped sticks from stable jobs loading luggage on forklift trucks at Karachi airport) settling in a provincial German town. They demanded, and got, an asylum house for themselves and their families. I discovered Roma people from the Balkans had seized the chance of a better life, too. They were begging on the streets of Paris, living in derelict cars in a suburb. 'We have a right to be in Europe, like anyone else,' the amiable matriarch of one family told me. The migrant throngs arriving in 2015 were uncontrolled. It was a free-for-all. But the aftermath of the Iran war will be more consequential still. Many are fleeing to the border with Turkey, beginning what the EU asylum agency this week warned could become a migration influx 'of unprecedented magnitude'. If just ten per cent (of 90million Iranian citizens) head towards Europe and Britain, the agency says it could overwhelm borders, making 2015 and what is now widely viewed as Merkel's folly a mere blip in history. Most people know Merkel's welcome brought unsavoury chancers into Europe and Britain, aided by flimsy border controls, and resulted in some of the terror atrocities and culture clashes that have scarred the continent in the decade since. A new migration wave of millions out of Iran may have worse consequences than anything we have seen before. Who knows who will arrive on our shores this time? I know many Iranians in Britain who have escaped the brutal and implacable mullahs. In 2015, Sue Reid walked with the first Syrians into Germany after German Chancellor Angela Merkel threw open her country's borders to those escaping the civil war that had erupted in that country. Pictured: Mrs Merkel, taking a selfie with a Syrian refugee at a camp in Berlin in 2015 Myriad people from nations untouched by war answered Mrs Merkel's reckless invitation, with 1.3million strangers entering Germany during the first year. Pictured: Bathers watch refugees from Syria arrive from Turkey by dinghy to the Greek island of Lesbos in 2015 One came on a Channel boat after being thrown in Tehran's notorious Evin prison for wearing a US T-shirt in public. Another is an English teacher who was locked up by the regime, merely for talking to a platonic female friend in his car. A third, a photography student, fled to Britain because he is gay a crime often punished with death in the brutal theocracy. He crossed into Turkey undercover after being hunted by the notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the central plank holding together the regime. The Corps has operated with an iron grip over the Iranian population since the revolution toppled the Shah in 1979. Although threatened by this week's air strikes, it runs a ruthless paramilitary wing, a nation-wide propaganda unit, 150,000 ground troops, 20,000 naval personnel, plus an aerospace and nuclear enrichment division. Recruited into its ranks are thousands of scientists, academics, economists and industrialists. The IRGC's secret police oversee a network of neighbourhood spies that make the old East German Stasi look almost incompetent. These apparatchiks report back on women showing a lock of hair from their compulsory hijabs, the consumption of alcohol, student unrest and meetings of political opponents. Crucially Iran's founding constitution gave the IRGC 'an ideological mission', which it still obeys. This is to extend 'jihad in God's ways throughout the world'. In other words, the Corps was told to spread its malign tentacles not only into neighbouring nations but into the West, including Britain. Today, nearly half a century on, the IRGC is here on our streets and I fear this new crisis may prompt a further influx. When I ask my Iranian migrant friends to join me for a Persian meal in London, they politely refuse because so many of their national restaurants in West London are, they claim, run by Revolutionary Guard supporters. From Liverpool, I have had calls at midnight from weeping Iranians who say they have narrowly escaped being mown down by cars as they crossed the road. 'It is the Revolutionary Guard,' they told me. 'They are here among us.' I believe them. Last month, the IRGC was designated a terrorist organisation across the European Union, as it already is in the US. Today, Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) (pictured, on a military drill in 2006), the central plank holding together the regime, is here on our streets and I fear this new crisis may prompt a further influx, writes Sue Reid The Tony Blair Institute has for years said it must be outlawed in the UK. But while we have sanctioned some of its individual henchmen, the current Labour Government stubbornly insists a total ban is inappropriate for a 'foreign state organisation'. Only this week, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper continued to refuse proscription as Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats demanded action. His party, which is planning an emergency Bill in Parliament to ban the IRGC, said the group 'has long been the architect of brutal domestic repression, as well as a threat to UK security and the safety of Iranian and Jewish communities across Britain'. Meanwhile, our internal intelligence service MI5 has revealed the organisation and its proxies are to blame for 20 'potentially lethal' terror plots, sectarian violence and intimidation of Iranian regime opponents, like my own friends, in Britain. As the war started last weekend, an Iranian migrant friend living in the Midlands told me hopefully: 'We want to go home to a new Persia which is not run by the ayatollahs. 'We are excited, we are hopeful. Soon, Sue, I will take you to meet my family, to show you a free Iran, the most beautiful country in the world.' Later, he sent me a WhatsApp message filled with doom as news broke of an expected migration upsurge to Europe. 'I am praying the Revolutionary Guard will not be among those who slip in on the boats,' he said, adding: 'They must not have any more places here in Britain.' But as a new refugee crisis swells in the Middle East, I fear his warning words may prove prophetic. Seven days have now passed in the new Iran war. One of Britain's most frequently quoted political maxims, attributed to Harold Wilson, is that a week is a long time in politics. The phrase is usually deployed to reflect how fortunes can rapidly change for ministers, their policies and their parties. But, with deep regret, this last week has shown us that Mr Wilson's observation applies equally to the fate of our country and its position on the world stage. Britain's international status has unquestionably deteriorated since last Saturday, when the first missiles were launched on Tehran, thanks to Sir Keir Starmer's quibbling and hesitation in support of our allies. Britain was once the world's pre-eminent military power. Even after the privations of the Second World War we have played a key role in Nato since its inception. But under this gutless Prime Minister, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that hundreds of years of repute have been cast aside. The Metropolitan Police yesterday announced it had arrested four people one Iranian and three dual British-Iranians on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Even before that development it was clear the mullahs of Iran do not pose some remote threat confined to the Middle East. They pose a threat here and now. It is true that there have been decades of under-investment in our military, damaging their capability and their readiness. The HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defence destroyer, will be stuck in Portsmouth until next week when it will set sail for Cyprus There have been countless, repeated warnings from military top brass and expert analysts that Britain's Armed Forces no longer have enough people or material. The regular Army is at its smallest since the Napoleonic Wars. Successive governments must share responsibility for that. But even while our military faced these unforgivable shortages, there was at least an assumption that our political leaders would do the right thing. Not any more. Not under this Labour Government. And not under Starmer, who was and always will be a human rights barrister who has no affinity with the military. Labour may believe in a massive, spoon-fed public sector but the only government department where it does not apply this largesse is the Ministry of Defence. This must change. There are straightforward savings which could free up billions for defence, if the PM and his mediocre Cabinet had the courage to act. These include tackling egregious spending on the welfare state, exiting the European Convention on Human Rights to help secure Britain's border and, consequently, slash migrant hand-outs. Join the debate Has Britain's global reputation been sacrificed by our current leadership's approach to defence and alliances? Sir Keir Starmer gave an update on the situation in the Middle East at the Downing Street Briefing Room on Thursday If there is to be another energy crisis as Middle Eastern oil stops flowing, another essential move will be to lighten the tax and regulatory load on British businesses so they can be fleet-footed in response to global pressures. It has become crystal clear in the last few years that the world faces multiple threats: From Tehran, an emboldened Beijing and a bloodthirsty Kremlin hungry for territory in Europe. An unpredictable president in the White House makes matters even more complex. After the last seven days it feels like world history has begun a new and dangerous chapter. In that context Labour's old obsessions 'class war', kow-towing to trade unions and funnelling money to its supporters through the benefits system appear more indulgent and irresponsible than ever before. What are the war aims? No, not Donald Trumps. Over the past week theyve included regime change, annihilation of the Iranian military, the election of a hand-picked replacement for the Ayatollah a Magatollah to unconditional surrender. In other words Trump is, again, making it up on the fly. Instead, I mean what are Britains war aims? Last Saturday it seemed clear. It was to sit this one out. British troops would not be involved in striking Iran, the Prime Minister announced. The US could not use British bases. Our policy was de-escalation and negotiation. But since Saturday Sir Keir has begun to stumble, stutter and stammer his way into the middle of the burgeoning Middle East conflict. His initial lurch from clarity to prevarication began on Sunday afternoon, when he suddenly reversed his decision on the US use of UK bases. Initially this vacillation was attributed to a Cabinet rebellion led by Environment Secretary Ed Miliband, who reportedly set himself against any form of UK involvement. But in truth, the Governments confusion was entirely of Starmers making. Last Friday, when ministers met to discuss the US basing request, there was unanimity it should be declined. The discussion then turned to another possible request from the US to use British bases for specific attacks against Iranian missile platforms, in the event of retaliatory strikes. Here the Cabinet split, with Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey speaking in favour, and others (Miliband included) arguing against. But because the Americans had not even put in a request at that point, no final decision was required, or made. When the request did arrive, Starmer quickly agreed. But in doing so began to tie himself, his administration and his military planners in knots. British forces and civilians were at risk from Iranian counter-attacks, he claimed. Whats more, the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles. So US forces had been granted permission to use British bases to attack those weapons. Yet, bizarrely, British forces had not. This confusion then cascaded down the chain of command. Where Britain had initially been stepping aside from the conflict, we now had one foot in. A legs akimbo stance that became even more tortuous when Iranian proxies successfully launched a drone attack on the RAF base at Akrotiri, Cyprus. When the conflict began, Starmer sombrely announced: Weve stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level. But we hadnt. As the Akrotiri attack proved, crucial counter-drone and missile defences had been left languishing in the UK, notably the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon. Defence and government sources have provided multiple explanations for this staggering oversight. One claimed the Royal Navy believed the Dragon deployment was unnecessary because the US had their own sophisticated Arleigh Burke-class destroyers stationed in the Mediterranean. Which left Britain in the morally bankrupt position of relying on the US to defend British servicemen and women, while our Prime Minister refused to reciprocate. Another source claimed ministers hands were tied because the Royal Navy did not formally request the deployment of HMS Dragon until 9.30am on Tuesday. And that when told she may not be ready to sail for at least 10 days they were taken aback. We were a bit surprised we didnt have anything at a higher state of readiness, one Whitehall official admitted. But another key issue was the way the Royal Navy had been thrown into confusion by a series of contradictory orders from Downing Street. As a Navy source explained: Youve got to remember that just before this crisis broke, Starmer ordered the Navy to the High North with an entire Carrier Strike Group to protect Greenland. Then suddenly we were told, No, forget that, get to Cyprus. Which underlines another of Keir Starmers increasingly chaotic positions. The entire Greenland deployment was done to placate Trump. Now weve had the spectacle of Sir Keir and his ministers engaging in an increasingly ludicrous form of diplomatic hokey-cokey with the White House. When the conflict began, Starmer sombrely announced: Weve stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level. But we hadnt, writes Dan Hodges On Sunday ministers were refusing to even say if they supported or opposed the US action for fear of upsetting Trump. By Wednesday Starmer was chiding the US President for not having a legal and viable plan. On Thursday he was vowing to stand firm in the face of Trumps increasingly volatile and personal attacks. But by Friday the tone shifted again, with ministers hinting they could join US strikes after all, and once again deflecting when asked if they supported the US action. Since becoming Labour leader, Starmer has made perceived strength on defence and foreign affairs central to his political strategy. Its his way of saying: Look, Im not Jeremy Corbyn!!! But whatever you thought of him, at least Corbyn had a clear stance on global affairs. He believed, passionately but wrongly, that the US and Israel represented the greatest threats to world peace, and clung to his position regardless. Likewise, Michael Foot had his principled, if politically unviable, unilateralism. Tony Blair believed unashamedly in paying the blood price to support the US. Miliband, as weve seen, refuses to resile from his conviction foreign and military matters should be sub-contracted to the UN. I havent the slightest idea what Starmer really thinks about defence or foreign affairs. And I suspect that by this time next week neither will the British people, the Cabinet or his own MPs. Over the weekend a fleet of B-1 bombers has begun massing at British airbases. Soon they will take off to rain fire and destruction down on Iran. At which point Starmer will have tumbled headlong into the very heart of the conflict he pledged to avoid. He could have levelled with the British people, our allies and adversaries from the outset of this crisis. He could have declared: I believe these attacks are wrong and I have no intention of joining. But be clear. If the Iranians retaliate with an attack on our interests or our allies, I will order our armed forces to respond. But he didnt. Sir Keir did what he always does. Tried to deflect and dodge and equivocate his way to pleasing everyone. And as ever, he will end up satisfying no one. Starmer is about to go down in history as the Prime Minister who was too weak to fight a war. And the Prime Minister who was too weak to avoid one. To the outside world, Anthony Greco is the picture of health. At 31 years old, the 6ft fitness fanatic is layered with bulging biceps and rock-hard abs that would make even Mark Wahlberg jealous. He hits the gym about five times a week, can do 45 pull-ups at once and was even able to run a mile in under six minutes. But beneath the muscle is a devastating and unexpected diagnosis. Greco is fighting a terrifying one-in-200,000 brain cancer that has grown tentacles deep into his brain and threatens to make every day his last. In November 2011, 17-year-old Greco was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a slow-growing cancer that arises from brain cells that normally work to support surrounding tissue. Doctors said his cancer was diffuse, meaning it had started to spread within his brain. Since then, he has had three surgeries to try and expel the tumor, including one in which surgeons removed part of his left frontal cortex - the area of the brain responsible for emotion, language and cognitive function. He has also been receiving chemotherapy for five years. But the cancer keeps returning, and in 2024, it was detected on the motor cortex of his brain - the area responsible for movement - meaning it could leave him paralyzed. 'I feel like a Ferrari with a bad engine,' Greco told the Daily Mail. 'This cancer just keeps coming back.' Anthony Greco is battling a rare form of brain cancer. He has had three brain surgeries so far, but the cancer has again been detected Your browser does not support iframes. Warning signs emerged when he was just 15 years old, after a nurse raised the alarm over his left ear's hearing abilities. Greco said he was not aware of any hearing loss, and that his hearing was above average, but the nurse said the results were not what was expected for someone his age. It led him to receive a brain scan at the local hospital, which revealed a tiny black spot that looked like 'a shadow' in the front left of his brain. At the time, they did not suspect anything serious. 'Doctors had no idea what that was,' he told the Daily Mail. 'They just said, "that's weird," and asked me to keep coming back for scans.' Two years later, Greco returned for scans which showed the 'shadow' had grown. This raised concerns and prompted doctors to perform a craniotomy on the then-17-year-old boy. It was a three to five-hour surgery where his skull was opened and the tumor and a small surrounding area of the brain was cut out. Tests on the tissue they removed led to Greco's diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, in cases of diffuse astrocytoma diagnosed among 15- to 39-year-olds, 79 percent survive for five years or more after their diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic estimates the lifespan for patients is just seven to eight years after diagnosis on average. Greco's craniotomy was a success, and doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was treated, told him that there was then a 95 percent chance that the cancer was gone. Despite the diagnosis, Greco remains in good spirits and exercises regularly to keep his body strong But at a follow-up scan a year later, physicians detected the cancer again in the front-left portion of his brain. He had a second craniotomy, forcing him to sit out his second semester of college. Again, doctors thought they had removed all the cancer, but a year later it was detected for a third time. After considering options, Greco opted for a third brain surgery in 2017, hoping that this would be the last. He said that, at the time, doctors said he could have the surgery now and then do chemotherapy or leave the new tumor and wait for a new treatment, such as a new drug, to emerge. 'I was like, "I don't think I can live with a brain tumor in my head. Can you just take it out? And we'll talk about further treatment after,"' Greco told the Daily Mail. After the third operation, doctors were again hopeful that the cancer had finally been beaten. But in 2020, after he had another scan, they again detected changes in his brain that indicated the cancer was back. Greco was put on a oral chemotherapy drug, which he has now taken every day for the last five years. It appeared to be working, but in 2024, Greco was told that scans showed the tumor was back. He is now having a scan every six months while he decides what to do about it. Despite the experience, Greco remains in good spirits, joking that he considers himself to be an 'undercover cancer patient.' If Greco has another surgery, doctors will need to remove the tumor from near his motor neurons, which could leave him paralyzed Greco is shown above at a hospital appointment to track his health Although he has had three brain surgeries, Greco said he has suffered no neurological deficits or personality loss. He also said he had no side effects from chemotherapy. He always enjoyed fitness before the cancer was detected, and has stuck with exercise, saying the cancer motivates him to keep heading to the gym. 'I do believe exercise has helped me through all of this,' he told the Daily Mail. 'Just like, treating your body kindly, you know, and taking care of it. I am very lucky not to have had any side effects. 'I've had friends that have passed from cancer and just seeing how hard they fought to stay alive... when I'm really down, it's like, this has got to be worth something. 'No matter how bad anything is, it's not always going to be that bad. It's been better before, it's been worse before.' Greco lifts weights four to five times a week. He can lift 225lbs on the bench press and do 405lbs deadlifts. He also does cardio, having cycled for seven hours last week in preparation for his nine-hour ride for cancer research. He also attends yoga classes. Greco has taken up stand-up comedy to keep him in good spirits and share his story To cope with his diagnosis, Greco has started to do stand-up comedy. He said it helps raise his spirits and allows him to tell others about his story. 'I have a tumor in my motor cortex. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to write or speak or walk or go to the gym or do any of those things,' he told the Daily Mail. 'So, I'm just trying to appreciate them and enjoy them and be as present as I can for as long as possible.' Greco has had romantic relationships in the past, but said that these often fizzle because of the cancer's impact on his life. 'Dating is kind of a nightmare', he said, 'because it's like, every few years, something comes up with me. 'And then I need to deal with that, which, you know, I don't always feel safe or sure about what's going on. 'When it's that stressful, you just kind of hate yourself and don't want to be around yourself.' Every morning when he wakes up, Greco, who is waiting for his next brain scan on March 16, said he is immediately hit by the realization that he is battling brain cancer. But, rather than collapse, he said he opens his blinds and says 'thank you' - knowing that he is still here, can get out of bed, walk and speak. Mark Jaquez needed to go to the bathroom more than a dozen times a day. The urge to go would suddenly interrupt whatever he was doing, requiring a mad dash to relieve himself almost every hour. At times, Jaquez would be struck by such excruciating bowel spasms that the father-of-three would pass out on the toilet. 'When I would go, my body would just take over,' Jaquez told the Daily Mail. 'My body just pushed, and there were times when I could not stop it.' The firefighter, who had been pulling people from burning buildings for nearly a decade at that point, had always been fit and healthy, and he thought the symptoms would pass. But after he told his wife what he was experiencing, the lieutenant paramedic, who was 45 years old at the time, agreed to go to the doctor. That was when, in November 2017, he received a devastating diagnosis: He had Stage 4 early-onset colon cancer and at least 20 polyps in his colon and rectum. The New Mexico resident was told he would need radiation, surgery and nine rounds of chemotherapy. Grappling with the diagnosis and the knowledge that barely 13 percent of patients survive Stage 4 colon cancer, he went to his employer to ask them to cover his healthcare and lost wages while he took extended leave for treatment. Mark Jaquez, now 54, had to continue working after he was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 45 when his employer denied his workers' compensation coverage. He works as a firefighter, a job that significantly raises the risk of multiple cancers, including of the colon Your browser does not support iframes. But Jaquez, now 54, was shocked by the response. They said 'no.' Despite his nine-and-a-half years of service, they told him he had not worked as a firefighter long enough to qualify for the assistance. He asked to be covered by his employer's workers' compensation insurance - comprehensive coverage that is meant to cover healthcare and lost wages for injuries sustained while at work. Unlike health insurance, the program has no deductible to meet. Virtually every American worker - a total of 129 million people - is covered by workers' compensation, according to the American Public Health Association. For firefighters, it covers costs from accidents such as burns, smoke inhalation or injuries from lifting equipment. It also covers up to 20 types of cancer, including of the colon. That's because studies have shown firefighters have a significantly higher risk of developing those cancers than the general population. Firefighters are repeatedly exposed to toxic fumes from burning buildings and firefighting foam, which contains cancer-linked 'forever chemicals' such as PFAS. It is possible that this enters the body, damaging cells and raising the risk that they turn cancerous. Jaquez told the Daily Mail it was 'very likely' that his cancer was caused by his job. 'The smoke that you see on these house fires or these building fires or anything else is very, very bad, toxic smoke,' he said. 'It's not like the way it was back in the 60s or 70s, when [buildings were] actually made of real wood. 'There is all this synthetic material now.' Jaquez, a father of three, is pictured above with his wife, Elsa, in the early 2010s before his cancer diagnosis There are no federal rules governing which cancers must be covered by workers' compensation or how long firefighters must serve to qualify, leading to a patchwork of coverage across the country. In many states, workers' compensation is paid out to cover wages for firefighters diagnosed with at least one of between ten and 20 cancers, including those of the lung, colon, stomach and bladder, after about five years of service. But some states have stricter thresholds. In New Mexico, where Jaquez worked, coverage is based on the type of cancer. Firefighters must serve five years for testicular cancer coverage, 12 years for bladder cancer and ten years for colon cancer. That meant Jaquez, who had served nine-and-a-half years, fell six months short. Jaquez appealed his coverage refusal to his employer alongside his union and said that, although people were supportive, he was flatly told that 'rules are rules.' For his healthcare costs, his health insurance from his employer agreed to cover all costs for medications and treatments after he paid the $6,000 deductible. But for his potentially lost wages, his employer said he could take his allotted vacation and sick days, but would then need to return to work in order to keep receiving a pay check. With a $1,400-a-month mortgage and three children to support, Jaquez felt he had little choice but to keep working while undergoing treatment. Two months after his diagnosis, in January 2018, he began 27 rounds of radiation. Jaquez said his boss was supportive during his treatment. His colleagues, pictured above with Jaquez, also organized a fundraiser to help him pay the $6,000 deductible for his health insurance Jaquez is shown above ringing the bell in his hospital's cancer center after he was declared to be in remission Every weekday for six weeks, the firefighter would leave his shift at the station in Albuquerque to receive treatment at a nearby cancer center. Jaquez worked a demanding 48-hours-on, 72-hours-off schedule. While he was away for treatment, a colleague would cover his duties. Then, Jaquez would return to his shift and later repay the favor by working extra hours. Despite this, he remained upbeat. 'I still responded to all my calls,' he told the Daily Mail. 'I still worked my regular 48-hour shift. At that time... I was still strong enough.' He said his boss was supportive during his treatment and that his colleagues even organized a fundraiser to help him pay the $6,000 deductible. In March 2018, after receiving the radiation, Jaquez underwent abdominal surgery, where doctors removed at least 18 polyps from his colon and rectum. A month later, he began chemotherapy, receiving one dose every other week. That was when things took a turn. 'It was really horrible,' he told Daily Mail. 'I could not eat. Everything tasted like silver. Everything that I touched had to be warm or else it hurt my hand. I had to wear gloves in summer. 'My face went black. I lost all my hair. My hands went black. My feet went black. My weight dropped from 236 to 159lbs. It was a struggle.' Just before the surgery, Jaquez went on annual leave, taking the 13 days he is allotted per year. He then had to start using his 16 days of sick leave. As the days ticked down, Jaquez realized he would not keep being paid unless he returned to work while he was receiving chemotherapy. Jaquez told the Daily Mail that during his cancer treatment his hands, feet and face all turned black. He is shown above after receiving the treatment, which also led his weight to drop from 236 to 156lbs His boss, aware of the situation, put him on 'light duty,' where he was behind a computer and looking at reports for the station. He did this for about 30 days. Jaquez put on a brave face but admitted it was tough. In late 2021, following his radiation, surgery and chemotherapy, along with two years of monitoring, Jaquez was told he was in remission. He had check-ups and scans every three months for a year and then every six months before being declared in remission some four years after his diagnosis. His experience and those of other firefighters in New Mexico has led to coverage rules being reviewed in the state. This year, representatives introduced state House Bill 128, which would expand coverage to more cancers and require firefighters to only work five years in order to be eligible for coverage. It has already passed the state's house and senate, and is now awaiting a signature from Democratic governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. 'When a firefighter develops an occupational cancer, it's a terrifying moment for them, their family and their crew,' majority floor leader and Democrat representative Reena Szczepanski, who co-sponsored the bill, told the Daily Mail. 'They deserve the right support. 'As we've been working on this bill, we've heard horrible stories of firefighters having to fight for assistance through workers' compensation at the same time that they're battling cancer.' Jaquez told the Daily Mail he is thrilled with the proposed changes to legislation, and still argues that it 'never made sense' that workers' compensation kicked in earlier for some cancers than others. 'I keep asking them for an explanation,' he said, 'but I don't think I'm going to get one.' Researchers have uncovered three distinct types of ADHD, which they believe could help diagnose thousands of Americans and revolutionize treatment. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects focus, impulse control and energy levels. The CDC estimates one in 10 children in the US have been diagnosed with the condition, totaling about 7 million, and between 15 and 17 million adults are living with it. ADHD has traditionally been diagnosed as a single disorder, but patients can exhibit a range of symptoms. While some may struggle to focus on their work, others have explosive outbursts. Because the condition is so individualized, much like autism, finding the ideal combination of medication, therapy and other interventions can take months or years of trial and error. Researchers from the US, China and Australia, however, have suggested ADHD could be divided into categories. The international team took MRI scans of nearly 500 children diagnosed with ADHD and compared them to about 700 children without the condition. These scans showed structural and functional differences in the brain, such as reduced blood flow and smaller areas, that could lead to symptoms. By examining brain gray matter - tissue containing neurons that help the brain transmit information - researchers identified three subgroups: severe-combined type with emotional dysregulation (biotype 1); predominantly hyperactive and impulsive (biotype 2); and predominantly inattentive (biotype 3). A new study has broken ADHD up into three distinct groups, which could improve treatments for thousands (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Biotype 1 is defined by more severe symptoms and emotional outbursts, while biotype 2 most commonly results in hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Biotype 3, meanwhile, is marked mostly by inattention or a drift in focus, which may be more subtle than the other types. Doctors who were not involved in the research said the findings may pave the way for better ADHD diagnostics and more effective treatments. 'This study is interesting because it reinforces something clinicians have long suspected: ADHD isn't a single, uniform condition,' Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in New York City and Washington DC, who was not involved in the study, told the Daily Mail. 'What we call ADHD likely includes several different patterns of attention, impulse control and emotional regulation. Two people can receive the same diagnosis but have very different underlying challenges.' The study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, collected patient data from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, University of Cincinnati, Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, Oregon Health & Science University and Peking University Institute of Mental Health in China. Children included were between six and 18 years old with an average age of 11. There were 446 children who were formally diagnosed with ADHD and 708 neurotypical controls. Of them, 142 children were biotype 1, 177 came under biotype 2, and 127 were biotype 3. All participants underwent MRI scans, allowing researchers to measure gray matter levels in areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex - responsible for executive function - the anterior cingulate cortex - involved in cognition and emotion - and the superior frontal gyrus - a region that supports working memory and attention. Join the debate How should schools and parents handle the new ADHD subtypes when it comes to discipline and support? The above graph shows the number of children in each biotype and how the biotypes lined up with symptoms. The width of each flow represents the number of participants The above group shows the rates of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention broken up by ADHD biotype Biotype 1 was characterized by brain circuits in the prefrontal cortex, which manages self-control, weighing consequences and emotional regulation, and the pallidum, an area that regulates motivation and reward. In this group, classic ADHD signs such as inattention and emotional outbursts tend to be more severe and at a greater risk of tantrums and aggression, the team noted. In biotype 2, patients have increased hyperactivity and impulsivity, which the study suggests could be due to impairments in the anterior cingulate cortex, and an impulse-specific circuit in the pallidum. The team noted people in biotype 2 may experience more restlessness, blurting out answers, interrupting or acting before thinking. People in biotype 3 experience inattentiveness, which the study shows may be due to disruptions in the frontal gyrus. This appears more subtle than the other two biotypes, which may cause it to be more overlooked. The team also suggested it may be more common in girls, who are largely underdiagnosed. 'Girls and many adults with ADHD often present with the more inattentive and less disruptive patterns, which are easier to overlook in classrooms or workplaces,' Dr Lori Bohn, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and medical director at Voyager Recovery Center in California, who was not involved in the study, told the Daily Mail. She added: 'If clinicians and researchers become more aware that some ADHD presentations are subtle and neurologically distinct, it could encourage more careful screening and reduce the tendency to equate ADHD only with hyperactive behavior. 'In that sense, identifying subtypes could help broaden our understanding of who ADHD affects and how it shows up across different populations.' Experts not involved with the research are hopeful the findings could lead to more personalized treatments than standard drugs such as Adderall. The study found biotype 3 is more common in girls, who are often underdiagnosed with ADHD due to having more subtle symptoms. 'Finding subtypes could help clinicians tailor treatment more effectively. A child whose primary difficulty is emotional regulation may need a very different approach from someone whose main challenge is sustained attention. In theory, a more precise understanding of ADHD could improve care,' Alpert said. 'In the future, this could help more people get diagnosed with ADHD, such as overlooked populations, like girls and adults. But, there is no use in diagnosing someone unless you have more refined treatments,' Dr Carole Lieberman, a board-certified psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, who was not involved in the study, told the Daily Mail. However, relying on brain scans also has its limitations, Alpert notes. 'We're not at the point where a doctor can scan a child's brain and determine their ADHD subtype,' he said. 'Most diagnoses still rely on behavioral observations and reports from parents and teachers.' Alpert added: 'Attention problems are heavily influenced by environmental factors - sleep deprivation, constant digital stimulation, school demands and stress - which brain scans can't capture.' Bohn also noted because the study consisted of children, 'we don't yet know whether the same brain-based subtypes would appear in adults or how these patterns might change over time.' Brain scans can also run into the thousands of dollars, even with insurance, and can be difficult for psychiatrists and psychologists to interpret. 'Clinicians do not have readily accessible brain imaging facilities and experts who can distinguish between these subtypes, whereas psychiatrists can distinguish the symptoms and the likely trajectory of the disorder,' Lieberman said. While the study could lead to more focused ADHD treatments, there is still much to learn. 'The challenge going forward is making sure new scientific insights lead to more thoughtful treatment - not simply more labels in a culture that is already quick to pathologize ordinary difficulties with focus and self-control,' Alpert said. I can barely cope, caring for a small, incontinent collie. I'm writing this at 5am: Mini Puppy woke me up to tell me she was stuck down the side of her dog bed. Imagine if she were a great big man? My friend, who is in her 80s, has an ex-partner of equal vintage who suffered a stroke a few years ago. After struggling with drop-in carers and my friend visiting each day to make dinner and collect laundry, he ended up in a care home. She visited often, only to find him sitting with a jug of juice but no glass. No teeth, beard untrimmed. He would be inadequately dressed for warmth, clutching a thin blanket, huddled in a ball trying to sleep. His dressing gown disappeared. The TV wasn't working. And worst of all, he fell, often. The home's policy is to leave a patient where they fall until a 111 paramedic arrives to move them: health and safety. Another fall, and this time he was taken to A&E, where they missed a serious graze on his arm. After he was discharged back to the home, my friend asked the staff for a first-aid kit and was told, 'We're not nurses.' The cost? 82,000 a year. So my friend decided to move him into her own house. I counselled against this, knowing from my own experience with my mum that caring for an older person, even if you're young and fit, is a highly skilled job. It's exhausting and stressful. But she insisted: 'I've just bought a walking frame in the sale. Liz, I have to do this: he is my Mini Puppy.' But very soon, the reality of caring for an older person took hold. He found the change of place and routine bewildering. He was yelling and screaming all night in his sleep. 'Don't let me fall. Help me, help me. I'm frightened.' The worst aspect? She told me, 'When changing him, he said, 'Please don't hit my head.' I don't think they hurt him in the care home, but he can be very cantankerous.' She would sit up with him all night, reassuring him. 'However, having done some research, I discover that the night hours spent in care homes with room doors ajar, having to listen to the din made by other residents, carers moving around tending to incontinent cases and the constant ringing of bells for assistance exacerbates the progress of dementia,' she said. Finally, my friend asked for emergency help for four hours a day, only to receive an email telling her that no one would be available for two weeks at the earliest, and even then, they could only provide two hours' assistance a day. She said, 'I had a conversation today with a teenage social worker who spoke so rapidly, I had to ask her to repeat every sentence.' He is now on a hospital ward while he waits for a vacancy at yet another care home: the few good ones are full to the brim. On my friend's suburban cul-de-sac, behind almost every ordinary front door, heroic struggles are taking place. A couple married for 51 years: he has terminal cancer and is on morphine, she is terrified of losing him. Another elderly couple: she's in a wheelchair, he's not coping. But my friend is of the generation that never complains: she just rolls up her sleeves and gets on with it. Me: 'Oh god, tell me you didn't get the stair lift put in!' 'Yes, I did, but it's OK, and useful as I use it to send linens, etc upstairs. The birdies are hopping about, thinking of making a nest, and I am so looking forward to the first tulips!' JONES MOANS... WHAT LIZ LOATHES THIS WEEK Eva Mendes and husband Ryan Gosling made a rare appearance on Thursday's episode of the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - but fans couldn't help but notice the duo's very youthful faces. The couple's appearance on the show was their first together in almost a decade, as the actor promoted his latest film, Project Hail Mary. Gosling, 45, brought Mendes, 52, out as a surprise to celebrate her birthday during the program, as she sported a casual-cool outfit that featured Gosling's own blue and white striped Louis Vuitton cardigan that he has previously worn. She completed her look with a pair of dark-wash, flared denim jeans, along with a graphic t-shirt that featured the cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1980 album, Double Fantasy. Mendes looked younger than ever, sporting a nude lip and smokey eye before styling her hair in a side part. And it was her fresh visage that sparked plastic surgery rumors on social media. 'That's not Eva Mendes,' one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, as another shared: 'Celebs need to start embracing aging.' But Gosling's seemingly fresh face did not go unnoticed either. He took to the stage in a gray blazer, which boasted gold-button detailing, over the top of a black shirt and trousers. Eva Mendes and husband Ryan Gosling made a rare appearance on Thursday's episode of the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - but fans couldn't help but notice the duo's very youthful faces Mendes looked younger than ever - which sparked plastic surgery rumors on social media. Pictured: Mendes in 2019 (left) and 2026 (right) He had his blond locks messy and tousled but he was also quickly engulfed in rumor of cosmetic tweaks. 'Oh damn they both look like that now??' one scoffed, as someone else added: 'They look like wax figures of themselves.' So, what might be behind Mendes and Gosling's apparently altered looks? The Daily Mail spoke to Oregon-based plastic surgeon Dr. Sean McNally to find out. Starting with Mendes, he shared that it's not exactly plastic surgery that's contributing to her stunning glow. 'I don't see evidence of recent facial surgical procedures,' Dr McNally, who has not treated the actress, told the Daily Mail. However, he does suspect that she could be doing other cosmetic injections, like Botox or fillers. Botox, or also known as Botulinum Toxin, is a cosmetic injection that works by blocking the nerve signals to the muscles, which prevents movement. It's oftentimes used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and aging. But Gosling's seemingly fresh face did not go unnoticed either. Pictured: Gosling in 2013 (left) and 2026 (right) 'I do suspect she's a consistent user of Botox and fillers,' Dr McNally, who is the lead provider at Doctor PDX and Reviance in Portland, shared after analyzing pictures and videos. 'She has little evidence of wrinkles across her forehead which would be very likely at 52 and I suspect fillers to both her lips and midface given their current volume compared to older pictures,' he said. This comes as no surprise, as Mendes has spoken about cosmetic treatments in the past, including in an October 2024 interview with The Times. 'I'm not afraid to try things that are safe, because most of these little treatments, let's say, are reversible,' she told the outlet about her beauty regime. 'If you get Botox, it goes away if you don't like it. There have been times where I've regretted something and then you just wait it out,' she added. In addition, the plastic surgeon believes that Mendes may be utilizing high-end facials, like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or BroadBand Light (BBL). These facials promote youthful-looking skin, helping to get rid of any hyperpigmentation and sun damage. 'Age spots are a common concern for patients 40+ and while good skin care and sun protection can help, I suspect she's utilizing IPL or BBL (not technically a laser but filtered light) to help keep those darker skin spots at bay,' Dr McNally told the Daily Mail. The doctor added that he believes Mendes looks 'amazing.' In the past, the Training Day actress has also revealed on social media that she had mono-threads, per E! News. The treatment is meant to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and boost collagen production. In 2021, she took to Instagram to respond to rumors that she had gone under the knife, after sharing an article that claimed she had 'clapped back' at someone about the accusations. She also denied rumors that she took time off of social media to heal from her procedures. 'All I did was reply to a specific comment on [social media],' Mendes wrote on her Instagram story at the time, according to E! News. 'Would never deny that stuff. I'm all for it. All. For. It.' 'As far as getting work done, I'll do that whenever I please. But no, that's not the reason,' her message continued. 'The reason is I personally cannot juggle family and social media. So - big shocker - I choose family. Lotsa love to you out there.' Turning his attention to Gosling, Dr McNally, who has also not treated the actor, had a similar outlook. 'I don't see signs of a large surgical procedure but in the last couple of years it appears that he's utilized filler for his midface,' he stated. The expert added: 'This is a common spot of concern for aging since the fat pad drops and shrinks making people look older and hollow there.' Gosling has never publicly addressed speculation about his use of tweakments. The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Mendes and Gosling for comment. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leaders on Saturday attended deliberations at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, takes part in a group deliberation with National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from the Taiwan delegation at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Top political advisor Wang Huning took part in a group deliberation with NPC deputies from the Taiwan delegation. He said that over the past year, efforts have been made to properly respond to the complex and severe situation in the Taiwan Strait and vigorously chart the course of cross-Strait relations. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advancing the cause of national reunification. He also called for resolute opposition against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, participates in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Qinghai Province at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Cai Qi, a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, participated in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Qinghai Province. He encouraged Qinghai to pursue differentiated development and development with distinctive characteristics in accordance with local conditions, and to adhere to ecological priority. Cai also asked the province to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promote interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, attends a group deliberation with deputies from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, attends a group deliberation with deputies from Macao Special Administrative Region at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended group deliberations with deputies from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, respectively. He called on the two regions to actively align with the 15th Five-Year Plan to better integrate into and serve the country's overall development, so as to make greater contribution to advancing Chinese modernization. Ding called for continuously consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, and fully leveraging its strengths in education, science and technology, and talent to promote the long-term prosperity and stability of the region. He also called for further advancing the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Wang, Cai and Ding are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. A mom who decided to take her daughter out of school to travel the world instead has clapped back at haters who worry the youngster might be missing out. Like most parents, Elena Ollick, 41, from Florida, assumed that when she became a mom she'd be sending her daughter to a traditional public school. But soon after daughter Alexis started school, her teacher noticed she seemed 'bored in class' and suggested they 'test her for giftedness.' 'When the test came back, it showed that she was in the 99.9 percentile, and we were suggested a gifted program - which, upon further research, turned out to be just a program where they get more homework and more assignments rather than actually learning something more challenging or being transferred to higher grades,' Ollick explained during a recent chat with the Daily Mail. That didn't feel right to the mom-of-one, so she started to look for other options, including homeschooling. It was then that she came across a concept known as 'worldschooling,' which involves learning through travel experiences, and it seemed like a perfect fit for them. 'There's so much that you can learn when you're traveling - from going to museums, to talking to local people and having different cultural experiences, to even math like currency exchanges, train timetables and so many other opportunities while you're traveling,' Ollick dished. The mom-of-one explained that they had always been avid travelers and had been taking Alexis on trips since she was little. Elena Ollick, 41, from Florida, decided to take her daughter, Alexis, out of school to travel the world instead and she clapped back at haters who worry the youngster might be missing out Alexis, who is now 14, hasn't been in school in three years and she doesn't have a set schedule and doesn't follow any curriculum She started to look back and realized just how much the youngster had learned from their endeavors around the world. 'We went to the Galapagos, for example, and she learned so much about marine life, evolution, history and all sorts of subjects [there], and then she came and created a report for her classmates,' she recalled. 'When we visited Hiroshima in Japan and went through the Peace Museum - which was a very tough experience with a lot of crying - and this set my daughter off on a rabbit hole of learning everything about types of nuclear reactors and nuclear accidents.' Three years ago they officially took their daughter out of school and started 'worldschooling' her while traveling the globe. That means their daughter, who is now 14, doesn't have a set schedule and doesn't follow any curriculum. 'She truly follows her passions, and whatever it is that she's learning and doing in the moment,' Ollick said. 'We don't worry about schoolwork. She definitely doesn't spend any time sitting and doing schoolwork. [Instead], we are focusing on exploring and experiencing as much as we can.' She insisted that there's a slew of benefits to this type of learning, from her daughter having the 'freedom to explore subjects at her own pace, based on her own interest' to being exposed to 'so many varied types of subjects and ideas that she normally wouldn't be exposed to.' Ollick said: 'She definitely doesn't spend any time sitting and doing schoolwork. [Instead], we are focusing on exploring and experiencing as much as we can' Ollick is insistent that her daughter is learning more from seeing the world than traditional education would have provided. They're seen during their travels 'In general, you become such a capable human because you spent your childhood traveling - navigating airports, navigating train stations, exposing yourself to so many different ways of doing things,' she added. 'As Alexis was able to comprehend things like train timetables or platforms or airport boards or gates or anything like that, I had her navigate as early as seven years old. 'We would have her navigate in foreign countries, in foreign languages and foreign alphabets, so that she would learn to be capable of figuring out anything she wants.' They spend their days 'exploring' and visiting museums, and Ollick is insistent that her daughter is learning more from seeing the world than traditional education would have provided. She often documents their lifestyle online, but she admitted that it has sparked a slew of backlash from people who claim she's not giving Alexis a real education and is 'ruining or spoiling her.' '[They're just trying] to justify why they spent all those years in school and suffered, and why they spent all those thousands of dollars in college and suffered. But those are just blips on the radar,' Ollick said of her haters. 'My response to haters, honestly, is no response. Because if you don't see how much better it is to be able to school in whatever way works for your child and to have your child be free to follow their passions and interests - especially in 2026 - then there's really no reason to waste any of my time trying to explain it to you.' In response to those who worry Alexis might be missing out on a normal experience or not learning enough, Ollick boldly stated: 'That makes me laugh.' She said her daughter is 'a lot more motivated' than she ever was in school and is not being 'overloaded with useless learning.' 'She will come across something that she read. She will instantly Google whatever questions are in her head, or write down something that she wants to research for later at home,' she explained. 'She also gets on random subject kicks - like right now she decided she wanted to learn algebra again. 'There were other times where she wanted to learn biology, so she studied biology. It's basically whatever it is that she's interested in at that moment.' She often documents their lifestyle online, but she admitted that it has sparked a slew of backlash from people who claim she's not giving Alexis a real education She said her daughter is 'a lot more motivated' than she ever was in school and is not being 'overloaded with useless learning' 'As far as missing out on a normal school experience - do you mean missing out on dealing with bullies? Or missing out on dealing with girl cliques and pressure to dress a certain way, pressure to act a certain way, pressure to conform?' she added. 'Or are you talking about missing out on experiences with mean teachers? Or missing out on loads and loads of homework or stress or useless tests? Which part of the normal school experience would one think she's missing out on? 'She has more social interaction now than any of us ever did [in school]... She spends more time with other kids of different ages than anyone I know in public school.' Ollick now runs her own company called Worldschooling Journeys through which she curates 'group trips' with other worldschooling families. 'It was started out of the desire to connect all the other worldschooling families who are traveling all over the world and are feeling a little bit isolated with their family unit from all the other homeschoolers and worldschoolers,' she explained. 'Our goal is to connect as many families all over the world that are living the same lifestyle so that they could have the co-parenting village that we all have lost a long time ago.' She hopes that by sharing her story she will inspire others to start worldschooling their kids. 'If people want to continue teaching their kids outdated information as the world is changing, it is their prerogative,' she concluded. 'The best way to raise a kid that is ready to take on the world in these changing times is to teach them through life itself - to teach them not subjects, but skills: resilience skills, life skills, critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills. And that's exactly what worldschooling teaches. '[My daughter] has retained and gained more value from traveling than she ever would at a traditional school.' I write this feeling completely exhausted. My mother died nine days ago and I havent been able to sleep since. It was not unexpected but, still, her death is clearly a shock to my body as well as my mind. Every night I slump into bed tired, yet utterly wired, unable to stop thinking about memories and funeral arrangements. In these intervening days, Ive realised how difficult it is to respond to someone who is immersed in grief. Our emotions are either so raw or stunned in the immediate aftermath of death that our reactions are unpredictable. A hug may set me off an arm around the shoulder is safer. A concerned voice saying how sorry they are has me wondering how to reply to them. Can I just smile and move on? Its not that there are hard and fast rules everyone treats loss in their own way. One person can say something and it will make me feel better; when another utters the same sentiment, it just amplifies the loss. The one thing sure to drive me mad, though, is those who feel compelled to note that I am now an orphan. Technically that might be true. I have been orphaned, but I am not Oliver Twist or Little Orphan Annie. I have not been abandoned in the world at a young age. And I simply dont understand why anyone would think it helpful to remind me that both my parents are now dead. Alexandra Shulman, right, with her mother Drusilla Beyfus attend an awards ceremony in 2019 Drusilla, who has died aged 98, was an etiquette expert and a journalist who worked for the Daily Express As an adult, my relationship with my parents had become very different to that of a child. By the time that they died (my father in 2004), all expectation of parental care for my brother, sister and I was long gone. But that didnt mean I didnt want to sit with my mother, to talk to her and look at her, until the last possible moment getting some kind of nourishment from the fact she was still in my life. On the other hand I have been touched by kindnesses such as flowers and letters in the post. Theres just something so much more meaningful in a letter than in an email and, while emails might be quicker and more convenient (let alone the fact that nobody knows anyones postal address any more), its consoling to hold that letter in your hand and go back to it. And while Im on the etiquette of responding to someone elses grief (after all, my mother, Drusilla Beyfus, was an etiquette expert), texting emojis is no help at all. A friend offered to arrive with a meal, which I kept saying I didnt need, but undeterred, she appeared and it was the perfect visit short, with Kilner jars of delicious chicken soup. Others have kindly continued to check in daily with how I am. But I have also found that opportunities to remove myself from this overwhelming new world, where my mother is no longer with me, are a help. A work dinner last week with a group of women I didnt know well was a great escape. Interviewing super hair stylist Sam McKnight for a legal conference took my mind off my mother, forcing me back into the world I inhabited before her death. I got my hair done, I thought about what to wear, I put on some different jewellery. It was useful to focus on something other than grief or the huge task of sorting through her belongings. I know many people find others avoid them when theyre grieving as they dont know the right thing to say. Ive found it helpful to be with those who dont even know about my situation, let alone the person I am grieving. The fact is there is no right thing to say. Just dont call me an orphan! The sun hasnt put a spring in my step You'd think that grief would at least bring the compensation of losing a few pounds, but far from it. Ive missed my gym slots and have no ability to push myself to go for a run even as spring is prettily springing. I think: What would Mama do? And then I remember that she never once went to the gym or for a run, and looked pretty good into her 90s. You shouldnt judge a book by its cover One evening, one of her carers asked my sister whether, if she got worried, she should call a rabbi. My sister Nicky looked at her blankly, then discovered the carer had assumed my mother was Jewish possibly due to the number of books on the rise of the Nazis that had become our mothers preoccupation during her last year. Nicky informed her that she shouldnt think of it. Mum had never been near a rabbi in her life and that, if one suddenly loomed up in front of her, the shock might easily finish her off. Baby brain is real? Thats all we need It's hard enough navigating the workplace during pregnancy, but now theres confirmation our brains do shrink at this stage in life. Spanish scientists working on the largest study to date found that the grey matter in charge of processing information and emotions is pruned in order to help the brain adapt to the requirements of motherhood. All well and good, but not helpful for the many women struggling to prove theres nothing remotely different about them when pregnant and that their faculties havent been affected at all. The last thing women need is colleagues dishing up this proof that baby brain exists every time they forget something. Im chuffed to see the puffball return A Dior model wears a polka-dot puffball skirt at the Paris autumn/winter fashion show on March 3 Small takeaway from Paris Fashion Week: the much-derided puffball skirt might be back after making an appearance on the catwalk at Dior. In its 1980s heyday I made my own out of a piece of checked taffeta and elastic. It was not a success. I wont be going there again, but I would say, if youve got the legs, go for it. It's July 6, 2004 and Queen Elizabeth II is to open the Diana memorial fountain in London's Hyde Park. This is the first time the late princess's families, the Windsors and the Spencers, have been together in public since her funeral in 1997. I've been chosen as the BBC's anchor for a special live broadcast. I've done national events like this before, and there is always a feeling of anxiety. I've over-prepared, as usual. Like the crowds, I arrived early in the day. It's now mid-morning, the programme is underway and I'm on an incongruously high barstool, in a marquee overlooking the fountain. It is blazingly hot and I've been on this stool and talking for what seems like for ever. Until at last, my director tells me, 'The royals are on their way.' Suddenly, the live feed on the little telly by my feet stops. I have no idea what's happening. 'Keep talking,' my director says. I do, but I can't see what I'm supposed to be talking about. Then my brain starts to swim, and my heart seems to slow. Just as I keel over, I hear the director shout to our royal correspondent, Nick Witchell: 'Fill! Fill! Fill!' Nick, as he puts it, begins to 'witter away' as a producer runs over to revive me with custard cream biscuits. Low blood sugar? A hot day? Sat in the same place for hours? Stress levels overwhelming my resources to cope? Probably all the above. And for a while after that day, anxiety set in about whether it would happen again. Anxiety has been my lifelong companion. In my first year of secondary school my teacher wrote in my report: 'Sian Williams is a small girl with thin powers of concentration, who tries hard and is keen to please.' Harsh, but he got it right, and I'm not sure much has changed. More than 20 years after that fall and now with a master's in psychology, a doctorate and thousands of therapy practice hours under my belt, I still haven't eliminated anxiety from my own story, nor would I want to. Former BBC Breakfast presenter Dr Sian Williams has written a book about anxiety, her 'lifelong companion'. She has retrained as a psychologist I have learned to stop struggling with it and I hope some of the tips and tools I've learned and shared in my clinical practice, can help you too. I was a TV newsreader and breakfast presenter for a quarter of a century before I became a counselling psychologist, mainly working in the NHS. The reason I kept going and loved it and, as a BBC radio presenter, still do is because when the camera is on, when the microphone is live, it's the best job in the world. When you're in the flow and news is being thrown at you, you thrive on the adrenaline and the buzz of hearing the director in your earpiece telling you to get ready, because you're about to interview the prime minister, or a Hollywood film star, or reveal the outcome of a general election. It was a brilliant job but one which could occasionally send me into a spiral of worry and doubt. Lots of us will know that feeling, because anxiety is there for a reason. It alerts us to danger and we need it, to keep us safe. That's productive worry. When it's unproductive, is when it's turned on when we don't need it to be, when the mind is searching for answers it won't get. I was diagnosed with breast cancer the week after my 50th birthday, in 2014 and after my surgery, there was a lot of uncertainty. I'd had a double mastectomy, but after a conversation with my brilliant oncologist, Glen Blackman, at University College London, we decided I wouldn't have radiotherapy, even though the surgeons hadn't got rid of all the cancer cells. I wanted to know, what was the percentage risk of the cancer returning, based on the available empirical evidence? How did I stop it returning? What was the likelihood of it doing so? What would happen if it did come back? Mr Blackman smiled as he listened to my questions. 'Sian,' he said. 'If you're stuck in a maelstrom of anxiety about the worst happening and then it does, then you have lived through it twice. You need to learn to live with uncertainty.' That's easier said than done. We need to aim for 'safe uncertainty', as we used to say in the family therapy practice I worked in to tolerate and be with uncertainty and yet still feel safe. Because when anxiety becomes severe, overwhelming and persistent, it inhibits how we function. I learned another valuable lesson nearly a decade ago when I was recording a programme for the BBC about resilience with Professor Michael Pluess of Surrey University, a leading expert in sensitivity. During our conversation, he told me that I might not be as resilient as I'd thought. I'd just completed a battery of tests on my thoughts and feelings, my childhood and concerns. As I typed out my answers, I began to realise there was a flaw in my belief that I was strong and capable in all circumstances. There was anxiety, sensitivity and a reluctance to seek help running through all my responses. Now take this test to find out your personality... Your browser does not support iframes. Dandelion children survive and thrive through whatever life throws at them. Orchid children can decline with neglect but flourish in the right environment. Tulips fall in the middle. Pluess told me I'd been thinking about resilience in the wrong way. The strongest among us, he argued, aren't those who appear unbreakable. The resilient ones are those who are reactive to changes in conditions and adapt to them. They sense when the storm is coming and, if they've learned how, can bend with it. He outlined the brilliant 'orchid hypothesis', a theory originally developed by the American paediatrician W. Thomas Boyce, which suggests some children are more sensitive than others. Boyce came up with the idea after hearing the Swedish expressions for a 'dandelion child' (maskrosbarn) and an 'orchid child' (orkidebarn). Dandelion children survive and thrive through whatever life throws at them, much like the cheerful yellow flowers that burst through cracks in the pavement, or on a dry lawn. Whatever the soil, whatever the weather, they keep growing. Orchid children the highly-sensitive ones can wilt and decline with neglect but can flourish and become magnificent given the right environment. Tulips are those who fall in the middle. Orchids are now thought to make up 30 per cent of the population, dandelions 30 per cent and those with medium sensitivity, the tulips, are the remaining 40 per cent. Sensitivity exists on a continuum, but the theory suggests that, broadly, people fall into one of these three distinct categories, with orchids scoring higher than tulips and dandelions in neuroticism and emotional reactivity, and lower than both in extraversion. In other words, orchids can worry more, react more emotionally and be more introverted and avoidant than tulips and dandelions. Not all the time, but typically. Ten years on, Professor Pluess and colleagues have developed an adult version of the orchid test, designed to identify Highly Sensitive People. You can try the test for yourself (above). Highly sensitive people are more likely to be affected by negative stuff and react by becoming stressed and overwhelmed, especially in the wrong environment. But because orchids pick up signals in their environment and the people around them faster than dandelions and tulips, they can also recognise emotions fast making them more empathic. Orchids think deeply and are more reflective, so they're more likely to experience the good things positively too. That might mean being profoundly moved by art, music and nature, or having a rich, deep, creative imagination. If a situation demands a deep level of engagement and connection, a sensitive person is your go-to. They make good artists, authors, therapists and excellent friends. On BBC Breakfast with her friend Bill Turnbull in 2011. Bill died aged 66, 'not knowing the profound impact he made on those he met' Orchids can also dwell on bad past experiences or feedback too, though. You might be the one who winces thinking back on a difficult situation. It might be a presentation in front of colleagues where your brain froze, or you may have said or done something embarrassing at a social occasion. Whatever it is, when the next presentation or party comes up, our brain tries to protect us by reminding us of what went wrong last time and then predicting ways it can go wrong again. 'Remember that disaster and how all those people judged and laughed at you?' says the brain. 'It could be even worse this time, so let's think through all the possible ways you might let yourself down.' Anxiety is there for a reason. It tries to prepare us for a future where that feared situation might happen or happen again. It keeps us on our guard, scanning the horizon for the next danger. The trick is to notice what our body and brain are trying to do to keep us safe. To name it, thank it, and then, if it's not useful, to try something else. To listen to the self-compassionate voice instead. It's quieter, but it's there. The 'orchid hypothesis' was originally developed by the American paediatrician W. Thomas Boyce. It suggests some children are more sensitive than others. Pictured: File photo It may be that you were born sensitive or made that way. What were you like as a child? Did you react emotionally to books, films or people in ways others didn't? You might have been told you were over-sensitive, dramatic, emotional or fragile. You may have been told to be quiet when you alerted an adult to something you felt was wrong. Some of that high sensitivity is down to your genes. In studies of twins, Pluess and his team identified the heritability of sensitivity and put it at around 50 per cent. Of course, inheriting a sensitive trait, doesn't automatically mean you'll develop anxiety but if you are highly sensitive you are significantly more likely to develop anxiety and depression than those who are not. If half of our sensitivity is down to our genes, which we cannot change, what's the other half? The answer: our environment. If you grew up in a household where you were constantly put down or humiliated you would need to be vigilant all the time, wouldn't you? If your emotional needs have never been met or if you have been condemned, laughed at or punished, if you do not know how to soothe yourself when frightened or anxious, you must learn those things by yourself. The child becomes an adolescent, and then an adult, and all the while they carry these patterns of behaviour with them. But how we choose to behave, even in the face of suffering, can be transformative. Too many of us only do that life audit towards the end of it. Bronnie Ware, an American palliative care nurse, says the most common regret among those who are dying is 'I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me'. If you had to live the life that was true to you, how would it be different to the one you are living now? What would you do if you weren't frightened of what other people might think? Dr Sian's book, The Power of Anxiety Can you allow yourself to follow a path guided by the things which are meaningful to you, behaving like the person you believe yourself to be? Behaviour that is driven by our values makes for a less anxious life. That was true of my lovely friend and former BBC Breakfast colleague Bill Turnbull. I visited him as he was in the last stages of prostate cancer. He regretted not having been checked sooner and wanted to raise awareness. I was to interview him for Radio Times magazine. As we chatted, he reminded me of a phrase coined by our friend and BBC Breakfast editor Alison Ford when she was diagnosed with incurable cancer: 'I don't want to die dying,' she said. Bill didn't either. He wanted to spend it living, surrounded and sustained by the love of his family, doing the things that matter: 'It's easy to let a day drift by, doing the usual sorts of things, and it's important to make sure that they all count.' We joked about going back on telly to present Bill and Sian's Cancer Club a club, he says, that no one wants to join but which has with lots of members. Bill died aged 66, not knowing the profound impact he made on those he met and those he never knew: those who got checked for cancer and are living, because of him. Living according to your values is crucial for keeping anxiety at bay. If you're struggling to identify values, try to think of someone who you look up to, who you respect and admire. Have a think about what they stand for, how they treat others, what it is about them that you like and what qualities you'd like to bring into play. Values are not goals. They are actions and directions. For example, a goal might be to get married; a value would be a fulfilling relationship. A career goal would be promotion; a value would be to find satisfaction in work. You may reach a goal, you may not, but your values will be there for as long as they're important to you, probably for ever, although they may shift in priority. There is an easy way to define your values, by taking the Living My Values test (right). Scientists analysed those with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) who worried excessively and uncontrollably. Those who were most anxious, and often also depressed, were less likely to describe themselves as living according to their values than those who did not have anxiety. Why? Because if you are fused with your critical and internal judgements, you may avoid situations and experiences, like a work party, for instance, despite wanting to do them. The discomfort of possible judgement or failure seems to outweigh the connection, engagement and joy you might find in those moments. But withdrawing only adds to anxiety and keeps us isolated. Anxiety is not something to fight, or run from. That just makes it more powerful. And although those who are sensitive are more likely to be anxious, they can experience the good things positively too. If you are born with a highly sensitive 'genetic load' and grow up in a supportive environment, or move to one, you're likely to respond more intensely to the good influences in your life, be more adaptable and think through alternative solutions to emerging problems. We need to look at anxiety differently, because for many this vital sensitivity is an intense and important set of feelings. We can learn to drop the struggle and in doing so, redress the power imbalance, allowing ourselves to have more awareness and acceptance of our anxiety, rather than having it dominate and bully us. That means tuning in to what anxiety is saying, using a different framework of understanding. Instead of allowing it to keep us stuck and lonely chastising ourselves for not having beaten it, I suggest we turn towards it, ceasing to see it as a problem to solve and instead as a truth to acknowledge, accept and work with. Instead of allowing it to destabilise us, if we listen to what it is telling us rather than quietening it, then it can propel us towards action. It's about letting our intuition guide us, instead of our fear. It's seeing anxiety as a tool, not a trap. Adapted from The Power Of Anxiety by Dr Sian Williams (Allen & Unwin, 14.99). Sian Williams 2026. To order a copy for 13.49 (offer valid to March 21; UK P&P free on offers over 25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Sian Williams is a former BBC Breakfast presenter who has retrained as a psychologist Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Favourite brand of olive oil? Waitrose Extra Virgin for cooking; for dressings, Spanish producer Vandelvira is exceptional. Food/drink item you always pack when you go abroad? Tabasco. Its essential first aid for rubbish BA aeroplane food. Restaurant(s) you want to go back to? Da Adolfo and Lo Scoglio, both just outside Positano on Italys Amalfi Coast. Simple, seasonal and utterly sensational. Tom Parker Bowles reveals his kitchen secrets in our new new fortnightly column Top spot for drinks with a view? New York Bar at the Park Hyatt in Tokyo is a place where the drinks match the view. Preferred brand of tinned fish? Rockfish and Sea Sisters, while Ortiz is ever excellent, and Waitrose does a good cheap tin with extra chillies. For purists, Pinhais sells exceptional sardines (often aged), while Serrats and La Lata tin the fattest, sweetest anchovies youll ever taste. I buy all mine from thetinnedfishmarket.com. Toast topping of choice? Marmite. Obviously. Condiment that improves any meal? Salt is not exactly a condiment, but it always makes life taste better. Maldon is my favourite. Go-to ready meal? I usually hate ready meals, but you cant go too wrong with Charlie Bighams Lasagne. Tom will be back: Lo Scoglio, Positano. Best fish and chips in the UK? Youll never find them in London. Sea Salt + Sole in Aberdeen, Shakies in Fleetwood, near Blackpool, The Cod Father in Kingsbridge and Rockfish in Brixham, both Devon, are all excellent. And the best Sunday roast? Nowhere is better than home. But if I had to choose, it would be the Harwood Arms in Fulham or any Hawksmoor. Coffee brand you rate? Dark Arts Coffee in Hackney is my favourite. The quality is exceptional, the provenance peerless, and the boxes beautiful, with names like Barbarians At The Gate and The Devil Looks After His Own. Top spot for a takeaway coffee? Debbie Jo in Brook Green, West London. Their long black is as good as anything Ive drunk in Melbourne, the coffee capital of the world. Starbucks, on the other hand, is vile. Bougiest thing in your store cupboard? I pick up strange and wonderful things whenever I travel. Theres the garum (Roman fish sauce) in the beautiful bottle from Naples, the Malaysian dried anchovies, Poons exceptional premium soy sauce, Korean prawn powder, limited-edition Tabasco bottles and far too many rare hot sauces. Favourite UK restaurant? Its impossible to choose as it changes depending on what I crave at that moment. There are just so many Hospitality is the business of happiness, the currency of pleasure and delight, the eternal joy of the shared (or solo) table. It doesnt matter if its your local caff or The Ritz, all restaurants need our support more than ever. Secret ingredient? Good-quality anchovies, adding extra depth and umami to gravies, dressings and stews. His meal in minutes? Dippy eggs You can only eat one kind of potato for the rest of your life what is it? Roast potatoes cooked in goose fat. Repeat Deliveroo order? A chicken vindaloo (extra, extra hot please) from The Raj of Kensington with two garlic naans, chana masala and Punjabi salad. Or an extra-hot Nandos double chicken wrap, hold the chilli jam and yogurt. Choice of butter? The best brands are Abernethy, Bungay or Quickes; all British, handmade and tasting of meadows, wildflowers and lots of cream. Best bread for toasting? Good old-fashioned brown or white farmhouse. That, or Mothers Pride. Im growing bored of the cult of sourdough. Most useful kitchen utensil or gadget? Two wooden spoons that Ive had for years. Theyre like old friends. Go-to for cheap eats? Nothing beats a McDonalds cheeseburger. A magical melange of the sweet and salty, the soft and crunchy, the sacred and the profane, its a modern food masterpiece. Favourite corner-shop chocolate? The best chocolate on earth is Cadburys Dairy Milk. Nothing else comes close. Ten-minute meal that always delivers? Boiled eggs and soldiers. Holiday destination youd go back to just for the food? I return to Italy, Thailand and Mexico again and again, purely for the food. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Theres something rebellious about a pastel WC. After more than a decade of minimalist bathrooms think chrome, concrete and tasteful yet unexciting spa white a pink loo feels like a welcome act of defiance. It is part of the new retro revolution: one that embraces sinks in powder-puff pink, mint-green bathtubs and china-blue pedestals. Yes, really. In this bathroom by Owl Design, the walls, ceiling and shower enclosure are clad in a putty-pink Tadelakt plaster, with a candy-pink loo by Trone and pastel floor tiles from Mosaic Factory. The colourful bathroom trend first emerged in the 1960s and 70s, before falling out of favour in the 1990s as homeowners gravitated towards the safety of white. Now, mainly thanks to the visual nostalgia of films like Paddington, the whimsical worlds of Wes Anderson and a collective fatigue with white, the pendulum is swinging back towards colour. A striking purple sink anchors the space in this compact yet vibrant WC by Finch Studio. For similar tiles, try Claybrook Studio. Clients are craving a more vibrant bathing experience, says Rob Whitaker, creative director at artisan tile company Claybrook Studio. There is demand for a more considered layout, with a vanity or basin in a statement shade that is more like a stylish piece of furniture than a purely practical utility piece. This Edwardian style basin with pedestal in Cosmic Green was made to order by Burlington (from 475). Try Graham & Brown for similar wallpaper suitable for bathrooms. At the high-street end of the spectrum, Drench offers an array of concrete basins in shades from clementine to teal, with prices starting at 200 for a 40cm wall-mounted dusky pink design. Eye-catching vintage tubs and pedestals can be found at Broken Bog (shop.brokenbog.com), where discontinued shades are sold at reduced prices a Whisper Peach acrylic bathtub will set you back 359. Sanctuary Bathrooms sells a matt-pink, wall-hung loo for 398. The new spring collection by Mandarin Stone features matt porcelain tiles in shades from citrus yellow to this putty pink, from 131 per sq m. Taps and sinks are great for introducing unexpected colour to a bathroom without spending a fortune on a new suite, says colour consultant Emily Harnasz, whose recently renovated bathroom features lemon-yellow panelling, an olive-green painted fireplace and sky-blue walls. Dowsing & Reynolds sells a range of candy-coloured taps from 137. But if the cost of tracking down a tradesperson to install the taps makes your toes curl, artwork and towels are the easiest way to build colour confidence, says Harnasz. Custom-designed twin vanity units painted egg-yolk yellow bring a sense of fun to this his and hers wash station. For similar floor tiles, try capietra.com. Tiles are another affordable win for those keen to experiment without committing to a colourful suite and for anyone looking to push the envelope further than paint. Hot off the press is a new collection of coloured matt porcelain tiles (below left in Portman Pink) from Mandarin Stone. For a more bespoke approach, plain tiles can be painted in a shade of your choice at Tiles of Stow. At the upper end of colourful bathroom design is heritage British brand The Water Monopoly, whose Rockwell collection of bathtubs and vanity units has become a bestseller. We stock 11 vibrant shades, including Lipstick red and Squash orange, but the most popular is the Willow green, says CEO and founder Justin Homewood. They appeal to all ages, and look just as good in a newly built bathroom as they do in a boutique hotel. Powder blue and Sherbert yellow are the next most popular shades. With prices starting at 5,220 for a Rockwell bathtub in Willow, however, it is an investment piece for those ready to commit to colour, rather than those dabbling in a trend. Think of it as the equivalent of a statement sofa but for the bathroom, says Homewood. Wall mirror 52cm x 42cm If you love the aesthetic but your budget doesnt stretch to a luxe new tub, a similar look can be achieved by painting an existing tub with acrylic paint (B&Q sells a selection), or by installing a white tub and surrounding it with painted plywood panelling in an eye-catching shade. Measure the tub carefully, leaving enough space to install the panelling around it. Functional and fun. Britain is facing another energy price shock just four years after the country was plunged into a cost-of-living crisis, in part prompted by rising bills after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Natural gas prices in Europe and the UK have soared again this week as the Middle East conflict disrupts supplies. While gas prices havent yet reached their 2022 peak, which saw energy bills rise to unmanageable levels for many, experts warn that a prolonged conflict could push the Ofgem price cap to as high as 2,500. It is currently 1,758. With energy suppliers already pulling some fixed tariffs and forecasting a potential rise in the price cap, Britain could face another energy crisis. So, why is Britain so vulnerable to these price shocks and what will it mean for energy bills? Gas price shock: Qatar announced the shutdown of its gas production this week Why is the UK so exposed to gas market shocks? The Ukraine crisis exposed the UKs vulnerability to gas market shocks, with the government forced to intervene with the Energy Price Guarantee in 2022. It effectively subsidised household energy bills to bring them down to 2,500 per year for the average customer. This week shows that those weaknesses remain. Britain still uses a lot of gas, and around 85 per cent of households still rely on gas for heating, according to a report by the Onward think tank. There has been a failure to produce enough gas domestically - which has happened over decades - and the UK will not be able to meet heating demand by next year, according to analysis by campaign group End Fuel Poverty. While successive governments have piled money into renewable alternatives, offshore wind farms take time to build, leaving Britain reliant on gas imports. While the vast majority of gas imports are sent from Norway, the UK also relies on Qatar, which this week halted production of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Crucially, Britain has less gas storage than Europe - at the end of February, domestic storage was less than 30 per cent full. This adds volatility to prices because of concerns over the security of supply. While gas prices largely move in parallel, European natural gas prices have jumped 70 per cent, while UK prices are slightly ahead with a 75 per cent increase this week. The solution is not straightforward. Britains energy auction system means that the most expensive energy source on a unit basis, usually gas, sets the marginal price of electricity. So even as more households move away from gas, they remain exposed to supply disruptions. Due to the lack of sufficient nuclear, wind and solar power to meet demand, gas is still needed and sets the marginal wholesale price 97 per cent of the time, says Onward. Britain is therefore more beholden to gas prices than France, where nuclear generation sets relatively stable prices, or Germany, which historically has a mix of goal, gas, and hydro setting prices. Dwindling domestic gas production and disrupted imports leave Britain in a difficult position, with no immediate solution. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told MPs this week that as when Russia invaded Ukraine, we will be exposed to price competition. Greg Jackson, founder of energy supplier Octopus, this week urged the government to use whats available in the North Sea. However, Miliband has maintained that no new oil and gas licences should be issued in the North Sea, and that net zero is the best approach to improve energy security. What does it mean for our energy bills? In the immediate term, households are protected from rising wholesale prices whether they're signed up to a fixed or variable deal. Households on a fixed deal will continue to pay their current unit rate until their deal ends, while those on a standard variable tariff are protected by the Ofgem set energy price cap, which will fall by over 100 from April. From next month, the typical dual fuel household will pay 1,641 for their energy and will be protected until July, when the price cap changes again. If the Middle East conflict resolves relatively quickly, the impact on households should be minimal, but if gas prices continue to rise, then it could flow through to the price cap by the summer. That's because Ofgem uses the average prices during the three-month observation window and other related costs. However, were already starting to see ructions in the energy market as suppliers start to pull fixed deals. Last Saturday, there were 38 tariffs on the market. However, by Thursday there were only 17 available. Its also becoming more expensive to fix your energy bill. The cheapest tariff for an average household was 1,509 last week, which increased by 131 to 1,640as of Wednesday. It came after expert forecaster Cornwall Insight said it expects the price cap to rise by more than 150 from July if gas prices stay high. > Is it a good idea to fix your energy deal now? Read our guide Ever since watching Breakfast at Tiffany's I always wanted to own a price of jewellery from that most iconic of stores. I think in 2010 I finally saved up enough and I believe I paid around 1.200. I see that gold has recently gone crazy. Did I invest well or did I pay for the name? Holly, Barnsley. A This is Money reader wants to know if she paid too much for a Tiffany necklace Dan Hatfield, This is Money's expert valuer, says: Tiffany & Co. isn't just a shop that happens to sell jewellery. It is one of America's great cultural exports, a 19th century New York success story that evolved into a global shorthand for romance and discernment. Founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany, the company built its reputation on standards. At a time when silver purity was inconsistent and loosely regulated, Tiffany introduced the .925 sterling silver standard in the US, effectively forcing the market to sharpen up. It positioned itself not merely as a retailer, but as an arbiter of quality. This is vitally important. Not only were Tiffany's producing fabulous items they also had authority and integrity at the forefront of their offerings. This would stand them in good stead for decades to come. Then, in 1886, came the defining stroke of genius: the Tiffany Setting. By lifting the diamond high in a six prong mount, light was allowed to flood through the stone, transforming that all important sparkle. The modern engagement ring, as we recognise it today, owes a remarkable debt to that design. Tiffany still refers to it, quite unapologetically, as the birth of the engagement ring 'as we know it'. By the late 19th century, Tiffany was supplying royalty, redesigning the Great Seal of the US and acquiring pieces from the French Crown Jewels. This is a pedigree very few companies hailing from the other side of the pond can claim. To be so embraced by the upper echelons of society and to be American just wasn't known of then. And then came cinema. In 1961, along came Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, coffee and croissant in hand, gazing into those Fifth Avenue windows. The scene lasted only minutes. The impact lasted in our minds forever. Tiffany & Co. isn't just a shop that happens to sell jewellery, says Dan Hatfield The film didn't invent Tiffany's prestige, it crystallised it. Overnight, the blue box became more than packaging. It became a promise that glamour wasn't reserved solely for heiresses and Hollywood, it might - just might - be within reach for us all. From that moment on, Tiffany wasn't simply selling jewellery. It was selling aspiration wrapped in satin ribbon. So by the time you walked into a Tiffany boutique in 2010, you weren't purchasing grams of gold. You were buying into nearly two centuries of myth making, design authority and cultural cachet. You bought in to that dream, that fairytale. And why wouldn't you? The glamour, the romance, the beauty, the gold! It's all just too tempting for us magpies. Of course you wanted to buy something that would retain its value or increase over time but I'm sure the thrill of the purchase was also tantalising for you as well. From your photo, this looks like an Elsa Peretti Open Heart pendant in 18ct yellow gold, one of Tiffany's most recognisable designs. That matters, because Elsa Peretti wasn't a minor designer, she was seismic. Tiffany itself says her arrival in 1974 'signaled a revolution' in jewellery design, and the partnership has endured for decades. Peretti's genius was creating pieces that felt modern and sensual, without being fussy. The Open Heart is a perfect example, asymmetrical, sculptural, simple enough to wear daily, but distinctive enough that people recognise it instantly. This piece is made of 18ct gold. That's equates 75 per cent pure gold. As you have pointed out gold is extremely valuable right now. We are seeing record highs. In 2010 we saw gold average put at about 790 an ounce. At the time of writing my column this figure stood at 3,877. That's a jump of almost 390 per cent - now if you think that's impressive in just one year alone the price has increased by almost 75 per cent. It's eye watering. In all of my many years as a pawnbroker and valuer I have never known such increases. On a daily basis I look at the spot price and it takes my breath away. Your item will weigh around 15.6 grams. This means that, based on 2010 gold prices you paid almost quadruple the intrinsic value of gold. You weren't just buying the metal though, you were buying the design, craftsmanship, the prestige, that blue box. It all costs money. If you had wanted to buy a piece purely for investment purposes then this would not have been a wise purchase. You could have bought 15.6 grams of 18ct gold for a much lower price in 2010, in fact around 300. That's not to say it was a bad purchase but these designs sit in a rather tricky area. They aren't so rare that they will command premium prices but they feel too special to be worth just the price of the gold when we look at second hand values. The value of the weight of the metal today is around 1,450. That means that if you were just to sell it for what the piece you would have made around 250. Any gain may be seen as positive but to put it in to context, many people are seeing the quadruple returns on their money from purchases from this time. It is easy to deduce then that you pay a rather large premium for the ability to purchase an item from Tiffany and co. I also have to add, therefore some value on due to the prestige of the maker. I would add another 300 to 500 so hopefully you could achieve around 2,000 on a good day. So whilst this lovely bit of jewellery may not send you floating down moon river, it's still a rather spectacular return on your high end luxury purchase. I'm pretty certain it would afford you a rather lovely breakfast at Tiffany's, that's for sure One billion pounds of funding meant to help provide apprenticeships and workplace training remains unspent by the Treasury amid a critical skills shortage and youth unemployment crisis. The money, from government levies on businesses, is stuck in the bank while the proportion of 16-24s not in education, employment or training has reached an 11-year high to 16 per cent in the last quarter of 2025, according to the ONS. Meanwhile, 4:10 companies have warned the current education system cannot deliver essential skills industry needs. Details of the unused money - from the Apprenticeship Levy and Immigration Skills Charge, a tax on overseas skilled workers was revealed by trade organisation Make UK, which said it could be used to 'create 235,000 new apprentice starts'. Unused money: One billion pounds of funding meant to help provide apprenticeships and workplace training remains unspent by the Treasury According to a report by Make UK, access to skills is seen as 'the biggest factor' hampering the ability of small and medium businesses to scale up in to globally competitive firms, a longstanding Achilles heel of the UK economy compared to competitors. It said: 'To begin addressing this critical task, Make UK is calling on the Treasury to release the more than 1 billion of revenue raised from businesses for skills which is not being used to support employer investment in training'. The trade body said 'ringfencing the funding' from the two charges 'would help provide 235,000 new apprentice starts'. Former Tory minister and executive director at Make UK, Robert Halfon, said: 'Locking away 1 billion in unspent levy funds while businesses cry out for talent is a massive missed opportunity. 'It's time to unleash this funding, turbocharge apprenticeships, and give our manufacturers the skilled workforce to lead a skills transformation.' Make's report found 99 per cent of companies say access to skills will be key to future growth plans, with almost two thirds saying it will be critical. But almost four in ten (39 per cent) believe the education system isn't capable of producing skilled young workers. Former Prime Minister David Cameron and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch have been pulled deeper into a bitter legal row over the Government's attempts to ban failed financier Lex Greensill from being a company director. Greensill sensationally claimed in court last week that key accusations of misconduct over Covid loans not spelt out in court but which he believes are central to the case against him were abandoned 'for political reasons'. Cameron was a close adviser to Greensill, whose firm was swept up in a lobbying scandal after the Australian tycoon secured 10 billion of Covid loans from the state-backed British Business Bank. Lex Greensill, 49, argues allegations against him over these Covid loans were dropped just as Cameron was making a political comeback as Foreign Secretary. At the time, Badenoch was Business and Trade Secretary with her department overseeing the Insolvency Service. Greensill is fighting proceedings brought by both to disqualify him as a company director. He was at a two-day High Court hearing last week, in which he sought to strike out the Government's case. His barrister Ian Winter KC, said he received advance notice of disqualification proceedings on November 15, 2023. At that time, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had arranged for Cameron to join the House of Lords to become Foreign Secretary, the court heard. No smoke without fire: David Cameron with disgraced financier Lex Greensill on a trip to Saudi Arabia in 2020 The previous day, the Insolvency Service had met staff at the British Business Bank and Serious Fraud Office to inform them they 'weren't proceeding with the Covid loan allegation'. Winter said successive Secretaries of State for Business and Trade, from Badenoch onwards, had declined to 'disclose notes of those meetings'. The Insolvency Service went ahead with attempts to ban Greensill based on allegations he made 'misrepresentations' to investors, insurers and boards of his own firms unrelated to the Covid loans and insolvency of his company. Full details of these accusations have yet to be revealed. Winter said the element of the case involving Covid loans 'was not included for political reasons'. But Department for Business barrister David Mohyuddin KC told judge Mr Justice William Trower: 'You can reach no such conclusion. It would be wholly unsafe.' Cameron was accused of intense lobbying to secure approval from the Government-backed British Business Bank to make 10 billion of Covid loans to Greensill's business in 2020. The ex-PM sent dozens of texts and emails to civil servants, as well as calling former Tory bigwig Nadhim Zahawi, then a junior business minister. Greensill faces a five-day trial in the summer, to be heard in the Business and Property Court. His barrister said the collapse of the business in 2021 was 'closely related to Greensill Capital UK's participation in the Covid Large Business Interruption Loans scheme, with which Lord Cameron had been closely involved'. The Insolvency Service seeks to disqualify Greensill from company directorships for 12 years. Winter branded the proceedings 'inconsistent and unsustainable' adding: 'He isn't responsible for the causes of insolvency and therefore shouldn't be disqualified.' Mohyuddin conceded the alleged misconduct which now forms the basis of the case against Greensill was not linked to the insolvency, but said: 'Ask yourself 'Is there misconduct?' then ask yourself, does it render Mr Greensill unfit?' Mr Justice Trower reserved judgment until a later date. A spokesman for Kemi Badenoch said: 'We will not comment on an ongoing legal case. As Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch always prioritised getting best value for the British taxpayer.' A spokesman for the Insolvency Service, Greensill and Cameron said they would not comment. Investors in a fund run by Avivas investment arm have lost almost 500m after three controversial incinerator power plants backed by the insurer went bust. The sum it has claimed for is far higher than previous estimates but Aviva will recoup just a tiny fraction of its investment in the projects, which aimed to generate energy from household waste that would otherwise go to landfill. The three sites were dogged by high running costs, technical issues, and in one case a planning row before collapsing into administration late in 2024. Investors in the Aviva fund were by far the largest since 2015. But it will only get back 0.41p in the pound, worth just over 600,000, according to the latest creditors' report by liquidators at FRP Advisory. Aviva had previously written off 368 million for the plants in Hull, Boston in Lincolnshire, and Barry in South Wales. The losses are a rare misstep for Aviva, led by Amanda Blanc, which last week posted operating profits of 2.2 billion up a quarter on a year ago after buying rival insurer Direct Line. Misstep: Aviva has lost almost 500 million after three controversial incinerator power plants backed by the insurer went bust 'It is astonishing that top management took so long to smell the coffee and react to stem the losses and avoid the reputational damage it has inflicted on itself,' said Philip Meadowcroft, an Aviva shareholder. FRP Advisory no longer owns any of the sites, meaning that creditors are unlikely to receive anything if they are sold. The plant at Barry was constructed without being granted the proper planning permission, according to Vale of Glamorgan Council, and is being demolished by its new owner, Associated British Ports. Aviva declined to comment. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's human resources authorities are mulling measures to actively harness AI in creating new job opportunities and empowering traditional jobs, an official said Saturday. Employment potential will be unleashed in sectors such as digital economy, high-end manufacturing and modern services, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature. Pressure is mounting on HSBC and Standard Chartered to review their ties with a leading UK think tank after one of its directors was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. David Taylor was head of programmes at Asia House, which promotes engagement between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and counts both banks among its main backers. HSBC, Standard Chartered and life insurer Prudential are some of its major funders. In 2024, each provided a 50,000 grant, according to accounts filed with Companies House. This followed similar donations in 2023, 2022 and 2021. All three, which have big operations in China and the rest of Asia, also have senior staff in the think tank. Pressure: HSBC and Standard Chartered are being urged to review their ties with leading UK think tank Asia House David Quarrey, HSBC's head of public affairs, and Wendy Wang, chief information officer at its commercial banking division, sit on Asia House's board of trustees. So do Tanuj Kapilashrami, Standard Chartered's chief strategy and talent officer, and Prudential head of government relations and public policy, Duncan Buchanan. Campaigners are calling for the banks to urgently look into their relationship with the think tank after Taylor's arrest. Standard Chartered and HSBC declined to comment. Prudential did not respond to requests for comment. Conflict in the Middle East is threatening the recovery of Burberry as it marks its 170th anniversary with the launch of a new ad campaign focused on its iconic trench coats. The war could hamper boss Joshua Schulman's attempts to revive the brand's fortunes with a focus on 'Britishness', which he has called a 'global language' and credited with driving the revival of the firm. It will be a test of what he calls the 'global resonance' of Burberry's trench coat, to be modelled by stars of sport and screen like Jack Draper, Jonathan Bailey, Kate Moss, and Kristin Scott Thomas. Burberry shares fell almost 6 per cent last week after hostilities erupted in the Middle East, a key market for luxury brands targeting wealthy shoppers in the Gulf. The Stoxx Europe Luxury 10 Index, which tracks the Continent's biggest high-end fashion brands such as LVMH and Cartier-owner Richemont, fell 8 per cent. War footing: Burberry's very British trench coat takes centre stage in its new ad campaign Before the conflict, the region had been a bright spot for the struggling sector as brands grappled with a slump in confidence in the Far East and troubles caused by Trump's trade tariffs. Luca Solca, an analyst at broker Bernstein, backed Burberry's Britishness line but was apprehensive about the outlook for the sector. He said: 'If people don't go back to normal, and we have more issues sourcing oil and gas from the Gulf, then the probability of a recession globally could be increasing. That would definitely dampen discretionary sectors like luxury.' Though Burberry has shops in high-profile centres such as the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, it is expected to be less hard-hit by a Middle East slowdown than its peers as the region accounts for just 3 per cent of sales, according to investment bank Morgan Stanley. By contrast, LVMH, Richemont and Kering (whose brands include Gucci) rely on the region for as much as 9 per cent of their global sales. The UK's biggest steel-maker has paused new orders from its customers after the outbreak of war in the Middle East caused global energy prices to soar. British Steel, which has been under Government control since April last year, told clients it would not be making new deals to supply structural steel while it assesses how the conflict will affect the price of energy and materials, The Mail on Sunday understands. The firm runs the UK's last blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, and can produce up to 3.2 million tons of metal a year. It threatens to deal another blow to the UK's troubled steel sector, which employs 34,000 people and has been hit by US tariffs and the threat of EU trade restrictions, as well as domestic green tax rises that will push costs up further. Pause: British Steel told clients it would not be making new deals to supply structural steel while it assesses how the conflict will affect the price of energy and materials The order halt means taxpayers could end up paying millions to subsidise the Scunthorpe plant and the company's rolling mills as production lines sit idle. A source said the industry was 'braced for price rises' as the price of oil soared to over $90 a barrel last week its highest level in two years and the biggest jump since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Natural gas prices have also risen 81 per cent since the start of the year on fears of a supply crunch. 'We are concerned we already have the highest energy prices in Europe,' a separate source for the wider steel industry said. It comes as Iranian attacks saw shipping grind to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, and through which a fifth of the world's oil passes in tankers. Pressure was already mounting on UK steel-making due to a 25 per cent tariff on steel exports to the US, as well as new levies and import quotas from the EU which are due to come into force in April. And green taxes proposed by the UK government could see taxpayers covering a 500 million-a-year bill for Scunthorpe's blast furnaces, steel industry bosses fear. The levies stem from a looming change to an emissions trading scheme known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, forcing firms to buy permits covering their carbon dioxide emissions. Domestic heavy industry is exempt, but a new version of the scheme could see it brought within the scope of the tax next year. Frank Aaskov at trade body UK Steel said: 'Many steelmakers will be deeply concerned by the sharp increase in gas and electricity prices over the past week. 'The Government should introduce a wholesale electricity market rebalancing mechanism to ensure UK industrial power prices are brought into line with those faced by competitors in countries such as France and Germany.' However, steel boss Sir Andrew Cook said the crisis in the Middle East could provide a 'greater, long-term benefit' to UK firms if cut-price Chinese steelmakers were also hit by soaring energy prices. The head of William Cook Holdings, a producer of steel castings, added: 'Anything that impedes China's destructive assault on the British steel industry and its markets is good for Britain. By throttling China's Iranian oil supplies, the conflict helps to starve China's steel production.' Labour's handling of the sector has sparked outrage after it emerged that a series of big contracts had been given to foreign steelmakers. Industry Minister Chris McDonald said: 'We have been engaging closely with the steel sector and working with them to understand the impact of developments in the Middle East. 'We will shortly publish our Steel Strategy setting out our long term ambition for the UK steel sector. 'This will build on our bold action to back the sector including providing up to 2.5 billion of investment to help it decarbonise, safeguarding thousands of jobs in the industry and protecting it from unfair trading practices with global safeguards on steel imports.' Every abandoned house has a last day someone called it home. For more than a decade, photographer Bryan Sansivero, of New York, has been documenting what comes after someone moves out but no one moves in. From quiet rooms, peeling paint and personal belongings frozen in time, his images have been collated in a new book, America the Abandoned: Captivating Portraits of Deserted Homes. His explorations began in Huntington, Long Island, where as a teenager, he roamed abandoned hospitals, mental asylums and churches, 'intrigued' by the history and emptiness of these vast deserted facilities. In college, Sansivero focused on filmmaking, dedicating his thesis to documenting a forsaken hospital and piecing together its slow unraveling through the lens of his camera. His first abandoned home sat on a rural orchard in Pennsylvania. Soon, he realized there were hundreds more scattered across the country, each shrouded in mystery. 'I stopped, took pictures, went inside and there was a piano from the 1800s and clothing in the closet. The history was just crazy,' Sansivero told the Daily Mail. 'That really drew my attention, because there's so many more houses. There's so much to explore,' he added. In Suffolk County, New York, Sansivero came across this home he dubbed 'The Bayport House.' 'When you're driving through a rural back road, you'll sometimes find a house hidden in the trees - like a tiny capsule tucked away,' he told the Daily Mail 'I just felt it was almost more interesting, because you don't know what you're going to find when you step inside a house.' While he insisted he's never had a brush with the supernatural, the abandoned homes have presented dangers of their own. 'As far as dangerous things - not ghosts - I'd say structural issues,' Sansivero said. 'I've had two separate houses where my leg went straight through the floor.' 'You just have to be really, really careful, because sometimes, half of the house is missing,' he added. 'You go up a staircase, there's no railing. The wood floors are leaning. There are beams with giant holes that drop down about 10ft.' Though careful of dangers such as mold, he has come across wildlife, including raccoons and vultures scavenging in the silence. What Sansivero admits he fears most, however, is running into an squatter still inside. While photographing the first house he explored, he heard footsteps upstairs and realized he wasnt alone. 'It freaked me out so badly,' he told the Daily Mail. 'I jumped out and stuck the board back over the window and said, "Okay, I'm done with this one."' Along the backroads of Sampson County, North Carolina, Sansivero came across an abandoned home, which he said 'was seriously neglected.' He named it the 'Quewhiffle Plantation'. The home appears largely intact in the photograph but there are subtle signs of neglect from overgrown weeds, bare windows and discolored or missing drapes His book, spanning more than 20 states across the South and Northeast, captures Sansiveros vision of frozen time: scattered family photos, mugs left on weathered tables and childrens toys abandoned as if play had just paused. 'It's always sad to see things like toys and photographs, but I think those are the things that kind of bring emotional pictures.' Sansivero has encountered his fair share of unexplainable and unsettling scenes: mannequins hanging from walls, life-sized mermaids in bathtubs and rooms filled with dolls staring with open eyes. 'I'm drawn to the creepiness,' he admitted. Still, he follows a strict rule: the addresses of the homes remain secret, ensuring they are preserved and shielded from anyone with ill intent. Sansivero shared some of his favorite photos with the Daily Mail and explained their dark history. 'UNDER THE SEA' A home in Smyth County, Virginia, greeted Sansivero with mermaid mannequins A house in Smyth County, Virginia, stands out as one of the strangest and most 'unusual places' Sansivero has come across. Life-sized mermaid mannequins filled the rooms, inspiring the home's name: 'Under the Sea.' He didnt realize the true nature of the home until after leaving, when the photos transformed from beautiful to haunting. 'The owner of the inn was a serial killer,' Sansivero revealed. 'They found 21 bodies under the house.' The brick, two-story tavern was built in 1842 on the site of a log tavern with a 'dubious reputation,' where the innkeeper was rumored to have robbed and even murdered unsuspecting guests. John Montgomery Preston transformed the house into a home for his new bride in 1864, but later that year it became a Civil War hospital, taken over by a Union officer and ransacked by his men. In 1947, an author lived in the home, but within a few years, she 'went mad and was sent to a mental hospital for threatening Kennedy,' Sansivero said. According to its history, as recorded in the National Register of Historic Places Inventory, the author claimed the house was haunted by the ghost of a Union soldier who carried his severed head under his arm. It wasnt until the 1980s that over two dozen bodies were discovered in a cave on the property, seemingly dating back to the innkeepers time years earlier. The first time Sansivero stepped into the empty home, he encountered dozens of mermaids, which he said looked like they had been crafted in the 1930s or 1940s. 'There was one just sitting there, and another one in a room just lying there,' he told the Daily Mail. 'It looked like the wigs were made of human hair. I was shocked they were still there, especially since they were so old. 'There's a lot of creepy vibes. You walk in the main room and there are all these church pews just lined up,' he said. 'It makes no sense, and it's just super creepy.' 'PATRIOT'S PIANO' While in New London County, Connecticut, Sansivero discovered a home he said had been almost entirely ransacked While in New London County, Connecticut, Sansivero discovered a home he said had been almost entirely ransacked. It was only when he reached the back of the house that a room filled with antiques and echoes of a past life revealed itself. An upright piano stood neglected, burdened by books piled high above it and another heap pressing against its side, as if on the verge of collapse. Sansivero dubbed the home the 'Patriot's Piano,' likely inspired by the large American flag draped over the musical instrument. A slightly tilted portrait of a man in a bow tie gazes down over the piano, while two oval frames displaying featureless silhouettes hang to its right. A tall, dark wooden shelving unit holds a few mismatched vases and fragile trinkets, while the door behind it bears obvious signs of decay, its white paint peeling in curling layers. Scattered across the worn, muted floral carpet are papers, debris, fallen glass vases and a lone black hat abandoned near the center of the room. 'HER MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND' The family's belongings, Sansivero noted, had all been left behind, battered by Vermont's harsh weather and bitter cold Braving below-freezing temperatures in Essex County, Vermont, Sansivero climbed a steep, snowy hill to capture a deserted house that he named 'Her Memories Left Behind.' 'I say her memories because, the quick story behind this photo, there was a woman. I believe her husband passed away, she was an older woman,' he told the Daily Mail. 'She had kids and they're grown now, and when he died - I believe he was a collector - she kind of just left everything,' he added. '(She) didn't want to deal with anything and moved to Florida. So she really just up and abandoned the house.' He photographed a living room of vintage furnishings, its space littered with clutter: a frayed deep-red rug, scattered photographs and a lone picture frame on the floor. Yet the furniture seemed almost untouched: a dark-red velvet sofa with matching chairs remained arranged along the left wall, as if waiting for someone to return. Two large portraits - a man in a suit and a seated woman - remain on the wall as silent witnesses to the lives that once filled this room. In the garage, an Oldsmobile 442 remained parked. 'This is a house that people have been to now, and they're like, that's an $100,000 car just sitting there,' Sansivero said. Sansivero told the Daily Mail he believes the daughter is seeking to inherit her mother's estate, though she has so far been unsuccessful. 'For whatever reason, the mother would rather have it just sit there and I guess have people constantly going in and photographing it,' he said. 'THE FAMOUS WRITER'S LIBRARY' Sansivero discovered the former residence of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author from Preston County in Vermont that was filled with books During his travels through Vermont, Sansivero discovered the former residence of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author from Preston County and dubbed the home 'The Famous Writer's Library.' 'The whole house was books,' he told the Daily Mail. '(There was) a giant room with a piano and books stacked up as high all the way around,' he said. 'The books then go into another room.' The room, he said, served as a main area of the house and, beyond the books, contained a couch and a deer mounted on the wall. 'These books are just like stacked everywhere, but crazy books too, like Satanism, the occult, witchcraft, devil worship,' he said. 'It was a good find, because that house, there was just so much to photograph,' he added. 'Upstairs was trashed, like trashed, but downstairs was, you know, all the books were just crazy.' 'THE GREEN CARRIAGE' A vintage-style pram containing an armless doll is pictured in this home in Caroline County, Maryland In a home in Caroline County, Maryland, a vintage-style pram containing an armless baby doll inspired Sansivero to title the photograph 'The Green Carriage.' The room seems nearly untouched at first glance, with the bed still made and a blanket resting in the bassinet beneath beige curtains. Sansivero said it felt as though he had opened the bedroom door and that 'it seemed like the kids were going to come home tomorrow'. 'The house was amazing, as far as being able to get photographs of it, because every room just had something interesting and unique,' he told the Daily Mail. But on closer inspection, the room is far from lived in. The green-toned space, lined with slowly peeling wallpaper, has vines creeping in through the window. Atop a dresser, however, a mirror and three large porcelain antiques remain in pristine condition, as if deliberately arranged and spared from the decay around them. Even more puzzling is a towel hanging from one of the drawers, strikingly white and inexplicably clean, as though it had never even been used. 'The towel is so white and it looks brand new,' Sansivero said. 'I can't explain that. I mean, there's vines growing in from the window.' Downstairs told a different story. Sansivero described it as more of a hoarder's space, where it seemed those who left had attempted to salvage random personal items, now stacked and scattered across the table. The house was almost impossible to spot, Sansivero noted, swallowed by overgrowth and set far back from the road, completely hidden from view. 'Way, way back was this house,' he said. 'Then, there was an old carriage in the barn in the back, like an old wagon. That was really cool to see.' 'HUNTER'S HOUSE' An eerie photograph revealed taxidermy and rifles scattered through a house in Sullivan County, New York In Sullivan County, New York, Sansivero captured images of the 'Hunter's House,' a home in the Catskills that once belonged to a hunting enthusiast. 'It was all green,' he told the Daily Mail. 'I really, really liked that house.' An eerie photograph revealed what appears to be a former living room, cluttered with the remnants of a man's life. Taxidermy - including a tiger skin rug with the head still intact - and rifles were scattered throughout the house, while logs remained stacked in the brick fireplace, ready to be burned. The mantel remained filled with paintings, books, decor and family photos - one of which appeared to show a bride and groom on their wedding day. 'I don't think I've been into a house that I photographed where there weren't family pictures,' Sansivero said. The upstairs offered an even deeper glimpse into another life - specifically, that of a teenage girl. A bedroom plastered with Teen Beat magazine pictures suggested to Sansivero that the hunter may have lived with a young daughter and preserved the room long after she possibly moved out. The lingering question in each deserted home is the same: why did the owners leave? Though many of these stories remain a mystery, Sansivero determined that the hunter likely lived out his final days in the green-filled home. During his exploration, he discovered a medical cabinet, an oxygen tank and a hospital bed in one of the upstairs bedrooms. 'THE MASKS' Creepy masks were discovered in a Harrison County, Ohio, house that Sansivero believes are from the 1970s or 1980s One of Sansivero's discoveries was an abandoned farmer's house in Harrison County, Ohio, which he fittingly dubbed 'The Masks.' Inside one back room, pastel blue and pink floral wallpaper, torn in places, covered the walls from floor to ceiling - a 1960s psychedelic pattern Sansivero described as 'striking.' What made the room especially memorable, however, were the unsettling masks hanging along the walls. Sansivero photographed a neon orange clown mask and a bright yellow bunny mask, both with eye holes for wearing. 'I think they're Ben Cooper masks from the 1970s and 1980s,' he added. Tractor-pull and livestock trophies and ribbons filled the house, Sansivero said, alongside a crib in one room and a toy rocking horse seemingly thrown on a bed in another. 'THE SOAPSTONE VICTORIAN' This home in Virginia appears dangerous to explore with boarded-up windows. Sansivero dubbed it 'The Soapstone Victorian' On his Virginia journey, Sansivero came across a historic home in Albemarle County, which he photographed from the roadside. 'I'm especially drawn towards Gothic architecture and Victorian Americana - these are the styles I find most pleasing to look at,' he told the Daily Mail. 'They kind of have a traditional, "haunted house" look,' he added. The home with a turret appears clearly dangerous to explore, with boarded-up windows and wooden columns that seem to be clinging for dear life. After stepping out to investigate, Sansivero realized the crumbling house was on the grounds of a neighboring property, where a man still resides. 'The whole like property is alarmed with sensors. If you go, these blaring alarms would go off,' he said. 'The guy ended up giving me the whole backstory on the house, including the solid soapstone,' he added, which inspired the name he ultimately gave it: 'The Soapstone Victorian.' America the Abandoned: Captivating Portraits of Deserted Homes is out now. Progressive activists with a history of cozying up to Iran's clerical leadership are behind the mass protests across the US this Saturday opposing the war on Iran, the Daily Mail can reveal. Organizers say they hope to draw millions onto the streets of New York City, Los Angeles and some 60 other cities to oppose the joint US-Israeli air campaign that has rocked Tehran and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other senior regime figures. Promotional materials for the rallies have flooded social media in recent days, focusing on rising civilian casualties inside Iran. Flyers and social media posts cite reported strikes on a girls' elementary school in southern Iran and describe widespread disruption amid President Donald Trump's 'Operation Epic Fury.' The protests are being coordinated by a coalition of progressive organizations that have long opposed US military interventions overseas. However, two of the leading groups have faced sustained criticism from lawmakers and policy analysts over what critics describe as sympathetic positions toward Iran's ruling establishment. One of the main organizers is the National Iranian-American Council (NIAC). The Washington-based nonprofit says it advocates for the civil rights and interests of Iranian-Americans and promotes diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. But critics, including some Republican members of Congress, have alleged that NIAC operates as an undeclared lobby for the Islamic Republic a claim that the group has repeatedly denied. NIAC's co-founder, Trita Parsi, traveled frequently to Tehran in past years and held meetings with senior Iranian officials, including then-Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Organizers expect millions to march across more than 60 US cities on Saturday against President Donald Trump's airstrikes on Iran Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin (center front), one of the organizers of the protests, has faced criticism for meeting with Iran's then-Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran Reporting by news outlets Semafor and Iran International, along with information shared by Swedish authorities, has documented links between Parsi and the Iran Experts Initiative, a network of advocates created by Iran's foreign ministry. Republican Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz and Mike Braun in 2020 urged the Department of Justice to investigate NIAC for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, leading to stricter enforcement of the law. Parsi has said he is not a spokesman for Iran, and that his meetings and trips are part of his outreach work. A widely-shared photo of Parsi among an Iranian delegation to nuclear talks in Switzerland in 2015 has never been debunked, and Parsi has acknowledged taking part in the talks. Parsi left the organization in 2018 and was succeeded by Jamal Abdi as president, who has likewise faced criticism for whitewashing a repressive regime. An NIAC spokeswoman said the group rejects 'false accusations.' 'Efforts to silence Americans exercising their constitutional right to protest for peace are nothing new and we're not surprised the people who pushed for this horrific war are now amplifying their smears against the majority of Americans who oppose it,' she said in a statement. 'We completely reject false accusations aimed at distracting the public from the disastrous mistake of this war and invite everyone who seeks peace and human rights to join us.' Another key organizer is Code Pink, the feminist anti-war collective co-founded by activist Medea Benjamin. Despite Iran's repression of women, Benjamin has made several trips to Iran and met Zarif in Tehran in 2019. Trita Parsi, who co-founded NIAC, one of the groups behind the protests, was apparently spotted among a high-level Iranian delegation to nuclear talks in Switzerland in 2015. The image has been widely shared on social media Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin has faced criticism for showing up at a gathering in Tehran that drew Holocaust deniers Code Pink has also faced scrutiny over financial support from Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based businessman married to the organization's co-founder Jodie Evans (pictured together) She also attended a 2014 conference in Tehran that included Holocaust deniers and other controversial participants. Benjamin has described her visits as peace missions aimed at easing tensions and highlighting the impact of sanctions on ordinary Iranians. Some progressive activists have criticized her for appearing alongside Iranian officials at public events. Code Pink has also faced scrutiny over financial support from Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based American businessman married to Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans. Since around 2017, Singham has quietly financed the group, a New York Times investigation revealed. A February 2026 State Department report linked Code Pink and other groups to Chinese malign influence operations. Singham did not respond to requests for comment. Other groups helping organize Saturday's demonstrations include the ANSWER Coalition, the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Democratic Socialists of America. These groups have consistently opposed US military interventions in the Middle East and have staged protests during previous conflicts. Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran and a former White House policy fellow in the Obama administration, said the protests align with what he described as Tehran's broader strategy. Code Pink and NIAC are among the groups behind protests across some 60 US cities Iranian-Americans have also staged their own rallies in support of Trump's effort to overturn their country's Islamist government NIAC founder Trita Parsi has repeatedly rejected claims that he's a spokesman for the Islamic Republic Trita Parsi was exposed on Iran's national TV. They mentioned his name as a lobbyist for the Islamic Republic. https://t.co/EdbWTDHk8a | Sana Ebrahimi (@__Injaneb96) February 8, 2026 'The Iranian regime is banking on political pressure to mount on President Trump to cut this campaign short,' Brodsky told the Daily Mail. 'They view it as asymmetric endurance.' Brodsky said Iran's leadership believes it can outlast military pressure by generating political, economic and social strain inside the US. He argued that if a conflict drags on, public opposition and sustained protest movements could pressure the White House to reduce or halt operations. He added that policymakers should scrutinize what he called 'an unchecked Iranian regime influence operation in the US.' The rallies come more than a week after the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities on February 28. The campaign targeted ballistic missile sites, naval assets and senior regime leadership. Iran has responded with missile attacks across the region. Trump has said the operations could last more than a month and are aimed at eliminating Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, destroying its navy and encouraging regime change by empowering the Iranian public. Critics argue the war lacks congressional authorization and violates international law. They say the conflict risks expanding into a wider regional confrontation and has already sparked an energy crisis. It has reportedly claimed more than 1,000 lives. Critics range from such leftist politicians as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders to Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who calls it a betrayal of the MAGA promise to end America's foreign wars. A CNN poll found that 59 percent of Americans disapprove of the strikes. Seth Frantzman, a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, offered a more cautious assessment of the protests' potential impact. 'This kind of network of people critical of US policy toward Iran, is a well-known group,' Frantzman said. The progressive feminist group Code Pink is among the organizers of the nationwide protests against the war against Iran Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans is married to Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai based financier of far left causes 'It's not surprising that they would be against the US-Israel attacks on Iran.' Frantzman said polling indicates that while many Americans are uneasy about the war, Iran's efforts to shape public opinion in the US have had limited success. 'This protest could be a nothing burger and nobody shows up,' he said. 'The Iranian regime has much less influence in the West than it did a decade ago.' The war marks a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Washington and Tehran, adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution brought Iran's clerical leadership to power. As organizers prepare for large-scale demonstrations, officials are monitoring turnout and messaging. Supporters of the rallies say they are exercising their constitutional right to oppose a war they view as unjust and dangerous and draw a distinction between opposing the war and supporting the clerics. Critics argue that some of the leading groups have a record of engagement with Iranian officials that warrants closer examination. Saturdays protests are expected to test both the depth of public opposition to the conflict and the ability of activist networks to mobilize on a national scale as the war enters its second week. There are few things more embarrassing for a TV star or eastern suburbs socialite than being busted buying a bag and having to do the walk of shame to Waverley Local Court. Only slightly less mortifying than being caught red-handed with a dial-a-dealer from out west is returning a positive test for whatever was left in your system from the night before. The latest celeb to get caught on the snort is fiery chef Colin Fassnidge. The My Kitchen Rules judge, 52, was stopped for a random drug and alcohol test on November 8 while driving along Malabar Road in South Maroubra. While sitting alongside his wife in court on Wednesday, Fassnidge pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug present in his system. It was his second time before the court for the same matter after copping a fine for the same offence in 2022. While Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge opted not to record a conviction, instead finding a two-year good behaviour bond more fitting in light of the public ignominy he'd faced, she didn't let Fassnidge off without a dressing-down. Indeed, Milledge's public smackdowns have become something of a signature when dealing with cocaine celebs, earning her the nickname the 'no-nonsense magistrate'. 'You've only got to turn on the TV to see that people are being killed in our streets, homes are being firebombed, cars are being firebombed, homes are being shot up,' she thundered. The latest celeb to get caught on the snort is fiery chef Colin Fassnidge (pictured in 2023) While Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge opted not to record a conviction, she didn't let Fassnidge (centre, with his solicitor Bryan Wrench, left) off without a dressing-down 'That's the dirty, filthy reality of the drug industry.' When Fassnidge's solicitor Bryan Wrench said his client was trying to 'redeem himself', Magistrate Milledge asked pointedly: 'Why didn't he redeem himself in 2022?' Back in 2021, legal sources revealed how Sydney magistrates were losing patience with the revolving door of 'entitled cocaine consumers' caught purchasing the drug. 'They are sick and tired of seeing white-collar elites caught in possession of cocaine or caught using a dial-a-dealer,' the insider said at the time. 'They see the same routine - they hire an expensive barrister, they get counselling and often get let go on section 10 [where a defendant is found guilty, but no conviction recorded] and walk away with a fine [or] community service.' Sometimes even that is considered too harsh and they simply waltz out the door, with the only punishment being a pap photo outside court and a story in the Daily Mail. Before Fassnidge, the latest member of the club was fashion guru Katherine 'Kate' Killey who last April pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing a prohibited drug after cops sprung her buying a bag on a Friday night in Bondi. The 41-year-old, who used to do PR for Alice McCall and now runs her own fashion sales business, The Known Agency, had been spied by plainclothes police ducking into a Ford station wagon that had pulled up outside an apartment complex on Spring Street. Before Fassnidge, the latest member of the club was Katherine 'Kate' Killey (pictured), who last April pleaded guilty to a single charge of possessing a prohibited drug A quick search of the car showed it was from 'well out of the area'. When Ms Killey was seen exiting the vehicle just 20 seconds after sitting down in the passenger seat, it didn't take Columbo to work out what was going on. She was stopped by the cops and when asked if she had drugs on her, a 'clearly remorseful' Ms Killey handed over a little baggie with 0.6g of cocaine inside. When the matter made it to court less than two weeks later, it was dismissed without conviction. And fair enough: Ms Killey, originally an Adelaide girl, has an otherwise unblemished reputation and is highly regarded in her industry. She told the court she was 'mortified', deeply sorry and her solicitor argued a criminal record would seriously affect her globe-trotting career in fashion. While a small-time eastern suburbs cocaine arrest hardly seems to raise eyebrows these days, the remarks by the weary magistrate bear repeating. The Killey case reminded us of Kristin Fisher's (pictured) brush with the law in 2021 and a thundering slapdown from a magistrate at the time Judge Ross Hudson once thundered: 'People who justify their cocaine usage as socially acceptable or as part of the social fabric... it is not. It is a criminal, illegal drug' In a report by the Wentworth Courier, you could almost hear the despair in Stephen Barlow's voice as he told the court that Ms Killey's offending was 'almost an eastern suburbs stereotype' at this stage. He went on to remark that 'getting caught with cocaine in Bondi is pretty prevalent'. Magistrate Barlow noted that 'intelligent' eastern suburbs high-flyers often assume they won't get caught buying coke - even though police 'have eyes on everyone around here' as they seek to crack down on the illicit trade. 'I'm not telling you to get your cocaine anywhere else,' he added. 'But you have to decide what's more important: your career, your reputation and the ability to travel to New York without having to be cross-examined, or is it cocaine?' It's a good question - perhaps one that other Sydney businesswomen with plenty to lose should be asking themselves. Now, Barlow's gentle chiding of Ms Killey was nothing compared to the dressing-down fellow magistrate Ross Hudson gave Kristin Fisher back in October 2021 after her conviction for cocaine possession was annulled in the same court. The Double Bay eyebrow technician, like Ms Killey, had been busted in a 'dial-a-dealer' situation after hopping into the passenger seat of a 19-year-old's Kia Rio for a quick transaction. A 'mortified' Ms Fisher apologised for her 'dreadful mistake' and her application to annul her sentence was duly granted. But she was given a stern warning that was directed at many others in the east. 'People who justify their cocaine usage as socially acceptable or as part of the social fabric... it is not. It is a criminal, illegal drug,' thundered Hudson, who has since been appointed as a District Court judge. 'It is a stain on our community. People in the eastern suburbs must be fed up with it.' William Mooney escaped a conviction for cocaine possession in December 2022 after being caught throwing a bag he'd just bought from a Corolla-driving dial-a-dealer into a gutter When it comes to slapping down eastern suburbs bag-buyers, few can compare to Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge Of course, when it comes to slapping down eastern suburbs bag-buyers, Barlow and Hudson are wallflowers compared to Magistrate Milledge. A Google search for 'Jacqueline Milledge cocaine' yields a highlight reel of takedowns so withering that I wonder if those on the receiving end of them ever fully recovered. Take celebrity nose surgeon William Mooney, who escaped a conviction for cocaine possession in December 2022 after being caught throwing a bag he'd just bought from a Toyota Corolla-driving dial-a-dealer into a gutter. The icing on the cake? He'd been standing in the middle of a Bondi Beach street in his boxer shorts. Magistrate Milledge thundered: 'You ought to be ashamed of yourself.' When Mooney's defence barrister argued his client was 'not a drug user' and had collected the cocaine outside his home for his girlfriend, Milledge questioned why he would be 'with a partner who likes to stick it up her nose'. Ouch. In a separate matter, an eastern suburbs schoolteacher faced Magistrate Milledge when she pleaded guilty to drug possession at Waverley in 2023. She tried to claim the bag of coke in her possession belonged to a friend who 'did not have a handbag', but Milledge wasn't buying it. 'To your credit when you got caught, you were compliant [but] I don't buy that you were minding it for someone it was there to be enjoyed [by you],' she said. 'In life we all take risks, we jump out of planes [you're] someone who chose a [career] path which relies on integrity you've said, "I'll gamble all of that, because I want to stick something up my nose."' No conviction was recorded. New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the past week MAFS INSIDER: Sickening leaked group chat exposes the truth behind the 'mean girls' campaign to destroy Alissa. Channel Nine wanted it buried - now lawyers are involved 'Everyone asks why my mouth is like this': MAFS Bec reveals the real story behind her facial difference - and the celebrity surgeon uncle who transformed her life Kyle and Jackie O's explosive falling-out has been years in the making. Everyone in media knows what's going on - now industry insider ROB MCKNIGHT says it out loud MAFS INSIDER: Brook's selfish final betrayal that wasn't shown on TV, revealed by husband Chris... Plus, the leaked photo set to expose Bec's lies about Gia LIZ JONES: This picture of Kate at the Baftas says it all. We are tired of reading between the lines - it's time for the truth Shelley Sullivan divorce twist as her ex moves on with a famous heiress... Plus, the latest chambers chatter about Chief Justice dating a junior judge: THE GROUP CHAT Messy private school mum behind Reddam House WhatsApp scandal stuns with revelation about her marriage after being accused of 'cracking on' to famous dad and sending wild texts They were supposed to be Australia's Kardashians... until their brother's life of crime forced them into the shadows. Now, 10 years after Salim's wedding, we tracked down the glamorous Mehajer sisters - and they look unrecognisable I've been with smelly, filthy men like Benny Blanco. Here's the sex truth no woman will admit... I'm going to sound SO unhinged saying this: JANA HOCKING Expelled and labelled a 'monster': School insider reveals the tragic lives of the autistic Clune boys before they were killed by their 'sleep-deprived' parents in a quiet Mosman Park cul-de-sac The Jackie O problem hiding in plain sight: Kyle was out of line - but he's not solely to blame for their inevitable bust-up: AMANDA GOFF A second alleged associate of accused childcare paedophile Joshua Brown has been charged with almost 200 offences, including bestiality and child sex crimes. In September last year, 29-year-old Matthew Green - who is gender fluid and also uses the name Kayleigh - was arrested and charged with 194 offences. It is understood Green and Brown are not co-accused and did not allegedly offend together. But police have since found a link between them. The connection was reportedly in relation to accusations of bestiality, with Green facing no allegations related to the childcare industry, the Herald Sun reports. The charges against Green include more than a dozen acts of bestiality involving a horse in Leongatha during an almost two-year period from July 2022 to April 2024. There are also charges against Green relating to allegedly sexually penetrating and touching a child on over a dozen occasions, producing child abuse material and possessing two childlike sex dolls. An extension of a suppression order on Green had been argued in court in January but it was lifted. He is due to return to court on March 13. Brown, 27, has remained in custody since May 12 and faces up to 156 offences - 83 of which were confirmed in December, months after his arrest. An alleged associate of accused childcare paedophile Joshua Brown (pictured) has been charged with more than 100 offences, including bestiality and child sex offences Brown worked in more than 20 childcare centres across Melbourne and is accused of sexually abusing babies and toddlers at a centre in the city's west He had worked in more than 20 childcare centres across Melbourne and is accused of sexually abusing babies and toddlers at a centre in the city's west between April 2022 and January 2023. Other claims include six counts of penetrating a child under 12, eight counts of producing child abuse material and 23 counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material. Brown was also charged with 12 counts of bestiality as part of a separate investigation, which is unrelated to the childcare centres. He was not known to police prior to their investigation and had a Working With Children Check, which has since been revoked. In July, about 2,000 children were asked to undergo health screening after it was revealed that Brown had been arrested. The case has plunged Australia's childcare sector into crisis, prompting the top two executives at Affinity Education - which employed Brown - to stand down in October. Brown was allegedly nabbed by police after 'information' found on another alleged offender's devices led police to him. Michael Simon Wilson, 36, first faced court in July last year charged with 45 offences including possessing and transmitting child abuse material, rape and bestiality. Brown was alleged nabbed by police after 'information' found on devices belonging to another alleged offender, Michael Simon Wilson (pictured), led police to him The former waste management worker has since been charged in a separate case with multiple counts of rape, stalking and unlawful imprisonment. Wilson has been behind bars since April after being accused of raping a teenage boy in Hoppers Crossing, in Melbournes south-west, who police say he met online. He is not charged with any childcare-related offending. In October, Wilson's lawyer Heather Anderson said Wilson and Brown were not linked and were not co-accused as she applied to suppress his case from media reporting. She argued there was a risk Wilson would not receive a fair jury trial if he continued to be tied to Brown. But Prosecutor Pierce Russell opposed the suppression application, adding there was a link between the two men. 'The link between them is an evidentiary link and forms the basis of certain charges,' he told the earlier October hearing,' Mr Russell said. 'There are discussions between the pair that occur involving discussions about child abuse material. 'And police investigators they located those communications and that's effectively what kickstarted their inquiry into Mr Brown.' The court-imposed gag order on the allegations against Wilson was later lifted. An Aussie mum has recalled how her family flew alongside fighter jets after a holiday stopover in Abu Dhabi suddenly became a scramble to escape missile attacks. Camille Thioulouse landed in the UAE capital with her French husband and two children on the way home to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid heavy Iranian bombardment. The intense barrage of 137 ballistic missiles and more than 200 drones shook the ground with 'loud bangs and explosions' as their flight touched down. The family then embarked on an hours-long journey that included switching cars three times to finally make it home safely. Ms Thioulouse said her children have become sensitive to loud noises, with her nine-year-old son asking 'Is that a missile, Mummy?' after a door suddenly slammed. 'Fleeing a conflict zone with two small children was something I never imagined I would ever have to do,' Ms Thioulouse told the Daily Mail on Saturday. 'What should have been a stopover from an amazing holiday; became something entirely different once the conflict began to escalate across the Middle East.' She described the sense of urgency the family felt as they packed suitcases, snacks and documents while she and her husband tried remain calm for their children. Australian mum Camille Thioulouse and her family (pictured) drove for hours from Abu Dhabi, UAE, to their home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to flee conflict growing in the Middle East region The family, who were trying to travel home to Riyadh from a holiday overseas, had to take three cars to make their way across the border The first flight to Australia from Abu Dhabi landed in Sydney on Thursday morning 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 in the UAE capital this week 'You talk about the journey like it's an adventure, even when your mind is racing with logistics and uncertainty and the adrenaline is coursing through your veins,' she said. The family had been flying to the UAE for a flight connection when they received text messages in the air warning of missile threats. 'We then saw fighter jets leaving the airspace and flying past us. These alerts kept going off every 15 minutes,' she told 7News earlier this week. 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 urging them to take cover. The family stayed in a secure hotel until they embarked on a multi-staged odyssey home on Thursday, with their journey to thxe UAE border taking over three hours. They then transferred to another car to cross through the checkpoints including passport checks, visa checks and luggage checks. After finally getting through the border checks, the family met a third car which took them six long hours to Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia, via desert highways. '(The roads) seemed to stretch endlessly, camels on the side of the road and long stretches of desert with sand and more sand,' she said. 'But with every kilometre, the tension eased a little. We knew we were getting closer to our home.' The drive from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh took about 10 hours Ms Thioulouse said that when they had dinner at home, one of her children heard a bang and asked if it was a missile (pictured, people at a traffic signal in Dubai after an Iranian attack) Ms Thioulouse, who runs her own PR and talent management consultancy The Societe and has worked at fashion label Rebecca Vallance, had only just moved from Australia with her kids in December to join her husband, architect Nicolas Thioulouse, in Riyadh. She said there was a sense of relief on arriving home to their compound in the city, but the ordeal continues to take its toll on the family, including her children. 'We had dinner in the compound at the restaurant as we were too tired to cook after the travel and the events of the last few days,' she said. 'A door suddenly slammed loudly in the restaurant, and the noise made us all jump. Our nine-year-old son, Raphael said "Is that a missile, Mummy?" 'We are now having conversations with our children about war and safety far earlier than we imagined, hoping they are coping with this experience in their young lives.' Ms Thioulouse said life in Riyadh feels 'pretty normal' but the children's school remains closed. 'Some expats have headed to their homes in the UK and Europe early, ahead of the break (at the end of Ramadan) in a few weeks,' she said. 'But for now, we feel safe here.' Ms Thioulouse said life in Riyadh feels 'pretty normal' but the children's school remains closed Thousands of flights were delayed or cancelled in the biggest disruption to global air transport since the Covid pandemic as airlines suspended services to the Middle East More than 1,000 people are believed to have been killed since the US and Israel bombed Iran last weekend, prompting retaliatory strikes on nearby US allies and broader regional conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed three Australian defence members were onboard a US nuclear submarine that sank an Iranian ship. The personnel were on the submarine as part of a training rotation for the AUKUS security pact, which will provide Australia with nuclear vessels. The first flight to Australia from Abu Dhabi landed in Sydney on Thursday morning with only about a third of its seats filled, passengers said. Another two Emirates flights from Dubai landed in Australia overnight into Friday and several more are scheduled to depart from the war-torn region, as passengers are encouraged to keep their tickets and stay in constant contact with their airlines. For the first time since 1945, a regional war is threatening to engulf the entire world. On every continent, governments are being forced to take a side: either with the Americans and Israel, or with Iran and its fellow autocracies. The consequences for global trade, to say nothing of global security, are enormous. The world economy is far more complex than it was during the Second World War. As the pandemic exposed, many countries, including Britain, operate a 'just in time' policy of importing energy and food as they become needed. When a crisis disrupts the supply chain, the impact is felt in empty shelves and soaring prices. Donald Trump will be under pressure from many in the US and elsewhere to declare victory and end the attacks. But Iran, whose brutal Revolutionary Guard Corps show no sign of being ready to relinquish power, might not agree to a ceasefire. They have already shown themselves capable of raining hell on the civilian populations of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and other Gulf states and may well be planning terrorist atrocities in the West. As the war heads into its second week, the tremors seem set to shake the planet. Your browser does not support iframes. The U.S. ANTI-IRAN: America's technology, especially in partnership with Israel, is second to none. Its missiles are accurate and its power to wreak destruction colossal. But Iran's drones cost as little as 3,750 apiece and can be manufactured by the hundreds daily while a single interceptor rocket to shoot one down can cost 15million. Trump claimed this week that US stockpiles are limitless. This is false. Iran's drone supply could ramp up faster than America's defences which could be pivotal for the outcome of the war. Importantly, US politicians among them many Republicans are far from uniformly behind Trump. Isolationist Vice-President JD Vance has, for one, been very quiet. Voter reaction has also been mixed and US losses are likely to mount. In the week since the US's attack launched on February 28, six American soldiers have been killed in Iran, with almost $2billion worth of military equipment lost. Brazil and Mexico PRO-IRAN: Brazil, the most populous country in South America, is an economic powerhouse. It has good relations with Iran and is suspicious of US influence, particularly since Trump gave vocal support to imprisoned hard-Right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro. Meanwhile, many Mexicans retain longheld sympathies for Palestinians, and see Israel in the same light as the US as a colonial oppressor. While officially neutral, the country will privately support Iran. Argentina ANTI-IRAN: South America Donald Trump's backyard is not a disinterested observer of a war thousands of miles away. Argentina has been ferociously anti-Iran since at least 1994, when a Tehran-sponsored suicide bomb killed 85 people at a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires an atrocity orchestrated by the regime as retribution for Argentina's decision to stop sharing nuclear secrets. Even though his economy is reliant on cheap energy, especially for the agricultural sector, Argentinian president Javier Milei is loudly proTrump and pro-Israel. Smoke rises near Erbil International Airport, Iraq, which hosts US-led coalition troops, on Sunday Azerbaijan ANTI-IRAN: Only about 60 per cent of Iranians (roughly 55million people) are ethnic Persians. A further 25million are Azeri who form the majority in Azerbaijan. If the regime in Tehran crumbles and civil war breaks out, tribal conflict between the Azeris and the Persians could quickly spread across the border. War between Iran and Azerbaijan could then sever a crucial pipeline bringing oil from the Turkish coast with BP one of the main beneficiaries into the Mediterranean. Since European airlines can't fly over Russia or Iran, Azeri airspace is a vital corridor East to West. If a passenger jet is shot down here, the route will be closed. Britain, France and Germany ANTI-IRAN: In a joint statement, the three major European nations deplored Iran's attacks on Gulf states and made a qualified offer to assist the US-Israeli efforts. However, Britain in particular failed to offer support fast enough to appease Trump, who called PM Keir Starmer 'a loser' and 'no Churchill'. Germany claimed to have been warned in advance of the strikes (as was Poland, a firm US ally with a strong military) but Britain and France were not. Spain NEUTRAL...BUT: Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez is hardly an advocate for the ayatollahs, but he initially labelled the strikes an 'unjustified, dangerous military intervention' that contravened international law, refusing to let America use joint Spanish military bases. A furious Trump then threatened to suspend all trade. On Thursday, a Spanish Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery helped to shoot down an Iranian missile. But Spain's hostility to Israel an ancient enmity worsened by modern politics is unlikely to shift. Ireland NEUTRAL: Sinn Fein has denounced the US-Israeli action as 'an act of aggression that threatens to set the entire Middle East ablaze'. Yet the government has stopped short of condemning strikes, with Taoiseach Micheal Martin due to meet Trump later this month saying: 'We believe in immediate de-escalation.' For all the friendliness between the two countries, Irish public opinion seems to stand firmly against President Trump. The U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Sunday, leaving plumes of smoke as seen from Doha, Qatar Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece and Portugal NEUTRAL: Although Nato members, many European countries prefer to keep well out, wording their responses to the strikes carefully. Estonia recommended 'pressure through sanctions', Greece and Belgium highlighted concerns for the safety of their citizens, Portugal regretted Iran's 'unacceptable' violation of human rights, and Bulgaria worried about 'dangerous military escalation'. But the longer war drags on, the more likely they'll be forced to pick a side. Russia PRO-IRAN: The biggest winner from the conflict so far is Vladimir Putin. With Iran unable to export much of its oil, soaring global energy prices are again boosting Russia's war chest for the quagmire in Ukraine. Iran is a longstanding 'strategic partner' of the Kremlin, and has been supplying the Russian military with swarms of Shahed suicide drones. Russia, too, produces thousands of drones and sells them back to Iran, while supplying the mullahs with aircraft, missiles and anti-aircraft systems as well as satellite intelligence. Russia also opens its banks to Iran to dodge American and EU sanctions. China PRO-IRAN: This is the most dangerous flashpoint. China needs Iran's oil for its military vehicles and warplanes, and buys it despite international sanctions. Beijing's warships are sailing into the Arabian Gulf to escort Iranian tankers. If, by accident or in an act of self-defence, a US missile hits a Chinese ship, or if China fires on a US plane, the world could be plunged into all-out war between East and West. Even without that terrifying scenario, Beijing is helping Iran. Its satellites are tracking missile launches from Israeli bases and US carriers in the Indian Ocean and feeding this crucial intelligence to Tehran. China is also believed to be smuggling aid and ordnance such as ammunition, drones and perhaps missiles to help the mullahs. An oil tanker, Skylight, was hit off Oman's Musandam peninsula on Sunday Egypt NEUTRAL: In 1979 Egypt infuriated Iran by striking a peace deal with Israel and offering sanctuary to the ousted Shah. Egypt has long been subsidised by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who believe its large army would be useful in a future conflict. But if Iran's proxies in Yemen, the Houthis, successfully blockade the Red Sea, energy revenues will collapse and with them much Arab support. Egypt may find that its neutrality cannot hold, and it will be forced to side against Iran. India NEUTRAL...FOR NOW: India is successfully walking a tightrope. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just signed trade and defence deals with Israel. But India is also a major oil importer from the Gulf region, and relies on buying natural gas for making fertiliser. (Delhi also retains strong links with Moscow and has refused to condemn Putin's invasion of Ukraine.) Whatever its stance, India has much to lose if the war drags on. South Africa PRO-IRAN: Since the Nelson Mandela era, South Africa has been hostile to Israel, even bringing charges of 'genocide' against it at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, over the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The current government, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, also remembers Iranian support in the apartheid era, when Tehran refused to supply the white supremacist government with oil. Australia ANTI-IRAN: While Britain vacillated under Keir Starmer, Australia has publicly supported the US/Israeli action, though it has not sent any forces. Public opinion is widely supportive of America, especially in the aftermath of last December's Bondi Beach massacre, carried out by Islamist extremists. However, Australia draws about 30 per cent of its energy imports from the Gulf and exports a lot of mutton there, so the war's economic impact with trade from the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq all blocked or sharply reduced will be significant. Japan and South Korea ANTI-IRAN: Japan and South Korea are rock-solid US allies. But these big industrial economies along with Singapore and Taiwan are energy-hungry importers of oil and gas from the Gulf countries, including Iran. If producers of cars and consumer goods cannot get energy, production will stall. Getting goods to European markets will also be much more expensive if the route to the Suez Canal becomes too dangerous. South Korea has one of the world's largest armed forces with 3.5million personnel, should it be needed. Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk A lifer jailed for a gangland murder posed with his 'influencer' girlfriend inside prison for a loved-up photo shared on their TikTok accounts. Taylor Meanley was just 17 when he fired a shotgun at 20-year-old Lewis Williams in what prosecutors called 'a planned execution'. He was jailed the same year for a minimum of 27 years along with three others for their roles in the 2021 attack in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The Daily Mail previously revealed the unrepentant gang member amassed 10,000 followers on Instagram by glorifying his crimes through self-made rap music videos from inside a high-security prison. Meanley, now 21, can be seen grinning widely next to his blonde girlfriend, who proudly shared the image with her thousands of TikTok followers. The young woman, Bobby-Jo, was met with hundreds of comments after sharing the cosy snap, including some reading 'make sure you hold it down for him' and 'what a pair of cuties'. The photo is understood to have been taken by prison staff during a visit and then sent to the killer's girlfriend - it was not allowed to be shared online. But another TikTok account appearing to be Meanley's also shared the photo to more than 12,000 fans with the caption 'real 1' followed by a love heart. Murderer Taylor Meanley (left) is seen pictured with his 'influencer' girlfriend (right) inside prison The photo is understood to have been taken by prison staff during a visit and then sent to the killer's girlfriend Bobby-Jo (pictured) - but was not allowed to be shared online The same page, set up to glorify Meanley's rap alias T Shotz, also revealed the killer had a TV in his cell, a drawer full of snacks and a rail of designer clothes including Canada Goose coats. Some of the chilling clips were posted just a few weeks ago. In one video, Meanley brags of his love of firearms and mocks his victim, who died from wounds to the neck. He says: 'From young I've been silly, always kept my hands on it... Always loved my shotties [shotguns] and my handguns. 'Slide round to mine and get banged on [shot]. 'All you cap [fake] rappers - you don't bang guns or slang [sell] drugs, I don't listen. 'I'm back on the wing where I'm linked up with killers, straight back on the phone landing drones, f*** visits.' He then uses his two hands to imitate a gun firing as he makes a chilling reference to his murder, with the lyrics: 'Caught a head shot with a shottie, bro I caught a pack.' He appears with another prisoner in another clip, where he continues to brag of his exploits. All images were taken down by the platform after they were revealed by the Daily Mail. Meanley and Jack Parkes, 21, were convicted of murder while Joe Anderton, 18, and Arlind Nika, 16, were jailed for manslaughter. During the trial, jurors heard that on January 11, 2021, the four defendants toured the Mexborough area in a Jaguar looking for Mr Williams. Gang member Taylor Meanley (pictured) was just 17 when he fired a shotgun at 20-year-old Lewis Williams in what prosecutors called 'a planned execution' Bobby-Jo (pictured) proudly shared the image of her killer boyfriend with her thousands of TikTok followers Lewis Williams (pictured), 20, died after being shot in the neck by Meanley, who was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years in prison The victim, who was hit at close range, suffered 'catastrophic injuries' and died from injuries to his neck and chest. It was heard the getaway vehicle was later found burned out near Ingsfield Lane, in Bolton upon Dearne. In tributes to Mr Williams following the murder, his brother Jason wrote online: 'Proper love him so much, best thing in world he was, honestly the proudest brother of all time I was!' Possessing or using a phone in prison without authorisation is a criminal offence. Inmates are prohibited from having personal cell phones, and any unauthorised device can lead to additional jail time and fines. However, inmates can use authorised prison phones - but only to call pre-approved numbers, which are subject to monitoring. There has in recent years been a spike in the use of drones to drop drugs, phones and weapons into jails across Britain. Unrepentant Meanley (pictured) has amassed almost 10,000 followers on Instagram for his glorification of his crimes using self-made rap music videos A prison source said a number of targeted countermeasures are being used to stop them such as improvements to windows, netting and grilles to stop drones from successful drops. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'We are aware of these unacceptable posts and have requested their removal. 'Any offender caught using a phone or social media in prison faces punishment, which could include additional time behind bars.' An aerial drone photo taken on March 4, 2026 shows the jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (China Road and Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) MAPUTO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo on Friday attended the inauguration ceremony of a jetty bridge on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, a project built by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). Located about 30 km from the capital, Maputo, Inhaca Island has around 6,000 residents and is known for its tourism resources. Previously, shallow waters around the island prevented large passenger boats from docking directly, forcing passengers to transfer to smaller boats and wade ashore. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. Speaking at the ceremony, Chapo said the infrastructure would help improve mobility and create new opportunities for economic and tourism development on the island. Wang Lijun, general manager of the CRBC, said the project will help facilitate the movement of people and goods and contribute to the development of tourism and the local economy. The jetty is located near the environmentally sensitive waters of Maputo National Park. Wang said environmental protection measures were strictly implemented throughout construction. Third-party institutions conducted regular seawater and air quality monitoring and all construction waste was transported to the mainland for proper disposal. Construction also faced logistical challenges due to shallow waters and limited maritime transport resources. More than 30,000 tonnes of construction materials were transported from the mainland, mainly via barges towed by local vessels. During peak construction, the project created around 300 jobs, most filled by local workers. Bruno Chanicomo, a local tour guide, said the new facility would make it easier for visitors to reach the island and is expected to bring more tourists and business opportunities to the local community. An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026 shows the jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (China Road and Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo attends the inauguration ceremony of a jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique, March 6, 2026. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (Photo by Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 6, 2026 shows the jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) This photo taken on March 6, 2026 shows the shallow waters near Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 3, 2026 shows local residents and tourists wading through seawater to board boats before the completion of the jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (China Road and Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) This photo taken on March 6, 2026 shows the jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 21, 2026 shows the jetty bridge built by China Road and Bridge Corporation on Inhaca Island in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. The newly completed jetty bridge, with a total length of about 1.3 km, allows passenger vessels to dock under different tidal conditions. Visitors can now reach the island directly via the jetty, improving the safety and efficiency of passenger transport. (China Road and Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua) Campaigners have raised fears that parents and children who take part in Labours consultation on banning social media could have their information shared with big tech companies. The small print on the Governments consultation states that participants may have their personal data shared with Google and Meta - the very companies that campaigners want to see regulated. Parents have raised concerns about this and called on Labour to make changes to the terms of Growing up in the online world: a national consultation to ensure this does not happen. However the Government insisted that this is a standard privacy policy that can only collect basic technical data such as an IP address - not personal answers to the consultation. It comes as MPs are next week set to debate a social media ban for under-16s after the House of Lords backed an amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would see this become law. However Labour has instead suggested a wide-ranging, flexible power that would allow it to introduce measures such as curfews or time limits. The Government this week launched a consultation to decide what action it should take. The consultation requires parents and carers of young people aged 21 and under, and children and young people aged 10 to 21 to accept the privacy policy of Savanta, the Governments survey platform contractor. The privacy policy states: We may share your data with the below suppliers to help us improve our services and targeting: Google, LinkedIn [and] Meta. Sir Keir Starmer attempted to head off a looming backbench rebellion by announcing plans for a consultation on banning social media for under-16s The Government is consulting on measures 'to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change', which could include a social media ban for under-16s Lord Nash, the Conservative Peer behind the Lords bid for a social media ban for u16s, described the revelation as deeply concerning. It has long been clear that this consultation is a gift to big tech, providing cover for delay while the companies mobilise opposition to any meaningful action, the former schools minister told the Daily Mail. The Government now urgently needs to make clear that every parent and child who takes part in this consultation will not have their personal data shared with the very companies they want regulated. I urge every member of the public who is rightly alarmed by this to tell their MP at raisetheage.org.uk to reject the Governments compromised consultation on Monday and vote for my amendment, which would raise the age limit for harmful social media platforms to 16 now. Harry Amies - founder of online child protection parents group Unplug.Scot, which discovered the small print - called on the Government to suspend the consultation until this mess is sorted out. He said: The discovery that not only parents but children's personal data may be shared with Meta and Google, without their explicit consent or knowledge, is extremely concerning. The Government needs to urgently change the terms of this consultation to ensure this does not happen. It comes as 23 bereaved parents urged MPs to support an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s, saying mothers and fathers cannot regulate billion-dollar technology companies from their kitchen tables. Our children should be here. They should be at school, at home, arguing with their siblings, planning their futures, the group of parents that includes Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers, said in a statement. Instead, we are left trying to understand how platforms designed and engineered by some of the most powerful companies in the world were allowed to reach into their bedrooms and shape their lives without meaningful protection. The parents, led by Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died while attempting an online challenge in 2022, warned tech firms have extraordinary resources and access. They added: Every additional delay gives them more opportunity to dilute or weaken reforms behind closed doors. Meanwhile, children remain exposed to products we already know can cause harm. A DSIT spokesman said of the privacy policy concerns: These claims are utterly absurd. 'The reference in question has nothing whatsoever to do with the views people share in this consultation. Like every major website, including the Daily Mails own, Savanta are legally required to state that if someone is already logged into platforms like Facebook, Instagram or X when responding to the survey those companies may collect basic technical data such as an IP address. It has no connection to, and no impact on, the personal views or details people choose to share to help us make the next steps on online safety policy. Savanta was approached for comment. Last Sunday, the television personality Georgia Toffolo marked the first anniversary of her nuptials to businessman James Watt with a rhapsodic Instagram tribute. 'One year married to you,' she wrote. 'I had a whole fantasy about what marriage would look like since I was about five years old and honestly? What we have is a thousand times better. The life we've built is extraordinary the highs, the lows, all of it. Me and you, my love, forever.' Toffolo, 31, the former Made In Chelsea star better known as Toff, did not expand on the nature of those highs and lows but a great many people did not need her to clarify what might fit under the latter heading. Less than 24 hours after that gushing marital homage on Sunday, 484 employees of BrewDog the company Watt co-founded with his university chum Martin Dickie and led for 17 years were told in a 15-minute conference call that they were being made redundant. Earlier that day, tens of thousands of small investors beer enthusiasts who had been integral to realising the self-styled 'punk' brewer's dream had received similarly gloomy tidings by email in which they were informed that BrewDog had entered administration and been sold to the US company Tilray for 33million. They are unlikely to get a penny of their investment back. A decidedly unpunkish ending, as one former employee pointed out: 'A company that promised to explode went out like a deflating balloon.' Or, in more sober terms, a once 900million brand built on rebellion and the support of ordinary people quietly absorbed by a multinational buyer at a fraction of its former valuation. Little wonder that on the professional networking site LinkedIn, where he styles himself 'Investor Entrepreneur Punk', the 43-year-old Watt adopted a humble tone in a lengthy post in which he said he was 'heartbroken' at the fate that had befallen his beloved company. BrewDog co-founders Martin Dickie, left, and James Watt, right, shared a flat as students at Edinburgh 'During my 17 years in charge there were highs, lows, successes, failures, huge gambles and many mistakes,' he wrote, emphasising that this week had been 'incredibly hard'. Alas, his outpouring met with short shrift from many: While there were some who praised Watt's vision and indefatigable energy, plenty of others were scathing. 'Are you heartbroken you gave the institutional investor preference over the equity punks [the nickname given to the small investors]?' one asked. 'An arrangement that ensured we received no return on our investments?' Another accused him of 'continued conceit' while over on the social media forum Reddit, the mood was barely less febrile. 'How can we hold these charlatans to account?' demanded one user describing himself as 'livid'. Another accused Watt of 'hubris'. Hubris seems to be a suitable word to describe the extraordinary arc of BrewDog, the small-time Scottish brewery that muscled its way into the big time. Watt and Dickie, who had shared a flat as students at Edinburgh (Watt studied economics and law at Edinburgh University, Dickie learned brewing at nearby Heriot-Watt) were in their early 20s when they started brewing their own craft beer in an industrial unit in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Armed with their savings and a 20,000 bank loan, they set about making aggressively hopped craft beer at a time when the British market was still dominated by mass produced lagers and traditional ales. While Dickie, brewing degree in hand, took care of production, Watt, a former fishing boat captain, masterminded BrewDog's outward face, orchestrating a succession of marketing stunts that ensured column inches and television coverage. Last Sunday, the television personality Georgia Toffolo,31, marked the first anniversary of her nuptials to businessman James Watt with a rhapsodic Instagram tribute He rode a tank through the City of London to protest at banking culture and arranged for his naked image to be projected on to the Houses of Parliament. A helicopter was chartered to drop taxidermised cats over the capital in a stunt symbolising the extinction of financial 'fat cats'. The messaging was consistent: Anti-corporate, anti-establishment, proudly disruptive: 'Rip up the rulebook' as Watt liked to declare (and indeed, the banner slogan he has behind his LinkedIn profile picture to this day). It worked. BrewDog surfed the crest of the craft beer revolution, expanding from a single industrial unit into an international operation with four breweries, more than 100 bars worldwide and, latterly, hotels. Central to that meteoric rise was 2009's 'Equity for Punks', effectively a crowdfunding manoeuvre which, in keeping with the business's maverick tone, was marketed as a revolution in finance a chance for ordinary beer drinkers to 'own a slice of the brewery and share in its growth'. In other words, this was not faceless capitalism; this was community ownership. The messaging worked. Over 12 years of fundraising 'rounds', approximately 220,000 investors bought in, contributing around 75million to the company. Some invested little more than 50, but others put in five-figure sums. In return, they received not only shares but perks: Discounted beer, free birthday drinks and invitations to the annual AGMs styled as Annual General Mayhem complete with live music and tastings. James Watt got engaged to Georgia Toffolo in 2024, shortly after he stepped away from BrewDog amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour Yet buried behind this glitzy facade were decisions that would later come to feature significantly when it came to this collapse. In 2017, BrewDog sold a 23 per cent stake to the US private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners for 213million, Watt and Dickie reportedly pocketing 50million each from the deal prompting accusations that they had 'sold out'. Watt robustly rejected this, insisting TSG was a minority partner 'completely about driving growth', but TSG's investment came with preferential rights, meaning that in the event of a sale, their capital would be repaid before other investors a feature that has now proved crucial to the fate of its small investors. Not that this would seem to have mattered at the time: In 2016, the year before the deal, the company had recorded a 60 per cent rise in turnover and business was booming. 'People thought you were really cool if you worked at BrewDog,' Charlotte Cook, a former employee, reflected this week. 'Even though we were making beer through the night in a shed in Fraserburgh, it was amazing. BrewDog was going to take over the world.' Behind the scenes, however, a different picture was unfolding, one that was made dramatically public when, in 2021, an open letter from a group calling itself Punks With Purpose, purportedly signed by dozens of former employees, accused the company of fostering a 'culture of fear'. They alleged staff were left 'burnt out, afraid and miserable' in the relentless pursuit of growth. The blame was laid squarely at the door of Watt to whom the letter was addressed. He took to LinkedIn to respond publicly, apologising for some of his conduct (although he denied a number of the allegations). An independent review was promised. 'I'm ultimately responsible for the culture,' he wrote. 'The letter that ex-colleagues wrote to us is 100 per cent my fault.' On Monday, 484 employees of BrewDog the company Watt co-founded with his university chum Martin Dickie and led for 17 years were told in a 15-minute conference call that they were being made redundant Subsequently, it emerged that Watt had engaged private investigators to gather intelligence on individuals he believed had sought to damage his reputation a move that further dented BrewDog's anti-establishment credentials. Charlotte Cook, now 37, and a brewer who also writes on Substack, was one of those who signed the letter, propelled to do so after her three-year employment between 2012 and 2014 deteriorated dramatically after she was diagnosed with lupus. 'They made it very clear that if you're unwell you can't work there and with only statutory sick pay, I had to keep working even though I was literally working myself to death. It was the most difficult period of my life,' she recalls now. 'I got nothing but grief from BrewDog for it.' The letter undoubtedly shattered the company's reputation, although today Cook does not believe the letter alone caused the company's decline. Rather, she sees it as a 'smoke signal' a warning that the internal strain of relentless expansion was beginning to show. By then, Watt's private life was also under stress. In 2020, he and his wife, illustrator Johanna Basford OBE, with whom he has two daughters, divorced after seven years of marriage. In 2024 Watt stepped down as BrewDog's chief executive, adopting a new title of 'captain and co-founder' and saying he wanted to take a 'non-operational role'. Operational or not, BrewDog was starting to flounder, with rising energy costs, supply chain pressures and higher alcohol duties compounding the challenge facing independent brewers across the sector. Nonetheless, publicly, the tone remained bullish, even amid headlines in August last year showing that 2,000 outlets had stopped stocking BrewDog's beer. The then CEO James Taylor insisted to the Daily Mail at the time that they were 'putting more pints into consumer's hands than ever before' and that the figures were misleading. Watt is believed to have a net worth somewhere in the region of 250million but small investors have been left with nothing Fast forward just six months, and it was a different story. In February, BrewDog confirmed it had put itself up for sale, citing a 'challenging economic climate' and tax headwinds. For weeks, uncertainty hung over its workforce. Then, on Monday the day after Toff's heartfelt Instagram post employees were given 25 minutes notice of a 15-minute video meeting with Taylor. They were not permitted to ask questions and by its conclusion, 484 of them had been informed their roles were redundant. Many were left in tears. 'I've been representing bar workers for over a decade and it is the worst mass redundancy I have dealt with, including during the pandemic,' Bryan Simpson of the Unite union told the BBC. Meanwhile, investors had already received an email informing them of the news and suggesting they might wish to continue as 'ambassadors for the brand' under new ownership a line that did not land well with those facing losses. Among them is small business adviser Richard Fisher, 58, from Suffolk, who invested 12,000, attracted by the company's branding. 'Maverick, independent, to a certain extent rebellious it was all good stuff,' he said. Now, just a few years later, he's writing off the sum. While he hadn't quite shared the expectations of those who thought BrewDog was going to be their 'Google or Tesla', Fisher had hoped, like any investor, for a degree of profit. 'I genuinely thought BrewDog would go public, be listed on the stock market with the freedom to buy and sell shares and there was potential to make a bit of profit,' he recalled. Alongside an active social media presence, Watt has a new venture, Social Tip a platform that pays users to post about brands Another investor, Phil Halsey, has written off his 2,500. 'It's extremely disappointing that it's gone this way,' he said. He hadn't sold his shares when he had the opportunity: 'I just hoped beyond hope that my suspicions weren't going to be fulfilled and something good would come out of it. Probably not now.' Others struck a more resigned tone, pointing out that all private investment carries risk and that BrewDog was no different. 'The prospectus that I saw when I invested made it very clear that it was a risk,' one investor wrote on Reddit, pointing out that even if it was front of the queue for a payout, TSG would itself be likely to take a substantial hit. Not everyone is out of pocket, of course. Today, Watt is believed to have a net worth somewhere in the region of 250million. Nor has he exactly retreated from public view. Alongside an active social media presence, he has a new venture, Social Tip a platform that pays users to post about brands which he launched a month after stepping down from BrewDog in 2024. His goal, he announced at the time, was 'becoming a unicorn' meaning a private company valued at over $1billion, just as BrewDog was in 2017. Tone deaf? Perhaps not quite though BrewDog was undoubtedly already in a decline at the time but Watt does have a habit of not quite 'reading the room'. Last August, as news was circulating of BrewDog's struggles, he gave an interview to The Sunday Times in which he revealed he had spent around 1million 'biohacking' his health, investing in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the penthouse apartment he owns overloooking the Thames he and Toff also own a home in Aberdeenshire neurofeedback technology (treatment that trains the brain to self-regulate its electrical activity with healthier, more efficient patterns) and a complex supplement regime. 'I take Zoom meetings in the hyperbaric chamber. I take phone calls in the sauna and quite often I'll do workout sessions with people that I'm going to do business things with,' he declared. This week, of course, the tone was more subdued. 'The mistakes hurt far more than the successes console,' he wrote on that LinkedIn post. They almost certainly do, for Watt was nothing if not passionate about his endeavour. For those who lost jobs and those who watched their investments evaporate, however, the words undoubtedly ring hollow. Not only that, but they are underpinned by irony, given that a company built on tearing up the rulebook was ultimately undone by the most conventional rules of all. Democratic Senator John Fetterman is all-in on Trump's war against Iran, except for one policy still on the table that could spell trouble for the White House. 'My red line is no boots on the ground in Iran,' the Pennsylvania Senator told the Daily Mail on a phone call Friday. The towering, 6'8 Senator has been, by far, the most vocal Democratic supporter of the offensive against the Islamic Republic. A strong supporter of Israel, the 56-year-old has cheered on the downfall of Islamic terrorist proxies of Iran for years, like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. In some aspects, Fetterman seems more keen on the war than the President himself. 'I support eliminating every member of the Iranian leadership until they surrender,' the Senator said. He told the Daily Mail that Trump's war on Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has already had incredible results. But as Trump wants to keep all of his options open, and has said he would order boots on the ground in Iran if 'necessary,' the vision of US soldiers landing within the country's borders worries the Senator, no matter his enthusiasm for regime change. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told the Daily Mail his 'red line' in the war on Iran is 'troops on the ground.' He is hugely in support of the US-Israel war, but said he's concerned over soldiers being deployed President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has said he would send US soldiers to Iran if 'necessary' Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes in a central area of the Iranian capital Tehran on March 6, 2026. Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon on March 6, as Israel vowed to escalate to a new phase in the Middle East war that has spiralled rapidly throughout the region and beyond The Precision Strike Missile. The PrSM is the Army's next-generation Long Range Precision Fires weapon The Democrat's support of the war stands in stark contrast with many other liberals in the capital. 'Love it,' he reacted after the initial US-Israel strike on Iran, which killed Iran's late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other top officials. 'Not sure why it's controversial to anyone to appreciate and celebrate wiping out 49 leaders of one of the most evil regimes in recorded history.' And he'd be more than willing to vote for any supplemental military funding the White House might ask for to continue the war, which Trump has said could last for weeks. 'I'm expecting a supplemental package and would fully back it,' the Senator told the Daily Mail. 'It's necessary to replenish those kinds of weapons systems, Patriot, Arrow, etc.' 'Country over party,' he added. Many top Democrats have decried the Trump administration's war. 'Donald Trump is dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want,' former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote in a statement. 'Let me be clear: I am opposed to a regime-change war in Iran, and our troops are being put in harm's way for the sake of Trump's war of choice.' Kamala Harris said in 2024 that Iran was the biggest threat to the US, even more so than China This handout satellite image courtesy of Vantor shows destroyed Islamic Republic of Iran's Air Force (IRIAF) Il-76 at the Shiraz Airbase, south-central Iran on March 6, 2026 A member of the Israeli security and rescue forces works at the scene where a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit and caused damage in Tel Aviv, Israel, early on March 1, 2026 On the campaign trail in October 2024, however, Harris was much more critical of Iran. 'Iran has American blood on their hands,' she told '60 Minutes.' 'This attack on Israel, 200 ballistic missiles What we need to do to ensure that Iran never achieves the ability to be a nuclear power that is one of my highest priorities.' She refused to answer if she'd take military action if Iran made a nuclear weapon, saying she wouldn't 'talk about hypotheticals at this moment.' Flyers can now skip the long airport queues with a new electronic bag tag which allows travellers to check in their luggage from home. Around 20 airlines, including Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and KLM, have started using the technology, which also tracks the luggage's location via Bluetooth. After answering a few questions on an app before going to the airport, an electronic barcode is generated on the device attached to the bag. The bag is placed on a weighing machine at the airport, and the passenger is able to make their way through security and onto their flight. To save even more time, some airlines will collect bags with the smart tags from the passenger's home. Some high-end suitcases already have the technology built in, with the standalone gadgets currently costing from 50 to almost 180, but two of the main sellers, BagID and Bagtag, claim prices are due to come down. 'The technology is great. I love it when I can use it, because it does save you time at the airport,' Andrew Price, the former head of global baggage operations for the International Air Transport Association told the Times. Jasper Quak, managing director of Bagtag, said that despite online and mobile check-ins being introduced, checking in a suitcase was still 'relying on a piece of paper'. Around 20 airlines, including Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and KLM, have started using the technology, which also tracks the luggage's location via Bluetooth After answering a few questions on an app before going to the airport, an electronic barcode is generated on the device attached to the bag 'It hasnt really changed that much since inception in the late 80s,' Mr Quak said. BagID, which was founded by someone whose luggage was lost, has recently teamed up with Aena, the worlds largest airport operator, to pilot a real-time tracking system at Madrid, Barcelona and Majorca airports. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Ina Eldoy, the chief executive of BagID, said the the system could alert staff if a passengers bag was in one terminal but their plane was soon to leave from another. She said: 'Then they know, "I have to rush this bag", or "I have to send a message to the traveller that it didnt make the transport, but its going to be on the next flight". According to Sita, the international society of aeronautical telecommunications, the loss or mishandling of bags cost the aviation industry almost 4 billion in 2024. Australia's central bank has thrown its support behind campaigns to keep distributing cash, as well as backing a proposed ban on card surcharges. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hosted a Payments System Board meeting on Thursday, issuing a list of updates after executives had met. 'Access to cash remains vital for many Australians, particularly in regional and remote communities,' a statement said. 'Members acknowledged the importance of the long-term sustainability of the cash distribution system.' The RBA also supported a proposed regulatory framework for providers of cash distribution services. 'The framework would include crisis powers for the public sector to assist in managing risks to the continuity of cash distribution services across Australia,' it said. Pro-cash campaigner Jason Bryce told the Daily Mail he welcomed the support from the RBA but wanted to see follow-through. 'I think the RBA is great because previously it has not used that form of words,' he said on Saturday. The Reserve Bank of Australia, headed by governor Michelle Bullock (pictured) said cash is vital for Australian society during a Payments System Board meeting this week Pro-cash campaigner Jason Bryce (pictured) said he was happy to hear about the support from the RBA but wanted to see follow through 'It has said things like "We are planning for cash to be available for the next 10 years" so I am glad to hear this. '(But) I think they need to flesh out those words and make sure with the framework that we are not pushed away from using cash in financial institutes. 'The banks have tried to herd us into a cashless society. There has been a big effort to encourage tap and go and discourage cash.' Mr Bryce said that every town and suburb needs to have access to cash. 'It is not enough to say cash is important to 1.5million Aussies. It is essential for all Aussies at any given time,' he said. 'Everybody needs cash every now and then, whether purchasing a second hand car or buying off [Facebook] Marketplace or surprising a loved one or if they value privacy.' 'It's time for the RBA to say "We've got to be a strong regulator and stand up for our legal tender".' Meanwhile, the Albanese government has quietly rolled out draft legislation that would only require large supermarkets and major petrol chains to accept cash, and even then only for purchases under $500. he Albanese government has quietly rolled out draft legislation that would only require large supermarkets and major petrol chains to accept cash Australia's central bank has supported campaigns to keep distributing cash across the country Smaller businesses, government agencies, and most retailers would be completely exempt from the so-called 'cash mandate', meaning they can continue refusing cash payments without penalty. In the Reserve Bank's meeting, the board discussed the evidence and public interest case for amending the regulation of card systems. '(It) discussed the relative merits of options on card payment surcharging, interchange fee regulation and transparency of card payment fees,' it said. Members said they will publish a conclusions paper and share a timeline for regulatory action by the end of March. The board also discussed the system-wide resilience of the Australian payments system and developments in the account-to-account payments system. A Miami real estate developer bought a massive 68-foot yacht as part of an $85million fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said. Rishi Kapoor, 41, allegedly scammed millions of dollars from investors for condo projects that were never built. Kapoor, who was chief executive officer of Location Ventures, was accused Friday of using the real estate funds to bankroll a lavish lifestyle filled with luxury purchases. That allegedly included a 68-foot yacht, which prosecutors say he bought for $5.3million after forking out more than a million dollars in cash to secure it. He also allegedly purchased a $5.9m residence in the ritzy Cocoplum neighborhood of Coral Gables and failed to disclose it had a 'significant mortgage.' Prosecutors claimed that Kapoor falsified bank statements, inflated account balances and misrepresented the filing of his tax returns in order to keep securing fraudulent money. In reality, Kapoor was only 'entitled to a capped salary of $400,000 plus certain fees,' according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Miami property developer Rishi Kapoor, 41, has been accused by federal prosecutors of carrying out a $85 million real estate scam A view of developer Rishi Kapoor's slip at the Cocoplum Yacht Club in Coral Gables, Florida. The current location of his vessel is not known Kapoor's scheme involved at least twelve luxury projects in South Florida, according to the indictment. He served as the CEO of Location Ventures from 2016 to 2023, according to officials. The developer allegedly told investors he had poured $13 million into the company, though prosecutors claimed the actual amount was closer to half of that. When one investor pressed Kapoor for his financial records, he allegedly instructed an associate to 'inflate balance sheets' and send them over. Kapoor also deceived escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits, prosecutors said. He allegedly used that money for his own use while the developments went unbuilt. One of Kapoor's first expensive purchases came in August 2021 when he bought a separate, 55-foot Princess motor yacht for about $2.3million, according to prosecutors. He paid roughly $1.3million in cash and the loan on the vessel carried monthly payments of about $6,100, the indictment said. Federal prosecutors said Kapoor bought a $5.9million home in the Cocoplum neighborhood of Coral Gables using proceeds from his alleged crime Kapoor sold that boat in March 2023 and upgraded to his most recent 68-foot yacht - a 2023 Princess motor valued at $5.3million. His monthly loan payment jumped to about $31,000, as well. That boat, called M/Y SUNEETA II, was seized by US Marshals as part of a separate matter in November 2023, according to The Real Deal. Kapoor paid about $1 million in cash for the yacht, but he financed the rest through Unibank. The bank sued Kapoor for allegedly defaulting on that loan, which led to the yacht being confiscated. The vessel's current whereabouts are unknown and were not made clear in the legal filing. Kapoor also allegedly financed more than $44 million of his home purchase with a loan from a lender, according to prosecutors. This building at 3162 Commodore Plaza in Miami was being redeveloped by Rishi Kapoor Kapoor's scam allegedly involved at least twelve luxury projects across South Florida. Prosecutors claimed he used the money to bankroll his luxury lifestyle Kapoor is further accused of having withheld payroll taxes from employees and not turning that money over to the government. Federal prosecutors said that amounted to 'effectively stealing from his own employees.' He has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit offenses against and to defraud the US, failure to pay payroll taxes, tax evasion, failure to file tax returns and bank fraud. Kapoor faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud charges, up to 10 years for money laundering, up to five years for tax-related offenses and up to 30 years for bank fraud. If convicted, he will also have to forfeit any property that he obtained using the allegedly fraudulent money. This includes a Rolex Daytona 18-karat yellow gold watch, as well as a 2.5 carat platinum ring with accompanying gold bands. The Daily Mail has reached out to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and Kapoor for further comment. Kapoor's former company, Location Ventures, could not be reached. Listed emails and phone numbers associated with the company were no longer working. The Daily Mail has reached out to them through their social media channels for comment. A man accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl inside a Five Below restroom gained access by copying a safety knock her mother used to protect her, prosecutors said. Ohio prosecutors allege Robert Kevin DeWeese, 37, mimicked the prearranged signal to enter a locked family bathroom at the Union Township store near South Lebanon on February 6, reports Fox 19. He has been indicted on two counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, and single counts of kidnapping and abduction. A grand jury also designated him a sexually violent predator. Prosecutors say the girl's mother had briefly stepped away to buy a change of clothes after her daughter had an accident and told her not to open the door unless she heard the 'special knock.' But DeWeese is alleged to have overheard the prearranged signal between the pair and was able to get inside the bathroom after imitating it. Authorities say the girl screamed so loudly it caused the suspect to flee. The girl's mother was only about 40 feet away at the time. Deputies later arrested DeWeese at a relative's home. Robert Kevin DeWeese, 37, is accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl inside a Five Below store restroom in Warren County, Ohio Warren County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched shortly before 3:10pm after the mother reported that a man had touched her daughter inside the restroom. The victim's mother called 911 and said: 'My daughter was in the bathroom. She had an accident. I went to see if I could go find her alternate clothing while she was in the bathroom. 'She says a gentleman knocked on the door and came in and touched her while she was in there, and she yelled help. She yelled for him to stop.' The child relied on a technique called the 'Lion's Roar,' learned at Girl Scouts, to scream 'stop' as loud as she could. It allegedly startled DeWeese and sent him running out of the store. Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell described the circumstances in a public social media post. 'What are the odds that this happens at the exact time a serial sexual offender is in the store and eavesdropping with his ear to the door of the family bathroom?' Fornshell wrote. Court records indicate DeWeese had been released from prison just three days before the alleged assault after serving time for a parole violation. Fornshell said DeWeese has prior sexual offense convictions, including an October 2021 conviction in Fairfield County for rape of a child younger than 13. DeWeese has been indicted on two counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, and single counts of kidnapping and abduction The child screamed after DeWeese allegedly came into the bathroom at the Five Below in Union Township near South Lebanon, Ohio 'Someone like this should remain permanently separated from society,' Fornshell said. During his arraignment on Wednesday, Jennifer Nicholson, assistant prosecutor for Warren County, said, 'He has no address. He has no job.' DeWeese has a record stretching back almost 20 years with court records seen by WLWT showing additional sex crimes in Clinton, Licking, and Franklin counties. Bond records show DeWeese is being held at the Warren County Jail on a cash-only bond set at $702,500. Jail records also list a $1 million bond associated with the case. FBI documents withheld from the Epstein Files containing allegations that Donald Trump sexually assaulted a schoolgirl have been released by the US authorities. Memos from interviews with the alleged victim had been flagged as missing from the trove of US Department of Justice documents linked to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. However, amid claims of a White House cover-up, they were made public yesterday weeks after the official release of the files and as conflict ravages the Middle East. The documents reveal that an unidentified woman told FBI agents shortly after Epstein's arrest for sex trafficking in 2019 that she was assaulted by Epstein and Mr Trump as a young teen in the 1980s. She claimed she was aged between 13 and 15 when Mr Trump struck her after she bit him while he tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. Mr Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein or any knowledge of the late financier's crimes. The woman's allegations have not been verified, and no charges were brought as a result of her claims. But the timing of the release of the missing documents as news bulletins are full of reports of the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran will raise questions. Newly published documents reveal that an unidentified woman told FBI agents shortly after Epstein's arrest for sex trafficking in 2019 that she was assaulted by Epstein and Mr Trump as a young teen in the 1980s. Pictured (l-r): Mr Trump, with future wife Melania, Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida in 2000 Mr Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein or any knowledge of the late financier's crimes. Pictured: Mr Trump with an unidentified woman in an image which appears in the Epstein Files The Department of Justice did not publish them in its release of more than three million Epstein Files this year, but one document hinted at their existence. The woman was said to have been spoken to on four occasions between August and October 2019, but only a summary of one of her interviews was included in the Department of Justice's publicly released tranche. The department is to review whether the Epstein Files were withheld improperly after Democrats accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of suppressing allegations against the President. But Department of Justice officials have insisted the files were initially withheld merely because they were mistakenly categorised as duplicates. The three FBI interview reports show the woman said she came forward after recognising Epstein from a photo sent to her by a friend. She claimed Epstein began abusing her from the age of 13 and arranged encounters with other men, including an occasion when she was taken to 'New York or New Jersey' to meet Mr Trump. According to the interview summaries which are known as FBI 302 reports the woman alleged that Mr Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex on him during the meeting. She told the FBI that 'from the get-go' Mr Trump 'didn't like that I was a boy-girl', which the agent notes interpreted as meaning she was a tomboy. The summaries reveal the woman alleged Mr Trump got her alone in a room before telling her: 'Let me teach you how little girls are supposed to be.' She claimed Mr Trump then unzipped his trousers and pushed her head down. She said she was so 'disgusted' she 'bit the s*** out of it'. The notes add that Mr Trump then allegedly lashed out and struck her, saying: 'Get this little b**** the hell out of here.' The woman said she and those close to her received threatening calls over the years demanding she keep quiet about the incident, and that she believed these calls were related to Epstein. The notes record how she said in one interview 'under her breath that if it was not Epstein, maybe it was the 'other one'. When asked who she was referring to she stated 'Trump', according to the document. In a later interview, agents pressed her for more detail about the alleged interaction with Mr Trump, but she declined to elaborate and eventually broke off contact with investigators. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the allegations against Mr Trump. The Department of Justice is to review whether the files were withheld improperly after Democrats accused US Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured) of suppressing allegations against the President Trump's accuser claims Epstein began abusing her from the age of 13 and that the late paedophile financier arranged encounters with other men, including an occasion when she was allegedly taken to 'New York or New Jersey' to meet Mr Trump (pictured) 'These are completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence from a sadly disturbed woman who has an extensive criminal history,' she said. 'The total baselessness of these accusations is also supported by the obvious fact that Joe Biden's Department of Justice knew about them for four years and did nothing with them because they knew President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. 'As we have said countless times, President Trump has been totally exonerated by the release of the Epstein Files.' The documents had not been made public under congressionally mandated data releases related to Epstein, who killed himself while in custody in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The absence of the memos, which was highlighted by the US media, raises questions about whether the White House failed to release sensitive data related to VIPs such as Mr Trump. It comes as scrutiny of the administration's handling of Epstein records continues, with critics also accusing the Department of Justice of improperly redacting information. On Wednesday, in a rare show of bipartisan frustration that saw several Republicans break ranks, a House committee voted to subpoena Ms Bondi to answer questions about the handling of the documents. The panel's top Democrat, Robert Garcia, noted that the Department of Justice announced its latest release on Thursday a day after the Bondi vote. 'This is after they took down 50k files with no explanation,' he posted on X. 'We are going to end this White House cover-up.' Democrats have begun a probe into whether the department deliberately withheld material that alleged Mr Trump was involved in sexual assault. The President is mentioned thousands of times in the files, including in emails and correspondence sent by Epstein. The department said that a review found the batch of 15 files in question had been 'incorrectly coded as duplicate' and not released in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 'All of these documents are now live in the library,' a spokeman said. 'We will also make available all files coded as duplicative in unredacted form for members of Congress to review.' The department had previously warned that the Epstein Files contained 'untrue and sensationalist claims' submitted by members of the public in the wake of his arrest in 2019. An aviation influencer who told viewers he was trapped overseas by Middle East flight chaos is facing online ridicule after it emerged he remains stranded because he refuses to take an economy seat. Airline reviewer Daniel Goz, better known online as Nonstop Dan, posted a video telling his more than one million subscribers that he was unable to return to Europe from Singapore following widespread airspace disruptions tied to the war in Iran. The original title of his video proclaimed: 'There Are No Flights Left' and featured Goz stating that he was 'stranded in Asia.' But midway through the video he showed a graphic of upcoming flights and conceded that 'there are a few seats on some days in economy.' Viewers immediately seized on the moment and flooded his comments to point out that many flights are available, just not in his desired cabin. Among them was an X user who wrote: 'Laughed for 15 minutes straight at this airline reviewer claiming he got stranded in Singapore on his way to Dubai and that there are zero flights for at least a week but then casually drops the fact that there are indeed flights, he just doesn't want to fly economy class.' Facing mounting criticism, Goz shortened the video by more than a minute and changed the title to: Millions Of Travelers Are About To Be Stranded. The Swedish-American creator has more than 700 videos covering airline reviews, cabin products, and travel-rewards strategy. Aviation YouTuber Nonstop Dan, whose real name is Daniel Goz, told viewers he was unable to return to Europe from Singapore during Middle East airspace disruptions despite acknowledging economy flights were available Tens of thousands of flights have been canceled amid the fallout from US and Israel's strikes on Iran. Pictured: An explosion on Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, March 6, 2026 His most-watched upload - a first-class cabin review - has drawn more than 12 million views. Goz posted a statement addressing the controversy in a pinned comment on the video. 'Lots of you saying "just fly economy!" and I totally get that. The pricing example I show on screen in the video is economy (should've been clearer about that), and as you can see there's barely anything available for the next two weeks,' Goz wrote. 'The few remaining economy seats are going for $1500+ per person one-way and even those will be booked up soon. I mentioned premium cabins because that's what this channel usually covers. 'The bigger point of this video, that global aviation capacity has been massively disrupted and millions of travelers, families, students, people on work trips, will feel ripple effects, still stands. I hope it's useful to those of you figuring this out. Stay safe everyone.' Goz was traveling from Bali to Dubai via Singapore when the airspace was closed across parts of the Middle East forcing airlines to suspend or reroute services, leaving many passengers scrambling. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows more than 23,000 of roughly 44,000 scheduled flights to and from the Middle East since the war broke out have been canceled, stranding large numbers of travelers and triggering repatriation efforts. Gozs channel primarily focuses on premium-cabin reviews and travel rewards strategies Major hubs including Dubai International Airport have seen significant operational disruption as airlines adjusted routes and schedules. Economy fares surged amid soaring demand, with tickets that typically cost a few hundred dollars selling for well over $1,000. Some travelers resorted to complex re-routings through distant hubs or expensive private charters requiring overland journeys to neighboring countries. In aviation terms, 'stranded' typically refers to travelers unable to depart due to closed airspace, visa restrictions, or a complete lack of commercial options, conditions currently affecting many passengers in conflict zones. The disruption comes after President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury one week ago in a joint military operation with Israel against Iran that killed the regimes senior leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has since spiraled across the Middle East, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes against US military bases and allied Gulf nations. The Daily Mail has reached out to Goz for comment. Kristi Noem's long-suffering husband is sticking by her side despite rumors of an affair with her advisor out of commitment to his Christian faith, according to a new report. Bryon Noem is reportedly being urged by family members to finally walk away from his wife of 24 years amid the furor around her alleged relationship with Corey Lewandowski. The ousted Homeland Security secretary has denied having an affair with her top aide and Trump ally Lewandowski since the Daily Mail first exclusively revealed their alleged tryst in 2023. A family member told the New York Post that Bryon is remaining loyal out of commitment to his vows. 'He said he decided about 20 years ago that it was his calling from God to support her in whatever she decided to do,' they said. 'So he has put up with the humiliation. We will see if he sticks with her now.' The family member said Bryon's resolve to stay married 'is him honoring the calling from God.' They added: 'But it seems like there would be some limit to that.' Kristi Noem's long suffering husband Bryon is being urged by his family members to finally leave her, a report says Noem married her husband in 1992 after they met as high school students, and they share three children together. Bryon is pictured showing support for his wife as she is grilled by lawmakers on Wednesday, March 4 Noem married her husband in 1992 after they met as high school students. They share three children together. Lewandowski has been married to his wife Alison for more than a decade. Noem entered politics in 2006, first becoming a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives before working her way into the governorship and later the Trump administration. But according to relatives, the Noems' marriage has had ups and downs for years, with some saying they long knew of the Lewandowski rumors. One relative, who was not named, said Noem never warmed to her husband's side, and said that she 'despises the Noem family.' The family member added that they hoped Noem's public grilling in Congress over her tenure as Homeland Security Secretary would open her husband's eyes to their situation. 'I actually liked that he sat behind her while she was grilled on the ICE atrocities,' they said. 'I think hes ignored the reality. Maybe he has to face it now.' The ousted Homeland Security secretary has denied having an affair with her top aide and Trump ally Corey Lewandowski for years Bryon Noem's family members reportedly said they believe he has 'ignored the reality' of their marriage and her role in the Trump administration The grilling on Wednesday, the day before Noem was brutally fired by Trump, saw California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove bring up the allegations of her affair with Lewandowski while Bryon was in the audience. Kamlager-Dove accused Noem of having a relationship with a 'subordinate', which Noem has repeatedly denied in the past. During the hearing she seemed to try and avoid answering her questions, a move which stunned her relatives. 'What gets me is she couldnt say no,' the family member said. 'When shes getting grilled about it, she couldnt say no. 'Shes not the same girl we used to be close friends.' Noem was before Congress this week to defend her department's immigration crackdown strategy. It was the first time she appeared in front of congressional lawmakers since two protesters - Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37 - were killed by federal officers in Minneapolis. Noem was also questioned for her department's decision to use $220million of taxpayer money on a border security advertising campaign. She said Trump signed off on the decision, only for the US President to later say he 'never knew anything about it.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Lewandowski, Noem and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Wang Zhigang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 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 second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) Wang Xiaolong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Wang Xuan, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 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 second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Zhao Mei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Zhang Qiao, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Nan Cunhui, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Liu Zheng, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 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 second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Xu Xing, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Mikyi Tsomo, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Liam Farrell's son Brendan will never forget the afternoon his dad was found lying dead at the back of his rural home, covered in bruises and blood. The 87-year-old father of five was found by daughter Anne with abrasions and lacerations to his face and body, with a broken watch, an injury to his left eye, and blood splattered over the back door and wall of his house near Rooskey, Co. Leitrim on January 12, 2020. Apart from his horrific injuries, the long-time widower's clothing was in an even stranger condition his shoes and socks had been removed and his blazer and overcoat had been taken off and tucked under his body. His tie and a towel were found close by, both covered in blood, and the keys to the house were still at the front gate, while the back door, where Mr Farrell's body was found, was still locked. To the Farrell family, the case immediately appeared to have been a violent assault on their gentle and good-natured father. Liam and his beloved wife Maureen Farrell The house, where Mr Farrell had lived for 73 of his 87 years, was designated a crime scene by gardai and a postmortem ruled that he had died of a heart attack. More than six years on, the family believe they are now one step closer to finding out the truth of Liam Farrell's death after years of campaigning and disputing the original postmortem. It was announced on Thursday that Minister of Justice Jim O'Callaghan had authorised the exhumation of Mr Farrell's remains by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) so that a new postmortem can take place in the coming weeks. The latest development comes after the Farrell family met with Mr O'Callaghan last autumn and a review by the SCRT was announced. Brendan Farrell told the Irish Daily Mail after the cold case review was announced last October that the news had come as a 'big relief' but that the family could never get closure. 'This is a positive move in the right direction. It's been a difficult almost six years since we found Dad. The hardest part is missing him. The way we found him was horrific and it's hard to think that he was lying there without us,' he said. Brendan added that the day his father's body was discovered was 'the worst day of our lives' and that he doesn't think the family 'will ever have closure but we'll always keep fighting for justice'. And speaking to RTE yesterday after the exhumation announcement, he said that his family are grateful for the new developments in their father's case. 'It's very difficult for us as a family to have to go through this, but anything that can help the investigation into the death of our father is very welcome,' Brendan said. 'We're very thankful to the Serious Crimes Review Team for their ongoing work and their live investigation into our father's passing. Peter Farrell, the son of Liam Farrell pictured at his home in Rooskey, Co Leitrim. 'Also, we're very thankful to the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, for his work in light of our father's case,' he added. 'We would appeal to anybody out there who has any information, look deep into their hearts and if they can, come to the SCRT with that information.' Mr Farrell had lived alone since 2002 when his wife Maureen died, and at the time of his death, two of his five adult children were living in the United States. The grandfather of 18 was seen going about his usual Saturday night routine the night before his death, visiting two pubs in his local village where witnesses recalled that he was a pleasant, kind man who seemed in good form when he left to walk home. Not only was he later found with unexplained injuries and items of clothing removed, but blood was discovered on a mop and in a mop bucket at the scene. Mr Farrell's body was removed to Sligo University Hospital for a postmortem and gardai sent a file to the DPP, but no prosecution was directed. Consultant pathologist Professor Paul Hartel did the postmortem and determined that Mr Farrell had died from a heart attack related to severe coronary heart disease. However, after Mr Farrell's family pushed for years for an inquest, new elements of the case came to light. A view of an outside shed at the home of Liam Farrell near where his body was found Prof Hartel told the September 2024 inquest that he was not informed that Mr Farrell's body had been found in suspicious circumstances, and that had he known this, he would have insisted that a forensic pathologist be called in to do a more detailed postmortem instead. In respect of the injuries that Mr Farrell sustained, Prof Hartel said it 'would be inappropriate for me to speculate how those injuries were obtained'. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan later reviewed Prof Hartel's report as part of the inquest and said that she agreed with Prof Hartel that the ultimate medical cause of death was a heart attack. However, she stated that there were two possible scenarios that led to Mr Farrell's death. She believed Mr Farrell might have suffered a heart attack and obtained his injuries by falling in a confused state, or that there was another party involved that caused Mr Farrell to have a stress-induced heart attack. Dr Mulligan's report found that the 'pattern of injuries on the face and hands' of Mr Farrell raised some concerns that he might have obtained defensive injuries, and she added that 'the involvement of another party cannot be ruled out based on the original autopsy report'. The home and poignant memorial plaque for Liam Farrell in Rooskey, Co. Leitrim. The Farrell family appointed former state pathologist for the North of Ireland, Professor Jack Crane, to review the first postmortem. Professor Crane said he thought the injuries in themselves were not serious enough to cause death, but said it was likely they added to an already compromised cardiac position. 'My opinion is this man was confronted by an intruder outside of his home and he was struck in the face,' he said. 'It would appear he attempted to make a way back into his home,' he added. When questioned by Patrick McCullough, barrister for the Farrell family, Professor Crane said the 'eye injury was typical to a punch on the face'. Sinn Fein TD for Sligo-Leitrim Martin Kenny told the Irish Daily Mail last October, when the review of Mr Farrell's death was announced, that he believed precious time had already been lost and claimed, 'Gardai didn't do a lot of things properly' in the first instance. 'It's positive that the cold case team is involved but this should have happened a long time ago. From the very outset everyone knew that something was wrong when they saw the scene.' 'It's definitely suspicious the way that Mr Farrell was discovered, with his shoes and socks taken off and lying on his jacket with severe injuries, as if he did this himself after suffering a heart attack.' A Garda spokesman stated yesterday that the review into the case is 'active and ongoing'. 'The Garda Commissioner has tasked the Serious Crime Review Team, Garda National Bureau of Investigation, with carrying out a review of the investigation into the death of Mr. Liam Farrell.' 'Initial actions have involved engagement by the SCRT with Liam Farrell's family and the Garda investigation team,' the spokesman said. Iranian regime supporters violently clashed with monarchists in shocking scenes outside a London mosque on Friday night. Scores of protesters gathered on opposite sides of the road close to the Islamic Centre of England (ICE) in Maida Vale at around 7.35pm. Supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last king of Iran, were seen wrapped in the pre-1979 Islamic Revolution flag, which bears the image of a sun and lion. They stood with individuals waving Israeli and American flags, as a group on the other side of the road, closest to the mosque, began exchanging verbal jabs with the group. Footage shows the shouting intensifying from both groups - before seconds later erupting into physical blows on a zebra crossing. Motorists were brought to a halt as protesters kicked and punched at their opponents, which left a 17-year-old boy with a head injury. As quickly as the violence erupted, it soon subsided, with both groups retreating to their respective sides while continuing to shout at one another. 'Javid Shah!', 'Long Live the King', one campaigner screamed across the road, as the footage came to an end. Iranian regime supporters violently clashed with monarchists in shocking scenes outside a London mosque on Friday night Footage shows the shouting intensifying from both groups - before seconds later erupting into physical blows on a zebra crossing Police arrived around 7.35pm after reports of the violent clash and officers dispersed the group, but no arrests were made. The ICE has previously been the site of altercations between groups who support and are opposed to the regime in Iran, with the latest incident emerging as US and Israeli military action continued for the seventh day. Iran is also bracing for its heaviest night of bombardment, as Donald Trump warned that the United States would only accept the regime's 'unconditional surrender'. Earlier this week, the mosque courted controversy after it hosted a vigil for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The prayer service took place just a day after the Iranian Supreme Leader was killed by joint US-Israeli airstrikes over Tehran, with the centre describing Khamenei in a social media post as 'a great martyr'. That same wording was applied by the mosque to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Qassim Soleimani after he was killed in a US drone strike in January 2020. The mosque at the time held a candlelight memorial for Soleimani, who was considered the right-hand man of Khamenei before his assassination. Then in October 2022, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, the centre's director, gave a speech in which he described Iranian protesters against the regime as 'enemies' and 'soldiers of Satan'. Moosavi also said women who refused to wear hijabs were guilty of spreading 'poison'. A month later, the Charity Commission launched a full-scale statutory inquiry over concerns the ICE has promoted the Iranian regime's agenda - a move that could eventually see the mosque stripped of its charitable status. The investigation is ongoing. The centre was also highlighted in a letter submitted by Labour MPs to security minister Dan Jarvis earlier this week calling for tougher action on organisations linked to the Iranian state. They warned that the organisations, including the ICE, 'appear to be actively promoting the Iranian regime's ideology and interests'. Join the debate What's your take on discord in Britain caused by the Iran conflict? Motorists were brought to a halt as protesters kicked and punched at their opponents, which left a 17-year-old boy with a head injury Since 2022, the Islamic Centre of England has been under investigation by the Charity Commission over concerns it has promoted the Iranian regime's agenda The ICE has said in a statement appearing on its website that it is an independent religious charity and not an 'official office or representative body of any government, political entity, or individual'. A statement added: 'The centre does not represent, promote, or advocate for the political views or agendas of any state, figure or regime. 'Its religious guidance is confined to matters of faith, ethics, and spirituality. The centre promotes religious peace, and harmony between different faiths. 'All activities of the centre are aligned with its charitable aims, to promote religious education, culture, moral guidance, and social cohesion, within the framework of UK law. 'The centre is non-political and remains committed to its role as a place of religious learning, service, and community support.' A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail: 'Officers are investigating a disturbance which took place outside a mosque in Maida Vale on Friday March 6. 'Police were called to reports of a disturbance at 19.35 and were on the scene within minutes. 'A 17-year-old boy approached officers to report that he received a head injury. He was assessed at the scene but did not require medical assistance. No further inquiries have been reported. 'Officers remained in the area until the group dispersed. 'No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries are ongoing. We are aware of footage circulating on social media and will be reviewing that and CCTV as part of our enquiries. 'Officers will remain in the area and a dispersal order is in place to prevent further disorder.' Police investigations are ongoing. Russian spies were behind a plot to send bombs to the UK in parcels of sex toys and cosmetics, police have revealed. The explosives, which were in packages containing massage pillows, sex toys, lubricants and make-up, were sent to Britain causing an explosion at a depot near Birmingham Airport. No one was hurt but security officials believe the devices could have led to mass casualties if they had ignited on a passenger or cargo flight. Police first launched an investigation when a package burst into flames after arriving by air at the DHL warehouse in Minworth, near Birmingham, on July 22, 2024. Within days, a parcel similarly caught fire as it was about to be loaded on to a plane at another DHL facility in Leipzig, Germany. Disaster was only averted because the flight had been delayed. In Poland, a third package caught fire in a truck and authorities discovered a second device intact, which enabled experts to analyse its damage potential. Police discovered that four parcels containing incendiary devices had been sent to the US, Canada and Amsterdam in dummy runs. A joint British and European investigation has now traced the sabotage operation back to Russias GRU military intelligence. A package that caught fire at a DHL depot near Birmingham on July 22, 2024 has now been traced to Russia's GRU military intelligence Russian spies were behind a plot to send bombs to the UK in parcels of sex toys and cosmetics. PIctured: Russian President and former KGB intelligence officer Vladimir Putin Police first launched an investigation when a package burst into flames after arriving by air at the DHL warehouse in Minworth, near Birmingham, on July 22, 2024 (file photo) Russian spies are believed to have tasked 22 operatives in Lithuania and Poland who are facing prosecution later this year. Investigators discovered massage pillows hiding homemade incendiary devices made of a cocktail of chemicals, including highly reactive magnesium. Magnesium-related fires are notoriously challenging to put out and get worse if water is applied. Four parcels were sent from Lithuania to addresses in the UK and Poland, the European Union agency Eurojust said. The 22 defendants were recruited from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine, and were often in a vulnerable socio-economic situation, according to investigators. A GRU unit is alleged to have tasked them through an online messaging service, making payments remotely through cryptocurrencies. A 38-year-old Romanian man arrested by counter-terrorism police in Britain over the Birmingham fire remains under investigation. He was apprehended after arriving on a flight to the UK at Stansted Airport. On Friday, a Government spokesperson said: Russias ongoing hostile action puts our national security at risk, which is why this Government has taken concerted action to deter their hostility increasing defence spending, expelling intelligence officers, sanctioning the GRU, targeting their illicit finance, and ensuring many of their proxies are brought to justice. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: The strength of cooperation in this case has led us to collectively identify what we believe to be Russian military intelligence involvement in a series of incidents across Europe. Our investigation is ongoing. The BBC has been plunged into a fresh impartiality row following allegations that the broadcaster doctored a speech by Pete Hegseth regarding a war with Iran. In the broadcast aired to audiences within Iran, BBC Persian inaccurately translated the US Defense Secretary's remarks, reporting that Washington intended to bring death to the Iranian 'people'. In reality, Mr. Hegseth had specified that the United States was targeting the Iranian 'regime'. The BBC, which carried Mr Hegseth's Pentagon address live on Monday, translated the word 'regime' as 'mardom', the Persian word for 'people', before later issuing a correction. The error drew condemnation from Iranians online, who accused the BBC of conflating ordinary civilians with the brutality of the regime and altering the meaning of Mr Hegseth's speech. Others disagreed, saying the translation was acceptable. During the address, Mr Hegseth stated: 'It turns out the regime that chanted 'death to America and death to Israel' was gifted death from America and death from Israel. This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it.' However, the BBC's Persian translation substituted the target of the message, rendering the passage as: 'It turns out the people that chanted 'death to America and death to Israel' was gifted death from America and death from Israel.' The BBC has issued a correction after its Persian service 'mistakenly altered' a speech by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (pictured: Mr Hegseth speaks during a press conference at CENTCOM headquarters providing an update on the war against Iran) Thamar Eilam-Gindin, an Iran expert and Persian linguist at Haifa University, said the BBC had 'fundamentally altered the meaning' of the address, reports the Telegraph. 'By mistranslating the English word 'regime' into the Persian word 'mardom' meaning 'people', the BBC's Persian service fundamentally altered the meaning of the US Secretary of Defence's speech, making it appear as though he were attacking all Iranians rather than the Islamic Republic. The latest dispute threatens to put the BBC on another collision course with Donald Trump, who initiated a $10bn (7.5bn) lawsuit against the broadcaster last year. Mr Trump sued the BBC in December seeking $5billion (4billion) in damages after claiming he was defamed in a BBC Panorama programme. The US President is seeking a further $5 billion in damages over claims that the programme violated Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Panorama faced criticism over a 2024 episode for appearing to give the impression Mr Trump had encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol building in 2021. A clip from his speech on January 6 was spliced to show him saying: 'We're going to walk down to the Capitol and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.' Mr Trump has described the programme as a 'brazen attempt' to influence the presidential election between him and his Democrat rival Kamala Harris in legal complaints. Donald Trump, who initiated a $10bn (7.5bn) lawsuit against the broadcaster last year (pictured: US President Donald Trump looks on during a 'Saving College Sports' roundtable in the East Room of the White House) The President's lawyers have said 'the BBC intentionally and maliciously sought to fully mislead its viewers around the world'. The complaint from Mr Trump's legal team has alleged there is 'substantial evidence' that demonstrates the BBC and its leadership 'bore President Trump ill will, wanted him to lose the 2024 presidential election, and were dishonest in their coverage of him', before the publication of the Panorama documentary. A BBC spokesman said: 'This mistranslated word was a mistake, as a result of human error, during the live simultaneous translation of a speech. We issued a correction to Persian audiences on air and on social media.' The mistake is the latest in a series of criticisms against the broadcaster over its coverage of Iran, which began during the uprising earlier this year. The BBC faced sharp criticism from the Israeli embassy in January, sparking a row over the broadcaster's editorial priorities. Alex Gandler, the embassy's official spokesman, accused the network of 'near-total silence' regarding anti-government protests in Tehran while remaining 'obsessed' with the conflict in Gaza. In a statement shared on social media, Gandler questioned the BBC's impartiality, alleging that the corporation continues to funnel disproportionate resources into Gaza coverage at the expense of reporting on demonstrations against Iran's theocratic leadership. The first doors were kicked in just after 6am on Wednesday, with police executing search warrants on the bewildered residents of six residential addresses, three of them in Wales and one in East Kilbride. As detectives swarmed the properties, bagging up mobile phones and laptops, three men were arrested. All of them work as political lobbyists. One also happens to be the husband of a backbench Labour MP. They are being investigated over spying allegations. Or, as the official police statement put it, allegedly 'assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023'. And the intelligence service in question? 'The country to which the investigation relates is China.' All of which has, quite naturally, sparked a major kerfuffle. Joani Reid, the backbench MP whose 39-year-old husband, David Taylor, is at the centre of the whole thing, said on Thursday that she would 'voluntarily' give up the Labour whip, saying 'this has been the worst week of my life... I have done nothing wrong'. Dan Jarvis, the security minister, meanwhile revealed that he'd already approached his counterparts in Beijing about the whole thing, telling the Commons: 'We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.' Yet the fallout from recent days will be more than just diplomatic. Beneath the surface of the latest Chinese intrigue to hit Westminster will lie concerns as to how far it reaches. What follows might seem a story of byzantine complexity with a cast of characters and their companies to match. Three men, all of whom work as political lobbyists, have been arrested over spying allegations, including David Taylor (left), the 39-year-old husband of backbench Labour MP Joani Reid (right) The second is Matthew Aplin (pictured), 43, who worked as a senior communications officer for Labour in the Welsh Assembly from 2010 to 2012, before pursuing a career in public affairs At the time, the party was led by Carwyn Jones, whose head of communications until 2014 was Steve Jones (pictured) - the final member of the trio arrested on Wednesday But when it comes to close connections and interwoven relationships, there is little to match the Labour Party. Or more specifically the Welsh Labour Party, which has run the country's Senedd, or parliament, for almost 30 years. Though hugely powerful with an annual budget of 27billion at its government's disposal, Welsh Labour operates in a small and at times incestuous world. And all three of the political fixers who were arrested this week have for years been prominent members of the party machine. Taylor, who has two children with Reid, was brought up near Wrexham, joined the party as a teenager and worked as special adviser to Peter Hain when the New Labour grandee was Welsh Secretary during Gordon Brown's administration. He then stood unsuccessfully for election as the party's Police and Crime Commissioner in North Wales in 2016. Matthew Aplin, 43, who was arrested at his terrace home in Pontyclun, worked as a senior communications officer for Labour in the Welsh Assembly from 2010 to 2012, before pursuing a career in public affairs. At the time, the party was led by Carwyn Jones, whose head of communications until 2014 was Steve Jones. He's the final member of the trio arrested on Wednesday. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that all three of the arrested men each of whom, it must be stressed, is understood to protest his innocence happen to boast close connections to a wind farm company named Bute Energy, for which they have worked as lobbyists. While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Bute, or indeed that it boasts improper links to China, the company has built extraordinarily intimate ties to Labour, and in particular Welsh Labour, in recent years. Specifically, it has made donations and offered hospitality to a string of MPs and Senedd members. The spouse of a Labour cabinet member was given a job on its advisory board. And a non-executive director of its parent company, Windward Energy, is none other than Tom Watson, Labour's former deputy leader nominated for a peerage by Sir Keir Starmer in 2022. How Bute might, or might not, fit into the whole saga is unclear. But one of the homes raided by police this week happens to belong to a man named James Robinson. He is a former Guardian journalist who became a top aide to Watson, running the media strategy for his successful deputy leadership election in 2018. Robinson, who has not been arrested, is in turn married to Gloria de Piero, the former Labour MP and broadcaster. There are, in other words, wheels within wheels. And almost all of them seem to turn, in one way or another, around senior figures in the Welsh Labour Party. Police said they are being investigated for allegedly 'assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023'. Pictured: Police at an address in Wales on Wednesday So how might they all fit together? And what do we really know about the men, and women, at the heart of recent events? Welsh Labour's links to China go back to 2011 and the administration of Carwyn Jones. In October that year, he travelled to Beijing to sign a 'memorandum of understanding' with the Communist administration in the hope of both promoting Welsh business and persuading China to send more students to universities in the principality. High-profile diplomatic gestures followed and Wales opened up an 'international office', a sort of poor-man's embassy, in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing. The Labour administration was building close ties to China. And at the heart of that was Steve Jones, who worked as its leader's head of communications. Steve Jones, who is 68 and lives in Powys, knows almost everyone there is to know in Welsh Labour. A former Labour councillor, he cut his political teeth as special adviser to Hilary Armstrong, now Baroness Armstrong, when she was chief whip under Blair from 2001-6. After working for Carwyn Jones from 2009 to 2014, he moved into lobbying, eventually working for a Cardiff-based firm called Camlas. Also on the books of Camlas was Matthew Aplin, a 43-year-old father of three who was also arrested on Wednesday. Aplin, who grew up in Cowbridge, is a former journalist who worked for the Western Mail newspaper in his early 20s before taking a job as senior communications officer for Labour in the Welsh Assembly during the era when Carwyn Jones was building links with Beijing. After leaving that role in 2012, he worked for Ofgem and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales before setting up lobbying company Aplin Associates in 2021. Aplin Associates is registered to an address in Lambeth, just over the Thames from Parliament. Intriguingly, the property is also the registered address of Moblake Associates, one of several lobbying firms that was established in recent years by David Taylor, the MP's husband who is the third man arrested this week. Taylor, a bespectacled 39-year-old who bears a passing resemblance to Harry Potter, is a lifelong Welsh Labour activist who first came to public attention in 2004, aged just 17, for setting up a website attacking Clare Short for rubbishing Tony Blair. He subsequently developed a reputation as Welsh Labour's leading computer wonk. Around 15 years ago he was head-hunted to join Peter Hain's team as a special adviser. All three of the political fixers who were arrested this week have for years been prominent members of the party machine. Pictured: David Taylor, Ms Reid's husband Adding to the intrigue is the fact that all three of the arrested men each of whom, it must be stressed, is understood to protest his innocence happen to boast close connections to a wind farm company named Bute Energy, for which they have worked as lobbyists. Pictured: Police at an address in Wales on Wednesday The York University graduate then left Welsh Labour in 2012, to do a postgraduate course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before briefly working for a cyber security company. After returning to politics in 2016, to stand for the 75,000-a-year crime commissioner's job, he went into lobbying full time, and appears to have swiftly begun making significant amounts of money. His lobbying firm, Moblake Associates, was set up in 2018. It remained dormant until 2020. But by the time it had wound up in March 2022, its accounts say it had managed to loan some 600,000 to Taylor. A second public affairs company, Earthcott Limited, was incorporated in 2021. In the 2023/4 last financial year, its bank balance grew from 41,000 to an astonishing 926,000. By this point, Taylor's businesses had become enmeshed with his wife Joani Reid, granddaughter of Scottish trade unionist Jimmy Reid. The couple had homes in London and in Reid's constituency, plus a rental property in Catford. He also joined the Oriental Club, a private member's establishment in Mayfair. 'In 15 years, he went from being a Welsh socialist who was quite good at computer stuff to a high-flying political fixer who lived in nice houses and entertained people at his club,' is how one acquaintance puts it. In 2023 Earthcott made a 22,030 'interest-free loan' to his wife's firm Reid Strategy Ltd. Moblake had, for its part, loaned Reid Strategy 4,775. Joani's company, which was also registered to the Lambeth address belonging to Taylor and Aplin's firm, saw its funds rise from 1,351 in 2022 to 311,836 in 2023, though she insisted this week: 'I am not part of my husband's business activities.' As to where exactly the money came from, Earthcott's website does not name any clients. However Taylor's roles included working as adviser to the Central Asia all-party parliamentary group and as 'head of programmes' for 'Asia House', a think-tank focusing on the Far East. He also appears to have started taking business trips to Asia, including a 2023 visit to Hong Kong on which he was accompanied by an old friend named Martin Shipton, a veteran political journalist who has covered Welsh politics for several decades. Shipton, who now writes for Nation.Cymru, a Left-leaning news website part-funded via a grant from the Welsh government, was rudely awoken on Wednesday when the police battered down the door of his home in Cardiff. Prosecuting such cases is famously hard. Last year saw two political aides, Christopher Cash (right) and Christopher Berry (left), accused of stealing secrets from Parliament and selling them to senior officials in the Chinese Communist Party. But the case collapsed in September He was not arrested and is not suspected of any wrongdoing. However he was extensively grilled by detectives about the Hong Kong visit, which he described as a 'jolly' organised by a think-tank from Shanghai. The whole thing was overseen by an employee of the host named 'Michael', Shipton told the Mail. 'It was presented to me that a think-tank was involved in briefing President Xi on international relations and basically they wanted to have chats with us about perceptions of China in Britain. It was as general as that. 'I remember thinking Michael was an oddball. It was like an Evelyn Waugh novel. 'He was this introverted Communist apparatchik type who seemed interested in Britain generally and the possibility of improving trade. 'He was not some mastermind trying to get secrets out of us.' Shipton, who describes this week's events as 'perplexing', says David Taylor returned to China in 2024. That trip, he says, once more 'involved meeting people in the political, academic sphere to talk about international relations'. Quite how such activity might end up getting one prosecuted for espionage is, it should be stressed, at this stage anyone's guess. To be found guilty of 'assisting a foreign intelligence service', which can carry a jail sentence of 14 years, a defendant must have intentionally passed information to someone they know to be a spy. Prosecuting such cases is famously hard. Last year saw two political aides, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, accused of stealing secrets from Parliament and selling them to senior officials in the Chinese Communist Party. Both denied the charges, but the prosecution collapsed in September when the Starmer administration refused to officially designate China as a threat to national security. Then there is Bute Energy which, while it has no connection to the current investigations, has managed to build intimate links with senior figures in the Labour Party. Recent years have seen Bute take Baroness Kennedy, a Blair-era fixer, to the British Kebab Awards, Clwyd South MS Ken Skates to a rugby match between Wales and South Africa, Alyn and Deeside MS Jack Sargeant to Wales versus New Zealand rugby match and Newport East MS John Griffiths to the Welsh Women's FA Cup final. John Uden, the husband of Labour MS Jenny Rathbone, accepted a position on Bute Energy's advisory board in March 2021. Also on that body was Derek Vaughan, former Welsh Labour MEP from 2009 to 2019. Then there are the three lobbyists who were this week arrested. Steve Jones and Matthew Aplin appear to have worked for Bute via Camlas, which lists the firm as a client. Taylor's relationship is more direct. In 2020, Companies House disclosures stated that he owned 211 shares in its parent company, Windward, in his own name, and another 211 via Moblake. Tom Watson's connection to the firm is more recent: He was appointed a director of Windward Energy in 2024. Its last accounts list assets of some 177million. Where this tangled web may lead is, of course, anyone's guess. And Bute Energy appear to be as mystified by this week's developments as anyone else. When the Daily Mail approached the firm for comment, it said in a statement: 'In light of ongoing police investigations, Bute Energy is unable to make any comment at this stage.' The statement was, as it happens, emailed from an account administered by Bute Energy's London-based lobbyists, Woburn Partners. Woburn Partners turns out to have been founded by former Watson aide James Robinson, whose home was one of the six addresses searched at dawn on Wednesday. Small world, isn't it? Iran has unleashed a series of furious retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, launching attacks on Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel in a series of assaults that have left the region in flames. Drones have struck oil facilities and airports in Iraq as US-led troops gunned down several potential attacks over the Kurdish city of Erbil amid warnings of possible attacks on hotels. A network of Iranian-backed Shia factions, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed it launched an attack on a US military base near Baghdad Airport 'in retribution' for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed last Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran have continued to exchange fire overnight, with the IDF confirming it had launched a fresh wave of attacks against 'terror targets' in the Dahiyeh District of Beirut, Lebanon, as the war enters its eighth day. Iran also fired its twenty-third round of strikes, a statement from IRGC-affiliated Tasmin news agency said as the IDF reported missiles coming from the region towards Israel had been detected. Explosive flames and billowing smoke has been raging over Tehran after airstrikes struck Mehrabad International Airport in the early hours of this morning. Nine out of ten drone attacks launched towards Qatar were intercepted, with the tenth striking an uninhabited area, the country's Ministry of Defence said, while also confirming no injuries were caused. Four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter desert, officials confirmed. At the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Britain 'stood ready' to defend its ally. It comes as US Air Force bombers capable of hitting enemy targets with up to 34 tonnes of explosives arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, suggesting Donald Trump's mega-attack on Iran, previously dubbed the 'big one' may be imminent. The US President has demanded Iran's 'unconditional surrender', later explaining that it could be when the Iranian's 'announce it' or when 'they can't fight any longer because they don't have anyone or anything to fight with'. The 79-year-old, who has vowed to 'Make Iran Great Again' if the regime admits defeat, has come under increasing pressure to bring the conflict in the region to an end due to soaring oil prices. It comes as: US Secretary of War Pete Hesgeth said missile attacks on Iran would ramp up dramatically and the 'big one' was coming; Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy suggested British RAF jets could now legitimately target Iran missiles sites; Oil prices soared as Qatar warned the war could 'bring down the world's economies'; Russia was accused of sharing intelligence to help Tehran attack allied warships and aircraft across the Middle East; Scotland Yard began a 'long-running' investigation after the 'malign' activities of the suspected Iranian cell aroused suspicion and a member of the Jewish community tipped off police; A second Government repatriation flight from the Middle East landed at Gatwick overnight. Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli airstrike on Dahieh, in Beirut, South Lebanon on March 6, 2026 A massive explosion appeared to take place at an oil facility in Iraq's Basra province Plumes of smoke rise into the sky amid reported explosions in Tehran on March 6 Your browser does not support iframes. The B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening after Sir Keir Starmer gave the US permission to take 'defensive' action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Britain had faced stern criticism from its allies over its response to the ongoing crisis in the region, particularly regarding its defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was hit by a drone earlier this week. The UK government faced further backlash as HMS Dragon is not expected to be deployed until next week, while France and Greece's military has already been sent to defend the Island. It is understood that the Type 45 destroyer is taking some time to prepare because it is being equipped to stay at sea for several months; however, a former diplomat, Ameer Kotecha, previously claimed British ministers were told weeks in advance that a US-Israel attack on Iran was highly likely. It comes after Trump mocked Sir Keir for being 'no Winston Churchill' in an extraordinary attack as he declared he was not happy with the Prime Minister for failing to back the US and Israel's strikes on Iran. Sir Keir has continued to defend his decision to not allow the US to use British bases in their attacks on Tehran, arguing the government must keep a 'cool head' and the attacks and suggesting the attacks may have been unlawful. The Prime Minister agreed on Sunday to allow the US to launch defensive attacks on Iran from Fairford and Diego Garcia, a critical UK-US military base located in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, fresh strikes, blamed on Iran, struck Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the northern Kurdistan region amid reports militants were attempting to cross the border into the country. Baghdad International Airport, which houses a US military base referred to as Camp Victory 'came under a series of attacks' from both drones and missiles, a security official said. Another security source also confirmed a drone attack, followed by a fire that transpired at the airport. A general view of Tehran with smoke visible in the distance after explosions were reported in the city on March 06, 2026 Rockets also targeted the facility from the Abu Ghraib area near Baghdad, Iraqi authorities said, and a vehicle containing the remaining rockets was later seized. Elsewhere in the southern province of Basra, an oil facility housing foreign energy companies was targeted twice, with both drones 'shot down over the Burjesia oil complex'. However, a third struck the site with another oil field, as well as Basra's airport also hit, a security source said. Meanwhile, explosions were heard near the airport in Erbil, Kurdistan, yesterday, where the US and Israel shot down drones. 'The international coalition forces downed four explosive-laden drones over Erbil,' Kurdish security forces said. 'Debris from one of the downed drones fell' near a hotel, and no casualties have been reported, they said. An oil field operated by US firm HKN Energy paused production on Friday after an attack the previous day in Dohuk province after an attack was launched on the Dohuk province a day before. It is believed the strike was launched from Iraq, with a security source adding that two drones were used in the attack. On Friday, Tehran threatened to target 'all the facilities of the region if Kurdish Iranian militants were allowed to enter Iran. However, fresh strikes hit the Kurdish militants, an official from the exiled Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan said, adding that their 'bases [were] under attack from the Iranian enemy. Meanwhile, Israel has been attacking parts of western Iran in an attempt to help Iranian Kurdish groups take control of border towns, unnamed officials told Reuters. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said four drones were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter desert while heading toward the Shaybah oil field. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer promised Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman that the UK is ready to back the defence of his country. Donald Trump has said that there would be no deal with Iran unless it is an 'unconditional surrender', in a social media post today The damaged Presidential complex in Tehran where the US managed to kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The Prime Minister told Prince bin Salman that the UK 'stood ready' to help defend the country. A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to his royal highness Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince of Saudi Arabia this evening, following the Iranian regime's strikes on the kingdom and its partners. 'The leaders also discussed stepping up intelligence cooperation to support defensive operations and protect civilians. 'Turning to energy resilience, the crown prince outlined the steps the kingdom had taken to boost global oil supply and support market stability. 'The leaders agreed to stay in close touch over the coming days and weeks.' They also stated that extra British helicopters, fighter jets and a destroyers were being deployed to the region. They added that Britain 'stood ready to support the defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should it be needed'. Questions remain over the UK's role in the conflict, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggesting RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites being used to attack British interests in the region. A second Government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport at 12.30am on Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue, with more flights to the UK expected to be announced. Qatar Airways said on Friday evening that it would operate a 'limited relief corridor' with flights from Doha on Saturday to Heathrow, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Frankfurt. Etihad Airways announced on Friday it would be resuming a 'limited commercial flight schedule' until March 19, including flights to and from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow, Manchester and Dublin. More than 160,000 people in the region have registered their presence with the Foreign Office as the crisis has deepened. It comes as an alleged Iranian spy ring was smashed by British police on Friday amid warnings that many more cells may be preparing 'potentially violent operations' in Britain. Your browser does not support iframes. Counter-terrorism officers arrested four men with Iranian and dual British-Iranian citizenship. They were held on suspicion of spying on synagogues and prominent individuals in the Jewish community. Detectives believe the gang carried out surveillance at various locations in north London for months at the behest of Iran's intelligence services. Jewish leaders on Friday night warned of the 'real threat' to communities and urged security services not to underestimate the size of the problem. Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Irvani has said 1,332 civilians have been killed in Iran in US-Israeli strikes since last Saturday. He told reporters outside the UN headquarters in New York that women and children were among the deceased, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. 'Thousands more have been injured, and the numbers continue to rise,' he said. He also said schools, hospitals and other civilian buildings had been 'deliberately' attacked. It comes after the US denied targeting civilian infrastructure, but is probing a strike on a girls' school in Iran. Israel has also claimed Iran has targeted civilians Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to the UN said Donald Trump's remarks about choosing the country's next leader breach the principle of non-interference. 'Iran is a sovereign and independent state,' Iravani stated. 'It does not accept, and will never allow, a foreign power to interfere.' Speaking to the UN Security Council in New York, he said the diplomatic bloc must 'act now, without delay'. 'Failure to act will have catastrophic consequences. Today, it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any [UN] member state.' He also accused both the US and Israel of 'clear war crimes and crimes against humanity'. Vladimir Putin has also spoken with Iran's leader Masoud Pezehkian on the phone, a statement from Putin's office said. During the call, the Russian leader voices his condolences over the death of Iran's supreme leader as well as other officials and civilians in the country. Putin voiced once again that the conflict must end immediately and that the nations must come to a diplomatic resolution. Iran's President expressed his gratitude for the Kremlin's backing and also shared a detailed report of the ongoing developments in his country, the statement added. A US B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, where it is expected to be joined by more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s Central Tehran was rocked by a huge explosion yesterday morning as the US-Israeli alliance dropped a huge payload on the Moqaddad base of the Revolutionary Guards' Both nations have agreed to continue communicating with one another, the Kremlin confirmed. It comes as a B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, where it is expected to be joined by more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s. The US bomber arrived after Western officials confirmed on Wednesday that the aircraft were expected at the base in the coming days and that Britain was ready to accept them. The strategic bombers, costing up to $2billion each, can carry out long-range missions without detection while carrying the world's most devastating missiles. Sources have suggested that Saturday could be D-day for a new gigantic bombardment - exactly a week after America and Israel first attacked Iran as part of 'Operation Epic Fury'. The US President warned Iran this week that 'the big one' was coming, adding: 'We haven't even started hitting them hard. The big wave has not even happened.' And US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said overnight that America will now use British RAF bases to 'dramatically' up its strikes on Iran after the Prime Minister allowed the Americans to launch defensive strikes from UK-US bases. 'When we say more to come, it's more fighter squadrons, it's more capabilities, it's more defensive capabilities, and it's more bomber pulses more frequently,' Mr Hegseth said. The 146ft B-1 Lancer has a wingspan of 137ft, weighs 86 tonnes and is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph. Piloted by a crew of four, 'the Bone' - as the aircraft is nicknamed - has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets, and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies. The B-1, which has been used in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, can carry up to 34 tonnes of weapons and equipment. The US Air Force says on its website: 'Carrying the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1 is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. 'It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.' After a delay that saw Trump claim that Sir Keir Starmer was 'unhelpful' and is 'no Winston Churchill', the UK is now letting the US use British bases for 'defensive' strikes against missile facilities in Iran. Experts believe America could drop the 'Mother of All Bombs' on Iran - a 10-tonne explosive that can create a 1,000ft crater when it explodes. Trump said there would be no deal with Iran unless it is an 'unconditional surrender'. He made the remarks on social media just hours after Iran's president announced that unspecified countries had begun mediation efforts, one of the first signals of any diplomatic initiative to end the conflict. Writing on Truth Social on Friday, the US President said: '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.' As Trump laid into Sir Keir for delaying access to UK military runways around the world, including in Diego Garcia, Mr Hegseth said last night: 'We got there'. 'The amount of firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically,' Mr Hegseth warned. US President Trump speaking at a round table in Washington DC on March 6, 2026 The MOAB, the US's largest non-nuclear weapon, may be dropped in the coming days and weeks. It has been nicknamed the 'Mother Of All Bombs' a play on the acronym 'MOAB', which stands for 'Massive Ordnance Air Burst'. A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 100ft wide. Anyone at the blast site is vaporised. It has not yet been deployed in Iran but was used in Afghanistan in 2017. President Trump has long told reporters at the White House how 'very proud' he is of it. Flying English, Scottish and Union Jack flags has been branded 'tools of hate' in a leaked draft of the Government's new social cohesion strategy. A leaked draft of the proposals suggests national symbols were sometimes used last summer to 'exclude or intimidate'. It warned that the 'extreme right has tried to turn symbols of pride into tools of hate'. The 47-page document also reportedly warns that anti-Semitism has become 'normalised in many corners of society' from schools and universities to workplaces and the NHS. Some 800million over ten years would be put towards 40 areas where social cohesion is deemed to be 'under pressure' under the proposals. The draft was leaked to the Spectator magazine, which reported that ministers will unveil the finalised plans, titled Protecting What Matters, in a cross-Government drive next week. Government sources said the draft was a version which was never going to be published and the words will not be used when the report is issued on Monday. Last summer, patriotic campaigners vowed to continue putting up England and Union Jack flags despite council workers ripping them down. A drive to cover British towns and cities in national flags was being co-ordinated by an online movement called Operation Raise the Colours. A leaked draft of the proposals suggests national symbols were sometimes used last summer to 'exclude or intimidate'. Pictured: The Union Jack flag and the Flag of St George hang from lampposts in Birmingham Patriotic activists are using a Facebook page to help gather flags together - with members chipping in with offers of transport and equipment, such as ladders. At the time, the Prime Minister backed the public's right to fly St George's flags but the leaked Government documents appear to link it to rising tensions over immigration and protests by the far-Right. Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice told the Sun: 'Absurdly, this says our national flag is a tool of hate used to intimidate. The whole paper is a divisive nonsense that should be consigned to the bin.' The proposals also suggest a 'special representative' role will be introduced to 'champion efforts across the UK to tackle hostility and hatred directed at Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim'. A new definition of Islamophobia is also expected to be set out as part of guidance on anti-Muslim hatred. Critics have argued the move could act as a backdoor 'blasphemy law' and limit free speech, though the Government has said its focus is on protecting people from unacceptable treatment. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: 'We do not comment on leaks.' Shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly said the proposal for an anti-Muslim hostility 'tsar' risked having a 'chilling effect'. He accused Labour of 'pandering to sectarianism' after losing the previously rock-solid seat of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester to the Greens in a parliamentary by-election last month. The Tory frontbencher said: 'The Conservatives stand against such divisive tactics. 'As Kemi Badenoch said this week, identity politics is a dead end and our country is headed down a dark road if it fails on sectional interests rather than shared values and freedoms. 'Anti-Muslim hatred is real. But we should tackle it with the existing laws we have for that exact purpose, without undermining free expression.' Donald Trumps White House is blocking top US intelligence agencies from warning law enforcement across the country about rising threats to the homeland tied to his war with Iran, the Daily Mail can reveal. The FBI, Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center were preparing to put out a joint intelligence statement on Friday to state and local authorities alerting them of a heightened threat due to the ongoing war in Iran, a senior DHS official said. The bulletin, which was reviewed by the Daily Mail, details 'elevated threats by the government of Iran to US military and government personnel and facilities, Jewish and Israeli institutions and their perceived supporters, and Iranian dissidents and other anti-regime activists in the United States.' 'Radicalized individuals with a variety of ideological backgrounds also may see this conflict or other geopolitical events as a justification for violence,' the report continues. The five-page bulletin blocked by the White House provides specific details on how Iranian proxies may carry out attacks across the country. One section explains how local law enforcement can respond to this type of violence. The official title is 'A Public Safety Awareness Report: Elevated threat in the United States during US-Iran conflict'. Homeland Security broke protocol and gave the White House a heads-up about the nationwide bulletin hours before it was set to be released. Top Trump officials ordered it placed on hold. The White House did not deny blocking the terror bulletin in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'The White House is coordinating closely with all government agencies to ensure information being disseminated is accurate, up to date, and has been properly vetted even if that means taking additional time to review to ensure nothing is done in a vacuum,' said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. Trumps White House is blocking the top US intelligence agencies from warning law enforcement across the country about rising threats to the homeland tied to his war with Iran, the Daily Mail can reveal Homeland Security's decision to inform the White House about the terror bulletin was done against the wishes of the FBI Trump launched Operation Epic Fury one week ago in a joint military operation with Israel against Iran that killed the regimes senior leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The senior DHS official disputed the White House explanation: The three [agencies] were going to release a joint intelligence statement that would elevate the threat level and start addressing the Iranian threat on American soil.' The White House stopped it, and verbalized down to DHS that any unclassified for official use only information going forward concerning Iran has to be reviewed by the White House before any dissemination. DHSs decision to inform the White House was done against the wishes of the FBI leadership, the Daily Mail has learned. White House is now inserting themselves. This can have a chilling effect on keeping state and local law enforcement informed about ongoing terrorist threats to the homeland posed by Iran, the official added. They dont want anything getting out that says what theyre doing in Iran is raising the threat level at home. Typically, these intel bulletins would be issued to law enforcement without input from the White House to avoid politicizing intelligence communications. Intelligence products for law enforcement are supposed to be neutral, and fact based, the official asserted. The Daily Mail contacted the FBI, and DHS for comment. Join the debate Should the White House be allowed to block warnings about rising terror threats? 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) Homeland Securitys decision to provide the White House notice about the increased terror comes one day after Secretary Kristi Noems firing from the department The counterterrorism center, which is run by Joe Kent, falls under the jurisdiction of the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Homeland Securitys decision to provide the White House notice about the increased terror threat comes one day after Secretary Kristi Noems firing from the department. She is due to officially step down from her role at the end of the month. Trump launched Operation Epic Fury one week ago in a joint military operation with Israel against Iran that killed the regimes senior leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has since spiraled across the Middle East, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes against US military bases and allied Gulf nations. Six American troops have been killed and more than a dozen others injured in an Iranian drone attack. Trump previously warned that US troops could lose their lives, adding that 'we may have casualties.' Iran uses a network of proxy Islamic militant groups around the globe to carry out violent attacks against Western countries, including Hezbollah and the Houthis. Days after Trump launched his war against Tehran, a gunman opened fire at a bar in Austin, Texas, killing three people and wounding 15 others before police shot him dead. Investigators later discovered that the shooter had expressed support for the Iranian regime online before opening fire. Trump was reportedly warned by his top military advisers that Iran could respond to strikes with terror attacks with proxies on US soil. Last week, FBI counterterrorism and counterintelligence teams were placed on elevated alert across the country by Kash Patel. At the time, the agency did not say how long the terror alert would remain in effect. Police patrols are set to be ramped up across London ahead of protests outside the US and Iranian embassies this weekend. A Stage for Freedom demonstration against the Iranian government will march from Whitehall to Kensington Road near Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, close to where the nation's embassy is situated, on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, a separate march of groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will head from Millbank to the United States embassy to call for an end to attacks on Iran. The Metropolitan Police has imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm to prevent 'serious disruption' in the capital. The Middle East has been plunged into chaos after a joint US and Israeli strike on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. In the days since, Tehran and its allies have retaliated across the region, targeting Israel, US bases in neighbouring Gulf states and sites critical to global oil and gas production. Protesters in support of the Iranian regime and its late Supreme Leader broke out in Birmingham on Thursday night, with activists torching an Israeli flag and chanting 'death to the IDF' at a vigil in Birmingham last night. Dozens of protestors assembled in the city to condemn the US-Israeli strikes on the country and mourn the passing of former ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A Stage for Freedom demonstration against the Iranian government will march from Whitehall to Kensington Road near Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, close to where the nation's embassy is situated. Pictured: Protesters outside Parliament on February 28 Meanwhile, a separate march of groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will head from Millbank to the United States embassy to call for an end to attacks on Iran. Pictured: Protesters outside Parliament on February 28 West Midlands Police told the Daily Mail it has launched an investigation into possible racially/religiously aggravated public order offences. On Wednesday, a similar vigil took place in Manchester with police again involved after some 800 people turned up in support of and against the regime. Described as 'honouring the ayatollah', who was killed in strikes on Iran on Saturday, attendees burned pictures of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In London, a group of pro-Israel Iranians gathered outside Israel's embassy in Kensington, west London, on Friday evening. Pictures emerged online showing a crowd celebrating Israel and the US's attacks on Iran, waving Israel's and Iran's pre-Islamic regime flag. Ahead of the protest on Saturday, Scotland Yard have banned the use of amplified noise equipment for music or speeches and of instruments at the anti-Iranian government protest to 'limit the disturbance to people living nearby'. The force said it has stepped up patrols around 'key sites' and in the 'most affected communities' in recent days. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said officers will 'proactively intervene' where necessary. He said: 'It is inevitable that strong feelings will result in protest or other forms of public assembly. 'The role of the police is not to try limit that freedom of expression, but to ensure that it doesnt result in disorder and that it doesnt cause others to be threatened or intimidated. 'We will ensure that ordinary life in London can still go on without protests being the cause of serious disruption.' He went on: 'This intervention may include the imposition of conditions on protests to prevent them from taking place in specified locations to protect members of that community. 'This may include, for example, preventing anti-Israeli protests taking place in Jewish communities or taking steps to ensure particular communities do not feel harassed by anti-Iran protests taking place where they live. 'Each protest will be assessed individually. 'We are in ongoing discussions with key partners across London. 'We meet regularly with representatives from Muslim and Jewish communities, and in recent weeks we have stepped up our engagement with Iranian groups.' Meanwhile, CND said there will also be a demonstration at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire from 1pm on Saturday to oppose use of the base by US bombers. Sir Keir Starmer decided on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford, could be used in the conflict, so the US can strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran. Gloucestershire Constabulary said it will deploy officers to police the protest. A US B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, where it is expected to be joined by more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s Your browser does not support iframes. It added: 'We will provide a proportionate and lawful police response to any activity in order to help keep everyone safe, minimise disruption and prevent crime or disorderly behaviour occurring. 'Gloucestershire Constabulary will seek to facilitate those engaging in peaceful protest in respect of their rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association, whilst balancing the needs and rights of the military base, local communities and the wider public.' CND general secretary Sophie Bolt said: 'We demand an end to the illegal bombing of Iran and an end to the escalation. 'International diplomacy and dialogue has never been more critical. Starmer needs to stand up to Trump and halt Britain's active military support. 'He needs to shut down all these US bases that are putting Britain on the front line.' It comes as 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.' READ MORE: Reserve Bank makes huge call on the future of cash in Australia A Good Samaritan died trying to protect a teenager during a suspected machete attack at a train station in Melbourne's north-east. Emergency services were called to Bridge Inn Road in Mernda about 5.50pm on Friday after reports of a group of people fighting. A 22-year-old man, from the suburb, was found with life-threatening injuries. He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. The man has been described as a 'Good Samaritan' who tried to intervene after he saw a group of teenagers assaulting someone, the Herald Sun reports. Footage obtained by the publication revealed what appeared to be a machete, or a machete sheath, left at the scene. Police arrested four people following the incident: a 16-year-old, 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds who all remain in custody. The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently being investigated. A 22-year-old man was found dead near Mernda railway station on Friday evening He allegedly stepped in to help a teenager who is understood to have been pursued by a group Victoria's Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections Brad Battin called for the state government to address the incident. 'Labor MUST see the crisis now,' he wrote on social media on Saturday afternoon. 'Last night there was an alleged murder - a crime scene is set up outside a Labor MPs office. 'They can't ignore the crime crisis. We need more police, stronger sentencing and safer communities. Urgently.' The Daily Mail has contacted the Allan government for comment. Metro Trains suspended services between South Morang and Mernda stations after a 'police request', following the death on Saturday. Passengers were told to expect delays as buses ran replacement services. Clean-up efforts were still underway on Saturday morning, with biohazard cleaners using power washers to clean the pavement. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A tourist sits among the blooming wildflowers at Death Valley National Park, which straddles California and Nevada, in the United States, on March 6, 2026. The Death Valley National Park has welcomed a rare wildflower blooming these days. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A vehicle drives into Death Valley National Park, which straddles California and Nevada, in the United States, on March 6, 2026. The Death Valley National Park has welcomed a rare wildflower blooming these days. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) The man accused of viciously killing three Utah women at random earlier this week will 'be fighting this every step of the way', his lawyer said. Ivan Miller, 22, allegedly murdered Margaret Oldroyd, 86, Linda Dewey, 65 and her niece Natalie Graves, 34, on Wednesday near Capitol Reef National Park, about three hours south of Salt Lake City. Miller, of Blakesburg, Iowa, was arrested the following day in Colorado. He confessed to the killings and said they 'had to be done', according to legal filings. Investigators said Miller claimed to have shot the women to steal their cars and money, then return home to Iowa where he was due in court on burglary charges. The accused killer made his first court appearance Friday in Pagosa Springs. He wore a yellow jumpsuit and shackles with his hands in front of him, speaking only when prompted by Archuleta County Judge Anthony Edwards to say his name. His attorney, Colorado public defender Scott Van Zandt, said Miller would resist efforts to be moved to Utah. 'We will not be waiving extradition here and we will be fighting this every step of the way,' Van Zandt said. Miller was charged with three counts of aggravated murder in Utah for allegedly killing the three women Miller's first alleged victim in the murder spree that he is accused of committing was Margaret Oldroyd, 86. She was killed in her Lyman home Van Zandt also told the judge that Miller 'does not wish to speak to law enforcement or to the press.' However, Wayne County prosecutors in Utah have claimed that Miller already discussed the alleged murders and his supposed motive in extended detail. Miller allegedly told investigators that he was stranded in Utah after crashing his tow truck into an elk and selling his damaged vehicle to a tow company. He stayed in hotels for a few days before sleeping in a shed on Oldroyd's Lyman home. Charging documents said Miller shot the elderly woman in the back of the head as she watched television. The accused killer took Oldroyd's Buick but decided he 'did not like the car' and started looking for a different one, the court documents said. Oldroyd's next-door neighbor, Randy Jones, said he was shocked by her death. He described her as 'the sweetest woman you'd ever meet,' according to the Associated Press. Miller appeared in court in a yellow jumpsuit and only spoke for a few moments to tell the judge his full name After stealing the elderly woman's car, Miller allegedly went after two female hikers to take their Subaru. Prosecutors claimed he fatally shot and stabbed Natalie Graves, 34 Miller claimed to have crashed his Chevy Silverado into an elk. The pickup truck was so wrecked that Miller sold it to a tow truck firm Authorities said Miller then spotted Dewey and Graves at a trailhead outside Capitol Reef National Park as they got out of a white Subaru. Miller approached the pair and allegedly shot Graves in the chest. He then allegedly shot Dewey twice and 'stabbed her multiple times in the heart' after she kept moving, prosecutors claimed. Court documents said that Miller stole their car, took their credit cards and used the older hiker's card to buy gas. The women's husbands alerted law enforcement when they went to search for them after they failed to return home. Dewey and Graves' spouses said they were 'dealing with the shock of the devastating loss of two members of our family who were bonding over the beauty of a hike in one of their favorite places on earth.' Their statement added: 'They were murdered. We cannot comprehend why this happened.' Graves was accompanied by her aunt Linda Dewey, 65. Miller allegedly killed her and then used her credit card for gas money Dewey and Graves's families said that they 'were bonding over the beauty of a hike in one of their favorite places on earth' at the time of their deaths Their family added that the two female hikers were 'murdered' and that they 'cannot comprehend why this happened' Miller was arrested after license plate readers and vehicle tracking services traced him from Utah through northern Arizona and into Pagosa Springs. He had abandoned his stolen car there and was found with a knife and a .45 caliber pistol. Colorado officials have charged him with aggravated motor vehicle theft and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon. However, his more serious charges are in Utah - where he faces three counts of aggravated murder. Miller's cash bond was set at $20,000 by Judge Edwards during Friday's hearing. Prosecutors argued that he was an extreme risk of danger to the public and a flight risk. But even if Miller posts bond, he would remain in custody because of the Utah charges. Your browser does not support iframes. Oldroyd's Lyman home has been cordoned off by police as they gathered evidence about Miller's alleged murder spree The killings happened near Capitol Reef National Park, about three hours south of Salt Lake City Before the killing spree, Miller had been scheduled to appear in an Iowa courtroom Friday on charges of theft, burglary, marijuana possession and being ineligible to carry a gun. The case stemmed from a December incident in which Miller was found inside a cabin at Lake Wapello State Park in Davis County, Iowa. He allegedly had a fully loaded bolt-action rifle and a fully loaded Diamondback AR-10 .308 with him. Miller told the park ranger who discovered him that he had picked the cabin's lock a few days earlier to be somewhere warm. He was released without bail on a promise to appear on the charges, according to a January 13 court order. Miller is next scheduled to appear in court April 10 in connection with the Utah charges. He will be back again May 14 for the Colorado case. The Daily Mail has reached out to Van Zandt and Wayne County District Attorney Michael Winn, who is prosecuting Miller in Utah, for further comment. President Trump has privately expressed 'serious interest' in deploying US soldiers to Iran, according to military sources. Trump has told White House advisors that he will need troops on the ground to complete his 'vision' for a post-war Iran, which he hopes to control in a similar way to Venezuela, insiders told NBC News. US officials, who were not named, told the outlet that Trump is not focusing on a full-scale invasion of Iran, but instead would want a small contingent of troops to deploy for strategic purposes. The conflict has so far involved only air and naval munitions, and deploying troops on the ground in Iran would be the first time the US has done so since withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump is said to be emboldened by the speed and efficiency of his operation in Venezuela in January, which saw US forces capture President Nicolas Maduro and take control of its oil reserves. This week the US leader said he 'must be' involved in picking late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's replacement after he was killed seven days ago, but said he would accept a non-democratic choice so long as they are amicable to the US and Israel. The White House denied that Trump was planning on sending US soldiers to Iran, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the report is, 'based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the Presidents national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions.' 'President Trump always, wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table,' Leavitt said. President Trump has privately expressed 'serious interest' in deploying US soldiers on the ground in Iran , according to military sources Central Tehran was rocked by a huge explosion Friday morning as the US-Israeli alliance dropped a huge payload on the Moqaddad base of the Revolutionary Guards It comes as hostilities in the Middle East threatened to spiral out of control on Friday as Iran launched a barrage of missile and drone strikes on its Gulf neighbors, before Israel fired a fresh wave of attacks on Tehran overnight. Despite the White House's denials, Trump has publicly flirted with deploying US troops to Iran, telling the New York Post this week: 'I dont have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.' The president has struggled to maintain support among his conservative base since launching strikes one week ago, with many supporters reacting with fury at the reports he was considering deploying soldiers. Megyn Kelly, a leading figure on the right expressing opposition to war, reacted with disdain on social media to the reports and said: 'I honestly can't believe we're doing this again.' While the White House attempted to shut down reports that soldiers could be deployed, Trump has made no indications that he is looking to scale back the conflict. On Friday, the president said he was no longer interested in negotiating with Tehran, and said the only way for them to bring the war to a close was 'unconditional surrender.' Trump also warned that the barrage of over 3,000 missiles and drones launched by US forces in the past seven days may only be the start, as he said he was preparing a mega-attack that he dubbed 'the big one.' American B-2 and B-52 bombers arrived in the UK on Friday evening after Prime Minister Keir Starmer U-turned and allowed UK bases to be used by Trump - raising the specter of an imminent bombardment in Iran. A US B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, where it is expected to be joined by more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli airstrike on Dahieh, in Beirut, South Lebanon on March 6, 2026 Your browser does not support iframes. The strategic bombers, costing up to $2 billion each, can carry out long-range missions without detection while carrying the world's most devastating missiles. Sources have suggested that Saturday could be D-day for a new gigantic bombardment - exactly a week after America and Israel first attacked Iran as part of 'Operation Epic Fury.' Trump said: 'We haven't even started hitting them hard. The big wave has not even happened.' Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also said the use of British RAF bases will allow the US to 'dramatically' ramp up its strikes on Iran, saying: 'When we say more to come, it's more fighter squadrons, it's more capabilities, it's more defensive capabilities, and it's more bomber pulses more frequently.' Oil prices have skyrocketed since the start of the conflict, and are on track for their largest weekly jump since early 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump was looking at 'unsanctioning' Russian oil to boost supplies. 'We may unsanction other Russian oil,' Bessent told Fox Business on Friday. 'There are hundreds of millions of sanctioned barrels of sanctioned crude on the water, and in essence by unsanctioning them, Treasury can create supply.' Bessent made the suggestion after the Treasury Department said it was granting India a 30-day license to buy Russian oil and he said the White House is 'going to keep a cadence of announcing measures to bring relief to the market during this conflict.' Smoke billows from Tehran on Friday evening following a fresh wave of Israeli strikes Mehrabad International Airport was on fire on Friday night after being hit by an airstrike The White House has denied reports that the president is considering boots on the ground in Iran. Pictured: Soldiers participate in training exercises at Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, US The tit-for-tat strikes across the Middle East escalated Friday evening after Iran sent a barrage of retaliatory fire to a number of its Gulf neighbors. Attacks were launched at Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel throughout the evening, striking oil facilities and airports while many were intercepted. Nine out of ten drone attacks launched towards Qatar were intercepted, with the tenth striking an uninhabited area, the country's Ministry of Defense said, while also confirming no injuries were caused. Four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter desert, officials confirmed. A network of Iranian-backed Shia factions, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed it launched an attack on a US military base near Baghdad Airport 'in retribution' for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed last Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran have continued to exchange fire overnight, with the IDF confirming it had launched a fresh wave of attacks against 'terror targets' in the Dahiyeh District of Beirut, Lebanon, as the war enters its eighth day. In Iran, the Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran was set ablaze after being hit by one of Israel's airstrikes, and explosions were reported across the capital. At least eight people have been killed after a series of monster tornadoes ripped through the heartland of the US which forecasters warned could be set to continue. The twisters began Thursday as part of a volatile system stretching from the southern Plains all the way to the Great Lakes which wreaked havoc across multiple states. Almost 70 million Americans are currently under alert for some form of extreme weather heading into the weekend sparking fears of more devastation to come. Among the victims so far are a teacher and her 13-year-old daughter who were killed in Fairview, Oklahoma, after their car was sucked into a tornado. A further two people were confirmed dead on Friday 175 miles away in the city of Beggs after they were caught in the destructive winds. Eyewitnesses shared images showing multi-vortex twisters barreling through the region. Meanwhile four people were killed in southwestern Michigan as powerful tornadoes shredded homes, ripped roofs into the sky and wrapped debris around power lines in scenes of widespread devastation. Three deaths were confirmed in Branch County where a tornado dubbed the 'Godzilla of twisters' by observers tore through the Union Lake area near Union City. A fourth person was confirmed dead after a tornado hit in the Edwardsburg area, according to Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach. At least eight people have been killed after a series of monster tornadoes ripped through the heartland of the US Devastation can be seen all around after a tornado touched down in Oklahoma killing four over the last two days Damage is seen to power lines and traffic signals after a tornado in Three Rivers, Michigan Jodie Owens, 47, and her daughter Lexi Owens, 13, were found dead inside a vehicle in Major County after a tornado struck western Oklahoma The storm could be seen whipping up waves and tearing through trees as it ran along the lake's shoreline. Twelve others were injured as emergency crews raced through mangled streets and splintered homes. 'Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident,' the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Damage surveys showed destruction with large homes and barns suffered severe structural damage, with some completely destroyed. Trees were toppled across roadways and buildings, complicating rescue operations, and more than 500 customers lost power, according to Midwest Energy & Communications. Cass County Board Chair Jeremiah Jones declared a local state of emergency, saying local resources were stretched to their limits and outside assistance could be needed. New images from Union City, Michigan revealed entire structures reduced to rubble with massive trees snapped like twigs. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the state's Emergency Operations Center. 'Tonight, I am activating our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan,' Whitmer said in a statement. SOUND UP : Hear the violent roar caught on camera of the monster tornado that tore through Union City, Michigan on Friday evening, tragically killing multiple people in its path. Stay with FOX Weather for LIVE coverage in the aftermath of this deadly severe weather outbreak. pic.twitter.com/OdpMhdateP FOX Weather (@foxweather) March 7, 2026 Storms and tornado warnings were also issued in Three Rivers, Michigan, where the damage from the intense winds could be seen around town Drone footage from the area around Union Lake, Michigan captured the devastation left by the storm, as well as the emergency vehicles responding to the havoc Massive damage and a collapsed structure was seen at the Menard's store in Three Rivers after a severe storm In Tulsa, Mayor Monroe Nichols said there were no injuries reported despite localized damage. He can be seen reviewing the damage At one point, a confirmed tornado warning was issued just three miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city of more than 400,000 residents. Pictured, damage in the Tulsa area is seen Levi Stokes and his grandmother sit in their car at Menards, after being in the store when a tornado struck the store in Three Rivers Damage is seen to vehicles is seen in Three Rivers, Michigan. Four people were killed by the twisters across the state on Friday 'By taking this action, we can ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests.' The deadly twisters were fueled by record-challenging warmth surging northward. Springlike temperatures arrived suddenly and climbed into the 70s and 80s across large parts of the Plains and Midwest, running 20 to 30 degrees above seasonal norms. Meteorologists said the unseasonable heat, pulled north by a strengthening storm system, collided with cooler Canadian air creating the explosive atmospheric conditions. A tornado warning was issued just three miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city of more than 400,000 residents. More than 6,000 customers were left without power in Tulsa County as emergency crews responded to roof damage, downed trees and fallen power lines. Mayor Monroe Nichols said there were no injuries reported despite localized damage. 'Took a preliminary tour of some of the damage tonight in North Tulsa after a tornado moved through the area and caused localized impacts,' Nichols said in an online post. Video captured by a first responder near Fairview showed lightning illuminating a large funnel cloud appearing to extend toward the ground The First Congregational Church in Union City, Michigan, also experienced damage. City officials have urged locals to not travel unnecessarily In total, three tornadoes were reported in the Union City and Three Rivers area Another view of the devastated home improvement store after being struck by the tornado The frontage of a building appears to have collapsed as a result of the storn Ashley Steel hugs a coworker after being stuck in her car and afraid for her life during a tornado in Three Rivers, Michigan on Friday Damage is seen to Menards, a big-box home improvement retail chain, after a reported tornado in Three Rivers The storm appeared Thursday, but meteorologists warned Friday could see the worst weather 'While we're grateful there are no reports of injuries in Tulsa at this time, our thoughts are with those across Northeast Oklahoma who experienced more severe impacts from tonight's storms.' Elsewhere in Oklahoma, the toll was far more severe. The Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office confirmed two deaths after violent storms tore through central parts of the state. Authorities have not yet released further details. And in western Oklahoma, a devastating tragedy unfolded when a powerful tornado lifted a vehicle into the air, killing a mother her daughter who were traveling inside. Jodie Owens, 47, and her 13-year-old daughter Lexi were found dead late on Thursday night inside their van near a highway intersection outside Fairview in Major County, authorities said. Officials believe the crash was caused by the tornado. Family members said Owens was on the phone urging her children at home to take cover when the storm struck. 'They're amazing people, and anyone who knows them will be devastated by this news,' her brother Justin Zonts told KOKH. 'I feel like I'm watching a movie. It feels like I've just watched a movie. I don't believe it's real still,' he said. Zonts said his sister saw the storm building as she drove home. The storm which killed the mother and daughter was so large and lightning so bright that the entire night sky could be seen illuminated More than a dozen injuries have also been reported in Michigan, according to officials around the state. THis picture was taken in the Union City area Union City officials said the storm caused significant damage that emergency responders were already working to clear Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she had activated the State Emergency Operations Center Damage is seen to traffic signals following the storm on Friday. Forecasters warned more severe weather could be on the way A construction worker leaves a damaged Holiday Inn A Marshalls sign sits nearly a mile away from the store alongside other damage after the tornado in Three Rivers, Michigan 'She could see a storm was coming,' he said. 'She called her children who were still at home to say, 'Hey you need to get into a cellar'. That's actually when she got hit. 'She was on the phone with her daughter, who heard her mom and sisters' last cry before the line went dead.' Owens' husband alerted authorities and organized a search. 'No father, no sister, no brother should have to go through this, and her children should not have to go through this,' Zonts said. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt addressed the mounting devastation. 'Severe weather struck Major County last night and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and daughter,' Stitt said. 'I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms.' Forecasters warned the threat was far from over. Areas across the Southern Plains and Midwest remained under tornado watches overnight as storms capable of producing tornadoes, destructive winds and large hail tracked east. Damage is seen to the car Ashley Steel was stuck in after the tornado hit an Applebees restaurant Patrons stand outside and view damage to a Holiday Inn after the powerful tornado struck Around 68 million Americans were under some form of severe weather alert, with Kansas City, Davenport and Fort Smith among cities still under tornado watch into Saturday morning. Meteorologists warned that nighttime storms pose a heightened level of danger as visibility drops making tornadoes hard to see, while people can sometimes sleep through alerts. Elsewhere treacherous conditions were forecast across parts of the Dakotas, Nebraska and Minnesota as heavy rain moved through the upper Midwest Friday night. Plunging temperatures sparked warnings for snow and ice. President Donald Trump admitted he may 'possibly' deploy US troops on the ground in Iran, but said there would have to be a 'very good reason' for him to do so. The president floated the idea on Air Force One on Saturday, after attending the dignified transfer of the remains of six US servicemembers killed so far in his war with Iran. His remarks came as Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Tehran, engulfing the Iranian capital in fireballs as plumes of black smoke filled the skies across the region. Stunning footage circulating social media showed apocalyptic scenes in the capital on Saturday night, which came as the Israeli military said it was moving into a 'new phase' of the war by targeting Iranian oil refineries and storage sites. Hours earlier, Iran sent another barrage of retaliatory strikes at its Gulf neighbors, with debris from an intercepted missile striking the luxury 23 Marina skyscraper in Dubai. In a separate incident in Dubai, one man was killed after debris from an 'aerial interception' fell on his car, and Dubai Airport was evacuated following an Iranian drone attack. The strikes were launched while Iran's de facto leader Ali Larijani told state media that the nation would not cede to Trump's demands for 'unconditional surrender', and he vowed that the United States 'must pay the price' for killing late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The tit-for-tat strikes have threatened to spiral the war across the Middle East out of control, with Trump earlier warning that he was considering sending a mega-strike he dubbed 'the big one' this weekend. Dubai International Airport was closed and passengers were ordered off planes this morning after a suspected Iranian drone strike triggered a huge explosion near the complex. British travellers were among those left stranded as flights were halted and terminals evacuated, leaving many scrambling to find a way out of the UAE. British tourist Mike Linn from Edinburgh said he came to the airport determined to leave, despite the drone chaos. 'We saw some stuff online about it while we were back in the hotel and decided to come to the airport anyway, said Mike, 51. Travelling with his wife Lisa, 49, a clinical researcher, along with two other couples, he added: 'We're desperate to get home. 'We'd been due to return on Tuesday, but various cancellations, meant we were booked on various flights which we don't think would go. 'We've got a 15-year-old and a 21-year-old back home. The 15-year-old's staying with friends until we can get back.' Explosions were reported near the airport around 8am local time (4am GMT), with a fire seen burning close to the site. Video circulating online appears to show a projectile heading toward the airport as a man behind the camera shouts: 'It's coming, it's coming to the airport.' Explosions were reported near Dubai International Airport around 8am local time (4am GMT), with a fire seen burning close to the complex after another suspected Iranian drone attack Video circulating online appears to show a projectile heading toward the airport as a man behind the camera shouts: 'It's coming, it's coming to the airport' British tourist Mike Linn from Edinburgh said he came to the airport determined to leave, despite the drone chaos. Pictured: Mike and Lisa Linn at the airport Moments later a huge explosion erupts, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the air. 'Oh my God,' he adds. Linn said the couple had tried to change their travel plans as the situation worsened. 'We were meant to be flying back to Edinburgh, but yesterday we managed to book on a flight to Heathrow,' he said. 'Then when we arrived at the airport I saw a post on Twitter from Emirates saying flights were cancelled again.' The airport has since partially reopened. Retired civil engineer Fergus Anscombe, 70, from Falkirk, said he had not heard about the drone incident when flights later resumed. Asked if he planned to have a beer once airside while queueing to check in for his flight to Edinburgh, he said he likely would. There were two sites where debris from the incoming drones hit at the airport, sending up a huge cloud of smoke and dust. One, close to the terminal, struck the wall of a passenger walkway and it was described as a miracle that no one was hurt. The word 'Departures' could just be made out from the huge letters which had largely been blown off the wall. Dubai authorities were quick to claim that there had been 'no incident' at the airport, but confirmed there had been a successful interception of a drone, with no injuries reported. Other loud bangs were heard 30 miles away along the coast at Ras Al-Khaimah. At least two emergency alerts sounded on mobile phones and passengers already on flights ready to leave were deboarded and the terminals evacuated - the first time such measures had been taken since the war began. Damage likely from debris shot down in the drone attack was visible after a small fire began on the side of the passenger walkway at the busy Terminal 3, which handles Emirates flights. Flights were suspended around 10am local time (6am GMT) and police cars blocked all entrances to the airport causing traffic chaos. It comes as Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, announced on Saturday that it was suspending all flights to and from Dubai until further notice, after an aerial interception took place over Dubai airport during attacks from Iran. 'Please do not go to the airport,' the airline said in a statement on X. Iran has unleashed a series of furious retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, launching attacks on Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel in a series of assaults that have left the region in flames. Drones have struck oil facilities and airports in Iraq as US-led troops gunned down several potential attacks over the Kurdish city of Erbil amid warnings of possible attacks on hotels. A network of Iranian-backed Shia factions, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed it launched an attack on a US military base near Baghdad Airport 'in retribution' for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed last Saturday. Pictured: Passengers waiting to board flights at Dubai airport this morning Pictured: Damage at Dubai airport following drone strikes this morning Meanwhile, Israel and Iran have continued to exchange fire overnight, with the IDF confirming it had launched a fresh wave of attacks against 'terror targets' in the Dahiyeh District of Beirut, Lebanon, as the war enters its eighth day. Iran also fired its 23rd round of strikes, a statement from IRGC-affiliated Tasmin news agency said, as the IDF reported missiles coming from the region towards Israel had been detected. Explosive flames and billowing smoke has been raging over Tehran after airstrikes struck Mehrabad International Airport in the early hours of this morning. Nine out of ten drone attacks launched towards Qatar were intercepted, with the tenth striking an uninhabited area, the country's Ministry of Defence said, while also confirming no injuries were caused. Four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter desert, officials confirmed. At the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Britain 'stood ready' to defend its ally. A Mr Whippy ice cream truck worker has been rushed to hospital after being hit by lightning while working at a show. Emergency services were called to High Street in Robertson, in the NSW Southern Highlands, about 4pm on Saturday. The 20-year-old man suffered an electric shock from the incident. It's understood the worker was standing at the back of a Mr Whippy van, next to a metal pole at the Robertson Show, when lightning struck. Witnesses claimed he was thrown back from the shock of the bolt. He was taken to Bowral District Hospital conscious with non-life-threatening injuries. A Mr Whippy worker (centre) was treated for electric shock after being struck by lightning The worker was standing near a metal pole at the back of the ice cream truck (above) Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the royal line of succession over his 'deplorable' links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations he shared sensitive information with the convicted paedophile financier while serving as the UK's trade envoy. Mr Carney, who is on a trip to Tokyo, said: 'I certainly think his actions are deplorable and have caused him to be stripped of his royal titles, certainly merit, if that's the word - necessitate is a better word - his removal from the line of succession.' The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand have previously said they would support the UK Government in any plans to remove Andrew from the line of succession. Such a move would require an Act of Parliament and the agreement of the Commonwealth realms, including Canada. Mr Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, added: 'Even though he is well down the line, the point of principle stands.' Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations. The disgraced former prince was last pictured looking shell-shocked in the back of a Land Rover on February 19, after spending around 11hours in police custody on his 66th birthday. The former prince Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (right) made the comments while on a visit to Japan Searches were conducted at his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and at his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, as police vans were pictured entering and leaving the premises. Andrew served as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. It is understood that the UK Government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the King's disgraced brother. In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing 'grave allegations', adding: 'Australians take them seriously'. A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon, New Zealand's prime minister, said: 'If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it. 'The UK Government has said any proposals would come after the police investigation concludes.' Defence Secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. Andrew was last pictured looking shell-shocked in the back of a Range Rover after spending around 11hours in police custody The former prince pictured with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right). Ms Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown wrote to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein. A lip reader has also claimed that Andrew Windsor issued a desperate plea to his nephew, Prince William, during their famously tense conversation at the Duchess of Kent's funeral last September. In a new Channel 5 TV series, forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling claimed the ex-Duke of York used the moment at Westminster Cathedral to plead for William's forgiveness. All the senior royals were present, including Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who both came to pay tribute to the wife of his late mother's cousin, who died aged 92. The tense photographed moment happened on the steps of the church after the service as they waited for their cars. Andrew apparently asks William, who was joined by his wife Kate: 'I've learnt from what I've done but before I forget, and if I can, I'd like to ask you if you can forgive?' The funeral was one of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's last official public appearances for the Royal Family before the scandal over their links to Epstein exploded. King Charles released a statement after his brother's arrest saying that 'the law must take its course', expressing his deep concern and reassurance of full cooperation with the authorities. A British wildlife expert and a World War Two Hurricane display pilot have died in a plane crash in Namibia while searching for wildlife. Professor Alan Wilson, 62, and former airline pilot Neil Oakman, 63, nose-dived into the Namib Desert in a light aircraft shortly after take-off and died instantly. The pair had been researching Namibia's national animal, the Oryx antelope, and had spent more than a week at the remote Gobabeb Research Station in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, along with fellow British researcher John Lowe. Mr Oakman, who is an experienced pilot, flew the Groppo-Trail light aircraft which crashed on Wednesday, according to senior air accident investigator Judith Shomongula. The aircraft, belonging to Mr Wilson, stalled or lost power while in the air and dived nose-first into the desert, research suggested. Mr Lowe became concerned after the pair did not return to camp after two hours and, deciding to search for them, found the wrecked plane at the end of the Gobabeb airstrip, which is 75 miles from town of Walvis Bay. The flight is believed to have been the last as part of a study. Ms Shomongula said: 'Three British nationals, John Lowe, Alan Martin Wilson, 62, and Neil Thomas Oakman, 63, came to Namibia on February 25 2026 for research. Professor Alan Wilson died in the crash and was leading a project for the Royal Veterinary College tracking and studying Oryx antelopes Former airline pilot Neil Oakman was driving the plane when it either stalled or lost power after take-off 'On Wednesday March 4 2026 at about 17.00 we have been told Alan Wilson and Neil Oakman took off to look for collared antelope in the dunes of the Namib. 'At about 19.00 researcher John Lowe started getting worried about his colleagues who were late getting back to the research centre and search of the area was started. 'They later discovered a crashed aircraft at the end of the Gobabeb airstrip. Police were informed and the bodies transported to the Walvis Bay police mortuary. 'We all extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.' Professor Wilson and Mr Lowe had worked together for more than a decade developing state-of-the-art tracking and motion collars for predators and antelopes. They were leading a project for the Royal Veterinary College tracking and studying Oryx antelopes in the Namib desert. Mr Oakman trained commercial pilots for Ryanair and was a Hurricane display pilot operating out of the former RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire. He was the chief pilot of the former Battle of Britain Hurricane VZ497. Professor Wilson and Mr Lowe designed both GPS collars and cameras to track them - which were fitted to the aircraft - with the footage being impossible to film by hand held cameras. The flight crashed at the end of the remote runway, which killed Mr Oakman and Professor Wilson instantly A 'close friend' of the Mr Oakman Kathy Burnhill said he 'was really enjoying his work' in Namibia, adding: 'He will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.' Another friend Ken Dirsch described the pilot as an 'extremely competent pilot' and called his loss 'tragic'. Professor Wilson featured in many BBC documentaries including Cat Watch: 2014 and The Secret Life of the Cat, and was global expert in carnivores and their antelope prey. He headed the LOCATE project in Africa which focused on studying how predators and their prey achieve their speed and manouevring for both the kill and for their escape. Professor Wilson and Mr Lowe designed both GPS collars and cameras to track them - which were fitted to the aircraft - with the footage being impossible to film by hand held cameras. A spokesman of Professor Wilson's alumnus, the University of Glasgow School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, said: '[Professor Wilson] pioneered novel GPS and motion tracking technologies for studying wild animals in their natural environment and he featured in a number of BBC wildlife documentaries. 'Our thoughts are with Anna and the rest of Alan's family as well as his colleagues and friends. 'He was truly a world expert in his field and will be dearly missed by so many.' The pair had spent more than a week at the remote Gobabeb Research Station in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, along with fellow British researcher John Lowe The pair were studying the Oryx, which is a large antelope found throughout Africa and Arabia that stands 1.2m high and has long straight horns and distinctive black markings to its face and leg Professor Wilson had been Professor of Locomotor Biomechanics at the university and was head of the Structure and Motion Laboratory. A spokesman for the Gobabeb Training & Research Centre said: 'We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic accident which has hit everyone at the facility extremely hard. 'We send our sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives and request privacy for the relatives during this traumatic time.' The Oryx is a large antelope found throughout Africa and Arabia that stands 1.2m high and has long straight horns and distinctive black markings to its face and legs. They can live in the desert finding moisture from plants and in Namibia there are some 373,000 which need their speed and agility to avoid lions, leopards and cheetahs. A former Oxford professor and Islamic studies scholar will face a rape trial in his absence in Paris next week after a court dismissed his claim he was too ill to attend in person. Tariq Ramadan, 63, is accused of the 'aggravated rape' of three women in France between 2009 and 2016. The Swiss has multiple sclerosis (MS) but medical experts found he was fit enough to attend the four-week trial. Ramadan's case is one of the most famous to come out of the Me Too movement, which began in the US after women made allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017. The presiding judge in Ramadan's rape case, Corinne Goetzmann, issued an immediate arrest warrant and ordered the trial to go ahead after the medical opinion was delivered. Ms Goetzmann had adjourned the trial on Monday - its first day - after Ramadan failed to appear and his lawyers said he was in hospital in Geneva because of his MS. Philippe Courroye, a prosecution lawyer, said Ramadan was 'using every means available to avoid appearing and being tried'. After Ms Goetzmann dismissed claims of ill health, the defendant's four lawyers left the room in protest and one, Ouadie Elhamamouchi, said: 'To stay is to accept this travesty of justice.' Tariq Ramadan faces allegations of raping three women, a trial for which will now go ahead after his ill health claims were dismissed One of the women who accused Ramadan of rape is French writer and feminist Henda Ayari Ramadan, who previously advised British governments on Islam and society, denies all charges and said the women consented to having sex with him. He was convicted in 2024 of raping a woman named Brigitte in 2008 and sentenced to one year in prison. Ramadan is now accused of raping Henda Ayari, a French feminist activist, in 2012. He will also be tried for raping 'Christelle', a disabled woman woman who said Ramadan assaulted her brutally in 2009, and a third woman who has not been named but said she was raped in 2016. If convicted he faces a maximum 20 years in prison. After multiple allegations of rape, assault and sexual harassment were made against him in 2017 Ramadan took a leave of absence from Oxford University, ten years after starting in the position. He had been a senior research fellow of St Antony's College but the university said at the time his leave of absence 'implies no presumption or acceptance of guilt'. In 2021 he left the university by mutual agreement, taking early retirement for ill health reasons. Ouadie Elhamamouchi, one of Ramadan's lawyers, left the court after the defendant's ill health claim was dismissed and said: 'To stay is to accept this travesty of justice' At the time he said his MS meant he was unable to move without a walking frame, had 'permanent headaches', difficulty concentrating, memory loss and 'intense' pain. Ramadan had been a prominent Islamic thinker, condemning extremist terrorism particularly after 9/11. He was denied entry to countries including Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Syria because he had criticised their lack of democracy, he said. In 2004 he was listed in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world and the following year joined a government task force investigating the roots of extremism in Britain under then-prime minister Tony Blair. Ramadan's grandfather was Hassan al-Banna, an Egyptian political and religious leader who founded the Muslim Brotherhood. Three US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers touched down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire today, as Washington prepares what Donald Trump has described as 'the big one' against Iran. Sir Keir Starmer has approved 'defensive US action' against Iranian missile sites launched from UK bases. The long-range strategic aircraft are capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, making them among the most powerful conventional bombers in the US arsenal. One of the arriving Rockwell B-1 Lancer bombers bore the name 'Symphony of Destruction', painted alongside artwork on the aircraft's fuselage. The jet is flown by Colonel Brian M Busachur, commander of the US Air Force's largest B-1 bomber group. Another aircraft carried the nickname 'Alien With an Attitude'. Their arrival in Britain comes as the Pentagon promises a 'surge' in strikes against Iran, with the UK airbase expected to host a growing fleet of American bombers amid fears the conflict could escalate dramatically in the coming days. The three bombers are believed to have struck targets inside Iran before flying on to Britain, according to claims by the counter-terrorism and political news site Defence Geek, which tracks military aircraft movements. A fourth B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford on Friday evening. The US bomber arrived after Western officials confirmed on Wednesday that the aircraft were expected at the base in the coming days and that Britain was ready to accept them. The strategic bombers, costing up to $2billion each, can carry out long-range missions without detection while carrying the world's most devastating missiles. Three US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers have been pictured touching down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire today The long-range strategic aircraft are capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, making them among the most powerful conventional bombers in the US arsenal Pictured: A US Airforce Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber named 'Symphony of destruction' touches down. The plane is flown by Col Brian M Busachur, commander of the biggest B1 group in US Air Force Another plane was dubbed 'alien with an attitude' They weigh 86 tonnes and are the fastest bombers in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph. A C-5 Super Galaxy cargo plane was also pictured at the base Friday night. The biggest plane in the US armory, its cargo bay can carry two M1 Abrams main battle tanks, six Apache helicopter gunships or up to 36 military vehicles. It flew in to Gloucestershire from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas on Friday ahead of the first B1-bomber to land from the 7 Bomb Wing that is based there. Sources have suggested that Saturday could be D-day for a new gigantic bombardment - exactly a week after America and Israel first attacked Iran as part of 'Operation Epic Fury'. The US President warned Iran this week that 'the big one' was coming, adding: 'We haven't even started hitting them hard. The big wave has not even happened.' And US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday night that America will now use British RAF bases to 'dramatically' up its strikes on Iran after the Prime Minister allowed the Americans to launch defensive strikes from UK-US bases. 'When we say more to come, it's more fighter squadrons, it's more capabilities, it's more defensive capabilities, and it's more bomber pulses more frequently,' Mr Hegseth said. Piloted by a crew of four, 'the Bone' - as the Air Force B-1 Lancer is nicknamed - has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets, and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies. The B-1, which has been used in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, has a wingspan of 146ft and can carry up to 34 tonnes of weapons and equipment. The US Air Force says on its website: 'Carrying the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1 is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. 'It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.' After the arrival of the aircraft on Saturday, a small group of anti-war protesters gathered outside RAF Fairford, which is the home of the US' 501st Battle Support Command. They held signs reading 'Sabotage the war effort' and 'US warmongers go home'. After a delay that saw Trump claim that Sir Keir Starmer was 'unhelpful' and is 'no Winston Churchill', the UK is now letting the US use British bases for 'defensive' strikes against missile facilities in Iran. Experts believe America could drop the 'Mother of All Bombs' on Iran - a 10-tonne explosive that can create a 1,000ft crater when it explodes. An anti-war protester hangs a sign reading 'Sabotage the war effort' outside RAF Fairford on Saturday Anti-war protesters gather with placards at an entrance to RAF Fairford in south west England shortly after sunrise on March 7 Three bombers arrived this morning A US B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, where it is expected to be joined by more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s The 146ft B-1 Lancer has a wingspan of 137ft, weighs 86 tonnes and is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph A US Air Force C-5 Galaxy stands on the apron at RAF Fairford after it and a B1 Lancer bomber landed Friday night Pictured: USAF crew unloading the C-5 Super Galaxy cargo plane at RAF Fairford last night. The biggest plane in the US armoury, its cargo bay can carry two M1 Abrams main battle tanks, six Apache helicopter gunships or up to 36 military vehicles An armed airman of the US Air force guards the perimeter fence at RAF Fairford after a B1 Lancer bomber landed last night Central Tehran was rocked by a huge explosion this morning as the US-Israeli alliance dropped a huge payload on the Moqaddad base of the Revolutionary Guards' Central Tehran was hit with one of the biggest explosions of the war so far on Friday. There were deafening bangs and multiple plumes of smoke and fireballs as a huge payload hit the Moqaddad base of the Revolutionary Guards. Tehran's famous Azadi Tower can be seen in the centre of a video as the bombs rained down on the Iranian capital. Debris was thrown across the city centre and some witnesses even claimed they have seen bodies thrown up more than 100ft in the air. B-1 bombers, which are based at Dyess in Texas, can carry out long-range missions without detection while carrying the world's most devastating missiles. They are the backbone of America's long-range bomber force and according to the US Air Force can 'rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time'. 'The B-1 is a highly versatile, multi-mission weapon system,' the force's website boasts. 'The B-1B's synthetic aperture radar is capable of tracking, targeting and engaging moving vehicles as well as self-targeting and terrain-following modes.' In a further sign of air activity hotting up around Fairford, a temporary Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) has been put in place today. B-1 bombers, which are based at Dyess in Texas, can carry out long-range missions without detection while carrying the world's most devastating missiles. They are the backbone of America's long-range bomber force and according to the US Air Force can 'rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time'. The B-1, which has been used in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, can carry up to 34 tonnes of weapons and equipment A C-5M Super Galaxy transport aircraft filed a flight plan between the two bases this morning, providing the first indication that US bombers are being deployed to the UK Your browser does not support iframes. 'The B-1 is a highly versatile, multi-mission weapon system,' the force's website boasts. 'The B-1B's synthetic aperture radar is capable of tracking, targeting and engaging moving vehicles as well as self-targeting and terrain-following modes.' In a further sign of air activity hotting up around Fairford, a temporary Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) has been put in place today. The move, which requires aircraft to switch their transponders on in that area for better safety by making them easier for air traffic control to spot, came into force at 3pm for the next month - indicating that the base will be busier than normal for at least the next few weeks. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the US aircraft's movements when approached by the Daily Mail. Today, Trump said there would be no deal with Iran unless it is an 'unconditional surrender'. He made the remarks on social media just hours after Iran's president announced that unspecified countries had begun mediation efforts, one of the first signals of any diplomatic initiative to end the conflict. Writing on Truth Social on Friday, the US President said: 'There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! Trucks with Class 1.1 explosive hazard warning symbols arrive at RAF Fairford today The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), pictured, known as the 'Mother of All Bombs', may now be dropped on Iran, experts have said Donald Trump has said that there would be no deal with Iran unless it is an 'unconditional surrender', in a social media post today '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.' As Trump laid into Sir Keir for delaying access to UK military runways around the world, including in Diego Garcia, Mr Hegseth said last night: 'We got there'. 'The amount of firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically,' Mr Hegseth warned. The MOAB, the US's largest non-nuclear weapon, may be dropped in the coming days and weeks. It has been nicknamed the 'Mother Of All Bombs' a play on the acronym 'MOAB', which stands for 'Massive Ordnance Air Burst'. A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 100ft wide. Anyone at the blast site is vaporised. It has not yet been deployed in Iran but was used in Afghanistan in 2017. The damaged Presidential complex in Tehran where the US managed to kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei President Trump has long told reporters at the White House how 'very proud' he is of it. American B-2 bombers did drop similarly destructive GBU-57 bunker-busters on Iranian uranium enrichment sites in June 2025. The MOAB causes surface-level, wide-area destruction, while the GBU-57 burrows deep into the earth before exploding. Military experts have said that the 'big one', which Trump has warned Iran about, will use America's most destructive arsenal - and appears imminent. Sascha Bruchmann, a research fellow for defence at the office of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Bahrain, told the Daily Telegraph: 'The big one is a sustained bombing campaign via the strategic bomber fleet, so the B-1s, the B-2s and the B-52s. 'Last night, Centcom [US Central Command] said there was one B-1 bomber, and the night before there were four B-2s, who dropped heavier payloads, so 1,000 to 2,000lb bombs with some bunker-busting capabilities against those missile cities. 'Now that there's air dominance achieved, and we've seen US Reaper drones over cities, which you wouldn't have if there were some kind of air defences'. Iain Ballantyne, editor of Warships International Fleet Review magazine, told the newspaper: 'The most obvious thing that President Trump may mean by 'the big one' is some kind of MOAB the 'Mother of All Bombs'.' He added that these terrifying air attacks would be 'co-ordinated with the US navy unleashing not only the USS Gerald R Ford but also the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups both Tomahawk [missiles] from their destroyers and air wings along with possible bombardments by submarines'. Your browser does not support iframes. Sir Keir was branded delusional last night after insisting he has got a grip on the Middle East crisis. At an emergency press conference in Downing Street, the Prime Minister claimed he was delivering 'calm, level-headed leadership'. But his relationship with Britain's most important ally hit a new low as Trump branded him a 'loser'. Sir Keir urged Trump to 'de-escalate' the crisis and negotiate with what is left of Iran's leadership. But the PM admitted that, despite the global crisis, he had not spoken to the US President for almost a week following their spectacular falling out. He also faced a growing chorus of criticism from allies in the Middle East over the lack of preparations that has led to Cyprus looking for military support from France, Italy and Spain - rather than Britain - after an RAF base on the island was hit by an Iranian drone. And, in further farcical scenes, the UK failed to get its first evacuation flight from Oman off the ground, despite other countries having no such issues ferrying their citizens to safety. Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said Sir Keir was in denial, adding: 'Never in the history of our great nation has a government been so feeble at a time when our people and allies are under assault.' Sir Keir was stung into a public defence of his actions following days of criticism. At a hastily arranged press conference, he accused President Trump of plunging the Middle East 'into chaos' with his attacks on Iran. He defended his decision to avoid taking any 'offensive' action against Tehran even after British bases were targeted. Sir Keir suggested that the fallout from the conflict could go on for months, with potentially huge impacts on energy bills and the cost of living - and the possibility of a new refugee crisis. The scene following an US-Israeli airstrike near the Ferdowsi square in central Tehran, Iran, this week He acknowledged that relatives of the tens of thousands of British citizens trapped in the war zone were 'worried sick' but said a mass evacuation 'is not going to happen overnight'. Kemi Badenoch said it was 'shocking' that Labour's political considerations appeared to have played a part in determining the Government's response to the US. Mrs Badenoch said the RAF should now join bombing raids aimed at taking out Iran's ballistic missile launchers. Nigel Farage said the Government should have supported the US-Israeli attack on Iran 'from day one', adding: 'If this war stops Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, it will have been worth it.' The Reform UK leader said Sir Keir appeared to have been the victim of a 'Left-wing revolt' by Ed Miliband which had left Britain 'humiliated' on the world stage. President Trump stepped up his criticism of Sir Keir last night, telling the New York Post: 'It was very disappointing - his performance, having to do with our tremendous attack on a hostile nation. 'I was very surprised at Keir. Very disappointed.' Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are both said to have accused Sir Keir of doing too little to defend British interests and allies in the region. The Spectator magazine reported that senior figures in Jordan are 'furious' at the Government. And Cyprus's high commissioner publicly said he was 'disappointed' with the UK's response. Join the debate Are you concerned by Hegseth's remarks? The site of overnight Israeli airstrikes is pictured in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 6 Sir Keir announced that Britain is sending another four Typhoon jets to Qatar. And defence secretary John Healey visited Cyprus in a bid to mend fences with a country that feels it has become a target for Iran because of the presence of the British base at RAF Akrotiri. Downing Street rejected suggestions the Government failed to have enough military assets in the Middle East after the base was hit. Sir Keir said air defence capabilities had been 'pre-deployed' before the US assault began. Ministers faced more embarrassment after admitting the warship earmarked to defend Britain's Cyprus base might not arrive for a fortnight. Sir Keir finally ordered the deployment of HMS Dragon on Tuesday, amid fury that the crucial site had been left vulnerable to Iranian reprisals. Instead, Greek, Spanish, French and Italian vessels have been covering to intercept missiles and drones in what critics have decried as an 'humiliation' for the UK. HMS Dragon is still being prepared in dock at Portsmouth, and is not expected to leave until next week. And Mr Healey, who is on Cyprus, suggested that the delay could be even longer. TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran said on Friday that it has no plan to close the Strait of Hormuz and denied reports claiming that the country has fully blocked the strategic waterway. According to a report by Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a senior officer of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in an interview with state TV that claims by some media outlets that Iran had closed the Hormuz strait were inaccurate. "We have been accused by some of closing the strait, but in fact Iran has not shut down this waterway," the officer said, adding that Iran would handle shipping in the area in accordance with international navigation rules. Iran's state TV quoted a military source as saying on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, but warned that any vessels belonging to the United States or Israel would be considered military targets. Also on Friday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told an international conference in New Delhi, India, that Iran had not closed the Strait of Hormuz and had no immediate plan to do so. "If Iran decides to close the strait, it will make an official announcement," he said. On Saturday, the IRGC said in a statement that it struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz using a drone. The tanker, with the trade name Prima, was hit by a drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC naval forces regarding the prohibition of traffic and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz, said the statement carried by Tasnim news agency. On Thursday, several Iranian media outlets quoted an Iranian military officer as saying that Iran had not closed the Hormuz strait. The officer said Iran treats transiting vessels in accordance with international agreements and only intercepts warships disguised as commercial vessels. But the IRGC reiterated that in times of war, Iran has the right to control navigation through the strait and that vessels belonging to the United States, Israel and European countries were prohibited from passing through it. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to its Gulf neighbours on Saturday for targeting them with deadly drone and missile strikes and claimed the assaults would end unless they were used as bases to attack Iran. In a pre-recorded video aired this morning, Pezeshkian expressed regret that his Middle Eastern neighbours, some of which host major US military bases, had come under fire. Speaking next to a picture of killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he claimed that no more strikes would be aimed at Gulf states unless they are used as bases for further attacks against Iran. Pezeshkian added that Iran would never surrender to the US, calling President Donald Trump's call for total capitulation a 'dream' the US 'can take to their graves'. But hours later, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed in a statement to have targeted US bases in the UAE and Kuwait. Minutes after the statement Qatar also issued a 'heightened' security alert to citizens, later confirming it had intercepted an Iranian missile. In a statement the IRGC contradicted the Iranian President and said that all US and Israeli assets in the region would be considered 'primary targets' if attacks on Iran continued. US President Donald Trump hit out at the apology, claiming it was only due to 'relentless' attacks by America and Israel, adding Iran 'will be hit very hard today'. It comes after fresh waves of attacks by both Israel and Iran overnight, which saw airports in both Tehran and Dubai targeted. In a pre-recorded video aired this morning, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed regret that his Middle Eastern neighbours, some of which host major US military bases, had come under fire Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7 Speaking in a video message today, Pezeshkian said: 'I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf.' He added: 'From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. 'I think we should solve this through diplomacy.' But he also struck a defiant tone in vowing his country would never give in. Iran's enemies 'must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,' Pezeshkian said, in the speech broadcast on state TV. Although the President did not directly address the death of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes last Saturday, he added: 'Our commanders, leaders and loved ones lost their lives due to the brutal aggression that took place, and our armed forces are heroes who gave their lives to defend our territorial integrity. 'Our commanders took all the necessary measures and defended our land with dignity and strength.' But hours later, the IRGC contradicted Pezeshkian in statement in which they declared: 'Should the previous hostile actions continue, all military bases and interests of criminal America and the fake Zionist regime on land, at sea, and in the air across the region will be considered primary targets and will come under the powerful and crushing strikes of the mighty armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Damage caused by an Iranian drone attack at Dubai International Airport on March 7 Smoke rises above the Iranian capital, Tehran, following further airstrikes on Saturday Responding to the Iranian President's remarks, Donald Trump said in a statement on Truth Social today: 'Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. 'This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries. 'They have said, "Thank you President Trump." I have said, "Youre welcome!" Iran is no longer the "Bully of the Middle East," they are, instead, "THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST," and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse! 'Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.' It came as Israel announced a fresh blitz led by 80 fighter jets which set one of Tehran's main airports on fire. The wave of pre-dawn Israeli raids was one of the biggest since the bombing campaign began last Saturday, with a military academy, an underground command centre and a missile storage facility named as targets. Photos showed fire and smoke billowing from Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, one of two that serve the capital. Israel also hit areas in Lebanon overnight, saying it was striking Hezbollah targets. Iran also hit back on Saturday, with air raid alerts and explosions heard above Jerusalem as well as Gulf cities Dubai, Manama and near Riyadh - where Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base housing US military personnel. Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, briefly suspended all operations on Saturday after an Iranian suicide drone attack led to a small fire. Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said they had targeted the oil tanker Prima in the Gulf as it attempted to cross the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global shipping that Iran has effectively closed. They later said strikes had been carried out against Israel and US military bases in Kuwait and the UAE. Now entering its second week, the war was sparked by joint Israeli and US airstrikes last Saturday that killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and destroyed military, administrative and security infrastructure. It has been reported that at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel. Six US troops have also been killed. Gerry Adams was identified nearly 30 years ago as a member of the IRA's army council by former Prime Minister Sir John Major, according to sensational unearthed documents. Both Mr Adams and Martin McGuinness, who went on to become deputy first minister in the Northern Ireland government, were named as members of the IRA's war council in a 1997 US state department diplomatic cable. The former Sinn Fein president, who has always denied being a member of the Provisional IRA (PIRA), was also identified as a senior IRA commander in a newly unearthed British government memo. The IRA's council directed the notorious Irish paramilitary group in carrying out terrorist activity and multiple bombings in Northern Ireland and across the UK. It was responsible for a reign of terror on mainland UK from the 1970s to the late 1990s and a series of horrific and barbaric bombings in which members of the public including children were killed and maimed. Mr Adams once famously shook the hand of the late Queen in 2012 on her historic state visit to Northern Ireland to acknowledge her part in the peace process and reconciliation. He has always claimed he was only involved in the political struggle against British rule in Northern Ireland as a member of its political wing Sinn Fein. The documents came to light in the National Archives ahead of a landmark High Court claim next week against Mr Adams alleging he played a 'senior and pivotal role in the Provisional Irish Republican Army'. Gerry Adams has always claimed he was only involved in the political struggle against British rule in Northern Ireland as a member of its political wing Sinn Fein He has persistently denied the claims he was a senior commander of the IRA, even winning damages from the BBC as recently as last year. In the US state department cable, Sir John, who was Prime Minister between 1990 and 1997, tells the then US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that both Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness had been members of the IRA army council. The cable dated March 5, 1997, shortly before Sir John, then Mr Major, left Downing Street, is a written record of an earlier meeting held in Downing Street on Feb 19, 1997. 'Adams and McGuinness were both on the army council and had been so for many years. The idea that the military wing acts without the knowledge of the political side is fanciful. They all knew and all set the strategy together,' he reportedly told her. Now three claimants in the forthcoming civil case, victims of IRA attacks on the UK mainland, are trying to prove that he was 'responsible for the orchestration of the planned bombings'. They allege that Mr Adams is liable for damages for the injuries they suffered by virtue of his affiliation and leadership role in the IRA and are suing him for a symbolic 1 in compensation. If he loses the case, calls for him to face criminal prosecution are likely to follow. The claimants were chosen to represent the 25 year span of influence of the Mr Adams' influence with claimants from the first attack in London in 1973 and the last in Manchester in 1996, the biggest bomb detonated in Britain since the Second World War. A cable claims Mr Adams (left) and Martin McGuinness were 'both on the army council and had been so for many years' In a separate document, Mr Adams was identified as a senior IRA commander who had been involved in the 'violent activities' of the PIRA and again identified as a senior member of its army council, even rising to head it. The confidential 1980s memo was circulated in the Foreign Office and Northern Ireland Office and was written in support of the US decision to reject a visa application for Mr Adams to visit the US in 1988. In the document, now contained in the National Archives in Kew, west London, an official wrote: 'The consular officer's determination concerning Adams arose from the alien's support for and involvement in the violent activities of the provisional Irish Republican Army.' It also stated: 'In addition to Adams' advocacy of violence and his associational ties with the PIRA, there is reason to believe that Adams' advocacy of violence has included his personal involvement in and leadership, organisation and direction of groups committing terrorist acts.' It added: 'For example, Adams has been identified as the commanding officer of one of the three battalions of the PIRA Belfast brigade during 1971-1972, when acts of terrorism were conducted by that group against civilians.' It went on: 'In the late 1970s, Adams is believed to have been selected as chief of staff of the PIRA's army council.' Mr Adams has always strenuously denied being a member of the IRA and has successfully sued in court over claims of involvement in terrorist activities. One of the victims who is suing, Jonathan Ganesh, who was seriously injured in the 1996 Docklands bombing in London, told the Telegraph: 'We aren't suing for financial compensation. It's a symbolic amount for all those people who were killed and injured. 'We contend that Mr Adams was in the IRA and was the leading figure in it.' Adams won his high profile libel case against the BBC last year over its claim that he had sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson, a British agent. The claim was made in a documentary a decade ago. Mr Adams, 77, was awarded 100,000 (84,000) in damages after successfully suing the BBC in a Dublin court. His Irish lawyer Paul Tweed, who was also a legal adviser to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, described the allegations against Mr Adams as 'totally untrue and defamatory'. Lawyers in next week's case are said to have compiled thousands of pages of documents to try to prove that Mr Adams was a senior PIRA figure, including evidence contained in the National Archives in London and in Washington as well as open source material such as contemporaneous interviews, newspaper reports and testimony from military intelligence officers. Mr Adams tried and failed last month in a legal bid to overturn the anonymity of two of the witnesses who will give evidence against him in the high stakes case. Mr Justice Swift found that concerns for their personal safety were 'genuinely held' and likely to make them reluctant to give evidence if named in court. Lawyers for the witnesses, known as Witness A and B, said there was 'clear and cogent' evidence of 'a risk of harm' from IRA sympathisers should they be identified. Mr Adams has consistently denied being a member of the IRA or having any involvement in terrorist activity. A spokesman for Mr Adams has previously said: 'A significant number of former British Army and intelligence services witnesses will give evidence, effectively, to say that Mr Adams was a senior republican and must be responsible for these specific events. 'It will be understood that there are some veterans of the British Army and security services who remain deeply hostile to republicans, to Sinn Fein, and to Mr Adams personally. 'Some among those groups see republicans as the enemy they failed to defeat, rather than people with whom they can build a shared and peaceful future.' Mr Adams was approached for comment. Oil prices are expected to surge past $100 a barrel within days and could even reach $150 if the war in the Middle East drags on, energy experts have warned. The alarm comes as the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to oil tankers, leaving ships carrying around 20 million barrels of crude a day stranded in the Persian Gulf and unable to safely reach global markets. Around a fifth of the world's oil normally flows through the passage, making the disruption one of the biggest shocks to energy markets in years. Prices have already begun climbing sharply a week after the US and Israel launched major strikes on Iran, triggering a regional war in which missile and drone attacks have hit countries across the Middle East. On Monday, President Donald Trump said US military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks but had ' the capability to go far longer.' Despite the scale of the disruption, oil markets have so far remained below the extreme levels seen during previous global crises. But traders and industry executives say the situation is approaching a tipping point as the conflict shows no sign of easing. Oil prices have already surged above $90, with American crude settling at $90.90 on Friday, up 36 per cent from a week ago, while Brent, the international benchmark, climbed 27 per cent over the course of the week to land at $92.69. The fallout is ratcheting up what consumers and businesses will pay for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, with some drivers already feeling it at the pump. Oil prices are expected to surge past $100 a barrel within days and could even reach $150 if the war in the Middle East drags on, energy experts have warned. Pictured: Fire breaks out at Bahrain oil refinery as Iran targets energy infrastructure across region A queue at a Tesco petrol station in Bexley, Kent after the Strait of Hormuz was closed to shipping as a result of Donald Trump's attack on Iran - sparking problems with supply 'Its crazy. Its not needed, especially at a time when people are already struggling, but not unexpected from all this turmoil thats going on,' said Mark Doran, who was pumping gas in Middlebury, Vermont Friday. 'I dont think theres been an end in sight to any Middle East conflict thats been started by us, so the fact that they say that theres going to be an end that quickly is not believable, and the Middle East is, you know, a place that the U.S. is not going to solve.' 'The more news we get, the more it seems like this is going to last a really long time,' said Al Salazar, head of macro oil and gas research at Enverus. In the U.S., a gallon of regular gasoline rose to $3.32 on Friday, up 11 per cent from a week ago, according to AAA motor club. Diesel was selling for $4.33 a gallon Friday, up 15 per cent from a week ago. The price shocks were felt even more heavily in Europe and Asia, markets that rely more heavily on energy supplies from the Middle East. Diesel prices doubled in Europe, and jet fuel prices rose by close to 200 per cent in Asia, according to Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy. Energy prices climbed throughout the week as Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks, including a drone strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and the conflict widened. Iran also hit a major refinery in Saudi Arabia and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar, halting flows of refined products and taking about 20 per cent of the worlds LNG supply offline. 'We keep seeing news of vessels being hit or refineries or pipelines, so the list is very long,' Galimberti said. As a result, roughly 9 million barrels of oil per day are off the market because of facilities being hit or producers taking precautionary measures, he said. 'Right now, with all of this shut in, we are in a situation of extreme deficit.' The U.S. is a net exporter of oil, but that does not mean it is immune to increases in the price of oil or gasoline, or that its producers can just make up the difference. Oil is traded on global markets, so even the oil produced in the U.S. has risen in price based on what's happening in the Middle East. And for many American oil producers, 'if you put more wells in the ground, theres about a six-month lag before you get that production uplift,' Salazar said. In addition, the U.S. can't simply turn all of its crude oil into gasoline. That's because most of the oil produced in the U.S. is light, sweet crude, and refineries on the East and West coasts are primarily designed to process heavier, sour crude. As a result, the U.S. exports some of its crude oil and imports some refined products such as gasoline. Jerry Dalpiaz of Covington, Louisiana, said he started filling up his cars and gas cans on 'the day that they announced that the United States has started military operations against Iran' because he assumed gas prices would climb. 'I can weather the storm because Im in good financial position, but I feel sorry for my fellow citizens who are living paycheck to paycheck because they have to drive to get to work and they have to change their oil and all those things,' Dalpiaz said. 'And they need some relief and it doesnt seem to be coming anytime soon.' Trump issued a plan Friday to insure losses up to approximately $20 billion in the Gulf region, aiming to restore confidence in maritime trade, help stabilize international commerce and support American and allied businesses operating in the Middle East. But some energy experts said extra insurance won't solve the problem. 'The problem is that in the oil trading, oil shipping world, people are worried about counterterrorism,' said Amy Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University, adding that they're worried about automated drone speedboats, weapon-carrying, flying drones and mines or other devices. 'In order for the United States to create the atmosphere that undoes the current bottleneck at the Strait of Hormuz, there has to be some credible demonstration of solutions to the counter-terrorism problem.' Salazar wondered what the 'new normal' would look like if the Strait of Hormuz was effectively re-opened, and what effective security would look like. 'All it takes is one individual with a RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) to stand on the shore and take out a tanker, right?' Salazar said. 'And this is forever, do you know what I mean?' An Indian-born taxi driver who sexually assaulted a British holidaymaker in Magaluf, telling her it was 'how things are done in Spain', has escaped prison. Ranjit Singh, 29, touched the 33-year-old woman's breasts and between her legs during the ride in the early hours of October 3 2023. But he was let off with a fine by a court in the Majorcan capital Palma on Friday after admitting wrongdoing as part of a plea deal. The tourist's friend hailed Singh's taxi to help her back safely to her hotel after drinking heavily in Magaluf's party strip Punta Ballena. But the rogue cabbie switched routes and took her to Palma airport instead after telling her to pay 50 upfront and sit in the front passenger seat. Public prosecutors claimed Singh took advantage of the woman being alone and drunk to sexually assault her. In a three-page pre-trial indictment submitted by prosecutors, they said the victim's friend hailed the taxi to take her back to their hotel 'due to her state and to protect her'. It said the woman's friend told Singh where to take her but a few metres into the journey he stopped and told her to pay 50 upfront and move from the back of the car to the seat beside him. Indian-born Ranjit Singh appeared in court in Palma after sexually assaulting the British holidaymaker Singh assaulted the Brit in Magaluf (pictured) in October 2023 She did this and paid with card. The prosecution said: 'The accused, taking advantage of an inebriated woman who was alone in a place she didn't know, changed the agreed route and took the motorway towards the airport. 'On the way, with lascivious and lustful intent, he touched her breasts and her groin over her clothes and tried to kiss her.' When they reached the airport Singh told the woman to get out and said: 'This is how things are done in Spain so get used to it.' The victim needed counselling for 'severe anxiety and depression' and suffered flashbacks. Prosecutors had wanted a three-year jail sentence but on Friday the court handed Singh's victim 5,000 (4,335) in compensation and ordered the cabbie to pay a 2,800 (2,500) fine. Singh pleaded guilty after an eleventh-hour plea deal between his lawyer, a prosecutor and the victim's representative. A man has appeared in court charged with manslaughter after it was claimed that domestic abuse contributed to the suicide of a woman six years ago. Gillian Morand, 36, died in south-east London in March 2020, and an inquest ruled that her death was suicide. But police were informed of domestic abuse allegations shortly after Ms Morand was found dead at her home in Bexley. Seyhan Assaf, 45, is now accused of abusing Ms Morand over a 'significant period of time' which 'contributed to her death'. Assaf appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court charged with manslaughter and coercive or controlling behaviour. Flanked by two prison officers in the dock Assaf, wearing a grey jumper, spoke to confirm his name and date of birth. Prosecutor Charlotte Godber told the court: 'The charges are of the most grave nature. It was not an isolated act.' Ms Godber said the allegations of domestic abuse dated back years and included a 'violent assault' in June 2018 which left Ms Morand with a broken cheek bone. Gillian Morand, 36, died in Bexley, south-east London, in March 2020. An inquest found she had died by suicide, but a police investigation now claims that years of domestic abuse contributed to her death The court heard that Assaf was born in Britain and has family in Turkey. Marle O'Connor, defending, said a lot of the evidence comes from the coroner's inquest, adding: 'It can't be said it was flung on him after six years.' Mr O'Connor said Assaf is a self-employed plumber and owns his own property with a mortgage. Assaf's current partner attended the hearing alongside other members of her family. Sobbing could be heard in the public gallery as District Judge Lloyd remanded Assaf in custody. She ordered Assaf to appear at the Old Bailey for a plea and trial preparation hearing on April 7. Detective Chief Inspector Dan Whitten, from the Metropolitan Police Service, said: 'This is a complex investigation with very few charges of this nature authorised across the country. 'We are supporting Gillian's family, who ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time. 'I ask that anyone who was in contact with Gillian in the decade prior to her death contact us. Any information, irrespective of how insignificant it may seem, may be of considerable value.' Samantha Yelland, Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS London Homicide Unit said: 'We have decided to prosecute Seyhan Assaf with manslaughter and controlling or coercive behaviour. 'This decision comes after working closely with the Metropolitan Police as they have carried out their investigation into the death of Gillian Morand. 'Our prosecutors worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring these charges to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.' Information can be passed to the investigation team via their Major Incident Public Portal or by calling 101 and quoting CAD number 4727/06MAR26. The US is preparing to unleash its 'biggest bombing campaign yet' against Iran tonight, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned, with strikes expected to hammer the regime's missile factories. In just one week, tensions in the Middle East have spiraled, beginning with a deadly joint US-Israel military operation against Iran. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Tehran to launch relentless retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military bases across the Gulf region. On Friday, Bessent told Fox Business that America is gearing up for its most intense wave of strikes so far in the war against the regime. 'Tonight will be our biggest bombing campaign, and we'll do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles, and we are substantially degrading them,' the secretary revealed. He said Iran has failed to make headway on the military front against what he called the US's 'overwhelming' strikes, forcing the regime to pivot to the economic battlefield. 'Having not been able to succeed there militarily, they're trying to create economic chaos, and I don't think they're going to be able to do it,' he told Fox. Bessent suggested Iran could escalate by targeting the world's energy lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz, to disrupt global oil and gas flows. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (pictured) said its on Friday that the US will launch its 'biggest bombing campaign yet' against Iran Tensions in the Middle East have spiraled since the deadly joint US-Israel military operation against Iran (pictured: strikes hit Tehran on March 6) Bessent said America is gearing up to target Iranian missile launchers and the factories that build the missiles (pictured: US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber is worked on by military personnel) He cautioned that closing the critical waterway, which carries roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and gas, could wreak havoc and send energy prices soaring. 'When the conflict began, insurers dropped all the insurance for any vessels going in and out of the Strait of Hormuz or generally around the Gulf,' Bessent explained. The rising tensions have made sailing through the strait increasingly dangerous, with private insurers initially refusing to cover ships or dramatically hiking premiums due to war-related risks. President Donald Trump has since ordered war-risk insurance for American ships in the Strait of Hormuz, so US vessels and their cargoes remain protected in the case of destruction. On Tuesday, Trump assured the US Navy that it could begin escorting oil tankers through the strait if necessary, according to Reuters. The war in West Asia has only continued to drive oil prices higher, with Brent crude reaching $93.32 a barrel as of March 7, 2026. In response, the president pledged that the US would guarantee the free flow of energy worldwide, asserting the country's military and economic power is the greatest on Earth. In a move to reassure shipping companies, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said Wednesday it will offer up to $20 billion in insurance. Bessent warned that Iran could escalate the war by targeting the Strait of Hormuz (pictured in 2025) to disrupt global oil and gas flows Bessent said Iran is failing to make headway on the military front against what he described as the US's 'overwhelming' strikes (pictured: aftermath of strikes in Tehran, March 4) Trump ordered war-risk insurance for American ships in the Strait of Hormuz so US vessels remain protected from destruction 'What this program will do is give shippers insurance, whether they are hauling oil, products, fertilizer,' Bessent explained, according to Fox Business. He said Iran claims the Strait of Hormuz is open, but is blocking ships linked to US or Israeli interests from passing through. Since the strikes began, nearly ten vessels have been hit in Gulf waters, and Iran's Guard has ordered ships not to cross the vital strait. But Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini challenged Trump's plan to deploy naval vessels in the strait on Friday, warning they are 'awaiting their presence.' 'Iran strongly welcomes the escort of oil tankers and the presence of US forces for the crossing of the Strait of Hormuz. And we are, by the way, awaiting their presence,' Naini said, according to state media. 'We recommend that, before making any decision, the Americans remember the fire on the American supertanker Bridgeton in 1987 and the oil tankers that were recently targeted,' he added. Bessent said that US vessels will now have to be safeguarded while navigating the Iranian-controlled waterway. 'There is a willingness to go through the strait if we also provide a naval escort if needed,' he told Fox Business. An intelligence report concluded a largescale US assault on Iran would be 'unlikely' to topple the Islamic Republic's leadership, WSJ reported (pictured: aftermath of strike on girls school in Iran) Bessent (pictured with Trump) said that Iran claims the Strait of Hormuz is open, but won't allow ships linked to US or Israeli interests through Findings found Iran would likely respond to the Supreme Leader's death by following protocols to preserve the regime (pictured: March 6 Iranian protest against US and Israel) He vowed to address the issue, stressing that vessels from Iran and China have continued to navigate the strait safely. 'We will await to hear from CENTCOM in terms of when they think safe passage is possible,' Bessent told the outlet. 'I don't know whether it's a week or two weeks, but we are on track to get this solved,' he added. Meanwhile, a classified report by the National Intelligence Council found that even a largescale US assault on Iran would be unlikely to topple the Islamic Republic's entrenched military and clerical leadership, according to The Washington Post. Three people familiar with the findings told the outlet that Iran would likely respond to Khameneis death by following protocols aimed at preserving the regime instead of allowing it to collapse. While Trump has stood firm on the attack, the report raised doubts about the US's ability to 'clean out' Iran's leadership structure. His administration initially said the strikes were intended to take out Iran's nuclear capabilities, but in recent days has demanded 'unconditional surrender.' The president has made it clear that he wants a say in Iran's leadership, telling NBC News: 'We want them to have a good leader. We have some people who I think would do a good job.' Pictured above is the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern costal city of Tyre on March 7 The White House told the Washington Post that the Iranian regime is 'being absolutely crushed' (pictured: smoke from explosion in Tehran, March 6) Iran has the largest and most varied missile arsenal in the Middle East, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles (pictured: debris of missile fired from Iran toward Israel) But experts told the outlet that the NIC report coincides with how the Islamic Republic of Iran operates. Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the publication that bending the knee to Trump would go against 'everything they stand for.' Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, agreed with the assessment: 'Theres no other force within Iran that can confront the remaining power that the regime has.' Meanwhile, the White House maintained Trump's position in a statement to the Washington Post, claiming that the Iranian regime is 'being absolutely crushed.' Iran, the 17th largest nation in the world, has continued advancing longer-range missile technologies, often building on its space-launch program. It has the largest and most varied missile arsenal in the Middle East, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles, some capable of striking as far as Israel and into eastern Europe, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. To date, the country has not tested or fired a missile with the range to strike the US. Still, Iran has spent years advancing missile accuracy and lethality, turning its growing arsenal into a potent means of projecting power and threatening American military positions in the region. A leaked classified report by the National Intelligence Council has shed an unfavorable light on Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran, warning that military involvement could be disastrous. In just one week, tensions have dramatically risen in the region, starting with a joint military operation conducted by the US and Israel against Iran. The strikes took out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran retaliated by targeting US military bases in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Trump has stood firm on the military attack, but a report completed by the NIC just a week before raised doubts about the US's ability to overthrow the regime. The NIC is a federal government agency that reports to the Director of National Intelligence. NIC members bridge 18 intelligence agencies with policymakers to provide analytical assessments. Three people familiar with the findings told the Washington Post that Iran would likely respond to Khamenei's death by following protocols to preserve the regime. Sources said it was 'unlikely' that Iran's opposition would seize control. Khamenei's successor has yet to be named. Iran's Assembly of Experts and high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been tasked with naming his replacement. The ayatollah's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is rumored to be assuming the role, but Trump has previously called him 'incompetent' and a 'lightweight.' A classified intelligence report has concluded that it is unlikely the US will initiate regime change. The report was reportedly dated just a week before the military operation began. Pictured above is a suburb of Beirut after Israeli strikes Speculation has mounted that Mojtaba Khamenei, pictured above in 2019, will assume the role of Supreme Leader after his father's death Strikes have continued across the Middle East following the joint military operation led by Israel and the US. Pictured is a Marine fighter jet The Trump administration initially said the strikes were intended to take out Iran's nuclear capabilities, but in recent days has demanded 'unconditional surrender.' The president has made it clear that he wants a say in Iran's leadership, telling NBC News: 'We want them to have a good leader. We have some people who I think would do a good job.' Experts told the Washington Post that the NIC report coincides with how the Islamic Republic of Iran operates. Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the publication that bending the knee to Trump would go against 'everything they stand for.' Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, agreed with the assessment: 'Theres no other force within Iran that can confront the remaining power that the regime has.' 'Even if theyre not able to project that power very effectively against their neighbors, they can certainly dominate inside the country.' Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans Parliament speaker, defiantly denied that Iranian leadership would cooperate with Trump's demands. 'The fate of dear Iran, which is more precious than life, will be determined solely by the proud Iranian nation, not by [Jeffrey] Epsteins gang,' he wrote on X. Join the debate Should the US risk more lives to force regime change in Iran? The president promised to continue striking Iran as tensions escalate in the region. He's pictured at a roundtable discussion on Friday at the White House Military strikes in the Middle East have been ongoing for the last week. Pictured is the aftermath of an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday Trump announced in a Truth Social post that Iran is no longer the 'bully' of the Middle East and will be 'hit very hard' on Saturday morning The White House maintained Trump's position in a statement to the Washington Post, claiming that the Iranian regime is 'being absolutely crushed.' 'President Trump and the administration have clearly outlined their goals with regard to Operation Epic Fury: destroy Irans ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,' the statement said. Despite the recent assessment, Trump has remained confident in media interviews that the regime in Iran would soon fall. During an interview with Politico on Thursday, the president maintained that the US would have a hand in influencing Iranian leadership. 'Im going to have a big impact, or theyre not going to have any settlement, because were not going to have to go do this again,' he said. Trump said 'people are loving what's happening' in Iran, adding: 'Were taking out a threat to the United States of America, major threat, and doing it like nobodys ever seen before.' Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to Gulf neighbors for military strikes targeting their countries, as Trump has promised 'complete destruction' of Iran. Pictured is smoke from an explosion in Tehran on Saturday GCC countries have been targeted in retaliatory strikes from Iran this past week. Pictured is the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's suburbs on Saturday The president praised the operation in a post on Truth Social, boasting that Iran had been beaten 'to hell' and was forced to apologize to GCC countries for retaliatory strikes. Countries in the GCC, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan were hit with a barrage of missiles this past week. Iranian leadership has said the strikes were intended for US military bases, and citizens of GCC countries were not the target of the operation. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to GCC countries in a video message on Saturday for the deadly drone and missile strikes. 'I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,' he said. 'From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.' Pezeshkian delivered the message next to a picture of Khamenei, but did not directly address the Supreme Leader's slaying. Despite the apology, the video was in no way a surrender, as the Iranian president vowed that the country's enemies 'must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves.' Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, pictured above in February, issued a defiant message on social media refusing to meet Trump's demands of surrender A statement issued by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) just hours after the video message claimed to have targeted bases in the UAE and Kuwait. Qatar also confirmed it had intercepted an Iranian missile and issued a 'heightened' security alert to citizens. As Trump and Pezeshkian issue defiant messages, hope for an end to military activity in the area has dwindled. Warfare has continued in the area over the last week, as Israel led a fleet of 80 fighter jets in the early hours of Saturday morning against Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, one of two that serve the capital. Israel's broad military operations did not end there. The Israel Defense Forces have intensified attacks in Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israeli military forces launched a raid in eastern Lebanon, which resulted in at least 41 deaths, the New York Times reported, citing Lebanese officials and state media. Iran also hit back on Saturday, with air raid alerts and explosions heard above Jerusalem as well as Gulf cities Dubai, Manama and near Riyadh - where Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base housing US military personnel. The US and Israel have remained defiant in the pursuit of destroying Iranian nuclear capabilities. Pictured above is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump at a news conference last December Video footage has revealed an explosion near Dubai International Airport. The ongoing military conflict in the Middle East has severely impacted international travel Video footage in Dubai revealed a potential drone strike near Dubai International Airport, a major hub for international travel. The ongoing air strikes temporarily closed airspace over the Middle East. Airports have gradually resumed flight operations, but travel remains a headache for international passengers. The State Department is continuing to coordinate travel for Americans abroad. Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said they had targeted the oil tanker Prima in the Gulf as it attempted to cross the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global shipping that Iran has effectively closed. It has been reported that at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel. Six US troops have also been killed. The state of Iowa has granted a marital therapy license to a man who, years earlier, was accused of having sex with a female client while providing marriage counseling to her and her husband - conduct that led to harsh disciplinary action in California. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals made no mention of the specific allegations against Gary Bell, who has a podcast and radio show where he gives advice to struggling couples. In its approval order dated February 3, the Iowa board mentioned that Bell, 62, had submitted to a settlement and a disciplinary order from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CBBS). That disciplinary order, from September 2020, stemmed from Bell's interactions with a couple he saw for multiple counseling appointments in 2017. The female client was identified as S.L. and her husband was identified as B.L. by California authorities. The Daily Mail independently identified the woman as Susan Leedy, who was employed as a nurse at the time. In a disciplinary document filed by the CBBS, investigators alleged that Bell and Leedy, 50, had sex in his Riverside County office on two separate occasions in December 2017. Bell denied this ever happened in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying that on those two occasions, Leedy made unwanted sexual advances that he rebuffed. The disciplinary document, obtained by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, also stated that after the two allegedly had sex, Bell went on vacation with his wife and family, during which he and Leedy 'exchanged hundreds of text messages and emails'. Gary Bell had his marital counseling license suspended by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences after he was accused of having sex with a female client. Bell denied this ever happened in a statement to the Daily Mail Bell, who is married, allegedly told Leedy in messages that he wanted to be 'friends' with her and stay committed to his wife, according to the CBBS. Bell acknowledged that he exchanged messages with Leedy but claimed she was the one initiating contact and that he was trying to 'placate' her. In her messages to him, he alleged that she threatened to report him for having a sexual relationship with her in order to get him in trouble with the police and the CBBS. According to the CBBS's account of events, Bell's wife allegedly found text messages between Bell and Leedy sometime in January 2018. Days later, Leedy showed up uninvited to Bell's home and had a confrontation with Bell, according to the CBBS and other court documents. In February 2018, Leedy's husband filed for divorce, while Bell sought a temporary restraining order against her. In April 2018, Bell was granted a permanent restraining order against Leedy. Leedy, meanwhile, filed a criminal complaint against Bell, who was charged in August 2018 with two counts of sexual exploitation of a client. He also faced a felony perjury charge for statements he made when he filed for a restraining order. All three charges were dismissed in November 2018. Per court records, Leedy continued to contact Bell and his wife until April 2019, when she was arrested on charges of felony stalking and violating the restraining order. Susan Leedy, the female client Bell was accused of having sex with in December 2017, got divorced from her husband in February 2018. She was then convicted of stalking Bell for continually contacting him and his wife in violation of a restraining order Leedy was convicted and sentenced to 212 days in jail, followed by a three-year period of supervised release. She was once again ordered to stay away from Bell and his family. Authorities said in the leadup to her eventual arrest, Leedy called and messaged Bell dozens of times. In October 2018, Bell reported her to the police and demanded she be prosecuted. Leedy later told a Riverside County sheriff's deputy that she 'was not intending to harass Bell, she only wanted to convince Bell to confess'. 'Breaking the restraining order is like her protest in a way,' the deputy wrote in a report. Leedy was also accused of harassing investigators at the CBBS and Riverside County District Attorney's Office, two agencies that were involved with investigating Bell for his alleged misconduct at the time. Much of her correspondence with these authorities, where she accuses them of corruption and of sending the police to her home to intimidate her, were posted on her public Facebook page. Her ire wasn't just aimed at prosecutors, as she also allegedly sent a pornographic image to her own attorney at the time. A psychologist who examined Leedy determined she was suffering from a personality disorder, which precludes her from practicing nursing safely. This led to her license being revoked in May 2021. The Daily Mail approached Leedy for comment. The banner for Bell's podcast and radio show, which he continues to produce While Leedy was being prosecuted for her actions, Bell faced his own problems. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences charged him with unprofessional conduct through gross negligence or incompetence in connection with his alleged affair with Leedy. In April 2020, the board revoked Bell's counseling license, later softening its decision by agreeing to place him on probation for seven years. During that probationary period, Bell had to submit to a psychological evaluation and therapy. He also agreed to pay the board $14,000 for expenses it incurred investigating and prosecuting him. Although Bell appears to have rebounded by getting approved to conduct marital counseling in Iowa, his license in the state is restricted. For the next 12 months, Bell will be on probation. During that time, another licensed family therapist in Iowa will have to monitor him as he sees patients. The monitor will then have to submit four quarterly reports to Iowa regulators on Bell's performance. Bell is also licensed in Washington. He had a license in the state prior to the enforcement action by California in 2020. Washington regulators responded by putting Bell under similar restrictions in 2021. After his legal troubles and Leedy's stalking, Bell relocated to the Seattle area with his family. He is married and has two children and continues to work in Washington as a marital counselor and family therapist Like in Iowa, he had to find another licensed therapist to supervise him, according to an informal disposition order from the state's health department. For the next seven years, it was stipulated that the supervisor would meet with him for at least one hour per week. The supervisor was also required to submit quarterly performance evaluation reports to authorities. However, on February 6, Washington released him from these requirements. Regulators stated Bell 'complied with the terms of the agreement.' Bell told the Daily Mail he moved to the Seattle area in 2018 to get away from Leedy. He currently practices at Seattle Christian Counseling. Still married, he has a daughter in college and an 11-year-old son. In January, he petitioned the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to release him from his probation period early, arguing he has complied with its stipulations. 'This event has prevented me from taking insurance for any client [in California] due to insurance not accepting a practitioner with this on their record. Yet, I am the only income for my family,' he wrote in a letter to the board. 'I cant not work. We have no life savings due to all the legal actions.' A brawl erupted at a vigil in New York City that was honoring the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mourners at Washington Square Park were interrupted by a swarm of protesters on Friday, prompting a man in a SpongeBob sweatshirt and keffiyeh to throw punches. Video of the brawl showed a protester attempting to snatch down a poster of the slain leader, who was killed in an airstrike carried out by the Israeli military last week. In retaliation, the bystander, who appeared to be an attendee of the vigil, threw punches that quickly attracted a horde of aggressors. Onlookers cursed and shouted as multiple people tussled, knocking over an elderly woman in the chaos. New York City Police officers swooped in and detained the man in the SpongeBob sweatshirt who threw the initial punches and his victim who brazenly fought back. Both appeared visibly beaten down and bloodied by the sudden violence. A spokesperson for the New York City Deputy Commissioner of Public Information told the Daily Mail that a total of three individuals were taken into custody for 'disorderly conduct.' A man in a SpongeBob sweatshirt and a keffiyeh swung at a counter protester who tried to snatch a photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The protester said they attempted to take the sign because the slain leader was a 'terrorist' The victim told the New York Post that he tried to take down the poster in the inciting incident because Khamenei was a 'terrorist.' 'He's a terrorist who's killed American soldiers and I think it was insane that I was right there and there was a vigil, so I just took the sign down,' he said. 'I felt that was the right thing to do. I feel like someone should stand up for Iranian people.' Fox News reported that, along with signs and posters of Khamenei, sympathizers set up a memorial table featuring flowers and candles. The memorial was adorned with Palestinian flags and keffiyeh scarves. One observer reportedly described the event as the 'People's Republic of New York.' According to CBS, Khamenei's supporters praised him for standing against Zionism, calling him a martyr. Roughly 25 mourners attended the vigil while two dozen counter-protesters waved Iranian, American and Israeli flags across barricades. The participants chanted 'USA' and 'death to the terrorist.' One Iranian immigrant told the Post that those who supported the country's slain supreme leader 'don't get the message.' New York City police detained at least three people at Friday's protest for 'disorderly conduct' Individuals who attended the vigil set up a makeshift memorial using keffiyehs and Palestinian flags 'We like the fact that Trump is actually helping Iranians to eliminate these people. We appreciated it. It is respectful that this is happening,' the unnamed woman said. Attacks broke out in Iran last weekend after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on the nation. President Donald Trump said the goal of the targeted attack was 'eliminating threats from the Iranian regime,' per CBS. Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks against US military bases in the Middle East, killing at least six US service members. Reuters reported that at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed in the broad-scale strikes. President Donald Trump saluted the six fallen soldiers as their bodies arrived on US soil at a Delaware Air Force base to be prepared for their final resting place on Saturday. The Republican appeared somber as he held his hand to his forehead as the six caskets passed by him, his wife First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, AG Pam Bondi, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles at Dover Air Force Base. The caskets carried the bodies of Nicole Amor, 39; Cody Khork, 35; Robert Marzan, 54; Jeffrey OBrien, 45; Noah Tietjens, 42; and Declan Coady, 20, who died on Sunday during an Iranian attack on Kuwait. American flags were be draped over their coffins as part of the dignified transfer as they were carried to a vehicle that transports them to a mortuary facility. Trump had announced that he would attend the ceremony on Friday night, saying he was bringing his wife and members of his cabinet along to 'pay our highest respect to our great warriors.' 'God bless them all,' he wrote. On Saturday morning, while speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Florida before heading to Delaware, the president admitted the six soldiers are 'coming home from Iran...in a different manner than they thought they'd be coming home.' 'They're great heroes in our country,' he told the summit. President Donald Trump saluted the six fallen soldiers as they were giving their dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Trump was accompanied by his wife First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Trump, Vance, and Hegseth bowed their hands at the base of the base while the caskets were taken out Soldiers carried their fellow comrades, whose caskets had an American flag overlayed Trump and Vance were seen saluting as the casket passed by The president met with the soldiers' families while at the Air Force base. Trump also warned on Saturday that more Americans lives could be lost as more military action takes place in the Middle East, as Iran has continued to strike at US bases. The Republican has vowed to hit Iran 'very hard' on Saturday, he said in a Truth Social post. 'Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time,' he wrote. However, a leaked spy report by the National Intelligence Council warned that Trump's military action could be disastrous. In just one week, tensions have dramatically risen in the region, starting with a joint military operation conducted by the US and Israel against Iran. The strikes took out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran retaliated by targeting US military bases in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Trump has stood firm on the military attack, but a report completed by the NIC just a week before raised doubts about the US's ability to overthrow the regime. Nicole Amor, 39, and Cody Khork, 35, are among the soldiers whose bodies were returned home on Saturday Robert Marzan, 54, and Jeffrey O'Brien, 45, were among the six who died in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait on Sunday Noah Tietjens, 42, and Declan Coady, 20, were among the soldiers bodies flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for a dignified transfer Slide me The soldiers were attacked in Kuwait by an Iranian drone The NIC is a federal government agency that reports to the Director of National Intelligence. NIC members bridge 18 intelligence agencies with policymakers to provide analytical assessments. Three people familiar with the findings told the Washington Post that Iran would likely respond to Khamenei's death by following protocols to preserve the regime. Sources said it was 'unlikely' that Iran's opposition would seize control. Khamenei's successor has yet to be named. Iran's Assembly of Experts and high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been tasked with naming his replacement. Ayatollah's son, Mojitaba Khamenei, is rumored to be assuming the role, but Trump has previously called him 'incompetent' and a 'lightweight.' The uncertainty of success has made it harder for the six soldiers families, whom some should have been days away from reuniting with their loved ones if they were still alive. Amor's husband, Joey, said his wife had been due home, and he originally had no worries upon hearing about her deployment to Kuwait, the Associated Press said. 'You dont go to Kuwait thinking somethings going to happen, and for her to be one of the first it hurts,' he said. O'Brien had been in the Army Reserve for nearly 15 years. His family remembered him on Facebook as the 'sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid you'd ever know.' 'He is so missed already,' his aunt wrote. President Donald Trump was seen arriving at Dover Air Force Base Saturday afternoon for the dignified transfer of the six soldiers who died in Kuwait Trump raised a fist in solidarity as he stepped off the presidential aircraft Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shook hands with service members at Dover Air Force Base after arriving Saturday afternoon Soldiers salute the six cases in the van before they're taken to a mortuary facility AG Pam Bondi looked sad while standing in the row row behind Melania and Vance Marzan's sister described him as a 'strong leader' and a loving husband and father. 'My baby brother, you are loved, and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart,' she wrote. Coady's father said his son 'loved being a soldier' and was 'one of the most kindest [sic] people you would ever meet.' 'He would do anything and everything for anyone,' his dad said. Khork's family remembered him as the 'life of the party' who had an 'infectious spirit' and a 'generous heart.' Tietjens had previously served in Kuwait alongside his father. He left behind a wife and a 12-year-old. Republican Senator, Joni Ernst, a combat veteran, said the nation 'owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.' 'These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure,' he said. Smoke was seen rising in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Saturday after Trump promised to hit the country 'very hard' today Smoke was also seen in Isfahan, Iran, on Saturday This will be the fourth dignified transfer that Trump will attend since his first term. It will be his second since he took office in January 2025. Trump recently traveled to Dover in December to honor two Iowa National Guard members and a US civilian interpreter who were killed in an ambush attack in the Syrian desert . Just weeks into his first term, Trump went to his first dignified transfer ceremony on February 1, 2017, where Bill Owens, the father of the slain William 'Ryan' Owens, refused to shake the President's hand. The elder Owens was enraged that Trump had approved a raid in Yemen just six days into his term. Trump did not return to Dover for another dignified transfer ceremony until nearly two years later - on January 19, 2019. A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Huai Jinpeng, minister of education, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Lu Zhiyuan, minister of civil affairs, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Sun Yeli, minister of culture and tourism, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) A journalist asks a question at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) This combo photo shows Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng (C), Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan (2nd R), Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping (2nd L), Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli (1st R), and Lei Haichao (1st L), head of the National Health Commission, attending a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Journalists work at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists work at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood is held in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) America's full-scale military operation in Iran has potentially cost American taxpayers billions in just one week. The US-Israeli joint strikes launched on February 28 has led to retaliatory strikes by Iran across US military bases in the Middle East, resulting in a death toll into the thousands. Iran's UN ambassador estimated that the death toll has surpassed 1,300. More than 200 people have also been killed in Lebanon, and at least 11 in Israel. Six US military members were killed in an Iranian airstrike while at a base in Kuwait on Sunday. Donald Trump arrived in Delaware on Saturday for their dignified transfer. The ongoing conflict has also severely disrupted travel, as airspace over the Middle East was temporarily closed, stranding thousands of Americans abroad. The Trump administration has frequently been pressed over how much these operations have cost. The Department of War provided a breakdown of assets and targets from the first 72 hours of Operation Epic Fury; however, government officials have not disclosed the exact cost of the military activity. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan research institution in Washington, analyzed DOW fact sheets, Congressional Budget Office estimates, and statements from government officials to provide an estimate of wartime costs for the operation thus far. A recent study has estimated that the US has already spent billions on the first 100 hours of military operations in Iran. President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, pictured above, have vigorously defended the efforts Military operations in the region are now entering its second week. Pictured above is the aftermath of strikes in Tehran on Friday The military strikes were initiated last Saturday by Israel and the US. Iran has retaliated against US military bases across the Middle East. Pictured above is an explosion in Tehran on Saturday Your browser does not support iframes. The study concluded that the US has spent around $3.7 billion, or $891.4 million a day, on wartime efforts in the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury. The most significant expense comes from munitions. CSIS estimated that the US spent $3.1 billion on munitions alone, none of which were budgeted for. Combat losses and infrastructure damage totaled $359 million, which was not previously budgeted for by the DOW. Lastly, operations and support costs totaled $196.3 million, including $18.3 million that was already included in the DOW's budget. These estimates indicate that the DOW spent approximately $3.54 billion in unbudgeted funds during the first 100 hours of the war in Iran. Congress passed a $900 billion defense budget last year. Below is a breakdown of military expenses for air, naval, and ground operations: Air operations - $125 million A new study has estimated that air operations alone have already cost US taxpayers $125 million. Pictured above is a US navy fleet in 2024 CSIS estimates that air operations in the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost $125 million and are increasing by $30 million per day. The institution cited an update from the US Central Command on Tuesday stating that more than 200 fighter aircraft were conducting operations. CSIS estimated the following costs for the most expensive aircraft assets per day: Tanker and cargo: $9 million Carrier air wing: $5 million Non-stealth fighter: $5 million Stealth fighter: $5 million The US has authorized millions of dollars worth of military equipment in the region. Pictured above is an Iranian fighter jets being before US troops destroyed it Naval operations - $64 million CSIS estimates that naval operations cost $64 million during the first 100 hours, of which $5.9 million is unbudgeted, and increase by about $15 million per day. The US has consistently sent warships to the Middle East since the October 7 attack, but naval forces surged in the region for Operation Epic Fury. Two US Navy carriers, 14 destroyers, and three littoral combat ships are currently in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and the eastern Mediterranean. CSIS estimated the following costs for the most expensive naval assets per day: Aircraft carrier: $6 million Destroyer: $5 million Naval operations are estimated to have cost $64 million. Pictured above is the missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr in the Arabian Sea on February 18 The US has shot down numerous Iranian fighter jets. Pictured above is a US armanent destroying an Iranian ballistic missile on March 2 Aircraft carriers and destroyers have been sent to the Middle East amid ongoing military operations. Pictured above are fighter jets parked on a flight deck on Thursday Ground operations - $7 million The US has yet to initiate a ground invasion of Iran, but there are almost 600 US soldiers stationed at military bases across the Middle East as of December, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center. Artillery units have also been known to operate in the region, and the National Guard battalion was activated. CSIS estimated the following costs for the most expensive ground assets per day: Artillery brigade: $1 million National Guard battalion: less than $1 million Two Iranian fighter jets were destroyed on March 2, pictured above. The war has already cost US taxpayers an estimated $3 billion Munition expenditures Using past US air campaigns, CSIS estimated that it will cost $3.1 billion to replenish the US munitions inventory used in the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury, with costs increasing by $758.1 million a day. The US has sent over 2,000 munitions of various types to Iran in just the first few days of the operation, according to US Central Command. 'Though expensive and scarce, the long-range missiles allow U.S. forces to strike from a distance,' CSIS wrote. 'In the initial, surprise attack, they would have been used to destroy Iranian air defenses and other counter-air capabilities and create permissive conditions for follow-on attacks.' The institution also estimated a cost of approximately $359 million in equipment losses and infrastructure damage. The extent of damage to US military bases in Gulf countries is unclear, but videos of the attacks have shown explosions at facilities in Kuwait and Qatar. Pictured above is a map of damaged US military bases across the Middle East Continued costs Costs in the initial days of a war are typically the most expensive. The Trump administration has not provided a timeline for how long military operations will continue in Iran. DOW Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Wednesday that US forces would be 'accelerating.' 'We are just getting started,' he said. Kent Smetters, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Wharton Budget Model, told CNN that even a two-month war could cost up to $95 billion. The Iraq War cost American taxpayers $3 trillion. The massive price tag was significantly higher than the Bush administration's 2003 estimate of $60 billion. The Pentagon told the Daily Mail that it did not have the exact costs on wartime efforts to provide. The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran intensifies and criticism mounts over Britain's military response. HMS Prince of Wales could be moved to a higher state of readiness, with the notice period to deploy reduced from ten days to just five, according to reports. Crew members have also been alerted about the potential mission in the wake of the war between the US, Israel and Iran, a source told Sky News. The move would allow the Government to respond more quickly should Sir Keir Starmer decide to send the carrier strike group to bolster Britain's defences in the Gulf or around Cyprus. HMS Prince of Wales is currently docked in Portsmouth, undergoing repairs and maintenance. The 3billion warship carries F-35 fighter jets and would deploy alongside an escort of other vessels and a submarine if sent to the region. However, defence analysts warn the Royal Navy may struggle to assemble a full escort force at short notice, as an aircraft carrier is considered far too valuable to deploy alone. One destroyer, HMS Duncan, is due to undergo maintenance, while only a limited number of frigates are currently available, meaning Britain could once again have to rely on European allies to provide additional ships if the carrier sails. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus. 'Since the strikes began, we've had British jets in the sky shooting down drowns and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone busting missiles. The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran intensifies and criticism mounts over Britain's military response. Pictured: The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in dock at Portsmouth harbour HMS Prince of Wales could be moved to a higher state of readiness, with the notice period to deploy reduced from ten days to just five, according to reports (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. 'HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.' The development comes as the head of Britain's armed forces rejected criticism that the military was ill-prepared for the escalating crisis. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said Britain now faces 'probably the most dangerous period' in decades. 'What the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary have made clear, and what is very clear to me, is that this is probably the most dangerous period in the last 30-odd years that I've been in uniform,' he said. 'The demands on defence are rising.' He said HMS Dragon, the warship being readied to depart for the region after a drone hit a UK base on Cyprus, was in maintenance until this week. He also dismissed that cuts to the military over the years have slowed down the UK's response and signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future after Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for 'defensive' US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Sir Richard said 'I completely reject that criticism' when asked about commentary that the UK military had been ill prepared when Israel and the US launched strikes a week ago. 'When the war started on Saturday, it became clear over the next 48 hours that Iran's response was going to be far broader and more reckless compared to what we saw in the 12-day war last summer,' Sir Richard said. 'We also assessed that a drone had been launched from Lebanon by an Iranian-aligned group targeting Cyprus. 'So, on Sunday and Monday, we assessed our options and looked at what the risks were in response to that much broader and reckless action by Iran.' Asked if that was a bit late, he said: 'I completely disagree', adding that 'our posture had been built up over several weeks'. Britain has been criticised by allies over its response to the crisis, particularly over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was struck by a drone earlier this week. Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week while France and Greece have already deployed military assets to defend the island. 'HMS Dragon was in maintenance until this week. 'I'm enormously proud of the work of the Royal Navy - they've been working night and day to get that ship ready, get the ammunition on board, get the stores on board, and bring it out of its maintenance state so it's ready to go within the next few days,' Sir Richard said. He said HMS Dragon would depart in the next few days and then it would take 'a number of days' to transit through the Atlantic, through the Strait of Gibraltar, and across the Mediterranean. Sir Richard said the delay was 'not at all' down to cuts to the military over the years, saying HMS Dragon was in 'routine maintenance'. Military planners have been working to prepare for such a crisis 'over many years', he said. He signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future, while stressing that the current mission is to protect the interests of UK and regional partners. 'But these campaigns and conflicts evolve over time, and we will keep all options under review. Right now, my focus is on protecting our interests and our people right across the region.' An American bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening. Sir Richard said: 'We saw overnight the first US bombers arrive at RAF Gloucester, and I would expect missions to be launched from there within the next few days.' Thousands of pro-Iranian protestors marched today on the US Embassy in London calling for an end to US and Israeli strikes in the region. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that one woman in her 60s has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a placard. It comes on the eighth day of the conflict in the Middle East, which saw Tehran strike Dubai airport and intense Iranian fire target the Gulf Arab states, as the US President Donald Trump promised it would hit Iran 'very hard'. Hundreds of protestors from Hands Off Iran, which opposes Western military intervention, and the counter protest, Stage for Freedom, which protests against the existing Iranian regime, made their way through the capital this afternoon. There was a dramatic confrontation when a counter-demonstrator chanted 'terrorist supporters and communist scum off our streets' as the anti-war march made its way through central London. One man was seen handcuffed in a police van as a Met source confirmed there had been at least two arrests. The van had been parked near another protest by opponents of the Iranian regime directly outside the American Embassy. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gave a statement which was read at the protest, saying 'do not drag Britain into another illegal war'. Your Party MP Zarah Sultana spoke at the Stop the War and Hands off Iran demonstration at the US Embassy in London, saying 'we will not be ignored again' in a reference to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Police had to intervene to defuse a confrontation after a single counter protestor heckled the crowd passing Lambeth Bridge. The pro-Iranian regime protestors gathered outside the US embassy in London, with some chanting 'victory to Iran' and 'death, death to the IDF' Placards displayed pictures of the now dead Ayatollah, as well as flags of Iran, Lebanon and Palestine The Stop the War coalition was out, protesting against US and Israeli involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran One demonstrator was seen holding a picture of the US President on fire, as well as making an apparent reference to an antisemitic conspiracy Police had to intervene to defuse a confrontation after a single counter protestor heckled the crowd in a Union Jack flag Your Party MP Zarah Sultana spoke at the demonstration calling for an end to bombing in Iran outside the US Embassy in London The man, wearing a Union Jack flag around his shoulders, was verbally abused, shouted at and filmed by those gathered. The groups, criticising the US, UK and Israeli governments' involvement in the Middle East conflict, are marching from Millbank to the United States embassy calling for an end to the military attacks on Iran. The Metropolitan Police estimated that almost 4,000 people took part in the march through Westminster to the American embassy near Battersea Power Station. Some are chanting 'victory to Iran' - despite the regime being responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of its own people. Police did not intervene as protestors chanted vile slogans including 'death, death to the IDF' and 'victory to Iran.' Protestors were seen carrying the flags of Iran, alongside Palestinian and Lebanese flags. Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana addressed the anti-war crowd outside the US Embassy, saying 'we will not be ignored again'. Recalling the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, she told protesters: 'Back then, we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Another held aloft an image of the now dead Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei - a regime leader who killed thousands of his own Iranians earlier this year The anti-war protestors were based outside Westminster, where they held stalls and waved banners declaiming the Middle East conflict as 'Trump's wars' 'We were told that war would bring peace and democracy. 'We were told that the war would protect Iraqis and protect the world, but the truth was very different.' Speaking outside the US Embassy in Vauxhall on Saturday afternoon, the Your Party MP for Coventry South added: 'The children of Baghdad deserve to grow up. 'And 23 years ago, when we marched against the Iraq war, we were ignored. 'We will not be ignored again, because history proved them right, and today, we raise our voices for peace, for justice and for a world where governments learn the lessons of the past.' A statement from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was also read out to the crowds. The statement from Mr Corbyn, who could reportedly not attend in person, said: 'In 2003, hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq, and we were ignored, but we are here today to say loudly and clearly - do not drag Britain into another illegal war. 'For too long, the UK has blindly followed the US as it indulges in catastrophic interventions around the world. 'We are here to defend something different, a foreign policy based on cooperation, equality and sovereignty.' He added: 'Forever war is not a game. It has real like human consequences, and US and Israel must be held accountable for their prize.' It comes after Iranian-backed Islamist militants in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, were struck by Israel this week. Other controversial symbols, including the hammer and sickle were also spotted in the crowd. Placards criticising the US and UK governments were also on display, with one sign praising the Iranian government for 'fighting the Epstein regime' - an apparent reference to the antisemitic conspiracy that the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was an Israeli spy. The protestors could be heard chanting 'stop the bombing now, now, now' and 'hands off Iran'. The protest came to a halt outside the US Embassy, where speakers addressed demonstrators and called for an ending to bombing in Iran A protestor seen waving a Palestinian flag next to another group holding Israeli flags The stop the war coalition set up a stall with placards and t-shirts near Battersea, central London Action groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association Of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends Of Al-Aqsa are leading the demo. But counter-protestors are also on the march in London today, including Stage for Freedom, who are calling for the end of the regime. The Metropolitan Police has imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm. The Stage for Freedom demonstration against the Iranian government is marching from Whitehall to Kensington Road near Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, close to where the nation's embassy is situated, this afternoon. The Middle East has been plunged into chaos after a joint US and Israeli strike on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. In the days since, Tehran and its allies have retaliated across the region, targeting Israel, US bases in neighbouring Gulf states and sites critical to global oil and gas production. In Bristol, similar protests were held this afternoon, with footage shared on social media showing tense confrontations between pro-Iranian protestors and anti-Iranian regime protestors, as well as the presence of mounted police. Hundreds of people in Bristol took part in a pre-planned march and could be heard chanting 'off our streets, off our streets', as some struggled with police who were grappling to get the scene under control. The group marched fromMillbank to the US Embassy calling for an end to the military attacks on Iran Local police said in a statement: 'Officers are in Bristol city centre today as part of a policing operation in response to a protest and counter-protest. 'Two groups have gathered at the Cenotaph, St Augustine's Parade, and officers are on the scene. There are no road closures in place. Updates to come.' At 1.53pm, Bristol police reported officers 'faced resistance' while facilitating the protest in the city centre, and were using 'dispersal tactics' to keep both sides of the demonstration separate. There was a tense standoff at Union Street as Bristol police formed a human wall when the two rival groups faced each other. Many marked vans and mounted officers blocked the route for about half an hour this afternoon as another march led by a group called 'Bristol Patriots' was challenged by hundreds of counter-protesters organised by a coalition of anti-fascism and anti-racist groups. The march came to a halt near Broadmead Tesco at about 12.40pm, causing gridlock for drivers and buses trying to make their way around the city centre. Avon and Somerset Police enacted special powers to disperse the crowds and ordered people to remove face coverings. They added that officers are being deployed to 'enable a peaceful protest and to ensure the safety of all in attendance and the general public.' Last night, Iranian regime supporters violently clashed with monarchists in shocking scenes outside a London mosque on Friday night. Scores of protesters on both sides gathered on opposite sides of the road close to the Islamic Centre of England (ICE) in Maida Vale at around 7.35pm. Supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last king of Iran, were seen wrapped in the pre-1979 Islamic Revolution flag, which bears the image of a sun and lion. They stood with individuals waving Israeli and American flags, as a group on the other side of the road, closest to the mosque, began exchanging verbal jabs with the group. Footage showed the shouting intensifying from both groups - before seconds later erupting into physical blows on a zebra crossing. Motorists were brought to a halt as protesters kicked and punched at their opponents, which left a 17-year-old boy with a head injury. As quickly as the violence erupted, it soon subsided, with both groups retreating to their respective sides while continuing to shout at one another. Tony Blair has rebuked Keir Starmer for his lack of support for Donald Trump's war on Iran, telling the Prime Minister: 'We should have backed America from the very beginning'. Amid mounting diplomatic tensions between London and Washington over the conflict, Sir Tony warned his successor as Labour leader: 'If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security... you had better show up'. The former Prime Minister's dramatic intervention comes after President Trump described Sir Keir as 'not Winston Churchill' for initially denying him permission to launch strikes on Iran from UK territory, including the joint-US base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. After Sir Keir relented, saying he would allow the US to fly missions for 'specific and limited defensive purposes', Trump said that he had been 'very disappointed' by his British counterpart. Sir Tony's criticism of Sir Keir, at an event hosted by Jewish News on Friday, is likely to provoke anger in a Labour Party still scarred by his decision to join the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 on the false grounds that Saddam Hussein possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Sir Keir justified his initial refusal to back Trump on the grounds that he did not believe in 'regime change from the skies'. The arguments were based on international law, but were driven by political calculations about the lack of an appetite in his Cabinet for emulating Sir Tony's unquestioning support for American military action. A spokeswoman for Sir Tony said that his comments had been made at a private event and were not intended to be publicised. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump at a Gaza Peace Summit in October 2025 Then-US President George Bush shakes hands with Tony Blair in July 2001 Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7 As US bombers landed in the UK this weekend ahead of a threatened 'surge' in strikes on Iran, Downing Street was on resignation watch for Cabinet ministers opposed to military action: it has been claimed that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband led a cabal of ministers who forced Sir Keir Starmer into withholding support for Trump at the start of the conflict a week ago. The four B-1 Lancers, which arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday and Saturday, are each capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles. Sir Keir has since authorised the US to use UK airbases to bomb Iranian missile launch sites on the grounds of the protecting British interests and allies in the Gulf. Sir Tony told the Jewish News event: 'I am not saying anything that I haven't already said to the government... I think we should have backed America from the very beginning'. He added: 'We have got to be very clear about this as a country. We're depending on the American alliance for our country. They are not just an ally, they are an indispensable ally, right? 'Every single time you test an alliance you never test it when things are easy. You test it when it's hard. They were asking to use our bases to refuel... it's not like it was in Vietnam... not like the Iraq campaign where we had thousands of British troops. 'The American relationship matters. It matters particularly today. It's not a question of whether it's this president or that president. If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security... you had better show up'. Sir Tony then dismissed suggestions that unbending support for Trump would split the Labour Party, saying: 'People always complain....the problem for a leader is when you decide you divide... of course it's difficult. In the end, most of the MPs will know that going into the election it's going to be decided on different things'. The former Prime Minister concluded: 'On foreign policy, I think people would just prefer you to be strong and out there and clear, even if they don't agree with you'. Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour of 'playing student politics' while 'the rest of the world rearms' as Sir Keir Starmer 'sits on the fence'. In a fresh attack on the government's response to the Iran war, the Conservative leader said that Labour is 'nothing like the patriotic party of yesteryear' and that Sir Keir was just a 'political hostage'. Ms Badenoch, who has repeatedly called on the government to authorise RAF offensive strikes on Iran's missile launch sites, suggested the Prime Minister was 'too scared' of upsetting certain sections of Labour's target voters to 'act in the national interest'. 'He is held at the behest of a load of half-rate Left-wing MPs, none of whom grasp the seriousness of the world that Britain is now in,' she told the Conservative Spring Conference today. Continuing her fierce criticism of what she sees as Labour's procrastination and failure to support the US, she said: 'I never thought I would see the day when Britain's allies felt that they could not rely on us. 'This week, they have described us as weak. They've accused us of deserting them, of going missing in action.' Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour of 'playing student politics' while 'the rest of the world rearms' as Sir Keir Starmer 'sits on the fence' Video footage appears to show the moment an Iranian drone struck Dubai airport today She told delegates in Harrogate this morning that the US 'have watched Britain refusing to send reinforcements to defend our military bases in the Mediterranean' and will lash out at Labour's failure to prepare the military for action. 'The US, Greece and France have all sent ships. Ours is stuck in Portsmouth Harbour, apparently because of a union dispute,' Ms Badenoch said, in reference to the furore over air defence destroyer HMS Dragon. It emerged this week that the key military asset - which can shoot down drones and missiles - was stuck in port at Portsmouth instead of on its way to help protect the British base and service personnel at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone last week. The warship is not expected to sail until next week and could take days to get to the eastern Mediterranean. Today it emerged aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is being readied ahead of a possible deployment to the Middle East. Painting a picture of a dithering and cowardly Prime Minister who cannot make his mind up what to do, she told the conference: 'Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq war. Nobody is suggesting we should drop bombs without a second thought. 'But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers and plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on, even though our allies had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. 'Even now, he is sitting on the fence, still deciding what our role is going to be in this war. We are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not. It's time to act.' Ms Badenoch visited local shop owners during the Conservative Party Spring Conference in Harrogate Ms Badenoch warned delegates in Harrogate this morning that the US will lash out at Labour's failure to prepare the military for action Her speech came after sustained criticism from US President Donald Trump over Britain's failure to give its supposedly key ally immediate and wholehearted support and allow initial US strikes on Iran from UK bases. Sir Keir suggested any decision to do so would have been unlawful and called for a 'viable, thought-through plan'. He has now latterly granted permission for the US to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, its only European base, to launch 'defensive' raids only on ballistic missile storage sites in Iran. Supersonic B1 Lancer bombers, described by military experts as 'one of the most significant bombers in the world' for its size and capability, arrived at the UK base on Friday and Saturday and are expected to be primed for imminent raids on Iran. Yesterday, Ms Badenoch told the BBC the RAF needed to do more than just shoot down missiles and drones fired by Iran at allies in the Gulf. 'They need to do more than that. They need to stop the missile sites. You need to go to the source. 'If you have someone with a gun shooting, stopping the bullets is not enough, you need to go after the weapon,' she said. 'You can't always wait for people to attack you. Sometimes you have to make sure that you get there first to stop their ability to hurt your citizens.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy also said yesterday that there was a legal basis to allow RAF jets to strike Iranian missile sites. In her speech today, Ms Badenoch also taunted the government for its performance domestically and its safe seat loss to the Greens in Gorton and Denton, claiming it had 'spooked' the party. 'They watched the Greens campaigning on sectarian voting lines, a tactic Labour used for many years turned against them,' she said. Destructive tornadoes and severe winds ripped across 12 states, killing eight people and leaving more than 100,000 without power. Approximately 100 million Americans in the middle and western United States were still at risk for tornadoes on Saturday after a night of chaotic twisters wreaked havoc across the country. Cities at risk over the remainder of the weekend included Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Dallas, Atlanta and New Orleans. Residents could be at risk of more twisters, brutal wind and even hail as a threatening cold front moves across the Eastern United States. Rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding threatened Texas, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley as even more tornado activity looms over Ohio and Michigan. Michigan and Oklahoma felt the brunt of the severe storm, with tornadoes leaving a trail of destruction in both states beginning on Thursday. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for eight counties in the state, as at least four people were killed overnight. 'I declared a state of emergency for Alfalfa, Creek, Grant, Major, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties to ensure Oklahomans have the support and resources they need after last nights storms,' he wrote on social media. Severe thunderstorms are expected to continue through Saturday evening throughout the Eastern US At least four deaths were reported in Michigan after tornados whipped through the state Union City Michigan experienced the brunt of the sever weather on Thursday and Friday High winds and cyclones destroyed homes in Union City, Michigan A church in Michigan was left heavily damaged by tornados that threatened the mid-east Among the victims of the storm were a mother and daughter who were driving when a tornado lifted their car into the air on Thursday night. Jodie Owens, 47, and her 13-year-old daughter Lexi were found dead inside their van near a highway intersection outside Fairview in Major County, authorities said. Governor Stitt addressed the deaths on social media the following morning. 'Severe weather struck Major County last night and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and daughter,' he wrote. 'I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms. 'More weather risks are expected across Oklahoma this weekend. Please stay weather aware and follow guidance from local officials to keep your family safe.' Two others were confirmed dead almost 200 miles away in Beggs, Oklahoma. Jodie Owens, 47, and her daughter Lexi Owens, 13, were found dead inside a vehicle in Major County after a tornado struck western Oklahoma Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee are at risk for hail and flash flooding as severe weather continues Several people were reported dead in Michigan following the devastating weather The near-record winds were relentless, toppling gas pumps in Oklahoma Hundreds of Americans had to deal with ruined landscaping and trees obstructing their homes and driveways And at least four deaths were reported in Michigan following a night of severe storms tearing through the Union Lake area, according to Fox Weather. Three of the deaths were confirmed in Branch County, where a tornado dubbed the 'Godzilla of twisters' by observers tore through the Union Lake area. A fourth person was confirmed dead after a tornado hit in the Edwardsburg area, according to Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach. Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center to monitor the monstrous storm overnight. 'Tonight, I am activating our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan,' she wrote on social media. 'By taking this action, we can ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests.' The deaths mark the first tornado-related fatalities since June 2025. The tumultuous weather pattern could continue throughout the week, though some states could see a respite of warm air The multi-twister chaos left a trail of destruction throughout the middle and western United States A church had the roof completely torn off in Michigan. The severe weather is far from over Oklahoma endured the severe weather as thousands of residents woke up to deal with the aftermath Several people were also reported as injured as the near-record winds knocked over trees, collapsed houses and smashed windows. Customers in Arkansas and Texas felt the effects, with at least ten thousand in each state left completely in the dark. Springlike temperatures arrived suddenly and climbed into the 70s and 80s across large parts of the Plains and Midwest, running 20 to 30 degrees above seasonal norms. Meteorologists said the unseasonable heat, pulled north by a strengthening storm system, collided with cooler Canadian air, creating the explosive atmospheric conditions. Continuing throughout the weekend, millions of Americans in Texas and New England must brace for severe weather, which may extend through March 8 and 9. Temperatures are predicted to climb through the week, marking what meteorologists predict will be the warmest day in New York City since November. President Donald Trump has promised Cuba will have a 'great new life' as he sets his sights on the Caribbean island next. The Republican, 79, made it clear at the Shield of the Americans Summits on Saturday that Cuba will be the next nation he will target after the war in Iran is finished. 'Cuba is at the end of the line, they're very much at the end of the line,' the president said in Florida on Saturday morning. 'They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy, they have a bad regime. 'It's been bad for a long time... As a little boy, I'd be hearing about Cuba. Cuba is a disaster.' Trump said his Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in talks with Cuba and he believed a deal could be 'very easily' made with the island nation. He promised the island of 11 million people a 'great new life' as the country is currently 'in its last moments of life the way it is,' Trump said on Saturday. The country's citizens currently face fuel shortages and power outages up to 15 hours per day, among other hardships, USA Today reported. It mainly got its oil from Venezuela, but since the January 3 US strike on the South American country, where US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro, Trump has shut off Cuba from the oil. President Donald Trump has promised Cuba will have a 'great new life' as he sets his sights on the Caribbean island next after the US is finished with Iran 'It's been bad for a long time... As a little boy, I'd be hearing about Cuba. Cuba is a disaster,' Trump said Saturday The Trump Administration has already begun making moves to make Cuba dependent on America, USA Today reported. In late February, the administration allowed US petroleum products to be sold directly to Cuba. This breaks the 1960 US embargo on the island, which is still in place today, which bans most American exports to Cuba. There are also reports that Rubio is in talks with the former leader Raul Castro's grandson, USA Today reported. Trump said at the time that Rubio was in talks with officials at a 'very high level.' 'Maybe we'll have a friendly takeover of Cuba,' he said. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has promised to reform the island, but has done so in the past with little progress. Tensions between the US and Cuba heightened last week, when a Cuban Coast Guard member killed four people in a Florida-registered speedboat after the vessel crossed into Cuban waters. The Cuban Embassy said on X that the incident unfolded on Wednesday morning when the speedboat approached one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in the Villa Clara province. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in talks with Cuba and Trump believed a deal could be 'very easily' made, the president said The country's citizens currently face fuel shortages and power outages up to 15 hours per day The embassy said Border Guard Troops confronted the speedboat, leading the crew of the Florida-registered boat to open fire on the Cuban personnel. The commander of the Cuban vessel was injured in the shootout, while four people on the Florida speedboat were killed and six more were injured. Cuban officials said the six injured on the Florida-registered speedboat were evacuated and have received medical assistance. Their nationalities are not known. The embassy added in a statement: 'In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.' Rubio responded to the incident, saying: 'Cuba needs to change, it needs to change dramatically.' However, Trump made it clear, Cuba will not be on the forefront of American politics until after the Iranian war is complete, as that's 'our focus right now,' Trump said at the summit. The Republican has vowed to hit Iran 'very hard' on Saturday, he said in a Truth Social post. 'Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Irans bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time,' he wrote. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has promised to reform the island, but has done so in the past with little progress However, a leaked spy report by the National Intelligence Council warned that Trump's military action could be disastrous. In just one week, tensions have dramatically risen in the region, starting with a joint military operation conducted by the US and Israel against Iran. The strikes took out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran retaliated by targeting US military bases in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Trump has stood firm on the military attack, but a report completed by the NIC just a week before raised doubts about the US's ability to overthrow the regime. The NIC is a federal government agency that reports to the Director of National Intelligence. NIC members bridge 18 intelligence agencies with policymakers to provide analytical assessments. Three people familiar with the findings told the Washington Post that Iran would likely respond to Khamenei's death by following protocols to preserve the regime. Sources said it was 'unlikely' that Iran's opposition would seize control. Khamenei's successor has yet to be named. Iran's Assembly of Experts and high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been tasked with naming his replacement. Ayatollah's son, Mojitaba Khamenei, is rumored to be assuming the role, but Trump has previously called him 'incompetent' and a 'lightweight.' A mid-air Southwest flight was forced to land in Georgia after a passenger triggered a security alert, coming amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Southwest Airlines Flight 2094, bound for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Nashville, Tennessee, was abruptly diverted Friday night to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to Fox 5 Atlanta News. The incident was set-off by a passenger, described as a 'possible security matter,' though what exactly happened has not been confirmed. A TikTok video from inside the plane claimed there was a bomb threat mid-flight, capturing the panic of passengers on board. In the footage, passengers can be seen being ordered to stay in their seats, with their hands up and heads down. Following a safe landing in Georgia just after 9pm, officers from the Atlanta Police Department removed the passenger from the plane. A line of men in tactical gear rushed down the aisle, forcibly removing a man in a red shirt from his seat as three officers handcuffed him. Another video shared online by JC Rodriguez showed the captain shouting for all passengers to show their hands as chaos and confusion quickly spread throughout the cabin. Southwest Airlines Flight 2094, bound for Florida from Tennessee, was forced to land in Georgia after a passenger triggered an unknown security alert Friday night (stock picture) The Southwest incident comes amid exploding tensions across the Middle East, starting with a deadly joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran (pictured) 'After diverting to Atlanta, our Southwest flight sat on the runway for 80+ minutes,' he captioned the clip. Chants from airline workers and flight attendants urging passengers to follow orders echoed through the cabin, while background noises of distressed cries and restless movement filled the plane. In a statement to the Daily Mail, a Southwest spokesperson said: 'Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 landed safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Friday evening after diverting to respond to a possible security matter.' 'We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew and apologize to our Customers for the delay,' they added. 'Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees.' Officials have not confirmed whether any dangerous items were found on the man or the plane, or if the threat involved an explosive device. The Atlanta Police Department has also yet to reveal the current status of the detained passenger or whether they will face charges. Videos of the incident shared on social media drew hundreds of comments reflecting growing fear about flying as tensions in the Middle East continue to spiral. The Atlanta Police Department handcuffed and removed the passenger from the plane after landing safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (pictured) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (pictured) warned that the US is preparing to unleash its 'biggest bombing campaign yet' against Iran tonight 'Thankfully I missed that flight yesterday... You can smell the fear and anxiety in the airport in WW3. Coming back to America sucks...' one user wrote. Another comment read: 'Senate needs to fund the TSA. Theyve had them the Coast Guard, FEMA and Cybersecurity CISA on shut down for 3 weeks. We will surely see more of this.' 'Another US flight disruption in 2026 feels like these incidents are happening more often. Makes flying nerve-wracking. Its crazy how fast panic spreads on a plane,' a third man added. One comment read: 'Unfortunately theres going to be a lot more of this coming.' 'Watched this video carefully. Every American needs to be watching out for their safety,' said another. In the span of a week, tensions across the Middle East have exploded, starting with a deadly joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Tehran to launch relentless retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military bases across the Gulf region. On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the US is preparing to unleash its 'biggest bombing campaign yet' against Iran, with strikes expected to hammer the regime's missile factories, according to Fox Business. The airstrikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) Iran responded by launching retaliatory missiles and drone attacks on US military bases across the Gulf region (pictured: Iranian missiles launched toward Israel) He suggested Iran could escalate by targeting the world's energy lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz, to disrupt global oil and gas flows. He also cautioned that closing the critical waterway, which carries roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and gas, could wreak havoc and send energy prices soaring. President Donald Trump has since ordered war-risk insurance for American ships in the Strait of Hormuz, so US vessels and their cargoes remain protected in the case of destruction. The Treasury secretary said Iran claims the Strait of Hormuz is open, but is blocking ships linked to US or Israeli interests from passing through. Since strikes on the regime began, nearly ten vessels have been hit in Gulf waters, and Iran's Guard has ordered ships not to cross the vital strait. But Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Alimohammad Naini quickly challenged Trump's plan to deploy naval vessels in the strait on Friday, warning they are 'awaiting their presence.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Southwest Airlines for further comment. Periods of geopolitical tension naturally create uncertainty for investors, residents and governments alike. Yet if there is one thing experience in the Middle East has taught me, it is that the region and the United Arab Emirates in particular has an extraordinary ability to remain calm, resilient and forward-looking even during uncertain times. Gulf states like Dubai and Abu Dhabi have built their global reputation not simply on ambition, but on stability, leadership and long-term vision. We have seen this resilience time and time again. During the global financial crisis in 2008, many predicted that Dubai's remarkable growth story might falter. Instead, the city doubled down on infrastructure, connectivity and international partnerships. The result was an even stronger recovery and a new era of development that continues to reshape the skyline today. The same pattern emerged during the Covid pandemic. While many global cities struggled with uncertainty and prolonged periods of disruption, the UAE leadership acted decisively reopening safely, supporting businesses and maintaining confidence in the economy. Dubai in particular emerged from the pandemic stronger than almost any major city in the world. This week, the UAE has also shown remarkable resilience in the face of real security threats. It has intercepted more missiles than any other Gulf state and has continued to maintain strong and effective defence systems while keeping the country safe and open. Just as important is the visible confidence of its leadership from clear communication to moments such as President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan being seen calmly among residents in places like Dubai Mall. It sends a powerful signal that the leadership is present, trusted and standing with its people. France has stepped forward on the international stage, placing its squadron based in Abu Dhabi at the disposal of regional defence efforts, while Italy has moved to send additional air defence systems. Yet Britain has appeared curiously flat-footed. It is said, in sorrow rather than anger by many in the region, that the United Kingdom is in danger of becoming increasingly irrelevant in moments that demand leadership. It is precisely this combination of decisive leadership and unwavering optimism that makes the UAE so unique. Even during these periods of regional tension, investors and residents understand that the long-term trajectory remains firmly positive. As someone who has spent many years building relationships across the region, I have seen first-hand how committed the UAE's leadership is to long-term stability and prosperity. Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to invest in infrastructure, technology, tourism and financial services at a scale few other cities can match. Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy has said London has the 'potential to rediscover its energy and confidence' but the 'key will be leadership' Smoke was seen rising from Dubai International airport as it suspended operations on Sunday Pictured: Dubai International airport on Sunday after flights resumed Of course, as a proud Londoner, a piece of my heart remains firmly in the UK's capital. London is still one of the greatest cities in the world, but it would be wrong to ignore that London faces significant challenges today. Rising crime, declining investor confidence and years of political mismanagement have taken their toll. Many international investors who once saw London as their first destination now look elsewhere. That is deeply concerning for anyone who cares about the future of our capital. But London's story is far from finished. Just as the UAE has repeatedly demonstrated resilience and renewal, London, too, has the potential to rediscover its energy and confidence. But the key will be leadership. London needs a mayor with an unwavering belief in growth, enterprise and restoring pride in our city. Laila Cunningham, Reform UK's candidate for London mayor, represents a new generation of leadership one that understands the importance of safety, investment and international competitiveness. With the right direction, London can once again take its place on the world stage and become the most attractive global city for entrepreneurs, investors and families alike. The world today is navigating a period of significant geopolitical tension. But history reminds us that great cities and great nations are defined not by moments of uncertainty, but by how they respond to them. The UAE has shown the world what resilience, vision and leadership can achieve. Dubai and Abu Dhabi will undoubtedly continue to grow and prosper, just as they have after every challenge they have faced before. And with the right leadership at home, I believe London can do the same. Both regions share something fundamental a belief in opportunity, ambition and the power of global connection. Those are values worth protecting and fighting for. This is the moment two brave female police officers confronted a man brandishing a knife, shoving him into a shopfront to take the blade off the streets. The Metropolitan Police officers had been on foot patrol on Brewer Street in central London's Soho area in the early hours of the morning. In the middle of their routine duties, they spotted the passerby carrying the weapon, right in the centre of the busy West End. Bodyworn footage shows one of the constables shouting, 'Hey! Put that down now!', as she crosses the road to confront the individual head-on. Her colleague echoes, 'Put it down!', as the pair approach the man, who is openly displaying the knife as he stands, seemingly completely relaxed, in front of a shop. The officers quickly call for help, saying into their radios, 'We've got a man with a knife on the street', as alarmed bystanders retreat into a nearby store. Initially remaining a few metres away for their own safety, the cops shout, 'Get down, get on your knees now!', before one swiftly apprehends the man. She pushes the man towards the wall and turns him around before quickly putting handcuffs on him, as he stands pressed against the shopfront. This is the moment (pictured) two brave female police officers confronted a man brandishing a knife, shoving him into a shopfront to take the blade off the streets The Metropolitan Police officers had been on foot patrol on Brewer Street in central London's Soho area in the early hours of the morning. Pictured: The man is arrested by one of the officers In the middle of their routine duties, they spotted the passerby carrying the weapon, right in the centre of the busy West End. Pictured: The officers seize the knife As she arrests the man in the middle of the pavement, passersby film, before her colleague confirms into her radio, 'Got the male detained in cuffs'. The officer calmly tells the man he is under arrest for possession of an offensive weapon, before reading him his rights. The constables soon recover the knife from where it was dropped on the pavement during the melee. They quickly dispose of what appears to be a long, sharp kitchen knife, packaging it up for taking back to the police station. The Metropolitan Police posted the bodyworn video of the confrontation on their official social media channels to celebrate the officers' courage. The caption of their post on X read: 'Two officers were on foot patrol when they spotted a man with a knife. 'They immediately stepped in, contained the incident, and arrested the suspect before anyone could get hurt.' The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment. It comes after the force defended its work cracking down on crime in London earlier this year, amid jibes by US President Donald Trump about the safety of the capital. Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said London 'does not deserve the reputation which it is sometimes given', in what appeared to be a thinly veiled dig at the American premier. Figures released in January showed there was just over one unlawful killing (1.07) per 100,000 people last year - an historic low for the capital. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley paid tribute to the results of 'relentless work' to drive down violent crime in the capital, despite claims from the likes of the US President that London has 'no go' areas. He added: 'The results speak for themselves - fewer lives lost, fewer families shattered. 'Every murder is a tragedy, but we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to drive down serious violence. 'This work will not stop, and neither will our determination to keep Londoners safe.' The Deputy Commissioner told reporters he would not 'get involved' in political commentary, but said the figures proved the criticism was unfounded. 'And our message, not just to Londoners, but to the world, is that the facts speak for themselves. London is safe and getting safer. Bodyworn footage (pictured) shows one of the constables shouting, 'Hey! Put that down now!', as she crosses the road to confront the individual head-on Her colleague echoes, 'Put it down!', as the pair approach the man (pictured), who is openly displaying the knife as he stands, seemingly completely relaxed, in front of a shop One of the officers pushes the man towards the wall and turns him around before quickly putting handcuffs on him, as he stands pressed against the shopfront The constables soon recover the knife from where it was dropped on the pavement (pictured) during the melee Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. 'London does not deserve the reputation which it is sometimes given, and we are proud of the men and women of the Met who are part of making that difference.' London's Labour mayor Sir Sadiq Khan pointed to the statistics to dub the city 'safer than ever' - and blasted critics for promoting 'untruths'. He insisted the Met data disproves suggestions from Trump and other right-wing politicians that crime is out of control in London. But Sir Sadiq's opponents have claimed this assertion is based on 'cherry-picked' data that does not represent the everyday reality of the capital. While declining murder rates are welcome, other data shows crimes including shoplifting, phone snatching and sexual offences have all increased under his leadership. Susan Hall, Conservative leader of the London Assembly, claimed Sir Sadiq 'has chosen to cherry-pick data in order to cover his record failure as our Mayor'. She told the Daily Mail: 'Whilst knife homicides may be down, they represent just a small number of outcomes from knife offences. 'In reality, most Londoners who encounter a knife - such as a robbery - are significantly less likely to see action on that matter, and the number of knife offences in London continues to climb.' BEIRUT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-six people were killed and an unspecified number wounded early Saturday during clashes in eastern Lebanon, following Hezbollah's claim that it repelled an attempted Israeli commando landing. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that clashes erupted on the eastern mountain range along the Lebanese-Syrian border near the Nabi Chit-Ham axis after four Israeli military helicopters carried out a landing operation in the rugged mountainous area. Hezbollah said its fighters detected the helicopters on Friday evening and later exchanged fire with the advancing Israeli infantry force. The NNA reported that residents also joined Hezbollah fighters in confronting the force. Israeli fighter jets and helicopters later carried out around 40 airstrikes on the town and surrounding areas, the NNA reported, adding that the strikes were aimed at securing the withdrawal of the Israeli infiltrating unit and preventing reinforcements from reaching the area. The NNA further reported that the clashes left 26 people dead, including members of the Lebanese army, security personnel and civilians in the region. Israel has not announced any casualties. Earlier on Friday, Israeli warplanes launched 13 airstrikes on Nabi Chit and nearby areas, which local media said were carried out ahead of the commando operation. The escalation follows rocket fire toward Israel launched from Lebanon early Monday by Hezbollah, the group's first such attack since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel has since launched what it called an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, combining heavy airstrikes with ground incursions along the border and evacuation warnings for areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. US President Donald Trump has promised Iran 'will be hit very hard' as he vowed to expand his country's list of targets. In the Truth Social statement on Saturday, Trump mocked Iran as 'The Loser Of The Middle East', as the US demanded 'unconditional' surrender and threatened escalation of the conflict, which began eight days ago. President Trump hit out at Iran's President Masoud Pezeshki, who earlier claimed that attacks against its Gulf neighbours would stop - only to be contradicted by Iran's Revolutionary Guards hours later. Pezeshkian described the US demand for an 'unconditional surrender' as a 'dream' in a statement today in which he also apologised for striking neighbouring countries. But the Iranian attacks show no sign of stopping, as Dubai's international airport was hit by a drone strike this morning. President Trump said in a statement attacking Iran's capability: 'Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. 'This promise was only made because of the relentless US and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. 'It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern countries.' President Trump issued a warning to Iran on Saturday, the eighth day of the conflict in the Middle East The US President warned that Iran would be 'hit very hard' as he vowed to expand his country's list of targets Explosions were reported near Dubai International Airport around 8am local time (4am GMT) on Saturday, with a fire seen burning close to the complex after another suspected Iranian drone attack Pictured: Damage at Dubai airport following drone strikes this morning He added that Iranians had 'thanked' him and responded that Iran was 'no longer the bully of the Middle East' but was now the 'loser' of the region instead. He continued with a warning to Iran that it would be 'hit very hard' on Saturday, and said: 'Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.' The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted the Gulf Arab states on Saturday morning as Israel and the United States kept up their air strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. There were repeated attacks on Saturday morning on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Elsewhere, it was reported today that the UK has halved the readiness time for aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales ahead of a possible deployment to the region. Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire overnight, with the IDF confirming it had launched a fresh wave of attacks against 'terror targets' in the Dahiyeh District of Beirut, Lebanon. Iran also fired its twenty-third round of strikes, a statement from IRGC-affiliated Tasmin news agency said as the IDF reported missiles coming from the region towards Israel had been detected. The US submarine captain who sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka warned the crew twice before firing torpedoes, it has been claimed. At least 87 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 the Indian Ocean island on Wednesday. According to Iranian reports, one of the crew members rang his father claiming that the US warnings to abandon the ship were ignored by the commander on the Iranian warship. Some of the crew are understood to have escaped on lifeboats, and a rescue mission was launched Sri Lankan navy dispatched a team when the vessel issued a distress call at dawn. In total, 87 bodies were retrieved from the Indian Ocean and 32 sailors were rescued. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as an 'atrocity at sea' and said the US would 'bitterly regret' the attack. Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the injured sailors were taken to a hospital in the island's south. He told a conference in New Delhi that Sri Lanka was caring for the rescued sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under Colombo's international treaty obligations. This is the moment an Iranian warship suffered a 'quiet death' after being blasted by a torpedo At least 87 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 Asked if Colombo was under pressure from the US to not repatriate the Iranians, Mr Herath did not answer directly. 'We have taken all the steps according to international laws,' Mr Herath said. Sri Lanka also provided safe haven to a second Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, and evacuated its 219 crew a day after the Dena was torpedoed. The ship was taken to Trincomalee on Sri Lanka's northeast coast after reporting engine problems. India, meanwhile, said Saturday it had allowed a third Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in one of its ports on 'humane' grounds after it too reported operational problems. The three ships were part of a multi-national fleet review held by India before the war in the Middle East started last Saturday. 'I think it was the humane thing to do and I think we were guided by that principle,' Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishkar said. 'A lot of the people on board were young cadets. They have disembarked and are in a nearby facility,' said Mr Jaishkar. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said this week that Colombo would follow the Hague Convention, which requires a neutral state to hold combatants of a warring state until hostilities end. A senior administration official said Colombo was in talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross to deal with the survivors of the torpedoed ship. International humanitarian law applied to the survivors from the Dena, an official said, and the wounded could be repatriated at their request. Iranian diplomats in Colombo said they have asked for the remains of 84 sailors killed in the US attack to be taken back to Iran. Your browser does not support iframes. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday: '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.' '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 after the US military said it had struck Iran's largest naval warship following the launch of Trump's '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 regime's 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. Iran's reserves of bombs, drones and missiles 'are fully ready and intact' and will 'confront any threat' over the long term, its Deputy Defence Minister said today. Iran has continued to launch attacks across the Gulf region against Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar a week after hostilities began. But some experts have suggested that Iran could run out of ballistic missiles shortly, while Donald Trump wrote on social media yesterday that 'there will be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender'. Iran's Deputy Defence Minister, Reza Talaei-Nik, said on state-controlled media channel Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) that Iran stood ready to fight the US for a prolonged period. He said that Iran's weapons stockpile could be maintained in the 'long term' and its reserves of bombs, drones and missiles were fully intact and ready to fire. The politician said that the Iranian military could confront any threat posed by the US or Israel. He claimed that Iranian losses had been exaggerated by the US and that far more casualties had been inflicted on 'the enemy' than reported in the region of 220. There is no evidence to suggest that 220 US or Israeli military personnel have been killed by Iran. Iran's Deputy Defence Minister, Reza Talaei-Nik, said on state-controlled media channel Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) that Iran stood ready to fight the US for a prolonged period The US have confirmed six service members have been killed by Iran's retaliatory strikes. Donald Trump today said that Iran would be 'hit very hard' by US-Israeli attacks as he claimed the country is being 'beat to hell'. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Iran's 'openness to de-escalation' was 'almost immediately killed' by Donald Trump. In a statement following Trump's comments earlier today, Aragchi said Trump has misinterpreted Iran's 'capabilities, determination and intent'. But the US President dubbed the country the 'loser of the Middle East'. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump hit out at Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, who earlier claimed that attacks against its Gulf neighbours would stop - only to be contradicted by Iran's Revolutionary Guard hours later. Pezeshkian today described the US demand for an 'unconditional surrender' as a 'dream' in a statement on Saturday in which he also apologised for striking neighbouring countries. But today Dubai Airport was evacuated following an Iranian drone attack and countries across the Gulf have reported drone and missile attacks. Iran's hardline judiciary chief said the Islamic Republic would continue targeting regional neighbours offering its enemies 'points... used in aggression against our country'. Reza Talaei-Nik said that Iran's weapons stockpile could be maintained in the 'long term' and its reserves of bombs, drones and missiles were fully intact and ready to fire Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran today An Iranian missile with cluster munitions flies towards Israel amid the conflict 'Evidence from Iran's armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy,' said Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, who is also a member of the interim leadership council. 'The heavy attacks on these targets will continue,' he added. Explosions were seen across Iran's capital Tehran as the US President aims to force Iran to 'unconditionally surrender'. In a post on Truth Social President Trump said: 'Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. 'This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries.' Elsewhere, it was reported today that the UK has halved the readiness time for aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales ahead of a possible deployment to the region. Crews are said to have been alerted about a potential deployment to the region. The move does not guarantee that the ship will be deployed. HMS Prince of Wales, which carries F-35 warplanes and helicopters, as well as anti-submarine warfare, is currently based in Portsmouth. Five rooms have been closed on a ward treating seriously ill cancer patients at Scotlands scandal-hit superhospital in the last six months due to water and mould concerns including one just days ago. The Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal more than a fifth of the 24 rooms at the 1billion Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) bone marrow transplant unit have been sealed off at some point since August last year. Three rooms are currently shut. The latest room closure, due to a leaking water connection, was on March 4 - the same day the First Minister said he was confident the site was safe. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: Despite John Swinneys blithe assurances, there are clearly serious ongoing issues with safety and cleanliness that pose a danger to patients. Given the closure of these rooms, there must now be questions about the veracity of what weve been told by SNP ministers and health board chiefs. The secrecy and spin around this scandal must stop. John Swinney cannot hide behind evasions about the inquiry but must now come clean and give us the truth about safety at the hospital. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) confirmed to the Mail on Sunday two rooms in ward 4B were sealed off as a precaution on the week ending 20th February 2026, due to the presence of marks on the ceiling in one room. They said an infection alert, called a HIIAT, was issued relating to these closures five days later but have not yet revealed what prompted the alert. The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) has faced many problems since it opened HIIATs are supposed to be issued in response to an infection incident within the hospital, but NHSGGC has not confirmed whether patients were infected, or what with. They confirmed some patients were clinically investigated in relation to the incident but they were all now discharged and causing no concern. Patients waiting for a bone marrow transplant usually have an extremely low immune system and need greater protection from infection while in hospital than other patients, as they are more at risk. Dozens of cancer patients were previously infected with rare bugs, with around 30 cases likely to have some connection to the hospitals water or ventilation systems according to a government-commissioned review. NHSGGC also confirmed a third room closed on 4th March 2026 due to a leak from a hose connected to the heating battery which has now been repaired. The day after this third room closed the health board escalated the infection alert for the ward to red the highest level. John Swinney told MSPs the reason was to acknowledge the heightened public anxiety around this matter, insisting it was not due to any increased risk of harm to patients. Now, we can reveal two rooms were shut in August last year over concerns about leaking ensuites. NHSGGC said the incident did not need an infection alert at the time. Scottish Labour Health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said These staggering revelations suggest John Swinney may have been misleading the Parliament and the public over the safety issues at this hospital. Patient safety has to come first, but the Health Board and the SNP government still seem to be focused on protecting their own reputations. For the sake of patients, John Swinney must end the secrecy and cover-up and tell us what is really going on at the QEUH. The health board failed to mention the room closures or leak concerns at its latest board meeting or in a recently published Reassurance update which was supposed to help reduce public anxiety regarding the QEUH campus. A spokeswoman said room closures would not be discussed at any board meeting unless there was ongoing governance concern. Louise Slorance, whose government advisor husband Andrew died at the QEUH while awaiting a stem cell transplant in 2020, said: Any signs of water damage have the potential to pose a risk to transplant patients. Widow Louise Slorance has been campaigning for accountability and safety at the QEUH Its vital that the health board focus not on downplaying this ongoing incident but on making sure patients affected are appropriately followed up and all signs of water leakage are fully removed from this high-risk ward, and the source of leaks repaired. Patient safety much come before reputation. The QEUH campus has been plagued with issues since it opened a decade ago. As revealed by the Scottish Mail on Sunday, NHS chiefs admitted dirty water at the site was probably linked to some rare infections in children who were being treated for cancer there. The health board has been named as a suspect in a corporate homicide investigation looking at the deaths of four patients, including 10-year-old Milly Main and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong. The deaths of three other patients Andrew Slorance, Tony Dynes and Molly Cuddihy are also being probed by the Crown Office. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'The Scottish Government is in close contact with NHS GGC in relation to Ward 4B and we receive regular updates to maintain an accurate picture of any ongoing developments.' They are the scourge of Scotlands dangerous and over-zealous drivers... and the saver of countless lives. The countrys network of roadside speed cameras has played a vital role in the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike for decades. Yet the Mail on Sunday can reveal Police Scotland has switched off cameras in 135 locations across Scotland despite speeding offences being on the RISE in many of these areas. The shocking figures were revealed to MoS only after police were forced to release details by Scotlands Information Commissioner. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: It is deeply concerning that a vast number of speed cameras have been switched off in areas where offences were actually on the increase. It is also worrying that the public would have been kept in the dark over this until the Information Commissioner stepped in. SNP ministers must ensure road safety is treated as a priority. Police Scotland repeatedly refused to provide the MoS with details of speeding offences in the areas where cameras were switched off. Speed cameras have been switched off in 135 locations across Scotland The force declined to reveal evidence of what it claimed was improved driver behaviour at camera sites across the country. It said it was not in the public interest to provide the statistics under Freedom of Information laws. However, Scotlands Information Commissioner has now ruled that for the first time offence figures for the cameras must be revealed. And in many cases, the details now contradict the official line that drivers had started slowing down. The initial figures released showed 119 cameras had been switched off by April 2024 but since that information was provided another 16 have also been disconnected. In its justification for the huge switch-off, the Scottish Government claimed: The most recent exercise reviewed over 500 sites and concluded that 119 sites had no speed- related injury collisions and a consistent level of speed limit compliance for a number of years. However, the figures that we obtained demonstrate: Just before it was made dormant, one of the cameras caught more speeding drivers in a month than it did in the entire year before. Another camera which produced an average of 27 offences a month in 2023 saw the rate soar almost 50 per cent before it was switched off. A camera which had been in place for 25 years next to a Glasgow playpark was turned off. Residents in Rouken Glen Road in Giffnock say it is now a racetrack and a number of personal injury collisions have happened at traffic lights just yards away. A camera on the A1 at Cockburnspath in Berwickshire was turned off a month after it recorded 72 speeding offences, in March 2024, twice the monthly average for 2023. The increase in offences at a red light camera in Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, was so marked, the 2023 monthly average was exceeded in January, February and March of 2024, just before switch-off. Tory MSP Liam Kerr said the findings were hugely concerning In all, offences at 14 camera sites were higher in early 2024 than they were the year before. And the released figures also show no evidence of any improvement in speeding offences whatsoever at 55 other locations. The Scottish Mail on Sunday spoke to residents living next to a long stretch of road on the approach to traffic lights on the A80 at Moodiesburn, Lanarkshire, where two cameras were switched off. Anna Paterson, 74, said: They never should have switched them off. Theres now a crash there every week. Last week, there were two. Drivers now know they can do what they want you have them zooming through the lights at all speeds. Ruth Billingham, head of campaigns and public affairs at safety charity Living Streets, added: Speeding vehicles make our streets feel unsafe and puts people off walking. Its not without reason, when speeding contributes to around one in five deaths on Scotlands roads. Bagging cameras wont make the problem go away but will send a message that speeding and running red lights comes free from consequence. In a news release in April 2024, Safety Cameras Scotland which is run by Police Scotland, said a national performance review had unearthed significant progress in road safety. It added: Over the past five years, camera enforcement and engagement have led to improvements in driver behaviour and speed limit compliance. Thanks to drivers and communities across each of these sites, there have been no speed or red light related injury collisions, reflecting safer roads for all. Mark Patterson, Police Scotlands Road Policing Chief Inspector, even added: We commend drivers for their improved behaviour, which contributes to safer communities and roads. An out of action speed camera in Uddingston is one of many switched off despite rising numbers of speeding offences being recorded The decision to turn off the speed cameras comes despite the introduction of cameras that target those driving older cars. Scotlands first Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was set up in Glasgow in 2023. Policed by a network of number plate recognition cameras, it covers a square mile of the city centre. Similar zones, where petrol and diesel cars of a certain age are banned from entering, were later set up in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. The severity of penalties depends on how often a driver infringes the LEZ from 60 for a single breach to a maximum 960 if someone drives a non-compliant vehicle into the zone five or more times in a three-month period. By last June more than 169,000 fines, worth in excess of 19 million, had been issued to drivers. As well as cameras targeting polluting cars, the Scottish Government is spending 350,000 to pilot AI-controlled cameras that peer inside vehicles to catch drivers using phones or not wearing seatbelts in a move dubbed intrusive and creepy by civil liberties groups. Our landmark Freedom of Information response mistakenly included a swathe of redundant cameras in Edinburgh. Police Scotland said these had been switched off in 2021. Two-thirds of the capitals speed cameras are now covered by bags. The rising offence figures only came to light as a result of a request made in August 2024 to Police Scotland. The force repeatedly refused to provide offence details at the speed camera sites which had been switched off, claiming it would prejudice substantially the detection of crime. When asked to rule on an appeal, Information Commissioner David Hamilton, a former police officer, concluded Police Scotland had wrongly withheld the information. A spokesperson for Safety Cameras Scotland said: As part of our site review process, it was decided that live operation at these sites would be stopped due to a reduction in speed-related injury collisions. A reduction of collisions shows enhanced road safety at the locations. The offences detected at a particular location can fluctuate monthly due to many reasons. It is worth noting that at times not all fixed cameras are operational, although they appear to be. Annually, over a three-year period, after live operation is stopped, we undertake a thorough assessment of the impact at these sites, meaning if speeds and/or collisions increase, we have the opportunity to reintroduce the location if that is deemed appropriate. Transport Scotland took issue with The Mail on Sundays interpretation of the data for focusing on the rise in speeding offences at camera sites before they were switched off. A spokesman added: Decisions taken are based on collision data and evidence of speed compliance by the majority of drivers, and are not informed by the number of tickets issued. This is the ironic moment women's rights activists swore and jeered at demonstrators protesting the Iranian regime - a government notorious for decades of oppressing women. Shocking footage from today's central London protest shows a woman in Trafalgar Square shouting 'f*** you' at anti-Iranian regime protesters and flashing her middle finger while holding a sign that read 'Women Against the Far-Right.' Further clips show other activists raising placards and jeering at the demonstrators, with one woman giving a thumbs down while holding a sign that ironically read, 'Tear Down the Sexist System.' The videos came as thousands of pro-Iranian demonstrators marched through the city to condemn strikes in the region by the United States and Israel, many carrying photographs of Iran's slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei, who led Iran since 1989, was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on 28 February 2026 - a move that has sharply escalated tensions across the region. Under current Iranian laws implemented during the former Ayatollah's rule, women and girls face severe human rights abuses - including being denied equal rights with men in areas like criminal responsibility, marriage and divorce, child custody, public and political participation, and employment. Women in Iran are also subject to legally enforced dress requirements mandating head coverings and modest clothing in public, and state authorities - including morality police and security agents - can punish deviations with financial penalties, arrest, corporal punishment or travel bans. Yet Saturday's march included groups criticising the US, UK and Israeli governments' involvement in the Middle East, marching from Millbank to the US Embassy to call for an end to military attacks on Iran. Footage from a protest on Saturday shows a woman in Trafalgar Square (pictured) shouting 'f*** you' at anti-Iranian regime protesters and flashing her middle finger while holding a sign that read 'Women Against the Far-Right' Another woman (pictured) was seen giving a thumbs down to protestors while holding a sign that ironically read, 'Tear Down the Sexist System' Placards displayed pictures of the now dead Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) as well as flags of Iran, Lebanon and Palestine Hundreds of demonstrators from Hands Off Iran, which opposes Western military intervention, were present, alongside others from Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain, and Friends of Al-Aqsa. The Metropolitan Police estimated that almost 4,000 people took part in the march through Westminster to the American Embassy near Battersea Power Station. Some marchers were heard chanting 'victory to Iran,' despite the regime having killed hundreds of thousands of its own citizens - including vulnerable women. Protesters were also seen carrying Iranian, Palestinian and Lebanese flags. Counter-protestors were also at the march, including Stage for Freedom - who are calling for the end of the oppressive regime in its entirety. Tensions heightened between the two sides after a counter-demonstrator shouted, 'terrorist supporters and communist scum off our streets,' as the march passed through central London. One man was seen handcuffed in a police van, with a Metropolitan Police source confirming at least two arrests. The van had been stationed near another protest by opponents of the Iranian regime outside the American Embassy. Police also confirmed that a woman in her 60s was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in connection with a placard. The demonstration comes on the eighth day of the Middle East conflict, which has seen Tehran strike Dubai airport and heavy Iranian fire target Gulf Arab states, while US President Donald Trump vowed the US would hit Iran 'very hard.' One demonstrator was seen holding a picture of US President Donald Trump (pictured) on fire The pro-Iranian regime protestors (pictured) gathered outside the US embassy in London, with some chanting 'victory to Iran' and 'death, death to the IDF' Israel also launched a fresh wave of strikes on Tehran in the early hours of Saturday morning, which came hours after Iran sent retaliatory strikes to several nations including Saudi Arabia and Qatar earlier on Friday. At the protest, former Labour MP Zarah Sultana addressed the anti-Iran war crowd outside the embassy, declaring, 'we will not be ignored again.' Reflecting on the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, she said: 'Back then, we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We were told that the war would protect Iraqis and protect the world, but the truth was very different.' The Your Party MP for Coventry South added: 'The children of Baghdad deserve to grow up. 'And 23 years ago, when we marched against the Iraq war, we were ignored. 'We will not be ignored again, because history proved them right, and today, we raise our voices for peace, for justice and for a world where governments learn the lessons of the past.' A statement from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was also read to the crowd. Mr Corbyn, who reportedly could not attend in person, said: 'In 2003, hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq, and we were ignored, but we are here today to say loudly and clearly - do not drag Britain into another illegal war. Your Party MP Zarah Sultana (pictured) spoke at the demonstration calling for an end to bombing in Iran outside the US Embassy in London 'For too long, the UK has blindly followed the US as it indulges in catastrophic interventions around the world. 'We are here to defend something different, a foreign policy based on cooperation, equality and sovereignty.' He added: 'Forever war is not a game. It has real like human consequences, and US and Israel must be held accountable for their prize.' Vapes laced with the deadly 'zombie' drug 'spice' are wreaking havoc in British schools in a multi-million-pound trade fuelled by social media, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Pupils are collapsing in classrooms after smoking contaminated vapes, with children as young as 12 falling into comas. Up to a quarter of vapes confiscated in secondary schools in parts of England are laced with spice, research shows. The drug, said to be 'worse than heroin' due to its crippling effects and addictive nature, has caused hundreds of deaths in UK prisons. Now it is flooding schools thanks to callous dealers who dupe children into thinking they are buying cannabis. Today, the MoS can reveal: Schools across the UK are on high alert for spice following a spike in hospital admissions after students smoked contaminated vapes; Children as young as 11 are now making up to 400 a day dealing spice in school playgrounds after buying contaminated vapes over the internet and selling them on; Spice dealers targeting youngsters are operating in plain sight on social media, with up to 20million worth of the drug advertised for sale in the UK online; One TikTok account shows a brazen dealer advertising an estimated 1.8million worth of spice in a single post. Spice is the nickname for a group of lab-made drugs that mimic the effects of cannabis but are cheaper and more harmful. Spice can cause heart attacks, seizures and hallucinations, often with fatal consequences. Now, it is spreading across UK schools. Schoolboy Freddie Fenson (pictured) was put into an induced coma after smoking a spice vape Freddie, pictured here with his father Peter Fenson, told the MoS that school toilets are 'filled' with kids smoking spice Spice is the nickname for lab-made drugs that mimic the effects of cannabis but are cheaper and more harmful Research published by the University of Bath last year revealed that spice was found in 13 per cent of vapes confiscated in 114 schools across seven regions in England, rising to 25 per cent in London and Lancashire. The study found hundreds of online accounts advertising 'THC' vape liquid. THC is the active ingredient in cannabis. But testing revealed about 70 per cent of these accounts on TikTok were selling spice instead. Both THC and spice are illegal to possess, supply or produce. But teenagers are more likely to buy the vapes if they think it is THC, because it is seen as less harmful. For dealers, spice is more profitable because it is cheaper to make and far more addictive. One boy, Freddie Fenson, told the MoS he was just 12 when he suffered what teachers thought was an asthma attack. Within hours he had collapsed and was taken to hospital, where he was put in an induced coma. It was only when he recovered later that the cause became clear: spice. He was 11 when he first tried a vape, which a friend told him contained THC. Before long, he was selling his clothes to pay for more. The vapes are sweet-flavoured to target children and are harder to keep out of schools than cannabis or cigarettes. Freddie told the MoS: 'It's discreet. It doesn't stink like weed. It's as small as your finger, so you can hide it anywhere. It was easy for me to bring it into school.' He said school toilets are 'filled' with kids smoking spice and described one incident where a friend passed out in assembly. Freddie described one incident where a friend passed out in school assembly. He was feeling dizzy and fell over before being rushed to hospital Freddie said spice 'ruined' his childhood and he is now warning other children not to smoke it 'We were all lining up and we just toked some THC. My friend was feeling dizzy and he just fell over. They had to take him to hospital. This was 10am.' Freddie, who attends a state school in Dagenham, east London, spent two weeks in a coma, followed by two months in hospital, and he had to learn to walk and talk again. He said: 'It has basically ruined my childhood. If I could tell kids my age, I would say don't do it. It just takes one little bottle to end your life.' Pupils are even lacing the vapes themselves. Freddie said he knows an 11-year-old who stole 3,000 from his dad to buy instructions over the internet on how to make spice vapes. He said: 'Now he's making 400 a day selling them in school to people in his year. He doesn't go to school any more because he makes so much money.' Professor Chris Pudney, who led the Bath study, said: 'International drug gangs are organising themselves via the world's most popular online platforms. TikTok and other social media sites are de facto shop fronts for the multi-million-pound sale of drugs.' At least 60 UK dealers are using TikTok to advertise an estimated 20million worth of spice. TikTok said its guidelines make clear that promoting illegal drugs is not permitted on its platform and had removed the accounts flagged by this newspaper. But campaigners want Ofcom to use the powers it has under the Online Safety Act to force social media firms to permanently remove illegal content. Additional reporting by Elizabeth Ivens. Panic ripped through the streets close to socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence when an anti-Islam rally was attacked with a 'smoke bomb.' Videos posted to social media showed people running and chaos at the demonstration organized by January 6 rioter Jake Lang. The NYPD told the Daily Mail that it was called to 'two suspicious devices' in the vicinity of the planned anti-Muslim protest outside Gracie Mansion on East End Avenue and 88th Street in the Upper East Side at 11.40am Saturday. 'It looks like a possible smoke bomb,' police told The New York Post at the scene, adding that there was no explosion. Police told the Daily Mail that two persons of interest were taken into custody and the investigation remains ongoing. The Post reported that four individuals were in custody, according to their sources. Dozens of demonstrators rallying to stop public Muslim prayer, along with counter-protesters, were thrown into a chaos when smoke began billowing from a device launched into the crowd, The Post reported. Counter-protesters turned out in droves after the online group General Strike NYC called on supporters to attend with their own rally, 'Run the Nazis Out of NYC.' Photos obtained by the outlet appeared to show an unidentified individual igniting what looked like a homemade grenade. Panic ripped through the streets in New York City Saturday afternoon when an anti-Islam rally was attacked with a 'smoke bomb' (pictured: individual carrying homemade smoke device on Saturday) NYPD told the Daily Mail that a 'suspicious device' went off outside Gracie Mansion, with one unidentified individual being detained (pictured: Jake Lang's rally to stop public Muslim prayer) Police told The New York Post: 'It looks like a possible smoke bomb' (pictured) Photos show an unidentified individual igniting what looked like a homemade grenade The photos then captured the same individual hurling the lit device into a street packed with people, after which a cloud of dark smoke filled the air. A separate individual was tackled to the ground and swarmed by authorities at the scene. Officials confirmed to the Daily Mail that the incident caused no injuries or property damage and is currently under investigation. The rally outside Manhattan Mayor Mamdani's home was organized by right-wing agitator Lang, one of the more than 1,500 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by President Donald Trump last year. His actions on January 6, 2021, were captured on cellphone, body camera, and CCTV footage, and he later boasted about them on social media, describing the mob as an 'organized unit of patriots trying to take on tyrants.' Lang was one of only a handful of rioters, however, who was held in pretrial detention. The decision came after a Trump-appointed judge cited the 'very strong' evidence against him and his 'overt expressions of willingness to use violence in the future.' He was never convicted, and his trial never happened before Trump granted him a pardon upon his return to the White House. Authorities initially told the Daily Mail that one man was detained (pictured). The New York Post reported that four individuals are now in custody Videos and photos of the aftermath captured people running and chaos erupting Dozens of demonstrators rallying to stop public Muslim prayer (pictured), along with counter-protesters, fled the scene following the sudden alleged 'smoke bomb' Lang (pictured at a Minneapolis rally, January 17) was one of the more than 1,500 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by President Trump last year At this year's fifth anniversary of the Capitol riot, Lang was seen on camera telling Metropolitan Police Cmdr. Jason Bagshaw he should be 'put down like a dead dog' and 'hung' in front of the Capitol, according to NBC News. Prosecutors said Lang approached Bagshaw, pointed at him and said, 'public execution is the only solution for animals like you.' He also allegedly told Bagshaw that he should be dragged 'by his ankles' and thrown 'in the Potomac,' the outlet reported. Lang is currently facing a misdemeanor charge in DC Superior Court, with prosecutors alleging that his statements toward Bagshaw amounted to threats. The right-wing influencer was arraigned earlier this month, with a status hearing scheduled for March 24 and a stay-away order in place. In January, shortly after the death of Renee Nicole Good, hundreds of protesters in Minneapolis rallied against ICE and successfully chased off a march led by Lang. He labeled it an 'antifraud' rally, where about a dozen people showed up for his antiIslam, antiSomali, proICE demonstration. Counter protesters in the hundreds swarmed the site, shouting over his speech and forcing his supporters to flee to a nearby hotel within an hour. A few scuffles broke out, though Reuters reported no serious violence. John Swinney has been ridiculed for saying he would consider banning US military aircraft from Scotlands state-owned airport - despite repeatedly saying it was outwith his control. In an interview with the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg, the SNP leader said he is seeking clarity from the UK government about the role of US planes using Prestwick Airport. Pressed on a possible ban, he said: I will consider that based on the evidence thats provided to me. However, his comments have been attacked given the Scottish Government has repeatedly said the airport operates on a commercial basis and at arms length from the SNP administration. Scottish Conservative business spokesman Murdo Fraser said: John Swinney should stop pontificating on issues that arent in his remit and get on with the day job. Prestwick and its relationship with the US military is vitally important to the Scottish economy. Just this week, the SNP government claimed that the airport operates entirely independently, but now the First Minister is trying to grandstand by interfering. The SNP should be concentrating on returning it to the private sector, as they promised, rather than playing at student politics. Mr Swinney said he would 'consider' a ban on US military planes using Prestwick Airport The majority of Prestwicks flights and business are cargo services but hundreds of flights in recent years have also involved militaries, including America. Last Tuesday, a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, 04-4131, took off from Prestwick Airport at 8.43am, heading to Greece and then Turkey. Its journey ended at the Incirlik air base in Adana, a Turkish-operated aerodrome but which is home to 1,000 American service personnel. Two days before Israel and the US began the war, a large build-up of planes was noticed at Prestwick, including two Globemaster IIIs, 10 F-35 fighter jets and two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. Between Friday evening and yesterday (Sat), four B-1 Lancer bombers landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer approved UK support for US defensive action in the Middle East. The giant aircraft, each 146 feet long, is capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles. US Air Force planes have been spotted at Prestwick Airport A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: Prestwick is a civilian international airport, owned by the Scottish Government and is not being used by the US to launch military strikes. The UK has authorised the United States to use British military bases for specific defensive missions to destroy Irans missile capabilities which are threatening British people, bases, and our partners in the region. At First Ministers Questions last week, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer accused Mr Swinney of sitting on his hands over Prestwick. He said: The US is using an airport owned by the Scottish Government to wage an illegal war, killing hundreds if not thousands of innocent people. But at the moment Scotlands First Minister is sitting on his hands. This government says it stands up for Scotland - why does that stop the moment it might involve defying Donald Trump? It is not the first time the issue has been raised. Last year former first minister Humza Yousaf claimed the Scottish Government could become complicit in war crimes by allowing America to use Prestwick Airport to attack Iran. In a press response , the Scottish Government indicated individual airports have the power to decide which customers they handle. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: The Scottish Government does not collect or hold information on the purpose of any flight using Scottish airports. Ministers have this week sought clarity from the UK Government that no aircraft have passed through Scottish Government-owned airports as part of offensive operations against Iran. Once we have that information, we will consider and update Parliament in due course. The UK Government will charter a commercial flight out of the United Arab Emirates which would leave Dubai early next week, subject to the situation on the ground. British nationals, their spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 are eligible to register their interest, which is available for a charge. The flight will be in addition to commercial routes operating out of the UAE. The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. It comes as a luxury residential skyscraper in Dubai has been struck by debris from a suspected Iranian drone that was intercepted by the UAE, while one man was killed in a second incident, officials have confirmed. Photographs and footage shows smoke rising from the 23 Marina tower, which stands 88-storeys tall and comprises more than 280 units. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that debris resulting from a 'successful interception' had caused a 'minor incident' on the facade of the residential tower. In a separate incident in Dubai, one man was killed after debris, believed to have come from a second suspected drone attack on the 19-storey Azayez Tower in upmarket Al Barsha area, fell on his car. Pictured: Thousands of passengers stranded at Dubai Airport Pictured: Passengers waiting to board flights at Dubai airport this morning Iran has continued to launch missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf despite an earlier apology from President Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to previous strikes, adding the country will 'no longer attack neighboring countries or launch missiles unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries.' The Emirates had earlier reported 'incoming missile and drone threats from Iran'. Two repatriation flights for British nationals have landed on UK soil so far, arriving from Muscat, Oman, with a third set to leave on Saturday. The first repatriation flight from Oman was delayed by several hours this week, leaving passengers 'traumatised' after it had to be grounded on Wednesday as the pilot had 'exceeded his hours'. Witnesses claimed people were having panic attacks, while others were banging on windows due to the delays as they desperately tried to return home to loved ones. Travelling via Cairo, Egypt, the flight finally landed back at Stansted, Essex, at around 12.53am on Friday morning. The second plane took off from Muscat just hours after the first charter flight arrived in London and touched down on Saturday. The Foreign Office says all passengers must hold a valid travel document and non-British dependants will require a valid visa or permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months. People will be contacted by the Foreign Office directly to issue them a ticket and will prioritise those who are vulnerable, such as those with urgent medical needs. Photographs and footage show smoke rising from the 23 Marina tower, which stands 88-storeys tall and comprises more than 280 units Dubai International Airport was also forced to close today and passengers were ordered off planes this morning after a suspected Iranian drone strike triggered a huge explosion near the complex. British travellers were among those left stranded as flights were halted and terminals evacuated, leaving many scrambling to find a way out of the UAE. British tourist Mike Linn from Edinburgh said he came to the airport determined to leave, despite the drone chaos. 'We saw some stuff online about it while we were back in the hotel and decided to come to the airport anyway, said Mike, 51. Travelling with his wife Lisa, 49, a clinical researcher, along with two other couples, he added: 'We're desperate to get home. 'We'd been due to return on Tuesday, but various cancellations, meant we were booked on various flights which we don't think would go. 'We've got a 15-year-old and a 21-year-old back home. The 15-year-old's staying with friends until we can get back.' Explosions were reported near the airport around 8am local time (4am GMT), with a fire seen burning close to the site. Video circulating online appears to show a projectile heading toward the airport as a man behind the camera shouts: 'It's coming, it's coming to the airport.' Moments later a huge explosion erupts, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the air. 'Oh my God,' he adds. Linn said the couple had tried to change their travel plans as the situation worsened. 'We were meant to be flying back to Edinburgh, but yesterday we managed to book on a flight to Heathrow,' he said. 'Then when we arrived at the airport I saw a post on Twitter from Emirates saying flights were cancelled again.' The airport has since partially reopened. Explosions were reported near Dubai International Airport around 8am local time (4am GMT), with a fire seen burning close to the complex after another suspected Iranian drone attack British tourist Mike Linn from Edinburgh said he came to the airport determined to leave, despite the drone chaos. Pictured: Mike and Lisa Linn at the airport Dubai authorities were quick to claim that there had been 'no incident' at the airport, but confirmed there had been a successful interception of a drone, with no injuries reported. Iran has unleashed a series of furious retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, launching attacks on Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel in a series of assaults that have left the region in flames. Drones have struck oil facilities and airports in Iraq as US-led troops gunned down several potential attacks over the Kurdish city of Erbil amid warnings of possible attacks on hotels. A network of Iranian-backed Shia factions, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed it launched an attack on a US military base near Baghdad Airport 'in retribution' for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed last Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran have continued to exchange fire overnight, with the IDF confirming it had launched a fresh wave of attacks against 'terror targets' in the Dahiyeh District of Beirut, Lebanon, as the war enters its eighth day. Iran also fired its 23rd round of strikes, a statement from IRGC-affiliated Tasmin news agency said, as the IDF reported missiles coming from the region towards Israel had been detected. Explosive flames and billowing smoke have been raging over Tehran after airstrikes struck Mehrabad International Airport in the early hours of this morning. Nine out of ten drone attacks launched towards Qatar were intercepted, with the tenth striking an uninhabited area, the country's Ministry of Defence said, while also confirming no injuries were caused. Four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia were intercepted and destroyed over the Empty Quarter desert, officials confirmed. At the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Britain 'stood ready' to defend its ally. China's annual "two sessions" have drawn global attention. In a special coverage of the "two sessions," parliamentarians from around the world share their observations and expectations about the event. In this episode, Dr. Dima Noggo, chairperson of Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee of the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives, highly praised China's whole-process people's democracy for its role in maintaining political stability and social harmony, as well as delivering economic progress. He noted that China's development path was planned, aiming at not only growth, but also redistributing the growth to the majority of the Chinese people. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor secretly passed 'highly sensitive' information about the sell-off of hundreds of Lloyds branches after the bank was bailed out using 20billion of taxpayers' money. Emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveal how the disgraced former prince held an official meeting with the bank's new chief executive at Buckingham Palace where he gleaned crucial details about the 3billion sell-off of the bank's assets. Astonishingly, hours after the meeting, Andrew passed on crucial intelligence to a banker friend he has been accused of repeatedly helping while working as the UK's taxpayer-funded trade envoy. In a major intervention, former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable on Saturday night said the incident 'reeks' and should be probed as part of a police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office. Speaking to the MoS, Sir Vince said he believed the information was 'highly sensitive', adding: 'If I, as a minister, or a senior civil servant, had been passing information of that kind we would have been in serious trouble. 'All of the papers governing the bank sell-off were regarded as highly confidential at the time.' The extraordinary revelation is buried within a cache of leaked emails which detail how Andrew who was sensationally arrested last month over suspicions of misconduct in public office allowed controversial tycoon David Rowland and his son Jonathan to effectively join in with his official duties. David, an 80-year-old property tycoon, was a tax exile for decades and, along with Jeffrey Epstein, helped pay off Sarah Ferguson's massive debts. Emails obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveal how the disgraced former prince (pictured at Ascot in 2019) held an official meeting with the bank's new chief executive at Buckingham Palace where he gleaned crucial details about the 3billion sell-off of the bank's assets The extraordinary revelation is buried within a cache of leaked emails which detail how Andrew allowed controversial tycoon David Rowland (right) and his son Jonathan (left) to effectively join in with his official duties Andrew once told Epstein that David, a former Tory Treasurer, was his 'trusted money man', while leaked emails show that Jonathan, 50, referred to Andrew as 'our Duke'. Jonathan was chief executive of Banque Havilland, a private bank for the super-rich in Luxembourg owned by the Rowland family, between 2009 and 2012. The MoS has previously revealed how in 2010 Andrew appeared to send him a confidential Treasury briefing on the economic crisis gripping Iceland. Now the MoS can reveal by February 2011 Andrew also appeared to have passed on sensitive information about Lloyds, another giant part-nationalised bank. At the time the bank was under intense pressure from the European Commission to sell hundreds of branches and up to 19 per cent of its mortgage business as a condition of the 'state aid' it had received during its 20.3billion taxpayer-funded bailout. Dubbed Project Verde, the sell-off of more than 600 branches was one of the biggest deals in British banking at the time and would allow the successful bidder to establish a new high street bank. NBNK, set up by City big wig Lord Levene of Portsoken, had expressed an interest in the assets but other bids were expected. The Court Circular Buckingham Palace's official list of royal engagements shows that Andrew, who was Britain's taxpayer-funded trade envoy, had an official meeting with Antonio Horta-Osorio, the incoming chief executive of Lloyds Bank, at Buckingham Palace on February 28, 2011. The following day, Andrew sent a message to Jonathan Rowland outlining what he had learnt from the bank boss. 'I'm sure you know but I saw the now CEO of Lloyds yesterday and today they announced their intention to sell their 620 branches,' he wrote. 'Levene is out in front but they want others to compete, BNP [French bank BNP Paribas] and BBVA [a Spanish bank] were suggested, I have asked Amanda to ask Levene for ME to be in for 5 per cent.' It is unclear what Andrew meant by 'ME' and whether it is a reference to himself or another person or organisation. The messages between Andrew and Jonathan Rowland came five months before those interested in snapping up the Lloyds branches had to submit their initial bids. NBNK was listed on the London Stock Exchange but there is no evidence of Jonathan acting on Andrew's information. Jonathan declined to comment. Sir Vince described Andrew's message to Jonathan as 'totally improper'. He added: 'We know from other reports that he [Andrew] was abusing his position and that indeed is the subject of the police investigation and this seems a particularly egregious example. 'It sets a particularly bad example of the abuse of public office. It reeks of conflicts of interest. The MoS has previously revealed how in 2010 Andrew appeared to send Jonathan a confidential Treasury briefing on the economic crisis gripping Iceland. Now the MoS can reveal by February 2011 Andrew also appeared to have passed on sensitive information about Lloyds. Pictured: File photo In a major intervention, former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable (pictured, in 2018) on Saturday night said the incident 'reeks' and should be probed as part of a police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office 'It strikes me as a totally improper conversation. I would hope the head of the bank, who I knew quite well, made it clear that the conversation was confidential and, if he did, then the ball is back in Andrew's court why did he abuse the confidentiality?' City expert Ian Fraser, the author of an acclaimed book about the financial crisis, accused Andrew of feeding 'insider information' to his friends and branded him 'completely unscrupulous'. 'Within hours of his confidential meeting with Antonio Horta-Osorio, incoming chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group a bank which was at the time still 41 per cent owned by the taxpayer Andrew was sharing confidential information that he gleaned from that meeting with a banker friend and business associate who might have been able to profit from that information,' he said. Ultimately, Lord Levene lost after the Co-operative Group was announced as the 'preferred bidder' for the branches in December 2011, although the deal collapsed in 2013. Mr Horta-Osorio on Saturday night declined to comment. Lord Levene told the MoS: 'I have no recollection of Andrew having any involvement in the process.' Meanwhile, further emails seen by the MoS reveal how in February 2009 Andrew emailed David Rowland the itinerary for his forthcoming trade envoy trip to Montenegro, saying: 'Thought you might like to see the programme for Montenegro.' The previous June, Jonathan Rowland had contacted Kevin Lyne, Britain's ambassador for Montenegro, following a meeting at Buckingham Palace. Mr Rowland highlighted that he and his family had arranged for the then Duke of York to meet Montenegro's then Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and that 'we are currently putting together a strategy to invest a significant amount of capital into Montenegro'. But on the eve of Andrew's trip in 2009, the Rowlands appeared to be frustrated that they were being sidelined by the Foreign Office. Forwarding Andrew's itinerary to Jonathan, David wrote: 'They have been very busy behind our back, we should talk about this.' His son replied: 'We should definitely be in on this, we did all the work. We might be able to offer Djukanovic and his friends our services with the DOY's [Duke of York's] help.' Andrew and the Rowlands did not respond to a request to comment. Last month, we exposed how the former Duke shared, via email, sensitive information about the taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland with an investment banker. Andrew forwarded his emails to his adviser David Stern, a German-born businessman, who in turn sent them on to Epstein. The police force investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office has requested a dossier of leaked documents from The Mail on Sunday. Thames Valley Police last week formally asked this newspaper to provide a cache of files we obtained as part of an investigation into how Andrew plugged the business interests of property tycoon David Rowland and his son Jonathan when the ex-Duke was UK trade envoy. Bombshell emails revealed that while on taxpayer-funded trade missions meant to promote UK business, Andrew was quietly plugging a private Luxembourg-based bank for the super-rich, owned by multimillionaire David and his family. They also appeared to show he passed on a private Treasury briefing about the Icelandic financial crisis to the Rowlands and that his key aide, Amanda Thirsk, handed them a Foreign Office diplomatic cable intended only for Government officials. A senior officer requested our documents after our front page exclusive on February 22 revealed that an email from the dossier showed King Charles was warned by a whistleblower in 2019 about Andrew's business associations with the Rowlands. It said: 'HRH the Duke of York's actions suggest that his Royal Highness considers his relationship with David Rowland more important than that of his family.' The MoS last week informed Thames Valley Police that it is willing to assist the force's ongoing investigation and that it is prepared to disclose documents it holds which may be relevant to the probe. On Saturday night former Government minister Norman Baker, an expert in royal finances, said: 'I welcome the contact that Thames Valley Police has made with The Mail on Sunday. Thames Valley Police last week formally asked this newspaper to provide a cache of files we obtained as part of an investigation into how Andrew (pictured) plugged the business interests of property tycoon David Rowland and his son Jonathan when the ex-Duke was UK trade envoy Bombshell emails revealed that while on taxpayer-funded trade missions meant to promote UK business, Andrew was quietly plugging a private Luxembourg-based bank for the super-rich, owned by multimillionaire David Rowland (pictured, right, with his son Jonathan, left) and his family 'It seems the police, for the first time, are actually taking allegations against members of the Royal Family seriously. 'This is also raising embarrassing questions for the King and others in the Royal Family about how much they knew and when.' Andrew was arrested by officers from Thames Valley Police at his new home on the Sandringham estate on February 19 his 66th birthday. Released under investigation 11 hours after his arrest, he was photographed slumped in the backseat of a car as he was driven away from Aylsham police station in Norfolk. It was the first time in almost 400 years that a senior member of the Royal Family has been detained. Officers searched both Wood Farm at Sandringham and Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, where Andrew lived for more than 20 years. Thames Valley Police this weekend declined to comment. The offence of misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, although Andrew has not been charged. Andrew and publicity-shy David Rowland have been friends since at least 2005. That year, the then prince unveiled a bronze statue of the financier in the grounds of Havilland Hall, the Rowlands' sprawling estate in Guernsey. In 2009, Andrew launched the Rowlands' bank, Banque Havilland, in Luxembourg. Andrew was arrested by officers from Thames Valley Police at his new home on the Sandringham estate on February 19 his 66th birthday. Pictured: The former prince leaving the police station after questionning, in an now infamous photograph Officers searched both Wood Farm at Sandringham and Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, where Andrew lived for more than 20 years. Pictured: Police on duty at the top of the lane leading to Wood Farm in the days after his arrest David once gave Sarah Ferguson 40,000 to help clear her debts and in 2017 paid off a 1.5million loan for Andrew. Over a period of several years, Andrew repeatedly alerted the Rowlands to business opportunities arising from his work. Andrew and David even secretly went into business together until 2019 they owned a company called Inverness Asset Management, which was registered in the British Virgin Islands. Banque Havilland had its licence withdrawn in 2024 by the European Central Bank, a decision it is appealing. How he let tycoon pals join him on Azerbaijan trip to meet Blair... By Isabel Oakeshott The former Duke of York took his private banker friends on an official trip to Azerbaijan, where they discussed potential business opportunities with Tony Blair. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor flew to the country's capital Baku in December 2009, where he was received by controversial President Ilham Aliyev. During the meeting, the pair talked about increasing 'economic cooperation' between the UK and the former Soviet Union state. But behind the scenes Andrew appears to have also used the trip to help wealthy Tory donor David Rowland and his son Jonathan build their private businesses. In an email to Azerbaijani entrepreneur Nasib Piriyev, drafted on December 14, 2009, Jonathan says he 'recently visited Baku with HRH Prince Andrew at the same time Tony Blair visited Baku for AzMeCo [Azerbaijan Methanol Company]'. A few days earlier, he also emailed Mr Blair's offices, saying: 'It was a great pleasure to meet you and Mr Blair with HRH last week in Baku.' ...And the day he put them before country by passing on a 'deal' By Mark Hookham A bombshell email shows how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor diverted an apparent offer of lucrative UK investment opportunities from the Saudi government straight to his financier friend David Rowland, saying it would 'seem to be much better placed with you'. An offer came in a message sent on May 27, 2008 by Neil Hollinshead who was later sentenced to seven years in prison for pretending to represent the Saudi Royal Family. But at the time it was treated seriously by Andrew's private secretary Alastair Watson, who wrote to his boss on May 28 saying: 'This has arrived out of the blue. Have sent a holding reply.' Just 58 minutes after receiving the email, Andrew forwarded it to Mr Rowland, writing: 'This came into my office and would seem to be much better placed with you. Especially after our recent trip'. During his time as trade envoy, Andrew made multiple trips to Saudi with David Rowland and his son Jonathan a time which coincided with their plans to launch a Middle Eastern banking operation. A 33-year-old man died after entering a dangerous and off-limits area at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to the National Park Service. The man, identified as a Hawaii resident, hiked into an area on the east side of Kilauea caldera on February 26, officials said. 'Kilauea caldera contains hazardous terrain, including unstable cliff edges and volcanic features. Visitors are reminded to remain in designated open areas and comply with all closures,' the park service said in a statement. After the man entered, search and rescue teams conducted operations overnight to try to locate him. The park service said the volcano was not erupting at any point during this incident. On February 27, he was found amid steep terrain and was airlifted to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, about 22 miles away from the Kilauea Crater. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Kilauea volcano last erupted at 11.38pm Hawaii Standard Time on February 15, 2026. The volcano has been erupting on and off since December 23, 2024. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) currently has the Kilauea Crater at an 'orange' alert level, meaning visitors should avoid the immediate area of the volcano and adhere to all posted closure signs. 'Eruptive episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses that can be as long as over two weeks,' the USGS said in a statement. A 33-year-old man died after entering a dangerous and off-limits area near the Kilauea caldera (Pictured: The Kilauea volcano erupting on June 11, 2025) An active vent at the Kilauea volcano on March 7, 2026. The volcano is expected to erupt again between March 10 and March 15, according to the United States Geological Survey '[The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory] continues to closely monitor Kilauea and is in contact with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency about eruptive hazards.' The Kilauea volcano is expected to erupt again between March 10 and March 15. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a 523-square-mile area located in the center of the Big Island, has had other incidents recently. Last December, two trespassers were caught on a USGS live camera getting too close to Kilauea during an active eruption. In June, a 30-year-old Boston man nearly died after falling 30 feet from a steep cliff near the Byron Ledge Trail. He did not have a flashlight or headlamp. The man was rescued and only had minor facial injuries. The park service urges visitors to any US national park to stay on marked trails and overlooks. A night drone attack on two of Dubais most upmarket areas left one man dead and two residential skyscrapers in flames last night, after a day which also saw a strike on the citys airport. Initially, the UAE government claimed there were no injuries, but the dramatic sight of the buildings with huge palls of smoke coming from threatened to undermine the authorities mantra that the Emirate was safe. Later, it emerged that a driver was killed by falling debris after a drone attack on the 19-storey Azayez Tower in upmarket Al Barsha area, near the well-known Lulus Hypermarket. A huge piece of flaming debris could be seen falling onto the 23 Marina Tower, which caused extensive damage high up on the side of the building. Flames and smoke could be seen coming from the 88-storey building near Dubai Marina after what the authorities described as a successful interception of a drone. According to the Dubai Media Office, the fire was quickly contained and there were no casualties in the Marina Tower attack. Later, the government spokesman confirmed that an Asian driver had been killed near the Lulu Hypermarket which is near the Azayez Tower. Iran has continued to launch missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf despite an earlier apology from President Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to previous strikes, adding the country will 'no longer attack neighboring countries or launch missiles unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries.' Photographs and footage show smoke rising from the 23 Marina tower, which stands 88-storeys tall and comprises more than 280 units Flames and smoke could be seen coming from the 88-storey building near Dubai Marina The Emirates had earlier reported 'incoming missile and drone threats from Iran'. Dubai International Airport was also forced to close today and passengers were ordered off planes this morning after a suspected Iranian drone strike triggered a huge explosion near the complex. British travellers were among those left stranded as flights were halted and terminals evacuated, leaving many scrambling to find a way out of the UAE. Tourist Mike Linn from Edinburgh said he came to the airport determined to leave, despite the drone chaos. 'We saw some stuff online about it while we were back in the hotel and decided to come to the airport anyway, said Mike, 51. Travelling with his wife Lisa, 49, a clinical researcher, along with two other couples, he added: 'We're desperate to get home. 'We'd been due to return on Tuesday, but various cancellations, meant we were booked on various flights which we don't think would go. 'We've got a 15-year-old and a 21-year-old back home. The 15-year-old's staying with friends until we can get back.' Explosions were reported near the airport around 8am local time (4am GMT), with a fire seen burning close to the site. Video circulating online appears to show a projectile heading toward the airport as a man behind the camera shouts: 'It's coming, it's coming to the airport.' Moments later a huge explosion erupts, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the air. 'Oh my God,' he adds. Linn said the couple had tried to change their travel plans as the situation worsened. 'We were meant to be flying back to Edinburgh, but yesterday we managed to book on a flight to Heathrow,' he said. 'Then when we arrived at the airport I saw a post on Twitter from Emirates saying flights were cancelled again.' The airport has since partially reopened. Dubai authorities were quick to claim that there had been 'no incident' at the airport, but confirmed there had been a successful interception of a drone, with no injuries reported. Explosions were reported near Dubai International Airport around 8am local time (4am GMT), with a fire seen burning close to the complex after another suspected Iranian drone attack British tourist Mike Linn from Edinburgh said he came to the airport determined to leave, despite the drone chaos. Pictured: Mike and Lisa Linn at the airport A commercial flight from Dubai chartered by the UK government for Brits stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could depart early next week, the Foreign Office has confirmed. British nationals, their spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 are eligible to register their interest, which is available for a charge. The flight will be in addition to commercial routes operating out of the UAE. The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region. Two repatriation flights for British nationals have landed on UK soil so far, arriving from Muscat, Oman, with a third set to leave on Saturday. The first repatriation flight from Oman was delayed by several hours this week, leaving passengers 'traumatised' after it had to be grounded on Wednesday as the pilot had 'exceeded his hours'. Witnesses claimed people were having panic attacks, while others were banging on windows due to the delays as they desperately tried to return home to loved ones. Travelling via Cairo, Egypt, the flight finally landed back at Stansted, Essex, at around 12.53am on Friday morning. The second plane took off from Muscat just hours after the first charter flight arrived in London and touched down on Saturday. The Foreign Office says all passengers must hold a valid travel document and non-British dependants will require a valid visa or permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months. People will be contacted by the Foreign Office directly to issue them a ticket and will prioritise those who are vulnerable, such as those with urgent medical needs. A Brazilian model who was abused by Jeffrey Epstein gave a massage to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor then received one back from him, according to bombshell witness testimony. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the woman now a swimwear designer living in London said she massaged Andrew at Epstein's request just minutes before being assaulted by the paedophile financier at his townhouse in New York. An extraordinary document buried in a tranche of newly-released Epstein Files shows that the woman told FBI investigators in 2020 that, after massaging him, Andrew then told her 'it was her turn' before he massaged her 'back, shoulders, waist, and hands'. It is unclear when the incident is said to have happened, but it is understood to have been around 2009 or 2010 when she was in her mid-thirties. The Brazilian said she had been sexually abused for years by Epstein after first meeting him in her late-twenties when she was a student in New York. In the official report of her interview with the FBI, the woman recalls how, shortly after getting married, she went to Epstein's house in New York and saw that 'Prince Andrew was in the kitchen with another girl'. The report states: 'She recognised Prince Andrew and was quite shocked to see him. She described the girl as being approximately 20-something and able to speak good English but not an American.' The woman said Epstein then told her to massage Andrew while 'Epstein left the room and came back to the room with a camera'. A Brazilian model told FBI investigators in 2020 that, after massaging him, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor then told her 'it was her turn' before he massaged her 'back, shoulders, waist, and hands' at Jeffrey Epstein's townhouse in New York. Pictured: Andrew kneeling over an unidentified woman in an image that appears in the Epstein Files It raises questions over whether she is the woman in the now-infamous photos (pictured) of Andrew crouching over someone, with key details from her testimony such as the location, and the fact that Andrew massaged her waist matching the photos While it is uncertain whether the alleged incident refers to Andrew's only known visit to Epstein's New York house in December 2010, the MoS was on Saturday night able to corroborate several other aspects of the woman's lengthy testimony. Pictured: The former prince at the Duchess of Kent's funeral last year This newspaper found one email in the Epstein Files in which the woman mentions in her FBI interview, and several other emails which appear to be evidence of her ongoing contact with the paedophile (pictured, in 2005) during the 2000s It raises questions over whether she is the woman in the now-infamous photos of Andrew crouching over someone, with key details from her testimony such as the location, and the fact that Andrew massaged her waist matching the photos. The Brazilian woman also said that everyone had clothes on during the massages, as in the photos, but then Epstein took her to a different room where he 'pushed her against the wall, trying to take her top off'. While it is uncertain whether the alleged incident refers to Andrew's only known visit to Epstein's New York house in December 2010, the MoS was on Saturday night able to corroborate several other aspects of the woman's lengthy testimony. This newspaper found one email in the Epstein Files which the woman mentions in her FBI interview, and several other emails which appear to be evidence of her ongoing contact with the paedophile during the 2000s. Another document in the files released just days ago reveals that a different woman an American said she gave massages to Andrew at Epstein's request, as well as a foot massage to Donald Trump. In 2020, this woman told the FBI she massaged Epstein for six years from the mid-1990s, when she was aged 29, and was 'paid about $100 for each massage she gave'. The FBI report continues: 'She did on occasion massage other people... whoever Epstein's girlfriend was at the time, [Ghislaine] Maxwell... Prince Andrew (most recently at the New York house) and Donald Trump (massaged his feet on the plane from Palm Beach to New York).' Mr Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing or prior knowledge of Epstein's abuse. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor did not respond to a request for comment. As ITV's long-serving political editor, his position understandably demands considerable gravitas. But broadcaster Robert Peston has once again been mocked for his 'unprofessional' fashion choices while presenting serious political news coverage. Viewers of Tuesday night's ITV News which was covering the unfolding events in the Middle East spotted that the 65-year-old was sporting garish red and black 145 Nike trainers in contrast with his sensible suit, as well as bright red socks. Many used social media to complain about his outfit, which they branded 'ridiculous'. Writing on X, one person commented: 'The absolute state of Robert Peston on ITV. Since when did it become acceptable to wear trainers with a suit?' Another added: 'Peston must be pushing 70 but he insists on wearing trainers with a suit, seriously Robert?' It is not the first time in recent weeks that the broadcaster, who also hosts The Rest Is Money podcast, has drawn attention for his quirky fashion choices. Last month, viewers complained about a set of silver rings adorning both his hands and claimed it was impossible to take the political journalist seriously as a result. One wrote on X: 'Anybody else find it difficult to listen to Robert Peston on ITV News why are his hands now covered in rings? It looks ridiculous.' Another branded them 'knuckle dusters' and joked they could secure him a job in Starmer's government. ITV's Robert Peston was mocked by viewers for his bright red socks and trainers, which were on show during an ITV News segment covering the conflict in the Middle East Mr Peston also came under fire for wearing a set of silver rings which viewers branded 'ridiculous' A close up of the vivid red trainers and even brighter red socks, with viewers branding the outfit 'unprofessional' 'Judging by the number of rings that ITV News's Robert Peston is wearing, maybe he could apply to be the new chief of staff at Downing Street for Keir Starmer, as these could act as knuckle dusters,' they wrote. And referencing the satirical puppet show famous for its grotesque caricatures of leading British establishment figures, they added: 'This is reminiscent of the Spitting Image puppet of [former Conservative Cabinet minister] Norman Tebbit.' Father-of-three Peston, who joined ITV in 2015 from his previous role as Economics Editor at the BBC, has previously been accused of sporting an 'affected' style while presenting, involving vibrantly coloured neck scarves. One viewer claimed the fashion crimes meant that he should be 'put through a shredder' as others acknowledged that he would never achieve status 'as a fashion icon'. Not that these views are likely to bother Peston himself. The presenter once revealed he was 'really interested in fashion' during the 1990s and once wore a John Paul Gaultier coat to a party conference where it was 'nicked'. And ten years ago, he told the Guardian: 'The notion that what makes you a serious journalist is wearing a tie is bonkers.' As a temptation to the light-fingered, they're hardly in the same league as fine Scotch whisky or even fillet steak. But in a desperate attempt to foil shoplifters, Tesco has now been forced to put security tags on packets of Oxo stock cubes. Amid Britain's shoplifting crisis, the tags were spotted on boxes of the beef-flavoured cubes in a branch of Tesco Express in Croydon, South London despite them costing a mere 2.85. Consumer experts said the move may deter potential thieves from sweeping contents of entire shelves into a bag as anything small, with a decent resale value, had become a 'prime target'. Workers at the store told The Mail on Sunday that the tags were added after a shoplifter stole 'a whole tray' of cubes last month. But alternatives including vegetarian and low salt are usually ignored by the thieves. One said: 'With a lot of the more expensive products we sell, like wine, we place security labels on all of the bottles as a deterrent. But with less expensive items, like this Oxo cube, we place a tag on just one. We do that to try to catch out shoplifters if they take the whole tray. The reality is they are taking the things they steal here and selling them on at the off-licences on the street corners.' It comes after shoplifting offences reached a record high in England and Wales with a 19.5 per cent increase in a year. Incidents have more than doubled since the pandemic, with retailers reporting a loss of 2.2billion annually due to theft, which is increasingly driven by criminal gangs. Stores including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Boots started locking high-value items such as alcohol, chocolate, steaks, medicines and cosmetics inside hard plastic security boxes which would set off alarms if snatched. Oxo boxes tagged with security labels were spotted in the Tesco Express in Croydon, south London Pictured: An exterior view of the Tesco Express in Croydon where the security tags were seen on Oxo packets Last month, it emerged that cold remedies, including 2.15 boxes of Nurofen and 4.50 packets of Lemsip, were also being fitted with tags amid a surge in winter bugs. But the Oxo thefts suggest even small essentials are now targets. Martyn James, independent consumer champion, said: 'For many people, the tagging of Oxo cubes might suggest the absolute downfall of a society blighted by shoplifters. It's certainly a worry thinking that something that costs less than 3 might be a target.' Meanwhile, the Tesco worker added: 'A few weeks ago one man came in and stole some items and the police actually saw him and stopped him. 'They took him down the road, but when they turned left they just let him go. He came back within ten minutes and was stealing again. We couldn't believe it.' In January, the Metropolitan Police revealed that a trial of facial recognition cameras in the London borough had helped cut robbery and shoplifting and had led to more than 100 arrests. Tesco was contacted by the MoS for comment last night. Donald Trump has told Sir Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send its aircraft carriers to the Middle East. The US President said he 'will remember' the lack of British support for his war with Iran, describing the UK as 'our once great ally' in an extraordinary attack on the Prime Minister. Trump's scathing post came after it emerged the UK was preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales, one of its two aircraft carriers, to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran intensifies and criticism mounts over Britain's military response. Writing on Truth Social, he said: 'The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. 'That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!' It comes as Sir Tony Blair also rebuked Starmer for his lack of support for Trump's war on Iran, telling the Prime Minister: 'We should have backed America from the very beginning'. Earlier on Saturday, it was reported that HMS Prince of Wales could be deployed to the Middle East within five days. The crew is said to have been alerted and preparations were accelerated to ensure the carrier was ready if required. Trump last week described Sir Keir as 'no Winston Churchill' for initially denying permission to launch strikes from the joint US-UK Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. He that he was 'not happy' with the PM and accused him of being 'very, very uncooperative'. Donald Trump has told Sir Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send its aircraft carriers to the Middle East The president's fiery post comes after it emerged the UK was preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales (pictured) to the Middle East In his latest outburst, Trump appeared to tell Sir Keir not to send British aircraft carriers to the Middle East, with HMS Prince of Wales currently docked in Portsmouth, undergoing repairs and maintenance. The 3billion warship carries F-35 fighter jets and would be deployed alongside an escort of other vessels and a submarine if sent to the region. The Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the preparedness of HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail, but that no decisions have been taken to deploy the warship. The Prime Minister has sought to play down the rift, saying the special relationship is 'in operation right now' as the two countries share intelligence and work together on the response. On Thursday, Sir Keir urged Trump to 'de-escalate' the crisis and negotiate with what is left of Iran's leadership. But the PM admitted that, despite the global crisis, he had not spoken to the US President for almost a week following their spectacular falling-out. The PM has suggested that the fallout from the conflict could go on for months, with potentially huge impacts on energy bills and the cost of living and the possibility of a new refugee crisis. He acknowledged that relatives of the tens of thousands of British citizens trapped in the war zone were 'worried sick' but said a mass evacuation 'is not going to happen overnight'. He added: 'I want you to know that your Government is resolute in our response, at home and abroad. 'We will do everything we can to protect British lives, uphold British values and safeguard the national interest.' Sir Keir did not deny reports suggesting that he had wanted to allow US jets to fly 'defensive' missions from British bases from the outset, but was blocked by Ed Miliband and other senior ministers who questioned whether having a positive relationship with the US was 'a good thing right now for the Labour Party'. Asked whether Mr Miliband was now in charge of foreign policy, the PM's spokesman said: 'Clearly the PM and Foreign Secretary have been key players in decision-making around this, along with key members of the Cabinet, as you would expect.' The Prime Minister has sought to play down the rift, saying the special relationship is 'in operation right now' as the two countries share intelligence and work together on the response Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7 Sir Keir has also faced a growing chorus of criticism from allies in the Middle East over the lack of preparations that led to Cyprus looking for military support from France, Italy and Spain rather than Britain after RAF Akrotiri on the island was hit by an Iranian drone. RAF 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. On Thursday night, Trump told the New York Post: 'It was very disappointing his performance, having to do with our tremendous attack on a hostile nation. 'I was very surprised at Keir. Very disappointed.' The PM made a partial U-turn on Sunday, saying US jets would be able to fly from British bases for the 'limited' objective of destroying Iranian missile launchers and stockpiles. He told MPs on Monday that an estimated 300,000 British nationals in the Gulf region were 'at risk' as Tehran targeted hotels and airports. But he ruled out going further, saying he would not participate in US-led attempts to bring about 'regime change from the skies'. Trump said the PM took 'far too long' to lift the ban on US forces flying from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the US started using British bases for 'specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region' after American bombers landed at a Gloucestershire base. A first 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening and three more followed on Saturday morning. A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to help with surveillance from the air and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus. The US President said he was 'very disappointed in Keir' over his attempts to hand sovereignty of the strategically vital Diego Garcia to Mauritius. Sir Keir acknowledged that Trump had 'expressed his disagreement', but insisted it was in Britain's national interest to abide strictly by international law. He told MPs repeatedly that any military action had to have a 'lawful basis' and a 'viable thought-through plan' and suggested the US had neither. In a newspaper interview on Tuesday, the US President said Sir Keir had 'not been helpful' and had put the special relationship in peril after failing to back his war with Iran. Trump said it was 'very sad' that relations between Britain and America are now 'not like it used to be'. Blaming Sir Keir directly, Trump said: 'He has not been helpful. I never thought I'd see that. 'I never thought I'd see that from the UK. We love the UK. It's very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was. 'This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe. 'It's not going to matter, but (Sir Keir) should have helped... he should have. I mean, France has been great. They've all been great. The UK has been much different from others.' He even suggested that the PM's decision 'could be' because he is pandering to Muslim voters as the Labour leader was accused of 'pearl-clutching' over US attacks on Iran that wiped out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump said that he 'loves' the UK and its people but added it is 'not such a recognisable country' anymore. 'Stop people from coming in from foreign lands who hate you,' he told the PM. Trump's broadside leaves US-UK relations in a parlous state and is likely to provide further ammunition to the many critics who have accused Sir Keir of damaging Britain's standing on the global stage. The US President also repeated his frequent criticism of immigration and energy policies in the UK, saying: 'I love that country, my mother was born there. But the UK, what they're doing with energy and what they're doing with immigration is horrible.' He urged Sir Keir to 'open up the North Sea' and vented about 'windmills all over the place that are ruining the country, ruining the landscapes, ruining the beautiful fields'. In an earlier post, Trump appeared to warn that more Iranian officials would become targets in the war, adding: 'Today Iran will be hit very hard!' Questions linger over the UK's future role in the conflict, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy suggesting RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites being used to attack British interests in the Middle East. Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, has signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future, saying 'campaigns and conflicts evolve over time'. The Iranian ambassador to the UK told the BBC the UK should be 'very careful' about becoming further involved in the war. Britain has faced further criticism from allies over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was struck by a drone earlier this week. Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week while France and Greece have already deployed military assets to defend the island. One reason it is taking some time to prepare the Type 45 destroyer is because it is being equipped to remain at sea for several months if required, rather than rushed into the eastern Mediterranean for a short period. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch meanwhile accused the Prime Minister of being 'too scared to make foreign interventions' and said the UK is 'in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not' in a speech on Saturday. Sir Keir has defended his decision not to permit the US to use British bases in the opening assault against the Tehran regime, suggesting it could have been unlawful and arguing the Government must keep a 'cool head'. The Prime Minister agreed on Sunday to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from Fairford and Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean. Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Sir Keir said at moments like this the country needs 'seriousness, not political games'. He said: 'While opposition parties seek to undermine Britain on the world stage, my Labour Government is focused on protecting British people at home and abroad.' Sir Tony Blair has also weighed in, saying at a private event that he thought the UK should have supported Trump right away. 'I am not saying anything that I haven't already said to the government... I think we should have backed America from the very beginning,' the former Labour prime minister told an event hosted by Jewish News. British spies are part of a deepcover operation in Iran to track down chemical weapons which could be used in drone attacks on neighbouring countries such as Israel and Dubai, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The intelligence officers are working with French and American counterparts inside the country to locate sites which have been identified by Israel as potential hiding places for nerve agents. Despite the intense bombing of military sites by the US and Israel since the start of the conflict, security sources say America's CIA and Israel's Mossad have evidence that supplies of the chemical weapons were stashed in separate locations. A UK security source said: 'We should not underestimate the Iranians. They are smart people and they can quickly adapt. 'History has shown us that their culture leads them to death rather than surrender. If they are pushed into a corner they may well opt to use chemicals most likely against Israel, but who knows where else? 'They could kill and injure thousands in Dubai if they wanted to. 'I am pretty certain the Iranians used some level of chemical toxins against their own people earlier this year; the symptoms they describe indicate a nerve agent of some kind. 'We are inside the country now looking for them, across four sites narrowed down by Tel Aviv.' British intelligence officers are working with French and American counterparts inside the Iran to locate sites which have been identified by Israel as potential hiding places for nerve agents. Pictured: Iranian drones in an underground depot Despite the intense bombing of military sites by the US and Israel since the start of the conflict, security sources say the CIA and Israel's Mossad have evidence that supplies of the chemical weapons were stashed in separate locations. Pictured: Iranian missiles The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that medicines designed to mitigate the impact of a nuclear or chemical attack were distributed across the Middle East ahead of the US-Israeli offensive. Experts believe that Tehran's traditional battlefield-capable chemical weapons programme, which began during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, has since evolved into a 'targeted offensive' capacity. During the Twelve-Day War in June 2025, Israel is said to have destroyed at least one alleged Iranian chemical weapons site. In addition, democracy campaigners have claimed the regime used lethal chemical agents during widespread protests in January to kill wounded demonstrators in the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad. Israel's deputy ambassador to the Netherlands, Yaron Wax, declared in July 2025: 'Over the past two decades Iran has been developing a chemical weapons programme based on weaponised pharmaceutical agents. 'These agents, primarily anaesthetics, affect the central nervous system and can be lethal even in small doses.' The UK security source said: 'Hopefully, if their missiles and drones are in short supply they will struggle to deploy it. 'I don't think Donald Trump paused to consider the culture of the regime, run according to an ultra-hardline doctrine.' A UK security source said: 'We are inside the country now looking for them, across four sites narrowed down by Tel Aviv'. Pictured: Explosions after a strike on Tehran on Saturday Democracy campaigners have claimed the regime used lethal chemical agents during widespread protests in January to kill wounded demonstrators in the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad. Pictured: Families at a coroner's office in Tehran in January 2026 search rows of body bags for relatives killed during the crackdown Iran supplied chemical weapons and expertise to Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government forces in 2013, including a gas attack on the town of Ghouta which killed more than 1,700. The Assad regime launched hundreds of attacks using chlorine and the nerve agent sarin. Tehran is also suspected of passing nerve gas to the Houthis its proxy force in Yemen earlier his year. Armed with ballistic missiles, the Houthis have attacked more than 178 ships in the Red Sea in the past couple of years and are instructed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, based in Yemen. Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said last week that the organisation had long held concerns about the risk of 'some kind of nuclear or chemical war' in the region, and preparations had been under way for some time. This included the distribution of potassium iodide, which protects the thyroid gland during nuclear or radiological emergencies, and specialist training for medics. Defence analyst Tim Ripley said: 'It is well documented that Iran has produced and used nerve gas in previous conflicts. 'The worrying concern for the US and Israel is that Tehran has passed these deadly weapons to their proxies.' Additional reporting by Brendan Carlin Speaking to an exclusive episode of The Daily Mail's The Trial podcast, Emma Webber, mother of Nottingham student Barnaby Webber, stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane, has spoken of her fury at the systemic failures that cost her son his life and that could one day see his killer walk free. Emma sat down with veteran crime reporters Ryan Hooper and Caroline Cheetham after week two of the official inquiry into Calocane's killing spree, which on 13 June 2023 claimed the lives of students Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates. Calocane, 32 at the time of sentencing, avoided prison after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. He had a documented history of paranoid schizophrenia and in a decision that sparked outrage among the victims' families, received an indefinite hospital order. During its first two weeks, the inquiry heard how a young Italian student was left with life-changing spinal injuries after jumping from a window to escape Calocane in 2020 and how mental health considerations were used repeatedly by police as a reason not to prosecute him, rather than a reason to intervene. From left to right: Ian Coates, 65, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19 Valdo Calocane had a history of paranoid schizophrenia and in a decision that sparked outrage among the victims' families, received an indefinite hospital order instead of prison To hear Emma's damning interview in full, subscribe to The Crime Desk today. Members gain exclusive access to the Trial Plus podcast Emma said the grieving families have been subjected to an 'abhorrent miscarriage of justice', a claim she believes is being proven with every new disclosure from the inquiry. She vows to keep fighting for reform of the way Britain's institutions handle dangerous offenders with mental health conditions, warning that current laws could see Calocane walk free in as little as five years. 'Even if it finishes me off, I will keep going - this has to be the time for change', Emma told The Trial Plus. 'This abhorrent miscarriage of justice needs to be addressed - Calocane should not be in hospital. We need to recognise that indefinite hospital orders are not indefinite. 'The statistics are that more than half of people are out within five years. Sometimes, it's months. If you're deemed to be recovering you can't be detained. 'Those decisions are made by hospital managers and psychiatrists. These same people are largely to blame for this situation. Do I trust them? Absolutely not. 'At the crux of all this is people not doing their jobs properly, at every level. It will only change if individuals are properly held to account.' While praising the decision to hold a public inquiry into Calocane's killing spree, Emma warned that unless the criminal justice system gets to grips with the 'hot potato' that is mental health, crimes like this will happen again. Before his rampage in 2023, Calocane was arrested at least three times, including once for assaulting a female police officer in 2021. A warrant was issued for his arrest following the assault but despite knowing his whereabouts for nine months, police failed to act. At the time of his arrest for the killings, there was already an outstanding arrest warrant against him. Emma warned that unless the criminal justice system gets to grips with the 'hot potato' that is mental health, crimes like this will happen again Before his rampage in 2023, Calocane was arrested at least three times, including once for assaulting a female police officer in 2021 'Mental health disorders and offenders are a massive hot potato that doesn't want to be dealt with', the grieving mother said. 'The reality is that mental health offences are still crimes. If they were investigated properly, it would benefit the perpetrator because it will put measures in place to stop them being thrown back out into the community to get worse and commit more offences. 'In Calocane, we are not dealing with someone who's poor and defenceless, who wasn't looked after properly, like his family and many others want us to believe. This is a master manipulator and the evidence speaks for itself. 'Finally, the facts are being revealed in the public arena. The truth is out there and yet there's still evasion. 'I have been shocked by the attitudes and by the demeanour of many police officers. If I hear the words, potentially, possibly, probably, one more time I think I am going to throw something. 'If you should have done something and you didn't do it, just say so.' To hear Emma's damning interview in full, subscribe to The Crime Desk today. Members gain exclusive access to the Trial Plus podcast, ad-free listening and a host of other benefits. Afghan girls work at a handicrafts workshop in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Amid unrelenting challenges and shifting powers, Afghan women stand as indomitable warriors, resolutely weaving resilience into daily survival alongside their families while their stories on this year's International Women's Day illuminate a profound humanitarian tapestry of communal solidarity and unwavering hope. Frozan Azimi, a 26-year-old nurse at a state-owned hospital in Kabul, works together with nearly 400 female colleagues, and finds solace in a supportive environment that honors their contributions. "Our colleagues treat us well. We do not fear harassment or abuse, and we feel comfortable in our workplace. In different departments, we are treated with respect," Azimi shared with Xinhua inside the hospital. She added with quiet pride, "The Ministry of Public Health values female professionals and treats them appropriately." For Azimi and her peers, this role is more than a job, it's a lifeline, fostering healing not just for patients, but for the healers themselves. Salma Aslami, 30, has channeled her entrepreneurial spirit into a handicrafts workshop she established over four years ago. "I am very happy that we have been able to create job opportunities for 15 other women. It is a significant achievement for girls who have been deprived of attending school," Aslami reflected, her voice laced with emotion. "I feel good knowing that our workplace is safe and free of problems." Financial independence, she emphasized, has liberated her from dependency: "In addition to covering my own expenses, I also contribute financially to support my parents and family." Aslami's workshop stands as a testament to how one woman's vision can ripple outward, mending the wounds of exclusion and poverty. Across the city, in a modest workshop in western Kabul, Zarmina Khaterzai is teaching more than just art. At 24, she has established a painting workshop where 50 young women gather not only to learn but to heal. "I feel very good, because we have financial independence and motivation," Khaterzai said, her enthusiasm palpable. "Here, I not only work with the other girls, but also spend time talking and sharing stories with them," Khaterzai told Xinhua. Though her earnings are only sufficient for essentials like food, clothing, internet, and shop rent, she derives deep fulfillment from engaging girls sidelined by educational bans. "Most of my students are girls who have been deprived of attending schools and universities," she noted, highlighting how creativity becomes a salve for lost opportunities. At present, Afghan women entrepreneurs, such as Aslami and Khaterzai, serve as vital anchors for their communities, fostering employment, transmitting vocational skills, and continuously affirming their presence in public life. Nevertheless, in the absence of expanded educational access and consistent international backing, the space they have managed to secure remains vulnerable to further contraction. For Ghazal, a 22-year-old teacher at a private school in Kabul, the classroom is a sanctuary. "Working is very good for me; it has reduced the stress and pressure I feel," she confided. Each day, she spends four to five hours teaching, describing the time as deeply pleasant. "The income I earn helps cover household expenses," she added matter-of-factly, though her contribution speaks volumes in a nation where economic survival is a daily battle. Reports from Afghanistan's Ministry of Industry and Commerce indicate that tens of thousands of women are now flourishing in diverse sectors, ranging from agriculture and livestock to health, industry, logistics, and services, their contributions serving as a poignant testament to human endurance. Twenty-year-old Mozhgan Faizi, who suspended her education in the seventh grade, recounts a story of quiet desperation, heading to a painting workshop each morning for mental relief amid closed school doors. "Many girls come here out of necessity, just to breathe more easily," she shared. Fighting tears, she added, "Schools are shut to us. This is our small joy, I meet friends, and it lifts our spirits." She called on authorities to expand women's opportunities via vocational centers in tailoring, beadwork, painting, drawing, and embroidery, sparking empowerment and healing. Due to restrictions set by the Afghan government, girls are not allowed to attend classes above grade six, and females are prohibited from attending universities until further notice. As the world marks International Women's Day on Sunday, these Afghan women's stories compel people to recognize their plight not as distant tragedy, but as a universal call for empathy and action. Afghan girls learn painting at a painting workshop in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) An Afghan handicrafts workshop established by women is pictured in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) A man has been arrested nearly 16 years after a Georgia mother-of-four was stabbed to death while working at a cell phone shop. Willie James Jr, 58, of Wayne County, was arrested and charged with malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of Sandra Robinson, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Robinson was 32 years old when she was killed on March 17, 2010, while working at the Prepaid Superstore on South Madison Avenue in Douglas, a small city about 120 miles south of Savannah. Investigators said the attack happened between 6pm and 7pm, while the business was open. Police say Robinson was stabbed inside the store, which sits near several other businesses including a Walgreens, a probation office and Rountree Park. The killing shocked the local community and left Robinson's four children without their mother. Authorities said the suspect was someone who knew Robinson and had been seen frequently at the store prior to the attack. The case remained unsolved for years until new forensic testing linked James to the crime scene, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a press release, though officials have not disclosed the specific evidence. Willie James Jr, 58, was arrested and charged with the murder of Sandra Robinson Robinson, 32, was stabbed to death while working at a cell phone store in Douglas, Georgia in 2010 James was taken into custody on March 2 and is now being held in the Coffee County Jail. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the arrest was the result of years of collaboration between multiple agencies and forensic specialists working to reexamine evidence from the case. For Robinson's family, the arrest represents a long-awaited step toward accountability. Her son Trey Robinson, who was 17 when his mother was killed, said his family believes the case is finally moving toward justice after years of uncertainty. 'I feel without a shadow of a doubt we're going to get justice for my mom. 'He's going to have to suffer the consequences of his actions. So I'm going in feeling good,' he told WALB. Remembering his mother, he said that she 'was a comedian' and 'liked to have a good time. 'So when I think about my mom, it's always the smallest things that, you know, they get me a little emotional. The mother of four was attacked while working at the Prepaid Superstore between 6pm and 7pm. A scene photo from the day of the murder is pictured The case went unsolved for nearly 16 years until advances in DNA and forensic testing linked James to the crime scene 'But now, all we have left are memories. So we're going to dwell on those memories and the good times that we had.' For years, the case remained listed on the GBI's unsolved homicide database, where authorities offered a $1,000 reward for information that could help identify the killer. Authorities said the case remains under investigation. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Kicking off the British spring social season, the Cheltenham Festival runs from 10-13 March, covering Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick's Thursday and the show-stopping Gold Cup Day. It's no surprise that the Festival is a favourite among the Royal Family. Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Tindall are often spotted in the crowds, alongside Queen Camilla, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie - and occasionally Catherine, Princess of Wales. As expected, the royals rarely disappoint on the style front, typically wrapping up against the chill in elegant wool coats and sturdy knee-high boots, finished with statement accessories. Indeed, a day at the races is the perfect excuse to dress up - but first, you'll need to decide what to wear. This is where I can guide you. I spoke to stylist Sarah Kate Byrne, who specialises in occasionwear and dresses horse racing presenter Francesca Cumani, to share her top tips for mastering Cheltenham style. 'Dressing for the Festival takes a little bit of thought given the time of year and the tendency towards inclement weather,' she says. 'Practicality and functionality are key drivers when choosing outfits, but of course style still plays an important role.' The overall aesthetic leans towards country chic. You'll likely spend plenty of time standing on grass, so sturdy footwear is essential - think block heels or chunky flat boots. Pair them with rich textures, such as wool, tweed or suede, to capture that quintessential countryside finish. It's also particularly beneficial to layer up with thermal tops, leggings or tights. Sarah recommends Uniqlo's HeatTech range, while I'm loyal to the thermals from M&S. Outfit one 'As a stylist who tries to be as sustainable as possible, shopping your own wardrobe is always a great place to start,' Sarah notes. 'You might already own a fantastic dress and simply need a stylish top layer to elevate the look and add a little drama.' With that in mind, I recently got my hands on Rixo's iconic Maddison shirt dress in a striking antelope print. It would look particularly chic styled with a chocolate brown Jigsaw coat and a Reiss fedora - one of this season's standout accessories. When it comes to footwear, Sarah says comfort should be a priority without compromising on style. 'A day at the Festival usually involves plenty of walking and standing, so it's important to choose a pair of shoes you'll feel comfortable in all day.' A great example is the Regina boots from Fairfax & Favor, a favourite of Zara Tindall. I especially love the rich burgundy shade, which adds a sophisticated finish to any race day outfit. Outfit two Ever since Cat Deeley wore Reiss' olive green knitted dress on This Morning, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. It looks exactly like something Catherine, Princess of Wales, would wear! It's a great option for race day, particularly when styled with a cosy Hobbs coat and Kate's beloved Long Tassel boots from Penelope Chilvers. Bring the look together with a checked scarf by Toast and a pair of gold huggie earrings from Orelia for a polished final touch. Outfit three Argyle prints are synonymous with the Royal Family, and this cardigan from John Lewis immediately caught my eye thanks to its striking cobalt hue. I've styled it with Boden's must-have Valentina skirt, which features elegant knife pleats that create soft, fluid movement. Of course, I couldn't resist tapping into the burgundy trend - a shade loved by Catherine, Princess of Wales, Zara Tindall and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. This double-breasted coat from John Lewis is a steal at 99 and looks flawless styled with a coordinating H&M headband. For a final flourish, opt for dainty pearl earrings from royal-approved jewellery brand Monica Vinader. Outfit four 'Cheltenham is synonymous with tweed,' Sarah says, 'and for very good reason - the course can be bitterly cold. 'A trouser suit will turn into a lifetime investment piece while serving up a suitably natty race day look that can work for the office too.' I have fallen head over heels for this sequin-embellished two-piece from Maje. The cropped jacket is beautifully balanced by the wide-leg trousers, while the rich shade is flattering on all complexions. I would keep the styling simple with a roll neck and classic loafers from M&S, finishing the look with statement earrings from Sita Nevado, available at Wolf & Badger. And of course, no race-day outfit would be complete without a Mayfair bag from Aspinal of London - a favourite of royals and celebrities alike. Outfit five I've discovered a stunning suede skirt suit at Jaeger, which would team perfectly with Boden's embroidered denim shirt. When it comes to accessories, Sarah advises racegoers to 'choose a bag that is functional, not just stylish, so you can easily juggle race card, champagne and phone.' It's sound advice - and the elegant Windsor bag from Fairfax & Favor would be ideal for the occasion. Pair it with White Stuff's Izzy boots for a simple throw-on-and-go finishing touch. Outfit six I love the idea of elevating a classic tailored look with unexpected accessories. Take these sleek trousers from Boden and this tie-neck blouse from Next, for example. I've added a pop of red with a chunky cardigan from John Lewis and echoed the shade with a pair of striking cowboy boots from Penelope Chilvers. It's easy to see why this footwear label is a favourite among so many royal women - their latest collection is seriously impressive. Princess Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie have been left 'bitterly disappointed' after being told they would not be welcome at Royal Ascot this summer because of their parents' links to Jeffrey Epstein, royal sources have revealed. Traditionally the two siblings would have attended the colourful gathering at the famous Berkshire racecourse, which is one of the highlights of the summer season, and would have been pictured sitting in the Royal Box with other senior royals. Officials at Ascot describe the event - and in particular the spectacle of the King, Queen and members of the Royal family in horse-drawn carriages parading along the course - as a 'timeless passage through heritage, memory and pride'. In the past both Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, have been regulars at Ascot each summer and have been pictured with their royal cousins enjoying the fun day out on several occasions, but this year there will be no shared merriment - with the sisters feeling they are being made to pay for their father's sins and being forced to lie low. One royal source told the Daily Mail: 'The York girls have been informed they can't be there this year,' while another source was even more direct: 'Ascot is out of the question. The royals have been told they can't be photographed with the girls for the rest of the year.' Friends say the sisters have been 'left drained' by the bitter snub, which comes after both were named extensively in emails written by convicted sex offender and financier Jeffery Epstein, who committed suicide in a New York jail in 2019. But there is also embarrassment due to the fact their parents - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor the former Duke of York and his ex-wife and the girls' mother Sarah Ferguson - have also been linked to Epstein. Last year, both girls and their mother appeared at Royal Ascot, with Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson both there for the opening day. Princess Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie have been left 'bitterly disappointed' after being told they would not be welcome at Royal Ascot this summer Traditionally the princesses would have attended the colourful gathering at the famous Berkshire racecourse, pictured on Day 2 in 2024, which is one of the highlights of the summer On Day 3 - Ladies Day - Beatrice was with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, for a second time. While on day 4, Sarah, Eugenie and her husband, James Brooksbank, attended. Whereas on the last day it was just Eugenie and her husband. Underlining the pageantry and history of the event, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended every day, while Prince William only appeared once, with his wife Kate pulling out at the last minute. According to Palace insiders, The Prince and Princess of Wales have already said that they will not attend 'if any member of the York family are at Ascot this year'. The source close to the York family said: 'They're deeply disappointed. They feel they're being punished for their parents' past actions, and that's very difficult to accept.' Excluding the siblings on this occasion is part of a broader effort to keep the princesses away from public royal events for the foreseeable future - and both have only been seen briefly since their father's arrest last month. Eugenie and Beatrice were spotted in London a few days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested for misconduct in public office at his new home in Sandringham. He was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police. Andrew's arrest came after the US DOJ released millions of Epstein-related files in January, including emails appearing to show Andrew forwarding confidential reports to the convicted sex offender while serving as Britain's trade envoy, a position he left in 2011 after being linked to Epstein. Privately, the impact has been painful, with one Palace insider telling the Daily Mail: 'Beatrice has taken it the hardest, she's been completely blindsided by everything that's happened. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrived at Ascot in 2017 with the Royal Family despite a late night out at the V&A Soiree the night before 'Every new Epstein development feels like another blow. Just when they think things might finally settle down, something else emerges.' Neither woman has been accused of any wrongdoing and both are trying to focus on their young families and distance themselves from their parents, in particular from their father's troubles which have left them mortified. The girls thought they had managed to avoid being tarred with the 'Epstein brush' after being invited by King Charles to Sandringham last Christmas for the traditional church service. Although Eugenie and Beatrice were all smiles with their husbands, Prince William and Kate's body language towards them was clearly cold and Mike Tindall - husband of their cousin Zara - was the only one who stopped to talk to them. Royal Ascot started in 1825, the first year a carriage-drawn procession was held, becoming a particular favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth. John Warren, the late Queen's racing adviser, once described how the 'Queen was unbelievably knowledgeable' about horse racing and would read the Racing Post cover to cover. In 2013 she made history when her filly, Estimate, won the Gold Cup, making her the first reigning monarch to do so. In total over her reign she had 24 winners. Speaking of the Gold Cup win, Mr Warren said: 'When she passed the post, it brought the house down. The Queen was really, really excited. It was a day to remember.' The princesses are said to have been left drained by the fallout of their parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein After the Queen died, King Charles III and Queen Camilla took up the reigns and in 2023 he made his first appearance as monarch in the Royal Procession. The same year Desert Hero, a horse bred by the Queen, won the King George V stakes giving Charles his first Ascot winner. Mr Warren said: 'To actually have a winner in the King's first year was quite remarkable. The King welled up, tears in his eyes, and the Queen burst into tears.' From 'gaslighting' to 'catfishing', singletons already have a range of toxic dating trends to get their heads around. Now, experts have gazed into the future to predict what they will have to contend with next. With the promise of spring on the horizon, many will be emerging from winter hibernation to try their hand at finding love. However, putting yourself out there can feel daunting, especially when trying to keep up with the latest apps and crazes. To help, relationship experts have revealed the top trends to look out for this year and the ones to be especially wary of. Robyn Alesich, cofounder of polyamorous dating app Sister Wives, warned some could trigger anxiety, low selfworth, reduced intimacy and emotional exhaustion. While some trends are 'immensely cruel', others can lead to feelings of 'intellectual powerlessness'. Here, she explains the toxic fads that could ruin your love life. People have taken to TikTok to complain about 'future-faking' - when a potential partner promises a future but never follows through Your browser does not support iframes. Yearner energy This is the feeling of 'yearning' an intense longing and desire for somebody you're dating. 'Yearning can feel deeply romantic in an era of social media and AI, but longing without reciprocation or consent has its risks,' Ms Alesich said. 'It's important to separate desire from reality, otherwise fantasies can be projected onto unwilling partners.' Futurefaking This occurs when a potential partner promises a shared future but with no intention of really following through. 'A key priority in modern dating is emotional security, regardless of the style of affection. So, in any case, futurefaking is immensely cruel,' Ms Alesich explained. 'It mimics security without offering it, often keeping someone emotionally invested long past the point where the relationship has stopped moving forward. Repeated exposure to false promises can undermine trust and emotional safety, contributing to anxiety, lowered selfworth, and difficulty forming secure attachments in future relationships.' Being given a backhanded compliment or subtle insult to make you feel insecure is called negging The 6 toxic dating trends to look out for Yearner energy Futurefaking Negging Ecodumping Datestacking Choremance Negging Negging is a backhanded compliment or subtle insult to make you feel insecure in the hope that you'll suddenly be more desperate for approval. It can lead to low selfesteem and emotional dependency. 'Backhanded compliments and subtle criticism can erode selfesteem over time, fostering emotional dependency on a toxic partner, a common pattern seen in psychologically unhealthy relationships,' Ms Alesich said. Ecodumping This refers to breaking up over ethical lifestyle issues, such as plastic usage or fast fashion. 'Gen Z cares very deeply about what they believe in,' Ms Alesich said. 'And for many young daters, the environment is just that. 'However, conflict rooted in moral superiority rather than communication can lead to feelings of anxiety and emotional exhaustion. This might foster a sense of intellectual powerlessness for one partner, reducing confidence and heightening anxiety.' Datestacking Datestacking refers to scheduling multiple dates in a single day or weekend to optimise time and efficiency. But Ms Alesich warned: 'Datestacking can feel practical, especially when signed up to multiple dating apps and want to maximise your chance of connection. However, this trend encourages people to compare dates side by side, potentially reducing them to a personality trait or a physical feature. 'Dating as an efficiency exercise leads to severe dating fatigue, overwhelm, and likely dissatisfaction.' Choremance When you and your partner do errands together instead of traditional romantic activities, this is called 'choremance'. 'A choremance appeals to a very busy and burnt out generation of daters,' Ms Alesich explained. 'The risk here is decreased intimacy and spiked cortisol as partners don't feel able to truly relax in each other's company.' Lisa Rinna has claimed that she lost one of her most lucrative jobs after criticizing Donald Trump. In her new memoir, the 62-year-old said that slamming the President during the beginning of his first term in 2020 contributed to her being dropped by QVC. The actress launched her self-titled clothing line, The Lisa Rinna Collection, with the home shopping network in 2012, and it quickly became one of its most popular celebrity lines. Critical views: Lisa Rinna says she lost her job in 2020 for saying President Trump is ugly However, Rinna claims that she was dropped from the network in 2020 due to a combination of factors, one of which she believes may have been politically motivated. She referenced QVC's 2018 sale to the Qurate Retail Group, which is owned by billionaire media mogul and former Trump donor John C Malone. The actress alleged in her book, You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It: 'QVC was sold to Qurate. The head of the company was majorly conservative and a huge Trump supporter and donor.' Success: The Lisa Rinna Collection quickly became one of QVC's most popular celebrity lines It was unclear if she was referring to Malone or not, but Malone donated $250,000 to Trump's inauguration in 2017, according to 9News. Referring to her two seasons working with Trump on The Celebrity Apprentice, Rinna continued: 'During the 2020 election, I had been very vocal about my feelings towards Trump. I had worked with this man, so it's not like he was a complete stranger to me. 'I felt like that somehow made it okay for me to talk about and post about him. She added: 'I was shocked at his ugliness and vileness and hatred and couldn't stay quiet about it.' Rinna spent two seasons with Trump on The Celebrity Apprentice, first in 2011 and then in 2013 for the show's first all-star season. Straight talking: The actress and author promoting her book last month in New York City Rinna then said that her criticism of Trump led to her receiving death threats from online trolls, as well as losing followers on Instagram. 'By this point, I was entrenched in RHOBH land and I was really mouthy about everything. That's when I got the phone call canning me. The actress explained: 'I think between [my] Trump bashing, and RHOBH fans flooding the channel with complaints about me, it was more than QVC could handle. 'It didn't make sense - we were still making gobs of money.' President Trump: Rinna repeatedly criticized Trump in 2020, angering fans and management She also said that towards the end of her stint at QVC, the channel made her work with a new manufacturer that 'made fabric I didn't care for and wasn't up to my high standards.' Rinna continued: 'The cut and the sewing, everything was inferior. It was really less about Trump. He was just the final nail in the coffin.' The Daily Mail has contacted QVC for comment. A biochemist has claimed to have found evidence that the modern Lyme disease outbreak in the U.S. could be the result of CIA bioweapon experiments. Dr Robert Malone, who helped lay the groundwork for mRNA vaccine technology, made the explosive allegations this week after analyzing declassified government documents, historical records from Cold War biological weapons programs and scientific research on tick-borne diseases. Malone highlighted experiments in the 1960s that allegedly released more than 282,000 radioactive ticks in Virginia and open-air tick research at Plum Island, a federal laboratory located near the Connecticut community where Lyme disease was first identified. Emerging theory: A biochemist has claimed to have found evidence that the modern Lyme disease outbreak in the U.S. could be the result of CIA bioweapon experiments The experiments were designed to track how disease-carrying ticks spread through the environment, with scientists marking the parasites using radioactive Carbon-14 so their movements could be detected with Geiger counters, a portable, gas-filled instrument. Malones report argued that the research was part of a much larger Cold War biological weapons program known as Project 112, which involved dozens of secret tests aimed at studying how insects could be used to spread pathogens. The program, authorized by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in 1962, oversaw 134 planned tests and included facilities capable of breeding millions of infected insects each week. According to the report, the same region where these experiments took place later experienced an unprecedented surge in tick-borne illnesses. Malone's claims follow calls from U.S. officials to investigate whether federal agencies experimented with pathogen-laden ticks as tools of war. Increased cases: In the U.S., between 30,000 and 40,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed annually and reported to the CDC. The illness is spread by infected ticks biting mammals In December 2025, an amendment by New Jersey Representative Chris Smith called for a review of military, NIH and USDA projects from 1945 to 1972 involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales, bacteria linked to tick-borne diseases. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr has also suggested Lyme disease may have originated from a failed U.S. bioweapons program in the 1970s tied to research at Plum Island. However, the Department Of Homeland Security has repeatedly said Lyme disease was never studied at the facility. Your browser does not support iframes. Malones report also claims key research into a second tick-borne pathogen may have been suppressed. He alleged the government sidelined research on a pathogen known as the Swiss Agent, which was detected in Lyme patients in Europe during the 1970s. Malone, an expert in biology who has earned multiple degrees at the University Of California, also accused the government of suppressing research on a second disease called the 'Swiss Agent' found in Lyme patients in Europe in the 1970s. Unpublished papers from Willy Burgdorfer, the scientist who discovered the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, suggested the pathogen complicated treatment because it triggered persistent symptoms that did not respond to standard antibiotics. Collected evidence: Documents obtained by journalist and author Kris Newby revealed the Pentagon's plan to use Biological Weapons (BW) and Chemical Weapons (CW) on communist-controlled Cuba Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, reportedly affects 30,000 to 40,000 people annually according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, but the agency estimates the true number of infections may be as high as 476,000 annually. Along with a telltale rash around the bite, symptoms often include fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, but severe and untreated cases can also lead to fatal complications like heart problems, neurological issues, and brain inflammation. Malone's claims focused on his analysis of the archived records as well as alleged confessions by Burgdorfer himself, which appeared in journalist Kris Newby's book 'Bitten: The Secret History Of Lyme Disease And Biological Weapons.' Not suitable: Documents obtained by Newby suggested the plans for Operation Mongoose were eventually called off because of weather conditions Malone argued that infecting ticks with multiple pathogens, including the so-called Swiss Agent, may have complicated diagnosis and treatment for patients exposed to tick bites. Swiss Agent, known by scientists as Rickettsia helvetica, is related to another tick-borne bacterium called Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It can cause mild to moderate flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Malone concluded that there was a 45 per cent likelihood that the secret tick experiments and the omission of the 'Swiss Agent' discovery from Burgdorfer's original 1982 Lyme discovery paper contributed to the disease reaching epidemic levels in the U.S.. Malone wrote in an article on his Substack: 'Burgdorfers notes indicate he was told to omit the presence of at least one potential bioweapon during the Lyme investigation. 'Swiss Agent suppression for 40+ years demonstrates systematic institutional willingness to conceal public health information.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the CIA for comment regarding the declassified reports and claims of accidental exposures in the U.S.. Warning sign: Within 3 days to a month, a red, bull's-eye rash will appear in 70 to 80 per cent of cases involving a tick bite In Cuba, under CIA-led Operation Mongoose, operatives reportedly dropped boxes of infected ticks from aircraft onto sugarcane workers to sabotage the economy, though the operation was said to have been quickly canceled due to risks like shifting winds. The purpose of these operations was to create insect-based bioweapons during the Cold War, aiming to incapacitate communist adversaries by spreading illnesses such as anthrax or dengue without engaging in an actual war. These events allegedly took place mainly from the 1950s to the 1970s, with Operation Mongoose occurring in 1962, and domestic tick releases happening between 1966 and 1969. The 282,800 ticks let loose in Virginia during these years were irradiated with the non-harmful isotope Carbon-14, which allowed scientists to track how far they could spread as local birds carried the insects during their migrations. Some events have been verified through declassified documents found in the CIA and National Archives, confirming the existence of bioweapons programs like Project 112 and Mongoose's sabotage plans. However, the claims that infected ticks were dropped over Cuba rely largely on anonymous testimony and have never been independently verified. Jeff Nippard's fiancee Stephanie Buttermore has passed away at the age of 36, confirmed the fitness influencer on Friday. The 35-year-old YouTube personality, who became engaged to Buttermore in 2022, issued a statement to his Instagram page to share the news of her passing, which occurred just weeks after her 36th birthday. Nippard and his team wrote: 'It is with profound sorrow that we share the sudden passing of Jeff's fiancee and partner of ten years, Stephanie.' Dearly missed: Jeff Nippard's fiancee Stephanie Buttermore has passed away at the age of 36 Official statement: Nippard and his team confirmed Stephanie's passing on Friday The statement continued: 'As many of you know, Stephanie meant the world to Jeff. She will be remembered for her warmth and compassion, her love for her family, and her PhD research on ovarian cancer. 'We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this tragic loss. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time.' Further details and a cause of death have yet to be revealed. Buttermore celebrated her 36th birthday last month and had been focused on her education after receiing a Bachelor's degree in Micro/Molecular Biology at the University Of Central Florida, per her official website. The influencer then went on to study at the University Of South Florida where she received two Master's degrees in Women's Health as well as Pathology and Cell Biology. Buttermore continued her studies at the same university and received a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Pathology and Cell Biology. Her doctoral research had 'focused primarily on early detection screening markers and the molecular mechanisms driving ovarian cancer (OC).' So young: Buttermore was born in 1990 and had celebrated her 36th birthday last month on February 25 Along with Nippard, Buttermore was also a fitness influencer and had 524,000 followers on her Instagram account. She had also launched a YouTube channel of her own which had nearly 1.2 million subscribers before her passing. In the description of her channel, Buttermore explained that she incorporated both 'science and fitness into all facets of life.' Beauty and braines: Buttermore received a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Pathology and Cell Biology On her YouTube channel she wrote: 'I currently do cancer research but LOVE to workout and eat good food!' she had also written. 'My channel brings informative content to the world of fitness, training, beauty, lifestyle, food challenges and nutrition all with a scientific twist!' Her last video had been uploaded two years earlier and was titled: 'How I Feel About My New Body.' Buttermore also shared fitness posts to Instagram as well as updates on her life. Nippard often made cameos in photo series that she uploaded to her main page. In March 2024, she took a break from social media and returned two months later to share what she learned after stepping away. She wrote: 'My mental health has been the best it's ever been,' she had penned at the time while adding that her anxiety is something that she 'no longer struggles with. 'It was almost crippling a few years ago to the point I felt I couldn't breathe or leave my house.' Loved by all: Buttermore shared fitness posts to Instagram as well as updates on her life Buttermore admitted that she did 'miss my social media friends and community' but is 'way more present' without social media. She continued: 'Sometimes I still feel a void in my day-to-day life from being so removed from this app, but the positives from taking this break has been worth it. But believe me when I say I love and miss you, I truly mean it.' The May 2024 post was her last upload to Instagram. In November 2022, Nippard announced that he had proposed to Buttermore and shared the news of their engagement. He recalled at the time that six years earlier, he 'slid into her DMs' and they 'immediately formed a friendship.' Stepping away: The influencer took a break from social media affter discovering her cancer diagnosis Nippard wrote: 'We started Skyping for 3-4 hours every day for about a month (no joke) until I went to visit her in Florida from Canada. Our first date was a shoulder workout and I will never forget it...' The pair dated while doing long distance as he lived in Canada and she in the United States. Nippard added: 'We grew together as we learned from each other, travelled the world together, always supported each other, and used the power couple equation to build each other up in so many different ways.' Together forever: In November 2022, Nippard announced that he had proposed to Buttermore and shared the news of their engagement on social media Testing times: The pair dated long distance to begin with as he lived in Canada and she in the United States In one of the images, Buttermore flashed a cheerful smile as she showed off a diamond engagement ring for the camera. Last month, Nippard had shared their final picture together on Instagram as he paid a special tribute for Valentine's Day. 'Relationshipmaxxing with tea time to lower cortisol levels,' he wrote in the caption. The pair held big smiles on their faces as Nippard draped one of his arms over Buttermore's shoulders. Timothee Chalamet was so pampered on the set of Wonka that he would reportedly have three alternative breakfasts prepared for him and would only eat one. Comedian Tom Davis, who also starred in the movie, said on the Parenting Hell podcast: 'One thing that ground my gears he had a personal chef. And we were having quite ropey breakfasts. I got to know his personal chef quite a bit and I said, "What are you cooking this morning?" 'He said, "I do three different things for Tim, and he'll have one thing." And Timothee turned around and went, "Hey man, why don't you have the other two things?"' Pampered: Timothee Chalamet would have three alternative breakfasts prepared for him from which he'd choose to eat only one Spilling secrets: Timothee's Wonka co-star Tom Davis lifted the lid on the actor's breakfast habits Timothee also previously admitted he felt like 'an honorary Brit' after spending a lengthy stint in the UK in 2021. Speaking on an episode of The Graham Norton Show following Wonka's release, Timothe revealed that this is his most 'favorite' role to date. He said: 'I am proud of all the films I have done, but this is my favorite. It is the most fun Ive had working on anything ever. It is sweet and good and will fill you with joy. We shot the film in London, so, after spending five months here, I feel like an honorary Brit it was joyous.' Graham asked the star how he's been lucky to star in such a long string of hits at such a young age, to which he replied: 'I just try to work with great directors.' Career: Since the release of Wonka, Timothee has starred in Marty Supreme and Dune: Part Two. As for his personal life, Timothee has been dating Kylie Jenner for over three years and live together, with marriage being a consideration, according to a Daily Mail source. When the actor was profiled in a November cover story for Vogue he turned down the opportunity to speak about the relationship. However, at the 2026 Critics' Choice Awards in January, Timothee made his most open profession about his girlfriend in his acceptance speech. 'Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you,' he said. Next year Qantas will launch the worlds two longest-ever direct commercial flights from Sydney to London (10,573 miles) and Sydney to New York City (10,100 miles). Both last a mind-blowing 22 hours and are likely to change the way we fly for ever bringing extremely long-distance journeys without stopovers into the mainstream. They will slice four hours off current journeys that require refuelling stops. The breakthrough has been made possible after the Aussie carrier selected the Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) for the route, having ordered a dozen of the specially-designed aircraft in 2022. This plane, powered by British Rolls-Royce Trent engines, allows for extra distance as its fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank. The new flights have already been dubbed Project Sunrise by aviation geeks a name deriving from passengers experiencing two sunrises on one flight. Project Sunrise, as it's been called, will see the two world's longest direct commercial flights launch in 2027 Paudie gets some insight into what it'll be like onboard a flight that almost lasts a whole day You take off at night, watching the first sunrise somewhere over Asia or the Middle East. Then, as youre chasing the sun westward for nearly a full day, you see it rise again closer to Europe or North America. The iconic Sydney to London flight number is QF1. In the 1940s, this was originally called the Kangaroo Route, taking four to five days with seven stops. These were usually Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Tripoli and Rome. The planes used were Lockheed Constellations (a flying experience akin to being stuck in a rattling tin can), with overnight stays arranged in Singapore and Cairo. Back in those days you had four screaming propellers and an extremely tight cabin. Today, the new Airbus A350 is set to be the most comfortable commercial aircraft. Cabin altitude will be more like ground altitude. On board there will be 238 passengers in six first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy and 140 economy seats. This compares to 300-plus seats in the layouts of other A350-1000 operators. All cabins on the new jets will be fitted with high-speed wi-fi at no extra cost. For a sneak preview, Qantas invited me to experience a mock-up of the on-board wellness suite. I was also given a whistlestop tour of where the new planes will be serviced at their flagship Hangar 96 at Sydneys Qantas Jet Base, Kingsford Smith Airport. In a wellness zone considered to be the first of its kind, passengers on the 22-hour journeys will be encouraged to sample premium self-serve healthy refreshments available throughout the flight designed to provide optimum hydration at high altitude. The new Airbus A350-1000ULR is set to be delivered by the end of 2026 - and will take passengers right across the world in just one flight A programme of stretches will also be shown on large monitors for passengers to follow (others will be possible from the comfort of your seat). Walls in the wellness zone will be fitted with handles to aid exercises. Its effectively a yoga studio (of sorts) at 35,000ft or simply somewhere people may wish to socialise. Designer David Caon, who has worked on the project since 2018, said it had been an honour to be involved. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, the Australian added: We had a team of six people working on it full time for two years things like aircraft weight, maintainability, safety and comfort all have to be weighed against the aesthetic decisions we make. With regards to making sleeping on board as comfortable as possible, Qantas worked in partnership with the University of Sydneys Charles Perkins Centre to seek ways of reducing the effects of jet lag. These have involved customised lighting reflecting the unique quality of light in the Australian Outback and timed meal services designed to match circadian rhythms. Qantas (the worlds oldest continually operating airline, founded in 1920) already has a number of aviation firsts to its name. The airline lays claim to having invented business class (in 1979). It was also the first airline to operate an all-Boeing 747 fleet. The new Airbus A350-1000ULRs are due to be delivered by the end of this year. Pilots and crew will fly between Australia and New Zealand with passengers on board on trial flights to get used to the aircraft, with the first ultra long-haul flights taking off at the start of 2027. Back in 1920 it took weeks to travel by sea from the UK to Australia. A mere century on, it will be possible to fly hundreds of passengers to the other side of the planet in less than a day. In my opinion that of an aviation enthusiast (OK, geek) myself this is the most thrilling launch since Concorde. Hollywood legend Kurt Russell revealed Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry all stayed in his home for a family holiday. The Golden Globe nominee, 74, is set to appear on this Saturday's episode of The Jonathan Ross Show. He is promoting new drama series The Madison, from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan - with other cast members including Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Fox and Patrick J. Adams. During the conversation, Kurt recounts how he crossed paths with King Charles and Princess Diana in the early 1990s. He says: 'I met Diana - it was the royal premiere for Backdraft. 'I was sitting in between her and Charles. I understand her difficulties with paparazzi and all that kind of thing. While appearing on Saturday's episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, Kurt Russell reveals how he encountered Prince Charles and Princess Diana in the early 1990s In particular, he recalled how Princess Diana and 'the two boys' - enjoyed a nice holiday while Kurt and his family were away 'I said if you ever want to go somewhere thats pretty under control, well work it out - let me know.' Kurt continues: 'I think Fergie and Goldie had somehow later on got talking. 'She [Diana] brought the two boys and they stayed there for a week and had a wonderful time. 'I wasnt there, none of us were there at the time but she wrote some really nice cards and things like that. 'Ive seen Harry a number of times since then and he always remembers and hes very sweet - he always remembers it as one of the really fun times they had. 'I think its a great thing - the Future King of England [Prince William] was sleeping in my sons room.' Kurt also gave an insight into The Madison, where he portrays Preston Clyburn, one of the main characters. He shares: 'Ive had the great opportunity to play different broad characters and genres and that was on purpose because it kept me interested. 'I really enjoy it and I continue to really enjoy it. The Madison show is very different, its the first time Im playing someone very like myself - I like that a lot too.' Jonathan's guests are (L to R) David Byrne, Dame Maggie Aderin, Tim Roth, Sara Pascoe, Kurt Russell and Noah Kahan Elsewhere, Kurt also discusses his step-daughter Kate Hudson's Oscar nomination for her performance in Song Sung Blue. He says: 'Goldie is going to be her date. I thought I was going to be in London at the time. I think Im probably going to have a suit sitting by. Im going to get home in time to be there.' In his first feature film role, Kurt had an uncredited cameo in 1963's It Happened at the World's Fair, starring the legendary Elvis Presley. 16 years later, he portrayed Elvis in a television movie and tells Jonathan about preparing for the role. He says: 'I had a lot of people giving me stuff for research purposes which was amazing looking back on it. 'But it was primarily my memory of having worked with him. He was 27 years old when I worked with him and I was 27 when I did that.' Asked by Jonathan on whether Kurt has any plans to retire from showbusiness, he replies: 'You do run into these time periods where you think sometimes but there is something about acting, it never gets old.' The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturday at 9:25pm on ITV1 and ITVX. SYDNEY, March 7 (Xinhua) -- One teenager died and two others were airlifted to hospital after a car crashed into a tree northeast of Sydney on Friday night. A police statement on Saturday said that emergency services were called to reports of the collision near the coastal town of Crescent Head, 340 km northeast of Sydney in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), at around 9:20 p.m. local time on Friday. Ambulance paramedics arrived and treated a 19-year-old woman who was a passenger in the vehicle, but she died at the scene. The 18-year-old female driver and another passenger, a 17-year-old girl, were both airlifted to hospital in serious but stable conditions. The NSW Police Force said that officers established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. According to the latest data, as of Thursday, there had been 62 deaths in incidents on NSW roads in 2026, up from 44 deaths at the same time in 2025. Britain's Got Talent collapsed into chaos as judges Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell went to war for the Golden Buzzer during Saturday night's episode. Things turned physical between Simon, 66, and Alesha, 47, as they fought over the Golden Buzzer for an 'unbelievable' act, resulting in Amanda Holden's microphone being broken into pieces. All judges were blown away by the performance and Simon even said it was one of the best things he's ever seen on the show. The act itself was a group called Antigravity who created a video game on stage, blending special effects within a pre-created video game set up as well as on stage interactions. However, many fans were confused as to why there was a fight in the first place when Alesha had made it very clear she wanted to press the buzzer, and especially as Simon had already pressed it for Paul Nunnari earlier in the series. The Ukrainian act threw their arms in the air and embraced a group hug as the golden confetti fluttered down onto the stage. Britain's Got Talent collapsed into chaos as judges Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell went to war for the Golden Buzzer during Saturday night's episode The act itself was a group called Antigravity who created a video game on stage, blending special effects within a pre-created video game set up as well as on stage interactions Despite Simon already pressing his Golden buzzer he tried to break the rules by going for a second act, but 'competitive' Alesha had other plans and 'dived' on the buzzer to stop her 'annoying' co-star from getting the act. Many fans of the show flooded to X, formally known as Twitter, to voice their confusion and praise Alesha in getting to the Golden Buzzer first. Fans said: 'I have no idea what as going on with the race', 'why was there a race to press the golden buzzer? Does it matter who presses it?', 'Go on Alesha pushing Simon out of the way of the golden buzzer', 'Well done Alesha that was a brilliant golden buzzer (even though you had to fight for it).' The golden buzzers were added to the show in 2014 and have been given to some well-known acts since then. Each of the four judges, plus hosts Ant and Dec, has one opportunity per series to press it, but this rule has occasionally been broken. If pressed, the act is sent straight through to the live shows. Other fans flooded to social media to also share how well deserved the golden buzzer was stating it was 'the most deserving' and 'one of the best acts I've seen in 19 series'. The Ukrainian group threw their arms in the air and embraced in a group hug as the golden confetti fluttered down onto the stage Many fans flooded to X, formally known as Twitter, to voice their confusion and praise Alesha in getting to the Golden Buzzer first Alesha joined the group on stage and gave them all hugs as they embraced the moment, whilst Simon looked on after missing out on the golden buzzer All judges were blown away by the performance and Simon even said it was one of the best things he's ever seen on the show Simon, who clearly enjoyed the chaos, added: 'Sometimes we actually fight over the golden buzzers, and I'm not kidding, Alesha threw herself across the desk to stop me. She actually injured herself in the process! 'I mean, that's how competitive people get when there's a good act, sometimes there's a fight as to who's gonna press it first. It's really funny.' Simon was the first judge to press the gold this series, in the opening episode on February 21. It was given to Australian para athlete Paul Nunnari, who blew away the judging panel with his incredible wheelchair stunts, which involved him climbing up the silk in his wheelchair before swinging from it by his neck. KSI awarded the second golden buzzer of the series to 16-year-old magician Rafferty Coope. The young star wowed the judges with his act that combined his 'two passions in life', music and magic. Tom Cruise's first wife Mimi Rogers cut a glamorous and radiant figure when she surfaced in Los Angeles in a rare recent sighting. Rogers was married to Cruise from 1987 to 1990, and during the time they were together she reportedly brought him into the fold of Scientology. She herself had a Scientologist upbringing, as her father was friends with L Ron Hubbard and was an early member of the church, but she has since left the religion. After her split from Cruise, who is six years her junior, the The Rapture actress gave a bombshell interview and made a scathing claim about their sex life. 'Tom was seriously thinking of becoming a monk,' she told Playboy. 'And he thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument.' Now 70 years old, Rogers was seen stepping out in sunny California, her still willowy frame draped in a flowing print blouse and white trousers. Tom Cruise's first wife Mimi Rogers cut a glamorous and radiant figure when she surfaced in Los Angeles in a rare recent sighting; the former couple are pictured in 1989 Now 70 years old, Rogers was seen stepping out in sunny California , her still willowy frame draped in a flowing print blouse and white trousers Wearing her luxurious dark hair down, the Lost in Space actress sharpened her winning features with makeup and accessorized with a large set of shades. Rogers' work includes the 1996 release The Mirror Has Two Faces, in which her sister was played by the movie's director Barbra Streisand, her mother was played by Lauren Bacall and her husband was played by Pierce Brosnan. She acted with Michael Keaton in Ron Howard's 1986 picture Gung Ho, and with Mickey Rourke and Anthony Hopkin's in Michael Cimino's 1990 film Desperate Hours. Cruise and Rogers met in 1985 - when he was 23 and she 29 - and they married in secret in 1987 in the presence of only two guests, Cruise's mother Mary Lee Pfeiffer and his best man Emilio Estevez of The Mighty Ducks fame. During their brief union, Cruise became involved in Scientology via Rogers, whose father and first husband had both been members of the religion. The marriage was subject to constant scrutiny over their age gap and the fact that he was astronomically more famous than she was. Cruise and Rogers split in 1989 just two days before he started filming Days of Thunder, on the set of which he rebounded with his co-star and eventual next wife Nicole Kidman, according to his unauthorized biographer Andrew Morton. After her separation from Cruise - who remains the most famous Scientologist worldwide - Rogers is said to have left the religion along with her father, who was reportedly declared a 'suppressive person' by the organization. Join the debate Did YOU recognise Mimi? Wearing her luxurious dark hair down, the Lost in Space actress sharpened her winning features with makeup and accessorized with a large set of shades Her acting career has proceeded alongside side-gigs like selling $125 personalized video messages to fans on Cameo and presenting homegrown hay at county fairs Cruise and Rogers met in 1985 and they married in secret in 1987 in the presence of only two guests; pictured at the premiere of his 1986 Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money During their brief union, Cruise became involved in Scientology via Rogers, whose father and first husband had both been members of the religion The marriage was subject to constant scrutiny over their age gap and the fact that he had become astronomically more famous than she was; pictured 1989 Then in 1993 she gave an infamous Playboy interview in which she explained why her marriage ended and shot down the public perception of their split. 'Is that the story, that I was bored with that child and threw him over, chewed him up and spat him out? Well, here's the real story,' she said. 'Tom was seriously thinking of becoming a monk. At least for that period of time, it looked as though marriage wouldn't fit into his overall spiritual need. And he thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument.' Her own 'instrument,' she added, 'needed tuning.' She met her third and current husband, producer Chris Ciaffa, in 1990 and exchanged vows with him at a Beverly Hills courthouse in 2003, by which point they had already welcomed their two children - Lucy, 31, and Charlie, 24. In recent years fans have been able to watch her on the Amazon police procedurals Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, led by Lost and Deadwood star Titus Welliver. Her acting career has proceeded alongside side-gigs like selling $125 personalized video messages to fans on Cameo and presenting homegrown hay at county fairs. For years, critics of Channel Seven have joked the network had a fairly simple rule when it came to its biggest personalities: if the ratings were good enough, the headlines didn't matter. But that long-standing culture may be facing a major shake-up. With Southern Cross stepping in as the network's new owners, insiders say there is growing speculation within television circles that Seven's historic tolerance for controversial talent could soon be under review. Sources claim the new leadership is keen to reshape the broadcaster's internal culture particularly when it comes to managing high-profile personalities who attract negative publicity. 'There's definitely a feeling the rules could be changing,' one industry insider told Daily Mail. 'For years Seven had a reputation for standing by its stars, even when things got messy. The question now is whether the new regime will take the same approach.' For years, critics of Channel Seven have joked the network had a fairly simple rule when it came to its biggest personalities: if the ratings were good enough, the headlines didn't matter. Following Southern Cross Media's recent merger with Seven, that all may be set to change The network has previously faced criticism over its handling of controversial figures, with the saga surrounding former presenter Andrew O'Keefe frequently cited by critics as an example of Seven's willingness to support talent during turbulent periods. O'Keefe was once considered one of the 'golden boys' at the network, as the host of the popular Deal Or No Deal, The Chase Australia, and Weekend Sunrise. After a string of controversies, Seven finally cut him loose at the end of 2020 when they didn't renew his contract; however, he has since waged a public battle against drug addiction and been in and out of rehabilitation centres for the past few years. In June last year, he was forced to hand back his Order of Australia after complaints were made that he still held the honour following his assault and drug convictions. The former Deal or No Deal host tested positive for meth while driving his Mercedes C200 in Sydney's eastern suburbs on July 28, 2024. He faced Waverley Local Court in February 2025 to plead guilty to driving with meth in his system but escaped with a $440 fine and a disqualification from driving for six months. But insiders say the mood inside the network could be shifting as the new ownership settles in. One recent situation reportedly fuelling internal conversations is the court appearance involving Seven personality Colin Fassnidge, which has sparked renewed discussion about how the broadcaster handles public controversies involving its stars. Sources claim the new leadership is keen to reshape the broadcaster's internal culture particularly when it comes to managing high-profile personalities who attract negative publicity. (Pictured: Andrew O'Keefe) 'There's definitely a feeling the rules could be changing,' one industry insider told Daily Mail. 'For years Seven had a reputation for standing by its stars, even when things got messy. The question now is whether the new regime will take the same approach.' (Pictured: Colin Fassnidge) The celebrity chef fronted a NSW Local Court this week after pleading guilty to driving with cocaine in his system following a roadside drug test in Sydney last year. Despite the repeat offence, Fassnidge avoided a conviction and was instead placed on a two-year good behaviour bond. He told the court the fallout had already cost him sponsorships and placed television opportunities on hold. The situation has prompted renewed discussion within the industry about how networks respond when high-profile on-air talent becomes embroiled in public controversies. According to industry chatter, some executives believe the new leadership may take a tougher stance than previous management when similar situations arise. Others suggest the potential shift isn't necessarily about targeting individual personalities, but rather about redefining the broader culture that has existed within the network for years. 'It's less about any one person and more about the environment moving forward,' the insider said. 'There's a sense that things which might have been brushed aside in the past could now be handled very differently.' Whether that cultural shift ultimately leads to major talent changes remains unclear. The network has previously faced criticism over its handling of controversial figures, with the saga surrounding former presenter Andrew O'Keefe frequently cited by critics as an example of Seven's willingness to support talent during turbulent periods One recent situation reportedly fuelling internal conversations is the court appearance involving Seven personality Colin Fassnidge, which has sparked renewed discussion about how the broadcaster handles public controversies involving its stars But with new owners now steering the network, many within the television industry believe Channel Seven could be entering a very different era. And for some of the broadcaster's more controversial stars, that could mean the days of endless second chances are numbered. Inside Channel Seven there was a sense of uncertainty that Colin Fassnidge could be dropped from MKR if the new bosses wanted to make an example of the popular TV host and 'celebrity' chef. Daily Mail has reached out to Seven for comment. The merger between Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group became official in January. The landmark $2billion deal combined the Seven Network's television and publishing assists with SCA's extensive Triple M and Hit Network radio products. Billionaire Kerry Stokes stepped down as chairman last month, marking the end of an era for the media mogul. Former SCA chair Heith Mackay-Cruise has taken over as the interim chairman. In a shock move, the new board fired CEO Jeff Howard and appointed former SCA CEO John Kelly as interim head of the TV and radio divisions until a permanent CEO is found. Controversial entrepreneur Adrian Portelli is preparing to return to Melbourne after spending several months living a glamorous life in Dubai despite recently claiming the Middle Eastern city felt 'safer' than Australia. The billionaire businessman, best known to television audiences as The Block's so-called 'Lambo Guy', is expected to touch down in Australia in the coming weeks as he ramps up a string of major business projects. Among them is an ambitious new venture that will see Portelli enter an unexpected industry: petrol stations. Sources say the LMCT+ founder is preparing to open the first LMCT+ branded petrol station, with the inaugural site reportedly set for Preston in Melbourne's north. The project marks Portelli's latest attempt to expand his ever-growing business empire beyond the promotions platform that made him famous. Through LMCT+, Portelli built a massive following by offering members the chance to win luxury cars, multi-million-dollar homes and other high-end prizes. Controversial entrepreneur Adrian Portelli (pictured) is preparing to return to Melbourne after spending several months living a glamorous life in Dubai - despite recently claiming the Middle Eastern city felt 'safer' than Australia Now the businessman appears ready to move into the fuel market meaning the man known for giving away Lamborghinis could soon also be selling petrol. The timing of his return to Australia also coincides with the upcoming launch of his new television venture. Portelli has teamed up with Chris Brown for Seven Network's renovation competition My Reno Rules, which is expected to premiere after Easter. Industry insiders say the entrepreneur will likely need to be in Australia once the show launches as Seven ramps up promotion for the series. The program centres around renovation prize homes that will ultimately be given away, tying directly into Portelli's broader business model. It also marks his first major move into television following his highly publicised falling-out with The Block. Portelli previously made headlines during his time connected to the Nine Network renovation show after purchasing several properties at auction, earning him the nickname 'Lambo Guy'. His return to Melbourne is particularly notable given the controversy he sparked while living overseas. Sources say the LMCT+ founder is preparing to open the first LMCT+ branded petrol station, with the inaugural site reportedly set for Preston in Melbourne's north Portelli has teamed up with Chris Brown (left) for Seven Network's renovation competition My Reno Rules, which is expected to premiere after Easter Portelli previously made headlines during his time connected to the Nine Network renovation show after purchasing several properties at auction, earning him the nickname 'Lambo Guy' Earlier this week, Portelli told followers on social media that Dubai felt safer than crime-ridden Melbourne, despite missile strikes being reported in the region at the time amid rising tensions in the Middle East. 'The truth of the matter is, it's 100 per cent true,' he said. 'I would rather have missiles flying over my head than potentially waking up in the middle of the night to a bunch of thugs standing over my bed with machetes, and then nothing gets done about it.' He said he was fed up with offenders only 'getting a slap on the wrist' back in his home city. 'Guess what? I do feel safer here,' he said. 'There's a few explosions here and there, they rattle the house, but big s***. 'It looks worse on media and socials than what it actually is. 'We're here. I'm not stranded here. I did get a heads up that this was gonna happen. They offered to bring the jet over to get me out of here, but I declined and we're just here... Everything is sweet here.' "He then showed some construction workers outside the window, who appeared to be quietly building a courtyard, and commented on how much he loved Dubai and disliked the wave of influencers who had set up shop there to give the impression of wealth. Earlier on Monday, Portelli even shared a photo of his young son eating pasta and joked he was 'more concerned' about cleaning the mess than the attacks from Iran. Earlier this week, Portelli told followers on social media that Dubai felt safer than crime-ridden Melbourne, despite missile strikes being reported in the region at the time amid rising tensions in the Middle East Portelli confirmed he and his family (pictured) have temporarily relocated to Dubai and haven't been stranded by the conflict His comments quickly raised eyebrows among Australian followers, with many questioning the comparison between the two cities. Portelli appeared largely unfazed by the backlash, later reassuring fans that his family was safe while they remained overseas. Despite his jet-set lifestyle abroad, Melbourne remains the centre of the entrepreneur's expanding empire. Between the LMCT+ platform, the new petrol station rollout and his upcoming television series, Portelli has plenty of reasons to be back on home soil. Sources say Portelli is expected to arrive in Australia by private jet in the coming weeks, alongside his partner Karlie and their two children, as he prepares for the next phase of his business ventures. Meanwhile, on Sunday, tourists and residents panicked as Iranian drones slammed into the landmark Palm Jumeirah hotel, injuring four people, and also struck the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel. The government of the UAE, which governs Dubai and the six other emirates, confirmed three people have been killed by Iran's strikes and 58 more injured. Dramatic footage showed a fireball lighting up the sky near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, as a missile was intercepted. The UAE's Ministry of Defence said that, as of Sunday afternoon, it had shot down 152 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 506 drones (pictured is damage in Tehran, Iran) The government of the UAE confirmed three people have been killed by Iran's strikes and 58 more injured (pictured is damage at The Palm) Authorities confirmed debris from drones intercepted by air defences fell onto two homes in the city, injuring two people, and also caused a fire at the major Jebel Ali port. Further videos overnight showed panic inside a smoke-filled, debris-strewn terminal at Dubai Airport, which was evacuated after four members of staff were injured. The UAE's Ministry of Defence said that, as of Sunday afternoon, it had shot down 152 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 506 drones. Airspace over the Middle East remains almost completely empty, with most airports closed to all traffic. Around 20,000 flights have so far been delayed or cancelled. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said an estimated 115,000 Australians are currently stranded across the Middle East with airspace closed. Wong said the government's priority was helping Australians return home on commercial flights once international routes reopen. She urged those in the region to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 'First we need to see if commercial flights will restart, given the numbers of people in the region,' she told ABC News Breakfast. 'The issue is not who is flying, it's that people are not flying. At the moment, we know this is a very volatile situation. 'We will continue to provide the most up-to-date and timely information we can, and I urge anyone needing assistance to register with DFAT.' A media expert has revealed the reason advertisers were pulling away from The Kyle & Jackie O Show long before the radio show sensationally collapsed this week. Jackie 'O' Henderson had her contract terminated and Kyle Sandilands is currently on a two-week suspension after the pair got into a fight on the air. Now, an advertising director has alleged the show was already struggling to attract advertisers thanks to the activist group Mad F***ing Witches, who are well-known for campaigning against Sandilands, 54, reported The Australian on Wednesday. Pearman Media founder and managing director Dominic Pearman told the publication he had many clients actively avoid associating themselves with Sandilands and his show because they didn't want to attract the ire of the activist group. 'We have clients who basically say they are fundamentally against a particular character [on the show],' Pearman said. 'Or we have clients who appear and then the activist group Mad F***ing Witches get involved and then we have to move the spots to other areas in the station.' A media expert has revealed the reason advertisers were pulling away from The Kyle & Jackie O Show long before the radio show sensationally collapsed this week Pearman claimed the group will often call and threaten clients who choose to advertise with The Kyle & Jackie O Show, forcing them to pull their ads from the show and place them elsewhere with ARN. Mad F***king Witches, which boasts a substantial online following, are best known for their campaign against Sandilands and his shock jock antics, citing the 'revolting and demeaning things' he says 'about women and people in minority groups'. 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. Jennie Hill, the founder of the group, told The Australian the group was 'very pleased' to hear The Kyle & Jackie O Show had been pulled from the air amid the conflict between Henderson, 51, and Sandilands. 'Someone like Kyle Sandilands isn't fit to broadcast... We do want to make it clear that we don't necessarily want Kyle sacked,' she said. 'What we wanted him to do was to stop saying the revolting and demeaning things that he has always said about women and people in minority groups.' It comes as Henderson has broken her silence after the collapse of The Kyle & Jackie O Show this week. An advertising director has alleged the show was already struggling to attract advertisers thanks to the activist group Mad F***ing Witches, who are well-known for campaigning against Sandilands Speaking via a statement issued by manager Gemma O'Neill late on Friday afternoon, the radio queen claimed she did not quit or resign from the popular KIIS FM breakfast show. 'Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show,' Henderson began the statement. 'I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign.' Continuing, Henderson said the 'narrative' surrounding the drama was not an accurate reflection of what had occurred. 'I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else,' she said. 'The current media narrative does not reflect what actually occurred, and it has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded.' The statement continued: 'At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels. 'Thank you to everyone who has sent kind messages of support during what has been an incredibly challenging time.' It comes as Henderson has broken her silence after the collapse of The Kyle & Jackie O Show this week Sandilands also broke cover on Thursday when Channel Nine captured footage of Sandilands outside his mansion in Sydney's Vaucluse, where the radio star has been hunkered down amid his suspension from his top-rated breakfast show. When approached by Nine News and asked, 'Kyle, is this curtains?' the shock jock had a simple, six-word response. 'I can't really speak mate, sorry,' Sandilands replied. The radio titan has 'called in lawyers' and is 'preparing to sue' ARN should his $100 million contract be terminated following the collapse of KIIS FM's The Kyle & Jackie O Show, The Australian reported on Thursday. Sandilands is reportedly seeking a payout for the remainder of that contract, on which he has eight years and $88 million remaining. The shock jock was accused of 'serious misconduct' after his spectacular on-air clash with co-star Henderson, leading to her seemingly quitting the show. Sandilands is said to have been 'caught completely off-guard' by the misconduct allegation as he had been given free rein on the air, with two full-time censors employed by The Kyle & Jackie O Show to ensure he is safeguarded. The radio star will argue that ARN has no justifiable cause to terminate his contract as the network had promised to be fully liable for his on-air comments, the publication reported. A source told The Australian that Sandilands would agree to leave his top-rated breakfast program only if he was compensated with 'the full $100 million he is owed less what he has already been paid'. 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 then taken off-air immediately, with 'interim arrangements made for the show'. For weeks, viewers have been watching Married At First Sight bride Gia Fleur attempt to salvage her marriage to Scott McCristal as their turbulent relationship continues to unfold on national television. But away from the cameras, the reality of Gia's love life has taken a very different turn. In a Daily Mail exclusive, the 35-year-old has confirmed she has moved on from the experiment and found love with Love Triangle star Alan Wallace - with the pair quietly developing a relationship in the months after filming wrapped. What began as a slow-burn connection has now turned into something far more serious, with the couple revealing they are officially in a relationship and already discussing a future together. Gia revealed the pair had been speaking for some time before their romance officially began around the start of the year. 'The relationship began officially around New Year's Eve, but we were talking for a couple months off and on before then,' she explained. Married At First Sight's Gia Fleur has confirmed she has found love with Love Triangle star Alan Wallace while her on-screen marriage to Scott McCristal continues to play out on television What began as a slow-burn connection has now turned into something far more serious, with the couple revealing they are officially in a relationship and already discussing a future together Gia's relationship with Scott McCristal is playing out on screens. Both pictured According to Gia, their first interaction actually happened toward the end of filming for the Channel Nine experiment, when the pair crossed paths for the first time at a Vodka Soda & Party in Sydney after being introduced by Daily Mail's Ali Daher. 'We FaceTimed during the last week of filming, but officially met in person for the first time at a party in December,' she said. Despite only just meeting properly that night, Gia admits she immediately felt a strong attraction toward Alan - and quickly realised she had her eye on him. 'When I saw Alan for the first time I knew I liked him because I was getting super jealous of him speaking to another girl,' she confessed. 'I was following him around most of the day trying to see if they were going to kiss or not. I was instantly like that's my man - he just doesn't know it yet.' While the chemistry was obvious from the start, Gia insists her feelings grew stronger as she realised how closely their values aligned. 'What drew me to him was that he was emotionally mature and deep, and seemed to be everything on paper I had asked the experts for,' she said. 'I knew from the attachment styles he had that I had and things we both wanted that this was very much more than chemistry but compatibility.' Gia revealed the pair had been speaking for some time before their romance officially began around the start of the year. 'The relationship began officially around New Year's Eve, but we were talking for a couple months off and on before then,' she explained While the chemistry was obvious from the start, Gia insists her feelings grew stronger as she realised how closely their values aligned For Gia, the moment the relationship shifted from a casual connection into something meaningful happened after she relocated to Melbourne after a short stint on the Gold Coast and found herself wanting to spend every possible moment with him. 'I knew it was more than a casual fling when I moved back to Melbourne and wanted to spend every single day with him and did,' she said. 'I missed him when I was with him and we both were literally obsessed. I wanted someone obsessed with me and we both are mutually.' Alan, 35, who previously appeared on Stan's dating series Love Triangle, admitted he initially approached the situation cautiously given the intensity of Gia's recent reality TV experience. 'Coming off a f**king experience like that I knew it would be very confronting,' he said, referring to the aftermath of the MAFS experiment. 'I wasn't sure how ready she would be or if she would even want to get into something serious that soon after.' Despite those concerns, he admitted he was drawn to Gia from the beginning and quickly became intrigued by the attention she was showing him. 'I was obviously interested and attracted to her, but what really stood out was the effort she was putting in,' he said. For Gia, the moment the relationship shifted from a casual connection into something meaningful happened after she relocated to Melbourne after a short stint on the Gold Coast and found herself wanting to spend every possible moment with him 'What drew me to him was that he was emotionally mature and deep, and seemed to be everything on paper I had asked the experts for,' she said 'Even when I wasn't really showing her much interest at the start, she was still asking friends about me and wondering what I was doing.' Alan revealed that Gia had been quietly keeping tabs on him long before their relationship officially began. 'When I went to Thailand last year she was asking around to see what I was doing,' he said. 'I didn't think she was that interested at the start, but over time I realised she was definitely putting in the effort and I wasn't really matching her energy in the beginning.' According to Alan, the turning point in their relationship came when they stopped discussing reality television altogether and began focusing on their real lives and long-term values. 'When I had a bit of a conversation with her about not wanting to constantly talk about MAFS and all the reality TV stuff, that's when things started to change,' he explained. 'We began having deeper conversations about life and where we see ourselves going, and I realised a lot of our values and the way we view the world are very similar.' 'That's when I started to see there was something more there than just attraction.' With Gia's marriage to Scott still playing out on screens across Australia, the couple have had to keep their relationship largely under wraps to avoid spoiling the show's storyline 'Navigating the new relationship has been hard, which is why I've done no Stan show and minimal press because I can't keep pretending I'm with Scott when I'm so in love with Alan,' she said. Gia and Scott pictured during filming The transition from television drama to real life romance, however, has not been without its complications. With Gia's marriage to Scott still playing out on screens across Australia, the couple have had to keep their relationship largely under wraps to avoid spoiling the show's storyline. Gia admits navigating that situation has been emotionally difficult. 'Navigating the new relationship has been hard, which is why I've done no Stan show and minimal press because I can't keep pretending I'm with Scott when I'm so in love with Alan,' she said. 'It's hard to be fake and lie and I don't want to upset Alan, so we're just focusing on our real life together.' Alan revealed he made the decision early on not to watch Gia's storyline unfold on television. 'I started watching the first episode she was in but after that I decided I didn't want to see it,' he admitted. 'I didn't want to watch her with another guy and have it play with my emotions because I'm pretty sensitive like that.' Gia made no secret of her relationship with her co-stars, stepping out with Alan at her 35th birthday in January The couple held hands as they were spotted leaving Criniti's in Melbourne alongside their co-stars Instead, he said the couple have chosen to focus on their relationship away from the cameras while waiting for the show to finish airing. 'We've had to be really respectful of her being on the show and not ruining the storyline,' he said. 'Up until recently we've mostly just been spending time together at home and laying low.' In fact, Alan revealed they only recently had their first proper public date. 'Last night was the first time we've actually been out on a date together,' he said. 'Before that we were just hanging out privately and waiting until things on the show started to wrap up.' While the couple have kept things quiet publicly, Alan says the relationship has already become extremely serious behind closed doors. 'It's very serious now,' he said. Gia also addressed the breakdown of her marriage to Scott, revealing the exact moment she realised their relationship could not be salvaged 'I knew my feelings for Scott were gone after the final dinner party when he treated me like a piece of shit,' she said 'I've asked her to be my girlfriend and we're officially together.' He added that the pair are already discussing their future and building a life together. 'She's moving in and things are progressing in the right way,' he said. 'We reassure each other every day and there's no insecurities or grey areas. We both know exactly what we want.' 'It's definitely not a showmance. It's a real relationship.' Gia also addressed the breakdown of her marriage to Scott, revealing the exact moment she realised their relationship could not be salvaged. 'I knew my feelings for Scott were gone after the final dinner party when he treated me like a piece of shit,' she said. 'I tried one last time and he proved again he was never really into me, just the airtime that I gave him.' She claims their dynamic deteriorated further during the reunion and subsequent publicity commitments. 'He was so rude at the reunion and during publicity and didn't even treat me like a human,' she said. According to Gia, the issues between them went far deeper than what viewers saw on screen. 'He didn't respect me when it came to speaking to other women and exes and having photos with exes,' she said. 'I rarely felt complimented or reassured and I never really felt secure.' 'I felt used.' She also said their long-term goals were fundamentally different. 'He didn't want kids and I did,' she said. 'I wanted to leave the experiment with him because I thought he was there for the right reasons.' 'But in the end he proved he was just there for clout because he played me and didn't leave with me.' Daily Mail has reached out to Scott McCristal for comment. New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the past week MAFS INSIDER: Chaos at the retreat as obscene first-night speech shatters Steven and Rachel... Plus, why producers forced Bec and Danny to leave early MAFS INSIDER: Sickening leaked group chat exposes the truth behind the 'mean girls' campaign to destroy Alissa. Channel Nine wanted it buried - now lawyers are involved 'Everyone asks why my mouth is like this': MAFS Bec reveals the real story behind her facial difference - and the celebrity surgeon uncle who transformed her life Kyle and Jackie O's explosive falling-out has been years in the making. Everyone in media knows what's going on - now industry insider ROB MCKNIGHT says it out loud MAFS INSIDER: Brook's selfish final betrayal that wasn't shown on TV, revealed by husband Chris... Plus, the leaked photo set to expose Bec's lies about Gia LIZ JONES: This picture of Kate at the Baftas says it all. We are tired of reading between the lines - it's time for the truth Shelley Sullivan divorce twist as her ex moves on with a famous heiress... Plus, the latest chambers chatter about Chief Justice dating a junior judge: THE GROUP CHAT Messy private school mum behind Reddam House WhatsApp scandal stuns with revelation about her marriage after being accused of 'cracking on' to famous dad and sending wild texts They were supposed to be Australia's Kardashians... until their brother's life of crime forced them into the shadows. Now, 10 years after Salim's wedding, we tracked down the glamorous Mehajer sisters - and they look unrecognisable I've been with smelly, filthy men like Benny Blanco. Here's the sex truth no woman will admit... I'm going to sound SO unhinged saying this: JANA HOCKING Expelled and labelled a 'monster': School insider reveals the tragic lives of the autistic Clune boys before they were killed by their 'sleep-deprived' parents in a quiet Mosman Park cul-de-sac The Jackie O problem hiding in plain sight: Kyle was out of line - but he's not solely to blame for their inevitable bust-up: AMANDA GOFF Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked picture perfect in a glamorous fur coat as she attended an ALO event during Paris Fashion Week on Friday. The English supermodel, 38, was the epitome of glamour as she attended the A-list bash at Laperouse in the French capital. The Victoria's Secret icon looked effortlessly stunning while striking poses for the camera. Her attendance at PFW comes after Rosie walked the Burberry runway during London Fashion Week last month. The former Victoria's Secret Angel strutted her stuff with confidence in a glamorous black maxi fur coat, while her proud fiance Jason Statham watched on. The Hollywood star, 58, showed his support as he sat front row with fellow stars Christine Centenera and Joel Edgerton. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked picture perfect in a glamorous fur coat while attending an ALO event during Paris Fashion Week on Friday The English supermodel was once again the epitome of glamour as she attended the A-list bash at Laperouse in the French capital The low-key British couple first began dating in 2010 after meeting at a party in London and experiencing what Rosie called 'instant chemistry'. They then got engaged in 2016, and welcomed two children together, son Jack, eight, and three-year-old daughter Isabella. Last year, Rosie and Jason decided to move their family to London after living in Los Angeles for a decade. Referencing the move last year, Rosie said that their kids were having a childhood not dissimilar to her own, even spending large amounts of time in Devon where she grew up. She told The Times: 'We love the schools, the education. Theyre growing up British with their little British accents, which was important for us, and we have a great support system here. 'In the summer we go down to Devon and our children have the same experiences running around on the farm that I had growing up, and its very special.' However, she admitted that it did take some time to get used to being in the UK again after so long stateside. Rosie said she missed California's sunshine and 'eternal optimism' in particular but has grown to love living in London again. The Victoria's Secret icon looked effortlessly stunning while striking poses for the camera The covergirl added further bling with a set of dazzling jewellery, and carried the essentials in a chic mini black bag Her attendance at PFW comes after Rosie walked the Burberry runway during London Fashion Week last month, while her proud fiance Jason Statham watched on (seen together) While she admitted that Jason's movie star career was a huge part of their relocation decision, as he would have been apart from his family for long periods of time while filming. But she insisted that the action star is a very 'hands-on' dad and described him as being like a 'human playground' with their children. And she acknowledged that his ability to be at home with his children all of the time is a great privilege in his line of work. Discussing their parenting style, Rosie said that they have no set rules and are both keen to get stuck into raising their youngsters. It was a big moment for Victoria Beckham when she unveiled her latest collection in a show at Paris Fashion Week last night. The designer, 51, was supported by husband David and three of their children in the French capital but, as ever, eldest son Brooklyn was absent. Instead, he appeared to try to upstage her by sharing a photo on Instagram of him kissing wife Nicola Peltz, following his 27th birthday celebrations with her family earlier this week. The aspiring chef publicly cut ties with his family in January, after years of feuding, with a bombshell statement that began: 'I do not want to reconcile with my family.' Lady Beckham and Sir David, 50, offered their son an olive branch on Wednesday with affectionate birthday messages posted on social media. Lady Beckham wrote: 'We love you so much.' Brooklyn gave them no acknowledgement in return. Victoria Beckham (pictured, at Paris Fashion Week) was supported by husband David and three of their children when she unveiled her latest fashion collection but eldest son Brooklyn was absent Instead, Brooklyn appeared to try to upstage his mother by sharing a photo (pictured) on Instagram of him kissing wife Nicola Peltz, following his 27th birthday celebrations with her family earlier this week The aspiring chef (pictured, with wife Nicola) publicly cut ties with his family in January, after years of feuding, with a bombshell statement that began: 'I do not want to reconcile with my family' Lady Beckham and Sir David (pictured at his wife's Paris show on Friday) offered their son an olive branch on Wednesday with affectionate birthday messages posted on social media Sons Romeo (pictured), 23, and Cruz, 21, attended Victoria's show, along with daughter Harper, 14, and Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 31 The Beckhams were seen arriving at the grand La Maison Internationale, a castle-like building, which was lit up by a vast array of candles. Pictured: Harper, at her mother's Paris show Ms Apostel, who has been dating Cruz (pictured, at his mother's Paris show) for two years, wore a scooped back Victoria Beckham gown A source told E News: 'Brooklyn and Nicola are disheartened they chose to make public Instagram posts for his birthday. 'These are the exact type of performative public actions that Brooklyn has been trying to put an end to, to no avail. 'Last summer [he and Nicole] issued a legal letter to his parents requesting that any correspondence go through lawyers.' One of the last times Brooklyn saw his mother was at her Paris Fashion Show in September 2024. Sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 21, are attending this show, along with daughter Harper, 14, and Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 31. They were seen arriving at the grand La Maison Internationale, a castle-like building, which was lit up by a vast array of candles. Ms Apostel, who has been dating Cruz for two years, wore a scooped back Victoria Beckham gown. Lady Beckham, who has been in the capital since Monday preparing for her fall/winter show, was waiting inside for her loved ones. On Thursday, Cruz told reporters in Paris that he 'hoped' to reconcile with his older brother and wished him a happy birthday. Sydney Sweeney modeled pieces from her new SYRN lingerie line in an Instagram post shared on Friday. The 28-year-old entrepreneur bared her famous cleavage in the brand's Lowdown Cami, modeling a brown color called Date Night. She snapped a seductive selfie while posing in a MacBook PhotoBooth frame. A second slide treated the company's 317,000 followers to four racy snapshots of the blond bombshell as she nearly spilled out of Deep Dive Low Scoop Bralette. Both pieces retail for $39 and consumers can choose from four colors. The caption of the post read, 'Our recent photo booth roll,' and included film and teddy bear emojis. Sydney Sweeney modeled pieces from her new SYRN lingerie line in an Instagram post shared on Friday The 28-year-old entrepreneur bared her famous cleavage in the brand's Lowdown Cami, modeling a brown color called Date Night Sweeney announced on Wednesday that her Comfy Collection is now available for purchase. 'Do what makes you naked our comfy. @SYRN is now available :),' the Eden actress wrote in a social media caption. Meanwhile, SYRN described the new pieces as 'smooth, flexible and made to feel barely there.' The silver screen siren previously announced that her line 'sold out in HOURS!!' She added, 'We're working on a restock soon. I'm so grateful. I love you allll.' The Euphoria star has been strategic in her marketing, posing for sexy images and pulling a stunt at the Hollywood sign ahead of the underwear launch. There have since been reports that she filed a trademark application hinting at her future plans for a beauty endeavor. According to WWD, trademark attorney Josh Gerben flagged a filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office from January 16 for SYRN in relation to skincare products, beauty care, and cosmetics. Join the debate Does using such selfies to sell lingerie empower women or just reinforce unrealistic beauty standards? She snapped selfies while posing in a MacBook PhotoBooth frame The caption of the post read, 'Our recent photo booth roll,' and included film and teddy bear emojis SYRN officially launched on January 28 The application is for 'intent-to-use,' meaning products could be in development, or the trademark is being filed to protect itself for the future. No specific product names or innovations were detailed in the document. Sweeney recently opened up about her mission for the brand, insisting she wanted to ensure every piece fits well and works on a 'beautiful range of body types.' She told Cosmopolitan magazine: 'My designers are all women, and I have an amazing diverse team. 'My models are a beautiful range of body types. I'm always like: "I want to see it on every body." I can't be the only model. I need to make sure everyone feels really good in it.' Sweeney emphasized, 'If I wouldn't wear it, I wouldn't want to make it.' Princess Bride star Cary Elwes has paid another heartbreaking tribute to Rob Reiner on what would have been his former colleague's 79th birthday. Elwes, 63, starred in Reiner's 1987 fantasy epic The Princess Bride and was among the many stars publicly grieving the late filmmaker following his tragic death. Reiner and his wife Michele were found stabbed to death at their residence on December 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with the murders and is now awaiting trial. He has pled not guilty. On Friday, Elwes detailed his grief as he remembered the Hollywood legend on his birthday. Taking to Instagram, Elwes posted a photo of them at the 25th anniversary of their classic film accompanied by a moving message. 'Today would have been your 79th birthday. Still hard to believe youre gone. Missing you so much,' Elwes captioned the post. Rob Reiner's colleague, Cary Elwes, paid another heartbreaking tribute to his colleague on what would have been the filmmaker's 79th birthday; pictured 2012 at the 25th anniversary screening and cast reunion of The Princess Bride Reiner flashed a bright smile as he posed alongside Elwes, a warm hand on his shoulder. The Princess Bride starred Elwes as the dashing farmhand Westley in the rollicking tale of his quest to win the hand of Princess Buttercup, played by Robin Wright. In order to do so, he and his motley crew of fantastical friends must first rescue her from Prince Humperdinck, played by Susan Sarandon's ex-husband Chris Sarandon. Elwes was among the many stars and fans paying tribute to Reiner after his death last year. His tribute was accompanied by on-set footage of Reiner guiding him through a fight scene with Andre the Giant that will be instantly recognizable to fans of the film. 'Enough time has passed that I can finally put my grief into words,' Elwes wrote in his Instagram tribute at the time. 'I was 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on The Princess Bride. And from that very first meeting I fell in love with him. I was already a fan of his work so meeting him in person was a dream come true. As we began spending more time together I knew this was someone I wanted in my life,' he recalled. He hailed Reiner as someone who 'wore his heart on his sleeve,' 'felt deeply' and harbored 'love and compassion' in his heart. 'This was a man who felt deeply. Whose heart was filled with love and compassion. He wasnt impressed by how much money you had or if you had a privileged upbringing. He just wanted to know if you were a good guy. He always tried to find the best in people. And if that person had problems he felt bad for them,' wrote Elwes. 'He loved his family and friends immensely. He obviously loved making movies - and was clearly a brilliant filmmaker - but he told me what he really enjoyed the most was the experience itself,' Elwes remembered. Elwes played the dashing Wesley, a farmhand attempting to save the love of his life, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) Reiner and Elwes on the set of their beloved fantasy film 'He used to say, Once the movie is released it belongs to other people. But while you are making it, thats your time on the planet, so you wanna make it good. And boy was my time with him on The Princess Bride beyond great. I cant remember a single day without laughter,' the Robin Hood: Men in Tights star added. Elwes also made reference to Reiner's love story with his 'incredibly loving, intelligent' wife who was 'passionate about her family and about lifting others up.' The Reiners were a 'great team' whose 'only interest in fame was that it allowed them to shine a light on causes they believed in, especially helping those who were marginalized,' according to Elwes. 'In a town where many talk the talk, they truly walked it. Whenever we got together we would talk about family, life, movies and politics. But without fail Rob would always find a way to make us laugh. That was important to him. Finding the joy.' The loss was particularly painful on Friday - which would have been Reiner's birthday Elwes was among the many publicly grieving the loss of their late director The duo pictured at the launch of the As You Wish book in Hollywood in 2014 Elwes sweetly added: 'And if I could make him laugh in return, I felt like I had won the lottery. His laugh was one of the greatest sounds Ive ever known so heartfelt it still rings in my ears.' He thanked the Reiners for 'sharing your life and art with us. Because my heart still aches every time I think of you, I know the grief of losing you too soon will likely never go away. Sure, death cannot stop true love but life is pain without you.' Elwes concluded: 'With this note my family and I send our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers to their family, friends and fans.' Rob's son 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. Last month, 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. DUBAI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Dubai-based carrier Emirates said on Saturday that it has suspended all flights to and from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), until further notice amid ongoing regional developments. The airline advised passengers not to travel to airports and said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. Emirates said passengers with bookings between Feb. 28 and March 31 can either rebook flights to their intended destination for travel on or before April 30, or request a refund. In addition, all city check-in points across Dubai have been temporarily closed until further notice. Residents in Dubai received mobile phone alerts warning of potential missile threats at around 10 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday. Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) was forced to correct paparazzi in France after his daughter Casie was mistaken for Megan Fox. The 35-year-old music artist was joined by his daughter, 16, this week as they attended a Stella McCartney fashion show and the LVMH Prize cocktail party. As they stepped out of their vehicle after arriving at one of their stops, they were swarmed by media and camera crews. At least two people shouted 'Megan' at the teenager before MGK calmly turned around, laughed, and said, 'That's not Megan, that's my daughter,' as per footage captured by Paris Videostars. Kelly real name Colson Baker shares Casie with ex-girlfriend Emma Cannon. And in March 2025 he welcomed daughter Saga Blade with ex-girlfriend Fox, 39. Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) was forced to correct paparazzi in France after his daughter Casie was mistaken for Megan Fox At least two people shouted 'Megan' at MGK's daughter Casie, 16; The music artist and Fox, now exes, pictured in February 2023 Casie was stylishly dressed in a long-sleeved grey mini dress with a pleated hemline for the Paris outing with her dad. Her dark hair was parted down the middle and arranged in loose waves that fell over her chest. And the nepo baby teen added sleek, rectangular black sunglasses. MGK shared photos from their busy day on Instagram and joked that his daughter upstaged him. He wrote in a caption, 'Got mogged by my own flesh and blood,' adding a shrug and burning heart emojis. It comes as the hitmaker and Fox insist they have not rekindled their romance amid speculation that they are dating again. A source recently told TMZ that their relationship status has not changed, and they're still co-parenting their toddler. Earlier this week the actress returned to Instagram after a long hiatus, sharing thirst traps with her nearly 22 million followers as she posed in black underwear. MGK cheekily commented on the post, 'stoked i have your phone number,' leading some fans to think that the on-off couple could be giving their romance another try. The 35-year-old music artist was joined by his daughter, 16, this week as they attended a Stella McCartney fashion show and the LVMH Prize cocktail party Fox returned to Instagram this week after a long hiatus, sharing thirst traps with her nearly 22 million followers as she posed in black underwear Kelly, real name Colson Baker, shares Casie with ex-girlfriend Emma Cannon. In March 2025 he welcomed daughter Saga Blade with ex-girlfriend Fox, 39 He and Fox had a whirlwind romance that began in 2020. The relationship went through multiple iterations, with the couple announcing their engagement in January 2022. They ended their engagement in early 2024, after Fox found 'upsetting material' on his phone. '[They] havent been together in a real way for a long time now and whatever they had romantically is done,' a source told People magazine in January. 'Their relationship at this point is just about co-parenting. Megan is focused on her kids and the baby and just getting settled into this new chapter. Thats genuinely her priority,' it was added. David Beckham has shared an emotional tribute to his 'incredible wife' Victoria following her Paris Fashion Week show - as her estranged son Brooklyn promotes his hot sauce brand. The designer, 51, was supported by her husband David, children Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14, as well as Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, on Friday night. Brooklyn, 27, was an expected no show as he continues to isolate himself from family festivities. The Spice Girl showcased her Fall/Winter 2026 women's ready-to-wear looks to a star-studded crowd, including her beloved family. After the show David took to Instagram to post some kind words, saying: 'We are always so proud and astonished about what your achieve every single season raising the bar and continuing to live the dream that you have worked so hard for... 'You and your team really are incredible and we are proud to be here to witness the beauty that you continue to bring to each collection. We Love You. @victoriabeckham & I love Paris.' David Beckham has shared an emotional tribute to his 'incredible wife' Victoria following her Paris Fashion Week show - as her estranged son Brooklyn promotes his hot sauce brand The designer, 51, was supported by her husband David, children Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14, as well as Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, on Friday night (Victoria and David seen last month) Alongside his words he shared a snap of her walking the catwalk after the show and of a family group snap. He also shared a sweet selfie in front of a French restaurant with his parents and Romeo. Brooklyn meanwhile did not mention the show on his socials and was instead promoting his hot sauce brand Cloud 23. Ahead of Friday's show, Victoria's husband David was seen making his way into the venue for the show, closely followed by their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper. David looked dapper for the occasion in a black suit with a gold chain, while middle son Romeo opted for a pair of brown cargo pants and a leather jacket. Cruz was seen wearing a vibrant purple and orange crochet cardigan, with Harper in a black cape gown, likely from her mother's range. Jackie looked incredibly elegant wearing a stunning mint green satin Victoria Beckham gown. American actress Nina Dobrev was among the stars to make an appearance as she wore a sheer black top with high-waisted barrel-leg trousers and a leather jacket. German actress Diane Kruger was seen arriving for the show in Paris as she donned a cream asymmetric dress featuring a lace cut-out bodice. Meanwhile model Caroline Daur, who was rumoured to have dated Romeo briefly, put on a striking display in a bright red satin gown featuring ruched design. Sharing a series of snaps from the star-studded event on Instagram Victoria penned: 'Thank you for always being there to support me. I love you all so much xxx.' Victoria traditionally turns her runway shows into family celebrations, but once again her eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were missing from the event. Brooklyn meanwhile did not mention the show on his socials and was instead promoting his hot sauce brand Cloud 23 Sharing a series of snaps from the star-studded event on Instagram Victoria penned: 'Thank you for always being there to support me. I love you all so much xxx' Ahead of Friday's show, Victoria's husband David was seen making his way into the venue for the show, closely followed by their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper Brooklyn, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, released a bombshell statement in January, cutting all ties with his parents. Now based permanently in the United States with his wife - the daughter of billionaire businessman and investor Nelson Peltz - Brooklyn recently outlined his desire to distance himself from his family in a six page Instagram statement, filled with lurid allegations. Over the past year Brooklyn has skipped multiple family events, including his dad's 50th birthday, Victoria's 51st, David's knighthood and most recently his brother Cruz's 21st celebrations. Cruz, who is currently on tour with his band playing to sold out crowds around the UK, took some time out to support his beloved mother. Romeo meanwhile has been busy carving out his own fashion career, walking the runway for Burberry during London Fashion Week last month. Victoria is back in Paris after being named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in a prestigious January ceremony in the city. Cruz Beckham's girlfriend Jackie Apostel posted about 'kind souls' who 'refuse to be hardened' despite being hurt - before sharing her support for Victoria's Paris Fashion Week show on Friday amid the ongoing family feud. The designer, 51, was supported by her husband David, children Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14, as well as Jackie on the night. Brooklyn, 27, was an expected no show as he continues to isolate himself from family festivities. The Spice Girl showcased her Fall/Winter 2026 women's ready-to-wear looks to a star-studded crowd, including her beloved family. Jackie was in attendance and shared snaps from the show to her Story as well as a telling quote amid the feud with Brooklyn - who released a bombshell statement last month saying he doesn't wish to reconcile with his family. While she didn't clarify if the quote was in direct relation to the feud there were some telling lines, as well as it being published on Victoria's big day. It read: 'Some of the kindest souls I know have lived in a world that was not so kind to them. Some of the best human beings I know have been through so much at the hands of others and they still love deeply, they still care. Cruz Beckham's girlfriend Jackie Apostel posted about 'kind souls' who 'refuse to be hardened' despite being hurt - before sharing her support for Victoria's PFW show While she didn't clarify if the quote was in direct relation to the feud there were some telling lines, as well as it being published on Victoria's big day 'Sometimes it's the people who have been hurt the most who refuse to be hardened in this world because they would never want to make another person feel the same way they have felt. If that isn't something to be in awe of I don't know what is.' At the show she shared a clip of one of the catwalk models and penned: 'unreal @victoriabeckham' in the caption. She looked gorgeous in a green silk dress as she posed beforehand and declared 'we're ready!' After the show Victoria's husband David took to Instagram to post some kind words, saying: 'We are always so proud and astonished about what your achieve every single season raising the bar and continuing to live the dream that you have worked so hard for... 'You and your team really are incredible and we are proud to be here to witness the beauty that you continue to bring to each collection. We Love You. @victoriabeckham & I love Paris.' Alongside his words he shared a snap of her walking the catwalk after the show and of a family group snap. He also shared a sweet selfie in front of a French restaurant with his parents and Romeo. Brooklyn meanwhile did not mention the show on his socials and was instead promoting his hot sauce brand Cloud 23. Ahead of Friday's show, Victoria's husband David was seen making his way into the venue for the show, closely followed by their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper. David looked dapper for the occasion in a black suit with a gold chain, while middle son Romeo opted for a pair of brown cargo pants and a leather jacket. Cruz was seen wearing a vibrant purple and orange crochet cardigan, with Harper in a black cape gown, likely from her mother's range. The designer, 51, was supported by her husband David, children Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14, as well as Jackie on the night Jackie looked gorgeous in a green silk dress as she posed beforehand and declared 'we're ready!' At the show she shared a clip of one of the catwalk models and penned: 'unreal @victoriabeckham' in the caption Jackie looked incredibly elegant wearing a stunning mint green satin Victoria Beckham gown. American actress Nina Dobrev was among the stars to make an appearance as she wore a sheer black top with high-waisted barrel-leg trousers and a leather jacket. German actress Diane Kruger was seen arriving for the show in Paris as she donned a cream asymmetric dress featuring a lace cut-out bodice. Meanwhile model Caroline Daur, who was rumoured to have dated Romeo briefly, put on a striking display in a bright red satin gown featuring ruched design. Sharing a series of snaps from the star-studded event on Instagram Victoria penned: 'Thank you for always being there to support me. I love you all so much xxx.' Victoria traditionally turns her runway shows into family celebrations, but once again her eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were missing from the event. Sharing a series of snaps from the star-studded event on Instagram Victoria penned: 'Thank you for always being there to support me. I love you all so much xxx' Ahead of Friday's show, Victoria's husband David was seen making his way into the venue for the show, closely followed by their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper Brooklyn, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, released a bombshell statement in January, cutting all ties with his parents. Now based permanently in the United States with his wife - the daughter of billionaire businessman and investor Nelson Peltz - Brooklyn recently outlined his desire to distance himself from his family in a six page Instagram statement, filled with lurid allegations. Over the past year Brooklyn has skipped multiple family events, including his dad's 50th birthday, Victoria's 51st, David's knighthood and most recently his brother Cruz's 21st celebrations. Cruz, who is currently on tour with his band playing to sold out crowds around the UK, took some time out to support his beloved mother. Romeo meanwhile has been busy carving out his own fashion career, walking the runway for Burberry during London Fashion Week last month. Victoria is back in Paris after being named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in a prestigious January ceremony in the city. Mick Jagger's ex-wife, Bianca, looked effortlessly chic in a black leather trench coat as she arrived at the Costes hotel during Paris Fashion Week on Friday. The former Studio 54 fixture, 80, born Blanca Perez-Mora Macias, looked incredible as she arrived in a white shirt layered under a black lace top, both by Lanvin. She paired her bold garments with black trousers, black shiny shoes and toted her belongings around in a Christian Dior handbag and carried a leopard pencil cat bag, also by Lanvin. Bianca was married to Mick from 19711978, and together they are parents to daughter Jade, 53. Bianca is Mick's first and only legal wife after she met Mick in France and quickly got pregnant with their daughter Jade. They wed in May 1971 when she was four months along. The ceremony was in Saint-Tropez. Mick Jagger's ex-wife, Bianca, 80, looked effortlessly chic in a black leather trench coat as she arrived at the Costes hotel during Paris Fashion Week on Friday The former Studio 54 fixture, born Blanca Perez-Mora Macias, looked incredible as she arrived in a white shirt layered under a black lace top Together, Bianca and Mick were the toast of NYC in the 1970s as they party hopped with Halston and Diana Ross. In May 1978, she filed for divorce on the grounds of his adultery with model Jerry Hall, Bianca later said, 'My marriage ended on my wedding day.' Their daughter Jade previously admitted that having famous parents was a 'hindrance' as she often receives 'awful' comments from people. The jewellery designer said: 'I mean it is a hindrance, the other day I was googling something and I found an awful, tragic piece about me saying that 'she just can do whatever she wants' and it's very demoralising after you've worked all your life to try and achieve something.' Jade did admit that she admired her parents for their successful careers, as it has given her something to 'look up to' and strive to achieve in her own life. She explained: 'But also, obviously, seeing what my family have done always makes you look up to something higher that is almost unachievable. 'I try to bring myself down from thinking that's my goal, because I think that can leave you with heartache, because I'm certainly not going to be jumping around on stage in the pouring rain. I have my limits!' Mick is now in a relationship with fiancee Melanie Hamrick, but last year she revealed they are in no hurry to marry. Giving an unprecedented look into her relationship with the rock star, the former ballerina, 37, also said they will move to London permanently next year so they can enrol their eight-year-old son, Deveraux, in school. Melanie confirmed she has been engaged to Mick for three years in an interview with Paris Match when asked how long she has been wearing her engagement ring. And talking of marriage, she said: 'Maybe one day, maybe not. We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything. I don't know what to call it, maybe simply happiness.' The secret to their happiness, she claimed, was supporting each other and being there for each other. Melanie and Mick met in Tokyo in February 2014 when the Stones were on tour. At the time, the rock star was in a long-term relationship with fashion designer L'Wren Scott, who died by suicide in March that year. She says it wasn't love at first sight, as she quipped: 'Maybe a spark, but nothing incredible like: 'I'll make you lose your mind, and we'll travel the world!' We didn't even exchange phone numbers.' Melanie recalled that Mick was in a relationship at the time, so they only spoke again five months after that, thanks to a mutual acquaintance who gave him her number. The rocker sent her a text message asking whether she'd like to have coffee together, which led to them meeting again in Zurich. Melanie recalled an early memory from childhood, saying: 'My mum would also sometimes hum "I can't get no satisfaction" when I asked for an ice cream I hadn't earned. I would reply, "stop mum, it's so boring".' Her penchant for older men preceded her relationship with the famous rock star. When she was 19, she started dating Cuban dancer Jose Manuel Carreno, who was 38 at the time. Melanie insisted she doesn't care what people say or think about her 44-year age gap with Mick because she's happy, healthy, and not hurting anyone. Anna Wintour looked effortlessly chic in a blue trench coat as she joined Naomi Watts at the Celine show during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday. The former Vogue editor, 76, looked incredible as she layered her coat over a red dress and heeled boots. Meanwhile, Naomi cut a casual figure for show as she arrived in blue jeans, a crisp white shirt and a black blazer. She completed her look with a pair of white leather boots, a black chunky belt and black-tinted sunglasses. Adding a pop of colour to the event, Natasha Lyonne commanded attention in a red, blue and yellow flower dress. Suzy Bae looked incredible in a black leather jacket, which she paired with black tailored trousers. Anna Wintour, 76, looked effortlessly chic in a blue trench coat as she joined Naomi Watts at the Celine show during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday Naomi cut a casual figure for show as she arrived in blue jeans, a crisp white shirt and a black blazer Gina Redlinger put on a leggy display at the event as she stepped out in a double-breasted blazer dress. Anna's appearance comes after she threw her support behind Australia's sweeping new social media ban for children under 16. Speaking on the popular podcast The Rest is Politics: Leading, the Vogue icon used her platform to praise the nation for taking decisive action to protect young people's mental health. 'I'm very proud of Australia that they've taken a stand on social media and young people,' she said. 'Because I think the addiction to social media is incredibly stressful and very harmful to mental health.' The sweeping restrictions - blocking access to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Kick and Threads - came into effect on December 10 and have already sparked global debate. Wintour is the latest star to throw her support, joining Oprah Winfrey and American actor Chris Pratt. Eagle-eyed fashion fans were recently left in shock after an awkward moment between seasoned fashion editor Anna and her Vogue magazine protege Chloe Malle was caught on camera in a new interview released by the New York Times. The former Vogue editor, 76, looked incredible as she layered her coat over a red dress and heeled boots To complete her look, she accessorised with a multicoloured jewel necklace and black oversized shades Meanwhile, Naomi added inches to her frame with pointed white boots The star smiled for the cameras, further accessorising her look with a gold choker necklace, matching earrings, and black shades Adding a pop of colour to the event, Natasha Lyonne commanded attention in a red, blue and yellow flower dress Suzy Bae looked incredible in a black leather jacket, which she paired with black tailored trousers Gina Redlinger put on a leggy display at the event as she stepped out in a double-breasted blazer dress Tracee Ellis Ross looked effortlessly chic in a smart black coat, a crisp black shirt, and chic wide-leg trousers Meanwhile, Sarah Paulson oozed class in a black satin tailored jumpsuit paired with pointed black boots In the extensive chat with the outlet, the pair talked about leading the magazine into its next era, their differing leadership styles, and even Chloe's 'nepo baby' criticism. Chloe, 40, who is the daughter of Candice Bergen and the late director Louis Malle, was appointed to take Wintour's spot as head of editorial content at Vogue in September. Anna still serves as Vogue's Global Chief Content Officer for Conde Nast and Global Editorial Director. However, it looks like their management styles are already proving to be different, as was revealed in the new sit-down. The seemingly awkward moment came about as Times interviewer Jessica Testa asked Chloe what she would do if Vogue had the same large budget that it once did in the 1990s. 'I would build a whole new podcast studio, I would pay everyone 30 percent more, I would make sure the social team had more people on it, because they're working all the time, I would have our app staffed more fully,' Choe shared. She added that Vogue has tons of ideas for shoots that would 'help take people on adventures,' and that a larger budget would 'really help' with that. However, Anna didn't appear thrilled with that answer, as she appeared to give Chloe a withering look from behind her large, signature sunglasses. Katie Prices new husband Lee Andrews has shown his devotion to her by appearing to get her son Harveys name tattooed on his hand. The ex glamour model, 47, shocked fans when she married the businessman, 43, in the country last month following a whirlwind 'one-week' romance. And despite having not met Harvey, or any of her other children, in person yet, Lee has revealed an apparent inking in a new picture. He appeared to show off his new tattoo which is placed on the side of his left hand. In a picture obtained by The Sun, Harveys name can be seen in a cursive font alongside an image of a frog, the 23-year-olds favourite animal. Lee also showed off another new Katie tattoo as a tribute to his new wife as he appeared to have her name inked on his ring finger after previously showing off an inking of her name on his right hand. Katie Prices new husband Lee Andrews has shown his devotion to her by appearing to get her son Harveys name tattooed on his hand It has been recently claimed the British born Lee spent three weeks locked up in a Dubai jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature to take out a 200,000 loan in her name and has been banned from leaving the United Arab Emirates. He denies this, but as yet, does not appear to have left the country while it is under attack. Taking to his Instagram Stories, Lee shared a foul-mouthed clip of Leonardo DiCaprio from the 2013 film The World Of Wall Street, to which he captioned: 'When people ask me if I'm leaving Dubai'. In the scene Leo's character Jordan Belfort, exclaims to his colleagues: 'You know what? I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving, I'm not f*****g leaving!'. Despite this, Lee then returned to the platform during a shopping trip as he tried on a new a grey tracksuit, which he said he would be wearing back in the UK. 'All grey sweats, ready for the UK love it, can't beat it, see you soon baby' he told the camera, before later removing his hoodie to show off his muscular arms in a vest. Another snap, which appeared heavily filtered, saw him go shirtless as he beamed for the camera in the changing room. Lee previously shared dubious footage of a purported return to England with social media followers - prompting his furious ex-girlfriend to accuse him of lying. Taking to her TikTok platform, Alana Percival continued a very public war of words with Andrews by mocking his recent social media posts, among them footage of the businessman racing horses along what he claims to be the Skegness coastline. Remarkably, the sun is high and the sky is clear despite much of England being battered by torrential rain and fierce wind since the turn of the year. Meanwhile back in the UK Katie shared a sweet post with son Harvey, 23, while flogging her CBD oil and gummies. It comes after Lee admitted being 'delusional' following claims about his finances, business acumen and celebrity-links being revealed as false. Taking to his Instagram Stories he boasted about his delusions in a meme, and also claimed animals could 'sense good people' in a clip which saw a cat run away from him. His post read: 'Life gets ridiculously good when you stay delusional... and science proves it', while a second said: 'Delusion pulls more out of you - more audacity, more saying yes before you feel ready, more figuring it out on the way there'. Lee also shared a video as he sat on steps outside a mall with a cat and told followers: 'So, this is if you know, if you're a good person, kids will be gravitated towards you, strangers will tell you their secrets and animals will like you'. As if on cue, the animal bolted, as Lee quickly said: 'I say that, he was rubbing on me, but now he's run away. Oh bless him, I don't think it's well'. He previously shared that he was told to 'seek immediate shelter' due to missile threats as he filmed the moment an alarm sounded throughout a building he was in. A number of alerts have rung out across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, warning residents and visitors to stay safe as Iran continues to furiously attack US allies across the Middle East. Lee said: 'Wow, can you hear that alarm going off? That is to warn us that there is a missile nearby. I've already had the SMS.' And despite having not met Harvey, or any of her other children, in person yet, the Sun has revealed an apparent inking in a new picture Join the debate Is it ever appropriate for a new partner to get a tattoo of a child they've never met? 'Due to current situation, a potential missile threats, Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions', read a message from the UAE government that he posted. 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. 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. Alice Evans was seen smiling as she left court in Los Angeles, California on Friday after completing the final day of her trial with ex-husband Ioan Gruffudd. The British-American actress, 57, wore a black polka-dot blouse and a flowing blue skirt for the final day of proceedings. Meanwhile, Ioan, 52, briefly exchanged a smile with his lawyers but otherwise remained poker-faced as he departed the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. The warring exes went to trial to settle the remaining issues of spousal and child support from their decades-long marriage. Just a day earlier, Alice looked tense as she left court in Los Angeles after her ex Ioan secured a win amid their ugly court battle. That morning, a judge ruled that a domestic violence restraining order against Alice will be renewed for five years. Alice Evans, 57, was seen smiling as she left court in Los Angeles, California, on Friday after completing the final day of her trial with ex-husband Ioan Gruffudd, 52 Meanwhile, Ioan briefly exchanged a smile with his lawyers but otherwise remained poker-faced as he departed the Stanley Mosk Courthouse Striding out of court after the ruling, Alice kept her head held high but appeared to be feeling the strain as she pursed her lips and slung her handbag over her shoulder. She had dressed mainly in black for her day at court but added colour with a patterned midi skirt and red lipstick. During the trial, Alice remained calm and subdued as Judge Michael Convey announced his decision, while Fantastic Four star Ioan sitting at the opposite end of a long table, also displayed little emotion. Neither wanted to comment to the Daily Mail after the ruling. On the opening days of their trial that started last week, Ioan recounted a years-long campaign of online harassment and abuse waged by Alice, targeting him and his new wife, Australian actress Bianca Wallace, 33, which led them to seek and win a three-year restraining order against Alice in 2022. Alice confessed on the witness stand Wednesday to bombarding social media sites with denigrating and false posts about her former spouse and his new wife and offered apologies to both Ioan and Bianca. She told the court how 'ashamed and regretful' she was - and assured Judge Convey that her online trash-talking was a thing of the past. But Judge Convey did not buy her attempts at contrition, citing the 'multiple' times she violated the original restraining order, which called for her to stay 100 feet away from Ioan and Bianca and not to post negative comments about them online. The judge granted the Welsh actor's request to renew the restraining order, and in a 75-minute summing up of the evidence presented over seven days of trial, he told Alice on Wednesday that she had carried out a 'concerted, focused, intentional and caustic campaign of denigration' aimed at Ioan and Bianca. Alice's 'threats of force and intimidation caused Ioan to fear for his and Bianca's physical safety,' he said. Her 'pattern of abuse' isolated him from his children. 'Her vow to "dedicate her life to fighting him" and ruin his career threatened his ability to provide for his children.' Ioan and Alice split in early 2021 and went through a messy divorce that was finalised in 2023. Since then, they have been in a bitter fight over money and their daughters, Ella, 16, and Elsie, 12. In April last year, Ioan married Bianca, who gave birth to their daughter, Mila, in November. Judge Convey said he was particularly disturbed by an incident which happened in front of the children where Alice 'screamed at Ioan at the top of her lungs,' and told him she was going to 'Amber Heard' him, and told the girls, 'If daddy's creepy with you, let me know.' 'This is harassment,' said the judge who cited another occasion, where Alice disclosed online that Bianca suffers from multiple sclerosis, causing distress to Bianca. 'This is emotional abuse - this is coercive control,' he continued. Of Alice's expressions of regret in the witness box about her harassment of her former spouse and his new wife, Judge Convey asked, 'Is it true remorse? I am not persuaded. But it is a positive step forward.' He conceded that Alice's online trash-talking 'has abated somewhat - it's not at the same level of violence or hate. But there has not been sufficient showing of responsibility.' The judge, who told the court that he had thought about renewing the restraining order permanently rather than just for five years, said it 'is incumbent on Alice to get therapy. And he warned her that violating the new restraining order 'could lead to criminal prosecution.' He also urged both Alice and Ioan, who has not seen their daughters for two years, according to Alice, to 'find a way to co-parent' to give him the chance to be a part of the girls' lives again. Alice - wearing a black jacket over a pink and white patterned long skirt at Wednesday's court proceeding - didn't want to talk about the judge's ruling. Nor did Ioan, sporting a dark suit and tie as he has for the length of the trial. But Ioan's attorney, Joseph Langlois, told the Daily Mail, 'You have to start somewhere and this is a start for Alice to correct her life. 'The judge gave her some good advice and I'm hopeful going forward that she'll fix things, that she'll change and turn her life around.' Earlier, Langlois and Alice's attorney, Janina Verano, presented closing statements respectively for and against the renewal of the restraining order. Langlois told the court that the legal standard for renewing an order is that 'the protected parties have a reasonable fear of future abuse.' Alice, he said, had violated the previous restraining order against her 'almost too many times to count.' 'Alice's abuse has endangered the physical safety and well-being of the protected parties [Ioan and Bianca] and their infant daughter. She intended to hurt him economically and damage his career.' Citing Bianca's testimony last week about her and her three-month old baby receiving death threats as a result of Alice's derogatory social media posts, Langlois said Bianca could face the danger of physical violence from 'some unhinged follower of Alice .who has drunk her poison.who gets riled up by her posts and wants to do her [Bianca] harm.' Noting that Alice's 'relentless campaign of abuse spanned five years from 2021 to 2025,' Langlois said Alice was 'driven by an insatiable desire for revenge over her emotions about her divorce. Gruffudd married Bianca Wallace in April last year and she gave birth to their daughter, Mila, in November (pictured July 2025) 'Ioan and Bianca have a reasonable fear that Alice will continue her behaviour, based on her many violations of the restraining order.' He added, 'Alice cannot remediate the damage she has done. Her derogatory posts on the internet are available forever for all to see.' Langlois scoffed at Alice's 'unconvincing show of remorse' last week and her claim to being sorry about her online harassment of Ioan and Bianca, saying, 'Her confession was nowhere near good enough to prove that she has moved on. 'Alice has a lack of true contrition. She is still denying and making excuses for her abusive behaviour. She has never taken any steps to reform her abusive character.' Alice's attorney, Verano, told the court that when Alice embarked on her online harassment of Ioan in 2021, 'It was the end of COVID, she was isolated, she was facing the loss of her marriage.' Any hope of reconciling with Ioan was 'crushed' when she learned he was romantically involved with Bianca. 'She lost her mind, she was devastated,' said Verano. But this week, her lawyer went on, 'Alice is in a very different place. She has moved on with her life.' Verano insisted that Alice's abusive emails and texts had stopped. 'There are no threats. Alice has deactivated her Twitter account,' she told the court. She added that while some of Alice's more recent social media posts 'talk about what she's been through.they are not meant to disturb Ioan's peace. Alice's conduct has changed quite a bit.' The three-year RO imposed on Alice in August 2022 impacted her ability to work and travel, said Verano, who told the court that she had lost jobs because of the RO. She also said that flying into the USA with her daughters, Alice and the girls are always detained at airports, 'which frightens the girls because they're afraid she might end up in jail.' She said that renewing the RO, which includes the 'stay away' clause requiring Alice to keep 100 feet away from Ioan, would mean that her daughters would have to choose which parent shows up at their school graduations and other family events. Verano closed, asking Judge Convey to deny Ioan's request to renew the RO, telling the court, 'Alice is learning. She has grown.' Wednesday's RO ruling marks the end of the first phase of what was expected to be a nine-day trial. The second phase this week will deal with the child and spousal support disputes of the former couple who spent more than 20 years together. Alice claims she is broke and wants the court to order him to increase the $1,500 a month he pays her in spousal support and the $3,000 a month he pays in child support. Ioan maintains that their girls have been 'poisoned and alienated' against him by their mother. He wants to stop paying spousal support altogether, 'based upon Alice's persistent domestic abuse of him and her many violations of the restraining order' and insists that he has already 'overpaid' Alice by almost $400,000. Kim Kardashian proudly posted a picture this week of the four Pomeranians she controversially gifted her children this past Christmas. The 45-year-old drew the ire of the public when she posted a picture of the tiny pooches sitting on the couch and wrote: 'Each kid got a puppy.' She shares four children with her third ex-husband Kanye West - two daughters called North, 12, and Chicago, eight, and two sons called Saint, 10, and Psalm, six. Fans took her to task for treating real animals 'like a Tamagotchi' and buying them rather than adopting from a shelter, a move that saw her become the target of a withering statement by the founder of PETA. However she shrugged off the criticism and this weekend re-posted the exact same photo of the dogs that had set off the controversy at Christmas. Some commenters were baffled by the move, leaving remarks like: 'is this rage bait,' while others expressed concern for the welfare of the puppies. Kim Kardashian re-posted this photo she originally uploaded in December revealing she had gifted each of her four children a Pomeranian for Christmas 'I hope I see these dogs in 10-15 years with you ugh,' sighed one as another wrote: 'They are not accessories. Please treat them with kindness and respect.' 'Who ever sold her these dogs, are not responsible breeders,' opined another Instagram commenter as still another wrote: 'Adopt don't shop.' 'Didnt you force your last dogs to live in the garage ?' another wondered, referring to a viral TikTok that North had uploaded in 2022. That post had showed a living space for the family's Pomeranians at the time - a large crate, Christmas decorations and food and water bowls - set up in a garage. The TikTok drew enough public concern that PETA's senior vice president Lisa Lange said in a statement: 'Knowing that Kim Kardashian is anti-fur and mostly vegan, we are hoping hard that she does not relegate her dogs to life in a garage,' via Page Six. Meanwhile the decision to gift each of her four small children a Pomeranian puppy this past Christmas drew a more barbed response from PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk. 'Puppies are not plushies, and its a damn shame that Kim missed the chance to be a spokesperson for shelter pups and instead is being rightly slammed on social media for that,' Newkirk said in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'Ignoring the homeless animals crisis is inexcusably callous, and so we ask Kim and Khloe, who did the same thing, to call PETA or a local shelter the next time they want to bring an animal into their home and try to make some amends now by sending their kids to volunteer at a local shelter or paying for a local shelter adopt-a-thon or at least one spay day to help stop the growing homeless puppy crisis.' Kardashian, who shares all four of her children with her third and latest ex-husband Kanye West, is pictured in Midtown Manhattan this past October Some commenters were baffled by the new post, leaving remarks like: 'is this rage bait,' while others expressed concern for the welfare of the puppies Fans took her to task for treating real animals 'like a Tamagotchi' and buying them rather than adopting from a shelter, a move that drew condemnation from PETA Redditors flew into a fury over the present, issuing admonitions to Kardashian like: 'Puppies are not Christmas gifts for kids,' and writing: 'This is honestly so sad.' 'If they each got a puppy then its not special at all. How will they learn to love one pet as siblings when they each get a personal dog like its a Tamagotchi?' wrote one. 'They dont realize what a big responsibility having a pet is, they just have it for show and cause its small and cute and its something kids want but when the pup grows up they no longer care for it. Absolutely ridiculous,' snapped another. 'Animals and pets are not gifts unless someone has really wanted that pet and will truly look after it. This is f***ed up,' wrote still another. James Woods made a shocking announcement on Thursday, revealing he is leaving the Republican Party. The 78-year-old actor, known for his conservative views, has embraced MAGA politics and called Trump the greatest president of my lifetime, making him one of Hollywoods most outspoken supporters. Over the years, Woods has used social media to launch scathing attacks on prominent Democrats, including Gavin Newsom and Alexandria OcasioCortez. He has also claimed that his politics have come at a cost, alleging professional backlash in Hollywood - from his agent dropping him to fewer acting roles - which he attributed to being blacklisted for his outspoken views. Now, Woods says hes fed up with the Republican Party itself. Taking to X, he criticized congressional Republicans for blocking an effort to investigate Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, arguing that some GOP lawmakers arent doing enough to hold the opposition accountable. I am done with the Republican Party, Woods wrote. Between this and Thunes refusal to pass the SAVE Act, Im done with these uniparty traitors.' James Woods made a shocking announcement on Thursday, revealing he is leaving the Republican Party. Taking to X, he criticized congressional Republicans for blocking an effort to investigate Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar , arguing that some GOP lawmakers arent doing enough to hold the opposition accountable He added, 'Im changing my party affiliation to Independent. No wonder President Trump is fighting an uphill battle every day.' Woods also highlighted a video of South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who publicly slammed her own party after a motion to obtain records related to Ilhan Omar stalled in the House. The clip, shared from the X account @WallStreetApes, suggested that GOP lawmakers were protecting Omar and called the episode proof of a uniparty undermining accountability. Mace said Republicans should be willing to pursue investigations they often campaign on, pointing to long-running immigration-related allegations about Omar that have circulated in conservative media. Omar has denied the claims, and past inquiries have turned up no definitive evidence to support them. Meanwhile, Woods continued to show his support for President Trump, sharing a photo of him with his Cabinet in the Oval Office last week and praising the group on X as the greatest President and greatest Cabinet, certainly in my lifetime. Yet the actor has not shied away from criticism either. Just weeks ago, he slammed Trump over what he called the presidents distasteful comments about Rob Reiner. Join the debate Are GOP lawmakers 'traitors'? I am done with the Republican Party, Woods wrote, adding, Between this and Thunes refusal to pass the SAVE Act, Im done with these uniparty traitors' Just weeks ago, Woods slammed Trump over what he called the presidents distasteful comments about Rob Reiner Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were tragically found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home on December 14th, and their 32-year-old son Nick has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Woods praised the late filmmaker - a staunch liberal - for saving his career and described him as a Godsend in my life during a December appearance on Fox Newss Jesse Watters Primetime. He also criticized those speaking poorly of Reiner, emphasising that political differences should not erase personal respect. I judge people by how they treat me, and Rob Reiner was a Godsend in my life. We got along great, we loved each other He was always on my side, Woods said. When people would say to me, "What do you think of his politics?" I would say, "I think Rob Reiner is a great patriot." Do I agree on many of his ideas on how that patriotism should be enacted, to celebrate the America that we both love? No. He doesn't agree with me either, but he also respects my patriotism. 'We had a different path to the same destination, which was a country we both love. Woods went on to describe how Reiner gave him a career-saving role in the 1996 film Ghosts of Mississippi, which turned his trajectory around from being basically out of a job to landing an Academy Award nomination. Rob literally saved my career and really put me back on track, Woods said. He really fought for me when the studio didn't want me in a movie. He was somebody I love, respect, and cherish. He added that Reiner, unlike many others, refrained from criticising figures like Charlie Kirk after his assassination, demonstrating the respect and integrity that Woods admired. I knew Charlie Kirk, I supported him people said some such horrible things, and Rob did not, Woods said. Throughout, Woods emphasised that political differences did not diminish his personal admiration for Reiner: I am just absolutely devastated. I loved him as a friend, as an artist, as an icon of Hollywood, and as a patriot. Hilary Duff has revealed the one scene that she'll never forget filming during her one-season arc on Gossip Girl and a lot of fans would agree with her pick. During an episode of Harper's Bazaar's Burning Questions, the 38-year-old actress was asked, 'What was the most memorable part of playing Olivia Burke on Gossip Girl?' 'Probably the threesome was the most standout moment,' Duff answered with a smile. Duff - who is mourning the loss of former Lizzie McGuire co-star Robert Carradine - joined the teen drama in 2009, playing a famous movie star who enrolled at NYU to try to have a normal life. Olivia made her mark the minute she arrived on the social scene of Manhattan's Upper East Side among the overprivileged former prep school students. Duff's character became the roommate of Jessica Szohr's Vanessa Abrams and soon became involved with Penn Badgley's Dan Humphrey. Hilary Duff has revealed the one scene that she'll never forget filming during her one-season arc on Gossip Girl in 2009 and a lot of fans would agree with her pick The actress said that 'probably the threesome' between her character Olivia Burke and Penn Badgley's Dan Humphrey and Jessica Szorh's Vanessa Abrams 'was the most standout moment' Eventually, one thing led to another and Olivia initiated a threesome with Dan and Vanessa. 'I remember being like, 'Oh, my mom's going to call me after this one,' Duff recalled, laughing. 'I was in Paris not too long ago and my bag got lost. I went up to the lady who worked at the airline and she's like, 'Are you on Gossip Girl?''Duff continued. ''Yes. Love that's how you know me,''was Duff's response to the attendant. The Gossip Girl stint was quite a change from the roles Duff had played before. Her first starring role was as the young witch Wendy in Caspar and Wendy (1998) By the time she landed Gossip Girl, Duff was best known as the relatable teen in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire who experiences the ups and downs of middle school. Duff's interview with Harper's Bazaar follows her confirmation that her new song We Don't Talk is about her rift with sister Haylie, with whom she hasn't been seen or photographed since 2019. 'I remember being like, 'Oh, my mom's going to call me after this one,' Duff recalled Duff's character became the roommate of Jessica Szohr's Vanessa Abrams and soon became involved with Penn Badgley's Dan Humphrey on the popular CW teen drama Her role in Gossip Girl was her boldest yet after playing the relatable teen in LIzzie McGuire (pictured in December 2025) Duff's confession comes on the heels of the release of her new album luck... or something - her first music in a decade (pictured on February 14) 'It's definitely about my sister. And just absolutely the most lonely part of my existence is not having my sister in my life at the moment,' Duff said in a recent interview with CBS News special correspondent Anthony Mason for CBS Mornings. The song is among the tracks on Duff's new album luck or something, which was released on February 20. 'I really struggled with thinking about including that on the record. But it's funny as a person that exists in the world without my other half, so many people are having that experience,' and ultimately included the song on the record 'because it's my reality.' The new album is Duff's first music in a decade and was produced with her husband Matthew Koma. They share daughters Banks Violet, seven, Mae James, four, and Townes Meadow Bair, one. She also has son Luca, 13, with ex-husband Mike Comrie. KABUL, March 7 (Xinhua) - The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) has supported the treatment of 2,002 children suffering from congenital heart disease since last year, the official media Bakhtar news agency reported Saturday. According to the report, many children with heart defects have received medical care through programs aimed at assisting families who lack the financial means to access specialized treatment. The ARCS said that during the current year alone, 859 children were treated inside Afghanistan as part of these efforts. Congenital heart disease, often known as a hole in the heart, remains a major health challenge for children in the country, where access to advanced cardiac treatment is still limited. Victoria Beckham put on a loved-up display with her husband David following her Paris Fashion Week show on Friday. The Spice Girl, 51, showcased her Fall/Winter 2026 women's ready-to-wear looks to a star-studded crowd, including her beloved family. At the show, Victoria was supported by her husband David, children Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14, as well as Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30. However, her estranged son, Brooklyn, 27, was a no-show as he continues to isolate himself from family festivities. Now, a day later, the fashion designer has shared a slew of loved-up snaps from the evening, showing herself and David looking happier than ever. In one snap, David, 50, beamed with pride while his wife hugged him lovingly from behind. Victoria Beckham, 51, put on a loved-up display with her husband David, 50, following her Paris Fashion Week show on Friday In one sweet photo, David could be seen smiling as he embraced his wife for a warm hug after her show, congratulating her on the chic collection and successful runway Meanwhile, in another photo, David could be seen smiling as he embraced his wife for a warm hug after her show, congratulating her on the chic collection and successful runway. After the show, Victoria also took the opportunity to pose with her children, Romeo, Cruz and his girlfriend Jackie, as well as a string of her celebrity pals. It comes after Victoria thanked her family for 'always being there to support her' following the show. Sharing a series of snaps from the star-studded event on Instagram that evening, the fashion designer penned: 'Thank you for always being there to support me. I love you all so much xxx.' Ahead of Friday's show, Victoria's husband David was seen making his way into the venue, closely followed by their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper. David looked dapper for the occasion in a black suit with a gold chain, while middle son Romeo opted for a pair of brown cargo pants and a leather jacket. Cruz was seen wearing a vibrant purple and orange crochet cardigan, with Harper in a black cape gown, likely from her mother's range. Jackie looked incredibly elegant, wearing a stunning mint green satin Victoria Beckham gown. After the show, Victoria also took the opportunity to pose with her son Cruz and his girlfriend Jackie Romeo beamed for the cameras as he proudly posed alongside his mother Victoria Diane Kruger looked sensational in a cream asymmetric dress featuring a lace cut-out bodice as she joined Victoria for a snap after the show Victoria was also joined at the show by her pal Michel Gaubert, who came along to support her American actress Nina Dobrev was among the stars to make an appearance as she wore a sheer black top with high-waisted barrel-leg trousers and a leather jacket. German actress Diane Kruger was seen arriving for the show in Paris as she donned a cream asymmetric dress featuring a lace cut-out bodice. Meanwhile, model Caroline Daur, who was rumoured to have dated Romeo briefly, put on a striking display in a bright red satin gown featuring a ruched design. Victoria showcased her credentials in an impeccably chic ensemble as she arrived in Paris ahead of the show on Monday. She paired a 1,600 bright red turtleneck sweater from her own line with a pair of her Alina trousers, which retail for 475, for her stroll to her Paris atelier. She accessorised with a covetable Hermes Kelly 35 limited edition teddy shearling bag, which can sell for as much as 68,000. Victoria arrived in Paris with her team this week, putting the finishing touches on her latest collection ahead of Friday's showcase. Victoria traditionally turns her runway shows into family celebrations, but once again, her eldest son Brooklyn, and his wife, Nicola Peltz, were missing from the event. Brooklyn, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, released a bombshell statement in January, cutting all ties with his parents. Now based permanently in the United States with his wife - the daughter of billionaire businessman and investor Nelson Peltz - Brooklyn recently outlined his desire to distance himself from his family in a six-page Instagram statement, filled with lurid allegations. Over the past year, Brooklyn has skipped multiple family events, including his dad's 50th birthday, Victoria's 51st, David's knighthood and most recently his brother Cruz's 21st celebrations. The Spice Girl showcased her Fall/Winter 2026 women's ready-to-wear looks to a star-studded crowd, including her beloved family Victoria was supported by her husband David and children Romeo, Cruz and Harper as well as Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel Victoria's estranged son Brooklyn was a no show as he continues to isolate himself from family festivities (Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz pictured on his birthday this week) Cruz, who is currently on tour with his band playing to sold-out crowds around the UK, took some time out to support his beloved mother. Romeo, meanwhile, has been busy carving out his own fashion career, walking the runway for Burberry during London Fashion Week last month. Victoria is back in Paris after being named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in a prestigious January ceremony in the city. Proving her star power, it was not only Victoria's family who turned out in support; Vogue icons Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful, alongside model Helena Christensen, also made an appearance at the Salon Jerome and Salon des Marechaux. Other members of the clan in attendance at the champagne-soaked bash included Romeo, his girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 24, Cruz's girlfriend Jackie and the youngest Beckham and only girl, Harper. Paris Fashion Week runs from March 2 to March 10. Among the other highlights is Antonin Tron at Balmain, who presented his first collection for the heritage house on March 4. Another standout moment will be Pieter Mulier's 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 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. On Tuesday, Paris's famous site, the Louvre, hosted its second fundraising dinner, dubbed Le Grand Diner du Louvre, to support the museums activities. In the hit Netflix show Emily in Paris, Lily Collins's character is captivated by the romantic French capital. But in real life, it seems, the actress's heart lies in London. Lily, 36, is planning to move from Los Angeles to the capital with her husband, film director Charlie McDowell, and their year-old daughter Tove. Sources say she has been eyeing up a return to Britain since 'falling in love' with London during her 12-week run in the West End thriller Barcelona over Christmas in 2024. Now Lily, daughter of pop star Phil Collins, hopes to make the move permanent as she considers school options for Tove, who was born via a surrogate in January last year. A source said: 'Lily grew up in the English countryside with many happy memories and she wants the same for her daughter. 'But instead of the countryside, she has fallen in love with London because that's where she has lots of friends and family. 'She is particularly taken with the north, like Hampstead and Queen's Park.' Lily Collins (left) is planning to move from Los Angeles to the UK capital with her husband, film director Charlie McDowell (right), and their year-old daughter Tove (centre) Sources say the actress (pictured in December) has been eyeing up a return to Britain since 'falling in love' with London during her 12-week run in the West End thriller Barcelona over Christmas in 2024 A source said: 'She is particularly taken with the north [of London], like Hampstead and Queen's Park'. Pictured: File photo of Hampstead Heath Lily will join a long list of A-listers who have fled the US for Britain amid Donald Trump's presidency. Barbie star Ryan Gosling lives in Hampstead, while former chat show host Ellen DeGeneres moved to the Cotswolds. Lily has been dividing her time between Copenhagen, where she has a 1million home with McDowell, 42, and Los Angeles, where her mother, antique shop owner Jill Tavelman, is based. She and McDowell sold their LA home, in Pasadena where Meryl Streep was a neighbour, for 4.5million last year. Lily grew up in an eight-bedroom house in Guildford before her parents' divorce in 1996 when she was seven. She then moved between West Sussex, where her father lived, and LA before locating to the US full-time to pursue her career. Spending time in London last January, she said it 'felt like home'. She said: 'Most of all I love sitting upstairs at the front of a double-decker bus. 'I don't have a plan on where I want to go, I just sit and see all the sights and people.' Emily in Paris follows American marketing executive Emily Cooper as she works in the French capital. The fourth series saw her move to Rome. Asked last year if there would be an Emily in London, Lily said a spin-off 'would be fun'. With Lily set to make London her home, perhaps that spin-off got a tad closer. The job market hasn't been this tough since the end of the Great Recession in 2009, and it's piling pressure on Americans already squeezed by rising prices. High-profile companies like UPS, Amazon and Dow have laid off thousands of people over the last year, and Jack Dorsey's Block just axed half its workforce - all white-collar positions. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has emerged as a big factor behind the job losses. According to a recent jobs report, businesses cited AI for seven percent of the layoffs logged in January and nearly 55,000 layoffs in 2025. Just last week, Citrini Research published a stark report warning AI-driven layoffs could push unemployment above ten percent as early as 2028. White-collar jobs are under the biggest threat. While many analysts dismissed Citrini's dark vision as more science fiction than reality, many white-collar workers are eyeing careers that are safe from automation. In an August 2025 survey, remote jobs website FlexJobs found that 62 percent of workers were considering a switch from white-collar careers to blue-collar trades. 'Many workers are rethinking what they want out of their careers and are willing to trade desk jobs for skilled trades if it means better pay, greater stability or more tangible results,' wrote Kirsten Chorpenning, a career advice analyst at FlexJobs. If you are an office worker who is nervous about being automated out of work, now is a great time to get started on evaluating your options. Electricians are highly in demand. Ironically, they help maintain the infrastructure that makes AI possible Skilled construction workers will always be demand, research has shown Heating and cooling requires HVAC specialists, and it's a job that - for now - seems safe from automation Blue collar vs white collar: sunk costs and social stigma Social stigma is still holding many Americans back from switching to the trades. Last fall, home services software company Jobber surveyed Gen Z students and their parents to better understand attitudes about choosing - or avoiding - blue-collar work. While nearly three-quarters of parents said that work in the trades offers long-term security, only seven percent would prefer their child to pursue it. Members of Gen Z appear to be as conflicted as their parents. Around 71 percent of Gen Z respondents see trade school as less favorable than a college education, even though 77 percent want to choose an automation-proof career. Working professionals may be deterred from making a switch by sizable sunk costs: years of experience plus the time and money spent on college educations, graduate degrees and professional licensing. And beyond sunk costs, there's the question of pride. 'For someone who went to college, heading in a new direction like this is almost like admitting defeat, and it takes a little bit of courage to do that,' Matt Ebert, chief executive officer of Crash Champions, a car-repair chain, told the Wall Street Journal. Your browser does not support iframes. What are the top-earning blue-collar jobs? The Daily Mail analyzed national employment data to show you the highest-earning blue-collar jobs in America. These skilled trades are not only resilient to AI disruption, but also could end up earning you six figures after you gain seniority in the field. The top-end salaries listed above are earned by people with years of experience, so white-collar workers looking for a career change now should set their expectations based on the median salaries. However, the top-earning salary figures suggest what's possible from these blue-collar jobs. 'Many of these jobs pay well and can be a great fit for people's existing skills,' Cory Stahle, senior economist at job site Indeed, told the Daily Mail. 'Assess your skills and aptitudes if you have the time and resources to further develop your skills, blue-collar jobs like these could be a great choice.' Take construction managers - the elite tier of blue-collar employment - where top earners can make more than $177,000 a year. While many people in the field have earned a bachelor's degree in construction or engineering, on-the-job experience can be a substitute for formal training. As Homer Simpson can tell you, nuclear reactor operators are among the highest-paid jobs in the US that don't require a college degree. Higher ends of the salary spectrum yield around $167,000. The trouble is, there just aren't very many jobs available in this nook of the job market, where responsibilities include monitoring reactor temperatures and preparing for emergencies. Professionals seeking safe harbor from AI could literally become the captain of their own ship - making around $164,000 with experience. Bear in mind, though, that marine operations demand focus and a strong sense of responsibility, since you're navigating large vessels through dangerous waterways. What are the fastest-growing blue-collar careers? The trouble with many of the highest-paying blue-collar jobs is that there may not be very many of them available in the market. To help refine your search, we delved further into national employment data to identify the fastest-growing careers in the trades, all of which feature huge total employment levels. Jobs with openings include industrial machinery mechanics (which is expected to see 16.1 percent employment growth through 2034), electricians (9.5 percent), tractor trailer-drivers (four percent) and welders (four percent) among others. Your browser does not support iframes. Key considerations for switching careers For workers who might be considering a mid-career switch, FlexJobs's Chorpenning highlighted some key considerations to bear in mind. Take inventory of your transferable skills While you may be jumpstarting a new career, you already possess plenty of skills that should transfer well from a professional office to a blue-collar workplace. Crossover abilities include project management, customer service, problem solving and proficiency in digital tools. Prepare for training and certifications The most lucrative roles in the trades will likely require training and licensing. Research apprenticeships, vocational schools and community colleges in order to get what you need for your new role. Plus, prioritize opportunities that offer on-the-job training. Make a financial plan for your switch Some workers could see their earnings decrease at first in their new career. Make a financial plan to ensure you can juggle the costs around the transition, including education costs and potential licensing fees. Take advantage of financial aid programs, union training and employer reimbursements. Keep networking to keep your career growing No matter what part of the economy you work in, connections always matter. Growing your professional network will help you advance a career in the trades. Seek out local trade associations, attend training events and consider volunteering on community projects. American Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSE:ARL Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $16.25 and traded as high as $17.64. American Realty Investors shares last traded at $17.13, with a volume of 1,984 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of American Realty Investors in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold. Get American Realty Investors alerts: Read Our Latest Report on ARL American Realty Investors Price Performance Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Realty Investors The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 6.55 and a quick ratio of 6.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $276.17 million, a PE ratio of 100.59 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $17.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.27. Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its position in American Realty Investors by 44.9% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 2,825 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 876 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of American Realty Investors during the 1st quarter worth $111,000. Finally, Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of American Realty Investors by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC now owns 173,770 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,907,000 after purchasing an additional 7,000 shares during the period. American Realty Investors Company Profile (Get Free Report) American Realty Investors, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, acquires, develops, owns, and manages multifamily and commercial real estate properties in the Southern United States. It operates through two segments, Residential and Commercial. The company leases apartment units to residents; and office, industrial, and retail space to various for-profit businesses, as well as local, state, and federal agencies. It also offers tenant services, including parking and storage space rental; and sells land and properties. See Also Receive News & Ratings for American Realty Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Realty Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mosaic (NYSE: MOS) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates: 3/3/2026 Mosaic had its equal weight rating reaffirmed by Barclays PLC. They now have a $31.00 price target on the stock. 3/2/2026 Mosaic was downgraded by Weiss Ratings from hold (c-) to sell (d+). 3/2/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Scotiabank from $36.00 to $35.00. They now have a sector outperform rating on the stock. 2/26/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Wolfe Research from $37.00 to $36.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 2/26/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Morgan Stanley from $35.00 to $28.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock. 2/26/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Royal Bank Of Canada from $29.00 to $28.00. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock. 2/26/2026 Mosaic was downgraded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from neutral to underweight. They now have a $24.00 price target on the stock. 2/25/2026 Mosaic had its price target raised by Mizuho from $28.00 to $30.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 2/2/2026 Mosaic was upgraded by Scotiabank from sector perform to sector outperform. They now have a $36.00 price target on the stock. 1/23/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Wells Fargo & Company from $28.00 to $27.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock. 1/21/2026 Mosaic had its price target raised by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $30.00 to $32.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 1/20/2026 Mosaic had its price target raised by Royal Bank Of Canada from $27.00 to $29.00. They now have a sector perform rating on the stock. 1/16/2026 Mosaic was given a new $35.00 price target by Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc.. 1/16/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Wolfe Research from $41.00 to $38.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 1/16/2026 Mosaic was downgraded by Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc. from outperform to market perform. 1/14/2026 Mosaic had its price target raised by Morgan Stanley from $33.00 to $35.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock. 1/12/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by UBS Group AG from $38.00 to $33.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 1/8/2026 Mosaic had its price target lowered by Bank of America Corporation from $39.00 to $33.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. Mosaic Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 21st. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. Mosaics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.07%. Get The Mosaic Company alerts: Mosaic Co is one of the worlds leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. The companys primary business activities center on the extraction, processing and distribution of phosphate rock, phosphate-based fertilizers and potash products. These core nutrients are essential components in modern agriculture, supporting crop yields and soil health across a range of farming applications. In its phosphate segment, Mosaic operates mining and production facilities that convert phosphate rock into concentrated phosphates, finished phosphate fertilizers and feed phosphates for animal nutrition. Read More Receive News & Ratings for The Mosaic Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Mosaic Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chemours (NYSE: CC) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates: 3/5/2026 Chemours had its price target raised by Mizuho from $17.00 to $21.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 2/25/2026 Chemours had its price target raised by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from $14.00 to $18.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 2/23/2026 Chemours had its hold rating reaffirmed by Jefferies Financial Group Inc.. They now have a $17.00 price target on the stock. 2/23/2026 Chemours had its price target raised by UBS Group AG from $18.00 to $23.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 2/23/2026 Chemours had its price target lowered by BMO Capital Markets from $20.00 to $19.00. They now have an outperform rating on the stock. 2/23/2026 Chemours was given a new $17.00 price target by Mizuho. 2/23/2026 Chemours had its price target raised by Morgan Stanley from $15.00 to $17.00. They now have an equal weight rating on the stock. 2/23/2026 Chemours had its price target raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $13.00 to $17.00. They now have a neutral rating on the stock. 1/21/2026 Chemours had its sell (d) rating reaffirmed by Weiss Ratings. 1/21/2026 Chemours had its price target raised by Truist Financial Corporation from $18.00 to $21.00. They now have a buy rating on the stock. 1/19/2026 Chemours had its outperform rating reaffirmed by BMO Capital Markets. They now have a $20.00 price target on the stock. 1/16/2026 Chemours had its outperform rating reaffirmed by Royal Bank Of Canada. They now have a $18.00 price target on the stock. Chemours Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $0.0875 dividend. This represents a $0.35 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Chemourss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -14.11%. Get The Chemours Company alerts: Chemours Company, established in 2015 as a spin-off from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, is a global chemistry organization headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Since its formation, Chemours has focused on delivering performance chemicals that help customers lower their carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency and conserve water. The company operates with a commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and innovation. Chemours principal business activities are organized into three core segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Chemours Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Chemours Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Croghan Bancshares, Inc. (OTCMKTS:CHBH Get Free Report) rose 1.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $57.83 and last traded at $57.51. Approximately 350 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 1,731 shares. The stock had previously closed at $56.76. Croghan Bancshares Price Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $55.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.21. Get Croghan Bancshares alerts: About Croghan Bancshares (Get Free Report) Croghan Bancshares, Inc is a bank holding company based in Ogdensburg, New York, trading on the OTC Markets under the symbol CHBH. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Croghan Savings Bank, the company delivers a full suite of retail and commercial banking services. Croghan Savings Bank traces its heritage to 1885, operating as a mutual savings institution committed to serving local customers with personalized financial solutions. The companys core offerings include deposit products such as checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds and certificates of deposit. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Croghan Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Croghan Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVM Get Free Report) passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.46 and traded as high as $9.59. Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund shares last traded at $9.46, with a volume of 368,359 shares changing hands. Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Stock Performance The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $9.42. Get Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund alerts: About Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund (Get Free Report) Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVM) is a closed-end, diversified management investment company that seeks to provide tax-exempt income by investing primarily in municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of California and its political subdivisions. The fund is structured to deliver current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes, making it a targeted solution for investors in higher tax brackets seeking exposure to Californias municipal market. The funds portfolio is composed predominantly of investment-grade municipal securities, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and municipal lease obligations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Edinburgh Worldwide (LON:EWI Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 226.74 and traded as high as GBX 236. Edinburgh Worldwide shares last traded at GBX 231.50, with a volume of 1,592,611 shares changing hands. Edinburgh Worldwide Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of 781.70 million, a P/E ratio of 4.63 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.16. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 227.11 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 211.17. Get Edinburgh Worldwide alerts: Edinburgh Worldwide (LON:EWI Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, January 12th. The company reported GBX (1.11) EPS for the quarter. Edinburgh Worldwide had a return on equity of 25.75% and a net margin of 94.47%. About Edinburgh Worldwide The Trust aims for capital growth from a global portfolio of initially immature entrepreneurial companies, typically with a market capitalisation of less than $5bn at time of initial investment, which are believed to offer long-term growth potential (over at least five years). The portfolio does not seek to track the comparative index, hence a degree of volatility against companies index is inevitable. A spread of risk is achieved by having 75125 companies, with exposure to a minimum of six countries and 15 industries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Edinburgh Worldwide Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edinburgh Worldwide and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.02 and traded as high as $9.29. Helix Energy Solutions Group shares last traded at $9.1650, with a volume of 1,386,952 shares. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c-) rating on shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research upgraded Helix Energy Solutions Group from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $10.50. Get Helix Energy Solutions Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Helix Energy Solutions Group Helix Energy Solutions Group Trading Down 2.2% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 2.75 and a quick ratio of 2.75. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.62 and a beta of 1.21. Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $334.16 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $304.67 million. Helix Energy Solutions Group had a return on equity of 2.88% and a net margin of 2.39%.The firms revenue was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. will post 0.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group by 243.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 5,045 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 3,576 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in Helix Energy Solutions Group by 175.9% in the 4th quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,993 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 4,458 shares in the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC grew its position in Helix Energy Solutions Group by 49.3% in the second quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 8,877 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 2,930 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Drucker Wealth 3.0 LLC purchased a new position in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $66,000. 91.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Helix Energy Solutions Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc (NYSE: HLX) is a Houston-based provider of offshore well intervention and robotics services to the global energy industry. The company specializes in extending the productive life of subsea wells through hydraulic workover systems, coiled tubing operations and riser-based wireline services. In addition, Helix offers remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support, inspection, maintenance and repair for subsea infrastructure. Operating through three core business segmentsWell Intervention, Robotics & Subsea Services and Production FacilitiesHelix deploys purpose-built vessels, specialized equipment and engineering expertise to execute complex offshore projects. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Helix Energy Solutions Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Helix Energy Solutions Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.